13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1520

What a mess... worse than the op in Philly two years ago.

Haywire looks at the dead people, trying to figure out if they killed themselves, each other, or were killed by something else.

Then she starts to sweep through the ship, looking for threats, both magical and otherwise.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1525

The man slumped over the counsel dressed in some kind of jumpsuit was shot in the back and his pistol is holstered. There is a pistol on the floor near the man by the wheel. He was shot in the stomach multiple times. It's impossible to tell if his weapon was discharged.

She sweeps through the ship quickly as she is not impeded by any wards. She sees a few more signs of violence. A few shipmen on the deck - not killed by gunshots however - and as she travels into the ship's lower decks Haywire encounter a corpse that appears to have been mauled in a walkway.

Haywire has been gone a decent amount of time by now and Captain might be waiting for an update on the situation by now.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1525

Time to return.

Haywire flies back to the "Delivery", rentering her body. It always feels good to be back in her own body, in the real world, even if it takes her a secnd to reorient herself. Then she uses her comm again, filling Deanna and Secoiya in about what she found.

"... and all the crew I saw is dead... violently. Some were shot, one looks like mauled by something. And the wards, powerful ones, were ripped to shreds, which means whatever it was, it was awakened. Spirit or dual-natured critter."

Rechecking her Alpha's status again through her skinlinked smartlink, Haywire steps on deck, watching the research ship as the Delivery draws closer to it.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1526

McArrister speaks through your commlink, "well, there had to be some reason the ship is drifting. You see anything valuabled down there?"

She acknowledges your negative reply as you come back on deck. You see that the Delivery is approaching close to the research vessel, only a few hundred yards off and making a circle around the ship's perimeter.

"Did you need to scan the ship more in astral or you think we are ready to board? I'm not seeing any electronic signatures at all from the sensor pod and the ship's deck material is heat shielded so I can't see any sign of life."

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1527

Haywire nods.

"I'll sweep through the lower parts of the ship quickly, don't want any hidden surprises."

She returns to belowdecks, and again leaves her body to conduct a quick sweep of the remaining parts of the ship.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1527

You return to the vessel and head below deck. At first glance things are normal except for the occasional mauled corpse. You see the sleeping quarters, the mess-hall, and a few storages areas. After the first below deck is clear you head down another level.

This stairs open into a long hallway running the length of the ship. There are only three doors - all ajar. One nearly halway up on the left the other a bit further out and the last on the opposite side of the entrance.

You investigate the compartment on the left first, looking through the door. It appears to be lined with small awakened critters held in cages stacked on top of each other. There are several tables covered with and array of scientific equipment. Alarmingly there are several large cages open and empty.

Just as your mind begins to wonder what used to be in them, you hear a low growling noise and the sharp sound of claws on metal. As you turn around you see a massive mastiff - pure white with a row of sharp spines down its back and glowing read eyes - slowly walking out of the next room.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1527

Dual-natured mice... and rabbits... strange... but should fetch a good price...

Then Haywire hears the growling, and turns around, cursing as she spots the mastiff.

SHIT!

Haywire tries to fly up through the ceiling as soon as she spots the creature, before it can rip her astral form to shreds as it must have ripped the ward to shreds.

Gotta have to put some steel planking between me and the critter... and there were more cages open!

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1527

Haywire quickly puts a solid bulkhead between her and the awakened creature. It looked like that thing could have been responsible for the mauled corpses seen along the way. And there were several cages open so who knows if there were any more loose.

By the size of this ship though it doesn't look like Haywire has seen enough dead crewmen. Maybe some of them got away? Then again, it's also unsual that a vessel like this would go unarmed or without an escort vessel.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1527

Where are the other crew members, and the researchers? Holed up somewhere, or fled?

Haywire tries to remember if she noticed any of the life boats or other emergency gear missing.

I can't use spells from a safe range in those corridors... this is just like that hive in new jersey...

Haywire flies around the ship, and enters from another direction, more to the front, to make a quick and cautious sweep through part of the sections she hadn't been in before, before returning to the "Delivery".

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1527

The remainder of this ship is much the same. One thing stands out however. On the third lower deck contains the higher ranking members of the crew's quarters you encounter a quarter which has been modified into a lodge and you are unable to pass through it without imposing your will on the lodge's protection.



The lodge appears to be of a higher force than your magic rating and it is aspected towards shamanistic magic.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1530

Haywire returns quickly to the "Delivery" and to her meat body, and reports her findings to her boss and Secoiya.

