Breakfast in the crew lounge, and Jago gives a run down on what's expected for the day.

"We've got some cargo being delivered at about 10:30.  There'll be a team of loaders provided by the port to do all the heavy lifting, so I just need some security to keep an eye on them, both on and off the ship.  We should be fully fuelled by 11:00, and there'll be a passenger here at  11:30.  Name is Covan Draik and he's paid for High Passage, so that means he gets all the frills, Shui, but he's an ordinary passenger, so he doesn't have the security leeway that Corlan, Keryn and Eneris have been getting."

"Planning to lift for Extolay at around 16:00.  That gives us some time to play with in case of emergencies."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:05, Wed 22 Apr 2015.

"The cargo coming in shouldn't present a problem.  Forty tons of dried vegetables in vacc-sealed containers, shipping as freight to a buyer at Extolay.  Shipper is Varus Freight, here in the port.  Consignee is Extolay Food Imports.  Standard contract, paid up front.  All very simple."

Jago leans back, and removes the cigar from his mouth as he sighs.  "Covan Draik is another matter.  He's soon going to be very wealthy, so it can't hurt to keep him friendly.  But, at the same time, he does not leave the passenger side, for any reason, except to exit the ship at Dinomn.  And nobody talks about him to anybody who isn't part of this crew.  There may be some people who don't want him to reach his destination, and I don't want them to think hey can stop him by killing Profit Margin.  He says that won't happen, and I don't really think it will either, but I don't want to tempt fate."

"So how much security do you want for the cargo?  Me with a revolver or Yas dressed to kill." he asks wondering how worried Jago really is about the new passenger coming aboard.

"Just the usual on the cargo, nothing too excessive." Jago replies, "Enough to discourage pilferage and vandalism.  Covan Draik... again, nothing overly serious.  I'm not really expecting trouble, but with the potential rivalries for his position as the head of a firm with important military contracts, in wartime, well... I'm just being cautious.  Better safe than sorry."

Tylen nods at Jago's response and ensures that he is available by the cargo ramp, dressed in his new security guard uniform, with his new military looking revolver in his militaristic holster.

Once the cargo handlers arrive he puts on a pair of wrap around shades and prepares to oversee their work.

Saskia listens to the security discussion with half an ear.  When she gets a chance she interjects, "Everything should be ready to go as soon as you want.  The only problem we had was the static discharge probe being jammed in the extended position, and I fixed that yesterday.  After breakfast I'll put the drives in standby mode and you'll be able to go at about thirty seconds' notice."

Ash nods in agreement to Saskia's assessment.  "Absolutely," the lanky navigator tacks on to the Profit Margin's engineer's readiness statement, "All of the preliminary plots data for most, if not all, of our potential destinations are already in the mainframe - the final calculation will finish well before we reach the one hundred diameter limit."

He smiles slightly at the Captain's note about Covan Draik and the man's potential windfall.  Ash remains silent on the topic, though, as Jago seems to have all of the bases covered.  And he has his orders.

"Covan Draik.  Understood, Captain Lanza."  Shui makes a note, shifting around her schedule to accommodate.  "I shall ensure he has all frills and less leeway."

The rest is technical information from the crew; she listens carefully, intent on picking up as much as she can.  One never knows when the information might come in handy.

"I'm always dressed to kill," Yas points out with a shrug, "but all right, no armoured suit then."  She sighs in an overly sad manner.

"Wait, what?  Corvan?  Was that is?  Or another Corlan?  That'll get confusing...  Maybe just call him Drake instead," she muses openly.  "So we're making friends and possibly enemies at the same time?  Well, whatever it is, it doesn't sound dull, which is good.  That is isn't, I mean.  Dull, that is..."

She begins to ponder how many guns constitutes 'the usual' for cargo, trying to recall whether was it three or four.

Jago nods as the discussion continues.  His crew are professionals, and know their jobs.  Some things do, though, bear comment, "You can call him what you want over here, but if any of you have to talk to him, or talk about him with the other passengers, I'd prefer if you kept it formal.  So Mister Draik would be good."

"And it should be easy to keep him separate from Corlan.  Corlan is the one who has meals with us occasionally.  Draik is the one who doesn't.  Ever.  As I said, I'm being cautious about this.  I'd hate to have Draik over here for dinner one evening, and finish the day by throwing him out the airlock... never could remember the correct etiquette for those situations.  Incidentally, I'm also suspending visiting rights for Corlan, Keryn and Eneris while Draik is aboard.  Don't want him thinking he's being treated as a second-class citizen when all the other passengers come over here for meals and he doesn't."

The captain sighs, and takes a sip of his coffee, "Security on the ground needs to be low key, but obvious, if that makes sense.  We've had no trouble here, and we don't want to provoke any.  But just about every random passer-by out there is, by all accounts, just as heavily armed as Yas.  So firm but tactful is the order of the day.  And, just like yesterday, if you need to go anywhere, you go armed, and preferably accompanied by somebody else who is also armed.  And you take comms, as usual."

He consults his hand comp, "Ash, it's not urgent yet, but just so you know... when we get to Extolay I'll be looking for a quick turn-round.  Fast drop, quick refuel, dump the cargo, and leave."

"So that means I want you to spend most of today triple checking systems, Saskia.  Don't want to be delayed at Extolay by a leaking line or blown relay.  Want to get Draik through there and on his way home before anybody suspects he even might be there."

"Questions, comments, concerns?"  Jago eyes the table for a moment, "More bacon?"

"I will inform the passengers of the alterations to the schedule," Shui notes.  "And ensure they realize that discretion is important." She frowns slightly at the order to go armed; it means carting around the snub pistol and its load of non-lethals, a less-than-effective deterrent to any problematic issues but the only one Shui will carry.  Better to avoid trouble completely, she supposes.

Yet...everyone as heavily armed as Yasmine?  Even taking into account the captain's predilection toward hyperbole, that leaves quite an impressive arsenal walking around the city.  And for 'impressive', substitute 'disturbing'.

Almost as disturbing as the offer of bacon.  Shui takes a quiet sip of her tea, considering a response: Not make waves with yet another lecture on the captain's diet?  Stand up for responsibilities?  Oh, that second.

"Not for you, Captain Lanza.  You recall our last physical?"  She stares pointedly at his plate.

Ash nods quietly to all of the instructions that Jago gives with regards to Draik.  The lanky navigator purses his lips at the mention of the meal situation, though nodding slowly as he does understand the logic.  He glances at the Chief Steward then back to the Captain.  "Boss," Ash ventures haltingly, "Some high passage passengers expect a certain amount of protocol..."  He swallows hard then continues, "My understanding is that some ships still have the ancient Solomani tradition of 'dining at the Captain's table' at least once per voyage..."  His former employer did so, citing some sort of Terran supersition associated with it.

He glances again in Shui's direction, while noting, "Perhaps Ms. Tiesi can suss out early on whether Mr. Draik expects such treatment?"  Ash gave the steward a slightly sheepish smile knowing that if anyone in the crew could find out such information circuitously, she was likely the most able.

Ash seems slightly sorry that he has to bring this topic up immediately after the exchange over diets and bacon.  Especially since he had just nicked another piece himself.

"If nobody mentions it to Draik, we should be okay." Jago replies, after some brief thought, and a despondent expression due to the bacon veto.  One of these days he'll have to look up the regulations on what, exactly, qualifies as mutiny.  For now though, "There aren't many Solomani ships or captains at this end of the Imperium, so it wouldn't be unreasonable for us not to allow it.  Which we don't anyway.  Dinner with the crew is strictly limited to a specific few individuals."

"Normally it wouldn't be an issue, but Draik is potentially rich, and might think that buys him privileges that he wouldn't get on most Imperial ships, or at least those that worry about security.  His impending wealth won't buy him dinner with me, any more than it would buy him a romantic dinner with a K'kree."

Ash smiles slightly at Jago's joke.  At least, the edges of his mouth curl up, having met Draik, the lanky navigator is having a little trouble trying to envision him next to a militaristic hexapod that is a K'kree.  He simply shrugs then, "As you wish, Boss."  'Don't ask, don't tell' seems to be the order of the day; he won't be the one to broach the subject with Covan.

He moves on to the other topic that Jago asked of him, "The prelim plots will be done by the time we start refueling.  As you know that, the full calculations will require the actual 100D coordinates and reference time for our opening jump aperture.  So, usually once we set our course for that out-system location, I start running the final calculations.  They will definitely be done by the time we are ready to jump again."  He catches himself likely getting overly technical; so, Ash stops and simply paraphrases, "The more accurately we have the start time of the jump and our location at jump start, the more accurately I can pinpoint our transition and location at jump end."

And while he is sure that everyone assembled understands that bootstrapping issue involved, Ash makes the quandary explicit, "But since the calculations themselves take time..."  You can only be so accurate in your predications as the act of calculating causes the result to fluctuate; the nature of jump mechanics.  And the basis of all misjumps - misalignment of the calculation to reality whether due to inaccuracies in the input location and time, problems in the theory approximations, or actual fuel purity.  Any and all could be disastrous.

But in this case, they should be fine.  He trusted Saskia's awesome engineering expertise, the tested multivariate splines used in the standard jump calcuations, and his own navigational (extensive, if he could be so bold) experience.  So, there wasn't anything to worry about.  After a pause, he simply adds, "Anyways.  There should still be plenty of time.  Everything should be fine for a fast turnaround, boss."

Just for a moment Tylen flashes back to his days in the X-Boats, when the computer used to make all the navigational jump calculations and he just used to press the button.  "Maybe, I'll take the shotgun down with me when I stand watch over the cargo handlers.  That should give us a bit more of a presence." he says languidly as he scratches his temple with his thumb.

Profit margin's captain nods, "I've got every confidence that all of you will do your jobs like the consummate professionals that you are.  I just wanted to make sure you're all aware that we have some unusual circumstances related to the next couple of Jumps.  And let all you know that, for those two Jumps, I'm making a few changes to the usual routine."

He leans back in his seat and tries to ignore the siren scent of the bacon.  Useless effort, of course.  In order to succeed he would need to have his nostrils plugged with wax.

"I think now would be a good time to mention, as well, that after Dinomn I plan to almost double back... well, more of a 120° detour... and head for Regina.  It's just a single Jump from Dinomn.  Class A port, with decent tech and law levels.  Was thinking of stopping there for a couple of weeks.  Take the chance to visit family.  Corlan's from there too, of course, and I know he misses his grandchildren, even if he pretends not too.  So everybody will get some leave on a civilised world with an open sky.  I'll also treat you all, including Corlan, Eneris and Keryn, to a meal at the best restaurant we can get to."

Shui watches the captain like a hawk, though without the predatory avian's 'kill and gorge' instinct.  "Regina sounds wonderful, Captain Lanza.  It would do you good to see your family again, and certainly Corlan would enjoy the chance to regale his with his exploits...as well as hear their own stories."

One eyebrow arches slightly.  "Perhaps I should send your family a message with regards to your current dietary necessities.  It would certainly make things easier if they do not have to scramble upon your arrival.  After all, you are planning to work on your health while visiting, are you not."

It's not really a question.

Jago sighs, and shakes his head, "Sending them a message wouldn't do much good from here.  It'd probably arrive at about the same time as I do.  Maybe later, since Covan Draik told us he's had trouble finding a ship that's headed in that general direction.  In fact we're the first one he's found since he started looking."

"Shame we don't have a mail contract, or you could have paid me to carry the message to my own family.  He laughs, and then adds, "But we'd need to commit to a regular route, and set aside cargo space for mail."

It seems that Jago has, at least, looked into the idea of taking a mail contract.

The captain settles for a little more tea, and a piece of lightly buttered toast.  "Anybody got any further questions about the next couple of Jumps, or our new passenger?"

Saskia's face settles into a frown as Jago speaks.  A frown which deepens as he continues.

When he asks for further questions she sees her chance.  She clears her throat and says, "Not about the Jumps, no, but Regina.  I was wondering if you plan to put the ship in for her annual maintenance while we're there?  It's about due.

"And will you be paying for hotel rooms for everybody while the port techs are working on the Margin, because I bet Keryn and Eneris can't afford to pay for their own."

Jago smiles and nods, "No putting anything past you, I see.  Yes, I was thinking of getting the annual checks done at Regina, depending on yard availability.  The war might be putting pressure on them.  It'll be just under a month early for the maintenance, but that's close enough.  So two weeks vacation on a subsector capital for everybody."

The second part of Saskia's question brings a slight frown.  "I wasn't planning on paying for hotel rooms, no.  As you know, the usual procedure is that people make their own off-ship sleeping arrangements and pay for it themselves."

"You raise a good point about Keryn and Eneris though.  I'll need to think about paying for them to stay somewhere.  The ship won't be comfortable, or safe, while the work's being done."

"But to tell the truth, I was thinking that Keryn might want to leave at Regina.  It's a rich world, where she can get good medical care and education for her child.  For herself too, for that matter.  Since Yas has been paying for her passage on the ship, I'll return Keryn's money to her, converted to Imperial currency, of course."

"I won't force her to leave, but I will talk to her, and explain that there are worse places than Regina to live."

"Ah, let me talk to her, all right?" Yas says, having been sitting there silent, eating extra bacon and what not.

"I'll also make sure she got somewhere to stay, whether she will... remain with us or not," she adds, a slight frown making its way onto her features.  Somehow her appetite was gone, and she stands up and makes her way to where the coffee awaits.  There she slowly pour herself some, her back towards the others.

Tylen. too, takes some extra bacon and fiddles around making a sandwich out of it, then eats it slowly and appreciatively.  "I like bacon sarnies." he says to no one in particular.

As he chews, he starts pulling up details on Regina. It's a while since he has been  there, and most of that was spent port side. Now there is a chance for a bit of a holiday, it is worth having an idea of what to expect.

Saskia puts her cup down, afraid that she'll drop it.  "I'm with Yas.  She's the one Keryn followed home, so she should be the one to talk to her about this.  It'll sound less -- frelling official -- coming from her rather than from an actual Captain.  So Keryn will be less likely to take it the wrong way.

"You can't just say to her that maybe she should think about leaving the ship.  If you don't handle it right she might think that it's a hint to pack up and get out."

And then, as an afterthought, "If you were planning it as a hint, Jago Lanza, then you'd be looking for a new frelling Engineer about a minute after you dropped it.  And their first job would be working out what the yotz I did to the drives before I left."

"Oh, I suspect Captain Lanza meant nothing of the sort, Ms. Blake.  We should give him the benefit of the doubt."  Jago being a decent man on all accounts, his only flaw being his deplorable diet.

Evidently Yasmine is none too sanguine about Keryn leaving; it's rather obvious.  She should ask the security officer about it...but Shui knows that the reply would likely be deflections disguised as humor.  Yasmine likes her privacy, especially with regards to emotion; pressing her will only firm up any wall.  Better to just wait and see if the officer broaches the subject herself.

One eyebrow cocks as she studies Tylen.  "You could do much better, health-wise, than bacon sarnies," she finally notes.  Scouts.  Put a man alone in a ship for months, and the bad cooking habits start to pile up....

"With lots of ketchup." he grins across at Shui, please that she rose to the bait.

However, he stays well clear of any discussion concerning Keryn's destination and Jago's motives.  He might look it sometimes, but he is not that stupid.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Tue 19 May 2015.

Ash sits quietly, sipping his coffee out the large mug in front of him and watching most of the crew - well, all of the women-folk - grill the Captain on his choice of words regarding Keryn.

He casts a knowing glance at Tylen.  Leaning back in his chair, the lanky navigator runs one hand through his close cropped hair.  And with his other hand, he keeps his mug close.  Though Ash has never been secretive about his affection for their pregnant passenger (in a purely, brotherly way, of course), he is not about to pile on.

Or get between a figurative stoning mob and their quarry.  You'd have thought that Jago had taken the name of the ancient Solomani diety, 'Jehovah' in vain or some such to deserve the looks and barbs he was getting.

"Look... " Jago says, raising his hands in a placatory gesture, "you're all getting this wrong.  I have no intention of kicking Keryn of the ship.  I like her.  She's shown more interest in how the ship operates as a freetrader than some crew members we've had.  I was just going to let her know that Regina is probably going to be the best place to live that we're going to find for some time."

He decides to risk a smile.  "It's comfortable and, as the local capital, well defended."  If it'll make everybody feel better, and save my shower suddenly being converted into an emergency airlock, then Yas can talk to her about it."

"Now, can we stop planning a mutiny?"

"Uh huh, the 4518th Lift Infantry, almost as good as Marines.  Better eqipped, though, best there is.  The Duke's guard.  Certainly safe," Yas notes in a deapan voice, still with her back towards the others.

A preganant pause; might be twin puns even.

She stirs the cup in labour pains.

Then comes the birth.

"She's my responsibility, simply."

Luckily for some she is no mind reader, or the Margin might have been looking for a new navigator before they reached Regina, after the previous one had somehow slipped on the soap and managed to fly out the airlock, while in j-space, even.  He probably would have shouted, "go on without me" and "fly, you folks".  Yeah.

Jago sighs at the narrowly averted mutiny.  "All right... talking to Keryn about Regina is Yas' responsibility, but all decisions will have to be cleared through me, since I am, technically, in command of this ship.  Good, I'm glad that's all sorted out."

Then, as if to assert his authority, he picks up his fork, reaches out, and spears two rashers of bacon.  He places them on a round of toast, tops them with another round, and  proceeds to eat his bacon and toast sandwich in a distinctly defiant manner.

"Now, anybody got anything else to say about my plans for the next few weeks?" he says between bites, apparently well satisfied that he has put his foot down with a firm hand, "Anything that doesn't question my control over Profit Margin."
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:55, Sun 24 May 2015.

Saskia considers a number of options before saying, "Yotz!  We were only joking with you, Jago.  If the thought of not eating bacon does that to your frelling sense of humor, then maybe you have an addiction problem?"  Then she smiles as sweetly as she can to show that this, too, is just a joke.

"The planned route, and the rules about this new passenger, it all looks good to me, and I like the idea of some downtime at a good port.  On a nice planet too."

About to make comment on the situation, Shui rocks to a halt.  For a long moment she watches, blank-faced, as Jago consumes the sandwich.  "Nothing further, Captain Lanza," she finally states, her tone as flat as her expression.  Standing, she silently moves around the table collecting used dishes and brings them to the sink to be washed.

"Technically," Yas says, sounding tired, "it's her decision, being a paying passenger."

She empties her cup and puts it in for washing.

"Unless you plan to kick her out, of course.  Then I might object.  Excessively," she attempts to jest, but not quite making it.  So, with a sigh, she excuses herself and leaves in the direction of her cabin.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:45, Wed 27 May 2015.

Ash cradles his mug protectively, not even considering it for a scrubbing from the ship's steward.  Taking another sip during the slightly awkward silence that follows Jago's bacon fest, he gives the Captain a thumbs-up, then chimes in, "Sounds good to me, Boss."

Pushing away from the table as the others start to disperse, Ash excuses himself, "I'll, uh, be on the bridge."  He offers the assembled a wan smile before continuing, "Uh, prepping astrogation calculations."  Yeah, that's it...

With a slightly raised eyebrow, Tylen stands and helps Shui to collect dishes  "Sorry." he mutters wondering if his joke about the bacon had gone to far.  In all honesty, it hadn't been that funny, but then a lot of situation jokes aren't really funny.

But then he cheers up again "At least we know we get some decent time ashore in a couple of jumps." he adds with a grin "And there is bound to be somewhere worth visiting on Regina."

The meeting dissolves, as people leave the table.  There's a definite atmosphere though, very noticeable, as the crew of Profit Margin head for their duty stations or their quarters, leaving her Captain alone with the last of the bacon.

For a long, mouth-watering moment he regards the food with something akin to lust... then, with a sigh and a shake of his head, he pushes away from the table and returns to his cabin.  Regina he muses, as he settles at his desk, will give everybody a welcome break.  From the job, and from me.

In the lounge, Tylen helps Shui with the dishes, emptying them and loading them into the washer.

Yas makes for her quarters, where the door refuses to slam, no matter how hard she mashes the "close" button...

Saskia and Ash head for their respective stations to make sure everything will run smoothly when Jago gives the command to leave Phlume.  A check of the monitors shows that refuelling is proceeding as expected...

Saskia decides to use her Bridge panel simply because there's nothing running in Engineering just now that she can't watch from there.  The fuel guages are at the 75% mark so she starts the refining plant.  Phlume can't provide purified fuel, so it's up to ships to run their own treatment process if they want it.  Privately the Engineer is glad that Jago only uses refined fuel.  She's seen what impurities in the D₂ can do to a Jump drive.

She glances across to the Nav station, "Hey, Ash, do you think Jago handled things right there?  There were some frelling angry people around that table."

"Your joke," Shui states, with a small smile to prove her words, "was not an issue at all, Mr. Orgesh."  She could lie here.  She probably should.  She does it often enough, after all, making certain that she isn't a problem for anyone.  But...

"I am upset," she confesses, well-after Jago has left the room.  "Nothing to be done about it, and most certainly it has nothing to do with you.  I am sorry for my tension; certainly you deserve none of it."  She fiddles with the dishes for a moment, taking the last from the table and cleaning them.  "Ridiculous.  My mood is not helping.  I will let this go." 

A shrug follows.  "There is no point in agonizing over something one cannot change."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:18, Tue 02 June 2015.

"So tell me about it." Tylen says with a shrug.  "Sometimes talking  helps to get things out of your system.  Or at least lets you come to terms with them for a while." he says.  Never very sophisticated, in these terms, he offers Shui the only form of support he can think of.

