"Your business partner say whether we were picking up something like a suitcase, or something like a shuttle?"  Osram asked.  Smaller would be better, but he was just hoping they had been given some idea.

"Think I saw some survival suits stowed somewhere, you get desperate and run out blankets.  So long as you don't mind spending the trip in flopping about on the floor."  He commented, thinking to where he thought he saw a stash of the one time emergency comically reflective silver space suits that would keep someone alive for a day or two after a loss of atmosphere event, but blew up like balloons when activated.  Not so bad for floating in vacuum, but he'd participated in plenty of hazing rituals where drunken miners were stuffed into them after they'd passed out, only to awaken hungover, disoriented, and having been dragged to the area of the outpost with the most gravity which left them stuck like an upside down turtle.

Lance chuckled.

"The packages are a few crates so the cargo hold will be half filled more or less. We'll need those strong arms of yours to help sort them.

Yes, the space suits are available in the hold plus the backups we have in engineering and the bridge and shuttle. But we only have so many. NOD and I will steer us to the pick up site. Ya'll just suit up for when we arrive. And make sure to be on your best most polite behavior."

Skip gets up and heads over to the coffee for a cup for himself.  As he pours himself some into a mug with the Wayward Station Marine Force logo, he looks up at Val.  Your a psychic, right?
They both know the answer to his question.  I'm an Empath.  The Skipper got a low-level EMF generator for my room.  The metal wall help to block out some of the more superfluous emotions, but the generator keeps out all but the strongest.  You know, like would be felt if we were under attack.

Archie did not need a suit, but he did make sure to have power packs available as needed. He headed over to Edwin and spoke. "Crewmate Park, should we organize our research as needed?" He does look over at Skip speaking to Val, and wondered if he should do the same.

You feel...envy. Came the emotional subroutine message to his CPU. Envy? Why Envy? It made no sense. He would consider the subroutine an virus of some kind, expect that Dr Kessler was very firm about him keeping it.

Val started making her own tea. She was grateful for Andre's efforts but she had her own rituals that she just needed to do herself. And she always had some weird things she put in her own drinks that never quite smelled right.

"Some call me 'psychic', yeah."

She looked Skip up and down.

"I can see why you need that. You have ghosts on you."

She casually took a sip of tea and looked away. As if what she had just said made a lick of sense.

Andre is grinning widely as he gets news that the packages arrived. It wasn't likely EVERYTHING on his list was here or even half. They had priority on larceny sad as that was.

"Presents!" He cried out, "I'll only open my own today but in 30 hours I start opening anything left in there." that's said he moved out of the room. They would have to shut stuff down in a few hours at best. That would likely be well served with the tools that were no doubt in his shipment. It was tools or supplies. That was all he asked for.

In reply to Valerys Corvo (msg # 41):

Skip gives a nod of appreciation after sipping from his cup if coffee.  Looking at Val, the usually slit-pupils of his more round in the lowered ambient lighting of the mess, he gives a small smile.  That actually would not be surprising, considering the amount of death I've seen.  I'd like to gear about these ghosts sometime.
He takes another sip of coffee.  Look, I know how hard it can be to get a little peace, some ti.e away from what you're sensing and seeing.  If you want, you can come by and hang out in my room for awhile.  The Skipper found me a Weapons Training Simulator that's actually pretty good.  The Weapon Simulacrum can be reconfigured for different weapon types.

Val raised an eyebrow.

"If you want to hear ghosts, just stop listening to everything else."

Val narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the invitation to Skip's room. Gill had made similar offers.

"Uh, no thanks."

She tries to end the conversation by simply walking away. In her hurry, she didn't even notice Archie as she bumped into him and spilt some of her tea.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to--"

---

@R-Ch1 (Optional): Dex save DC10.

• Success: Catch the tea before it spills.
• Failure: 1 point of water damage and tea spills on you.
• Don't Roll: She spills her tea on the floor.

Catching Val's sudden shift, he tries to say, Not like th...., but her hasty exit causes him to trail off.  He shakes his head and gives a sigh of resignation as he moves back to seat a bit further away from hers.  He realizes that he is not the most socially adept individual.

As the briefing ended and the crew began to filter out Osram got to his feet.

Seeing a particular exchange he couldn't help but grin toothfully and chuckle after it was all over.  "Persistence is the key yeah?"  He commented to Skip while giving him a friendly and feather light buck up punch on the shoulder before he moved to get himself a cup of what Andre had brewed.

In reply to Valerys Corvo (msg # 44):

Every movement Archie made was computer controlled. Granted his body moved much slower then speed of his calculations, however he had learned very precise control as a result. His hand shot out and he caught the cup, careful not to spill a drop.

"Please excuse me for causing a disruption, Crewmate Corvo." He carefully hands her the tea, making sure its stable. Then he tries to smile, politely. He thinks he gets it right. He had practiced for hours via 3D rendering.

You feel proud of yourself. The subroutine chimes in. Archie thinks the program may be accurate this time. He does feel irradiation at its constant meddling.

Ooc-18:30, Today: R-Chi1 rolled 13 using 1d20+5.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:39, Fri 18 Aug 2023.

Gill stood, hat in hand, "Well it's been fun. I gotta go see a guy about a gun and some new armor. Don't...break anything while I'm gone." He left to get his care package.

Val takes the tea cup a bit impressed.

"Oh nice catch. Thanks...uh 'Arch One' was it?"

She begins stepping sideways to move closer to the exit.

"You're the one that keeps emailing me about a séance for a doctor...Kesser or something?"

