Selection

Posted on Thu Jan 25th, 2018 @ 2:31am by Commander Bertrand Cuprum & Commander Cor Cordale & Lieutenant Hel Samedi & Lieutenant Jaton Alyl & Lieutenant Sara'draphia T'eseri & Lieutenant JG Scotty Kayne & Gunnery Sergeant Val Seran

Mission: Of Machines and Men
Location: Planet Surface/Auditorium

The team collected in a smaller auditorium on the far side of the turnstiles. The ringmaster turned tot hem as the last came through.

"The teams have been selected. The contest continues. The first challengers will be taken to be prepared for contest."

There was a red flash and Jaton and Scotty vanished.

Bertrand leapt forward, "Hey! Where have you taken our people."

The ringmasters face did not change expression, "Do not be concerned. The introduction needs to be done in pairs. Once that is done, you will be reacquainted with the victors."

"Victors?!" Bertrand barked. "What do you mean."

"Please. I invite you to take a seat and observe until it is your turn for introductions."

The ringmaster indicated to a set of chairs arranged in front of a large projection screen currently showing some sort of arena.

"Screw that," Bertrand growled. He tapped his com pin. "Bertrand to Victory..."

A tone told him all he needed to know. They were cut off from the ship. He glanced at Cor, then at the inviting turnstiles behind them.

"You have cut us off from our ship," Bertrand said to the ring master.

"We cannot permit an unfair advantage from outside to hinder the outcome. That would simply be unfair."

"We want to leave."

"Attempting to leave after you have been selected will result in automatic forfeiture," the robotic host warned.

Bert turned to Cor and Wescot, "Options?

Val frowned, looking around. Not wasting time she checked her weapons and her optics to see if they were functioning. They were. She interjected. "Weapons functional, optics functional but in stand-alone mode. We're jammed but all devices functional."

Bertrand flexed his right arm but frowned, "There is some sort of Psychic shield in place. I can feel all of you, but not the ship."

Cor didn't like this feeling one bit. "And what's the penalty for forfeiture? I mean, are we *allowed* to leave?" he asked for clarification, "And we weren't aware of any selection, just an invitation to attend." he pointed out. Though, he was as much a Vulcan as he was a fish...

"Forfeiture of the round," The Ringmaster responded, as if this explained anything.

"Our friends on the ship above will worry if they cannot reach us. A simple call to let them know where we are and that... for the moment... we're safe, will save a lot of headaches."

"Your ship will receive the broadcast of your progress. We transmit on all frequencies. What would be the point otherwise? Please take your seats. The first Introductions are about to begin. You won't want to miss a moment."

Standing beside Bertrand, Sara waited for his lead. She could feel plenty of dark matter floating around for her to manipulate so her abilities were available to use if things get out of hand.

The screen displaying the arena had begun to change. It was showing a series of figures, though the language near them were not clear. Fortunately, they were in a layout Sara was able to readily identify as biological readings. Apparently, whoever they were for was well, if a little agitated. To everyone else they were just streams of numbers.

"Well, isn't that nice of them to provide us with a medical display of the competitors," Sara said, reading over the stream of information.

"Is that what it is? Why medical...?" Bertrand began but stopped as two figures appeared in the arena; Jaton and Scotty. At first they looked dazed and a little groggy, but they quickly straightened up, checking their equipment.

A voice boomed over the arena, "Ladies and gentlemen, and other viewers. I present to you Combatants 1338543 and 1338544, Lieutenant Jayton Alyl and Lieutenant Junior Grade Scotty Kayne!"

An automated cheer track played as a door at the far end of the area opened. At the door appeared a robot. It was 5 meters tall and heavily armoured on tank treads. At the top, a large cannon, mounted next to a missile rack. One arm appeared to be a rotary drill/saw combination, and the other licked with flame.

"What the hell?" Bertrand burst out. "They can't fight that!"

Jaton drew his phaser and began to scan the surroundings. Not much cover in the arena. He looked over at Scotty. "Split up. I'll draw its fire. If it has fire."

As Jaton ran an arch of light leapt from the head of the robot and passed the space he had just stood in.

The commentary began, "Oh, a beautiful opening move from 1338543, taking maters to hand. He has the Opponents attention. What will he do with it?"

