"I like those uniforms!" Viridian responds to the display. "The red ones look pretty sharp, but the gold one looks more like a work outfit. The white would be formal and the black would be... when we go to work!"

"So you set the course, Teddy; big deal! You're the one that stuck me on gunnery!"

"Did the ASTC give you a vector yet? No, didn't think so. Hope we don't run into another departing ship!"

In reply to Viridian Starfire (msg # 48):

"Do I detect insubordination? Get into the pilots seat and pilot, pilot. Teddy says with a frown.

===BEGIN COMMS: "Harriet-class? You mean, Harrier-class, don't you? Not a lot of records survived the War, but we can recognize a Harrier when we see one! Never heard of one used as a courier, but if it's 200 years old, and salvaged at that, it probably isn't much good for anything else."

"Okay, your records--now that we've got them--check out. Still no news packet, but if you're coming from Drinax, don't expect there's much news anyway. You are cleared to land at Highport, port side Docking Bay G. Transmitting your vector now. If you need any work done, it'll cost a bit extra since I'll have to insist that everyone who works on that old rust bucket gets a tetanus booster shot first!" :END COMMS===

He cuts the comm-link before you can hear his laugh--assuming he was joking.

You now realize why Princess Rao and her crew never updated the transponder--it would have had data from Asim and Drinax. Until she knew what you were going to do, she didn't want to handicap you by putting anything in that you didn't want.

"Set your course on the vector given Viridian, head for our designated berth. Docking Bay 'G'. We might need a new pilot too."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:30, Mon 24 Aug 2020.

  Zhouth suddenly held both hands up and out to the sides, palms facing inward, a kind of overhead ta-da that presenters might use, though in his case it was clearly a parody. "Pilot, fly us in and don't kill us all by crashing into the station! Oh, we're going to replace you once you do."

  "That will make for a great scene when this is all being done as a vid. I'd better note it down..." he added brightly, bringing his hands back down and once again tapping away on his comm.

"I never said anything about replacing him, just might be nice if we had extra help. Oh well." Teddy shrugged

BB locked Teddy with a deadly glare.

"I don't know what you are talking about so if you don't want to eat through a straw for the rest of the year I suggest you forget you ever heard that kind of rumor."

Normally there was a bit of levity to her frequent threats of physical violence. She was a marine, busting chops was how they got along as a group. This time was a little different, however. There was an intensity that made it clear she was not joking around or talking with hyperbole.

Granted a bootleg still on a naval vessel would have been a serious crime depending on who caught them and what charges they decided to file. A particularly vindictive commander could reasonably argue treason based on the misappropriation of supplies. Having a still wasn't just a fun way to explore chemistry but a potential court martial and firing squad.

After that little conversation BB goes back to disappearing for awhile. She is seen on occasion carrying spare parts around the ship but once again goes dark.

In reply to BB Nova (msg # 54):

"Hehehehehehehehe, must be a Marine thing! I hear you BB. Maybe I'll start a still then. We need some hard alcohol on occasion too! Now, where is my lovely lady Ingrid hiding at, time for me to find her I guess." He says as he heads toward engineering.

Teddy searches the ship for Ingrid, Galley, her quarters, and engineering. He wanted to be with her when they 'landed' at the Highport. He wanted to celebrate.

Ingrid had changed to a practical brown dress, since she would be working. Teddy found her sketching out the repair work she would have to do. "Oh, hello, Theodore" Ingrid said, curtsying.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 56):

OOC: Varca wasn't planning on making all of those uniforms--the different colors were options.  My thinking was that--in keeping up our fiction of being a (cheapskate) start-up Courier ship from Drinax--he could get a supply of old/surplus Star Guard BDUs, then get them color-changed to whichever color we all liked.  Making all of them the same color would be the cheapest...




     Varca heaves a heavy sigh, then reaches over to open the ship's general announce,

     "Rejji!  The Imperial figured it out." Varca announces all over the ship, "Bottle up whatever we've got, now, then breakdown the still.  We'll get by with what hooch we have, for a while."

     Varca cuts the intercom, then looks up at the others.

     "Dammit, Theo, I thought it would take you a couple of months to catch on!" Varca complains, "What, you find the tap on the reactor's heat exchanger we were using to heat the still?"

