The farewell party for Jett and Kal-chan does not last long, both men do, after all, have to get to the recruitment office.  They stay just long enough to eat the cake, drink the coffee, and say goodbye.

With them gone, Profit Margin feels emptier, for those who've known them, in spite of there being the same number of crew as always.  People gradually drift back to their quarters, or to deal with their own tasks, and eventually make their way to their beds...


Morning.  Nothing has exploded during the night, the cargo is still there, and no crew members have gone unexpectedly missing.

Looks like being a good day.

A full cargo hold, plenty of refined fuel, passengers due aboard within the hour, all is right with the Universe.

And then...

Rhylanor/Rhylanor (0306-A434934-F) Date: 204-1107
Army Vice-Marshal Adam Lord Bryor today announced that a presumed state of war now exists between the Imperium and the Sword Worlds, following reciept of word that Lanth (Lanth 0109 A879533-B) was under attack by fleet and ground elements of that state.  Characterizing the Sword Worlds' action as "a perfidious betrayal", Bryor dismissed any suggestion that Rhylanor was vulnerable to a Sword Worlds attack.

"In addition to the Imperial Marines on-planet, Rhylanor has 25 active divisions equipped to Imperial standards." Bryor explained. "Even if a Sword Worlds squadron could fight its way through Rhylanor's boats, there's no conceivable way a Sword Worlds army could gain a foothold on-planet. Since Rhylanor is one of the foci for naval reinforcement from Deneb sector, a Sword Worlds fleet would be courting disaster to strike here."

When questioned as to possible plans to retake Lanth, 212th Fleet spokesmen suggested that no such operation was likely to be undertaken in the near future, as most naval assets would probably be concentrated for an attempt to relieve the 43rd Provisional Army along with its supporting naval squadron, at Efate (Regina 0105-A646930-D).


Rhylanor/Rhylanor (0306-A434934-F) Date: 204-1107
The Travellers' Aid Society issued a travellers' advisory, declaring the entire Spinward Marches sector an amber zone until further notice.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:17, Fri 24 Feb 2006.

Having been up for three hours already, and finished her advanced exercises while waiting for Corlan, Shui gets the news over her dataglove and slowly sits up, putting her tea down on the desk.  She stands, then begins to pace, reading the article over several times in order to better understand.

Then she moves to her room's computer, and calls up a navigation map, trying to determine where they are in relation to the conflict.  After a moment she leans back away from the monitor, chewing on her lip.  They're close - very close.  Too close, maybe.  Things have begun to heat up again in her life.  She doesn't like that.

Interesting times, indeed.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:32, Fri 24 Feb 2006.

With the risk of being accused of cakenapping and scaring the doctor, Yas takes the cake with her to her quarters once everyone dissipates.  Whatever she does with it in there is her secret.

True to herself, Yasmine is up bright an early, first doing her exercises and then going around fiddling with the security systems and checking up her station.  She also takes the opportunity to search for any likely bugs wherever she goes, not having forgotten about that.

Seeing the news she sighs and shakes her head.  It would come no good out of this, as there were no winners in any war, only different degrees of losers.

"And so it begins."

Jago wakes to the trill of the computers alarm call, for the second or third time that morning, drags himself from under the warm, cosy bedclothes and with an air severe determination, stretches his arms a few times and lowers himself carefully to the floor in preparation for at least ten press ups.



The computer relays the news and leaves Jago poise on all fours, cursing quietly and abandoning yet another attempt to start a fitness routine.

Tylen finishes his own rigorous new routine of exercises and hits the fresher. His spirit renewed and his feelings cleansed with his shower, he begins dressing and taps at the wall console. The computer chirps and displays the latest news on and off-world. While getting his boots on, the news on the new war front that had begun to trickle in. He gaped, it was finally down to open transgressions.

He was sure that a few others on-board had heard this already, so he quickly finished his preparations and stepped out and into the crew lounge. He found his way to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup, surprised that there was no cake left for which to breakfast on. He waits for the others to creep from their rooms sipping on the black brew. Surely this would be conversation worthy for the rest of them.

Hearing someone finally awake and out of their little bunks, Yasmine steers her steps off the bridge and into the crew lounge.  There she spots someone in need of coffee and nods at him when he notices her.

"I'd say good morning if it was one.  Heard the news?" she asks and steers over to get herself a cup.  She need something strong, and coffee will have to do.  "I fear we'll be flooded with requests for passage now," she chuckles dryly and then sighs as she makes her way over to "her" seat, in which she plops down with an almost content sigh.

"Well, sure am glad I got me a berth 'fore that news leaked." Conrad mutters as he dries himself off after his shower.  Things are, he suspects, about to get a lot warmer along this section of the border.  The TAS announcement that they just declared the entire sector Amber can only make things even more tense.

Saskia has heard the news, and her expression, as she enters the lounge just in time to catch Yas's comment shows that she doesn't consider it good news.

