<Sandwitches> --------------------------------------------------------------------


* RickDominated is now known as RickBRB


<Sandwitches> The stars pass by the two ships for the sixth day in a row since they've left Gaea...


<Sandwitches> The Dai-Gunzan-Ryu and the Dai-Gundo sail through the stars with little resistance...  most of the area beyond Gaeas system being empty space...


<Sandwitches> It finally begins to approach a system...  There are half a dozen planets there, most of which seem to have small colonies...


<Sandwitches> On the bridges of the Two ships, crew begin to gather....


<Anti-Goth> "Where are we now?" the Spaniard asks, looking to the screen that displays the closest of the colonized worlds.


<Anti-Goth> "It looks to me that these planets were settled relatively recently..."


<RickBRB>  Ahri the Alluring sits on her throne like command chaor lazilly. "Hmmmm....and they reek of Human presence of course....Viral, can you tell me anything about them?" She says almost imperiously, stroking the leopard pelt above her head as she lazes across the length of it


<Sandwitches> "Not much...  Our records are outdated, and don't have any information about colonies here...  And..."  He looks over to a Canine Beastwoman over at a station on the bridge...


<Sandwitches> "I've been scanning the system since it came into range...  I'm not finding ANY active communications signals..."


<Sandwitches> the beastwoman explains.


<Kaguko> Simon just watches, for now. He's not quite sure what he's looking at, other than...well, just what was on the tin. Some settled planets, and a whole lot of space. Of course, for now, he keeps quiet, and might make himself known if he needs to. That 'reeking of humans' comment, though...really?


<Anti-Goth> "Maybe they're Luddites!"


<Kaguko> "...Hey, you ever think that those people probably don't have all this technology that everyone else has?"


<Kaguko> "Not sure if it's a good idea to go contacting them out of the blue, either..."


<Anti-Goth> "Yes, that's what I'm saying.  They could have regressed technologically, or be purposefully eschewing it."


<RickDominated> Ahri nods, rubbing on her chin as she looks over to the others. "We can in fact stop in and say hello or at least look closer, if you all want..."


<Kaguko> "I'm not disagreeing with you, what I mean is...well, being a bit blunt about it, I guess the sate of the galaxy's kind of a mess, these days."


<Kaguko> *state


<Sandwitches> The Canine beastwoman raises an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything.


<Kaguko> "I wouldn't mind scouting the place out, though. And if we're careful, we might figure out where the Shoukaku went."


<Kaguko> "...It's most likely that, if it's around here, that these folks might be related to the people onboard, at least."


<sharon_apple> "We should scout it, but stay hidden. There's no guarantee these are even human colonies."


<RickDominated> "Not a bad idea, yes."


* Sciencebolt has quit (Quit: Leaving)


<RickDominated> "Claretta." She leans forwards, looking over the beastwoman's shoulder. "Do we have anything at all we can get fom this far out? Lights? Any kind of electromagnetic emissions like Radio?"


<Anti-Goth> "All very good points!"


<Sandwitches> "Just from ONE of the planets..."  She pulls up a hologram of the sytem, which zooms in on the3rd planet in the system...  "It's a tropical world... there seems to be barely any land on it, but its the only place I'm getting any kind of signals from, and even those are just barely registering..."


<RickDominated> "....a threeeeeee hour toooooooour..." She hums to herself.


<RickDominated> "Water...this is more Adiane's area of expertise...But alas, I am all you have...and all you need!"


<Anti-Goth> "We might be looking at a pre-industrial level of technology for the rest, then..."


<sharon_apple> "But if they're pre-industrial... when were you last here?"


<Sandwitches> "Our Last records were of...  fifty years ago?"  Viral scowls.  "Theres no way that these are native...  some of these planets shouldn't even support carbon based life..."


<Kaguko> "Life finds a way, I figure. Let's investigate, track those signals. I think that's the best way to go about it."


<Anti-Goth> "Hrm..."


<Anti-Goth> "Does the Dai-Gunzan have any probes?"


<RickDominated> "We do, yes."


<Anti-Goth> "Why don't we send one of them to scout out the area the signals are coming from?"


<sharon_apple> "I don't think they're native either, but if so, did someone deliberately build independent colonies here?"


<sharon_apple> "Or... what if they have means of interplanetary travel and communication that don't use radio or any of the other technologies we're familiar with?"


<Anti-Goth> "Are you suggesting they've some sort of biological technology, Miss Hitomi?"


<sharon_apple> "Biological or spiritual, have or are. There are far more things in the world than we understand right now, but not many more than we can imagine... that's what I think, at least."


<RickDominated> "It's worth persuing at least...Claretta, can we have a probe ready to go quietly?"


<Sandwitches> "Yes Mam'.  I can have it ready to go in just a couple minutes..."  The Beastwoman sets to work back at her station.


<Sandwitches> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<Sandwitches> "...  Mam' I have results from the probe."


<RickDominated> "Give them to me then." Ahri has taken to smoking again, hotboxing the entire bridge.


