Stars Without Number - greystar-musheera-exploration

Nekosmash 04-Jun-20 06:24 AM

(Its 7 days to Maitena, and there is not much interesting in GS space up to that point) (edited)

(Im not sure who ended up deciding to go in all the back and forth)

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 07:22 AM

Svenka has the Wings prepped and ready for departure, 2 fresh in-box Assault Suits with Greystar colouring and matching flop rifles in the hold. The rear ramp is down and she is waiting for the arrival of August and Natalia, going over her latest findings and running numbers on some efficiency increases to her suit.

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 07:38 AM

After a few minutes spent trying to route through the starhab without taking any of the main thoroughfares, just a hair ahead of the intended meeting time, Natalia made her way towards the ramp. You can do this. You can do this. You can do this. Sure she was going to make a fool of herself. Sure they'd probably lose what little respect they had for her. But there was no passing this up. Natalia took a deep breath to beat the nerves back, and forced her steps through the last little way to the ramp. "Agent Vilnovha?" asked a small voice. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 07:45 AM

“Svenka is fine. Are you ok, you look nervous? From what I had read you have a lot of experience in space flight. Anything bothering you?” She stands at the foot of the ramp, Greystar jumpsuit on, looking somewhat relaxed.

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 07:50 AM

The girl in front of her looked a bit smaller than she did on the video feed. Thinner, too, almost concerningly so without the bulk of the cloak to break up her silhouette. Natalia had recovered enough to work, but "enough to work" and "back to normal" were very different things. The Greystar jumpsuit hung off of her a little, and she had a duffel bag under each arm. "N-no, nothing bothering me." A tiny pause. Best to just be out with it. They'd be stuck together long enough, she figured. "Not used to, ah, people. Face-to-face." A heartbeat's pause, and she added, "It won't be a problem." The assertive intensity from back in the meeting was nowhere to be found in her voice or manner. Just quiet nervousness, eyes not quite willing to look at Svenka properly and grip tight on the straps of her bags. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 08:25 AM

She nods. “You want a job on-board or you want to be a passenger, Natalia?”

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 08:27 AM

She adjusted one of the bags on her shoulder, pushing down the urge to just be a passenger and lock herself in a room for the trip. Couldn't waste the opportunity like that. "Put me to work wherever y-you need me." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 08:50 AM

“First impressions are key, Natalia. Luckily this is not my first impression of you.” She smiles “I learned from an early age to know when and how to fake something. Not lie, but put on a mask and project that. Sometimes to the point that you believe it. You are a capable woman, this much I can tell from your file and from the person I saw on the feed to our meeting. You are welcome to travel as passenger or as crew. I don’t need you to do either, this is a question and not an order. I know you have some experience piloting, so if you like, you can take a position on the bridge. You could also help with maintenance or could take the time to brush up on reading or relax. You decide, take a breath and then answer again.” She smiles, a stern kindness in her eyes. (edited)

Nekosmash 04-Jun-20 08:51 AM

(and then we have august coming eventually as your pilot, but i know hes working too irl)

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 08:52 AM

(Edited)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 08:53 AM

August is standing a short ways away, speaking with the commander of the Sokol and the Lancer pilot assigned to the corvette. They’re in good spirits. August glances at Svenka and Natalia, waiting for their conversation to end before joining.

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 08:57 AM

“Sorry.” There was an edge of frustration in her voice. Not like she wasn't well, well aware of how much the nerves hobbled her, or about how to "fake something." Hated being this way, just... couldn't get past the nerves. She took a small breath, tried to think calm and confident thoughts, and made an effort to not feel as patronized as she felt. “Maintenance, then,” she managed in a deliberate, slightly strained tone. No stuttering, at least.

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 08:59 AM

“No need to apologize. I’m kind of being a bitch. You are better than you give yourself credit for. Welcome aboard, don’t break my ship.” (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 09:28 AM

"Thank you." The tension in her chest racheted up a bit higher. Nerves were one thing, but pride? Pride was very much another. "And save the patronizing pep talks, if you would. I know what I'm good at," she added with a bitter little smile, still not quite able to make eye contact. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 09:33 AM

Svenka, despite herself lets out a laugh. “Oh this is going to be a great trip.”

2

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 09:39 AM

Now what's that supposed to mean?! Natalia nearly said something more, but caught herself. Don't sink your career for pride, dumbass. Another small breath, and Natalia managed a more tame, "Looking forward to it." She glanced back down the ramp, trying to see if she could pick out August from the crowd. Had to be here someplace, and she wanted to get moving quick as she could at this point.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 10:21 AM

August says goodbye to the Grey Fleet Officers and makes his way to the ramp, duffel slung over one shoulder and a gun case in his other hand. He’s dressed in a Grey Fleet work uniform, Suha Defence Forces patch and a pilot’s wings pin displayed on his chest. He smiles at the two, “Agents Vilnovha and Toivonen! I’m looking forward to our mission.” (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 10:28 AM

With the flaring temper (mostly) passed, Natalia's voice and manner were back to her nervous, quieter self. She took a little half-step back, unconsciously putting herself at the periphery of the little circle forming at the bottom of the ramp. Her eyes were down on the deck. "Hello. Natalia's fine." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 10:34 AM

“Svenka, welcome aboard. I understand you will be taking the helm?” She smiles, but there is a definite tension to the moment.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 10:36 AM

August nods in acknowledgement, “If you’ll have me. I realize she’s your ship, so I’m only here to offer my help in the Spike jump navigation. Whether or not you let me fly her is obviously your choice.”

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 10:45 AM

“I am happy to have you pilot her, just don’t break her.” She smiles “Natalia will be assisting with maintenance during the trip. We will all want to find some diversions to occupy ourselves during the long spikes as well.”

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 10:49 AM

Natalia tapped the side of one of her bags with two fingers. "Got plenty."

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 10:54 AM

“It’s not my first extended mission, I’ll find something to keep me occupied.”

“Hopefully this one is a little less exciting than my last,” he adds ruefully.

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 11:05 AM

“I could wake you both up with combat drones with flop rifles if you like? Oh no, now Ive ruined the surprise.” She says deadpan

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 11:10 AM

A reply came to mind, but stuck to her tongue when Natalia tried to actually voice it. Besides, she'd have tripped over the delivery anyway. In its place, she showed a ghost of a smile.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 11:11 AM

“Waking someone up with a Flop rifle seems to be self-defeating. But at least they’re basically built in snooze alarms.” He adjusts the duffel on his shoulder, “do you mind showing me where to stow my stuff?”

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 11:23 AM

“Pick a room, aft or starboard - the ones already occupied have a magnetic faceplate on them. Right this way.” She starts walking through the cargo hold. “Assault suits are over there, grabbed 2. They are unmodified and you will want to run them through the initial setup and customization. Flop rifles as well. Both yours to keep. It’s always good to have a non-lethal solution.”

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 11:30 AM

If anything made for an ego check, it was walking through someone's private ship and being casually pointed at where the assault suits were stored. The sheer wealth of it all was almost terrifying to think about. She followed behind in silence, casting her eyes about at all the little odds and ends. Maybe someday she'd have a boat like this. Probably not, but nice to dream.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 11:32 AM

“Thank you, I’m glad we have options. How long have you been with the Wings?”

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 12:25 PM

“Oh... some time now, it was given to me as part of an exploration push out of the UNW when I was with them. Made some modifications since then. She has seen a lot of use, certainly.” She gestures as they walk by engineering “Decent little reactor and designed to maximize spike with some efficiency modifications. Re-installed the added fuel tanks and scoop. Fully amphibious operation, although I haven’t had enough chance to really use it. You will have to see the bridge, a true explorer-view, it does limit the defences, but you can see everything with your naked eyes, not just sensors. I grew up on a seagoing vessel, so I like to see where I am going.” She gestures “Rooms are along either side, fairly roomy as far as a ship goes - mess is in the middle, my quarters up at the front along with the bridge and teleport room. It feels strange as hell, but it’s also pretty amazing.”

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 12:28 PM

"She's gorgeous," Natalia quietly said, more to herself than anything else. (edited)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 04-Jun-20 01:23 PM

(Also S'kolli never said bye from the last mission, so he's stowed away in the Wings too, somewhere.)

2

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 01:29 PM

(I did want to study that nanotechnology some more...)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 01:47 PM

(Guess we found our downtime activity. Hide and go seek skolli)

August is fascinated by the design differences between the Gudrun built ship and others he has served on. He keeps running his fingers along the bulkheads and spending way too much time looking at things like power conduits and outlets. “Shes really amazing. I’m used to ships built more from a template so being on something unique is exciting. Is she fast?”

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 01:54 PM

“Nothing special. She is nimble enough.” She shrugs “You will have lots of time to get to know her.”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 01:55 PM

“I can’t wait,” he says with a grin, “I’ll grab a starboard side room and head up to the bridge.” (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 01:57 PM

Natalia had a few questions as to what "nothing special" meant on a craft with a modified engine, but didn't voice them. "I'll... get on station. Will n-notify you when all's set." She adjusted the bag on her shoulder, eying the passage to the starboard rooms. Judging by the exterior view, already knew what she wanted - the one with the massive window.

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 02:03 PM

“Make yourselves at home and we can get underway in about an hour.” She gives a curt nod to the two of them and heads to ensure final checks are in place.

Reza Collins (Eisheru) 04-Jun-20 02:05 PM

(just as a final note for Neko, they are taking the Kestrel (Sokol w/e same ship diff name), the Wings, and the modified Trade Frigate mk2)

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 02:11 PM

Natalia hurried over to the room in question, slipping in and giving it a look around. “Oh wow, wasn't kidding.” This thing was roomier than most craft she'd had the pleasure to be on. Could actually get some good work done in here. Do her exercises without worrying about space, practice her ropework and shelter-building without taking up nine tenths of the room like she'd figured it would. Was shaping up to be a comfortable voyage. After taking a moment to put her few possessions away beneath the bunk, she found whatever localized climate control this little cabin had and toned the heaters down to something a bit more comfortable. Natalia rolled up the sleeves of her jumpsuit and got moving to her station, taking a moment to slap a magnetic nametag on the door on her way out. After taking a little bit to familiarize herself with the (frankly impressive) setup back in the engine room and drool over the tech, she radioed a brief, “All green here, ready when you are,” up to the bridge.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 02:12 PM

After situating himself in a smaller room, August went up to the bridge to wait for their go-ahead to launch.

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 02:45 PM

The bridge was an expansive affair, blast shields being retracted, revealing the fishbowl-like design with almost full visibility of the exterior. The pilot and copilot chairs suspended in the middle of the partial sphere. On the bridge were Svenka, a stern-looking woman with a collection of obvious cybernetic replacements, including a jutting neck implant, and what looked to be an automaton, manning comms. Svenka keys in a comm to Natalia “You don’t need to stay back there for launch, you have a station up here, engineer.” She looks at August and beckons over to the pilots seat.

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 02:50 PM

Ugh. All the controls she needed were back here, but fine. She'd much rather be back here with the humming nuclear belly of the beast. Much preferred its company to the crew's. But not much choice to be had - wasn't about to ignore the obvious "get your ass up here" behind the request. A minute or so later, Natalia entered the bridge with quick steps, eyes downcast as she beelined to her station and got settled. Didn't look upset, but definitely tense. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 02:58 PM

Svenka looks at Lena and shrugs

Lena - 1st Officer and sometimes Captain of Mokoshi’s Wings

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 03:17 PM

August spends some time adjusting the control positions to fit him better. Then gives Svenka the “OK” symbol. “Good to go on my end.”

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 03:18 PM

The automaton sits in the copilot seat and nods to August, ready, but not engaging with the controls. “Okay August, take us up.”

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 03:20 PM

With everything checking out as green on her end, Natalia relaxed as much as she could - ramrod straight in her chair with eyes boring into the displays. Hands off the panel, at least.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 03:23 PM

“Aye, cap. Up and out.” August opens the throttles, gently lifting Mokoshi’s Wings from the deck and out the bay into orbit around Acastus. He brings the ship into formation with the other two convoy members.

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 03:28 PM

“Well done. Prep the spike and coordinate with the other ships.” She smiles, this always felt good, natural. Maybe father would be proud.

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 03:32 PM

Natalia flipped the requisite switches and tuned the necessary dials to allocate the massive power divergence the spike drive needed to charge, working more on reflex than thought. Just like the other thousand thousand times she'd run through the process in company-owned craft and simulators, save for a bigger engine. "T-minus thirty to charge." (edited)

Nekosmash 04-Jun-20 04:13 PM

(Two days to leda first. Then we start pushing west)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 04:31 PM

“Next stop, Leda.” (I don’t have anything particular to do on the way)

Nekosmash 04-Jun-20 04:31 PM

(Anyone else what to use their downtime?)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 04:31 PM

(Well beyond adding to Connect)

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 04:35 PM

When not working her station and generally trying to keep things in order, Natalia spent many of her off-hours continuing her steady read-through of the miscellaneous manuals she'd brought along with, as well as practicing her ropework. (6/90 on Survive-0)

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 06:35 PM

(Wait... we can train up skills?)

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 06:35 PM

(...yes. 90 days, can take things from -1 to 0)

Nekosmash 04-Jun-20 06:38 PM

(Handout on Roll20 near the top )

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 06:46 PM

(I knew that, I was just making sure everyone else knew that. ~~I’ve wasted my life~~)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 04-Jun-20 07:31 PM

(So Leda to Jahnavi to Musheera?)

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jun-20 07:35 PM

(Maitena, but yes. Just got the names switched around)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 04-Jun-20 07:51 PM

(Don't feel too bad, the downtime changes are a fairly recent thing. A couple months) (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jun-20 11:34 PM

(Oh thank god - I was brutally kicking myself.)

(6/90 on Talk-0 - Cause why not?)

Nekosmash 05-Jun-20 05:45 AM

Leda, and Jahnavi are friendly space, and you have no trouble during your resupply mission there. Lower Heaven particularly finally has a steady flow of fuel, and it seems there is some development happening on the ground in the mountains south of Sangha City.

(2 days from Leda to Jahnavi, and then 3 days from there to Maitena)

Svenka Vilnovha 05-Jun-20 07:21 AM

Svenka continues reading “how to win friends and influence extraterrestrials” during the voyage (11/90 on Talk - 0)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 05-Jun-20 07:26 AM

August tries to organize a dinner with the Wings crew when he’s not on shift navigating the Spike jump. (+7 towards Connect)

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 07:46 AM

More knots. More manuals. Just keeping at it. (11/90 on Survive-0)

Nekosmash 05-Jun-20 07:46 AM

Scanners light up almost right away as you enter the system. Before you, a fleet is shrouded against an ion storm, and a planet so shrouded in nebula it is entirely black, seen only in flashes of solar lightning backlighting it. The fleet is massive, containing Slyth vessels as dark as the planet behind them. There are no lights on inside any of them, and there are no scanner returns as crews on them attempt to scan you. Everything remains inert, and very dead.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 05-Jun-20 07:51 AM

“Holy...” August throttles back to idle, not rushing into the graveyard.

Nekosmash 05-Jun-20 07:52 AM

(I need to clarify something in another thread before I go tooooo much further, but we can RP and all that too)

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 07:55 AM

Oh Christ. "Just sitting there," she said to nobody in particular, turning to try and catch the fleet's silhouette in the lightning-flashes. "For how many years? And nobody knew?" For the first time since boarding the Wings, a quiet, glass-bell laugh slipped out of her.

Svenka Vilnovha 05-Jun-20 08:08 AM

“Good call, August. Keep us back. Belobog, start scanning and keep the reports coming. Nat, let me know if anything looks wrong in our systems.” Svenka walks up to the pilot seats, getting a better look.

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 08:10 AM

Nat? Oh no. No no no. Not "Nat." That was just awful. But this wasn't a time to quibble over nicknames, either, considering the massive Slyth fleet sitting right in front of them. There were much, much more interesting things to concern herself with.

3

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 05-Jun-20 08:35 AM

“Fleet that big is going to throw a whole lot of noise into our sensors. We should take this slow, since I assume we’re going to find something shiny to take home.”

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 08:39 AM

"We better be," Natalia softly said to herself. Visions of what the best case scenario might look like wanted to run through her head, but she forced it out. No sense getting her hopes up about anything. "Maybe... skim around the outside edge, get a, ah, full count of t-the craft?" Am I even supposed to make those suggestions? Technically she's captain, but we're equals as agents, so...? Then again, she'd need to actually have some respect for Svenka to really care.

2

Svenka Vilnovha 05-Jun-20 08:53 AM

“We can hope to find something good, the question will be how we pull anything out of there. That looks like a definite ship-killing planet. It seems the two of you have this in hand. Feel free to jump on sensors if you want, Natalia.” Svenka pours herself a coffee from her thermos and sits back.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 05-Jun-20 08:53 AM

“There’s the fighter bay on the Sokol, Fred’ll probably be upset if we leave his Lancer here though.”

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 08:55 AM

"Well... can't say anything, ah, yet, but..." Natalia stood up, making her way over to the comms console to take over sensors. "We don't know why the, ah, the fleet is here. Or even if those s-ships are inoperable. Could... if we're lucky... get one running?"

As long as she was at it, Natalia started making the requisite scans and sweeps to see if there would be anything hazardous in approaching the fleet itself to worry about.

Nekosmash 05-Jun-20 09:00 AM

(The scans thing might return something so I gotta wait for clarification. Working on that)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 05-Jun-20 09:01 AM

(Sokol has a +2 for scans, not sure if we want an NPC rolling that as well once we hear back from Selgar)

Nekosmash 05-Jun-20 10:00 AM

A small ping in the frigate bay of the flagship, a large carrier, signals that the Hummingbird is docked there. It announces itself, and states that Selgar and a small crew of Slyth are looking through the wreck for more clues about the fleet, and Slyth history around the time of the great freeze

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 10:03 AM

Natalia noted the ping with a little smile. Figured they wouldn't be the only ones. "Ship contact, bay of the flagship. The Hummingbird, stating an archaeological interest in the site. Captain goes by Selgar." She rattled the data off, dry and direct. "Suppose that means it's safe to approach, too."

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 05-Jun-20 10:16 AM

“Do you know him?” August asks Svenka.

Svenka Vilnovha 05-Jun-20 11:20 AM

“I don’t believe so, no. I am sure we can work in some limited level of cooperation at best and avoid each other entirely at worst. We aren’t looking to squabble over scraps here. It would be beneficial if he could provide us with any detail on the hazards present. I have some experience with Slyth technology, although I would be loathe to call myself an expert, perhaps we can assist each other.” She looks to August and Natalia “Thoughts?”

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 11:24 AM

Natalia went through the hailing message one more time. "Given the c-crew has identified itself as Slyth, I... imagine they're more familiar than we." A pause, and the corners of her mouth twitched downward a bit. "But... I would advise leaving, ah, them alone. For now. Plenty of space here. Contact for cooperation if necessary, else the... m-metaphorical door stays shut." Another pause, and she shrugged. "Not... much experience hands-on with the, uh, tech. But I speak the language, and I'm p-pretty handy."

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 05-Jun-20 11:32 AM

"So where's the next biggest ship? And anything we can cram into a hold to look at on the long trip to Musheera?"

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 11:35 AM

"Still... haven't replied to the h-hail. No matter what we, ah, we do - should probably say something." Back to the scanners, Natalia started trying to pick out interesting craft from the fleet. Both to see what the largest ships aside from the supercarrier were, and to see what the smallest craft left freestanding were.

Nekosmash 05-Jun-20 11:35 AM

(were we actually wanting to hail them? I didnt get a chance to tag him)

(It didnt sound like we were resolved one way or the otheR)

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 11:35 AM

(haven't replied yet)

(still need to figure out if we're gonna :))

Nekosmash 05-Jun-20 11:44 AM

The carrier is the most intact of the larger ships. The cruisers and heavier displacement ships fared the long time in the void a lot worse than their smaller cousins, as their larger mass has them exposed to a greater amount of meteorite strikes and other cosmic debris showers

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 11:44 AM

(Any frigates in the mix, or fighters not in bays?)

Nekosmash 05-Jun-20 11:45 AM

Of the smaller craft, there are dozens of frigates, and merchant sized craft. A trio of towed system ship destroyers also round out the fleet

(a Destroyer is a system frigate optimized for ship to ship, its a special designation they can take from EoB)

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 11:47 AM

(coolio, thanks for the clarification :)) "Seeing... well, if we want to look at, ah, something intact... small craft are the best b-bet. Frigates, merchant craft." A pause. "Well. And whatever's in the carrier. But if we're leaving the Hummingbird alone... well, they're docked in it." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 05-Jun-20 11:52 AM

“Slyth... actual living Slyth...” She mutters to herself “Let them know we are here to investigate as well and can offer support if needed. It’s too bad they have the rights to the biggest prize.” She shrugs “Find an intact frigate and we can go take a look. Should be interesting for sure.” Just like old times, Dad.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 05-Jun-20 11:57 AM

"I do want to get a look at the carrier if we get a chance, but a frigate should be faascinating; too."

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 11:59 AM

Natalia took a small breath to center herself, and opened up a channel to the Hummingbird, and by extension, @Selgar (Mac) .

Greetings, Hummingbird, this is Mokoshi's Wings. We're in-system for investigative reasons, same as you. If you need support, don't hesitate to contact us. Else, we'll leave you be.

Crisp, clear, none of the stutters. So much easier over a microphone. "Well... no reason we can't poke through later. If anything - doubt they'll, ah, have the means to carry much out with them. Just one craft, and its small." She picked out a reasonably intact looking frigate near the fleet's edge and sent the position over to August's station. "How about, uh, that one?"

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 05-Jun-20 12:00 PM

"Sure thing," he kicks the thrusters on, spinning a lazy loop over to the designated frigate.

Selgar (Mac) 05-Jun-20 12:08 PM

After a moment a slightly distorted reply comes in, a soft-voiced male human speaks. "Good to have some company, we arrived not long ago to the fleet as you see it. Still very unclear what is going on, we docked on the flagship but there are no crew, no signs of battle. Ship is supplied as if in active service... Prior to the cataclysm." There's a short pause. "We're heading to the bridge to see if there are any records of what happened but so far it seems quite... Abnormal. Will echo back if we learn anything, be careful."

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 12:13 PM

Much appreciated, we'll keep you in the loop should we find anything concerning. Good luck to you.

Christ, this is strange. Exciting, all the same. Finally doing the job she'd always wanted. Or. Well. Something close to it. With communications settled and the ship en-route, Natalia settled in to wait out the transit.

Svenka Vilnovha 05-Jun-20 01:26 PM

“Please warn them to stay in their suits - there is the potential for a very nasty viral contaminant on-board. Same goes for us.”

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 01:28 PM

As requested, Natalia rattled off another message to the Hummingbird and her crew.

Be advised - there's a significant risk of these craft carrying a viral contaminant. Recommend proceeding in vacuum suits.

"Can't imagine anyone would be quite dumb enough to wander around a derelict without one anyway," she said to nobody in particular with a slight smile. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 05-Jun-20 01:32 PM

She glances to Lena for a moment. “Two things seem limitless, greed and stupidity. Especially in collaboration with each other. We are going to avoid either of those pitfalls.”

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 01:33 PM

"Mm, no argument there." Was a bit easier, as Natalia was beginning to realize, to speak clearly with people she'd been stuck in a can with for over a week. Stopped being quite so paralyzing to hear them, see them. Felt nice.

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 02:12 PM

(Was there anything else we wanted to handle first or are we just approaching the frigate at this point?)

Nekosmash 05-Jun-20 02:12 PM

(I just didn’t want to interrupt. We had a pretty steady flow going)

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 02:13 PM

(No worries, just wanted to be safe and check in with the other two before we could call things "ready to move on"

) (edited)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 05-Jun-20 02:18 PM

“Cap, you want us to dock or just park alongside?”

Svenka Vilnovha 05-Jun-20 02:25 PM

“Scan it, make sure we are safe - pay attention to the movement of the other ships, don’t want to get smacked off of it mid-search. Belobog, any option to teleport in?”

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 02:28 PM

As requested, Natalia went ahead and did the scanner work, running a sweep to get some sense as to the interior of the craft and whether or not the neighboring ships would be drifting their way. (edited)

Nekosmash 05-Jun-20 05:13 PM

It doesn’t seem like there’s a safe way to dock with the ship directly but parking next to it will keep you away from the tumbling junk and other storm tossed debris

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 05:17 PM

"Safe spot, over here," came a quick reply, indicating the safe side of the craft. "Wouldn't dock with her, but we can idle there." Wonder how far off she is from being up and running? There was a thought. A silly thought, but part of Natalia couldn't shake the idea. Get that thing running, and... somehow figure out a way to hold onto it. No chance, but still. A fun concept.

(Is teleportation an option here, with the pads?)

Nekosmash 05-Jun-20 05:44 PM

(No. Not into ships. Someone would have to be inside the target vessel with a homing beacon)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 05-Jun-20 05:45 PM

Mokoshi's Wings' maneuvering thrusters cough and burn as August finishes a slow orbit around the frigate. He pulls in as close as he's comfortable with and activates the station-keeping settings. "Well," he says, stretching, "time to get suited up."

