Episode Fourteen: Know Thy Neighbour

[Troy Loveridge]

0918
Helios
In transit to Government Island

During the proceeding minutes, PO Murray had been chopping and changing the course of their boat in an effort to throw of the oncoming pirates, but his efforts all appeared the be in vein. As large as they appeared, the ships were swift and fast moving, and managed to continually move their selves onto a new intercept vector every time SD-1 made a course correction. Having been left with few options, Troy was starting to conclude that SD-1 may need to concede to their, and hope they could either talk or fight their way out of the situation.

"Looks like trouble is coming our way sir," Cutty said, to which Troy agreed. While the inhabitants had been friendly enough to SD-4 and 6, the two teams had heard stories of villainous pirates who roamed the open seas, attacking and pillaging what ever they could. The distance between the ships and SD-1 had closed considerably, and with little option left, Troy signaled to Murray to kill the engines. "I guess we'll just have to play nice and hope we've caught them on a good day," Troy said, at the same time switching the safety off his P90.

The three fast moving boats swooped in on the RHIB, surrounding it from all sides. They circled the boat for a few minutes, like a pack on hungry sharks circling their prey. Keeping their weapons out of sight but at the ready, the said and did nothing, waiting for the vessels to make the first move. At this point the team was still unsure about the motives of these people, but the weapons which covered both their vessels and the individuals suggested they were out for a nice old social sail with the boys from the boat club...

Stopping their circling, one of the ships slowly made it's way toward SD-1, and an individual moved to the edge of the boat to address the team.

< Tag SD-1 >

[Penthesilea]

0919
Helios
In transit to Government Island

Silea was silent at the boats approached them. She didn't know what to make of them and was unsure of what to do. Just as quickly at Cutter showed her how to put the blasted thing on, Silea took the life jacket off, safety be damned. If they were to engage in battle, she needed to be operational to do so and she wouldn't been as efficient as she normally would with the thing on. It probably wasn't the brightest thing for her to do, but she wasn't exactly thinking of her safety when she acted.

Silea stood, but not up straight, she was like a predator on the prowl just waiting for the right moment to pounce with a good Amazonian 'hello'. "We will defend ourselves, won't we?" she asked so that only the team could hear. Never was there a thought in her mind that these people could be friendlies, at least her gut said they weren't. Just as she never would think that Troy would give up easily either, the question simply just need to be asked.

[Andy Buchanan]

0919
Helios
In transit to Government Island

If anything was going to cure Andy's hiccups, the arrival of the boats and their obviously hostile behaviour had the desired effect. Boats didn't circle you and surround you like this if they only planned to ask if you had access to the shipping forecast, after all.

He lifted his eyes and narrowed them in scrutiny of their potential attackers. They were outnumbered by quite a lot, but if it came to it, he was prepared to go down fighting.

"We will defend ourselves, won't we?" He heard Silea's softly worded question and for what was the first time since she had become a part of the team, he turned to look at her directly. He held her in his blue-eyed gaze for a few moments, then gave her a half-grin. Something dark flashed in his expression.

"You'd better believe it," was all he said, and loosened his revolved in its holster whilst he waited for the approaching man to say whatever it was he had to say. He suspected that it would be something along the lines of 'give us all you've got, including that boat, wah, wah, wah.'

He hoped so.

He was spoiling for a fight.

<Tag: All>

[Troy Loveridge]

0919
Helios
In transit to Government Island

Surrounded by pirate vessels, the team stood their ground in their boat, waiting for their attacks to make the first move. "We will defend ourselves, won't we?" Silea asked, to which Andy replied. "You'd better believe it." Troy wasn't so sure about this; they did seem to be outgunned at least 4-to-1, and if bullets started flying and their boat was hit, they were all in for one hell of a swim back to the Stargate island, which had disappeared off the horizon behind them. "We'll see what they want first," Troy said, laying down his rifle but keeping his sidearm without reach, "And try to get out of this in one piece."

The pirate whose boat was pulled up next to SD-1's boat spoke, breaking the tense silence. "Your not from these waters are you?" Troy shook his head, and rambled off the usual textbook 'we-come-in-peace' story about being explorers and what not. "We're peaceful explorers from the planet Earth, here to talk to your government about trade and negotiations." The pirates face turned into a scowl at the mention of the government, and he spat into the water next to Troy.

"There is no true ruling body on Helios, especially not this government you speak off. The rule of the sea is the one true law of this planet." Troy was almost too scared to ask what the 'rule of the sea' was, but his answered would soon be answered. "If you're a friend of the government, you're an enemy of ours. Give us all your valuable or we'll sink that pitiful craft of yours where it floats..."

