PrinceAlexus

DELTΔ HYPER (Anti-Gravity Racing, Cyberpunk/Solarpunk RP)

Bellatrix Olympus. Nordic.
Pre Qual company Admin and pre race checks.
20-10-2094

Nordic Call Factory

Marketing meeting.
20-10-2094

“Look, I know you're all jet lagged and everyone's busy, but Marketing and print need answers before the deadline for the shoot, printers and so we can have them shipped ready for December limited release. “ A figure from Marketing came from a screen back in Sweden, several others floated as holo images and others were physically around a board room table in Australia, Sweden and one in London.

“Fine. The sooner we can resolve this the better.” The Teams Principle said, annoyed by the distraction but they needed to quickly nail some details down. “Astrid, others we have nails down and planned, same with our pit series we plan. But we got a few open slots left and Bjorns dropped now, February is in hospital and August never was answered the first time round. “ Came back from one of the Marketing drones.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes that she had to be here and a message telling her off camera from Ren but also agreeing this was a waste of half an hour for her. “Look, I get it. You want me to take at least one slot. Details.” Bellatrix dropped the polite english stereotype for upper class clipped and direct approach.

Astrid nodded, “unless it involves me, I'm leaving.” And she left when no one said she was needed, that sorted that out as Ren pressed for more. “Yes, oh. You're including me now, I'm her social media manager and it fits with my plans.” Her French accent shows its Parisian and some of the less wholesome reputations of the city.

“The suit. Remake the fan campaign.” One said from a screen that was rather small.

“No.” Belaltrix said as soon as mentioned.

“Sunmer. We do nice dress, team colours, or a fjord shot..” Ren answered back as she watched Bellatrix's not safe for work responses privately.

“We need some sell, damn, come on. We already have others willing.” Drone 3 added.

“And my clients not one of those,” Ren said back. “Bella. You go. I'll sort this out.”

“Great, tasteful… no horny goblin stuff” Bellatrix said before she left going straight down to see her Ship sat its Cradle as they did everything to check it over between practice and the qaul tomorrow. It was sleek, her name painted below the canopy and her flag with a now race number on the side.

Bellatrix plopped down and watched, giving the crew a wave. “Just stay out of the way, no offense, we need to do a ton of work in less time than is healthy.” The engineer said as they were having to check how the ship took the upgrades with barely enough time to fully test them. Astrids was out of sight across bay 1 with her own crew. Panels were pulled, whole systems exposed and various cables, ducts, systems were being worked over by a herd of ant-like engineers who had a rather large bin full of energy drinks.

“Good with me.” Bellatrix said as she sat mentally preparing for tomorrow in the busy garage with a keep warm mug of herbal tea. If Astrid had her own prep.. it was whatever she did and her own affair.

She enjoyed just watching right now. Her hotel room was quiet, empty and not even her former partner to send her silly memes and book recommendations. That all ended, but this has begun… So not all downhill. She could bug her younger brother. Older sister prerogative.

Texts.
20-10-2094

Annoying Brother. X.

B. Entertain me…

AB. Its…god what time. No.

B. I'm sitting watching a ship as people argue if I should do a bikini shoot in Sweden. Your day cannot be stranger. Distract me from this madness.

AB. Again. Brother. TMI. I'm happy to be the boring one, gonna be in Orkney next week. Poster, Bella Trixe pixie fairy need heals.

B. Im 5 foot. Not 5 inches. I'm perfect. You're stretched.

AB. Sure, stay safe, that crash on Lunar scared the shit out of us.

B. You know il always try.

AB. Yeah, still. Mum was not sure she wanted you to race again.

B. You know that's never a question. I love this even if it's terrifying at times. I love it more.

AB. Also yes. Go win Pixie. Win and prove the assholes you do not deserve this wrong. I really have to go, I'll catch the race on record.

B. Every damn time Little brother! See me be awesome!

AB. You know it can drink. I've been taller than you since you were like 12 bellapixie.

…

She closed the app after a few gifs where replied to, mostly harmless back and forth until she headed to her room to rest.

….

Qauls..
21-10-2094

Bellatrix was nervous as she pulled on her race suit for the first time in a live race, the first ever time as a top flight racer on a super licensed AG pilot. Nordic logo and sponsors clearly visible with B.Olympus on the back having reduced her name down to a more manageable size.