One might pass the advice off as pedestrian, but it's commonly known because it's true.  Shui, herself, often advises people of the exact same thing.  Finishing towelling off the final dish, she moves quietly to check the room and the hallways for unwanted observers.  Then the steward moves back to stand close to Tylen, speaking quietly to avoid any possibility of another overhearing.

"It is frustrating, sometimes, that I have no authority to carry out my duties.  Captain Lanza frequently demonstrates a lack of respect for my position, going as far as to disrespect and belittle my decisions regarding overall crew health in full view of the entire crew.  I realize he does not do it out of any malicious urge, but the fact of the matter is that it happens."  Leaning back against the sink, she rubs a hand across her brow.  "It sets precedent for others to follow.  I am the ship's doctor, but my decisions regarding health are regarded as amusing suggestions, no more."

She shoots a glance at Tylen, one eyebrow raised.  "Can you imagine what might result if Captain Lanza did the same with our Security Officer's decisions regarding ship and crew security?"

The Steward rubs her forehead again.  "I have contemplated handing in my resignation as Ship's Doctor, only the Profit Margin cannot support both a doctor and a steward.  Hence, I would need to leave to make room for one who could do both.  I could stay on as a paying passenger, but for how long?  My funds are not unlimited.  And the situation would then change, regardless.  This is one of those things I shall have to put up with, I suspect.  But it becomes...frustrating to be treated so before the entire crew, even if there is no maliciousness behind the act."

Tylen grins  "Jago just needed to prove to himself he be in charge of something.   After all he had just got a severe tanking from Yas and Saskia, no matter what his intentions had been.  Anything would have done, he wasn't picking on you." he says trying to excuse the Captain his baconic lapse.

"But you can always win the bacon fight." he grins broadly  "Buy that low fat healthy stuff and cook it healthily.  Then every time he grabs another rasher, you can just smile at him -  knowing he is almost doing as he is told."

He pauses for a moment before continuing "He does respect you position though, as soon as there is an immediate health threat, he will hand over control  of the situation to you.  Just as he hands over control of immediate security situations to Yas, and engineering situations to Saskia.  But he handles the day to day things like scheduling the ship's service or and making the decision that we should go ashore in pairs and armed ... I guess he puts eating bacon in the same category." he adds with a shrug.

Shui studies Tylen for a long moment.  "There is no way to make bacon healthy," she points out, "nor cook it in a healthy manner.  That is precisely the reason it is so popular."  With a wave, she sets that aside, knowing it not to be his point.  "Sadly, this is not the first time, and we have had that discussion regarding his health before now.  Officially."

Pursing her lips, she paces in a circle.  "It is more like...someone refusing his order to go ashore in pairs or armed.  His prerogative as captain to make that command decision.  But should he decide it was not necessary, but Yasmine countered with her own, professional opinion that it was, do you think he would decide against her?"

One eyebrow rises.  "In front of the entire crew?"

Yasmine, Shui suspects, would be highly miffed.  And possibly offended.

"He would never even consider such a thing," she murmurs.

On the Bridge the external comms panel chirps for attention.  When answered, it's audio only.  "This is Varus Freight, Serr Callam speaking.  We've had a cancellation on a delivery, so we've started loading your consignment early.  It looks as though we can get it to you for... let me check... 09:30 your time.  Would that be acceptable?"

"Wasn't Saskia ashore alone?  While we were out shopping?" he asks rhetorically, fully aware that she was.  Then he pauses for a moment as he gathers his thought.

"I think Yas would pick her times to disagree with him very carefully." he says slowly and cautiously "And I suspect it wouldn't be a casual disagreement in front of the crew." he says reminding Shui that she had initiated the conversation about bacon and challenged Jago on his diet in front of the crew members.

"And Saskia and Yas did both challenge his authority at breakfast, and he had to shuffle really fast to try and save face.  Snagging the bacon was all tied up in that." he says slowly, uncomfortable that he can't find it in himself just to side easily with the Doctor cum Steward and ease her over this small discomfort.

Shui's other eyebrow rises.  "The specific example of the Chief Engineer has nothing to do with this situation, and I imagine that had Ms. Crow agreed with Captain Lanza's thoughts on the matter then found out Ms. Blake had gone out alone, she might have had words with Ms. Blake on the subject."

"When an engineer sees a problem happening with the engines, they do not wait until they can deal with it out of sight of any embarrassment.  When a security officer observes a security issue, they do not wait until it is over and the person has left the vicinity of the other crew members to stop said issue.  If I see a medical issue - one about which I have spoken with the person - I will speak of it immediately.  That is a matter of duty and responsibility."

Back to cleaning.  Fruitlessly, as everything is finished.

"If Yasmine observed one of the crew allowing a person aboard with a weapon-in-hand, for example, and that person was not cleared, she would halt them on the spot without regard for the crew member's feelings.  And she would be correct to do so.  This was an issue of health, and not one of opinion - Captain Lanza and I have discussed this as a matter of his last physical."  Temper flares in her and Shui spins away to march to the wall, facing it.  Without realizing it, she relaxes, her arms hanging loosely at her sides despite her inner tension.  "Should he have chosen to disagree with me, that would have been the proper time.  As captain, he might have then decided to alter my responsibility.  And if Captain Lanza wished to - how did you put it?  Save face?  - due to his discussion with Ms. Black and Ms. Crow, then he should have done so directly.  But this?"

Especially given her support for him during that point in the discussion.

"No matter." She makes a cutting gesture with one hand.  "His point is clear, and I comprehend it."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Tue 02 June 2015.

Knowing that he has said as much, probably more, that he ought, Tylen keeps his mouth firmly closed on the matter of Captain Lanza, armed passengers, engine failures and bacon.  Instead he steps behind Shui and rests his hands lightly on her waist.  "Sorry." he says again.  This time, perhaps, he is apologizing for not being able to support her like he should.

Ash looks up from his console displays and then slowly turns to regard Saskia and her question.  He swallows hard, before saying anything, "I... I know that you and the other crew have been with the Captain a lot longer than I have; so, I don't know what is necessarily 'normal' for this crew."  But he readily agrees with the engineer's assessment, "But some tempers flared there."  He shakes his head slightly, "I don't think that Jago actually meant anything malicious by his comment about Ms. Taylor.  Nor was it an ultimatum with respect to her continued presence."  Ash pauses for a thoughtful moment before adding, "I mean think that the Captain was doing what he thought was right in simply offering Keyrn alternatives."

The thin navigator sighs slightly, his lips pressed thin in a rueful smile, "But he probably could have done it better, though.  Or at least, a little differently.  You know, in a way that could have been less misconstrued..."

His weight shifts slightly in his chair, "It does seems like a bit of R&R is in order for everyone."  He raises a quizzical eyebrow, "What do you think you'll do with a couple of weeks on Regina?  Will you stay nearby to oversee the annual overhaul?"  His question is casual enough and Ash hopes that it doesn't seem too forward; he just doesn't feel like he knows much about the Margin's engineer.

Of course, Ash's curiosity does get fulfilled, since the external commlink chimes in with its own opinion.  He taps a portion of his dynamic display on the console.  "Navigator Tescali, Profit Margin." he answers in response to the hail, "Thank you for the offer.  Please give me a moment to confirm that change works with our schedule..."

He taps out a quick message to Jago, ++Boss, Varus Freight can start early; they are proposing oh-nine-thirty.  Should I accept?++  He didn't see anything on the crew schedule, but Ash also knew that the Captain didn't always post everything publicly all the time.  It was his prerogative after all.

Wish a heavy sigh Yas sits down on the edge of her bunk.

"Nothing to it.  I'll just tell her the options available to her.  It's her choice.  Easy," she tells herself.  She is not certain she believes herself, however.  Rubbing her face with both hands she gathers her wits before pushing the comm button to Keryn's quarters.  Perhaps she isn't in there and Yas will have to hunt her down, thus putting it all off for a while longer.



A minute later Yas leaves her quarters with another heavy sigh.

So, if you want to leave...  Woah!  No, that implies something that isn't there.  I was wondering...  Nope.  Too personal.  Have you thought about the future of your child...  Duh.  Of course she has.

Maybe she should have let Jago talk to her.  But it felt like she had to do it, because she brought the kid aboard, and should Keryn get angry for some reason, it was better at her than Jago who had enough to worry about already.  Passing through into the crew lounge she spots the two lovebirds, as she refers to them in her own mind, and gives an absent wave.

"Hey, kids."

If only there was a pirate attack right now, it would save her from this pending talk, at least for now.  A moments pause.  Nothing.  She resumes walking, clearly low on luck and step out into the cargo bay.

Listen, Jago was...  No, no, no.  That would be unfair to him.  People so readily jumped to all wrong conclusions.  We're all worried about you, and...  What?  Just no.

Had the cargo bay shrunk?  She is already at the entrance to the passenger lounge.  She glances over her shoulder and confirms it does not appear to have shrunk.  Huh.

In the back of her head she wonders what the bit about the bacon was all about, and if Jago was OK.  Maybe she should talk to him next.  Or first.  No, Keryn was waiting.  Inhaling deeply Yas enters the passenger lounge and takes her time to close the hatch behind her before ringing on Keryn's door.

Hey, Keryn, I just wanted to...

Argh.

Frustrated, upset, saddened, offended, confused...Shui's emotional state might be described as tumultuous.  She's barely aware of the room around her now, staring into the wall, her thoughts chasing themselves around her mind.  She doesn't feel safe, suddenly.  Her desires unimportant, her perceived purpose useless...suddenly it's like she's back fifteen years, shoving baggage into a spaceport incinerator, forcing herself not to look over her shoulder.  With, of course, the accompanying fear.  She barely notes Yasmine passing by.

Hands fall on her waist.

It's not fast, her movement, but without hesitation, appallingly immediate and smooth.  Her body shifts-then-turns with the motion of her foot, just a touch off-centre to Tylen, her left hand crossing her waist to pin his right hand to her right side as she does - nothing fast, nothing to trigger his own reflexes, but without even the hair of a pause.  Her own right arm blocks his right elbow, straightening the limb for a barest instant, her full body weight not pressing but drawing him past her, just a touch off-balance toward the wall.  As he passes, her movement continues; not whipping, but a strong shift of the body that drives the motion of her right arm, hinging up and out in time with her body's motion.

The hammer-fist jolts to a halt just behind his occipital bun, where the skull sits atop the spine, as Shui's mind scrabbles to regain control of her limb and barely succeeds before the base of her fist slams into his brainstem.

Just as quickly as it appeared, the grace and smooth motion is gone, Shui staggering back from Tylen, eyes wide with her fingers slapping over her mouth. "Oh," she whispers.  "Oh, oh, I'm so..."  Her face takes on a greenish cast in the dim light of the kitchen, and she falls back against the sink, fingers slipping along the edge behind her, searching for a handhold.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Wed 03 June 2015.

”Whaaaaat…” Tylen ejaculates, as his body gets moved around without any input from him.  Indeed, it takes all of his effort to stay on his feet and not plant his face firmly into the wall.  One moment there had been a woman I front of him, then suddenly she stepped away and behind and he nearly fell over.  Something had happened, but he wasn’t sure what.

”I didn’t think she’d take it that badly” sort of flows through his mind, competing with ”Where did she go? and That’s the bloody wall! all competing for space inside his head at the same time.  In that mental confusion he turns, looking for the Doctor,  ”S..sorry” he half stutters in his confusion. Seeing the woman collapsed against the sink, seems to throw him more.

”Are you alright?  What happened?  Sorry!  Are you hurt?” all seem to rush out at the same time – his words matching the look of confusion on his face.

There's a brief moment of relief; Tylen missed her slip.  Then the reality crashes in, and nausea puts bile in Shui's mouth.  'Slip'?  That somewhat undersells the matter.  "I'm fine," she whispers, rubbing her forehead, mind frantically casting about for some kind of legitimate excuse.  "Overtired, perhaps.  My apologies, Tylen.  You are correct; I'm making too much of this."

My apologies.

Pushing herself more upright, she runs shaking fingers through her hair.  Control attempt, her mind notes with some irony.  Simultaneously, her gaze flicks over his face, checking.  Her memory is correct; she didn't actually complete the first strike, even.  She hadn't hurt him, hadn't hurt him at all.  "Bad luck; I thought to get some water, and I expect we simply moved at the wrong time."


That might pass, she considers.  Everything had been perfectly, disgustingly natural in her movement.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:33, Fri 05 June 2015.

Tylen reaches for a chair and drags it around in front of Shui, ”Sit down.” he says solicitously, concerned about her pale complexion, shaky hands  and whispering voice,  ”Whatever it was really took it out of you.”

Turning back to the sink he starts to draw a glass of water for her, setting it on the side close to her hand.

”Do you want me to help you to your room?” he asks, ”I can finish tidying up in here.”
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 21:33, Thu 04 June 2015.

Jago lifts his eyes from contemplating the object on his desk, reads the message from Ash, then sends a written reply, + No problem.  The hold's empty, so they can start loading whenever they get here.  Just let Yas and Tylen know, so they can do their thing. +

The cabin door opens with a faint hiss, and a slightly dishevelled Keryn blinks sleepily at Yas, "What is it?  It sounded important when you called.  Did I do something wrong?"  She steps aside and beckons for Yas to enter, before closing the door behind the Security Chief.

"I think there were misunderstandings on both sides." Saskia responds, her tone firmly neutral and her eyes on the board as she checks readings and makes adjustments.  "But Jago should have cooled things down before it went too far.  And that stunt of his with the bacon -- for all we know, Shui is now so frelling furious that she's beating somebody half to death somewhere."

The subject of the vacation comes up, and Saskia chuckles.  Then, while Ash messages Jago, "Two weeks away from the ship?  Mostly I'll spend my time going farbotz about what some greebol port tech is doing to her while I'm away.  The little bit of time I have left over from that -- I'll be drinking and trying to relax in the best hotel I can find.  And hoping it won't catch fire this time.  You?"

Ash glances in Saskia's direction with a smile on his face, he seems about to laugh, when Jago's response floats across his console display forestalling his own rejoinder to the Profit Margin's engineer.  He unmutes the external comm line back to Serr Callum of Varus Freight.  "Serr..." the lanky navigator replies dutifully, "0930 would be perfectly fine.  Thank you for the expedite on that freight manifest."  He closes out the commlink after saying goodbye and quickly pushes the updated timetable to both Tylen and Yasmine over the common crew channel.  Nine-thirty is not that far off.

Then he returns to his conversation with Saskia.  "I..." Ash can't help but chuckle lightly as he posits rather skeptically, "find it difficult to believe that Ms. Tiesi has ever raised a hand in anger."  He shakes his head, "Even with the insubordination of the Captain with respect to any recommendations she may have made as his doctor."  He pauses for a thoughtful moment before continuing, "Wouldn't that seem at odds with her Hippocratic Oath?" he ventures with more than a slight tinge of playfulness, "I can just see it now, 'Doctor beats man to death over ingestion of food that might kill him'..."  The ex-Scout sighs and shakes his head once more at the irony and incredulity of it all.

With respect to his own plans for shore leave, Ash shrugs slightly.  "Well," he posits, "likely some sight-seeing.  Regina is the Ducal seat, though with all the wartime turmoil - and the rumors about ... well, ... the Duke's health, or lack thereof ... I guess we'll have to see how locked down the system is..."  He makes another noncommittal shrug, knowing that he hasn't given Ms. Blake much of an answer.

Still, curious minds have more pressing matters; he knows that she knows that he can't just let her idly make such a statement without more details.  "Wait ... What's is this about a fire on the Margin during the last maintenance cycle?" Ash presses Saskia for more information, "How much damage was caused?   And where was that?  Surely not at Regina..."

Shui eyes the chair for a moment, then slowly sits. "I...thank you.  Thank you, Tylen."  She leans forward, putting her face in her hands - not to weep, but just to rest for a moment.  Water rushes nearby, pouring into a glass, and the Steward glances up.  Silently, she takes the offering, sipping at it carefully.  When she sets it down, it's without a shimmer on the surface, her hands steady.

"I...I should stay here.  Finish up."  She flashes the gunner a wan smile - weak, but real. "If I draw you from your duties, it certainly won't help my stress.  But the offer is truly appreciated."  Frowning, she glances around.  "Though...we seem to be nearly finished.  Perhaps I should just go back to my quarters.  Rest.  There is nothing here I cannot complete in two minutes, later."

Things aboard the ship seem to be calming down...

Jago is working on something in his cabin.  He's stopped staring at the object, and is, instead, going over navigational records, going back a handful of years.  Every Jump Profit Margin has made since 1102...

On the Bridge, Ash and Saskia are having a chat about this morning's breakfast, and the upcoming shore leave.  All while going about their normal duties...

Shui and Tylen are about finished in the Crew Lounge, in spite of the sudden (and unexplained) interruption in the routine, and Shui's suddenly shaken state...

The door to Keryn's room is closed, and the privacy tell-tale is lit.  There is nobody currently in the Passenger Lounge to hear if voices are raised in the cabin, or if shots are fired or objects thrown...

Tylen smiles, relieved that Shui is going to take a break, and offers her his hand to help her out of the chair.  "A bit of peace and quiet will certainly help." he says repeating yet another folk remedy to the Doctor.  "And there is nothing you need to do at the moment."

Assuming there are no other interruptions, Tylen will then retire to his cabin to change into his security guard uniform, including his new military style revolver, various different non-lethal sprays and grenades, and the new shot gun.  Once he is fully dressed he will make his way to the cargo hatch.

"What?  Oh, no.  The fire was in the hotel I was staying at a few years ago.  Was on Rhylanor."  Saskia sighs, and shakes her head, "Some stupid Vargr tried to get into the hotel, but he'd been fighting, and he was drunk, so they turned him away.

"And later he came back and started a big fire.  I was terrified.  I even had to help some Aslan get out, and that's why I have an Aslan award in my quarters, and a document that says I'm to be treated as an honored guest if I visit the Heirate.  Also any ship I'm travelling on gets reduced taxes at Aslan ports, but only while I'm listed as a crew member or passenger."

Ash seems suitably impressed with Saskia story, whistling at the note of an award.  "That must have been a fairly important Aslan..." he ventures.  As far as he is aware, not just anyone is able to give a blanket tax break for saving their life...

Running his long fingers through his short hair, Ash muses quietly, "Yeah.  Those vargr can be mean SOBs."  His other hands goes instinctively to his right knee for a moment.  "The last time I interacted with a vargr," the ex-Scout notes off-hand, "he shot me through the leg..."  Though his tone is light, there is an edge to it - and a touch of sadness - as he reminisces.

Ash pushes off the moment, forcing himself back into the present.  He gives Saskia a wan, self-deprecating smile before apologizing, "Sorry about that."  He honestly hadn't meant to get all heavy there.

"Rhylanor, eh?" the lanky navigator rubs his chin thoughtfully for a moment, trying to switch topics and get back to a light frame of mind.  Then without even consulting a star chart, Ash notes, "That is not far from our eventual destination of Fulacin.  Only three parsecs further, I believe."  He watches the Profit Margin's engineer for any reaction as he prompts, "Perhaps we should stop by there afterwards..."

Saskia continues making adjustments, each one necessitating others, as she tries to get the ship's systems operating at something better than their optimum efficiencies.  "He was a kind of ambassador, and the son of some high-rank official, back at home.  Didn't speak much Anglic, and the females with him did most of the work -- a bit like the Margin, I suppose -- trade negotiations mostly, and service contracts, so that Aslan ships bringing cargo to Rhylanor could get repairs, resupplies and overhauls there.

"He was  bit frelling standoffish, but the females were friendly enough.  All of them were very polite though."

The comment about stopping at Rhylanor earns a slight frown, "That'd be up to Jago.  He decides where we go.  Unless you're proposing that we jump ship or kill him?"

And that is accompanied by a grin.

With Shui returning to her cabin for a rest, Tylen goes to get changed ready for his stint on watch.  Ash and Saskia are on the Bridge, going about their duties, while Jago is working at the desk in his own quarters.

Yas is, of course, on the passenger side of the ship, visiting Keryn.  Corlan and Eneris are also in their own staterooms...

An eerie silence settles over most of the ship, broken only by the faint humming, ticking and clicking of machinery, the soft susurrus of the air vents, and the regular bleeping, cheeping and whistling of assorted monitoring systems.  All sounds so commonplace aboard any starship that hardly anybody ever hears them, but would notice immediately if they stopped.

The ex-Scout has never had much interaction with Aslan; so, he simply nods to Saskia's assessment of the roles and personalities as they pertain to genders.  He's heard and read of such tendencies, but never interacted with them first hand like she has apparently.  "Polite, eh?" he rubs his chin thoughtfully and his tone becomes slightly more analytical and a touch distant, "Probably a byproduct of their strict caste society, presumably..."  But then he realizes that his mind is wandering and his eyes snap back into focus upon Saskia, prompting him to venture, "Wouldn't you think?  Morridan's Traveller's Guide to the Hierate seemed to assert so."

Ash chuckles at Saskia's joke about inciting a mutiny.  At least, he thinks (or perhaps fervently hopes) it is a joke.  "Well, Ms. Blake," the lanky navigator notes playfully to the Margin's engineer, "I may harbor delusions about owning my own ship one day.  But I don't intend to get it that way."

Shui manages to keep up her easy demeanor until she enters her cabin.  Once the door shuts and she is alone, the steward lapses into silence.  She moves through the cabin like a ghost, going about basic business: feeding her 'guests', checking the crew and passenger situation, updating her schedule.  Finished, she mechanically puts on a pot of tea and seats herself to wait.

The kettle wails for a good thirty seconds before cutting out, and cools, untouched.

