Draconian Wilderness (My first dragon RP!)

[Korkoa]

IC: I flinched at the mention of having a Dragon companion, but perked up at the mention of food. "If they have fish, go for it!"

[Thundertail]

IC: Coffrey, Ikkak, Dinosaur island aerodrome.

So the pair got to work teaching Korkoa about just about everything, and the Ancillobator nodded as he began to understand. Thier lunches came, and they even taught him during that.

"So you see, us dragons are the most powerful creatures devised by man.", Coffrey told him as he chewed. "We were originally created for war; but as the centuries rolled on, we became wiser than those who created us. We realised that we were stronger than any other creature on Draconia, and considered it our duty to protect those weaker than us; and later we decided to only act when something really bad happened - like the Dragon Wars and the Austrailian Civil war."

"Draconia used to be called Earth.", Ikkak continued on another subject. "It was changed by the first sentient dragon because the humans who used to rule it were by then the weaker species. The world had gone through many gological changes as a result of the recent ice age; and the maps of humans were no longer accurate."

Ikkak activated the computer and summoned up a globe of the world. "As you can see, Dinosaur island used to be two smaller islands, called Islas Maldivas by its' native South American residents; but was more commonly known as the Falkland Islands.", he switched views. "On South America proper, the glaciers scoured a giant part of the southern tip away, from Montevideo, Argentina all the way down to Cape Horn, Chile. Since the glaciers retreated, it had left a channel that connects the Atlantic ocean with the Pacific ocean, known as the Montevideo channel."

He switched back to the area of Dinosaur island. "That is why Dinosaur island is so important. It is a nexxus of shipping between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Nearly all the worlds' sea trade passes these shores; and that was why the Dragon guild had us stay here - to protect it!", the communicator pinged, and Ikkak shut off the instruction to listen. "Ah,... The Bakal is just entering Dinosaur island airspace..."

"Excellent!", he turned to Korkoa. "Oh well! can't learn everything all at once.", he got up from his couch in the small office. "Korkoa, want to see the Bakal land? I promise it's a sight you'll not soon forget!"

"Wait for me!", Ikkak complained as he rushed to shut down the computer...

Tag: Korkoa.

[Thundertail]

OCC: Soon there will be more RP players! Remember, just post your character's descriptions before you post for real; then anything goes! (Now, on with the story!) Have fun!

IC: Clubber, Ikkak, Dinosaur island aerodrome.

As the giant hangar door opened, it revealed to the three saurian Dragon Guild members the flat expanse of the aerodrome runways. They stepped out and stood on the giant likeness of Coffrey painted on the cobbled tarmack, scanning the horizon for the Bakal. Many aircraft took off and landed on both runways, where they were standing being the crook of the bisecting strips of pavement. Several of these planes were on the ground, being taxied to hangars for maintenence, or being taken to the terminal gates to offload thier passengers.

The noise of the incoming and outgoing hydrogen fueled jets made was near deafening, and the look on Korkoa's face showed he didn't like it one bit! Many smaller planes took off and landed as well, but thier prop engines made little noise by comparason. There were more than just mechanical flyers about as well, for the Dactyl-Riders were there aplenty; delivering thier messages to waiting planes for international delivery or receiving parcels from offloading planes, then flying off to every point of the compass to thier assigned destinations.

Many moments later a dark dot formed at the jungled and cliffed horizon, and quickly grew to become an anomolous blob; which bobbed and wove its' way to its' own flightpath. It lowered to treetop level after clearing the cliffs beyond, and grew as it sped toward them. Making a final rise to enter aerodrome airspace, the Bakal's full shape became aparent in the distance. The Bakal looked like no other aircraft in the world, maiden ship to only twelve in existence; and looked like some sort of chevron logo of a company lost to time five thousand years ago. It's greenish paintjob was done up in the likeness of dragon scales: light and dark green ovoids accentuated with yellow highlights. Its' technology was also like no other aircraft, for it utilized the technologies of other flying contrivances.

It was like a normal airplane as it used its' two stumpy wings for maneuvering. It was like a zepplin as it used two tiny cryogenetic tanks of a gas mined from Jupiter that was a thousand times more boyant than helium to produce lift. It was like a conventional jet as it used twin hydrogen fueled jet engines. It was also like a space ship as it had two ion-powered engines that could allow it to make suborbital flights. It was basically a fast, heavy-lift vehicle capable to be anywhere on the globe in a matter of hours or minutes depending on the distance. Coffrey thought it looked ugly but useful, and Ikkak's mechanical mind marveled at this contrivance as it made its' landing and hovered over next to the hangar - it was the first time he saw it! Korkoa really did not know what to make of it as he just stared at this ungodly thing hovering up next to them!

A moment later some aerodrome service vehicles were seen coming over; and thier operators got to work refueling the craft. As this was going on a hatch in the tail end of the Bakal was ratcheting down, forming a ramp leading into the bowels of the ship; and a door hissed open near the thingypit space at the front of the vehicle, revealing a gangly pilot clambering down the unfolding ladder at his feet. He hopped the last few feet and ambled over to them, clipboard in his furry hands. His features resembled more a fox than a man, for he was a humanoid fox; and Coffrey knew him well as he was the pilot that first took him to the Dragon Academy! Coffrey's eyes lit up and he took steps to meet and greet one of his best acquaintences; whose pilot's cap suddenly flew off at a sudden strong breeze. Coffrey unfurled his wings and flapped up the several feet necesary, catching it.

"You should use the chin strap on that thing!", Coffrey told him as he handed the hat over.

"An' look like a pleeb?!", the humanoid fox replied in a clipped Brittish accent as he stuffed the hat tighter over his pointed, tufted ears. "Are you daft?", but then smiled and shook Coffrey's larger hand briskly. "Aye!... Good to see you again, lad!"

"And you too, captain Weatherbee!", Coffrey replied. "Um,... I would like you to meet my Dragon Rider, Ikkak Dilophosaur.", Ikkak nodded as captain Weatherbee moved to shake his clawed hand.

"Nice to knoo you, laddy!", the humanoid fox replied.

"Same here!", Ikkak said. "Nice ship you have here!"

"Aye! She's a dandy!", the pilot said, then looked to Korkoa. "Who's this?"

"Um,... This is Korkoa Ancillobator.", Coffrey replied. "He's coming with us."

"Lad, you knoo the rules!", captain Weatherbee said. "Noo civilians on Dragon Guild flights!"

"We're training him to be a Dragon Rider, sir.", Ikkak told him. "We have the queen's personal permission...!"

"You do, aye?", captain Weatherbee looked sternly, thern smiled. "Aye lad! We got th' word!" He turned to Korkoa. "Then welcome to th' Guild!", he produced a hand for the nearly overwhelmed dinosaur to shake.

Just then a heavyset humanoid trooped down the ramp and walked to them. His bull-like features and golden nose ring was never hid by his pilots' uniform as he stepped up to Coffrey; who knew who he was almost instantly! His naturally wrinkly features were magnified since Coffrey last saw him, and he used to sport a brass nose ring; but standing before him was the first creature to teach Coffrey French!

"I take saddle, monseiur.", the humanoid ox said thickly.

"Bovin DeFauche!", Coffrey exclaimed. "Il est si bon de vous revoir!", which meant he was glad to see him. He shook his hooflike hand.

"Nous sommes bein reunis en effet, Coffrey!", Bovin agreed, shaking his hand. "Je vous vios pratiquer Francais sounvent!", he commented on his mastery of French.

"Merci, mais je n'obtiens pas souvent la chance!", Coffrey chuckled, touting his lack of practice as they disengaged.

Coffrey noticed the rest of them looking at him, and switched back to normal speech. "Ah,... this is Bovin DeFauche. He was the first person to teach me French."

