Introduction

I think it is safe to say that this week didn't quite go to plan. I take full responisbility for the problems at the end, but Five hadn't done much all evening, and I wanted to leave her in exactly the cliff hanger Paul actually refered to, apparently having no choice but to order Lisa to surrender her files.  I possibly should have made it clearer that the "Meanwhile Elsewhere" was actually in the "future" in relation to everyone else being rendered unconscious.

I also don't think the 2 week Christmas break helped. I had expected Two to ask Arax who "Kaizon" is but she didn't. Whether know who Kaizon is is relavent or not is another matter entirely.

There are some other things I would comment on.

The first is Four and Honour. As Kevin correctly pointed out the code of Bushido or the code of the Samuri Warriors  everything to Four. Whilst it may not be as prominent in Japanese culture in particular these days, or at least not to the degree is was say 20 years ago, it is still a fundamental of their culture, and doing anything that would bring "dishonour" on themselves or their family is something they will just not contemplate. It does not matter that Four is mominally a criminal, wanted for murdering his father, or that he has killed people, more often in self defence than anything else, or to prevent them posing a future threat, he still lives by that code, it is a fundamental of his make up that the 'memory wipe' didn't really change (or did it?). Thus he will do things that apparently do not help his situation (or any body elses) because to do so would bring dishonour to him and his Family (and that includes Zairon). Thus it does not matter to him that Misaki and her Guards are there to take him back to Zairon for public execution, in the face of no other choice he will go willing and with honour to face that future. If things change such that other options present themselves that enable him to take an alternative course that doesn't bring dishonour then he will take them. Note that this means he will not take advantage of an unarmed opponent if he has a weapon and they don't, he will only fight on apparently equal terms.

The second is Six and Justice. Six is very much a believer in Justice and "doing the right thing".  He believed that the GA stood for something, stood for Justice, stood for upholding the rights of the common citizen. Everything he has done has been because of this. The fact that he has been right royally shafted by his own employer (the GA), the inherent corruption in the system,  and everything that has happened, including Shaddick's only interest in hanging Traugott out to dry no matter the cost, and that the Prison Govenor has been paid off to ensure that the crew of the Razza do not leave the Prison alive, is completely soul destroying. I won't say more, some of you actually know more, but I'm not saying who. In many ways Six is governned by his own code of ethics in a similar way to Four is governeed by his code of honour.

Next, without One in this part of the story and what happens in the series I am having to improvise a workaround.. Whether people choose to follow this up detemines what may happen in future.

And lastly, I can't remember who it was who commented on what combat abilities Lisa may have. Given that in the third session she simultaneously fought Three, Four, Six, and Seven rendering Four and Seven unconscoius and doing serious amounts of non-lethal damage to both Three and Six, her combat abilities are not trivial (being an Android helps).

Is this the Final Countdown?

We pick up the session with Five in her room in the staff wing of the Prision where she's been all the time, Six also in Staff quarters, Seven unconscious in the prisoner Medical facility, and Four in his cell, and Two and Three in his cell discussing the implications of the Map he's just drawn on the base of his bed under his matress.

At this point Arax's head man turns up and wants to see all three of them, ie Portia-Lin, Marcus Boone, and Ryo Tetsudo (Note: this is how every body else see's you, not as Two,Three,Four), nominally the crew of the Razza. They collect Four and head to Arax's office.

Arax greets them and suggests that they might like to thank him for saving their lives. Two does indeed thank him but wants to know "what that was all about". Arax just reiterates that "it was an unfortunate accident and that they happen all the time around here."

He then tells them that they are now all under his protection. I can't exactly rememebr the order of events but Arax initially says they have his blessing for *all* of us to escape. There is a clarification where Arax says that whatever plan they are working on has his blessing, and What does he get out of it, which is basically he goes with them.

There is then a discussion as to what does he bring to the table, where upon he asks what do they need. This is another  point where the Christmas break definately got in the way as in the discussion in the last session before Christmas Three had already suggested they might need some form of riot, but it took a little prompting to get back to this point.

Nyx turns up at this point, and Arax's head man initially attempts to bar her from entering, but Arax tells him to let her in. Nyx's opeing remarks are that she knows exactly what this conversation is about except there's a hitch the regular supply shuttle has been cancelled until further notice.

Three suggests that doesn't matter, obviously forgetting that somebody has very recently tried to kill them all, and therefore what's to stop said parties from trying again.

At this point I had to use the GM prompt perogative. Shaddick had offered all of them a deal to rat on their compatriots, but in Four's case there is a specific caveat that if he doesn't she will sign the extradition request submitted by Ashieda, thereby meaning he will get transferrred to the Ashieda Cruiser that is sitting in orbit. Thus to enact the transfer the cruiser will have to send down a shuttle.

Arax suggests he doesn't do anything till the following morning. Two, Three, and Four return to their cells.

We now move to the following morning. Four requests to see Shaddick, where he basically tells her to get stuffed. He returns to the prison wing. He estimates they have about 3 hours maximum before the Ashieda shuttle arrives.

Shortly after this 3 guards turn up as Portia-Lin has got solitary. Two questions what she's done, but the head guard just says orders are orders, and they take her away.

