weded in between Loading Bay Five and the Main Hangers the CA-SAR offices and Barracks ae marked only By the red CASAR logo painted on the wall over the double doors leading into the lobby. Clean wuiet and well orginized the lobby is noticibly cooler than the slightly overheated walkways and Transit terminal outside. Six receptionist wor at their phones and terminals handling routine calls and processing paperwork without notice of anyone. The trhee women are identical, Perky smiles, long brown hair pulled back into pony tails and dressed in the Tan and Gold Skirt and Jacket uniform of a Staff memeber. A closer look reveals each of the women is a Fairly advanced Adnin Cyberoid under their syntetic skin complex psuedo AI's manage information and process data as quickly as the most experienced Human office worker.

    Att the front desk A young ice blue skinned woman sits smiling as she see's a new face enter the office." Hello, welcome To CASAR, How may I help you?

   Rhic Strolled Into the main office, Tapping out a rhythm with the fingers of his armored right hand against the holster he wore slung low on his hip. Sliding past a pair of O’maeda Pilots, he ignored the dirty looks as he failed to move out of their way.. ”Ladies,” He touched his forehead with a cocky smile. Laughing slightly as the two turned on a heel and gave him a dismissive wave of the hand.

    “Hello Pepper.” Rhic nodded to the receptionist ,” I think I have a few on the hook, send them back to the Colonels office when they come in”.

   As he moved through the offices he had to dodge around crates of medical supplies weapons and ammunition waiting to be processed and shipped out to the Patrol craft. Two bulky drones hissed and whirred as they lifted the half ton pallets without visible effort. One of the Valkiir Marines from the “Hammer” sat drinking Beer and laughing as they teased and flirted with one of the dockhands. Rhic ignored their propositions, they were an old routine, they flirt he ignores them and then they ad a catcall or whistle as he slid by them. A bruised hand had taught the senior Marine he was not one of their little H’tahna boys. It must have been a great day for women on earth when Terran men found themselves the object of whistles and friendly fingers.

   ” Rhic…Paperwork…end of day.” Mara called form her office.”No form 1250…no paycheck.”

  Yeah yeah,”Rhic answered as he pulled a folder out of the rack on her door looking over the expense reports for the last month, Six DoA, four claims for burial expenses, and a replacement for a range truck now resting scattered over a hectare of Stygian scrub.” Any chance of a bonus this time?

  ”Bonus for what ?” Mara scowled as she stuck her head out of her office, the short slim O’maeda didn’t look fierce most of the time but her scowl would melt armorplast when she had to pay for lost equipment and Medical rebuilds.” We don’t pay you to get our gear flashed.

   ”I think we earned it,”Rhic muttered as he wadded up one form and tossed it n the trash. Ticking off items as he spoke.” Combat Duty, Extreme risk, And an extraction under fire.

  ” Two dead clients, a third needing an arm…which you shot off by the way.”

  ” It’ not my fault she didn’t listen…

Mara simply closed her door in his face, a few doors down he sat down at his desk letting the reinforced chair take the weight of his augmented body slowly, before opening his terminal and dumping all the Spam out of his in box. Scanning scouting reports and personnel folders of a dozen possible new hire He dumped three without even bothering to double check their references, their military records told him all he wanted to know. He set several out to the side and began to scan them making notes and frowning once or twice before setting them on the top of the stack and relaying their files on to the colonel.

It had been a fairly long day for the big Valkiir. He had narrowly avoided being evicted from his apartment, he would have been had he not answered the door wearing his gun on his belt. He hadn't been able to hold down a job for too long, his last job as a mechanic fell through. Apparently its not good for business to threaten to 'pound the living shit out of' customers who are getting uppity with the speed they were demanding. And he was hungry on top of that. He lurched past a dive he occasionally frequented. He was slightly bothered that right as he was about to get by scott-free someone he didn't want to see stepped out.

A scoundrel of a Terran accompanied by two larger friends stepped out behind him. "Hey Balkir, you weren't gonna go and not say hello to your old friend, Mal, were ya?" Balkir stopped where he stood and sighed.

"I told ya I would have your money as soon as I could." Balkir had accumulated a decent debt to this lone shark on one of his other rough patches. "So back off or I'll end you."

"That aint good enough Balkir." He motioned to the Valkiir and his boys took a step forward. In an instant the big blue warrior was turned around with his revolver in his hand and a glare in his eyes.

"I said back off, now get out of here." The smaller man cowered and motioned for him and his compatriots to flee. Balkir laughed as he stuffed his pistol back into its holster. He continued on his way to his, hopefully, new job. Been awhile since he worked a corporate job, the money should be better than a backwater mech-shop. He glanced at some passing O'Maeda pilots. Normally he would have had something to say to them but he didn't today. He was hungry after all.

He came to the door of the CA-SAR building. He pushed the doors open, the cooler air feeling good on his bare chest. That put him in a slightly better mood. He noticed the receptionist and strode to her about to open his mouth when she beat him to it. "You wanted in the Colonel's office." Balkir blinked once or twice.

"Okay" he responded simply. "Are you guys always this prompt" he said scratching his head." the receptionist pointed out the way for him to go. He began the careful picking of his way between crates and dockhands. He heard a pleasant whistle in his direction. He glanced up to see a Valkiir Marine looking in his direction. He laughed at her cat-call. "Be in the same place in an hour, maybe I'll take ya up on that." he retorted if he got something to eat that probably wouldn't be idle chatter.

He came to the door he believed was the door of the Colonel. He pounded on it heavily and waited patiently for an answer.

  "Enter," a woman’s voice called as the door buzzed and popped open slightly. At a crowded but ordered desk sat a dark skinned Tae woman who looked up with a slight frown. Dressed in a simple Tae style duty uniform she straightened the close fitting high collared jacket as she shut off her comm terminal. Mister Kulvul have a seat."

