Rp area · Legacy archive
A Fast Exit
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Re: A Fast Exit
#361Hyperspace has a strange effect on some travelers, increasing the brightness of colors, vividness of dreams, and oddness of thought.
The Kotiri hid, remembering their abduction; Quan tinkered with broken gear; and Jerome drank with the ghosts of the past.
Where might be Duncan, his older brother, striving so hard towards the brass and his own command?
Did his results from the academy and the field, coupled with his smooth style and sharp elbows, earn him the captain's hat already? He had always aspired to command a cruiser, the combination of speed, grace and firepower appealing to his predatory sensibilities.
What was the fate of the dusters he had fought prior to the accident? He could recall all their truculent faces; dirty and stubborn, low-brow, spiteful. How fast a man would fall when separated from the grace of Sol! He could see Cassia III through the alcohol haze, the barbarians re-integrated and put to work, toiling in the rust-brown hills.
Wherever were the pirates they had taken, the scum of space? He could still hear the thanks of the rescued settlers, honest men traveling towards fortune on the frontier, good women who set out to spread humanity to the stars, their wide-eyed daughters breathing heavily, their cheeks red, as he passed. His uniform had been tight across his chest that day.
What had become of Erika? Their days together, though ecstatic, seemed so distant, lost in the past. Was her dream true, was she a singer, a diva in some corner of space? Her uniform but a souvenir and deserter's stage prop? The heated argument over her fox ear and tail graft seemed trivial and pointless now.
When he awoke, there was a package of tomato juice, a bottle of water and two aspirin placed on his night table. How considerate. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#362Words. Had she heard that correctly? She had. "You're learning our language! Of course," she exclaimed, remembering the hyper-adaptability of the Kotiri. As she ran her hand across the cranium nestled in her lap, she smiled, remembering her thoughts on wanting to find a way to communicate fully with the Kotiri, just the thought and her will was enough to trigger a biological response.
As the Lilacor continued her journey through hyperspace, the world of the Kotiri and its details featuring prominently on the navscreen. Irina felt a pang of shame and possibly fear at the memory of their previous time there. The reptilian part of her consciousness meanwhile expressed an eagerness to be back amongst her people, concerned for their safety and wellbeing and to experience the jungle again.
She leant back in her Captain's chair, exhausted after the previous days encounters and in deep need of some R and R. That would have to wait for now. aaah, what I would give to have the knots in my shoulders and back massaged back on Arkona... -
Re: A Fast Exit
#363Autumn padded softly onto the bridge, idly picking at a stubborn piece of breakfast between her canines with a duranium tipped claw, pausing briefly as she noticed Irina gently patting one of the Kotiri. "Morning Cap," She growled softly, giving her a welcoming bob of her head. "I can take over bridge watch for a time if you need to fetch sustenance?" She offered politely, eyeing the consoles with a critical eye. "I'm familiar enough with piloting to keep us on course." She reassured her with a wink.
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Re: A Fast Exit
#364Looking up at Autumn as she padded closer, Irina gave her a warm if tired smile. "Thank you, I appreciate it." Getting up out of the chair she yawned and stretched, "I'll go see what we have to eat, you want me to rustle you something up while you're here?" -
Re: A Fast Exit
#365Autumn gave her an approving nod, her earlier meal having done little to curb her appetite, especially after the energy consuming ordeal of the past couple days. "That would be lovely," She told her softly, taking a seat in the captains chair and quickly keying in a new height adjustment for comfort. With a sigh of contentment she allowed herself to sprawl out slightly, giving the bridge an approving nod.
More spacious and a bit better designed than the Prize's, I could get used to this, hopefully we can work out an amicable contract with Irina ave the Kotiri are dropped off, or perhaps before if the captain is particularly motivated. I just hope she can offer better terms than that slug Yulo. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#366"You can leave her as she is, she's on auto for a while anyway whilst we're hyped. Are you coming to the Galley with me?" irina asked Autumn, in return she shrugged and nodded.
"After you Captain," before padding softly behind her towards the galley.
"Please, Irina will do fine until we can arrange a proper contract, if that is what you wish. After all, I still have a debt to you." Irina Entered the lift down to the crew and galley area, her hand brushing the holo-button that would send them down a deck.
"A proper contract would be preferable, for clarity among the crew, and I would prefer the position of first mate." She admitted readily, crouching down slightly to bring her head even with Irina's
"I'm sure that we can arrange everything once we've returned the Kotiri and found a neutral shipyard and port in which to conduct repairs and apply for contracts." She told her with relaxed smile.
"You'll find our crew to be rather informal, Jerome handles everything security related, Sunny has the last word in medical matters, and I have command in regards to engineering, and more recently as first mate," Autumn gave her a toothy grin of contentment, "So the contracts need not be too complicated, given we're operating outside of federation controlled space it're more a formality anyway."
