After a little more than a week on Garda Vilis, the crew find themselves back at the port, in one of the docking pits, where the ship sits, bathed in the glare of the floodlights spaced around the rim above them.

The female half of Profit Margin's crew had arrived back at the hotel the previous evening (if such a term means anything on a tidally locked world with no day-night cycle.  Once there they had discovered a major development had occurred in their absence: Two days after their departure to explore (and, doubtless, tame) the wild frontier of Garda Vilis, Conrad had approached Jago and announced his intention to use a portion of his recently acquired bonus for the purchase of a High Passage ticket to Frenzie, where he intended to reenlist in the Navy and do his part in securing an Imperial victory in the current war.

Jago had, of course, expressed some concern over this, but Conrad would not be dissuaded.  And so, rather than taking a well-earned rest, the captain had spent a large portion of his holiday attempting to recruit a new navigator, in between constant visits to the ship to check on progress with the refit and refurbishment.

Eventually, he had settled on one T. Azton "Ash" Tescali, who appeared to have all the necessary qualifications for the job, and didn't grate on Jago's nerves as much as several of the other applicants.

Now, the crew, including Ash Tescali and the not-yet-gone Conrad, survey the exterior of the ship.  The new airlock, located on the port side, close to the bridge, is firmly closed (whatever the work crew have done to the ship, they have at least tried to maintain security).  The lower edge of the hatch itself is some two metres above the ground, but there is a retractable ladder, extended from a second, smaller hatch, just below the airlock itself.

"The access ladder can be controlled from any computer terminal aboard the ship, if the user has been given security clearance." explains Mott Henaris, the project supervisor for the refit, smiling like a proud parent showing off holos of her new baby, "In fact, it can also be controlled, with proper clearance, from any remote computer capable of linking to the ship's systems."

She gestures towards the ladder, "We can go aboard now, and take a look at the work from inside.  The security pad for opening the lock is on the right, there, just near the bottom, and easily reachable from the ladder.  The code for it is in the documents you were given, Captain Lanza, and can be changed at any time."

"Incidentally, have you noticed that dreadful screeching sound every time you lower or raise the main ramp?  I suppose you must have.  It's hard to miss...  We can take a look at that while you're here, if you like, and see if we can stop it."

Jago smiles a little at the engineer’s last remark, “no thanks, we know what that is,” he says, glancing at Saskia for confirmation, “and it wouldn’t be the same ship if she didn’t moan and protest every time we opened the door.”

Jago steps aside to let Saskia follow the engineer up the ladder into the new air lock, he’s seen it day by day as the work progressed and it’s the ships engineer who needs to be up there full of pertinent questions and an eye for the technical details.

“Up to now,” he explains to Ash, "if we wanted to get in or out in a vacuum, we’ve had to depressurise the entire cargo bay, or trek through the engine bays to an airlock that opens up on the top of the ship, there, by the fin. Same thing if we were on a planet with extreme atmosphere or temperature. This should make life a lot easier  under such circumstances. Should make security a lot easier as well, now Yasmin can keep the door covered without leaving her favourite chair.”
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Ash has stood at the back of the group, mostly watching the crew, more than the ship.  He is sure that he will get the chance for a more detailed look at the Profit Margin once things settle down; but having only recently met the crew, he is more interested in those dynamics than any of the on-board systems.  Though I have to admit to myself that I have always liked the old VanRijn designs, Ash noted mentally glancing at the ship, something about that flying saucer shape...

When Jago refers to the Chief Engineer, Ash studies her for a moment.  He had wondered about Ms. Blake since being told her name after accepting the offer for employment.  She was not what he expected, but then Ash didn't really know what to expect.  She seemed all business, at least when it came to the ship; it was obvious that she knew the Profit Margin inside and out - just by the way she acted around her.  Just by the consternation that she showed that someone else had had a chance to work with her.

He nods to Jago, when addressed.  "That would have been highly inconvenient." he agrees about the former airlock arrangements.  "The new remote relays should make it much nicer." Ash notes, then mentally adds that he will have to try things out at some point - since his handcomp should have access - but that also presents its own security issues.  Another thing on the checklist to get familiar with in short order.

As for Ms. Crow, she was smaller than he expected for a Chief of Security, but she also was all business, though in a completely different way.  She carried her (very) toned form with an assurance that gave Ash confidence and pause.  He had seen her swagger before and been shot at not so long afterwards...  Ash had to smirk slightly - Jago's statement about Yasmine's favorite chair made amused Ash to no end, I have trouble envisioning Ms. Crow sitting still for very long.  Let alone wanting to.