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jun-20 06:14 PM

Natalia stood, flipping a few switches as she did to leave the sensors passively sweeping. "Been too long since last I got a, ah, a chance to EVA." Her eyes settled on the hulk looming through the window. "Never done it for something this interesting, though."

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jun-20 08:43 AM

Svenka puts her bespoke assault suit through its checklist, making sure all systems are nominal, checking her rifle and void drone “Not much experience with EVA, honestly. More deep sea. Keep tethered and keep in contact.” She steps in to the port airlock and preps to cycle and make the trip over with the other 2.

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 08:59 AM

Suit on, powered on, systems check. Hell of a lot more complicated than just sliding into a vacuum suit, but the protection was definitely comforting. Shame the servos in this thing are garbage. Why make a powered suit if it can't even carry its own weight? There'd be time to fix that later, though. For now, things to do. She slid a long-barreled plasma pistol borrowed from the armory into the suit's exterior holster, bolting the magnetic sheath for her monoknife on alongside. Briefly considered taking one of the (frankly gorgeous) shear rifles in the racks, but the idea of carting that thing around through tight ship corridors didn't really appeal. Lastly, gear bag over her back, strapped on tight. Into the airlock, she spooled out a length of tether, clipping one end to the suit's hip before passing the other to Svenka. “Deep sea? Doing what, wreck salvage?”

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jun-20 09:12 AM

“Yep, and surveying/mining. Still getting used to the lack of resistance in a vacuum.”

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 09:16 AM

"Mm, can only imagine." Hey look at you, having a conversation! The pride didn't last long, though. Mostly because she realized she was congratulating herself for acting roughly like a normal person for once. "Will probably be, ah, dealing with the opposite if it comes to it. Never... really spent any time underwater, lots with asteroids." Could feel a bit of anticipation already, standing in the lock. Natalia had really grown to miss zero-G.

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jun-20 09:21 AM

“The Wings is fully amphibious although I haven’t had much chance to make use of that. Last time was an emergency dive to avoid AA fire. Hope to go explore a water world sometime.”

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 09:24 AM

What little energy there was in her voice to begin with drained away. "Well, plenty to pick from."

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 06-Jun-20 09:46 AM

August catches up, spike thrower slung across his back. He gestures that he’s ready while looking at his suit’s read outs.

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jun-20 09:52 AM

Svenka nods and cycles the airlock.

Nekosmash 06-Jun-20 12:35 PM

(You’d be entering again the mid level stairwell area on the lower deck)

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 12:40 PM

A little smile spread over Natlia's face as they made the transfer across. Could feel the weight off her joints, the sensation of floating in her boots, the loss of resistance. So freeing, so light. Enough to make her forget the envy, for a little while.* God, I missed this. “So where to?” She asked over the comm. “Start up around the bridge and sweep back?”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 06-Jun-20 12:44 PM

"She's dead in space, could be worth seeing if we can get her heart beating again so we can access any terminals that might still be operational."

(August knows Slyth so hopefully that'll help navigating. Does Svenka?)

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 12:45 PM

(oh hey, I know it too :P)

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jun-20 12:47 PM

(I mean, doesn’t everyone know Slyth? Yes, she does)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 06-Jun-20 12:48 PM

(Oh sweet, didn't know Natalia had the time to learn it.)

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 12:48 PM

(Time, no - the mechanic for extra languages from high Know - speaks most things)

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jun-20 01:00 PM

“Okay, lets get in and get a picture of what we are dealing with. First order will be to make sure it’s safe, then we can see about getting power and figuring out our options. Sound good?”

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 01:01 PM

"Sounds good."

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 06-Jun-20 01:08 PM

"Sure thing," August unlings his weapon, holding it ready but to the side.

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 02:56 PM

Natalia similarly drew her thermal pistol, linking it into the induction plate on the assault suit's palm. Couldn't help a little smile at the sight of the little display on the back flicking from "5/5" to "∞." "Ready when you are." Oh, this is so much better than staring at rocks. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jun-20 05:44 PM

We do the thing

Nekosmash 06-Jun-20 06:19 PM

Pinned a message.

The forward 2/3 of the lower deck appears to be made of the bunk space for the enlisted crew and more well appointed nobility or officers cabins at the front. Often in slyth society the two classifications were one in the same. The bunks all seem like they were factory packaged and made before the ship was sent out here

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 06-Jun-20 06:22 PM

“This is bizarre, it’s like no one has lived or worked aboard it.” August is looking for any signs of wear on the ship.

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 06:25 PM

"Makes me wonder how it even got here." Maybe some kind of MES thing. Most inexplicable and terrifying things boil down to MES when you pry away enough layers. "All so... fresh." Sliding a survey scanner from her bag, Natalia started running sweeps for any kind of trace contaminant or other such thing that wouldn't be expected in a ship like this.

Nekosmash 06-Jun-20 06:58 PM

The entire ship is slightly irradiated at a level beyond normal background due to the time it has spent in the stellar storm here, but nothing out of the ordinary registers beyond that

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 07:00 PM

"No signs of a virus or other contaminant. Just a bit hot." Scanner away, weapon back in her hands. "If they're all like this... bet whatever's in the carrier's bays ought to be just about pristine. Shielded from the storm, meteors, all that."

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jun-20 07:02 PM

“And I am therefore insanely jealous of them getting here first! Shall we see to engineering and then the bridge? We certainly could split up - the two of you seeing to the bridge?”

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 07:07 PM

"Hey, plenty of carrier to go around. I'm sure we can work something out." Another slight smile. There just HAD to be something worthwhile in there... "And what, want those delicious Slyth engines all to yourself? I see how it is." A slight pause, and she blinked. Did she just... was that humor? Without a stutter? The heck?

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 06-Jun-20 07:25 PM

“Either way, I don’t think we’re getting much information from the bridge if we don’t have any power.” August starts talking under his breath about the Veles while looking around for some indication for the direction to the bridge.

He hefts his pack, spare parts and toolkit jangling against him, “I should be ok up there alone if you two want to look at the engines.” (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jun-20 08:31 PM

“What about the Veles?”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 06-Jun-20 08:33 PM

“Huh? Oh I was thinking out loud about whether we’d be able to run her out here and use her power plant to jumpstart some of these ships.” He tries to shrug but the movement is hampered by his suit, “I don’t know if the Wings or even the Sokol have the right kind of oomph to get them going.”

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jun-20 08:36 PM

"Maybe not an or situation. But both together? Likely could, if we're a bit creative." What're the odds these things have fuel in the tanks, come to think? She slowly started down the passage in the direction of the engine room, still talking over the comm as she went. "Though pristine as these things are? Might not even need it."

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jun-20 09:19 AM

(So that's Svenka and Nat going back into engine room to get things running, and August to the bridge to poke around? That right?)

Nekosmash 07-Jun-20 01:33 PM

(I am personally not sure on reading all this. Once we confirm we can go on)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 07-Jun-20 01:33 PM

(Fine by me!)

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jun-20 02:16 PM

(Split the party we shall - what could go wrong?)

Nekosmash 07-Jun-20 05:05 PM

Svenka and Natalia head to the engine room in the rear 1/3 of the lower deck. The doors are open, normally they would not be as the engine noise would be a severe annoyance for the other members of the ship crew. The room looks intact, a normal engineering space, both the system drives and the 3rd rate spike drive inside the vessel are installed correctly. Some of the seals still have factory shrink wrap on them with first time ignition instructions written in Slyth. Aboard the bridge, the systems are all on standby, though there is an extra console next to the pilot station, showing the "Jump Tether" to the main carrier ship is now disconnected.

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jun-20 05:18 PM

"Christ," Natalia muttered to herself. "This thing's... pristine." She crouched down next to the spike drive, reading over the miscellaneous labels and looking the system over. Seems... cheap. Weird. "Can't imagine there's many Slyth craft found this intact before. If ever."

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 07-Jun-20 05:52 PM

“It looks like it was slaved to the carrier at some point. Why would you build a fleet, and then leave it?” August looks to the engineering or helm stations for anything indicating an activation procedure.

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jun-20 07:40 PM

“Why indeed? This seems an odd place to park your ships. If they are all like this we have a legitimate ship goldmine to salvage.” Svenka looks over engineering as well, working to determine how to get things fired up.

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jun-20 07:43 PM

"Makes sense that it'd be slaved, I guess - the spike drive on this thing isn't... exactly great." Felt a bit weird to be saying that about Slyth tech, but even they had to have their budget limitations, Natalia supposed. "Doubt these craft can get very far on their own." After another moment or two of peeking through the tech, Natalia helped out with getting things properly started up. (edited)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 07-Jun-20 08:21 PM

“How old do you think this is? Early Slyth? Late Slyth?”

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jun-20 08:23 PM

“I would expect late, judging by how pristine it is. Hard to say as I am not a great scholar of the Slyth, just understand the language and how their ships work... mostly.”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 07-Jun-20 08:25 PM

“So let’s say it’s late Empire. You’re a Slyth, fighting a war that’ll end your empire as you know it. You need ships to fight it. But we know they lose most of their people to whatever scary-ass disease killed them off. Did we just find a metaphorical warehouse? They built these ships to fight a war that they never got around to manning?”

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jun-20 08:28 PM

"I'd also guess late, given the logistics. Doubt they'd cheap out on the drives like this if there wasn't some desperation making them pump out as many as they could as quick as they could, or big resource limitations." She glanced back at the flimsy little spike drive a moment. "Could well be you're right - this might just be a fleet they never had the bodies on hand to use. Or that their governments collapsed just after it was completed." (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 07:31 AM

(anything stopping us from kicking the engines/systems back on?)

Nekosmash 08-Jun-20 08:01 AM

(All we really did was speculate. We didn’t check or do anything)

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 08:07 AM

(Svenka already stated she was trying to work out how to switch things back on, with Nat helping. Got a bit buried.)

Nekosmash 08-Jun-20 08:29 AM

From the engine room, there are numbered panels that need to be switched on presumably in order since they are numbered. There are six in total, each bringing part of a system engine or spike core online. there is a bridge command that likely needs to go along with each stage , and August is up there now

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 09:43 AM

"August - or should I be saying Agent Braddock? Anyway, you should be seeing some controls on your end for the boot-up stages on the drive. What do you say we get this thing running?"

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 08-Jun-20 09:46 AM

"Lead on, Natalia." August situates himself to start entering commands.

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 09:50 AM

Could stand to hear people say that more often... Smiling to herself, Natalia prepared to operate some highly advanced, ancient Slyth tech. Pressing six buttons in order. Very complex. Very dangerous. "Seeing six stages on my end, just send the commands down from the bridge and I'll confirm them here."

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 08-Jun-20 10:05 AM

August activates the first command.

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 10:07 AM

And the button ever-so-kindly labelled as the first was pushed to confirm, once things lit up down in the engine room. A process she'd repeat for commands two through six, of course.

Nekosmash 08-Jun-20 10:10 AM

There is a rumble as the engines begin to slowly come online. The reactor likewise begins going through the first stages of ignition, a process that will take a few hours to safely make enough power to move the ship and provide for its other needs. The lights go out for a moment. When they re-ignite, the emergency lights are replaced with the standard running lights, and the remaining bridge consoles begin their long boot up processes. Many will need to be configured as they've never been activated before

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 08-Jun-20 10:11 AM

August lets out a whoop, "Looking green up here!"

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 10:14 AM

"Engines should be warmed up in... a few hours or so." Her voice held a muted sort of excitement, but on the inside she was soaring. Untouched, damn near pristine. Dozens of them, ripe for the taking. "Looks like she's got the jump range to get home, too. Think we have the spare manpower to send her back?"

Selgar (Mac) 08-Jun-20 10:44 AM

A hail comes in after around an hour. "Mokoshi's Wings, Selgar here. After reviewing the logs it seems this fleet was stranded as a result of a coordinated military action where the fleet was manufactured and autojumped to meet with the crew, but the crew apparently did not make it here, probably due to the plague. Evidently it is truly just a derelict fleet, so a salvage yard like any other." "I am going to attempt to autojump the flagship out of the system as my 'haul' for getting here first, but since you were only moments behind I can give you what may be a consolation prize. Records suggest the other signal identified by the fancy cosmic lightshow was another fleet similarly intended for a desperate military action, so one might conjecture it is of similar size and may have comparable salvage opportunities." There's a brief pause. "Additionally, I... Oh! Comms Officer on the Hummingbird, please remind me later to report what we've found to UNW Central, I'd hate to get so busy I forget to do that, it might seriously delay them investigating the other site. Anyway Mokoshi's Wings... Well, I forgot what I was going to say, must not have been important. At any rate, fly safe."

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 11:00 AM

"Oh you little shit," Natalia muttered as the message got transferred over. "They're taking the flagship out of system, sounds like they're leaving the rest for now. We should probably be cleaning this place out quick as we can. But, Selgar's saying there's likely another fleet where the other lightshow was. Which was..." She glanced at a couple charts, a few notes, and sighed. "Actaia. Just outside EP territory."

Svenka Vilnovha 08-Jun-20 11:07 AM

“Hm. Well then. We could make a trek out there - we should attempt to claim the other carrier if there is one. That would be a significant boon.... as would these ships.” She looks over the starmap. “Could send one of us out that way to get the carrier claimed... if we think its worth it. I would be happy to go, even just to see it.”

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 11:09 AM

"Doubt we could bring it back if we did. UNW wouldn't exactly appreciate a supercarrier and fleet skipping through their space, and I bet there's no scoops on it to let us go around."

Svenka Vilnovha 08-Jun-20 11:11 AM

“The key with salvage is the claim.” She grins

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 11:15 AM

"Mhmm." Natalia didn't sound all that convinced. Figured they could "claim" all they wanted, but with that much distance and no way to enforce it, it'd be useless. Place would be picked clean by whoever had the means, and Greystar didn't seem to have them. "Well, for now - figure we bring one of these back to Acastus, get a report in so we can work out how to haul these? Lot of craft to move, not much time to waste." A pause. "God, wish I could hang on to one of these things... but I suppose they're all Greystar property now, though." (edited)

Selgar (Mac) 08-Jun-20 11:48 AM

(Sorry to break IC but speech adjustment doesn't reflect well in text, the last paragraph Selgar was exaggeratedly emphasizing certain things. One might conclude he was not actually talking to his Comm Officer, but for some reason didn't want to be recorded telling another faction to go pig out on a juicy find when he's probably supposed to 'reserve' it for the UNW. Or maybe he's just an asshole.)

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 11:48 AM

(oh don't worry, I got you

)

Selgar (Mac) 08-Jun-20 11:49 AM

(Okay just making sure, didn't want anyone to think Selgar is a passive aggressive Cyrus, veteran of countless debates on forgotten podiums.)

1

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 08-Jun-20 12:45 PM

“Thinking out loud again. We’re going to need some time to configure the systems up here on the bridge, and might need to bring crew from the Sokol over to help with that. She should be able to continue with you to Musheera, and I can take a skeleton crew aboard the Slyth frigate back to Acastus to finish shaking her down.”

Nekosmash 08-Jun-20 12:47 PM

(yeah we need to at least hit the minimum crew count for making these move. We also have to make sure we're not taking more than our BP upkeep can support, we might need to get Eish in on the admin side of this so we know what we can support right now)

(year end is coming, and once it does we will have a lot more spacE)

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 12:47 PM

(Minimum crew on these things is 10, right?)

Nekosmash 08-Jun-20 12:48 PM

(I think 5, but i can tell you, one sec)

(no its 10)

Reza Collins (Eisheru) 08-Jun-20 12:48 PM

(we have enough BP come year flip to be able to support it, your call neko if we can Mothball it until Y4M1)

(currently we are tapped out on BP for Y3)

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 01:02 PM

(I assume at least for this single craft, bringing it back doesn't have a BP issue? If so, can we get around it by designating it as a private craft?)

Nekosmash 08-Jun-20 01:04 PM

(We can mothball it)

1

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 01:16 PM

"Sounds like a plan to me, if we've got nine bodies to spare for running this thing." Another look around the engine bay. Had to be some way to make this work. Dozens of the things here. All to be hoovered up by Greystar? Maybe. Though... if it's all in the claim... "Have to wonder if Greystar's going to begrudge one of these little frigates being privately claimed. Not often you see a brand-new ship sitting right in front of you, and not like we're lacking in them." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 08-Jun-20 01:40 PM

“That would be a question for command. I would be very supportive of these being distributed for Agents to use... I had some thoughts around that before we found all of these...” She looks over the systems, impressed with the newness of the ship. (Do we have an overall breakdown of the ships in this fleet - remaining)

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 02:32 PM

(from earlier, in terms of the small craft:

...dozens of frigates, and merchant sized craft. A trio of towed system ship destroyers also round out the fleet.

Most of the non-carrier large craft are vaguely wrecked. I don't think we got specific numbers for how many are intact.)

Nekosmash 08-Jun-20 02:41 PM

(No real detailed breakdown no)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 08-Jun-20 02:45 PM

(Sorry, misses Svenka’s post) “I’m in favor of burning straight for the other fleet. The potential of another capital hull is hard to pass up.”

(Oh wow it’s literally on the other side of the map)

Nekosmash 08-Jun-20 02:51 PM

(Valentina found the carrier. It’s crashed on the first planet. Evidently at some point in acastan history they’d come across the area and they had taken at least some of the hulls)

(The rest weren’t found but the asteroid field there is very thick)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 08-Jun-20 02:51 PM

(Ah. Well then that changes my stuff)

(I’ll take the frigate home to Acastus and send more people to help crew the other ones)

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 02:58 PM

(Meanwhile Svenka and Natalia keep going towards Musheera?)

Reza Collins (Eisheru) 08-Jun-20 02:58 PM

(from a BP standpoint, please do not pick up more than 6)

Svenka Vilnovha 08-Jun-20 02:59 PM

(You aren’t my supervisor! Oh wait...)

“Perhaps it would be more prudent to focus on the find we have now. We dont have more crew to spare at this point to get another ship stood up... August, if you take this one back, bring back enough crew to get a number more.... perhaps 5 additional. I was intending to offer to help to fund the creation of ships for our agents... but this is honestly a very effective windfall.” She sighs “I would like to spend more time here, really investigate the ships present, but I suppose we should continue on to our assigned task, unless you want to go on your own, Natalia?”

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 03:05 PM

"Solo trips to corrosive junkyard planets are a nice quick path to an unmarked grave." (edited)

"So... not particularly."

Svenka Vilnovha 08-Jun-20 03:06 PM

“Fine.” She smiles “We should scan to see if any of the bigger ships are viable or just hulks.”

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 03:08 PM

A little nod, and she tightened the strap holding her bag against the chest of the suit. "Back to the Wings, then?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 08-Jun-20 03:09 PM

“It does look like the captain is itching to get underway.” She keys her comms “August, we are heading back to the Wings, she is all yours.”

Nekosmash 08-Jun-20 06:38 PM

(6xp , 10000 credits)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 08-Jun-20 06:39 PM

“Stay safe, you two. She’ll be warmed up and ready for you to explore once you get back to Acastus.” August begins making preparations on the bridge for the oncoming crew from the Sokol.

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jun-20 06:46 PM

"Fly safe," Natalia chimed back with the first bit of cheer her voice had held since starting this mission. Oh my God I might get to run one of those things. No. More than might. Probably will. As soon as things were settled up and all the gear was put away, she started back for the Wings. Still had a junkyard to loot.

Svenka Vilnovha 08-Jun-20 07:05 PM

“Oh... I have something for this, something from an old human show. It was really dumb.” She keys her comm “2 to beam over, Belobog... engage!”

1

Nekosmash 09-Jun-20 07:30 AM

(3 days to Galatea, where you can fuel, if we want to stop there we can , I don't think either of you have been)

Nekosmash 09-Jun-20 09:15 AM

The planet of Galatea is a post scarcity world, where the governing powers below are focused more on the great silent game against one another, than on looking out into the universe. Each group controls a major grail, and this planet is also the location of the central Void Wardens Headquarters, the Central office of the psychic academy, and the meeting hall for all polities in this region of space. A great museum has also been raised, and a few artifacts are on display already

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jun-20 09:21 AM

(Survive-0, 14/90) Natalia spent most of the transit to Galatea shut up in her quarters, when her duties didn't have her out and about. More ropework, mostly snares. A lot of fun, once she started getting the hang of it. Once they exited spike and had started making their way to refuel, she took a moment to radio over to Svenka from where she was in the engine room, running a standard once-over check of the spike drive to make sure nothing had misaligned on their exit from jump. "Think we have time for a stop during fueling?"

Svenka Vilnovha 09-Jun-20 09:26 AM

“I don’t see why not. We certainly want to stay on task, but that task also isn’t going anywhere.” Svenka sipped her coffee at in her desk in her quarters, Lena had command as she often did these days.

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jun-20 09:29 AM

"Not planning on wasting time." She slid a little lens back into place from where it had been knocked a millimeter or so astray. Importance of the thing aside, digging through Musheera was an exciting prospect on its own - no desire to put it off. "Thinking of catching a lighter down from the station, seeing the new museum." Internally, she had to wonder if this was going to be a horrible, horrible mistake. New planet, new people, big crowded space. Hopefully the artifacts would be worth the abject misery.

Svenka Vilnovha 09-Jun-20 09:42 AM

“Want company or is this more of a solo trip?”

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jun-20 09:43 AM

Ah, now that was a tricky trade-off. The security of a buffer, at the cost of the humiliation of needing one. "Whatever you like; I won't subject you to dusty artifacts if you're not interested."

Svenka Vilnovha 09-Jun-20 09:46 AM

She rolls her eyes. “Lighter or teleport?”

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jun-20 09:51 AM

"What sort of question is that?" A small chuckle came over the line as Natalia started heading to wash her hands off. "Do people you give that choice to actually pick the lighter?"

Svenka Vilnovha 09-Jun-20 09:55 AM

“Yep. Some people don’t like the idea or sensation of having their atoms rearranged and reconstituted. Yet people grow extra arms and can pluck out your deepest memories or have flaming magical swords and thats okay. No no, of course, teleportation is the line that is too far.”

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jun-20 09:58 AM

"Not to mention being flung headlong through metadimensional space from system-to-system on a hope, a prayer, and some clever engineering. Nobody seems to mind that one." With the engine grease and other miscellanious dirt of engine-work cleaned off, she made a quick stop in her quarters to grab a few things. Nothing important, just her datapad and a couple canteens of water, thrown in a little bag. "Meet you at the pads?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 09-Jun-20 12:17 PM

“I’ll be there in 10.” She quickly packs a basic satchel-like bag and gets in to her Greystar fatigues, arriving to the teleportation room shortly afterwards.

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jun-20 12:18 PM

Natalia was already at the pad, dressed in the same sort of fatigues and rolling the sleeves back down. Would likely be a bit warm, but had to look at least a bit cleaner out and about in the uniform. She looked up, and offered a little nod. "Ever been down there before?"

Svenka Vilnovha 09-Jun-20 12:21 PM

“Nope. I understand it’s quite something. Ridiculously high technology and... excess.” She gives a bit of a shrug. “Should be interesting at least.”

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jun-20 12:25 PM

"Excess is the word that comes to mind," she said with a slight frown, before shrugging right back. She got situated onto the teleport pad, bag pulled close over her shoulder.

Svenka Vilnovha 09-Jun-20 01:08 PM

She nods “Ready to teleport down, Belobog.”

Nekosmash 09-Jun-20 01:09 PM

(what city? makes a difference as far as whats there)

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jun-20 01:09 PM

(Which one contains the museum?)

Nekosmash 09-Jun-20 01:10 PM

(Sarkovskia)

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jun-20 01:10 PM

(Since we're heading towards the museum - Sarkovskia it is)

Nekosmash 09-Jun-20 01:12 PM

(Svenka, that ok with you?)

Svenka Vilnovha 09-Jun-20 01:12 PM

(Da)

Nekosmash 10-Jun-20 05:19 AM

Sarkovskia's outskirts are the teleport destination and you arrive there after a few seconds of bone jarring atomic dislocation. You emerge to a clear sky, filled with birds and alpine trees. Large blue and red crystal growths emerge from the fields like crops, some the size of trees themselves. There is a small line at a gate outside the fenced fields where people seem to be paying for protective equipment and a few hand tools to work away at the growths with

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 07:27 AM

A little shiver ran down Natalia's spine as she came out of the teleport, along with a quick intake of breath. Felt uncannily like dying, to be torn down and rebuilt like that. But hey, at least it was nice down here. "Oh, this is pretty," she mumbled to herself, unconsciously shifting such that Svenka was between her and the line of would-be workers. "Didn't expect to see people working. Thought they didn't need that here." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 08:26 AM

“It looks like they are paying to do it... Must be some value to the crystals?” She shrugs “We could ask I suppose?”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 08:27 AM

There was a pause. Maybe a second or two, but it felt longer in Natalia's head. "I'm good," Natalia quietly said. "Don't want to know that badly."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 08:31 AM

“On to the Museum then.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 08:35 AM

"Mhm." Silently, she thanked whatever it was she was supposed to be thanking that the issue didn't get pressed. Half-expected another patronizing... well, best not to dwell on it. No reason to ruin a good day. She checked whatever local maps were available on her pad to work out where the museum ought to be, and got going.