Finally Shui rouses herself and goes to her fresher.  Briefly she studies her face in the mirror - drawn, grey.  With a shake of her head, she washes up changes clothing, forcing herself to move.  Another check in the mirror yields slightly more positive results, and the steward heads out of her room to continue her work.

It's probably just as well that Jago does not have audio pick-ups active on the Bridge, given the conversation there.  That conversation gradually winds down, as Saskia and Ash become absorbed in their own tasks..

Tylen emerges from his quarters, looking all business, as he heads over to the ramp to await the cargo and its loaders.

Shui makes her way back to the Crew Lounge, looking much better than when she left.

And Yas comes out of Keryn's cabin, her face set in a scowl that promises trouble for anybody stupid enough to get in her way. 

And beyond the ship a cargo carrier grinds to a halt, together with a passenger vehicle containing about a dozen labourers to handle the loading, and another vehicle containing equipment to facilitate the operation.  The loading crew lines up alongside their bus, and awaits instructions, while panels on the side of the cargo carrier hinge open and become access ramps...

As Ash taps away on his dynamically configured console, he hums an ancient multi-part fugue from - or at least one of the six parts - from an old Solomani composer named Bach or some such.  The name maybe lost to time, but his melody is catchy enough.  Even when inexpertly rendered by the lanky navigator of the Profit Margin, which is undeniable proof of the genius of the composer rather than (or perhaps in spite of) the performer.

Even fully engrossed as he is, Ash still notices the arrival of the freight carriers on the external video feeds.  He pings both Tylen and Yasmine, letting them know - even though he actually is pretty sure that they are already aware.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:45, Mon 20 July 2015.

Tylen will ask Ask to open the Cargo Ramp, then go outside to check documentation before he allows the crew to load  any of the cargo.

However, if all of the paperwork is in order, he will stand back and allow them to get on with their job.

The ramp drops with its customary screech, drawing startled looks from the cargo handlers.

One of them, his uniform slightly different from the rest, steps forward, and is met by Yas and Tylen before he can set foot on the ramp.  He introduces himself as Kandor Wride, the loading foreman, and hands over a sheaf of documents, then waits while they are checked.  They seem to be in order - a consignment of mixed vegetables from Varus Freight, bound for Extolay Food Imports, at Extolay.  Export permits, import permits, health and safety certificates, customs declarations, order numbers, consignment ID, package details... all seem to be correct.

At a signal from the apparent foreman, the team start the loading process.

The cargo is packed in fifty kilogram lots, in boxes composed of some kind of fibrous vegetable based material.  The lids are fastened in place with metal clips, and sealed with tape.  The loaders work in pairs, carrying the boxes up the ramp and stacking them neatly in the assigned location in the hold...

After a half hour, the foreman blows a whistle, two short blasts, and calls out "Team One, break!".  A quarter of the loaders finish whatever they are doing at that time, and go and sit near the bus, eating snacks and drinking from bottles.

"Labour regulations." Kandor Wride explains, "They're entitled to a ten minute break every two hours when doing heavy manual labour, like this.  Some companies will let the whole work group, but Varus prefer to split the group into teams and stagger the breaks.  Team Two will take their break in about thirty minutes, Team Three thirty minutes after that, then Team Four."

"If loading continues after that, they'll start cycling through again."

Ten minutes later the whistle sounds again, this time a single long blast, and Team One return to work...

By the original scheduled arrival time, when Team Two start their break, about a third of the loading is done.  So far there has been little for Yas and Tylen to do, beyond standing and watching, and occasionally answering questions about placement of the boxes.

Aboard the ship, Shui looks around the galley, which all seems to be satisfactorily clean and tidy.  Ash and Saskia, meanwhile, have also just about completed their own tasks.

Stretching, Saskia pushes herself back from the panel and stifles a yawn.

"Not much else I can do here.  Think I'll go talk to Yas for a bit.  Need to find out what happened with Keryn."

Standing, she heads for the exit from the Bridge, "When I'm done, I'll go back to Engineering."

As the loading continues, the warm weather forcing the workers to strip to the waist, Yas and Tylen notice that there is a low rumbling sound from somewhere.  The loading crew notice it too and, just as Saskia comes out onto the ramp, they stop working and sit down on the ground.

In the galley, Shui suddenly notices that something seems to be rattling all of the tableware in the drawers, cupboards and storage racks...

On the bridge, an alarm sounds, drawing Ash's attention... 

The disturbance only lasts a few seconds, and fades away to nothing again...

No sooner has everything returned to normal than Jago emerges from his cabin, the lower part of his tunic, and his trouser leg, soaking wet. He carries an empty cup in one hand.  He walks onto the Bridge and asks, "Did you feel that too?"

"For a moment I thought it was my stomach," Yas comments off-hand even thought she had shifted to a different stance as the workers took their seats on the ground.

She glances at some of the workers that have bared their chest, but her eyes neither linger nor express any major interest, possibly more approval for those that look a bit fitter than the others.

"At least is wasn't your engines, Sassy," she chuckles at the engineer, most of the time thinking of said engines as belonging to Saskia, considering how much time she spent there, maintaining them and what not.  For all Yas knew Sas may even have named them.

"Say, is this a common occurrence here?" she asks the workers in a louder voice.  It seems to her that they are not unaccustomed to tremors, at least.  She could look it up in the database, but nothing compared to the local inhabitants, since they live it rather than make a small note in a database.  "And how bad can it get?"

Tylen was leaning back against the wall anyway, and lets the support of the ship hold him steady during the tremor.  He was just about to ask the question, when Yas beat him to it.

Saskia is more than a little concerned by the noise and vibration.

Of course, Engineering can be subject to similar effects, and the whole ship makes an array of sounds, but she is familiar with them.  They are old friends, and she knows every one of them, to the extent that even a slight shift in pitch of one of them can warn her of an impending problem, and give her a fairly accurate idea of when the problem will become a current reality.

This is something different.  Something new, and beyond her experience.  Nature doesn't make sounds like that.  The ground doesn't shake that way.

"What the frell was that?"

Ash stops humming immediately.  His feet had been up as the Profit Margin's navigator reviewed the fourth iteration of the jump calculations.  But once the alarm went off, he sits up straight and starts to rearrange his displays, gesturing with his right hand to silence the alarm.

Without taking his eyes from the stream of numbers and sensor readings that were pouring in, Ash nods to Jago, "I did."  There was a thoughtful pause as he continued to monitor the sensors and alarms.  "A probable seismic event." he concludes with a note of both consternation and surprise in his voice.  He hmm'd for a moment and pushed two displays to one of the main tactical displays: one was the physical geology and IISS survey section on the library entry for Phlume and the others was the local news feed.  Limited as the networking was, earthquakes had to set of some sort of public announcement - at least, an earthquake of that relative magnitude.

Ash glanced in the direction of the Captain, his expression slightly pensive as he suggested only partly in jest, "Perhaps the quicker we get off this rock, the better..."

After ensuring nothing has fallen, Shui immediately activates her dataglove, patching in to the ship-wide intercom.

+ All passengers; please do not be alarmed by the unscheduled motion.  The situation is under control.  Route all questions through me. +

With that, she switches over to the crew line.  + Reporting in.  Mr. Tescali, what is the ship status? +

The foreman, Kandor Wride, smiles.  "Just a seismic tremor.  We get one every three or four days.  That was a big one though.  Probably no structural damage, but at least it was noticeable.  Most times we only know about them by hearing a report on the news.  Or reading about them on about page ten of a newsfax."

Ash calls up some information regarding the phenomena.  The IISS survey data reveals that Phlume is subject to low level seismic activity on a fairly regular basis, with occasional minor structural damage.

The local news doesn't mention the event at all, at least for several minutes (long enough for Ash to scan the survey data).  Then a report comes up...

+ 115-735 AL: 7.47 CST: CATEGORY 2 TREMOR RECORDED.  EPICENTER NORTH POLAR LANDMASS.  DURATION: 6.2 SECONDS.  (NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORTS EXPECTED.  FEW MINOR INJURIES ANTICIPATED.) +

And that's all...

Shui waits... and finally there is a question from Keryn, "What was that?"  No real concern in her voice, just curiosity...

"Huh, big one?  Well, guess that's good.  Felt a bit like when the artillery is going at it, although that usually resulted it more damage," Yas chortles and shakes her head to clear it of old memories best left asleep.

"Yeah, Sas, that's the first tremor you experienced?" she inquires curiously, often forgetting far from everyone shares her experience in various worlds and situations.  "I believe is is usually caused by tectonic activity, which always makes me feel smaller whenever my head gets too big."  Perhaps best to not mention volcanos.

She grins from ear to ear, "...and that was before my current hairdo, even."  A joke, in case Saskia needs it, having a planet shake under you can be a scare experience the first time.

++All readings on the board are still green.  Earthquakes are relatively common.  Nothing to worry about.++ Ash types quickly in response over the general commlink, even though Shui's message was specifically to him; to reassure himself and the other crewmembers, he pushes an excerpt from the IISS survey about the Phlume's natural seismic activity.  It is a touch of bravado, as he is not exactly as confident as his missive might imply.  And likely, anyone on the bridge - like Jago - would see that.

He rubs his scalp with his long fingers through his short hair and continues to brush up on geology and plate-tectonic theory  - especially as it relates to Phlume specifically.

OOC: oops -- thought I posted here already.  Sorry.  (-:


Saskia shakes her head at the explanation from Yas.  "Well, I've heard of them, but never been in one before.  Don't want to be in one again." 

The loader's blasé attitude to the whole affair puzzles the Engineer, forcing her to ask him, "So those things happen all the time here?  Your people were originally colonists, right?  So why the frell would your ancestors settle in a place where the ground is that unstable?.

"Doesn't make any sense to me, unless their ship was damaged and couldn't move them anywhere else.  Even then, they could have waited for the next ship to land and frelling shouted for help."

+ Thank you, Mr. Tescali, + Shui replies - to Ash - as his own explanation fires out over the line moments after Keryn's query.  She thumbs the link to directly answer their passenger next.

+ Only seismic activity, Ms. Taylor.  A tremor in the ground itself.  Apparently quite normal on this particular planet. +

Kandor Wride looks puzzled at Saskia's concern, "I believe the Firsts came here from a world where resources were in limited supply.  Phlume is more suited to agriculture, and they saw it as a chance to ship produce back to their homeworld.  The minor tremors didn't outweigh the value of the world for food production.  Especially since the homeworld was also subject to seismic instability."

He glances at the work crew, "Why are you still sitting about?  There's work to be done."

Keryn is silent for several seconds, then, "Ah, thanks."  Another pause, "Oh... once I knew what to look for I found there's quite a bit of data on seismic activity in the ship's library.  I need to read more about it.  Interesting.  I might have more questions later."

Jago watches Ash at work, then says, "See if you can find out if they have any kind of early warning system that can let us know if there's another one of those coming."

"And offer them help with the current situation if they need it.  They might not, but it'll be good for our reputation here if we offer."

Yas is glad she had bit her tongue and allowed this fellow, Candour Wide or something, to supply the answer.  Describing the movements of plates and how they dove under one another probably would not have helped settle Sassy's concerns, even if told the process was extremely slow in comparison to a human lifespan.

"So, nothing to worry about, just background noise, like all these things we don't hear until they aren't there when it comes to the Margin," she adds onto his explanation, hoping this approach would help settle things.

"Did you want something, Sas, or did you come for the view?" she adds onto her own statement, in a deadpan fashion, but leaving it to the engineer to figure out what view she meant, even as her own gaze once more wanders over a few of the shirtless men.

"Aye, aye, Captain." Ash acknowledges Jago's request with a curt nod; he liked the way the Captain thought - he had an excellent head on his shoulders.  The fingers of the lanky navigator's left hand moved to his dynamic display with the external commlink, tapping out a quick rhythm.

He input the number for the local Port Authority's Central Operations Office and waited.  He didn't want to call the emergency line, since ... well ... this wasn't an emergency.  As he waited for the connection to be instantiated, Ash continued to once again hum the melody to the old Solomani fugue that he liked so much.

The thin ex-Scout also began to plumb Phlume's public computer network for any centralized or government site that might have the information that they were seeking.  Or at least a contact number or person that might expedite the process.  Despite having been stationed on an x-Boat run for more than a year during his stint with the IISS, Ash hated being put on hold.

Saskia gives a dissatisfied grunt.  "It's not a decision I would have taken.  Too used to working with fragile components to risk them in an environment that can destroy them."

Her gaze flicks to the workers for a moment before returning to the Gunnery Chief, "Yeah, I was wondering how it went with Keryn.  Do I have to fix Jago's shower with an emergency airlock, or was she good?"

Just for a moment Tylen considers accident rates of space travelling vehicles, compared to the way these guys consider the earthquake.  Sassy spends her whole time keeping the ship working and running properly to reduce the chance of a life system or drives failure.  Jago and Ash do the same to make sure that misjump chances are as low as possible.  All in all, it is probably safer and easier to live on  a world with minor rumbles occasionally.  Perhaps in the scheme of things they are little more than the squeak of a cargo hatch opening.

However, it really isn't the time to say any of those things, so he nods towards the foreman and goes back to overseeing the loading.  However, he keeps an ear out for Yas and Saskia's conversation.  If Keryn, or Yas, has taken any of this badly - then he probably needs to keep his head down for a while.

Inhaling, Yas holds out for another quake so that Sassy will forget that subject.  No quake arrives in the couple of second of silence she can muster before feeling things are getting too awkward.

"Oh, not too bad," she says, the wobbly smile not quite reaching her eyes.  Her gaze never stay in on place for too long and never looks at anyone while she speaks.  "She'll, uh, look into Regina and consider... things."

"Then, eh, she... will decide once we're there, having had a chance to look around a bit.  I mean, you don't just move in somewhere, right?  Unless it's the military, then you have no say.  So, uh, not too bad."
A couple of seconds silence and a quick, crooked-smile glance at the engineer.  "So, how's the Margin doing?"  A new subject is what the head of security needs right now.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 08:46, Sat 11 July 2015.

Ash finds some contact information and puts a call through to the Port Safety Control...

"A warning system for the tremors?" the employee at the other end sounds puzzled, "As far as I know there isn't such a thing.  We have something that can tell when a larger quake is coming - usually gives a ten or fifteen minute warning, and we broadcast an emergency message to all ships - but nothing sensitive enough to spot the small tremors until they start.  You would have a warning of anything strong enough to actually do any damage though."

A query about helping with the current situation seems to cheer up the man, "That's kind of you.  I don't know if there's anything you can do, or anything that's needed, but I'll patch you through to the District Commissioner's Office.  Somebody there could give you more information."

Within a few seconds, Ash is making the offer of help to clerk working for the District Commissioner.  "Thank you for the offer." she says, "I don't believe we need any help at the moment, but I can keep a note...  Oh, wait, there might be something you can help us with at that.  It's not an emergency or anything, but would you be interested in doing a quick aerial survey of the transport infrastructure and civil resources in the district?  Just checking for damage, landslides, fallen trees... that sort of thing.  Would that interest you?"

Kandor Wride gets his people back to work, and the loading continues, as Yas and Saskia discuss the situation regarding Keryn.

The loading goes smoothly under Tylen's watchful eye, even though Yas seems to be distracted by her quiet discussion with Saskia.  And, possibly because of that discussion, it is Tylen who first notices a man standing close to the cargo transports.

One who is not wearing the same uniform as the loaders...

"Yas." he says softly but in that 'its work time' tone of voice.  However, for the moment he does nothing different, except make sure that he keeps an eye on the differently dressed man.

His shot gun has been cradled casually in his arms since before the loading started.

"Hmmm..." Ash rubs his chin thoughtfully before responding, "I believe that we do have an air-raft that would be quite suitable for that purpose, Miss."  He texts Jago quickly to verify that he can offer the use of the Profit Margin's small grav craft for such resource allocation, even though he is pretty sure that the Captain will give the go-ahead; it was his idea to offer help, after all.

"Do you want someone present from the Commissioner's Office on the survey?" he prompts, not waiting very long for a response from Jago in order to keep the conversation going, "And in what format would you want the survey results collated and relayed to your office, subsequently?"

"She's good." Saskia starts to answer Yas's (obviously subject-changing) question, but then she notices Tylen's concern, and looks for the source of that instead.  There's no immediately apparent trouble, but there is somebody hanging about who isn't dressed like the loading team.  Which would probably be enough to get the security crew's attention.

The Engineer quickly puts her "Standardized Combat Plan #3" into operation.  In other words, she ducks behind the nearest crate and waits for Yas and Tylen to deal with the situation.  She could try to do it herself, but it would be a shame to waste that much expensive ammunition shooting inanimate objects.

Better to leave it to the professionals who, when all is said and done, would never dream of coming in to her department and tinkering with the engines.

Even as Saskia starts answering, Yas is already looking over at Tylen and follows the general direction of his attention.  Barely registering Sas' cunning crate-move, she nods to Ty and, with her shotty slung in the nook of her arm, casually strolls in the approximate way of the kid that doesn't fit in with the others at the playground, checking him out on the sly as she approaches.

"Eyes open for more, but focus on the alien bird," she tells Ty quietly on a direct line.

With him as a backup she will let the stranger make the first move, even if it will not take her long to get her own weapon ready, should it come to that.

Jago gives a nod of approval as Ash handles the call.  The Navigator seems to be asking all the right questions, except one, + Ask them when they need it doing, and how long it'll take.  I'm hoping to be in Jump later today. + he sends back to Ash.

The official on the comm channel, seems slightly distracted, as if checking details, even as she speaks to Ash, "Let me see... we can have a surveyor with you, who will...  take care of the actual documentation of any damage, and ensure that everything is handled... correctly.  Really we just need the services of your ship, or other flying vehicle, and a pilot to provide a... er... ah... a platform for him to work from."

The newcomer moves forward, smiling cheerfully at Tylen, and then at Yas, his hands buried in the pockets of his somewhat baggy suit.  "Hello there!" he calls out as he gets closer, "Am I too early?  I hate to be late, so I set out in plenty of time.  Only it appears that I may be here too early.  If that is inconvenient, or presents some difficulty, I can leave and return a little later?  Oh, and can somebody help me with my baggage?  It's all in a ground car parked on the other side of that transporter."

Using the throat bud attached to his data glove, Tylen voice activates the crew channel so that Yas can monitor his request and the reply.  "Jago, Ash can we have an ID on the guy standing down here with the loaders.  Is this our passenger?"

All without moving from that bit of wall that he is leaning on so casually.

Though no one was there to see it, Ash nodded curtly to Jago's question; a touch ashamed that he didn't think to ask about the scheduling sooner.  +Right.+ he texted back to the Captain even as he reconnected to the external comm line.  "Miss, we probably can accommodate you," he responded to the woman in the Director's office, "but only if the surveyor can be out here this morning.  How long should the survey take?  We are scheduled to leave quite soon; like later today."  Freight was already being loaded...

As he waited for a response, a thin finger muted the connection so that Ash could focus on Yasmine and Tylen who appeared to be investigating something just outside of the ship.

At Tylen's request, Ash looked up, glancing at the external visual sensor feed from the ship that he always kept on one of the ancillary tactical displays when he was on duty watch in port.  Even as he did so, his right hand moved to start to pull up the ship's manifest and then tried to shift the camera focal distance to the man in question on the monitor to get a better look.  "Did he give his name?" the lanky navigator of the Profit Margin prompted his fellow ex-Scout.

"Nope, seems like he expected to be recognised." the exscout subvocalises.

Ash scruitinzes the grainy video feed a bit more, taking a long moment to focus in on the man's face.  "Ah, yes." the lanky navigator notes more firmly, "It is Mr. Covan Draik.  Please, offer our guest every courtesy, Mr. Ogresh, as per the Captain's orders."

He texts Shui quickly, ++ Mr. Draik has arrived, Ms. Tiesi.  He's at the rear loading ramp. ++

Then he shifts his attention back to the external commlink with the local Director's office.  If they are going to help get this survey done, I'd best be quick...

"Did you get that Yas?" he subvocalises into the comms, looking for some sign of  affirmation from the security chief.

Now the mans identity has been established, Tylen pushes himself off from the wall and takes a pace or two right to the top of the ramp, which gives him a better view of the wider area.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:13, Tue 21 July 2015.

++ Thank you, Mr. Tescali ++ Shui replies immediately, hurrying toward the back ramp.  She pauses a moment to inspect herself using the dataglove's mirrorcam; judging her situation 'sufficient', she continues, moving to where Tylen stands atop the ramp.

"Mr. Orgesh," she whispers, coming up beside him.  "Fancy meeting you here.  I hear our guest has arrived?"

"We have a visual ident from Ash, but I supect that Yas will still want to see some formal ID from him before she lets him aboard." the ex-scout says softly without looking towards the steward, and is clearly still in security guard mode.

His eyes scan the visible area. While everything looks OK, their guest is considered high risk and a potential target.  After all, if he doesn't get to collect his massive inheritance, some one else will!

Yas signals that she did, indeed, hear Ash's ID of the stranger.  She holds her position half way up the ramp, and calls out, "Can I see some ID?"  Then after a momentary pause, she adds a, "Please?" to the end of it.

The visitor stops and considers, before replying, "Of course, of course.  So many things to remember that I forgot to give my name.  I apologise.  I'm Covan Draik, I booked passage with Captain Lanza and a Mister Tescali.  I have some ID here."

He reaches into the inside of his jacket, and Yas tenses, but only somebody who knows her well would notice it.  To anybody else she still looks calm and relaxed.

The ID comes out of the jacket and is offered to Yas for inspection.  After a quick perusal, she hands it back.

"Welcome aboard, Mister Draik."

