Ash looks at the console link alert again, his brow furrowed slightly.  He wasn't expecting any more communications.  Well, except potentially the Port Authority - though he thought they the Margin was to supposed to contact them...

With a slight shrug to no one in particular, the Profit Margin's navigator taps the console display and opens the communication pathway, acknowledging the hail.  While he still keeps one eye on the time and the pre-flight checklist, Ash's fingers dance on his various status displays even when speaking.  "Profit Margin, Navigator Tescali at your service." he states dutifully, and then prompts, "How can I help you?"

Shui is extremely pleased to get the children all settled, though she remains curious about the apparent dichotemy between their appearance and behaviorial ages.  Maria's request garners a smile and a nod, and the steward follows the woman into a private setting, ready for queries.

What comes is another surprise, and the doctor rapidly shifts gears.  From the look of it, there's more here going on than she first suspected, simply from the woman's need to talk rather than question.  "Oh, no.  No trouble at all for us.  I think it will be an interesting change for the crew to have small children around...though of course, there are certain areas that are off limits." She frowns for a moment.  "Safety reasons, and they're secure-locked, so that shouldn't be a problem either."

Reaching out, she touches the woman's arm in reassurance, then leans back.  "Will you be meeting your husband at your voyage's terminus?"  Innocent question, Shui knows, but potentially a pitfall.  Best to see if it's something about which Marita wants to speak.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:36, Tue 23 Oct 2012.

"Oh, good, that's what I wanted to ask about.  If there is anywhere aboard the ship I need to keep them away from?"  Marita Doyle looks relieved by Shui's assurance,  "They can be a handful, especially Darien.  But if all the places they shouldn't go are locked, that should be fine."

"Yes, he should be meeting us at the port.  Though I believe it's not much of one.  He's a local manager for a construction company that's working on Rangent's infrastructure." the woman explains.  "The starport is basically a field with a handful of buildings, and most of them didn't even exist when Jak got there.  We'll be living in company housing near the port.  It should be exciting for Darien and Selnia.  They haven't lived on a planet before.  There's even a garden.  And a beach nearby."

The voice that answers Ash is male, and very professional sounding, "This is Denotam Highport Security calling to let you know that we've reviewed the evidence relating to the assault on your passenger, and we have informed the Port Authority that you are clear to leave.  Our CO has also considered your Captain's request regarding  the prisoner, and is prepared to hand the man into his custody."

"You will need to contact PATC to arrange your departure.  The prisoner will be delivered to you, under armed escort, within the next fifteen minutes."

Ash's head tilts slightly as the Highport Security representative hails him.  "Ah," he responds in kind to man on the other end of the link, "I see.  Thank you for contacting us and for your promptness on resolving this matter.  We will contact the Port Authority to obtain our departure window."

When the topic of taking Mr. Othati-Fenn, (aka Mr. Andari aka Mr. Cooper) on board, Ash purses his lips and looks confused for a moment.  However, except for a slight dip in his voice, he tries not to let anything slip, "Uh, yes.  I see. Fifteen minutes..."  He repeats as he taps away on his console displays for a pregnant moment, before continuing, "We will be ready for the arrival of the prisoner and his escort.  Thank you for your efficiency on the matter.  And our Captain extends his thanks to your Commanding Officer as well.  Please keep us appraised of any changes in that schedule."  A timer alarm appears on the display with external ship feeds.

He presses the mute button and lets out a measured exhalation; he'll keep the line open until Security cuts it from their end.  Ash rolls his shoulders and then starts to tap away.  First he sends a text to the Captain, ++Boss, Highport Security has given us clearance.  Contacting Port Authority to obtain departure window.  Also, as per your request, Othati-Fenn is being remitted to your personal custody for transport.  ETA: 15 minutes w/armed Highport Security escort.  Does Ms. Tiesi need to be available?  Will the Othati-Fenn be travelling in a low berth?++

Since the crew is likely to have to supply their own security once he is onboard, the Margin's navigator then places a message on the common crew channel, ++Highport Security has given us clearance.  Getting departure window from Port Authority now.  One additional high security prisoner (Othati-Fenn) en route.  ETA: 15 minutes with armed escort.  Custody to be remitted to Captain Lanza personally.  Margin's security personnel to be present upon remittance.++

Ash then opens the ship-wide address, "Hello, Navigator Tescali again."  He pauses for a brief moment before continuing, "Please be aware.  We have been given clearance to leave Denotam Highport; departure is emiment.  All passengers are requested to remain on-board in their quarters.  All crew: please do final checks in preparation for departure."  With that, he contacts the Port Authority opening an external line in the hopes of getting their request in as soon as possible in order to get the Profit Margin's departure window specified as quickly as possible.

