The Stratosphere

[Nail Strafer]

[From Alfredrick's - Soleanna]

Amiroo went into a long description about how they were soaring so high and so fast. While he was amazed to be leaving the planet's atmosphere for the first time (barely), one thought nagged in the back of his head for some reason. It was the way Amiroo talked about one particular thing. For some reason, that seemed to stick with him the most of all as the dinosaur continued to speak.

When the raptor asked for questions, Nail couldn't help but blurt it out.

"I have a question... Why.." He hesitated, thinking this was about to sound really stupid. But he was intensely curious as well. "Why do you use the Imperial system of measurements? Thought you'd have your own system."

[Giichi Twinkieland]

Giichi wasn't listening to half of the things Amiroo said. He was far too busy watching the earth melt away behind them, as they climbed higher, higher, higher, and higher still. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he was about to fly off into space. Of course Amiroo had said it wasn't true space flight, but the cat really didn't care. He couldn't take his eyes off of Soleanna as it shrunk behind them, and then became too small to even see.

[SOLIS]

[Skippin once more. I have something planned shortly, though.]

[Echo]

Quote: "Why do you use the Imperial system of measurements? Thought you'd have your own system."

Amiroo adopted a perplexed expression at Nail's question.

"We do Nail, Era was simply putting it into measurements we thought you guys would understand. I think it would have been gibberish to you if we said we're traveling at *raptor chirps* at an altitude of *raptor whine plus two chirps*. Don't ya think?"

Era suddenly twisted her head to look at her passengers, a serious expression across her features.

"alright we're looking good across the set. Lets make it happen. Brace yourselves!" Era said as she tapped a few keys on the control panel.

The ship jerked hard as the ship rocketed onwards and upwards, picking up major speed, while the G's poured on. The Earth outside the cabin windows didn't really budge that much at first but as the ship continued it's burn the curvature of the planet became increasingly noticeable.

"we have exited the atmosphere! Congratulations guys, you're all astronauts now" Amiroo said through grit teeth as he focused on his breathing under the G forces.

A few more moments would pass under the constant three G's until suddenly the force evaporated quite suddenly. Loose belts and items began to float slowly about the cabin, as gravity had seemingly forgotten it's hold over the ship and it's occupants.

"Alright, we're on course and on energy. we have 77 minutes until we arrive at the base, and 53 minutes before we reenter the atmosphere." Era said.

The cabin of the ship fell deadly silent, for a moment, as the two raptors simply stared out the cockpit windows at the planet below. Era gently worked the controls and adjusted the pitch of the ship until the nose was facing down towards the planet passing by far below. The deadly silence, the micro gravity, and the blue planet passing by before them.

"Never gets old, does it Era?"

Era shook her held slowly, "No matter how many times you see it, it never does."

Amiroo unbuckled himself from his mat and floated up above Era to give their passengers a chance to come look out the big cockpit windows.

"Feel free to move about the cabin guys, the microgravity feels great. You can come up here and look out the big windows if your want, but remember, don't touch anything" Era said.

[Nail Strafer]

Quote:"We do Nail, Era was simply putting it into measurements we thought you guys would understand. I think it would have been gibberish to you if we said we're traveling at *raptor chirps* at an altitude of *raptor whine plus two chirps*. Don't ya think?"

That earned Amiroo a little frown from Nail, but not much else. In any case, Nail tucked the bread and his Garand into a stowage space under his seat.

In any case, as they ascended into space, Nail squinted hard as the G-forces struck his body. This reminded him of those centrifuges you could ride at the carnival that would press you against the walls. Except in this, the gravity was a few times more intense. Nail wasn't quite used to it and thus he struggled hard to keep from blacking out.

Thankfully though, it ended rather quickly. He took a moment to relax, until he saw his 1911 pistol floating past his face. Carefully, Nail reached out to grab it, not wanting to accidentally discharge a round. He felt slightly embarrassed as he stuck it back in his holster, and this time he made sure it was firmly strapped closed.

With the danger over, Nail unbuckled himself and floated out of his chair. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to be in outer space. Then again lately he seemed to have been experiencing lots of things he never dreamed of before. Like getting out of prison before the end of his lifetime. For a second, as he looked out through the window, he thought that it was worth it going with Amiroo just to see this...

[Giichi Twinkieland]

Giichi watched in horror as Nail's handgun started to float out of its holster. He thought about grabbing it so it wouldn't fly away, but the cat was terrified of guns. Fortunately Nail managed to snatch it back and holster it properly before it became a problem.

