The trip continues smoothly for over 12 hours. The Daedalus has passed over the Mediterranean and the Middle East and is currently passing above the Arabian Sea in route to the Indian Ocean. Bear has learned to love the luxury of the autopilot and all have managed to relax and some sleep.
The first signs of possible trouble appear when a German zeppelin is spotted in the darkness off the port side. It is some distance away and several hundred feet below the Daedalus. That the craft is large, armored and armed is easy to see as the exterior is illuminated. A squadron of four Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters appears to be flying escort. The zeppelin shows no immediate signs of hostility but seems to be following a similar flight path. Bear is certain that the Daedalus can out distance and out maneuver the craft if necessary.
Ahead the night skies look ominous. A large electrical storm looms on the horizon. It is still a few hours before dawn.
"Seems like them Nazis are a long ways away from home. Armored, eh? Weird. Bet that really limits the load that Zeppelin can carry. Hope we don't have to tangle with them." Jock comments after taking a long look at them.
ReplyDelete"Yeah," Bear replies distractedly as he regards the not-far-enough storm front with more concern.
ReplyDeleteHe racks his brain to recall what the operating ceiling of the Daedalus is, as well as what armraments, if any, it might be carrying.
He leans back to shout back to the passengers. "Not to alarm you folks, but we might be flying into some rough weather ahead."
As the prototype, the Daedalus does not have any exterior armaments.
DeleteThe operating ceiling is theoretically outside of the atmosphere but it was never tested to that level. Design changes were made and applied to the Icarus before space flights were performed with the Daedalus.
OOC: Bear's plan is to take the Daedalus above cloudbase to avoid the storm, hence my flight ceiling question. Bear knows enough aviation to consider the danger of upper atmosphere flight; the question is how prepared the ship is for it (is it pressurized, for example).
DeleteAs the Daedalus approaches the storm, the radio comes to life and breaks the tense silence which has overcome the craft. The voice of a man can be heard through heavy static. He speaks urgently in German but the message cannot currently be understood. Bear and Dr. Lambshead both listen with interest and concentration trying to make out his words.
ReplyDeleteBear strains to catch any recognizable words or phrases, his memory harking back to his time in the Great War, trying to eavesdrop on enemy positions during raids.
ReplyDelete"They are after the Icarus!" Mr. Tempest grumbles, "And if they get their hands on it, we will loose a fortune in Europes Patent Laws!" His face starts to redden as he maintains his tight grip on the arm rest of his seat. "We must outdistance them Mr. Grissom, put on some speed!"
ReplyDeleteBear tries to modulate his voice to sound insistent yet respectful.
Delete"Zip it, Boss. I'm trying to catch what he's saying, and you talking over the radio ain't helping."
OOC did we crash?
ReplyDeleteNo, you have not crashed.
DeleteJock looks around for those new-fangled safety items 'seat-belts' to strap in to keep from being thrown about by the rough weather.
ReplyDelete