"See?  This is why I shouldn't plan anything nice.  I decide to do something, and the neighbors declare war, or the hotel burns down, or something.  Like today, I woke up and  thought, 'not got much to do today, think I'll ask Jago if he'd mind me having a couple of hours ashore, see if I can buy myself something nice.'  Simple, yes?  But no!  Dumb frelling Swordies have got it in for me.  There'll be riots in the streets, and the stores'll be crowded with panic buyers."

She slumps down in one of the seats, spilling coffee down her coverall.

"Yotz!  Frelling typical!"

Yas lifts an eyebrow at the outburst from Sas and turns to her with a soft smile.

"So, you will let those who would do horrible things ruin your life?  You would never plan anything nice again, on the off chance that it might get wrecked by some idiot out there?  No, no - you make up your plans!  So what if they won't work out sometimes, that's beyond your control.  Chin up.  I could get you some cake if you think it'll help you cheer up," she tells the engineer, leaning over to set her cup on the table, looking straight at Saskia.  She saw recruits like this sometimes, and she suspects Sas can use more encouragement than someone yelling themselves blue in an attempt to rebuild the moral.  The last thing Yas, and Profit Margin, need is another one of her crew down the dumps.  Plus Saskia is Yasmine's friend.

"And if you want, I can then put you on an exercise program that will make you lose that extra kilo you put on from it," she offers, now with a slightly teasing grin.

Concerned, Shui finally leaves her room, slipping out into the hallway and moving across the ship to Corlan's door.  Facing it, she hesitates for a long moment, then nods.  Whatever the man is doing, it must be important.  He's a man, not a child, and if it is enough to skip their agreed-upon meeting, well...she definitely gives the benefit of the doubt, and assumes it will be important.

With a sigh, she leaves the door un-chimed and walks down to the lounge, a pale, lean figure in a silk robe over exercise clothing.  Entering on the tail of Saskia's exasperated exposition, Shui frowns in disappointment.  "I am sorry, Saskia."  The woman is genuinely irritated, but is it over the shopping?  More likely it flows from the start of the new war.  "Terrible news, this.  I have no doubt you are correct - if there were mobs yesterday, there will be riots today."

She listens then, as Yasmine explains her point of view on the situation.  The marine is correct, of course - strength comes (sometimes) from flexibility.  Life cannot be predicted.  There is no reason to stop living because of that.  Joss.  What happens, happens.  She raises her teacup to the marine.  "You are a wise woman, Ms. Crowe, if you will forgive my impertinance for so saying."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:31, Sat 25 Feb 2006.

The other eyebrow of Yas' joins the first high up the forehead as the Chief looks up at the doctor, as if uncertain what to make of that statement.

"Wise?  Hardly.  Merely practical.  Possibly a 'wise guy'!  As for any... impertinence... you have a lot to learn there, doc.  Let me know if you want lessons," she replies after a moment, grinning widely and lifts her cup to the doctor.  Served with a wink.

”Morning everybody,” Jago opens the door to his cabin out onto the crew lounge, showered, shaved and wearing fresh clean cloths, (part from his ancient bomber jacket), he looks cheerful and relaxed.

The captain moves over to get himself a coffee and nursing it, looks around at the others.

“We have passengers boarding at noon and we’ll set off as soon as everyone is settled, Conrad and Tylen, I’d like you to stay on board, but you others can have the morning off. Shui, the low birth passengers will be arriving an hour early, I’d like you to get back in time for that if you don’t mind”

If Jago has heard the news that morning, there is no sign of it in his demeanour, his sips his steaming coffee and fishes about in his pocket for a cigar to park in the corner of his mouth.

OOC
I have no idea how the fact that a day is only 14.6 hours long affects daily life, I imagine that noon is only three and a half hours after dawn, but then I don’t suppose that people go to bet every time it gets dark??

Tylen nodded to Yas when she walked in, his eyes still clearing themselves of sleep. He had indeed heard the news and it made him itch to get into space, not for the scare of it, but more for the feeling of anxiety and any population out here would be feeling it too. Space would be the place to be at this moment, the vast emptiness between stars was the only safe place in the megasphere. No doubt they would get their share of bribes irregular requests for passage. It was something to keep in mind. "Thanks, Yeah, great news huh? This'll be good for business." he said fascetiously.

When the others had popped up he smiled and sipped his dark brew appreciatively. He watched as the women had their conversation. He knew from experience that getting involved in these sort of heated conversations rarely left a man with his dignity. So he sat quietly, wondering where the cake had gone.

After Jago had announced the business of the day he made a ten-fore gesture to the man and offered up a refill to his coffee. Then realizing that he had still neglected to meet all of the crew, he turned to Saskia and extended a hand. "You must be Saskia, I'm Tylen. I'm glad to make your aquaintance. I guess  you know, I'll be filling the gunner position now."

"Saskia, yes.  Pleased to meet you." she does not take the offered hand.  Instead, she looks at it nervously, as if unsure what she's supposed to do about it.

Then something seems to click into place, "Oh!  Sorry."  She reaches out and shakes his hand, before almost snatching her own back.

