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[Ariana Danacia]

"My apologies Shebi Ajava. I am sorry, I did not mean to overstep your authority."

Ariana did not move and waited for a moment.

"I have to agree. We do not know what we are dealing with here."

[Dragonmaster352]

The lady-priestess looked at the two jedi with an eyebrow raised.

"We came all this way to find out why a nebula is loosing mass, now that we got here we find a creature unlike anything we've ever seen and you expect us to send a droid to examine the creature up close? Surely you jest?"

She shook her head disapprovingly.

"And here I was thinking jedi would understand the saying 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained.' Such a shame, that such a highly regarded group like the jedi doesn't relish the search for knowledge."

[Shebi Ajava]

"I rarely jest, priestess.", Ajava reacted.

"I think you misjudge the Jedi. I understand the saying, but we were asked to assure your safety. And part of this is advising you against actions that put your life at risk with little to gain if there are other methods.

Furthermore, I do not think that your observation of the actions of only two Jedi allows you to make the generalization that Jedi are not interested in the search for knowledge. I stand by my advice, and I will not be taunted into acting against just to prove you wrong..."

"Send a droid first to gather some samples and check whether the creature has any short range defences. Then we'll see about getting out there ourselves.", Ajava said calmly.

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana waited patiently for Shebi Ajava and the priestess to decide what would happen next. Saying something now would only make the situation worse.

[Dragonmaster352]

The expression of the Lady-Priestess changed into a smile.

"Well now, if you won't be taunted I suppose I will have to go along with your advice. We'll let a probe check if it's safe first, if it is we'll go and take our samples.

I would like the two of you to go with us, just in case. How does that sound?"

[Shebi Ajava]

"Let us see what the long-range scans and the probe tell us. If it is safe to go, we shall go with you of course."

[Ariana Danacia]

"Can I have a look at the scanning results? I might be able to route some extra power to the scanners and improve the scanning results."

Ariana waited for them to give permission to use the scanners. With permission Ariana would try to improve the scanning results.
((Check: 14 = 6 Force Level + 6 Reason + 2 Programming -- Operating the computer that controls the long range scanners, routing some additional power and improving the scanning resolution.))

[Dragonmaster352]

"It's not my ship you need to ask the captain." The Astrian woman said.

Ariana used the the ships intercom to ask the captain who gave his permission. The chief engineer was a little less cooperative, not liking some one else tinkering with 'His girl'. Despite his protests, however, Ariana was able to boost the sensors a little bit. ((OOC: Your check: approved))

While she was reconfiguring the sensors she came across a suspicious looking file, but she was unable to open it to see what it was.

Meanwhile a probe was launched. It approached the creature to about a metre and explored it while taking up close readings.

It returned, unscathed. It seemed there where no close range defensive measures.

"Well then. Are you satisfied miss jedi knight?" the Lady-Priestess asked Ajava.

[Shebi Ajava]

"Yes, I am. Let's change into our envirosuits and head out."

What that, Ajava went to the women's quarters and laid out her Onyx Series 5 envirosuit. She then proceeds to strip out of her armour. As usual in veolian culture, she didn't wear anything underneath her single layer of clothing, and didn't plan on wearing anything underneath her envirosuit. Not paying heed to what the other women thought of this, she dons the envirosuit with an efficient routine only gained through experience. As a final touch, she attaches her lightsabers to the suit's mounting points.

Once done, she offers to help any of the other women don their suits. Once everyone is suited up , she dons her helmet and heads out to the airlock.

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana went to their quarters and changed into her environment suit as well. She put both her lightsabers and a blaster inside the pockets of her environment suit. The pockets were closed in a way that they would not fall out of them but could easily be lifted out of them with the force.

During the changing she started talking to Shebi Ajava.

"What is the plan Ajava? Are we just floating around them to see if anything happens or do we have a specific task as well?

Maybe I should get a spacesuit developed for Praetorian Soldiers as well, your suit looks neat. When I am back on Praeto I will get some new equipment."

