[@Doc Doctor][@Metatrooper] [center][b]The Cell Block[/b][/center] "Dude! I don't need you to drop me off on a planet." Rufus calls out as Meta walks away. "I have my own ship... well it's sort of mine... I guess. If I can figure out how to get back there. Hey, can you check if it's still there?" [b][center]….[/center][/b] "What's my life to me, son?" Dino replies to Meta, his voice broken by laughter. "I'd say the same yours is to you. Let us both hope your bounty hunting skills are sharper than that tongue of yours." Dino is watching Meta, most likely by way the scanners on Dino's own ship that are following Meta's movements. Dino's surveillance is made clear when Meta enters the armory, only to receive another message from Dino: "Nice man cave. Does it make you feel vital? You really think you're a worthy opponent for a man of my years and training, son? How about you quit while you ca -" Dino's voice is cut off from unknown circumstances. [b][center]On The DGS (Pippa)[/center][/b] "What in the fuck just happened?" Dino turns in his seat at the helm as the ship shakes just a little, directing his question at Pippa. Readouts roll up one of the monitors, displaying detailed telemetry of a another nearby Quatis Shuttle and the flyer that had recently disembarked that shuttle. "I apologize, Admiral." Pippa informs him. "I didn't want to interrupt your conversation with the Bounty Hunter. We were hit by one of our own disruptors." "My old friend, Donny?" Dino chuckles while reading over the specs. "Looks like he was planning a light speed hit and run." He raises a brow, in part impressed, in part amused. "Would have been smart if it wasn't so damn stupid. But now that question is answered, isn't it, Pippa?" "It is, Admiral." Pippa confirms. "Would seem that your old friend Donny has also been hired to kill you." "Quite the shame." Dino rubs his chin and thinks on the matter. "I was hoping for a hand at Poker with the man." He reads through a few more specs that Pippa was showing him on the monitor, and adds; "He's teleported back to the Egress, civilian sector. Smart. Nothing like a primates hostage resolve for a primitive coward." He smirks. Dino sits back for a moment, thinking a few more moments on the situation. "Keep tabs on Meta's activity, and take over any further communications with that comedian." He orders Pippa. "And open a secured communication link to our neanderthal friend." "Understood, Admiral. Link open." [center][b]Civilian Sector. The Egress[/b][/center] Donny didn't get a response from the Grand Minister. In fact, it looks like the Grand Minister deliberately and rudely severed the link when Donny attempted to open a channel to him. Maybe the Minister wasn't happy with Donny's efforts thus far. Still, as soon as the link was severed, Donny would see another secured channel open up on his Transect device. Source, The DGS: "Let's swap numbers, shall we?" Donny hears Dino's voice. "I hereby allow you to contact me on this frequency any time you want, my primitive friend." Dino pauses before continuing. "I see you're a big boy now, Donny, although I wouldn't be handing you a licence any time soon. But it was an impressive effort none the less." He clears his throat sarcastically. "In any case, since you're all grown up and think you're real people now, what do you say about dropping the sad and pathetic I'll-go-ahead-and-take-hostage-if-I-have-to routine and we settle this like real men? If you're not open to a good old fashioned game of cards, I've set up a little jungle arena. You've ever been on a big boy hunt, Donny?" [hr] [@Oh no my soup] The tree was shocked over Magnus’s reaction, and he didn’t take lightly to the accusations about his daughter. The entity formally known as Fanny also backed off a little when Magnus said these things, whistling casually as she ascended to a higher orbit. “I Resent those accusation!” The tree stepped back, though appeared a little nervous. “My daughter is hardly a million years old, she doesn’t know the meaning of sexual harassment! Now just hold on one minute….” He looked at the O’Brian’s and obese lady before taking his sights back to Magnus with a highly questionable glare. “…I understand you are probably upset about my own accusations. But I must look out for my daughters best interests.” His voice becomes a little nervous. “Still… how dare you! Why, I can’t even remember the last time someone was so bold as to challenge my authority in this way. But I will not stand here and be insulted by a mere mortals clever ploy! NEVER!” He settles his tone a little, clearing his throat as one of his limbs give a little scratch to his barked chin; “Besides, I already have a partner. And believe you me, young