The  Free-Trader ship of  Captain Richard Alexander Jacobson.....

Interfacing....
... Interfaced.

Connecting ....
... Connection Established.

Warning: Remote comms system model capability 10 terabytes / nanosecond only. Video and audio quality reduced to compensate.
You will be charged 10cr per minute for this call.

The holoscreen changed from a semi-transparent empty frame into the image of a woman sat at a desk, inside what appeared to be a pre-fabricated plastic hut. She was dressed plainly in a light grey jumpsuit, her coppery-blonde hair tied back into a pony tail. Despite being in her early fifties her skin was smooth and glowing. Her eyes had a youthful life to them that enhanced her beauty and lowered her apparent age by at least ten years. She smiled out of the screen.

"Hi mom. Just a quick call to wish you a happy birthday. How's life out on the edge?"

"Richie! Great to hear from you. You should be here, its amazing! You know the sky has these electromagnetic storms that rage across it every three days? A deep mixture of blues and purples dance across the atmosphere in a flood of colour. Its beautiful. So how's Rose? Is she still seeing that nice polish girl, what's her name again?"

"Asia? Mom, that was two years ago! You know what Rose is like when it comes to relationships. Can't hold one down for more than a few months."

A strange ten legged spider like creature with orange furry skin suddenly strolled into view. It's head had a series of tentacle-like feelers where a mouth should be and a group of large eyes on slender stalks seemed to galance in all directions at once. It slid along the desk, up the woman's arm and ended up on her left shoulder where it began to beat its mouth-feelers gently against her neck. She giggled like a schoolgirl.

"What.. is.. that?"

"We call them ticklers", the woman giggled,  "they live in the great purple and black trees to the north of the camp. Aren't they adorable?"

"Uh. Adorable, yeah!", Richard replied, a mixture of confusion and revulsion on his face.

"You know, son, you should come on of these expeditions. Its amazing how much life there is out here. There's something really serene and peaceful about a planet that hasn't yet been touched by an advanced civilization and all of its problems. No beaurcracy. No politics. no..."

"War." Richard finished the sentance for her. "Mom, we may not have always seen eye to eye, but I miss him too." He saw the pain cross her face and half wished he'd hadn't even mentioned his father. He sighed inwardly.

"Anyway, Richie. Gotta go. There's a species of bird out here with a fourty foot wingspan. Charlie spotted it on day two and we think we've found out where its nesting. We're heading up there in a few minutes. Take care. I love you son."

"I love you too." He cut the transmission.

It was always the same. A brief conversation once every few months that got cut short at the mention of his father's death in the line of service. Richard had been a disspointment to the old man ever since he dropped out of flight academy at nineteen. Despite this he had loved his father in every aspect except for one. The old man's devotion to duty that made him put his career before his family and had ultimately clamied his life.

"The transfer of construction materials and  working equipment to the very greatful farmers of this dear little planet is complete. They have shown their gratitude by bestowing us with credits and transferred the second set of cargo for transport to Tortuga as soon as we are ready."

The voice echoed through the bridge comm system at a level that although comfortably audable was so smooth and musical that it felt like it was being softly sung rather than spoken. The owner was O'dell, a Sanri and navigator aboard Richard's ship who was overseeing the cargo transfer. The ships "Security" officer, Ssaluman, had stayed on board during shore leave and was now fine tuning the weaponary of the "Obsidian Rose" for the tenth time since making the system jump. The had decided not to let 'Sally' take shore leave partly because he sometimes had what could only be described as 'anger management' issues but mainly because having a Largran on board your ship as a crewmember did tend to make the locals nervous. Which left only one more crew member unaccounted for.

"Any sign of Rose yet?"

"Our beautiful and highly intelligent cyber space expert is most likely enjoying the exotic charms of some suitably minded young farmer's daughter. I don't know how she manages to bed so many like minded partners when she lacks the usual paraphenalia of mating ritual phrases that you humans are so fond of employing."