Her helmet sat to the side, gauntlet, boots… all was brand new and could feel the heavier duty safety features for the higher speeds. For this race she had an emergency alarm in the ship and so just in case a pilot ever went off the track on a very rare chance that also used pressure to push air out the helmet and allow you to breathe as it displaced water.

No pilot hoped to use whatever version of the system each team went in for. Water at speeds they traveled at would be like solid concrete.

…

“And this is Nordic 2, Bwllatrix Olympus lining up for her hot lap.” The commentary said excited to see what the new driver could do. The lap or two before she had been holding off, warming the car up and testing all the systems before she engaged the new upgrades fully to life and felt the G of force into her back as the Anti Grav suddenly jumped up a notch.

“Full power. Online. Ship status. All green.” The AI voice responded in a new accent than before, that was weird to get used to and confirmed her visual display before she streaked past the like at over 250kph into clear track.

Clear track. Bellatrix had delayed her run doing the tests and that worked out to advantage now as she had opened up clear air. The G forces hurt and felt the pressure but this was when she felt even more alive, the most connected to everything and the machine she was in charge of.

The circuit was a strange one and a mix of multiple types, the whole tunnels and lighting were utterly unique. It is disorienting, the lights, the tunnel going under water and part of the challenge. Looping through she banked up the walls and slammed the smooth line though it was a light glimmer turning into lines…

Light. Light. Blinding light as her visor auto darkened into the bright light and resisted very urge to hit the brakes and instead slammed the accelerator instead and entered through a high speed set of curves with a smooth set of turns exploiting her lack of racing traffic.

“great. Keep it up. Above target.” The race team passed to Belltrix who pressed a button on a wheel to confirm without having to think to talk. She was above, not sure on place but she was beating her target and hopefully might be able to give Astrid a run.

It ached a little as she slammed the brakes and then right into a high speed acceleration dancing the car like it was on ice. This was exhilarating as she was over half way through the race track's fast lap. The gantry flashed over her eye line in a fraction of second with multiple icons that turned into blurs at the current speed.

The final section she floored it though, heat with a fractional build up and giving her a blip but she did not have to manage the heat on a hot lap and just carried on, no stopping, no slowing and was passing through the line before she knew it with P10 flashing on her Hud. P10… she was at P10? It took several seconds to believe it as Bellatrix throttled down and pulled aside to let another hot lap pass, a reddish blur of a ship. She had to look after the upgrades and the tech as it was rather more prototype than standard race load out. Heat management was not perfect and they would work on a refinement tonight.

…

“Yes. P10, great lap. Pull into bay 2 this lap.” Someone said over the radio and she acknowledged the instructions gliding the ship smoothly into the pit lane. “Thanks, it's not 100% solid yet, but wow is this fast. "Copy that. You sure its 10?” Bellatrix replied and glided past the other team's bays to her own.

"Its 10 on the main board, its real." They replied more softly and confirmed the result that was showing on the main boards and the teams displays.

…

The Interview.
21-10-2094

Bellatrix was still in her race gear as she headed to the interview with most of the suit tied about her waist, a tank top with Nordic logo and a matching cap with the team logo on. She looked the part and crews had told her to wear the race suit. Look like a real pilot to anyone doubting her. Taking her sunglasses off, she entered the dome and smiled with her red hair tired back bouncing in an easy braid. “Thanks, I'm happy to be here, I see you have the air conditioning.”

Bellatrix was drinking from a bottle of water and paused. The heat was… oppressive for a woman who was from Wales and spent the last few weeks in cold Nordics, not the tropics. “I must say, thanks to the engineers, and the factory team, they deserve the credit. They have worked some crazy hours to pull this off and bring this upgrade to life.” Bellatrix finished her first part with a mention to those who deserved the recognition.

“Its not over till last laps tomorrow, im not counting my points yet, but it's been a beautiful place to have my first race and im really happy with where i have qualified.” She was not gonna count her success until it was delivered, anything could happen on the race track.

She kept it simple and answered a few smaller questions that came her way. But all in all it was a pretty easy interview.

