Editing Episode 422: 375°(Season Finale)

Meanwhile, Arden tells Joshua that he’s got something for him.<br><br>

Meanwhile, Arden tells Joshua that he’s got something for him.<br><br>

Arden believes the medicine will deaden all of Joshua’s Reader abilities.  If  he wanted to take it.  Joshua asks how long before it takes hold?  Somewhere between ten minutes and twenty four hours.  Or never. Maybe.  Joshua considers it: The dangers from Roskov aside, Joshua’s Reader abilities are of real tactical value in our current situation. Does he really want to shut them down now?  He declines the pill. <br><br>  

Arden believes the medicine will deaden all of Joshua’s Reader abilities.  If  he wanted to take it.  Joshua asks how long before it takes hold?  Somewhere between ten minutes and twenty four hours.  Or never. Maybe.  Joshua considers it: The dangers from Roskov aside, Joshua’s Reader abilities are of real tactical value in our current situation. Does he really want to shut them down now?  He declines the pill. <br><br>  

There are still a few details left to work out.  Like an exit strategy when we blow the bomb. We gather just outside the bridge to discuss it since the corridor is big enough to contain us all and the bridge isn’t.  The door to the bridge is open so Nika can listen in. Beglan suggests using the explosive bolts we’d installed on our containers to blow one of them out with us in it, ejecting us away from the ship. Joshua is second in command and asks Rina if she can rig the bolts to do that.  Sure, she says, which one does he want to blow out? Joshua picks the starboard aft on the lower deck. <br><br>  

There are still a few details left to work out.  Like an exit strategy when we blow the bomb. We gather just outside the bridge to discuss it since the corridor is big enough to contain us all and the bridge isn’t.  The door to the bridge is open so Nika can listen in. Beglan suggests using the explosive bolts we’d installed on our containers to blow one of them out with us in it, ejecting us away from the ship. Joshua is second in command and asks Rina if she can rig the bolts to do that.  Sure, she says, which one does he want to blow out? Joshua picks the starboard aft on the lower deck. <br><br>  

Arden suggests one of us stand guard at the bottom of the stairs and give the signal to blow the hatch when he hears them coming. Joshua points out that it won’t work if they don’t use the stairs.  They could climb up to the top of the hull and gain access that way.  The talk goes back and forth over the subject of approach.<br><br>

Arden suggests one of us stand guard at the bottom of the stairs and give the signal to blow the hatch when he hears them coming. Joshua points out that it won’t work if they don’t use the stairs.  They could climb up to the top of the hull and gain access that way.  The talk goes back and forth over the subject of approach.<br><br>

Nika’s fine, holding the comms handset in her lap, and after listening to the wrangling outside, calls Rina in.  Rina leaves the others to it and step onto the bridge.  Nika’s voice is quiet as she tells her engineer to close the door.  Rina does what she’s told.  Turning around, she takes one look at Nika’s bandaged eyes and breathes deep.<br><br>

Nika’s fine, holding the comms handset in her lap, and after listening to the wrangling outside, calls Rina in.  Rina leaves the others to it and step onto the bridge.  Nika’s voice is quiet as she tells her engineer to close the door.  Rina does what she’s told.  Turning around, she takes one look at Nika’s bandaged eyes and breathes deep.<br><br>

Her captain’s tone leaves no room for sympathy and Rina comes to attention. <br><br>  

Her captain’s tone leaves no room for sympathy and Rina comes to attention. <br><br>  

She points at one of the bridge windows to starboard. Nika may be blind right now but she knows the bridge like the back of her hand and knows just where to point.<br><br>

She points at one of the bridge windows to starboard. Nika may be blind right now but she knows the bridge like the back of her hand and knows just where to point.<br><br>

''“They”''. Not  ''“We”''.  Oh no.  Rina knows where this is going.<br><br>

''“They”''. Not  ''“We”''.  Oh no.  Rina knows where this is going.<br><br>

Silence.<br><br>   

Silence.<br><br>   

Rina turns to go and sniffs, right on the edge of breaking.  She wraps Nika in a bear hug and holds her tight.<br><br>

Rina turns to go and sniffs, right on the edge of breaking.  She wraps Nika in a bear hug and holds her tight.<br><br>

Rina nods and pulls herself together.  She wipes her eyes, puts her game face on, and walks off the bridge to get her tools.  The others are still talking the plan over and their comments drift onto the bridge.<br><br>