"They got the hold full of dual-natured critters. Some bigger ones must have broken out, and masscred some of the crew - there's at least one big mastiff roaming in the ship. I didn't find who shot the crew on deck, but there's a magical lodge in the ship, with strong shielding. Stronger than I have."

Haywire looks at Deanna.

"Something doesn't add up - someone shot those people."

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1530

McArrister digests your information, "alright, so no moving people."

Then she hits Haywire with a barrage of questions, "So everyone's either dead, gone, or in that lodge right? What about the controls, do they work or are they just turned off? And those animals are worth something, right?"

She seems less concerned over the why and more about whether its worth going on board.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1530

Haywire nods, and gives her opinion and findings.

"That's it in a nutshell. I didn't see any living people, but the interiour of the ship is rather convulted, and I did not check the area with the mastiffs too closely- those things are bad news, even or especially in astral space.

I can't say anything about the controls, astral space doesn't show them, I can't even read signs from astral space."

Wish they'd tell people that in school... stupid trid shows...

"The animals are worth some serious money - dual natured creatures are used for various magic ressources, and some are used as pets too - or as a sort of cheap astral security."

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1535

McArrister nods at your explanation, from Haywire's experience she is fairly green as far as her experience with the awakened world is concerned.

"What about that lodge, would that have anything valuable, or would we be able to go in there at all?" she asks.

Secoiya sits still during this conversation, clearly waiting for a decision to move in.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1535

Haywire thinks about that, choosing her words carefully. She doesn't want to lie, but she isn't too keen on getting into more magical trouble that she can handle.

"It could have valuables in there, but some of those might be bound and therfore traceable... and it could have a mage and others hiding in there."

Not my idea of an easy target.

Haywire wrinkles her nose.

"We could enter the lodge easily if we're not magcailly active, or at least the lodge would not keep us out, just physical measures like locks. But I have no idea what or who is behind that barrier. Could be anything and nothing..."

We should keep it simple, and stick to easy loot... but she's the boss.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1535

McArrister motions Secoiya closer and speaks slowly as she tends to do when making a decision, "Okay, here's the plan. We'll secure a path from the Delivery to the second lowerdeck and transport the magically active animals back here. Soon as that's done we get out."

She pauses for a second, clearly not done, "Sec, you are going to go in hot down on to the second lowerdeck with Haywire as backup and clear out that mastiff." She turns to Haywire, "you think there's any chance we can take them back alive or are they too dangerous?"

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1535

She wants to get the mastiffs? Oh my god...

Haywire swallows the first response she thinks of - it's her boss, after all - and answers with more words, and less questioning of Deanna's sanity.

"I am not sure how to transport them - they broke out of their cages on the Azzie ship, so we know those cannot hold them. And tranquing them might be tricky, since some of those paracritters process toxins really fast."

Do we even have tranquilisers? Sec's machine gun won't really leave them in any shape even remotedly close to "alive".

Haywire continues in her best "With all due respect, Sir, I do have my doubts about your plan" voice.

"I'd recommend shooting them, and worrying about possible usable parts once the rest of the cargo is secure."

Haywire glances at Secoiya, to see what the woman thinks of this - she's got relatives selling awakened weed, so she might know more about paranormal stuff.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1540

Secoiya shrugs, “I’ve got a dart gun if you want me to try to bring them down safe but I’m not sure I trust any of my formulas to bring down a magical dog as big as a mastiff.�

McArrister considers her options for a moment, “alright, never mind trying not to harm it then. Go in there, take down anything hostile, and secure any awakened animals safe enough for transport.�

She looks at Haywire, “I’m going to have you deal with that. Anything you think is safe enough to take we take. Also be on the lookout for anything else valuable that you don’t think would be magically traceable.

“I have an idea where I can get rid of these goods fast but I don’t want an Aztech hit squad knocking down my doors.

“Meanwhile I’m going to take care of securing the ship and I’m going to see if the ship’s systems are still functional from the bridge and maybe I can figure out what happened.�

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1540

"Aye aye, Captain."

Haywire grips her Alpha, a slight sense of warmth running through her as the smartlink connect, and scans the ship before following Secoiya up to the main deck.

Not going to take anything that could be dangerous... especially not magical stuff...

Haywire feels very tense when setting foot on the deck, looking around over the muzzle of her rifle, covering Secoiya as the two check the deck and make their way to the entrance to the interiour, Haywire sending out rough directions over the commlink.

"Don't take any risks, Sec - if it moves and is not in a cage, shoot it."

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1544

Secoiya nods and flashes a big grin, "Check, lets go before we get underneath the eyes in the sky."