[Dragonmaster352]

Only one of the women went with the two jedi when they went to put on their spacesuits. But what the woman put on didn't look much like a spacesuit.

When they arrived at the airlock the other four Astrians where already waiting for them carrying a few bags of equipment. The four didn't seem to be wearing spacesuits at all, they didn't seem to have changed at all.

"Well then shall we get going?" The Lady-Priestess asked, before stepping into the airlock.

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava looked at the astrians.

"I assume that you all have implants that help you withstand the effects of space?", came her clear voice through her suits communications system. "If so, we're ready to go."

Ajava sealed her fresh-air seals, and stepped into the airlock.

"No Ariana, we'll just float around and be on the lookout for trouble. Keep an eye on the ship as well, I have a bad feeling about it."", she communicated through the telepathic bond between the two Jedi.

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana joined the group in the airlock.

"I am ready to go." She said using the communicator in her suit.

Roger that. I will stay near the ship. To be honest I rather fly in places that have an atmosphere.

[Dragonmaster352]

"Of course." Was the reply to Ajava's question.

After everyone entered the airlock and everyone gave the OK the airlocks inner door closed and locked. The lights turned red and a minute later the airlocks outer door opened. Then the artificial gravity disappeared.

"Everyone all right, no leaks?" the voice of Lady-Priestess Ashikata asked through the comm.

After establishing everyone was good she headed out. The group gathered on the Labraham Incoln's hull as it came along the side of the creature.

"We're going to have to jump the distance. We'll go one at a time, aim carefully before you go. Take your time, I don't want to have to go and pick you up because you rushed and missed. I take it one of the jedi will go first?"

((OOC: Technically you could have spoken normally in your last posts as you weren't out in space yet. Now on the other hand you will need to use telepathy or holo transmission or you will not be heard, though you probably already figured as much. Also please think over what you do carefully, you are in a zero G vacuum once your going you will keep going until you hit something. Of course you can also use this to your advantage :). The distance between the ship and the creature is about 100 metres, good luck ^_^.))

[Shebi Ajava]

"I'll go first, so I can help the rest when they arrive."

After determining a good landing spot, Shebi Ajava pushed off from the hull. Allthough she was quite proficient, she doesn't hesitate to use her boosters to correct if necessary. Using her grappling hook as a last effort might agitate the creature.

((Check: 14 = 7 Force Level + 4 Fitness + 1 Zero-G Mobility + 2 Acrobatics -- getting to the other side))

((OOC: Way ahead of you :P Also, don't forget, this is science-fiction setting... Spacewalking has been arround for a while, and most suits will have boosters or something like it.))

[Ariana Danacia]

"I will go last, after all of you."

After waiting until the rest had left Ariana prepared to jump. Ariana had no real Zero-G training but understood the basics. She carefully but firmly pushed herself of the ship in the direction of the gigantic creature. Using the force to speed up to make sure she did not miss her target while it moved away.

((Check: 10 = 6 Force Level + 3 Fitness + 1 Force Speed -- Getting to the other side by quickly pushing and using a force burst.))

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: Your checks: approved))

Ajava went first and gracefully landed on the creature. The Astrian Lady-Priestess went next and she also landed, not requiring the jedi knight's help. The rest of the science team followed one by one. So far things were rather uneventful.

That was until Ariana took the jump.

While she understood the basics of zero-g movement, she had forgotten that nothing slows you down in space. When she used the Force to speed up she shot off way to fast. All that Ariana could do was keep stable by not struggling and brace for impact.

Lucky for her both Ajava and the Lady-Priestess saw what was happening. Both women jumped and managed to catch Ariana. The opposite direction slowed Ariana down and clever landing got Ariana safely on the creature.

"Are you out of your mind!?" The Lady-Priestess yelled through the comm, the fact that she didn't have a helmet made her angry expression clearly visible. "Do you have any idea what would have happened if you hit the creature at that speed?"