…

Stratagy Meeting. Board Room. Above Pit lane.
21-10-2094

“Right, lets get down to it. P10, and P16, we could do far worse and we got a decent ship about the track even if stability is a must here, speed is better for the long run.” The race strategist said with a nod to all about them in the small track side board room over the pit lane. “It's how we get Astrid up, and keep Bella on the points.” They finished as the big holo map came up with various information, the places and who was between the two Nordic drivers as well as who might hold up Bellatrix.

“We push, surprise early, Bella is new, car is new. Take early advantage. While fresh, defend later if the ship is risking over heat.” Astrid said what was a long one for the famous woman of a few words to many.

“I did not come here to sit in the back field, if we can take an early advantage before the fast movers open a lead.” Bellatrix added, she was new here and only on her first race but no one joined this sport to slow down. They had a new car, they had a great place for a newbie Pilot, but why should they not try and push faster, further and take it to them than defend all races.

“Even if a Podium is unlucky, we can race like we mean to take it.” The Team Principal said with a nod and a small smile. He wanted this, he wanted them trying to take even if they did not succeed. They would not progress without taking risks.

“Astrid, can push up, she can hopefully clear the back traffic and link up, Bellatrix holds and tries, but if you have to, just hold around 10 till we can get you two ladies supporting each other.” The race planners looked at the holograms and agreed with the table around them. They had a chance to get some decent points on the leader board and going to take it.

“This track needs stability, it's a fast one but watch the power. It's easy to spin out. Overheating, we should get a hang on.” One engineer said with a swig of an energy drink and a small yawn. “We have one. Maybe two goes on emergency coolant, after that it's on the pilot to keep it out of the red zone.” He finished and was snacking on a breakfast bar.

“No pressure guys, just keep the prototype from having a melt down.” Bellarix said sarcastically but did not mind really, the ship was an upgrade and way better than anything she used before. But just would be a rather more particular machine to keep in check.

“To plan, first 10, race plan?” Astrid cut right to the heart of the matter as they built their race plan, what codes would be and what to do about certain racers who might be behind or in front of each pilot. "We all want sleep." Astrid said bluntly, but that was Astrid. She did not sugar coat things or pretend.

The two pilots they had where polar opposites but they both could race.

…

Pilots Chat.
21-10-2094

---

Pilots’ Group Chat

Bea Welcome to the madhouse, Bella.

Paul Hello Bella! Welcome to the group pilots chat! So tell us, what is it like working with Astrid?

Bea @Astrid Do we get told why switch now or are you sticking up for Bjorn like a good teammate?

Paul @Bea It does make you wonder if they call her Astrid the crank or something behind her back.

Bellatrix. Astrid. Is .. different, but I'll soften her up to join me on my game night stream one day.

Astrid. @Paul. New needs. New came. End . Bella sang in the sauna. Disney… Chaos personified.
No. I am a rock.

Bellatrix. And water erodes rock. Slowly. Race, lets all finish in one piece yeah. We doing exploding kittens this week, its way less horrific than it sounds.

Ps. Who uses a Sauna in this weather? Nordics be strange.

…

Bellatrix might be chaotic, loud and play to the younger fans but she was a serious methodical and very much tough racer on the track, not flashy but once she got on the hunt, Bellatrix did not quit and kept the pressure up until a crack was found.

…

Hotel Room.
21-10-2094

The views from her room near the track were insane, the vistas and view was beyond beautiful but she was not really looking at that. Bellatrix tossed and turned that night before the race, she might present a good media face and on the track use her fears as fuel. However right now she felt the same as she always did in her first race. Doubts, fears and nervousness. She even had a glass of wine to try and calm down while she did some breathing exercises but that relief was temporary.

This team was strange, they brought a portable sauna…to what felt like a giant open air sauna, that would not be giving her rest right now.

The only relief would be getting in her ship and letting those fears be redirected into racing.

Empire of the Clouds

Post Captain Le Marinier

Telagrams and Talks.
.455 Hot

Airship.
Stand off.

…

The Post Captain did not want to kill a man over gold that never even belonged to him, not more than he had to to be alive. At the end of the day, he might still be a soldier and an officer but he did not pull the trigger lightly. If he did, it was because he had to and shooting a man in the back felt wrong.

The other was gesturing to women to cover them and the Favis soldier was actively hunting Carter. What a shit show. “Carter. No way out. For Christ's sake, you cannot sell bullion bars on the open markets. Take your knocks, drop the damn gun and come out.” He shouted out as the noise rose, " please don't, run he thought, for God's sake, the gold was gold but it was not worth dying over like this in a dark cargo hold.