With that, he too decided to experience the feel of weightlessness. He was glad he didn't have a cloak on right now, or he'd probably end up getting tangled in it.

[SOLIS]

[Skipping~]

[Terrador Bellator]

While Am and Era were accustomed to travelling like this and Nail and Giichi appeared to be having a legitimately splendid time, Terrador wasn't doing to well. His eyes had a look of horror within them and his tan skinned muzzle had lost all color. It wasn't the pressure of increased gravity as he was well used to high extents of pressure. The echidna always had a fear of heights and preferred to remain rooted to the ground, even before his kinetic abilities were unlocked. Such a mindset had worked wonders with his Geokinetic combat, but being so far from the ground struck his heart with terror. Not to mention there was something his parents warned about his powers that sent him into a state of panic. He was told if he remained disconnected with the earth for too long, his markings would fade, then vanish and his Geokinesis will be forever lost.

Terrador never received any formal education in his life and wasn't aware of the effects of having no gravity. As such, when he caught sight of the Baculum Petra floating in the air in front of him without his doing, he ogled at his staff with the utmost confusion. Taking a look around the craft, he spotted the canine's handgun briefly before Nail retrieved it. Terrador was perplexed on such a thing. He found it drifting away from him and wasn't fond of that. Not wanting to remove himself from his seat, the staff was bathed in a green glow and slowly brought towards the warrior, where once in range, he swiftly placed it back on his lap. He sighed deeply not focusing on his predicament. He kept a close eye on his markings for any and all disturbances.

[Echo]

[50 minute time skip]

"alright guys, time to quit goofing around, we're going to intersect the atmosphere in a few minutes. If you don't mind, we need you to return to your seats and fasten yourselves in. Please remember what I said about the barf bags guys." Era said fastening herself back into her seat.

Am was busy moving about the cabin thoroughly enjoying weightlessness like some hatchling. He'd spent the majority of their time in space showing off and playing around with their passengers in zero G.

"aw man, that went by too fast" Am said dropping what he was doing and heading back towards the front of the ship to take his seat.

"I hope someday, you guys get the chance to experience zero G in one of our big cruisers. When they turn the gravity off in their hanger bays it's a madhouse. Zero G ball games, zero G eating contests, Zero G dancing and concerts haha Zero G is just way too much fun. Not so much when someone loses their lunch though. Kinda turns a hanger in to a minefield if you know what I mean." Am said.

"30 seconds to intersect. You guys strapped in!?" Era asked.

" 15 seconds guys, brace yourselves! " Am said

"10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...intersect!" Era said as the ship slowed suddenly, throwing the dinos forwards in their seats against their restraints. The over shield flared instantly as it began doing its job protecting the ships hull from the intense heat of reentry. The ship was engulfed in a plasma fireball, replacing the view of the outside world with a spectrum of multicolored flames licking at the cockpit windows, as the ship streaked across the northern night sky.

Moments passed and the flames subsided revealing a sea of inky blackness. The starry sky above and an shadowed landscape below. It was night time in the frozen north and it was here that the Dinosaurs base was hidden.

A few more moments passed before their running lights could be seen reflecting off of a surface of some kind, an icy surface. As the light beams became more focused as they drew nearer, it would become obvious this was an icy tundra they were about to set down on. The horizon was totally devoid of any lights or signs of civilization and the sky was a black sheet woven with a tapestry of stars than shown more brilliantly than they did further south with the light pollution. It was too late to turn around now, they were very much alone out here.

Era suddenly began speaking saurian into her radio, which promptly replied in kind with Chirps,whistles,clicks, and barks the passengers would at least recognize as a response.

Up ahead a bright light suddenly pierced the all enveloping darkness from below the ice it seemed. As they approach the doors of some sort of massive hanger below can be seen spreading wide to welcome the ships arrival.

"Guys, remember what I said about leaving the ship? Let me and Amiroo get off first and then you guys may follow. Okay?" Era reminded.

The ship slowed to a hover over the massive hanger and slowly began the one hundred foot descent to the hanger deck below. The walls of the hanger would remind it's passengers of a typical example of an aircraft hanger to say the least. Not something that would be considered very exotic even by mobian standards. The walls were a glossy silver lined with lights and holographic displays flashing in various alien text and symbols providing the pilot with situational awareness as the ship descended. As the ship descended, figures began becoming visible on the deck below recognizable as other raptors awaiting their arrival.

