10th August
14:37 GMT
"Multiple weapon locks detected." /
"Multiple weapon locks detected."
Well,
yes…
I look out across the area covered by Starlag's interdiction fields, seeing next to nothing with my unaided eyes. The area covered by the fields is actually slightly lopsided, with a much greater area of empty space being covered 'in front' of the station while the gas giant it orbits around is largely uncovered. A moment later tiny dots of orange light appear across my visual field, and as I focus my attention on each in turn the ring informs me of what they are.
There are numerous small Dominion gunboats in grey and blue, general purpose craft either manned by low-caste Dominators or simply automated. Some are equipped with gravity clamps and used to pull small asteroids into close proximity to the station. Though it serves almost no economic purpose, working the asteroids keeps the more physical prisoners focused and tired as well as giving the ones they might end up releasing something to keep them motivated.
Mines aren't really supposed to work as an area denial weapon in space. Without air, explosions don't generate meaningful blast waves as they do in an atmosphere. Nonetheless, the Dominators are
trying. The sheer number of evenly spaced spherical devices arranged in multiple shells around the station is.. frankly staggering. The minefields are augmented by thousands… No, millions, of force field projectors and detection nets similarly arrayed in spheres around the station. I've spent a little while trying to think of a way to sneak past them and so far I've come up with nothing. Light based invisibility is pointless, they'd detect phasing and based on some of the squiggles I've seen engraved on their exteriors I've got a sneaky suspicion that a Dominator sorcerer has added a little something in case someone tries to bypass them with magic.
I'm still a bit worried about that. An active magic user on site should be able to overpower local wards as long as their creator isn't around to reinforce them…
Further out are the weapon stations. Nothing as clumsy or undiscerning as the Citadel's Warden Stations, they have highly precise and powerful weapons… Which the station they guard is specifically designed to have no defence against. In the event of a prisoner uprising they would simply fire at it until there was nothing left and there would be nothing the prisoners could do about it. The station itself is lightly armed -most weapons are anti-personnel and set to be used against recalcitrant prisoners- but well armoured and shielded. And full of Dominion prison guards commanded by a mid-caste governor, while the high-caste science team do whatever takes their fancy to whomever takes their fancy.
"Multiple weapon locks detected." /
"Multiple weapon locks detected."
Medphyll
raises his ring in front of him, aiming it in the general direction of Starlag. "This is Green Lantern Medphyll. I wish to speak with the Governor of Starlag."
If I
did have to force our way closer… I could
probably overpower the spatial stabilisers, at least for a little while. Flying around a little at random should throw off their main guns… Then I… Hm. A long ranged gravity based attack
might be able to knock out a weapon station… No, no, they'd call in reinforcements too fast for that approach to be viable. What else? Something… They've designed this station to be capable of resisting Green Lanterns, though not so obviously
specifically designing it for that purpose that the Guardians might take umbrage.
What can I do that they won't have seen Green Lanterns doing?
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm trying to work out how to get past their defences if this doesn't work.
"
"I would appreciate advanced notice if you decide that such an attempt is necessary."
"It would be quite suboptimal. If I thought that I could take the place without you then I would have done so.
"
"Given the effort which you have put in, I am… Pleasantly surprised how rational you are being."
"For better or worse, pernicious rationality is something of a character trait of mine.
"
I haven't..
tried using the Honden to bypass spatial distances. Would that work? I try focusing on the desires of the people on board Starlag-.
Medphyll's ring
flickers and a
Dominator's head appears. They look a little like the Martians from
Mars Attacks!, only with
very sharp teeth and a red spot in the middle of their foreheads. The size of the red spot corresponds to the importance of their caste. This one… It's hard to get an idea of size from a construct projection, but since the edge of his forehead circle doesn't quite reach an imaginary vertical line drawn up from his tear ducts I'd say that this fellow was mid-caste… And I think the squiggle in the middle indicates local seniority. So, either the garrison commander or the governor.
"Green Lantern. Do you have prisoners for us?"
"No. I am here to investigate reports-."
"You have no authority over this facility. It is Dominion controlled and operated under treaty with many neighbouring stellar civilisations."
"True. So long as you are operating in line with those agreements, and not performing any action which would grant me authority to intervene anyway."
"No such action is taking place."
"I have received reports of invasive biological experimentation being carried out on prisoners who are later reported to have died in accidents or fights. I wish to investigate the truthfulness or otherwise of these reports."
"
Hshshshshs." Inasmuch as I can read Dominator facial expression, I'd say that he was decidedly unhappy about being put in this situation. "Who accuses us?"
"That certainly isn't your concern. The substance of the allegations-."
"I would not want you to waste your time investigating slander. We have many enemies who would rejoice at conflict between us and the Green Lantern Corps. Who accuses us?"
"I will not answer that question. The information was received in confidence, and I will treat that confidence with respect. Allow me access to the Starlag facility, and if I find nothing of concern I will ensure that we do not listen to people besmirching your good name out of jealousy again."
The Dominator watches him impassively for a moment, then the construct shuts down.
"Does that mean they're about to shoot?
"
"More likely he is simply trying to demonstrate his control of the situation."
"Would the Honour Guard
really bother with a place like this, even if they
are talking to the Computer Tyrants?
"
"Not simply at my request. But
Lantern Lee has a reputation for violent thoroughness. I doubt that it would take much effort to persuade him to investigate in force."
"Do the Dominators know who's heading the taskforce?
"
"Unlikely. But they
are aware that the Guardians dislike them. It would not come as a surprise-."
The projection reappears. "I will tolerate a brief inspection. You will go where we permit and you will be searched before you leave. I will not allow you to interfere with this facility."
"As long as my colleague and I can lawfully comply with that request, we will do so."
"Colleague?"
"Yes." He
turns the construct my way. "Green Lanterns often operate in pairs." And his ring transmission won't be able to display my sigil. Interesting. "I had assumed that you were aware-."
"Approach on a direct line. We will be monitoring you."
The head vanishes again.
"How did that go?
"
"As well as I could expect. Though they will attempt subterfuge and will almost certainly attack us if we actually find anything."
"Good to know.
" I hold out my left arm in the direction of Starlag.
"After you.
"
