"Here, as you can see, we put the MPL for the 'lock's electrical subassemblies on the same grid as the other enviro systems.  The GFTD runs through here, with control from here." Henaris continues explaining to Saskia, while Yas observes over their shoulder.  The supervisor indicates parts of the display with a fingertip, "This is the part where you'll need to consult with your captain and security chief.  The security systems are linked into your CAC and IFID, ready to run, but the protocols have not been set yet, so you'll need to discuss what's needed with them."  The woman takes a sip of her tea, and catches Shui's eye, giving her a grateful smile.


On the bridge, Conrad and and Ash are going through various control layouts, and discussing the benefits and drawbacks of them.  Suddenly the ship's comm chirps, and Conrad reaches out to activate the link, the smiles sheepishly as he gestures for Ash to take the call instead, "Y'all should get that.  Ain't my job no more."

About to demure, Shui acquiesces to Tylen's offer with a small nod of the head.  "Very well, Mr. Ogresh - we can work on her here.  A little minor surgery, only a touch invasive, and hopefully everything will be fine."  Immediately she sets to figuring out how to gain entry into the simple machine's innards, while simultaneously keeping an eye out for anyone's needs.  Mott's appreciation of the tea draws a slight bow and a smile - it's good to be able to serve one of her homeland's specialities here.

Her face darkens slightly at the ironic thought, but clears as she returns to the music box.

The chirp of the comlink interrupts; first and formost, though, her concern is for Conrad.  Reaching out, Shui touches Conrad's arm lightly.  "Perhaps not your job, Mr. Dietz, but to me, the Profit Margin is still your place."

Ash looks up at Conrad and motions to the panel as he sees that Mr. Dietz is fighting his instincts, he says with a chuckle, "You can answer it if you like, we both know that this is not the fun part of the job."

Seeing that Conrad is not going to do it, Ash reaches down and taps the comm controls pulling up the display and answering the angry red alarm (at least on that version of the display).  He tries to keep his tone even and officious, which just makes it sound a bit monotone, quite flat and rather deadpan, "This is the Profit Margin, Navigator Tescali, how can I assist you?"

Ash glances around furtively, he's convinced that the rest of the crew must be looking at him funny; he can feel the stares, really he can.

Jago watches his latest recruit answer the call with a ‘funny’ expression on his face, curious to see how he’ll handle it.

.

After a few moments Tylen returns with a small screwdriver set and a small plastic bottle containing a light oil.  "This should do it ..." he offers as he retakes his seat.

Shui's eyebrow twitches again as Ash answers the call.  So proper.  Not a bad thing, sometimes.  Accustomed as she is to the crew's informal ways, she herself would have answered the call similarly.  Perhaps it's Ash's way, or perhaps he merely operates by rote at the moment and will carry a different demeanor when settled.

For now, she simply looks away slightly when he glances around, not wishing to make him feel put on the spot.  Catching Jago staring, she sighs, shooting him a look of mild reproach before turning to the returning Tylen.  "Thank you, Mr. Ogresh...that should be perfectly sufficient."

With his permission, she sets a small pack of tissues down, raids the screwdriver set, and begins the careful task of opening up the music box and seeking the source of the problem.  Cleaning?  Oiling?  A loose gear?  Who can say, but surely a music box is not beyond her meager talents with mechanicals.

Just make sure not to have parts left over when you seal it up...

Tylen watches as the music box is gently teased apart, and takes the shelf with the ballerina on as Shui removes it.  Leaving the inside of the mechanism to the the doctor, he inspects the underside of the shelf, then blows into it hard trying to remove and dust and obstructions.  Carefully he tries turning the ballerina, and then applies a drop or two of lubricant to the underside, before turning her again.  Once he is happy the ballerina is turning freely on her shelf, he will shift his attention back to Shui.  "How's it going?" he asks leaning forward to watch the woman work.

Conrad smiles at Shui, appreciating the kind words.  "I've had an idea 'bout that.  Jus' need to talk with Jago."