On the comms channel, the District Commissioner's office confirms that the survey will take just a couple of hours with a fast vehicle, and that they can have an official at the Margin within thirty minutes,  Jago signals to Ash that this is acceptable...

"And there we are."  With a small touch on Tylen's shoulder, Shui moves forward. "Mr. Dravik, welcome aboard.  I am Shui Tiesi, Ship Steward and Doctor.  You have already met, in a sense, Security Officer Yasmine Crow.  At the top of the ramp is our Gunner, Tylen Orgesh." 

She offers one of her small bows.

"Do you have any luggage I can take?" the steward inquires.

"Covan Draik, OSC, at your service." the passenger replies, nodding to Shui, then offers a smile to Yas, "I'm glad that the ship I'm travelling aboard has such diligent, and charming, security personnel." 

His gaze, and accompanying smile, remain aimed in Yas' direction for a little longer than necessary, then... "Luggage?  Oh, of course.  It's in the vehicle, parked just beyond the cargo transport.  You might want to get some help with it, I'm afraid.  The total mass is 410 kg, and one of the items is a piece of religious art which, alone, weighs some 325 kg.  I believe that, since I am travelling High Passage, I have an allowance of up to 1000 kg."

Tylen maintains his position at the top of the ramp, but nods courteously to the new passenger by way of greeting.

However,  a moment later he is back watching the loading crew work.

"Of course." Shui nods, smiling. "I shall have our security keep an eye on it until I have you settled, then arrange for transportation into our hold." 

She does not fail to recognize how his gaze lingers on Yasmine.

Thumbing her dataglove, she actives the 'crew' line.  + Captain Lanza, our guest has some four hundred ten kilograms of baggage.  We will require a means to move it aboard and a place in the cargo bay.  Mr. Orgesh, Ms. Crowe, Mr. Dravik has valuables in the vehicle just past the cargo transport.  If we could maintain a watch upon it until we have a method to bring them into cargo, that would be good. +


"Please follow me," Shui continues, with a motion toward the ship.

Returning the gaze she receives, Yas arches an eyebrow, trying to figure out whether he was serious about diligent and charming or if it was sarcasm.  She finds very little of the latter in his eyes, though, and ends up returning the smile.

"Don't worry about the luggage, I'll see to that it gets taken aboard, personally," Yas tells Sushi, figuring she will relay this to the captain as well.  She briefly looks over to where she keeps her armoured suit, figuring this will be a good test of its strength capacity.  Not only is it cheaper than paying the loading crew to do it, but it is way more fun too.

"As soon as the cargo handlers are finished and out of the way, if that is acceptable, Sir?" she half asks, half suggests to the OSC, taking half a bow along with another cocked eyebrow, once more allowing her gaze to linger on him.  She is, after all, half waiting for an answer, and that was all she could come up in regards to asking.  Life is hard sometimes.

Saskia stifles a chuckle as she watches Yas flirting with the new passenger.  She hasn't seen the Security Chief acting like that in -- well -- a very long time.  She's even giving suggestions to the man, instead of instructions.

There's hardly even the slightest hint of a command in her voice.

Then again, he is quite handsome, with that thick brown hair and piercing blue eyes set in his rugged, chiselled features.  So who can blame Yas?

Tylen, alert at the top of the ramp, maintains a professional outlook and demeanour, although his eyes narrow slightly and twinkle.

The loading crew continue hauling containers into the hold, with occasional queries about placement, mostly to do with whether or not it is okay to stack the containers in such a way that they might obstruct access to various hatches and panels.  Yas continues her quiet conversation with Saskia, though from the looks on their faces, the ribald laughter, and a few comments that he overhears, Tylen would perhaps, suspect that the topic has changed.

Before too long the job is finished and the loaders return to their transport.

Kandor Wride approaches Yas and Tylen to request signatures on a stack of documents that he bears.

Shui, meanwhile has escorted Covan Draik to his cabin, where she explains the operation of the room's various facilities and amenities.  Draik listens to it all, most attentively, even though he already seems familiar with the operation of many of the items.  As the explanation draws to a close, he smiles and says, "I just have one question.  Has Captain Lanza, by any chance, mentioned a departure time to you?"

On the bridge, Ash notes another text message scrolling across the comms display and contacts Jago over the intercom.  "Jago.  The official from the District Commisioner's office just sent word of his imminent arrival - ten minutes or so."

Tylen will glance across towards Yas, to see if she has any interest in checking the paperwork.  If she doesn't he will give the documents a once over and check the delivery against the expected manifest.

Assuming it is all in order, sign it off and thank the guys for their work.

Seeing Ty's glance, she nods to him to forge ahead and then turns back to Sas, leaning in and whispering something quietly.  She may seem distracted but to anyone that looks at her for more than a moment is it clear that she is able to both chat and keep an eye on things around here at the same time.  All she need now is a chewing gum to test her further.

She chuckles and nudges the engineer gently.

"Well, guess it's time to lug some luggage soon then," she adds a moment later, watching the loaders wrap up their work.

With the loading done, and the documentation signed off, Kandor Wride joins his crew at the vehicles, and soon they are driving away across the landing field.  Another vehicle is revealed by their departure... a ground car of sorts, with a large box-like structure on the rear, and four pairs of wheels - one pair at the front, and the other three beneath the rear compartment.  The rear part of the vehicle appears to be heavily laden, pushing down hard on the suspension...

The driver opens a window and yells out, "Hey!  This going to take long?  I have other jobs to do!"

Jago responds to Ash's message, "Thanks Ash.  I'll see who's free when he gets here, and assign somebody to drive him then."

"My pleasure, Boss." the lanky navigator noted off-hand to Jago, "I could probably even do it, if necessary.  The jump calcs need to crunch for a bit and I can remotely monitor them, if need be ..."  He'd done some minor surveying with the IISS during his exploration stint; so, the field and equipment wasn't alient to him.  The only issue was that Ash was officially certified on the air/raft, but that had never stopped him from flying one before.  And as long as there weren't any really nasty maneuvers, he'd likely be all right.  He was properly certified on shuttles, launches and larger craft - just not your basic small service grav vehicles.  Go figure.

Polite man, Shui notes while giving him the rundown of the room's operation, rules, etc.  Most people tune her out, leaving her talking to empty air while they begin unpacking.  She can appreciate this.

At his question, she returns his smile.  "Sixteen hundred, which is four and a half hours away; that is the schedule.  Barring mischance, of course, but such things are unlikely.  Is there anything else I can do for you?  Perhaps show you the galley, the lounge?"

"Four and a half hours.  I see.  Thank you." Covan Draik nods, and his face drops for a moment, before he chuckles, "I think I know everything I need to for now.  I believe I shall take a rest before dinner, if it's all the same to you.  It's been a tiring few weeks, and this is the first chance I've had to relax.  Everything is out of my hands for now, it seems, so there is no sense exhausting myself further."

Jago waits for a moment before replying, and when he does, he sounds thoughtful, "Okay Ash, the job's yours.  Go get the 'raft out of the garage and park it outside, ready for when he gets here.  Take a weapon and comms, as normal."

Saskia's laugh is far less restrained than Yas's quiet one.  "You do that, and tell me all about it later.  Especially if you find anything frelling interesting."

She looks at the time display on her hand comp and sighs.  "Have fun carrying the luggage.  I need to go back to Engineering and make sure everything's still behaving."

With a casual wave to Tylen, the Engineer makes her way up the ramp.

Tylen nods as the engineer passes him, and maintains his position at the top of the ramp, guarding the entrance way.

"Not long," Yas calls out to the impatient one, almost having told him it would be a few more hours.

"Ha, all the details, eh?  If you insist," she chuckles at Saskia and waves in parting as she goes to get into get suit.  It will be a good test, this.

Once in her suit she will go outside and unload the luggage, starting with the lighter, just because it gives her an excuse to use the suit, then test to see if the suit can handle that 350 kilo thingie, whatever it is.  Is it something devout or something more smutty, she ponders as she works, letting her mind go crazy with ideas which puts a wicked grin on her face.

"Well, then." One of Shui's customary little bows follows.  "I wish you a good rest.  If you require anything, or wish to tour the ship, please do not hesitate call me."  With that, she leaves the man to his rest and exits the room.

Once outside, a small frown touches her lips.  Decision made, Shui strides quickly through the ship hallways, eventually coming to where Tylen stands at the top of the ramp, a sharp-eyed sentinel watching over the Profit Margin's entry.

"Mr. Orgesh," she greets him, moving to stand beside the security officer.  Her own gaze flickers over the vista before her, but she continues without preamble.  "Do you have an impression of our most recent guest?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:48, Thu 06 Aug 2015.

Ash leaves the Bridge and heads through to the air-raft hangar, where he preps the 'raft as the access hatch in the roof opens...

Meanwhile Shui makes her way to where Tylen stands watch on the ramp, narrowly avoiding Yas as she hurries inside to don her work outfit.

Saskia returns to Engineering, where she starts checking the readouts on her main board.

There is a faint whine from behind Tylen and Shui, followed by several impacts as Yas powers up her suit of armour and starts towards the ramp.  She gives them a wave as she passes, being careful not to tread on any toes.

Above, the 'raft rises out of the hangar, moving slowly, as Ash takes exaggerated care with his driving.

Yas starts removing luggage from the ground vehicle, moving the heavy bags with ease.  The larger case, marked with numerous warnings about fragility and weight, she pushes aside with only a little more effort, and all of that from the suit rather than from her own muscles...

Across the field, an expensive looking ground car can be seen moving towards the ship...

"Not really." Tylen responds to Shui "he just seemed like a fairly polite high passenger.  Lots of expectation, but civil."

Then, with the concern born of affection, he goes to move her to one side when he hears Yas's armour start up.  However, he hesitates before touching her and allows his hand to drop.  "Better move to the side." he says instead, with a strained grin.

For a moment he watches Yas, with the luggage, but then the limo catches his eye.  "Heads up." he says across the crew comms channel. "We have company on the way.".

"Oh, thank you," Shui murmurs, quickly moving to the side.  She shoots him a concerned look, not missing the unfamiliar expression fairly shouting from his face.  "Ms. Crow," she offers with a bob of the head as the security officer moves past, toting her impressive cargo.

After that, a terse warning from the gunner to the crew.  Shui waits, then drops her voice to a whisper.  "You needn't...I apologize, Mr. Orgesh.  My earlier stress...I hardly know what to say."  Her words stumble out like falling pebbles.  "I did not...I certainly did not mean to imply that you...that contact is..." The unusually clumsy attempt limps to silence, Shui eyeing the limo as it approaches.

"Our passenger," she suddenly inquires.  "He did provide identification?"  It's almost a rhetorical query.

Tylen reddens as Shui stumbles over her words, but this isn't the time or the place to explore what has happened.  "Perhaps we should talk about it this evening?" he says, before he realises that he is sounding harsher than he means to.  "I have to watch that Limo ..." he half explains, although it sounds a bit limp, even to his own ears.

"He certainly showed Yas some sort of ID." he finally replies to her question, "But he is safely shut inside his part of the ship?" he half asks as the implications make themselves clear.

Then before waiting for a response, he is back on the comms channel.  "Bridge.  Can you just keep an eye on our new guest for a moment or two?"  although it is phrased as a request, it is delivered in a tone that implies it should be done.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:23, Tue 11 Aug 2015.

"Oh.  Of course," Shui automatically returns, her tone returning to its customary, placid friendliness.  "Whenever you feel it appropriate."  She can't miss the discomfort, like shadows lurking in the back of his voice.  It hollows her, and the stark emptiness engendered comes as a stunning blow to the steward.

But they move on, thankfully, and with no sign of this on her face, Shui rallies, pulling together the razor-edged shards of her control. "In his stateroom, yes, but obviously not locked in," she replies.  "Something in what he said...it's probably nothing.  But I would be curious to see the purpose of this limo."

Suspicion coils in her mind, slithering along her brainstem.  Shui blinks once, slow and lazy like a cat.  "I will be inside, Mr. Orgesh," she quietly informs the gunner. "Please let me know immediately via intercom if there is a problem."

Shui goes back inside the ship, as Yas notices the approaching vehicle and pauses in her unloading.

Surprisingly, it's Jago who answers Tylen's call, not Ash, "It's probably okay Tylen, we're expecting a visitor from the local government.  We've offered to help them out with something."

Ash brings the 'raft in for a landing just as the ground car pulls up.

A door in the rear section of the car opens up, and a woman in what looks to be some sort of quasi-military uniform steps out, holding a case which appears to be quite heavy.

She starts walking towards the 'raft, calling out to Ash, "I believe this vehicle will be ideal for the survey, Captain."

Ash gives Jago the thumbs up before double-checking the jump calculation statuses locking his console.  Pushing back from his navigator's station the lanky ex-Scout gives the Captain a casual salute and makes his way out to the air-raft.  He wants to leave plenty of time for him to get it out of the storage bay.

He notes the presence of the new car as he is carefully bringing the open-topped grav vehicle around the VanRijn Class Frontier Merchant which is the Profit Margin.

The lanky navigator smiles slightly when the uniformed woman address him.  "Ash Tescali, ma'am." he introduces himself, adding as a subtle correction, "Navigator of the Profit Margin."  He gestures towards the ship that has become his home, "And I will be your pilot for the survey."  He holds out a hand in greeting and then prompts the surveyor, "Can I give you a hand with your equipment, Miss?"

The case looks heavy - and Ash isn't known to be the strongest person in Imperium - but, he figures he can manage.  Probably.  That case really does look heavy...

Working with getting the luggage out without breaking it, or the vehicle, Yas keeps tab on the new arrival and arches an eyebrow when Ash shows up in the air raft.  Evidently something is up that she knows nothing about.

Muttering about working in the dark she gets further puzzled and intrigued by the Ty's request.  Perhaps she ought to check with Jago if she still got the job as head of security or not.

With a shrug she picks up the crate and starts to carry it back towards the Margin.  It is, after all, the item she came out here for, the rest she can delegate.  She never takes her attention of the strange woman, however.  Perhaps she should punch her in the nose just to be on the safe side, seeing all the secrecy going on.

Tylen relaxes as the occupant of the car turns out to be a local funtionary, rather than someone searching for their passenger -  or even someone else claiming to be their passenger.

"Local official meeting Ash." he subvocalises after selecting a limted connection to  Shui's personal comms.

"No, thank you, Navigator Tescali." the official replies, with a tight lipped smile, "It's a very expensive, and somewhat delicate, piece of equipment, and not that heavy.  Most of the apparent bulk is actually protective padding in the case."  She places the case, gently, on the rear seat of the 'raft, before climbing aboard herself.

"I hope it doesn't rain." she says, seemingly noticing for the first time that the air-raft has no roof.  "Oh, I'm Helda Marrtin, by the way, a senior surveyor with the District Commisioner's Office."

The senior surveyer hands Ash a clear plastic envelope containing a map, "This is the route I'd like you to follow, please, stopping for a few minutes at each of the seven marked locations so that I can take some shots, and make a brief visual inspection."

Yas walks past Tylen, easily carrying the heavy crate into the hold.  The rest of the baggage stays on the field for the moment, as the driver gets out of the vehicle and checks the interior, before closing the doors and returning to his seat.

By the time Yas comes out of the ship again, the vehicle is driving away.

With the woman seated in the back of the air raft, her car moves some distance away from Profit Margin and parks close to a cluster of service pumps.  The driver gets out and starts inspecting the bodywork for dirt, scratches, scuff marks, dead insects, and other assorted hazards of the road...

Pleased that the crate was easy work with the suit Yas decides to stick with it for the rest of the luggage too, even if the remaining cases are less heavy.  At least she does not have to struggle with it then, but enjoy the suit for a bit, making sure everything feels right about it, including temperature and comfort.

After all, it seems she will not get to punch the latest arrival, so she needs something to do.  Plus she can relate all the details to the owner of this luggage later.  She grins at the thought and puts a bit of extra spring in her steps.  It looks to be a great day, after all.

Shui takes her call from Tylen, flicking the holo-control on her dataglove with her thumb.  "Yes, Mr. Orgesh - how fares the business outside the ship?"

There's some concern in her voice, but not as much as before; that Tylen is calling her, specifically, and not sending a ship-wide emergency notation has allayed her worries.

Satisfied that everything in Engineering is running as it should do, Saskia locks the controls and activates a warning relay to her handcomp.  Then she leaves the department and goes in search of Jago.

The Captain isn't in his quarters, so she heads through to the Bridge.  Sure enough, he's there, seated in what must be the most comfortable seat on the ship.  She walks over and drops into Ash's seat.  "Jago, can I have a word?"

"As you wish, Ms. Marrtin." Ash noted, standing at the controls of the air-raft.  He waited for Helda and her suitcase to be on-board before nudging the controls to cause the grav plates to push the craft upwards in a graceful spiral.  "Please keep your hands and feet inside the craft..." he warned the senior surveyor, "Is this your first time on a grav vehicle?"

He took the proffered placard, mounting at the top of the controls as a navigational reference.  "I can do that." Ash acknowledged Helda's request for the number of stops and the standard protocol they'd need to follow at each location.  He punched the controls to get air-raft to wheel around and head off to the first site.

As they whizzed along in the open-topped grav vehicle, the lanky navigator tried to make some idle conversation, asking various questions of Helda, "How long have you been working as a surveyor?  Was this last quake particularly strong?  Should we expect some aftershocks?"

More relaxed now that the potential 'situation' has resolved itself quietly, Tylen can takes time to respond to Shui.

"The car held, what looked like, a minor local official.  And Ash is taking her for a ride in the airraft.  Seems a strange time to be going out on a date though ...  " he quips.

"Yas is playing with her suit, carrying the luggage back in." He continues, "She should be finished shortly, and I will be able to close up shop and come back inside."

Once all the luggage has been loaded and Yas is safely inside, taking her suit off.  Tylen opens the general crew channel.  "All done down here, if you want to close the hatch."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:47, Mon 24 Aug 2015.

Without looking at Saskia, Jago stops scanning through public bulletins on the port's boards, screws his eys closed and pinches the bridge of his nose.  "This is about Regina, isn't it?  You don't want the port techs messing with the engines, and you want me to tell you, in front of everybody, that I'm cancelling your shore leave.  That way you can keep an eye on them."

"How close am I?"

Ash lifts the 'raft and starts to follow the prescribed course.  Behind him, Helda Marrtin starts to prepare her equipment.  "I've flown in planes and a helicopter before, but never anything like this - what did you call it?  A grav vehicle?"

"The quake was not particularly serious.  My department's major concern is that there may have been undetected cumulative damage from previous quakes which has been exacerbated by this one.  And while there may be aftershocks, we'll be spending most of our time airborne."

The woman seems a little distracted by the complex device she is removing from her case.  "I've been working as a surveyor for about four years, but only about one year at the District Commissioner's office.  How long have you been a navigator?" she asks, disinterestedly.

Yas drops the luggage in the hold, then heads back out of the ship, still wearing her suit.  She doesn't get a lot of chance to show off with it, and with Ash off the ship, she has the perfect excuse to stand outside looking scary...

Ash flies the 'raft to the first way-point, about ten kilometres from the port.  There is a bridge, carrying a road across a gully with a fast moving river at the bottom and, just a few metres away, a second bridge with a pair of parallel metal rails leading across it and vanishing into the distance in both directions.

Helda Marrtin asks Ash to take the 'raft lower and circle around the two beidges as slowly as he can.  She points the device, which looks, to Ash, like some sort of primitive thermal imaging camera, and activates it...

Aboard Profit Margin, Jago inclines his head quizzically, and rolls his cigar from one side of his mouth to the other.  "Well?" he asks.

To fill the uncomfortable silence he acknowledges Tylen's call and starts to raise the ramp, so Yas steps off the bottom of it to wait below the Bridge, her eyes scanning the sky in the direction that Ash had gone.  Not for the first time she wishes that her suit had milspec sensors installed...  Maybe at Regina.

Shui relaxes a little.  There is no emergency requiring her immediate attention.

"That's frelling ridiculous!" Saskia protests angrily, then calms down.  "Well, no.  Okay.  It's spot on.  Look Jago, if you make me leave the Margin while strangers are stomping through her, I'll never relax anyway.  So giving me shore leave would be a waste, and I'd probably come back more stressed than when I left.

"If it would help, I can do something to get myself confined to the ship.  You could say it's punishment for fighting, or insulting you, or something.  Just don't make me take a frelling shore leave.  Please." the Engineer pleads, hoping against hope that the Skipper will show her mercy this time.

He'd love to discuss the impulse thruster technology further, but Ash keeps his answers short and to the point (at least, short for him); Helda is obviously a bit preoccupied and he doesn't want to stop her from doing her job.  "That's right, it is a grav vehicle." he readily acknowledges, "'Tis called an air/raft, though an atmosphere isn't really needed for its operation..."  It was the same theory and technology that powered the Profit Margin's (or any spacecraft's) M-drive.

The lanky ex-scout takes a lazy, if direct, and easily pilotable arc in the air to the first location on the map.  Ash doesn't try to do anything too complicated or abrupt while at the helm, figuring that his passenger's instrument (and therefore, his passenger) wouldn't react well to such things.

"Been a navigator for pretty much all of my adult life." Ash noted as he drove, "I was assigned to bridge crew early in my career with the IN."  It's a simple statement of fact that can't really be a boast, as there is no hint of pride in his voice.  "That was a long time ago.  Over fifteen years..." he muses quietly, barely audible over the wind in the open canopy.

Holding the 'raft in a steady hover over the first sight, Ash waits for a signal from Helda that she is done and ready to move on.

Once the hatch is closed, Tylen gives the cargo a quick once over before he heads back into the ship looking for Shui.