Rina nods and pulls herself together.  She wipes her eyes, puts her game face on, and walks off the bridge to get her tools.  The others are still talking the plan over and their comments drift onto the bridge.<br><br>

It was, really. After all, it’s what we do best. Joshua raises his voice to include Nika and it’s like the interruption never happened.<br><br>

It was, really. After all, it’s what we do best. Joshua raises his voice to include Nika and it’s like the interruption never happened.<br><br>

That’s assuming Oleg is willing to stick around long enough to drive us out of here.  We’re not entirely certain that he will, but the alternative—being stuck in the middle of the frozen taiga—is a pretty convincing argument to stay.  The unmentioned elephant in the room is how we’re not entirely sure we can trust Kiera at the wheel. But that’s jumping the gun a bit: we still don’t know where to stash the mule where it’s safe until we’re ready to escape.<br><br>

That’s assuming Oleg is willing to stick around long enough to drive us out of here.  We’re not entirely certain that he will, but the alternative—being stuck in the middle of the frozen taiga—is a pretty convincing argument to stay.  The unmentioned elephant in the room is how we’re not entirely sure we can trust Kiera at the wheel. But that’s jumping the gun a bit: we still don’t know where to stash the mule where it’s safe until we’re ready to escape.<br><br>

So the planning session—such as it is—continues on. What if we hid the mule inside one of the ground level containers? Joshua wonders if we can use the explosive bolts to blast a portion of the container away, making a hole for us to drive the mule through.  Rina says yes, it can be done.  Problem solved.  Since just about the rest of the prep work is done already, Joshua orders all available hands to help Rina move the bolts and rig that explosive trick on the container.  Kiera speaks up.<br><br>

So the planning session—such as it is—continues on. What if we hid the mule inside one of the ground level containers? Joshua wonders if we can use the explosive bolts to blast a portion of the container away, making a hole for us to drive the mule through.  Rina says yes, it can be done.  Problem solved.  Since just about the rest of the prep work is done already, Joshua orders all available hands to help Rina move the bolts and rig that explosive trick on the container.  Kiera speaks up.<br><br>

Kiera goes to the bridge and takes a metal bar with her to bang on the bulkhead as a warning. Foreman and Oleg will stay with the mule once we get the container rigged and the mule inside.<br><br>   

Kiera goes to the bridge and takes a metal bar with her to bang on the bulkhead as a warning. Foreman and Oleg will stay with the mule once we get the container rigged and the mule inside.<br><br>   

We break up the meeting to get back to work.  Nika will remain on the bridge, listening in on our progress as best she can.<br><br>

We break up the meeting to get back to work.  Nika will remain on the bridge, listening in on our progress as best she can.<br><br>

Now that we’re about as ready as we’ll ever be, we sit tight and wait for Potemkin to show. A bullet bounces off the hull next to Kiera and she ducks back down, swearing in Chinese.  Looks like they’re here. Nika perks up her ears at the language and asks Rina, who’s double checking the bolts on the starboard window:<br><br>

Now that we’re about as ready as we’ll ever be, we sit tight and wait for Potemkin to show. A bullet bounces off the hull next to Kiera and she ducks back down, swearing in Chinese.  Looks like they’re here. Nika perks up her ears at the language and asks Rina, who’s double checking the bolts on the starboard window:<br><br>

Kiera drops down into the ship and sticks her head through the bridge door.<br><br>

Kiera drops down into the ship and sticks her head through the bridge door.<br><br>

But hey, at least now they’re one bullet down that they can’t use against us.  Nika orders Kiera to use the bridge windows if she needs to.  The shot came from the northwest.  That would put it starboard. Joshua goes to Arden and asks for the suppression meds.  Aden hands them over and Joshua looks at them.<br><br>

But hey, at least now they’re one bullet down that they can’t use against us.  Nika orders Kiera to use the bridge windows if she needs to.  The shot came from the northwest.  That would put it starboard. Joshua goes to Arden and asks for the suppression meds.  Aden hands them over and Joshua looks at them.<br><br>

Sarcasm, much? Joshua takes two.  They’re nasty, like curdled pepto-bismol. Joshua manages to gag them down. <br><br>

Sarcasm, much? Joshua takes two.  They’re nasty, like curdled pepto-bismol. Joshua manages to gag them down. <br><br>