"Looks like they got the welcoming committee all assembled" Era said as she slowed the ship just feet from the ground before gently touching down on the deck and bringing the engines to a full stop.

"good deal" Era said as she unbuckled herself. She stood up and stretched before turning back to her console. "computer, shut down the rest of the ships systems for me could ya? Run a diagnostic for me too. The works, if you would, we just returned from a reentry."

A small holographic raptor appeared on the console and spoke something in Saurian before disappearing again.

Amiroo had already made his way to the back of the ship and was waiting impatiently to open the ramp.

"You ready yet?"

"yeah, I'm coming. Guys, if you would get in line behind me. Lets get this over with." Era said approaching the back ramp.

[To Shining prospect]

[Echo]

[from Shining Prospect]


The small vessel was rocked and buffetted by the turbulent winds for what seemed an enternity, before abruptly breaking through the cloud tops into smoother air. The craft fell silent as they continued to gain altitude, leaving the storm far below them. The sky was inky black, a painted canvas of stars twinkling before them. The full moon hung low on the horizon, it's light casting a silvery sea on the seemingly endless layer of clouds below them.

"Wow" Era said taking brief glances out of her window.

"I know" Amiroo said looking as well, captivated by the sight.

The ship continued to climb until it had reached 100,000+ feet, and Era began doing her final checks before they exited to space.

Amero and Rye were having a discussion of some sort in the back, but it couldn't be told what they were talking about seeing as they were speaking in Saurian. What does one talk about just before running off to war? Tybe was sitting chatting with Rog over the matter of programming the transmitter, and Amiroo was sitting in silence, staring out the window at the black mass of the Earth below them. In the distant south, one could faintly make out the lights of towns flickering on the dark horizon. Amiroo apparently had something on his mind.

"...hen we'll need to place the transmitter up on a highrise somewhere, preferably the tallest if we can manage that and then..." Rog stated.

"Not gonna happen, no way. The tallest structures in Station Square are over 100 stories tall. You're out of your mind. There won't be any elevators to take us up, we'd have to run up cramped stairwells to make it to the top. Not to mention the hornets nest of swatbots we'll have to get past." Rye said, interrupting.

"I still don't understand why we can't just land on the roof, drop the transmitter off, and high tail it." Amero stated.

"Don't you listen at all Amero? Ye olde chunkycheeks will detect our ship and shoot us down is why." Rye snapped.

"Ha ha! 'ye olde chunkycheeks', that's great" tybe chuckled.

Amero was about to respond when Era interrupted, "Alright everybody, here we go. Brace yourselves!" She said pushing forward on a second set of throttles above her head, and away they went. The ship lurched forward and skyward, pressing the raptors into their seats. They would soon find themselves leaving the attmosphere behind to sail the darkness of space once again.

"annnnddddd, cut off" Era said as she killed the engines and the cabin fell deathly silent once again. For the second time in the last few days, the crew would find they had once again slipped the shackles of gravity, completely weightless.

"Alright, we only have about an hour and a half to get this right. Lets get to work Raptors" Amiroo said unbuckling himself, grabbing a small flashlight like device, and propelling himself over the heads of the passengers, towards the crates in the back. Rog, and the other raptors, aside from Era who kept an eye on the ship, did the same. They undid some of the crates and began putting together the device they'd need.

"Nail, you think you could bring SOLIS back here? We're gonna need him here in a bit" Rog asked, not looking away from what he was doing. Amiroo and Tybe held flashlights on the device, so Rog could see what he was doing. At least, that was until the sun peaked over the curvature of the Earth in a spectacular display of nature, bathing the interior of the cabin in unfiltered sunlight. It was was though the gates to the afterlife had suddenly swung open right there in the cabin, revealing the light of the world that lay beyond so many near death experiencers have brought back tales of. Everything in the cabin seemed to take on a glow of its own, including the crew. Their scales shone in the rays, reflecting their respective colors: reds,greens,blues,golds,etc. The cabin was as a rainbow until the ship's light dampeners kicked in and the light receded back to a managable level. As the sunlight was pushed back somewhat, rays of light could be seen dancing playfully across the upper attmosphere far below, teasing the sleepy shadowed landscape beneath with the imminent return of the sun. It was warm, bright, comforting, and for a moment, it would make your mind stand still in awe. The shear scale of it all, was quite overwhelming.
A feeling of calm fell over the crew as they returned to their work. It's a funny thing how lighting can effect mood and thought processes, and Raptors were certainly no exception.