Billy seems to zone out when the ship gets underway but after a while he starts making small talk with Bradford, asking what he's spent his entire career doing.  If Whitney warms up he's willing to chat with her as well about what an entire career spent on one engine is like.  As the hours turn to days he gently pries at the two SAGE employees about their knowledge and experience with other SAGE tech, and anything he can get them to mention about how it works.  He's especially curious about the energy dissipation field from the guest rooms and hints at some of the tech from the Venus raid while trying not to spill his guts about everything he's seen.  Whenever conversations wind down he's more than happy to sit in complete silence for long stretches, staring into space.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 23):

Kayla calmly guides her avatar toward a power-up.

>> Flux says: I agree, but I'm not sure how knowing we're being constantly watched helps us in terms of doing things we're not supposed to do.

<I'm not saying we ARE being watched everywhere, just that until we know where the gaps are, let's assume the worst.  When we learn what's actually covered, then we can work around it, or disable it.>

In reply to Kayla Wallin (msg # 24):

Kaylaaaaaaaaaa

The plaintiff whine comes from the bathroom.

Kayla sighs and runs into the bathroom. There are hurried sounds of voices and a flurry of activity.
finally nightmare emerges wearing very light makeup But very noticeable makeup due to her pale skin and her hair pulled back in a clean but simple pony tail.

She hops around on one foot putting her boots on and brushes off her coat to freshen it up



Kayla puts her hands on her shoulders looking her up and down. After an appraising look and a thumbs up Nightmare stalks out of the room.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 26):

Kayla returns to the room, shaking her head as Rebecca stalks out.

"I don't know why she thought I was a makeup artist, but I did my best."

Kayla raises an eyebrow.

"I'm not even sure where she GOT makeup. Anyway, where were we...?"

She slides back into her seat and glances at the tablet screen.

>> Flux: That's a rational thought. She's a bottle of irrational hormones, though. We don't have the years it normally takes people to get used to it. We may have to step in to do what needs to be done when the time comes.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:10, Thu 14 Dec 2017.

In reply to Kayla Wallin (msg # 27):

Team Kamikaze

The voyage is pleasant and uneventful, for a change. Bradford and even Whitney prove to be fair companions on the journey, although they mostly want to either work or play an ancient card game called Pazaak.



By the time the trip ends, anyone who bothered to play this with them has become quite good at it.

After about 2 weeks, Sophia directs Xander to reduce the transport's speed. When he does so, the view outside stabilizes enough that you can finally see more than just the glow of stars and the dominating view of Saturn and its majestic rings. Also worth noting, your Archive access at this distance from Earth is so weak here that it's practically non-existent.

A hazy orb known as Titan can be seen in the (relative) distance -- certainly, it's the closest celestial body to your present location. You could likely make landfall today if you pushed it. Nearby, a fleet of sturdy-looking ships is holding the line against a pair of massive, egg-shaped vessels that pulse periodically with blue energy that looks an awful lot like Roshak tomfoolery.

The Goethe is not present, so far as I can tell, Sophia supplies. We have beaten them here! Although...that's strange...

A portion of the viewport zooms in, and a digital outline surrounds one vessel in particular. It doesn't take long to see why Sophia has brought this one to your attention, as it looks quite familiar by now.

The Factory! Viceroy beat US here, too, she observes. Should we hail him?
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:11, Thu 14 Dec 2017.

Billy narrows his eyes and takes a deep breath, letting it out through his nose with clear annoyance, "I'm going to shoot him.  I'm going to find something I'm sure will hurt, and shoot him with it.  Yes, hail the duplicitous bastard," Billy grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest and screwing up his face to be distinctly grumpy.

Reading Kayla's last message, Fiernas pauses the game and looks up.  "Have you ever put down an animal?  One that was sick, or wounded, or rabid?  The first time, it hurts.  It feels wrong.  Like you should be helping this thing, saving it.  Protecting it, and here you are, doing the opposite.  It hurts a little less each time, and eventually you realize that there's nothing wrong with it.  It's necessary.  They die so that they're not a danger to the rest of us.  We're all running this race together, but there comes a time when you can't keep up, and it's best to make your goodbyes as clean as you can.  Miss them later, but do what you have to do."

He self-consciously rubs Leo's ears while he talks, the dog blissfully accepting the affection.  "You get me?" he finishes.

He stands abruptly, putting together some of his gear.  "Come on, let's go check this place out.  I want to see what we're working with."

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 30):

Team Kamikaze

Billy waits impatiently for the communications console to respond, but it takes a bit longer than you're used to for the connection to be joined.

"I'm not getting a response," Sophia announces. "It's possible we're being scrambled or jammed, or that something was damaged during transit. Or that the Factory was damaged in the firefight, I suppose."

***

Team Titan

"I have some experience with that, unfortunately. It's never pleasant, even when it's necessary.

Kayla gathers some gear, then follows Fiernas out into the hallways.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 31):

Nightmare squares her shoulder and walks down the hall towards the mess hall.  She briefly stops and looks back at the door.

I left Percy inside... I should bring him with!

She remains frozen in the hallway briefly torn between the comforting world with her doll and the new scary experiences that await in the mess hall.

He... doesn't need to see this.

She says aloud to noone in particular.  With a sigh she continues into the unknown.