Pretty much as soon as the door closes on her cell, the synth exercise yard transmat illuminates. Two steps onto the pad.

She once again finds herself in the synth exercise yard where a single figure in a GA uniform is present. It's Six.  After the 'Whar the hell momemt' Six sort of explains that yes he is GA, and he was tasked with brining the crew of the Razza in, but all that doesn't really matter any longer, because the Govenor has been paid off and that they, as in the crew of the Razza, aren't getting out of here alive. He also knows exactly where Five and Lisa are. Two informs him that Seven is in the Prison Infirmary having been attacked. Six wasn't aware of this. Six asks if they have any form of escape plan. Two just tells him to get Five and Lisa out asap but won't tell him anything else.

Meanwhile back in Block A Three, Four, and Arax are discussing what to do, since (and with a GM reminder) they need Two for the whole plan to work. Three suggests he injure himself to get himself into sick bay, prompting a GM reminder that is is Four that the Aeshida shuttle is coming for and they are down to less than 2 hours, which does correctly prompt the discussion about Four Injuring himself, except that that is something his code of honour will not allow him to do "I would rather go back to Zairon and be publically executed rather than dishonouring myself in such a manner!". Three puts his arm around him to take him aside to try and persuade him otherwise. Arax then comes up behind Four and brings his elbow down on the back of Four's neck knocking him unconscious.  Arax then asks "When this is all over and we are sitting on a beach somewhere, he will forgive me right?", Three laughs "Not likely". Four is carted off to the Prison Med Bay.

Two's discussion with Six over she is retuned to Block A. Six goes to talk to Five. Six explains that he's spken to Two, and that the Prison Govenor has been paid off. The crew are not leaving the facility alive. He doesn't exaclt know if that applies to himself and or Five. He explains that Lisa is being restrained as she is not cooperating with Shaddick or the GA. She also no longer recognises him as a member of the crew, also suggesting that he never was, and therefore she won't take orders from him. As Five is notionally a member of the crew Lisa should take orders from her. She neeeds to ask to see Shaddick, and pretend that she is going to co-operate, which should get her in to see Lisa. She then needs to play for time and Two is planning something but he doesn't know exactly what. She needs to free Lisa at the right time (Not this is where the hint specifically comes in.. but is only relavent at the right time, ie when Lisa is not restrianed).  Six then leaves. Five, when the guard arrives with her lunch requests to see Shaddick.

With Two's return Arax wants to know if everything's good to go. Two says she needs a private word with Three. Arax says "okay 5 minutes". Two basically tells Three of her conversation with Six. Three's basic reaction is that Six is a "dead man". |Two tells him hes not and he got played by the GA. He also knows where Five and the Android are and should be working to get them out.

Elsewhere Seven comes round to find himself in a medical facility. He is coupled to a pair of drips, one of which is supplying Morphine in saline solution. He is pretty much in no position to go anywhere, it simply hurts too much. There is what appears to be a Doctor, but in prison uniform (red not beige) present. Also present is Four. Seven asks who the "Samuri" warrior is. The doctor chooses not to comment. Seven also tries to get the Doc to up his meds but the Doc refuses.

An Oriental woman and two guards enter (Seven has seen this style of uniform before where they sprung Four from being arrested previously. The woman is dressed obstnsibly as the guards are, and much as the Commander in charge of the Ashida contingent that had arrested Four previously was). The woman sits on the edge of Fours bed and proceeds to wake him. "Hello Ryo its Misaki now Han-Shireikan after the death of our old freind Akita-san. Time to go home. No tying to hide behind medical regulations". She steps back and the two guard assist  Four off the bed and  lead him out. The  doctor  tries to intevene , but the woman says "Special dispensation from the Govenor. " The doctor tries to insist that Ryo is in no position to go anywhere and that he may not make it to where ever they're taking him. The woman replies "He should be so lucky."

The doctor hesitates and follows the woman out.

After a great deal of prompting Seven eventually convinces to Doctor to take him with them and they hurry after the Ashieda party.

With Two's conversation with Three over she tells Arax they're good to go. Arax signals his men and the riot commences. About 40 seconds later the Sonic Disabler is triggered prison wide. Everyone in the prison wings including the Ashieda party is rendered unconscious - remmebr from the plans the main shuttle bay is in the middle of the prison complex.

This is probably where I should have left things but as I said in the introduction I wanted to leave Five in a cliff hanger. So the meanwhile elsewhere is actually about 15 to 20 minutes after the Prison wide use of the Sonic Disabler which for obvious reasons doesn't affect the staff wing.

Two of Shaddicks guard turn up to escort Five to the room where Lisa is being restrained. When Five arrives she greets Emily by name and Five greets Lisa in turn.  Shaddick tells the Technician to remove the mechanism being used to forcibly extract the Data files. Five tries to convince him that she needs them because of the encrytion, but he looks completely puzzled. Shaddick then tells him to remove the device as she knows perfectly well that Lisa will respond to verbal orders from a member of the Razza's crew, irrespective of anything else.

Shaddick tells Five to stop playing games, grabbing a gun from one of her guards and pointing it at Five. "Tell her to release the files little girl or you're dead."  Five confirms that Lisa recognises her as a member of the crew and that she will therefore obey her orders.

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