Studying his screens, Jago finally cracks a smile and rolls his unlit cigar from one corner of his mouth to the other. How many organisations were there on this planet, that might be interested ‘Breath-Easy’, time to start fishing.

.

When Keryn asks about rbots, Saskia lifts her head.  There is a loud bang.

"Frell it!"

Profit Margin's engineer backs a little way out of the access port and raises her head again, rubbing at the back of her skull with one hand before examining her fingers.

"I know something about the mechanics of them.  A lot less about their brains though.  Why do you ask?"

With a puzzled look on her face, Saskia extends a her hand towards Ash to show him her fingertips, "Do you think that's blood, or did I just wipe conduction gel in my hair?"

Ash jumps slightly when Saskia bangs her head and then cuts loose with her expletive of choice.  He raises an eyebrow as the Profit Margin's engineer's head and face emerges from inside the access panel.

The navigator dubiously inspects the slick red fluid on Saskia's fingertips.  "Ummm..." he ventures tentatively, "I'm not a doctor."  Which is an understatement; however, Ash does have some familiarity with recognizing blood, especially when it is outside the human body (and also when it is his own), "But that does look like blood to me, Ms. Blake."

"We," he notes with a slight sigh, "should likely get Ms. Tiesi to take a look, posthaste."  From the video feeds, Ash knows that Shui has not yet revived any prisoners - so, an interrupt right now may be the least intrusive in the sequence.

Keryn looks deeply concerned about Saskia's mishap, "I'm so sorry!  I shouldn't have distracted you.  You'd better get Shui to take a look at it, head injuries can be serious."  Not so concerned, however, that she forgets her question, "It's nothing important, but if one of you gets  a chance later, I'm having trouble understanding linear, parallel and synaptic processors, and how they relate to logic and command architectures."

Jago is making fairly good progress.  The limitations of the primitive bulletin board system available here are more than made up for by the number of options they present.  The small number of contacts available are doing nothing to overload the system... 

"That's good to know." Gan says to Shui with a smile.  Then he turns his attention to Tylen and Yas, as Shui goes back to examining Kvetz.  "How do you want to do this?  I assume we won't get our weapons back until we're off the ship, so how are we going to handle the prisoners?  Will you bring them out to us, or should we wait here, without weapons, and take charge as soon as they're out of cryo?  And cleared by the doc, of course."

Shui examines Kvetz's leg, medical instruments and careful manual probing revealing the cause of the bounty hunter's pain.

"Correct assumption.  I'll handle them.  Just to avoid any accidents, you understand," comes the electronically tinged voice.  "Got your toys right here."  She taps the bag at her side.

She stands at ready to allow them passage out of the ship, and turns to Tylen, "You go with them and once I'm coming down the ramp with their friends you give them their guns back."  She holds out the bag for him to take, the seal she placed on the bag still there and intact.

Tylen nods at Yas’s decision and turns towards the bounty hunters.  ”Do you have filters?  Or do you need to borrow some” he asks as holding out a pair of filter masks.

When the  issue with the filters is resolved, Tylen pulls on his own combination mask and makes sure that it is securely seated, then for a brief moment regrets not having chosen to wear his combat environment suit.  Still, it is too late for that now.  He already has a pair of commdots in place and tuned to his data glove, so he flicks the internal comms channel open before he takes the weapons bag from Yasmin.

"Ready when you are." he adds, both for the benefit of the bounty hunters and to check that the comms link is functioning properly.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:52, Tue 26 Feb 2013.

Everything seems to be going surprisingly well, the trade negotiations are ticking over nicely and no problems so far, unloading the passengers. Unaccustomed to things going well, Jago frowns and does an active sensor sweep of the area around the ship, he’s finding the situation a little out of his comfort zone.

.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:33, Tue 26 Feb 2013.

"A cramp, Ms. Kvetz, nothing more," Shui assures her.  It's something she has seen before, and shouldn't prove to be a problem.  "It happens to a small percentage of the population, and exercise can mitigate the effect.  As can anti-inflammatories - if you wish, I can give you some painkillers."

She cocks her head ot the side. "It can persist for a time.  What is the norm for you to feel the symptoms?"

