GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM

[maskormods]

WHO: ImPorts that signed up HERE. If you didn't sign up in time and still want to participate, as long as you can assemble a team, you can hop on in!
WHERE: SPACE!
WHEN: February 20th.
WHAT: ImPorts are sent on a mission to take down hostile satellites. Want to plot with your fellow players? Please check out THIS THREAD.
WARNINGS: Possible swearing and violence; let us know if this should be updated.


Thanks to the newly constructed moon base, the stress of escaping Earth’s atmosphere and the trip to the moon is all cut down to a nice, maybe slightly nausea inducing, near instantaneous transport. Upon arrival teams are escorted into a debriefing room to receive their overall instructions and a the declassified version rundown of what is known so far. Given on the traditional holoprojection screen by a grizzled member of the US government- appropriately NASA this time around, though the medals on the woman’s jacket remind you just how many of the original astronauts were military personnel- the most salient points of the powerpoint presentation are these:



-At the end of this meeting, each team will be launched in a small shuttle from the moon to their positions. All teams will hold positions until all shuttles have been launched, then a unified strike will occur. Each team member will be given the needed jetpack, space suit, and basic weaponry needed for the job. Separate individuals will clean up after each encounter, salvaging whatever they can from the satellites.

- Each team will be given control over their respective shuttles; one member of the team may remain in the shuttle in order to keep control over the vessel and to give the team members necessary respite in the case of injury, but that is ultimately up to each team's discretion. 

-There are believed to be between 15-25 additional satellites currently orbiting Earth. This number is thought to include several satellites that have been recently launched but not yet fully activated. Still, all satellites are to be approached as armed and dangerous. There is no evidence there is a standardized appearance to these satellites, the only way of knowing if one is a target is if it is not registered on the manifest you have been given.

-These satellites are programed to evade normal radar and other sensors, which is what lead to this in person fishing mission to begin with.

-The satellites are armed with both short and long range weapon capabilities- more importantly, these weapons can reach Earth. Once engaged it is critical to take out weapon capabilities, if not the satellite as a whole, as quickly as possible. The government believes that in order to overcome safeguards and properly aim, the satellites will require ten minutes from when first engaged to launch an attack on Earth. These weapons are primarily missile based, meaning a very brave (or dumb) individual can try to take out the missile itself once fired, but be careful. These weapons are strong enough to survive re-entering Earth’s atmosphere to hit a target. They’re not messing around. It is currently unknown how many missiles a satellite holds.

-In addition to the Earth-range missiles, the satellites also hold a number of shorter range weapons which can both be fired at teams and be used to blow up neighboring, registered satellites, as well as any passing space junk or rocks to serve as distraction/potentially damaging shrapnel. Remember, as the satellites cannot be detected through radar they may also attempt to hide in created debris.

-Based on reverse engineering done on the one satellite recovered, these satellites are running on a unique programing code. This coding is thought to grant them a very limited AI (close to the level of the roombas in your houses, in which they may have individual ‘quirks’ but are true and devoted to their very simple core programming). Those with extensive programming experience or innate advantages with technology (technopathy, etc.), will be able to pick out the odd ‘word’ or so that makes sense, but it is like trying to read a coded message without the cipher. Still, so long as the satellites are kept distracted to keep Earth from being too badly bombarded, teams working together may be able to at least break the ‘stand down’ command and get the satellites to come in without a fuss. Unfortunately, the government has no full surviving full lines of coding or phrases from the captured remains, meaning and code breaking will have to be done live in the field.

-All individuals here will be given access to the information gained from this mission. The fully extent of the information will depend on the type of recovery performed. Any individuals interested in participating in the analysis of gathered pieces are welcome to volunteer with the NASA representative during the Q&A session, though their acceptance may depend on performance in this first mission. 

There is a brief question and answer period after this presentation- strictly for mission related items, no general philosophizing on the government will be asked for or indulged. Following this it’s a waiting game as the moon moves into position. Teams are welcome to plan, chat, or just enjoy the complimentary snack bar (before you ask, yes. It is all health food and Tang). Then, one by one, teams will be called for their launch until all units are in position.

America- no, the world- is counting on you, ImPorts. And watching. Don’t let them down.

Comments

QUESTIONS

[maskormods]

[phoenixleader]

How advanced are these shuttles? Hera's used to flying a freighter starship, would it be similar enough for to pull quick evasive maneuvers to avoid missles?

Re: QUESTIONS

[hellrisen02]

Will there be an open line of communication between separate teams? So that, for example, the folks trying to codebreak between each team can communicate with anything they manage to get?

