In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 149):

Walker, having observed the bridge for a few minutes, listened for sounds of occupancy.

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg # 150):

There was no response from the bridge, and it was impossible to observe through the iris valve and bulkhead.



The Vargr looked nervously at the alarm on the intercom and decided he couldn't make it.

"Pack? What the hell! If we desert, Kalamanaru is going to shit, then kill us if we take off with his ship! He'll kill you too. You better get back outside, I won't say anything."

Ken motioned for Stanley and Neva to approach and cover the Vargr.  He moved closer but just out of easy reach.  "We're not deserters, we're explorers and we've found the treasure that Kalamanaru was looking for.  Now we're going to get off planet with our spoils.  And he can't kill us if we're long gone."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 152):

He looked unsurely from Ken to Neva and finally to Stanley. If anything, the presence of a "gog" convinced him this wasn't a group affiliated with his present, or perhaps former, employer.

"Uh... yeah, okay whatever you say, chief."

Ken smiled but without teeth.  He kept a firm stance, knowing that dominance was important with Vargr.  "Good, we'll give you a handsome reward for joining the right side."  He motioned away from the console.  "But until we have the ship under control you'll understand we're wary.  Now, is the ship ready to go?  Is it fueled?"

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 152):

Neva moved to cover the Vargr.  She personally thought that if he talked too much it would be just as easy to kill him.  He couldn't spread the alarm then but she didn't think the others would go for it.  At least not if they made the first move.  If he attacked first that would be another thing.

She watched the Vargr carefully to see if he would make a move.  She was ready just in case.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 154):

The Vargr scratched his ear. It was obvious he wasn't going to get greased, although he wasn't sure about the female.

"Fine. My name is "Oksasaellllozae" but they just call me "Oskar". We're fuelled. I'm trying to get the ship prepped for liftoff, but we could takeoff right now, assuming you control the bridge. Which is what I think you want, too? So if you don't mind..."

"Gotta do it the hard way,"  Said Walker.  "We'll enter as soon as I get the bulkhead opened.  I'll open it on three."

Walker quietly walked up to the controls for the iris.  He held up his non-rifle hand, and counted to three, then opened the hatch.

Ken nodded to Neva as she moved up to cover the Vargr.  "I'm glad you decided to cooperate Oskar.  I'm Ken Jenkins, this is Neva Morozova and that is Stanley.  It's good to know that the ship is ready.  Now, who else is aboard besides you?  We're not out to kill anyone so letting us know who is where will help us take over peacefully."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 158):

"Captain Lambert, the pilot, is on the bridge. Frick and Frack (I don't know their names but they sounded Zhodani) were on guard duty outside. One was navigator, the other was ship'd medic. I assume you went through them to get up the ramp. Plus me, that's the entire crew. Frick and Frack doubled as gunners when needed.

"Where are you headed? Dominion? Descarothe Hegemony? Or League of Free Suns? If you want to avoid Kalamanaru the Free Suns is your best bet, he's got a lot of pull in Descarothe and the Dominion. That's where I'd prefer to get dropped off if we part ways."

Oskar was keeping his hands where they could see them.

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg # 157):

Snugging his SMG against his shoulder, Jaxxon moved out of the way.

"Ok, fine! You open it."

The iris valve Whoooshed open. There was a woman at the pilot station. She turned around, startled, and said, "whoa... who are you guys? What's going on? You, you look familiar." She seemed to recognise Jaxxon.

"Oh, uh, hi Mariel. Long time, no see."

In reply to Jaxxon Zalvedes (msg # 160):

Walker followed Jaxxon in, keeping enough space between them so his rifle would not be caught up and rendered ineffective.  He was also looking for a second target.

"Good, you two have already met.  Here's the deal. We're leaving.  Your boss has already tried to machine-gun us once, so we're uninterested in talking to him.  The indigs don't like us.  You can either work with us, spend the trip locked up, or dead.  I know I'd prefer not being dead."

Linus just tagged along behind. Despite being a Naval vet, he'd never been more than a storeman...

Ken nodded slowly.  "Good decision Oskar." He motioned to Neva.  "Let the others know that there should just be one person left onboard on the bridge." Ken turned back to Oskar.  "We're headed to the League.  Once we reach there safely you will be free to go and do whatever you want.  We have Lorain Messandi with her as well as her father."

She looked from Jaxxon to Walker to Linus.

"Well, you sure know how to sweet-talk a gal. There's also the low berths.

"Good to see you alive, Jax, they said you were missing after the attack on camp. Everybody better get settled in, we can lift-off at any time."

She started her preflight checks.

"Glad to see you to, Mari. If you can handle nav, we have a pilot on board. We can get everyone strapped down in the crew lounge?"

Ken called to the others.  "We have engineering and the engineer secured. Where do we stand with the bridge?

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 163):

Neva nodded to Ken and let the others know the situation on who was on the bridge and waited for an update from the bridge.

In reply to Jaxxon Zalvedes (msg # 165):

"Linus, would you please go back to engineering and let the others know we've got the bridge?"

"Mariel, who else is on board the ship?"

"Of course, on my way," said Linus, and headed down to Engineering with the message.

"There's just Oskar, our Vargr engineer, and me, plus Frick and Frack. I assume you went through them to get up the ramp?" She checked out the bridge's panoramic viewport and didn't see the other two human crew below.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 169):

On his way to Engineering he found Lorrain waiting for him in the lounge.

"Is everything all right? Do we have the ship?"

In reply to Mariel (msg # 170):

"Unfortunately.  Not in the mood to risk a firefight."

She sighed.

"Oh, that's just swell. Those guys are useless.

"I take it you want to get going immediately? Want me to call Engineering, get the ball rolling?"

In reply to Mariel (msg # 173):

"Let's wait for Linus to come back.  If the other guys haven't resolved Engineering, I don't want to screw up their end of things."