Location: Talon Nest
(One week later)

It has taken the better part of a week for everyone to gather back at Talon Nest.  Whilst the trip itself had only taken three days, then there was then the issue of keeping Jace imprisoned in a cabin while Devon and his droid team cleared the navicom of all data since they'd escaped from the TIE's.  He also performed some quick repairs.  Then it had just been a case of flying the ship to open space, purging all systems again and then letting Jace go with his ship before returning to base on the Nightshrike.

There had been no warm farewells when the group had parted ways.  Jace's treatment had been less than ideal and it was possible he might try to make trouble in the future for the Talons.  They'd even been suggestions of ensuring there was an 'accident' aboard his vessel.  These suggestions were quickly quashed and Jace went on his way.

Aside from that, things had been fairly routine.  Flash was responding well to treatment, closely monitored by Sheila.  The new employees were quickly found accomodation and duties to perform.  Devon found his repair droids had been performing well in his absence.  Both headhunters had been repaired and Devon declared them both combat-ready.  The Nightshirke had also had all external damage repaired and now just needed work on secondary and non-essential systems.  The cargo conversion on her was not yet complete which meant she couldn't serve as a hanger for the two fighters yet.

The only downside was that Zyra had yet to report in or make contact.  It was possible she was laying low or was having trouble getting off-planet.  Nobody spoke of the possibility she hadn't made it.  They'd lost too many Talons to Imperial treachery to consider the loss of their XO as well.

After nearly a week, they'd finally recieved orders from Mark.  They'd be a mission briefing the following morning.

---

OOC:  Everyone has five game days to have been working on any side projects they wish to.  Once everyone has had time to post about what they've been doing, well move on to the mission briefing.  Flash, you will be at full health provided you only engage in non-strenuous activity.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Sat 10 Oct 2009.

Since arriving back at base, the commander remained buried in his work.  When he wasn't in his office pouring over Zyra's files on finances, logistics and the like he was pulling shifts in the hangar, helping repair the ships.  He took no meals in the recreation halls, taking his meals back to his office with him.

While the commander had always been known to be moody at times, but never to this extent.  Some of the veteran Talons tried to engage him in conversation, but gained little more than grunts in response.  Normally when the commander was in this kind of mood, Zyra would be the first to tease and chastise her superior until he relented.  Unfortunately she had still not reported in which only added to the gloom.

Some of the newer crew expressed concerns at Mark's behaviour, but those who knew him well, knew he'd snap out of it.  A good fight was what he needed.


OOC:  Thought I'd post something while I'm waiting for everyone else.  Seems to be a lot of OOC posting but not much (albeit any) in-game!

Sheila will spend a decent amount of time getting settled and exploring the part of the base that she's allowed on (she doesn't expect to be given the keys to the kingdom given she's new), when she's not on her assigned duties.  She will also try to get to know the other talons, what they used to do, how they ended up here, but she will not push either..  And if anyone asks, she will give a generalised history of herself.

She will do as much sitting on Flash as necessary to get him healed up (Plash, how much work do you make her do in that regard?)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Mon 12 Oct 2009.

Somewhere along the way, Flash realized that he didn't have his rifle!  Consequently, he was rather sour, and more silent than usual, if that was even possible.  He did tend to talk more during missions, but the rest of the time, he kept quite to himself.  If Sheila tries engaging in conversation, she would find that he responds some, but as soon as she prods into his personal life, he shuts up like a clam.

Jamie spent a great deal of the five days following the mission with rest and relaxation.  There had been far too little opportunity for sleep and recovery on this last trip.  He considered these five days his personal vacation time.
There were also some personal questions he now had; he spent a lot of time digging through any archives available on the ship and base computers. 
He also spent a bit of time being conversational with the new recruit, Sheila, being fairly open with her about his past.
"Most people don't ask about that.  I was fortunate enough to go through the Academy.  I served in the Imperial Navy as a TIE pilot for a year or so.  I was pretty good...obviously...I survived the deathtrap that is a TIE fighter.  I was ordered to do some...unpleasant things.  I followed orders for a while.  Then...well, I'd always had a strong liking for explosions.  I blew up my TIE.  They ripped off all my insignia, one by one, and dishonorably discharged me.  Ha!  Then I found my way to Commander Sheppard; I signed on to his crew as the "demolitions expert."  I was really looking to have a good time in the ranks of a rebellion!  I figured it wouldn't be as strict as the Navy, and I'd get a lot of care-free opportunities to blow stuff up at will.  The Commander saw things a little differently.  He offered me a command opportunity.  I figured someone had to do it, and I was available; that's when this got serious for me.  I've had some fun, sure.  We've had dogfights and groundside battles.  I've blown up some big stuff.  We've destroyed a slaver group, fought the Imperials, and now we've destroyed a drug processing facility.  We've done good things.  But we've lost a few good people along the way."
Jamie paused for a moment solemnly to contemplate and honor those who had died in the service of the Black Talons.  Then, in a sharp reversal, he smiled charmingly at Sheila.
"So...what's a girl like you doing in a place like this?"

In reply to Jamie Webb (msg #5):

"You made it all the way through the Academy and TIE fighter training and didn't realise that they were seriously going to expect you to obey orders?"  She laughed, a relaxed moment she hasn't been able to have in a long time.  "Of course, orders is what got me too, in the end.  And believe me, a place like this is better than the last couple places I've been. My pay for this last job was transport.  That's all, no money, just a lift off that hellhole."   She ran her finger's through her wispy blonde bangs and smiled back at Jamie.  "I'm tempted to let you guess, if I didn't suspect that you'd probably already looked me up."

"I was supposed to get married, be some up and coming officer's wife, proof of his loyalty and status. My brother was going to be a general. He washed out of Raithel, ended up at Cariba in the storm trooper training,  Except I didn't like any of the young up and coming officers I was introduced by my father the minor bureaucrat that he was.  Hell, I could probably do better jobs at what they were trying to do than they could."

Rann spent the five weeks working through his contacts to find a buyer for the droid CPU he'd acquired.  Then he went to see Sheppard.
“ I've found a buyer for that CPU.  If you want, I can try to find someone to supply the gear and supplies we'll need to get the ships back in working order?”

On returning to their base, Devon disappeared into his bunk and slept for twelve hours straight.  Emerging around lunchtime the next day, he grumbled his way down to the hanger and got straight to work on the Talons small fleet of vessels...


For the next couple of weeks Devon seemed to live in a groove between the hanger and his bunk, throwing himself into his work to take his mind off the ones who had died, and the ones they had been forced to leave behind.  Occasionally he'd join the other Talons at mealtimes, and when he did he was his normal cheerful self; but more often Devon would work through mealtimes, sending one of his droids up to collect his food for him.

The former thief worked diligently on the ships that had been placed in his care, and for the most part he worked silently; it was clear that Sheppard didn't want to talk, and that was OK by Devon - in his book you couldn't do any good by forcing someone to talk if they didn't want to; and so he worked alongside his commander in companionable silence.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:32, Fri 16 Oct 2009.