"Jago.  Those stupid frelling Navy Monkeys messed up on the upgrade they gave us."  She stops then, looking at Tylen.  Is he Navy?  Well, it doesn't matter now.  Might as well carry on.  "Nothing serious.  They used cheap components all through the job.  I can fix it, a bit at a time, but it'll mean a little downtime after every jump so I can trade out some of the junk."

”Whatever you need Saskia,” Jago says, “will parts be a problem, I’m not sure of the tech levels of the planets we’ll be stopping at, but I can check.”

“We’ll be moving on to Frenzie after this first stop at Arkadia, there is a navy base there, does that help?”

"No problem on parts.  I never throw anything away, you know that Jago.  Pro'lly got most of what I need in stock, it's just a time thing."

Saskia shrugs, then hastily puts her left hand back into her pocket, "I can work on the M-drive when we're in J-Space, the J-drive when we're in N-Space, and the power systems and the rest when we're planetside.  I don't think it was a deliberate attempt to sabotage my engines, it's not crippling, and the parts are probably good for another decade.

"They just used cheap parts when they overhauled the systems.  I don't know why, maybe they were keeping the best stuff for their own, because they thought there was a war coming and they wanted the fighting boats in top condition."

Jago chuckles, “every component in a navy ship is supplied by the lowest bidder, I don’t suppose they gave us special treatment.”

"Wisdom is oft mistaken for practicality, Ms. Crowe, when one is merely part and parcel of the other," Shui replies, and sniffs once, drawing in the aroma of her tea with pleasure.  "Goodness knows I would never consider you a 'guy'."  She smiles slightly, staring down into her tea, then then studying Yasmine over the lip of the cup as she takes a careful sip.

The doctor glances toward Jago and Saskia as they converse, and Shui frowns.  "I will stay aboard, Captain, especially after yesterday's near-disaster.  Saskia, if you require assistance I might be able to help.  I have spent enough time around engineers to at least be able to pass you the proper tool...with the right end forward."

"Great news, my..." Yasmine had started to reply to the new second gunner, but cut it off when company arrived.  Then she told Sas, "I guess I will have to eat the cake alone then..."

"I'm quite happy with my parcel, thanks," Yas replies to the doctor with a small grin and sips her coffe, before nearly spurting it out as Sushi looks at her over the cup.  "What a relief," she counters once she has swallowed the coffee and chuckles, "or my next physical would have been odd, for sure."

"'Morning off'?  Yeah, riiight...  I got things to do, but thanks anyway, skippy," she then replies to Jago and sighs heavily to let everyone know what a hard, unfair and sad life she had.  The fact that she hides behind all this to avoid thinking about Caution and Jett is not something she let show, though.

Shui pauses at the thought.  "Hm.  I am willing to admit that as finely made as you are now, you would make a most impressive man," she states, deadpan.  "The physical would have been most interesting."  The doctor pauses a beat.  "From a scientific point of view, of course.  I would never compromise my oaths with libidinous acts."

Another sip of the tea.  Then one eyebrow quirks, slightly, and the amused smile reappears.

"See, I told you you are one naughty girl, Sushi," Yasmine smirks and shakes her head, wags a finger and tut-tuts at the doctor, all with a glimpse in her eyes.

"But are you implying I'm not interesting to examine as it is?" she adds after a moment with a mock hurt tone to her voice, taking her turn to peek over the edge of the mug at the other woman to hide the grin.

"I would never dream of saying you were not interesting, Yasmine."  Another sip of her tea.  "I would not wish to invite a terrible retribution upon my head.  But from the perspective of...scientific study," she continues, a drole lilt to her tone, "I must say that you rank further down than 'Yasmine the Man'.  On several...different levels."

Yasmine laughs now and flashes Sushi a naughty look.

"It might be the other end that ends up smarting, but had I been a man I doubt the name'd been Yasmine.  Perhaps Yasir."

"I won't ask what levels you mean, because that's too personal, what you do with those," she teases as she leans back in the seat and relaxes, crossing her legs, right over left.

"You should try some cotton buds, I think your mind needs cleaning, doc," she says with utter conviction as well as a tiny smile, her right foot bouncing lightly.

The conversation and banter in the lounge is interrupted by the sound of the comm siganl from the bridge.

OOC: On the subject of clocks... usual procedure would be to try and adapt to the local clock as much as possible, when in port, since most of the people the crew must deal with are working to that clock.

Ship crews become adept at grabbing rest at odd moments, and if they're in port for a while they switch completely to the local clock (much the same as people with jet-lag adapt to the change in time zone.

If it's a difficult change, then the ship's doctor can issue them with medication to help with the change.

Conrad, dry and decently dressed, steps out of his cabin, catching the chirp of the comm panel, "Y'all want me to get that?"  He jerks his thumb towards the Bridge.  "Might jus' be important."

"Either end, I would certainly not enjoy the retribution," Shui replies calmly, continuing to test her tea.  "In fact-"  She pauses as the comm burbles at them, and frowns.  That cannot be good.  A quick glance to Yasmine, then to Saskia, and Shui puts down her tea, waiting to see what is coming.