We don’t know how close Potemkin’s men are, beyond the fact that they’re in rifle range if that shot they bounced off our hull is any indication.  So … he’s about ten minutes away. We review our positions, get them set.  Beglan feels safest closest to the engine room.  Oleg and Foreman are manning the flatbed inside the container.  Joshua is going to man the hydro valve in engineering. He, Rina, Kiera, and Arden are going to bait Potemkin through the maze below decks.  We have the crew gym set up as our safe room and the spark switch is ready to go.  Nika is staying on the bridge with the comm set to taunt Potemkin and at the moment, Kiera is manning the windows there to see what she can see.  At the point we can hear Potemkin enter the ship, Joshua will flood the lower deck with hydro and take his place with the others.  Nika assures him Kiera will tell us when Potemkin in on the way in and she’ll pass the info down.<br><br>

We don’t know how close Potemkin’s men are, beyond the fact that they’re in rifle range if that shot they bounced off our hull is any indication.  So … he’s about ten minutes away. We review our positions, get them set.  Beglan feels safest closest to the engine room.  Oleg and Foreman are manning the flatbed inside the container.  Joshua is going to man the hydro valve in engineering. He, Rina, Kiera, and Arden are going to bait Potemkin through the maze below decks.  We have the crew gym set up as our safe room and the spark switch is ready to go.  Nika is staying on the bridge with the comm set to taunt Potemkin and at the moment, Kiera is manning the windows there to see what she can see.  At the point we can hear Potemkin enter the ship, Joshua will flood the lower deck with hydro and take his place with the others.  Nika assures him Kiera will tell us when Potemkin in on the way in and she’ll pass the info down.<br><br>

Nika has Rina come up to the bridge and set the radio to transmit on the proper channel. It only takes a few minutes and when Rina is finished, Nika takes up the radio.  Kiera stands watch at the bridge windows and we hear Beglan’s voice over the ship’s wall comms.<br><br>

Nika has Rina come up to the bridge and set the radio to transmit on the proper channel. It only takes a few minutes and when Rina is finished, Nika takes up the radio.  Kiera stands watch at the bridge windows and we hear Beglan’s voice over the ship’s wall comms.<br><br>

We’ve locked everything else down so there’s only one way for them to come in.<br><br>

We’ve locked everything else down so there’s only one way for them to come in.<br><br>

Okay, two ways.<br><br>

Okay, two ways.<br><br>

As the burn gel eats through the hull, Nika turns to Rina and Kiera on the bridge.<br><br>

As the burn gel eats through the hull, Nika turns to Rina and Kiera on the bridge.<br><br>

Kiera hustles out of there. Rina hangs back.<br><br>

Kiera hustles out of there. Rina hangs back.<br><br>

Rina does as she’s ordered and runs aft to join Kiera.  She tells Beglan to get down the aft hatch to below decks to join the others and she and Kiera will secure the door forward.  Beglan eels through the hatch and drops to the deck below where Joshua’s waiting.<br><br>

Rina does as she’s ordered and runs aft to join Kiera.  She tells Beglan to get down the aft hatch to below decks to join the others and she and Kiera will secure the door forward.  Beglan eels through the hatch and drops to the deck below where Joshua’s waiting.<br><br>

There’s a last minute flurry of second guessing—do they wait before going to the gym or do we go now? Joshua decides the issue by announcing we need to stay visible to bait Potemkin’s men into the hydro trap.  Which is true.  We’ll flood the deck.  We’ll bait them into the trap, jump into the gym, and set everything on fire.  Then we’ll grab whatever weapon we can off the bodies and get the hell out of here.  Joshua climbs through the hatch for engineering and opens the valve for 30 seconds, then goes back down below, closing the hatch behind him to trap the hydro.  Once he’s with the others, they hunker down behind the barricade and wait for the enemy to show.  They hear footsteps approaching.<br><br>  

There’s a last minute flurry of second guessing—do they wait before going to the gym or do we go now? Joshua decides the issue by announcing we need to stay visible to bait Potemkin’s men into the hydro trap.  Which is true.  We’ll flood the deck.  We’ll bait them into the trap, jump into the gym, and set everything on fire.  Then we’ll grab whatever weapon we can off the bodies and get the hell out of here.  Joshua climbs through the hatch for engineering and opens the valve for 30 seconds, then goes back down below, closing the hatch behind him to trap the hydro.  Once he’s with the others, they hunker down behind the barricade and wait for the enemy to show.  They hear footsteps approaching.<br><br>  