The comms channel chimes, and RTF are back again.  "Captain Lanza?  We've spoken to our client, and I'm afraid that he's adamant that he can't go above Cr2,550 per ton."

"In addition, we are definitely interested in the Loxibac Breathe-Easy that you mentioned.  We can offer you Cr35,000 for the whole shipment.  I'm sure you won't get a better offer from our competitors."

Gan confirms that the two bounty hunters have filter masks in their baggage, along with clothing suitable for the conditions outside.  "That plan would be good with me, but would you mind if we wait underneath the ship?  Gives us a bit more shelter."

Shui, meanwhile, continues her examination of Kvetz, who admits that she isn't really sure about leg cramps, but seems to think the pain persists for hours when she gets them.  She gladly accepts pain medication from Shui.

The bounty hunters open their bags carefully, making sure that Yas and Tylen can see they aren't going for weapons.  A few minutes later they are wearing insulated jumpsuits and  breathing gear, and following Tylen out into the hold and down the ramp.

Leaving Shui and Yas to play with the prisoners...

Saskia and Ash start tidying up their equipment, ready for Saskia to go and talk to Shui about her head.  Keryn is still talking about robots, "Shui got me this course on robotics, and most of it is simple enough, but the chapter on programming and brain structure is giving me some trouble."
This message was last updated by the GM at 22:15, Tue 26 Feb 2013.

Ash has always accorded himself to be a fairly well-educated man.  But Keryn's fairly specific question about some of the more advanced (if 'basic' advanced) neural net hardware interfacing with some of the more progressive artificial intelligence software catches the Profit Margin's navigator off-guard.  He silently counts himself lucky that he can even understand the question.

Which unfortunately, doesn't leave him much hope of actually being able to answer Keryn (let alone really help her in any meaningful way).  "Ah," he notes through pursed lips, "I... don't think that I will be of much help there, Ms. Taylor."  He pauses for a moment to glance in Saskia's direction - serving double duty, as he is trying to see if there is actually an open gaping wound in her head that might need immediate attention, "I cannot speak for Ms. Blake, but even the basic theory and practice of artificial intelligence studies are beyond me.  And unless, our engineer knows more, I don't know who else on the Profit Margin might know more..."  Ash shrugs slightly and then gives Keryn a slightly crooked, slightly rueful smile.

Saskia shakes her head vigorously and winces.  "If you'd asked me about power distribution protocols or joint articulation I could have probably helped you.  The brain is not my area of expertise."  Then she sees the look on Keryn's face and adds, "But I can take a look at what you're stuck with.  Maybe between the two of us we can figure it out.

"I'll go talk to Shui about my head, and then I'll come back.  I have more work to do here anyway, so Jago won't mind me spending some time over here."

On the bridge, Jago continues his discussion with the rep from Rangent Trade factors concerning Profit Margin's cargo...

On the ice, Tylen waits with Gan and Kvetz, gaining some shelter beneath the hull of the ship.  Gan is trying to plan their next move with Kvetz - places where they can stay, places where they can keep the prisoners until they can catch their next ship - but the woman is not feeling talkative, apparently still suffering som pain in her leg.  In the end she props herself up against one of the landing struts, and Gan wanders across to look at the ventral turret.

After a quick tour around the outside of the turret, he asks Tylen, "What is it?  Laser and two launchers of some sort?  She have another one up top?"

Shui starts thawing out the bountyhunters' prisoners.  Now it's just a matter of waiting, for both Shui and Yas.  Relays in the berths tick over as the systems run through the automated process.  Shui's job consists mainly of monitoring the readouts periodically.  Yas' job seems to consist mainly of somehow managing to loom over Shui, even though she's actually outside the door of the room.

Keryn chews at her lower lip for a moment before answering, "This is all new to me.  I'm struggling with some parts of it.  But only come back if the captain says it's all right.  I wouldn't want to get you in trouble."  She smiles at the two crew members.

"Now go and get Saskia's head examined.  Oh... " she blushes suddenly, "That didn't come out the way I meant it to."