[cannotrest]

Are the satellites on any network? Ashley's brand of technopathy is remote operation and information (eg. what's in someone's phone calendar as opposed to what code was used for the calendar app), but limited to networked devices.

[carbonfrozen]

Han's superpower is essentially putting shady mods on cars that make them work more like his beloved Millennium Falcon. is it okay that when he steps onto one of the shuttles it's gonna have a shitty approximation of a weapons system and some really shady stuff meant to add speed? he'll have let the government know beforehand of these effects, probably, if they didn't already have an idea.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Late question, but is any information available on how big the threat these satellites pose to Earth is? If those missiles impact the ground, are they going to take out buildings or cities?

IC QUESTIONS FOR THE Q&A

[maskormods]

[carbonfrozen]

These shuttles have weapons, right? We're not just flying into this mess completely without a weapons system, right?

[phoenixleader]

What's the strength of the shields on these shuttles? ... They do have shields, right? Can take at least one hit?

[shiroics]

If the entire team needs to leave their shuttle, how does the autopilot work? Is there a remote recall function? And what happens if a shuttle gets destroyed while the team is on EVA?

PRE-MISSION MINGLE

[maskormods]

Poe Dameron | OTA

[flightforfreedom]

[Poe is, oddly enough, the only imPort in the room dressed in an american military uniform. Specifically, he's geared up in his Air Force pilot flight suit, and may look like a Native to anyone who isn't incredibly familiar with his face after having been on Reality TV way too many times.

The trip up to the Moon is surprisingly elegant - thanks to the Porter - and he can't help but stare out at the Earth for a few minutes if anyone wants to catch him in his reverie.

During the meeting, he is focused and attentive, but at the very end of it he cracks a grin to whoever is nearby.]

Alright. Let's blow these suckers outta the sky.

Hera Syndulla || OTA

[phoenixleader]

Hera's hardly the only member of the Rebellion in this room. Honestly, if she didn't know better, she'd practically say this feels like Yavin. Only thing is that the mission is much different, and her team is going to be pushed to do their job with limited technology. At least she has the familiarity of her bright red alliance flightsuit, complete with her cap and life support harness.

But she isn't concerned.
She can fly anything.

Before the meeting, she's definitely staring out the window into the vastness of space, looking at the perfectly serene, white rock before her that reminds her much of another moon. Another shuttle. Another time.

"So," She'll comment to whoever's near her, not even looking away from the stars. "May the Force be with us."

Kylo "Killed His Dad" Ren | OTA

[photophobic]

[ Ren is near-silent, his gaze locked on the visual presentation for its entire duration. He doesn't move, almost unnaturally steady in his seat- and somehow, even when seated he manages to loom.

Being Force-sensitive is probably not entirely necessary here- he radiates barely-contained chaos, his expression tight, jaw set, his fingers curled tightly. If you've ever wondered what the absolute polar opposite of 'friendly' might look like, glance this way.

He is here because he has been given a task, and because now more than ever, he wants one.
He is also here to prove a point. Several of them, really, but they all fall under the same umbrella.

He is absolutely the monster they say he is. He always has been.
But he can be more than that, too. ]

Kanan Jarrus | OTA

[kanyounot]

The mission seems pretty straightforward - they always do, of course, right up until something goes wrong. But Kanan is feeling pretty confident, nonetheless. His only real concern might be that he's getting a bit rusty on his space combat skills after so long planetside - but that's ridiculous, because he trusts in the Force and his own abilities.

Still, he might look a little out of place, the blind man among all the pilots and space combatants. He stands, quiet, arms crossed over his chest, his head tilted down a bit as if in thought. Or possibly even meditation. That is, until he addresses whomever happens to be near him.

"Nothing like some daring heroics to keep things interesting, huh?"

Batman | OTA

[the_caped_crusader]

[Batman is quiet for the duration of the briefing, arms crossed, mouth set in a grim frown. He listens closely; once the briefing is finished, an unhappy sound sneaks out of him.]

Hh. This mission is a mess. [He glances around the room at the sheer number of different teams.]

Han Solo | OTA

[carbonfrozen]

[It's familiar, this tension. If Han shuts his eyes, he imagines he'll open them and be back on Hoth again, or some other Rebel base, with people wound up and antsy on the eve of battle. The tension settles back over him, like an old coat that still fits after all this time, the wariness no period of time planetside can ever truly rub out.

They've got time. He takes the time to eat, drink, check on the people from his galaxy on the other teams. Occasionally he finds himself stationed near the buffet table, bored with the waiting yet still antsy enough that his attention is stuck here on this base.

