Jammers:Turn 42, Chapter 5 Summary

The Ongoing adventures of my Spelljammer PBEM game.

Comments, questions always welcome:)

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

IC:

Holland looks at the assembled group and says, "No other ships have
approached.  I sketched out a battleplan earlier; shall we go with that?
Are there any refinements?"

Ferric asks. "Is there any need to give them terms? We know that they won't
surrender Milkin and giving terms just gives them more time to get into
position. I say we go in and hit 'em hard with the plan straight away. They
tried to ambush us already, unless they try to surrender we don't owe them
a better chance to take out some of us. You don't challenge someone to
fisticuffs after they sucker punch you."

Holland responds, "Ferric, you are correct. We will forego the call for
surrender and send the scouts straight in."

"His the surface hof the hasteroid slippery," Deigatt asks.

Holland answers, "In some places yes, mostly no."

Holland says, "We can drop Jax off with the stranded pirates, he should fit
right in; I don't want him fouling our ship with his presence."

Ferric says, "I disagree. I want to see him go to Bral and stand trial for
mutiny and attempted murder. Let him work at hard labor on Bral or feed the
scavers so his life will be useful for something.  He could have come to us
at any point and we would have helped him but he chose his path and now he
needs to walk it."

Holland shrugs his shoulders, "That is just as good. He will need to be
bound, gagged and guarded though."

Raken nods negative. "He did not actually try to kill me; I don't know if
he actually has it in him to kill another. My death might have been the
ultimate result of his action if things worked out for them, but it would
likely not be at his hand. I think we should show him mercy, even in
punishment."

Holland replies with a harsh tone, "Raken, he mutinied and collaborated
with pirates to kill us all, when he could have prevented everything. He
does
not deserve mercy. We will drop him off with the authorities on Bral and
they will determine his punishment."

"Hit his no great heffort to give mercy only to those whom you believe
deserve hit," Deigatt remarks.

"If we were all as soft hearted as you Diegatt the multiverse would be a
better place but since people like Jax, pirates, slavers, and the Masks
exist we have what is known as a legal system. We drop him of with the
authorities and give them the story. They can decide what to do with him
and decide if his excuses have merit. I would hate for that tender
conscience of yours to feel the lesat bit sullied so lets leave it to the
authorities, such as they are. That's what they are there for isn't it?"
Ferric says

Deigatt eyes Ferric suspiciously but makes no verbal reply.

"Rrr, you know the jetatin' fools will lrrr, kill him," Grigree says to
Ferric.  "He's got no connections on the Rock. If we want justice, we must
deal with him."

Ferric shrugs. "They can hear the story and decide if his actions constitute
mutiny by the Bralian code of law. I am willing to allow the legal system
to determine justice in this case. The only other option I can offer you is
to cast him into the void while we are underway. He willingly betrayed us
and could have gotten us all killed. That seals his fate in my book."

"We can decide what to do habout Jax hafter this raid," Deigatt says. "I
hexpect you, Ferric, to hensure his survival huntil the strikers return
from the hasteroid hand the ship has moved safely haway."

Allagan says to Oquid, "Who cast the illusion we saw over the dragonfly
when we got to Iceberg?"

"The gnome witch, Sean Uac." she answers.

Allagan says, "Thank you, Oquid."

Holland looks over at the young female and says, "Oquid, please do not take
offense, but please go down and wait in the galley. What you do not hear
and can not see; can not be learned if the mindbender tries to force it
from you."

Leera shakes her head, looking worried. "Her Art was more complete than any
I can create. She's powerful, and we should be wary of traps she might set
below."

Holland asks Seguld, "Could I borrow two of your starwheels?"

"I'veOnlyGotTwoLeftForMe,
ButDru'sCarryingAPairThatILentHimPerhapsYouCanGetAHoldOfThemIExpectThatIWill
BeBestOffOnDeckPrepared." Seguld answers.

Without a word, Italapate pulls his two starwheels from his belt. He holds the
two guns in one hand then holds them forth to Holland. After Holland
accepts them, he pulls his smokepowder charges from his medicine bag, and
hands those  to Holland as well.

Holland says, "Thank you," and tucks the two into his belt, both grips
angled for ease of draw.

Billy heads down below to prepare himself for the upcoming battle. He
returns a little later in his full battle regalia.

Allagan heads down below too, returning wearing his armor and carrying his
spear.

Mirroring Billy, Kain heads belowdecks. He comes topside in a few minutes,
wearing his custom-fit leather armor, his shortsword, dagger, and crossbow
all at the ready.