Haywire and the rest brace themselves as the Delivery takes a jolt as it pulls along side the Aztech vessel. They can see the name of the ship emblazoned on the side in large red lettering: "AZB2983 El Viajero."

Secoiya zips up her armor and climbs - with her heavily modified assault rifle strapped to her back - up the metal ladder welded onto the side of the ship and Haywire follows in her steps. McArrister begins to work on setting up a way to transport the cages back onto the Delivery and bring up her drones.

"All clear up here far as heat sources are concerned," Secoiya says over the commlink, "lets head to the lowerdeck. McArrister's going to be up in a second and she'll head to the bridge."

She moves decisively - her weapon at the ready - across the main deck towards the portal utilizing various cover just incase some threat escaped detection. She waits for Haywire behind a crate - secured a few feet from the portal to the lowerdeck - and speaks once they are both together, "alright, you good to go? From what you said there's probably a big magic dog down there somewhere, so make sure you are ready."

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1544

Haywire snorts. The crosshairs from her weapon as well as the rangefinder and ammo counter are visible in her field of view as she looks around, answering Secoiya.

"I saw the thing, so trust me, I made damn sure I am ready. It's a bloody big dog, so don't take any chances."

Haywire follows Secoiya as they move forward, sliding a bit to the side so their fields of fire overlap on the portal, just in case.

Like in the text book...

Haywire is a bit nervous, but also excited. For all the grief and pain she got at Knight Errant, there's something to those missions, a thrill, a kick she doesn't get often when she's not flirting with danger.

When she reaches the portal, Haywire is pumped up, and smiling.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1545

Secoiya nods and motions for Haywire to follow as she steps through the portal and into the corridor. She takes a quick looks inside and speaks through the commlink, “You said this deck was all-clear, so moving on.�

She steps up to the portal heading into the stairwell and peeks into it. “Seems clear, follow me and be ready to blast shit.�

She heads into the stairwell and carefully picks her way down the tight spiral steps down into the next level. She motions for you to stop as she slows her breathing and takes peek out into the corridor.



As she waits, Haywire hears the distant clatter of nails on steel echoing off the metal walls through the corridor.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1545

Haywire bites her lips, trying to discern where that sound came from, gripping her assault rifle and glancing behind her, just in case.

I don't like this...

"Come, puppy, come to momma, I got some hot FMJs for you."

I sound like the old sarge...

Haywire shifts her position a bit, to get a better angle in case something jumps Secoiya.

Not that bullets will do any good with her so close... I'll have to manabolt the dog if he jumps Sec...

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1545

Haywire hears Secoiya’s voice over the commlink, “Corridor is clear. I hear at least two of them – big fuckers from the sound of them – but the echoes make it hard to pinpoint which compartment they are in.�

She hesitates for a second, the red blinking emergency light washing over the stairwell, “Lets move in, I don’t like to sit and wait with the clock ticking.�

She moves forward a step and then pauses, “you don’t know what these things can do, do you?�

Suddenly interrupting your conversation, Haywire hears McArrister over the comm, “I’m on the bridge, I’ll let you know if I find anything or if I can bring the systems back up.�

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

Haywire shakes her head, even though Secoiya can't see her.

"Sorry, I am not sure what they can do. I am reasonably sure they are not hellhounds, so they should not be able to spit fire, but I don't know what weird powers they could have."

If they were cats we cold probably drawthem out with a ball of yarn rolling through the corridor... a hand grenade would be perfect, but then... they're astrally active, probably not going for technological devies without a living aura...

Haywire blinks.

I don't like doing this, but...I don't like getting biten even less...

"Sec, hold on... I'll conjure up some bait..."

Gathering herself, Haywire starts to conjure up an astral construct - a watcher. Astral cannon fodder.



Forming the little bugger doesn't strain Haywire - she doesn't use more than the minimal force; the wacther won't last long anyway, its role is bait.

Once Secoiya is ready, Haywire orders the watcher to materialise and zip up and down the corridor, but not entering the other rooms, hopefully drawing the paranormal dogs out into hers and Secoiya's field of fire.

Let's see if they bite…

Haywire pulls her assault rifle to her shoulder and shifts into a better stance.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

Haywire pulls her assault rifle to her shoulder and shifts into a better stance.

The doomed watcher spirit zips along the corridor. You hear a frightening howl echo through the corridor sending a paralyzing chill through your bones.

At the same time as the watcher passes the portal past the first compartment, a mastiff springs out in a white blur and tears the watcher apart in a single bite.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

Haywire feels the chill deep in her bones as her joints and muscles seem to contract and stiffen, slowing down her reaction time.