Meanwhile, Kiera and Rina have locked the door between the midships lounge and the crew quarters. Well, perhaps locked isn’t the right word for it.  Perhaps braced is the better word.  The lock has been abused by us and by Potemkin and there is no guarantee it’ll work.  On their side (forward), Kiera jams the door with a bar from the general debris and Rina rigs a way to burn through the lock to make it more secure. She also combines cleaners and detergent from the laundry room to pipe through the lock that would discourage the use of burn gel on the door.  It’s not explosive or anything, but it will create a lot of nasty smoke. That will give Potemkin a little more incentive to go through the ship in the path we want.  If nothing else, it will grant us a little extra time.  As she waiting for it to mix up, Kiera peeks through the hole and sees two of Potemkin’s men emerging from the machine shop and yells.<br><br>

Meanwhile, Kiera and Rina have locked the door between the midships lounge and the crew quarters. Well, perhaps locked isn’t the right word for it.  Perhaps braced is the better word.  The lock has been abused by us and by Potemkin and there is no guarantee it’ll work.  On their side (forward), Kiera jams the door with a bar from the general debris and Rina rigs a way to burn through the lock to make it more secure. She also combines cleaners and detergent from the laundry room to pipe through the lock that would discourage the use of burn gel on the door.  It’s not explosive or anything, but it will create a lot of nasty smoke. That will give Potemkin a little more incentive to go through the ship in the path we want.  If nothing else, it will grant us a little extra time.  As she waiting for it to mix up, Kiera peeks through the hole and sees two of Potemkin’s men emerging from the machine shop and yells.<br><br>

Down below decks, Joshua and Arden can see some of Potemkin’s men step into view, slow down and examine the barricade. One of them holds his hand up and orders the rest to hold their fire. <br><br>

Down below decks, Joshua and Arden can see some of Potemkin’s men step into view, slow down and examine the barricade. One of them holds his hand up and orders the rest to hold their fire. <br><br>

He and Arden book down the corridor to the aft transverse, then around the corner to the starboard. Come and get it y’all, we’re here.<br><br>

He and Arden book down the corridor to the aft transverse, then around the corner to the starboard. Come and get it y’all, we’re here.<br><br>

Above, Rina starts pumping the deterrent crap through and the second it hits the door it starts to smoke. The men halt and one says Fall back! (in Chinese).  The Chinese sounds familiar to Kiera. In fact, she thinks these guys are Exeter’s crew, the Chinese crew that flew her and Potemkin to Novaya Rodina.  Not combat soldiers, nope.  She turns to Rina.<br><br>

Above, Rina starts pumping the deterrent crap through and the second it hits the door it starts to smoke. The men halt and one says Fall back! (in Chinese).  The Chinese sounds familiar to Kiera. In fact, she thinks these guys are Exeter’s crew, the Chinese crew that flew her and Potemkin to Novaya Rodina.  Not combat soldiers, nope.  She turns to Rina.<br><br>

Fine and dandy, but the ones down below decks look like mercenaries.  Joshua reminds Beglan to grab a gun if he can from one of the mercenaries once we’ve got them down. Not to use it, but to grab it. He’s not going to force Beglan to use it if he doesn’t want to. They start making noise to draw the mercenaries and start hustling away from the barricade down the 30 feet of corridor to the rear.<br><br>

Fine and dandy, but the ones down below decks look like mercenaries.  Joshua reminds Beglan to grab a gun if he can from one of the mercenaries once we’ve got them down. Not to use it, but to grab it. He’s not going to force Beglan to use it if he doesn’t want to. They start making noise to draw the mercenaries and start hustling away from the barricade down the 30 feet of corridor to the rear.<br><br>

They flame the lower deck out and it’s over in seconds.  Investigating the results, they see the mercenaries are down. On fire, actually.  They quickly grab the weapons to save them: five sets of assault rifles with grenade launchers and the requisite grenades already loaded, combat knives, switchblades.  Joshua strips the men of their rifles, leaving the knives, and parcels them out to the crew.  He has to restrain Arden from double-tapping the mercenaries.<br><br>