"I take bags?", Bovin repeated, nodding at each in turn and giving captain Weatherbee a salute.

"Oh, yeah!...", Coffrey said as he undid some of the hitchings to his saddle as Ikkak helped.

Since no one had any other baggage, Bovin DeFauche hefted the heavy saddle and trundled it into the back of the Bakal, nodding at each as he went. The saddle was to be stowed in the storage compartment under the floor of the main cabin, Coffrey knew from the last time he flew on the Bakal - that was where uncle Glyph's saddle was stored! We all watched Bovin disapear into the ship, then captain Weatherbee ruffled the papers on his clipboard; making notes and looking to where the maintenence crew was just finishing up.

He turned to us and said: "Well lads, time to get aboard! We're on a tight schedule!", he made an ushering gesture to us, and we all aproached the ramp at the back of the Bakal; then he went over to have one of the maintenence crew sign the invoices.

The interior of the Bakal was almost like how Coffrey remembered it, even though the seating was arrangeable and was in a different configuration than the last time. Before the seats were set up for large dragons, where three large couches lined the center of the space; but this time it was set up with six smaller seats with the center aisle bare, but otherwise the space was exactly the same. The stewardesses serving the two occupants inside were the same too. Bruga Sapos was her usual humaniod gecko self, serving two steaming mugs of cocoa to the pair and straightening up thier area. Joanne Prexelis, the human cyborg trundled out, multicolored optics twinkling and reciting the inflight menu to them in a female monotone. One passenger was small and armored, but her armor was more of the natural variety, for she was a humanoid armadillo. The dragon by her side was wolflike, and Coffrey remembered him well - Sir Lupious was in his training creche!

"Hey, Beanbag!", Lupious called. "Long time since the Austrailian war, eh?", he got up and made to shake his hand.

"Yo, Wolf!", Coffrey replied as he got close. "How's lightning?"

Coffrey came to within inches of shaking the other dragon's hand, but suddenly lifted his hand and made finger waves instead! Lupious matched the move and both smiled. Lupious was a dragon that could control electricity, and the first time they shook hands he imparted a massive jolt to Coffrey, sending him sprawling! They had eventually became friends after being bitter enemies, but ever since then, that was the way they greeted each other. The others looked on at this strange greeting, but said nothing.

"Well guys, this is sir Lupious, from my training creche at the Dragon Academy.", Coffrey announced, turning to Lupious and his Rider. "This is Ikkak Dilophosaur, my rider. And of course, Korkoa Ancillobator; who is beginning his training as a Rider."

"I'd like you to meet Anna Armadillo, my Rider.", Lupious told us, then turned and whispered to Anna. "Told you! Coffrey's mui loco!"

"Hola, amigos!... He no look loco...", Anna said, then smiled. "Oh!... Lupio, he so seely!", she rose to shake hands, chuckling.

Greetings were given all around, Anna began by starting with Coffrey and ending with Korkoa; then it was Lupious's turn. Fairly soon brief smalltalk began of its' own accord, which was done to get everybody acquainted with one another; but this only lasted a few moments as the crew of the Bakal were on a tight schedule. The stewardesses came around to help us all get strapped in. Since Korkoa was a saurian and posessed a tail, he was seated in a dragonform couch; as was Ikkak and Coffrey.

Fairly soon captain Weatherbee's voice came over the PA, announcing they had clearance to take off; and to make sure we were all set to go in his clipped Brittish accent. Within the space of as few moments the engines could barely be heard through the insulated and pressurized walls of the cabin, and the unnerving stresses of taking off could be felt by all. These stresses did not abate for well over twenty minutes, thier long flight ahead forced the crew of the Bakal to make a suborbital arc across the sky. Ikkak had never been flying before, but he felt it a thrill not unlike riding Coffrey. He smiled as he looked across the aisle at Korkoa; but Korkoa was not smiling, he had the look of utter terror on his face!...

TAG: Korkoa, anybody else!

[Thundertail]

Occ: here's one new character!

Name: Lt. Col Jefferson

Species: Normal Human

Gender: Male

Age: 114

Appearance: Despite his age, he looks like a middle-aged Caucasian Male. Even though he has endured numerous combat medals, he wears standard (modern resembling) military gear (modern patches replaced by a DDA one), bar a lone "UNSC" pin.
Abilities: Unless advanced Military tactics count, just normal human abilities.

Possessions: Communication Disk, Stunner Rifle- modified to switch to projectile rounds (bullets) if necessary

Affiliations: Dracoina Defense Alliance, Cultural Preservation Society.

Bio: When the dragons set out to create the world in their image, all of the major human population centers had been destroyed. Surviving governments tried to mass their military forces together, but it was barely enough. survivors (including Jefferson's great-grandparents) formed organizations -most of them now classified, Except for the modern military name "unsc"- and attempted guerilla warfare commando forces, rather than massive armies with frontal assaults. Operations were carried out continuously- sabotages, assassinations, basic cloak-and-dagger stuff- just enough to make differences yet stay in the underground. Eventually, when the ice caps had reached their height and just began to recede, public awareness was stepped up and the armies began assisting in heavy operations. Among them was young Lance Corporal Jefferson. slowly but surely, as he climbed ranks he built diplomatic relationships with those who opposed King Draco, and eventually Major Jefferson and his men helped with and the events leading to the invasion Dinosaur Island and on it the Draconia Defense Alliance now had the one of the greatest species on Draconia on their side, Humanity. Now, after so long, humans have kicked up the pace in restoration of what once was their homes, and Newly Promoted Colonel Jefferson has been reassigned to a field position- what he's always wanted to- and this time he's defending, not enforcing, freedom for all.

OCC: Welcome aboard, Lt Colonel!

TAG: Korkoa, anybody else...

[Talmarka]

ooc: Okay, Thundertail said I could go ahead, so hears my character.

IC:
[Serengeti Glacier[Formally Tanzania]/Gombe Ariel Navy Base/ 0800 Hours/Mission Status: Code Charlie]

At one time, millions of animals each year would graze here, once the hottest place a rich biodiversity could thrive. Yeah, right thought Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson as he made his way to the Operations Center. The flats rolling "plains" were now one of the coldest, highest, and most hospitable places on Dracoina. A lot had changed ever since Humanity lost its dominance, and they were just getting used to it. Despite dressing procedure for military personal on a military base, nearly everyone was wearing a heavy parka.
That is, he thought when he made to the building, if you can fit in one, noticing the several humanoid ibexes passing by him, their thick fur acting as extra warmth.
"You wanted to see me sir?" the Colonel asked, saluting.
"Yes," replied the General. Though a low-ranking general, it was still an sight to see one of the eleven pure-human generals in existence. He saluted back and got out of his chair.
"We are reassigning you, Colonel," he continued. "To the Saharan Wetlands, near Aswan, where you will oversee the operation. You have heard the reports, haven't you?"
Jefferson shuddered. There had been Intel that a highly classified but unknown object had landed around 1300 hours a week ago. God knows what's out there but why pick him?
"With all due respect sir, how would I-we- be of any use this mission?"
"You haven't figured it out? Well, remember your assignment revolving Glyph?"
"What's that got to do with-" Jefferson quickly corrected himself. "I mean... what are you talking about sir?"
The General couldn't help smiling. He sighed, You can never just talk about classified stuff with these guys. "Fine, but we've gotten news from the Cultural Preservation Society. Your gonna' be guarding some... important "materials". There's a ship commin' our way." He noticed a sense of urgency on the "young" Lt. Colonel's face. "Don't worry, the Bakal isn't as robust as our Tethys-Class ships. However, weather pending, their ETA is 3600. Dismissed."
The exchanged salutes and Lt. Col. Jefferson headed to the barracks, somehow, he knew this one was different.