But someone he doesn't recognize drops by, and he looks briefly at them.] This your first time in space?

[If it is someone he recognizes, though, the greeting's different:] Familiar, isn't it? All we're missing are the X-Wings and astromechs, then it'd be just like in our galaxy.

bodhi rook | ota

[onlydoubts]

[ Bodhi is dressed in his Imperial flightsuit, as it seems... fitting to wear it. Being out in space again. The last time he'd been to meeting of sorts, things hadn't gone over well. They'd had a proposal, and a plan but no call for action and he and a group of others had to take charge of things with a suicide mission.

This time there are different leaders - proposing action. But it's hard not to draw the comparison, watching and listening to the briefing.

He remains towards the back of the room, and when it's over he stares out the window at the surrounding space before they're sent out. It's unfamiliar up here. Bodhi is glad to be up, sure but... feels strange. But it's for an important reason, so he shoves the thought and worries of what can possibly go wrong aside for the moment. ]

So, are you ready for this?

Blue Beetle III | OTA

[khajidont]

[ The Blue Beetle is already fully suited up when he arrives, and from the way he simply glides past the suits provided to them, it quickly becomes apparent that he's already space-ready. He's the very picture of professionalism as he listens to the briefing, occasionally tilting his head as though he hears something nobody else does, but remains silence nonetheless. It's only once they begin their trek up into space that he gazes out of the window and murmurs mostly to himself: ] And here I was thinking that the one good point about this place is that this kind of stuff didn't happen in space.

[ Space-ready? Absolutely. Space-eager? Absolutely not. How does he always find himself going back here?

Or, perhaps, you catch him picking up one of the snacks... and then carefully putting it back with a grimace. ] On second thought? Better not.

Lance | OTA

[lasersounds]

[Lance is more than ready for this mission. It's the kind of thing he prepared for day-in and day-out at the Garrison. And, as far as missions go, it was slightly less complicated and dangerous than anything he has even attempted as part of Voltron.

He had come up to the base dressed in his Paladin armor, not at all expecting them to provide spacesuits--and more likely than not to deny any offered suit anyway. He had his bayard and Altean life-support systems this way; he would much rather prefer this Paladin armor, thanks.

Still, he's all grins, excited to get back to the kinds of missions and action he's used to.]

All right. Let's do this--those satellites don't stand a chance against the Sharpshooter of Voltron.

[Okay. So maybe he's a little too cocky.]

SATELLITE TAKEDOWNS

[maskormods]

Black Team

[flightforfreedom]

[Poe slides into the shuttle's pilot seat with absolutely no fanfare, like he's done this a hundred million thousand times. In a way, he has - though not with this shuttle, exactly. But he's a lot more familiar with the design of US tech now than he was even when he was up on Big Brother. He's been trained for this, now, rather than just having a natural affinity for it.]

Alright, someone got the manifest? Let's see if we can track the first of these things down.

PHOENIX SQUADRON

[kanyounot]

"I can't believe these things don't even have weapons equipped," Kanan grumbles as they board the shuttle. It's very basic, but he completely trusts Hera to fly it, of course. Hera can fly anything, so that's not even a concern for him.

"Hera can do the fancy flying, get us in nice and close, Lando and I can disembark to do the actual disabling and shooting, Bodhi can call out targets and stand by in case of an emergency. How does that sound?"

It's their MO - someone comes up with the basic plan, offers it up to the team, everyone gets to add their input, make alterations as necessary, and voila.

Justice League Team A

[the_caped_crusader]

[With his nanosuit equipped, Batman can forego the government supplied spacesuit. He slides into the pilot's seat and spends a moment to calibrate the flight instruments to his liking before acknowledging the other team from his com.]

This is Batman, checking in. Let's keep our berth wide until we have eyes on the targets.

RESULTS

[maskormods]

*Was your team successful?
*Were any of the missiles successfully fired at Earth?
*Is there anything else we should know?

Even if it's incomplete, please provide a link of your team's activity here! We'll be giving out information in response to these comments.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

*Team NORMANDY-GUNDAM was successful in destroying their target(s)!
*The only casualty was a civilian weather satellite that the enemy destroyed to create a debris field. No missiles were fired at Earth!
*Thinking quickly, Ashley used her technopathy to reposition other vulnerable civilian satellites in the area. This may have had the side effect of hecked up phone calls, Internet connections, TV broadcasts, GPS service, and assorted other inconveniences.
*Duo will be salvaging as many chunks of the enemy machines as possible and poring over their computers for useful information, most importantly: where did these things come from?
*Activity link here!