   She picked up file opened it, and setout a sheaf of red flagged disciplinary files. She paused to read them before smiling slightly with a good natured smile.” Public misconduct, assault, insubordination, assault on a superior officer,  assault, assault, Oh dd I mention assault….”

    “I expect a certain amount of unstable behavior from a Valkiir but I hope their men were a little more rational.” The officer took a cigar our of her desk drawer and lit it tossing another to Balkir,”Small arms, demolition, swordsman ship I’m not hiring you for your social skills, I need someone to make sure my men and women don’t get flashed because they don’t have enough muscle to back them up.

    With a puff on the aromatic Quetzl grown tobacco when looked at Balkir with a calm appraising glance” I say who gets hit and when, You hit when your told and when it’s obvious some one needs hit. You thin you can do that?”

Another world in his long pursuit. What had that blasted blue skinned freak said a couple of jumps back. Something about CASAR having info on anything. He pushed the dark shades up as he picked up the silver case next to him. His black trench making a whisper sound as it moved across the leather holster on his thigh. He looked down at it memories rising to the surface. Yeah, it wasn't a big gun but in the right hands it was enough.

He stepped of the transport hating the place already. His black clothing not helping with the heat. But he would get over it. He walked into the office his eyes quickly scanning the room. He didn't even apologize after bumping into a few ladies. His eyes on the blue skinned receptionist.

"Names, Victor Grym I am expected." His flat voice was cold and calm. The mirror shades hid his eyes. Not to be menacing, those ice blue orbs scared people more. Maybe it had developed from looking down the scope of a rifle and ending a persons life. He didn't know. But the killer that lurked inside was all to obvious when one saw those chips of sapphire that usually meant they were the next on his list.

   " Of course Mister Grym, The colonel is waitingfor ou in her office...it's straight back down that hall fifth door on the left. Pepper looked her smile seemed a little forced but she was still polite and cheerful." Don't mind the clutter we are still trying to get the office set up, and the dock workers just dumped the deliveries everywhere.

"Yeah whatever you say, lady" HE followed the directions she gave to the right door. Knocking once before opening it and walking inside.

Balkir pushed the door in and entered with all the dignity of hungry, unemployed, slightly irritable mercenary. He nodded respectfully to the colonel and considered saluting, but then again they weren't in the military, at least he wasn't. "Ma'am." was his only simplistic response to her. He listened patiently as she rattled off a portion of his discipline record. He chuckled ever so slightly as she finished.

"I'm a bit offended. Your file seems rather light, there's gotta be more to me than that." Balkir said through a slight grin. "I mean I assaulted three people just this week." he recalled a bit of a scrap he had gotten into the other night. Three guys at once, it hardly seemed fair for them. He looked down at the cigar that was tossed to him. He pulled a lighter out of his pocket and lit it. He stuck it in his mouth and puffed once.

He listened to her views on him and her description of the job he was about to undertake. "Who said anything about 'small arms' I'm trained for weapons all the way up to Alliance class C weapons, in addition to energy weapons, needlers, gyro-jets, as well as my demolitions and sword skills." he said around his cigar sounding slightly offended that she had called his training the military "small arms". He puffed once more. "But other than that, yeah I can handle it. Your word is law enough for me. Just one question, food provided, if not you can count me out." he stated simply, underneath the jest a bit of seriousness rang through.

     " I didn't bother with the entire report J'nath kicked a waste basket filled with red flagged printouts, she did not look amused as she looked down at the files. With a meaningful glance she closed the discipline file." Well since we don't have artillery or Tac-nukes, their all small arms.

    Hold that thought..." The colonel looked to the door hitting a button under the desk, the door buzzed. With a curiou look she glanced to Victor's case and then motioned him to sit down in one of the empty chairs.

      "Miter Grym,This Is Mister Kovul, You and he will be working together. She pulled out a second file and looked it over" Covert op, precision engagement... other, oddly enough I can't find much else in your files."
      "Mister Kuvol is heavy combat, he will also be your spotter and backup if we need your skills. J'nath  picked up several other files, etting themon the desk" Your team co-ordinator will Be John Rhictor. There will be everal other members as well bit a it stands you two will be the primary security and response element of this new team. Your suty will consist of insuring the security and safety of your team and providing armed response when called for by your team leader."

    While employed you will provided with a housing allowance,medical care and meal chits, Pay is based on assigned duty and you can refuse any aignment that yourate as unsafe or immoral.

He sat in a chair setting the case down beside him. He sat back in the chair relaxed and silent. He smiled a bit at the missing chunks of the file, bits of memory flashing in front of his eyes. Earth, Mars, and many other battle sites came to mind. Staring down the scope of his rifle. Silent and lethal. His eyes snapped back at the mention of the team and its duties. "When exactly do we start?" He asked in a soft chilled voice.

Raul walks into the lobby, making sure that the address he jotted down on his PDA matches the one that Maj. Rhictor gave him. Raul's face is drawn, with not much life showing on it. He looks around the lobby, his eyes betraying a deep pain.

  " Hello, Welcome to CASAR may I help you sir." Pepper looked up siling brightlyas she spotted the stranger. If yu have an appointment I can direct you, unless you are here to contract services from CASAR.

Raul is a bit startled by the receptionist's voice. "I'm sorry. Yes, I was told to come by here by a Mar. Rhictor. He had talked to me earlier, and said that there was off-planet work that was available. Where do I need to go to discuss this work?"

Raul waits for the directions to the Colonel's office, and then heads down the hall. When he gets to her office, he knocks on the door, and waits until invited before entering.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:24, Tue 04 Mar 2008.

  " Welcome to the meeting Mister Sanderson," J'nath motioned to a Chair. I was just bringing our new team mates up to speed, They Are Miser Grym, and Mister Kolvul, covert ops and Military Operations respectively."