Something is always coming, of course.  The question is whether it's a dozen roses or a planet-killing asteroid.  Now, usually it's somewhere in-between, but Shui is always on the lookout for the poles.

They tend to be equally dangerous.

With a sigh, Yasmine stands up as the signal starts to sound.

"Here we go then," she says to none and rolls her eyes as she turns to walk over to the bridge to answer whatever it is.

"Nah, Dits, if it's legit business they might hang up when they realise it's you," she teases the new navigator, looking back at him over her shoulder.  "Finished your shower, eh?  Too bad..."

Yas takes the call, leaving the others to their conversation.  The high-pitched, somewhat nasal voice is almost shouting to be heard over the background noise at that end of the connection, and can be faintly heard, even in the lounge.

"Hello, ah... Miss.  I have passage for six people booked aboard your ship, I spoke to Captain Lanza about it yesterday.  Ah... I'm sorry, my name is Janur, Miles Janur.  As I said, I spoke to Captain Lanza yesterday, and he asked us to be there by noon, for boarding."

His attention is momentarily distracted, and he shouts to somebody beyond the range of the pick-up, "No, the red one!" before returning his attention to Yas.

"Sorry about that.  Where was I?  Oh yes... I was wondering if it would be alright with your people if we arrived earlier." he winces as an expensive-sounding something is dropped and broken somewhere off screen,  "Fine the blue one will do!  Sorry, again, things are hectic here today.  Frankly, we just heard the news, and we'd like to be safely aboard your vessel before word spreads and trouble starts."

"Would that be acceptable."

"Just a moment, sir," Yasmine replies with a polite smile and then mutes the darn thing as she turns to shout, "JAGO!!  Some Mile Sanor or something wants to come early!  Having booked passage!  Says they're expected at noon!  Shall I invite them over now or shoot them if they come anyway!?"

She turns back to the screen, smiling politely again and holds up a finger to show him she needs a minute - and then she turns away again, to make sure she does not make any faces at him or something.

"Can't say I blame them," she mutters as she listens for the reply from the captain of Profit Margin.  She did not expect him to have much trouble with it, but it was not her call to make.

“Yes, let them come,” Jago says, “from the sound of it you’d better remind them of the baggage limitations.”

“If none of you want to go ashore, maybe we ought to push the launch forward,” the captain goes on as he examines his cigar thoughtfully, “I didn’t think the news would make much deference, but if those guys are in a panic, the rest of the population are probably the same.”

 “Conrad, we need a course for Arkadia, I think Jett set one up but you might like to check it, then get clearance for a early lift off please.”

“Yasmin, Tylen, security might get a bit sticky, especially if there is any sort of riot, could you see what you can do please, liaise with port security, see if you can come up with some sort of strategy in case the worse happens, and, sort out some non lethal weaponry.”

“Saskia, you are on top of thinks as always, bit be ready for a lift at short notice.”

“Shui, things might get busy soon and the punters might be a bit hysterical, if you need any help getting people squared away quickly, give me a shout.”

“I’ll be in my cabin, trying to get the other passengers on board early, but the door will be open, as always, and I’d like to be kept informed of any developments.”

Jago sighs deeply and shakes his head, “you new guys will have to get used to this kind of thing,” he says with a little smile as he turns back towards is cabin.

"This is a trifle more than an hour early," Shui notes to the captain with a smile and a nod.  "I should go and prepare for their arrival, immediately."  Apparantly Mr. DeSant will escape his exercises completely today.  A shame.  She frowns.  Still no sign of him.  I hope he is well.  A sick feeling grows in her stomach, and she resolves to check in on the man as soon as possible.

"Mr. Dietz," she says quietly, pausing on her way out of the lounge, "I hope you will find time to stop by the medical area in the future.  There is still the matter of your physical."  Then Shui hurries from the room, walking uncharacteristically quickly.  Corlan's quarters are her destination, and she arrives there in (for her) record time.

One hand rises and without hesitation stabs a finger into the chime button.  She swallows nervously, waiting for an answer.

"Roger that, skippy," Yas calls out and pushes the mute again as she turns to smile at the screen.

"There.  Sorry for the delay.  You are quite welcome now, if you wish.  I do ask you to remember the limits on baggage though, so don't pack too much, sir," she concludes and waits until he has said his and gone offline again.

Then she sighs and turns to walk over to grab her guns.  Non-lethal, bah.  What nonsense.  That would keep no one away.  But a shotgun blast into the air would make most anyone hesitate, and half a dozen shotgun pellets in the limbs would make even those reconsider.  And it was not lethal either, at least not straight away.

AS she passes Tylen she speaks to him.  "Contact port security, will you?  Tell them we need to set something up.  Got any toy guns?  I mean, nonlethal ones.  If not, we might have something in the ship's locker, but bring at least one real gun too," she instructs him onher way to make sure all her guns are loaded, polished and ready to spit slugs if need be.

He listens to the plan intently and then Tylen finishes his coffee and salutes the Chief as she passes by. "Sorry, I only brought the real deal. So I'll stop by the locker on my way after contact. I'll be back there in a jiff, time to earn my keep I guess. Oh, and after we get spaceborn, I'll be joining you for some of that cake if you don't mind..," he says with a smile.

