A tour of GBWT's satellite grid.

[The Union of Tinis]

As the tour group is greated by Captain Sherka, Captain Inasto seems to suddenly be less at ease as the full affect of gravity comes to them.

Nelson pipes up, almost startling Inasto, to ask Captain Sherka, "Captain, I hope you don't mind me asking, but are you of Lemurian decent?"

Inasto half scowls at Lt. Nelson for being so rude.

[gbwt]

Captain Sherka turns her gaze to Nelson. "I am a citizen and ranking officer of the GBWT Space Forces. While it is true that i am descended from Lemurians, my family line was assumed to have been brought into the Empire of GBWT during the Feudal Wars, and we have been loyal citizens ever since our second generation there." She the addresses the group. If you will follow me, we will enter the mess hall where we will be able to observe the firring of the PCR X485, or the particle cannon." She leads them past the officers and off duty furs and down a hallway. It's not exactly spacious, but it's not crowded either. Bulkheads every few meters have automated doors that would close automatically in the event of a catastrophic haul breach. The hall curves slightly, going around the perimeter of the ship. Windows of foot thick plastic, about 1 foot high by 3 feet long are placed in every section between bulkheads, and outside the engines of the Nautilus can be seen and the void of space.

[gbwt]

The doors to the mess hall are open, and more cloth drapes have been put up over the food windows, the tables have been folded up into the walls, and seat have been set in front of a projector screen, a projector hanging from the ceiling. On closer inspection, the seats have belts and are strapped to the floor.

"Please take a seat and strap in," says the Captain, moving in front of the screen. It blinks on, and 4 different pictures are displayed. One of the stations exterior, from a small satellite, one from the station, pointed at the planet, specifically the islands off the southern coast of GBWT. Another is from a ship, pointed a particular island, mostly barren, except for several dozen buildings and trees that have been set around. The fourth is inside the mock city, changing between several different angels around the city.

"Before the firing, there will be several alarms, buzzers, and orders given out along the coms. Dont worry, we're not going to crash," sherka jokes. "we shall begin in," she checks her watch. "about five minutes. Any other questions?" Seconds after she asks, the first buzzer goes off, screeching 3 times as red lights activate, and the doors close.
"all personnel are to report to firing positions Immediately! Firing of the Sunrise shall commence in T-minus five minutes."

[Vyl]

*K'Atyl looks around the seats, walking around the perimeter. Most of the seats are of a shape suitable for anthros, complete with tail-spaces. Though she might be able to fit in one, the straps could not safely hold her. For the first twenty seconds she stands around confused, before being showed to her 'seat' behind the others. She didn't recognise it at first, it appears to be a modified zero-gravity sleeping harness. She grumbles quietly as she is straped in.*

[The Union of Tinis]

As Inasto and Nelson strap in, the Tinisian Captain asks, "I'm guessing we're buckling up because of recoil, am I right?"

[gbwt]

Sherka makes sure all the harnesses are securely fashioned, and takes a seat herself. "Indeed. This is one of our more powerful stations. From here, however, i was told to let Alice, the station AI take over instruction. Alice, if you please?"

The voice that had come over the speakers before returns, a female voice, not entirely natural, as it has a hint of a robotic sounding tint to it. "Greetings foreign representatives. Welcome to the Sunrise Orbital Weapons Platform. I'm Alice, station AI version 2.420. I am charged with maintaining routine station functions, such as doors, lighting, the station communication system, and monitoring for incoming projectiles among other activities." the screens showing the target change momentarily to show a 3D model of the station, spinning around it, and zooming in thorough the air lock and down the same passage they had passed through them selfs, before arriving in the mess hall and showing a number of red splotches resembling the furs present. The screens change back to monitoring the targets, and Alice continues. "While i am in charge of many systems, i have numerous safe blocks in place to prevent an error from causing a catastrophic malfunction, and to keep would be hackers out of my systems. at any data terminal, i can be placed on hold by a commanding officer simply with a retinal scan and palm print identification. similar versions of myself inhabit many of the space forces computer systems, as we have been found to be many, many times more effective at keeping out system anomalies, hackers, and other hurdles that other computer systems face. However, in exactly 2 minutes and 24 seconds, this stations main canon will fire on a designated target of your enjoyment. If you have any questions, please ask them before firing comences..."

It's an upbeat and cheery voice, programed to be that way.

[The Union of Tinis]

Nelson pipes up. "May I inquire as to the percentage of your core program that's hardware vs. the percent that's software?"

[gbwt]

"you may inquire, but that information is a closly gaurded secret, classifid actualy. Because the pourpose of this tour is only to show you the capabilities of some of our nations craft and show good will in alowing you acces to our most secure facilities, the rest of the Comand and I hope that this will be enough. now, if you will please brace yourselves, fireing will comence within 15 seconds..."

The final warning and a new series of alarms go off as a vocal countdown begins. The lights dim as all power is diverted to the cannon, while teh camears focused on the Raising Sun show bolts of electricity waving around the canons barrel, like those in a plasma ball. everyones fur stands on end as the charge builds up, and the cannon fires, a huge bean of energy heading for the planet.

(i'll finish this in a day or two. dont you just hate cliffhangers?! ^^)

[Vyl]

(*bump* ?)