Val narrowed her eyes, speaking quickly. "Captain, I could probably take that on if I am - " she trailed off, the other one taking over without missing a beat. " - am allowed to use my weapons. If there's a way for me to switch places with - " and back again " - those two, volunteer for the fight."

"Substitution is not permitted once a match has commenced," the host responded. "There will be ample opportunity to demonstrate your skills, however."

Keeping an eye on the medical data being streamed, Sara was getting a little concerned, "I hope they've kept up with Starfleet fitness standards."

Scotty in turn drew his phaser and ran in the opposite direction, firing his phaser as it attacked Jaton.

Distracted from its first target by the weapons fire the turret rotated slowly to follow Scotty, but the young pilot new about evasive manouvers and keeping out of a fire arc.

Jaton took the opportunity to duck behind what little cover the arena sides did afford. He turned his phaser up to the highest setting and fired at the robot.

The blast caught it in its armoured side. For a moment it looked like the heavy unit was heating but then the energy dissipated. The watchers were quite shocked. That should have left a significant hole in a rock wall.

"A Disruption attack," The announcer burbled. "Predictable, and easily countered. We have seen this used by almost every new contender in the last two thousand years. Let's hope the pair have something more up their sleeves. Oh, it has got the Opponents focus again though. it is on the move!"

The Robot was beginning to move on it's tracks, focusing on the most obvious danger. It trundled towards the low wall where Jaton was hiding and raised it's flame covered arm. A plume of fire leapt forward, engulfing the wall and wrapping around the meager shelter.

Jaton's eyes widened as the fire whipped towards him. Things seemed to be going in slow motion for a moment, but it was a moment long enough for him to react and leap out of the way. He landed a meter or so away, seemingly safe.

But that's when he felt the visceral shot of pain from his left arm. He heard a cry of anguish echo across the arena and it took him a moment to realise that it was his own voice crying out. He looked at his arm and saw that it was now a patchwork of tattered cloth that was once his uniform and now bare skin, quickly blistering and bleeding.

The Robot turned it's attention. It's target was exposed now. It's other arms swung around, the vicious blade/drill attachment aiming at Jaton.

Scotty then set his phaser to the highest setting, and fired, exclaiming "Why don't you pick on someone you're own size!"

Jaton took Scotty's distraction as an opportunity to pick himself up off the floor, and recover his phaser. It didn't seem to do much good, but it was better than nothing. He did his best despite his being unable to use his left arm at all and began to favour his right.

But thank the gods he still had his legs intact. He began to strafe the robot, and did his best to keep out of its line of sight, looking desperately for some sort of weak spot.

Scotty maintained his fire. You gotta be freakin kidding me, damn near nothing seems to hurt it, I hope Jaton can do some damage. he thought to himself while firing on the robot

"Ooh nice work, dividing the Opponents attention. This model does not deal well with multiple targets. Unfortunately they seem unable to develop a new strategy beyond disruptor fire. Disappointing. But we were warned these contestants are not soldiers."

"Lieutenant Alyl has suffered thermal injuries to his left arm. Second and third degree burns. Increase in adrenal levels in response" Sara reported as the medical information updated itself on the display, "if it's not treated soon he may go into shock" her tone of voice was mostly professional as if she was reading his medical records and not the live stream, "Lieutenant Kayne is as of yet undamaged, but he is also showing signs of heightened adrenal responses"

Jaton looked over the robot between shots. It's turreted head was turning back and forth in response to each shot they made, but it had stopped moving, unable to decide which target to pursue. The main body was mounted on tracked treads but was rigid, meaning the fire arc of the flame arm and the swing of the bladed arm were limited. The turreted head, however had a serious beam attack and a missile rack that it had yet to use.

A light went off in Jaton’s mind. As Scotty continued to draw the robot’s fire, Jaton took out his tricorder. He struggled with trying to manipulate it with one hand, but eventually was able to slice into the robot’s programming. the system was very simple, and the key commands were not even well encrypted. A simple command line entry and...

The robot shuddered to a halt and powered down.

"Cyber attack!" the ring master commented. "Nice approach. Just goes to show, once again, that this contest does not require you to be a great warrior to excel. Let's give our contestants a hand and we'll move on to our next round."

There was a red flash and the pair vanished, as the robot powered back on and trundled from the arena.

OOC: Going to post this gargantuan beast and start a new one.