++“Oh, thanks Ash,”++ the captain’s surprise carries over the comm link, ++“I didn’t think they’d go for that. I’ll meet them on the ramp.”++

++“Yasmin, Tylen, can you meet me on the ramp in ten please.”++

++“Shui, we may have another low birth passenger, he’ll be arriving in fourteen minutes or so and I can’t confirm until then.”++

There’s a little more vigour in his step as Jago completes the external checks but he has plenty of time before he makes his way back to the ramp to meet Yasmin.
.

Jago has no trouble finding Yas and Tylen, as both are already at the head of the ramp, enjoying a short break, while still keeping an eye on the docking bay.

Saskia responds to Ash's  warning that their departure has been authorised again, with an assurance that everything is ready at her end, and they can leave whenever Jago orders it.

The Port Authority are quick to respond, with clearance to leave about fifteen minutes after Edrin Othati-Fenn is due to be delivered.  It should give them plenty of time to get the prisoner aboard, and at least make a start on the cryosleep procedure.

Marita Doyle is happy to answer Shui's questions on the general health of the children (both are fit and healthy) and their special dietary requirements (or, rather, lack of such).  All in all, it looks as if Profit margin's medic should have an easy week with them...

Right on time, the door of the docking bay comes in, and Edrin Othati-Fenn is escorted in, still wearing the tech's overalls, though this time he has accessorised with a pair of durable plastic handcuffs in Hi-Vis Orange™.  He is being escorted by two port cops, both armed with snub pistols and batons.  One of them also has a shotgun.  One of them calls out a cheerful greeting, "Hello.  We have a prisoner for transfer to your custody.  Once you've taken custody, our orders are to stand guard outside the bay until you've left with him.  Mister Othati-Fenn is no longer permitted on this station."

Before the port police arrive, Jago has allowed a few minuets to brief Yasmin and Tylen on what he has in mind, which is to offer Othati-Fenn a low birth passage to Rangent. Naturally, as he points out to the officers, there is a small amount of risk involved so it’s not something he would imposed on an unwilling subject and, unlike his brother, this Othan-Fenn is given a choice, a free low passage to the next planet where he’ll be realised, no strings attached, or stay here and take his chances with the local courts. Jago also points out that there is no time to collect any belongings and the lack of papers etc might prove problematic for him, also he has to trust that Jago keeps his word and doesn’t turn him in for a bounty or something, maybe he’d be better of staying here, but the offer is there.

To be honest, Jago had expected to discuss this sort of thing with the police chief before hand, if the guy refused at this point, but the police chief insisted, he could see no end of complications and delays looming up to spoil his day.
.

Tylen rolls his eyes at the various announcements, he was prepared to fry their new guest a few minutes beforehand, and would not have lost much sleep over it afterwards.  Still, Jago was the boss and it was his call, whether Tylen liked it or not.

However, when the Door to the hangar opens, Tylen puts in a shielded call to Ash -  'Better tell Shui that her next cold sleep guest is here' he says quietly.  recognising that the Doctor has been busy with the stewarding duties and probably isn't aware of everything that has been going on in the background.ha

While the laser carbine has been put away, Tylen sports a holstered revolver at his belt, and stands a step of two behind Jago as the captain goes down to meet the guards and prisoner.

"I would...keep them from engineering," Shui notes.  "Unless they're under a guided tour.  With myself as a guide." Saskia could do a better job of it, but she wouldn't put it past the engineer to get lost in her machinery and then...disaster.  "Also the bridge, though tours would be acceptable there as well.  Contact me."

"I'm most pleased your husband will be meeting you," she's relieved to say.  There were concerns that the woman is estranged, or worse.  "I believe your children will find it extremely interesting.  The horizon alone will fascinate them for hours."  Likely also make them ill for a time, but children adapt quickly.

With the issue of diet figured out and nailed down, she makes a few quick inquiries as to the children and Marita's beverages of choice.  As yet, Shui hasn't received any notation that their final passenger has arrived...but she knows he will be here momentarily.  "I have some duties," she explains.  "Certainly we can speak later, and please, don't hesitate to page me on the intercom if there is any issue.  Or if you need to talk."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:51, Mon 29 Oct 2012.

"What the yotz?  No, that can't be right."  Saskia opens a channel directly to the Bridge, "Ash.  I think you made a mistake.  For a second or two I thought you said that thoddo was being allowed on board as a frelling passenger.  Surely that's not right?"

Unless of course, she thinks, Jago's gone completely fahrbot.

"Is it?"

