(bg:black)[*beep. beep. BEEPPPP!!!*
Captain Kiwi jolts awake from his glorious slumber in the cockpit. He yawns loudly and shakes out all four of his paws and stretchs his back out. What a miserable way to be pulled out of a dream about chasing a bird!
*beep. beep. BEEPPPP!!!*
The console protests again, drawing Kiwi sharply back to reality. A big red alarm on the console is flashing frantically. Kiwi glance over at [[Lieutenant Snowball]]. The big white furball is still dozing - the perks of being deaf apparently.
Kiwi mess with the console for a moment, trying to figure out where the alarm is coming from. He nudges Snowball gently and he opens his eyes.
He notices the blinking alarm and signs, "What's wrong, Kiwi?"
Kiwi shrugs and signs back to him, "Trying to figure it out."
<!--This is puzzle choice and a flavor choice. -->
The console is a nothing but a black screen, giving Kiwi absolutely zero information. Typical. Should he try [[smacking it -> Smack]] or [[rebooting the system -> Reboot]]? ]
(bg:black)[Lieutenant Snowball is second in command of //The Cat's Meow//. He is a rather large cat with an extrodinarily rotund figure. Snowball has pure white fur and has one blue eye and one yellow eye. He was born deaf, but his ears had to be amputated after he developed skin cancer.
Even though he is far away from any stars these days, Snowball still applies sunscreen to his face every morning.
[[Back. ->Rude Awakening]] ](bg:black)[Kiwi turns the whole console off and back on again. The blaring alarm finally stops, which makes him realize that the ship seems kind of quiet. [[The Cat's Meow]] is usually buzzing with the lull of low conversation and even the occaisonal crash from kittens running around the halls. But there's... nothing.
Something is wrong. Kiwi leans forward and spams the power button to try to restart the system faster. It doesn't work.
Suddenly the entire system lights up. The console is bombarded with various images from the cameras lining the ship.
A massive warship comes into view on screen. The warship is shaped like the abdomen of a wasp, with several layers of plated armor sliding on top of each other to protect the interior of the ship. A [[Ringworm]] warship has found //The Cat's Meow//.
Captain Kiwi and Lieutenant Snowball watch in horror as the armaments extend between slits in the armor, aimed directly at //The Cat's Meow//.
<!--This is an unchoice, only one option -->
Kiwi presses down on a big blue button. This [[raises the alarm -> Raise The Alarm]]. ](bg:black)[Smacking the console repeatedly doesn't make it work. Kiwi's paws hurt now and he is a little annoyed.
[[Back. ->Rude Awakening]] ](bg:black)[The Ringworm are evil spores that prey on cats like vampires. Ringworm can shapeshift, from a large imposing spore to a microscopic parasite that burrows in a cat's fur. The Ringworm cannot survive without a host cat that they can lay their offspring on. The Ringworm are angry that the feline species have decided to quit Earth and make for a new planet - a new planet without Ringworm.
[[Back. -> Reboot]] ](bg:black)[The alarm system on //The Cat's Meow// succeeds in waking up the crew and urging them into their battle stations.
Captain Kiwi speaks to the passengers over the intercom, "We are being pursued by a Ringworm vessel. I repeat: we are being pursued by a Ringworm vessel. Please return to your carriers and await further instruction. Please make sure to take care of kittens and senior cats."
Kiwi switchs the intercom over to talk directly to the rest of the crew through their headsets. Snowball pulls on his head's up display that allows him to read the verbal instructions given by Captain Kiwi.
//The Cat's Meow// carries some artillery, but not nearly enough to match the fire power of the Ringworm Battle ship.
<!-- This is a dead-end choice. -->
Should Captain Kiwi [[throw //The Cat's Meow// into an attack -> ATTACK!!!]]? Or should he [[charge ahead and try to contact Nepeta Cataria -> SOS]]? ](bg:black)[Captain Kiwi gives the order to attack the oncoming Ringworm battleship.
//The Cat's Meow// fires first, surprising the Ringworms slightly. But they quickly recover and fire three subsequent shots into the engines, stalling the passenger vessel.
Within moments, the Ringworm vessel has docked with //The Cat's Meow//. The spores invade the vessel, infecting every cat onboard. Captain Kiwi has failed to see the citizens to the safety of Nepeta Cataria.
[[The End ->The End]] ]
(bg:black)[Captain Kiwi orders Snowball to divert all power to engines and rear-deflection shields, since //The Cat's Meow's// best chance of evading the Ringworm battleship is speed and effieciency.
Kiwi glances down at the lightspeed engine display. //Rats.// The lightspeed engines are only charged to 92%. The engines can only be used for a few hours at a time. When they get too hot, they drop out of lightspeed to cruise among the stars for eight hours while the engines recharge. It will be another fifteen minutes before the engines are fully operational.
Kiwi relays this realization to Snowball, who nods in acknowledgment. Lieutenant Snowball is one of the greatest pilots in the Nepeta Cataria fleet. If any cat could avoid a Ringworm battleship for half an hour, it was him.