Tylen's message to Shui brings about some relief.  Her imagination has been working overtime, as always.  To break the stress, the steward busies herself in her office for a short time, arranging, filing, ensuring her supplies are up to date (and all supplies past their expiry are placed in the waste receptacle).

Then she heads to the galley to make refreshments and snacks for the crew, and any passengers interested in such.

Jago sighs.  "We'll see.  Maybe something will come up before we get to Regina.  No guarantees though.  And if the thing that comes up turns out to be sabotage, we are going to have words."

Tylen finds Shui in the crew lounge, working on refreshments.

Ash holds the 'raft above the bridges while Helda Marrtin uses her instrument to scan them and the surrounding terrain.  After a short while she announces, "I'm done here.  We can move on to the next location."

And several things happen in quick succession...

Something hits the hull of the vehicle with a loud bang, and causes it to slide sideways and downwards a couple of metres, as instruments start to flash all across the control panel.

Another something whines as it flies above Ash's head.

And from somewhere a little way off come the sounds of two gunshots.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:59, Tue 25 Aug 2015.

Their 'moment' outside allowed back in his thoughts, it doesn't take Tylen long to find Shui in the galley.  "Are you OK?" he asks, holding his hand out towards her at hip height, inviting her to step close to him.

Saskia pushes up out of the seat, relieved.  Jago's answer will do for now.  Not perfect, but it will do.  She heads for the exit with a cheerful, "Thanks Jago.  You don't have to worry about me -- I would never do anything to hurt the Margin."

Turning toward Tylen, Shui can't help but comprehend his gesture.  Without hesitation, she steps closer and slips her arms around his waist, putting her head against his shoulder.  No defenses, not in her posture or in her mind; the lost waif of years ago has returned to the jagged depths of her mind, banished for the moment.

"I'm sorry," she whispers.  "I don't understand..." Struggling for a way to explain, she founders.  "Some tension.  There are times I do not know myself."  Her sigh holds the weight of frustration, of sorrow, of guilt.  "It should not spill onto you.  Ever."

All of the tension ebbs away from as Shui steps in close and slips her arms around his waist.  His hand initially closes to her him, then slides gently up her body until he can cradle the back of her head and stroke her hair.

”I don’t understand either.” he says softly.  ”But something in the back of my mind keeps nagging me that you ducked away from me deliberately the other day.” he pauses for a moment before he continues with a hint of puzzlement in his voice   ”But what shouldn’t spill over onto me?  It can’t be just the bacon thing.  You have known for ages we all eat junk food, well we certainly take too much bacon and coffee.  So it can’t just be that.”

Shui closes her eyes, shutting them against the memory...for all the good it does.  "That...wasn't you.  My tension was high and I simply reacted.  Poorly."  How poorly he can't know, for which Shui is eternally grateful.

The man hits the hardwood floor before her with a sodden thud.  His fingertips, she dispassionately notes, are trembling as if palsied.  One eye is still open, rolled back to show only the white.

The hand falls upon her shoulder, heavy with approval. "Well done."

Shui grits her teeth, jaw clenched against the memory.

After a moment she relaxes in Tylen's grip, his fingers on her hair easing the tension from her body.  A small laugh escapes her.  "You do.  You all take in too much bacon.  And coffee, the lesser of the two evils.  It is, in part, my duty on this vessel to ensure health, and Jago suffers in that aspect.  His...choice, his action..."  Her arms squeeze Tylen for a moment as she struggles to find a means to describe it.  How can she explain how it made her feel, Jago defiantly seizing the bacon and consuming it before her in such a deliberate and petty fashion?  Doing so as if to offend her, to undermine her position as doctor, to give concrete evidence of his feelings and opinions regarding her professional advice?

To clearly demonstrate how different his perspective is, and how little hers mattered?

"It brought things back."  Dull, her tone; dull as hull metal and just as heavy.  "About my leaving against my father's desires.  And my feelings, my reasons for leaving."

And in that precise instant, Saskia enters the crew lounge as she leaves the Bridge, and finds Shui and Tylen embracing...

Tylen stiffens for a moment, perhaps at Shui’s words or perhaps at Saskia entering the lounge, and lets his hand drop to rest lightly on Shui’s hip, giving her the opportunity to move away from him, if she so chose.   While they had been discreet, it wasn’t a secret that they had spent a lot of time in each other’s company – but then it would be unprofessional, and unfair on the rest of the crew,  to canoodle publically.  But he certainly didn’t want to push Shui away.

But Tylen still chuckles.  ”Don’t take the bacon thing so seriously.” he advises  ”It isn’t anyone trying to belittle you, or your medical advice.  We all know we eat badly, and I’ll bet that  your reminders keep us closer to the straight and narrow than we would otherwise.   And we all know who we would want to treat us if we were unwell.  Isn’t that right Saskia?” he says trying both to recruit the engineer to his case, and make her feel at ease.

”But you need to remember where most of us have come from.  Years of service in the ISS and I spent most of it inside  tin cans rattling around space.  In the X-Boats I was alone for weeks at a time.  Chow was something to heat, squish the bag about a bit, and probably not even bother with crockery.” he says exposing the harsh realities of bachelor life.   ”You  cook us nice food.  Better than I have had outside of a restaurant.  And better that a fair few of those.  Of course we eat it.” he says with a bit of a grin.

This was all very new to Tylen.  Most relationships had been like ships passing in the night.  Passionate, perhaps, but always over well before things got complicated enough to require serious talking.

"Oh!" Saskia says as she walks in and catches her workmates hugging.  Surprise changes to embarrassment, and then to self defense as her face flushes red.  "For crying out loud.  Can't you two get a frelling room?  Oh wait, you have a room.  Two in fact.  Can't you use them?"

She hovers for a moment.  Unsure whether to go back to the Bridge or push on to Engineering.  In the end, Tylen's attempt to draw her into a personal conversation decides it for her, and the safety of familiar territory wins out.

"Excuse me." she mutters and carries on towards her sanctuary.

Shui's eyes widen as Saskia bursts out with her question.  Offended?  Embarrassed?  It's hard to tell.  She'll need to speak with the Engineer later - not to request her silence, mind.  As far as Shui is concerned, while this is Nobody's Business But Their Own™, it's also not A Big Secret™.

She doesn't move away; this is comfort, not romance, and she'd hug another member of the crew if they required it...or accept one, if offered.

"Poor Saskia," she murmurs after the engineer flees. "I shall need to track her down and speak to her." The last thing she wants is any festering feelings.  Of course, Saskia might not wish a discourse on the subject, but Shui won't know unless she tries.

"I understand your point, Mr. Orgesh," she continues, a slight sigh slipping in subvocally.  "I merely wish the same respect with regards to my duties as is given...oh, Ms. Blake, for example.  Or Ms. Crowe.  Or Mr. Tescali."  A shrug, and she sweeps him with an appraising look. "Or yourself."  It's difficult to imagine anyone defying Yasmine's orders with regards to security or strategy.  Shui would never consider it.

In fact, she carries about her despised snub pistol due to that very fact, rather than any desire to do so.

"Factor of the work, I suppose," she finishes with a resigned sigh. "I shall survive."

Tylen shrugs a Saskia leaves.  The engineer has always come across as a bit of a loner and uncomfortable around people.  But that's her business and there is nothing wrong with that.  But Shui IS a people person and her assertion that she will have to catch up with Saskia and smooth things over is attestation to that.  Always making sure everyone else is alright, that is why she is so lovable.  Even Shui's 'orders' are there to make it better for people.  In her eyes.

When she includes him in the people to be obeys group, it makes him grin "Me?  I'm not sure I tell anyone what to do, unless it is an absolute imperative at that moment." he responds  "Most of the time I am just the second gunner and roustabout ... which is good by me.  I had a go being a desk jockey and telling people how to do things, and it didn't work out for me." he freely admits.  "I'd much rather be doing what I am.  Seeing new worlds with nice people.  And as for people doing as they are told, I seem to remember Saskie shooting off alone a couple of times, after we have been told to go in pairs." he says picking an example of minor disobedience out of the air.  "And then of course, there were a few bottles of wine when I was supposed to be on watch on the bridge ..." he reminds her as he squeezes the hug slightly to try and take the edge off his words.

"But maybe we should take her advice." he finally offers mischievously.  "Do you wanna come to my room later?  I am sure I have some new etchings that you haven't seen yet."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:02, Thu 27 Aug 2015.

Ash tries to pull the 'raft into a climb, as Helda Marrtin screams and drops into the bottom of the passenger compartment.  There is another impact, and the vehicle lurches.  There is a rash of red lights across the panel.

The Navigator activates his comm on the ship's emergency chanel, "Come in Profit Margin.  We are taking fire, ten klicks east of the port.  Power is out in one lift module.  Repeat: we are taking fire from an unknown source.  Air/raft damaged, ten kilometres east of the port.  Mayday!"

On the Bridge, Jago hits the crew intercom.  "Yas and Tylen to the Bridge now!"

Although that question will have to remain unanswered, as Jago's call comes in.  "Shize!" Tylen ejaculates, as much at the timing as the urgency in Jago's voice.

"Later." he promises bruquely as he steps away from Shui and heads directly for the bridge.

Even before Jago summons her, Yas have spewed a few obscenities and entered the code for the hatch.  See, if she had known about this little, well, whatever it is, she could perhaps have done something to help prevent this kind of incident.

Stomping on the ramp and starting to seal it behind her she makes her way through the crew lounge, passing Sushi in a hurry and onto the bridge after Tylen.

"I'd recommend taking the ship," she more tells Jago than suggests it, but perhaps the situation can excuse it.  "What the frell is he doing out there, any way?"

Ash lowers his head slightly as he tries to urge the 'raft higher.  He gestures to Helda, the urgency apparent in his voice despite any niceties, "Miss, please move to the center of the craft and get as low as possible."  With open air canopy of the air/raft, Ash knows that the best protection for him and Helda will be bottom of the craft.  Assuming that the projectiles aren't big or fast enough to penetrate it, of course.

He prompts his passenger, "Is there any reason that someone might be firing on an unarmed civilian craft?"  The lanky navigator can only hope that this is some sort of mistaken identity situation or some such.  Ash adds with a glance towards the surveyor, "Anyone not like the government or foreigners?"  The grav vehicle would mark them as being off-world, or someone might have seen them taking readings...

A long fingers brushes the comm controls as Ash opens a second channel to the Port Authority.  He rattles off the ident code for the 'raft as a subsidiary vehicle of the Profit Margin, "++Mayday.  Port Authority, this is Navigator Tescali of the Profit Margin escorting a Miss Helda Marrtin on official survey mission of high priority quake sites.  We are taking fire from an unknown source.++"  He rattles off the coordinates from the route map he'd been given, before noting, "++I repeat, we are taking fire from an unknown source.  We are returning to port, unless closer safe haven is advised.++"  That is, of course, after they get high enough to be out of range (hopefully).  And assuming that they can make it at all, given that one thruster plate is out.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Thu 27 Aug 2015.

Tylen pulls a rather neat evasion - he was a scout, Shui reminds herself - and the steward eyes him sidelong.  She doesn't get a chance to call him on it, an unlikely event to begin with, owning to the Emergency pinging from her Dataglove and Ash's message.

"Yes," is her own succinct response as she turns in the opposite direction.  "Ms. Crowe."  All business, the doctor slips past Yasmine as the chief enters the lounge, avoiding a malfunction at the junction.  Once in the hall, she flicks on her dataglove's ship-wide intercom while breaking into a fast jog for her quarters, footsteps hammering crazily off the walls around her.  + All passengers, remain in your quarters.  Repeat, remain in your quarters. +

+ This is not a drill. +

It's not even far enough to raise her pulse rate, and barely enough to allow her to finish her short speech.

In, and it's her black bag she seeks.  The accursed pistol is tossed unceremoniously atop the medicals, forlorn with its single clip of munitions; snagging a lab coat from her closet, Shui is immediately back in the hallway and on the run for the cargo hold and hatches.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Thu 27 Aug 2015.

Shui's 'Yes' comes as he is already striding for the bridge.  However, was it just an acknowledgement of his  'Later' comment, or a response to his earlier question?

Damned inconvenient these emergencies.

Jago responds to Ash.  "Try to get clear, I'm sending Yas and Tylen out to help you."  Then he leans back, "You two have ground vehicles taking up space in the hold... it's about time they earned their keep.  Take them, fast as you can, and get over there.  It's about ten kilometres east of the port, on a main route.  Flat out you should be there in... what?  Ten minutes?  Less?.  I don't want to put the passengers at risk if this is some kind of trap."

Shui's announcement goes out over the ship channel, and Jago sighs, "Just the two of you go, in case the raft is damaged, and you need to transport Ash and the government official back here in a hurry.  Remember that this is Ash, and an expensive air/raft.  Use whatever means are necessary to protect our crew and property.  Ash and the official have priority though, if the raft is out of action, try to steal the power distributor from it, and get the people out."

"We can always go get the raft after the trouble's over."

Helda Marrtin is still on the floor of the air/raft, and yells back at Ash, "Isolationists, maybe!  They live out in the wilder areas, and tend to object to strangers.  Probably think we're looking for illegal stills or something."  She pauses a moment, and looks about, terrified.

"Is that rattling normal?" 

An answer to Ash's call to the Port Authority comes back, "Roger that, Navigator Tescali.  That location is outside our jurisdiction, but we have alerted the local authorities.  They will be with you as soon as possible."

Jago nods, "I think that about covers it.  Go get Ash."

Then he's on the intercom again, "Shui and Saskia to the bridge, please."

"I doubt they possess anything that could even tough the Margin, but as you wish.  I need half a minute to tweak the suspension for my current weight, it's quicker than to get out of this suit," Yas says and turns to leave even as she starts the second sentence.

She quickly jogs out to where she keeps her motorbike and begins to work on releasing it so she can strengthen the suspension and then be on her way.  Time to see how fast this thing can move.  A shame the suit doesn't have military spec sensors - yet.

Shui immediately heads to the bridge, keeping it to a quick jog.  All-out-sprinting is a good way to have an agonizing collision.

Groaning -- I just came from there -- Saskia responds to Jago's call, "On my way."

She pushes herself out of the seat that she had just dropped into, and starts back to the Bridge muttering, "This better be frelling important, Lanza."

It looks as if it might be -- there is a lot of activity in the crew areas, with people rushing about.  The Engineer picks up the pace and arrives on the Bridge just behind Shui who, oddly, isn't clinging to Tylen like a magnet coated with molecular adhesive.  There is definitely something strange going on.

"What's up, Skipper?"  Saskia knows that Jago hates being called that -- ah, the joy of subtle revenge for something that he probably doesn't realise he's done.

Tylen frowns and heads back top his cabin to prepare.  No time to really swap his holster out, so puts a second pistol into a pocket,  grabs a box of ammunition and dons his new armour.  Then he grabs his las-carbine and heads for the cargo bay, strapping the powerack on as he goes. The stuff to disable people would have been good, but right at the moment there isn't time for niceties.

Once in the hold, he unstraps his quad and prepares to follow Yas on this mission.  However, once the enemy is sighted, he will go to ground and offer covering fire, while Yas goes to talk with them.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:08, Tue 01 Sept 2015.

Ash grimaced as he tried to keep a low profile next to control console of the air/raft.  "Please, Ms. Marrtin," the lanky navigator shouted curtly over the rattle of the beleaguered craft, "keep calm and keep low."  He didn't directly answer the woman's question, which was probably enough of an answer.

"I'm going to try and get us clear of the area." he narrated as his hands worked the controls.  Ash would have loved to be able to get all the way back to the downport, but that was likely an iffy proposition given the current state of things.

"Hold on!" he ordered the local surveyor as he banked the craft to try and gain some distance between themselves and the direction that he thought the shots had come from.

Jago quickly brings the two women up to date on the situation.

"Ash took a local official out for trip in the air/raft.  They're taking fire from an unknown source.  I've sent Yas and Tylen out to help him."

"Saskia, I assume everything is ready to go in Engineering.  If not, how long will it take to get the ship airborne, if we need to?  If we have to move the ship, I want you to man the ventral turret."

He pauses for a moment, checking the displays for situation updates.

"Shui, have sickbay ready.  One of our people, or the official, might need medical help when they get back.  As soon as you think you're ready to give that help, come back here.  You can handle comms for a while, while I get us ready to fight if we have to.  Just filter any incoming calls, so only the urgent ones get through to me.  Use your own discretion about what counts as urgent."

In the hold, Yas finishes the adjustment to the suspension on her motorcycle and starts to wheel it down the ramp.  Tylen unstraps his own quad, and follows his superior out of the ship.

At the bottom of the ramp the pair start their vehicles and head away across the landing field at high speed...

Ash banks the 'raft, and there is another impact, followed by a loud hiss as a shot hits the belly of the vehicle.  A blinking light warns of a coolant leak and an overheating grav module.  The air/raft starts to descend, though Ash still has control over that descent.  Risking a quick look through the windshield, he notices that they are currently heading for the bridges...

"Indeed, Captain Lanza," Shui replies.  "Ms. Blake."  Then she's gone, again in the fast, controlled jog.  The hallways and rooms pass in a blur, but she pays them no attention.  One finger flicks a holocontrol, then another, and she's connected to her sickbay comp via vocals.  "Shui Tiesi," the doctor states, careful and deliberate.  "Code one." 

'One' for the only code she has.

Within the small sickbay, lights appear on equipment, the comp reaching out electronic feelers and enslaving the devices with mechanical ruthlessness.  Preliminary testing begins, startup functions running their mindless checks to determine instrument accuracy and sensor alignments.

Foolish to attempt full control and calibration from the bridge and her limited dataglove controls, but certainly Shui can begin the process via remote.

That, unfortunately, requires but a moment.  It leaves the remainder of the short jog for the black clouds of worry; scudding in, they fill her mind with images of the air/raft in flames, hammering into the unforgiving ground.  Knuckles white with fear, the doctor bursts into her cabin, hurling herself to her equipment with unfamiliar haste.  Fingers flicker over controls, and she shifts from machine to machine as each takes a moment for a test.  Once all have begun their final procedures, she takes a moment to press her thumb into the lock of her pharmaceuticals cabinet; with verification complete, it opens to her.

"Ms. Marrtin," Ash calls out over the wind whipping by them, "I'm going to try and put us down on the opposite side of the gully, as far from the sniper as possible."  He paused briefly to make sure that she understood that, "That is unless you believe that the area there is also held by the insurgents, as well."  In which case, they were likely screwed, if both sides of the bridge were held by those firing upon them.  Still, in that case the thin, ex-Scout would try to guide the craft to under the bridge to provide cover.  It would be tricky, especially given his limited experience with the air/raft, but the thought of either him or his passenger getting lead inserted into their bodies at supersonic speeds was a great motivator and did help him to focus a touch.

And his goal at this point was landing and surviving.  If they were captured, that would be fine with him, at this point, as it would mean that they were still alive.  And being alive was necessary to being able to escape later, if required.

Not really waiting for Helda to respond up, as he knew that there was still a bit to go, Ash continued to nudge the controls and guide the 'raft onwards.  "C'mon," he muttered to no one in particular, "Just hold together."  The air/raft may not be listening, but at least it made him feel a touch better.  Or perhaps just a bit more grounded.  Figuratively, of course, not (hopefully) literally.  Yet.

The port is behind them now, and Yas and Tylen both open the throttles on their vehicles wide.  Yas' bike would normally be faster, but it's carrying the extra weight of her armour, and Tylen manages to keep up.  Four kilometres to go, if Jago's directions are correct.

And if the road continues in a fairly straight line.

Aboard Profit Margin, Shui prepares the ship's small sick bay (otherwise known as her cabin) in case it's needed.  Everything looks to be in order as she pulls on a handle to fold the diagnostic couch down from the wall.  Overhead the medical scanner confirms that its systems are functioning within acceptable parameters. 

Saskia uses the Engineering station on the Bridge to perform a last few checks, while Jago prepares to lift the ship...

Ash relaxes.  The air/raft is safely on the ground, and the shooting has stopped for the moment.  There are bushes between the vehicle and the gully, so they have a little cover, and Ash has set them down in a shallow depression.  The road is about seventy or eighty metres away, but there doesn't seem to be any traffic at the moment.

Helda Marrtin raises her head and risks a look over the side, then she starts to return her expensive instrument to the safety of its case.  "What do we do now?"  She gestures towards  thin wisps of smoke seeping from below the 'raft, "Will it still fly?"

The two bikes top a low rise.  Ahead is a plain with scattered bushes and a gully crossed by two bridges, one of them carrying the road, and the other carrying  a pair of metal tracks.  Beyond the gully is a small patch of forest.  About a kilometre away is something parked on the ground that has the right colours to be the air/raft.  Nothing appears to be on fire yet, so they probably aren't too late...

Shui returns to the Bridge in time to hear Jago arguing with somebody on the comm.  "I know what time I booked clearance for, but this is an emergency.  One of my people, and one of your officials, are on the ground under fire."

"We are aware of the situation.  The local enforcement department has been contacted, and will despatch a team to deal with it as soon as possible."

Ash frowns slightly, motioning for Helda to keep her head down.  Though that said, the lanky navigator does venture his own look around above the console.  In hushed tones, he answers the surveyor's second question first, "I believe that one of the control modules has been damaged, but the ship is still flyable."

A thin finger tapped a portion of the display and unmuted the link to the Profit Margin, "++Captain, we  have landed safely, less than a tenth of a click from the road.  You or the authorities should be able to key on our position beacon.++"  He made sure that the signal beacon was active and transmitting its intermittent pulse on the assigned frequency.