The thin ex-Scout thanks the Port Authority for the timely response to his request.  He logs the time window and then starts another countdown timer, which he pushes out over the common crew channel and down to engineering as well.

Ash comms Shui with a brief reminder, ++The Captain is requesting your presence for the receipt of another passenger.  High security, low berth.  Ogresh and Crow present.++

The Margin's navigator opens the line from Saskia.  He shrugs slightly, even though he knows that no one else can really see him - especially Saskia on the other end.  "I..." Ash acknowledges to the engineer after a pregnant pause, "am as surprised as you are, Ms. Blake.  The Captain did not let anyone else really know about this beforehand - I had to find out from Port Security.  So, I can only assume that they are not joking."  The self-deprecating smile is apparent even without video, as he notes off-hand, "They sounded very serious on the other end about the matter.  But I am just a small cog in the big machine, Miss."

Even as he speaks, Ash is already working the astrogation module to aid in the finalized calculations for the departure window that they have been given.  He starts to adjust parameters tweaking them to account for variance in velocity and approach vectors to and from the designated jump points.  Even for a small cog, the Profit Margin's navigator takes his job very seriously.

He glances at the external feeds and the approach of the prisoner and his armed escort.  "And now," he notes rather somberly - sending a feed link to Saskia, "Port Security is back with the prisoner.  So, I don't think that it is a mistake..."

Edrin Othati-Fenn's shoulders slump and he sighs, "There I was expecting to be put out the airlock by these fine security thugs... er... officers.  Nobody told me anything about this before I got here.  You'll forgive me if I have a few questions to ask."

"Like, what in Hell is going on?  One minute I'm Denotam's most wanted, and the next minute the only thing they want is me out of their way.  I'm a bit confused, unless this is some sort of weird execution procedure?"

Tylen just lets his lip curl in a slight smile.

It's right about now that Shui hurries up, having distangled heself from her earlier discussion.  "Ah, good day, sir," she states, biting down hard on her surprise at the sight of Corlan's assailant.  A glance at Tylen's curled lip follows; one eyebrow cocks, and she prods the Profit Margin's gunner in the ankle with her toe.  Lightly.  "Welcome aboard the Profit Margin."

There's only the barest hint of a question in that statement, and she fires a quick glance at the captain for his input.  It's pretty obvious this is her new guest, but it would be a good idea to get some kind of confirmation and explanation before continuing.

“It’s a simple take it or leave it offer,” Jago tells Edrin, “I don’t have the time or inclination to discuss it, you can walk away from this ramp here and now in the company of these fine officers, or on Rangent where you’ll walk away on your own, a free man, the choice is yours but I’ll have to hurry you.”

Turning to Shui he explains, “I’ve offered this man a low birth passage to our next stop, we are just waiting to see if he wants to take me up on it.”
.

"Oh that's frelling nice.  What's Jago up to?  That frelnik takes a passenger hostage and threatens crewmembers with a gun, for frell's sake, and Jago frelling Lanza has to invite him aboard as an honored frelling guest.  That's groat dren!  The skipper's going greebol in his old age or something.  We should get Shui to check him out for signs that he's going fahrbot."

Saskia is definitely upset.  It's possible she's completely forgotten she still has an open channel to Ash.

"Frelling mutiny's the only answer.  Next time Jago steps of the ship, we fly off and leave him.  And if that drannit causes any problems while he's here, I'll stick Jago's mivonks in a power clamp before we dump him too.  Two power clamps!  On opposite sides of Engine-frelling-neering!  Hezmana!"

Yas' right eyebrow attempts to leave her face, it would seem, as she catches on to Jago's plan.

"No one, no one says a thing!" she forcefully interjects and turns to Jago, half asking and half ordering, "A word, Captain?"

Without waiting for a reply from him she steps back into the ship until she is almost out of sight in the hold, shifting her weapon for each step as if trying to refrain from using it in another manner.

Tylen feels Shui kick his shin as she goes past, but remains stationary not letting on that he noticed.  Although his eyes twinkle momentarily, he retains his stony faced look for the benefit of the security men.  The prisoner has his hands cuffed, or else Tylen would have stopped the doctor from getting too close to the man.

As Yas interjects he takes a step backwards, still in plain sight but with slightly more distance between himself and the boarding group.

Jago sighs, rolls his eyes and excuses himself before following Yasmin up the ramp.

“You wanted a word?”

Appearing to be chewing on something Yas waits until Jago asks his question and then she steps up closer still until she could chew on any cigar that may be in his mouth. 

She glances down the ramp, the glance hardening as is passes the new passenger.  It then returns to Jago. 