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 08:36 AM

“So... at the risk of this sounding like an assessment or job interview... What do you want to do within Greystar?” She gave a crooked, somewhat awkward smile.

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 08:37 AM

Natalia looked up from the map on her pad, somewhere between surprised and a bit guarded. "If I hear the phrase 'where do you see yourself in five years,' I'm ditching you. Fair warning." A slight smile. "Odd question, though. Not sure how much choice I have in the matter." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 08:51 AM

“Where do you see yourself in.... 4 and a half years?” She chuckles “And you always have choice, you might not like the options, but you certainly have choice.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 09:00 AM

"Mm." Natalia paused a bit, looking up the road. Regardless of what Svenka had said: felt like it was an assessment. Like there was something riding on this. What, though? "Exploration. Working with precursor sites, if I can. Not looking to dig up shiny guns, but..." She shrugged. "Archaeology, I guess, is the word I'm looking for. Tech for sure, but also culture." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 09:05 AM

“You would be surprised how often it is shiny guns we end up with... Living things seem to feed on death, on killing each other. I am no soldier, but I have seen more war and death than I would care to.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 09:07 AM

"That they do. We're just the ones standing on top of the bonepile." Us, atop the Slyth, atop whoever came before, and so on and so forth. "We can do better than just make more guns with the ones we find. Seems people keep forgetting that."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 09:31 AM

“Indeed.” she looks over the city “Do you want to be independent or would you be willing to join a company?”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 09:32 AM

Called it. "Depends on the company, depends on the terms."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 09:41 AM

“I wasn’t. Not for the longest time. Even with favourable terms. I wanted to keep my independence.... still do.” She sighs “Although I suppose I am somewhat deluding myself there.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 09:43 AM

"Mm?" Had some guesses about what that "deluding" was, given the fact that Svenka was apparently a major shareholder in a multimillion credit corporation, but still. Not about to make assumptions. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 09:47 AM

“Just that I find myself as something of a VP of a fairly large and growing corporation.” She looks off at the horizon. “Could certainly offer you a role within Aiya. You have the technical knowhow and drive, although your people skills are kind of shit.”

2

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 09:50 AM

Says you, of all people? Nearly said it out loud, but Natalia wasn't quite dumb enough to snark at the woman offering her a job. "Like I said: depends on the terms. I'm interested, though."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 09:51 AM

She looks at Natalia, a half smirk. “Just going to let that sit?”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 09:53 AM

Her expression remained static, that same vaguely guarded look. "My people skills aren't quite bad enough to bitch at the woman offering me a job."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 09:59 AM

“Ive kind of accepted that most people don’t like me, but people seem to follow me, maybe even respect me. My people skills are more than shit, however... I don’t want you to hold back. Honestly it won’t change the offer...”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 10:03 AM

A little frown settled onto Natalia's face, and she was quiet for a moment. “This feels like a trap. But fine.” Not like Natalia was a stranger to screwing herself over in the name of pride, anyway. "I can only assume people follow you because of your raw expertise, because you have all the charm of a sulfur mine, save the sulfur mine isn't a patronizing bitch on top of it."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 10:12 AM

“Yeah.” She looks sad. “So, I was talking it over with Eisheru and we would offer a small amount of shares to start, to grow and cap with your time with Aiya tech. A bonus on holding and salvage that you help claim/bring back and a moderate stipend to build and outfit a ship. I... I can help with the ship if you want. Can get the specifics from Eisheru and discuss next steps.” She looks back at the city. “Should probably get to the museum.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 10:15 AM

Oh. Oh she hadn't just torched her career on a gamble. Well that was good. "Can we put a moratorium on insulting one another, first?" She smiled, more tired than anything else. Acclimated or no, this conversation was exhausting. "That looks like it hurt. I... don't like being hurtful." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 10:22 AM

She nods “Let me know if I do.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 10:25 AM

"And worst case: we're both awful to be around. Low expectations. Might be pleasantly surprised." Natalia started back into motion, taking a moment to fish one of the canteens out of her bag and take a quick drink.

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 10:40 AM

“Hm.” She continues walking, now focused on getting to the museum. “Why do you want to explore?”

Nekosmash 10-Jun-20 10:41 AM

(i just didnt want to interrupt, things seemed to be flowing)

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 10:42 AM

(Oh don't worry :)) "Should I be approaching this like an interview?" She glanced over at Svenka. "No offense meant. I just want to be clear on what this is."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 10:45 AM

“I don’t know, I was just... it’s fine, we can just focus on getting to the museum. Sorry to pry.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 10:46 AM

"If you want to chat, we can chat." Again, a tired little smile. "Like I said. Clarity. That's all I'm asking for."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 10:49 AM

“I cant say it is or it isn’t. I believe in giving people chances to prove themselves, to be who they want to be. Sometimes in spite of the things they have done, like with the Red Sangha. So I asked because I wanted to know, but everything someone says becomes part of the picture the other person has of them. I am seen as a spiteful person who holds on to the past too much. What you say and do will colour what I think of you, both personally and professionally... so it is both an interview and not.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 10:53 AM

So a chat. Got it. Lot of words for "just wanted to know you better." But then, she'd been pretty upfront about the lacking people skills from the start. This was just that. "I'm... just going to try and focus on having a conversation, I think. Not so much on 'proving myself.' If that's alright with you." She took a small breath. "Exploring, though? That's been the goal since the start. It... well, everything, really, has been to try and get there. Even well before the Scream. See things nobody's seen before, find the remains of long, long lost peoples."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 11:38 AM

She nods “That was my dream as well. Before... everything. If that is what you truly want I would suggest you tackle it with singular purpose lest you get dragged in to conflict and trying to make things right. If I get you a ship, you can explore the outer reaches and in return get Aiya some discoveries and interesting things to research... and help Greystar help its people and move forward. Does that sound good?” (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 11:39 AM

"It does. Better than good, even. Amazing." Better than just about anything she'd heard before. A dream in a bottle, handed right over to her. "But it feels like there's a catch."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 11:50 AM

“Well, yes - you would be an employee of Aiya tech - your discoveries would be for the benefit of Aiya tech, primarily, but your ship and tasks would be your own.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 11:51 AM

"Oh, I wouldn't call that much of a catch. That's just reasonable." Her own operation, eh? Set up with her own ship, HER ship? "So, at the risk of sounding ungrateful... why me? Not like we know each other all that well."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 11:55 AM

“Looked over your file - which I know you don’t like - you have the right skill set and at least the beginnings of being a great explorer. I just want... we just want you to have the ability to realize that, and in return potentially benefit Aiya and Greystar directly...”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 12:03 PM

Natalia walked in silence for a little while, eyes on the path ahead. Her voice came out a little colder than before when she finally spoke up. Not angered, not upset, but at least knocked into a more serious mood. More like the way she was in the Agent meeting. "I'll want to see specifics before making a decision. Read over the paperwork. But I like the offer. I like it a lot. Thank you."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 12:06 PM

“Of course. We are just having a conversation.” A small smile and brief eye contact. “You are welcome.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 12:14 PM

Natalia realized her heart was pounding. Almost annoyed her. Managing to just about keep her cool, and her heart just can't get the message and settle down. Didn't want to get her hopes up until papers were signed. "So. You wanted to be an explorer, you said? Can't imagine much is stopping you anymore."

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 12:25 PM

“I suppose I could drop everything and get a ship and go... I do want to check out the other Slyth fleet and see if there is anything to recover there... but I do feel the pull of responsibility to start to help Acastus and all the other people in Greystar without means to contribute.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 12:28 PM

"Mm, true. The success comes with a duty to make good use of it." A pause. "Sorry, not trying to sound preachy."

Nekosmash 10-Jun-20 01:12 PM

Walking through the large open gate of Sarvokskia, you see that the buildings here are built to resemble something of a Terran Swiss village. Things here are not as alpine and chateau like as Actopia, but there are some similar design considerations as you gaze upon the buildings. The museum is new, and is a large structure though is largely undecorated, as personalization might lean toward favoring a certain polity. A mix of humans, and those in trans-human shells are standing, hovering, or otherwise loitering around the large permanently open doors

Svenka Vilnovha 10-Jun-20 03:22 PM

Svenka approaches, marvelling at the trans-humans and the forced-quaint structures, clearly very alien to her. Not like back home on Gudrun... or her new home. “Interesting.”

Natalia Toivonen 10-Jun-20 03:31 PM

"Very. Odd to see this kind of architecture in a place this... advanced." Resisting the urge to stare at the transhuman shells, she wandered up alongside Svenka, ever-closer to the doors. The old nerves started kicking in, voice coming out a bit quieter as the crowd by the doors grew near. "Though... guess it's odd that Terran architecture is still so popular in general. Not sure why."

Nekosmash 10-Jun-20 06:28 PM

There are no tickets needed to enter the museum, and inside you see most of the plinths are bare, aside from a few in the back of the room.

There are likewise no showcases of hanging art on the walls, though spaces have been left for them

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 07:10 AM

“Hm, somewhat bare. Interesting. Well... It looks like there are some items in the back. Shall we?” She smiles and beckons to Natalia.

Nekosmash 11-Jun-20 07:18 AM

Three cases, one showing Lava Wurm horns from Tsatsos, Kingbreaker's head from Gudrun, and a sampling of blades and a shortbow from Olar are all kept in stasis fields to keep them from aging beyond what they already have, and descriptions are available at the press of a button

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 08:05 AM

Natalia followed along behind, unsure if she should be thankful or disappointed that the lack of displays meant for a small crowd. Her eyes were set down towards the floor, moving quick and sticking close. God, this is pathetic. "Makes sense... all new, and all." Maybe someday she'd be part of the reason this place wasn't so bare. That would be nice. "Interesting picks at... at least." After a small pause, she pushed the button for the sampling of blades. Seemed the most likely to have some long history behind them.

Nekosmash 11-Jun-20 08:07 AM

Recovered from the Knights of the Broken Crown on Olar by Joshua Collins These weapons emit a powerful proton field when activated, capable of chewing through armor with ease. Favored by the knights of this planet to fight foes yet unknown, several examples of these fine pole-arms were donated to various UNW research efforts. There are rumors that the Knights may have been working with former Olar Worldgov in some sort of shadow war against their branch of the Psychic Academy there before The Scream. It was indeed the Olar Campus along with splinters groups across the universe that created the crisis to begin with. Examples of a bow like weapon have also been donated, and are undergoing the same studies.

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 08:18 AM

“Nicely done, Josh. I hope he finds his parents... Suppose we should work to fill the displays as much as we can.” She looks over the weapons with an analytic eye, fully reading the information and details.

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 08:18 AM

"You know him?"

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 08:20 AM

She nods “Worked with him on Miriam. Found the technocracy, an old pre-scream ruin... helped establish a city and almost got shot down by a more militant human city. That was when the Wings needed to ditch into water. Good man.”

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 08:21 AM

"Ah." That day sounds more eventful than most of my life packed together.

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 08:36 AM

“Went back, first contact with the technocracy... watched as we insulted them almost to the point of getting ourselves killed. Human arrogance.... sorry, that is bigoted to say. Mortal arrogance. I have enough to fall into that category as well... One of the biggest regrets of my life. I should have done more, we should have coordinated better.” She sighs “I wonder if RCOE ever built their base that they wanted to.”

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 08:40 AM

"Sounds like a, ah, a mess. Glad you lived." A brief, nervous smile. Wasn't sure if she wanted to ask what was on her mind or just push the next... ah, screw it. Too curious. "Th- we come off as arrogant? Ah... humans, I mean." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 08:55 AM

She sighs “I misspoke. I am painting with too wide a brush. I... experienced a lot of humans making sweeping decisions with the best of intentions and unfortunate outcomes. With unfortunate ranging from democratic failures to... unneeded, significant death. I feel a longing for my home and my people, but they are a part of the UNW, and by and large are still on Gudrun, stuck in the past. I know the UNW tries and sometimes succeeds in doing good, but at the core, they are run by a cabal of very wealthy corporatists whose focus shifts and changes with the winds. There is a tendency to vanity projects and working towards immediate goals rather than focusing on real infrastructure and meaningful change... but we have our own house to get in order. 80% unemployment... incorporation of many different cultures. We need to avoid arrogance as much as we can... this is what pulls me away from leaving in a ship and exploring. This is what keeps me up at night.” She looks at the empty displays. “Maybe you can fill this room.”

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 09:00 AM

"Just figured everyone was arrogant, personally," Natalia murmured to herself with a little shrug. "In b-broad strokes, at least. Just part of, ah..." A pause. "I'd, um... expand on that, but..." She lightly nodded in the direction of the thin crowd. "Hard right now. Later m-maybe. And... yeah. Maybe. Would be nice. Place needs something less..." She gestured vaguely at the assembled artifacts. Horns off a beast, a severed head (albeit mechanical), and a collection of weapons. "Warlike. Less warlike. Art would be nice." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 10:12 AM

“Its all built on war and comparing the size of each other’s gun. Take that as you will. I killed a worm... I should have found some other way. Some alternative. I could have run, I could have tried to subdue it... but I killed it. Entirely unnecessarily.” She shrugs “Definitely less war. It... means a lot to me to help the Red Sangha become something other than killers to point at a problem.”

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 10:16 AM

"Was on, ah, Jahnavi recently. As... well, you know that already." A little smile crossed Natalia's face, underpinned by the nervousness but not quite dampened. "Crops are coming in nicely."

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 10:21 AM

The hint of moisture in her eyes. “Good, good... Well, we should see what else is here, I suppose.”

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 10:22 AM

Natalia nodded at the little row of displays. "Well... only t-two to pick from. Go for it. Unless you mean, ah, around the city in general?"

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 10:24 AM

“Lava Wurm it is.” She presses the button

Nekosmash 11-Jun-20 11:51 AM

Horns taken in the inaugural mission of the Rigers Corp of Engineers to settle their home of Tsatsos. A group of Lava Wurms roamed too closely to planned building sites, and the mechs of RCOE did battle with the creatures- overcoming a host of their fearsome abilities. Trophies were taken after the fight. Rumor has it that Hailey Clements had a pair of matched swords fashioned from hers.

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 11:53 AM

"Is... is it just me," Natalia tentatively said, "or does this seem like... well... not something that 'fits' here?" More like a boast than an artifact, in practice. Telling a legend of the still-living felt conceited to her. "Too... new, I guess?"

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 12:27 PM

“They... well Robert and Billy, wanted me to join RCOE...” She looks over the trophies. “This is what I think of when I think of the UNW, unfortunately. Powerful, defensive and yet destructive, flashy and full of hubris. They do good, certainly. Humanity would not have survived in the same way without them. I would not have made it to the stars without them.... good with the bad I suppose. Am I any better? I try to be better.”

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 12:30 PM

That... didn't have much of anything to do with what Natalia had just said, but okay. Svenka was in her own world, she supposed. Working through something in her head. What do I even say to that? Tense as she already was, Natalia didn't have it in her to say anything at all. Just stood there, lips pursed, quietly trying to will herself out of existence.

Nekosmash 11-Jun-20 12:48 PM

The final display is the head of the former Helldiver Prime Function known as KingBreaker, who did exactly that. It is a holdover from the war the pre-UNW Greenbriar Inc fought to liberate the Piggen from their slavery to the warbots.

The body was used by RCoE for another project, creating an assistant named Vothe

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 01:08 PM

“Sorry, I should be... yes... these are more trophies than artifacts. Remains and weapons. Macabre fetishes of a violent collection of species. Better ways to kill and evidence of kills. It all seems very tribal, and yet the latest artifact I have researched was a horrifically destructive gun...” She just looks at the head for a long moment.

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 01:13 PM

"Better uses for it than, ah, shooting though. You've said it yourself." The disparity here was... hard to grasp. Here Svenka was, the stuff of living history by the sound of it, a millionaire who'd rubbed shoulders with or fired weapons right alongside some of the most famous names in the sector, talking a barely-coherent girl whose biggest concern was finding the will to get up in the morning. Completely different worlds. What could they possibly have to talk about, really? How did this even happen? How did I get here? "And... I... not here. Please." She forced a tiny smile. "If you want to, ah, talk about all that. Just I can't... c-can't do that right now."

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 02:01 PM

“Of course, sorry. Should we... should we go?”

Nekosmash 11-Jun-20 02:02 PM

(It’s a little lame right now , because we just used what was in the UNW museum, and no one else had an opportunity to donate)

(Thorn and cyrus were trying to get something going and it ended when they both left)

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 02:02 PM

(Oh I getcha, no worries. It'll be better soon :D ) "Well... we've seen everything there is to, ah, to see. So... if you want?" Her eyes were screaming "please dear God yes."

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 02:03 PM

She nods, heading for the door.

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 02:04 PM

Natalia followed along behind, trying to focus on just breathing. Nearly out of there. And she'd done better than usual, too. Normally wouldn't have been able to make herself go inside. Progress.

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 07:00 PM

“Lunch... is it lunchtime? Or.... back to the ship?”

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 07:03 PM

"I, ah..." She checked her watch. A battered, boxy, steel-cased thing, set to the same time the ship's computers were running on. "Oh. It is, uh, lunchtime. Or close enough to it. Did you... have something in mind, or...?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 11-Jun-20 07:10 PM

“Oh, ok.” Not what I thought she would go for... Svenka looks for a cafe or restaurant in this strange Swiss town.

Natalia Toivonen 11-Jun-20 07:12 PM

Oh God, why did I say that? Natalia, cursing herself, trailed behind. Mostly calm. Wanted to lay down for a while. But she'd already said she wanted to do this, so...

Nekosmash 12-Jun-20 06:11 AM

There are several cafe's lining the street. The guests here that can eat or want to are able to get anything they want to sate their hunger or thirst. Here too the grails are able to produce anything

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 10:47 AM

“So... what do you want to eat? What are those things you people like to eat....? Sand-witches?” She looks pained, but tries to hide it.

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 10:50 AM

"That's, ah, yes that's what they're called. But, well, if you can get anything here..." Natalia trailed off. That was a lot of options. Like, a LOT of options. "I'm... not sure. Yet. I'll, ah, I'll figure it out. You?"

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 10:55 AM

“Spicy Borsht and Sausages with a crusty overly-buttered bun.”

2

“And beer”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 11:02 AM

Wait, you know the word "borscht" but can barely pronounce "sandwich?" "Oh, sounds nice." Natalia racked her brain for a bit. Coming up dry. Very very dry. Too many choices. Hard to think straight as it was. "Yeah, too... too many choices. I'll just do the same. Sans beer. Maybe... coffee instead."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 11:51 AM

Shit. Beer... She sighs and finds a cafe and gets a table outside. “Two Borschts, Taros-style one spicy and one... medium?” She looks at Natalia. “And a basket of very buttered buns, a coffee and a non-alcoholic... pale ale.”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 11:54 AM

Natalia nodded slightly at the mention of 'medium.' Her tolerance was, all things considered, pretty damn good, but saying something besides medium would mean speaking up, which... no. Not right now.

Nekosmash 12-Jun-20 11:55 AM

The table shimmers for a moment, and with a blink of light, the food materializes before you

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 11:56 AM

"Oh my God," Natalia whispered to herself, a smile spreading across her face. The oft-repeated phrases about technology and magic starting to look the same at a certain point came to mind.

Nekosmash 12-Jun-20 12:02 PM

The creation is completed after a few seconds, and everything is at the perfect temperature, hot or cold

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 12:11 PM

“Huh. I can see why people like it here...” She smiles “I havent had this for years now. My mother used to make it when we were kids.... i mean, we called it by the Taros name, but same basic thing.” She breathes it in “The buttered buns were an addition from the humans... a good edition.”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 12:17 PM

"Looks amazing," she murmured, still more enraptured by the fact that the people of Galatea had routed output from a Grail to some table at a café than what the output was. An almost disgusting amount of excess in the act, but... not like she could really blame them. Natalia picked up the mug of coffee, taking a tentative sip. Oh my God and it even tastes like real coffee. "What, ah, what is the Taros name for it?"

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 12:27 PM

[Taros] “Root Gift from the Earth”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 12:28 PM

Natalia's eyebrows went up a bit, nervousness somewhat forgotten. "Oh, that's a really nice metaphor."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 12:43 PM

“You speak Taros?” She looks surprised,

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 12:44 PM

[Taros] "Read better than speak, but yes." Natalia smiled slightly. "The, uh, the surveying is just... what I could get a job in. Trained for archaeology. And languages are fun, so..." She shrugged. "Lots of translating involved. I, ah, I speak a lot of things." (edited)

"I know, ironic."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 01:49 PM

[Taros] “All the better, I would love to research more precursor tech and artifacts. The Preystar is amazing... why did you learn Taros of all languages?”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 01:52 PM

[Taros] "Not like every site I find will have written it all in English. Learned many." Shifting a bit in her seat, Natalia had another sip of the coffee. [Taros] "Want to see the past of more than just precursors. Taros have a history that matters. So do Merlon, Piggen, so on." A pause. "Sorry, I know the diction is, uh, pretty bad. Rusty."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 01:58 PM

“I feel like the Taros are a forgotten race - the people who had the fortune, or misfortune to be on the same planet as the humans who started the UNW. I was the first to captain a starship, many are either stuck in a past or not given the opportunity to become more than what they traditionally were. Semi-nomadic, advanced-primitives, stuck between worlds and stuck on a world. A novelty species.” She picks up her spoon and grabs a bun. “Fuck, I’m tedious.”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 02:03 PM

"You do talk a lot. But that's okay." Another tiny smile, and she picked up her spoon. A first, slightly tentative taste of the-- Oh this is good shit. "Content is, uh, is worth the length."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 02:07 PM

“I’m glad I was able to get the Taros that the UNW shuffled off to Shariar... that I helped them shuffle off.” She shrugs. “I feel like I am both an ambassador and traitor to my own people. Strange as that is.* She takes a big bite, following it up with the bread.

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 02:15 PM

"Well, you're an, ah, an individual first. I... probably, ah..." Natalia sighed, and gave up on speaking to take another bite. "Sorry," she continued once she'd swallowed. "Can't really, um, get the words together that well." In her defense, hard to do through a haze of nerves.

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 02:21 PM

she shrugs and takes another bite. “Dont worry about it. I mean, I cant tell you to not be nervous, may as well tell me to stop being so... cynical. But, you are safe here, for what its worth.”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 02:26 PM

"Not an unsafe feeling. More, um, exposed." Natalia made a little dividing gesture in the space between them. "Like there's supposed to be... something here, but it's gone. If that makes sense."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 02:30 PM

“Like a relationship or something more... esoteric?” She takes another bite, watching intently.

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 02:40 PM

"No. Like a... like a literal barrier. I think." She shrugged, a note of helplessness in the gesture. "I'm better over video than in, uh, in person."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 02:44 PM

“Oh, that. Yeah, I get that. I just assume pretty much everyone is an [Taros] “asshole” and I’m generally not disappointed.” She smiles. “I generally only end up liking a small number of people and I retreat to my quarters a lot to be alone... And generally listen to really loud music. We... we can go if you want to?”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 02:47 PM

I... guess I count as one of those people? "Should... at least finish the food." Her eyes flicked down to the mostly-full bowl in front of her. "Even if they have plenty. No reason to waste."

"Plus, well. It's really good."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 02:52 PM

She nods, taking another bite. “Feel free to be blunt about your needs and what you are feeling. I... prefer that to people being guarded or lying or... talking too much.” She chuckles “This is nice, for me at least.”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 02:56 PM

"I'm liking it." Another couple bites, trying to make herself not rush. "I, uh, don't normally do this. Obviously. Would probably have just... stayed on the ship. Glad I didn't."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 03:04 PM

She nods “Same here... I usually retreat to the cargo hold or my quarters. I really need to have a proper workshop in the next ship...” She seems to ponder something.

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 03:12 PM

"Workshop would be nice. I, ah, always wanted one of those gardens. Nice to not worry about things running out." A little nod, and she went back into the meal. Figured Svenka would say whatever she was thinking if she decided to - God knows she likes talking.

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 04:29 PM

She finishes chewing, pauses and then looks Natalia in the eyes. “Would you want my ship?”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 04:32 PM

Mid-bite of a roll, Natalia nearly choked. "I, ah-" cough cough, "-wow, um..." She trailed off. "I mean... I don't think I could say, uh, no to that." Did feel wrong, somehow. The Wings was Svenka's ship. Ships were personal like that, they had history. She couldn't just walk in and claim it. "It's... incredibly generous. And, um, she's an excellent craft. But are you sure you'd, um... I mean, she's yours, and..." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 05:11 PM

“Ive been thinking about replacing her, about what comes next, but I would be loathe to mothball her. She still has much to do... to see. You could honestly gut her and do as you saw fit. Keep a decent hold or fill it with equipment...” She looks out at the road for a long moment, then nods. “Okay, well... consider it a part of your signing package if you would have her.”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 05:40 PM

Natalia bit her bottom lip for a moment, thinking. "I... call me silly, but it feels, ah, almost wrong of me to... walk into her history like that." A small shrug. "I'd be an idiot to say no, though."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 06:01 PM

“Oh.” Another bite. “Up to you.”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 06:06 PM

"Mostly a, uh, superstition, but... was always told a ship's last captain ought to be its greatest." A pause. "But I'll... I'll think about it. Sorry. D-don't mean to sound ungrateful." Back to eating. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 07:17 PM

a long silence, only the sounds of eating. “I know that.”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 07:20 PM

Oh. "I..." Natalia trailed off. She set her spoon down, and took a small breath. Had to keep it together. No stutters. No pauses. Just for a moment. "I'm not what the Wings deserves. Not yet, at least. I don't want to disrespect her."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 07:25 PM

She nods, looking down at the empty bowl. “Bad idea, sorry to have suggested it and putting you on the spot. Shall we go?”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 07:29 PM

Why me? Of all the people to offer it to? Natalia's bowl was just as empty, eaten through with that mix of delicate care and rabid need so common to those used to not having enough. "I'm sorry. I... I wish I could've said yes. I really do," she murmured, before taking another small breath. "Ready when you are."