As people begin to move, having been given some direction, he acts on his orders. He heads to the comm station and touching the screen it comes to life. He hits the Security channel toggle on the display and ignoring the FAQs that pop up going straight for the contact button. He waits while the on duty staff no doubt hurry to the signal.

"Heh, yeah, who need toys?" Yas says with a wink at Quad and continues onwards, only turning to call out across her shoulder, "Cake?  Sure thing, it'll give us a chance to sit down and get to know one another!"

And with that she ducks into her quarters where she begins the delicate selection of what amount of firepower to bring.  Big guns.  Yes, they are good deterrents, plus they make a much nicer sound when you fire them.  The automatic shotgun, the .50 and as a backup, her .357 seven-shooter.  Knowing she had no non-lethal she knows that if it comes down to it she will have to aim for limbs and hope to miss any arterias, even if the handguns will leave little if the bullet hits the bone.

However, standing there with the auto-shotgun on her hip should discourage most from even trying anything.

Aa she gears up she gets a small smile on her lips, pretty much like a big cat about to pounce an unsuspecting prey.

"Villis Port Authority Security, Station 6, how can we help?  Please bear in mind that in the current situation, resonse times may be longer than usual."

The officer on the other end regards Tylen somewhat disinterestedly.


"Yes?" Corlan's voice, slurred and sleepy sounding answers the chime.  When he realises who it is, he opens the door, "I'm sorry, Miss Tiesi.  I managed to get some sleep last night, and I'm afraid I overslept."  The man's face starts to colour, "Did I miss our exercise appointment?"

Shui bows.  "I believe the appointment was 'this morning'.  I cannot recall as to whether a time was firmly in place."  Straightening.  "In any case, I must confess the fault this time is mine.  Our Low Berth customers will be arriving early, and I fear this necessitates my attention.  My deepest apologies - perhaps we can remand this until tomorrow?" she inquires, hopefully.

Face is saved on either side.  On the one, the fault is removed from Corlan and his sleeping-in is negated.  On the other, Shui has duties to perform.  Now, hopefully Corlan will see it that way.

Corlan actually almost manages not to look relieved at the realisation that Shui has not, in fact, come to kick him out of his bed for today's exercise routine.  While keen on the idea of getting back in shape, he would much rather be awake before he starts.

"Tomorrow would be perfect for me, and if you have duties today, I'm sure you don't need to babysit me too."

It is, perhaps, for the best that he is unaware of Yas' and Tylen's current activities.

Tylen studies the man's face for a moment, trying to figure out if he's the motivated type or the simply the motivator, "Of course. My name is Tylen, and I'm calling on behalf of the Profit Margin crew. We are going to be loading passengers shortly and we're requesting some security to help maintain some order at our dock if at all possible on the off chance that we get flooded with people attempting to board."

In his cabin, but with half an eye on the activities occurring through the open door, Jago starts calling the passengers on his list in the hope of getting them on board as soon as possible. As he waits for the calls to be answered, the captain toys absently with a brown and orange ball he has taken from the metal tray on his desk while the screen on the wall is tuned into the local news channels to keep abreast of the local situation.

"Well, Sir, we can't spare the personnel to provide security for individual ships.  However, we are aware of the situation, and have tightened security on the port perimeter, as well as increasing the frequency of patrols within the port itself.  Anybody wanting to enter the port complex has to show that they have business there."

The security officer looks at something off-screen, "Things look pretty quiet just now, but if you get any problems, call us, and we should be able to have a patrol there in under a minute."


The local news is full of the Sword Worlds story, but the officer's assessment that things are quiet right now seems to be borne out by the lack of reports about rioting, looting, or other antisocial activities.  The newscaster suggests that it's still early, and people are perhaps in shock...

Finishing her preparations for a bloody war, the Security Chief of Profit Margin grinned.  Let anyone try to cause trouble now and she would be charged with littering the landing bay more than anything.

With the armour in place she makes her way out of her cabin, hoping Jago will not have a stroke when he sees her.  But hey, she is not about to take any risks when it comes to a potentially ugly scene, at least not with her own life unless she wants to.

Oddly cheerful she steers her steps towards the lounge, intent on going over to the cargo hold and the ramp.  With some luck Jago will not even see her...

“I see that you are using the alternative definition of ‘non-lethal’,” Jago comments on seeing Yasmin pass his open door, though it’s hardly unexpected and he can’t help but grin.

“Just don’t go leaving a bunch of dead children on my conscience OK.”

"Who, me?  Oh, these?  Yes, I am planning on keeping people from making me having to resort to non-lethal stuff.  I haven't got any anyway, short of my fists and feet and the like.  Perhaps we should invest in some tranqs for the ship's 'armoury'?" Yasmine replies with a grin of her own.  Then she grows serious and even gloomy.

"I won't."  Short, abrupt words.


_{Edited to correct silly typo.  ;)}
This message was last edited by the player at 18:54, Sat 04 Mar 2006.