man, she would be none too happy if I chose a second. She’s a real bitch like that. Nevertheless, under the current circumstance, I’m willing to let you off the hook just this once – but under certain conditions!” The tree then shakes a few of its leaves at the O’Brian’s and obese lady who instantly disappear. “From now on,” He explains the conditions to Magnus; “you will have no further contact with my daughter in any way. If she attempts to contact you, you will do the decent think and tell her to leave. You will avoid her at all cost. Do you understand me? I know this will be hard to do, since she is the hottest damn thing I’ve ever conceived, but failure to abide this condition will result in you spending the rest of your life in a galactic Orlong prison sharing a cell with a large, overly sweaty man named Clunker, who will likely make you his little bitch. Do you understand?” His daughter, still in low orbit about cloud level, sheds a tear as she overhears her father’s words. The saltwater tear has the diameter of a football field as it drops fast towards Magnus, his ship, and the tree. “Oh, stop your crying, child!” The tree yells up at her. “You know I don’t like a cry baby!” He then turns into a swarm of bees and flies away before the titanic tear strikes down….. [hr] [@Quote5] Rufus turns to Ramrod as they exit the room and stoops down to shake his plush hand. “Ramrod, pleased to meet ya my little dude! Thanks for saving my life back there. Rufus owes you one.” Standing straight again, Rufus walks farther into the next room. It’s a strange looking place, maybe a bridge of some sort with floating holographic, semi-transparent consoles, controls and various holographic displays of places throughout the universe. “And this is my ship, little man – Well, to be honest, Ram man, it isn’t really mine. I think I might have inadvertently stolen it. You see…” He looks down at the plush cat; “There I was in my room getting stoned and playing Skyrim. The next thing I know there’s some weird-ass looking hole in the air. A portal I assumed. But you know, Rufus has always been a little on the curious side, so I stepped into the portal and came out the other side on this ship. But dude…” Rufus slaps his head as if trying to get water out of ear or something, and says; “As soon as I arrived it was like something entered my head. It’s like a voice, but it isn’t. I think this ship has a consciousness or something, and it joined with my own brain. I feel like it might own me now….” He looks at Ramrod Scared. “I think it’s reading my every thought.” Just then, Hank speaks up. He is floating in the air beside the other holographic displays and looking good as new: “Ramrod!” He calls out happy. “ – I’m so glad to see you again. Are you okay? I may have been injured but I’m okay now! But the whole time I was hurt all I could do was think about you. I was worried sick!” [hr] “As you wish,” Aoa replies. He follows Siren patiently out to the front door of the capitol where many of the other Sporn gather to meet with R-Core that had been invited. They wait in silence for the formal welcome. [hr] Ernest follows a direct path into the nebula. Again, it’s a beautiful thing to see. The binary suns and grouping of planets within the colorful gases makes for an almost festival-like atmosphere. He eventually arrives at a large planet with all manner of ecosystems. Once in orbit of the giant planet, Ernest is surrounded by a welcoming committee of nearly one hundred bio ships. After they take up a web-like positioning around Ernest, he receives another transmission form the planet: “I am Queen Avika’s Advocate. You have been summoned to meet with our Queen. Choose a representative and have them board a shuttle. Launch the shuttle when you are ready. This shuttle will be escorted to the surface. Our Queen looks forward to making your acquaintance.” [hr] [@CmdrAlfieq] There is a long pause before The Kradam Reply. When they do reply, their tone is calm but staunch: “You request too much information. You are not yet our allies. Nevertheless, We will provide you with substance to our cause. The Otomigus occupy their own Expanse. They are native to their realm. Their existence however is hindering our own expansion. They need to be eliminated. We need their space. They are an inferior life form. They will be destroyed with or without your assistance. However, if you choose to accept our offer, we will grant you a small planet within the Otomigus expanse at the end of the war. The planet will accommodate your people and supply you with an abundance of natural commodities until such a time that you can successfully leave our Domain. We will not be hindered by your presence indefinitely. Respond.”