Infront of her she sees Secoiya suffering from a similiar fate as she slows down and shakes her head trying to clear out the noise in her reaction to the barghest.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

Oh damn...

Haywire remains frozen in place for a second, paralysed by the terrible noise, then recovers, but still acting more sluggishly than before, and not as fast as she was - and wants to be. She just hopes she and Secoiya are still fast enough.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

The barghest slides hard into the corridor wall - the watcher torn apart with its teeth - but it rebounds unphased and stares the two humans down with gleaming red eyes.



The Barghest steps forward a few steps and levels it's glare on Secoiya, looking her straight in the eyes, lips raises, baring sharp teeth and froth.



Secoiya steels her will to fight the beasts power but she buckles under its glare and to Haywire's suprise stumbles to the ground as she steps backwards in fear and rights herself only to scramble to the stairs.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

Damn... the thing spooked Sec... probably some fear power...

"Let's see how you deal with bullets, dog!"

Haywire snarls, moving out of Secoiya's way, and pulls the trigger of her Ares Alpha, sending a stream of bullets at the barghest.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

The barghest takes the first burst mostly to its chest and left quarters and its front legs buckle under him and collapses to the deck, the second burst ends its struggle to stand back up on the blood slickened metal floor.



Haywire sees the second barghest - only heard and not seen till now - pad out of the second compartment and feels the penetrating heat of its glare staring into her soul.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

Haywire steels herself, trying to resist the glare, grinding her teeth.

It's just some supernatural scare... you've seen worse girl...



The blonde woman is panting and shaking, cold sweat running down her back, but she doesn't run.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

Growling in frustration at Haywire's resistance to its power, the Barghest charges at her through the corridor, nearly slipping at first on its mate's blood, but immediately gathering herself into a missle of muscles and teeth aimed straight for Haywire's throat.

The creature will be on top of her in within a split second, though ducking into the stairwell would allow Haywire to potentially avoid the charge.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

Damn!

Haywire curses, and tries to dodge out of the way of the attacking animal. Her skillwires would want her to block, but her kickboxing skillsoft is not exactly fine tuned to handle animal attacks, so she prefers to simply dive away into the stairway.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

Just as the barghest is nearly on top of Haywire, and as she moves to dive out of the way, she sees Secoiya pull shake her head clear, raise her assault rifle to her shoulder and squeeze out a pair of burst shots over your shoulder.



Haywire is momentarily deafened by the automatic fire from directly behind her and the second barghest crashes into a bloody pile and slides towards you, stopping a few feet away with a final whimper.

McArrister's voice over the commlink cuts through the silence, "what the hell's going on down there? You guys okay?"

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

Haywire shakes her head, trying to clear her ears.

"Thanks, Sec."

I should get some earbuds with dampening.

Using her implanted commlink, she informs McArrister about the situation.

"We took down two of those critters, they can paralyze and fear you. Proceeding to check if there's a third one."

Haywire holds out her hand as Secoiya moves ahead, and starts to focus her magic again, forming another watcher spirit.

"Hold on Sec - I'll whip up another bait."



She has more trouble handling the mana this time, but manages to form a watcher spirit, ordering it to zip up and down the corridor, and check for astrally-active threats.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

The watcher zips along the lenght of the corridor multiple times without incident. The only sounds are from the barks, growls and hisses of the caged animals and the muffled clatter of the drones on the main deck.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1546

"Looks clear."

Haywire turns to Secoiya, still tense and sweating. She's still feeling the adrenaline in her blood that the fight caused.

"Let's bundle the caged critters up and load them on the Delivery."

Haywire tells the wtacher to keep an eye out for astral intruders, and moves to the room with the animals, still with her rifle at the ready.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1550

McArrister’s voice comes through the commlink once again, “the ship is secured. Unfortunately the electronics are completely gone. Looks like they activated a self-destruct system that zapped all the electronics and wiped all electronic information from the ship. I got nothing on what happened here other than what can be deduced from the physical evidence.�

A moment later as Sec and Haywire head into the first compartment McArrister speaks again, “I’m sending some drones down to help you collect the cages. Just pass on whatever is valuable to them and let them do the grunt work. And don’t forget to look around for magical material incase you find anything.�

As she finishes speaking you hear the sound of metal on metal as a series of walker drones head down the stairs into the corridor.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1550

"Gotcha, boss."

Haywire moves out of the way for the walker drones, then starts loading them with the caged paracritters.

"Get all those to the Delivery."

Hope Deanna is listening, I am not sure those drones understand me.