   "Mister Sanderson is a Medical Specialist and our new doctor and a researcher for a private contractor. he will provide health care and Trauma services for this team." J'nath inclined her head to Victor," As to the matter of when this team becomes fully activated and You are on the payroll, that would be lets see.... Ten fifty four Station standard time on this date. assuming of course you read and sign the contract and the release forms that we need to satisfy the CA and our insurance carriers."

Raul sits down on the appointed chair. "Thank you ma'am." He then nods to the other two as they are introduced to him. He listens to the brief explanation of what's going on with the team. "Sounds good to me ma'am." He takes the offered paperwork and begins to read through it. A chance to get off this rock! I know my family doesn't agree with this action, but they understand what's driving me. I need to get away for a while.

Meanwhile at the receptionist's desk at emaciated Cesti shows up carrying a notice requesting starship pilots pulled from a bulletin board.  She drops it silently on the desk and sits on her haunches, resting lightly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:43, Tue 04 Mar 2008.

   " Hello, welcome too..." Pepper stopped mid sentence one eyebrow going up as she looked into the face of a very hungry looking cesti." This isn't a bank... Pepper smiled as she looked down at the note. " I think there is smome money in the coffee can.

   She read the notice and smiled again.Colonel we have a pilot here... Should I send him...uhhh her back."

   "Sorry" Pepper mouth silently at the slip.

" Send her back, does she have a ship?" Colonel J'nath replied through her subvoval mic.

   " Excuse me Miss, do you have a ship, The Company does pay up keep and docking fees for ships on the available list." Pepper asked politely.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:44, Tue 04 Mar 2008.

Aziza blinks at Pepper and goes through a slow translation in her head of English, which is far from her first language, before answering.
"Yes, Scoutcraft class docked in bay IKT-447.  The ships name is-" and here Aziza gives off a coughing snarl.  After a moment she translated: "In English this name would be Strange Wonderful Black Bird With the Cunning to Use Tools and a Love of Shiny Objects although I think it loses some meaning in the translation."

OOC~ The ship's name properly translates as The Crow of course.  Although it might be amusing if people try to use her horribly long name instead.  In her own language the grunting snarl is the sound ancient Cesti made to chase away crow-equivalents coming to steal from a fresh kill.

” Excellent I’ll contact the Station Master and inform him your ship is now part of our roster Pepper looked up into thin air for a moment.” I’ve notified legal and their preparing a Use Lease contract and a certification inspection by our techs.’

    ”Colonel J’nath wants you to come to her office and meet the members of our new Special Duty Team, Major Rhictor will join the group shortly.

Aziza nods to Pepper, ducking her head low to the floor before padding out of the office, following the map uploaded into her computer.  Once in the right room she examines the others a long moment before speaking.
"I am called Aziza." she finally announces.  "Ship Pilot and Engineer."

Raul looks up from his paperwork as Aziza enters. Another engineer for the team? That's interesting. I wonder what kind of stuff they have planned for us with 2 military types and 2 engineers.

HE looked over the papers eventually setting them down and signing them. "Alright I am good."

" Excellent Gentleman Welcome to CA-SAR,J'nath took the papers as they were signed and Slipped them into a briefcase." Additional Personnel may be added from time to time And you will be working with a support section of our Response and Assistance Division 9.

     Your case Field Officer will Be John Rhictor, He’s working on the details of your first operation as we Speak and will be in shortly to brief you on it The colonel handed each man an IDent Card. ” These IDents are loaded with your medical files and contact and recovery information in a protected cache within the cards buffer. You just need a card reader and a password to pull it up and trust me unless you know it’s there the cache is almost impossible to detect by accident.” As J’nath spoke several of the Cyberoid workers filled in with a bushed metal case setting them down in the corner.

    “This is your standard issue kit, uniform, clothing and a few odds and ends we though you might need.” Standing up and moving to the small storage locker inset into the back wall of her office J’nath removed several weapons from the unit. Each pistol was a heavy black automatic slug thrower with a second module under the Barrel.<blue>” Standard issue gentleman if You chose to wear your uniforms this is part of it. .45 caliber, semi automatic or burst fire. It also mounts a stunner under the barrel and is equipped with a recoil compensator to make it a little easier to handle for novices.”

   Please be careful with those, their the last one we have in stock and I have to account for each one.J’nath looked at her wrist comp for a second and then sighed.” Now if there are no further questions the fun part of my job is over and I have to attend to the mountain of red tape growing as we speak. Feel free to talk among yourselves and Rhic will be here in a minute.

OOC: Heavy auto pistol Master work (3 round burst feat chip, alternate weapon Stunner Pistol)
Heavy Autopistol +0 bab 10 round Box 2d8 ballistic 19-20 X3 30 ft Semi burst
Stun Pistol -2 bab, 10shots, 4d6 electrical    Non lethal 19-20 X2, 10 feet Semi    Auto

These pistols can not be replaced on Nomad station they are special orders for CA-SAR personnel

Aziza dubiously picks up a shirt and examines it with her front paws.
"I don't believe I can wear this disguise.  Is a simple badge available?"

Raul turns in his paperwork. He then watches Col. J'nath describe the gear that they are being issued. After the colonel leaves, Raul acquires his gear. He then turns to his new teammates, "So, what do you think they're going to have us doing?"

.

   " Here ya go Honey, dark and scary, mister smiley, and Big and….wow!," Pepper Smiled as she came into the office with a tray of hot coffee and sandwiches, her expression stayed cheerful and bright as she handed out sandwiches. Teasing slightly as she went around the room, pausing at Victor her smile fading slightly. Then winking at Balkir as she handed him a sndwhich. Nothing like some nice hot coffee and a sandwich while your waiting for the brass

      They never seem to get it you girls don’t wear clothes.She handed a bundle containing a Cesti equipment belt, and combat harness to Aziza I know a tailor down in the snakepit who carries Body harnesses and some jewelry. I’ll take you down later if you like…He’s a cutey so He gives me a nice discount.” Pepper added with a grin and a wink.