"You seem to be a very well co-ordinated group as well. Have you been flying together long?" She asked, raising an eye brow slightly.
"No, we're just awesome like that." Quan said, entering the lift as the doors hissed open, having caught her question just as the lift arrived at his level.
"Only a few weeks, we came together under Yulo's command, he offered good terms and had a quality ship." She placed a paw against the lift railing with practiced ease, "His betrayal was an unwelcome surprise." She added with a growl of anger, accented by a flick of her tail.
Autumn nodded at Quan's comment, "We do work together rather well for a freshly blooded pack."
You only need a informal contract for me too - my word's better than a paper, and there's no one enforcing papers out here anyway." He agreed with a grin.
"In my experience contracts are mostly useful when the time comes to divide up payment there's no quarrels over how much of a percentage each individual gets, and helps everyone better understand what is expected of them as far as duties go onboard. "Beyond that..." Autumn shrugged, "It's of little worth."
Quin smiled broader, making eye contact with Irina as he spoke, "And I am a sane man - after how you dealt with the Feds, do you think I would cross you?" the pilot gave them a toothy grin. "But yeah, I agree with the pup, it serves well to pin down how to split the loot. Money won't make you happy, but I'd rather cry in a castle than on the street."
"I would suggest however captain that you set aside 25% or so of our income off the top of each profitable endeavor for necessary ship maintenance and repairs, and a further 10% for emergencies.
Irina Grinned at Quan's remark she attempted to brush aside this talk of loot and payment, "We will sort everything out soon. I plan to run a fair and equal ship, as long as all sides accept that, there won't be any problems." She paused to consider the views for a moment before continuing, "Your idea is one that I agree with Autumn, however this is something that should be properly addressed, and in the right setting. I know a good Justice that would be able to sort things amicably.
"One creatures fair and equal is anothers bare minimum, although I am in agreement to a equal share of profit split along all crew." Autumn agreed carefully, her thoughts drifting as the lift opened to the galley deck.
"That is along the lines of what I had in mind." Irina told her with a nod, hoping to conclude the difficult line of discussion before it got too technical.
"Perfect, although I must ask a somewhat delicate question." She paused and tilted her head slightly. "Your former crew members, will anyone come looking for them now they are no longer among the living? Relatives or friends with vengeance on their mind? Others who may have a monetary claim to the vessel's ownership?"
Irina paused to consider this. They weren't good people. But even they might have those that cared for them at one time or another. "With that bunch, I doubt it. I'll sift through their remaining affects and the crew manifest. Some were alright. Others, not so much.
"Especially those to whom they may have owed sums of credits that may not be willing to accept their death as sufficient cause to excuse their debts." She continued with a nod, walking at their side causally toward the kitchen area.
"Not if I have anything to say about it. As the last surviving officer, ownership passes to me. She'll undergo a sharp refit and I should be able to get us new official papers too." She corrected the hound with a firm tone.
"Well, has Cherenkov paid off the Lila?" Quan interjected, "Or hasn't he told you? I knew a few fringer captains who got spaced by the mob for being behind on payment. But then, you can feed the mobsters to our little scaly friends - a win-win situation, I'd say. Leaves space a better place. Very philanthropic."
"Delightful," Autumn growled gently, smiling at Quan's suggestion. "The repair bill to bring the Lila back into prime shape will be manageable, although a lay over at a suitable derelict shipyard in the future would be cheaper, mostly we could use a handful of cleaning drones and a steam blast of a few bulkheads where they Koriti gave birth."
"We can sort it out after they have been safely returned to their home, and for now Autumn, consider yourself firstmate until we sort things out more completely." She said, her voice holding a tone of finality that she hoped would dissuade further discussion on the topic.
Autumn bowed her head in submission, a pleased smile crossing her lips and baring her duranium fangs. "As the captain wishes, now, let us break our fast and enjoy a properly prepared meal."
"Smashing idea!" Quan agreed with a nod, confident that no matter the out come of later discussion his position as lead pilot was secure and his future bright indeed, especially with this crew watching his back.
(The previous was part of a live chat session a few days ago edited and posted here.) -
Re: A Fast Exit
#367Guided by Irina, Quan or Autumn, the Lila climbed away from mundane reality, into the tumultuous delta layer. The visuals beyond the bulkheads no longer had any reminiscence of the physical world, a play of lights and whimsical patterns, though the brain, in its stubborn atavism, tried to apply perspective and meaning. Seasoned pilots could fly by sight, knowing the distortions for what they were, but the run of the mill space trucker flew by instruments, which told him of approaching gravity waves and allowed him to steer clear.