[Thundertail]

OCC: here is some more new characters!

Name: Zita Marttin

Species: Human

Gender: Female

Age: 11

Appearance: Zita has long, straight, black hair, olive skin and brown eyes.

Abilities: Zita is intelligent and mature for her age. She is a quick thinker and relies on the terrain around her for her resources.
Posessions: Grappling hook, backpack with daily nesecities in it, and an elastic band to pull her hair out of her face.

Afiliations: On the human side, she is a Dragon Rider

Biography: Zita was practically raised by a dragon family who took pity on her species. At a young age, she learned the secrets of becoming a Rider and joined forces with Kaida, an ice-breathing dragoness. Since then, she has attempted to resolve the conflict between species through diplomacy. Most dragons accept her as simply a dragon without wings and many humans accept her as their own species. There are, of course, her enemies who hate her because she is human or because she was raised by dragons.

_____

Name: Kaida

Species: Ice-Breathing Dragon

Gender: Female

Age: 12

Appearance: Kaida is extremely thin, almost to the point of being bony. Her tail is whip-like and the claws on her wings bend over her shoulders to assist in climbing mountains or to help her balance on flat ground. She has two smooth horns curving from the top of her head and two ice-blue, large eyes. Her muzzle is chisled. Although her legs are thin and bony, they contain great strength. She is fragile, however, and uses extreme caution when she is in any kind of combat.

Abilities: Breathes ice, flies swiftly and agilely.

Possessions: Small dragon saddle with a handle for Zita to hold on to.

Affiliations: Seeking to restore peace between humans and Dragons.

Biography: Kaida loves Zita like a sister and would never leave her friend's side for anything. "If most of the humans are like Zita," she says, "then they are a species worth respecting."
Kaida has many friends on both sides of the line, but, like Zita, also has her enemies who either scorn her because she is a dragon or hate her because she is bonded to a human.

Both characters have a story to be told. Theirs hearts are warm and their spirits are light

OCC: Welcome, welcome, welcome! I think I'll have you two arrive on the Dragon Guild ship, the 'Inuit'; landing in the Aswan aerodrome along with the others.

[Thundertail]

i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh28/thundertail2008/Mesazoiamap2done.jpg

This little map might help!
This is dinosaur island (Known in my books as Mesazoia.)

I haven't drawn up the maps to the rest of the world yet!

[Korkoa]

IC; I was terrified! But, I needed to at least try to hide it. I turned to the humanoid Armadillo, since Spanish was the only language I knew besides Saurian. "Hola Senorita Armadillo. Me llamo es Korkoa." I said, telling her my name. I decided to ask how she was. "Como esta usted?"

[Thundertail]

IC: Coffrey, Ikkak, Lupious, Anna and flight crew; en route to Africa.

At long last thier steep ascent ended, and the stews unclasped themselves as soon as captain Weatherbee made the announcement. They went back to do likewise to thier two dragon passengers as well as thier three Dragon Rider passengers. Sir Coffrey and sir Lupious were not fazed in the least by all the stresses they endured, and Anna Armadillo seemed her cheery self; and Ikkak Dilophosaur was smirking from earslit to earslit, begging with his bright eyes if they could do that again! However, the greenish, queasy look Korkoa was giving off made the stewardesses decide to prepare thier meals a little later!

As the last of them were unstrapped, they slowly got up and stretched themselves in thier own way. Lupious did a sprawling stretch while Coffrey arched his back until it cracked. Ikkak bent his legs and stretched out his tail while Anna merely got up and twisted her armored form. Korkoa was the last to rise, but he just stood there, waiting for what was next. Coffrey saw him at last and gave him a smile.

"Well, guess we better get you regestered with the Guild!", he announced, and Ikkak led the creature toward the computer consoles at the front of the cabin.

While the others went to do other activities like watching the vid, talking quietly and such; and the stews went to the other compartment to get thier meals ready, Ikkak activated the computer and rummaged through a storage compartment next to it for a communication disk. After a brief instruction on its' function, Ikkak had Korkoa pin it to his vest while he rummaged for the earpiece that was part of the translation circuitry inside. He let Korkoa place the hearing aid-like device into his own earslit, telling him to make sure it was snug; and thenm began to test the device, receiving nods as Korkoa understood the test sounds. By this time the computer was booted up enough, and Ikkak began retrieving the regestration paperwork that Korkoa was supposed to fill out.

Ikkak took the paperwork out of the printer one sheet at a time and slid the copied forms onto the table. The first document was a general application for the Dragon Guild, instructions and a brief questionaire meant to test Korkoa's general personality and feelings. Of course, the document was in saurian so he could understand it properly to fill it out. Once done Ikkak scanned it back into the computer and handed it back to Korkoa for signing.

"After you are all signed up properly, an account is set up for you in the world bank; and the monies you incurr during training is placed there until you need it.", Ikkak told him as he transmitted that document to the Dragon Guild. "Now, you'll need to learn everything about the outside world."

Ikkak punched up a section on grammer and penmanship, obviousely meant for Korkoa to learn so he could fully understand the written word of the outside world. Korkoa looked at it, but had the balnk look of incomprehension. Next Ikkak put up a file on the holographic screen that was loaded with general questions about various subjects. The instructions said he was supposed to look at the question, find the answer any way at his disposal and relate the answer in his own words ; which would be transmitted to the dragon guild acadeI disagreeessment department to be graded. Another file that Ikkak punched up dealt with watching certain things on the video broadcasts to be tested on. Subjects he was required to watch were things on general sciences, mechanics, natural phenomona, political trends and regional and cultural trends in various parts of the world and news and current events.

"Of course, you don't need to learn this all right away!", Ikkak smiled. "I just wanted you to know all that's expected of you!", he turned and punched up simple English. "The first thing you should do is start to learn the languages."

In the mean time Coffrey, Anna and Lupious had decided to watch things on the vid. The first clip was a news broadcast, telling of weather around the world. Anna was pleased to know how warm it was getting all over the planet. The newscaster then announced the discovery of an object that fell from the sky, presumably a meteor; and it landed in the mid Sahara tropic zone. Next the newscaster told of the growing tensions in the world council on all the unrest in the world, illustrated by many clips of fighting and damage in Somalia and the blockade in the Montevideo channel. More news told of the economic depression in the country of Malasia, and this disgusted Lupious to no end! The twenty minute newscast ended with a commentary by some cultural 'specialist', saying that the world will undergo many cultural changes in the years to come, but her optimism wasn't felt by the three youngsters.

The next sets of clips were on entertainment around the world. the first one was a brief ballet performance danced to a swaying orchestral symphony performed by many male and female performers of many species. Anna clapped as the number ended, and then the next clip played. It was done in animation of a boxy design, depicting comic animals in ficticious situations done in a slapstick style. Lupious clapped and laughed at the characters' hyjinx, and Ikkak commented from behind the computer console that he knew that stuff wasn't real. The next clip showed a circus like show, where jugglers and tumblers in bright, gawdy costumes danced and capered amid giant animals equally decked out, performing to a tune racier and more comical than the piece played during the ballet show. Another clip showed scenes of action and drama, depicting many creatures in war and battle - and the trauma they were undergoing. Coffrey explained that this stuff wasn't real either - just actors depicting a historical battle.

A brief news update told of the impending solar flare, and the humanoid raccoon said that it could play havock with radio frequencies around the globe. He went on to tell that the mission on Mars discovered liquid water deep within Mars, and tests were under way to see if life existed there. A disaster near the moon was the next topic; where two unmanned ships carrying iron ore frieght from the asteroid belt collided, and created a cloud of iron pellets, making a severe hazard to shipping lanes in that area. Another announcement was the discovery of another type of metal at a base in the middle of the atlantic ocean, a metal lighter than hydrogen, but as hard as diamond; a boon to engineers worldwide, the newscaster boasted. This ten minute newsbrief ended with an updated weather report, warning of a tsunami threat near Japan.