    “Oh by the way congratulations You are now a field Specialist,” Pepper handed Sanderson and Aziza A Stylized star cluster insignia,” sergeants Balkir and…Grym You get these she handed them A set of chevrons three stripes up one down with a deaths head in the middle.

     ” I’ve got your transit passes and your housing chits at my desk when you leave. You guys aren’t top on the list but the outer modules are nice, and quiet. In the inner mods you’re sleeping under a darkmatter processor or a power plant most of the time.”

    " And you cant tell me Muons and Neptons don’t bend you genes just a little,”


OOC: Your Lifestyle Is now set at 8 meaning you have nice if small quarters and can afford to eat out on a regular basis.

Raul takes his insignia, then looks at what Balkir and Grym got. "Does this mean we hold the same military rank as they do?"

Aziza eats four sandwiches in as many bites before pausing to examine the body harness and insignia.
"What is 'Field Specialist' mean?" she inquires.  "Preparation of farmed crops?"

   ”Well in combat situations the Military Section calls the shot, Pepper explained,” In technical Medical, or… Diplomatic situations the field Specialists tend to be the one calling the shots. You all hold an equivalent rank of First sergeant I you have to deal with Regular military units. On the staion You Have full Police powers and can arrest people if you witness a crime.

    Pepper looked at Aziza thinking for a minute, She reached into her cargo pocket and clipped an odd device to her collar. It means One who works away from the Clan with great skill and wisdom.” To the others it sounded oddly like she was Mewling pitifully, sounding much like a cat locked out of the house or unable to find it’s way home.

Raul looks a bit confused upon hearing this. I thought doctors were commisioned officers, not enlisted personnel? Not that I'd expect to lead anyone into combat. He shakes his thoughts away and nods in understanding.

He inspected the trunk of gear and looked at the uniforms. He was used to wearing one and didn't register any emotions as he looked thru the gear. He moved over and picked up the pistol sighted down the barrel and tested the weight liking what he saw. He belted on a tac-holster and slid the pistol into place. "I am ready to go. Hopefully they don't need to call upon my skills and you civies have all the fun." His voice was cold and emotionless. "Are you all ready?"

Raul smiles, but it doesn't quite touch his eyes, "Yeah, firefights cause their own kinds of fun. And the clean-up from that is not pleasant."

"I'm ready."

Aziza carefully examines the snack tray to ensure there's not a crumb of food left before answering.
"I am prepared to be leaving.  Is a mission already available?"

  " well now that Pepper has fed you I suppose I can get to business." Rhic spoke up as he stepped into the room the big man slipped past pepper easily." First Of all you en will be joined shortly by a second action team."

    " Our current assignment is going to be a short little jaunt into the "Briar Patch" we are tasked with delivering a supply pallet to an Archeological dig in a rather...interesting section of the Delta.”

   Rhic hit a tab on his wrist comp and Image of a dense Nebula that literally burned with a pale reddish blaze that shifted and flicked in real time. The image zoomed in to a rugged charcoal gray world orbiting a lone Gas super giant world. Now this would be a normal run and wouldn’t require anything more than a security detail…But six men were killed on the dig, and since it’s a Colonial Authority funded Dig we are required to check it out and make sure nothing funny is going on,

          we are going to be joined by a Colonial marshal on the run so all we are going to do is support her investigation and provide security and a little muscle to keep the Diggers fro getting rowdy when we shut them down for a week or two,” Rhic brought up a few dozen pictures of the site and the personnel.

    Pilot Aziza as brilliantly timed her arrival and will be providing transport for our cargo and supplying us with a place to work and sleep while on the planet. Rhic looked at his wrist comp.” I have to go brief our second team and will let you know when we are ready to go, pack up anything you need and requisition your mission and weapons issue, we are aiming for a departure later tonight.

There a sudden vibration through the surfaces of the lobby and a whirling, twisting, mass of fluttery red cloth and chrome ornamentation came spinning through the doors, while outside, the volume of the accompanying music was probably what caused the vibration felt earlier...  With a lack of distinctly feminine features, it was safe to assume that it was a male, dancing through the doors of CASAR...

The volume dipped down low and the figure stood up, clearly now, a flexible, and somewhat talented dancer.  What they were doing here was another question altogether.  A somewhat flashy display of lights from the several small LCD displays on the clothing signaled the end of his routine.  Most people just stared awestruck, more at the audacity than the talent...  While the volume was low enough to not cause trouble anymore, and the flashing lights stopped, he still moved, gently swaying in time with the music.

While his walk looked like it had a purpose, it only took a few moments for someone to come up and offer to escort him out or ask for ID...  The latter of which was provided and he strut his way through the lobby.

Aziza's ears flatten at the loud music and she fights down a strong instinctive desire to play with the moving lights, knowing that humans inexplicably wear extremely fragile clothes and never consider the implications of extra strings and fiddly bits on them.

"Sir, I take it then that my task, once we get there, is to set up a MASH in case things go south?"

Having been briefly distracted by Leoulin's entrance, Aziza turns back to examining the mission briefing paper.
"Oh no." she moans.  "It is being a plague and we are all being killed horribly by viruses that will make us dissolve into puddles.  Or it is being pirates and we are all being shot out of space.  Or perhaps it is being ancient alien artifacts of godly power that put horrible curses on us when we step on the planet.  This is bad.  We are having so many ways of dying on this mission."

"Death comes for us all. All you can do is smile at his approach and die with dignity and honor." He looks at Aziza the expression on his face unreadable. He smiles slightly, "I have sent people to meet their maker and one day he will come for me. Until then, lets get going there is no money to be made standing here and talking."

 PEPPER   " Hellooo cutesy... I mean welcome to CASAR." Pepper smiled and took a credit chip out of her pocket and tossed it playfully to Leoulin. You know how to make an entrance honey that’s fer sure. Peppers accent slipping into a deep southern American drawl as she purred a little.