-----------------

Ferric directs the sailhands and Vais, bringing the ship back around to the
wreckage of the STIRGE. A scan of the wreckage shows that the pirates
abandoned before are still there.

As the ship approaches the wreckage, Freneth watchs the pirates curiously
as he moves about the ropes.

Holland looks carefully at the wreckage and says, "Italapate, Leera, do you
detect any illusions?"

Leera scans the surrounding heavens and the asteroid below, looking for
illusions.

No one detects any illusions or other oddness. The men are waving at you,
they seem very happy that you have returned.

Deigatt stares silently at the pirates stranded in the wreckage. "They have
not chosen a new leader," he observes.

"I would not deal with them, hoom, until we have settled matters on the
surface," Nilaroo remarks.

Holland nods his head and says absently, "I agree," as his gaze shifts from
the stranded pirates to look down at Iceberg.

Holland says, "Leera, could you and the scout team please go below and cast
your spells of invisibility on them? I don't want those pirates to see you
casting the spells."

Leera nods, "Kain, Billy, Talus... come below."

"Gotcha," Kain nods, relenquishing his place on the rigging to go belowdecks.

Leera leads them below decks, and then in quick succession renders each
invisible. Turning back to her room, she instructs the transparent trio
"Tell the rest that I wish to study for a moment or three and will then
join the landing group."

Billy looks to where Talus and Kain were standing. "OK, guys. How do we
figure this one out? What do we do so as not to lose each other, yet not
alert the enemy of our presence?"

"Hmm.. ahh.. how about this? We each take a piece of rock, or ice, or
something.. mm.. like that, and when we get to an agreed upon meeting
point, we.. ahh.. place it on the ground? It'd have to be something, well,
normal looking so as.. ahh.. not to arouse suspicion," Kain replies.

Making no decision, the trio returns to the deck.

Holland says, "Okay, the attack team will consist of: Deigatt, Nilaroo,
Raken, Allagan, Ives, Dhebun, Italapate, Grigree, and myself."

Holland turns to Druasnon, "Druasnon, since Leera is going to deplete a lot
of her magic casting the invisibility spells, I would feel better with you
on board."

Grigree nods affirmative.  "Rrr, does that lrr, leave the ship open to
counterboarding?" he asks.

Holland responds, "I don't think so.  With Seguld, Leera, Robert, Ferric,
Freneth, Vais and Drusanon staying aboard, I think we are covered."

Grigree looks over at Ferric, and nods a slow affirmative.

Seguld nods solemnly as he moves over to the damaged area of the ship and
begins to focus his attention on determining what repairs will be
necessary.

Holland says, "Is everyone ready?"

Deigatt looks quickly at the assembled team, then says, "Aye, we har. Let's
hon with hit."

"Aye aye sir" Ives says as he snaps to attention at Holland's orders.
"Present and ready for boarding action sir." Ives stands ready with his
shield close by, loaded pistols in their holsters, and his blade sheathed
at his side.

"I will call Celestian blessings will be upon us," Raken repsonds. "But I
can also dispel the magic of the enemy casters and my blade can stun one or
more of the pirates. Hopefully my spells will be just as useful or more
useful."

Holland says, "Good. Ferric bring us in hard and fast. We will drop off the
scouts and then return to a high orbit."

Ferric gives the appropriate orders to the sail hands to move the ship as
directed

No one is visible on the asteroid's surface, but there is black spot near
where the group dim-doored into before. As the NIGHTWIND closes the 2,000
yard distance to Iceberg, the spot can be discerned as a bit of wreckage
(most likely from the dragonfly).

Holland says as he looks at the debris, "I would say it is a good bet that
the mindbender and witch are down there." Holland says, "Scouts ready?
Let's drop them off Ferric."

Billy says, "Drop us off near the peak of the asteroid. We'll work our way
down until we spot something."

"Sounds fine to me," Kain adds. "When we... ahh.. find something I'll
mindspeak you Holland. And let's try to keep in physical contact if we..
ahhh.. can, I'd hate to.. umm.. lose you two on Iceberg."

Seeing that the team is ready, Billy sets out the gangplank as the
Nightwind touches down. He scans the asteroid for any activity.

Nothing seems to be moving on the asteroid within view. The galley pulls up
alongside the peak of the asteroid and the gangplank is set down.

Date/Time: 1:10 am 11th day of the 7th Month, 5049 OC

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State University
Instructor, Humanities, Columbus State Community College