“Running now only makes things worse. We can end this now." He tried, it was bad but come on, the crack of a second shot had him working out where it came from and instinctively ducking down into cover. He was not alive for being stupid, all this gold was bullet proof.

Then the door at the back began to open and the man he had drank with and shared an easy cigar with made his run for the rope. They were tied up and many metres in the air. No where to go in a foreign city. What the hell was he going to do?

He pulled the trigger and let loose a shot but something in him could not shoot a man who was not shooting but running however he acted guilty and he jerked pulling the muzzle a few inches to the left off target. The heavy .455 pistol made his ears ring in the cargo hold and he watched the man go out of sight as smoke wafted from the barrel and he lowered the weapon with a feeling that he would have preferred to have shared a Favis rum in his town house across the world than almost end the man in a cargo hold in a foreign land.

“Gold, all this for bloody gold.” The captain cursed and looked around glaring regardless if a gun was aimed at him. He was not scared, having already been killed multiple times in his life. “Maybe I should just call in the Marines.” He said and wondered if this was worth causing an incident, taking over and handing this over to the official authorities once they arrived.

Empire of the Clouds

Post Captain Le Marinier

Telagrams and Talks.
.455 Hot

Airship.
Stabd off.

…

The Post Captain was thinking of taking one of the staff up on the offer at a Lunch and a drink at a local club they were members of the “The Peracles Club” was a local venue that favoured diplomats, foreign traders and other sorts who were more transient than the older clubs would be happy with. It offered food, a good bar and a private place to discuss matters outside of official settings and avenues or so he had been told. It was perfect and he knew who to ask for to be invited in as a guest.

That nice afternoon was shaken away from him as Itzi ran up then ran away deeper into the diplomatic district where most had been established and clustered together usually out of shared purpose but also having access to the things all valued being the same. “Carter, attack? what…” He called out as she left and his thoughts of a quiet glass of port catching up with a local newspaper was shattered. “Damnit.”

He was not as fast, fit or agile as he was when he was a younger man but the diplomat could put on a steady fast pace as he said quickly and quietly to one of the guards on duty. “Pass this on. Someone might be after the foreign treasury, tell them to get the Alert section to arms, just in case.”

He said that and turned quickly to the airship as he looked towards the spire of cast iron and so across the city. Damn he really wanted that drink. But he patted where his revolver was, his pockets had some Favian Marine and other bits he had been given as replacement for his lost items.

He made it quickly for the airship, his leg hurt from the fact he banged a lamppost thanks to one eye and they only flared up but now he had to. He made quick time and looked up as he saw the battle marked airship they had traveled on come closer and closer. It towered over him as he was involved by its shadow.

The sea bag bounced and he probably should have left it at the embassy. He dropped that just inside the airship and drew his heavy revolver moving forward slowly, deliberately scanning the area as he compensated for his narrowed vision head on a swivel.

Quiet, slow. He moved delicately clearing each passageway till he reached the cargo areas. He had to steady his breathing and calm his hands, this was a young man's game and wished he had a few Favian Marines at his back but this was bloody sensitive and seizing the gold could start a damn war.

He stayed in the shadows, to the side of the side access door anyone shooting at the sound would hit open air. He used his tone he used to use for giving orders in loud, chaotic and such spaces where a single number mis translated could mean a hit, a miss, or a death. “This is Post Captain Le Mariner, Favain Navy. STAND DOWN. I AM ARMED. DO NOT TEST ME..”

He had considered a long gun but this was too cramped. The metal bar he found would be more useful than a long rifle and bayonet. Plus he was rather out of practice with one. The Revolver not so.

The police woman was calling Carter out to surrender but he was told someone attacked him? Stealing, what on earth was the real story. Of course this was a fucking mess. Maybe he should have taken a Marine section and secured the gold himself until someone sane could bloody take this stuff. It was more trouble than it was worth. “First thing. Anyone shot. Has anyone hurt? Sound off now. Second. Mr Carter. As a Officer, i hope you hold some honour to your oath and as a gentleman. Is this true.” He wanted to gauge if anyone was wounded inside, what had happened but he was not gonna be stupid and expose himself fully to fire until he used voices to try and triangulate people in the room or at least who was maybe present.