The next clip came up a moment later, and Korkoa soon got a sudden sense of vertigo as he looked that way; for it showed a panoramic view of the Grand Canyon as seen from an airplane! The view sailed over and out into the chasms while a commentator described the canyon, its' beauty and the river far below. After this was another shot of a plane flying over Yosemite park, and telling of how it was in reality a sleeping super volcano - even though its' beauty still attracted thousands of tourists each year. A similar clip showed views as the plane skimmed over the Straits of Gibraltar, now reduced to a chain of islands - and ending as the European countryside gave way to the sprawling rustic buildings of Paris, France. Another plane ride flew over what once was the Middle East, now reduced to a shallow sea, and an extension of the Medeterrainean sea. During each segment, a different commentator described what was seen.

"Say, Korkoa.", Ikkak said, breaking the Ancillobator from watching that. "I think it's time to get you fitted for your Flightsuit."

At Korkoa's qiestioning look, Ikkak explained: "A flightsuit is a piece of personal body armor.", he punched up the proper programs as he continued. "Its' general composition is kevlar and polymer with titanium supports throughout. The helmet, boots and gloves are of the same composition. They can withstand any small projectile and most energy beams within suit perameters. It is incorporated with electronics and weaponry comparable to a small army. It is equipped with forcefields and stealth packages. Sensor arrays allow multispectral detection of targets and defense against detection. Radio and telemetry sensors are also incorporated. To allow flight, they are equipped with flight surfaces and a rocket pack for thrust according to species specifics and personal preference. The helmet may also be made to wearer's specefications and preferences.", he turned, noticing the holo-display was ready. "Watch.", the text on the screen was replaced by several models of stealthsuits and the various species that wore them. It also showed some clips on the performance of them.

"We need to get your sizes if you are to get your own Flightsuit...", Ikkak checked the database. "But there seems to be no templates in there for your kind. Looks we'll have to make our own, eh?", he chuckled as he led Korkoa to a small two foot wide raised circle on the floor beside the computer terminal.

Ikkak had Korkoa stand at the center of this disk, making sure that most of him was directly over it, including tail. He then set the perameters for the scan he was about to do.To Korkoa's dismay, a thin yellow beam shot from the holographic screen which activated the holographic stage. The stage glowed and produced a yellow ring of light that sprung out from it and expanded to encircle the dinosaur. It played up and down Korkoa's form many times, and he didn't dare breathe. It read every physical aspect, shape and contour of his body; and when it was done, returned to the holographic stage as it want blank as well.

"Scan complete.", the holographic screen said.

The holographic screen showed a vague Korkoa shape as it was digitally rendered into pixels. The form took on the exact shape and colors of the dinosaur, and rows of numbers scrolled down the left edge of the screen, undecipherable to him. Red lines began to superimpose themselves over the form, coalescing into solids and changing shape as the form began moving limbs and joints.

The numbers on the side began to take on measurement ratios, then a few of them flashed green as the computer calculated the exact size ratios. When all the numbers glowed a steady green and stopped, a miniature Korkoa stood there decked out in a complete flightsuit, which seemed more metallic than anything. Ikkak sent that dfata to the Dragon Guild, to thier quartermaster department; then he shut the computer down as he noticed movement coming from the forward compartment.

Just about then the stewardesses returned, and the cyborg, Joanne Prexelis, droned: "Lunch will now be served."

"Hot dog!", Lupious nearly shouted.

"Not today!" Bruga Sapos told him, chuckling. "But we wanted it to be a suprise!"

"It is a dish that is the favorite of mistress Librosteur.", Joanne told them, and Coffrey knew right away! "But that is the only hint you get!"

They both turned and went into the forward compartment, lost from view for many minutes. they shortly returned carrying the Dragon riders' trays. Though there was meat served, there was also a pleasant variety of vegetables; and a grand dessert was promised! Each uncovered thier plates as they sat, and quickly began eaxmining thier meals. Anna ate her meat sparingly, favoring the vegetables; and Korkoa looked around like he was expecting something, but Coffrey knew he ate predominantly fish. The rest dug in without preamble, and pretty soon mild conversation wafted around the quintet.

"yeah, I eat mostly meat, but I just love potatoes!", Coffrey was saying.

"This meat is good!", Ikkak said. "What is it?"

"Yak...", Coffrey said around his mouthful.

"No, it's good, really!", Ikkak responded. "What is it?"

Coffrey almost lost his mouthful laughing at the response - and so did the rest of the cadets! Once it died down a little, Coffrey explained.

"No, silly! The meat comes from an animal known as a Yak!", he informed him. "A Yak is like a cow. Looks like Bovin DeFauche, only way uglier!"

"I hear that!", Bovin's voice came over the intercom!

From there they continued thier meal in silence; only breaking the silence when they were all done. Korkoa still had the look like he still wanted a fish as the stewardesses came out with a wheeled tray with many covered dishes. Dessert turned out to be pistachio ice cream, and all but Coffrey hadn't had it before. Though Anna thought it extremely good, Lupious pushed it away with revulsion after the first taste. Ikkak thought it was interesting, but ate it too fast and got a headache; and Korkoa just took one taste before leaving his dish alone, saying nothing.

All of a sudden the communicator pinged loudly, causing them all to jump, and Ikkak went to the computer to answer. It turned out to be a top-priority message - and it was addressed to Korkoa Ancillobator!

"Cadet Korkoa Ancillobator,"Sir Tavandi's stern face came over the holographic screen. "I assume that, by now, you have filled out all your paperwork, and they are now on thier way to us. We of the dragon guild have outlined a cirriculum for you as you train en route to your destination with us. The data that will be given to you is for your instruction, and will be taught to you by your dragon instructor. I want you to record a report, daily, of your progress; and relate to us any other skills or experiences you may have that could be useful to Dragon Riders. These reports must be transmitted to the evaluations department of the dragon guild academy. The frequency is as follows:", as he recited the numbers, Ikkak downloaded it to the ship's memory banks.

"You will soon be training in fighting and the martial arts; and also training in weapons - especially the energy weapons currently aboard the Bakal.", Tavandi's recording continued. "Learn the acedemic lessons provided by the computer, and request acedemic data from other sources as you see the need.", the recording shifted papers beyond thier view. "The computer access nodes provided will be of help as you gather information out in the field. Another assignment is to gather data on the rest of the world itself, because it is, after all, mostly unknown to us."

The Tavandi image paused as the dragon that made it took another sheet of paper. "Now, dragon riders are supposed to know how to ride dragons.", Tavandi continued. "I will be sending a dragon shortly to tutor you in the ways of flying and the usage of the features of thier saddles. Your flightsuit will also be provided. I have just received your garment size, and your suit will be dispatched to you.", Tavandi, dispatcher of tasks, said. "Now the one I will send will be mistress Rassena, a gryphon dragon; and fairly young. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me personally at this frequency:", another set of numbers and the computer memorized this one as well. "Good luck to you, sir! This is sir Tavandi, signing off...", and his image frazzled out of existence to be replaced with holographic sparks.

"Well guy,", Coffrey spoke first after several moments. "It looks like it's official! You're one of us now!"

Congratulations came at the flabberghasted dinosaur from all sides, and his hand was shaken more than once. Jokes and other forms of comeraderie directed at him was next, and the stewardesses came out with five steaming mugs to add to the celebration. Once again, Coffrey was the only one there, besides Anna, who had hot chocolate! It was becoming clearer to Coffrey that Korkoa was seeming to get used to this turn of events, and was gradually starting to like being among them. As everyone sipped and talked, the Bakal slowly decended into the country of thier destination; and before long the crew was radioing for permission to land at the Aswan aerodrome...

