As people make preparations for their various excursions out onto the Highport station, Jago is all business, looking at cargoes and passengers destined for stops further along Profit Margin's route. 

As Yas enters the Bridge, she finds Jago, Ash and Tylen all present and apparently busy... and all ripe for pestering, obviously. 

In the passenger section, Corlan and Keryn finally reach an accord on what might, or might not be, interesting.  Despite having been cooped up in the ship through a week of Jump, Keryn seems to have decided that Corlan, as somebody with more experience as a traveller, might make a good guide. 

And back in Engineering, Saskia is hard at work, one arm concealed, up to the shoulder, inside the fuel purification unit...

"I am gonna need some time tomorrow while the stores are properly open to collect some equipment."  Tylen comments to Yas.  "Some of it needs checking over before I accept delivery." Tylen says with a shrug as he stands up from the console.

"I'll see you all later." he says as he heads towards the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Wed 16 Nov 2011.

It seems Keryn and Corlan have made their decisions about who will go where with whom on their own.  This satisfies Shui; it's possible she should have stepped in, but she has already stepped into it rather poorly earlier.  Better to let that sift down into the sediments of the past before offering her assistance in matters personal.

*ping* goes her dataglove.  Rather, the vibration function - just a touch on the inside of her wrist, really, to avoid any possible jostling during work - activates.  Shui checks the message and releases a faint, nodding along with Tylen's writing.  "Our options seem limited," she murmurs, fingers interrpting magnetic fields to key in a message.

~ It would be my pleasure, Mr. Orgesh.  We lack the beach, but I am certain the restaurant will suffice.  For tonight. ~

There.  Now all she has to do is ensure everyone is sufficiently prepared and check her meagre wardrobe.  Eneris is ensconced in his cabin, wishing to be left to his own devices.  Keryn and Corlan will no doubt be safe...still, she should check.

Intercom time.  This time, it's to Jago.

+ Captain Lanza, Ms. Taylor and Mr. DeSant are planning an outing.  Will they require an escort?  I doubt it possible to get lost on the spaceport, and the law levels seem quite sufficient for safety. +

She checks the planetary guide again, searching for anything that might stand out about this spaceport, good or bad.

The screen holds an intense fascination for Jago, he scrolls various lists occasionally making a smell satisfied grunt when he comes across a particularly interesting morsel of information and occasionally coping details into a rather grubby and dog eared little note book.

He starts a littler at the sound of the intercom

+They should be fine without an escort Shui, they’ll have their comms if they need any help. Do you know if Enris is going ashore?+

Ash nods to Tylen, regarding his fellow scout for a moment.  Then with a slight shrug he returns to his calculations.  He knows that the weather won't affect anything but their departure vector, which really only affects the time of arrival at the jump point and not the timing really.  But, since the absolute time is a minor factor in the calculations (the two systems are moving relative to each other), he knows that he must compensate for it.  Even if that factor only influences the 15th digit past the decimal in the Heruson toroidal n-dimensional topology modelling.  However, given the time - Ash figures he might as well take it into account.

Then the navigator stretches slightly as the Security Chief enters the bridge.  He acknowledges her presence with an off-hand wave and glance.  Ash checks the time posted on one of the secondary tactical displays.  He glances at the others, settling on Jago, "Sir, I would like to do some shopping.  I was thinking of doing some shopping - say, looking at picking up a reflec suit - before my shift starts."  He glances about the bridge, as he continues, "Would anyone care to join me?  Or does anyone need anything else from on station?"  He pauses for a moment, and then appears to remember something else; so, he turns back to address Jago, "Oh, and is there any standard ship's livery, uniform, or emblem that I would need to commission or wear?"  He hasn't seen anything of the sort on the rest of the crew that he can remember, but Ash figures that it never hurts to ask...

“Uniforms, now there’s a thought,” Jago holds his cigar in an effort to hide the smile that’s spreading across his face.

“Something progressive and modern, to inspire confidence in the punters and demonstrate our professionalism. How about a nice pale blue blazer, with peaked caps and ‘A’ line skirts for the women.”