Tylen looks up for a moment as well considering. "Let me forward a list of our passengers so that you can identify them when your people come across them."

Tylen tapped at the display next to him and brought up the passneger list, then hits the transmit button. "You should be recieving the file now...that should help in any event. Thank you for your time Port'."

He then gets up from the station and walks through towards his cabin. He spies Yas on the way, looking like she's ready for fallout and sniper nests. He simply smiles to himself, hearing Yas defending her outfit, he gives her a thumbs up on the way by.

Jago acknowledges the statement with a nod and turns back to his work.

OOC
Jago has different types of rounds for his stub guns, possibly a throw back to the previous game. Are the available in this one? I’ll make some adjustments if not.

It doesn't take long.  Less than an hour after Yas spoke to him on the comm, Miles Janur arrives at the foot of the ramp, with five companions, one of them probably his wife, and three of them almost certainly his children, since they all have the exact same orange-red hair as he does.  Two boys and a girl, seemingly aged abot eight to twelve standard years, with the girl being the youngest.  The final member of the party is an older woman, who seems to be constantly watching the children.

Mr and Mrs Janur positively scream "money", from the cut of their clothes, to the Dinomn Crystals at Mrs Janur's throat, and even down to the tasteful genuine designer brand luggage.  The woman with them is less luxuriously outfitted, and reeks of "servant".

"Miles Janur and party, ready for boarding, Captain." the man addresses Tylen, smiling happily.

OOC: Viola!  Six High Passengers.  One more to arrive, plus two groups of three corpsicles er... Low Passengers.  Profit Margin will ship out with a full passenger manifest.  With any luck she'll arrive with one too.

Jago, yes, you have different ammo types for the snubs.  Including stuff that won't even cause a bruise, but will incapacitate trouble-makers.

Shui's thin brow positively disappears, it rises so high.  "One babysits children, Mr. DeSant," she states archly.  "You, most certainly, do not fall into that catagory."  Another small smile, then.  "Until tomorrow?"

Hurrying off, she reflects on his reluctance to exercise today.  The doctor hopes that won't be the case in the future.  Well, he needs to get into the routine, to the point where he will miss not doing the exercises.  Then things will become much easier.

She is definitely at the hatch, waiting to greet the passangers when they arrive.  Since Tylen has been selected by the man, she steps back, allowing the new crewmember to take the lead for the moment, all the while assessing their clients.  Yes...these will take some work.  The children especially - she doesn't want them getting into the Low Berth room.

Fortunately, Shui has activated the locking mechanism for that door and, as an added precaution, set her dataglove to warn her should it be opened; unlocked by Crew or bypassed by clever fingers makes no difference.

What was it with people, assuming that the captain always were there to meet them?  Maybe she could shoot him, just a little...  He seems rich enough to afford have a few pellets plucked from his luxuriously clad aft.

The thought is gone as quickly as it has entered her mind and Yas chuckles quietly where she stands.  "Captain Quad".  It has a certain ring to it, but, no, not a scout.  They barely obey themselves, after all, let alone commanding a whole ship.

But she keeps quiet and allows Quadman to handle this as he see fits.  It might be fun to watch.  So she smiles brightly and turns to look at him (naturally keeping an eye on the others as well another eye open for any sign of trouble).

The Janurs, and their servant (a nanny?) make their way up the ramp, and stand before the (supposed) captain of Profit Margin.  Apart from Miles, himself, they all seem a little subdued, especially the children.  "Can somebody show us to our cabins, Captain?  We have had a busy night, and little sleep.  We are a little tired."

"Is that all luggage you are bringing, sir, ma'am?" Yasmine asks, seeing how very little they seemed to bring.  It appears as if they are really spooked if they abandon so much just to get here early.  "You were told it is up to a ton a person, right?"

She looks at the kids.  Quite subdued.  If she knew more about the little creatures she might have been able to cheer them up a little, but as it is, she probably will just scare them if she attempts something.

Still saying nothing about calling Quadman the captain she leaves it to him to clarify things, wanting to see how he handles it.  It seems as if he was a bit taken by surprise by it, or perhaps he simply tries to think of what to say.

"Jago?" Conrad pokes his head around the edge of the cabin door, "Got that course y'all wanted, all set up ready.  Want me to call Traffic and get the flight clearance set?  If'n we got us a lift time figured out, that is?"

He smiles, "If'n we time it jus' right, we'll be able to give the passengers a look at a big ol' Darrian cruiser in low orbit, an' if'n the timin's only a bit out, I could still fix it so they'll see it, if y'all want 'em to, but jus' not so close."

Jago pulls the cigar from his mouth, “good job Conrad, the rest of the passengers should be aboard within the hour, and we’d better leave half an hour for Shui to get the low births bedded down, so lets say, lift off at 10.30 local time.”

“I won’t forget this place in a hurry,” the captain says with a sigh, “it’s not their fault that we got news of the war here, but it’s changed everything.”