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 07:31 PM

“You still can.” She pushes her seat back and gets up, then starts heading back to where they materialized.

Nekosmash 12-Jun-20 07:32 PM

There is a small locus set into the ground, and after a few seconds for the teleport lock to resolve, there is a flash of light, and you're back aboard the wings

(re-roll token to each of you)

2

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 07:35 PM

Another lurch, another echo of what she assumed death might feel like, and back on the Wings. Back in the hum of engines, the distinct scent of filtered air circulating through steel corridors. Away from the crowds and the eyes, the knots of tension in Natalia's gut started uncoiling, loosing a bone-deep exhaustion. Can I? "I'm... if we don't need to get underway just yet, I'd like to take a couple minutes." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 07:41 PM

“Takes time to get things going anyhow. I’ll be in my quarters.”

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 07:47 PM

A small nod, and Natalia made her way into the little room she'd set for herself. A half-built snare still dominated the center of the room, and she carefully stepped over it to sit on the edge of the bunk, head in her hands. "Oh you idiot," she mumbled to herself. "Why did you do that? Why the fuck did you do that?" A deep breath. She knew why. Of course this had to be the one time when principles beat out pride. "And you pissed her off too, didn't you? Great. Absolutely great." After a few minutes of sitting and focusing on just breathing, Natalia stood up with a slight stumble, and looked up at the ceiling. "See, if only you could talk. Would just ask." A self-conscious half smile crossed her face. Talking to inanimate objects again like a crazy woman. Great. A sigh, and she made her way to her station.

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 07:59 PM

Svenka checked in with Lena, let her know to prep to get underway and went back to her room, her usual music on, albeit not so loud. Stupid. She shrugged.

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 08:04 PM

(I'm good to head onward to the next destination if you are

)

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 08:45 PM

(Yup)

Nekosmash 12-Jun-20 08:48 PM

The next jump is three days from here and has you arriving at Haila. As you enter the system the scanners light up showing the Dark Star II Is in system as your escort. It’s unclear if Director Dorian is aboard or not but there is a transmission waiting

Natalia Toivonen 12-Jun-20 08:52 PM

More work, work work. Keep the systems green, bury the off-hours in improvement. Knot and knife and memorizing manuals. (17/90 on Survive-0) (If I remember right Nat's not on comms anymore, so I'll leave answering the phone to Svenka :P)

Svenka Vilnovha 12-Jun-20 08:58 PM

Svenka continues reading “how to win friends and influence extraterrestrials” during the voyage (17/90 on Talk - 0) “Open Comms, lets see how Dorian is doing these days...”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 07:26 AM

“Mokoshi’s Wings, Dark Star actual. I was wondering when you were all going to show up. Svenka wouldn’t happen to be aboard would she?” Dorian’s voice comes through clean and clear.

1

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 08:58 AM

“Dorian, pleasure to hear your voice. What brings you here?”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 09:09 AM

“Boss! It’s great to hear your voice.” The CIS chief’s voice carries the beaming smile he has, “Heard some shady Greystar folks were coming through and thought I’d deliver them a care package. I didn’t know if the Wings would be here, but I hoped. Mind if I come aboard?” (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 13-Jun-20 09:13 AM

Boss? Christ, how many people does this woman know? Well. This taught Natalia something, at least. Or maybe just confirmed it. The Wings carried a lot of weight behind its name, weight tied to its captain. That was a long, long shadow. Natalia took a moment to get things set up on her end such that she could just vacate the bridge and run her station from the engine room if it came to it. Easier than sitting half-petrified through Svenka's social call, if they wound up here. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 09:48 AM

“Sure, teleport or otherwise?”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 09:49 AM

“Uh...sure. Give me a moment to gather all the stuff. I’ll ping you when I’m ready.”

Natalia Toivonen 13-Jun-20 09:51 AM

Station set and ready to vacate, Natalia shot Svenka a quick look of "should I be getting out of here?"

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 09:53 AM

She looks at her oddly. “What?”

Natalia Toivonen 13-Jun-20 09:55 AM

Natalia sighed internally. Didn't really want to say it aloud. "I'm set to move my station back to the engine room, if you're planning to bring him up here. Are you?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 10:00 AM

“If you don’t want to be here... I was planning on it.” She cocks an eyebrow

Natalia Toivonen 13-Jun-20 10:04 AM

"Unless there was going to be an introduction or something and I'm being rude... not today, I think." Natalia stood up from the station, flicking the screen into standby.

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 10:29 AM

“Ready when you are, Dorian.”

Natalia Toivonen 13-Jun-20 10:30 AM

Going to take that as a "go ahead," then... "Let me know if you need me," Natalia said with a weak smile, before making her way back into the engine room.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 10:30 AM

“Yup, beam me over.”

Dorian materializes just as Natalia is leaving the bridge. He’s dressed in a suit, and holding onto a case of Taros beer. Beside him are two boxes, one of them wrapped and small enough to fit in one hand..

Natalia Toivonen 13-Jun-20 10:37 AM

(As in, like, right in front of her face? Or is he popping in as she's out the door?)

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 10:37 AM

(The first is funnier, but the second is reasonable if you don’t want to stay)

Natalia Toivonen 13-Jun-20 10:39 AM

(Nat doesn't want to stay, but I choose suffering!)

And standing in front of him, no more than half a meter away (too close for comfort when teleportation is in the mix, honestly), a smallish woman in Greystar fatigues froze mid-step. Oh. Fuck. Managed to not say it out loud, at least. After a moment's pause, with eyes welded to the deck, she awkwardly stepped aside. "S-sorry," she managed in a bare whisper. "Was just, ah, leaving."

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 10:46 AM

Svenka snort-laughs, briefly.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 10:48 AM

"I hope it's not on my account!" He grins widely, "I'm sure only half the things Svenka's said about me are true. Dorian Guerra, Colonial Intelligence." He shifts the case of beer to his left hand, the prostethic momentarily reflecting light. His right hand extends in a greeting. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 10:49 AM

“He’s a spy and a scoundrel, don’t trust anything he says.” She says with a smile

Natalia Toivonen 13-Jun-20 10:53 AM

Oh God and he's friendly, oh no. It absolutely was on Dorian's account, of course. Just not in a personal way. More in a "oh I really can't deal with another face today" kind of way. But hey, the universe (or maybe just the Wings, come to think), had put a stopper in that. "Natalia Toivonen. Ah, Greystar. Obviously." She tried to pretend her hand wasn't already shaking perfectly fine on its own as she shook his, silently cursing whoever came up with the practice for what must have been the millionth time.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 10:56 AM

He tries to add some warmth to his smile, and doesn't mention her obvious discomfort, "Okay, maybe all the things she says about me are true. It's a pleasure to meet you Natalia. Would you like a beer? I'm glad I got a big enough case, didn't realize the Boss had brought more people aboard." He looks past Natalia to Svenka, "Speaking of, come help with these. The big box is yours, the little one is for Eisheru."

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 11:09 AM

Svenka moves to help with the load “Ok... why? I didn’t get you anything.”

Natalia Toivonen 13-Jun-20 11:10 AM

"Oh, um. Sure. Yes. T-thank you." More by instinct than intent, Natalia found herself standing someplace nice and unobtrusive. Could just be a fly on the wall to this, she hoped, and let the old friends do old friend things.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 11:15 AM

He hands the case to Natalia, letting her pick a the first beer. His demeanor gets a little awkward after Svenka's question, and he shrugs, "Because you and Eish are my friends. I know it's weird with the tensions our governments insist on operating with, but I owe my station to you, and my life to him. That kind of transcends borders anyways. Besides," he adds with more levity, "what's the point in being in charge of a powerful intelligence organization if I can't abuse my station to do things for personal reasons."

Natalia Toivonen 13-Jun-20 11:22 AM

In charge of a powerful intelligence agency? Owes it to her? So that was the disparity of scale here. Just a touch terrifying. She pulled one of the beers free of the case, leaving it sitting out where it'd be easy for the other two to get to as she found some out-of-the-way spot to blend in and try not to exist too loudly.

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 02:51 PM

“Oh I.... don’t drink. Sorry. But I’m sure Lena would like one - consider yourselves off duty.” She smiles and takes the box from Dorian, placing it on the console and opening it up.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 03:04 PM

Dorian watches anxiously.

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 04:21 PM

Svenka looks through the box, letters from the remaining Sons of Corn, from the former Lazlow enterprises on their status, Some of the latest Taros metal albums, a collection of snacks and treats from Gudrun, some magazines, and other assorted things. She tears up before closing the box and nodding. “Thank you Dorian, very thoughtful.... How have you been? I heard about Marcion... I hope he is well after everything.”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 04:24 PM

He beams, "You're welcome. I've been alright. There's been a lot of putting CIS back together lately. The drop at Savita was pretty disasterous for our Outrider teams. Plus, now we've shifted our focus to the Water War on Asta so that's drawing resources and attention. Marcion seems to be doing well; Wind and the baby, too. I make sure someone pokes their head in on them every once in awhile." Dorian seems tired behind the smile now, running CIS has taken more work than he expected.

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 04:27 PM

“Should’ve come with. Defecting is a lot more fun than all that.” She smiles “I mean... a lot of work as it goes as well - working to build up planets and make lives better.”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 04:28 PM

"Makes it easier to defect when we have open borders," he laughs, "how're things on Acastus? How's Eisheru? I haven't seen him since before The Healing."

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 04:32 PM

“Challenging for sure, still working to spring back from the devastation of the Shaper attack, thankful for the assistance from yourself and Seung, working on building up some of the other worlds, of course.”

She pauses “Eisheru is well... changed, but well.”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 04:34 PM

"Changed? Did something happen after they killed the Scream Beast?" he subconsciously flexes his prosthetic.

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 04:36 PM

She nods “Likely not my place to say.”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 04:38 PM

“Ah,” Dorian hesitates, “Are you- ok?”

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 04:46 PM

She nods “Of course. Why would I not be?” The smile is a little forced.

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 05:02 PM

He glances over at Natalia, “Well, you know you have friends on this side of the sector, too. I’m not saying you should come back, but there’s people who care about you all over.” He shrugs, “Anyways, you should tell Eisheru to come by Gudrun when he gets the chance. I’d come visit Acastus, but uh, Kensh made my welcome status pretty clear last time.”

Natalia Toivonen 13-Jun-20 05:03 PM

Oh thank God I thought that was going to get horrifically awkward. Thankfully not. Just regular awkward. Strange as it was to see a meeting like this happening, it felt a little voyeuristic to be stuck in the room while two old friends reunited. She looked down at the still-closed beer in her hands. I wish I drank. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 05:18 PM

“We will see how things pan out with the Galatea meeting. I fear I don’t have as warm a welcome from all members of the UNW.” She puts out her arms in an awkward invitation for a hug “I will deliver the message to Eisheru, of course.”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 13-Jun-20 05:20 PM

He embraces her, "Eh, fuck 'em. You're still welcome as far as I'm concerned. But, I've been known to go against the general Council anyways. Also, please try to take a picture of Eish's face when he opens his present."

Svenka Vilnovha 13-Jun-20 11:36 PM

“I will have the drone record, as it always does... have you done well since the battle...” She points at his arm. “Since losing your arm.”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 14-Jun-20 08:17 AM

“It took a little getting used to, but it’s not much of a problem anymore. Kind of hard to fly commercial though, damn thing keeps setting off alarms.”

Svenka Vilnovha 14-Jun-20 09:38 AM

“Like you ever fly commercial.” She smiled. “Well, we should get to work I suppose.”

Ephraim Cantor (Einer) 14-Jun-20 09:41 AM

He winks, “Glad you’re still keeping me honest. I’m going back to Gudrun, there’s too much for CIS to be keeping tabs on. But if you run into trouble, you call.” He turns to Natalia, “That goes for you, too. You’re honored guests in UNW space. As Eish likes to say, ‘Fair winds, and following seas’.” He hugs her again, and waves goodbye to Natalia.

Natalia Toivonen 14-Jun-20 09:45 AM

Oh, now she existed? Natalia internally sighed. Was nice to be ignored in a general sense, but still. Why invite someone to stick around only to have a very sweet, personal catching up with the one he actually came to see? Just felt like having a captive audience? Dick. She returned the wave without a word, standing up to slip the still unopened beer back into the case before retaking her station. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 14-Jun-20 10:00 AM

“Take care Dorian.” Damn, she looks grumpy. She teleports him back to his ship and gets to prepping them ship.

Natalia Toivonen 14-Jun-20 10:59 AM

(I don't have anything more to add at this point - good to move on when you are.)

Nekosmash 14-Jun-20 11:03 AM

(I’ll let you know how much downtime passes as soon as I get a map in front of me again. We can move right on to Musheera )

Nekosmash 14-Jun-20 04:13 PM

(9 days of downtime, as we move through UNW space under escort from CIS ships)

Natalia Toivonen 14-Jun-20 04:29 PM

Natalia spent the transit as she had all the others, save a bit quieter than usual. That is to say: nearly nonverbal. (26/90 on Survive-0)

Svenka Vilnovha 14-Jun-20 05:31 PM

Svenka engages in a series of awkward conversations with Natalia, Lena and Belobog. (26/90 on talk-0)

Nekosmash 15-Jun-20 05:32 AM

Arriving on Musheera, it appears both the Knights of Draconis, and a small band of factionless UNW scavengers are also on planet. The RCoE outpost has been repaired from the Brotherhood of Fenris raid, and there is another with a dome being built over it, around some kind of matter compactor. The Pillar of Salt, in service to the Knights, banks its engines to better protect its more lightly armored belly from the new ship arriving in system space.

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 06:21 AM

"Busy." Natalia was looking up from her status screen at the readouts from the comm station out the corner of her eye. Had been the first thing she'd said, one way or another, in a while now - nearly a day. Flies on a carcass.

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 10:34 AM

“Alright, broadcast our intentions and greetings to both the Knights and the UNW forces, come in close and scan for both anything of interest and a suitable landing site. Intend to set up the Wings as our base of operation and Natalia and I can take the Ponderous Bear to be mobile on-planet.” She looks over to Natalia. “Should be interesting.”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 10:41 AM

Yep, somewhere between a trip to the scrapyard and being a nice little accessory to your legend. Grand time. "Mhm," she said, sounding about as checked-out as she felt. Natalia thought for a second before saying anything else. "Does Pon-" cough, "Ponderous Bear have the seals to operate there long?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 12:03 PM

“Shut up, I know its a horrible name. He can run indefinitely and has living quarters, so if we wanted to have an extended sojourn we could. Also a small Grav flyer can be attached if we want to bring it along... although I dont know if that will be a good idea on Musheera.” She sighs, even she can tell that Natalia is... well at least nog pleased. “Lena and Belobog will stay with the ship, Ill bring drones along, but aside from that, its just you and I.”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 12:05 PM

"Oh, I don't mind the name. It's cute." She forced a little smile, standing up from her station and running through the mental checklist of what she'd need to pack. Probably not much. "My concern is the atmosphere eating through the hull seals if we take too long. Corrosive, and all."

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 12:17 PM

“Not sure. We will have to keep an eye on it, really have no point of reference to know the long-term impacts. Its a tough ATV.”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 12:22 PM

"Alright. I'll get my kit together, put fresh power cells in the suits, and... all that." Natalia flipped her station into standby stepped off the bridge, winding her way to the ship's lockers to pick out the odds and ends she didn't already have among her personal gear.

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 12:23 PM

“Lena, you have the bridge. Let me know how things look in finding a good landing site.” Svenka did the same, getting her gear ready and running through checks

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 01:10 PM

(There's no real settlements down here aside from the RCOE outpost, right? Just finding some spot in a field of scrap to settle down on?)

Nekosmash 15-Jun-20 01:11 PM

(Wendel and the gang have one building, but otherwise I'll grab 2d100 from each of you an generate an LZ)

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 01:12 PM

(60 and 22 for total 82)

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 01:16 PM

(32+93=125)

Nekosmash 15-Jun-20 01:20 PM

To the north, a large crane and rail depot lie in ruins, where dozens of tracks once brought cargo to other parts of the planet. They connect to a large cargo station to your south, where the warehouses are mostly open to the sky, but the walls seem intact. To the West, a large office complex sits in ash draped quiet, the large windows broken apart hundreds of years ago. to the east, some sort of former park or green area is now quite black, overgrown with the threatening looking vegetation that seems to thrive in this atmosphere.

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 01:27 PM

Natalia watched the descent and landing through the big bubble window on the bridge, kit sitting in a pile by the ATV and ready to get moving as soon as needed. Didn't think anything grew here. Something struck her as a bit... not wrong, but some close cousin of wrong, about what they were doing. The secrets of the past had no right to stay secret, but taking a treasure trove such as Musheera and scouring it like carrion birds felt... off. The site deserved better than that. Research, not looting. Well. Not her call. She headed back down towards the cargo bay to suit up once touchdown had been made, radioing a quiet, "ready in five, got a site in mind?" up to Svenka.

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 01:29 PM

“Rail yard seems the most likely site - can land and make our way up there. All a little ghoulish.” She runs checks on the massive ATV, ensures enough space for anything they find as well as supplies for a potentially long trip.

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 01:32 PM

Natalia went through her own round of checks, making sure all the little bits of her kit were in order. Contacts clean on everything that needed a power cell, all the cells charged, checked and double-checked the environmental seals on the assault suit. "Mind if I'm a bit tedious for a second?" she replied over the comm, partway through suiting up. Easier to wear it onto the ATV than to carry it, she figured.

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 01:39 PM

“Not at all... Whats on your mind?”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 01:47 PM

“Nothing dramatic, promise.” Plenty of that locked up in Natalia's head, but it could wait. No sense in going through the agony of settling things there if they might just die down there in a second anyway. “Just seems to me like a place like this, used like we use it, might as well be criminal. Cover a planet head to toe in relics and leftovers of the past, and what do we use it for? A scrapyard. Just some rotting carcass for us to pick over. No concern for how this all got here, or why, or why put it there. Just what there is, and how it's useful for us.” Suit on, she started making her way up towards the ATV with thumping steps. “Seems like a waste. Same waste that happens every time we find some bit of precursor or pre-scream technology. Just children playing on the bones of their parents. Barely even try to understand why these things work, or how to start developing new things of our own. Just concerned about getting more scraps off the bodies.” A pause. Throat hurt a bit. More talking than she was used to doing all at once. "Alright... I'm done. Sorry." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 02:03 PM

She shrugs “Absolutely right. We are just scavenging for scrap, that being said, hopefully we can find some thing of interest and actually legitimately study beyond simply collecting scrap. That being said, if we can take a chunk of some mundane advanced tech and repurpose it now to make lives better, we can and should do so... but there is a line, a fine line as it were.” She looks at the read outs, distracted for a moment. “Like the Shuttle... or the Preystar. Research, understand, see if we can make it again, and preserve the relic as best we can. There is a reason I am not packing that gun or flying that shuttle... there needs to be some semblance of care... But, if I find a super-advanced coffee maker? You bet I am going to scrap it and make it into something better.”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 02:07 PM

“Just wish we'd put some thought into doing more than blind copying. Work out the principles that make it as 'super-advanced' as it is, try and apply it elsewhere. You'd think we would be able to make an advanced shuttle without finding an old shuttle to copy, after having the data from doing the same with a few sorts of frigates and fighters. But no. We didn't even try.” Natalia shrugged to herself, stepping onto the ATV. “But whatever. We're here to pick bones. Let's pick bones.” (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 03:11 PM

Svenka gives her a “Really?” look. “There is a time for blind copying and a time for independent research and development. If we find something that already does a better job than what we have, we copy it and see if we can iterate and improve on it. We look to see if the Preystar can be scaled up, used for interstellar mining, used for other purposes. It doesn’t diminish the end result and it doesn’t diminish the discovery. What we are doing here is more than just picking bones, its learning, its recording, and yes, it is scavenging, but If all you see is picking bones, then thats all you are going to do.” She Finishes getting into and activates her suit. “There is a nearly imperceptible field around my armour. Its designed to mitigate most forms of attack from damaging the armour and more importantly me. I didn’t copy that, but i did use the “bones” of prior civilizations to accomplish that. I plan to continue to iterate on that and develop something more useful and impressive. The same is true of my rifle - similar principle, but different - it is able to phase slightly through matter to greatly improve penetration. Again - not something I copied, but made possible by old tech. Belobog - found in an old pretech facility and granted a new lease on life... Its a matter of perspective, Natalia, and I am a poor example - i tend to see the worst more often than the best. If you think your day will suck, it will very rarely not. If you think this is just picking bones, that is all it will be.”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 03:19 PM

“You know, there's something poignant about listing off your accomplishments and riches as a way to prove a point. You sure you shouldn't have signed on with RCoE? For how much time you spent bitching about their ego, you seem about the same." Natalia took a deep breath. Rein in the temper. Not now. For the love of God, not right now. “Sorry. Uncalled for.” (edited)

1

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 03:30 PM

“Yeah, you know what? You have this under control. I’ll... see to the ship.” She swallows, hard. “Make sure you allow for a couple of minutes for the reactor to warm up in the ATV - best to keep it running while you are out there. Feel free to pick from the drones - whatever you need.” She gets out of the assault suit, stows her rifle.

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 03:45 PM

Was that... anger or sadness? Hard for Natalia to tell. Either way, she knew she fucked up. Svenka was a living legend, sure, and could probably break Natalia like a toothpick, but apparently words still hurt. "Remember what I said when you asked if I wanted to go alone? Solo trip over a corrosive junkyard world is a quick route to a slow death. No, I don't have this under control. And if you're going to watch my back... well, if I'm going to watch yours, if we're being honest, can't do it with the ghost of my mistake hanging over our heads." She forced a small smile. Why did this kind of thing keep happening? Reaching up to the back of her helmet, Natalia undid the seals and took it off. "So how about we just... settle this? Whatever it is makes it right for you. Because I shouldn't have said that." (edited)

1

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 03:55 PM

She took a breath, jaw set and worked to control her breathing, keep the tears from coming, keep from falling apart then and there. “I...” Another breath. “You don’t want me to settle this right now... And no, you shouldn’t. You really shouldn’t have. I’m going to walk away now. See to the equipment, expedition leaves in an hour.”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 03:59 PM

"Understood." Better than the broken jaw she was expecting. Would've been fine with it, even. "And I'm sorry." Natalia got to work. No time wasted, right to it. Let a job well-done be some small piece of the apology, she supposed.

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 04:25 PM

Svenka retreated to her quarters, turned on her music and took a couple of deep breaths. Looking into the mirror. “Should have killed my fucking emotions. Then I could toss her out an airlock and not feel too bad about it.” You know you couldn’t Doesn’t mean I don’t want to, at least a little. Fucking hell. This is easily the worst job interview I have been involved in. Fucking fuck. Well, I guess I made... multiple mistakes. Shouldn’t assume people are friends. Shouldn’t assume they care or want my opinion. Shouldn’t... keep trying. She looked in the mirror, looked and felt tired. Why am I even here? She’s right... I’m just a sad shadow of something bigger and better and smarter. I’m a vulture picking up the leftovers of the UNW... of dead civilizations. And as much as I would prefer to stay here, I... we have a job to do and I cant in good conscience send her out there alone. Just like the rigs... get up, get dressed and get the job done, then sleep and repeat. Sleep and repeat. She set an alarm and focused on her breathing until an hour had passed, then got ready to go. Just another workday. “Lena, we will be heading out shortly.” She returned to the hold and started getting in to her suit again.

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 04:38 PM

Gear checked, checked, rechecked. Everything sorted and in place. Should have just said yes when they offered me the nanites. So much easier. No more temper, no more pride. Just... nothing. Nothing would be better than this. But you still said no. No you didn't, you said you'd think about it. Not too late. Maybe better that way. She chewed on her lip as she looked over the ATV's systems. This wasn't an hour of work, but she made new jobs. Even opened up the hood to give everything a once-over two or three times on her obsessive circuits of systems-checking. I'm not supposed to be here. I'm a beetle in the shadow of an eagle, pretending it has any right to be seen. She offered you so much, and what did you do? Just wasted it. Should've just joined a convent or gotten a job in the factory like mom. What's the point of chasing the dream if you're just going to shoot yourself in the foot? As much as she hated it, tears slid down Natatlia's face. Well you torched it. Gone. No more chance. Fucking idiot. Now what? Just go back to staring at rocks? Go... what, try again? After that? Christ, if only I'd known how hard that was going to hit. By the time Svenka came back, Natalia was sat waiting, eyes red and a little puffy, though she'd wiped the tears away. “Can I say something before we get started?”