“What do you think Yas?”

"Oookay, Quadman.  What's the hurry?  Got a hot date?"

Yas laughs after the fleeing ex-scout and then returns the wave from Ash.  When Jago replies to his query she chews her lip thoughtfully for half a heartbeat before saying, "Strings for the men and full, buggy jumpsuits for the women sounds better.  At least I won't have to break your halves in half then, skipper."  She smile at him with a few too many teeth showing.

"As long as you wear enough not to scare anyone then that's about it, Mister T," she tells Ash and pats him on the head, giving Jago another smile in case he is still uncertain about her position regarding his idea of uniforms.

Shui grimaces at the reply.  Not at Jago's question, per se, but at the fact that she doesn't have an answer.  She hates that.  But needs must, and the Captain needs an answer.

+ Mr. Enris is sequestered in his quarters, Captain Lanza.  Do you wish for me to disturb him, or should I simply leave a message to speak with whomever is on watch if he chooses to go ashore? +

“No that’s OK Shui, I’ll catch up with him sooner or later, I just wondered if he needed a sub.”

*

Jago chuckles out loud at Yasmine’s  response and nods in agreement to what she tells Ash, “I like to keep it informal, “ he says, “as long as you can keep up with my own exacting dress code you’ll be OK.”
The exacting dress code being a worn and slightly grubby bomber jacket and clean but unpressed everything else.

“I’ll be heading ashore myself in a bit Ash, got some business to attend to but we can keep each other company if you like.”

Jago turns his attention back to his keyboard and puts in responses to the data there, then pulls in all the news feeds he can find on Rangent, looking for good ideas for a speculative cargo.

As he leaves the bridge Tylen raises  his right hand, middle finger extended in an ancient gesture, so that Yas can see it over his shoulder.  However, the grin on his face indicates that he doesn't mean the insult that seriously, it is just a part of the banter between friends and colleagues.

Still, he heads to his cabin  and freshens up, although that means little more that a quick wash down, hair brush and a change of T-Shirt before he heads into the general areas looking for Shui.

+ Very well, Captain Lanza - please contact me if I am required. +  Nodding her head, Shui smiles to herself.  Good.  Problem solved, so to speak.  And with Corlan and Keryn discussing their outing, the snacks made and placed on the table, and fresh coffee brewing, she slips out of the galley.

+ I have prepared some light food and drink in the galley + she notes over the crew intercom as she arrives at her quarters.

Having had ample time during the descent to clean up, Shui moves first to her two lexan aquariums.  She gingerly slips some appropriate food into the first, pulling her fingers back when its voracious occupant lunges out, then carefully reaches into the second and gathers up her 'guest' (rather than 'prisoner', like the other).  "An interesting day," she whispers to the curious, multicoloured arthropod, placing it on the table with a small bowl of nutrient agar.

Listening to its faint, bell-like sounds, she checks her closet.  Limited clothing supplies.  That could be a problem.  But there are solutions to every possible situation, the doctor reminds herself, putting together something vaguely appropriate she hasn't worn in years.  It...should still fit.  An assumption, but warrented; Shui's diet and rigid exercise program has kept her in good form.

Back goes her 'guest', into its home.  "I shall let you out for more time during my watch." Stepping out the door of her room, she almost bumps into Tylen, almost hopping back to avoid a collision.  "Oh!  Mr. Orgesh.  My apologies."  She inclines her head in greeting, but a small laugh escapes her.  "A touch startled, I fear."  her brow crinkles.  "Apologies about tonight.  The Demon Murphy has its hands in all things."

Everybody has spent the last week trapped in the ship as it moved through Jump Space.  Or possibly Jump Space moved along with it.  There are several different widely accepted theories, all of them equally plausible and intrinsically unprovable since there is nothing in Jump Space to measure any spatial progress against.

So a week stuck inside a ship in the midst of a featureless grey void (looking at which for too long produces headaches and nausea for about 75% of travellers).  As a result it doesn't usually take too long for passengers and crew to grab the opportunity to go ashore when the ship arrives at a new destination.