After that is done, Haywire signals Secoiya.

"Ok... now let's check for magical material... carefully, we're not going near that lodge yet, but you never know."

Haywire checks if her watcher is still on the job, then proceeds to search this area of the ship for more valuables. She's nervous, the danger, and the threat of more "salvage operators" arriving keeping her on edge.

"Greed kills..."

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1600

Haywire and Secoiya practically ransack the two compartments looking for any valuable materials. It doesn't take them long to find a locked metal cabinet with thick glass window panes with a neatly labeled and stored variety of magical materials.

There doesn't look to be enough to make large quantities of magical goods. There is an amply supply to experiment with as Haywire is fairly certain was being done here, and it should still bring in a good amount of money.

Secoiya comes over once she sees Haywire looking at the cabinet, "you think it'd be safe to shoot it open or should we get McArrister down here?"

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1600

Haywire studies the cabinet, also giving it a quick look over on the astral. She doesn't spot anything strange



"Unless there's a mechanical trap or so it should be safe, but I think we'd better cut than shoot."

Haywire slings her rifle and draws her monosword, looking for a weak spot like hinges. Her blades skillsoft is active, and she feels a bit distanced - the way she suddenly knows how to strike just feels not that natural. More like in a matrix game - you give a mental order, and the character does the rest. She knows it's just psychological, or at least the KE shrink claimed that last time she saw him, but still...

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1612

Haywire begins working on cutting open the cabinet. Just as she thinks she is about to get it open, McArrister’s voice barks through the commlink, “contact! Get back on the Delivery ASAP!�

Instantly, Secoiya tucks her assault rifle behind her back and darts out into the corridor.

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1612

Haywire sprints after Secoiya, using her commlink to ask for more information and swapping clips in a tactical reload so she has a full clip in her assault rifle.

"What kind of contact? Do we have a visual?"

Great... I almost had the cabinet open...

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1613

“Give me some credit. I could spot a duck on my sensors before you could get a visual with the best pair of cybereyes money could buy,� there is a small pause and she speaks again, “they are moving in VERY fast.

“Help me unhook the pulley rig I setup for the drones on your way down. I want put some open water around us to have room to maneuver.�

Haywire hears the clatter of the last drones carrying out their living cargo – along with the sound of frightened animals – as she heads out on the main deck.


A quick scan of the horizon reveals a ship moving fast directly for the science vessel just as you hear, “visual contact confirmed! Get down here quick!�

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1613

"What kind of vessel is it? Civilian, or military? Any ID?"

Haywire sprints to the pulley rig, and starts unhooking it together with Secoiya. She orders her watcher to inform her as soon as an astral threat outside the cages is spotted.

Hope the little bugger understands...

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1616

"ID reads as civilian - the Demmory - registered out of Haiti but it's probably just a false ID. The sensor signature is lower than it should be for a ship this size, so it's definitely not a civilian vessel."

As the Delivery is finally uncoupled from the Aztech vessel McArrister yells, "shit, the signature just split, there is another boat in their wake broadcasting no ID tag. Hold on to something."

The Delivery starts forward and makes a sharp 180 degree turn that tilts the ship dangerously to its side. The sound of the roaring engine, the cacaphony of the spooked animals, and the sounds of a multitude of drones are so loud that its hard to think straight.

"We got enough to make the trip worth it. I'm just going to run and see if they follow."

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1616

Definetly need some ear buds...

Haywire keeps an eye on the boats, opening up her astral senses to check them for magic threats.

"This doesn't look good, Sec... better get that HMG ready..."

13.613956, -78.491821, North Atlantic Ocean - 06/10/2070 – 1618

The engine roars as it shifts into a higher RPM range and the Delivery begins to pick up speed. A few anxious moments pass as you watch for any sign of pursuit.

They do not disappoint and as they reach the Aztech vessel, the lead boat slows down into a small circuit around the boat, but the smaller vessel continues on an intercept course while quickly picking up speed.

The HMG-2 snaps to life on it's own, pivoting on its mount, bearing down on the pursuing ship. Not a moment passes before Sec jumps behind the gun and says, "Captain, call of your pilot, I got this."

McArrister activates the standard maritime acknowledgement signal in a wide array of languages requesting that the pursuing ship identify itself.

Another tense half a minute passes with no response and the pursuit ship steadily gaining on you before McArrister speaks again, "Haywire, can you cook up a distraction? Anything at all? I need a couple more minutes to get to top speed without blowing the engine and we can outrun them then but unless we can get them to slow down they are going to be within firing range before I can hit top speed."