[b][u]Kuriotes[/u][/b]

The Crusader shuddered as it exited Phase Space, returning to reality as it always did. The Phase Drive deactivated now that it was no longer needed. Then part of it blew up.

Not enough to destroy the ship, but it was enough to rock the ship and deal damage that would need to be repaired. Fortunately the Kuriotes had been part of an ongoing campaign, meaning the supplies for that were on hand. Not that it saved the crew from getting roughed up in the process, people tossed about by the unexpectedly sharp landing. 

"What happened," Valeran barked as she recovered. At the same time she tapped into the Unity, confirming that ship systems were functioning normally and that no one had been seriously hurt by the explosion. No such luck there, but what damage there was she deemed acceptable. They could get replacements the next time they made port. 

Retris wasn't so lucky, the backlash practically throwing her away from her station and to the ground. She was left groaning, clutching her head as she slowly got back to her feet. "Some sort of...phase anomaly, I don't know. But I have a majorly serious headache." 

Having also quickly recovered from the shock, Denesther swiftly returned to her task, linking up with those under her guidance and preparing the ship. Shields were raised, as she quickly reported. "Defenses are up, we're ready if the TDN tries anything. But with our drive the way it is we're not getting as much juice as I would like." 

Valeran gave a slight nod, her eyes closed as she focused. A sigh escaped as her brainwaves triggered the release of chemicals from her neural augments, allowing her to calm and better focus herself as she reached out to the crew, to reassure then that things would be alright and that the situation was not so dire they needed to panic. "Get me eyes," she directed, not having to look at her Scryer for that. 

"R-Right." Still a bit unsteady on her feet, Retris stepped back up to her console. Prongs deployed from the curved surface, forming a triangle shape before a holographic globe flickered into existence. Initially it was empty, but as Retris came into contact with the other, lesser Scryers on the ship it began to fill in with their surroundings. 

The two pronged vessel hovered in space, motionless for now aside from the activation of its shield. "No planets," she told the others. "Nothing that would have pulled us out of phase space. But I'm picking up several ships, all of unknown origin." 

Even though there was no reason to doubt her, that nonetheless earned a skeptical look. "Perhaps new Vasari designs? One can never tel what those aliens are holding back." 

A pause, then Retris shook her head. "No, I'm not feeling anything like the Vasari mental signatures. Though I do sense....anger. Like what you would feel from a Radiance during a battle. Can you feel it too?"

Glancing towards the indicated direction, Valeran let her own mind open to the outside vessels before nodding. She could feel it, a sensation that sent shivers through her. She'd never been faced with the anger rolling off of a Radiance Battleship in the middle of a fight, but she was told that it was quite something. "Activate comms, wide band. We don't know how they'll react to telepathy and they might try to contact us that way. And keep an eye on that source you picked up."
 
"There are a lot off big boys out here. I don't like it," Denesther called to her captain. "They take a shot at us I don't know if we'll make it out in one piece." 

It was a good point, but they didn't have many options at the moment. "We aren't going anywhere until the Phase Drive is back online," Valeran observed. "We wait, observe, and then follow the will of the Unity, wherever it may lead."