Even when that destination is, essentially, just a larger ship.

As a result, within forty minutes of arriving at Denotam Highport, most of Profit Margin's occupants, residents and visitors alike, are making their way down the ramp into the chilly environment of the docking bay, which is still warming up after it's recent exposure to the void of space.

Corlan whispers something to Keryn, who crosses the floor of the bay without difficulty, even though the highport maintains it's environment at 0.9G, almost four times what Keryn grew up with.  She lays a hand against the massive space door, then pretends to try to push it open, before she walks back, grinning.  "It's locked.  Or stuck." she says to Corlan, and sticks her tongue out at the man.

Eneris steps nervously out onto the ramp, wearing a perfectly maintained Naval uniform, complete with a half dozen medals, but missing any rank insignia, which doesn't quite go with the non-regulation haircut and unshaven face.  He blinks up at the lights shining down from high above and reflecting off just about every surface in the bay.

"Sorry if I've kept everybody waiting."

Jago looks around at the assembled company and smiles a little smile behind his cigar; it’s like a family outing from his youth, though this time, he has to be mother.

“Everyone got comms?” he asks sternly, “no one goes ashore without comms.”

’And wrap up warm’, he thinks to himself, fondly remembering his own mother,we don’t want you catching your deaths.’
This message was lightly edited by the player at 22:20, Mon 28 Nov 2011.

After a few moments standing about, Eneris shrugs and walks across to the inner door.  "Let's see what Denotam has to offer then, shall we?"  He reads the instructions quickly, then reaching out, he lays a hand on a scanner plate.  There is a brief pause, and then the door hisses open to reveal...

... a twenty metre square bare room with an identical door on the opposite side.

The second door succumbs to the same treatment as the first.

Beyond it is a short corridor, leading to a large open area filled with people.  A holographic display projects the words, "Welcome to Denotam Highport!" into the air above the crowd in large friendly letters.  It blinks, and the same greeting is repeated in Vilani, which is followed by (presumably) an identical message in several other languages, including some alien scripts.

Most of the people in the crowd are streaming towards a large illuminated sign at the far end of the hall, the Anglic portion of which says, "CUSTOMS".  Many though are wandering around the perimeter of the hall, staring in through storefronts which seem to offer everything from fast food ("Try one of our delicious flame-grilled patties - 75% pure groat steak and 25% synthetic protein, served in a meran seed bun!") to expensive top line designer clothing.  In the centre of the hall several vehicles are on display, all of them with sleek lines which speak of speed and expense in equal magnitude.

The noise, considering how quiet the last port of call was, is almost overpowering...

Ash walks into the gathering of those going station-side a minute or so after Eneris.  He glances at the ex-Navy man in uniform, letting his gaze linger for a pregnant moment before he shrugs.  Ash merely notes with a nod (though his tone is approving and amiable), "Mr. Armusezash."  The navigator can only hope that he is getting the inflection right, and he can only assume that this is Eneris' version of best behavior.  He nods to the others in turn, "Captain...  Ms. Taylor ... Mr. DeSant..." as well as any of the other crew that have joined them.

Although he is without his blade strapped to his thigh, Ash has his duster and the earbud for his p-comm readily visible.  He wrist computer is also strapped to his left forearm.  His HUD headband is still on, though the eyepiece is pushed up above his forehead for the moment; the reticule is dark, the displays quiescent.

He walks with the group, letting Eneris open both sets of doors.  His eyes darting warily at all of the movement and noise in the highport.  He begins to head towards Customs, presuming that they cannot (legally) pass into the station proper without going through them.  Since his shift on the Profit Margin is next, he only has a couple of hours to get his errands done.  Ash is not in a rush (yet) per se, merely moving with purpose given the time constraint.  The navigator of the Profit Margin purses his lips for a moment as he considers his off-ship dining options.  "Anyone else up for some synth and groat?" he ventures - if anyone will join him, he'll likely partake.  However, Ash figures that if no one else is hungry, perhaps he'll just wait to get back to Margin; Shui usually keeps the pantry well stocked.  It's just that in Ash's experience, when in port, it is often best to take advantage of the break from shipboard meals.  Of course, most of the ships he has been on in the past did not have a cook as good as the Profit Margin's steward.