Shui sighs quietly, turning her head to study Yasmine, currently waiting just outside. "Ms. Crow, I realize that it's an acquired skill, possibly requiring some dusting off preparatory to use upon the prisoners, but might you practice your armored loom on the coldsleep panel over there?"

A small smile plays over her sharp features as she turns back to her study of the bio-readouts.  "I find it distracting.  At least if you come in here, you can give me company."

"Well, I've been known to be somewhat distracting," Yas says in her deadpan voice as she steps into the room and takes the good doctor's advice to loom over the panel instead.

After a couple of moments she points to the panel and leans in over it even more.  "Hmm, never looked closer at one of these.  What does this button do?  Is that supposed to flash that way?  These numbers are fluctuating, is that normal?"

Jago agrees the 2,550cr per ton for the protein concentrate, provided the buyer collects from the hold, but will hold off on the ‘Breath-Easy’ until he’s heard from the other interested parties.

This, now, she can handle. "The button is a calibration tool, please don't touch it."  Her tone is somewhat absent, but still carries a hint of firmness.  "The numbers are supposed to be fluctuating, as the clients are being raised from cryogenic slumber."  Shui cocks an eyebrow.  "I would be concerned if they were not fluctuating."

Another switch thrown, and they're that much closer to finished.  "Do you want them removed simultaneously, or one after the other?" the doctor inquires.  "I seem to recall us wishing to remove the prisoner first, handing him over to his guards, then releasing his brother after they've had time to leave."

"For calibration?  That's an odd place for it.  And I hope you are waking the right guys, the wild brother isn't due for thawing just yet, just the other two that our bounty hunters brought in, the freezers that had the shackles on them," Yas replies and looks around. "Those go on when they wake up."

"Oh, and one at a time, but close enough so we can shackle one as the other thaws up."

She glances at the panel again and shakes her head.

"Absolutely.  Easy enough to manage."  The two prisoners are now being 'thawed' in a staggered sequence, allowing for plenty of time to get the chilled, disoriented men into their shackles.

It won't be EASY, as it leaves just Shui and Yasmine, but she has utter confidence in the security officer's capacity...even if she weren't handling men already far below their peak due to the coldsleep.

"These two first...delivered...then our unexpected guest," she murmurs.  "As for the button, it does seem an odd place, but if one is familiar with the item in question it works."  A small smile touches her lips.  "I found the...ah...'knives' you gave us for practice to be awkward, myself; I'm certain things would be different were I accustomed to their use."

Just to be sure, she paces over and checks the readout Yasmine examines, her slim form rather small beside the armored woman.

"With this little suit I could just hold them up if they tried something, but safety first.  As for the dear brother, we shall see where and when he is released.  Meanwhile, no one will hear about him."

Yas seems completely as ease regarding the prisoners and more interested in the panel.

"Really?  I suppose if you get into a bad habit then you get used to it, but it's not up to military specs, I tell you that.  Too easy to confuse these here, see?  Mistakes can be the last thing you do, and...  Ah, heh, sorry to bore you, let's get Frosty and Popsicle out, shall we, and dress them up with their finest?"

"As for the 'knives', that's another story with bad habits..."  Shui could tell Yas was making a face behind the visor but it was hard to tell what for.  "Oh, you best handle the shackles, wouldn't want to accidently pinch their necks with these." she chortles and wiggles her powered fingers about.

"Yep.  Sand and missiles. A couple of cannons  top." Tylen replies briefly as they await the release of the prisoners.

"Perhaps not to military specs," Shui admits, "but to medical ones, that is a different matter.  It functions sufficiently well for those trained in its use, and unlike military equipment, isn't necessarily needed to be puzzled out by someone untrained in the field.  Hence, things fit where they are the most expedient for a skilled operator."

"And most certainly I am not bored."

Pausing in her work, she considers Yasmine's armor. "I have no doubt you will have little trouble with them, either wearing that or not..."  A shrug and a small smile follow. "However, we will likely have less trouble from them if they do not believe they have any chance at all.  So, one at a time, as you advise.  Though as you say, I will handle the restraints."

There comes a moment of silence as Shui continues to work.  Then: "There is something about the knives that disturbs you?" she quietly inquires.