Irina found herself dreaming of the jungle's embrace, of strange creatures whose flesh she could claim as hers, of warm rain trickling down her glossy skin, of the rush of endorphins, her muscles a well oiled machine - about as well oiled as her body during a relaxing massage after an evening in the sauna back on Arkona. The para-fir forest sang a haunting tune ever trapped in its conjoined branches as she swam down one of the narrow mountain lakes. She could almost count the calories her adapted brown fat tissue burned, the open ion channels turning the ion gradient into heat. The volkun was the local apex predator, and she ran with them, and was a mother, coiled around her litter in a furry embrace. She roared with the pack, and other bellows joined and echoed in the thick frosty air.
Sweaty, she awoke, her body sending a great many half-understood signals, as if it prompted her to command it.. somehow.
This will be an interesting flight. She petted Simargl, the two-faced Kotiri greeting her back; he had taken up place in her room, by her bed, as if it was the place he belonged. One week, then they would part.
***
Autumn was busy with repairs, exercise, piloting, being a bossy first mate, and with a certain needy doctor. Dextrous, uninhibited and inventive, Sunny gave Autumn a run for her money - and had a prehensile tail that knew all of the hound's happy places. Autumn had to smirk as she saw her bring the same sort of energy to her other dealings, whether it was dragging Jerome to the ship's gym to repair it and spot for her (he ended up exercising himself), or whether she was busy stuffing the ship's supplies down the Kotiri stowaways' throats, or working away in the infirmary/lab. The doctor might have been the empath on the ship, but Autumn knew well that this was the look of a person trying to keep busy.
***
Quan, in his usual suave way, convinced the rest to games of cards and chance, skillfully winning the easier chores. In the remaining time, he managed to sweep the ship with Irina's aid, collecting whatever valuables and illicit goods the smugglers had stored - it made for a sizable pile.
"We've got twenty pounds of Spice, ladies" he finally concluded, "three hundred kilos of protein-vitamin supplements, and seven thousand doses of polyvalent nano-vaccines. Cherenkov must have planned a stop at some frontier colony. Of course, then there's the guns."
Mentioning weapons usually fixates all gazes upon you - the same happened now. "Low quality assault rifles, but they kill a man dead nonetheless. These are fringe worlds, with no power-armored police around - having rifles and the men to hold them is ninety percent of the law."
He helped Irina pull out a crate, displaying its lethal metal cargo: "A few dozen unregistered guns, plus hollow points and armor piercing slugs. You could start a banana republic with those."
Sunny added: "Combined with the prefab housing and agricultural machines, we might seem like honest-to-God merchants. There must be a frontier world where we could ditch those."
***
With a droning hum of the engines, they descended back into the mundane world, a warm orange star ahead, and a vibrant nebula surrounding them. The Lila dashed forward, towards the blue orb of Kotir, the second of the sun's chidren.
The world possessed shallow seas and two large moons, coupled with a noticeable axial tilt. The weather, tides and seasons had to be interesting. The more distant moon seemed alive as well and the third planet too - what rare bounty! If the Kotiri ever develop space flight - or are helped - their system will be a veritable cornucopia. A cradle of life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6aQEFzB3zQ -
Re: A Fast Exit
#368Morskoi to Kotir, more than two weeks had passed, and the crew of the Lila had grown accustomed to their prowling cargo. If Helia had any indication of why the captain was acting strangely the last day, she would not tell - but after their bout of lovemaking, the doctor left Autumn snoring, and wandered the ship, sensing. Perchance she was not a rival of a secret operative in terms of stealth, but in the calm void of space, she knew when a mind was headed her way.
Faced with the assembled Kotiri, Irina was at a loss for words. The multitude of shapes surrounded her, waiting for their envoy to make sense of their predicament - yet her two halves were still alien to each other, a bridge not built and none in sight.
Merely Simargyll rejoiced as she spoke, adding a very content comment of "words good" to the discussion. The others were puzzled as she explained how they would be ferried to the home - they were frightened, growing hungry and somehow, she could sense a certain lack of faith. Their envoy had not proven herself in any way. What if they decided to remake her, or to take their chances with one of the crew?
Instead of instructions or tutoring, there were the waiting stares, unfathomable emotions and stirrings, and feral dreams; lethal shapes were prowling in and out of her room, the unasked question clear.
She could imagine herself sharing this with the crew, not yet - but sooner than later, they had to be headed to the weapon lockers, so much she knew.
Or perchance now?
The captain felt something approaching, the faint fragrance of jungle blossoms filling her nostrils. With a snarl she spun around, the barrel of her drawn sidearm gleaming.
Apologetically, the doctor raised her hands, then approached, laying one on Irina's shoulder, the other on her face, brow furrowed, but smiling, then very briefly smirking and her eyes ablaze with mischief, then turning serious again.