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava looked at the lady-priestess, with one eyebrow raised.

"Do you?", she asked the lady-priestess in a serious tone.

[Ariana Danacia]

"To be honest I don't think the impact of my body would do that much against such a massive creature.

It will probably have a very thick skin. Thick compared to us at least... Since it is in space for a long time it is probably hit by a lot of space debris. Since we did not really see any scars from these things I expect the creature to have some kind of natural armor.

What is next?"

[Dragonmaster352]

"Her suit would probably have sprung a leak, likely have broken her back too." Was the stern sounding reply.

"Milady, Doctor Hasley detected a weak energy source." The voice of one of the male scientists ended the conversation, there was work to be done.

"Where?" Was the Lady-Priestess' reply.

"About 400 metres towards the tail."

"Go with her, take a few skin samples on your way."

"Got it."

Turning back to the Jedi, she went on.

"I'dd like to take a look at where the creature is sucking in the nebula."

It seemed the Jedi would have to split up if the wanted to keep an eye on all the scientists.

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: I would like to know something before continuing.

Clarification Request: How do we 'land' on the creature? For that matter, how did we 'stand' on the space ship? On the latter I assume magnetic soles or something (every time I see Jedi in space in movies and series, they are capable of standing on ships, so that might make sense). But that doesn't explain how we are able to land on the creature... This is relevant for things like Force Speed and such I.e., if we are walking around with 'gravity' somehow, Force Speed is the primary accelerator; if we are really in space, than suit boosters might be more usable.))

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: Very good question, sorry for taking so long to answer.

Magnetic soles where indeed the way you stood on the ships hull. The way I see it Force Speed would only change your perception of time (for a while when you use the Force) if you are just floating in space. The way Ariana described it in her check I concluded she used it when she pushed off. With nothing like air or friction to slow her down she shot off with little to no control. boosters would not have been enough to slow her down.

Your landing is more of a controlled impact. As for standing on the creature, well that's a question isn't it. You didn't just walk or jump onto the creature, you where floating through space. I hope this is enough clarification for you to continue.))

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: It isn't. Are we, or are we not standing on the creature? I.e., are we floating with our feet towards the creature, or are we standing on the creature? I am fully aware I was floating through space to get there -- I want to know what the situation right now is...

Your descriptions seem to indicate we are actually standing on the creature, with whatever kind of force (gravity, passive boosters, ego-attraction, or the Force, etc.) keeping us there. But it isn't clear to me whether this is actually the case. This is an observable thing form an in-character perspective, so I think that the reply "As for standing on the creature, well that's a question isn't it." isn't really helpful, and is in fact dodging my question.))

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: You ARE standing on the creature. I was trying to subtly hint at that the 'how' question might be better asked IC. The surprise of finding out it made no sense followed by the explanation shortly after was supposed to contribute to the awesome factor, thank you for ruining that.

I know I'm not the best storyteller ever, but you could at least give me the benefit of the doubt. Though it's partially my own fault for not being clear enough and assuming it was already clear you WHERE standing on the creature.))

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: Ok listen. Whenever I make an OOC clarification request, I do this from a purely OOC point of view because I OOCly do not understand something. I'm sorry this ruined your surprise, so let me explain why I asked for clarification: It worked. I was surprised. In fact, it worked too well!

I was so surprised, that I thought I OOCly had missed something. Then I checked all facts I was aware of. I tried to see if I missed something else, I reread the whole thread. Since I couldn't find 'magnetic soles' in the description of my own space suit, I was confusing myself more and more about what was going on and I finally I concluded that it must be a miscommunication somewhere. To resolve it, I asked for clarification.

Anyway, now you know why I asked what I asked, and why I asked again. I'll write an actual reply a little later -- going by the clarification that we are standing on the creature, and that this is weird.

EDIT: Dramatically shortened post as adviced by Chriz -- I was being overly typy again.))