The Earth Delegation

[Corwin]

As Kunzite's ship approaches Lunar orbit, Jam is handed an urgent message relayed through Endymion's cruiser. It's from 'Alita', and is a request for reinforcements for an unspecified reason.

[Carthrat]

"Alita.. Alita.. Alita.. hey, you! Open comms with Endymions ship and find out just where the heck these reinforcements are supposed to be," barks Jam. "And someone tell the General."

[Corwin]

After a brief round of communications, Jam finds out that the request didn't specify a location, though Alita's whereabouts and Endymion's cruiser would be the most logical places for them. As for Alita, her transmission was from inside a large complex in the capital. The crew of Endymion's ship isn't sure what it's used for, but they promised to get on the comm with the Lunar representatives and find out.

Meanwhile, Kunzite is not answering any calls, which are returned with a generic 'do not disturb' message.

[Carthrat]

"Get clearance from Lunar control to send a ship down," says Jam. "Let's do things the *diplomatic* way."

[Corwin]

Meanwhile, on the Moon....

[19:00] <V-chan> ---------
[19:01] <V-chan> "Miss Beryl," Gren says, approaching the Earthling quietly and trying to get her attention.
[19:01] <Beryl> "Yes Gren?" Beryl turns toward the guard.
[19:04] <V-chan> "We've been asked to relay a communique from your ship," he replies, holding an electronic palm-sized tablet discretely.
[19:04] <Beryl> "Ah, thank you Gren," Beryl says, taking the device and moving toward a more private area.
[19:06] <V-chan> Beryl finds that she doesn't have much attention on her. The Queen had been growing progressively more troubled after Sylphiel, Alita and the two princesses left.
[19:07] <Beryl> Once alone, Beryl opens the line. "Beryllium," she says simply.
[19:13] <V-chan> "Alita called for a general evacuation," Major Iridium, whom she recognizes as Zoisite's aid, tells her. "I've assumed command, until we manage to locate General Zoisite. I respectfully request that you return to the Divine Wind, Madam Ambassador."
[19:15] <Beryl> Beryl looks around casually, her gaze pausing momentarily on the increasingly troubled Queen. "Lady Alita called for the evacuation? Did she say why?"
[19:19] <V-chan> The officer looks uncomfortable. "Her exact words were 'Intergalactic midget megapervert invasion', Ma'am. We took the liberty of changing the wording, when we passed the message on to General Kunzite's Stellar Bugbear."
[19:22] <Beryl> "We're being invaded?" Beryl says, incredulous. She shakes her head. As odd as it sounded they must be serious or they wouldn't have bothered with something so ridiculous sounding. "I'm on my way." As an after thought she gives them the name of the restaurant the general was spotted in.
[19:23] <Beryl> Beryl waits for the affirmative and then cuts off the communique. She approaches the queen. "Excuse, Queen Serenity."
[19:28] <V-chan> "Yes?" Serenity says, though her attention is clearly divided.
[19:33] <Beryl> "Something has come up, I'm afraid, and so I have to go back to my ship. As it was Lady Alita who reported a..." Beryl pauses, trying to recall the exact wording. "An 'Intergalactic midget megapervert invasion' I believe her words were. Seeing as she went with the other princesses about that situation earlier I thought that you should hear this as soon as possible."
[19:34] <V-chan> Serenity blanches. "There are more than two?!" she exclaims.
[19:36] <Beryl> "An invasion, apparently. If you'll excuse me, my people need me back on the ship." Beryl bows low. "Until we meet again, Queen."
[19:37] <V-chan> "Right, this party officially sucks now," Serenity mutters under her breath, disappearing in a flash of light.
[19:39] * Beryl heads toward the door, signaling Gren and the other guard to come.
[19:41] <V-chan> Beryl and her escort reach the Divine Wind quickly, where she is forced to part with them. As Beryl heads into the ship, she notices Lunar soldiers taking defensive positions around it, as if expecting someone to storm the runway.
[19:43] * Beryl heads inside, turning to the first soldier she sees. "Where is Lady Alita?"
[19:46] <V-chan> "I don't know, Ma'am!" the marine responds, standing at attention.
[19:47] <Beryl> "Who would?"
[19:49] <V-chan> "My orders are to guard the entrance, Ma'am. I would check the bridge, if I were you."
[19:50] <Beryl> "Very well. Continue." Beryl leaves the soldier and heads for the bridge.
[19:52] <V-chan> Beryl finds Major Iridium at the bridge, his face pale. "This is--" he cuts himself off, and salutes Beryl.
[19:52] <Beryl> "At ease. What's the situation?"
[19:53] <V-chan> "They've mobilized the fleet! Everything they have!" He shakes his head in disbelief. "It covers the sun...."
[19:54] <Beryl> "Where is lady Alita? And Zoisite, did anyone pick up that fruit?"
[19:56] <V-chan> The insult at his superior officer snaps Iridium out of his shock. Being very careful not to scowl, he replies, "We have no idea, Ma'am. All communication networks are in chaos, and frequencies are being hijacked for Lunar military use left and right. All we have right now is a channel to the flagship."
[19:57] <Beryl> "Patch us through to it then." Beryl mutters something under her breath.
[19:58] <V-chan> "Right away, Ma'am," the major responds, and barks a few commands to the communications officer.
[20:00] <V-chan> ---------