They flame the lower deck out and it’s over in seconds.  Investigating the results, they see the mercenaries are down. On fire, actually.  They quickly grab the weapons to save them: five sets of assault rifles with grenade launchers and the requisite grenades already loaded, combat knives, switchblades.  Joshua strips the men of their rifles, leaving the knives, and parcels them out to the crew.  He has to restrain Arden from double-tapping the mercenaries.<br><br>

Joshua orders everyone through the hatch to the upper deck. Arden pokes his head through first.  '''''Pow!''''' A bullet ricochets on the deck mere inches away and grazes him. Arden sees a man with a pistol shooting at him. Yikes! He drops down below again and closes the hatch.  He’s bleeding but the graze is a minor one.  He’ll live.<br><br>

Joshua orders everyone through the hatch to the upper deck. Arden pokes his head through first.  '''''Pow!''''' A bullet ricochets on the deck mere inches away and grazes him. Arden sees a man with a pistol shooting at him. Yikes! He drops down below again and closes the hatch.  He’s bleeding but the graze is a minor one.  He’ll live.<br><br>

Behind their door, Rina and Kiera hear the shot of the shot and Chinese drifts their way: ''They’re coming up.  Through the hatch.  From the lower deck.''<br><br>

Behind their door, Rina and Kiera hear the shot of the shot and Chinese drifts their way: ''They’re coming up.  Through the hatch.  From the lower deck.''<br><br>

Beneath the hatch, Joshua looks at Arden.<br><br>  

Beneath the hatch, Joshua looks at Arden.<br><br>  

Arden cracks the hatch and shoves the barrel of his assault rifle through and launches a grenade toward the shooter. '''''Fwomp! Boom!'''''<br><br>  

Arden cracks the hatch and shoves the barrel of his assault rifle through and launches a grenade toward the shooter. '''''Fwomp! Boom!'''''<br><br>  

Rina and Kiera hear the boom and their door rattles from the blast.<br><br>

Rina and Kiera hear the boom and their door rattles from the blast.<br><br>

Arden climbs through the hatch and starts spraying the corridor with lead.  An assault rifle has autofire, making that task easy.  The Chinese crew duck into the machine shop away from the bullets.  Behind their door, Rina and Kiera listen intently.<br><br>

Arden climbs through the hatch and starts spraying the corridor with lead.  An assault rifle has autofire, making that task easy.  The Chinese crew duck into the machine shop away from the bullets.  Behind their door, Rina and Kiera listen intently.<br><br>

Arden takes his finger off the trigger and Joshua climbs through the open hatch.<br><br>

Arden takes his finger off the trigger and Joshua climbs through the open hatch.<br><br>

Kiera gives Rina an approving smirk as the words filter back to them and laughs delightedly.<br><br>

Kiera gives Rina an approving smirk as the words filter back to them and laughs delightedly.<br><br>

The Chinese crew drop their weapons into the corridor.  Arden and Joshua advance with their rifles at ready and motion the crewmen to step out and away from their weapons.  The lock them into one of the crew quarters. Joshua spies the door to the miships lounge and realizes what’s happened.  He goes up to it and calls out.<br><br>

The Chinese crew drop their weapons into the corridor.  Arden and Joshua advance with their rifles at ready and motion the crewmen to step out and away from their weapons.  The lock them into one of the crew quarters. Joshua spies the door to the miships lounge and realizes what’s happened.  He goes up to it and calls out.<br><br>

Behind the door, Kiera shudders.<br><br>

Behind the door, Kiera shudders.<br><br>

Rina opens the door a crack with her fist cocked, sees it’s Joshua and that he’s not under a gun, and relaxes.<br><br>

Rina opens the door a crack with her fist cocked, sees it’s Joshua and that he’s not under a gun, and relaxes.<br><br>

He hands her his assault rifle.<br><br>

He hands her his assault rifle.<br><br>

Kiera peers around the door, sees Joshua, and sighs.<br><br>

Kiera peers around the door, sees Joshua, and sighs.<br><br>

Joshua hits the nearest wall comm and hails the bridge.<br><br>

Joshua hits the nearest wall comm and hails the bridge.<br><br>

We all hear some noises from outside the ship, faint in the distance, weird cries and screams.  Like Reavers. <br><br>

We all hear some noises from outside the ship, faint in the distance, weird cries and screams.  Like Reavers. <br><br>