Tylen almost choked when they addressed him as captain. He'd often felt he could one day captain a ship but as it were, that would be a long way off. He looked up at them with a smile. His glance flickered to Yasmine for a second and then as he fumbled for a moment, he recovered and turned to the newcomers, "Unfortunately in light of recent events, Captain Lanza is preoccupied at the moment. However it is a pleasure to have you aboard, I am Tylen Orgesh and this is Chief of security, Yasmine Crow, welcome. I ask that you relinquish any weapons you may have to us for the duration of the trip, they will be returned to you on arrival. Our ship's steward, Shui Tiesi, will show you to your berths and I would be happy to see to your luggage."

He never felt good in the spotlight...

Shui takes a longer look at their guests, and immediately steps forward.  She doesn't try to cut into Yasmine or Tylen's conversation with Miles - intstead, she makes a beeline for his wife.  "Allow me to take that, Mrs. Janur," she says quietly, taking the woman's luggage from her and putting it down at the top of the ramp.  "Please everyone, just put your luggage down here and we will take care of it."

"Let me assist you get settled.  Should you wish, I will deliver some hot drinks to your cabins - an herbal tea, perhaps, or something stronger."

She feels sick at her first concerns regarding the children - these people are about one step short of being refugees, and obviously came with the barest minimum for their trip.

Pulling the cuffs straight on the worn and slightly grubby, olive green bomber jacket he always wore, Jago moves to his cabin doorway and from where he can see through to the top of the ramp and beyond to the hatch that leads to the passenger accommodation. At least, he can when the hatch is open, right now it’s closed, as it should be. The rack of four cutlasses standing next to it is somehow reassuring, but even so, Jago can’t help the feeling that things are running just a little out of control, and for all his polite manners, and friendly ways, he does like to be in control.

Closing his cabin door behind him, Jago moves forward towards the bridge, fishing a new cigar from his pocket as he goes.

Once settled in the familiar comfort of his pilot’s chair, Jago sets to work preparing for the launch.

“Saskia, launch will be in one hour thirty, if all goes to plan, are you good with the?” he asks over the intercom to engine room.

As he does so, he keys in Lieutenant Sauntorri’s comm. Number on the ship to shore line, to check on any last minuet Naval Intelligence.

Saskie responds to Jago's call, "Ready when you are, Jago.  Everything is humming just fine down here."

It is too.  Smooth as silk.  As she hits the off toggle on the comm, she plants her feet flat on the deck, spreading and clenching her toes, feeling the vibrations in the plates.  Then she walks across to stand between the M-drives, currently just ticking over in standby mode, her arms reaching out so that she is able to touch both units.

Smiling, she murmurs, "Soon.  Soon."

She manages to resist the temptation to kiss them, just for luck.

Ah... I'm sorry for the confusion, Mister Orgesh.  We have no weapons, I'm afraid, so if you were set here to collect such, then I'm afraid we have wasted your time."  Janur turns and offers Yas a shallow bow, "Your's too, Miss."

He seems glad to put down the suitcase, but a little reluctant to leave it.  "We were well aware of the luggage allowance, and had packed considerably more.  Then, last night, the company which was to bring us here called to announce that they'd be unable to do so.  We were up all night repacking, to get as much as we could into hand luggage."

"When we heard the news this morning though, we were glad that we had.  It allowed us to make an early start.  The rest of our belongings will be sent on to us at the first available opportunity."

Finally he steps away from the suitcases, though not without a last, lingering look, and makes to follow Shui to the family's cabins.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:24, Thu 09 Mar 2006.

"No need to apologise, sir.  Sorry to hear about the luggage," Yasmine says and stands aside to let them enter.  She still keeps an eye on them as she does not trust anyone except herself completely.  It is doubtful, she thinks, that they will get much, if anything, sent later, if it will be as bad as people seem to think now.  On the other hand, this might be the exception and perhaps the whole war will miss this place.  It is impossible to say beforehand.

"You can feel safe aboard Profit Margin, sir," she calls out as they leave with Sushi, feeling she can at least try to put them at ease.  It is true too - no one and nothing well get aboard withotu permission as long as Yasmine Crow, Security Chief and First Gunner on the Free Trader Profit Margin is alive.

She is the woman for the job, after all, and her private armoury bears witness of this.

"Please follow me," Shui requests.  "I will deal the the suitcases momentarily, but first, let us get you to the cabins.  Yes, please leave them - once I have you in your rooms, I will come back and get them for you, it is no trouble at all."

It is, after all, her job.  To make them feel comfortable.  If any resist leaving their bags, if they carry them, she doesn't protest.  That's up to them.

Whatever makes them feel safe.

Their cabins are not, in fact, very far.  SR3 through 8.  Shui, going by a suggestion, chooses the last few cabins for the children, effectively giving them the passenger's lounge but keeping them further away from Corlan.  Ushering them in, she turns to Janur.  "The medical bay can be found on the other side of the ship, almost diametrically opposite of here.  There is a sign, it's impossible to miss, but it's easier to simply place a call on the ship's intercom."  Calling the guests over, she demonstrates the use of the intercom, and carefully impresses the fact that it is for emergencies and to call her only.