[Corwin]

"There's a lot of chatter on the military channels down there," the communications officer comments, as he tries to find someone on the surface to get the needed clearance.

"Ma'am," he says finally, turning in his seat to face Jam, "it doesn't look good down there. "The Divine Wind reports that soldiers have surrounded it, and General Zoisite is still nowhere to be found." He sighs, and shrugs helplessly, adding, "There's also a general panic on the civilian Lunar channels. I can't get through to the palace."

"Sensors output reports that the Lunar fleet has been fully mobilized, Ma'am!" another officer interjected, his colleague immediately adding, "They're acquiring target locks on Lunar surface, next to Lady Alita's last known location!"

[Carthrat]

"They're what? Did Alita start a war or something?" replies Jam. "Get that ship in the air! I want her off the moon before the fleet fires.

How the *hell* did they get set up without us noticing?"

OOC: This is assuming that there's a reasonable chance of success that a ship could pull Alita off. If there isn't (and Jam would know), then I'll edit.

[Corwin]

A communications request from the Divine Wind arrives, as Jam gives the order.

OOC: Get which ship in the air? Endy's is the only one on the Moon, and it's way too far from the library.

[Carthrat]

"Patch it through," orders Jam.

"Kuradoberi here. I hope you have some good news for me.."

OOC: Oh, I figured there were like short-range spacecraft in the Bugbear, y'know, like a hangar with shuttles and fighters and whatnot, which is what I meant to prepare. o-O

[Corwin]

Beryl's face appears on the screen facing Jam.

OOC: Then don't say that ship, as if referring to some previously-mentioned one?  >_>  Anyway, yes, the Bugbear has those. No, you don't have enough time to launch.

[Carthrat]

Jam eyes Beryl, waiting for a response..

OOC: We better do it here, Panda, this ain't working out. >_>

[thepanda]

"Who's in charge up there?" Beryl barks off the moment the line connects.

[Carthrat]

"Me," replies Jam, flatly. "General Kunzite is indisposed at present."

[thepanda]

"Very well, then. This is Beryllium of the Earth delegation, captain..." Beryl pauses for a moment for a name, but changes her mind and keeps going. "As I'm sure you are well aware that a situation has come up. The Moon Kingdom is being invaded."

'By what I won't say," Beryl thought. It would probably slow the process down.

"General General Zoisite and Lady Alita are missing, though in her case she went to confront the enemy before the numbers were know. The prince being our number one priority we cannot waste time down here. If you can, find both of them and we'll see about a pick up before we leave the atmosphere."

[Carthrat]

"That's *Lt. Colonel Jam* Ma'am," replies Jam, tightly. "And as much as I hate to say it, there's not much we can do right now.

We have no idea where Alita is, and we can't contact her. As for the prince, well, to be honest, I thought he was with you.

As things stand, we've got precious little time before those cannons start firing. I really suggest you get your ship out of there."