trans_9 | Mission: the Time Dragons

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Mission: the Time Dragons

||Attention, Attention. The following crew members must report to the Observation Deck...||

All over the ship, Stacy's voice continues to repeat the announcement until the summoned crew members have reported to the Orbs Deck. Once there a dossier appears on the screen, and a mission that many of the crew members have been waiting for - one that can save the people affected by the Melting Clock.

Planet Designation: Era Status: Terrestrial, T-class. Non-sentient life: Medium levels of flora and fauna, most of which are partially comprised of clockwork. Semi-Sentient Life: No. Sentient Life: the Time Dragons Water: 15% of the planet's surface. Climate: Similar to Earth's Mediterranean regions. [Click here for cultural equivalents for non-Earth cultures.] Landscape: Mostly comprised of metallic, industrial-like landscapes, with various clockwork-based flora scattered over it. Air: Normoxic concentration: 28% oxygen, 61% nitrogen, 3% xenon, 8% trace gases, such as hydrogen, krypton, and argon. Air Pressure: 15.021 pounds per square inch. Sky: Rust coloured, with pale clouds that mysteriously arrange themselves into the shape of clock faces. Sun: A class E5K, yellow star. Mission: Negotiate with the Time Dragons and convince one of them to destroy the Melting Clock.

[[ooc: The OOC post for this is here! Keep in mind that due to the Time Dragons messing with time, all of the threads with them will happen simultaneously]]

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It wasn't long before the summoned crewmembers were brought down to the planet's surface - a peculiar place, where the ground seemed to be constructed from bolted metal sheets and strange plants made of cogs and clockwork parts grew from cracks in the metal, their parts whirring away. And up ahead a large, metallic mountain rose towards the rust-coloured sky. There, at the base of that mountain, they would find four caves - the homes of the Time Dragons they had come to meet.

[[ooc: The guys can just mingle here, discuss possible tactics, look at the clock-flowers, whatever]]

The largest cave belonged to Analog - an elderly female dragon. She was resting just inside the entrance of her cave, watching the newcomers with practiced disinterest as she sipped from what appeared to be a teacup filled with motor oil.

In a medium sized cave sat Metronome, a large middle aged male dragon. He appeared to be lounging as if his cave floor was made of cushions. He yawned at the newcomers arrival.

Another medium sized cave housed Chime, an adult female dragon, and her two children - Tick and Tock. She appeared to pay no attention to the newcomers, instead watching the young dragons closely as they raced around the cave.

The smallest cave was home to a young male dragon, Sundial. He paced around the cave restlessly, stretching his wings and shooting the occasional look at the new arrivals.

Nathan immediately took a look around to get his bearings. This was going to be tricky, and he hoped these dragons could be reasoned with.

River Song seemed to be preoccupied with glancing around at her surroundings, taking in the strange plant life made of miscellaneous clock parts. This place looked like something right up the Doctor's alley. Up ahead, she suspected, were the homes of the dragons. "You know, I've never seen a dragon before. Funny how I've seen just about everything else during my travels, but never a dragon."

Kang couldn't help kneeling down to take a closer look at one of the strange plants, watching the parts move. He'd been around living machines enough over the past months to not be too shocked by it, but it was still fascinating to see them in plant form rather than animal.

They were on a mission, though, and he was acutely aware of the danger of dallying for too long, so he quickly stood back up to face the mountain. He hoped it wouldn't be too difficult to convince one of the dragons to destroy the clock.

Turning to face River, he snorted, "There's a couple on the ship I'm sure you'll run into at some point. I'm sure Lord Bight wouldn't mind the help of one of them on this particular mission."

A dragon, female by the looks of it. Although she was no expert on judging the gender of a dragon. The two younglings definitely caught and held her attention. They were a bit of a distraction. For a long time, she said nothing, but after awhile her impatience got the best of her and she spoke up to gain the larger dragon's attention.

"Hello there, my name is Doctor River Song." An introduction is always a good way to start a conversation.

"So how much do we know about these guys?" Sakura asked, focusing on the caves in the distance. "Four caves, four new dragons." At least four chances to set this thing right.

Jono had his hands in the pockets of his duster, looking around with interest. 'M sure I saw a paintin' like this once, he said aloud, though it could have mostly been to himself. Reckon it was on the front of some sci-fi book or somethin'.

So this was a male dragon. Maybe. He thought so?

Daniel wasn't exactly brushed up on dragon genders and if there was a physical difference at this point, especially considering these were going to be the very first dragons he was meeting. Ever. Daniel thought he could just prepare himself to meet a new species. It wasn't like he'd never encountered a new race ever, so he thought he was reasonably prepared. The fact was that he wasn't, not really. The dragon was bigger than he had expected, and far more impressive looking. All those tapestries and drawings of them back home didn't come close to doing one justice. Daniel tried his hardest not to stare in fascination.

Suddenly he felt so small compared to one. Not just physically, but just in terms of overall existence. Humans liked to think of themselves as intelligent, top of the food chain. Even though he got a chance to see more of the universe than most people, he'd never felt so insignificant and fleeting before.

"Hi. I'm Doctor Daniel Jackson. Would you grant me an audience?"

He sighed, and remarked, "We know they're our one chance to stop the clock. The affected don't have much time left."