The voice that comes over the comm channel sounds a little confused, "Excuse me?  Navigator who?  This is the Profit Margin under the command of Captain Jago Lanza, isn't it?  Or is it a different ship?  This is Corlan DeSant... I just wanted to let the Captain know I'll be there shortly.  Ten minutes at most.  I'm afraid I overslept."

Conrad heads through to find Jago.  "Where're y'all headin' to next Jago.  If'n it's Frenzie, I'd like to book passage.  Make the trip in comfort, like.  I was plannin' on headin' there to sign up."

"Right, we can sort out the security stuff ourselves." the Engineer says, with a glance at Yasmine, "But I'm sure our Security Chief will insist on doing that when no strangers are about to see what she's doing.  Right, Yas?"

Saskia studies her notes, "I think I'll put the EPS back where it was, and move the GFTD down here instead.  We have some nonstandard systems, meaning that the EPS sometimes gets hit with a frellin' heavy load.  Having it in here gives it a faster response to fluctuations in demand."

Ash sighs, why does everyone have trouble with my last name?  You'd think I was a Vargr or something.

He shrugs and then answers the person on the other end, "Ah, Mr. DeSant is it?  You have the correct line.  I'm new to the Profit Margin's crew.  I'll relay your message to Captain Lanza."  Ash glances at Jago, who as he expected, is looking at him with a look that Ash can't quite place.  Ash is pretty sure that Jago has heard the entire exchange - so, he gives him a crooked smile an a raised eyebrow, but doesn't say anything more.  Message delivered, he thinks to himself.

Ash turns back to the comm and adds addresses Corlan DeSant again, "Uh, Mr. DeSant, I'm sure that the Captain is expecting you.  Thank you for letting us know you are delayed.   Do you wish any other information be relayed to the Captain before your arrival?"

Shui nods to Conrad and keeps an eye on him as he moves to speak with Jago.  A smile touches her lips for an instant as he requests passage, and she slowly nods.  Good.  It's far too soon to say goodbye to their former pilot.  Shaking her head at Corlan's mild confusion, she waits to see how Ash handles it; quite well, as a matter of fact, so the Steward - Medic - Now General Repairwoman goes back to her work on the music box.

Probing around with her tools with the same delicacy as she might explore a wound, Shui finds something that moves when she's sure it shouldn't.  "The repairs continue apace, Mr. Ogresh," she responds to Tylen's query, her voice a touch more absent than the norm with her concentration split three ways.  "There is...something loose in here."  Picking up a slightly hooked tool, she teases the part a touch, verifying its current state and eyeballing the casing to determine where it should lock into place.  "I believe, though, I can fit it back without any need for replacement - the joint is not damaged, merely dislocated, one might say."

Pausing, she glances up with a bright smile.  "And machines do not suffer from long-term damage to soft tissue," the doctor notes before again delving into the music box's innards.  "I should have this done in time to assist Mr. DeSant settle himself in his quarters."

"Thank you." Tygen grins as he replaces the ballerina shelf on the table and sits back to drink his coffee.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:08, Thu 30 July 2009.

"DeSant, our resident guest.  He's not heard the news yet, thus his confusion," Yas calls out towards the new navigator and then turns to Saskia and the tech.

"Yeah, we got some to go through here, and you've seen more of the old girl than most people, let's not embarrass her any further, eh?" she explains and grins slightly.  Then she waits, looking at the tech with the grin in place.

There is a brief pause, before the voice from the comm responds, "Nothing else really, Nevigator Tescali, just that I'm on my way.  I hope that Captain Lanza enjoyed his holiday.  All of the crew, in fact."  Corlan deSant still sounds a little confused, "Um...  How are you today?"

The supervisor nods, her expession clearly saying, I know when I'm not wanted. without actually looking annoyed about it.

"I should get going anyway.  I think I've about covered everything important.  She pulls a small dark blue rectangle from her pocket, and a squeeze produces a shimmering holographic display, glowing letters floating just above the surface of the item.  "If you have any further questions, I can be reached here."  The card is handed to Saskia.