Captain Kiwi returns to the intercom to speak to the crew. "Ready weapons," he meows. "But hold off on firing until my order."
<!-- This is an unchoice. -->
With that, Kiwi turns to communication panel to try to [[place a call to Nepeta Cataria -> The Message]].
''Time Until Full Charge: 15 minutes''](bg:black)[Kiwi finds the signal that will carry his message from //The Cat's Meow// to Nepeta Cataria.
"SOS. SOS," Kiwi begins. "We are under attack. I repeat, we are under attack by a Ringworm battleship. We are one jump away from Nepeta Cataria. We request backup from any personnel in the area. Repeat..."
Kiwi sends the message off into the infinite expanse of space, hoping beyond hope that someone will be able to answer their plea for help.
Suddenly, a terrifc shudder causes Captain Kiwi to lose his balance. The Ringworm battleship has fired its first shot.
Snowball types furiously in his heads-up display. "What should we do, Captain?"
<!--This is a dead-end choice -->
Should Captain Kiwi [[order the crew to retaliate ->Retaliate]] or [[order Snowball to coninute on the current course -> Steady On]]?
''Time Until Full Charge: 13 minutes''](bg:black)[Captain Kiwi runs back to the intercom and commands the crew to open fire.
While //The Cat's Meow// gets a few shots between the slits of the Ringworm battleship's armor, they are no match for the superior firepower of the Ringworm.
Within moments, the Ringworm battleship has docked with //The Cat's Meow.// Captain Kiwi and Lieutenant Snowball have failed to guide the cats to safety. They all become infected with the Ringworm.
[[The End. ->The End]]
](bg:black) [ "Continue on the current course, Lieutenant," Kiwi says.
Snowball nods makes a few adjustments to the controls. Using the targeting system, he manages to dodge a few shots by pulling some fancy flying maneuvers. Kiwi grabs on to the dashboard in order to stay upright. He hopes the passengers are all secured in their cat carriers, becuase it is about to get bumpy.
Kiwi watches the Ringworm battleship from the console. The enemy ship appears to be gaining on them...
Kiwi glances at the lightspeed engine display. 12 minutes until fully charged. //Rats,// Kiwi curses.
"We aren't going fast enough!" Kiwi vents to no one in particular, as Snowball is completely concentrated on evading the oncoming slaughter from the Ringworm battleship.
There's only one option. //The Cat's Meow// needs to lose as much dead weight as possible. Kiwi scurries across the room and [[releases the doors on the cargo bay -> Bye, Bye Luggage]].
''Time Until Full Charge: 11 minutes''
](bg:black)[//The Cat's Meow// is a civilian transport ship from the Royal Cat Navy. Captain Kiwi and Lieutenant Snowball have been given the very important mission of moving the entirety of the feline species from desolate Earth to the new planet Nepeta Cataria before Earth become unhospitable for cat-kind.
[[Back. -> Reboot]] ](bg:black)[Captain Kiwi looks out the back port window as all of the luggage drifts off into space. With the loss of hundreds of pounds of cargo, //The Cat's Meow// gains speed. The luggage blocks the way of the Ringworm battleship, causing a few minor exploisons on the surface of the ship - nothing strong enough to cause any damage though.
Captain Kiwi is elated by this small victory. He starts racking his brain for other cargo they can afford to lose. //The Cat's Meow// is practically soaring through space now.
Kiwi glances at the fuel reserve stats. They should have enough fuel to reach Nepeta Cataria if they can reach a full lightspeed engine recharge.
He looks at the stats for the stockpiled artiliary in the weapons reserve. //The Cat's Meow// isn't firing back at the Ringworm battleship, anyway. Surely they could afford to drop some ammunations into space?
<!-- This is a blind choice, a dilemma choice, and a delayed effect choice. -->
Captain Kiwi feels conflicted. Should he release the [[weapons reserve -> Bombs Away]] or get rid of the [[fuel reserves -> No More Fuel]]?
''Time Until Full Charge: 10 minutes''](bg:black) [ Releasing the weapons reserve was definitely the best choice. Now, when the Ringworm battleship collides with the debris, it triggers several explosions that rip huge holes in the hull of the battleship.
This is a double victory for //The Cat's Meow//!!! Not only has releasing the weapons cargo lightened the ship, making it jump again with speed, it has delivered a lasting blow to the Ringworm Battleship.
But, it is still too soon to see the light at the end of the tunnel for Captain Kiwi. He understands that //The Cat's Meow// has caught a lucky break. He glances down at the statistics for the remaining weapons on hand. 75% full. He orders the crew to hold, hoping to preserve as much firepower as possible.
''Time Until Full Charge: 8 minutes''
"Not long now," Captain Kiwi says under his breath.
[[Continue... -> No More Fuel!!]]] (bg:black) [ Releasing the fuel reserve was definitely the best choice. Now, when the Ringworm battleship collides with the debris, it causes the fuel to spew all over the hull of the ship.