Her lips move a little, although her jaws seem to be clenched most of the time even when she gesticulates towards the group down the ramp. 

The motions of her arms becomes more animated and she paces away briskly, only to return to his face a heartbeat later, cocking her head sideway and squinting at Jago. 

Stepping back she heaves a sigh and throws a cold glare towards the brother, it staying there.  Then she leans in closer to Jago again. 

The gaze returns to Jago for a moment before she starts to turn away, evidently intent on heading into the ship, waving a hand into the air.  "Your call, Jago."

Ash sits quietly watching and listening to the various reactions of the crew; it does appear to be an unfavorable offer to the rest of the crew.  But Jago is the Captain and the Profit Margin is not a democracy.  Ash has all of the video and audio sensor feeds pulled up and on one of the tactical displays.  He also make sure that the feeds are available to Saskia in Engineering.

He merely acknowledges Saskia's tirade with a simple, "I can't presume to understand the Captain's logic.  However, I can relate to your incredulity, Ms. Blake."  After a pause, Ash adds a little distractedly as the soap opera on the cargo ramp plays out, "Far be it for me to tell you how to do your job, but three power clamps as anchoring points might be a more stable configuration.  Of course, the tradition is four - for drawing and quartering..."

The Margin's navigator pauses his work with the astrogation calculations, ready to ensure that Othati-Fenn's path to the low berth (if necessary) is controlled thorough proper lock down procedure and that he never gets access to any other part of the ship.  There will be plenty of time to finish the pre-flight checklist and the jump point velocity variation calculations - its the third time through for each of them anyways.

Edrin Othati-Fenn opens his mouth to answer Jago, but shuts it again when Yas requests a word with Profit Margin's captain.

While Jago and Yas step inside to discuss matters, and Ash and Saskia hold their own conversation (which is hopefully also private, otherwise Saskia is probably in a lot of trouble) Tylen and Shui are left standing in the docking bay with two armed security officers and a handcuffed prisoner.

Othati-Fenn turns to look at the two officers and shrugs his shoulders before turning back to the two crewmembers and giving a bemused smile.  "Thank you for the welcome." he says to Shui, with a slight bow.  This is followed by a nod to Tylen, "Hello, old friend.  It's good to see you again."

Then he looks up at the docking bay ceiling and says, "Nice weather we're having today."

"Smart ass." Tylen comments quietly the lip quirking slightly more.  "And Jago wants to help that?  He'll finish up hurting someone else down the road.  Guys like that don't give a shit for people, just themselves.  Anyone else is just an obstacle of the way to their personal goals.  It would do us all a service if the low berths mis-functioned and all of them at that."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:50, Mon 05 Nov 2012.

There seems to be dissension in the ranks; not only Tylen, but Yasmine have some serious reservations over their newest passenger.  Shui can only imagine what Saskia is thinking about this new wrinkle aboard her Profit Margin.  It might be wise, she considers, to separate the young engineer from her rather large revolver.

For Jago's sake.

But it's Yasmine's opinion that holds the most weight - Yasmine, who not only is one of the long-time members of the crew (before Shui's time, to be sure), but who also holds responsibility for security.  She not only has more knowledge of such than any on the ship, but also holds more power and authority than anyone but the Captain.  If she disagrees - strongly?

And it appears she does.

Othati-Fenn returns politeness with politeness - a good start - but Tylen, understandably, doesn't take his witticism well.  Even so...  "Mr. Orgesh."  There's a touch of warning in Shui's tone.  The low berths don't malfunction on her watch.

Now, it's quite possible Tylen is correct about Othati-Fenn.  Certainly, he was willing to brandish a gun and threaten innocents with his use to get what he desired: freedom for his brother.  And certainly she understands his frustration, having a short time ago preparing to save Corlan and Jago from this man.  But for Shui, there won't be any talk about spacing, or malfunctioning low berths, or such.  Worse yet, in hearing of a potential guest and two officers of the law.

"Would you officers like some coffee?" she inquires.  "Fruit juice?  Mr. Othati-Fenn?  There are certain substances one cannot injest before entering the low berths, so I will have to screen them." She cocks an eyebrow at Tylen.  "Mr. Orgesh, perhaps some chamomile and peppermint tea?"

"At least it frelling looks like he's going in a low berth." Saskia continues, seeming to calm down a bit, "Maybe the ship will decide to kill him.  She looks after her family, and doesn't like it when some drannit threatens one of us.  There's always a risk with a low berth, and a dip in the power input, or a spike, can cause all kinds of problems.  Everything from freezer burn to brain damage, and all the way up to sudden death."

And as she's telling Ash this, she's stroking the casing of the EPS distribution unit, and smiling.