TAG: Any and all...

[Thundertail]

OCC: Here's Korkoa's dragon trainer:

Rassena:

Name: Rassena (Training Creche nickname: 'Lumpy'.)

Age: 11 1/2

Species: Gryphon Dragon

Gender: Female

Appearance: A Gryphon dragon is lionlike in appearance, shaggy brown mane and tawny scales. Rassena is about the same size as an elephant, small for her age. Most Gryphon dragons have facial spikes; and she has two sets: One pair just below her teal, slitted eyes and another, smaller pair just behind her nostrils. Her tail resembles that of a rat, and ends with a pincer at the tip. Her bubbly personality tries to counteract the fact that she is somewhat of a clutz!

Skills: Her main job is a trainer, but she is well versed in all forms of Dragon skills. She can breathe blue fire and spit blocks of ice. Her pincer tail she can use as another appendage, and it is so powerful it can cut through steel. She can fly (Landings are a little difficult for her!) and she can run quite fast, but not as fast as some. She is adept in all weaponry the Dragon Riders use, and can beat most veteran riders in fair combat.

Posessions: She owns three dragon saddles. One is a training saddle, another is a saddle for battle and the other is for dress. The first two saddles folds out to create metallic dragon armor and an enclosed thingypit for the rider. The other is lavishly ornamented, and more for show. Each saddle has saddle bags, where she keeps small and useful articles in. She keeps the saddles she is not using in her apartment in the Dragon Guild headquarters, where the rest of her things are.

Affiliations: The Dragon Guild, Coffrey Rex, all those who trained her, which are her cohort trainers.

Biography: Rassena was genetically created at the Dragon Guild genetic recreation laboratories, then hatched out at the Incubation center there. She was sent to a primary caregiver, a Cracken dragon 'nanny' who was assigned to care for all 127 hatchlings in Rassena's batch. It was noticed early on that she wasn't the most coordinated dragon there, and hopes she would survive her first year seemed slim. Not long after that Rassena's trainers saw a determination masked as a noncaring happiness that blocked any discouragement at her failures. If she fell or something, she would laugh and get back up again!

This trait grew helpful as her dragon training began. Though she failed more often than she succeeded, she kept on trying; and her trainers took note of this. As years passed it was deemed that she take training in the Dragon force, even though the need of such warriors were not necesary as the Austrailian conflict was over. Even thopugh she kept on trying, and her ackedemic schooling was more than acceptable; her instructors deemed it prudent she not have a full time rider. Rather that she stay and continue training.

Even though she became adept in all dragon Force tactics, her inherent clumsiness prevented her from becoming a true Dragon Knight. Hence, her ongoing assignment within the Dragon Force was to train young Dragon cadets and Dragon Rider cadets - among other assignments within the Dragon Guild. All through this Rassena did no complainiong; for she decided that any service to the Guild would be noble enough...

OCC: I think I should post the other characters, troo!

___

[Talmarka]

ooc: I'll just go ahead then

[Aswan[Formally Egypt]/Cairo Aerodrome Military Landing Pad/1600 Hours/Mission Status: Code Eco]

The Apollo-class drop-ship had made made it from the Gombe Naval Base to the aerodrome in Aswan in the time it took the Bakal to reach it from the Mediterranean. They were fast, small drop-ships capable of taking seven passengers. However, the trip halfway across the continent nearly depleted the fuel supply. Like most of the human technologies, these ships weren't equipped with endothermic power recyclers, but this meant they didn't have to worry about overpowering the reactor in an evasive maneuver. And that was Jefferson's style.
He and two majors, three captains, and one first lieutenant had accompanied him on his Maison. Seven plus maybe six versus some unknown force, he thought, Great odds.
Of course, in a few minutes, none of that would matter- he could see the massive structure and the massive zeppelin-airbus hybrid in the distance. He reviewed the files on his disk of the people he'd meet soon, and gathered his things

[Thundertail]

IC: Coffrey, Ikkak, Anna, Lupious; Aswan aerodrome

The Bakal dropped out of the sky in the sun drenched afternoon, and flitted its' way toward the tarmack of the Aswan aerodrome. The skinny country could not support a large aerodrome, once being a mere province of the now dead country of Egypt; but it did its' best to accomodate the six Dragon guild craft that now dominated nearly every spare tract of tarmack not committed to runways. The Bakal softly floated down and taxied wheellessly to slip in between the Erie and the Astor. The captain gave the word, and the hatch slid down and all five passengers presently stepped out into the stifling sunshine.

Many more dragon Guild members were milling about thier planes, waiting for others they knew and asking others they didn't know why they were all brought here. Coffrey scanned the area, noticing the simlarities of each of the Dragon guild's planes. The Erie had identical scaly markings as the Bakal, only it sported red highlights around the scales instead of the Bakal's yellow trim. The Astor bore light green trim; and the two other planes near by, the Hydra and the Reineir had light blue trim and painted drab teal respectively. One more dragon guild craft was making a landing now, and it seesawed in to find a proper place to hover. This one was the Inuit, and posessed light and dark blue scale patterns accentuated with white. Coffrey was watching this when a taloned forepaw clasped his shoulder, making him jump at least a foot!

Coffrey spun, eyes glowing green, then smiled broadly at his mentor standing there! "Uncle Glyph!...", he then became formal. "I mean, sir Glyph! It is a pleasure to see you after so long!"

"Hi, kid!", Glyph said, his leonine features smiling at the reunion as well. "You're sure a sight for sore eyes!", Glyph's left eye was patched, and a zigzag scar ran down his spiky muzzle - scars from the battle between him and Draco, Coffrey's father. "Never guess who I picked up on the way to here!", a human form slowly walked from behind the dragon to reveal someone else Coffrey knew!

"Uncle Forrest!", Coffrey repeated his performance. "I mean, Rider Forest Wanders! You don't know how much I missed you!"

"It's been way too long!", Forrest's greenish brown eyes smiled, the whites on normal human eyes were black on him; the only sign that he was a mutant. "I'm glad this spikehead dragged me along!"

Just then Ikkak saw who was talking with Coffrey. "Glyph! Mister Wanders!", he leapt into thier embrace. " I missed you two so...!"

"Me too, kid!", Glyph chuckled. "Him as well!"

"Uh..., Uncle Glyph?", Coffrey asked. "Do you know why we're here?"

"Tell you the truth, no!", Glyph realized, scratching the scar on his muzzle.

"I wasn't informed...", Forrest said. "But the first thing we should do is make sure everyone is here.", he turned to the other Dragon Guild planes, at all the dragons and thier riders just filing out. "Everyone! line up and sound off!"

Everyone scrambled into a rough line at the nose of each plane, dragons in back and riders in front. Ikkak ushered Korkoa to the side of Glyph and rushed to his position in front of Coffrey; and they were the first to sound off.

"Rider Ikkak Dilophosaur!", he shouted.

"Sir Coffrey Rex!", Coffrey echoed.

"Sir Hammalgar!", the Porkine dragon announced.

"Rider Harbid Duck!", the humanoid duck said.

"Mistress Atutaki!", the female Serpentine dragon screeched.

"Rider Malachi Tiger!", roared the male humanoid tiger.

"Mistress Kaida!", called the female Arctic dragon.

"Rider Zita Martin!", stated the petite human female.

"Sir Rakkahanga!", called the male Vulturesque dragon.

"Rider Apaque Wamuti!", the dark skinned human female barked.

"Sir Pribolof!", the male Gryphon dragon said.

"Rider Keka Badger!", the female humanoid badger growled.

"M-mistress Theesa!", the female serpentine dragon stammered.