"I don't creep around them. I don't promise them what I can't deliver, only what I can. I'm honest about what I want from them. And I have good 'gaydar'."

The third voice, softer and more musical than the first if a little less flowery than the Sanri's, had a hint of mock anger in it.

"Rose! Ah such an apt name for such a beautiful creature. Have you ever considered what it would be like to forgo the charms of a warm-bodied female and instead try the protective strength within these four masculine arms?"

"Hey! hands off O'dell! I saw her first!"

"Keep dreaming boys! Keep your hormones to yourself. The only way you're getting any piece of this cherry if if you go for major gender reassignment. Got it?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

Richard did a quick systems check before initiating launch procedures.

"O.K. Since we're all here. O'dell - get your ass down here. We're already three hours behind schedule. Next stop - Tortuga."

--> Tortuga
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Mon 16 July 2012.

  The ship moved throught eh BAlck..Alba   was just a tad short of 2 days away. The Vids carried the "peacetalks" between the demons and the Angels ...and ..earth..but none were surprised at the out come...what surpised  most folks, was Earth stepping out from behind the Angel's  aprons.

  Earth...had  all but  delacred total war against a race, that was already fighting a total war!...the demons  punched us in the face, and were surpised to get a kick in the grion back!

Shra Had made a lot of commotion after the ship left its port, though nothing aggressive since, when she was checked on, she was nearly nestled into a large nest of cushions and torn bits of foam and what ever else she could find as support beams for her bedding. She made herself comfortable as she laid down but never took her eyes off the door, watching it closely like a hawk waiting for the right prey to dive down on.

Richard, Rose and O'dell had been watching the vids with interest. Sally was instead watching the door to Shra's aviary.

"Why am I not surprised that this is going nowhere.", Richard commented as the debate raged on.

When the demon made his final speech, Richard Shrugged. "Well at least he's being honest. Strange how throughout our popular culture we had the notion of an alien opening line as 'we come in peace' and yet here we are watching an alien tell us he's gonna round us all up and dine on us with a nice Chianti."

He followed it up with a Hannibal Lecter impression. Rose Laughed. O'dell didn't get the joke.

When the talks were over Rose flipped off the feed. "Well thats a wasted hour of our lives we're not gonna get back. I'm going to check on our guest."

She walked off the bridge.

....


The door to the Aviary opened and rose entered, smiling. Sally stayed a respectable distance behind her, alert and ready to strike if need be.

"Good morning, Shra. I hope your stay here so far has been comfortable", she began.

Shra lifted her head from a light sleep then lowered it in respect. "Good...Shra had good rest, but think the lizard look tastie." She jested licking her beak. She glanced around to look at Sally then looked back to Rose. "Can Shra come visit ladies ship now?"

Sally stared menacingly back at Shra, but unlike last time he took no action. It was uncertain if Sally restrained himself because of his telling off the previous night or because of Rose's presence.

Rose shrugged in response to Shra's joke. "That's one way to describe him, I suppose. I can think of several others but it would be rude to repeat them in front of a guest."

In resonse to her question Rose nodded.

"Where would you like to start? Bridge?, Engineering? Mess hall?"

  while  the ship cruises towards Alba. The warning light  come on, just about  an hour  out past, the "no attack" zone of Tortuga.

  Vectoring in on the Rose are two small Demon sloops. Lightly armed  and armored, but fast..used for hit and run missions  or to carry dispatches  and  passengers  quickly...at this point in time they would intercept the Rose 10 hours before they reach Alba.............

Shra seemed to be smiling as she rolled out of her made nest to the standing position. "Shra wants to see Bridge first." She made her way over to rose and raises her wrists to the woman for the cuffs. "Shra does not think she needs chains, but Shra understands what is needed to be done."

Rose shook her head. "No cuffs. This ship requires a minimum of 2 to fly it and I doubt you're up to walking home.

"Rose. We've got company. 2 Demon ships and it looks like they brought the Chianti with them."