< Tag SD-1 >

[Ian Wright]

0920
Helios
In transit to Government Island

Ian listened to Will about the whole Cara situation but didn't notice the medical doctor's wanting of changing subjects, he was just happy that she was coming back in a few weeks. Thank god the lab gets insane when she leaves the cat's away philosophy takes over, he thought to himself as the boat glided across the water towards the island. Then everyone else noticed something on the horizon, Ian saw it along with the rest but choose not to get involved and then the boat he was in changed course.

Unfortunately the shapes that were now able to be seen as boats with the naked eye, Ian reasoned with himself Maybe their just a escort, yeah an escort. Then he got a better look at them and they looked anything but as Murray and Troy tried to lose them but their momentum and trajectory was too much for their boat to lose them as they got closer and closer.

They were outnumbered and and most of them wanted to fight to what seemed to be the bitter end, Ian gulped at this what some people would call a cowards response and he called it his wanting to live response. When the pirate boat came up to SD-1's, and said that they weren't from around here, Ian rolled his eyes at that and mumbled to himself "Duh." Then Troy started up the usual SG "We come in peace" spiel that they all knew with that out finished it off with the government part. Wright saw the pirate's face screw into a look of anger and spat into the water by the boat and Wright knew they were in trouble.

"If you're a friend of the government, you're an enemy of ours. Give us all your valuable or we'll sink that pitiful craft of yours where it floats..."

Ian's mouth went dry as he raised his hands into the general way of surrender in a suggestive tone added to his voice "Uhh Loveridge maybe we

<Tag Team>

Ian shut up when the pirates had pulled out their weapons hopping that SD-1 would give them a reason to fight and kill them none the less. Swallowing the lump that had grown in his throat, the scientist looked quite distressed at his current situation on Helios.

[Andy Buchanan]

0920
Helios
In transit to Government Island

"We'll see what they want first, and try to get out of this in one piece."

The Colonel's words disappointed Andy, although he tried hard not to let it show too much on his face. Just as his manner had, over the past weeks, gone from quiet and introverted, so his level of aggression had started increasing. He'd already received a formal reprimand for nearly getting involved in a fist fight in a bar down town last time he'd had a night off and so he was definitely disappointed that he wasn't going to get to burn off some surplus testosterone.

The pirate spoke and Andy smirked ever so slightly. It was almost painfully clichéd to hear them demand valuables or they'd sink the team. He folded his arms across his chest and stood straight-backed and square on in the boat, staring directly ahead of himself, just over the pirate's right ear and into the middle distance in such a gesture of grim defiance that he surprised even himself.

Aggressive though he may have gotten over recent weeks, Andy was not stupid enough to be the one to start things off. His stance made it clear to everyone present - friend and foe alike - that he was not prepared to give in, however.

He glanced down at Doc Wright, whose face looked deeply troubled and gave him what he hoped was an encouraging wink. It'll be OK, he mouthed.


<Tag: People better mentally equipped to handle diplomacy>

[Penthesilea]

0920
Helios
In transit to Government Island


It would seem that the gut instinct she had would be correct and sometimes she hated to be right. Sure they could probably take them on if had been just one boat, but she was less than sure with three of them. And soon enough the team would not be surprised anymore about Silea's outstanding talent for producing hidden weapons out of no where. With such fluidity in her movements, she griped a knife out to the side while her other arm mimicked the other, as if saying 'come and get me' "You want my valuables, well... were do you want it?" she told the pirates with ice in her voice. Indeed the only way they were going to receive her knife was if it pierced their skin and truly embraced their treasure.


(OOC: sorry that it's short!)

[John "Cutty" Cutter]

0920
Helios
In transit to Government Island

John had his P-90 between himself and the boats bulkhead, basically invisible. Piracy was rampant on this planet and now they were the targets. You want my valuables, well... were do you want it? Silea was itching for a fight, and she had removed her life jacket. Colonel, say the word..... One word from Troy and John would have his P-90 up and firing. He wasn't going without taking a few of them with him. The life vest he was wearing might even afford a little protection.

<Tag SD-1>

[Troy Loveridge]

0920
Helios
In transit to Government Island

The team stood still as the pirates delivered their anti-government speech, with any hope of walking away from this incident unharmed dying the more the pirates spoke. "Uhh Loveridge maybe we..." Ian asked, but was cut short by weapons being brought out and aimed at the team and their boat. SD-1, however, was not going down without a fight. "You want my valuables, well... were do you want it?" Silea taunted; Troy not sure if he wanted to know what manner of 'valuables' she was talking about. Next to him, Cutty confirmed his readiness. "Colonel, say the word....."

