Act 1 Scene 4:
(We can now see the stage transformed into an industrial dockyard. The audience can witness the small, sleek form of the ÆSF Worcestershire, a striker airship, positioned at the centre of the stage. Captain Selene Star-Caster, Lord Preen, the Protagonist, and the Adepetus Æther enter from the right, awestruck by the sight.)
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Protagonist: (Squinting at the nameplate) What doth that inscription read? Wuh... Worchester... uh...
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Adepetus Æther: (struggling) Wuss... worce...
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Lord Preen: (with confidence) ‘Tis Worcestershire, my dear comrades. Named after the heart of Narciss, my homeland.
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Protagonist: (beside herself with enthusiasm) Beside a genuine airship, aye! It's not as grand as I did imagine, yet it doth seem a formidable contraption.
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(The Adepetus Æther seems impressed as well)
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(Stage direction: the stage should be bathed in soft light)
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Adepetus Æther: (Unusually confident) Verily, this striker is a marvel of Etheric artifice. It doth showcase the progress we have made.
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(The captain of the ship emerges, unseen to the group. He wears a blue flight suit with gold bars)
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Captain of ÆSF Worcestershire: Salutations, one and all. I extend my regrets; the ship's launch doth remain in the stage of preparation. We art most honoured by your presence.
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(The protagonist visibly starts at the unseen speakers statement)
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Protagonist: (Startled) Oh my! Thou did startle us, sir. Who art thou?
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Captain: (Struggling with pronunciation) I am the... captain of this magnificent vessel, the ÆSF Wooster-sheer. These Narcissian designers do have a peculiar sense of humour, I must say.
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Lord Preen: (Offended) It’s pronounced ”Woo-ster-sheer” sir. (Lamenting) Seems no one can ever get it right.
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(Captain Star-Caster begins to ramble, evidently excited)
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Captain Star-Caster: In the vast azure stage of the heavens, ærial combat unfolds like a dramatic performance, where every manoeuvre, every cannon’s fire, and every choice can be the climax or downfall of our fate. The presence of advanced Suspendium lasers and the power of Æther engines adds complexity to this aerial ballet, where our ships become the leading actors.
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ÆSF Captain: (Shocked by her knowledge) Art thou a captain too?
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Captain Star-Caster: (choosing her words carefully) Of a sort.
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(The protagonist, whom had been listening intently, seems to recall something. She stares at the nameplate of the striker for a moment)
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Protagonist: (Confused) ÆSF... What doth it stand for?
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ÆSF Captain: It stands for-
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Adepetus Æther: Æther Strike Force!
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ÆSF Captain: Art thou the Adepetus that invented Æther? I simply must shake thine hand!
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(The Adapetus is humbled but shakes the hand offered)
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Lord Preen: (Curious) Pray, what is this Æther Strike Force that you speak of?
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(Both Captain Star-Caster and the ÆSF Captain sigh loudly)
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Captain Star-Caster: (Explaining) The ÆSF, or Æther Strike Force, is an elite sub-branch of the ÆDF, our Æther Defence Fleet. Its main mission is to guarantee air superiority throughout the realm and guard against carrier-class threats. The ÆSF's fighters include experimental strikers known as Vanguards, which often lead squadrons, ensuring our aerial dominance.
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Lord Preen: (With a smirk) Well, it it looks like Narciss isn't the only one with a few tricks up their sleeves, hmm?
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Protagonist: (Playfully) The one thing Narciss excels at is giving their ships the most preposterous names, almost like a disguise in itself!
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ÆSF Captain: Indeed, speaking of disguises, we work closely with the ÆRB (Æther Recon Branch), which utilizes advanced Corsairs. There have been rumours circulating about Wraiths—these experimental Corsairs are said to be equipped with Æther Disruptors, but that remains to be confirmed.
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Adepetus Æther: (Terrified) Rumoured Wraiths with Æther Disruptors? The mere thought of our own technology potentially being turned against us is truly... disconcerting.
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(The Adepetus Æther walks around to the back of the striker, he begins examining the Æther engines)
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Lord Preen: (Chuckles) Adepetus Æther, I must say, your examination of these Æther engines is quite impressive. Could there be any dissonance in your etheric orchestra?
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Adepetus Æther: (Grave) My lord, the mere thought of the Dragoons obtaining an Æther disruptor sends shivers down my spine. The havoc they could wreak with such technology is beyond imagination.
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(Lord Preen hesitates for a moment)
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Lord Preen: (Addressing the Adepetus, and both captains) In the shadows, there are whispers of Dreadnoughts—gigantic, dreadful aerial leviathans of unknown lineage. They say their armament can lay waste to armadas, their armour shields them against mortal blows, and their diabolical weaponry possesses the potential to unravel the very fabric of Æther itself Should these behemoths come into existence, the skies shall turn into a dominion of unrelenting terror.
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Protagonist: Dreadnoughts, oh my! Just the name alone gives me chills. Do they serve tea on these warships?
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(A loud bugle call rips through the relative quiet, the lights dim)
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Captain Star-Caster: (Frantic) What’s happening? Brace yourselves!
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(A strange humming sound begins. The characters are in full panic now)
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Protagonist: (Panicked) This can’t be good!
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(An eiree sound precedes the bright flash of blue from the side of the stage)
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(The ÆSF Worcestershire is engulfed in a shimmering effect, achieved by lighting, before the stage is engulfed in fog)
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(Amidst the fog, figures dressed in ominous dragoon uniforms emerge)
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Adepetus Æther: (Anxious) Dragoons! We need to get out of here!
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(The Dragoons move swiftly towards the characters on the stage)
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Lord Preen: (Frightened) We’re in for it now! I forgot my bow!
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(The Dragoons grab the characters and violently drag them offstage one by one. The Adapetus Æther is the last one to go)
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(An older man holding a Staff of some kind in one hand, a bugle in the other, turns to the audience and sounds a call, clearly in victory, he and the other Dragoons depart the stage)
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(The fog lingers as the stage returns to darkness)
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End of Scene Four
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