[Hank]
Stays with Kylar, relieved that Reylorna's still (relatively) alright.
He watches the plane crash for (to him) no explicable reason.
He says, half under-his-breath:
"Okay... I've got a shiny nickel for anyone who can explain what just
happened..."
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim"
To:
Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 2:49 PM
Subject: Kalyr: 87d - The Return Journey
> Motioning to Ryzar to follow him, Dharak pelts off into the trees,
> away from both the tethered prisoners and Reylorna and Duplar's
> position.
>
> Meanwhile Duplar looks to Reylorna, but as soon as she confirms she is
> still conscious he makes his own dive for cover. He then rolls round
> and assess his chance of affecting this thing with his lightning wand,
> and realises he doesn't really have a clue. These weapons were
> designed to stun living targets, although they can also fry delicate
> circuitry. They're useless for causing structural damage against
> vehicles and buildings.
>
> He checks its selector switch is on full power. It is.
>
> Hank's a bit lost. He's still not ready to shoot down the prisoners,
> people who themselves haven't done him any harm- or even threatened
> him. At the same time, he realizes they probably aren't about to
> extend him the same courtesy.
>
> Above all, there's nothing he can do about the jet, except hunker down
> and try not to be a target. He glances around; the wooded side of the
> valley would give the party a lot of cover, should the only remaining
> option be to bolt for it.
>
> As soon as Dharak is a safe distance away from the rest, based upon
> what he saw of the blast radius of the flyer's energy weapon, he
> squeezes off a shot at the shuttle. Unfortunately the combination of
> the range and the speed of the craft means his first shot misses.
>
> Almost simultaneously, the craft opens fire on a rock face just above
> it's previous target; again showering the area with rock shards.
> Everybody ducks, and this time nobody is hurt, although a sharp shard
> of rock passes just inches from Reylorna's nose.
>
> Dharak runs like hell and dive for cover. Duplar decides not to fire
> as it would give away Reylorna's position.
>
> Reylorna makes mental contact as the craft passes overhead, her mental
> probe entering the mind of the pilot. He's concentrating on banking
> the craft in a sharp turn to come round for a third attack.
>
> _"They're firing back", comes the voice of another, speaking in Konaic
>
> "To much damned cover", replies the pilot, in a thick accent she can't
> place at all_
>
> With no time to waste, Reylorna concentrates on closing down the man's
> consciousness. There's something alien about his psyche, not quite
> kandar, not quite human, but something else.
>
> The craft quivers in the air, the goes into a stall. It plummets
> towards the ground, but then seems to recover, and the dive flattens
> out. But then it vanishes behind some trees on the opposite side of
> the valley, and everyone heads crash like a rumble of thunder.
> --
> Tim Hall
> Weblog: http://www.kalyr.com/weblog
> Photos: http://kalyr.fotopic.net/