"We should only be so lucky." Billy grumbles, "You guys are doing diagnostic things right?" he asks Bradford and Whitney, "Does anything look broken?"  He huffs regardless of their response, "Tempted to go out there and bang on his stupid door.  What do you say, fearless leader?"

Let's get closer, Xander says, adjusting the heading. If we're being jammed, short range burst transmissions might still make it through. Though that Roshak fleet isn't promising.

Dumb question: is that actually the Factory, or another similar Amgine vessel?
This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Fri 15 Dec 2017.

"I would really rather not fathom the implications of more Amgine in our sector, especially without the rest of our guys in tow," Billy replies uneasily.

Only one way to find out, Xander replies, increasing the throttle. Keep trying to hail them, Soph.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:00, Fri 15 Dec 2017.

In reply to Xander (msg # 36):

Team Kamikaze

"I thought Viceroy was a friend and ally," Bradford remarks, his expression one of curiosity. "I mean, Dr. Pryor seemed to trust him. And you guys, too. Even if he is more eccentric than most people I've met."

Xander is able to pilot the ship pretty close the the Factory without any change in their luck regarding communications.

If he wants to actually pull up alongside it or attempt to dock with it by aligning hatches, that will require a piloting check.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:14, Fri 15 Dec 2017.

“He’s an alien spy who has conspired to establish some kind of interstellar politics without going through recognized channels to do it.  He says he’s a friend and has our best interests in mind, but I don’t trust him as long as he’s keeping cards off the table.  If he could’ve gotten us here faster than your new engine there’s no reason he couldn’t’ve volunteered that info.” Billy clarifies for those new to the situation.

"Barachiel, why don't you come with?  We're 80 miles straight down from where we traveled, I think you can stretch it another few hundred yards."

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 39):

"That kind of assumption has gotten me in trouble before," the man replies. Still, he rises and gathers a few things. "But I am very, very bored of sitting around in this room. I shall come with you."

He pauses mid-stride.

"Where are we going, again?"

"Just taking a walk around.  I want to see what's up with these new keycards.  If we happen to run into Rebecca and keep her from going even more nuts, even better."

He leaves, Kayla and Barachiel presumably in tow, the dogs bounding ahead of them.

OOC: What can we access now?  Is there a list we can have IC or OOC?

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 41):

Team Kamikaze

Your hails to the Factory continue to go unanswered, even as you approach a much closer proximity. The ship isn't quite stationary, but it's not really moving either -- it's simply bobbing along in the ocean that is the void, allocating no power whatsoever to its engines so far as you can tell.

Team Titan

Fiernas, Kayla, and Barachiel venture out into the hallways, following Fiernas's lead. They don't run into anyone else in the hallways of the guest room, though this may change if they attempt to leave their designated area.

Fiernas leads the group confidently down the halls, having explored enough to know the layout of the base fairly well.  He trades small jokes with Kayla as they go and probes Barachiel for more details about his abilities and where he comes from.


At one point in the hall, Leo begins growling in the back of his throat.  Not in anger, necessarily, but definitely communicating in low, agitated tones.  Fiernas turns to see what's the matter.  No sooner has he stopped than Leo lashes out with his front paw at the wall of the corridor.  His huge claw rakes the wall, leaving a single deep score mark in the metal.  With that, he jumps into the hair, spinning around as if playing a game, tongue lolling out happily.

"Leo!" Fiernas admonishes him without sting.  "What are you doing?  Stop breaking everything around us."

The group continues on, making for the Rec Room to get a workout in before work begins.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:39, Tue 19 Dec 2017.

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 43):

Team Kamikaze

"Nobody's home, or they're ignoring us," Bradford says, staring at the Factory as the transport approaches it. "Are we going to dock, or continue onward toward Titan?"

Whitney nods, and gestures toward the moon.

"That's the point, right? You wanted to warn someone about something? We already know the engine works. Let's deliver the message and get out of here before that fleet notices us."

Team Titan

Fiernas leads Kayla, Barachiel, and the dogs along the hallways, eventually reaching the recreation room. This room is distinct from the smaller gym, which is filled with exercise equipment. Instead, this room is mostly empty, containing smooth floors that can be programmed with different patterns to support a large number of different sports and similar activities. There is nobody currently using the facility, so the lights snap on as you enter.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:50, Tue 19 Dec 2017.

Fiernas accesses the room's controls, calling up the scheme for a large handball court.  "Hey, fellas!" He jogs over to the door as the room arranges itself.  He calls down through the doorway to a couple of passing scientists.  "Want a game of handball?  We could use a sixth."  As explanation he waves to the other two humans and two dogs currently milling around in the room.  Leo yips happily.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:24, Wed 20 Dec 2017.

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 45):

Team Titan

One of the figures stops suddenly, then turns to regard Fiernas. As both are wearing full-body suits and helmets (they look a bit like ultra-thin EVA suits), you're unable to make out the expression on either.

"I'm afraid I don't have time for handball at the moment," the figure who was in front of the other says. "Maybe another time?"

**

Team Kamikaze

We should certainly do something Sophia's voice echoes through the ship. But there are many variables to consider.

"If Viceroy's already whispering in Braeburn's ear there might not be anything for us to tell them, we should dock and find out what the big idea is," Billy volunteers an option.