The question hangs in the air for a moment as Ash puts on a puzzled face.  It is difficult to tell if he is surprised by the question or his inability to answer it immediately.  After a pregnant moment, Ash answers, his voice stammering slightly, "I... I am doing well, Mr. DeSant.  Very well, in fact, I feel quite blessed to be working on the crew of the Profit Margin."  He figures he might as well stick with the truth, but he does note to himself, I count myself fortunate that Security Chief Crow has threatened kill me only once, so far.  Then he adds, almost as an afterthought, "Thank you for asking, Mr. DeSant.  I look forward to meeting you in person."

She almost has it.  With a nod to Tylen, Shui focuses all her concentration on the errant piece.  Balance carefully.  Use the skill honed by years of working as a medical officer, and her training before.  Still the tremble in the fingers, see and feel nothing but the tool and the part.  Gently, gently slip it home, carefully so as not to crack the fragile, aged plastic.

As Corlan converses with the no-doubt confused pilot, the part slips home, and Shui gently raises the box' innards, sliding them into place within the box itself.  It will hold, now.  "There," she whispers, nodding.

More quickly now, she fits the tiny screws in places, begins locking the device down.  With two of them ninety percent affixed, she glances up to where Tylen relaxes.  "Success, Mr. Ogresh.  Or so I believe."  Poor Mr. Tescali, struggling to handle an encounter with Corlan.  They can be quite...interesting.  "A moment to put it back together, then a test."

*Click*  Another screw in place - this one she tightens firmly, going back to finish the other two.  "There.  We only need to make an attempt, now."

Jago thanks the departing supervisor, passes a nod of approval to Ash and heads for his stateroom which is so conveniently next to the new air lock, though he reappears a few minuets later without his luggage.

“Right people, hope you all had a relaxing R&R, sadly it’s over now and there’s work to do. We’ll have about five hours before we are moved back to the launch pads and then we’ll be taking on cargo and passengers straight away. Saskia, I’m leaving you to run system checks or whatever it is you do, make sure that those guys haven’t messed up or crossed wires or whatever. Ash, familiarise yourself with the systems, I’ll log you in for computer access in a moment, and Conrad will help, if he wants that discount I’ve offered. The rest of you, we have state rooms to prepare, the rooms have been decorated but there’s new bedding and soft furnishings in the hold that need to be moved in, Shui, you’re in charge of that, Yasmin and Tylen can help out and I’ll be along as soon as I’ve sorted the computer for Ash. Oh yes, Shui, we have six sleepers for this jump, and a spare birth, if it’s still spare at take off I’ll bump one of the sleepers into it, you might want to arrange a lottery or something for that, unless they can come to an agreement amongst themselves. Any questions?”

.

Grinning Tylen reaches across for the music box and winds it idly as Jago gives instructions for crew deployment.  With a wink towards Shui, he sets the box back on the table and lets the the music play, waiting to see if it has truly been fixed.  Gracefully the ballerina starts to turn, smoothly this time, as the a simplified tune 'plinks' out around the lounge.

"Brilliant!" Tylen beams at Shui, before grinning across at the others.  Then with a shrug, carries both the box and tools carefully back to his cabin in preparation  for bed making.




OOC: ( http://www.emusicalgifts.com/m...Brahms%20Lullaby.wav )

"Certainly, Captain Lanza."  Shui offers Jago a short bow, somewhat distressed she had gotten so caught up in her work that she hadn't seen off the supervisor.  Frowning, the steward considers the tasks ahead.  More than enough time to bring up the furniture, then study the medical files of the sleepers.  A lottary indeed - based on health.  "I will begin immediately.  Ms. Crowe, Mr. Ogresh -"

Pausing, the doctor cocks her head, listening to the tinkle of the music-box, then replies to Tylen's smile with one of her own.  The little things often count, and it is a fine thing to see such pleasure on the former scout's features - she knows how much dealing with his past employers upset him.

"Ms. Crowe, Mr. Ogresh, when you have time I shall see you in the hold, or somewhere between it and the cabins."  Depending on where she is in the move.

That said, she takes her leave of the bridge, heading down to see the extent of the work ahead.