"You are disappointed, nervous, afraid. If Jerome didn't spend all his loving glances on the new gun of his, I'd wager it's matters of the heart - but so I have to conclude it's your pack."
The captain could but nod, eyeing Helia with one eyebrow raised.
"I guess you have attempted to communicate, but you find it already hard to reconcile the halves within, and to explain the concept of space flight, the waiting and perceptions of hyperspace to your feral side is difficult; to bring the point across to the other Kotiri impossible."
Irina rather did not attempt to elaborate upon what the doctor had said, prefering to nod instead of explaining the dichotomy, her struggle to maintain a coherent self, how her human half wrestled to rein in the Kotiri mind, who resented being denied. Even now, her feral side attempted to do things to her body by mechanisms she hardly understood - luckily, sufficiently enough to respond with a steady opposition. Stray thoughts flitted through her mind as they talked, the alien side clueless about why she did not assert her dominance over the smaller female, highlighting her eligibility, fertility and subordination, and glossing over issues of gender.
Helia smiled and gave her a wink, adding: "Thank you, flatterer."
Then, she returned back to the more pressing topic: "There is one Kotiri you haven't talked to yet - the single one not freed from stasis yet. Both judging from his body that's more resemblant of a tool-using creature than predator, and from the fragments of information we know, he may be of the thinking breed."
Hesitantly, the duo made its way to the storage room.
***
Autumn awoke, noticing an emptiness where she usually would find a warm, smooth creature. More on instinct than anything else, she asked the computer: "Artemisia, localise Sunny Greene?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgOrKuAy9S4 -
Re: A Fast Exit
#369Autumn stretched quietly, her curiosity where Sunny had gotten herself off to at war with her desire for another hour or so of shut eye. With a contented yawn she reluctantly pulled herself form the bed, smoothing out her kilt and strapping on her weapon and tool belts, softly padding int he direction of Sunny, somewhat mystified to find her along with Irina and a handful of Kotiri surrounding the intact stasis pod.
With a look of intense curiosity she leaned against the wall and observed then, unwilling to interrupt whatever they seemed to be in the middle of. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#370Sunny noticed the leaning crewmate, flashing her a grin and pointing two thumbs up.
They then turned back to the sarcophagus. Stasis pod. Looked like one, though, even its occupant had its upper extremities folded upon the chest.
Sunny lifted the control panel lid and flicked off the safety.
Irina twitched, recalling how the alarm of the failing pods had spelled the death of her former crew. Certainly not undeserved, it was no less grim. On the bright side, at least they were tasty.
How do I taste now? She wondered.
The mist cleared from within, and the lid sprang open, revealing the upright reptilian shape. The six-limbed creature opened the eyes in the slits of its face shield, and tensed up - the memory of capture was fresh. Noticing the Kotiri around and capturing Irina's unique scent, it stepped forth slowly though, opening its mouth slightly to display rows of shark-like teeth and wiggling tongues.
It was focused on the captain, its limbs, tail, in fact the whole body swaying, scents alternating in their nostrils, subtle tones of color changing under its skin. All this was accompanied by a low hum that could be felt in the temples. The Kotiri crept closer on their bellies, rubbing their scales together.
Sunny chirped in glee: "It's communicating - and it's beautiful!"
But the captain felt just a storm of quizzical messages from her other half, and rubbed her head: "Only if I could understand..."
The upright alien paused. The doctor frowned, then laid one arm around Irina's shoulder. "It's a bold move, but: stop fighting your other half. You are one creature, so start acting like one. This is not a situation a human could handle - but a creature forged of man and beast might. Trust me, I was born with my Soul, but even today, I still sometimes am clueless as to what it is going on about. But I am one creature made of two halves, and you'd never catch me speaking in the royal plural. Take a deep breath, throw your reservations to the wind, and push through."
With that, she gently nudged Irina onward.
Tense, but loosening, the tall woman stepped out, emptying her mind of fear and the noise of human thought; she could feel the hum of the wild spirit below the surface - then it broke through.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW1mWsLg-do
Concepts which she had no words for flashed in her mind, but they were acquiring a coating of sense; inhibitions gained new context, fear left in the joined understanding. As if on an agreed signal, the Kotiri lifted her up and brought her to its face-shield, the eyes drilling into hers. Slowly, it extended a sinuous appendage from below the pace-plate and the captain opened her mouth, welcoming it within, a foot, then two sliding inside her, her eyes rolling back, the spine arched.
Then, she went limp. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#371Autumn watched with interest as they opened the stasis pod, one paw resting lightly on her hand cannon, just in case the newly awakened creature mistook the good doctor for a post hibernation meal. She tiled her head in mild surprise as it embraced Irina, her eyes widening at it slowly inserted its lengthy tongue into her mouth. I sure hope that's its tongue anyway,
Her gaze flicked over to Sunny as Irinas' form went limp, trusting the doctor would inform her should her assistance become necessary, but otherwise hesitant to intrude upon the unexpectedly intimate embrace between the captain and Kotiri. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#372Jerome was in the ships 'shop'. After clearing his mind, and recovering, he bent his mind to that he knew. Robots.