"Rider Sanchez Puma!", roared the male humanoid puma.

"Sir Tralfax!", the male Cracken dragon announced.

"Rider Angani Iwolo!", the almond eyed human female said and bowed.

"Uh,... Sir Mordaza!", the male gryphon dragon said slowly.

"Rider Jungtik Tiger!", roared the male humanoid tiger.

"Mistress Calidada!", the female Eagline dragon said sweetly.

"Rider Peter Nolan!", announced the human male.

"Mistress Afilados!", said the female Vulturesque dragon.

"Rider Ogowie Injunky!", said the male Aborigine human.

"Sir Hophant!", stated the male Lupine dragon.

"Rider Aries Sloth!", the female humanoid sloth pronounced.

"Sir Maripitome!", the male arctic dragon rumbled.

"Rider Stubin Penguin!", rasped the male humanoid penguin.

"Mistress Librosteur!", the female Eagline dragon screeched.

"Rider Joanne Prexalis!", droned the human female cyborg.

"Sir Oinkyveck!", squealed the male Porkine dragon.

"Rider Fredrick Rawlins!", drawled the human male.

"Sir Lupious!", called the male Lupine dragon.

"Senorita Anna Armadillo!", said the female humanoid armadillo.

"You meant 'Rider', right?", Forrest corrected.

"Si, senior!", she answered; then at his motioning, she corrected: "Rider Anna Armadillo!"

Forrest nodded. "Ok, I guess we're all here.", he said to the sixteen rider teams before him, then noticed Korkoa. "We also have a new cadet on our hands! Sorry sir, for dragging you here on our mission; but, as they say, time is short!", he looked around. "Has anybody seen his trainer?"

Just about then another Gryphon dragon stumbled out of the Reiner, carrying a stack of data nodes and stuffing them in one of her saddle bags one by one. Intent on this, she stumbled on the foot of the ramp and fell sprawling on the tarmack! Getting up with a grunt, she scrambled over to the line of dragons and fell in line beside Coffrey. Then looking up and noticing she missed roll call, hung her head.

"Good to see you, Lumpy!", whispered Coffrey, still at attention.

"You too, Bean!", she whispered back.

Glyph noticed the exchange, then got Forrest's attention. "There she is..."

"Ah! Glad you could join us!", Forrest turned to her.

"Mistress Rassena, reporting for duty, sir!", she saluted, fumbling stray data nodes as she did.

"At ease...", Forrest told her, then turned to the rest. "All of you!", they complied as he turned back to the dragon. "Has the Dragon Guild told you of your assignment, Rassena?"

"Um,... They said I was to train a Rider cadet in the field...", Rassena succeeded in putting the nodes in her bag. "I was just getting all the info I'd need. Sorry for being late!"

"No matter...", Forrest shrugged it off, then turned to Korkoa. "Cadet Korkoa, this is Mistress Rassena; and she will be your field instructor until further notice."

Rassena courtseyed dragonlike in a clumsey way as Korkoa faced her spiky form. Glyph could tell that this would be a tenative instruction at best for the look on the small dinosaur's face; but it would have to work out if he was to be a Rider one of these days! Rassena led him closer to one of the planes as the other dragons and riders milled about in small knots, making old reunions and newer acquaintences.

Ikkak nudged Coffrey as he watched Korkoa and Rassena get to know each other. Lupious sauntered to Calidada and said hello, receiving a nuzzle in return - they were friends back at the academy. Afilados snuck up on Coffrey and grasped his paw; and Coffrey's eyes fell into her hypnotic ones as they met. 'Remember me?', she said in his mind. All the other dragons and riders greeted each other or was reunited with friends; and many of them were complete strangers to one another. Coffrey didn't know that his weapons trainer, Librosteur, had Joanne Prexalis for a Rider - and didn't even know Joanne was a Rider!

While all this reunion was going on, the six planes on the tarmack behind them took on new orders, and thier communication arrays unfurled contrary to the will of thier crews. Suddenly a whitish beam of energy flew out of all the planes at once, and sparks began to form on the tarmack in front of them all. It spun around tornadolike before trying to coaless into a vague shape. A moment later and the hulking form of Queen Grimoire stood before them, a scene more than twice as large as all thier planes combined! Coffrey shuddered, knowing he was looking at a full size rendition of thier queen...

OCC: Had to godmod a couple of charries - sorry!

TAG: Any and all!

[Thundertail]

Glyph:

Name: Glyph

Species: Gryphon dragon

Gender: Male

Age: 74

Appearance: Gryphon-type Dragon, 50' from snout to tail with a 70' wingspan. Quadropedic dragon, stands 12' at shoulder. From a battle he had with a rival dragon (King Draco of the dragon wars - Coffrey Rex's father!), his face has a zigzag scar down the right side; and though no injury was apparent, his right eye suffered cataracts, thus he wears an eyepatch. Raised from an egg by Forrest, nurtured and trained for battle, fought at his side in the Dragon Wars and friend throughout the ages. Glyph is brave and true, and he will do anything asked.

Abilities: An expert flyer, breathes fire and ice, pincer tail can cut through steel. adept in all types of weaoponry known to civilization, and can fight using every type of dragon fighting.

Posessions: Owns an apartment at the dragon Guild headquarters. owns a dress saddle, a battle saddle and a training saddle; wearing one that suits the situation at the time. Saddles can fold out to form metallic dragon armor with a pilot compartment on his back. saddles contain navigation and telemetry abilities, and the helmet, when unfurled, allows him multispectral vision. Saddles contain electronic stealth and forcefield capabilities, and compartments contain small weaponry for the rider.

Affiliations: The Dragon Guild, Forrest Wanders, Queen Grimoire, every single creature he has met.

Biography: Glyph was genetically created at the dragon Guild Cloning facility; but was raised from his artificial egg by Forrest wanders. he was treated like his own son, going to schools and receiving special training - being loved like a part of a family instead of the indifferent treatment given to dragons growing up in a creche.

Thier first adventure was in the Himalayas, saving the son of a ruler in the area; and getting rewarded with gifts and a place to stay and ski! They applied for the dragon Guild not long after that, and the cadets passed wonderfully. They got assigned to monitor a storm, and had to rescue one of thier teammates. the dragon Wars soon started up, and they were engaged in many battles; thier last one while storming King Draco's castle in Czecoslovakia. War over, both retired to thier seperate jobs for a while.

The dragon now does excavation work in finding new sites of scientific interest - one last project was digging under the ice to find the old city of Anchorage, Alaska. He is still an active member of the Dragon Guild, and is sworn to go wherever he is sent - especially if it means being reunited with his friend, Forrest Wanders!

_____

Forrest Wanders:

Name: Forrest Wanders

Species: Human Mutant

Gender: Male

Age: 153

Appearance: Forrest is six foot one and of medium build, and the only indication of his great age is greying showing up at his dirty blonde sideburns. He has nearly olive eyes; but the strangest thing about those, which indicates his mutant nature is the whites of his eyes are black! He has a nondescript face of any other human, but always wears the knowing grin of someone that could read your mind if he chose (He thinks doing that is rude!).

Abilities: Forrest Wanders is a human with the most enhanced attributes that can be awarded a human. He can morph into any type of animal or plant that is his general size. He can materialize small objects from anywhere within one parsec of himself. He can teleport himself to any place within his line of vision, and he can send his holographic image anywhere in known space. He has a psychic way with machinery, and can tell what is wrong with it without even taking it apart. He is an expert Dragon Rider and a veteran of the Dragon Wars; along with helping to quell the Austrailian Civil war. Of course Forrest knows many types of fighting techniques, and knows how to use any type of weaponry devissed by man (From spears and arrows to the energy weapons of today's arsonal.); but chooses to negotiate a solution instead.