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 04:41 PM

She swallowed again, helmet not on yet, eyes dead. “If you think you should.”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 04:48 PM

“I think that hurt you a lot more than I thought it ever could. Crossed a line I didn't know was there. That's not an excuse. Still broke our deal. Hell, don't even know if it's true – not like I know you well enough. Doesn't matter.” She looked up. Not quite able to look straight-on at Svenka, but close to it. “I don't know. I think I just tossed something that could have been good for... both of us, probably, into a fire because I can't keep my temper in line. I don't expect you to forgive me. But I am sorry.” A pause. “Like you said – my people skills are shit. I am trying, though. No malice. Promise you that.”

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 05:30 PM

Svenka, conversely maintains uncomfortably steely constant eye contact when Natalia looks up. “More something significantly better for you, actually. I appreciate you owning it, but I am not over it. I don’t know when I will be, but I don’t have the luxury of dropping you off and spending time away from you, because that is exactly what I want to do right now. I am, however, ready to get to work and get to salvaging what we can.” She paused “The only other thing I will say is that you should get your anger in check. I don’t know why I deserved that. I’ve seen people die on the path you are on.” And I had to pull the trigger.

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 05:39 PM

Wouldn't be so bad. “You didn't deserve it.” Natalia stood up, grabbing the helmet from next to her. She bit her lip in indecision a moment, and added, “But... well, the anger might not be a problem much longer.” A slight shrug. “Ready when you are.”

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 07:11 PM

She is silent for a moment. “Fuck.” She looks at Natalia. “Dont go offing yourself, I’ll get over it. You just managed to somehow say the absolutely worst possible thing you could say and it felt wholly unwarranted. And it still fucking hurts. I want to crawl into a ball and listen to loud music and leave you to enjoy the corrosive atmosphere without me.” She sighs. “I wanted this to be a... if not fun at least a somewhat enjoyable trip. Now... My temptation is to shut down entirely, focus on getting through the mission and occasional stare daggers into the back of your head.” She gives a slight smile.

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 07:48 PM

"Offing myself?" Natalia's general haze of misery was cut through with pure surprise. She wasn't going to... God no. She wasn't, right? Sure, she didn't like living that much, but that didn't mean she was going to kill herself! "No, uh... sorry. Not what I meant. I got an... an offer. To join the Liberated and just... be done with it. Still considering." A pause. "Well. Can't promise enjoyable, but... we can work on less terrible?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 08:04 PM

“Yeah... they offered that to me as well. I guess you really grew on them then? Didn’t lead with how they were horrible people?” She looked away for a moment. “I’m glad you aren’t planning to kill yourself... okay... so new deal. I’m not going to try to be your friend or give you advice. We are going to get to scouring this planet for anything we can make use of and we are not going to get personal. Sound good?”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 08:15 PM

“I think it was pity.” Natalia sighed, looking down a moment. It wasn't worth the effort of getting into, even if the inevitable laugh at her expense might somehow help. “Okay. We can do that. I'm... I feel like I should say I can do a bit personal. Just... light? Not friends, but friendly. Depends on what you want. I'm guessing you're still looking to tear my head off – for good reason. I'd be tearing my head off too. But... well, sounds like you're suggesting 'shutting down entirely,' by another name.” A little shrug. “Out of line to ask what the music I keep hearing in the hall is?” (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 08:28 PM

“It was definitely pity when they offered it to me... still not sure if killing my emotions is the way to go, although they keep getting tested, that’s for sure.” “And I don’t want to hurt you, I want to abandon you, there is a difference.” “Taros or Slyth music, usually.”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 08:33 PM

"Well hey. Common ground." A halfhearted, self-depreciating smile hung on Natalia's face a moment. "Yeah, it's... not sure what to do with that. Tempting, but what scares me is... sorry, nevermind. Nothing personal." There was a small, mildly awkward pause. Maybe more than mildly. "So... Slyth music? As in... old works, or something made by the living Slyth?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 09:02 PM

“Don’t get personally attack-y is more what I meant. If you want to share something, go right ahead. The Slyth music I have is all old, I havent met any of the living ones, I mean not really...”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 09:06 PM

"Oh. Yeah. Okay, not trying to... got it. I don't think I have it in me to be, uh, be hurtful." She took a deep breath. "Well, the Abbot told me all you kept was a love for the groups and people you were dedicated to before. But... what happens if you don't have any of those?"

Svenka Vilnovha 15-Jun-20 09:07 PM

“That’s the concern - becoming some sort of shell.”

Natalia Toivonen 15-Jun-20 09:08 PM

"Yeah." A pause. "Might still be better. Not sure. A-anyway! Slyth. Really do want to meet... well not meet, talk to one. Not that often you can just ask someone about a dead... or formerly-dead culture like that." (edited)

Nekosmash 16-Jun-20 10:15 AM

As the hour finishes counting down, the crew announces that all systems are green, and the vehicles needing to deploy are ready to do so

"On your command, Captain Svenka" Lena says, before moving back to her large control banks

Svenka Vilnovha 16-Jun-20 10:45 AM

“Its on the list of things to research and... well, do.” She gets the comm from Lena. “Everything is green, ready to go explore? I’m just going to say something because I probably should...” “I have lived in the shadow of Billy Rigers for my entire career, I had admiration for the “boy wonder” who managed to accomplish so much in his young life. I... a 30-something miner and sometimes scrap collector didn’t think she could accomplish anything like he did. I idolized him. Then I met him. He is brilliant, amazingly intelligent and able to build some amazing things. He is a capable fighter... and he is rich beyond imagining.” She sighs “He can also be immature, arrogant and prone to boasting... Oil and water it seemed... What I was trying to say in talking about the things I have researched is that... well I wasn’t trying to boast. I just... I don’t think that this trip need be so hopeless as it seemed in your words. What you said hurt... a lot. Ive tried to be a good host, Ive tried to maybe act as a mentor or friend without earning it and in return I’ve been bitten. My default is to crawl back inside, be a rigger and get the job done, but I don’t want to burn this.” she passes her hand between the two of them. “You fucked up, big. As a potential employer this has made things difficult. As a potential friend I need to question whether this is worth it.” She sniffles. “I try to be a good person, ok? I’m not good at this stuff. I’m better with machines. Better in my lab... so... let’s reset? Please try to take whatever I say the best way possible and I’ll do the same and we can work to build something up again. Just... tell me if I say something that triggers you and try... not to be such a bitch.” She grins

Natalia Toivonen 16-Jun-20 11:06 AM

Okay. That was a lot of words. Hard to sort through. “I'll... just be honest in return.” A deep breath. “I look at you and see what it might have looked like if a lot of stupid, idealistic dreams of mine actually came true. You cast a long, long shadow. And now I sit square in the middle of it. It hurts. Hurts twice as much when I'm put into the role of student without asking for it, without wanting it. Even if it might be for the best. Doesn't justify me being a terrible person but... that's where I'm coming from.” A pause, and Natalia shrugged. “I'm trying. I don't want to hurt anyone. Least of all someone I like, despite the hurt. Friends would be nice. That's a big ask, I know. I'll bite my tongue when I get pissed, keep trying to sort... all of that out. At least not make it your problem.” She put out a slightly-shaky hand, forcing a weak smile. “So a reset sounds nice. Thank you.”

Svenka Vilnovha 16-Jun-20 11:07 AM

She takes the hand, shaking it maybe-slightly too-firmly, smiles and nods. “Fuck, so I’m your Billy. Great.” She gets suited up.

Natalia Toivonen 16-Jun-20 11:12 AM

"Sorry. Well... we can be better than that? You're definitely better than what you describe him like." She fastened her helmet into place, glad for the barrier between her and everything else. "Want me behind the wheel, let you sit back?"

Svenka Vilnovha 16-Jun-20 11:14 AM

“I usually let it drive itself. I’m lazy and arrogant like that!” She laughs. “But yes, lets go with you driving it.” She climbs in to the passenger seat of the large rig. “Ready to depart, She is all yours, Lena.”

Natalia Toivonen 16-Jun-20 11:16 AM

“Don't really trust autopilots, to be honest.” Natalia settled into the seat, wrapping fingers around the wheel as a comfortable little smile settled on her face. Nothing quite compared to being at the helm of a couple tons of steel and engine, regardless of how it was moving around. “Besides, Ponderous Bear looks like a fun drive. Nice and bulky.”

Svenka Vilnovha 16-Jun-20 11:18 AM

“Oh, he is a delight.” She leans back. “If we are out here for any extended period of time, I wont be riding in my suit, however.”

Natalia Toivonen 16-Jun-20 11:24 AM

"Not comfortable enough?" Natalia replied with a little smile. "I kinda like the suit. Good thunk when you walk." She idly drummed gloved fingers on the wheel, waiting on the release from Lena so they could get underway. "I'll admit, though, servos in these things aren't as robust as I imagined. Hardly carries its own weight. Might strap some bits from an industrial loading frame into it when we get back."

Nekosmash 16-Jun-20 11:25 AM

There is a gentle bump as the holding claw is released, and the vehicle is free to travel

Timers and status lights show that power has been switched to the internal unit, no longer on shipboard power

Natalia Toivonen 16-Jun-20 11:54 AM

"Aaaand we're rolling," Natalia muttered to herself as she got the ATV into motion, gently taking it out from the ship's shadow and setting course for the rail yard. Oh he does feel nice.

Svenka Vilnovha 16-Jun-20 12:28 PM

Svenka gets on sensors, keeping an eye out for any signs of life or anything that might be of interest to dig into as they approach the old rail yard.

Nekosmash 16-Jun-20 12:32 PM

There are a trio of trains, entwined around one another in death at the end of the rail yard, as empty box cars have vented their contents across the tracks

Natalia Toivonen 16-Jun-20 12:34 PM

There really was something sad about the place, in Natalia's eyes. Crawling over a graveyard. Lost and broken and ruined things. Maybe Svenka was right about one thing - there was something nice in giving the old parts new life. Even if it meant erasing the record, just a little. "Any clue what that is spilling out of the boxes?" Natalia brought the Bear to a fittingly Ponderous stop, not wanting to run over any of the miscellaneous parts.

Svenka Vilnovha 16-Jun-20 04:03 PM

“No. Best to investigate, and see if there is anything we can use amongst the rubble.” She cues up her drones to launch from the back, combat models on standby. “Let’s see what we are dealing with.” She gets out of the rig with her suit on.

Natalia Toivonen 16-Jun-20 04:05 PM

Ooh, launch bays are a nice touch. Natalia followed right along behind after a quick double (or maybe triple, quadruple at this point?) check of the suit seals. "As long as we're out, should probably check the trains themselves, too? Might be able to take something out of the engines."

Svenka Vilnovha 16-Jun-20 04:28 PM

“Oh dont worry, we are going to pick these bones clean.” She chuckles.

Natalia Toivonen 16-Jun-20 04:30 PM

"Well if we're gonna be vultures, might as well be good ones." Didn't quite have it in her to laugh, but she at least smiled. Following alongside Svenka, Natalia looked over the wreckage, sparing a brief glance at the Ponderous Bear to see if the atmosphere had managed any visible corrosion yet. I weep for your paintjob.

Nekosmash 16-Jun-20 04:45 PM

The corrosion is not visible yet. A timer counts down from six hours before an expected breach

Natalia Toivonen 16-Jun-20 04:48 PM

Well. If we're out here more than six hours I suppose something's gone terribly wrong already. Back to searching, back to bone-picking. First the piles of scattered objects on the ground, then the trains themselves.

Nekosmash 16-Jun-20 04:50 PM

The boxes are torn apart and the contents must have been fabric or some other perishable good because there are just grey scraps there now

The trains have handled their time out here better. The outer shells are pitted and chewed but peeking through a window had the controls looking in better condition

The trains being on their side and otherwise massively tangled can’t be helped with the gear on hand

Svenka Vilnovha 16-Jun-20 04:57 PM

“Alright - lets see about getting in and seeing if any of this is still usable. Clock is ticking.” Svenka gets out her tools and sees about the best way to access the engine.

Natalia Toivonen 16-Jun-20 04:58 PM

Natalia did much the same, clambering up the side of the wrecked locomotive to poke around at the control systems for useful parts.

Nekosmash 17-Jun-20 06:04 AM

THe lead engine is on its side, its window facing the sky. Dropping in is a trivial matter, as you're both protected in thick suits of tank like armor. there is also the longer option of cutting the roof off to get inside

The controls inside look to be in good repair, aside from all the glass inside shattering as the impact knocked it over. The battery car attached behind the engine has its cables still attached to the rear of the engine, but the charge has bled away over hundreds of years. All the gauges you can see from the outside are on standby power

or entirely inert

Svenka Vilnovha 17-Jun-20 06:40 AM

“Alright - you to drop in and take a look at the controls, I’ll work from the outside, maybe see if the battery car has anything useful. We will give this a quick look over and move on, might be better options than this...” Svenka gets positioned to check on the power source and get to work. (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 17-Jun-20 08:02 AM

Natalia paused, already halfway through lowering herself into the lead engine's broken side windows. Yes, because I needed to be told to do that thing I was already doing. "Way ahead of you." She dropped the last little bit with a thud and the crunch of broken glass under her boots, and started poking around to see if there were useful components to strip out of the control systems. (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 17-Jun-20 09:44 AM

While fiddling with the fasteners on a panel and looking for where the right screwdriver tip in her kit had run away to, an idea crossed Natalia's mind. A bad one. But one her lips were already moving on before she'd had time to process it. "So, question. Well. Two questions. You mind?"

Svenka Vilnovha 17-Jun-20 09:55 AM

“Nope, go ahead.”

Natalia Toivonen 17-Jun-20 09:57 AM

"So before I was, uh, a bit of a massive bitch and torched everything... what is it you were looking for? Or, well, are looking for now." She slotted a head into place gave it a... nope, no dice. Stupid corroded screwheads. "Felt... well, not sure what it felt like. Like you wanted a student. Or maybe a lackey. But you'd said 'friend,' and that was... not at all what I expected from how you treat me. So now I'm not sure." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 17-Jun-20 11:56 AM

“No idea. Didn’t really find it whatever it was.. I... was trying to give advice and it was neither warranted or wanted, and I get that. I shouldn’t have done that. I don’t want a lackey, I certainly don’t want an employee. Now we are two agents working on a job to get equipment to help Greystar and we are going to do our best to get along. My personal feelings don’t really and shouldn’t enter into the equation.” She shrugged, although Natalia wouldn’t be able to see it. “And as for what comes next, I guess we will see.”

Natalia Toivonen 17-Jun-20 12:23 PM

"Guess so." Back to work.

Nekosmash 17-Jun-20 12:50 PM

The controls in here are specific to a train, and Greystar is not so resource poor as to strip the gauges from it for use elsewhere Aside from some bodywork however, the engine itself looks to be in largely preserved condition.

The battery car has a containment seal that has ruptured, and the charge has bled away over the passage of years. If it can be repaired and recharged, it will continue to serve its engine. Cabling is likewise a trifling thing for Greystar technicians to fix

Natalia Toivonen 17-Jun-20 12:56 PM

"Nothing useful in here. Intact, but not special." Took a few of the gauges out anyway. Keepsake. With a little hop to reach the lip, Natalia hauled herself out of the window of the locomotive, dropping down into the dirt a meter or two from Svenka. "Any luck?"

Svenka Vilnovha 17-Jun-20 01:02 PM

“Serviceable power source, cables would need to be replaced... might be something we could make use of.... dont know if we need a big power source or not. How’s the engine?”

Natalia Toivonen 17-Jun-20 01:05 PM

"Better than it should be, all things considered. Tough old bastard." She tapped the outside of the engine's casing. "Bear has a winch, right? Because I'm thinking we take the whole engine."

Svenka Vilnovha 17-Jun-20 01:07 PM

She nods “Can do - One engine and one serviceable power source tagged.”

Natalia Toivonen 17-Jun-20 01:09 PM

"Off to elsewhere?" A little smile broke over her face, odd contrast to still-red eyes. "Wondering what might have been preserved in that office building. Nice and enclosed." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 17-Jun-20 01:39 PM

Svenka does a quick scan of the rail yard with Ozweina, to see if anything else of interest shows up before committing to a new location.

Nekosmash 17-Jun-20 01:42 PM

(program/int)

Svenka Vilnovha 17-Jun-20 01:42 PM

(You cant just change your icon - I was like Who TF is giving me orders in my thread

)

Natalia Toivonen 17-Jun-20 01:43 PM

(Confused the heck outta me :P)

Svenka Vilnovha 17-Jun-20 01:44 PM

(9)

Natalia Toivonen 17-Jun-20 02:08 PM

(I assume that's just Svenka you want that from, right? No drones to scan with :P)

Nekosmash 17-Jun-20 02:43 PM

(Yeah Svenka. Either the ship or the drones but either way we got the pass )

There is a bit of power inside the building that once served as the rail station and track switchboard nearby

Svenka Vilnovha 17-Jun-20 03:03 PM

“Power over in the building there... something is still active. Be... I’m going to be ready for combat, just in case.” She sends a scout drone in ahead and start making her way over to the building.

Natalia Toivonen 17-Jun-20 03:04 PM

Natalia eased her thermal pistol free of its holster, hooking it in to the suit's internal reserve as she followed behind. Not like she was an especially good shot or anything, but hey. Better than nothing. (edited)

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 06:35 AM

The system that controls some of the turntables and engine repair machinery is still running softly, though most of its component cranes and pieces are not responding. Your drone sees a myriad of screens either on, blacked out, or cracked and not displaying anything at all

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 07:13 AM

“Well that is surprising...” Svenka approaches one of the active screens and tries to access the systems. “Going to see what I can see, see what is accessible.”

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 08:05 AM

"Mm, alright." While Svenka fiddled around the the system, Nat made her way over to look over the machines it was meant to control.

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 10:21 AM

One of the large yard cranes is still working but its tracks are obstructed with more wreckage. Additionally, a large five stall work shed nearby is also able to be opened from here. Four of the bays have engines in them, and the last is empty. The assembly machinery inside can be tailored to a number of uses.

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 10:24 AM

One by one, the various odds and ends went into the slowly-growing list Natalia was keeping. Battery car, train engine, assembly machinery, old engines in work sheds, and so on. "Enough here that we might have trouble hauling it back," she said with a little frown. "At least to take it all in one trip. Not sure what the load limits on the Bear are like."

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 10:58 AM

(Can we tag and teleport things?)

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 10:59 AM

(talking about the teleport fitting on a ship?)

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 11:00 AM

(Correct)

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 11:00 AM

(up to 1200kg of cargo at a time

(a train engine is 200,000 kg, about 210 tons, but the assembly machinery you know about could be tagged once you actually get to it)

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 11:04 AM

(Is there something stopping us from getting to it? That's basically what Natalia has been doing - inspecting all the stuff up close.)

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 11:04 AM

“Hm... we can tag some of the items to teleport back... the engine is going to take some heavy lifting.” She continues plunking away at the computer.

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 11:05 AM

(it being in another building across the railyard, okay, so we split up then and are not in fact in the same building)

Natalia heads across the rail yard, and as she steps into the center of the gap between fallen and kicked over trains, there is a gentle rumble in the ground. It is rhythmic, and slowly growing stronger. A small cloud of dust is on the horizon, but whatever is causing it seems to be out of visual range

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 11:09 AM

"Movement," Natalia said over the comm, fishing around for her binoculars and silently praying the lenses stood up to the corrosion well enough to see clearly. "Dust cloud on the horizon, something approaching us. Big and heavy, whatever it is." Raising the binoculars to her eyes (a bit awkward with the suit's facemask in the way, but needs must), she tried to get some visual on what the source might be. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 11:12 AM

“Understood, coming to you.” Svenka orders 4 combat drones (2 Crowd Control and 2 Krazy Ivans) to get to Natalia’s position ASAP and steps away from the computer to get to her position in the yard.

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 12:02 PM

as Svenka makes it out into the yard, two shapes pass by the office park you'd seen some distance away. Each of them was a bus or train car put onto proper wheels, painted in a jagged black and grey camo to break up its outline against the horizon. Their large engines rev, and as they both turn their armored plow fronts to face you, the large symbol of the Remnant Office of Naval Intelligence is clear on the front, in what you hope is done in red paint

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 12:06 PM

"Oh fuck." Natalia lowered the binoculars, eyes casting about for some solid bit of cover to hole up in, in case falling back wasn't going to happen. This felt like something messy and horrible and violent was about to happen, and Natalia wasn't quite ready to die. "Remnant markings. Two vehicles, coming at us. Don't know how many inside them." A pause. "This doesn't feel like it's worth a fight. If... if that's an option at this point." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 12:12 PM

Well fuck. These guys just keep turning up... “Mokoshi’s wings, we have Remnant contact, repeat, Remnant contact. Standby” She switches to speaking to just Nat. “Keep low and try to get back to the Bear... stay safe above all else and get ready to run.” Open Channel “Approaching vehicle, this is Svenka Vilnovha, and Agent of Greystar, I am not here for conflict, simply exploration and salvage, what is your intent?” Svenka tries to get behind cover.

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 12:17 PM

there is a loud blast from a horn, as the two vehicles stop 200m away. Stepping out , five men in furs, and the tattered remains of Remnant uniforms, along with a gaggle of 20 or so gengineered humans steps out. The wretches look familiar, similar to the horde the bRotherhood of fenris set loose upon the gates of their castle when the combined UNW Greystar offensive landed

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 12:25 PM

Natalia was a lot of things. A soldier she was not. Never shot at a person, let alone shot a person. Natalia was, however, stubborn. Figured her presence one way or another wasn't going to change how this went down, but ditching one (admittedly, downright legendary) woman and four drones to twenty-five Remnant wasn't something she could live with, regardless of how it ended. Really hope this isn't what kills me. "No." Natalia settled behind cover, pistol in hand. Thankfully, the faceplate of the suit hid most of the stark terror on her face.

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 12:28 PM

"Getting off this world. Surrender your ship to us, and we'll spare you"

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 12:34 PM

“Is that your final offer?” Swapping to vehicle controls/comms. “Ponderous Bear, Activate defences.” Ship/Nat Comms “Prep to teleport Natalia and I on my order - we have unfriendlies. Get airborne” Leaving the Drones on standby she activates 4 suicide bombers in case things go south.

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 12:38 PM

(where are the other drones?)

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 12:40 PM

(Back of the Bear)

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 12:40 PM

"Teleporter standing by" Lena replies, and there is a tingle in the air around both of you as the temporary locus lock is held

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 12:41 PM

(We can scratch that, I should have given an inventory, I just really want to blow shit up with them at some point.

)

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 12:41 PM

(i know you have a ton of them, and have been good about controlling the number you can control but yeah in a situation like this is helps to know whats where)

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 12:48 PM

(Sorry to interrupt, but - of those remnant: all visibly armed? If so, how heavily does it seem?)

(not sure if this is a spears and slings or heavy machine guns kinda fight wandering up to us

)

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 12:48 PM

(only the five actual humans, and with combat rifles)

(and pistols on their belts)

(the vehicles look to be more of a ways of getting around with what you can see of them right now, no obvious hard points on the front side)

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 12:51 PM

(cool, thanks) A quick peek look over the assembled crowd of horrors, people, and vehicles at least did a little bit of good for her nerves. No big cannons or anything. The tingle of the teleporter lock was also comforting, in its own way. Oh God I'm actually about to be in a firefight aren't I? Why didn't I bring one of the rifles, dammit?! Nothing left but to wait for the Remnant's reply, she supposed.

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 12:52 PM

"Its the only offer. Your ship, and you get to keep your lives. Or we'll take both"

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 01:09 PM

“Ships already gone... we die and you get some pretty corpses and that’s about it.” Key to Nat “Teleport or stand our ground?”

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 01:11 PM

There was a pause before her reply came over the comm. "I... don't want to kill anyone. Not over scrap." (edited)

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 01:17 PM

(they approached as nat was going to check it out)

(so no ones actually physically touched the machinery)

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 01:18 PM

(I meant the stuff from before, at the trainwreck)

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 01:18 PM

(the actual train is too heavy)

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 01:18 PM

(including the battery car?)

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 01:18 PM

(can only teleport 1200kg and the train is 210,000kg)

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 01:18 PM

(k, will edit)

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 01:18 PM

(the ship has enough room to take it, but not by teleporting)

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 01:22 PM

(fixed)

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 02:34 PM

“Last shot - drop the guns and we can talk this out, otherwise you will die on this toxic rock. Your call.”

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 03:50 PM

(Initiative)

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 03:51 PM

[6]

Svenka Vilnovha 18-Jun-20 03:56 PM

(So... um.... 2.)