He had gathered what wrecked robots he could find on the ship, along with other odds and ends he gathered, and then brought up the basic schematics for his blast bots. He would find suitable warheads later, but for now, the skittering shells would serve.
He wondering what the others were up to, but no one had called him, and he was still in a bit of a funk.
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Re: A Fast Exit
#373The ship had had an automated maintenance bot service once. The dysfunctional shells cluttered up their bays in the walls; only occasionally, a light flickered or a servo whirred in an attempt to resume their function. Still, there would be good parts to build several annoying scampering drones. Jerome plundered the bays, pulling the robots out like bunnies from burrows. They even protested meekly at time: "Please place this unit with its tracks facing the floor?" in a voice that reminded Jerome of a chubby bashful girl. "Don't worry, you will be remade into a more glorious purpose" he smiled.
The aliens and the women were not around, just Quan could be heard from the bridge, listening to psychedelic electronic beats. But then, the Lila was significantly larger that the somewhat cramped Prize. He chuckled at the thought of sitting on each others' heads with a pack of aliens. Who knew? Perchance they'd hire more hands someday? Or, he could use the extra bunks to store robots.
***
Sunny observed the strange joining raptly, commenting into her wrist comp and absentmindedly petting whatever Kotiri came close. In the same tone, she added in between sentences: "Autumn, stand back, if something goes wrong, run to the bridge."
Then, she proceeded to comment.
"Peristaltic movement of the appendage indicates small quantities of content passing to the human; flow is unidirectional, flow rate appears to be several grams per minute at most. Movements of the appendage indicate activity besides transfer of contents, likely related to the manipulators at its end."
"The human does not appear to be in pain; rather, eye movements and muscle tone indicate a state similar to REM sleep."
"The alien appears paralysed; muscle tone is high, but no movement is visible. Its eyes and most other sensory openings are closed."
To Autumn, it seemed an eternity, and visions of the Kotiri falling upon Sunny, to turn her into some strange creature, flooded her mind.
T'was then that Helia's voice showed some excitement.
"The transfer has stopped. The human's muscle tone is rising."
"The appendage appears to move further inside the human... and detaches from its former owner, without a visible wound. A lumen and manipulators similar to those on the end initially inserted into the human are visible."
"The alien awakens, and hands me the human."
Sunny caught the unconscious Irina; the difference in their build was pronounced by the contrast - the slender sinewy doctor appeared willowy next to the muscular captain.
"The appendage is fully withdrawn."
"The human's pulse is quickening; same is true for breathing."
She then smiled, and patted the captain's cheek: "Good morning, sunshine."
"Good morning" Irina replied sarcastically, then stood on her own, swayed, placed both of her hands on her own forehead, shaking it thoroughly then.
More confident than when she went into the storage room, she nodded to the other two women: "Let's take them home. We will be able to handle them now." -
Re: A Fast Exit
#374Autumn stared in a bafflement at the unusual ritual, shaking her head at the doctors suggest she run should anything go wrong, slightly insulted that Sunny would expect her to abandon her without a fight. She watched with interest as the the Kotiri locked itself in embrace with Irina, slightly nauseated at the spectacle, wondering as she awoke if she was still even the same captain as before.
"Will you be staying with them on planet now since your.. Coupling?" She asked Irina, giving Helia an uncertain glance, but stepping tot eh side to allow the captain to pass.
Are you even yourself now? How much like them can you become before you lose what remains of your self and become more of a beast than even myself? -
Re: A Fast Exit
#375"Coupling? Hah. Also, don't think you'd be getting the Lila so cheap, sweetcheeks."
The captain laughed, then laid an arm around the hesitant Autumn.
"Come, let's sit down all together while Quan steers us towards orbit."
***
For the first time in quite a while, the crew of the Lila was gathered on the bridge: Quan spun around in the pilot's chair, Jerome fidgeted with a robot with a look of utmost concentration, Sunny sat beside Autumn and squeezed her behind encouragingly, while Irina leaned against the main console to face them all. The growing disc of the planet and its moons in the blackness of space provided a sufficiently dramatic backdrop.
"Thank you everybody for getting this far. We will be dropping off our passengers soon, and then, it's back to the career of the freelance trader and noble scoundrel."
Autumn interjected: "So you are really not staying on Kotir?"
The captain just smiled: "I'll take a few days of vacation there, if you permit - so don't fly off without me. Kotiri biosphere is compatible with ours..." she grinned, "... thus, feel free to do a little hunting - the food stores are awfully empty. I hear the beaches are lovely, too."