Knowing that diplomacy would now get them no where, Troy went to Plan B. Reaching slowly into his tactical vest with his left hand, while keeping his right hand opened in a non-threatening gesture toward the pirates, he withdrew a grenade. It was a small circular M67 fragmentation grenade, standard issue for the US military since Vietnam. Having removed the safety clip prior to going off-world, as most high speed operators did, he removed the pin from the grenade, while keeping pressure on the lever. Once he released the lever, a four second delayed fuse would activate, killing anyone within 5 meters of the explosion and severely injuring anyone withing 15 meters.

"We do have one valuable..." Troy said to the lead pirate, whose eyes immediately lit up. "This is the Bulb of Enlightenment, from the sands of the Dune Sea on Tatooine. It's value is said to be pricelesss..." A grin was starting to form on the sea captains mouth. "Give it to me!" He demanded. With pleasure! Troy released in grip on the lever for two seconds, starting the fuse, then lobbed the grenade into the boat. "Frag out!" he called, diving onto Ian to covers the Doctor with his body. It was nothing against the scientists, it was just that he was the newest member of the team, and probably least aware of their craziness.

The explosion ripped the lead ship apart, and by the time he had risen from the deck, it was a sinking blaze. The two other ships were only just starting to react, bringing weapons around to bear on the team. "Open fire!" Troy called, raising his P90 and opening up on a one of the vessels.

< Tag SD-1 >

[John "Cutty" Cutter]

0922
Helios
In transit to Government Island

We do have one valuable... his is the Bulb of Enlightenment, from the sands of the Dune Sea on Tatooine. It's value is said to be pricelesss...

As Troy spoke John tried to keep a straight face. Seeing what Troy brought out, John knew it was go time. Give it to me! bellowed the lead pirate. Troy tossed it to him, Frag out! and immediatetly jumped on Ian. John dropped below the bulkhead as the grenade erupted in the lead boat. He quickly jumped up, P-90 blazing at the 2 other boats as they trying to bring weapons to bear. Troy was up and firing as well, when something tagged John in the left thigh. He went down to the deck, a searing pain in his leg, looking down seeing what looked like an exit wound in the front of his leg. Whatever it was, it went straight through his leg.

He tried to get up, but found he couldn't get his leg under himself, without a lot of pain.

<Tag SD-1>

[Troy Loveridge]

0922
Helios
In transit to Government Island

With Cutty at his side, Troy opened fire on the pirate vessels, who were starting to catch up with the game following the surprise turning of the tables. Once in control of the situation, the pirates were now playing catchup, with SD-1 calling the shots. Even though they were confined to an 11-foot rubber boat, the team did their best to assert control of the situation. A cried from Cutty and a thud on the deck of the boat brought Troy's attention back from the firefight, and he watched John hit the floor of the boat, bleeding from upper leg. It was a serious wound, and put him out of the fight, but at the point didn't appear life threatening.

An explosion rocked the second pirate boat; someone had hit it was C4, another grenade, or maybe even shot up their fuel tanks. The third ship, already riddled with bullet holes and looking like a block of floating swiss cheese, decided the battle wasn't worth fighting, and finally fled the battle. The team exchanged final weapons fire with the ship as it moved out of range.

Time to assess the aftermath.

The engines of the RHIB, behind which Troy had taken cover, looked very shot up. "Murray, these still good to go?" Troy called out to their Navy driver, but received no response. Turning, he scanned the small boat, and saw a pair of legs extending from behind the drivers seat. Bounding down the length of the boat, Troy arrived to see the Petty Officer sprawled out dead, wounds littered his chest. He didn't need to check his pulse to know he was dead.

Engines were busted, Murray was dead and Cutty was hit. This wasn't turning into the quiet ocean voyage the Colonel had been hoping for...

< Tag SD-1 >

[John "Cutty" Cutter]

0924
Helios
In transit to Government Island

John was laying face down in the boat as the shooting ended. He was trying to apply pressure to the wound in his leg, but it was pointless, as the wound was on both sides of his thigh. Moron, don't you know enough to watch for crossfire? Sure am glad Honey wasn't here to see this. He tried to sit up, Murray, these still good to go? John looked in Murray's direction only to see him laying on the deck. John looked back to the engines and saw they were worthless junk now. The were now victims of the tides and whatever else came their way. Could someone help me get this tied off? His hands were covered with his own blood and if it wasn't stopped soon he would go into shock.

