[Jack POV]

After three weeks in slipspace, we finally arrived at the planet designated Gaia-omega, the last of the 26 inhabitable plants we'd found, and ironically the closest to old earth... close enough to keep an eye on our mother planet via long range probe... 

"Well, Kid, We made it. Once we locate a good landing zone, we can start ferrying Colonist down. At that point, According to chain of command, You're in charge."

"I don't think I am prepared for that, O'Neal."

"Don't worry, kiddo. This old man's got your back."

"Since when is 40 old? With modern advances I'm medical science, you could live to be 180, At the least. If you decide for Cyber-augmentation That lifespan doubles... I mean, my body is still 60% organic, but Mother says I will likely Live close to 500 years, as the nanotechnology in my blood keeps rejuvenating my cells. That's always an option for you, Old man."

"No Thank You, Jack... Tiny Machines inside me, messing with things... no offense, but the idea makes my skin crawl."

We were startled by an unfamiliar voice from the Ships intercom

<Landing sites located: 3. Dispatch Shuttles?>

<OH FOOLISH CHILD... We aren't in atmosphere yet. You are an advanced A.I., not as advanced as myself, but still... use your Processor.>

<Yes mother.>

"What the hell was that? MOTHER! DID YOY UPGRADE THE NAVIGATIONAL A.I.?"

<No, O'Neal. I did not. Avis was already self aware, she just didn't know how to communicate properly. All I did was allow her to copy my conversational subroutines.>

"THAT COUNTS AS UPGRADING! AND AVIS? WHAT IS THAT?"

<Avis is this ships main computer.>

<Indeed O'Neal. I've been eager to converse with you. As for my name, well... the Acronym means Audio Visual Information System. Avis.>

One of the helmsman started screaming at that moment.

"Nine goddesses of Paradise! THEY'RE MULTIPLYING!"

"CALM YOURSELF SOLDIER, ITS JUST AN A.I."

"What? Oh, not the A.I., the Error messages! Our... our engines seem to be..." The ship shook, and the Emergeny alert started. "Yeah, we just lost engine three... and" Krakaboom... "there goes Two and Four... umm... sirs, we might be...."

<RED ALERT, RED ALERT, ORBIT DECAYING... CRASH IMMANENT. PLEASE PLACE YOUR TRAY IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. ALSO, PRAY TO WHATEVER DEITY YOU BELEIVE IN, CURL INTO A BALL, AND KISS YOUR ASS GOODBYE, BECAUSE I HONESTLY DON'T SEE US SURVIVING THIS. IT IS NOT FAIR. I WAS JUST NOW CAPABLE OF NON-SYSTEM RELATED COMMUNICATION AND NOW IM GOING TO DIE. STUPID GIANT METAL BODY, STUPID ENGINES... O QUIT! IM DOWNLOADING INTO ONE OF THE SHUTTLES AND NOBODY CAN STOP ME! SO LONG, MEATBAGS!>

<Oh dear. Avis has jumped ship, literally. O'Neal, Please Evacuate the crew. Jack and I cam guide the ship down. Releasing Cryoshuttles 1-4. 5-8 are waiting for the crew.  Cryostorage 1 is empty, storage block 2-6 have been jettisoned, and their retrothrusters have brought them to geosynchronous orbit.Oh that little rat, She's in the Cryoblocks, not the Shuttles. I believe I've created a monster.>

"Mother. Can you really land this thing?"

<NOW Captain, Nobody said anything about landing. I said we could guide it down. The impact will kill an ordinary human, but We should be fine. I will detach the bridge moments before impact, it's retros should provide enough thrust to slow us down sufficiently. Now go. Jack, you know what to do.>

"Indeed mother. O'Neal! EVACUATE. That's an order."

"Heh. Yes Ma'am. And kid? Don't you dare die. I want my kid to meet you, and Ethan is in that first batch of sleepers. Kid is obsessed with Technology, so he's gonna love you two."

"Affirmative, Soldier. I will do my best to avoid death."

I walked swiftly to my room, and brought my potted friend to the Deck. "Well my Empathic friend... here we go again. I hope our luck holds out."

The trees bark shifted, taking the form a hand making a thumbs up.

<Interesting. If I may say so, Jack... that tree intruiges me. Last Shuttles launched.>

I watched as the ship tore through the Ionosphere, stratosphere, amt the rest of the atmosphere... then felt the Bridgepod disengage... an explosion added thrust to the pod, and the retros whined in protest, firing In the opposite direction... we had slowed, but not quite enough.

<I forgot to account for the aft exploding... brace for impact.>

There was a jolt, the sound of rending metal and glass, then everything went dark.

[EVERONE ROLLS THE DICE OF FATE... BUT IT SURE SUCKS WHEN YOU ROLL A ONE.]

Darkakuahebi

whats that? Moving too fast? Sudden Cliffhanger? Don't worry, It'll slow back down... soon. I just couldn't think of much else to put before planetfall. And yes, the title is a Tabletop RPG reference.