"Please do not hesitate to call me if there is anything you need," she finishes after showing them their rooms and the amenities.  "I shall bring your bags, now."

Tylen looks about as Shui comes back to the top of the ramp, then says to Yas, "Yas, it's quiet for now.  I'm going to help Shui with the bags.  I'll be back in a minute, just give a shout if, you know, any trouble starts that you can't handle."  Then he adds, with a grin, "Not that I'd be any help, but I'd like to see sommething you can't handle, because I bet it'd be spectacular."

He crosses over to the bags and picks up the largest, "Wow!  What's he got in here?  Iridium ingots?"

Yasmine laughs quietly at Tylen and then gives him her full, predatory grin.

"There's nothing I can't handle."

"Well, except possibly the shower running out of hot water."

"Or no more hot cocoa."

"Or a doctor with cold hands."

"Or..."

She winks at him and returns to her duty to watch for trouble, chuckling to herself.  As she hears him battling the bag, she calls out without looking, "Perhaps it's paperback novels for the trip.  You know, the cheap kind that should be banned!"

She hardly thinks it is, but it is better to have such thoughts than to think that it is probably the last of what they value and still can manage to bring with them.

Jago examines his boards with a certain satisfaction; he’s accustomed to perfection on the engineering displays, but is delighted to see the navigation details are just as accurate.

“Right then Conrad, pre-flights, you read them out, I’ll check them off,” Jago could do this on his own, or just leave it to the computer, but e wants to engaged navigator in the process feeling that’s it’s much better the he be involved, rather than just checking that the ship doesn’t stray off course.

Shui gives Tylen a quick, thankful smile, then carefully picks up one of the bags.  She frowns, surprised at the weight, then takes another one, figuring she can handle two.  She can, but it's difficult.  "Perhaps not iridium," the Doctor murmurs, "but iron?  Possibly."

"Ms. Crowe is, indeed, eminently suitable to handle any problem.  Including the spectacular ones."  This, as she struggles past Yasmine under the weight of the bags.  "But you should be more careful with that smile, Ms. Crowe.  Your deadliest weapon should only be used in the most dire of circumstances."  A weak smile accompanies the weak attempt - the bags are proving to be almost too much for Shui.

"And I assure you, I shall keep my hands warm in the future.  Have they been cold?  Mr. Orgesh, might you throw in your opinion on the matter?"

Once more Yas chuckles, this time grinning at Sushi.

"This smile?  That's only the calm before the storm.  A decoy.  I wouldn't dream of using the weapon here," she explains and nods solemnly.  "I'd help with the bags, but I'm on duty.  Too bad..."

...Caution isn't here when you need him.  Darn, stay focused, girl, she concludes in her thoughts.

"Too bad them ladies took the powerloader with them after they finished the loading, eh?" she jokes, even if there is the tiniest crack in the grin.

"Sure thing, Jago," Conrad drawls, calling up the checklists on his board, and scanning through them.  He whistles, long and low, "Well now, either things changed a heckuvalot in the last coupla weeks, or y'all've had some serious upgrades 'round here."

He highlights the first item on the list, "Okay then, let's jus' start at the top, shall we?"

"Main Power Grid?"

A little over an hour, that's all it takes.  The passengers are aboard by then, Marriel Korson, the final high passenger, going to visit her family, plus the six low passengers, two groups of three, on their way to a trade conference of some sort.  Those two groups almost come to blows on the ramp.  They work for rival companies, and unfortunate timing sees them arriving at the docking bay within moments of each other.  Still, things calm down, once Shui gets them settled into the cold berths.

Jago and Conrad run the preflights, pulling Saskia into the loop at the appropriate stage, and coordinating with her as she brings the drives from "standby" mode to "active".

Yas and Tylen lock everything, give the cargo a final check, then take their gunnery positions, in accordance with standing orders that the weapons must be manned (or womanned, in Yas' case) any time the ship is in flight.

Shui informs Jago that the passengers are all secure, and returns to her quarters to ensure that no delicate medical equipment will be shaken loose and damaged if they encounter turbulence.  Everything looks to be fine.

Clearances are obtained, and Profit Margin lifts, rising through the dirty yellow-orange clouds of Vilis and clawing her way into the clean vacuum of space.

As promised, Conrad plots a not-too-close flyby of the Darrian cruiser, and Jago relays it to the passenger cabins, for those who are interested.  It's not the biggest ship around, but at fifty thousand displacement tons it's still pretty impressive.  A rough cylinder, some 40 metres in diameter and 560 in length, a very careful passive sweep with the mass detector turns up a figure of around 675,000 tonnes, and, from here, an awful lot of that seems to be guns.

Profit Margin moves out, slowing as it reaches the Jump Limit, since Jago, like many other captains, prefers a standing Jump to a running one.  Less complications with momentum at the other end.  Energy cascades through the lanthanum hull grid, briefly limning the ship in blue-white radiance... then there is nothing but a rapidly expanding, and fading, halo of light.  A photon boom.  As far as the rest of Universe is concerned, Profit Margin no longer exists...