<Sandwitches> "Mam it-"  The BEastwomans eyes widen. "...  Mam' We need to leave the system, Immediately."


<Anti-Goth> Celestino is looking a bit woozy from the strength of the incense-like smoke.  "...what's going on now?"


<RickDominated> "Come about. Report."


<Sandwitches> Claretta grits her teeth and hits a couple of buttons, drawing an image up onto the screen...


<Sandwitches> Its a city...  or at least something that resembles one.  It looks something like an island of floating trees floating on the back of a massive turtle like creature...


<Sandwitches> Only...  Everything is decayed...  The trees rot...  the city falters...  and black goo seems to be spread across the streets...


<Sandwitches> “...  Our more advanced scans reveal that there are life signs there...  somewhere in the city.  But that goo...”


<Anti-Goth> "What /is/ it...?"


<RickDominated> "..." Ahri outright snarls. "An *Invader*."


<Sandwitches> Virals eyes narrow.  "General.  What are your orders?"


<RickDominated> "Claretta. Do you detect any signs of survivors?"


<Anti-Goth> Celestino's face pales.


<Sandwitches> "...  As I said, I can detect some non-encroached life signs coming from somewhere in the city.


<RickDominated> "...then we have a clear mission, do we not?" She holds up a finger, having asked more for the benefit of those that might have missed it.


<Kaguko> "...We'll have to clear out all signs of it, before it starts spreading anymore. I just hope there's something left, afterwards..."


<RickDominated> "The Invaders are like a Cancer...and must be cut out before they spread."


<sharon_apple> Hitomi stares at the image, looking pale. "I thought they were all defeated..."


<Anti-Goth> "Do we have anything that can be used to destroy their biomass?"


<RickDominated> "Ideally...you'd need a Getter Weapon...but..."


<Anti-Goth> "...that might be a problem.  But I'm sure there's a way of circumventing it!"



<RickDominated> "Well...fine and dandy at least... our Gunman will be safe enough..."


<Kaguko> "...I don't want this to get out of hand, but there has to be some other way that doesn't involve glassing the planet."


<Anti-Goth> "Well, if we rewcue the survivors...we could...just bombard the city?"


<RickDominated> "...Invaders sometimes require it...they're impossibly tough and adaptable..."


<Xanya> Kei strides into the room. "Survivors? If it's Invaders, any 'survivors' are a potential danger." She shakes her head. "... But... gah. This would be easier if I had Getter. If we'd forseen... no, there was no way THIS could have been predicted."


<Anti-Goth> "The scans showed that they're uninfected, Miss Kei."


<Xanya> She nods. "Lets hope they stay that way."


<RickDominated> "Still...be prepared for any kind of eventualitality..."


<Anti-Goth> "Yes ma'am!"


<RickDominated> "We're going in."


<RickDominated> She sits back and puffs on her pipe....mouth twisted into an impressive grin...


<Kaguko> "...Looks like things just got a little more difficult, on our end. But I'm not going to let these things have their way..."


<Anti-Goth> "I volunteer!"


<Kaguko> "...I'll do what I've got to, and what I can." Simon adds. "...If it means we get any closer to the Shoukaku. Besides, we can't leave that place to rot, either."


<Xanya> "Tch... Ahri, do you mind if I come along as a passenger?"


<Kaguko> "Who else is with me?"


<RickDominated> "Sure, you can ride backseat with me..."


<sharon_apple> "I'll be coming. If there are Invaders masquerading as survivors, I'll know."


<Anti-Goth> "...then it's settled?"


<RickDominated> "Yes."


<Sandwitches_> --------------------------------------------------------

<Sandwitches_> Even as they enter the Atmosphere, the pilots can feel that there is something... off about this planet...

<Sandwitches_> The seas churn as one would expect, but nothing seems to move under the surface, and no life soars through the air, not even insects...

<Sandwitches_> Far in the distance a shape atop the ocean comes into view...  an island...

<Anti-Goth> "That must be it!"

<sharon_apple> "No sea life... you think this planet is thoroughly infested already?"

<sharon_apple> "Or was there none here to begin with?"

<RickDominated> "More than likely....tsk..." Despite being the General of Mountain, the svelt form of Genryu cuts across the water, it's wide, blade like wings deployed and kicking up a fantastic amount of spray with downward thrust

<Anti-Goth> The Chivalion skims above the water as well, Energists gleaming in the light.  "We should be careful.  Who knows what'll be lurking in the waves then..."

<sharon_apple> "Gaddess can fight underwater, but as to whether I can handle it..."

<Kaguko> Gurren-Lagann follows along, quickly moving to the front of the group, as Simon tries to see what lies ahead. "...Well, only one way to find out."

<Kaguko> "I'm not sure how we go about fighting these things, but I'll do my best, where I can."

<Anti-Goth> "We'll be right there to aid you!"

<Sandwitches_> "..."  Birdy is silent from her seat in the Gurren...

<Anti-Goth> The Chivalion speeds on ahead!