Rose frowned as the announcement came over the intercom.

"Well it looks like the guided tour will have to wait.

She hurried out with Sally following close behind.

...

"Weaponsss online."

"Shields online."

"O'dell, see if you can find a freqency that the Demons can't jam. Send out an SOS to any ships that might be in range."

Richard was already performing evasive manouvers, putting the ship on an erratic path toward the enemy vessels.

"Mayday. Mayday. This is the Obsidian Rose en route to Alba. We are under attack by Demon vessels. Any assistance provided would be greatly appreciated. Transmitting our current co-ordinates"

"Ah help from a pretty sounding heroine." Even in a tense situation O'dell brought his libido along for the ride.

"Two lightly armed sloops closing fast. We are a lightly armed merchant vessel. We can match them in firepower but we can't outrun them. They are more heavily shielded than us."

Richard took over where O'dell left off.

"Thank you for your assistance, Hermes. Plotting a new vector now. Be advised we have an Avian prisoner on board and so may need a security detail when this is over. Especially if confinement is breached."

Richard changed course.

"Rose. Divert power to port shields. Sally, You have the main turret. Try to disable their weapons and engines in that order. Don't fire until you know that you can make every shot count.

  The sloops were Closing, The Ob Rose  had the becons insight  both sloops  forward ghuns fired  , aiming for the becon side of the Ob Rose..they were trying to shepard the ship away from Tortuga  space.

The reinforced shielding barely held as the assault continued. The ship shook with the impact and Richard struggled to keep the course toward Fuji. The Rose returned fire, attempting to take out the weapons of the lead ship. There was a second when the under section of the ship was exposed to the enemy and a stray shot hit this less shielded section.

A hole tore through the cargo bay.

"Cargo bay breach. Foamers activated."

The mechanical voice of the ships computer made Richard start.

"Ah nuts. O'dell. Get down to the cargo bay and see if our guest still has all her feathers."

...

The rear side of the cargo bay buckled and cracked. A two inch hole appeared in the bulkhead and air rushed out. The hull began to produce a chemical foam designed to harden and patch the hole. Normally this would keep the cargo bay and its occupants safe, but there was a further complication.

The section of damaged bulkhead contained a power node that kept the magnetic seals on the  inner cargo bay doors secure. In addition a small amout of plasma fire superheated the control computer for the cargo bay itself causing a malfunction.

"Power to internal door mechanism offline. Magnetic locks released. WARNING: Cargo bay doors opening. Evacuation of cargo bay advised."

Shra could feel the excitement from her room. She knew something was out there, just what, she didn't know. Until the demons hit the ship. She quickly held her breath as the hull opened up then sealed itself. For the moment she felt safe again, until the automated malfunction voice came over the coms. Just as the cargo bay doors opened so did her room door. she could feel the pressure of the room drop and the air being sucked out again. Shra took another deep breath and moved for the door. Hopefully she could get into the main part of the ship before everything, including her got sucked out.

   The Gutterial voice  cut through the Coms. The Demons had no way of knowing the  Coms  are linked the whole way through and recorded....YOu will stand  down...You will stop and  Be boarded..if you cross into Tortuga Space, we will destroy you.....

  Before  he could say anything else..the  First sloop was starfed by Justin  and His his flight...

  ..Hello there  Ob Rose! Please stay to the Starboard  side  and head to those Big olde ESN warships that are  just a few minutes behind us......As  each Flight  came through, they strafed the sloops, Odd flights  peeled off to the starboard...even flights  peeled off to the Port....

  Suddenly...another Voice  came on the Coms,..This is Captain Morish...of the Demon Empire Shiip Rava. All ESN ship  will leave this sector.....

 Coming into View  was a Demon Battleship..Twice the size of  any Demon ship they have fought thus far....already...small dots were appearing  from the  "scoop" from under the craft...her  fighters Have Launched....

"Woohoo!! Here comes the cavalry, Richard yelled.

