"My engines are ready, tanks topped off and spares stowed.  Olly's ready when you are."

Ken nodded to Ollie as he stood on the cargo deck.  "If you are going to stay in the engineroom I can double up with Stanley and let us bring aboard another passenger.  We'll leave as soon as cargo and passengers are aboard, say in a couple of hours max.  We'll boost as fast as you can manage to the Jump point."

Blake can always post a hammock somewhere if need be or crash in the airaft -- wouldn't be the first time ...  Or enjoy the jump space scenery from the driver's seat or a turret.  Fortunately, jump ends about the time you start going space crazy ...

Stanley starts his morning with an extra long shower (the only time the humidity ever feels anywhere close to normal for him). Then he gets dressed in what he thinks of as his Security Uniform (his custom vacc suit), including wearing his swords in the on-ship placement that makes it easier to move around on-board. He then stands by the passenger airlock, ready to check any weapons into the ship's locker, and keeping an eye out for potential troublemakers as they board his home.

10:04, Today: Stanley rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 4,3. (+ for Int A?) identify troublemakers.

He'd been used to thinking of this procedure as a tired formality that gave him an opportunity to practice discreetly using his computer, but his eyestalks fairly bulged at the stream of people pouring onto the ship. So THIS is why we have been double-bunking all this time! I had imagined those numerous cabins a mere relic of a greater age. He could hear the whine of cargo loaders behind him....making multiple trips, no less!

His tail twitched happily inside vacc-suit as he began to hope that this trip might climb out of the red financial hole that they'd been stuck in.

Blake spends time in the cargo area trying to make sure this "loaded to the gills" run balances out.  A sudden tilt after lift-off is not a good way to start your trip.  Once done, he returns to pre-flighting ...

Ken greets the passengers as they come aboard and then bustles about checking cargo and then looking in on Ollie. "Ready Chief?  We've finally got a full load aboard."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 141):

The 4 high passengers were VIPs of Frontiers Development Inc. travelling from the regional office on Alzenei to Nomael. Frontiers Development was a big economic player in the Far Frontiers sector, especially the Imperial client states. They were currently under contract to administer Nomael for the Free Suns. According to the waybill the cargo was various TLC office and administration equipment and supplies, including furniture and computers. Loading took them right up to the liftoff time of 0900.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 141):

"Engines ready, Engineer ready, that's all you required.  Don't bother checking anyone else, punch it and we leave."

Ken looked around and nodded approvingly.  "You're ok with bunking here in the engine room Olli?  We'll get underway as soon as the last bit of cargo is shifted and stowed."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 144):

Walker comes in and listens to the exchange.

"Where can I hang my hammock, and put my locker?"

Neva comes in and looks at everybody.  "Looks like it's about time for me to go and introduce myself to the passengers.  Where did you say my room was?  After that I'll do a sweep to make sure that they know what is out of bounds and that we have our codes all set up."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 144):

"Best room in house.  Maybe I charge Walker rent for privilege!"

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg # 145):

"Put it where you like, not in way of my engines or controls.  And don't break anything, otherwise hammock not the only thing found hanging in Olly's engine room!"

Ken laughed.  "I'll leave you two to work out the details.  There seems to be plenty of room for both and it frees up another stateroom for passengers."  He turns to Neva.  "Go forward and help Stanley check the passengers in Neva.  We've got a full load this time and I don't want to get a bad rep with FDI. They could be a source of a lot of future business.  Go ahead and do your sweep as we don't want trouble later.  I'm going to look in on the cargo and see that we get off on time."

In reply to Oliver Oliphant Oksasaellllozae (msg # 148):

"You got a problem, furball?  I'm asking for guidance, I can't tell important things from unimportant things here.  I've spent most of my life behind the sights of a gun, on distant planets, killing things.  I wouldn't know an engine or a control without a sign to tell me what it was."

Linus hunts up the passengers and enquires about any particular likes or dislikes they have about what they eat.

Neva nodded to Ken and then looked over at Thomas.  "In that case Thomas, while I'm with Stanley looking at the passengers etc, you might want to do a security sweep on the ship.  I'd hate for us to have any surprises once we're in jump."

In reply to Neva Alexovna Morozova (msg # 152):

"Yes, Ma'am."

Walker steps out of Engineering wearing his hunting jacket and his knife, but no other weapons.

Ken was about to intervene in the discussion between Olli and Thomas but Neva's comment breaks up the situation.  He looks to Olli and frowns a bit. "Work with Thomas if he wants to bunk back here with you.  You can certainly put him to work with maintenance."

He nods to Neva.  "Let's go forward and get the passengers settled in.  I'm going to get us going."

Olly sorts out a corner for Walker to store his kit, well away from anything he can push, pull or fall into.

Thinks

"Hope Walker is match for Neva, that girl got makings of good engineer.  She does smell funny though"

OOC
Olly speaks in "Blue" and thinks in "Green"

Punch it the man says ...  Blake & Mariel share a pilot's look & glance at the grav controls ...  They do the Tom Selleck raised eyebrows activity followed by the 'I dare you' waving of hands.  Ahhh yes, the days of Scout Service new crew initiation flights ...  Now those were the days ...

We pause this flight for a quick Top Gun carrier fly by with barrel roll.  Followed by a few one liners from Airplane, "Got the vector Victor ??"  And ending with navigations' best flight plan ever, "Second star to the right."

Five minute warning.  All passengers to seats & strap in for lift-off.  Crew to flight stations.  Time to lock the flight deck door & settle in.  With all of these passengers & such, Blake is packing the auto pistol & magazines.

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 156):

Upon hearing the launch notice, Walker took a seat in the passenger lounge.

The passengers get settled in. Linus carefully takes order and preferences. These seem like ordinary corporate VIPs. The senior VP, a woman by the name of Ashelar Sheshshazefr, noted the relatively heavy security (and armed merchantman with at least a couple security personnel running around) and seemed to approve.

She said to Linus, "there's been lots of trouble lately with piracy. You folks seem to be well-prepared and professional. Let me give you my card, we might have more work for your crew if things go well."

When the 5-minute warning came through, the passengers strapped in for the trip.

OOC: Blake can post the liftoff and transit to the Jump line if desired.

Usual flight plan then, gentle lift-off followed by the usual process, move to the outbound traffic lane, check with Ollie on the jump engine condition, Woof, woof, barky bark, OK to jump ?? which translates very loosely into the Vagr as "Oh great bushy-tailed one, we are about to call upon your mechanical wizardry during this groat chase to the stars ..."  Well, that's what the all-mighty Google translation program says it means ...  Any responding "Grrr" is followed by Blake's Grrr 8 I am with suitable chest pounding, which does not impress Mariel.

"Thank you, Ma'am," says Linus, taking the card. He checked that everyone was safely seated ready for raise ship, and settled in the galley himself.