2

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 08:12 PM

(3)

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 08:14 PM

(I take it since we're rolling initiative it's obvious this is about to turn into a shootout to Nat, even if the other guys haven't fired yet?) (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 08:23 PM

(Don't want to spring into action only to actually be the one starting the fight :P)

Nekosmash 18-Jun-20 08:31 PM

(They’re certainly not going to leave you alone)

Natalia Toivonen 18-Jun-20 08:36 PM

Oh. Oh God this is going to pop off, isn't it? Nat wasn't a solider, but she knew one thing: bigger gun = better. And Ponderous Bear had a damn big gun. "Getting the Bear," Natalia said over the comm, eyeing the gap between her and the building. Should be able to make it. "Have her open for me." With that, she broke into a dead sprint, thunking over the rubble-strewn ground to the building, hoping to cut through and reach the heavily-armed ATV.

Nekosmash 19-Jun-20 05:40 AM

(double moving and forgoing an action then? this brings you to the doors of the building, next turn you can get through and into the bear)

Natalia Toivonen 19-Jun-20 06:47 AM

(sounds good. If I can end behind cover on my run, I will)

Nekosmash 19-Jun-20 06:48 AM

(there's a bit around the doorframe of the building)

Natalia Toivonen 19-Jun-20 06:48 AM

(good enough)

Nekosmash 19-Jun-20 06:51 AM

The horde surges forward, closing to 150m of Svenka and her gaggle of drones. The once-humans froth, giggle, and scream as their masters finally let them off their leashes. two of the soldiers fire their combat rifles , kicking up splinters and stone around the doorframe, trying to catch Nat running (crit/4 and miss for the other) The remaining three fire at svenka, the more visible target, as the drones have not responded ina meaningful way yet (19/7, other two miss)

(svenka up)

Svenka Vilnovha 19-Jun-20 08:22 AM

Svenka sighs as they start to rush her position, winces as she sees Natalia get hit. Cry havoc...

Svenka - 🛡21 (-2 Damage taken from non-gunnery weapons) | ♥️ 85/85 Custom Taros Rifle -Phased/Infinite Ammo (Burst vs a Fur-clad Chad) [17/12] Range 100/300 — Crazy Ivan 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Heavy Machine Gun (Suppress) - [13/6 (12)] Range 500/2000 Ammo 8 / 10 — Crazy Ivan 2 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Heavy Machine Gun (Suppress) - [18/9 (17)] Range 500/2000 Ammo 8 / 10 — Crowd Control 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Shear Rifle (Burst vs a Fur-clad Chad) [27/11] Range 100/300 Ammo 7 / 10 — Crowd Control 2 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Shear Rifle (Burst vs a Fur-clad Chad) [21/12] Range 100/300 Ammo 7 / 10

(edited)

Nekosmash 19-Jun-20 09:18 AM

A trio of the advancing horde are cut down by the suppressive fire, their bodies stomped into paste by the charge of the pack behind them. Two of the rifle carrying soldiers are hit by the crowd control drones but stand their feet for the moment

(Back to nat)

Natalia Toivonen 19-Jun-20 09:21 AM

Natalia had hardly noticed she'd been shot. Too caught up in the panicky adrenaline rush to register it happened. The drumming of the machineguns and the sound of wet meat shredding, though, that was unmistakable. Don't think about it don't think about it don't think about it She kept on running, trying to get up and into the Bear. Once inside, if possible, she'd issue an order to the Autopilot to pull the ATV around the side of the building, behind Svenka's position. (edited)

Nekosmash 19-Jun-20 06:08 PM

(The double move gets you through the building and into the bear. Next turn it can move and shoot )

The slaves surge forward closing to 100m, a howling back of bestial once humans. Their mix of hooves and feet stamp the ground in their charge. The five soldiers return fire now only at Svenka

(24/4 with burst the rest miss)

Svenka Vilnovha 19-Jun-20 06:51 PM

(Can the drones move and shoot?)

Nekosmash 19-Jun-20 06:52 PM

(I’ll have to look)

Svenka Vilnovha 19-Jun-20 06:52 PM

(They can do either or - looked it up.)

Svenka Vilnovha 19-Jun-20 07:17 PM

Okay, finish them off... getting too close now. Svenka continues the assault, mutated things being ground up by heavy machinegun fire and her trying not to think about it too much.

Svenka - 🛡21 (-2 Damage taken from non-gunnery weapons) | ♥️ 83/85 Custom Taros Rifle -Phased/Infinite Ammo (Burst vs The Horde) [19/10] Range 100/300 — Crazy Ivan 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Heavy Machine Gun (Suppress) - [5] Range 500/2000 Ammo 6 / 10 — Crazy Ivan 2 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Heavy Machine Gun (Suppress) - [7] Range 500/2000 Ammo 6 / 10 — Crowd Control 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Shear Rifle (Burst vs The Horde) [28/14] Range 100/300 Ammo 4 / 10 — Crowd Control 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Shear Rifle (Burst vs The Horde) [15/14] Range 100/300 Ammo 4 / 10

(Can edit as-needed)

Nekosmash 20-Jun-20 02:16 PM

The horde is broken by the concentrated fire. Those who aren’t killed lose cohesion and begin breaking up, fleeing into the wreck field and no longer rounding on Svenka

(Nat)

Natalia Toivonen 20-Jun-20 02:21 PM

Finally in the Ponderous Bear, Natalia issued a quick order to pull around to the Ghost Driver while she scrambled into the turret. As the ATV roared around the side of the building, she cracked off a hesitant shot from the turret's cannon. "Please just run, please just run," she mumbled to herself, unaware her comm channel was still open. [Anti-Vehicle Laser - 8/10 at one of the Remnant soldiers]

Nekosmash 20-Jun-20 03:27 PM

The shot goes wide, kicking up dirt at their feet but without their slave soldiers their courage waivers and they begin to flee back toward the vehicles

Natalia Toivonen 20-Jun-20 06:24 PM

(Are we off initiative / out of "combat land" at this point, assuming Svenka and Nat don't keep firing away?)

Nekosmash 20-Jun-20 06:27 PM

(if you decide not to rout them, then we're out of combat)

Natalia Toivonen 20-Jun-20 06:28 PM

(Suppose that's up to Ms. Machineguns in the end

)

Svenka Vilnovha 20-Jun-20 07:14 PM

(So 2 things - can I try to get them to surrender and can I shoot to disable their vehicles?)

Nekosmash 20-Jun-20 07:15 PM

(Their reaction is to flee , theyre not going to surrender , and you'd have to destroy them, there's no mechanic for disabling shots on vehicles)

(they're certainly not coming back anytime soon if you decide not to follow them up)

Svenka Vilnovha 20-Jun-20 07:23 PM

"Focus fire on taking out the vehicles!" Svenka and her drones focus-fire on the vehicles

Svenka - 🛡21 (-2 Damage taken from non-gunnery weapons) | ♥️ 83/85 Custom Taros Rifle -Phased/Infinite Ammo (Vs Truck) [15/9] Range 100/300 — Crazy Ivan 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Heavy Machine Gun (Vs Truck) - [21/8] Range 500/2000 Ammo 5 / 10 — Crazy Ivan 2 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Heavy Machine Gun (Vs Truck) - [16/7] Range 500/2000 Ammo 5 / 10 — Crowd Control 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Shear Rifle (Vs Truck) [29/10] Range 100/300 Ammo 1 / 10 — Crowd Control 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Shear Rifle (Vs Truck) [15/9] Range 100/300 Ammo 1 / 10

(edited)

Nekosmash 20-Jun-20 07:25 PM

one of the two busses sags on its front tires as the rounds stike them , the engine block, the windshield and the plow, breaking something important within. Runnels of various engine fluids begin pouring out the front into an expanding puddle. those two that were running for it quickly change direction, as their fellows start the engine of the remaining one, and begin trying to back away

(nat)

Natalia Toivonen 20-Jun-20 07:27 PM

It took a moment for Natalia to process why on Earth Svenka would want to do that, but she wasn't about to just sit there and argue in the middle of all the... Just don't think about it. [Anti-Vehicle Laser - 15/15, firing at the other bus] (edited)

Nekosmash 20-Jun-20 07:28 PM

the bright beam punches into the crew cab, setting a small fire within, but evidently not enough to keep it from going anywhere

Natalia Toivonen 20-Jun-20 07:43 PM

(How far off are they at this point, if they're driving away from us?)

Nekosmash 20-Jun-20 07:51 PM

(Your heavy weapons all have a range in thousands of meters)

(they're still in range, if thats why youre asking)

Natalia Toivonen 20-Jun-20 07:52 PM

(More if we're in range of them, should they decide to pile out and open up again once the busses are kaput)

Nekosmash 20-Jun-20 07:52 PM

(as of right now, 200m, so yes

Svenka Vilnovha 20-Jun-20 08:45 PM

Svenka focuses fire on the other Bus

Svenka - 🛡21 (-2 Damage taken from non-gunnery weapons) | ♥️ 83/85 Custom Taros Rifle -Phased/Infinite Ammo (Vs Truck) [20/20] Range 100/300 — Crazy Ivan 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Heavy Machine Gun (Vs Truck) - [11/12] Range 500/2000 Ammo 5 / 10 — Crazy Ivan 2 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Heavy Machine Gun (Vs Truck) - [14/11] Range 500/2000 Ammo 5 / 10 — Crowd Control 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Shear Rifle (Vs Truck) [22/4] Range 100/300 Ammo 0 / 10 — Crowd Control 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Shear Rifle (Vs Truck) [15/10] Range 100/300 Ammo 0 / 10

Nekosmash 21-Jun-20 07:02 AM

Sparks clatter off the sides and one of the tires is hit, deflating slightly before foam sealant inside has a chance to expand. Small arms fire peppers it’s flank with dents and burns , and the engine fires loudly as the truck moves to 300m away, trailing a thin cloud of white smoke

Natalia Toivonen 21-Jun-20 07:58 AM

Natalia kept hammering away with the main laser, hoping against hope that this wouldn't do something awful like blowing the bus up or anything. [AV Laser - 8/22 at a bus (Note to self: Nat needs to get better at the whole "violence" thing)] (edited)

Nekosmash 21-Jun-20 06:29 PM

The laser goes wide, scoring a path into the ground short of the armored flank of the bus. It kicks up a dirty cloud as it continues driving away, now 350m, and nearly eclipsed by intervening junk

Svenka Vilnovha 21-Jun-20 07:38 PM

Svenka continues rhe HMGs firing at the damaged bus

Svenka - 🛡21 (-2 Damage taken from non-gunnery weapons) | ♥️ 83/85 — Crazy Ivan 1 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Heavy Machine Gun (Vs Truck) - [19/11] Range 500/2000 Ammo 4 / 10 — Crazy Ivan 2 - 🛡12 | ♥️ 8/8 Heavy Machine Gun (Vs Truck) - [28/15] Range 500/2000 Ammo 4 / 10

Nekosmash 22-Jun-20 06:34 AM

The HMG rattles on both of the drones, sparks kick up and blow out a back window, as the bus rattles and pops behind a tangle of junk, trailing thick smoke

(they're very disengaging now)

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 07:53 AM

Svenka lets out a snarling growl. “Let them go.” switching comms. “Wings, situation stabilized. Resuming survey.” to Natalia “You good? Looked like you took a hit.”

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 09:03 AM

Natalia let go of the controls for the main gun, hands sore from the white-knuckle grip she'd had on them. There was a pause before she said anything back. "Yeah." Another pause. "Why did... why did we do that?"

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 09:09 AM

“Do what, fight back instead of teleporting out?” She sighs “Because they weren’t backing down or willing to talk. They wanted to muscle their way through things and, unfortunately we stood our ground. Killing their... creations.” “If you mean why did we press the attack? I was hoping to disable their vehicles and take them into custody.” She shakes her head “If they would have just asked, probably could have figured something out to get them off this rock... but didn’t seem to be an option for them to try that.”

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 09:14 AM

"Okay." Seemed very well-reasoned from someone who growled like a hungry dog when they got away. Wasn't sure if she should believe that. Didn't have the space in her head to figure it out. Natalia didn't say anything more, staring through the feed from the turret camera at the twisted mess of mangled bodies strewn over the rubble and the tracks.

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 09:30 AM

“And I was pissed off.” She shrugs. “And I didn’t want them to get away.” Svenka sits down on a small pile of rubble. “Sorry.”

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 09:38 AM

Natalia, a bit giddy off the falling adrenaline high, couldn't help a near-silent, mirthless chuckle. “Well... a-at least I'm not the only one who does stupid stuff when they're... ow.” She was cut short by a sharp breath at the pain in her side she only just realized she had. Was almost glad for the interruption. Anything to focus on besides what just happened, or what might have happened if that bus hadn't gotten away. “I'm gonna... take the suit off and figure out how bad this is. Sorry. Will be quick.”

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 09:39 AM

“Understood.” Svenka switches off comms and has a good long scream in her suit, then picks herself up and get back to the computer system.

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 09:45 AM

After a minute or two of stripping off the power armor, Nat was relieved to see it was just a graze. Somehow something had slipped in the gap between plates, through the underlying lining, and clipped her hip. Not bad... probably. Not like Natalia was a doctor. Or had ever been shot before. But it didn't hurt that bad, so she settled for wiping the blood off the inside of the assault suit, wrapping a quick bandage around the wound, and getting back into the protective shell. After a couple minutes, she climbed back out of the ATV. "Not bad. Just grazed. Sorry, you, ah... nevermind. You okay?" Moving a bit slower to spare herself needless pain, Natalia started making her way back over the tracks towards the building that housed the engines. Just tried not to look at the mess of gore on the way. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 10:06 AM

“You asking honestly or is that just making conversation?” Svenka picks away at the computer system, starting to think there is nothing of value here.

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 10:08 AM

"Honestly asking." She picked her around over one of the overturned rail cars, only to be met with a severed once-human arm laying on the ground. Didn't say anything, but she was just a bit late muting her comms before the slight gag came across the line. Don't think about it don't think about it don't think about it.

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 10:15 AM

“Just gunned down a bunch of living things over scrap. Definitely not okay. We had better get some really great shit out of this run. Fuckers could have just put their goddamn guns down and I would have found them a way off planet. And as usual the wrong ones are punished, the slaves and not the ones pushing them to their deaths.” Another growl before she cuts the comms off.

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 10:30 AM

"Oh. Yeah. That, ah... sorry, I'm not trying to sound like I'm... I just can't even imagine." Natalia sat herself down on a bit of rubble where she didn't have to look at the killing field. Silver lining, at least, in the fact that this meant Svenka wasn't quite the heartless murderer she'd come off as during all that. "Anything that would help?" Doubt you want any help from me, but still. "Can't undo it, but... make it hurt less, at least?"

Nekosmash 22-Jun-20 10:32 AM

(The machinery is still good and can be tagged now. You’ve found what you’d need for your goal)

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 10:38 AM

“Okay, these computers have nothing of value that I can pull up. We can scrap this place and get the bits loaded into the Wings.” She shrugs. “Office building was next?”

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 10:40 AM

"So... that's a no? Okay." Natalia stood back up, picking her way through to get the tags set up and silently berating herself for bothering in the first place. "Tags set. Office sounds good."

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 10:43 AM

“And I don’t really know. It keeps getting easier to do that and I don’t like it.” She has the Bear pull around to cross the intervening terrain between them and and the office building.

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 10:52 AM

"Wish I could say something or give advice, but... that was the first firefight I'd ever been in. Guess that was obvious. And, well, I was barely in it." Once the Bear pulled around, Natalia started climbing back in. "Sorry about that. Not doing, or being, ah, useful at all there. Bad enough you had to do that. Worse you had to do it all yourself."

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 12:38 PM

“Not a thing to apologize for. I wish I was not so good at that. Being able to hurt and kill is not something to be proud of. Besides, you did very well.” She eases into the seat and directs the ATV to go to the offices.

Nekosmash 22-Jun-20 12:45 PM

The ATV pulls up to the front of the officebuilding, which is a slate grey and crumbling. the top six floors have compacted in on themselves, and some of the brickwork has tumbled down the sides to form an impressive rubble mound on the right side of the building.

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 12:49 PM

"You mean that, or just trying to be nice?" Nat couldn't, for the life of her, see how taking three shots and only landing one at something as big as a goddamn bus counted as 'very well'. She stood up with an almost-silent groan as her side complained, walking over to the window to look the building over. Fun climb, at least. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 01:29 PM

“Mean that. You got to the rig and split their focus. If you are interested you should tinker a bit with some of the drones - they can be very handy and certainly expand your options in a firefight. Especially with one of these.” She taps the visible implant. “I’m sure you can find one that is less... ostentatious.”

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 01:36 PM

"Oh, wouldn't call it ostentatious. Maybe inconvenient, but always liked the bulky look. Could never afford it, but wanted one of those control links for years now. Don't own my own drones though, so..." Natalia shrugged. "Eventually, I guess."

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 01:48 PM

“Tell you what. The ship was a stupid leap, I’m shit at people stuff, that was.... really way too much, too soon. We can stop off and get you one, my... treat... I mean if you want to. Hopefully that doesn’t come across as arrogant.” She kind of cringed “Or wierd. Thats a wierd thing isnt it. Fuck. Fuck this trip.”

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 01:52 PM

Natalia hesitated. That was... a lot more awkward and vulnerable than she assumed Svenka was capable of sounding. "I... I mean you're asking me if I'm okay with a lifelong dream coming true. Just like that. The idea of, ah, of just giving someone a ship is... honestly past what I can even imagine. Definitely weird, but to hell with weird." She smiled. First time she'd looked genuinely happy since they'd run into one another. "Hell-fucking-yes I want to." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 02:12 PM

“Cool. Good. Okay. Implant. They are really something else. I have the drones running a perimeter now and can keep focusing on what I am doing. Really really... yeah. Ok! So... we climbing that?”

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 02:16 PM

"I... had a couple questions. But they're awkward questions. And today's been... well maybe we can hold off on making today any more draining than it has been." Natalia picked up her helmet, fastening it down into place with a satisfying click of the seals. "So yeah, let's climb. Looks like a fun route, too, so that's nice."

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 02:42 PM

“Fuck, ask away... you wont make it any worse than what it just was... just, again... please no insults. Can’t take a joke too well right now.” I’m feeling raw as hell and I really don’t want to snap at her.

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 02:44 PM

"Yeah, I'm not gonna... I don't normally get that mean. That was an outlier. Sorry." She sighed. "Just... why me? For any of this. Especially after what just happened. I don't... really get it. I appreciate it, don't get me wrong, but... don't really understand. You were offering... are offering, a lot. And almost out of nowhere." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 03:07 PM

“Honest answer?” She looked up at the building, trying to piece together any points of entry, stairs or good options to climb.

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 03:07 PM

"Yeah," Natalia replied, bracing for something awful.

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 03:18 PM

A significant sigh. “Well, a lot of what I said already... I see you... at least on some level as a kindred spirit... and you have the chance to move unfettered out into the wilds of space. I know I could still do that, but you are at a point where you could easily do that.... and I want that for you. I want you to be able to explore and learn and find something amazing. Or maybe you will try and burn out and die on some distant planet... I don’t know but I want you to have that shot.” Silent for a long moment. “I wanted to kill myself not that long ago. My.... someone I care about took the Red Sangha option... More than that, but that brought everything to a head. I... didn’t take it well... still... working through that. So... yeah.”

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 03:43 PM

“Oh.” Natalia was quiet for a second. She swallowed, took a deep breath. “Sorry, that's just a lot to take in. I, ah...” She trailed off. “Listen, I'm... sorry. Again. About all of this. There's just been... well, a lot. I mean, aside from the shit in the file – this is the only real chance I have to make something out of my life before I die and I really don't want to fuck it up because I don't really have anything else to live for but I barely know how to deal with people and now I'm part of something that I'm pretty sure is going to mean the end of the place I grew up and I don't really know what to feel about that and this is probably the most I've ever talked to someone who isn't my doctor in the last five years or maybe longer, and... sorry. Talking too much.” One more deep breath. “I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say anymore. Sorry. I guess... well, we're both a little screwed up I guess. Or maybe I'm projecting. I don't know. But I'm sorry I made things worse for you by, ah, letting my things get to me. Especially when you were trying to help. Just... too much at once, I guess.” A pause. “Um. Stupid question, but... do you do hugs?”

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 03:44 PM

“Let’s get this straight - you are definitely screwed up and I am completely normal. Fuck, sorry. Joke, bad... not meant as an insult. We are both... and yes, please.” She holds out her arms

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 03:47 PM

Natalia was suddenly very grateful for the suit and helmet. A nice barrier so she didn't have to quite feel what was happening. Stopped her from just freezing up. Wanted to say something back. Couldn't think of anything to say. Natalia just threw herself into the hug before she could think about it too much with a clang as the chestplates of their suits smacked together. Don't cry don't cry don't cry don't cry don't cry.

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 07:35 PM

Svenka lets out a little choked cry and then regains herself. “We should see to this office complex and... then get on with it, I suppose.”

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 07:41 PM

Natalia pulled her face back, eyes watery but managing to not quite lose it. "Yeah. Yeah, let's." Another moment's hesitation, she let go. "And at the risk of sounding weird, ah... thanks. Needed that." How many years?

Svenka Vilnovha 22-Jun-20 08:16 PM

“Same. No weirdness. I mean some I guess but I don’t mind it.” She focused on the task at hand and getting in to the offices

Natalia Toivonen 22-Jun-20 08:20 PM

"Well we can just be weird, then." Holy shit I just hugged someone! A quiet little laugh, and Natalia did the same, eyeing the climb ahead with fingers drumming on the grip of her grapnel gun.

Nekosmash 23-Jun-20 08:07 AM

The door of the building is also blocked by the fallen rubble, but there is enough of a ledge left by the fallen masonry for cables to be attached and secured. The construction is substantial and from a visual assessment should support the weight of your suits

Natalia Toivonen 23-Jun-20 09:36 AM

After eyeing the ascent a little while longer, Natalia eased the grapnel launcher out of its holster, raised it, and arced a cable up and into the tangle of masonry above. It struck with a thud and a little rain of pebble-sized chunks of debris, holding fast in the concrete. She gave the cable a couple sharp, experimental tugs before detaching it from the unit and stowing the launcher. "Shall we? Figure we can just pop in one of those higher windows?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 23-Jun-20 10:31 AM

She nods “I’ll spot you. Once you are up, I’ll follow suit.”

Natalia Toivonen 23-Jun-20 10:36 AM

"Sounds good." Would have rigged up in the harness, but frankly Nat didn't trust the buckles to hold together very well in this atmosphere. Besides, strapping that on over the assault suit would be... tricky at best. She started up the side of the building, forcing herself to pace her way through the climb and not rush like she wanted to. Not in a hurry, but climbing was fun. Always a little nostalgic. Once she was up a few floors, Nat peered in through one of the windows (or what was once a window) to see what the interior was like.

Nekosmash 23-Jun-20 11:39 AM

The interior of the building has held, and this was once a set of offices leading out into a large bullpen like area where it looks like clerical work was done, though the building stretches higher up, and deeper down.

Natalia Toivonen 23-Jun-20 11:43 AM

Decent staging area. Besides, Nat was more interested in records than scrap, for this place. Try to scrape out some clue of what the place was for, maybe - with any luck - find some other sites on other worlds referenced here, in trade-related documents or something. But she was getting ahead of herself. Nat swung her way in the window, letting go of the rope and tucking into a neat roll as she came to a stop. Standing back up, she poked her head out the window. "Ready when you are."

Svenka Vilnovha 23-Jun-20 11:58 AM

“Ascending now.” Svenka followed suit and worked to get up to where Natalia was in the building.

Natalia Toivonen 23-Jun-20 12:07 PM

Once Svenka was up the rope and in the window with a helping hand to make risky (albeit fun) swings and rolls unnecessary, Nat took a moment to stick one of her Glowbugs up over the window they came in from. Easier that way to pick out which one has the rope, if they needed to leave in a hurry. "So," she started, looking over the old office interior. "Can think of a few places we might want to peek, but - anything got your interest?"

Nekosmash 23-Jun-20 05:15 PM

Stairs on the opposite side of the landing wind up into the higher levels, above the tear in the buildings side, and likewise fo down to a lobby

Svenka Vilnovha 23-Jun-20 05:37 PM

“Up or down, boss?”

Natalia Toivonen 23-Jun-20 05:41 PM

"Boss?" Nat chuckled to herself, barely audible over the mic. "Uh, how about... down? Peek around in the utilities - bet there's a basement here. Then maybe come back up and get neck-deep in records. And computers, I guess." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 23-Jun-20 06:23 PM

“Fair. This is your op. We tagged what we needed back at the rail yard, this is extra.” She smiles. “This is good as far as resets go.”

Natalia Toivonen 23-Jun-20 06:30 PM

Figured I'd be nursing a broken jaw back on the Wings right now, so yeah. Improvement. "Yeah, I, ah..." A nervous little laugh cut her off. "Yeah. Good. This is good. It's... honestly this is really nice." Still desperately trying to forget the firefight happened a few minutes ago, Natalia started across the office and toward the stairs down. "Can't describe how nice it is to actually talk to someone in complete sentences for once."

Svenka Vilnovha 23-Jun-20 07:05 PM

“Yeah. Same here. Glad we are both through being... like we were being.” A pause. “OKAY! So, lobbies, lets see what we can see.”

Natalia Toivonen 23-Jun-20 07:06 PM

"Lobbies," Natalia echoed, heading down.