Posessions: He owns an inter-solar craft named the 'Horrendous', or rather, him and several other creatures: an owl, an Alaskan brown bear, an Indricotherium, a gecko and a raccoon - all have interesting jobs in society (One can't own a billion dollar spacecraft all by oneself, can one?!). Forrest owns three Flightsuits within the Dragon guild (One for dress, one for training and one for battle.), each can fly, and has an array of weaponry for attack and defense. He has many holdings in countrys around the world (Mostly farms and small businesses.), of which he donates proceeds and products to the local peoples. His rank as general of the Dragon Riders allows him rescources to perform any mission in thier behalf.

Affiliations: The Dragon Guild, World Cultural Preservation society, World council, world financial groups around the world, the Wastrami Company, Sir Glyph, Queen Grimoire, Ursula Wastrami, Seechee Galimimus, Zarinda (Wanders) Flowers, mayor Scotty Scon of Dinosaur island.

Biography: Forrest is a top agent of cultural anthropology, but this is not the only thing he is adept at. In his one hundred and fifty three years, he has been a professional warrior in the Dragon Wars, and still has contact with his old steed, Glyph, from time to time. Forrest raised Glyph from an egg, and is as close to the creature's father as a different species could be. He has been in politics, and a sovereign of two small countries. He has been on many projects for mankind, like finding water on Mars, conservation of excavated cities by reusing the steel in the old buildings, monitoring the ice shrinkage over the continent of Iceland and many other projects. One of the most favorite things he has done was dealing with the indigenous peoples of the places he's been. He loves children of every species, even though he can not have any of his own due to side effects of his enhancements. Space is Forrest's playground. All the co-owners of his ship take turns flying it on scheduled weekends.

_____

OCC: Got a LOT of charries to go!

[Thundertail]

IC:, Coffrey, Ikkak, all the rest; Aswan Aerodrome.

The looming holographic figure of queen Grimoire gazed at all the Dragon Riders and knights before her, sneering smile on her four-eyed face; which was full of horns and just about too ghastly to look upon. The two eyes, which were in the normal position for a dragon, twinkled in mirth at the now bowing group; but the smaller pair positioned at the center of where the snout met the cranium, examined each one of them with calculating coldness. She could sense the fear and respect of each one, and coughed before speaking in a femenine yet rumbling way; as was prudent for her massive size.

"My children... Again I must send you on another mission, where your precious lives may be on the line.", Grimoire told them. "But fear not; for I do not send you off to do battle! The mission before you is one of discovery and recovery of one of the Dragon Guild's best kept secrets!"

She saw thier confused faces, then continued: "Allow me to tell you a story. A story of before the current Dragon Guild was established...", Grimoire made reference to a readout out of holographic view. "More than a thousand years ago, the planet was locked in an ice age. The people of the world was dying, and everyone was at a loss as to how to stop it. The genetically enhanced dragons, along with scientists of every species, devised a plan to save certain inhabitants from the cold. They got to work to make a ship, and discovered a planet much like our own; but this planet was many hundreds of light years away. We had no means to travel there at the speed of light; so a multi-generational ship was constructed in secret. This ship was peopled with the elite minds of the day, and genetic samples of all flora and fauna went aboard. They left with the dragon Guild's blessing, and have been gone ever since."

"I am sure you are aware of the object that fell from the sky and impacted into the Sahara district.", she continued. "That object is none other than the ship we have sent: the Auri. We have masked the telemetry signal the ship gave off, making it look like a simple meteor. Now, your assignment is to locate the Auri, break through the defenses as we detected it is protectred by a forcefield, and discover why it returned. There may be survivors in the ship, and they may need assistance; and the genetic samples aboard may prove helpful. The ship may also contain data on any planet they visited, and life forms may also be aboard - be they dangerous or not. Your assignment after access to the ship is achieved is to make it functional enough to fly it to the Dragon Guild headquarters for study."

By this time everyone had risen, and was hanging on every word thier queen was saying. Everyone thought she was done, and began planning what they were supposed to do. Grimoire saw this, and her concerned look gave everybody pause.

"I must warn you, my children!", Grimoire continued. "The Auri was built directly before Draco took power, and the defenses aboard were designed to defeat dragons. Your powers may not work on some of the defenses you might encounter. I will send schematics and codes that might be helpful to infiltrate the ship; but this data may be outdated, and they may have changed Certain access codes or changed the blueprint of the ship.", she initiated the data transmission. "May the luck of the Dragon Guild go with you - and my own love...", she smiled at them all. "Queen Grimoire out...", the giant holographic image frazzled to a sparkling tornado and vanished.

After a moment, and as muted murmurings came from the Dragon Rider teams, Forrest Wanders spoke up. "So, that's why we're here! Well, I guess we better plan out what to do next..."

"Hey! my saddle's pinging!", Coffrey blurted and looked. "Uncle Forrest, there's something on my saddle's auxilliary memory banks!"

"Same for my helmet electronics!", Ikkak observed.

The rest of the Dragon Rider teams confirmed that thier equipment was the same way: someone had downloaded data onto thier suit and saddle memory banks! Forrest checked his too, and found he had telemetry data along with complicated strings of coordinates and vectors; along with a detailed instruction on how to operate a gigantic vessel.

"I got flight menifestos, mission profiles and command decisions for the Auri...", Coffrey divulged.

"Mine has computer codes and electronic algorythims I've never seen before!", Ikkak said.

"My saddle has security codes and defense protocols.", Glyph told Forrest.

"I guess that the information was so extensive it had to be split between all of us...", Forrest concluded, then turned to the rest. "I suggest you go over this new data and memorize it. We may need it later!"

"Rassena to mister Wanders...", came a voice over his communicator. She was just boarding the Bakal with her charge, Korkoa. "There's some fresh data on my saddle memory. It is filled with radio frequencies and coordinates; and the coordinates relate to a point in northern Africa - the Sahara region!"

"Good, honey! Now could you transmit the coordinates to the other Dragon Riders?", Forrest instructed. "After that I want you and Korkoa to fall back to the Bakal. I want you to inform the crew there that they will be our support vessel, and follow us; but not to get within a mile of the Auri. From there you are to monitor our radio transmissions and send it to the Dragon Guild headquarters if the situation calls for it."

"Roger, Rider Wanders...", Rassena confirmed. "But I thought I was just going to instruct cadet Korkoa."

"Think of it as on the job training!", Forrest laughed. "It will give him experience to handle assignments on his own if he observes how we handle things."

"Understood.", Rassena said. She paused to transmit the coordinates of the Auri, then continued. "Over and out."

"Out...", Forrest confirmed, then turned to the rest. "Your telemetry packages now contains the coordinates of the Auri. I suggest we mount up and get there...", he went over to Glyph and climbed into the saddle. "Dragon Riders! Mount up and FLY!"

All riders scrambled to thier steeds and mounted thier saddles; and in the mean time, the Erie, the Inuit, the Hydra, the Astor and the Reiner closed up thier hatches and rose on thier forces. They peeled off in every direction of the compass, leaving the Bakal hovering there alone. As the dragons took off by ones and twos, captain Weatherbee and the remainder of his crew prepared to follow. Within the span of a few moments the air was filled with the sounds of the wingbeats of seventeen dragons, and the silence of one hoverplane taking off in thier wake...

TAG: Everybody!

[Thundertail]

OCC: Some more characters:

Oinkyvek:

Name: Sir Oinkyveck

Species: Porkine dragon.

Gender: Male

Age: 462

Appearance: Sir Oinkyveck's rotund form hides his tremendous strength - even though he's a very old dragon. His bearded piglike face bristles with four tusks, and his bristly skinned body ends with twin piglike tails.