"Hello love" he pecked her on the lips, "Need help?"

"Leave the still as long as it doesn't interfere with the ship."

     Raising his gloved left hand to momentarily cover his mouth, Varca mumbles something...

     "Yeah, like plugging a jury-rigged alcohol still into a freaking Fusion Reactor ain't interfering..."

     Varca clears his throat, then lowers his hand,

     "Where the Hell is the fun in that? Sheesh!" Varca demands, "Sneakin' around about it provides all the fun, and half the flavor!  Well, after you get past the 'over-heated electronics' taste..."

     "Besides, it's not just for me...mostly..." Varca adds, "...it's for Rejji!  And any other Vespexers we might bring aboard to entertain.  The average Vespexer ain't so-fisty-catered, like me.  Vespexers never had anything but pure, homemade, raw alky, to drink away the suffering of living on Drinax.  Now me, I've come to enjoy the taste of Vodka!  It mixes well with Milk--cuts back that greasy taste that Milk has...."

"We have a fusion reactor! I don't think it's going to overload with a little still when it's handling an entire starship without complaint. Now, I agree that it might not be a great idea to plug a big still into an auxiliary light socket in a fresher, but the main ones in bays mean to handle high-powered tools? That's what a still is!"

Zhouth waved both hands in front of him. "Okay, okay. Laboratory stills are meant to make things other than moonshine, and they're not always built the same way, and the things they're making are usually more poisonous if used incorrectly. Or sometimes when used correctly." He then proceeded to throw both hands in the air. "But the principle is the same!"

Ingrid smiled shyly after the kiss. "Well, I could use some help, if you're not too busy with your duties as Captain. I'm hoping to finish up early and perhaps do a little shopping." A few thoughtful gifts for the crew could go a long way, she felt.

In reply to Ingrid Gustavdottir Sigar (msg # 63):

Teddy helps Ingrid with what she is doing.

(OOC: I think you said that Zhouth was also in the portside Countermeasures Suite, where Varca is--communicating with the Bridge over an open intercom channel--right?  Or, did Zhouth head for the Upper Deck, once we started moving towards the Highport?  Oh, well... ^_^)

     Frowning, Varca turns to look toward Zhouth, leaning away from the Vargr, slightly,

     "Plug a..." Varca starts--then shuts up, as he suddenly realizes what Zhouth is inferring,

     "Oh!  Uh, yeah!  Right." Varca's frown turns quickly into an amenable grin, "Plugging a, uh, electrical plug into the reactor!  Yeah, you're right, Zhouth, that really doesn't endanger the reactor!  What was I thinking?  I'm just not all that used to having reliable equipment to deal with, I suppose."

     Varca turns his face away from Zhouth--apparently looking at a sensor screen--and rolls his eyes.

ROFLMAO, you two make for good comic relief!

The work went faster with Theodore's assistance, and Ingrid was in good spirits. "This is very kind of you, Theodore, you'll spoil me" she said with a smile. "I'm excited to see the planet. I do like visiting new places, and I feel more comfortable on a planet."

In reply to Ingrid Gustavdottir Sigar (msg # 67):

"I'm not sure they'll let us visit, but we'll see, If they do, I'll take you along."

In short order, the ship makes it to the Highport and docks at the indicated bay.

Teddy is the only one slightly suspicious when you are greeted personally by a member of station security whenever anyone exits the ship.

"Greetings! Welcome to Torpol Highport!" she says. "I'm Adjutant Lieutenant Kundu. If you have any questions or requests, feel free to contact me if you need any help."

"If you wish to visit the planet, there are shuttles that leave twice a day for Downport."

Zhouth initially remained aboard. Having set himself up as the ship's designated paper-pusher, he had some work to do before anything resembling the fun of going planetside could be allowed to beckon.

The ship needed to resupply. It needed to refuel. It needed a hundred little details taken care of...

...and it needed money to pay for them. He'd solicited donations to kickstart the ship's fund, and now he had to see just how far he could make it all stretch.

BB gave a half-assed salute at Teddy before heading out to the shuttle bay. Time to find her way to the local authorities and see if there's anyone worthwhile picking up from the local lockup.

In reply to BB Nova (msg # 71):

"I have 30,400Cr. it has to last but we need some stuff, Can we use the gas giant to refuel cheap?"