With his and Hadrian's role apparently decided and no gross objections Billy slips out of the conference room while Hadrian works on his tape problems.  He finds his way back to the Archive terminal Abe gave access to earlier and  fiddles with it for most of the time it takes Hadrian to get dressed.   When Hadrian finds him and poses his question Billy stands up from the console and looks thoughtful, "I dunno, you guys walked right?  How long did it take you?  I mean, if we show up all breathless and tired it'd sell things a bit more, but I'd really rather not be breathless and tired," he thinks out loud as he retrieves his own EVA and puts it on in no real hurry.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 12):

"It couldn't have been more than 4 hours," Hadrian says. "But I don't know in which direction. You'd have to ask them."

He nods toward Fiernas.

"Four hours?!" Billy groans petulantly, "Fuck that.  We're getting a ride."

"It was a little bit of a hike," Fiernas confirms.  Then to Abe: "Will your hovercraft work overland?"

He takes a few minutes and goes over the station manifest that Abe has given him, marking down a list of a few items that he'll want before they go.  Partway through he frowns and gestures to Hadrian to let him see Muse for a moment so he can run some things by him.

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 15):

Hadrian has no problem allowing Fiernas contact with Muse as desired.

"The rest of us should get ready, as well," Abe says, rising to his feet. "We'll aim to leave late this evening so we can reach the tunnels by early morning."

"Copy that," Fiernas answers Abe.  He cradles Muse and leaves the group to go gather some of the equipment that he's looking for.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:36, Wed 28 Mar 2018.

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 17):

Hadrian finishes getting dressed, waits for Billy to do the same, and lingers by the exit.

"So...are we leaving Muse with Rambo, or waiting?" he asks Billy. His eyes flicker bluish. "It's all the same to me."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Thu 29 Mar 2018.

"You saw the teams," Billy crosses his arms standing near Hadrian, "No offense, but after all that alien orb nonsense we've still got trust issues and I'd appreciate a psychic crystal to help with an even keel."  He looks back toward the rest of the small compound impatiently as he waits for the return of the sentient jewel.

Rebecca is grim and gets ready mostly in silence. As the team gets themselves prepared she hugs each member who came into the room with her and polite goodbyes to those who were not.

Billy returns Rebecca's hug and puts his hand on her helmet, jostling it gently in an approximation of mussing her hair.   As he and Hadrian continue to wait he nudges the young man with his elbow, "Hey about those trust issues.  I realize you were kinda literally dragged into this and don't have all the convictions that Abe and them do.    I dunno what's gonna happen to Titan when all's said and done; you might not be able to just run your experiments like you want.  Choosing to do the right thing has risks, but being forced to do the right thing shouldn't cost you your career.  I'm just saying if there's nothing for you here when this is over, I might be able to get a guy with a little knowledge and a lot of interest in aliens and alien technology a job involving a lot of aliens and all the alien technology they'll give us."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 21):

Hadrian nods thoughtfully at Billy's statement, managing to look intrigued and concerned all at the same time.

"That would be an offer worth consideration, once additional data have been collected. Thank you."

Fiernas pokes his head back into the room to ask for Kayla and Whitney to help him with something. They nod and depart, following him.

"Doesn't look like he's done with Muse yet," Hadrian observes.

Billy sighs, “What the hell is he even doing?” Billy follows after Whitney and Kayla to see what Fiernas is actually up to, “Hey, space rock’s got a job to do. What’s the hold up?” Billy holds his hand up as if expecting Muse to be tossed his way like a baseball.

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

Billy soon discovers that Kayla and Whitney have been asked to help Fiernas with a project that appears to involve converting a pile of construction-grade blasting charges into objects that look a lot like grenades.

Fiernas barely looks up at Billy, busy as he is with the explosives and electronics that he's taken from the station stores.  "What's the job?" he asks absently.  Leo picks up a small case of equipment in his mouth and walks it over to Fiernas, who scratches him behind the ear as thanks.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:17, Fri 30 Mar 2018.

Billy's hand drops as he stares at Fiernas flatly, "We're going to sneak into the compound.  There was a meeting.  And a board.  It had names written on it and everything.  Why are you making IEDs?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:06, Fri 30 Mar 2018.

Fiernas stares at Billy for a second.  When he finally speaks, it's in the slow, patient tone of a father speaking to his child.  "Billy.  I know what you and Hadrian are going to do.  What job do you have for Muse, specifically?"

He survey's the group's work with satisfaction.  "These are for firepower.  We keep getting into situations where we need a little fire and thunder, and I'd rather not run out."

"Muse is going to babysit Hadrian.  You're the one who doesn't trust the kid!  What are you going to do with him?" Billy holds his hands out in exasperation at Fiernas's sudden alteration to the plan after the discussion.  "What situations have you been getting into?  In my experience fire and thunder get people killed.  Didn't you say something about Penny building a bomb and causing problems?" he points at Kayla.  "The idea is stealth, not fire or thunder.  You get that, right?"

"I have every confidence that you can babysit Hadrian on your own.  You'll do just fine."

"Oh, I'd rather not use it, believe me.  I prefer a soft step.  But I'm not getting trapped behind a steel door again.  Or taking on an alien behemoth without some real punch in my pack."  He doesn't pause what he's working on.

"Yeah, that's great I appreciate you confidence," Billy says in a tone suggesting he does not particularly care about Fiernas's confidence, "but I would prefer a psychic entity to deal with the psychic boy of dubious loyalty.  Also, I don't trust him around anyone willing to use high explosives.  There's a bad precedent for that.  So unless you actually have something that requires Muse, fork him over."

"I do, actually."  He carefully arranges another completed charge on a belt harness that he's rigged up for his exosuit.  A secure grid of spare charges is already laid out in his pack.

"Do you want to share with the class?" Billy spreads his arms broadly, glancing between Fiernas and the two techs  for support.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 32):

"Penny tried to rig a military missile so it would fire without the ship's input," Kayla says, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "That was NEVER going to work, and if she'd ask me I'd have told her. Hell, D would have told her if he wasn't being jammed six days 'til Sunday."

She gestures at one of the objects on the table.

"But Barachiel's breacher rounds are the only reason we were able to escape the Compound in the first place," Kayla explains, stepping back from the worktable and wiping her brow with the back of her hand. "He says he's out of them now. But Abe already had these construction-grade materials laying around, so Fiernas thought it might be a good idea to take some of it along with us in case we have to blow another blast door apart."

"Or a mech," Whitney contributes.

"Right, or that," Kayla nods, walking over toward Billy. "So that's why the IEDs are being built. I'm afraid I can't help with the question of Muse one way or the other, though."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:48, Fri 30 Mar 2018.

Fiernas nods along with Kayla's points, working industriously in silence as they others talk.

"Great, well if your brilliant plan for Muse can't be put into words, then I don't care about it.  Give him here.  Kayla," he says, turning to look at the pilot, "you're still technically the captain of the Persephone so as your boss, I'm ordering you to make sure he doesn't get everyone killed.  At the very least see if you can't teach him what a shaped charge is."

"No, I'm gonna hang onto Muse.  Don't worry about it."