He really should have just gone for that bloody drink sooner and avoided this… keeping one eye about the flanks. He was not gonna be caught off guard if could not be helped. He had come to see the man as a friend, he would rather know if what he did from his own words to judge instead of hearsay.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Syraeia Leela “Sy-a” Inn Keeper

Eye of the Beholder. Happy Snek.

Hugged Snake. Yay.

Snakey Nakey skeepy snake.

Sya smile reached her eye, tail and was clearly happy about showing her new library and also her chair. She had something to be proud of to share with her friends and maybe a little childish but a woman only ever got given her first library once.

“See Eriisss, my home is yoursss. Vou my Egg box. This good. ” Sya said genuinely as she flopped into what looked like a little snug nest of pillows in a tall room with double height windows that looked out over the town. It was an absurd luxury and she loved it all the more for it. Her books were somewhat less scientific as she reached over for a copy of the “The Lusty Argonian maid, by Crassius Curio” that sat on a low table. Sya had a tail, she was born and that fear Eris had shown that time had cut her to her very heart, but Sya did forgive and she might have changed but still was her friend should Eris want her.

Sya might have been born to a borderlands village and still had issues, maths took time, writing was slow. The Lamia was far from stupid and her parents had made sure she was as educated as their stations allowed the now blight born in keeper to be. “Eris. Sister, I meant… home was…yours. To. You. Come. Welcome. Time. Any. My .. Headman. Father taught me, learn. Talk. traders.” Sya said in carefully pronounced Auralian, her tone was slow and deliberate but Sya was far more fluent in the general tongue and her own harsher native language. It had been a while since she spoke a more formal language like this.

Sya stopped with a visible effort she put into saying that those memories hurt but she also had to try and break the ice with her friend and hoped that helped.

Sya turned a single bright eye on The large man, it was a good job this room was double height and open. He was huge. Leaving it in her main storage, that was fine. The staff could easily move things up another time.. well move it. Maybe not easily. “Thanks, it's get something for vou.” said , rising as she said the words and slithered off with an exaggerated motion down a corridor at a surprising speed. Sya had least learned how to move even if it was strange. “Stay, both.” She said again as she vanished into her bedroom and office where one of her cash boxes was and looked about for her keys before she opened it with a click and found the one for the lock.

…

The Lamia returned cheerfully with a small leather purse of coins, 2 small bottles, 1 larger one and dropped the coins into his hands for payment. She had paid fairly and maybe a little generously for his services. “Payment, fair, gold. Sssstaff sort chair. We do later.” Sya said and her much smaller hand closed his fingers around the bag and dropped back to pick up a tray, 3 glasses and poured out 3 servings of a clear liquid with a strong smell of alcohol.

“I make this special, vy own. Shine. Proof. Burns. Real kind. Not like veak imports.” This was a small batch she made stronger and on a smaller scale. Scale.. he he. This was proof, at least half alcohol but she had got this higher, this was genuine shine of serene and made with great care and love of the craft. “To Eggs, good eggs. Vou are.” Sya offered the glasses and took one of her own, Sya swayed but remained balanced without thought, it was weird like that…

It might be a surprise to Eris, this stuff she made was .. potent. But this was a slice of her homeland and culture. Sya shared it willingly.

“Drink. Toast, Ves. You friends.” Sya said, swaying slightly as light reflected off the deep blue of her lower body and her dull iron ring she bore on upper arm as an imitation of her previous jewelry. She was becoming more old, new and both herself. Sya did not think too hard about that.

Sya just looked hopeful and used her confidence to convince everyone to go along with her, Sya would give her the .. eye, her large emotive eye to convince everyone to follow Sya's lead. The bottles Sya offered as gifts.

Just Sya doing Sya things.

@Fetzen@The Muse

Ban the User Above You

Banned. For brooding in no brooding roadway.

Only dancing, mad cackling and basket weaving riding a flying goat is permitted on Mondays.

Empire of the Clouds

Post Captain Le Marinier

Telagrams and Talks.
New Uniforms.

Favian Embassy.
An Interlude.