<Tag Everyone but Troy for now>

[Penthesilea]

0924
Helios
Stranded

Cover was taken when she saw was Troy was about to do with the grenade he withdrew from his vest. She knew the capabilities of such a weapon and thought it was really bold of Troy to use it. Silea had kept her eyes on the third boat while the others took care of the other two. The third ship had gotten too close to their own boat for her liking, attempting to grapple on even though they had already lost one of their boats, and with it their leader. It was not to say that she was the only one paying attention to the third boat, as it too was under fire from their own tiny crew of seven.

The boat was close enough that Silea could jump the distance, so that she may engage the advisory with hand to hand combat. She engages a few of the pirates before the second boat was destroyed, causing the boat to rock. Silea lost her balance and few in the opposite direction of either boat, and fell towards the ocean, already littered with debris. Some one on the third boat fired at her though the water, although missing, cause her to not surface right away in fear of being hit. Not to say that she could surface by herself at all. Though the density of the water, she could see the boat retreating.

Kicking her feet, Silea attempted to surface, though with the sudden lack of oxygen it was becoming difficult. As she tried with all her might, the waters just frustrated her more by allowing her to sink even more.

[Andy Buchanan]

0924
Helios
Stranded

Andy had never been a great lover of firefights, but that had been before he had become less...well, less like <i>himself</i>. As soon as the Colonel threw the grenade, his pistol was in his hand and he opened fire with gleeful abandon, successfully taking out three of the enemy before Cutty went down.

At that point, everything seemed to happen at once.

Cutty was calling for someone to help him tie off his makeshift tourniquet. The engine on the boat got blown out. Murray went down with what was obviously something far more than a bullet graze - a bad case of death, by the looks of him - and then Silea took a running jump onto the third boat and then ended up in the ocean, clearly struggling to keep her head above water.

He didn't think twice. He dropped his weapon, shrugged off his tac vest and dived into the water to rescue her.

Andy Buchanan was a good, strong swimmer and it was no time at all before he had reached her and had his arms around her. The bullets were still being fired down at them and Andy grabbed onto her.

"Take a deep breath," he said. "We're going under in three...two...one..."

With Silea in his arms, Andy pulled her down below the surface and under the team's boat to the other side where there was less chance they would be hit by a stray bullet. Once under, he pulled her to the surface again, still holding her close, checking automatically that she was still alright. He gave her an impish, little-boy grin.

"Some fun, huh?"

Then he did whatever he could to aid her to get back into the boat.

<Tag: All>

[Ian Wright]

0924
Helios
Stranded

Looking across the rest of SD-1's boat out of the corner of his eye, Ian saw Andy mouth to him, which looked like to him It'll be ok. The scientist from Earth didn't believe that for a second not till they got out of this in one piece. With his hands up, Ian listened to Troy telling the pirates that they did have a worthwhile valuable and that made the scientists eyebrows go up. What is he talking about Wright thought to himself as the Colonel pulled out in a non-threatening way, a grenade. If the pirates had seen the scientist they would not have believed the colonel, because Ian had a look of disbelief growing on his face.

"This is the Bulb of Enlightenment, from the sands of the Dune Sea on Tatooine. It's value is said to be pricelesss..." A grin was starting to form on the sea captains mouth. "Give it to me!" He demanded. With pleasure! Troy released in grip on the lever for two seconds, starting the fuse, then lobbed the grenade into the boat. "Frag out!"

Then as most of SD-1 opened fire on the pirates and not knowing what to do, Loveridge tackled, Ian to the ground of the boat. Before Wright could even think of taking in a breath, Troy was back on his feet and firing at the pirates with the rest of his team. Going for his pistol he saw the girl, Silea jump over him for the third boat and then he heard a splash. With that sound Andy threw off his vest and followed the blond into the ocean. With his pistol out Ian came to look over the edge of the boat to see the third boat running away from them. Standing up to his full height and putting the pistol back into his holster Wright had a look of euphoria appear on his earlier worried face.

"I can't believe we made," stopping in mid tone, Ian saw John on the deck asking for help bandaging his wounds. Then that brought Wright's eyes to the engines, correction what was left of the engines. Knowing O'Malley would take care of Cutter, the scientist made his way to the engine ignoring everything else. At the engine Ian checked out the damage that had been dealt with an inquiring eye and he was not happy. The bullets went through the engine, leaking all the fluids, shredding the pistons and such or at least that's all the damage that he could see. I can't fix this not even with Buchanan, as Ian shook his head in defeat at his team's new situation.

Sitting down right by the engine, facing the team, Ian facepalmed then went on to say in a complaining tone, "Were not getting anywhere with this now," as he smacked what was left of the engine. Then Ian's eyes drifted to the dead PO his eyes had gotten a bit wider mainly because if Troy hadn't tackled him to the ground he might be with the PO right now as the boat began to drift on the open ocean.

<Tag TEam>