Shui hurries up as the doors hiss open, having been slowed by her short encounter with Tylen, and not having any time for speaking.  Hopefully she'll be able to talk with him once the others disembark.  "Oh!  Mr. Armusezash...you have done a fantastic job with that, indeed." It still fits, even, but she doesn't mention that.  Pausing in front of him, Shui checks him critically, straightening his epaulets a hair, no more.  "There.  Perfection, Mr. Armusezash.  Perfection."

Stepping back, she takes a look at the others, her hands clasped before herself.  No weapons...good...good...well, Yasmine doesn't have any in evidence and Shui prays the woman left the hidden ones on the ship.  Taking another step back, she halts beside Tylen, murmuring something up to the scout.  "Mr. Orgesh, if you have time I have a question for you before we depart."
She takes a quick glance past Eneris, one eyebrow shooting up at the crowded splendor awaiting them.  It's more than the steward is accustomed to, given their last few spaceports (both planet-side and in orbit).  The doctor shoots a quick glance at Ash as he inquires if people will join him, and inclines her head sadly in reply.  "Apologies, Mr Tescali, but I will have to beg off.  Plans for dinner."

Tylen, too, takes a step back in surprise as Shui suddenly appears through the door of her cabin.  However,  the look of surprise turns quickly into a smile as he realises who it is.  ”Indeed.  Murphy seems to get everywhere.” he responds wryly  as he walks with her to the exit ramp from the ship.

He pauses for a moment as Shui steps forward to adjust Ennris’s epaulettes and waves his dataglove at Jago, when the captain speaks of taking comms ashore.

Tylen pauses for a moment as the inner doors open, and he is confronted with the bustle of a busy space port.  Just for a moment a frown crosses his brow and  then he starts to fiddle with the bottom of his bomber jacket.  Catching himself, the smile quickly returns and he slots the thumb of his hand into the  pocket of his pants, so that it won’t fiddle any more.

”No groat patties for me either.” he says with a nod towards Ash  ”I have got some shopping lined up …”

He hangs back, allowing the others to make their way forward, as Shui speaks to him.

With the others comfortably ahead at the door - not that she feels there is anything to hide, per se, but that this is a more private conversation - Shui shifts to speak quietly to Tylen.  "Mr. Orgesh," she begins, very earnest.  "We have some five hours at the moment, then you must return to the Profit Margin.  Do you..."  Curiously hesitant, Shui pauses before beginning again.  "Would this be..."  She shakes her head, tries again.  "Are you still free for dinner?"

At times, her polite and reserved speech patterns might actually give the exact wrong impression, something Shui wishes to avoid.  The last thing she wants to do is appear blasé about this, or worse - as if it's a scheduled meeting slotted into available time.

Tylen checks his data glove momentarily, before he responds.  "It's your watch at 22:00, Shui.  Mine doesn't start until 01:00." he says with a grin, "Although I was  going to suggest that we could sit on the bridge with a couple of bottles of wine.  We could put moonlit island scenes on all of the vid screens?" he suggests mischievously, knowing the romantic pictures really would not be a good idea in such a public place.

"I could book a table for sevenish?  That should give us time to eat and maybe a chance for a stroll afterwards before we need to be back?" he offers deliberately ignoring her hesitance.

Ash shrugs noncommittally and separately to Shui and Tylen as they both beg off on grabbing some fast food.  As he walks off with the group that consists of Corlan, Keyrn, Jago and Eneris, he mutters light-heartedly to no one in particular, "The Margin must have come through here before, recently.  Everyone on the crew got a busy with a hot date lined up ... except me."  A crooked smile plays on his face as he glances at Eneris and his finery.  He adds with a small self-deprecating chuckle, "Even Mr. Armusezash!"

He then turns to Keryn and Corlan and asks idly, if slightly conspiratorily, "It appears that you two are going sightseeing.  What have you decided on, if you don't mind me asking?"  Ash admittedly did cheat when he noted via the internal video feeds that the two of them were conferring in the passenger lounge.