    " The colonel and the Major are back in the office getting the new hires up to speed, go on back and report in we'll be getting a couple of Marshals in soon so they're probably leaving tonight....<blue> So you won't be able to play at the Pitt tonight.

---

RHIC

    Nice to see someone with a work ethic." Rhic glanced from victor to Raul, looking at his files.</blue> we might also need an autopsy on the deceased the cause of death is listed as unknown physical trauma.</blue> He pulled up a photo of a severely mangled human corpse that looked as if it had been worked over with a chainsaw dipped in battery acid. I’ll load the photos into the work stations so you can give them a going over in route.

   ” I need Balkiir and Victor to set up a defensive perimeter around the ship and place detectors and deterrents to keep the ship secure. Rhic glanced to Victor I want you to set up some watch posts and a few spider holes around the camp so we can set up cameras and put you in if it is a local predator”

     Two Marshals will be coming in on this and they will run the criminal probe on the deaths, I don’t expect any heavy duty trouble so I think you guys might be making easy money..

The diminutive figure made its way through the station towards the CA-SAR Offices. T'risa looked at the details of the job she'd received. It seemed beneath her to take on a job such as this. A couple of dead colonists and they were sending out a team to investigate? It wasn't that long ago she had the pick of her assignments. She was dressed in the fatigues that had been issued to her on the day she managed to get the badge, coupled with a purple and white bandana around her neck, denoting her school. The fatigues really weren't to her taste, but were appropriate for the job. She didn't want to waste any of her good clothing in this place.

She walked forward confidently, watching one of the more attractive men she saw on her way to the office. As she passed him, she kept watching out of the corners of her eyes. She smiled, laughing to herself as the woman holding the mans hand glared at her in silence. She couldn't help it, he certainly filled his pants well.

And then she arrived at her destination. Her eyes retained a glint of amusement as she looked in through the front window. The office had seen better days, much better days. Her mind pushed open the doors as she walked through, heading immediately towards the front desk. T'risa opened her wallet showing her credentials to the secretary and identifying herself

"I am Colonial Marshal T'risa K'mahda."

T'risa automatically assumed the secretary was competent due to her gender and would direct her to the appropriate place. Her mind went back recalling the details of the case. Two Marshals were due to be assigned to the case, she wondered who she would be working with on this case.

Leo smiled to Pepper and while only a sharp eye would catch that, the kiss he seemed to throw through his veil was unmistakable to anyone within line of sight.  Upon seeing the Marshal's entrance his demeanor changed the credit was deposited into the folds of his clothes... a pocket somewhere, and he began looking around until he saw the Colonel.  Pointing one hand at the woman he blew another kiss and started almost running to her.  Interpret it how you will, but as soon as he gets a door between himself and the Marshal who was likely not far behind...

He let out a harsh whisper, "Save me!  How the hell did they find me?!"

"Oh no." Aziza comments as the flashy man runs past her.  "Brain Fever outbreak.  Soon we are all being struck with insanity and the station is lose life support and we are all dying horribly in the cold darkness."

Raul looks a bit shocked at the condition of the corpse. "Saints preserve us. I've not seen a body worked over like that before. I'll spend the time enroute going over the files and seeing if I can find any correlations in the medical journals. Do we have anything beyond the photos? Any toxicology reports?"

Leo sighed then spoke with a normal tone, his voice was strong but cautious, "I assure you I am in excellent health.  The O'maeda women have oppressed my people for too long, shackled to plush beds and fed as if we were invalids, not allowed to walk in the lights ourselves and forced to live according to their whims and desires for our flesh!  Please, someone accurately and honestly tell me she isn't coming closer.  Or with us on the next mission...  She's likely just biding her time to kidnap me and sell off little pieces on the black market...  Just because I'm free doesn't mean they won't try to take me back into slavery."

      J'nath smiles and playfully smacks Leoulin,"Tell me again why I hired you?"

   " Marshal just in time, your partner is on his way and will be with us by departure time, He had to transport a prisoner to Harpy V."

   With a wry smile she turned back to Leoulin, led him to the office under her arm wrapping her arm around his neck tightly." No Peaches, why don't we settle down and earn that paycheck, before I see if i can get my money back from some pretty Cesti who needs chew toy."

  According to the preliminary reports all the local Medic could do was put the on ice after a prelim. He did indicate the presence of either and acid or digestive enzyme that injured one of the workers when they stuck their finger in it Rhic ignored the mild outbreak of insanity and continued with his debref, a look of longsuffering patience on his face. typical, someone finds a puddle of slime and sticks their fingers in it."

T'risa walked over to the Colonels office.

"I'm glad to be hearing that Colonel J'nath. I'm afraid the details I have regarding this case are rather vague. Something about a mining accident.....except they think there might be some foul play?"

She was amused at the man dressed in the hopelessly antiquated clothing. A relic from the days of old. She wondered if he did it because he was ashamed of his body, he had no reason to be. His movements were graceful. T'risa was sure she would see an attractive body beneath it. Maybe there was some religious significance to it. Some of the old worlds had very devout followers. T'risa preferred to see her men dress a little more to modern tastes.

She followed at a discrete distance not wishing to interfere with the Colonel's attempt to pick up the man and intrude on her privacy.

Raul chuckles, "Well, it is the nature of people to investigate something strange. Sticking your fingers into something is a good way of learning about it...also a good way to get them removed. Raul ponders for a moment. Since it looks like I'm going to need to do a full autopsy on the bodies, will I be able to bring all the necessary equipment with me? I'll want to do tissue and toxicology scans. I'll also probably need heavily sealed containers in case I need to send any tissue samples back to one of the main labs for a more thorough investigation."

Aziza reacts with her usual mild alarm at this plan.
"External cargo pod." she announces, aiming a finger at him.  "Biohazards are not being contamination of ship living quarters."
Turning to J'nath she continues:
"Briar Patch area is containing navigational hazards?"