Nekosmash 24-Jun-20 05:58 AM

The lobby is what you would normally expect with a large desk, several remains of potted plants, and broken floor tiles. Splintered furniture is scattered all across the lobby and the remains of which are unrecognizable now.

There is an elevator, with up, and down marked on it

though power seems to be out

Natalia Toivonen 24-Jun-20 07:35 AM

After a quick poke around to see if there's still any remains of a computer or other records / things of interest in the desk, Nat kept an eye open for a way to go yet lower besides the elevator. Suspected there might be a basement level for utilities. (edited)

Nekosmash 24-Jun-20 07:40 AM

The elevator seems to be the only way down that is accessible

Natalia Toivonen 24-Jun-20 08:09 AM

Well, so much for wishful thinking. "Want to see about getting lower through the elevator shaft?"

Svenka Vilnovha 24-Jun-20 08:13 AM

“I would love nothing more.” She says deadpan

Natalia Toivonen 24-Jun-20 08:23 AM

Behind the mask, Natalia winced. "Oh. Sorry? If... you don't want to I can just do it on my own." Regardless of the answer, Nat started looking around for a good length of something to use as a prybar for getting those doors open.

Svenka Vilnovha 24-Jun-20 09:03 AM

She chuckles. “Sorry... that was meant as humor - thats a thing that people... I actually do want to see what’s underneath.” She moves to assist.

Natalia Toivonen 24-Jun-20 09:08 AM

"Oh. Okay. Sorry, sense of humor isn't, ah, isn't that great. No practice." A pause. God that sounded pathetic. "Anyway..." Back to looking around she went, wondering how the hell she'd forgotten to pack her own prybar.

Svenka Vilnovha 24-Jun-20 09:09 AM

“Yeah, mine is shit too.” Uncomfortable silence as they work at the door.

Nekosmash 24-Jun-20 11:05 AM

There is no power in the elevator, but the access panel on the front to select a floor is clean and still attached

Natalia Toivonen 24-Jun-20 11:05 AM

(Any luck with trying to pry the doors like we were?)

Nekosmash 24-Jun-20 11:06 AM

(no)

Natalia Toivonen 24-Jun-20 11:10 AM

After a few moments of fruitless prying, Natalia gave it up with a sigh and a muttered, "well fuck you too, door." "So... maybe try and get power back into this? Rig to a power cell or a cable from the Bear or something? Seems like it's in good condition." A shrug, and she set the prybar down. "I dunno, what do you think?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 24-Jun-20 11:30 AM

(Could I power the elevator with my suit?)

Nekosmash 24-Jun-20 11:30 AM

(or splicing in a power cell)

Svenka Vilnovha 24-Jun-20 11:32 AM

Svenka has a lifter drone come through to meet them, laden with power cell reloads for the combat drones. “Chain a few together and we should be able to get this powered up. Just... be ready, there could be defences still active. Not the first time I’ve been down an old facility” and got close to dying

Natalia Toivonen 24-Jun-20 11:35 AM

Natalia got to work daisy-chaining power cells and rigging the assembly into the elevator. "I'm... assuming there wasn't much need for automated security in an office building." Another shrug, eyes down on her work. "But who knows, I guess. Maybe there's something worth protecting. Almost want to say it'd be a good sign if there were some. Almost." With the chain of power cells finished, Natalia started linking it up to the elevator and hoping for the best. (edited)

Nekosmash 24-Jun-20 08:35 PM

The lights begin to glow dimly on the door panel and there is a slight ding of a bell as the wide doors slide open and let you into the reinforced cap. There is only one button inside , taking you down into the sub level of the building. It opens to a cavernous space that is entirely dark. Emergency lights are not on down here you would expect and at least some sections of the floor have flooded

Natalia Toivonen 24-Jun-20 08:38 PM

Natalia had expected dark. Made sense, after all. Why would there be any power here? And yet it managed to be foreboding all the same. Felt big, even if she couldn't see how big. "Gonna take it as a good sign there's no lights down here..." she muttered as she fished around in her bag for another glowbug, sticking it up just outside the door of the elevator to make it easy to find a way back. Then, flicking a flashlight on, she cut swaths of light through the pitch black as she looked around. Still standing in the elevator for now, just in case.

Svenka Vilnovha 24-Jun-20 11:03 PM

“Well, best to proceed carefully. But I’m sure that doesn’t need to be said.” She switches on the suit lights and also checks the area, anticipating nothing but a long dead sub basement, but she has been surprised before.

Nekosmash 25-Jun-20 05:08 AM

(notice/wis each of you)

Svenka Vilnovha 25-Jun-20 07:11 AM

[11]

Natalia Toivonen 25-Jun-20 07:30 AM

[9]

Nekosmash 25-Jun-20 08:19 AM

Something heavy stirs in the back of the room, covered by the darkness and your beams do not show anything in the space when you turn your heads to view it. There is a door set into the back wall of the basement, almost flush with the existing wall and very easy to miss

Natalia Toivonen 25-Jun-20 08:23 AM

Even if she didn't know what it might be, Nat knew this much: there wasn't any good reason for something to be stirring down here. "You see that?" She quietly asked over the comm, easing the thermal pistol out of its holster. Just in case. While she did so, she flipped the Assault Suit's visuals into infrared for a moment, glancing over the room for heat sources.

Svenka Vilnovha 25-Jun-20 01:55 PM

“Ozweina, scan and report back, if you would.” Svenka quietly radios to the drone which was curled up around an arm. The snakelike drone unfurling and swishing silently through the air, scanning for what might be moving in the darkness.

Nekosmash 28-Jun-20 08:26 AM

There is another scrape behind the door but the reinforced construction is blocking defined heat signatures , all you see is a greasy ripple suggesting heat

Natalia Toivonen 28-Jun-20 08:29 AM

"Wildlife?" Natalia suggested, a bit optimistically. She knew well enough that wildlife didn't mess with doors. Whatever it was, it was behind the door - hopefully that meant they were good to check out the rest of the room. "Can you... keep a drone watching the door? Maybe we can figure out what else might be in the room before dealing with... that?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 28-Jun-20 11:33 AM

“Ozweina - continue scanning, keep an eye on it and report back, please.” She nods, looking around the room. (Can I use my looking-through-solid-objects X-ray specs?)

Natalia Toivonen 28-Jun-20 12:15 PM

Nat did the same, but with her plebian eyeballs and a flashlight (albeit aided by low-light enhancement from the suit).

Nekosmash 28-Jun-20 06:44 PM

(you can!)

Natalia Toivonen 28-Jun-20 07:09 PM

(Anything of note turn up from our visual inspection of the current room - besides the door with the mystery heat source behind it?)

Nekosmash 28-Jun-20 07:12 PM

(Was answering Svenka that her gadget can be tried)

Natalia Toivonen 28-Jun-20 07:23 PM

(Sorry, I read that with an implicit "if so, I do it" and was wondering what was up - my bad) (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 28-Jun-20 08:16 PM

She switches on the googles and looks through the solid matter between them and whatever is on the other side.

Nekosmash 29-Jun-20 06:43 AM

A hunched robotic form behind the door is stirring, various limbs stretching and things coming online. some sort of large databank appears beyond it, like a wall of servers all slaved to a large viewscreen. The door is smaller than the robot can move through, though its clearly on guard toward people coming in.

Svenka Vilnovha 29-Jun-20 08:52 AM

“Big fucking robot. Wonderful. Large databank behind it... it looks to be defending it. Something worthwhile...” (Can my combat drones make it down here?) Svenka starts working on her black slab, seeing if she can find a connection or way to communicate with the robot.

Nekosmash 29-Jun-20 08:55 AM

(yeah they're able to fit where you can more or less)

(and its a program/int to try to crack the slyth military encryption on it)

Svenka Vilnovha 29-Jun-20 09:39 AM

(Will wait for Natalia then decide how to proceed) “Looks like I might be able to connect to it.”

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 10:53 AM

(Appreciated, but you don't have to wait - this is basically a solo mission anyway, just do your thing) "Oh. Great." She paused. This was... more than a little past what she was actually qualified for. At all. "Her op" was just a pretty lie. "I don't, ah... this is a little out of my... go for it?" (I'm going to assume this meant searching the room we're in turned up nothing of interest) (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 29-Jun-20 11:05 AM

She shrugs “Get behind something solid and/or ready to run.” Svenka works away on her Black Slab, trying to crack the encryption and interface with the war droid. [Program/Int - 13]

Nekosmash 29-Jun-20 11:21 AM

The droid staggers as though punch drunk, and its twin barreled autocannon punches several holes in the floor as it fires randomly. It tries to anchor its legs into place, before some sort of electrical cascade floods the bot, slagging its internals, and forcing it onto its knees , the image of some kind of defeated warrior, waiting for the coup-de-grace

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 11:22 AM

Natalia tried very hard not to flinch at the shots. Almost succeeded, but she was jumpy as hell already. "I... please tell me that was a good sign."

Svenka Vilnovha 29-Jun-20 12:00 PM

“Oh... well... I was going to try to talk to it... but it seems I just overloaded it entirely. Fuck.” Svenka checks to see if It can be salvaged or repaired or if ending it is the best possible option. Fuck fuck fuck.

Nekosmash 29-Jun-20 12:28 PM

More dirty smoke belches out as a rear armored plate melts off, sending another dark plume into the confined room

its position does not change and the damage is certainly critical

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 12:30 PM

"Wait, so it's out of commission?" The noise and Svenka's report was enough to go on for that, and she didn't wait for an answer. Natalia hurried over to the far side of the room, by the door. Her hands were fumbling with her bag, pulling out the toolset within. "Going to see about yanking the power source before she melts entirely - save what we can." Levering the door open, that's exactly what she set out to do.

Nekosmash 29-Jun-20 12:30 PM

(fix/int Nat)

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 12:31 PM

[10]

Nekosmash 29-Jun-20 12:31 PM

There is a crunch, as some sort of component pops out. It is not the power core, but it looks important to the bot in some way.

The remaining circuitry finishes its work of melting down with the scent of burning rubber, dense enough to make it through suit scrubbers

Svenka Vilnovha 29-Jun-20 12:35 PM

“Fuck.” She kicks an errant piece of trash “Fucked that right up. Pre-tech bot and I fucking scrap it.”

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 12:35 PM

"Fuck fuck fuck," Nat muttered to herself as she worked through the haze of smoke. "That wasn't... no... oh dammit." A pause, setting the tools down as the burning rubber filled her nostrils. Oddly familiar smell, almost comforting in a nostalgic kind of way. "Well I got... something?" (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 03:08 PM

"I'm just going to say we're lucky she didn't blow our limbs off or anything."

Nekosmash 29-Jun-20 03:52 PM

The exterior armor plating, the weapon mounts and most of the sensors themselves are still in prime condition. Taking the bot apart piece by piece and rewriting it or integrating the parts onto an exiting frame is likewise possible

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 03:54 PM

(About how big is this thing? I'm picturing something like 3ish meters tall?)

Nekosmash 29-Jun-20 04:24 PM

(That’s about rigjt. Probably 5 if it wasn’t semi hunched

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 04:25 PM

(ooooo a big boy)

As she talked, Nat looked the thing over, plate-by-plate in the smoky haze, practically climbing it to get at the sensors. Not bad. No, not that bad. Can do something with her. "Yeah, I think... well we'd have to get it out in pieces, but we can do it. There's good stuff here." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 29-Jun-20 04:36 PM

“Good. Glad it’s salvageable. Make something of it. Sorry for slagging it... I can take a look at the databanks while you give it a look?”

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 04:40 PM

"Eh, don't be. Did what you could - pretty sure I'd be ground meat by now if I tried." She smiled slightly, though the faceplate and smoke made it impossible to see. "And yeah, sounds good. Do we want to just take that whole computer bank back? Must be a ton to sort through in there, and we've got a time crunch."

Nekosmash 29-Jun-20 04:41 PM

(This can likewise be teleported if that’s helps)

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 04:41 PM

(oh duh, we have a teleporter)

Nekosmash 29-Jun-20 04:53 PM

(You could do this, and then six minutes later those robotic armatures that nat tagged earlier )

Svenka Vilnovha 29-Jun-20 07:02 PM

(So.... Does that mean we are done?)

Nekosmash 29-Jun-20 07:02 PM

(You got the pieces you need /accomplished the primary mission)

Svenka Vilnovha 29-Jun-20 07:59 PM

“Okay, I can take all this back on board.” She looks around the sub basement for anything else of interest. “If we are done here, we had 2 other sites flagged, want to give them a look or pack it in?”

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 08:01 PM

Natalia set up the tags as needed on the scrapped warbot, then clambered down from where she was crouched on the back of its hulking frame. "Well, suit seals haven't given up yet, so..." Another smile, a bit wider. "If you're not sick of me yet, I'm game."

Svenka Vilnovha 29-Jun-20 08:03 PM

“Not mutually exclusive.”

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 08:07 PM

"Well, I'll hope for the best. Worst case, guess I wind up strapped down to a seat in the Bear or something." Natalia shrugged. "Anywhere in mind first? Been wondering about those warehouses..." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 29-Jun-20 08:12 PM

“We had warehouses and killer plants?” She chuckles “Yes, warehouses sound far better.”

Natalia Toivonen 29-Jun-20 08:18 PM

"Hey, we don't know if they're killer yet. Haven't even stuck an arm in them! Could be real friendly, pacifists and diplomats." Natalia chuckled back, inwardly marveling at the fact that this was even happening. She still had the piece she'd accidentally ripped from the warbot in her hand, spinning the spindly length of metal between her fingers as she spoke. "Do have to wonder how anything grows here, of all places."

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 12:23 AM

“Same way those fuckers have survived - unyielding tenacity.” She looks over the room and keys the comm “Teleport all the tagged items out - 2 more sites to check on.” She looks to Natalia. “Shall we?”

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 12:25 AM

"Suppose that goes for us too, doesn't it?" she thought aloud, giving the warbot one last look. Maybe you should be something better than a weapon. "Let's." Natalia met the look, starting her way back towards the elevator. Just had to get back to the bear, then truck their way off towards those warehouses. Hopefully, she thought, the containers within might have held up better than the roof did. (edited)

Nekosmash 30-Jun-20 05:11 AM

(So as it stands right now, we have what we need to finish the buey shipyard/boost GS build speeds for ships, everything we push on to do is voluntary now, so if its not similarly impressive, its because the primary missions been done)

1

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 07:46 AM

(I'm just in it to scrounge pretech for other projects at this point, I getcha :P)

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 08:04 AM

(And I’m just in it to win it. AOK to RP or gloss over at your pleasure, Neko - Happy to RP.)

Nekosmash 30-Jun-20 08:14 AM

the warehouse district is a row of eight buildings, in two rows of four, doors facing one another on opposite sides of a wide street. The wreck of a grav cargo skiff has lanced through the midpoint of the first building. There were no crates on the back of it, and the cab looks to have been crushed as it rammed into the structure. the warehouse doors themselves are closed, though its unclear from this distance if they are locked.

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 08:55 AM

"A lot here," Nat said to nobody in particular as they got close. "Closed doors look promising at least?"

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 09:37 AM

Svenka nods. “Get down there and see about opening one up - hopefully something good, although this is all icing now. Still feel like we are picking the bones there, Natalia?”

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 09:43 AM

"I think I just stopped minding that we are." A brief pause, and a small frown settled on her face. "Sorry that sounded a bit... I guess it just doesn't feel worth worrying about. Sure, bone-picking. But what of it? If I could go out here with a dig team and try to preserve some of this or really learn about it, it'd be nice, but it just doesn't feel that important right now. Does that... no I guess that doesn't make any sense. Sorry, just rambling at this point." She shifted a bit in her seat. "Feels like I'm talking too much. Am I?"

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 09:46 AM

“Nope. Not at all. Nice to talk. I still feel like shit for slagging that bot. It was there for who knows how long waiting, trying to protect that databank... and I just broke it. Whatever mind it had, gone and wasted. I... don’t just want to destroy and salvage everything, I do want to preserve... even restore where we can... now I AM talking too much. Sorry.” The Bear pondered onward towards the large warehouse doors.

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 09:55 AM

"Hey - if I get to ramble, you get to ramble. Only fair." Natalia shrugged, turning in her chair to face Svenka properly. "Far as the bot goes... I mean I would have loved to see her all in one piece or talk to her, but would mean she'd probably be trying to kill me - bet she'd do a good job of it. A lot to learn, but I'm not quite ready to die, so... I think I'm okay with slagged. We can work with what we've got." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 12:23 PM

“Oh of course. I just... try to reason with the artificial life forms from that era... or in general. Doesn’t always go well.” She looks at the doors as they approach.

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 12:28 PM

"Hey, I didn't say I was any better," Natalia replied with a little smile, also looking the structure over. Part of her just wanted to scale the wall and pop in through the shattered roof, but that was probably just dumb. Fun, but dumb.

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 12:36 PM

“Fair.... so, how do you want to do this?” She ran final checks on her suit again before prepping to exit the cab.

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 12:44 PM

"See if the doors aren't locked first, I figure?" Nat went through checks just the same, before strapping her gear-bag back on and waiting by the little airlock for Svenka. "If they are, pretty sure I can just climb that. Descend the other side, unlock it from there?"

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 01:41 PM

She nods. “Alright, lets see to it then.” Opening the cab and stepping out once both were prepped and ready, then heading for the doors.

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 01:47 PM

Natalia followed behind and over to the doors, giving them a try to see if they'd open.

Nekosmash 30-Jun-20 01:55 PM

The doors of the warehouse are sealed, the heat of whatever devastated the area looks to have fused this set shut, but the crashed skiff has neatly punched a hole in the side

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 01:56 PM

Natalia looked over at the skiff. "Is it wrong that I'm a little disappointed we don't have to scale this thing?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 01:57 PM

Svenka shrugged “Climb it then - nothing stopping you.” She smiled.

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 02:16 PM

A moment's hesitation. It looked fun. Stupid, childish kind of fun, but still fun. "I... I don't think I'm quite that... I'll just... yeah." A nervous, self-conscious laugh, and she started towards the hole in the building's side.

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 02:26 PM

Svenka shrugs and follows after, gun ready and scanning as she approaches the hole with Natalia

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 03:14 PM

(Oh, is the skiff closed-cabin? If so, is it shattered? Wondering if the internals might be preserved)

Nekosmash 30-Jun-20 04:34 PM

(The skiff is closed cabin and was in the front of the vehicle so it was crushed when it rammed the building )

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 04:38 PM

Natalia gave the little skiff a once-over as they approached. "Don't want to, ah, stall, but... may as well have a look? Shame the cabin's mashed in." Pulling out her toolset, Natalia took a moment to see if she could get under the hood (or equivalent thereof) to peek at the power systems. Never know what might last.

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 05:46 PM

Svenka stands guard while Natalia digs through the wreck.

Nekosmash 30-Jun-20 07:57 PM

The skiff is entirely ruined, its power system burning out when the cabin and engine block went from a structurally sound mechanical unit to a heap of scrap. High speed impacts with buildings tend to be unkind to vehicles

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 08:00 PM

It only took a moment or two for Natalia to come to the realization that the skiff's innards had, for the most part, become outards. Or compacted blocks of metal. "Mm, nothing. Oh well." Worth the peek regardless, in her book. Slyth engineering had this weird habit of surviving against all odds. Christ, I really am picking bones. "Sorry for the holdup." With the distraction settled, she slid off the skiff and continued on to the warehouse proper. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 08:30 PM

“Not a worry, lets head inside.” She nods to the opening.

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 08:32 PM

In Natalia went, eyes peeled and one hand on her pistol, just in case.

Nekosmash 30-Jun-20 08:41 PM

the inside of the warehouse is nearly empty, save for a pair of large storage containers slightly bigger than each of you in your armor. They sit next to one another, with simple mechanical flywheels keeping them shut

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 08:43 PM

"Well. They made the searching easy on us, at least?" Her heart wanted it to be something like clothing or media or art - some slice of culture. Natalia tried to keep her hopes from getting too high. Just as likely this was raw steel or something. "So. Left or right?"

Svenka Vilnovha 30-Jun-20 08:45 PM

“Left. Doesn’t make much difference - we Are going to open both.”

Natalia Toivonen 30-Jun-20 08:49 PM

"Well yes, but we have to start somewhere." A shrug, and she made her way over to the left container. "Besides, if there's something nasty in here and we die horribly, this way I get to say it wasn't my fault," she added with what was probably sarcasm. Hard to tell with the slight, perpetual nervous waver in her voice. Turning the wheel, she got started with opening it up. (edited)

Nekosmash 01-Jul-20 06:47 AM

The wheel spins freely, possibly wrenched out of rusting shut by the enhanced strength of the power armor. The doors open with a puff of compressed air, and a dust cloud billows out. The personal belongings of a Slyth officer are in this trunk. Furniture wrapped in dust blankets, books, ornate war harness on a stand, and small set of personal trinkets unidentifiable to you for significance comprise the insides of this first trunk

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 07:00 AM

Natalia made a noise of excitement somewhere between a gasp and a bona fide squee at the sight. This, THIS was what she was here for. Scrapheaps and treasure troves of tech were one thing, but this was a cultural goldmine! It took a concerted effort of will to not just rush headlong into the crate, instead forcing herself to move at a more careful, measured pace as she looked through the assembled items. "Oh my God this is... wow." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 07:56 AM

“We should seal that back up - we will need to make sure it’s as preserved as possible. We can just take the other one and open it where it’s safer... unless you think it’s ok to do it here?” She smiles

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 08:00 AM

The excitement was replaced by panic in a flash, as Natalia realized she had, in fact, just cracked open a cultural treasure trove in an environment perfectly suited for destroying cultural treasure troves. She rushed out of the container and spun the flywheel until it clicked shut again. "Um. Yes, not here. Sorry, got... um, excited." Stupid. Need to focus, don't ruin it.

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 09:09 AM

Svenka tagged it and prepped both for teleport. “Dont worry, it’s an amazing find and its going to be just fine - just... conscious of the toxic atmosphere is all.” She tagged the second one and looked around. “That looks to be about it around here.”

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 09:11 AM

"Yeah. You'd think with the big suit and all it'd be hard to stop being mindful of it but..." she trailed off into another nervous, self-conscious laugh. "Guess not." A pause. "So... plants? I'm not really much of a botanist or anything, but probably worth bringing a sample of one back? Just given they grow in... all of this." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 09:13 AM

“Plants. Hopefully plants that dont try to kill us.” She smiled and radioed the find in to the Wings to add to the others.

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 09:27 AM

"I mean... I'd like to think they just sit there and photosynthesize like good plants." With the new find marked and soon to be teleported out, Natalia got her stuff together for the walk back to the Bear. "That too much to ask?"

Nekosmash 01-Jul-20 09:32 AM

(we had just thr wings here iirc? or was there 2 ships)

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 09:32 AM

(we came along with a trade boat and a single corvette, iirc)

Nekosmash 01-Jul-20 09:34 AM

(We're rapidly approaching everything we can carry)

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 09:35 AM

(I don't think there's anything more we're planning on taking, aside from a sample of the plant life)

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 09:48 AM

(I was gonna offer yo momma a ride, but the wings couldn’t take that.)

1

“Likely. I’m expecting murder-vines... but I watch too many bad movies.”

Nekosmash 01-Jul-20 09:48 AM

(She knows better than to talk to strangers)

1

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 09:55 AM

"I mean... again, can't judge. But just how bad are we talking?" Gear assembled, she started picking her way back over the rubble towards the Bear.

Nekosmash 01-Jul-20 10:26 AM

The plants are a dense thicket around something like a statue park, with long greenish purple elephant ear leaves. Ochre roots punch deep into the soil and squirm when you look at them too closely. They are liverspotted patches of even more vibrant yellow.

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 10:32 AM

“Do... you see them moving... just slightly?”

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 10:39 AM

"Yeah." A little shiver ran down Natalia's spine at the sight of it, suddenly extra-thankful for the layers of armored steel between her and the plants. "God, that's gross-looking."

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 11:16 AM

Svenka approaches one of the plants, carefully. ‘Watch my back, in case these things are actually.... well, yeah...”

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 11:17 AM

"Will do." Natalia eased the thermal pistol out of its holster, idly wondering if something that could live in this kind of nightmarish environment would... well, it would probably care about plasma bolts. Most things did. She kept a close eye on the plants as Svenka did her thing.

Nekosmash 01-Jul-20 11:18 AM

The plants do not react in any special way as you approach

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 11:19 AM

Svenka will take a clipping of the plant - enough to be able to transplant into soil and study further.

Nekosmash 01-Jul-20 11:20 AM

(Evasion save)

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 11:21 AM

[Fail 1 v 2]

Nekosmash 01-Jul-20 11:24 AM

Lashing vines batter Svenka in her armor (9 damage) as she takes a plant cutting. They do not constrict, but rather use their bulk as a bludgeon and attack repeatedly

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 11:25 AM

"Called it! Ow." (Mitigated by the supplemental force shielding?) She backs away, getting battered by the plant

Nekosmash 01-Jul-20 11:26 AM

(its not heavy weapon damage, i just gave you the base value)

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 11:28 AM

Seeing as the plant wasn't about to uproot itself and chase them, and Svenka wasn't caught up in it, Natalia held her fire. No need to go slinging plasma into the local flora if nobody's life was really in danger. "Christ, that thing got you through the armor? You okay?"

