Chapter 2, Part 3

*the scene opens in the common room of TNT HQ. Many officers are sitting, looking pensive. Morranr has joined them, and is sitting as well. Gonick is pacing furiously*

Gonick: This sucks. It really SUCKS. We're talking epic, unprecedented levels of suckitude here.

Morranr: We agree, Gonick. But fuming does us little good, and we need your brain here.

Emma, dripping almost palpably with sarcasm: Yeah, 'Chief Strategist, Gadget Master, and Epic Level Sandwichcrafter'. Think us up a doozy.

Marcus: Emma, that doesn-

Gonick, interrupting furiously: DAMMIT EMMA! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! WE HAVE A FLEET THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST, A SPACE STATION THAT WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF, ALL SEEMINGLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF OUR FAVORITE LOCAL PAIN IN THE ASS, WHO ADDED TO THAT PAIN BY KICKING OURS, AND YOU'RE USING MY TITLES SARCASTICALLY? HERE'S A TITLE FOR YOU: EPIC PIECE OF SUCK AND FAIL. YOU'RE THE ONE WHO LOST HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE, WELL DONE THAT.

Emma, initially taken aback, but now with a rising fury to match that of Gonick: WELL LA DE DAH, MISTER PERFECT. I MAY HAVE LOST ONE ENEMY, BUT AT LEAST I DIDN'T LOSE HALF OUR DAMNED FLEET

*Marcus speaks a word. No one could quite recall what it was afterwards, even Gonick and Emma, who seemed to be the only ones to hear it. Whatever it was, they clutched their ears and fell over onto couches*

Marcus: There, that's better.

Saganami: Um.. are they okay? What did you do...?

Marcus: They'll be fine. They should wake up in ten minutes or so, much calmer and maybe under the impression that when someone says the word 'debris', or the word 'derb', their thumbs have become delicious caramel. As for the 'how', let's just say that there are things Emperors know that others do not.

Saganami: That's... moderately frightening. But 'derbs'?

Dagobah: Caramel?

Marcus: Well they needed calming, and I needed practice. I did say 'maybe' under the impression. My technique is rusty.

Saganami: Ok then... *sits a bit further from Marcus* So, what do we do about the huge fleet and station?

Morranr: Destroy them.

Saganami: I was looking for something maybe a tad more specific?

Marcus: Well since we've never seen anything like the station OR the ships, beyond the fact that some of the classes were vaguely familiar, finding out its origin may be helpful.

Sparc: I was looking over the sensor logs from the Lehon Incident.

Saganami: Where did you come from?

Sparc: What do you mean? I've been here the whole time. And isn't is usually Gonick who points these things out?

Saganami: Well, he is kind of unconscious, so I thought I'd fill in this time.

Sparc: Fair enough. Anyway, it occurred to me that I had seen something like the station before.

Mad Mick: Oh? Um, WHERE?

Sparc: In our Imperial databanks, of course. I read them for fun sometimes.

All: *blank stares*

Sparc: Well I am the Imperial Chronicler, after all... Anyways, the station bore a startling resemblance to one mentioned in an ancient text. The station was called the 'Rakatan's Legacy'. It was supposed to be able to be able to convert resources into ships at an alarmingly fast rate.

Mick: As I recall, it was also supposed to be only legendary.

All: *more blank stares*

Mick: Yes, I have read a history book. Try not to die from shock.

Sparc: Mick is correct, though. At least, he would have been yesterday. Judging by the fleet we face, as well as the station itself, I would have to say that the Rakatan's Legacy is no longer merely the stuff of legend.

Gonick, rubbing forehead: Raking's on the who now?

Sparc: *sarcastically* 'morning Sunshine. We've figured out what that station is.

Dagobah: And we've figured out where the fleet came from!

Emma, still a bit bleary-eyed: But we were only out for *grabs Gonick's arm and checks his wristwatch* ten minutes!

Marcus: Shouldn't have been napping. Anyway, Sparc, fill them in. Everyone else, focus on ship production. Looks like we're at war again!

Mick: And think of all the debris!

*everyone looks at Emma and Gonick expectantly, but nothing happens*

Emma and Gonick, as chorus: What?

Mick: Nothing.

Sparc: Not a thing.

Dagobah: Nope.

Marcus: Dismissed!

*everyone files out of the room, save Gonick, who sucks his thumb*

Gonick, surprised: Why did I just do that?

*Gonick leaves the room, shaking his head in confusion*

*scene ends*

Audio Tour (Part 3)