Abilities: He can lift or drag weights exceeding thirty tons. His piercing squeal can almost literally wake the dead. He can change his mass, from light as a feather to unsurpassable weights. He shoots pink cutting beams from his eyes and can catapult balls of energy from his tails.

Posessions: Besides his Dragon Guild paraphanalia and apartment in the dragon Guild headquarters, he owns his own set of professional chef's cookware and professional kitchen in one of the fancier restaraunts at the Dragon Guild.

Afiliations: the Dragon Guild, and all who serve his queen.

Biography:Seargent in Dragon wars. Owned a shop within Guild facility. Was a cook during the war, and retired to be a cook for the guild training creches. Will go on missions for the Guild if asked, even though he is semi-retired.
_____

Fredrick Rawlins:

Name: Fredrick Rawlins.

Species: Human.

Gender: Male.

Age: 163

Appearance: This human is slightly stocky, yet full of muscle. His rugged but slightly ugly face sports a bulbous nose, thin lips and close-knit aqua eyes. The slightly balding chestnut hair on his head grows most profusely on nearly every square inch of his body; which is the reason he wears full clothing reguardless of the weather.

Abilities: Master of every form of street fighting and proficient with all forms of Dragon Guild weaponry, he preferrs the straight-edge razorblade for close quarter fighting.

Posessions: Besides the usual Dragon rider paraphanalia, he owns several dozen cattle ranches; of which he helps stock food for the dragon Guild.

Afiliations: World Agricultural cartel, the Dragon Guild, world cultural presetrvation society.

Biography:Born in what once was the central United States. His toughness in battle made him sergent of a squadron in the dragon wars; where he organized many successful battles. He spends most of his off time working his ranches, discovdering native american burial sites and dwellings and traveling to other countries to witness how they run thier ranches - giving pointers as necesary. After his stay with the Guild, he was recalled only once more; to help quell the Austrailian civil war.

_____

TAG: All are welcome!

[Tiasalle and Braveheart]

Hello! Thundertail gave me the go-ahead, so here is my char info!

Name: Zita Marttin
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 11
Appearance: Zita has long, straight, black hair, olive skin and brown eyes.
Abilities: Zita is intelligent and mature for her age. She is a quick thinker and relies on the terrain around her for her resources.
Posessions: Grappling hook, backpack with daily nesecities in it, and an elastic band to pull her hair out of her face.
Afiliations: On the human side, she is a Dragon Rider
Biography: Zita was practically raised by a dragon family who took pity on her species. At a young age, she learned the secrets of becoming a Rider and joined forces with Kaida, an ice-breathing dragoness. Since then, she has attempted to resolve the little conflicts between species through diplomacy. Most dragons accept her as simply a dragon without wings and many humans accept her as their own species. There are, of course, her few enemies who hate her because she is human or because she was raised by dragons.


Name: Kaida
Species: Extraxi Glacies-Spiritus (a breed of ice-breathing dragon that I created...)
Gender: Female
Age: 12
Appearance: Kaida is extremely thin, almost to the point of being bony. Her tail is whip-like and the claws on her wings bend over her shoulders to assist in climbing mountains or to help her balance on flat ground. She has two smooth horns curving from the top of her head and two ice-blue, large eyes. Her muzzle is chiseled. Although her legs are thin and bony, they contain great strength. She is fragile, however, and uses extreme caution when she is in any kind of combat.
Abilities: Breathes ice, flies swiftly and agilely.
Possessions: Small dragon saddle with a handle for Zita to hold on to.
Affiliations: Dragon Rider group
Biography: Kaida loves Zita like a sister and would never leave her friend's side for anything. "If most of the humans are like Zita," she says, "then they are a species worth respecting."
Kaida has many friends on both sides of the line, but, like Zita, also has her (few) enemies who either scorn her because she is a dragon or hate her because she is bonded to a human.

Both characters have a story to be told. Theirs hearts are warm and their spirits are light.

[Thundertail]

OCC: I already posted your characters; but I guess it's ok to post them again! Welcome aboard!
Anyone else: Please feel free to join the party! Just follow da' rules in the first post and you'll be well on your way!

[Korkoa]

IC: I clibmed aboard the Bakal, and sat down in a seat next to Rassena.

"So... Are you supposed to teach me how to be a rider?"

[Thundertail]

OCC: Korkoa, you are now aboard the Bakal with Rassena. You are not riding her - yet! (Pls. read my last story entry.) Otherwise, good try!

OCC-2: I see where you got confused! I didn't say where you two were! I just modifyed that post so it's easier to follow...

[Thundertail]

Lupious:

Name: Lupious

Species: Lupine dragon.

Gender: male

Age: 14

Appearance: A Lupine dragon resembles a wolf in many ways, only they are many dozens of times larger. Being a rather young dragon, he is a mere thirty six feet from snout to shaggy tail. He has cunning grey eyes and a wolfish sneer, both looks increasing when he is thinking mayhem. He is smart but brash, and likes to do things on his own - much to his disaster. The only thing that really sets him off is if someone should do harm to his rider, Anna Armadillo.

Abilities: Controls all forms of electricity. Produces balls of lightning that can be thrown, or be juggled for entertainment! Can transform into a lightning bolt, and travel extremely fast in this form. Fires lightning from his fingers and tail; and loves to do the 'old joybuzzer' routine on unsuspeccting people (*shake hands*...ZAP!). Can draw lightning energy from storms and fry any form of electronics. The only two things he has no defense for is when someone throws water on him (Water and electricity don't mix!) or a pulse of microwaves, and only when he is using his powers.

Posessions: The usual dragon saddles, various weapons and an apartment in the Dragon Guild headquarters.

Afiliations: The Dragon Guild, Anna Armadillo, Mistress Calidada, Coffrey Rex, queen Grimoire, any other dragon who is more powerful than he.

Biography: Lupious was born in a creche of over three hundred other siblings. He was one of the least of his batch, and usually got less than the others if he did not fight for his fair share. the only way he figured to get attention was to make the others look bad, and to hurt the others before they hurt him. This additude continued throughout his childhood, spilling out to members not of his creche; much to his primary trainers' dismay!

He was at last accepted to be a dragon steed cadet, and put in the same training creche as Coffrey Rex. They met with bad impression after worse, and Lupious lost respect from the other cadets as a result; but with unwanted support of Coffrey, he slowly turned around and saw help and where it was coming from. Soon, after many trials, the two became good friends; and Lupious discovered other friends among the training creche as well - and it was this lesson that quickly allowed him to graduate to dragon steed. Later his assignment was to go collect his rider, who was training in Brazil; and he took to Anna right off, becoming good friends to this day.
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Anna Armadillo:

Name: Anna

Species: Humanoid armadillo.

Gender: Female.

Age: 12

Appearance: Her whole body is encased in natural, chitinous armor - even in humanoid form. She stands about 5'8" in this form, but can change into her natural armadillo form. She has tiny beady eyes and a tapering muzzle. She can sopeak Spanish native to Brazil and speaks many other languages with a Spanish accent.

Abilities: An expert Dragon Rider due to her equestrian experiences. Her training included the energy lance and other Dragon Rider weaponry and tactics.

Posessions: Besides her Dragon Rider paraphanalia, she has won many medals and trophies for horse riding.

Afiliations: the World Agricultural guild, the Dragon Guild.

Biography: She is well practiced in riding any form of steed; proven by winning many medals and trophys in equestrian exhibition. Her home is in a hacienda in Brazil, where she lives with her family in a combine of different species that works a farm that produces many forms of native crop, chickens, cows, pigs, goats and cattle (Naturally, this farm also includes horses!). She loves to travel and learn, especially if it is traveling and learning with her beloved steed, Lupious (she nicknamed him Lupio!).

_____

OCC: More to come!