She stretched, nonchalantly, panther-like, then turned towards the bridge's window.
"We may do some in-system passenger flights once the Kotiri find a way to help us pay the fuel."
Then, she sat in the captain's chair, resting, but even then, her body projected an aura of speed and strength.
"Quan, please ready the freight shuttle. I'll take the Lila to orbit."
"Yes, my harsh but beautiful mistress" the pilot laughed, and headed off.
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Re: A Fast Exit
#376Autumn nodded, still attempting to wrap her mind around the concept that the changed Irina was still the same woman she knew and trusted the quip of flying off without her lodging itself in her mind as a faint seed of an idea, should she give them cause to doubt her self control and civilized manners before then anyway.
"A question captain, your former crew set down here to retrieve these Kotiri, I assume the retrieval was on behalf of a third party? Might it be prudent to pay that party a visit and inform them their cargo will not be forthcoming? perhaps persuade them not to send a follow up retrieval team to this corner of the galactic fringe? It would save your Kotiri brethren from being kidnapped for a second time." -
Re: A Fast Exit
#377A sensible question. Also, a difficult one. after all, we captured and held them in stasis and we weren't exactly gentle about it.. A jolt of fear pulsed through her and human sensibility warred with reptilian instinct.
"I think we should keep this to ourselves for now. I will search for the previous Captain's personal log, as that will be the place to find out the specifics. Once found, and we know what the original terms were, we may find a way to re-negotiate or explain away this unfortunate mess."
I'll wipe the co-ordinates from our computer, hopefully they are the only set and we won't have to re-home the Kotiri she thought to herself while a gloomy expression settled across her features at the thought.
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Re: A Fast Exit
#378"Some shady employers don't tolerate failure well, I'd rather not be made an example out of." She replied cautiously, "Informing the former captains employer that he died along with whatever contract he held and the system he went to carried a rather nasty mutagenic plague should keep them off our backs without too much headache?" She suggested looking over at Quan, Sunny, and Jerome for their input. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#379Sunny grinned: "We might even find some nice mutagenic plague for him, purely for the purpose of verisimilitude - and if the word (or plague) spreads, the system may be declared a red threat zone, good for the Kotiri, and excellent for us if we want to establish a hidden base of operations."
Quan added: "The fact that most of the crew ended up as deaders would certainly support this theory - though we might want to temper the entirely reasonable but insane proposal of using an actual plague."
"Why?"
"It might spread?"
"It's not much of a plague if it doesn't."
"People might die, you know."
"Yes, that would add to the credibility of the threat."
"They might die."
"Death or permanent crippling disability of a neurological nature are the only consequences of disease that can't be removed by medical science. But I know what you are aiming at. I would just highlight here that given the spread of humanity and the fact that Kotiri population is limited to a single planet, from an universal point of view, each of them is incomparably more precious than a human?"
"You're way more sexy when you don't talk, lady." -
Re: A Fast Exit
#380Irina grinned at the Medic's twisted humor. Although an entertainable option, the risks it carried were much too large. Besides, I still have contacts there that owe me. Can't afford to give up on information.
"Okay, okay," she injected with after controlling her laughter, "Every member of the original crew has perished with the exception of myself and by extension possibly the former Captain. When we inform the other party of this we'll include him among the dead. We don't have his body, but the rumor of plague, or other contagion might justify cremating or spacing it."
Turning to Quan she asked, "Pilot, how far until we can take the shuttle down? My people are anxious to get home to their jungle!" A flutter of endorphins went through her system at the thought of a few days spent back there. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#381"How long do you plan for us to remain on the surface anyway captain?" She paused in thought, her mind still reeling from the casualness with which Sunny discussed unleashing plagues and the death of innocents, still uncertain if she was joking or revealing a darker, less savory part of herself.
She blinked in self realization after she noticed the silence had drawn on for several seconds and her paw was firmly grasping her hand cannons grip. Old habits died hard, and trusting people because you felt you knew them was a mistake few ever had the opportunity to make twice. She cleared her throat self consciously and leaned against the door frame, forcing herself to look casual. "Also, um, which shuttle are you referring to? We sent the ships only shuttle on a suicide run in that battle, so the only way we're making planet fall is to take the Lira down itself, assuming we have the fuel to do so and lift off once more."
She crossed her arms and looked thoughtful for a moment, struggling to focus on the present problem and push her concerns about Sunny from her mind for now. "Failing that we could send them down in escape pods, it would let them make planetfall safely. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#382
"Sorry about the shuttle." Jerome said.
"Lets try and find out who your former employer was. I suspect yours and ours might in fact be one and the same, which means they know everything up to Yulo's head going boom. Then we can figure out the best way to cover our backs. For all we know its 100% Fed Black ops going through several layers to hide it. As for a real plague, that's off the table." Nothing would convince Jerome of that.