Raul nods. "Good point." To Maj. Rhictor, "Will I have a biohazard suit so that I can perform the autopsy?"

" I'll have a lab module bolted onto the Crow." She glanced to Aziza." Your ship is a Furesh model it should be able to handle anything the Briar patch has to offer, a lot of dust, some freaky energy discharges and more than one teeny tiny batch of meteors, and we can add a mission pod to her dorsal module locks. I think we have a med pod and a standard lab mod we can spare, If we can find it in the mess the cargo master left us.."

     " Oh by the way this charming young man and his walking light display is one of our resident Telepaths....well under this walking crime against taste anyway." J'nath steers Leoulin to the nearest empty chair and released her grip on him.” And this is Marshal K’mahda she will be running the inquest into the men’s death. I was listed as a predator attack but that planet is a rock, the air is fine if you don’t mind a little dust and some harmless isotopes but there’s not supposed to be anything alive native to the planet.”

Raul nods at the two as they are introduced to the team. He then looks at Col. J'nath, "Excuse me ma'am, but if the planet has an environment in which we can breathe, albeit dustily, I find it a bit hard to believe that there isn't any native life there. Do we have records of the initial survey data? Perhaps I can run the analysis of the autopsies against what the survey team initially found."

   " The initial survey reports that the planet was scorched by a gamma burst n the nebula over ten thousand years ago. J'nath replied handing him a data chip. the planets eco system was incinerated nothing bigger than a few one cell organisms in deep caverns could have survived millions of Rems of Gamma radiation.” Of course we have the best mobile sensory unit n the know systems to track anything living down.

T'risa inclined her head towards the Colonel as she was introduced.

"Yes, I am to determine, with all of your assistance, the nature of the deaths and to bring the guilty party to justice should there be one. I hope we can all work well and quickly together to resolve the situation. we are due to be joined by another Marshal who I'm afraid to say I've never worked with before."

She flashed a brilliant smile to all of the SAR agents already gathered as she entered the room and took a spot facing the door. The old habits died hard.

Raul takes the offered chip, "Thank you ma'am." He uploads the chip into his own computer for later perusal.

Aziza carefully takes notes as to the threat:

Monster is invisible and immune to radiation.

Leo nodded to the Colonel, "Well, as pretty as the Cesti there is... Whoring me out is too close to home.  I couldn't let you do that.  I'd have to fight with all the strength I have, and though I am a telepath, my mind does tend to break more things than it simply pokes.  I'm also not too bad at muay thai."

With a look in the Marshal's direction he spoke in a defensive tone as if he wasn't certain how to deal with her, "My name is...  You can all just call me Leo.  Of course, I'll be changing for the job, but I do have a job as an entertainer to live up to when I am not on missions here.  Being my own agent, and sometimes working with my grandfather, makes me pretty flexible, and this job requires that I move often enough to keep things fresh."

"I am not inculcated with knowledge of human mater customs but, perhaps if you wish to avoid females a smaller or less vivid attraction display would help." Aziza suggests unhelpfully.  "Males which are attracted to other males among the Cesti sometimes cut off the display tufts from their ears so as to appear female.  You could mimic this, perhaps with implant surgery to appear more female in shape."

T'risa raised an eyebrow that the Telepath would choose to use his voice rather than his mind. She turned to the colonel looking for more information.

"Can we have the dossiers of the victims? I need to start looking for anything that might link them together. I will treat this as a potential crime until it is proven otherwise. How many inhabitants normally live in the area? Any witnesses to the deaths? My briefing on this mission was decidedly lacking."

Her eyes flashed silently to Leo as her forehead dropped in apology, though it was hard for her to keep a smile from her face when Leo said he was "pretty flexible".

Balkir listened passively to the conversation. Other things commanded his interests. Particularly the sandwiches. It took two bites for the sandwich to cease existing. He wasn't sure whose the next two sandwiches were but he ate them anyway. He was beginning to feel satiated and returned his attention to the conversation. He was however immediately thrown back into though. This seemed like the work of a predator to Balkir, just not the kind that lurks in the woods and hunts other animals. To him this seemed all to familiar...a dead rock, an isolated mining colony, and a set of horrible killings. The pictures only reaffirmed his fears, but all they were were fears and nothing more. He could not be sure so his voice was silent. He watched passively as the others all came together. Mercenary work seemed to attract the oddest kinds. He didn't offer anything other than. "When are we leaving?" to the conversation.

  all the information will be uploaded into the Labs data base along with everything we have on the system and all the palean...Paleo...The dead tuff they dug up."</blue> Colonel J'nath chuckled. as she fumbled over the word." Good thing they only pay me to do the paperwork"

   As far as I am concerned your ready to go, ou can hit the bar or do some last minute shopping while the ship is prepped and we wait for the second Mashal to return from his little transport run. Oh B..T...W we locked a habitat Pod on too, so you two legged types have a place to...well live.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:26, Mon 10 Mar 2008.

"Ma'am, I'm virtually ready to go. I have the rest of my effects in a locker. Once I get them, I can head over to the Crow. The lab that'll be bolted on, is it the style that can be up and running during transit? Or does it need to be inactive? If it can be up and running, I'll get it going to make sure everything's kosher."

    " Oh now... do you think I would fit you boys up with anything but the best. Pepper pouted and ade a cute little frown." Especially since I know The Colonels account numbers. Pepper returned to hand everyone a copy of the files on the case. I am more than an incredibly cute face.”

   “Lucky for me they didn’t make any copies., or I’d have to hire you guys to hunt them all down.

"I got my gear already, everything else I might need your supplying so I am ready for dust off whenever. Just tell me what berth I am in and lets get this show under way." HE said as he rose picking up the large case once again. He pushed the glasses he wore up on his nose and adjusted his suit. "Let's go earn our keep."

