Still Down in the Detainment Center...


"So, what's this dream job you want me for?" Taliesa said. "You want someone killed? I can probably do it... basic training and all that. Don't know that I would." She says this just to see how BB will react.

"Just kidding. So, you got a ship and you need some crew. What are you expecting me to be able to do on it?"

BB let her first comment slide. BB could do enough killing for the both of them if needed.

"We've got a big ship and a skeleton crew so no matter your skill set I'm sure we can find something for you. I'm guessing you're good with computers, or at least think you are given that you were caught, so we can use someone up in the bridge on sensors or comms. If you have training in gunnery stations that would be perfect, we can always use more gunners. If you think you can handle yourself in boarding actions you can watch my ass as we blast our way through the hulls otherwise congrats, you're on general maintenance and you'll be assisting whoever needs the most help at the moment. Probably engineering. It's high-tech and old so maintenance is a bigger bitch than I am right now until we get the credits to do a complete overhaul. "

She pulled back the datapad, tapped a few things more on it and then nodded.

"Report to Berth 22, knock on the door and tell them I sent you and they'll figure out what to do with you next. Now unless you need me for something, I've got a couple more fuck heads to vet to make sure they don't cut our throats in our sleep."

Collyn paced his cell like a caged animal for five minutes, then sat stock still on the bed and just meditated. He could leave any time he wanted, why bother.

But then, he'd be on the run... just the kind of person he was usually after. That's an idea! Could he collect the bounty on himself if he turned himself in?
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:37, Sat 17 Oct 2020.

A pair of guards came in and gathered Collyn up, dumping him into an interrogation room. Across the table wasn't station security but a rough looking woman in civilian clothes. From the cut of her hair and general demeanor she screamed military, but definitely not an officer. She didn't act like she had a broom handle lodged permanently up her keister.

She clicked for a few seconds on a datapad and then glanced up at Collyn across from her.

"So. It says here you were picked up for a bar fight. Says you took on...four men at the same time? That's pretty ballsy, even if they were drunk."

In reply to BB Nova (msg # 17):

"I didn't count them. I guess they were too drunk to fight." You can see something odd about his eyes, one looks a little off. Damaged in the fight?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:09, Mon 19 Oct 2020.

BB shifts to the side, focusing on his eyes to see how they track her.

"This is what, you're third time in the lock up for fighting? Seems you've got a knack for making friends..."

In reply to BB Nova (msg # 19):

He grins at her in a snarky way and replies, "Yeah I do. They're fighting to be my friend. You want to be my friend?"

"What's your angle? What do you want?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:12, Mon 19 Oct 2020.

BB let a smile slip onto her otherwise stony demeanor. Time to watch the guy 180°...

"My angle is that I'm your ticket out of this shithole. I'm a senior officer on a Harrier-class starship. You ever heard of those? Real high-tech, tough as nails kind of ship. Unfortunately we're understaffed at the moment so I came down here looking for a few tough-as-nails recruits ready and willing to get their hands dirty for a shot of wealth and glory.

Now this little document here..."

She waves the datapad.

"Is long on your crimes and light on your history. You can handle yourself in a bar fight, I can respect that. If you're willing to sign on as a marine under me I can offer you a job on the spot but I'm trying to suss out if you might have any other talents that might make you eligible for a more in-demand position on the ship.

Now, are you ready to answer some questions or are you going to piss me off so that I walk out of here and leave you to get knifed in your next bar fight?"

In reply to BB Nova (msg # 21):

"Ahhh you have piqued my interest! Ask away and I might be interested, how much is the pay?"

BB shrugs.

"Fair. Free booze though. So, first question, can you fire a mounted turret? We've got missiles and lasers so either or if you specialize in one or the other.

Second question, any mechanical or engineering training?

Third, any ship operations and computer training?

Fourth, any additional combat training?

And before you think about blowing smoke up my ass if you sign on as chief gunner and can't shoot for shit we might not wait until the next port of call to fire your ass, understood? You've got a job assuming you don't fuck up so don't try and lie your way above what you can handle."