He then moves on to Ms. Marrtin's first question, "We should stay close to the ship - though that may change with the situation."  Like if the sniper (or snipers) came looking for them.  "Help should be on the way." he reiterated for his sake as well as hers.  Ash regretted not bring his autopistol, but knew that even now his laser carbine would have been inappropriate.  He did regret that he didn't ask about hostile forces and enemy fire, but disaster relief didn't seem like it should warrant hazard pay.

Ash started to rummage through the on-board items to see if beyond the emergency medkit if there were any usable tools, like a spanner or some such.  An improvised weapon would be better than none.  As he did so, the lanky ex-Scout asked his charge, "Are you okay, Ms. Marrtin?  You were not injured by any stray bullets..."  It was a half-question, half-statement.  He didn't think that she'd been physically hurt, but he wanted to make sure.

After confirming that everything in Engineering is ready to go, at least for a short hop to rescue Ash -- only a portion of the fuel necessary for a Jump has been refined -- Saskia goes to prepare Tylen's fire-control station.

"How the frell can you work with this farbotz layout?"

She opens a preference file and saves Tylen's settings, then reconfigures the console to suit herself, saving her layout as "SNB01".

What she can hear of Jago's conversation with Traffic Control is making it unlikely that she'll need to use the turret, but the Captain did tell her to be ready in case she has to.

The comm system emits a chirp, and Shui slides into Ash's empty Bridge station and activates the panel.  As it turns out, it's Tylen reporting in - he and Yas have found the air/raft, and will be moving in to effect a rescue of Ash and his passenger immediately.

Beside her, Jago still continues his... discussion... with the Port Authority.

Out in the field, Tylen pockets his comm unit as Yas starts down the slope towards the downed 'raft.  There is a ground car on the road bridge, moving slowly towards Profit Margin's auxiliary vehicle...

The woman finishes closing the instrument case, "I'm not hurt, no.  Thank you.".  Down in the bottom of the 'raft, she looks about nervously, even though she can't actually see anything beyond the sides of the vehicle.  "We could be in trouble if the settlers come over the bridge though.  They tend to be very possessive of their land.  Probably best not to mention that I work for the government.  They can be a little... hostile... towards officials."

Then, as an afterthought, she removes her uniform tunic and stuffs it under one of the seats, leaving her in a plain shirt and pants... 

Profit Margin's ventral turret comes to life, as Saskia runs it through a series of diagnostic activities.

While still on the slope, but not higher than needed for her intent, Yas stops and unslings her ACR.  Lifting the gun up she peers into the scope.

"Who are you then, creeping up so carefully?  If you got weapons out I just might give you a spare slug," she muses to herself.  No one messes with her crew and gets away without at least a scratch or a black eye.  Although she do plan to move out right after she see the effect of any shot she takes, in case they have someone watching over them from higher ground.  If she draw fire she will know that for certain, although if no one shoots it can also mean any lookout is half blind.

"We're up the slope from you, Ash," she calls over the comm to let him know they are near.  "Should you hear a shot the next few moments, then that is me trying to dissuade potential unwanted visitors.  Might want to relay this to your date."  She grins at her joke at the end, doing her best jealous impression.  She wonders if he will react to that, and if so, how, as she fights back a chuckle at her own wit.

"Captain Lanza," Shui calls out, "Mr. Orgesh and Chief Crow are en route to aid Mr. Tescali.  I shall update you as events play out."

Happy to take his lead from the Security Chief, Tylen pulls up behind Yas, and uses his binoculars to scan the area for signs of insurgents.

Yas uses her ACR, with its relatively high-tech (at least compared to the locally produced equipment) scope to take a look at the approaching vehicle.  Tylen uses a pair of binoculars to do the same. 

Jago gives Shui the age-old thumbs-up signal to acknowledge her report, then interrupts the Port Authority operator to try a new approach based on his new information, "Listen, I now have two more people in the area and these, unlike my driver, are armed to the teeth with the most advanced weapons they were able to buy.  I am no longer concerned for my people, though I am concerned for the locals.  Once again, I am requesting immediate clearance to stage a rescue operation before things get out of control."

Saskia can, just about, hear Jago's end of the argument from her place in Tylen's gunnery position.  She quickly types out a message for Jago and sends it to his panel.

++ Tell them you have a gunner waiting to turn their office into a radioactive crater if they don't give clearance now. ++

That, at least, might give the Captain something to smile at while he's waiting for the bureaucrats to fill out the forms to arrange clearance.

Tylen does a few calculations to work out how far away the vehicle is, its base speed and rougly when he can expect it to be in range of his laser carbine.

"We ought to think about adding a grenade launcher to the armoury ..." he muses.  It is irritating that he has all of those anti-people grenades for short range work, but nothing for a longer range effect.  "An explosion between the front wheels would make them think twice ..."

"And a homing rocket launcher.  Also, a sniper rifle.  Make that two, one loud, one silent.  Now, this is out of effective range for me, but I should be able to get close enough to get a reaction," Yas replies to Ty as she loads a round into the chamber.  "Let's tell them trouble is coming for them, whether they want it or not.  Then we ride."

"Heads up, Ash, you will hear a gunshot and a small explosion in a couple of seconds," she calls in, steadies her rifle and fires.

"I'll cover you." he responds unlimbering the laser carbine and starting to check the alignment of the electronic sights.  "Even with that armour, we wouldn't want them to think they can shoot at you with impunity.  A bolt into the vehicle might be enough to make them thnk about their options a bit more carefully." he adds with a grin.

With that he finds a good position that provides some cover, but gives a good view of the aggressors.

Ash put a finger up to the earpiece of his p-comm, to tap it lightly.  "Roger that, Chief."  he murmurred into the short microphone boom that extended from the earbud, addressing Yasmine over the common crew channel.  If the ex-Scout detected any overtones in the Security Chief's words or tone, he didn't appear to let on; all flippant remarks were ignored given the circumstances.  As an ex-squid, Ash was well aware of the common trope that Marines engaged in a fair amount of levity and gallows humor on the battlefield.

He motioned to Helda to keep her head down and her body crouched low in the air/raft.  "Forgive me, Mr. Marrtin." the lanky navigator noted as he moved to touch the surveyor, placing his hands and arms over her head, neck and shoulders to try and protect them, while adding off-hand, "I am not trying to be too forward."  He leaned in close, then added quietly, "I believe that the cavalry has arrived.  We stay put and wait for any gunfire to die down."  He didn't want to alarm the young woman, but it was best to try and prepare her for any festivities that were due.  Ash knew Yas well enough to know that she took her hardware and her job seriously.  And she was good at it.

The ground car, now clear of the bridge, stops suddenly, and one of the passengers standing in the back is jolted forward against the cab, then rebounds from the impact and falls.  When he gets back to his feet, he starts pounding angrily on the cab roof.

His companion stops him and points ahead, to where a small cloud of smoke and dust is dispersing on the breeze.  Then both men are thrown off balance as the vehicle starts to turn parallel with the edge of the gully, and moving slowly away from the air/raft.

Jago mutes the comm and calls out, "I admit that I'm sorely tempted to do that, Saskia.  I'll give them a few more seconds, then I'm moving the ship, whether they like it or not.  Any more word from Yas, Shui?"

"Ty, let's keep an eye on the vehicle, they might be trying to approach from a different angle.  If they do, we split up so one of us can always keep them in sight, in our range and hopefully out of theirs," Yas tells her companion before speaking into the com, "Margin, we temporarily spooked the aggressors into passive mode, approaching the raft now."

"Ash, we're coming in, hang in there," she finishes and starts down the slope anew, with fair speed, while keeping tabs on the hostiles.  The less gunfire the better as that never ends well.  At best it will be a bill for more ammo and at the other end of the spectra, well, no more bills, ever.  In that context, bills win.

Tylen nods at Yas's instruction and settles down to watch the vehicle.

"Yes, Ma'am." the lanky navigator quipped curtly to Yas's orders, keeping his head tucked down and next to Helda's and both of their bodies low towards the center of the open grav vehicle.

He continued to grip the spanner as a makeshift club in his right hand, though Ash didn't really think about using it except in the most dire of circumstances.  And such circumstances didn't seem like they were presenting themselves quite yet.  Actually, it seemed to him that with the Security Chief present now, that they might have the upper hand...

At least, Ash allowed himself to hope so.

Shui again speaks up after a moment's concentration.  First, more quietly into the comm. + Thank you, Farah District Enforcement.  Will inform the ship's captain. + Then she raises her voice.  "Captain, Farah District Enforcement informs us they are aware of the situation, and have sent a patrol unit.  ETA ten minutes or less."

Not extremely helpful - Shui knows that ten minutes is an eternity in a small-scale firefight - but something of which both captain and crew need to be aware.

"Any response?"

Jago shakes his head, then realises that Shui might not notice if she's concentrating on the panel.  "Just thank them, and tell them we're hoping to have it under control ourselves soon."  There... that might get them to hurry themselves.

For the moment, at least, there is no more gunfire, and Ash can actually hear engines running.  One fairly close but moving away, two further away but getting closer, very quickly.

Yas and Tylen are moving quickly down the long incline, and the distance between them and the air/raft diminishes rapidly.  Not so with the enemy vehicle, which continues to move away, following the edge of the gully.  Until it disappears behind a patch of low trees and dense bushes about five hundred metres away.

"Understood, Captain Lanza."  Shui goes back to the comm board, picking up the conversation where she left off.  Having already thanked them - should there be a doubt? - she finds it currently unnecessary, especially given the current situation.

+ Farah District Enforcement, please be advised we have dispatched our own security team, now entering the area.  They will be on-scene when your people arrive, with the situation hopefully resolved. +

Satisfied with that subtle nudge, she awaits a response.

A shower of gravel and small pebbles rattles against the side of the air/raft, as Yas skids to a halt next to it.  Tylen parks on the opposite side, and both of them are armed and watching the area for approaching threats.  A thin streamer of smoke seeps out from under the vehicle indicating damage, though whether from the the gunfire, or from a rough landing, is currently unclear to them.

At least there are no visible flames, and a distinct lack of bloody splashes across the upholstery.  Ash and his passenger are crouched in the bottom of the vehicle, and appear unhurt, though the woman looks a little shaken.  As Yas peers in at them, still wearing her cargo armour, Helda Marrtin screams... 

Aboard Profit Margin, Jago says, "Thank you so much for your help." and closes the channel angrily.  "Saskia... what's a good, juicy word for a totally useless moron?"  Then he starts activating controls across his panel.

"Right, I've got clearance at last, so buckle in.  We're going after our friends.  Shui, warn the passengers that things might get a bit rough so they should sit down somewhere."

There is a building vibration, felt through the deck plates, as the Captain ramps up the drive...

Immediately, Shui switches to the ship's open intercom.  + All passengers, please secure yourselves immediately.  The ship is about to commence in-atmosphere maneuvering.  Repeat, please secure yourselves immediately. +

Done.  Having finished, she buckles in herself.  Passengers come first, after all.

"I have my medical bag here, captain - when we arrive, I can go straight to the bay," she states.

Tylen climbs off of his quad, and looks into the body of the air raft. "That is just Yas, our head of security" he reassures Ash's passenger.

"Is it fixable?"  he asks Ash.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 10:38, Tue 29 Sept 2015.

"Jago!  If you're going to move, do it now.  I think we have Port Security taking an interest.  Movement at three hundred degrees.  Near the Port Authority building."  Saskia's voice has a brittle edge of near panic to it.  "Looks like three squads of ground troops.  Make that four."

Frellfrellfrellfrell frelling mivonks!  I didn't sign up for this dren!

Ash looks startled for a moment, flinching as Helda screams upon seeing Yasmine in her finery peeking over the edge of air/raft.  He grips the surveyor's arm for a moment, tightening slightly to get her attention, "Ms. Marrtin, it is quite all right..." he tries to sound as soothing as possible, "It is Ms. Crow, the Security Chief, from my ship, the Profit Margin."

He pauses hoping that the woman starts to calm down, but then turns towards Tylen.  "Thanks for coming to get us."  Ash looks thoughtful for a moment before trying to answer his fellow ex-Scout's question.  "I think so..." the lanky navigator says, spanner in hand as he stands and starts to dust himself off.  Then he offers a hand to Helda Marrtin to help the young lady up, while continuing, "She was sluggish on landing, but there was still plenty of lift; so, I suspect that one of the control modules was hit.  With any luck, we should be able to jury-rig something up.  Or barring that, limp home."

A wan smile crosses his features, "Now that was aren't being shot at."

Ash glances at Helda, "Ms. Marrtin, I am afraid that we won't be able to continue the survey for your government.  I am sorry, but I think you understand why..."

"Do you think you can fix it fairly quickly, Ash?  They're still out there, seemingly heading away although I suspect they plan to come around, so the quicker we are on the move the better."

"Any of you got an idea why these clowns shot at you?" Yas asks, opening her face plate so that Ash's passenger can see her face.  "Ty, er, Mr Orgesh here and I will keep an eye out if you want to take a look, Ash.  I'm no Saskia, but in a pinch I could take a look, done a few field repairs myself."

"If need be, we can have Miss, uh, Martini here out of here with Ty, uh, Mr Orgesh, to keep her safe."

"I got my basic engineering certificate in the scouts" Tylen grins as repairs are discussed, "So I know the basics" he offers.

Then he grins at Ash's passenger, when Yas suggests that he might be the one to get her out of the area, if required.

Jago frowns and uses the ship's external sensors to look in the direction indicated by Saskia.  "I wonder what their game is... we have clearance.  Here we go."  The drive surges, and the ship lifts from the ground, rotating as it does so, and banking.

"Maybe it's nothing to do with us, but watch them."  The Captain nods at Shui's offer, then qualifies his acceptance, "We'll have any wounded brought aboard for treatment, unless Yas confirms that it's safe to poke our heads out of the hatch.  Don't want any more injuries than we have already."

And then Jago's hands dance across the controls, and Profit Margin's main thruster's cut in, driving the ship in a long curve, barely ten metres above the ground...

Ash's passenger relaxes as Yas' identity is explained, then even more as the Chief pops her helmet open to show her face.  "There are people who don't like government interference - farmers and miners mostly - they choose to live away from the settlements and stake claims to their own tracts of land, usually just a square kilometre or two.  They can be a little protective of their territory, once they've registered their claim.  Especially if they think your working for GovBranch."

"I hadn't realised any of them had claimed this area, but that's who I think these people are.  If so, then they're here legally, and can deal with trespassers as they see fit."

The offer of a ride out of the danger area with Tylen drains the colour out of Helda Marrtin's face.  "I... er... believe there might be more safety in numbers.  I think we should leave taking me out of here on that... that machine... as a last resort."

Shui nods - she hadn't expected any differently, though she would take the chance herself.  But Jago needs to consider the safety and well-being of the entire crew, herself included; as such, she cannot be allowed to put herself in danger that way.  They require a medical officer.  Additionally, her rushing out into a battleground could put the people in the area under fire as they sought to protect her.

Wiser than she, Shui must admit, though it pains her not to assist on the moment.

"Certainly, Captain Lanza - I will await your go-ahead."

Spanner in hand, Ash moves away from Helda and makes his way over the side of the air/raft.  After taking a few moments to visually inspect the damage, he pops open one of the panels on the side to take a look.

Hemming and hawing for another couple of seconds, he finally answers Tylen's question more conclusively.  "Ayup.  There it is.  Well," he notes over the crew channel so that the crew that remains on the Profit Margin might also know, "from what I can see, one of the power regulators is damaged.  Shot clean through.  And, so, it has leaked out all of its fluid."  He pauses for a moment, "If we had a spare, it would take maybe a half hour or so to replace it."  Casting a glance back towards Yas, Tylen and Helda, "But, since we don't have either the time or the spare..." the lanky navigator rubs his chin then shrugs slightly, "I guess I can just disconnect it complete from the loop.  I won't be pretty, and the controls will remain sluggish, but we should be able to make it back to the Margin okay."

He pauses for only a moment, just in case Saskia or any of the others has a better idea, then starts in with the wrench to disable the damaged regulator.

Tylen grins at Helda, "Aww.  A fast dash back, zigging and zagging to throw off the enemy would be fun ..." he replies, although the smile is supposed to make the comment lighthearted.

But he nods at Ash's assessment of the options and turns back to keep a watch on the area, as he awaits feedback from The Margin on Ash's analysis.

"Shouldn't get any problem from disconnecting it, if you need to.  Then I can check it over later." the Engineer replies over the crew link, "But I think Jago has had a rush of blood to the mivonks, and he's bringing us over there."

She closes the mic and calls through to Jago, "Security aren't moving, or doing anything else that makes me want to burn them to ash.  They turned out for some reason, but it doesn't look like we were it.  They're frelling farbotz, I'm telling you."  But then Saskia is struck by a different idea.  "Wait.  Maybe they thought Ash's distress call was a ruse - we'd ask for clearance, and then attack somebody in the port as soon as we were off the ground.  That idea might have scared them enough to make them respond pre-emptively."

Jago keeps the ship low as he accelerates it away.  He chews at his unlit cigar, his face a mask of concentration.  "Could be.  Don't shoot at anybody unless they shoot at the ship first.  Or unless I tell you otherwise."  And as soon as Profit Margin is over the perimeter fence he increases the thrust to maximum...

As Ash works on the 'raft, just in case Jago is actually going somewhere else, Yas and Tylen stand guard, watching for any sign that the ground vehicle is returning, or that its occupants are making their way back on foot to finish the job.

Tylen leans back against the side of the air raft and scratches his ear with his thumb.  Still lounging there, laser carbine at the ready, he  scan the area.

"Its quite nice out here." he says to no one in particular.

"Any further commentary to security, Captain Lanza?" Shui inquires, still at the comm board.  There really isn't much else she can do at the moment.

"Sounds like a plan," Yas tells Ash and then messages the ship, "We're secured the raft and its occupants, no casualties to report.  Jury-rigging a fix that can takes us back to the Margin.  No sign of the aggressors but remaining vigilant."

Ash nodded to the others and quickly got to work.  Pulling off the access panel, he started to hunt through the jumble of components and wiring.  I was all bundled and set up reasonably nicely, which he figured was presumably Saskia's doing, though the entry of a small shard of metal moving at supersonic speeds into the area had wreaked some chaos.

He couldn't see the regulator behind a couple of other components, but by reaching around could touch the proper couplings.  So, the thin, lanky navigator transferred the spanner to his left hand and reached around with it to free up the coupling connection.  This was one case where Ash was thankful that his father, who had worked on the Imperial naval construction docks had forced him to learn how to work in tight spaces with either hand when he was younger.  While the son had never been as strong or fast as his old man and the two had disagreed on a great number of things, the value of certain basic physical repair skills had never been one of those disagreements.

It was slow going as he tried to be thorough; the work took Ash a couple of minutes and the Profit Margin's navigator didn't rush.  He wanted to do it right and not make any unnecessary work or danger for himself or others (especially Saskia, whom he assumed would be repairing his repair). Plus, with Yas and Tylen present, he felt the situation was much more secure.  As he started to work on the last connection, Ash noted to the others, "Almost done...."

Yas fights bravely, giving it her best and her all, but in the end she loses all the same and she says, with her usual deadpan delivery that only the crew of the Margin recognise as her trademark jesting/teasing^*, "Nice and slow is good.  Better done properly than finish too early."


^{* If the air/raft can, so can I!}

Jago acknowledges Shui as she relays Yas' situation report to him, "I see them, and that must be their new playmates."

Helda Marrtin smiles at Yas' little jest... and then there is a rushing noise, steadily increasing in volume, followed by a deafening report as Profit Margin passes above the air/raft at low altitude and supersonic speed.  The government employee shrieks again, and throws herself flat in the bottom of the 'raft with her hands covering her head.  The ship veers away, slowing, and heads in the direction where Yas and Tylen believe the locals' groundcar to be located.

The ship comes to a halt about half way between the air/raft and its attackers.  The inertial dampers handle the sudden deceleration easily.  "Shui, you have a way with words, so you're now our public relations spokesperson.  Feel free to use the external speakers to persuade those... thugs... to leave the area.  Be creative."  He smiles happily.

"Saskia, load a cannister of sand, just in case we need to positively reinforce that we mean business."

"Well, someone decided to risk the ship, after all," Yas mutters under her breath as the Margin announces her arrival.

"At once, Captain Lanza," Shui states, pleased at the decision for restraint.  She thumbs the toggle for the ship-mounted speakers, adjusts the volume (and direction, if possible), and, after a moments pause, activates recording devices to put this all on file.  Then she begins to speak, firmly and evenly.

+ Hostile forces - leave the area immediately and you will not be fired upon.  Otherwise, we will employ ship-mounted weaponry in our defense. +

For a few seconds, nothing happens.  And then the ground car starts to reverse away from the ship, before making a three point turn and driving over the edge of the gully.  At the bottom it turns left and heads for a slope where the far wall has collapsed.

"Well, they're heading away from the air/raft.  That's a good thing.  Think I'll just encourage them to keep going."

Jago manipulates the controls, and the ship, so recently travelling at supersonic speed, floats gently after the vehicle.  "Let the people on the ground know that they're safe, and that I'll be swinging back to pick them up as soon as Ash says he can fly the 'raft into the garage."

And then, almost as an afterthought, "Well done, both of you."

The lanky ex-Scout seems unphased by the Profit Margin's flyby.

Ash pulls his left hand from behind the circuit board components and conduit piping behind the access panel, the spanner still in hand.  He wipes a spot grease from a knuckle and then gives his assembled companions a thumbs-up.  "Done." he announces, "She's as good as it is going to get for the time being."