Kiwi narrows his eyes as he sees an oppurtunity before him. "Fire!!" Kiwi shouts over the intercom. "Hit them hard, cats!!! FIREEEE!!!!"
The crew unleashs a barrrage of returning fire on the Ringworm battleship. The excess fuel blocking the battleship's path lights up like a wildfire, devastating the enemy ship. Kiwi holds his breath but yes!! Yes!! The Ringworm battleship stalls and lists to the left, then it explodes, sending firy shrapnel in all directions.
Luckily, Snowball is able to punch //The Cat's Meow// full speed ahead, narrowly avoiding the deadly debris.
Kiwi glances down at the console. ''Time Until Full Charge: 9 minutes''
[[Continue... -> No More Fuel?]]
](bg:black) [Captain Kiwi barely has time to sigh in relief before a new alarm starts up, filling his stomach with dread. This time, it's the fuel light. //The Cat's Meow// is dangerously low on fuel!!
Kiwi smacks a paw to his forehead. The gauge must have been reading the fuel levels wrong. And he just released all of the reserve fuel into space...
~~Kiwi feels the sudden urge to break down and sob with defeat.~~
Captain Kiwi must [[rise to this challenge -> No Other Options]] in order to save his fellow cats.
](bg:black) [Faced with no other options, Captain Kiwi orders Lieutenant Snowball to halt the ship, lest they waste any of the remaining fuel.
They turn off all auxilery systems to perserve power. Captain Kiwi tries again to make contract with Nepeta Cataria, but recieves nothing but static in return.
Their situation is completely hopeless... All they can do now is wait....
[[The End]]](bg:black) [Captain Kiwi barely has time to sigh in relief before a new alarm starts up, filling his stomach with dread. This time, it's the fuel light. //The Cat's Meow// is dangerously low on fuel!!
Thank god Kiwi didn't get rid of the additional fuel! The gauge must have been reading the fuel levels wrong. He orders a few of his cats to completely refuel the ship. No sense in perserving the fuel now when they only have a few more minutes and one more jump to Nepeta Cataria.
Even though //The Cat's Meow// has put considerable distance between themselves and the Ringworm battleship, the enemy has not given up pursuit. Kiwi peers at the enemy ship through the cockpit window. //What could they possibly be thinking?//
[[Continue... -> Smaller Bad Guys]]
''Time Until Full Charge: 5 minutes''
](bg:black) [ Snowball seems to have the same concerns as Kiwi as he signs, "They're regrouping. I do not think we're out of the woods yet."
Before Captain Kiwi can so much as knock on wood, he and Snowball watch as the Ringworm battleship breaks apart purposefully, into smaller, faster, and deadlier ships.
The smaller ships gain on them almost instantly, and begin firing with fervor at //The Cat's Meow//. Without even ordering, the crew of //The Cat's Meow// begins firing on the agile ships. Captain Kiwi watches at the remaining weapons dwindle. 50%. 45%. 40%. 30%. 20%. 10%. 0%.
Kiwi falls to the ground in defeat. He has failed. The Ringworm will capture his ship and enslave his crew and passengers.
Should Kiwi try to contact[[Nepeta Cataria again?-> He Didn't Fail]] Or should he
[[fall to the ground in defeat? -> He Didn't Fail]]
''Time Until Full Charge: 3 minutes''
](bg:black) [ Thank you so much for playing my game!!
The cats in this game are based off of real life kitties who are permanent residents at the Cal Poly Cat Program, a student-run cat shelter on campus!
I'm the Foster Coordinator for CPCP so I thought it would be fun to put my two favorite kitties in the game.
Check out more about CPCP at calpolycatprogram.org](bg:black) [A bright light causes Kiwi to look back up. He sees a dozen sleek silver ships galling out of lightspeed! The Nepeta Cataria airforce has arrived! They're saved!!
The airforce quickly annihilates the Ringworm fleet, as if it had never been there to begin with. Kiwi and Snowball cheer and hug! They're saved!
And with that, the lightspeed engines reach full charge. Kiwi sets their course, and direct //The Cat's Meow// home to [[Nepeta Cataria ->The End]].
]
↶↷beep. beep. BEEPPPP!!!
Captain Kiwi jolts awake from his glorious slumber in the cockpit. He yawns loudly and shakes out all four of his paws and stretchs his back out. What a miserable way to be pulled out of a dream about chasing a bird!
beep. beep. BEEPPPP!!!
The console protests again, drawing Kiwi sharply back to reality. A big red alarm on the console is flashing frantically. Kiwi glance over at Lieutenant Snowball. The big white furball is still dozing - the perks of being deaf apparently.
Kiwi mess with the console for a moment, trying to figure out where the alarm is coming from. He nudges Snowball gently and he opens his eyes.
He notices the blinking alarm and signs, "What's wrong, Kiwi?"
Kiwi shrugs and signs back to him, "Trying to figure it out."
The console is a nothing but a black screen, giving Kiwi absolutely zero information. Typical. Should he try smacking it or rebooting the system ?