T'risa glanced up at the secretary's arrival. She decided to speak out loud for the benefit of the others. Her accent was perfect Imperial Avandii. She'd either been taught to very high standards or mixed in very high circles.

"Would it be possible for me to have the loan of a computer for research purposes? My own appears not to have caught up to me in shipment. I have a few additional items to pick up before I'm ready to leave."

She wondered at the capabilities of the team. They were competent enough, at least in the crude sense. She had no fear of physical threats in their company. The doctor seemed very capable. She was curious what the results of the autopsies might reveal. She had her suspicions about the deaths but was not willing to even let herself believe them. It would prejudice the investigation.

The results of the autopsies would be interesting. In fact, with only one habitation module, and the only other female on board being the Cesti, things might be very interesting indeed. She was mildly surprised that none of the males had requested separate habitation from herself, it wasn't as if she intended to sport with any of them, but the proper courtesies should be maintained.

   You can requisition one from supply." Pepper nodded quickly," Of course you can probably finde a newer odel down in the snake pit...the CA seems to think solid state chips are all the rage... If they ever find out about olecular processors it will be a miricle.

"I am requisition explosives, demolition charges to deal with emergency cave-in or such problem." Aziza announces to Pepper.  "Have certification."

"I'm new to this station. I'd fear that the traders might take advantage of  it and our haste to leave the station. Perhaps you can suggest one or two places where I might pick up what I need, or even accompany me? I'm sure I could make it worth your while and it would be nice to have some company. I'm afraid I only have what I was issued on arrival at the station to take up my role as a marshal and a small amount of luggage besides."

Raul looks at Pepper, "I'm going to need a full surgical kit so I can do the autopsies."

" Oh I don't think they would be able to pull the wool over your eyes." Pepper smiled as she dug through a stack of papers, holding up one scratching her head. Rhic you forgot to sign your 235-Ic, if you want that arm of yours recalibrated you better dot those I's and cross those T's

    Pepper smiled as she handed Aziza a form after signing it, go down to that really cute Hunk at the end of the hall, the guy with all his own fingers, and give him this. He'll set you up with a full mission package for the Demo team. Just don’t drop anything with all the ordinance we’re still processing we could lose half the module.</blue>


   ” With a grin Pepper turned back to T’risa, Now if you want to do some shopping that’s a great Idea.” She handed Rhic a stack of Papers,” Hon would you put these on my desk for me sweetie She purred sweetly as she picked up a credit card from his desk. Looking over at Raul.” I’ll see about getting you a full surgery kit down at medical supply while we’re out.”


OOC: Sorry for the long run up guys still missing one player, then we can go play something other than Payroll and Spreadsheets _tm

"That reminds me, if I'm to be the team medic, I'm going to need full medical files on everyone." Raul looks at Rhic, "Sir, I'm a Board Certified Cybersurgeon if you want me to take a look at your arm.

"Thanks."

T'risa gleamed with happiness. Shopping was an immensely pleasurable pastime.

"Anyone else need anything while we're out and about? It would be my honour to shop for you all. I might be able to get some good bargains?"

She waited for Pepper, memorizing anything that anybody wants in particular.

Leo made no overstatement in expression but looked at the marshal as if simply making comments on the weather as he spoke in matter of fact tones, "I have no shame in being a telepath Marshal K'mahda.  I am not timid or embarrassed.  I simply don't want to risk that you'll think I'm some kind of jewel that needs to be kept safe for the Proper Preservation of Psychicly Gifted Male Parts Act that seems to have been passed some time before written O'maeda history.  My father and grandfather too have been kept like veal by your people, and while not uncomfortable, they do not have the urge to wander as I do.  Nor do I feel that you can protect me better than I can myself, in any save perhaps a home economics style.  I just won't use my telepathy to speak to you because until I do, you have to doubt I can, and until you know I can, I may be eye candy, but I am not worth the effort it might take to enslave me for your sexual purposes."

He then looked over to Aziza and nodded, "...I'm escaping the treatment that the males of my gifts receive.  Unfortunately, I'm rather attached to the gender tokens of my species, and while I have considered changing a few features so as to not seem so much a desired specimen...  Any doctor with the talent to do so, would know that if kept alive and properly nourished, but unable to wander and do as I please -they could make more credits in a year than most medical professionals do in a lifetime.  Please do not believe it, but that is what I am to the O'maeda, a sperm factory of the highest caliber.  The less, the good marshal here believes that, the better off I am..."

Then turning to regard Pepper he winked, "I've got more than I need after I get to my locker.  I imagine you don't want just any fellow, but a man in uniform accompanying the rest on this mission.  I'll wear the body suit because I know you like the fit and the Marshal will be kept wondering..."

T'risa looked puzzled at Leo.

"Why would I wish that which you would not give me freely? You choose not to live in the care and ministrations of a O'maeda woman, then that is your choice. I make no pretense to understand why you seem pleased to submit to a Terran woman instead. You may waste your seed as you wish Leo. Sell yourself to whomever pleases you. I will take nothing from you that you do not offer. In turn you will receive nothing from me. You will find no safe haven in my wing should the Enforcers find you. With this I believe we have an understanding. I have nothing further to say."

She walked away feeling confused, Leo seemed very aggressive towards her and she'd done nothing to deserve it. He was flaunting himself all over Pepper. Was he trying to make her jealous? His words seemed to be at odds with his actions. She decided to have nothing further to do with the man. It would have been nice to communicate with someone from home, but he would be resistant and she would not force him to do so.

Leo was surprised as well, but it would not show, mostly because his whole body except his eyes were covered.  It made a small show in slight widening of his eyes.  Then he thought to himself that her reasoning was a show to intimidate him to crawl to her.  To bow under her wing.  He had no expectations of romantic involvement with anyone he'd met so far, and his personal code of conduct would not permit him to share floors, beds, counter tops, or any other positioning of bodies, with someone whom he was not married to. Waste seed?  Sell...?

