"Yes, we're ready, Brent," Joxe replies from her engineering console."We're doing things a bit differently with the extra fuel tanks installed, but it will be fine."

Wanderer's fuel scoops open, and the trader speeds through the gas giant's uppermost atmosphere. Static electricity crawls across the forward viewscreen, and the passive sensors are practically useless at ranges beyond fifty kilometers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:59, Sat 03 Feb 2018.

"Roger that Joxe.  Let me know if the fuel gets unbalanced enough to affect stability or we need to pull up and stop the flow of gases." He focused back on the sensors and what he could see through the view screen.  At times like this in an atmosphere what you could see with the naked eye trumped even the best sensors.

Having learned little of use Gareth keeps watching the passive sensors and waits for fueling to complete.

18/V/1402 1015hrs


Wanderer bumps her way though the gas giant's cloudy upper atmosphere. Although the sensors detect a few powerful electrical storms, the are all raging deeper within the planet's atmosphere, some well below the ship's estimated crush depth.

Joxe and Veronica monitor the fueling and refining systems' operations as they proceed normally. Finally, Veronica comms the bridge. "Bridge, we're done with fueling; the scoops are closed and confirmed vacuum tight."

"Is anyone else hungry?" Joxe asks on shipwide comm.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:52, Sat 03 Feb 2018.

"Roger that Veronica, I show scoops closed and tanks full on the repeaters up here.  Pulling out of the atmosphere and into orbit."  Brent applied full contragravity to significantly lighten the ship relative to the local gravity and boosted up and out in an easy parabola.  Once clear of the atmosphere he set the ship into an easy course toward the inner planets and a flyby of the main world.

"All clear.  Gareth, if you want to scan go ahead.  We can Jump out now if needed."

At Joxe's call Brent's stomach starts to grumble.  "We're famished on the bridge."

Niamh nods, and frowns just a little.  "I would think it's entirely possible that someone would end up seizing your ship, maybe even the government itself."

The redhead nods and gives him a little smile.  "I think it's best to have a clear purpose at times like this, especially something noble like that."

Brent nodded in agreement. "I'd say you're right on about the government Niamh.  We'd want to come back into the system with enough offers of technology that we'd not get it stolen from us or killed outright."

Since Wanderer doesn't have another workstation, Joxe and Veronica have set up a temporary station in the upper deck lounge for Naimh's use. Using a pair of spare monitors and holo projectors, the station is very close to the ones on the bridge.

Veronica exits the lift and comes around the corner to where Naimh is sitting. "I brought lunch. Do you mind if I sit and eat with you?"

In the meantime, Joxe appears at the bridge hatch bearing lunch. "Are you boys eating up here, or do you want to sit at the table?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:51, Sat 03 Feb 2018.

"I think we should find an Imperial battlecruiser, and return in it," Joxe says dryly. "We could invite them to come and take it."

"We'll come on down and eat like civilized beings," he laughs.  Brent stands and turns a bit.  "Are you coming Gareth?  We'll be down in the wardroom."  Brent heads down with Joxxe.

Gareth begrudging leaves the bridge to eat. The ship's automated warnings could be trusted for a few minutes.

"Come on," Joxe says, placing the lunch plates around the table. "Veronica and Naimh are taking their lunch in the upper lounge." She smiles. "They seem to get along well."

Brent steps up to help set the table with Joxe, giving her a friendly little hip bump as he does so.  At the mention of Niamh and Veronica his eyebrows raise a bit adn then he shrugs. "So what's for lunch?"

Joxe smiles at Brent, and sets his plate in front of him. "Meatloaf with rice on the side, and tea, coffee, or a soft drink."

"Mmmmm... meatloaf.  That sounds great." He inhales deeply.

"I hope it also tastes great," Joxe replies with a smile. "It's a recipe I programmed in before..." she hesitates and takes a breath, "before we left." She turns away and wipes at her eyes with her hands.

Brent pauses for a moment and then puts a hand on her shoulder.  "Come on then.  I'm dying to try it," he says softly.

"Of course," Joxe turns and sits down across from Brent. "Sorry. Some memories hit me hard when I least expect it." She takes up her fork, and begins to eat. "I hope we like it."

Brent let's his hand linger for just a moment in reassurance and then sits as well.  He digs into the meat loaf and smiles.  "It is good.  Custom made food is always the best, thank you."

Joxe smiles at Brent as they eat lunch. Afterwards, she collects the dishes for recycling, and goes to check their supplies inventory.

After nearly vomiting from so many public displays of affection Gareth returns to the bridge and waits.

18/V/1402 2000hrs

The next ten hours passes uneventfully, and Wanderer crosses the gas giant's hundred diameter limit. The system's navigation information is sadly out of date regarding the position of starports and other installations, although the hundred diameters areas of space were traditionally kept clear to avoid collisions.

Joxe and Veronica report that the jump drive is charged and ready.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:50, Fri 09 Feb 2018.

"Gareth, we're ready to Jump.  Go ahead and scan the system with active sensors.  We can Jump away from anything that might respond with hostility."

Wanderer's active sensors (radar, in this case) can detect ship-sized objects out to about thirty thousand kilometers, and smaller objects correspondingly closer. The phased array emitters on her hull provide complete coverage in all directions - and, they detect nothing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:42, Fri 09 Feb 2018.