Ash regards the ship's Steward and Medic next; she is impeccably dressed and coifed, as befits the public face of the ship.  Ash feels a bit ashamed for his rather scruffy appearance, it's not that he tries for that look - it just sort of happens that way.  He is unconsciously rubbing the stubble on his chin, when is notices that he is still staring at Ms. Tiesi.  A bit flush under the collar, he tries to look away before she notices anything.

So, then Ash turns to look at Mr. Orgesh.  He's not sure what to make of him either.  Ash supposes that he should feel some kinship with him, since they both had spent time in the IISS.  But honestly, Ash's left knee aches every time he remembers his stint with the IISS.   Still, that should not reflect on this man, he chides himself, I wonder what makes him tick?  Probably the same as me, just trying to get by, hopefully with people you can trust.

Lastly, Ash looked at Mr. Dietz.  He had found it awkward to meet the person he was replacing.  It was not that circumstances were acrimonious; far from it, in fact.  It was not like his last stint on the Fortunate Son, where Ash had barely made if off the ship with his duffel after the shouting match.  I probably should not have said anything ... I mean, their new navigator was cute and the captain's new squeeze, but that won't make their passage through a star any less painful, he noted.  Still, Ash kept his distance from Conrad - not out of personal jealousy, at least that is what he told himself.

Saskia follows the works supervisor to the ladder, eyeing the new airlock with some suspicion.  There is a mark on the hull, near the door controls, that she is sure wasn't there before.  Waiting until Mott Henaris starts to climb, Profit Margin's engineer reaches out and rubs at the mark.

It turns out to be dirt, not damage.  Nobody will have to die today.  So far.

Then she is up the ladder, her heavy boots making the climb trickier than it should have been.  Stepping into the lock, she switches on her comm so that her shipmates can hear what's going on.

"It's more - cozy - than I would have thought."

Now slightly tanned (a colour already fading from her skin), Shui watches with some unease as Saskia examines the work on the ship.

The trip had proved enjoyable, to be sure.  Better yet, no problems manifested...until they returned to the ship.  It came as a sorrowful blow that Conrad had come to a conclusion regarding his future while they were gone.  Shui did not begrudge him his choice, though she would miss him greatly, and is pleased he remained long enough to say goodbye.  Sometimes, the doctor knows, one has to pick up and move rather quickly, especially when destiny calls.

Or pushed.  Violently.

It seemed she would have to get used to a new member of the crew - likes and dislikes to file, concerns about diet requirements, medical examinations, and libation to be stowed somewhere in the steward's mind.  He seems a decent enough fellow, choosing to dress for work much like the rest of the crew (even herself - a steward must interface well with passengers and public).  She has noticed the insignia upon his tool-of-choice, and wonders if there will be friction, competition, or cameraderie between he, Yasmine, and Tylen.  Possibly all three, she considers, human nature being what it is.

Now, though, her attention and concern remain fixed on Saskia, and Shui stands ready to step in if things grow hot.  For a moment, long-atrophied reflexes send a quiver down her spine; she glances over her shoulder, but the only one behind her is Ash, standing at the back of the group and studying Tylen.  Then there comes a clangor from the ladder and she swings back as Saskia disappears into the lock.  A moment later the young engineer's voice crackles over the comm-link at her ear.

+ Cozy-small or cozy-comfortable, Ms. Blake? + Shui subvocalizes, the mastoid unit picking up the vibrations through her jawbone and sending them out to the others.

She really needs to look over the possibility of a better medical system for the ship - unfortunately, Shui has been flagrently negligent during her vacation, and hadn't even broached the topic with the engineer during the last few days.  Must arrange a meeting.  She cocks her head.  And one with Mr. Tescali - medical issues.

Waiting his turn, Tylen hefts the bag containing his new music box in his hand.  This one has a ballerina inside a little cabinet the music starts as the doors are opened and the ballerina turns. He had spent some time looking for something suitable, and had finally found it on an ‘antique’ stall at a sort of flea market.  It would need a decent clean up and maybe a quick look at the mechanism, but that wasn’t the immediate problem.  How do you climb a two metre ladder with a bag in your hands?  He had forgotten about the new airlock and now he had to climb it with a bag …

Self consciously he loosens his belt and passes it through the handles of the bag, pushing it around behind him, so that the music box dangles alongside his thigh, then carefully he climbs the ladder,  just waiting for the smartass comment from Yas …