Written by Tanith
"Back already?" mused CBY as he gave up rescuing the datacard. Resigned, he looked at Gir as the robot swallowed the thing whole.
"Yessir. The majority of our scouts ended up on one of the MtG universes. Rabiah, I believe the cosmo-charts say. It is highly probable that our objective is there."
"Good, good... have they been able to narrow down the field?"
The captain shifted uneasily. "Ah... there was one problem with that..."
"Yes..." CBY's voice sounded ominous.
"Er... the pilots all ended up on Rabiah... but there are 1001 subplanar reflections of Rabiah. We narrowed it down to a small cluster of planes, but we can't seem to narrow it down any futher, perhaps due to the fact that they are all somehow metaphysically linked to each other..." The captain trailed off at CBY's glare. He gulped.
"I see. Is there anything else you'd like to report?" CBY asked in a soft, dangerous tone.
The captain stuttered, before stumbling on. "A few of the scouts went planetside to see if they could get some more information there. When their transporters activated, their sensors detected... something out there on one or two of the planes. We think it might be the Androm--"
CBY cut off the captain's explanation with a wave of his hand. "Don't be an idiot. The Andromeda has ways of tracing you that you wouldn't even know existed." Snatching the sensor readouts that was in the captain's slightly trembling hands, CBY glanced over the report and turned to look out a nearby port window, folding his hands behind him. "Hm... it seems we might have a new player on the board."
*CRUNCH*
CBY spun around, just in time to see Gir tear the report from his hands and swallow it. CBY cursed under his breath and turned back to the captain. "Send another of those reports to the MunchKING. Have the fleet ready for departure. We leave for Rabiah."
Written by Z-man
This spaceship had a cabbit as a small part of it's anatomy, though not too much. It had now been diluted by many other sources, most of them she hadn't bothered to find out. The ship form was not on par with the Overlord's battle spheres, of course, but it was powerful enough to best 90% of the battleships in the multiverse. The animal form in no way resembled the cabbits that had gone into it. It was a beast almost made of blades, looking a lot like the Hork-Bajir that went into it. There was a smooth area around the middle of the four legged beast, where one could ride it. The tail had a blade on it powerful enough to cut through steel. The face had a beak that set a new record for most number of teeth on an animal.
But at her side lay the secret weapons. Ever since Jaffa had betrayed her, Tanith had been a bit more suspicious of even her best friends. She had considered Jaffa one of her most trusted allies. Now she probably didn't trust anybody.
which is why Z-woman was traveling with two pokeballs. One contained a Dragonite, the other a Houndoom. Both of them were exact replicas of Z-man's. Not only were they effective in battle, but Z-woman liked to believe she was a good enough actress to make it look like Z-man were betraying her.
And now, she was not, in any way, made for tracking down an almost impossible to track orb through the near limitless multiverse. So she followed Yeoman. Failing in a group was just as bad as failing individually, so it was better to be on the winning team.
When Yeoman decided to go to one of the planes in Rabiah, Z-woman went too. He wouldn't win alone.
Written by Chuckg
In his private study, the Evil Overlord sat at ease in a large stuffed chair. A small, dainty cat purred quietly on his lap. On the table in front of him lay a holographic projector, with its normal focusing lens removed and replaced by a magical scrying crystal.
He held his left hand out over the crystal, and then gashed his left thumb lightly with a small antique Barrayaran dagger. Squeezing slightly, he let a single drop of blood fall onto the crystal. With a sonorous voice, he intoned a spell in High Cthonic.
"Blood calls to blood. Like calls to like. Let the link be forged, and the veil be penetrated."
With a crackle of power the techno-magical scrying device flared to life, showing him a shattered view of 1,001 separate reflections compressed into one. The viewpoint shifted, providing the viewer with a dizzying illusion of movement as the scrying focus wended its way through the dimensional maze.
To come to rest in a city in the heart of Rabiah, and focused on a close-up view of a glowing orb upon a pedestal.