"Then not much." Her lips pressed into a thin line. She worked in medical; she knew how fast things had been winding down. "Then let's try not to waste any more of what they have left than we need to. Right?"

Billy's heart had filled with dread when he'd been called up for another mission. So soon after he'd gotten himself very nearly executed and incinerated, and with a large portion of his close friends currently on the verge of death. He hated to leave them.

The string of mumbled curses stopped when he saw the mission screen, though. They were called to make an attempt at saving the affected crew members. This was his chance to do something about it.

With a quick goodbye message sent to the caretakers of his child-sized friends, he was off. Time to channel all the wisdom Trini had imparted to him over the years. He'd sometimes wished he'd gone with her to the peace conference before, but now he really longed to know her secrets.

For now, though, all he was left with was a knack for observation. Machine parts...something he was familiar with, at least. He made a few hypotheses at how it all worked as he walked, hoping it would be useful later on.

"...this is it. We succeed or they die." His voice was as heavy as his heart at the moment, but it was a calm sort of melancholy.

Sundial eyeballed Daniel, and let out a sort.

"Why would I want to talk to you?"

When they were close enough, Sakura turned toward the impressive masterpiece of a clockwork and metal creature that was a time dragon. Amazing, she found herself thinking, before the overriding need to try and find a way to convince them to help break the clock drove her into a deep bow. "Thank you for seeing us, Lord Time Dragon." She had no idea if the address was correct, and didn't exactly have anyone to ask. "My name is Haruno Sakura." She straightened, hands clasping behind her back. "I hope we're not interrupting your tea."

She looked around, trying to hide her disquiet. Sakura wasn't the sort of person sent in on diplomatic missions, if everyone was taking a chance on these dragons. She had to do her best.

No excuses.

"You have a lovely home."

You know, that was a good question. Why would a dragon, a Time Dragon, want to talk to a human? Daniel thought back to how this dragon had been behaving just seconds earlier. He almost seemed restless, and unlike the other dragons, actually seemed (mildly?) interested in the newcomers. He hoped he was on the right track.

If he wasn't, he just hoped to God that he didn't offend him by assuming.

"Because you look bored and we're small, new, and strange. We're a good distraction."

After a few moments of careful consideration, Kang decided to approach Metronome, giving the dragon a short, respectful bow from several feet away. "I am Councilor Kang, sir, and well met. I ask to be granted an audience; I am in need of a favor, to help several under my care."

He hoped the title was appropriate to use; he was one of the few sent that could tell the sex of the dragons, but this one could prefer some other title besides 'sir'.

"We'll succeed," Sakura said, catching her fellow crewmates words, turning toward him. "It's not the only possibility, but it's the only option." To be this close, to have found those who could break the clock and restore everyone's lost time? She refused to believe in their failure.

So she smiled, nodding toward the caves. "That's our final hurdle. Ready for it?"

There was a small eyebrow raise as he considered that. He eventually let out another haughty snort.

"Then distract me."

Nathan studied the cave, noting the features of it. As the eldest, she would have the most experience, and also if she could be swayed, perhaps the younger dragons might be more accepting.

"It's an honor to be meeting with you. I am Commander Nathan Petrelli of the Transmigration 9."

For all intents and purposes, Metronome hadn't heard Kang's address. He took things at his leisure, more than content to make obvious the point that time wasn't a mere consideration of his. He was a creature of Time, and a master of Time.

Slowly, ponderously, he turned to regard Kang with one eye. Then he looked beyond him, hmphing somewhere in the back of his metal throat. Creaking, he stretched his wings, then better settled himself on his rather lovely floor. It was so properly hard, just like he preferred. "Councilor Kang," he mused, trying out the name. "Councilor, councilor, councilor... Ah, yes. Early French, thirteenth century. From conseillier, from Latin consilator, agent noun from consiliare, from consilium. Councilor."

His eyes came to focus on Kang, staring down his long snout at the Draconian. "I am Metronome."

He didn't bother addressing the rest of Kang's statement, instead regarding him with a bored, unimpressed air.

Kang carefully kept his face neutral, despite the annoyance he felt at the pointless etymology lesson he'd just been given. He wasn't sure if he actually had been granted an audience, but he chanced it, and took one step forward.

"Some of those aboard our ship, the Transmigration Nine, have been afflicted with a spell of some sort, coming from a strange clock. It is making them... lose time. They are regressing, and if it isn't stopped soon, they will cease to exist."

Billy wished he'd come armed with some intelligence---a clue about the identities of the entities they were to speak to. A marking from the surroundings. Anything that would guide him would be quite useful, but all he had were open eyes and a whirring brain. Everything suggested that respect and caution would be best.

But time was not on their side. True as that was, he couldn't allow himself to think about it. The key was to appear calm, like a certain friend always did, understand their position, and adjust oneself accordingly. Those were the steps in the right order, right?

"Greetings," Billy bowed, hoping that was the correct mark of reverence. The dragon appeared...tired, but it would be a mistake to assume. "I hope you are well. I'm Billy, just the mechanic, and I was hoping it wouldn't be much trouble for you if we could converse."

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Mission: the Time Dragons

Arrival

Analog

Metronome

Chime

Sundial

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