In reply to BB Nova (msg # 23):

"I shoot well with a rifle, never tried a turret. I'm certified in Comms and Sensors though, so I can learn to use a turret if necessary. Ne mechanic or engineering." he says matter of factly.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:44, Tue 20 Oct 2020.

On her datapad BB taps out a few things, making sure to check the three boxes. Once Collyn had found out what was at stake he had taken on that professional attitude she could appreciate. It was a shame they still didn't have another gunner but at this point they were so short staffed they couldn't afford to be picky. Plenty of openings for anyone halfway competent to fit in at the moment. Once they weren't a skeleton crew they could afford to get choosy.

"Alright. I have you marked down as a marine but if you can convince the captain you deserve a spot in the bridge I won't stop you. Chasing a better paycheck isn't something I'd ever hold against someone. Alright the paperwork is already being processed. Sign here and I'll take you back to the docks with me."

Collyn signs his name on the dotted line and prepares to follow the marine out of the jail and gather his gear from his room to go to the ship.

"I'm excellent with a blade, so I can do both. I'll need to pick up my gear from the dive I was staying in."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Tue 20 Oct 2020.

BB gave a nod and stood up, pounding on the door to the guards outside.

"Yeah, I'll take this one too. You can keep the rest."

After a few seconds the door unlocked and the way out of the security station was clear. BB gestured for Collyn to lead the way.

"After you."

In reply to BB Nova (msg # 27):

Collyn led the way to his dive to get his gear, then he follows BB to the ship

When they arrived at the impressive-yet-kind-of-sorry-looking Harrier BB tapped in the code and strolled right up the ramp. Looking around she frowned and then hit a panel comm.

"Hey Zhouth, are you there? I'm back with the last of our new crew. Did Donio and Taliesa make it alright?"

In reply to BB Nova (msg # 29):

Collyn followed BB aboard the Vultan. He looked around curiously, never having seen a ship anything like this before.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:58, Wed 21 Oct 2020.

"Yes, I'm here!" came Zhouth's reply over the comm. "Are you back with more? The mechanic is already with Ingrid and the marine is looking around her room. Well, room to be shared with whoever else you have! If you didn't strangle them all?"

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 31):

Collyn smiled at the strangled comment, he figured she was a hard ass.

In reply to Collyn Ramburton (msg # 32):

"Hi, I'm Collyn Ramburton, pleased to meet you." he holds his hand out to Zhouth.

It was quite evident to look at - when one's eyes had adjusted - that Zhouth was quite unlike BB in that regard.

"Hello! What's your new specialty? Or do we still need to figure that out before Varca gets around to talking about airlocks again?" His expression shifted from friendly greeting to one of genuine worry about that possibility...

"Comms, Sensors, Gunnery training and Marine. Who or what are you, just curious?"

"I'm the ship's purser!" Zhourh replied cheerfully as he held out one hand and mimicked dropping coins between his fingers. "And general tracker of inventory, work that needs doing, and so on. All because I had the misfortune of being trained as a professional paper-pusher early on. I'm also the resident mad scientist whenever that's called for, though fortunately so far it hasn't been." A slow, exaggerated shrug accompanied all of that. "Oh, and I sometimes help out with odd jobs, like fixing lights and mixing drinks!"

The look of worry returned, this time tinged with uncertainty, and Zhouth ventured, "You know about things like not plugging an electric still into the auxiliary light socket in the fresher, right?" He hooked a thumb over his shoulder, presumably pointing toward someone located elsewhere in the ship. We have someone here who didn't know about that until they were told not to do it..."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:40, Thu 22 Oct 2020.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 36):

"They could have built a fire under the still." Collyn says with a grin.

Zhouth waved his hands back and forth, no-no-no. "An electric still!" "Fire and wiring is a bad combination!" He let one hand fall whilst the other pointed up at the ceiling. "Not to mention setting off the suppression systems if anything starts burning in here. In the fresher. Think about it. You wouldn't want to be the one who got stuck cleaning up that mess!" The light hand-wringing that accompanied it added a certain (extra) comic aspect to his aghast expression.

"Anyhow, we've got to put you somewhere here. Both marine types together, or are we being properly Vilani-prudish about these arrangements?" Zhouth looked to BB to answer that one; it hadn't actually been an issue until now.