In reply to Osram (msg # 46):

The former Marine sighs again and turns to the mining cyborg.  Yeah, you think the same thing she did.  And that just isn't it.  He shakes his head.  I'm an Empath, she's a Medium.  I just thought I though that, since we have something in common, it would be good if we could be friends.
He turns to look at the Amazonian woman as she speaks to R-Chi1, then turns back to Osram, and gives a small shrug.  I don't think I'd be averse to something more, but I tend to prefer professionals for that sort of thing.  They tend to avoid emotional involvement.
He pauses and looks thoughtfully at Osram.  Hey, you look like you were a Belt miner.  I'm from Wayward Station.

NOD made a final announcement to the mess before going back to its regular duties.

"Your supplies are in the cargo bay. I'll be available at my usual station for checking off requisitions."

In reply to Valerys Corvo (msg # 49):

"Most people call me Archie." Not entirely true, his creator called him that. Gill called him 'R', but he had yet to correct him.

"Yes, I have emailed you twice about it. Please feel free to inform me when my asking breaches protocol. I dont wish to be annoying, but I have been told I have that effect on people." That was true.

Edwin had smiled and nodded to Archie as he came over and asked about them organizing their research. He was pretty sure it just another of Gills strange attempts at humor…….. maybe. Otherwise it would be sorta scary if he was actually trying to coordinate a team effort.

He was about to respond but things had got busy and noisy. At a brief break in Archie and Val’s conversation he spoke. ”When you’re ready Arch we will look into that research. Take your time though, I’m going to go to cargo and retrieve my shipment.”

He smiled to the two, ”Now if you two will excuse me I’ll be going. If either of you need anything I’ll be somewhere on the ship. Mostly avoiding Gill.”

Osram held his coffee cup in one hand, the mug looking like something from a child's tea party set when cradled in his large metal paw.  As skip explained his motives the other man nodded, then got a questioning look.  "Would have figured someone like you'd have a leg up, getting the right reaction out of folks rather than what just happened."  Smiling again, Osram took a sip of his drink and shrugged.  "But maybe that's just in vids, yeah?"

On the subject of former occupations Osram grinned and nodded.  "Born and raised in the belt colonies.  Seen so many dead rocks and prefab outpost modules that I couldn't even say how many.  Never been no where else, but hope to some day."  He offered in response to Skip's astute observation.  "I been through Wayward a couple times.  Fun place to turn a solar cycle's worth of hard earned pay into a week or two of hazy memories, that are probably better left that way.  Must've been a bit a hell to grow up there though if you didn't get out early."

In reply to R-Chi1 (msg # 52):

"Ah okay. Archie."

Val examines him. She seems confused.

"No no, it's not that it's...I don't know...I just don't get why a robot would want to talk to ghosts is all. Is this a prank Gill put you up to or are you actually...a believer?"

She looks at ed and flashes him a smile.

"Oh sorry, Edwin. Didn't mean to interrupt."

She scratched shifted her hair to the side. It's one of the first time she's shown anyone on this crew this much time of day.

---

If you're untrained in Mysticism, a Wisdom check DC10 is necessary to know this. If trained in mysticism you automatically know she's talking about belief in the supernatural. Literally any faith, religion, spirituality, etc. would qualify as "believer" of some kind.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:48, Sat 19 Aug 2023.

In reply to Edwin Arlo Park (msg # 53):

The monitor nearest Edwin flips on and NOD's 3D avatar appears holographically by him.

"Well, Gill's in the cargo bay. So if you're going to pick up your supplies I'm afraid he's already waiting for you. Just a heads up."

Lance walks towards Jak with a smile on his face.

"Mr. Jakova. A word in private please. Walk with me to my office."

Slinking about the perimeter of the messhall, Jak had started to glide into step behind Skip, when he spots the Captain walking towards him. Looking up, with both his hands wrapped around his mug...possessively, he gives a questioning look.

When Jehnko smiles and asks him for a few moments, Jak's heart thudded in his chest. His face briefly froze, as did the rest of his body...What?!??!?...What did I do...Oh God...I did something wrong...I...I...then, his face realigned, that second of fear passed. His mind started to race in another direction, this one mapping out the best routes, what patterns to run, where to go and where to hide...a place to regroup and plan.

On the outside, He looks at Jehnko, smiles and replies, "As you wish Captain," steps to the side and motions for him to lead.

===>Captain's Quarters/Office

In reply to Valerys Corvo (msg # 55):

"I...am technically not a robot. I am an android, a machine designed to mimic human life. I also know that my knowledge is finite, and therefore it is possible there is a 'soul' for humans, even if the scientific evidence for such is lacking."


He paused as his subroutine kicked in. You are very sad. He tried to ignore it.

"I am very fortunate in all the solar system to meet someone like you. The odds are literally billions to one.

Dr Kessler is the only person that can help me, and you are my only chance at speaking to her beyond mere data recordings. She is...was...a true genius beyond her time."


You are very, very sad.

Archie marveled at how close he was getting to feeling angry at it. Maybe this is how it was supposed to function?

In reply to R-Chi1 (msg # 59):

Val looks Archie up and down. She was confused and concerned at the same time.

"Oh. I guess I didn't know the difference. Are...are you...sad?"

---

Archie can attempt any Charisma-based skill check to make an impression on Val. DC13 to affect her.

• Critical Success: Val becomes friendly AND grants your request.
• Success: Val becomes friendly OR grants your request.
• Failure: Val denies your request.
• Critical Failure: Val becomes unfriendly.
• No check: Val will need to think about.

In reply to Valerys Corvo (msg # 60):

Archie blinked at her, and looked surprised.

"Yes. Yes I am. How did you know?"

He actually seems genuine in his question, rather than sarcastic. Not that Archie has ever been sarcastic.

Ooc-08:32, Today: R-Chi1 rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  Charisma check.

Val becomes friendly.

This message was last edited by the player at 15:25, Sat 19 Aug 2023.