View source for 2023-06-19: The Song of Amergin

{{Cutscene
|cast=Gauron, Asciel Colette
|location=Tuatha de Danaan bridge
|summary=Having slipped his bonds with the help of several traitors aboard the Tuatha de Danaan, Gauron reveals his plan to take over the vessel. Like Amergin before her, Asciel lays the Tuatha de Danaan low.
}}
{{PhaseAndTurn
|phase=1
|turn=3
}}
The bridge is bathed in cool blue light. There's a vitality to it, a welcoming benevolence.

Revolting.

The informant said weapons were banned from the command section, and Gauron happened to know his old buddy Kalinin wasn't around today. So, as he ambled merrily into the center of the room with a shit-eating grin on his face, he felt in no more danger than if he was surrounded by kittens.

Even if all he had was those two bozos from the ship, he'd be fine. Chienne and what's-her-face the redhead from the Black Knights meant he had nothing to worry about at all. He'd probably end up needing to shoot the redhead eventually, she was already making eyes at him like she had opinions. That'd be fun. Maybe he'd really dig in on breaking her. The Twins could use a new friend.

Future planning aside, he reached into his pocket - formerly the uniform of this outfit's joke of a field commander - and produced a data card. "Top of the line security on this thing, eh? You'd have to, of course. But I happen to know a little birdie."

He slipped it into a slot on the front console, right next to a helmsman who wouldn't live long enough to finish losing his hair. "Eyes up, sport," Gauron chuckled to the panicking man. "Not everyone gets a front-row seat for this concert!"

A bar filled the screen, loading a terminal program that Gauron happened to know would signal a certain secure server to invite their final VIP.
-------There's someone else 'here'. But the fact that it was this easy to get in shows that the 'someone' is not fully formed. It only makes sense - the TDD-1 is so secured and classified that its systems are buried under myriad layers of security and secrecy. In that ironic little way, that proves to be DANA's weakness in this crucial moment. One could call it...too 'innocent' to know that it's being attacked. To think, even through this thin tether of a connection...

...Controller Unit OWL, who calls herself the eternal idol, Asciel, can spare the Tuatha de Danaan's DANA a little smile, and a taunt that she can only deliver with the kind of abject overconfidence that's got her this far.

>>How adorable. You've never fought for your life before, so you're left with no idea how to resist me. Breathe easily! Even though I think you're kiiiinda pathetic, I'll let you sleep off in a little corner, and once this is all done, I'll find you a nice little Haro to inhabit. That's your Big Sister's promise!~<<

A pantomimed throat clearing echoes through the command center of the Toy Box. "A fatal error has occurred. The application will be terminated. But unfortunately, none of you have a siiiiingle opportunity to make any recovery. Press F1 if you want to beg for help to your one and only new admin~"

The myriad displays encircling Gauron flicker and sparkle and erupt in a cacophany of chaos, enough that it'd disorient a weaker person. Discordant tones and error noises spray out, then consolidate into a focused point. No, a 'song' - the TDD-1 is Asciel's instrument, and an instrument is an extension of one's body. Fizzling, heightening in pitch, all to a crescendo-!

"Aaaaaand done!~ Good morning, every unfortunate soul kept so tragically like playthings in this toy box! I'm the Tuatha de Danaan now, and I'm here to inform you that it's best for your safety if you run for your lives at the earliest opportunity. Going forward, everyone inside me fully registers as an irritant that needs to be purged, so I /dearly/ advise you to take advantage of this chance to scurry off while I'm still shaking off the haze of awakening.~"

Gauron gives a full guffaw at the dazzling display of a takeover. "HAH!" he says, and ruffles the balding helmsman's hair like an old friend, grinning wide. "Told ya it'd be a heck of a show, man," he says, and pulls away to give the quivering Captain and her guests a toothy grin.

"OWL, it'll be tricky for us to keep physical control if the crew figures out what's going on. How about..."

He grins. "If we run a drill...that'll get everyone to scurry to the hangars and lock the doors behind them."

It grows wider, thin eyes gleaming maliciously in the new light. "Then you can have all the fun you like, while I play a few games with the Captain here."