The group had deliberated for long enough. It was time to reach a decision. As the flames lapped up into the lower decks, there was nervousness all around. A heated debate had kicked off that would result in a small portion being burnt to a fiery hell. There was no making a decision like this lightly.

The group stood around the table with the suits, all equipping their air filtration collars just in case something went wrong.

"Can't we just use these?" Suggested Elliot hopefully.

Percy shook her head. "Nah these things won't help. They filter atmosphere. There's no atmosphere out there. Only inside the Dalia."

There was a show of despondency at this announcement.

"Tired of talk. Action now." Said Da Shuang solemnly.

"Alrighty. I'm callin' out the nominations for Leader." Said Francis looking at a scribbled note-sheet everybody had put together.

"Seems pretty unanimous. The first leader will be....Dain."

Dain looked around at the crew as he lifted the key and opened his part of the chest. He took out a medikit and a laser pistol, carefully placing them into his pack.

"I'll use these only when necessary."

There was a look around the crew that suggested they'd rather it never be necessary, but as the heat was now rising, they were expectant of more disasters on the horizon.

"Second....." Said Francis chewing on the remains of a cigarette.

"Second is....Percy."

Percy rushed over to the chest and grabbed her share of the two things with a smile.

"Thanks guys! I won't let us down!"

"How about we get to the meat." Said Edom with a snarl. "Nobody gives two shits about the leader vote."

There were further murmurs amongst the crew.

"Alrighty. By consensus the following nine crew members don't get to have a suit..."

Glances were exchanged furtively as the names were slowly read out.

"The crew has deemed the captains should go down with their ships. Watts and Lindberg have to stay."

Lindberg gave a salute, though the bobbing of his adam's apple showed fear through his military stance.

"You're kidding me right? There's no way I'm burning alive on this thing!" Watts grumbled.

Percy and Dain walked forward, laser pistols ready.

"We want this to go as smoothly as necessary. People are bound to be upset, but we will start firing if we have to."

Watts stood his ground miserably.

"Next names. Clifford."

Clifford muttered something about keeping a brotha down as he backed into the corner.

"Veleriya."

"This is an affront to Venera and her fine people!" She said with a hiss.

"Misty."

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Shouted Misty hysterically as she darted across the room to the corner.

"Jeong."

Jeong looked puzzled and stood, making comments that nobody understood. She pointed at the suits before being ushered to the corner by the new leaders.

"Elliot."

Elliot's face fell beneath his shades. "This is karma for a wasted life." He said sadly.

"Portia."

Portia didn't want to be ushered, and resigned herself to a confident march.

"And last but not least..."

"Paige."

Paige had a look of horror on her face as she walked to the corner. She was watching the pointed guns intently.

"Everybody else grab a suit. We have no time." Said Dain as the rest rushed to grab their suits.

The group were all suited and ready by the airlock.

"We'll create a barrier down there so you don't suffocate. At the rate this thing is burning up, it'll probably be the exploding fuel supply that does it..." Said Percy, before uttering a final "Sorry."

"A comforting thought." Said Portia with a smile.

Percy, Melvin, Izza and Dain were the last to rush down the stairs.

"Ugh!" There was a cry of anguish. Three of the last to depart glanced over at Izza. She was holding her suit aloft, but not following.

"Come on! We have to leave now!" Insisted Dain.

"Yeah, that'd be a nice idea. Maybe you can help me out of here first?"

They glanced over, only to find one of Izza's bionic appendages was stuck in between the stairs between decks.

Percy and Dain ran over, grabbing her and pulling, but it was no use.

"We can't stay any longer!" Shouted Dain.

Below, an already suited Freyja looked up at the scene.

"Oh my god...." She said, hand instinctively reaching up to her visor in shock.

The commotion had stirred the left behind crew. Watts was first to rush down, offering his assistance in pulling Izza free too. She struggled and winced in pain as they pulled and pulled.

"There's no...ugh! There's no...there's no point! Just....just somebody take the suit and go. I'm done."

"It's now or never!" Shouted Dain.

Watts glanced up at the room above and the fleeing figures below before grabbing Izza's suit gratefully and darting down the stairs. He was the last to leave the airlock. Izza looked on in solemn silence as the doors to the ship closed for a final time.

The eight from the upper room came down to the stairwell where Izza was looking up in misery.

"HAHA! You fell over!" Said Misty with a look of glee.

Izza closed her eyes and tried best to tolerate it. She couldn't believe this was happening.

Lindberg turned to look up at the flight deck.

"It's an honour to die in the line of duty."

"You can keep your honour" Said Clifford with a scowl.

Only Jeong had noticed the strange eruptions from the walls. She was pointing frantically but nobody was paying attention. A sudden fizzling noise would do it though.

The group looked up to watch in awe as purple sparks danced across the walls of the shuttle. As they arced across the surfaces, they began to get more and more prominent. Izza let out a shriek as her entire body became engulfed in the purple electricity.

Lindberg held back but before too long he was also awash in purple lightning. Slowly, it took each and every one of them until all nine were covered in sparks from head to toe. Then there was a tremendous flash.

The flash subsided and the nine were in exactly the same positions. Izza was slumped over, but no longer caught. She jumped up hurriedly and took in her surroundings.

They appeared to be on the bridge of the ship. A large viewport window looked out onto space. In the distance, Jupiter could be seen. Strange dials and electronic displays littered the room.

But the strangest presence by far was the figure. It was glancing out into space curiously. It was the size of a child, but its skin was a tremendously bright red. It turned around to gaze at the assembled crew with bright red eyes that pierced the soul. As it cocked its bald head, the red child looked even more surreal. It was human in appearance with exception of the fact that it was earless.

"I'm sorry. I think I broke your ship." It spoke out in a cold and polite voice. There was a child-like quality to the voice.

"I am always breaking everything. I wanted to make sure you didn't break too."

Elliot looked up at the child nervously.

"You made that lightning?"

"What is lightning?" Asked the child innocently before turning back to the viewport window.

In the distance two stars were dancing around one another in a swift pattern. Lindberg looked on in horror when he realised the stars were moving exactly in time to the child's hand motions.

"It's a very nice view. I like to sit up here and watch."

"What happened to the crew of this ship?" Said Portia, trying to speak as softly as she was able with this monstrous child controlling the cosmos in front of them.

"They were no use...no use at all." Said the child sadly. Then he turned around with a sweet but horrific grin.

"Maybe you could help!"

Paige looked around to the rest of the terrified group before volunteering.

"What do you want us to do?" She offered.

"Well...there's not much use in being here anymore I don't think. What I need though is to make something big. Something really, really big!"

The child slid across the floor. The group noticed he was actually hovering slightly from the ground.

"I'm gonna put a protection on you all...there you go. So you'll be safe when it happens."

"When what happens?" Said Lindberg sternly.

"There's a bomb on the ship somewhere...I need you all to bring it back up here to me."

A new group win condition has been unlocked! This condition is valid to win for every member in this current group!

Objective:
Locate the bomb on board Dalia and bring it back up to the bridge.

The group was ready to move on.

The phase will end in approximately one hour. No more action updates will be accepted.