"Roger that. Staying starboard. We have taken minimal damage but have a hull breech in our cargo bay."

Rose was running diagnostics on the cargo bay whilst Richard responded. She suddenly started.

"ESN Pilots. Please be advised we have a cargo bay malfunction and a loss of containment of an Avian prisoner. Will attempt to rectify the situation."


After making the broadcast she glanced at Richard before leaving her seat.

"Be careful", he mouthed as he watched her leave the bridge.

***

Shra made it to the cargo bay doors in time and got through them just before the emergency backup systems kicked in and sealed the cargo bay again. As soon as she was safe she heard footsteps heading down the lower corridor of the ship.

    Alright  Captain Jacobson..stay to the Herme's  stardbaord...Your Port... Look for the  flashing red light and try to dock there...our damage conrol people will meet your there...if you need help with your prisoner....contact the security folks who wil be there as well...
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:59, Wed 01 Aug 2012.

Instead of running from the footsteps she made her way towards them. she was still fighting herself for breath when she ran into Rose, giving her a happy looking grin. "Shra see ladies ship now?" She mused only to stop and lean on the wall to catch her breath. "Shra Sorry, Room stopped being good enough for Shra." She said shaking her head.

Rose started when she saw Shra coming towards her. She immediately adopted her best defensive stance and was about to throw the bird when she spoke.

Rose stared at Shra for a few seconds, dumbfounded by the bird's apparent lack of worry over their predicament and then suddenly burst out laughing.

***

The Hermes pilots had just finished taking out the last of the demon sloops when the message came over from the Hermes itself.

"Roger that, Hermes", Richard replied. "Initiating docking procedures. And thanks for helping us out there."

He brought the Rose as close as possible to the docking bay lights, matching the speed of the Hermes. Then he punched the speed up a notch. The ship made an almost graceful landing on the docking bay. It bounced a few times but finally settled to a stop.

  When the    Connetion was made the   inside doors opened up..a small staic  field to make certain there was no leakes..a Corpral of the  security team stepped aboard thge Ob Rose and saluted   Jacobson,..Perrmission to come aboar, Sir..Once your people  are  on the  Hermes..we will bring the repair team on...we'll need someone to show us where you need the work done...if your Pirsoner is handy..I have men to watchover  him..her.. just outside the door?

Richard nodded. "O'dell, Rose, what's the status of our guest?"

***

O'dell entered the corridor connecting the cargo bay just as Rose burst into laughter at Shra's question.

"How did you get here before me?"

Richard's message came over the intercom. Rose Answered. "Shra's fine. She's been patiently waiting for me to give her a tour of the ship."

"O.K. Well we are now aboard the Hermes and we have a security detail ready to take her off our hands."

Rose frowned at the notion. She wasn't a great fan of military types and she was beginning to like Shra. She hoped the avian would be treated humanely.

"On our way."

Shra seen the reaction on Rose's face from the call and gave herself a frown. "Do not worry for shra. Shra is a strong hawk-face, she won't let other humans hurt her." She said in an attempted to reassure the woman. she pulled herself from the wall and held out her arms again for the chains. "Shra will need them, or monkeys from other ship will chain her for you."

Rose was beginning to wonder just why Shra was a prisoner. For an avian she showed a great deal of fairness and reasoning. Perhaps it was fate that had brought them to the Hermes. Perhaps it was far better to hand Shra over to the ESN than to whoever was waiting for her on Alba.

She put the restraints back on Shra, making them as comfortable as possible.

***

A few minutes later and the four privateers led Shra to the ramp and handed her over to the security detail.

"Thanks for saving our asses out there, Richard began. "My name is Richard Alexander stone. I'm Captain of the Obsidian Rose. This is my Engineer, Rose, my Navigator O'Dell, and my tactical officer Ssaluman. Sally for short. I'd be thankful if you'd help us make some repairs and refuel. I'd also like to meet the flyboys that pulled our asses out of the frying pan."