Offering a hand to Helda to help her to her feet, the thin navigator soothes, "It's okay, Ms. Marrtin.  It is just the Profit Margin.  Nothing to be worried about."  Ash then moves to the console to test the startup sequence and see how manageable the air/raft is, "We'll have you safe and sound on board in just a moment."

"Here goes nothing..." Ash narrates quietly to no one in particular as he flips to the switch to bring the power back online.

"Thank you, Captain Lanza." Pleased, Shui runs a brief tally in her head. Casualties presumably to a minimum, check.  Jago judging her performance adequate for the task, check.  Everyone from the Margin safe, check.  Annoying port security proven worthless, check.

Another toggle, this time switching off the externals and activating contact with their lost crewmembers.  + Chief Crow, Mr. Tescali, Captain Lanza wishes to inform you that the hostiles are in retreat, and that we will return to pick up you and your vehicle once it is capable of a proper landing in the Profit Margin. +
This message was last edited by the player at 13:26, Wed 14 Oct 2015.

Slightly disappointed in a complete lack of reaction from Ash to her prodding, Yas sighs in a overly melodramatic fashion and turns her full attention to active guard duty (not that she neglected it before).

"Did you hear that, Mr Orgesh?  They forgot you were here.  Good thing us grunts are out here to look out for one another, I'll make sure you get back aboard," she grins at Ty.

"Understood, Margin," she reports in, and wraps it up with a deadpan, "and tell the boss he's in trouble for risking the ship and the safety of the passengers, thank you."

"Oh, you can be sure I will remind Shui that she forgot all about me the moment I was out of sight." Tylen responds to Yas in a deadpan voice.

Then he stands up and stretches his legs, before slinging the laser carbine carefully across his shoulder and striding across to his Quad.  "Do you think he will want us to meet him back at the port?" he asks idly.

The air/raft starts to lift, albeit a little unsteadily.  Ash manages to hold it though...

Profit Margin swings around and flies back towards the 'raft and its attendant security team at a much more leisurely pace.  The ship eventually comes to a halt just a couple of metres off the ground and about twenty metres from where Yas and Tylen wait.

Jago plays with the controls, and the garage opens, allowing the air/raft access through the upper hull.  Meanwhile the cargo ramp drops with a deafening screech, and the lower end hits the ground in a shower of displaced dirt and dust.

The freighter hovers there, and waits.

"Shui, Saskia... you can leave your posts now.  Go check that our friends are all home safely."

"You do that, Ty.  I'd say 'no' to that question," Yas states and get a few flashbacks to her days in the corps from the hovering boarding Jago evidently is planning on.  Showing off to Ash's date, no doubt.

"Let's roll out and head in, folks, in case those rednecks finds some courage in the form of booze and friends!"  She barks out her order and mounts her twheeler (it's a two wheeler, duh), ready to follow her own command.

Tylen grins, straddles his machine and guns the quad, up the ramp and onto The Margin. He brakes hard and turns away from the ramp once he is over the lip, making sure there is enough room for Yas.  Once the quad is clear, he dismounts and moves to the doorway, watching to make sure that the surrounding area remains clear.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 11:27, Mon 19 Oct 2015.

"Wonderful," Shui replies. "Absolutely, Captain Lanza."  And she's up and jogging down the hallway, a thumb already on a holo-control for her dataglove, activating the internal com. + Attention Passengers, + the steward begins.  + While the situation has normalized, we request you remain in your cabins.  It should not be much longer. +

Better to let them know.

There's a rumble as something enters the Profit Margin, and as Shui hurries into cargo bay, she's delighted to see Tylen taking up a position at the top of the ramp.  From his stance, the situation is indeed without serious stress. "Mr. Orgesh!" she calls out as she approaches, slowing to a walk.  "Any injuries to report?"

Medical information first, as always.

Yas and Tylen are barely inside the hold before Jago seals the ramp with its normal screech.

Outside, the sir/raft climbs unsteadily to hover above the ship. then descends slowly into its storage, as Ash makes continuous corrections to counteract the destabilising effect of the disconnected grav module.  Jago does his best to hold the ship steady, so that Ash's job is made easier.

The air/raft drops into and settles into its cradle, where the docking clamps engage to lock it securely in place...

And then the main thrusters engage, accelerating the ship. even as the overhead hatch closes to seal the air/raft in a bubble of warmth and comfort.

"No injuries." Tylen grins across at Shui  "We hardly saw anything of the gunmen at all.  They took off into the wilds after a single warning shot." he continues.  He is just about to tease Shui about missing him out when send messages, when Yas comes flying up the ramp and it starts to close, forcing him to jump back into the hold proper.

"I suppose we had better get back to our proper stations" he says recognizing that Jago isn't liable to hang about out here.  "And we want to look professional when we drop the surveyor off." he adds finally.

Saskia starts toward the access hatch on the side of the air-raft, tools in hand, then forces herself to stop.  She raises her eyes from the chassis of the vehicle and looks at Ash and his passenger with a nervous smile.

"Welcome back.  Are you both all right?"  Then after a pause, and because it is probably the polite thing to do, she adds, "Captain Lanza sends his compliments and recommends that you go directly to Medical if you have any injuries."

The hand that isn't holding the tool box, meanwhile, is twitching as the Engineer strives to fight the urge to drop the conversation and start work.

"I'm not hurt." Ash's passenger confirms, in response to Saskia's query, "Just a bit shaken up.  Mostly I think I need a drink."  She holds out her hand, which is trembling, "See?"

And at that moment, Jago's voice comes over the speakers in the air/raft hangar and the cargo hold... "Ash, Tylen and Yas please come to the Bridge for debriefing.  At your earliest convenience, thanks.  Ash, please drop the surveyor off with Shui on the way past, or in the crew lounge if Shui is busy."

Alone on the Bridge, for the moment, Jago smiles happily.  He's flying his ship, and getting to show off a little.  A pity that the inertial dampers and deck plates mean that nobody else on Profit Margin will have noticed that he just put her through a victory roll.

He turns the nose back towards the port at a slightly more sedate pace than he had left it...

"Fantastic news, Mr. Orgesh," Shui replies.  "Criminals such as those can often be a cowardly breed; I'm pleased to hear nothing further transpired before our arrival."  One eyebrow rises as Jago gives orders. "I believe I can manage to look professional for our surveyor," she continues once their captain is finished.  "You, on the other hand, have a rather urgent briefing to attend."

With a quick smile and a shooing motion, she sends Tylen on his way before heading toward the air raft.

Ash breathes a sigh of relief once he has touched down in the vehicle bay safely and the doors to outside begin to close.

His thin frame rocks slightly as he waves in greeting to Saskia and nods to her statements, "Thank you, Ms. Blake."  He scratches his head for a moment then apologizes rather sheepishly, "Sorry about the control regulator."  He knows that he hasn't brought the equipment in the same condition that he borrowed it.  And he can see that Saskia is ready with tools in hand, "She's all yours..."  He'd offer to help, for it is the least he can do... but, Jago's pronouncement comes over the PA system.

Ash taps his comm and vocalizes quietly, "++Roger that, Captain++"  He smiles lightly at what he perceives to be an attempt at levity by Helda, "I'll get you that drink personally, Ms. Marrtin."  Then he adds quickly, "But only after, Ms. Shui Tiesi - our medical officer - gives you the once over."  The lanky navigator motions to his passenger to accompany him, "I'll escort you to her ..." the a sheepish smile touches his lips, "then I, uh, have to go to a quick meeting."

"But," he promises as he starts to walk towards the access hatch, "I will get you that drink."

Yas and Tylen leave the hold and enter the Crew Lounge, heading for the Bridge, while Shui crosses the hold to the air/raft hangar, where she finds Ash about to lead a stranger out through the other door.  That stranger is, presumably, his passenger, Helda Marrtin.

The woman is carrying what looks like some sort of equipment case, gripping the handle very tightly.

Saskia is also in the hangar, preparing to start work on the 'raft.

Having boarded, Yas had hoped to get out of her suit - comfy as it is, it is not made for walking about in all the time, after all - but, no, Mr I-don't-want-to-endanger-the-passengers-but-then-I'll-do-it-anyway decides to summon them all straight up.

Watching Ty and Sushi makes her realise that Ty does indeed like Sushi, but also make her wish she will never have to witness the former eat the latter at the dinner table.  The thought makes her snort and chuckles all the way to the bridge whenever she glances at him.

"Fancy meeting you here.  You come here often?" she says to Ash as she waits for him to file onto the bridge before she crams herself in there with the full suit.  That way she can make sure she is the last to enter and the first to leave, after all, so she can get out of this suit and slip into something more comfortable.  As she thinks that, the whole Ty and Sushi idea have set her mind in motion and so she can only barely stop from burst out laughing as the phrase 'Ash to Ash, Lust to Lust' creeps into her mind.

She really needs to get out of this suit, clearly it is having an effect on her.  Yeah, that's got to be it, the suit.  Doing her best she tries not to think about anything further on suit, especially not in conjunction with birthdays.  Nope.

Tylen, Still carrying his laser Carbine strapped on his shoulder, follows Yas, but then ducks around her when she holds back.  Once on the bridge he will divest himself of the weapon and park it, temporarily, in his turret area.  Then he will lounge in one of the seats, one leg over the arm as he picks at something on  the knee of his trousers.  Glancing up, he sees, Yas just about able to cram herself through the door, and then unable to sit down comfortably - and his face cracks into his trademark grin.

Shui leads Helda Marrtin towards her quarters, which double as a small sick bay, while Yas, Tylen and Ash carry on to the Bridge.  As they enter Shui's room, the surveyor, still holding on to her equipment case, murmurs to Shui, "I was only joking about the drink, you know.  Honestly, I was.  I'm not some kind of addict."  She laughs nervously, "But if you have something to calm my nerves a bit, I'll take it."

Jago looks over his shoulder as his three crew members enter the Bridge.  He turns his seat to face them as they get settled (except Yas, whose armour is likely to break anything she sits on).  The skipper removes the unlit cigar from his mouth and gazes at it wistfully for a few seconds before he starts to speak.

"That was good work out there.  You managed to protect somebody, who had engaged our services, in a very tricky situation and with a minimum of gun-play on your part.  The person in question was also working for the local government, which can only enhance our reputation.  Well done, all of you."

Half turning the chair, he glances outside, where the starport can be seen as the ship slowly draws closer to it.  He hits a control on the panel, "I need you all to tell me, in your own words, what happened.  I'll be recording your statements, and giving a copy to the surveyor, so she can present it to her superiors."

Tylen grins and sits back waiting for Ash to tell the story.  After all, Tylen really didn't have much of a story to tell.  He hadn't even fired a shot.

"Don't worry, Ms. Marrtin," Shui reassures the woman.  "You've had something of a trying time, and not the norm for coming aboard the Profit Margin, I can assure you.  I suspect we can find you something to enjoy."  She has some wine, purchased recently for a possible soirée with Tylen; that should probably do.

Ushering the woman to a chair, she moves to her refrigerator.  Pausing, she considers her 'guests'. "Ms.  Marrtin, are you familiar and comfortable with small animals?" she inquires, continuing to the cooler.  Removing the bottle, she cracks the seal and pours a glass of the white wine.

Crouching next to the air raft, Saskia used a cold light lanternto illuminate the interior of the service hatch.  She smiles -- Ash has done a reasonable job, considering that somebody had inserted a large calibre rifle round into the grav module.

At least he hasn't produced more mess than the bullet had already made.

Should be easy enough for her to replace the power regulator, reconnect everything, then run a quick diagnostic sequence to check that it's working properly, and that the repaired module is balanced properly with the others.

Jago listens quietly while his crew give their own brief accounts of the incident, interrupting only to clarify certain parts of the descriptions.  When the last statement has been recorded, he turn back to the controls and sets the ship on a slow descent towards the port.

"Right, we'll be landing shortly.  Stations, please, everybody." he instructs the trio.

Helda Marrtin shakes her head, "No, I mean it.  It was a joke... I don't drink.  If you have some kind of medication to ease my nerves, that'd be good."  Then her eyes narrow, and she clutches the case tightly as she regards Shui with something akin to suspicion, "What kind of small animals?"

In the air/raft hangar, Saskia continues to work on the vehicle.

Tylen grins and stretches before strolling casually across to his turret - clearly he isn't really expecting any trouble.  However, he is careful to ensure that his laser carbine is secure, and isn't going to get damaged should he need to move quickly.

Pausing a hairsbreadth from cracking the seal on the bottle, Shui eyes the other woman speculatively.  After a moment, she replaces said bottle and closes the fridge.  "I do not, as a habit, prescribe strong medication for an acute case of nerves.  While it can be serious, I find the best possible result to be a mild soporific, followed by some sleep.  As for small animals, I have a pair here.  One of them is less-than-social, but the other is completely harmless and known for projective empathic capabilities - that is to say, one of its defence mechanisms is to calm things around it."

She smiles.  "Possibly even more useful than the soporific.  But either way, I will need to do a quick examination of your vitals and chemistry before we proceed; I require a baseline for safe dosage and the like."

Ash had made his recorded statement short and sweet.  Well, as short as possible, given he was the primary witness (besides Helda, who wasn't part of the crew and so didn't count in this case).  And as sweet as possible, given the violence inherent in the situation.  He didn't try to embellish, but was a detailed as he could be.  The report was for posterity, after all.

He let out a big sigh of relief once the recorder was off.  Documentation wasn't necessarily his favorite activity.  And the adrenaline surge was starting to wear off, a touch of fatigue was creeping into his consciousness as the fight or flight instinct began to recede.

The lanky navigator plopped down into his seat and started to unlock his console.  But before he finished doing that, Ash swiveled to face Jago for a moment.  "Boss," he ventured tentatively, "do you mind if I check in on Ms. Marrtin first, for a moment?"  He let a touch of genuine concerned creep into his voice as he asked for permission to go and find the native surveyor.

Not that he didn't trust that she wasn't in good hands with Shui or anything like that; he simply felt that she was still his responsibility of sorts and that she'd been shot at on his watch.  And that seemed to weigh a bit on his mind.

"I'll just get out of this so I can fit in my seat, boss," Yas says and turns to leave, not waiting for him to respond.  It would be a waste of time, after all, and time is short at the moment.


Soon thereafter she is back on the bridge and enters her little cabin where she, with the door open as usual, activates everything to ready status.

"You have an animal that can make me feel better?   Sounds... weird.  Can I see it?" the surveyor looks around the room nervously, "Then I can decide if I want it anywhere near me."  Her grip on the instrument case tightens.

Profit Margin approaches the pad where it had previously landed, and Jago puts in a request for emergency landing clearance, which he receives in short order.  He nods absently at Ash's question, before adding, "Tell them we're back at the port, safe and sound, and that I'd like a word with her before she leaves the ship."

"Yas, Tylen.  There was some odd activity around here as I was bringing the ship out to you.  Looked like some sort of security alert.  It might have had nothing to do with us, but I'd sooner be safe than sorry.  I want you two to keep your eyes open for anything that looks like troop movement.  As well as watching the traffic, as usual."

And then, "I'm not going to drop the ramp, for added safety.  Miss Marrtin will have to leave via the port side airlock, when she's ready."

"Roger that, Captain." Ash notes as he pushes away from his console to stand and straightens the collar on his tunic for a moment.  As he leaves the bridge, the lanky navigator turns for a moment to face the Captain, "Thank you, sir.  I won't be more than a few moments."

He makes his way to the medical bay, which is the same as Shui's quarters, of course.  Knocking quietly on the door, he waits patiently as to not disturb the occupants (too much).  Obviously, he needs to relay instructions from the Captain at this point, but Ash also is concerned on a more personal level as well.  Ultimately, the local surveyor was his responsibility when he escorted her out on the air/raft.

Well, and maybe Ash still owes Helda a drink or something.

Profit Margin touches the pad as gently as a snowflake, and Jago starts to drop the thrusters to minimum.  He has no intention of shutting them off completely, just in case, but with them still running, it should be obvious to anybody in the vicinity that the ship is ready for instant action.

Across the field there is movement near the gate.  There is a group of uniformed men who seem to be turning ground traffic away, preventing the vehicles from entering the port...

Helda Marrtin studies the animal dubiously.  "I suppose it looks harmless enough." she says, then asks, "Has it ever bitten anybody?  Or scratched them?  Or stung them?"  At which point there is a polite knock on the door.

Saskia steps away from the air/raft.  She will need to fetch some components to repair the damaged grav module.  Luckily she has the parts she needs in storage.

"Have you got those, Jago?" Tylen asks as he starts fine tuning the sensors that are tracking the small craft.

"Never," states Shui firmly, lifting the tiny creature into her own hands. "It eats algae, and only that.  But please avoid the other containment system."  Moving to the door - still carrying the odd-looking beast - she flicks it open.  "Ah, Mr. Tescali.  Good to see you.  Have you come about our guest?"

Moving back into the room, she strides over to where Helda sits.  "Do you require a little more time, Ms. Marrtin?"

Ash pokes his head in, when the door opens.  "Yes, Ma'am." the lanky navigator notes with a slight, affected Colonial drawl, answering Shui's query with his own question, "How is Ms. Marrtin doing?"

He glances over Shui's shoulder and waves to Helda idly, prompting the local surveyor, "You okay?"  His tone is a bit sheepish, though genuine concern is readily apparent.

Running his fingers through his close-cropped hair for a moment, Ash addresses both of the room's occupants - but mostly Helda, "The Captain asked me to inform you, Ms. Marrtin, that you'll have to disembark via the port-side airlock when you are ready to leave.  Also, that he would like to speak with you before you do so."

"In any case," he notes with a cordial casualness, "I am here to escort you to the bridge whenever you are ready, Miss."  Ash glances over at Shui, "Assuming she is cleared, of course..."

"Lucky Ash, frelling lucky." mutters Saskia, as she starts through to collect a replacement power conduit.  The old one has a small crack in it, where the large bullet had skimmed it, -- one sudden manoeuvre too many and the conduit could have ruptured, explosively.

"Probably would have ripped out all the frelling grav modules on the port side.  Maybe even ripped the 'raft in two.  You're just lucky it held until you made it home."

On a sudden impulse, she turns back, wipes her hand on the cleanest part of her coverall that she can find, and pats the nose of the vehicle.  "Good girl."

Helda studies the creature for only a few seconds longer before averting her eyes.  "Take it away please.  It's hideous.  I'll just report back to the office, then go home for a rest."

Ash's arrival seems to provide her with a welcome diversion.  "I'm ready to leave now, in fact."

Jago checks the active sensors, and responds to Tylen's query... "Three small craft?  Looks like... " he adjusts the display and activates an ID routine, "... two Ramparts and a Navy shuttle.  Probably another local VIP been up for a tour of the ships in orbit."

"Keep an eye on them, just in case.  Not that I fancy our chances if they turn out to be hostile, what with being sat on the ground, and all.  Oh... hello... "
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:22, Tue 24 Nov 2015.

Tylen nods as his sensors confirm Kago's assessment, but then he turns sharply to see what caused the last comment.

Jago continues, after a few seconds of activity, "We have two more groups of three following the first one down.  Ah, no, these two are starting to veer away.  Must be headed for other ports."

"Wonder why they're very suddenly sending all the tourists home?"

"Time to leave ...." Tylen mutters as he turns back towards his sensors. Then he starts fiddling, tweaking a bit here, changing a setting slightly there, as he tries to keep track of everything that is moving.

Then his focus changes and he starts to look at the ships in orbit, to see if he can work out what is up there.

"My apologies," Shui states, smoothly removing the poor little creature.  Interesting.  And curious.  Phobia?  Cultural bias?  Well, whichever, it's not right to subject the woman to further distress.

At least it got her off the topic of sedatives.

"Indeed, Mr. Tescali - Ms. Marrtin can certainly see Captain Lanza now.  I will head to the galley, myself, and begin preparing a meal." It seems likely people will require something to eat after this level of adrenaline, and the social aspect should also serve to soothe.

She quietly moves to the proper tank and replaces its inhabitant.

Jago places a call to the Port Authority, tryimg to find out if there's anything going on that he, as a paying customer, ought to know about.  After a few minutes, signs of tension start to creep into his voice...  "Look, I'm sitting out here, and I'm seeing armed personnel running about on the ground, and incoming fighters and shuttles.  What's happening?"

The response seems less than satisfactory.  "Please hold Captain, and we will try to get you that information as soon as possible."

Tylen studies the ships in orbit.

Helda Marrtin stands up, checks that her equipment case is securely closed, and moves to follow Ash...

Saskia steps away from the air/raft, her work completed, for the moment.

Jago mutters a few mild expletives, directed at the Port Authority, then makes a series of rapid adjustments to his control panel.  "Switching to long-range sensors.  I have a bad feeling about this."  And he restarts the thrusters, just in case.

Ash and Helda Marrtin come onto the Bridge, and Jago is on the situation right away, "Are you well, Miss?"

Before she can reply, he turns his back on her and starts to work on the console again, "I'm afraid we might have another emergency to deal with, so I'll have to ask you to go ashore immediately.  Ash will escort you to the airlock."

After quietly nodding to Shui, Ash had bustles Helda towards the bridge.  He can hear the chatter on the crew channel and he knows that Jago wants to speak with the local surveyor pronto.

He wasn't quite ready for the ready dismissal that the Captain gives Ms. Marrtin, frowning slightly - though whether that is due to Jago's brisk manner or the news that more trouble is brewing (or both) is uncertain.  The lanky navigator gives the young woman a slightly crooked, slightly wan, and very apologetic smile as he motions towards the exit of the bridge.  He offers to help Helda with her suitcase of surveying equipment, "Uh...Right this way, Ms. Marrtin."  Though cordial enough, there is an underlying urgency in his voice.

