As Shui returns to the Crew Lounge, Jockram stands, reaching out a hand towards Jago.

"Well... I'm sure you want to discuss my offer with your people, without me here, Captain, so I'll head back over to the Hound and leave you in peace for now.  I'll keep her nearby, so just call up and let me know what you decide."

"If you want to go for it, we'll be ready just as soon as you are."

He smiles at Shui, "Thanks for the coffee, Miss.  It was a refreshing change from the stuff I'm used to." then, "It's been good to meet you all, and this is a nice ship, Captain."

Tylen was running through a medley of old favourites on his data pad. The problem, he decided, with his chosen genre was that the songs were too short. If he had chosen and early period and style, say Heavy Metal, he could have still been listening to the first song. He sighed and picked another 4 minute wonder.....

"If the kids, were united....."

"Feel free to tell your friend about the coffee and tea here.  I mean, so they can turn green with envy," Yas says and then chuckles.  "We'll call you and you all can have some of the excellent beverages here, no doubt served by our lovely and talented doctor," she finishes and turns to smile at Sushi, apparently being completely straightforward, unless she is that good at keeping the mask.  But then, why would she say something like that unless she meant it?

"You are most welcome, Mr. Jockram," Shui replies, with a short bow.  "I shall accompany you to the air lock."  With a smooth motion, she indicates the way - of course he would remember it, being used to starships, but politeness costs nothing.

The doctor does, however, pause at Yasmine's comment, her head tilting slightly.  "But Ms. Crow," she counters, "I am wearing my steward's hat at the moment."  Perhaps there is a hidden meaning to Yasmine's words.  Something important.

She'll have to ask after the other Captain leaves their ship.

"Oh, come now, Sushi!  What are you at heart?  Doctor or stewardess?" Yas asks with a smile, shaking a finger at her.  Then she chuckles a bit again and winks at the doctor.

Jokram starts to leave, but then, at the last second, he turns in the doorway, "Oh... I nearly forgot...  Did you know there's a Navy ship moving into orbit?"

“Well, that’s got to be a good thing,” Jago says with a smile, “any idea why?”

Jago walks with Jockram and Shui to the ramp, the cigar in his mouth moving like a conductor’s baton as he talks.

"We picked up part of a transmission a while ago.  Didn't get it all, but it looks as though she's damaged and hoping to make repairs.  Maybe she'll give some of her crew shore leave while the work is done?" Jockram shrugs then, "Your chance to collect the reward money might be about to vanish soon.  If she gets fixed up, and takes an interest, then you won't be able to compete with Navy sensors.  Plus she's fast."

"Even if she doesn't take an interest, your target might decide to move somewhere quieter."

"On this ship," Shui points out to Yasmine as they move toward the airlock, "I must be both."  No sting in her words, and she smiles to ensure Yas does not take anything negative from the comment.

She resumes her quiet listening as the two Captains continue to talk.  Interesting information seems de rigeur for the day.  A navy ship.  Well.  Isn't that convenient?

"That's not what I asked, silly," Yas says to Sushi with a small, crooked grin as she follows Jockram and the others to the ramp to see him off, for now.

"Well, if she's out for the count at the moment, then we got our chance, don't we?" she comments regarding the Navy ship, although she already knew about it.

“And besides,” Jago says as he shakes hands at the top of the ramp, “I thought we’d decided that it was ‘our’ quarry. I’ll give you a call as soon as the fuel has been processed.”

Jockram laughs as he shakes hands with Jago, "Right you are, Captain.  Just give us a shout when you're ready to go."  He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a business card.  "Com code's on there."

Turning away, he walks down the ramp, and returns to his own ship.

A few minutes later the Ore Hound lifts and moves away across the landing field.

As the "Ore Hound" lifts off Tylen powers the laser down and clicks off his data pad. He ensures the weapons systems are all safe, then releases himself from the firing chair. He stretches the kinks from his back and then climbs out of the turret. He heads toward the crew lounge in the hope that there's some of the Doc's coffee left for him.

Shui bids her farewell to the other Captain, and waits until he leaves.  She then turns to Yasmine with that small smile on her lips.  "But that is my answer, aboard this ship," she explains, a hint of irony in her tone.

"Captain Lanza," she continues after waiting a beat, "I have informed Mr. DeSant of the situation.  He seems fully amenable to remaining aboard, even if there should be unpleasantries.  As for myself, my inventory is well-stocked, should we require it."

A politic way of saying 'Should people need to be patched up'.  Less likely in space combat, but not every penetrating strike was all-or-nothing.

"Ah, I see.  You're the type that changes your heart as you move from place to place...  Personally, I am who I am, and I supposed I'll always be, be it good or bad," Yas replies to Sushi and shrugs, turning to head over to her gun turret.

She stops and looks back as the doctor mentions a well stocked inventory and chuckles, "Since our old shipmate is no longer here, allow me to crack a joke in his memory...  He always liked his women well stocked, after all!"

"On second thought, forget the joke.  I will try to do the same," she finishes and begins to moves away again, chortling to herself.  She calls out, "I'll be in my turret, Skippy!"

The sounds of movement, in and out of the fire control positions at the back of the bridge attract Conrad's attention.  Figuring that the discussions must be over, he goes in search of Jago.

"Jago, jus' thought y'all'd like to know - Shata Lunoqi jus' made orbit.  Can't see her from here, she's below the horizon for now, but I picked up a relay from one of the other ports, lettin' the folks here know that she's there, an' safe."