Once the tools and the music box are safely stowed, Tylen heads towards the hold and furnishing duties.  Wearing his new black T-shirt and his old leather jacket, Tylen heads into the hold, ready to shift some furniture.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:44, Thu 06 Aug 2009.

Ash nods to the Captain, as his duties are assigned to him.  He confers with Conrad, agreeing to stow gear and then meet later - Ash offers to Mr. Dietz, "If you would prefer, I can take some of the guest accommodations and leave you to your cabin at least for this trip."  Following, Conrad's decision, Ash makes his way to his cabin and takes a survey of the accommodations.  He is suitably happy with them as he unpacks his meager possessions.  Gear stowed, he heads out of the cabin with his longarm.

Ash stops by the Security Chief's quarters with his laser carbine slung casually over his back, it is not powered up.  He knocks lightly, waiting for her to answer.

"Whatever I do?" Saskia responds to Jago, with a grin, "Everybody knows what I do.  It's you that nobody's frelling sure about."

She stands and stretches, "Anyway, I wasn't going to say anything in front of that dirtside tech," she almost spits the phrase, "but everything actually looks pretty straight.  Just some minor adjustments here and there.  Shouldn't take too long, and then we need to set up the security codes for the new airlock."

Corlan DeSant arrives punctually, according to his revised schedule.  He looks healthy, and is laden down with his own baggage and a number of carrier bags emblazoned with the logos of several stores in the nearby city.

He strolls up the cargo ramp, his normal method of entry to the ship which has become his new home, and finds Tylen and Shui in the hold, moving furniture into the passenger section.  Profit Margin's permanent passenger smiles as he sees them, and drops his bags.  Searching through one of the carriers he pulls out a small electronic widget, which he displays proudly, "My company made this.  Or, rather, one of the factories I own manufactured some of the components used in it.  They were exported to Lanth, where another company made this, and shipped it to here.  I'll have to find out what it's for... "

His expression is one of almost childlike enthusiasm for his discovery.

Meanwhile, in the crew quarters, Ash is deep in discussion with Yas, while Jago and Conrad go through the settings which will grant the new Nav access to the systems he will require to do his job.  One by one, they change the permissions, adding in Ash's ID, and removing Conrad's ID and codes.  Ash will need to create his own security codes, but for the moment all his access uses the time-honoured default code, PASSWORD123.

Saskia is in Engineering, making sure that her precious drives understand the changes that have been made.  Mostly this involves reconfiguring power feeds and control links.  Easy work for the most part.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:50, Fri 07 Aug 2009.

Upon arrival in the hold, Shui surveys the furniture 'depot'.  Closing her eyes, she calls up memories of the staterooms and begins to shuffle the furnishings.  The process takes some time, but her eyes snap open as Tylen enters.  "Ah, Mr. Ogresh.  Your timing, as always, is impeccable."  One hand motions toward the pile.  "We have something of an Aegean stable before us, though the the work will be cleaner."  One eyebrow quirks.  "And not self-replenishing."

Taking off her light coat, she hangs it on a convenient outcropping and runs through a few quick stretches - all small twists and lengthening of the spine - finishing as Corlan enters.  "Mr. DeSant - good to see you again.  Please, leave your bags - I shall transport them to your quarters on my first trip up.  I believe you will enjoy the changes we will make."  Curious, she studies the small device, noting its manufacturer, the model number, and any indentifiers.  Her fingers dance on the holocontrols of her dataglove, calling up a storage file, and the doctor subvocalizes what she sees for later perusal.

A habit of hers, drilled in during her youth.

"Yes, I know.  They messed about with your systems and cut a frelling great hole in your hull, didn't they?  I bet they didn't talk nice to you either, did they?  Yeah, thought so.  Bastards!  No idea how to treat a lady."

Saskia is in her element, seated at her engineering console and talking to the ship as she works.

"That's right, you should have run some current through the deck plates.  There was nobody important here, and it might have taught that shower of dren eaters a lesson.  Made them be a bit more gentle with you."

A deft adjustment to the panel, "How's that?  Pain going away?  That's good."  The engineer raises a hand to pat the bulkhead.