"Untrained?  Oh no, then you're not allowed to use it, barely carrying it to someone, nah, more a question about safety, too easy to push the wrong button.  But then, this isn't used under stressful circumstance, really, so I suppose ease of use takes precedence over safety," Yas says with a powered shrug.

"Of course.  We know they haven't got a chance, but they need to know too.  Hence my hardware," she points out and pulls up her biggest gun.  It is easy to picture her grinning even if the voice is deadpan.

A moments silence, then a long, slow breath in.  The voice that follows is if possible even more deadpan.  "Knives in general?  No, only in combat situations.  Shooting someone is bad enough, but...  Yeah, you know.  Eye to eye and all that.  They'll watch you.  For ever.  Except for those who can't handle it, and take to the blade like a bad habit.  Those, ah, they're lost for good.  Can't turn back from that."

So, are they about ready then?"  The change on subject follows immediately and without a change of tone and she motions to the sleep chambers.

Jago doesn't have to wait long.  Within a few minutes the other two trading operations here at Davis have contacted him.  Rangent Import and Export are apparently prepared to buy all of the Loxibac Breathe-Easy for Cr6,500 per ton.  Davis Trading offer only Cr30,000 for the whole shipment.  When Jago doesn't immediately accept their offer, they do bump it up to Cr32,000, and then they play the, "We can beat whatever you are offered by our competitors." card...

Seems like the Loxibac could be a big seller here...

In the cryoberth bay, Yas and Shui are deep in conversation with only the frozen passengers for an audience.  At least they can be reasonably certain that it's not their chat which is leaving the prisoners cold.  A timer on the berths reveals that they will open in fifteen and twenty minutes...

Keryn stands up and grabs hold of Saskia's elbow.  Then she marches the engineer towards the hatch into the cargo bay.  "Go.  Your head is bleeding.  Would you leave something unattended in the engine room if it was leaking... some stuff?  Ash, make her go and get her head fixed."

"Ah, sand launcher." Gan says, nodding appreciatively, "Heard of them.  Man I spoke to said they can be used like a giant shotgun, if you need one."  He glances at a timepiece strapped to his wrist and sighs, "About a half hour before your boss fetches the other two out, I suppose?"

Kvetz pushes away from the landing strut and starts to hobble about, "Don't you ever shut up?"

"See what I have to put up with?  No respect for her superiors."

Ash gives Keryn a sheepish smile as he takes Saskia's arm.  "Yes, Ma'am" he says as he applies gentle pressure to both the engineer's arm and the hand that is being held over the wound.

He seems a bit tentative, though it seems more out of deference to Saskia and her momentary silence than anything else.  "Are you all right, Ms. Blake?" he prompts, trying to determine if he should be helping Saskia lie down or get to over to the cold berths to bother Shui.  Ash is uncertain if he is strong enough to lift the Profit Margin's engineer, even though she is smaller than he is.  He instinctively tenses the muscles around his right knee to ensure that if he needs to bear some extra weight that it won't be too much of a problem.

"Indeed.  Lack of necessity for use in a stressful situation favours expedience." Different worlds, the battlefield and the Low Berths, the barracks and the doctor's office.  "One hopes I will never have to do this quick..."  She waves at the timer.  "No matter how fast one finishes, there is a limiting step in the time necessary for the process itself to complete."

But at Yasmine's next words, the slight woman stills.  Almost unnaturally so.  In perfect silence she listens to the leaden words.  Yasmine's face might be obscured, but Shui can imagine it, the empty eyes staring into a distant point or time.  It's easy for her.  She sees those eyes in the mirror, every morning, and right now they're like little chips of obsidian slicked over with black ice. "'Like a bad habit'," she echoes quietly, her own voice flat.  "Yes, I understand this."

Abruptly the doctor blinks, her distant gaze thawing as Yasmine swiftly changes the subject.  Words claw their way up her throat, but she chokes them down, unwilling to force a continuation upon the chief, who obviously would prefer to speak on something else.  "I fear they will be some time yet.  A good quarter hour.  Did you happen to bring something to read?"