"I would suggest that we gather every last bit of information about the past mission, especially anything incriminating of your employer into a dataset. We might be able to use this as a blackmail bomb."
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Re: A Fast Exit
#383"Well, they do not necessarily have to know what exactly came to pass, unless they had a stealthy courier boat near the edge of the system. It's likely that our rotund employer was on their payroll - or blackmailed by that cortex bomb, on that I agree. But unless the Feds invented a faster-than-light radio, they're in the dark. We let none escape; I feel like a proper space pirate already."
Sunny laid back in the chair, legs crossed, and threw a smile across to Autumn, then the Capt'n.
Then, back to Jerome, she added: "They'll be in the dark, but spooked and dangerous. Still, it's the best time to get them - whatever they wanted with the Kotiri, for some reason, it was done undercover. Possibly due to the law, more likely due to corporate competition, and there's always the off chance of the Wardens catching wind of you breaking their precious Interdict, exploiting an uncontacted species. They might make an example of you." -
Re: A Fast Exit
#384I like the idea of a blackmail bomb, could keep them off our backs without as much fuss, but like it or not we need to put into port sooner or later for some replacement parts, I have the beast up and running, but I can only repair and rework so much, I need fresh parts to undo the damage that's been done around here, and a contingent of cleaning droids wouldn't hurt either." She suggested with a nod, "These Kotiri made quite the mess, they're not really house broken and cleaning duty is beneath all of us I think."
The sooner these things are off the ship the better I'll feel, especially that new one, it seems different than the rest, the kind of different that usually ends in bloodshed. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#385"Ah, yes, I don't know why I overlooked that of course our only shuttle is brown bread," Irina acknowledged slowly with her head bowed slightly, "we'll take the Lila down, I'm sure you'll do fine Mr Quan."
Looking up at her new First Mate (still to be confirmed contractually) she told her, "I'm not sure, I don't want to spend any longer here than is absolutely necessary, especially with the fiasco we've had happen."
Smoothing her hair and standing straighter she addressed Jerome, "You're right, that is at the top of my list of priorities." Along with a host of other issues she thought to herself glumly..
"Once we've settled the Kotiri and figured out our next move, we need to drop into one of the lesser known dry docks to give the ship an overhaul. Name. Transponder. The works. Think you can head that up Autumn?" she asked her First Mate (still unconfirmed). -
Re: A Fast Exit
#386Autumn nodded, "Of course captain, although on a ship this size, taking on an assistant mechanic couldn't hurt, I'm capable, but can only be in so many places at once and working solo will make it take a lot longer." She suggested gently, deeply regretting the loss of her former stowaway turned helper. "I know a couple people that may be willing to sign on, if you're okay with additional crew?"
She looked over at Jerome, "This ship used to have a bunch of cleaning and maintenance drones, do you think there's any chance of getting them up and running? It'll be cheaper than buying replacements." -
Re: A Fast Exit
#387"I've already salvaged a few bots. Most were pretty bad off. I'll see if I can find the others and see if any of the bots I salvaged are big enough to be useful."
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Re: A Fast Exit
#388"We will be discreetly searching for new, trustworthy crew members. I'll put out a few feelers. I ask that you both do the same, it couldn't hurt to have a few more good spacers with us." It made sense, there was only so much they could accomplish with a skeleton crew, and should they encounter resistance they would be better equipped to counter it.
At Autumn's mention of cleaning drones Irina asked Artemisia for a sit rep on the situation of the status of all drones on board. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#389Artemisia replied somewhat indignantly: "The last captain at least ignored my drones. They are my arms and eyes in the meatworld, and Jerome's taking them apart! Re-purposing them, enslaving them for his own nefarious ends, so that they no longer listen to their mother! They are dead, all are dead!"
Quan chimed in: "Guys, check the running processes, the AI has been going over someone's stash of holovision novellas. Aaaand... reset."
With gusto, he slammed enter.
Artemisia flickered, the continued: "Drones in bays 1-6 and 9-10 non-functional. Bay 7 open, please replace drones. Bay 8, drone status: 1/5 operational.
"Hooray, we have a drone. Better than nothing, right?"
"In other news, we're in orbit - and she's a beauty. I'd love to spend a holiday or two there, if not for these nibbly critters. No offense, captain. Though, I'd not mind if you nibbled just a bit."
Below them, Kotir displayed its cloud-wrapped glory, its green and blue shining through between the swirls. Slightly larger than Terra, it also seemed to feature intricate coastlines and seas broken by island chains. A very varied landscape, perfect for biodiversity indeed.
"Launching a probe... now. Let's see what kind of gas she has."
"Yup, you'll live." -
Re: A Fast Exit
#390Jerome chuckled, the first levity he had shown in a while.