…

“I need to speak with someone, someone now. Post Captain Le Mariner, Favisn Royal Navy military attache. Arrived in the airship." Captain le Mariner presented his credentials and caused chaos as people ran about and several rapid fire conversations occurred before he sat with a senior member of the consulate who was writing everything down from start to end as they went over events from the early fall to the present day.

“You know about any others, you're listed as missing, we know most of the Marines were lost making time and the garrison we had was heavily bracketed by artillery. Very few made it sadly. Anything we can tell families.” The woman asked as a senior aide and staff here was able to get a debrief from the member of the military side of the fallen embassy.

“Like I said. The ambassador said to make our own best escapes, I saw the Marine..Captain fall, brave man Lyon, he was leading the defense of the garden aide until they swarmed the gate. One Private Mallory, escaped with us aboard the airship. Most of them are mixed. A few I think might be hiding things or want a share but mostly just running on survival.” He paused as he took a tea and someone ran in with a note about another question as they resumed asking about what the enemy was like, and if they captured any airships.

“Far as I am, there is none. Intact. Mostly mech and cav, rail. The trade area was pretty heavily bombarded and this was the last available that could fly. Trade ships were burning bright ” He said with a clear tone as they moved through questions and it would take a while to answer all the consulates questions and such.

…

“Gold, it's in the lower hold, a bunch of fancy booze too. There are a few mixed feelings, the Officers won out for now, but that's a lot of money on that ship, enough to fund an army or maybe a Dreadnought.” He admitted as they talked back about the fort they escaped and what might be left behind. “Some, we were rushed and barely took off at that,

“Damn, at least it's not in enemy hands but we could have done with that.” She said and added a slug of Favian brandy to their drinks. “You know it's bad, but at least we can pass a direct account, not just rumours.” She added clinking cups as they nodded, and thought about all who had not made it.

“Excuse me, it's Marie, she says she had a basic uniform made up, but the rest will be sent later.” And promptly vanished as the door closed.

“Oh, the Trade envoys wife makes a good income as a seamstress here, we ordered a Captain's uniform for a Marine but they mixed up and sent us the Post Captains rank markers, along with a guard captain 's hat and a captain's sabre… I give up.” She said with a lighter tone. “Now we handle the business, pass your message and we will inform Favis you're alive, and pass a message to your brother and family.” she said as got up to brief her own people on what she found out. They had lost a lot of people, too many. But far as they knew the secrets were not captured.

“Long days, I understand.” He said as they both nodded and the woman stood up and she took a whole pile of notes with her from their meeting, hand drawn rough maps and a rough estimate of the gold.

“Duty calls, for both of us. Do attend the Royal Event, we need more eyes on the movers.” She said with a look that told she knew how the game was played and that just because you were allies did not mean you took everything at face value.

“Aye, its when they quiet i worry” he said as she left leaving him to his thoughts.

…

Message.

“I am alive, not wounded and escaped the city Via Airship. I hope this calms yours and sisters' concern. I'll send a longer message later. The lines are busy. Fathers desk is not yours yet.

Hamelin.”

He said closing the Telegram and placing next to one coded in a cipher, longer official and intended for eyes in the Favian diplomatic core. Both to be sent soon as they got a spot on the telegram lists.

“Send these. Please.” He added them to a large wooden tray that had multiple sealed documents inside for dispatch labeled for home and abroad.

…

In a new clean uniform, the fit was a little out but better than he could expect on this time line. He saw the sun still shining over the city and the shade cast by the great air ship masts. He had done his duty to pass on what he knew and had seen, the whole battle for the fort, the escape, the valley, the gold. So much had happened in a short time.

He left the embassy feeling lighter with a sea bag, a promise of new clothes and access to contacts and links back home again. He would have to send the young private down to pass on what he could add, what could help them to make the best of what was a growing and ever difficult time.

…

Next, back to the airship? Maybe a bar to get a drink? He could do with a drink after dredging up the memories of the fire and fall of the capital? He saw the air ships in the sky at its mooring high above the city. One was theirs still with its patches and battle damage.

Ban the User Above You

Banned. You have been exiled to the lands of Telly Tubby Land.

Is it just me, or are profiles 10 years or older kinda terrifying?

We not scary. And not 10 years. Yet anyway.

Ban the User Above You

Banned for dramatically brooding in a corner. The inn was a perfect circle.

How high can we count before a mod gets involved?

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