Flirting and playing as he did with Pepper, and as Pepper did with nearly everyone...  That might be out of place in O'maedian society, but out here it was very far from that bubble of life indeed.  That place was no more his home than a baby birthed in a corrective facility.  If the enforcers came...  He would deal with them himself.  Even if she called them.  Even if they had considerable mental or physical power, he would evade them, as he had for years now. ...Let them, I have existed well enough so far.  They will respect me after...

He didn't feel that women should be subject to him, merely that both genders should be allowed the same opportunity and freedoms.  T'risa had claimed the same viewpoint...  Had someone gotten his grandfather to talk?  Had they taken away his greatest advantage?  No, they wouldn't do anything to the old man and his father knew little about him other than what the O'maeda as a whole knew.  Leoulin was a dancer, and was traveling to improve his arts.  They didn't know that he considered combat one of his arts.  His performances were in more traditional O'maeda garb slightly modified by his own tastes...  He only now began kicking himself mentally for using the name Leo.  While his reputation was not grand, it probably would not be hard for her to piece together who he was, if she went to one of his shows.  Leoulin... how could you?!

If he kept careful, then the Enforcers would only come if she called them... Or, so he reasoned as he left for his locker of which some of the thoughts in his mind got a little loud.  If they come I'll know...

Seeing people begin to leave, Raul stands up as well. He grabs his gear and heads to a restroom to quickly change. He leaves the CASAR office in his official gear, and heads towards the locker where the rest of his effects are. As he opens the locker, a photo album stands prominent. God! Why did she have to be killed in that riot? Unbidden tears form in his eyes, but he dashes them away quickly. He scoops his gear, and heads towards the Claw to settle in.

Leo couldn't much help but notice the thoughts of Raul.  He had no real knowledge of the fellow, or any reason to hide his own excellent physique in the locker room.  Despite being a soft ocean blue, Leoulin's eyes stood out like stars, burning bright orange in what most would call a very pleasing face.

Leo wanted to be of some assistance to Raul, but didn't want it to be too plain that he'd overheard the man's thoughts.  That was always an awkward thing... do you reach out, or do you pretend you don't know.  To preserve the man's dignity, he wouldn't say anything.

Leo was kind of jealous, he didn't have anyone like that to be saddened at losing.  Even his closest kin, his grandfather, would not be a tragic loss to him.  It might mean that he lost his freedom a little sooner than he might like... but Leo still felt he could keep himself free.

Then it struck him, as the other man headed toward the claw Leolin smiled, "I couldn't help but notice... photo album right?  Isn't that kind of old school?  How long have you been away?"  This way, if the man wanted to talk or blow it off, either one was up to him, rather than leaving it an elephant that Leoulin had to pretend wasn't in the room, nor was it clear that he had heard the doctor's thoughts.

Raul is a bit startled, his thoughts still locked on his dead fiancee, months before they were to be wed. "Hunh? Oh...Leo, right? Yeah, I suppose it might be old school, but sometimes old school is nice." Trying to deflect the questions away from a painful topic, "So, what's with all the lights? I don't think I've ever seen someone as a walking light display."

He tilted his head casually to one side, "I must agree that it is sometimes nice to not have the newfangled things.  A crystal display album is better for the road perhaps, but the imagination does not lend the feel of old friends and family to stone as well as the organic feel of photographs."

Leoulin's face mask now showed some generality of expression at least, it was roughly a smile, "...I'm a dancer, a fighter, and sometimes both at the same time.  The lights are for entertainment purposes, and occasionally for utility or annoying the hell out of people since I activate them by movement or mind...  It adds to the club scene mostly.  Also my dance is a method for practicing combat that the O'maeda women cannot frown upon, because it is technically an activity that promotes health and capacity to perform 'manly duties' as well as being low enough risk to where I don't require constant guard to ensure that I am not being killed thus depriving them of potential breeding stock."

Aziza contemplates trying to join the conversation, but decides her English isn't good enough and the subject is too primate-centric for her to understand anyway.  So instead she carries Pepper's requisition form away to see about obtaining bombs.  Lots of bombs.  Suitable for killing invisible radiation resistant monsters.

Raul's face becomes lost for a second before he responds. "Yes, sometimes a relic has more meaning than its contemporary counterpart."

Raul looks troubled, "I had heard that O'maeda women were quire possessive, but didn't realize it was that bad."

Balkir sat his stomach finally sated by the several sandwiches he consumed. He was nodding slightly, despite the situation but still kept an ear up for what was going on. When the group started to disperse he stood up wearily. He strapped his new gun and gun belt on the other side of his hip from his revolver, next to his sword. He pushed some of the dread locks off his shoulder as he rolled out his neck and then his spine. "Alright fellas, I'll catch ya later. Got ta get my stuff ready and find some good beer to bring along, I don't trust the shit jobs'll give me." he began to head out.

   Rhic Nodded as Balkiir took his leave looking over to Victor," Blackpool, tough outfit. He stated simply, Tosing Victors personnel folder into a shredder." You don't have much of a file." Rhic fished out a Pack of Quetzl cigarettes and lit one of the oddly aromatic smokes.

   " You're not a fleet type so I'm guessing VIP protection, or... Ah hell you won't tell me anything I can't guess from your weapon. when you checked in on station they recorded a Mk-34 on the invoice, not an bush leauge rifle at all."

A small smile crossed his lips, watching the file being shredded added to the humor. "No, not exactly. But put it this way. You want someone taken out, two ways to do it. 1, Big explosions and lots of gunfire and lots of coverage and collateral damage. Or 2, my way, simple elegant and clean. Then again, you want to protect someone. You can hire goons and mercs. But you want to stop the pros you hire a guy like me."

With that he grabbed the rest of his gear. He nodded to the few remaining in the office before walking out the door and headed to the ship that would become their home for a while.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:31, Wed 12 Mar 2008.