<Kaguko> Simon moves on ahead as well, though he's taking it a little easier. "...This feels like a trap, doesn't it?"

<Kaguko> "...Birdy?"

<Sandwitches_> "... Yeah...  It does..."  She admits.

<Anti-Goth> "A trap?  The invaders aren't that smart..."

<Kaguko> "But...you don't need to be smart to trick someone. You just have to be lucky."

<sharon_apple> "I just hope there really are some survivors..."

<Anti-Goth> "..."

<RickDominated> "Be prepared to finish the job..." Ahri growls out. "Infection is terminal, 100% of the time."

<Anti-Goth> "We'll just have to see, I'm afraid...Lady Ahri, are you still picking up the uninfected biosigns?"

<Sandwitches_> "...  some invaders ARE that smart..."  Birdy admits...

<RickDominated> "Yeah, for now."

<Anti-Goth> "Then there's still hope!

<Kaguko> "...There might only be so much we can do...but we'll just hope we don't have to come to that."

<Sandwitches_> As they come ever closer, they get a better look at the "island"...  like Clarette had told them earlier, it seems to be moving...

<Sandwitches_> Atop its back rests the city, and a dead lifeless forest, all of which are covered in a the strands of black goo...

<Sandwitches_> And in the Center of the City, is a single massive Humanoid Figure.

<Anti-Goth> "...what.../is/ that?  A mech of some sort?"

<Anti-Goth> "It's certainly imposing!"

<Kaguko> "...And it looks like a lot of this island's already been overtaken, too."

<RickDominated> "What is that...it looks like... a ship...?"

<Anti-Goth> "Well, we did know that..."

<Kaguko> "...Yeah, it's the thing in the centre of it that doesn't make sense."

<Kaguko> "You think that's infested, too? Because...I think we should at least check it out."

<Anti-Goth> "It looks like it was a fairly advanced place.  Why is the rest of the system so behind in comparison...?"

<sharon_apple> "No. We're only going near that thing if we have to for the survivors."

<Sandwitches_> "It's a MAcross Class Ship."  Birdy speaks up.

<RickDominated> "Macro what?"

<Anti-Goth> "Macross...?"

<Xanya> "It's big"

<sharon_apple> "We don't have time for sightseeing. We need to move fast..."

<Kaguko> "Alright, let's get moving, then!"

<RickDominated> "...well, we've got to get DOWN...they're comming from below it...or...something..."

<Anti-Goth> "There must be some sort of shelter there!"

<Kaguko> "Once again, there's only one way of finding that out."

<Anti-Goth> "Careful...!"

<Kaguko> "Yeah, we're on the lookout..."

<Sandwitches_> As Gurren Lagann begins to head down...  pieces of the goo begin to pull together, and pull into bestial shapes...

<Anti-Goth> "They're here!"

<sharon_apple> "Watch out!"

<Anti-Goth> The Chivalion pulls out its Zweisaber and readies it!  "Don't show any mercy to these creatures!  They're nothing but harbingers of misery!"

<RickDominated> "....hehehe...it's been a very, VERY long time you monsters...!"

<RickDominated> Ahri suddenly sounds that much more vicious, almost animalistic...

<Kaguko> "Alright, let's show them how the Gurren-Lagann fights..." Simon prepares for combat, letting his Gunman do the talking as he tries to move in and engage the enemy! "I'm counting on you, too, Birdy! Don't let any past us!"

<Anti-Goth> The Chivalion's internal structure lights the hybrid machine up from within, and arcane energies flow into its saber!

<Sandwitches_> "YEah!  I head you simon!"

<Anti-Goth> It swings mightily into one of the slimy creatures!

<Xanya> "I'll enjoy watching this..." Kei murmurs "Though watch out, these things are smarter than they look, and they fight really, really dirty"

<RickDominated> "Oh, I know they are..." The Gunman stands on it's haunches, it's dragon headed tails whipping around to deliver a pair of wicked strikes to the ones in front of it..!

* Kaguko charges in for a strike at one of the beasts! Can a drill even get through something like that, in the first place?!

<Sandwitches_> The Chivalions Blade manages to tear through the first of the creatures, but it quickly finds itself set upon by another three, biting and clawing at the noble machine!

<Sandwitches_> The group that has assaulted Gurren Lagann quickly begin to push the machine back, leering over it as claws and black goo flash out!

<Kaguko> "D-damnit...these things are tougher than they look!"

<Anti-Goth> "Urgh...hang on, Simon!"

<Kaguko> "...I'm...I'm trying!!" He tries to slam into the attacking Invader, trying to force it aside before it could fully gain the advantage!

<sharon_apple> The Gaddess keeps its distance, taking its trident in both hands. "I... I hope I can make this work..." As it floats, the head of the trident glows, then flashes white, being replaced by the sapphire-studded crook of a staff. "Waters of the ocean, rise and become bitter frost! Imprison those that would devour us in utter cold and end their ceaseless hunger!" She holds the staff aloft as she chants, imaging shards of ice rising from the sea all around them and thwarting the Invaders' attack...