Excellent, the Overlord thought. Exactly where it needs to be.
Placing Sasami the cat gently to one side, the Overlord stood and banished the vision with a single wave of his hand. As he left the room, a low chuckle escaped from his throat. The guard commander standing duty outside the room paled at the sounds of mirth, however light.
For whenever the Overlord laughs, the heavens soon weep.
Written by Mg_knt
*Desert sand twirled across the barren land a few miles outside of Alexandria. Suddenly a the wind picked up and a small desert twister formed. After only a few seconds the twister dissapated leaving behind several travelers.*
"Now that we are planetside there are several rules that I want you all to follow." Mg said as he mounted his clockwork steed.
"First don't attract any undue attention, that means no powers or any mention of traveling offworld or between dimensions. Second if everybody else is not bothering a person or gets out of that persons way you will follow suit as there is a very good reason why that person is being given special treatment. Lastly we will be staying as a group. This makes quick escape possible if need be. Now onward to Alexandria, I am sure we can find something in the great library there."
*With that Mg spured his steed and started heading towards the gates of Alexandria.*
Written by Tanith
Wedge gulped as the computer identified the newcomers as the advance patrol fleet of the Overlord.
The two looked at each other in trepidation.
"This is not good," muttered Wedge. "If those patrols are here, you can just bet that the main fleet won't be too far behind."
"Oh man!" Biggs looked over his instrument readings in concern. "I think we should get out of here... fast!"
Written by Yeoman
In orbit above Rabiah:
The Imperial Scouter Ship "Jinnai's Folly" warped in.
CBY: Captain, continue scouting for other ships in orbit. The moment you detect anything else call in heavy support cruisers. I'm going down to the surface with some of the troops. Also be prepared to call in a full planetary invasion force.
Captain: Yes, sir.
Written by Tanith
A sudden flapping of the pavilion caught his attention. He turned as Mg emerged, followed by The Meddler and Tanith. Their motely group had been referred to this place, which was the store of an dealer in obscure artifacts and lore. Of course, it had taken several referrals before they got to this one, and Meta wondered if it was merely another dead end.
"We've got a lead," announced Tanith as she motioned for everyone to start moving.
"Truly?" asked Kyubimon. "Where?"
""A place called the City of Brass,"" answered The Meddler. ""It seems that a rumor has been floating about that the mythical orb called 'the mirari' has reappeared there on one of the Rabiahs.""
"As far as I know, the mirari should still be buried somewhere in Dominaria," said Mg. "Which means this could possibly be another very powerful orb."
"So let's go to this City of Brass and check it out!" said Warren the android.
Mg snorted. "It's not as easy as that. The City of Brass is an extremely dangerous place. Rarely has anyone who entered it escaped alive. Only the djinn regularly inhabit it."
"How is it dangerous?" asked Rune with a concerned look.
Mg gave them all a solemn look. "The City stands on the edge of the Rabiah plane. The brass that covers the entire city and nearby mountains absorbs and concentrates sunlight and hot mana daily. The temperature there can reach 120 degrees on a mild day, even at night. The djinn and the animated brassmen that inhabit the place tend to be hostile to interlopers... those that survive entering the city, that is."
Tanith shrugged ruefully. "Regardless, this is one lead we can't afford not to check. I'll have Rommie beam down some thermal gear for those who'll need it to operate in extreme heat."
""Shall we go then?"" asked The Meddler.
"The day's not getting any younger," quipped Tanith. She looked around and nodded. "Let's ride."
Written by The Watcher
Written by Mg_knt
Written by The Watcher
Does my assessment sound correct to you, or have I misinterpeted the information you imparted?"
Written by Mg_knt
Written by Yeoman
Captain: Sir, the ship in orbit appears to have left this dimension. We may have the wrong world.
CBY: No, I have a feeling about this place. However, whoever they were may call in re-inforcements. Send a message to The MunchKING. Ask for back up. At least one heavy cruiser.
