SPRING TEST DRIVE

[thespaceopera]

THE SPRING TEST DRIVE MEME
(Or Fall Test Drive for you Southern Hemisphere folks!)

Got someone you want to try out before you app? Well this is the post for it! Feel free to use anything that fits in the setting of Drift Fleet! Want to play bumper shuttles? Want to go wild in a med bay? Play around with the current plot? Have at it!

Threads from the Test-Drive may be made game "canon" but DO NOT count toward AC!

FOR NEW PLAYERS: You DO NOT NEED an invite to participate in the TEST DRIVE! If you decide to APP into the game, ONLY THEN will you need an invite from a current player!

Helpful Info for Ideas!:

March's Star System

Game Details

Test drives are posted SEASONALLY, so the next one will be in June!

Comments

Shovel Knight | You'll never guess the name of the canon

[shovelrous]

[On Patrol]

[As the hour grew late, a familiar sound would quietly echo through the halls, a sort of clank, clank, clank...

One couldn't be so quiet when patrolling the halls in full armor, of course, but perhaps it was for the best that any intruders were aware of the presence of someone who would see them off the ship. Whether that was in haste or after a sound beating, that depended upon the response of his uninvited guest.

Trusty shovel at hand, he continued his rounds while peeking into all open doorways. Most evenings were quiet, almost dull in all respects, and he was only half accepting of this. When a knight hails from a land filled with dangers and wonders, a quiet night in patrol leaves a man with a sense of longing.

He froze when he heard movement. Bracing himself, Shovel Knight extended that arm brandishing the weapon, a (very small) beacon of hope to guard those that lived on the ship.]

HOLD! Who goes there!?


[Slash mercilessly! Raise ratings tirelessly?]

[A rating was highly desired for those that watched. Higher favor, he'd learned, would grant him grander treasures. He'd juggled beakers, bounced on giant beetles and risked life and limb for such things before, but what does a knight do when no such things are about?

He'd asked, and been given an answer: 'Try working on what you're not the best at. Perhaps it's time you picked up dancing!'

So there he was, having tip-tapped at a console to get some Atroma-approved tunes going (which was called 'Human Music', supposedly. Huh.), cutting a rug with the hope that he would receive some sort of feedback. Perhaps a pile of treasure would appear in his living quarters! Who knew? He'll just boogie until something happened.]

Patrol

[sonofgold]

[Alphonse froze when he heard the shout. He had a weapon in hand, the unbreakable spear the Dasioe had gifted him, and had been intending to find a quiet spot to practice. But he lowered it and raised his free hand in a gesture of peace as soon as he saw the small knight.]

Good evening, sir. I'm Alphonse of the SS Vanquish.

[shovelrous]

[A spearman! Well, he'd dealt with plenty... but it seemed they wished to speak rather than spring into battle, and that was just fine by him. With a twirl, his shovel blade lowered to the floor, his grasp tight upon the hilt.]

Alphonse. I am Shovel Knight. 'Tis my duty to patrol this vessel and keep my crew mates safe.

What business have you at this late hour?

[sonofgold]

Nice to meet you, Shovel Knight. I couldn't sleep, so I was looking for a place to practice. My ship doesn't have a lot of room.

[shovelrous]

I see. Very well.

[The grip loosened, and to his back the shovel went. Odd that Alphonse's ship lacked the facilities. He gestured to follow, and set off down the hall.]

Come with me! I've the facilities you're looking for. I would rather it be used than remain dark until my morning exercises. Though I confess that it's difficult to determine morning hours when the windows look out into nothing but stars... magnificent spectacle, but it rattles my internal clock.

[sonofgold]

Sounds good! I only got this spear a short while ago, so I'm eager to learn how to fight with it. [He nods agreement.] Back where I'm from, we didn't have the technology to go into space at all, so I know it can throw you off a lot. When we're on planets it's easier, though.

[shovelrous]

We are alike in that regard, friend. Airships were the closest we could come to reaching the stars. To ascend beyond them was unthinkable.

We touch down on worlds below? Truly? To what end?

patrol

[thebiggertheboom]

[Plague Knight was wandering, snooping, searching, for anything he can use to make more alchemical bombs. He had an ample supply as it was but it never hurt to have a few more. Or try to make more with bigger booms.

The beaked knight hadn't been expecting his shenanigans to be interrupted. And not by a shovel wielding pest. Hadn't Shovel Knight and Black Knight given him enough trouble?]

Hee! Nobody! Go away!

[shovelrous]

[...Why was he not surprised. But of all the old Order that would be a danger to everyone here, Plague Knight topped the list.

The shovel was raised, his posture rigid.]