Ash figures that he'd best get back to the bridge without delay.  If they need to leave, then he's going to have to have the jump calculations done right quick.

At the airlock, he apologizes softly, "I am sorry about the Captain's manner.  It doesn't sound good out there, Miss.  Also, I am afraid that I will have to offer you a rain check on that drink."  He glances out the viewport to make sure that coast is clear just outside of the airlock.  "Watch your step on the way out." the thin ex-Scout advises the surveyor, "and I would veer right, passing in front of the Margin rather than going around the back."  There was no need for her to chance being near the main thrusters, especially with the ship out of standby and ready to maneuver.

Without anything to currently occupy her, Shui trades off to cleaning her office - briefly - of anything that might have become disturbed by her guest, then removes herself to the galley.  People will require food after the excitement, to help settle their systems and re-energize.

She remains blissfully unaware of the current issues.

Ash escorts Helda Marrtin off the ship, then returns to the Bridge, where Jago's attention is focussed solely on the console.

Suddenly the captain curses, "Damn!" and slides the volume on the comm system up so that those on the Bridge, and at the gunnery stations, can hear it.

A voice, laced with static, fills the room, "... kept to a minimum."

"Repeat: this is the assault cruiser Ósigrandi of the Sword Worlds Confederation Space Force to all vessels in the Phlume system.  Military vessels will power down immediately and transmit their unconditional surrender.  All civilian vessels will maintain their current positions, and prepare for boarding and inspection at our convenience.  Cooperation with these instructions will ensure that casualties are kept to a minimum."

"Repeat: this is... "

Jago mutes the channel, and activates the internal comms.  "Shui and Saskia to the Bridge please."

Then he turns to look at the others in the room...

"This might be a problem."

Shui pauses, mid-clean.

"Take it away, please.  It's hideous."

Turning, she studies the empathic projector.  Empathic projection...as a defence mechanism.  Projection to soothe those around it.  That sort of feeling will make large, skittish things less likely to strike out.  Possibly even likely to protect.  But soothing won't stop a hungry predator from attacking - hunger is a driving, survival need.  Predators need to be given a stronger need in order to convince them not to attack a food-source, and there is only a single survival need more strong than the necessity to consume for energy.

Fear.

After a long moment of consideration, she pushes both of her aquariums together so that there is no space separating them, only a doubled pane of glass.  One finger taps against the 'room' housing the aggressive one.  Her eyes locked on the two chambers, watching to see what transpires, Shui raises her dataglove.

+ Captain Lanza - is Ms. Marrtin still aboard? +

OOC - *simulpost*

As Jago's request comes through, Shui immediately aborts her experiment, moving the two chambers further apart again (and ensuring both are secured with regards to both resting place and exits).  Immediately picking up her bag, she again toggles her dataglove. + Understood, Captain Lanza. +

Something is up, and she suspects it doesn't have anything to do with Ms. Marrtin after all.  Quick strides take her to the door and through, and she continues toward the bridge.  If she's lucky, she'll bump into Saskia on the way and they can enter together.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:46, Thu 03 Dec 2015.

"Oh, great ..." Tylen mumbles as he starts fiddling,  fine tuning the sensors.  As he waits for his adjustments to take effect, he looks up the assault cruiser Ósigrandi of the Sword Worlds Confederation Space Force in The Margin's systems -  just to see if there is anything known about her.

Once his sensors kick in, he monitors the Federation ships in  the system, trying to judge their reactions.

Shui enters the Bridge, followed shortly afterwards by Saskia.  Jago half turns in his seat and says, "Sit down please.  We have a situation developing here that could be very bad for us."

He turns up the volume on the comm channel, and once again the Bridge is filled with a hissing static, through which a voice can be heard: "... these instructions will ensure that casualties are kept to a minimum."

"Repeat: this is the assault cruiser Ósigrandi of the Sword Worlds Confederation Space Force to all vessels in the Phlume system.  Military vessels will power down immediately and transmit their unconditional surrender.  All civilian vessels will maintain their current positions, and prepare for boarding and inspection at our convenience.  Cooperation with these instructions will ensure that casualties are kept to a minimum."

"Repeat: this is the assault cruiser Ósigrandi of the Sword Wor... "

A hand reaches out to deactivate the speaker, and Jago continues, "Sensors are picking up a lot of traffic, about twenty ships of different sizes, coming in from the Jump limit.  If this Oosigundi, or whatever it's called, is coming in with a Sword Worlder squadron, then things are likely to warm up here, what with there being an Imperial squadron already here."

"I, for one, don't like the idea of sitting here waiting to be inspected.  But if we don't then we might become a target.  Especially if the Imperial squadron stands down, which they might, since they're here for repairs, and might mot be in a fit state to engage an enemy force."

"So... opinions?"

Ash pursed his lips and listened quietly to the cycling public message.  He kept his eyes conspicuously glued to the console and continued to plot multiple escape routes to the two main 100-D limit points.  Even if it was futile and the Confederation Space Force had both covered - doing the calculations helped to calm his nerves.

His reverie was broken when the Captain addressed the crew and solicited opinions.  "I can't say that relish the prospect of getting boarded, Boss." the lanky navigator posited quietly, "But I am not sure that we can really outrun any military vessel or squadron."  He watched and listened to see what the other vehicles in the area were doing.

"Do we have anything on-board that might be really suspect?" he asked, Ash knew about the console and avionics upgrades (courtesy of the INI boys, but they hadn't made it obvious), but as far as he knew none of their cargo could be considered dangerous or contraband, "I mean we could try to wait it out.  They won't necessarily want to curtail all civvie traffic indefinitely..."  It was an assumption, but in his opinion, a reasonable one.

Of course, they had just gotten shot at on Phlume.  And as he recalled, there wasn't much more to the planet.  It wasn't the ideal vacation spot...

"I don't suppose our new passenger wants to get caught up with the swordworlders." Tylen responds to Ash's comments  "And nor do I, particularly."  He adds quietly.

Then he goes back to the scanners, as he tries to work out how the Imperial ships are responding to the threat.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 13:12, Mon 07 Dec 2015.

Shui listens quietly to the discussion.  Inside, she's considering the options.  Finally, she speaks up.  "If we can ensure we have nothing objectionable on board, and that includes in our passengers' effects, it would seem safer to allow this 'inspection'...assuming Sword Worlds Confederation military has a reputation for leaving civilians alone - as much as possible - while carrying out their attacks."

She casts her gaze down, studying the deck for a long moment.  "Failing that, I assume our only option is to leave the system on as much of a different vector as possible to the approaching vessels.  Given their velocity and range of weaponry, I would guess this also to be less-than-safe."

"Barring an extremely poor reputation on their part, it would seem the safest choice is to jettison any object they might consider objectionable and submit to inspection."

But there's a question in her tone, and she glances up at the others to gauge their reaction.

Tylen nods as he continues to fiddle with his sensoirs to see if he can identify the imperial vessels in orbit around the planet.  If he does, he looks them up on Margin's systems to see what type of vessel they are.

"Unfortunately, thanks to that little refit the Navy gave us a couple of years ago, we have a ship that's sporting a frelling lot of military grade equipment that has no place on a merchant.

"Plasma guns, sensor modules, even a few drive components.  Not to mention a hidden transmitter that broadcasts telemetry, in code, to nearby Naval ships or bases."

Saskia shakes her head emphatically, "And that's before the inspectors find that we have the major shareholder of a mining company that holds contracts vital to the Imperial war effort.

"I'd say we shouldn't let those drannits anywhere near the Margin."

"Thus speaks the expert," Shui notes.  "I will concur with Ms. Blake - perhaps our passengers should be given a choice whether or not to disembark?  We have little time."

"Well," Yas says with a lopsided grin, "I'll defer to the expert in this case, Miss Saskia Blake."

A moment passes where she tried to not burst out laughing, or possibly fighting some digestive issue.

"I'd say we keep everyone aboard and go to low orbit.  From there we can back up the Imperial troops - that sure won't just roll over either way - by picking off fighters that would attack others, while being close to space allowing us to, if it SNAFU even more, use a pre-plotted emergency jump to safeguard our passengers, and ourselves, preferably."

Jago sits quietly and listens to his crew talking over their options, while still keeping half an ear on the comm, alert for new developments.

Finally he comments, "We have about four hours before the invaders make orbit."

"I don't want to offer the passengers the opportunity to leave.  I feel that they're safer aboard Profit Margin than they would be on the ground, once word gets out of what's happening.  Add to which that part of the terms of their passage is that we will protect them to the best of our ability."

He settles more comfortably before continuing, "I'm also not prepared to allow the Sword Worlders to board us.  We are in Imperial territory, operating under Imperial license and Imperial law, and the Sword Worlds commander has no legal authority to demand that his troops be allowed access to this ship, its crew, passengers, or cargo."

"I'm also betting that the Imperial squadron in orbit is currently gathering data, and awaiting an order to fight back.  I don't believe they'll stand down."

His unlit cigar wanders from one side of his mouth to the other.

"My plan is to wait until the battle starts, then run away from it while the squadrons are distracted, and Jump to Extolay, where there is a Naval base and a garrison fleet.  Of course, I might need to change the plan at a moment's notice...  Ash, make sure you have a Jump plotted and ready, quick as you can let me have it.  Saskia, I assume that everything's good to go on your end.  Yas, Tylen... weapons armed and ready please."

"And Shui... let the passengers know what's going on, and reassure them that we'll do everything in our power to defend their lives and property."

"It looks about even up there." Tylen comments reporting on the state of the two war fleets  "The Swordworlders have the numbers, we have the technology." he shrugs as he comments.

Tylen has already been running checks on his systems, so he grins back at Jago.  "Sure ..."

Since it sounded like the rest of the crew was not inclined to be boarded, Ash was already working on the plotting solutions for any number of exit strategies.  "Already on it, Cap'n" the lanky navigator noted dutifully, though his eyes never left multiple streaming lines of data that scrolled down his screen.  His fingers never stopped working either as they continued to push and pull various portions of the calculation to and fro as they were worked upon.

He pushed the preliminary calculations to Jago's console, but of course, continued to refine the numbers.  Ash was actually working on three different sets to Extolay; all completely different approach vectors and velocities to the 100-D limit (and thus, the jump point) that he thought would be the best for them (and the furthest away from the bulk of the incoming Sword World contingent.  The elegant sweeping arcs of the proposed routes rezzed into existence on both piloting screens.

The fact that all three of the calculated routes made sure that the primary gunships of the Imperial Naval squadron were conveniently between the Profit Margin and the foreign aggressors' main force was probably pure happenstance.  Probably.

Jago turns in his seat and punches the volume on the comm.  A different voice, female this time, fills the Bridge, "... commanding INV Indomitable, to all Sword Worlds vessels.  This system is under the protection of the Third Imperium.  Your presence here constitutes an act of aggression.  We will not surrender.  You are ordered to alter course, return to your entry point, and power down.  Failure to comply will result in our taking action to ensure that you do so."

"This is Captain Elta Zaldana, commanding INV Indomitable, to all Sword Worlds vessels.  This system is... "  Jago mutes the speakers again, and transfers a sensor feed to the main screen.

The Sword Worlds ships are out towards the 100 diameter Jump limit, while the Imperial ships are close to the planet.  Vector lines extend from the approaching ships, indicating their most probable course, based on the most recent data.  A red circle expands outwards - the wave front of Zaldana's message.  It reaches, and passes, the invading ships.

Seconds tick by, and some of the Sword Worlders do change course, but only to spread out a little.

Lines start to emerge from the ships in near orbit, fuzzy and ill-defined at first, but becoming clearer as those ships accelerate and their courses become more definite.  They are moving to intercept...

As the Swordworld ships start to spread out, Tylen starts to analyse the data treams coming in, trying to identify the various models and sizes of ship.  Once he has a understanding of the composition of the Swordworld fleet, he tries something similar on the Imperial fleet.

However, he concentrates on the edges of the fleets, as he tries to spot strengths and weaknesses. He is not trying to get a full tactical understanding of the battle, but he is trying to identify areas where the Swordworlders are weaker than the Imperials. If he can spot a region where the imperials have an advantage, he will feed that data to Jago and Ash - on the basis that those areas might give them the best chance of slipping through without serious combat.

Between times, he makes sure that his sand and missile systems are fully prepared, and his laser is hot.

"Yes, Captain Lanza.  Ms. Blake."  With a nod, she excuses herself - the others are busy, and efficiency takes precedence over politeness.

Shui moves off to the galley, composing herself.  She takes a moment to consider, then stands straight, shoulders relaxed, and raises her dataglove.

+ Attention, passengers.  Attention passengers.  Please attend until the end of the announcement, then return to your quarters if you have exited them +

She waits a beat.

+ The Sword World Confederation Space Force has entered the Phlume system.  They have issued an order for all vessels to power down and prepare to be boarded for inspection. +

Her voice hardens.

+ Captain Lanza will not permit this violation of our rights and your safety. +

+ Imperial forces are in orbit.  They are prepared to resist.  Once the conflict begins, the Profit Margin will Jump from the system to an area of relative safety.  Our priority is the safety of this ship and the lives of those on board - the crew is working to the best of its ability to safeguard those lives. +

+ We will see you through this. +

+ Place your trust in the skill and dedication of the crew - in Officer Orgesh and Security Chief Crow on weapons, preparing to defend us all.  In Pilot Tescali on helm, to navigate us to safety.  In Engineer Blake, and her meticulous maintenance and tuning of the ship's systems to peak performance.  And most certainly in Captain Lanza, whose decisions and choices will lead us from this system. +

+ Now, please secure yourselves.  If you have any questions, a need for refreshments or medical attention, or simply wish to speak, contact me directly.  Do not leave your cabins. +

+ Hold fast. +

+ Steward Tiesi, out. +

A flick of the switch, then Shui sags.  She wipes the tears from her cheeks, proud in a way that her voice remained steady and strong throughout the address.  Proud, also, of the crew.  So very proud.

Medbay is already warmed up from their recent problem.  Everything is ready.  There is nothing more to do...than ensure the crew has the energy it requires, and to bring an element of stability and comfort.

Turning to the supplies, she begins preparing their favourite drinks and a small tray of sandwiches.

"Totally frelling not surprised!" declares Saskia as she watches the Imperial ships start to move.  "See?  The Swordie made a big mistake, telling the IN ships to frelling surrender.  That's just going to annoy them and make them want to fight more."

Then she turns to Jago.  "What?  Oh.  Yes.  Everything is running at peak.  And the Margin's a good ship.  Could go head-to-head with that garbage scow that the Swordies call a cruiser and blow the dren out of it."

Moving to activate the panel at her Bridge station, she transfers Engineering control to that station.

"Navy never backs down from a frelling fight." she declares proudly, "Especially not before it's even started."

He watched as the dozen and a half blips representing the Imperial spaceships streamed outwards towards the other set of blips representing the almost two dozen Sword World craft.  His fingers continued to tap out a rhythm as he worked trajectory vectors for the jump calculations.

Ash shook his head ruefully, musing to no one in particular and everyone on the bridge, "It's a desperate gambit for the Swordies.  With that ultimatum they need to win, it's a one way trip since most of them'll need to refuel before jumping again ..."

He grimaced; for while, they may be the enemy, that didn't mean that he had to hate them.  Or that Ash didn't feel some sympathy for those that had little choice based on the whims of  other individuals that who had a much higher pay-grade (though not necessarily a commensurately higher level of intelligence).

Three possible routes out of system appeared on the main tactical display of the bridge, Ash's preliminary calculations complete based on the tentative trajectories.  All of the routes tried to keep a fair distance from any projected fighting and tried to keep the bulk of the Sword World ships as far as possible from the Profit Margin.  A relatively easy thing to do, given the vastness of space.  The only wrench possible, was if someone really had a bee in their bonnet for the Margin specifically - any military grade ship could probably out-maneuver them.

But really, who would want to specifically target as tramp trader like them?

A proximity alarm sounds, and Jago announces, "Three ships just lifted without clearance.  No, make that four.  Traffic Control is... unhappy."  He takes a few minutes to select the course he likes best from the selection displayed before him.

Then he puts in a request for emergency clearance and, without waiting for a reply, ramps up the thrusters' power to maximum.

"This might get a bit rough." he warns everybody within earshot.

It doesn't seem too rough... the grav plates and inertial dampers mean that the ship might as well be sitting on the ground, as far as its occupants are concerned.

Profit Margin climbs vertically, heading directly out of the atmosphere by the shortest possible route.  As soon as the ship clears the atmosphere, Jago swings her into a low, fast arc that will swing her around the planet to connect with one of Ash's course plots...

The tactical display suddenly blooms with clouds of red and amber, as more vessels suddenly appear.  "Both sides have launched fighters!"

Tylen's analysis of the two fleets flashes up on a secodary display alongside the first main one.  The Sword Worlders have a cruiser, tentatively identified as Götterdämmerung Class, four destroyers, most likely Valkyries, plus a Siegfried Class frigate, and a number of assorted escorts.

For the Imperials, Indomitable is a Ghalalk Class cruiser, accompanied by five Midu Agasham Class Destroyers, two Fer-de-lance destroyer escorts, plus a mix of smaller vessels, including several close escorts and a couple of scout ships.

"According to this, the main fleets'll be in combat range in a little over two hours." Jago explains, gesturing towards the display.  "They'll be about 700,000 km out from Phlume.  Should start to pick up the fighter engagements about fifteen or twenty minutes before that.  By the time they start we'll be about 1.1 million km away from them, and about a third of the way to the 100 D limit and safety.  Unless anything interferes."

For about twenty minutes the Captain concentrates on the instruments.  Then he notices an anomaly.  "Look at these fighter groups."  Four clusters of markers on the display are tagged with new information, and their projected courses start to shift.  "They just altered course to avoid the battle.  Looks like they might be moving to intercept the fleeing civilians.  Not us... some of the other ships don't have Profit Margin's legs."

Shui slips onto the bridge just in time to catch the last comment, and shakes her head.  "Sad," she whispers, moving around like a ghost to place people's personal favourite - non-alcoholic - drink in the appropriate space nearby.  The sandwiches, she carries on a tray in-hand with some small disposable plates, and offers to every crewmember here.

"And perhaps not the best idea," she continues. "Detaching part of one's force to secure civilian objectives mid-battle removes a portion of one's strength from the battle itself.  I don't make claims to great strategic ability, but that doesn't seem to be the wise choice from a military standpoint."

"Probably a feint.  Trying to draw some of the Imperials away to defend the civilian traffic.  Then the fighters scatter, leaving the Imperial ship to try and catch up with its fellows." Jago opines as the battle plays out on the main display.

"Of course, if the Imperials don't fall for it, then it could turn out to be a real attack soon enough."

Stealing glances at the battle display in between keeping an eye on the Engineering instruments, Saskia suddenly lets out a surprised cry.

"One of the destroyers!  It's Shata Lunoqi!  My old ship.  Look at the transponder code." and her voice is filled with pride, "Now the Swordies are in frelling trouble.  Old Shata won't stand for their dren!"

Ash frowns slightly, his eyes never leaving the screen, "Is there anything we can do to help ensure the safety of the other civvies, Cap'n?"  For his part, Ash was already seeing about any course alterations that might help to divide or draw off some or all of the attacking fighters.  He knew that the military-grade fighters would be much faster then the Profit Margin; so, that was a losing proposition to flirt with engaging them in any way, shape, or form.

But, in his opinion, it was worth a look - even only a cursory one, especially if he could would work out a route that allowed the Imperial ships or fighters to intercept more effectively.  Of course, the Swordies would probably anticipate that type of ploy probably - meaning that they likely wouldn't fall for something like that, either.

So, really, the lanky navigator and ex-Navyman likely had to trust that his former service colleagues would attempt to protect the civilian traders of their own volition.  It would be most prudent for the Margin to not get involved at all in any of the engagements or maneuvers.  And Ash had no desire to be back ont the front lines of a battle.  He'd had enough of that in a previous life...

Tylen sits back and watches the  battle form on his monitors as he listens to the conversation in the cabin proper.  Jago is probably right about it being a ploy by the Swordworlders, but he half expects the  navigators from the merchant men to do the maths and decide whether it is safer to head back to the planet and into the atmosphere, or try and outrun the fighters, although it also wouldn't surprise him to see a squadron of imperial fighters launched either.  If only to keep the swordworld  fighter-jockeys honest.  After all, if there is a dog fight over to the side, it won't affect the main battle, but then nor will a few fighters likely affect the main battle much either. The big boys have better armour and weapons than that.

However, he smiles when Saskia identifies her old ship, and grins at her continuing faith in her old colleagues.  It must be nice to have that level of faith in the past.  His ships, on the other hand, had been like vessels passing in the night.  Rarely on one for more than a few months, and most of those small and very lightly armed.

Still, he monitors his sensors, and runs a few calculations on the sword world fighters.  They would be out of range for most of the weaponry, but his missiles could have the sort of range that could bother them

Looking at the display, Jago asks, "You can remember a ten digit transponder code for a ship that you haven't served aboard in the last four years?"

Then he looks at Ash's course plots and shakes his head.  "If we had a ship capable of 6Gs we could probably get close enough easily.  At 2Gs we've got a slight chance, but then the fighters might decide that they need to teach us a lesson.  And there's guarantee that they actually intend to attack anything.  As I said, it's most likely a bit of misdirection."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:50, Tue 22 Dec 2015.

At this point of the conversation Tylen chooses to offer up his own speculation "Well we could lob a missile in their general direction, to see if that discourages them.  But maybe we should wait until we can reach the jump point before they can get to us ...."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:04, Sat 26 Dec 2015.