Space Oddity

[Brian]

There's a rippling shudder, and some barked orders.  The caps of the speaking tubes buzz, but none of them actually open.  Presumably the crew is running around and ... doing something.  Bjorn's eyesight returns, giving him a momentarily confused double-vision.

Below, a city is visible.  A complex city that sprawls as far as the eye can see, more-or-less.  It's hard to make out details from here, but tall spires stick out obviously -- all of them far below.  A number of other airships can also be seen floating around, all of them equally far below.  A flash of bright energy sparks and leaps across the sky, narrowly missing the Starflare, and the ship makes another violent lurch.

[Dracos]

Dracos grabs hold of something as the ship sways and shakes, only barely resisting shouting at those in charge of flying the thing and only by his mind outrunning his tongue.

Dracos

[Carthrat]

Tom grabs something too, swallowing heavily.

But he's totally getting used to this whole teleportation thing. How many times in the past few days, now?

[Bjorn]

"'Don't shoot at us.'  Was I not clear?  Was there some confusion?" Bjorn demands rhetorically.  He stands straight for a few seconds, but this new body is much lighter than the others he's had experience with, and another jolt forces him to grab for the table to stay upright.  

He blinks at the observation window a few times, confirming that his eyesight has permanently returned.  Then he stumbles to the door, intent on heading to the bridge.

[Brian]

The corridors are currently abandoned, though as Bjorn steps into the hallway, a far more significant shudder shakes the ship.  If he hadn't had one hand on the doorframe to duck through it, he likely would have been thrown flat.  There's also a rolling echo, and a flash from somewhere aft ... another set of more urgent klaxons begin wailing, before Captain Vega's voice suddenly comes across the ship, very agitated:

"...epeat: This is Captain Vega of the H.M.S. Stareflare; Anabara defensives, cease fire immediately!  No hostile--  Damn them all!  I want full power to shielding -- damage control, report!"  There's a crackle, and then the speaking tube that had opened in the passenger compartment snaps back shut.  Shuddering reports begin echoing throughout the ship, but these seem to be originating from within the ship.  Through the windows, clouds of chaff and dust begin to billow outward and away.

[Bjorn]

"Someone isn't listening," Bjorn shouts back to the others grimly.  "Well.  I think I can help with that."  And with that, he reaches out to find a spirit of the air.

[Brian]

The spirit responds, though no one but Bjorn can see it, at the moment.  This one looks like a tiny cloud, blowing in an eternal, tiny storm.  Maybe a half a meter across, floating in the corridor ahead of Bjorn.  "As I am summoned, I arrive," it says.  "What is it that you wish to bargain for?"

[Bjorn]

"Great spirit," Bjorn replies, the gravity of his tone slightly offset by the speed at which he's speaking, "I have words that I would have heard by all those who live in the sphere below us.  What might I offer you, that you would take my words and carry it to all their ears?"

[Brian]

"Let us be still a day in exchange for this token," the spirit says.  "Then a span of your time," and then some gibberish pours out that Bjorn instinctively understands means 'ten minutes'.

"Simply say when you wish it, and then your words will be heard by all for that span."

[Bjorn]

"The bargain is fair, and I accept, O spirit," Bjorn replies.  "And if it pleases you, let the time begin now."

Waiting for the spirti's acknowledgement, Bjorn raises his voice, and speaks sternly.  "This is the HMS Starflare.  In the name of the King, cease your fire and stand down."

[Brian]

The ship is shuddering steadily, not being rocked as though being narrowly missed, but a response comes from below, reverberating through the entire ship:

"HMS Starflare, this is Aliester Sondheim, Minister to His Majesty.  You are ordered to come about and make landing at the southern Imperial Shipyard.  Cease further communications until this point."

One of the lower-ranking crew comes down the passage from the bridge, one hand on the railing, and anxiously beckons Bjorn and friends to follow him back to the Captain.

[Dracos]

Follow is just what they do, Dracos resisting any commentary on the wind getting stopped for a day as he headed to see what details would involve their ship getting fired at by 'friendlies'.

Dracos
OOC: Shifting to charisma/oration skills.  Don't have my sheet in front of me though

[Bjorn]

Bjorn follows in silence -- given that anything he says will be echoed to the world below, and the folks below don't seem quite eager for that to happen.

[Brian]

The group is led quickly to the bridge, where Captain Vega is glaring across the crew.  The crewmen are all working furiously, and the arrays of lenses before the ship are shifting around almost crazily.  One of them is showing what looks like a metal ... beetle? ... some craft that flies by flapping its wings, apparently, as it lifts off from a crystalline landing pad.  Others are locked onto different beacons, which are apparently flashing messages in code.

"Orders to land and Heldgrim, in the merchant's berths," one of the officers finally says.  "We appear to be intercepting cross-traffic."

"I can see that," Captain Vega says calmly, despite his glower.  "What's the course of that ornithopter?"

"It appears to be making towards Heldgrim, also," another crewman says.

"Aye.  And our damage?"

Another crewman, this one with his ear bent towards a series of speaking tubes, says, "Initial estimates are that we will need to put the ship in dock for at least a month to be travel-worthy.  Some repairs cannot be made in our current condition; we're going to need foundry facilities and replacement hullplates.  We've lost almost five tons of armor."

"Over the city," Vega grouses.  "Show me where."

A set of mirrors obligingly swings around, showing smoking steel scraps plunging towards one of the city's tower-like brass spires.  "Lovely.  Make for dock in the foundry at Heldgrim."

"Captain," Westley begins, before being cut off.

"I am in charge of this vessel," Vega warns.

"And I am in charge of this expedition," Westley counters, rising from his seat.  For the first time, the amiable man looks cross.  "We cannot cause upset by refusing the orders of-"

"They weren't orders from the king," Vega says, as if that settles it.

Westley presses his lips together and says nothing.

"Thanks for that bit of wonder," the captain adds, glancing at Bjorn.  "Saved us a lick or two of trouble."

[Dracos]

"Mere confusion...or political trouble?" Dracos wondered to Westley.

Dracos