The navigator also adds off-hand to Keryn, knowing that she is coming from a much lower gravity world, is in a 'delicate' condition and has seen her around the ship practicing and exercising as per Shui's orders, "How are you feeling, Ms. Taylor?  You are looking good on your feet, but make sure that you don't over do it and rest when you need to."  Ash doesn't mean to sound mother hen-ish, but probably comes across that way anyways.

Eneris thanks those who comment on his uniform, and looks a little embarrassed as Shui adjusts it for him, mumbling a quiet thanks.  Keryn is more vociferous, explaining to Ash, and anybody else prepared to listen, that she and Corlan are going to see whatever sights an orbital city has to offer.

Passengers and crew, with the exception of Yas and Saskia, stroll out of the bay through the smaller chamber (which, as it turns out, has a floor which opens up to allow freight to be lifted from below) making sure to close the doors behind them.

The area immediately outside appears to be some sort of duty-free plaza, with a large number of stores, including several selling souvenirs, a handful of restaurants (ranging from fast food to haut-cuisine), a public communications hub, and some offices occupied by the Travellers' Aid Society and a local legal advice service.  In the centre of the plaza is a circular station belonging to Port Security, which is currently occupied by four bored-looking officers in dark green uniforms.  Mostly they seem to be giving people directions.

Just outside each docking bay is a small, enclosed lounge area for the use of passengers waiting to board ships.

For the crew and passengers of Profit Margin, and anybody else planning to venture out into the city proper, the only immediate destination is, of course, the Customs area...


OOC: So, who intends to go out into the city itself, and who is content to hang around the port to see if they can get what they need there?

Jago tugs the bottom of his jacket and squares his shoulders.

“Have fun people, see you later and lets try not to kick any of their security people, OK,” he says before heading of towards custom control.

Shui does a quick check to make sure Keryn is doing fine - she is - and returns her attention to Tylen.  Thankfully, the gunner seems to be in a fine mood despite the interruption of their plans.  The steward briefly wonders if anything could put him in a bad mood, before answering.

"A wonderful image, Mr. Orgesh," she muses, "but perhaps one that might draw the ire of our security chief.  Though I would most certainly enjoy the company...and the wine."  One eyebrow quirks, along with the corner of her mouth.  "Seven...nineteen hundred, then?  That would be most suitable indeed.  I have -" she motions vaguely at the spaceport "- a few things to pick up, then require some time to prepare.  Certainly I can meet you at the restaurant."

Her smile widens a touch as she cocks her head. "Would that be suitable?"

"She should be tucked up in bed by then.  She's taking over from me at 04:00." the ex-scout  responds with a grin to the thought of Yas catching them enjoying a watch duty.  As he speaks he fiddles with his data glove, reselecting the restaurant and booking a table for two at the appointed time. 

"That's booked the table." he says, looking up with a grin, before continuing "I need to get some bits and pieces as well, so I'll see you there at 19:00.  I am going to buy a security guards uniform.  That crazy drive through Frenzie and standing guard when Conrad transferred to The Children of the March made me think it might be easier if I looked the part sometimes.  Sometimes people respond better to things they recognise." he finishes up.

"Ms. Crow?  Tucked into bed?"  Shui's eyebrow quirks.  "I grow more certain every day the woman does not sleep, due to some arcane technique taught to her in the marine corp..."

She waits while Tylen fiddles with his dataglove, and nods her head when he confirms the time and place.  "Suitable?  I would say wonderful, Mr. Orgesh.  Perhaps you should wear the uniform to dinner, should it be adequate for a restaurant.  It would be interesting to see you done up like Mr. Armusezash."  She cocks her head to the side, trying to picture him in dress blues.  "Interesting indeed.  But I am certain you have something splendid lined up."

Turning slightly, she waves toward the spaceport.  "I could do with an escort as far as the exit from the customs area...after that, I should continue on my own."  The doctor adjusts her everpresent Little Black Bag™ on her shoulder.  "Shall we?"