None of what Shui feels at Yasmine's words is evidenced upon her features as she smiles back at the woman.  "Indeed.  We must all be true to our natures, be they anchored or fluid."  The joke receives a slight widening of the smile, as well as an inclination of her head - a nod of defeat.  Yasmine has certainly 'won' this round.  Not surprising.

Conrad approaches the group as Yasmine heads for her turret - the other gunner has a question for the Captain.  A good thing; it seems an opportune time to slip away on some pretext: steward or doctor.  You are who you are, Yasmine, and may you stay that way forever.

And I...I am who I was trained to be.  As you say - my heart changes as I move, in accordance to the needs around me.  Only one part of it stays true.  She could curse her father again, but it would be pointless.  Despite inertia's push, Shui knows she could settle down roots, change who she is one, final time.

The only problem is that she has no idea how.

So with a nod to Conrad, she returns to the galley.  The coffee machine needs cleaning, and possibly a fresh pot brewed.  And other drinks, for the other crew, and herself.  She is the Steward, now.  It is her duty.

“Thank you Shui,” Jago says before she leaves, “I’ll link his screen up with the optical sensors so that he can see what’s going on.”

Jago rewards the navigation with a smile, “thanks Conrad, that’s good news.”

The captain turns to the intercom, “can you give me an estimate on fuel processing completion please Saskia?”

Tylen walks to the Galley. The remains of a pot of coffee sits simmering in the machine. He pours himself a cup of the dark bitter brew and set's it down. He takes the filter out, empties it and rinses the pot. He wipes the machine clean and refills the hopper and water tank before switching it back on. Then he takes a seat and sips his brew.

Shui enters the Galley moments after Tylen has completed the work; she pauses, frowning at the machine as it merrily burbles away, and then turns to the gunner seated at the table.

"Mr. Ogresh."  One eyebrow rises slightly.  "Have you been tested for psychic talent?  I was about to make coffee."  The Doctor grimaces at the sight of his coffee cup.  "That coffee is well over the half-hour mark," she notes.

"Take off and nuke 'em from orbit
It's the only way to be sure!
Take off and nuke 'em from orbit
it always worked before!"

Humming on an ancient military march, Yasmine takes a seat in her turret control and begins to check that everything is in order.

Targeting...  check.

Sensors...  check.

Auxiliary...  check.



Going through the whole list will take a while, but it is something she does with regular intervals, prbably more than needed.  Same thing with her guns, they get more attention than needed, although she takes great care not to clean them too much too often, as that will kill a gun as well as too little attention.

Still humming she continues to check the systems, one by one.

Tylen grins at the Doctor.

"Well Doc, the first cup's for to wake me up, the second will be for taste. Don't worry, I cleaned the machine before I put the fresh on."

He drank the boiled coffee quickly and pulled a face.

"But you're right in your assumption, that was pretty nasty."

He took the mug to the sink and rinsed it.

"Fortunately the coffee was only past the half-hour mark.  Past the six hour mark...well, I have some solvents in my laboratory that might have been able to save your cup."  She stares dubiously at the coffee machine.  "I doubt they would have been able to save your insides, though."

"Apparantly we will be busy in the next few days.  A shame - I was looking forward to your classes for myself and Ms. Crow.  I am certain she would have brought something to the table, as well."  It would be useful to learn grappling skills, submission techniques, and the like.  "Perhaps we can fit it in somewhere," she concludes hopefully.

Picking up a damp cloth, the steward moves to the table and sweeps up some crumbs, as well as cleaning away the occasional coffee ring.  Cleanup is also her job - occasionally she mops, occasionally she dusts.  Right now, though, Shui knows she's nervous.  They're going out looking for trouble.  There will be violence.

"How much combat have you seen?" she asks abruptly.

Tylen drops the smile.

"Enough to know what I'm getting into."

He answers.

"Ship to ship combat isn't really the Scouts job. Normally we'd leave that to the Navy boys, but I've been involved in the odd running dogfight. To be honest it's pretty nerve wracking unless you have a job to do. The Pilot, the Engineer and the Gunners are usually too busy to worry, but you guys in sick bay and damage control are gonna be pretty blind for the duration of any combat and it's gonna seem a million times longer than it really is."

He shrugs,

"It's the way it is."

"It sounds horrible," Shui answers, her eyes closed.  But that was, in truth, not the answer she sought.  But then, her question was not clear, was it?

How to explain?

"I...do not seek reassurance," she says quietly, hesitantly.  "Only understanding."  The doctor rubs her forehead.  No matter what she says, it will come out wrong.  People assume, wrongly, that they are being judged with everything another says.  With every word spoken.

Turning to Tylen, she opens her hands before her.  "I seek understanding.  I wish to comprehend.  We are-" and the arc of her arm encompasses the Profit Margin "-good people.  Yasmine is a good person, yet now she begins preparations of her weaponry without concern.  Jago is a good person, yet we embark upon a mission to hunt, to kill, without question of the lives that may be lost.  And yes, I am aware that by doing so we will prevent the loss of other lives, but..."  She shakes her head.  This isn't coming out correctly.  "Corlan is a good person, and yet he views this as exciting diversion.  You are a good person - I know this."  Embarassing, to speak to someone directly concerning this, but it must be said, lest Tylen think she omits him from her list of 'good people'.  But she cannot bring herself to continue in this vein - even to her own ears, she sounds condemning.

Even if that is not her point.

"I cannot know what everyone thinks, of course," Shui murmurs, turning away to lean against the table.  "Conrad, I do not know well, nor you.  And Saskia is likely concerned for her ship.  Forgive me - I ask questions to which there are no easy answers."  Turning back, she bows, carefully, in apology.

"I only seek answers to understand people."  Her smile is wan.  "Including myself."