Written by Mr.Sandman
Biggs: Hey, it's master Seth.
Wedge: How are you doing boss.
Seth: Great. You seem to have information that important.
Biggs: How did you know that sir.
Seth: That's not important right now. I know what happened.
Wedge: Yeah. We should tell Cody right away.
Seth: No, we can't tell him. He's going to do somthing bad with the orb. I know it. So.... I'm going back to that planet, alone.
Wedge: What!!!!
Biggs: Sir, you'll be killed.
Seth: I have to find that orb before Cody does. Then maybe I'll be able to use it's power to........
Wedge: To what sir.
Seth: Nevermind right now.
Wedge: Sir, we can't let you go there alone.
Biggs: We're coming to.
Seth: Really.
Biggs & Wedge: Yes sir!
Seth: Thanks. Now let's get going.
(The three figures climbed back abored the scout ship and left the docking bay while a unseen man who was hinding in the shadows lept up and quickly left the area.)
Written by Yeoman
Above Babiah, CBY;s Re-enforcements arrive. An Imperial Heavy Cruiser, and an Imperial Troop Carrier warp in.
Captain: Sir, your re-inforcements have arrived, including a complement of troops.
CBY: Good, have the troops begin landing. Once they disembark, have them spread out and look for the orb.
Captain: Sir, the natives are known to be quite hostile. Our troops will be torn apart.
CBY: Only most of them. And the orb is more important. Continue as ordered.
Captain: Yes, Sir.
***
And abord the Andromeda Ascendent.
Zel-Yeo *activating communications to the away party*: Uh, Tanith, I think we have a problem up here.
Written by Tanith
At the outskirts of the City of Brass, Tanith looked up from the preparations the group was making before venturing into the blazing city.
"Yeo? Report."
On the bridge of the cloaked Andromeda, Yeoman quickly scanned the information that Rommie was feeding onto his console as she acquired it. At the same time, he spoke into his comm.
"We're reading MAJOR bogies a couple of planes over. Positive ID's as Dominion groud troop carriers. ...And they're spreading."
Tanith felt the rest of the group on planetside with her freeze up upon Yeoman's words. Ignoring the tense silence around her, she concentrated on the communicator.
"Spreading?" It was a clear command for explanation.
"More ships are popping in onto the nearby planes," Yeoman elucidated. "It looks like they're gonna go the overwhelming manpower route to searching the planes for the Orb."
"How long before they reach the plane we are on?"
"Not too long, I would guess."
Tanith paused for a moment in consideration. Then she made a decision. "Yeo. When they come into this plane, keep the ship on full stealth. Whatever you do, DON'T give your position away. Don't worry about us down here."
"But Tanith, what if..." Yeoman trailed off.
"Like I said. YOU just concentrate on keeping the ship hidden. Until we give the pre-agreed on signal for beam up, don't attract any attention. We can handle it down here." She paused, then continued in a lower voice. "And if we truly are unable to make it... Rommie has the contingency plans. Heed them."
Back on board the Andromeda, Yeoman gulped. "Yes ma'am."
There was a click as the transmission was terminated. Tanith turned back to survey the ground team. They looked grim.
The Meddler finally broke the silence. ""There is one good thing about this information. It shows that our enemies do not yet have the true location of the orb.""
"Neither do we," Meta grimly reminded him. "And what makes you think we'll be able to find it with just our small group before their army finds it?"
"Don't be so pessimistic Meta," Rune whispered softly. "We can only hope..."
"Optmism," muttered Mg. "Maybe their armies'll get thrown out of Rabiah by Nailah. Or get incinerated by Taysir or something."
"We hope," Tanith quipped. "But this isn't the time for speculation. What will happen will happen." She looked around to make sure everyone was ready. "Let's go."
And so small group of heroes (and not-quite-heroes) rode into the City of Brass, unseen and unheard upon the desert sands.