Plague Knight. You will not harm the people here. Return to your ship and crew at once.

[thebiggertheboom]

Who says I'm harming anyone? Hee hee.

[So suspicious, Shovel Knight! Not even giving the diminutive alchemist a chance, is that really shovelrous of you? Really though, it's wise not to trust someone who makes explosives, mostly, for a living. And happens to be tossing an explosive vial up and down in his hand, uncaring.

What? He won't drop it.]

[shovelrous]

[He's having a hard time not watching that vial. That's why they're called 'accidents', Plague. No sudden moves, but he will take a slow step forward, a free hand extended.]

Blasting a crater in the earth is a wholly different matter from blowing a hole in this hull. You'll doom yourself as well as the others.

Have some sense, Plague Knight.

[thebiggertheboom]

[Okay, maybe he has a point. He hadn't exactly foreseen how explosive the Serum Supernus could be. He'd had an idea, and it had worked out really well with the Tower, but it was... quite a boom.]

I'm completely in control. [But fine, he heaves out a sigh, fogging his mask a little. And then gives the vial an underhand toss to Shovel Knight.

All on you, buddy. He's still a little shit.]

[shovelrous]

[He relaxed slightly, glad to see the man come to reason.]

Now then, just the vial, if you'd- !!!

[The vial is tossed, the blue-clad knight is startled into action with a funny little squawk of shock. Hands out he frantically hoped the hours spent knocking beakers into panels would keep him from blowing this poor ship to kingdom come.

You're such a shit, bird nerd.]

[thebiggertheboom]

Hope you don't have butterfingers! Hee hee hee!

[He'll get to listen to Plague Knight cackling for a moment more. And if it slips between his fingers he'll find, beside intense panic, that it's just a mixture that would fill the hallway with smoke. Great for escapes when you're small and weak like Plague Knight.

Honestly, watching the knight and hearing that squawk, completely makes his day. And yes, yes he is.]

[shovelrous]

[The vial seemed to move in slow-motion, and Shovel Knight leapt for it. Briefly, all he could see was something else. Something red and gold. The weight of it entered his hands and he believed all was well. He did not fail. Shield-

...The ship was safe.]

Oop-

[The glass was so smooth that he had to juggle it. Once, twice, thri- nope, it's heading for home. He snatched for it, and it instead shattered into a thousand pieces on the floor. All he saw was the first billow of smoke.]

Plague Knight, the sprinklers! There's a switch in the panel next-...

...

It... didn't explode?

[thebiggertheboom]

[Little shit that he is, the moment it shatters, he gives a loud:]

BOOM! Hee! [He somehow manages to look incredibly pleased with himself, despite the mask and cloak. This is just funny, no matter what side you're on!]

You said have some sense, I wouldn't carry explosives so casually here, heehee.

[shovelrous]

[Is... is the smoke candy-scented, or was he losing his marbles?]

I question your sanity most times. No man would endure so many explosives at such close range and somehow remain wholly intact, yet... here you are, I suppose.

Regardless, you will not find anything to your liking on this vessel. I can offer you milk tea before you return to your ship, but I have my duties as security to return to posthaste.

[thebiggertheboom]

[Even Plague Knight has some taste. That and who wants sulfur smelling bombs around them all the time?

He's also perfectly justified in questioning Plague's sanity.]

The fruits of my research have taught me exactly the range of each explosion. [No one has ever seen under his mask or robes, there may be a number of burns and scars hidden. Or the robes provided enough cover for most of the explosions.]

How can you be sure? [Stop being a shit, Plague.] nothing is stopping you from continuing your little patrol, hee!

[shovelrous]

...Have we ever had an encounter that didn't end in explosives and giggling on your end?

[thebiggertheboom]

You could have just stayed out of the Explodatorium? [You home invader. He'd have just stolen your essence while you were asleep. So much easier]

[shovelrous]

You and the Order strengthened the Enchantress. I did what I had to in opening paths barred to me in reaching the wretched Tower.

[thebiggertheboom]

Heh, the Order and I, and the Enchantress, don't really see eye-to-eye anymore. You didn't think the Tower collapsed on its own, did you. [He won't be a problem, Shovel Knight. Really!

Well, not for you.]

[shovelrous]

I'm accustomed to load-bearing treasures and their respective hiding places. You're saying it was an outside source that felled the Tower?

[thebiggertheboom]

I really wasn't seeing eye-to-eye with the Sorceress. And I didn't need the Serum Supernus... It was more volatile than initially thought. Mona and I must of made a mistake in our calculations.

[shovelrous]

[Fists clenched.]

Shield Knight and I had her handled.