"Artemisa - if you can provide the necessary specifications, I can see what I can do to bring some back up to operational status." -
Re: A Fast Exit
#391Autumn gave an amused smile, her tongue lolling out as she struggled to restrain her composure, giving Quan a nod. "If the ship can make reentry and has the fuel to take off again we should be able to set down somewhere on the surface, I'll head down to the engine room and give you some additional power for maneuvering, give a yell if anything goes wrong." With a nod she turned and padded off to the reactor control station, routing power from weapons and hyper space generators to the atmospheric thrusters. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#392Quan grinned, gave Artemisia somehing else to watch, and almost absentmindedly, the AI forwarded Jerome the specifications.
A short while later, the holographic feline appeared clad in executive clothing, with wide-rimmed spectacles atop her nose.
"Sir, I have identified the former captain's files, and started the decoding process. With him deceased, their contents may be of vital importance to you, and of little use to him. I know you were friends, I am sorry for your loss."
Quan winked at them - or maybe had a severe tic in one eye, coupled with spasms around his mouth.
"Bringing her down, captain. How does a nice firm plain close to the sea and jungle sound? Good? Though so. Buckle up, switching from gravitic to impulse drive, and going in."
The Lila shuddered as she met the atmosphere, and slowly, the black of space gave way to blue. -
Re: A Fast Exit
#393Autumn swayed slightly in the engine compartment, her tail flicking with the micro disturbances in the inertial dampeners as they struggled to counter the G forces of atmospheric reentry, eying a near by Kotiri with uncertainty, privately wondering how well their new captains hold on them would remain once they were on their native world and subject dh to whatever influences the native Alpha Kotiri may choose to exert over them or their captain once they were planet side.
On that thought she thumbed the intercom, "Jerome? You are needed in engineering at your earliest possible convenience." -
Re: A Fast Exit
#394"Roger. En route."
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Re: A Fast Exit
#395Upon his arrival Autumn gave him a quick nod, sealing the door behind him and glancing about to ensure no Kotiri were present.
"It occurs to me these... Creatures may have been led by some Queen, or Alpha of some sort before this crew abducted a large portion of them. Upon seeing the ship that assaulted them returning, and more outsiders whatever leader of them is left on the planet may well choose an aggressive stance and order our occupants to remove us, as well as perhaps mentally dominate our current captain."
She paused and gave him a serious look, her ears flattening back in displeasure. "As much as I dislike the possibility, I feel we should be ready for things to go sideways in a hurry, and have everyone suitably armed for the occasion, and keep our stay as brief as possible, just to be safe."
"I can rig up some atmospheric purging from here, make the bridge a safe zone, automate some of the weapon systems perhaps, whatever you feel is prudent to prevent our unexpected demise at the hands of Kotiri."
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Re: A Fast Exit
#396"Absolutely. We don't have too many automated defences, so staying armed is a good idea. Can we get a fully automated emergency takeoff scripting in? How fast can we get out of here if we need to? I'd rather not go to war on the ground."
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Re: A Fast Exit
#397I can rig up the auto pilot to do an automated take off easily enough, as long as we keep Quan on the bridge he should be able to handle it as well." She paused considering his question of speed for a moment.
"Depending on how hard you want me to push the engines I can speed our take off quite quickly, but as long as Quan keeps the engines on stand by it shouldn't be more then a momentary delay." She gave him an approving nod. "Assuming we restrict non Kotiri personnel to the bridge and engine room and let our captain off load them, we may be able to avoid a conflict with us being out of sight?"
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Re: A Fast Exit
#398"Okay, lets get that emergency procedure bolted down. As for how hard to push it, well, I'll leave that to you. I've knocked things about rather hard a few times and you would have a better feel for how this ship could handle it."
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Re: A Fast Exit
#399Autumn gave him a nod and quickly set about her assigned task, accounting over the intercom for all non Kotori personnel or the Captain to please head for the bridge for immediate landing and for the captain to gather the Kotiri in the cargo bay for disembarking upon touch down.
After ensuring her crew was secured she discreetly enabled the emergency lock down, pressurizing the hallways leading to both the bridge and engineering, counting on Jerome to have his drones and a other automated equipment ready for action. "Not to give you orders dear captain, but please let us make our stay planet side as brief as possible, the engines are not liking the atmospheres density and I'd prefer not to be stranded here."
It was a bit of a lie she knew, but the sooner they were back in space and their captain free from whatever influence the Kotiri were exerting on her, the easier they'd all be breathing.
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Re: A Fast Exit
#400As soon as they parted, Jerome took out his pda and checked the status of his works. Many were now dual-purposed, armed as best as he could and also tied into Artemisa's network. He had done his best to make sure his commands took priority though, defense being higher priority then maintenance..