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 11:29 AM

"Just bruised. Suit seems to be holding." She continues cautiously backing away. "Anything else around here to see?"

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 11:30 AM

Natalia slid the pistol back into its holster once Svenka was clear of the plants, still eyeing them warily. Stupid fucking murder-vines. "Don't think so... want to head back?"

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 11:34 AM

She nods, taking a final look at the garden to see if there is anything else of interest beyond evil plants.

Nekosmash 01-Jul-20 12:28 PM

If there is, it is deep under these large leafy plants.

With what can be seen by eye, only slyth statues exist here, bound in vines and more of the suckling roots

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 12:32 PM

Maybe we could... no, not worth it. Part of her just wanted to burn the damn things off to get to what was below, but that was just spite talking. Besides, good odds it would destroy the artifacts themselves if she did. "Well... ready when you are." Looked like a good night ahead of them, at least. Some ice for their respective beatings, box full of artifacts, and whatever it is inside that other container... (edited)

Nekosmash 01-Jul-20 07:24 PM

(6xp, 10,000 credits, sounds like we're done on the ground)

Svenka Vilnovha 01-Jul-20 08:07 PM

Svenka oversees the cleanup efforts and attempts to track down the raiders that tried to kill the two of them, beaming down food and survival supplies along with a communicator and offer to talk. She checks in with Nat and sees to the 2 containers, scanning the sealed one to see what might be inside before preparing for Nat to open it.

Natalia Toivonen 01-Jul-20 08:17 PM

Natalia, in the meantime, saw to properly disinfecting and re-bandaging her graze wound, then went about stowing all the gear where it needed to be stowed. The small pressure gauge she'd taken from the trainwreck on the surface had a hole carefully drilled into its outer casing, then was threaded into her now slightly heavier, slightly clankier necklace, joining the small cross, fragment of hull plating, and green stone disk. Rejoining Svenka in the cargo hold with datapad in hand and a respirator around her neck, she offered a small wave and a smile, but refrained from bugging her until she was done scanning.

(At what point does this start to live in personal threads and stop being a "group mission" thing?)

Nekosmash 02-Jul-20 05:07 AM

(It sounded like we were done doing stuff but it sounds now like we arent)

The group has gone to ground, and is unable to be found from the air. The cargo is intact and secured in holding, along with the two containers recovered from the warehouse- though the second container remains sealed

Natalia Toivonen 02-Jul-20 07:46 AM

(did that x-ray specs scanning Svenka mentioned turn up anything inside the second?)

Nekosmash 02-Jul-20 08:29 AM

The goods inside the second container largely mirror the first, the only variances likely accounting for the officers personal taste and not a different function of the contents

Svenka Vilnovha 02-Jul-20 09:42 AM

(Ok to montage over the next bit if that’s what we want to do)

(Going back, dealing with the artifacts... whatever else - don’t need to drag this on if you don’t want to.)

Natalia Toivonen 02-Jul-20 09:47 AM

(Was hoping to stop by Iaria on our way back - talk through the return these cultural artifacts to the Slyth after cataloguing it all and taking scans of the books / images of everything else. Maybe reserve one of their choice to go to the Galatea museum?)

Nekosmash 02-Jul-20 09:50 AM

(up to you guys)

Svenka Vilnovha 02-Jul-20 10:29 AM

“Looks like more of the same - Slyth artifacts. Your find, archaeologist, what’s your intent on what to do with them now?”

Natalia Toivonen 02-Jul-20 10:32 AM

Natalia pulled the respirator up onto her face, taking hold of the flywheel in gloved hands. Doubted there was anything toxic in there, but if the dust cloud from the first one was anything to go on, she didn't want to be breathing that in. "Well, probably ought to go to a... oh, oh wait a second. Aren't we really close to that Slyth colony? Iaria, right - maybe two spikes from here?" A pause. "Oh, you... might want to mask up."

Svenka Vilnovha 02-Jul-20 12:23 PM

Svenka collects up a mask and stands to the side. “Is it? Thinking of stopping in?”

Natalia Toivonen 02-Jul-20 12:29 PM

"Well, it is their cultural artifacts we've got. Seemed like the right thing to do, returning them." With a bit of force and a quiet grunt, she got the flywheel turning. Another puff of air, another cloud of dust, and the container opened up. "Maybe ask them if they want any of it stowed at Galatea, while we're out there. That museum could use some actual culture in it. Not just heads and weapons."

Svenka Vilnovha 02-Jul-20 12:43 PM

“Fair enough. Should be easy enough to divert and present the find to them. Only fair after we claimed a number of their old ships from that floating junkyard.”

Natalia Toivonen 02-Jul-20 12:46 PM

"Guessing we're stopping back there, too?" Stepping into the crate, Natalia got started with cataloguing and photographing the contents. Bit by bit, recording things so there'd be a record even once returned. The books, she'd do later. Page-by-page scanning was going to take hours, but it would be worth it. "You seemed pretty, ah, excited about it. Hell, I'm pretty excited about it."

Svenka Vilnovha 02-Jul-20 12:53 PM

“I’ve always wanted to actually meet the people whose tech I have so selfishly purloined.” (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 02-Jul-20 12:56 PM

"It does feel... really weird, doesn't it? Or maybe that's just me. I don't know. Just... kinda a blurry line - salvage versus archaeology versus grave robbing, or maybe looting." Beneath the respirator, her face settled into a small frown. "Like what we just did. With the wrecks, and in the office. Did... what does that count as?" A pause. "Maybe it doesn't matter. We're doing good with it, at least. Not sure if that makes it right, but I wouldn't undo it." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 02-Jul-20 04:35 PM

“Not exactly archeology- I slagged that robot, meant to preserve it. That’s where Belobog came from. Found him in an abandoned facility. Unfortunately more often than not they tend towards murder than reconciliation.” She pauses “And then these containers came along - this is more pure archaeology.”

Natalia Toivonen 02-Jul-20 04:40 PM

"Yeah. Well, guess we'll do what we can with the warbot. I'm... not that upset over a weapon of war being repurposed, though. Even if it's an artifact. Just... personal bias - selfish, I know. Swords to plowshares, spears to pruning hooks." She pulled one of the dust covers back from a low table, eyes lighting up as she saw the little patterns inscribed on its length. Beneath the respirator, she was grinning. (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 02-Jul-20 08:00 PM

She nods, keys to the bridge. “Lena, see if you cant get a message to August - see how the ship salvage is going - we are likely planning on a stop at Laria - begin spike prep and signal the fleet, we are done here.”

Natalia Toivonen 02-Jul-20 08:01 PM

(I think we're good to actually close the group thread for real at this point if you are, Neko) (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 02-Jul-20 08:02 PM

(Yep)

Nekosmash 02-Jul-20 08:59 PM

(Both going to laria?)

Natalia Toivonen 02-Jul-20 09:02 PM

(Seems like, yep :D)

Svenka Vilnovha 02-Jul-20 09:48 PM

(If thats ok - yep.)

Nekosmash 03-Jul-20 07:27 AM

(4 days in spike passing ravenneg on the way)

(Rannveig)

Natalia Toivonen 03-Jul-20 07:48 AM

(does cataloguing artifacts eat up Natalia's downtime, or can she do something else too?)

Nekosmash 03-Jul-20 07:48 AM

(You can do something else as the artifacts don’t really yield you a mechanical benefit )

Natalia Toivonen 03-Jul-20 07:50 AM

(alright, cool. :)) In what little time was left over when not knee deep in dusty old books and imaging equipment, Natalia kept at her slow memorization and practice drills for various survival skills. (Survive-0 30/90)

Nekosmash 03-Jul-20 11:06 AM

Heading to Laria the system has four planets. Only one is inhabited by the slyth and a large carrier is I orbit over the planet. Four fighters using it as an orbital anchorage scramble to intercept the ship

The comms terminal begins flashing.

Svenka Vilnovha 03-Jul-20 11:34 AM

“Belobog, please open a comms channel” She pauses while that is enabled [Slyth] “Honoured Slyth peoples, we have come in peace, bearing items that may be of interest to you. Not in a mercantile capacity, but one of friendship. We will hold position awaiting your response.”

Natalia Toivonen 03-Jul-20 11:37 AM

Natalia waited for the reply, hands hovering over the relevant controls to slam power into the engines for a quick exit. Just in case things went awry. (edited)

Nekosmash 04-Jul-20 10:11 AM

The fighters break into a more shallow approach pattern, not interception but now escort. “Proceed. Follow the given vectors down to the colony. We will guide you in. Cloud cover gets thick during the rain season like this”

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jul-20 10:19 AM

With the immediate risk of things going horribly wrong abated, Natalia settled back into her seat and let out a quiet sigh. "Well. That's a familiar looking carrier," she said to nobody in particular. Thinking out loud more than anything else. "So this is where it wound up?"

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jul-20 12:04 PM

“Thank you for your hospitality, we will follow your lead.” Svenka looks relieved and keys off the comms. “Well... should have sent advance warning of our arrival.”

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jul-20 12:11 PM

"Not much way to do it," Natalia replied with a shrug. "Signal would have gotten here around the same time as us, right?" She let out a small, nervous chuckle. "Oh God, imagine if we'd brought that corvette along with us. The awkward nightmare that'd be."

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jul-20 12:17 PM

“I mean... in some ways we should be giving it back to them. Haven’t heard any word back on status, I hope everything went well.” The wings follows the escort in.

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jul-20 12:19 PM

"Oh, agreed. It's theirs more than it is ours. I... just don't think anyone would listen if I said we should. At least the carrier wound up in their hands." Natalia shifted a little in her seat, going quiet for the trip in and content to just watch the scenery unfold. (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jul-20 08:08 PM

(anything important to know about the place besides the fact that there's Slyth here, by the way? Like needing a mask to breathe or things like that.)

Nekosmash 04-Jul-20 08:13 PM

(No mask needed, temperate world)

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jul-20 08:16 PM

(Got it, thanks - won't hold us up any longer

)

Nekosmash 04-Jul-20 08:17 PM

The Slyth colony has just over 1,000 souls there, working to till the land, build proper homes, and go about the business of moving a once nearly extinct alien race back from the brink. the colony has a relatively small footprint on the surrounding land, and nearly all of the only temperate planet's landmass has been left wild, with large herds of deer like creatures, birds, and other grazing beasts

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jul-20 08:29 PM

Once the Wings started getting close to the colony proper and towards whatever landing site the escorts had in mind, Natalia tore her eyes off the unfolding landscape (gorgeous in her opinion - maybe more so thanks to the overcast sky) and stood up from the engineering station. “So once we land, I guess we... well they've probably got some kind of liaison, right? Probably talk to them about returning all of this. I'll prep it for transfer.” (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 04-Jul-20 09:18 PM

Svenka nods, watching the ship come in, then breaking away to get into her formal uniform.

Natalia Toivonen 04-Jul-20 09:27 PM

Natalia got the last few stray artifacts back into their containers, copied the catalog onto a fresh storage drive, and also got into her formal clothes – with no small amount of relief that she'd remembered to pack them. Might actually meet a Slyth in the flesh. Who would have thought? Nat had to take a moment to just breathe, let the blended fear and excitement bleed out of her until her hands stopped shaking. Once all was set and squared away, she rejoined Svenka and waited for landing.

Svenka Vilnovha 05-Jul-20 09:32 AM

Set down and waiting, the cargo ramp lowering, the pair wait.

Nekosmash 05-Jul-20 12:53 PM

Two slyth are waiting at the base of the ramp. One is ordinary , the other a slyth in shape but almost entirely mechanical. They both wait for the new arrivals to exit the ship

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jul-20 12:58 PM

Oh my God. There was something incredible about actually seeing it. Natalia had heard of the living Slyth here, had seen the odd photo or recording, but never in person. The dusty tombs and ruins had painted a picture in her head - of how they talked, what they looked like, what they cared about. But here it was. Real. In front of her. Resurrected from the dustbin of history. Excited as she was, she hardly noticed that the nerves weren't hitting as hard as they normally did. Not stuck on her own, and the Slyth (especially the mechanized one) were shapes so far off from what her brain recognized as 'human-esque' that the fears just... didn't hit. Only the regular nervousness about screwing up remained, mixed up with excited energy. [Slyth] "Hello," she said almost without thinking, legs starting her down the ramp before she had time to second-guess. [Slyth] "It's an, ah, an honor to meet you." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 05-Jul-20 01:15 PM

Svenka gave a short physical greeting - what would be appropriate among the Slyth [Slyth] “Thank you for your hospitality. It... is a great honour for both of us to meet you. I... have learned a little of your people through the relics left behind, but it is wonderful to actually meet with you.”

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jul-20 03:42 PM

(Speaking of physical greetings - anywhere I should be reading to get a basic sense of Slyth customs/taboos? Not sure if that was ever written out.)

Nekosmash 05-Jul-20 03:45 PM

(nothings been written out, mostly since the slyth now would be changing from how they were. Left it open to the players)

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jul-20 03:46 PM

(Got it, okay. I'll just fall back on "don't be awful"

)

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jul-20 03:58 PM

(Realized that might be a little misleading - I don't have any follow-up post that was supposed to inform, no need to wait on one. Just asking in general.) (edited)

Nekosmash 05-Jul-20 04:33 PM

"Welcome to our new home. I am Gheist. My mechanical friend here is Jexad. This planet does not get many visitors, though cutting to the heart of the matter, it sounds as though you're both on a mission"

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jul-20 04:41 PM

Oh, right. They hadn't told them what they were here for, except to give them something. Was that rude? Felt a little rude. Whatever. Push through it, don't think about it. Don't screw it up. The nervousness showed on her face, but Natalia refused to let the momentum run out. She'd already started talking so... just keep going and don't think about it! [Slyth] “Oh, yes. We are. I'm, ah, Natalia Toivonen, and this is Svenka Vilnovha. We were just recently on Musheera, and we came across a cache of Slyth cultural artifacts. We wanted to return them, seeing as, well, they're your cultural legacy. Not salvage.” Natalia dug the storage drive out of her pocket after a brief pause, offering it over to Gheist. [Slyth] “The details of the site and the, ah, the artifacts are all cataloged in this. The finds themselves are on board.” Another pause. [Slyth] “And if you... well if you wanted, a pan-sector museum just recently opened on Galatea. Anything here would be an amazing addition. They're yours, of course, to do what you will with, but... we could bring something there if you'd like?”

Svenka Vilnovha 05-Jul-20 04:55 PM

[Slyth] “And less mission and more excuse to visit, if I am being honest.” Svenka smiled

Natalia Toivonen 05-Jul-20 05:52 PM

[Slyth] "A little of both," Natalia agreed with an awkward smile of her own.

Nekosmash 06-Jul-20 08:24 AM

"Please, leave that ship behind for a few minutes and get some of this clean air. We will have this data reviewed and of course we will be able to compensate you for the time, and considerable risk"

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jul-20 08:30 AM

Oh. Compensation? That was unexpected. Nice! But unexpected. Had to stop herself halfway to saying there wasn't any kind of repayment necessary – no need to be a fool about it. Only natural to get paid for work. Even if that work was also morally satisfying. Natalia made a small gesture of thanks, eager for a chance to stretch her legs. [Slyth] “Thank you, it's very much appreciated.”

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jul-20 08:54 AM

Svenka gives a nod and follows the Slyth, marvelling at the situation she finds herself in. Ozweina wraps around her arm as they exist the Wings.

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jul-20 08:56 AM

Natalia trailed along behind, eyes glued to the scenery and trying very, very hard not to stare. (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jul-20 11:59 AM

(If we want to just skim through the wandering part in the interest of brevity, that's fine by me) (edited)

Nekosmash 06-Jul-20 12:09 PM

(was there anything specifically you were wanting to see?)

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jul-20 12:09 PM

(Slyth!)

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jul-20 12:09 PM

(Nope, hence mentioning it. Natalia just wanted to stretch her legs and see Slyth being Slythy while Gheist and co looked over the data) (edited)

Nekosmash 06-Jul-20 03:48 PM

There are many slyth in the colony here, some farming, some herding, there are several with picks and shovels heading off to a mining site. A few small machine shops are also up and running though the current vehicles in use seem little different or better than anything colonial worlds would be using now.

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jul-20 03:56 PM

So many of something that was firmly in the category of 'extinct' in Natalia's head, wandering around and going about their daily lives. So many of something mysterious and poorly understood, walking (or slithering) around as though nothing had happened. All so... normal. Wonder if this'll put me out of a job? Not many archaeologists had to contend with their dead cultures resurrecting themselves. This was... unprecedented. Amazing. And yet somehow a little terrifying in its implications. "This is surreal," she mumbled to herself as they wandered.

Nekosmash 06-Jul-20 08:18 PM

“This is very real” Jexad days as he ambles next to you. “There aren’t many of us. Maybe someday there will be again”

Svenka Vilnovha 06-Jul-20 08:25 PM

Svenka smiles “Hopefully so. We hope to be of service now and in the future. I feel some guilt in the technology I have found and made use of from your people, like Ozweina here” She beckons to the drone wrapped around her arm.

Natalia Toivonen 06-Jul-20 08:28 PM

"Something of a... debt," Natalia added, restraining herself from yet another trip into the graverobbing and bone-picking talk. "Wouldn't be halfway to where we are now, ah, without your people." That old phrase about standing on the shoulders of giants came to mind. "Hopefully this is a start. I, well, it seems important. Not just for its own sake, but... well, people need to be reminded that Slyth means more now than 'good salvage,' I think." (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 09:21 AM

"Actually... on that, um, on that subject. If I find more things like what we brought with us today in the future... would your people be interested in them being brought back here?" Regardless of the pay, Natalia figured, it just seemed right. Made her feel good. And, well, if there was money in it too... even better! Would be nice to make it a regular thing.

Nekosmash 07-Jul-20 09:24 AM

"It would be something to be considered. I cannot promise a steady stream of credits for it just yet. As you see, things here are somewhat pastoral"

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 09:26 AM

"Oh, I understand. Priorities." A brief, slightly nervous smile, and Natalia lapsed into silence. She was happy to just observe and take the opportunity to stretch her legs until the data was processed and it was time to head back, even if she was itching to get back to Acastus. (edited)

(Probably gonna be gone a good chunk of today - no need to wait on me)

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 10:27 AM

Svenka pauses and takes in the environment. “What do your people need most?”

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 01:21 PM

(Nevermind lol, won't be gone nearly so long as I thought)

Nekosmash 07-Jul-20 01:29 PM

"We have the basics covered as you can see, but we're trying to set up industry. Tools, industrial parts, that sort of thing, would go a long way"

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 01:33 PM

“Would you be opposed to foreign investment? I’d be prepared to help either way, to be clear, but I think that Aiya Technology could provide some investment in helping drive your industrial buildup. Honestly I would be ecstatic to have you join with Greystar, but I fully understand if you want to remain wholly independent.” Svenka seems almost giddy, although is trying to keep it down. Not a typical state for her. “Sorry. I am very happy to finally meet you.”

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 01:34 PM

Natalia just stayed quiet and in the background. Things had, once again, moved far beyond the scale of her relevance.

Nekosmash 07-Jul-20 01:35 PM

"We are going to do things our own way. Out of a desire to be entirely transparent and not as a slight to present company, if the return or sale of our culture to us is predicated on joining your organization in the future, this will be our only transaction. There are a scant thousand of us here, and we have a chance to rebuild. We have a chance to do better than we did before, but to do it, we must remain ourselves" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 01:41 PM

“It is not. The return of your cultural artifacts is not done out of a desire for payment of any kind at all.” She looked at Natalia. “We want you to have them. We want to help you rebuild, whether as a wholly independent faction or as an partner world of Greystar.” She pauses. “Natalia is a scholar of your people and I am an engineer who has marvelled at your technology. I will not speak for both of us, but I know I am willing to commit to helping your people better themselves. No strings attached whatsoever - whether that is in the form of technology exchanged, direct investment or assistance... I apologize, I talk too much.”

Nekosmash 07-Jul-20 01:43 PM

(yeah they're not mad, but they're using the moment to make their position clear)

(doesnt come off well in text, but Gheist would have remained very polite)

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 01:45 PM

"That... yes, that about sums it." Scholar of a lot of peoples, thankyouverymuch. Another nervous half-smile. "Like, uh, like I said before. We... well, our peoples stood on the shoulders of what yours left behind for so many things. There's, well, I feel, a duty to repay that." (edited)

A pause, and she hurriedly added, "the compensation is appreciated, of course. Just not a condition."

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 01:57 PM

Svenka stands awkwardly for a few moments. “So, there we have it. I think the positions are clear, we have transferred the items into your hands. We need not overstay our welcome, but I would certainly like to leave the door open to provide any assistance we can in future.” She pauses again. “One more thing. We... found a large Slyth fleet, a ship graveyard - seemingly left unmanned around a planetoid. We had plans to recover a number of ships from it. If... you would desire it, we could provide whatever we salvaged back to your peoples?”

Nekosmash 07-Jul-20 01:59 PM

"We've collected what we needed from the fleet. You saw the carrier on the way in I'd expect. Taking more than we need would be greedy, and makes us no better than those who came before. If our bones can be the fertile ground for new growth, all I ask is that they are used for good"

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 02:01 PM

“I rarely consider war and the capacity for violence a good thing, but your technology helped save us all from the fleshshapers. If you so desire it, you would be welcome guests on Acastus. Thank you for your time.”

Nekosmash 07-Jul-20 02:03 PM

(You'd each get 1 mil for the return of the stuff)

2

1

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 02:07 PM

"It's been an honor. I... hope to come back again soon." Not every day one can just interview a living remnant of an ex-extinct race, after all. So many gaps in the record that could be filled in. The fiddly little cultural details nobody else seemed to care about. Once all of the little details were set and squared away, Natalia was all set to head back to the Wings when Svenka was. (edited)

(Back towards Acastus, I assume? Unless the Slyth took us up on the offer to bring something to the museum at Galatea from the find?) (edited)

Nekosmash 07-Jul-20 02:09 PM

(nothing right now. Part of the payment being so high is - although the goods themselves were probably of trivial actual value - they can model their own goods/industry off what you recovered)

(even if the copies or future plans aren't as professional in quality, they at least have examples to work from)

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 02:10 PM

(Got it, okay!)

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 02:20 PM

(Good to proceed back to Acastus.)

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 02:25 PM

(Same :))

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 02:31 PM

Svenka and Natalia get re-settled on the Wings and prepare for departure back to Acastus “Well... that was a surprising amount. Guess any signing bonus for Aiya will be icing at this point.” She smiled

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 02:35 PM

Natalia had, ever since seeing just how many zeroes were on that payment, been wearing a look somewhere between giddiness and shock. And they said my degree was worthless! "Yeah, I-I wasn't expecting anything like that... I mean maybe a few thousand at most, but..." She trailed off. "Wait. That's still on the table? I thought I'd, ah, blown that." A pause. "You're serious? This isn't a joke, right?"

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 05:15 PM

“No. That... would be a really cruel joke. Your people skills could use some work but I’m one to talk. You have clear skills and a drive to discover things - Aiya could use someone like you out scouting the fringes. Greystar could too.”

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 05:25 PM

"I... thank you. That means a lot to hear." Natalia took a small breath. Part of her still wasn't sure if this was actually happening or not. The rest was screaming at her to not fuck it up. Sure she was technically a millionaire now, but that didn't mean much without a steady income. "So... terms? We never really talked about the specifics. I mean I'm probably going to sign on regardless as long as I'm not being enslaved or something, but, well, I learned my lesson on not reading the fine print the hard way." She smiled.

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 05:31 PM

She pulls up the details that Eisheru had pulled together.

0.5% share in Aiya - with an increase of 0.5% per month to cap at 3% 10% bonuses on salvage discovered/brought in and minor and major holdings built. In return - expectations: Work towards the best interests of Aiya tech and Greystar. Provide discoveries back to Aiya Tech

(where reasonable - personal rewards are personal rewards) (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 05:37 PM

Natalia read through the documentation. Nothing immediately nightmarish. Very flexible - both in pay and in expectations, for better or worse. Probably better. Given how well-off Svenka was as VP with... probably... Nat wanted to ballpark at least a 30% share, even 0.5% was going to be a BIG stack of creds. The bonuses looked good too: all the plusses of commission without the dependency on it. She had to bite her tongue before she could express how generous it all felt - just in case that was taken as a signal to reassess how much to give her. "I... only have one or two questions. First one, the big one: given the responsibilities that come with being a Greystar agent, and the... well, hopefully it never comes to pass, but if there's a conflict of interest between Greystar and Aiya on a subject... am I risking penalty if I abstain from those votes?" (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 05:39 PM

“No. I would be in the same boat. The betterment of Greystar is more important than Aiya. You could certainly be let go if things go poorly, but the shares are yours, regardless.”

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 05:43 PM

Alright, that got rid of the first red flag. Not just being hired on as a lobbyist for Aiya Tech. It seemed... a little off that two - soon three - of the Agent council's members all would be shareholders in the same corporation, on the surface. But if she wasn't obligated to lobby, Natalia sure as hell wouldn't be lobbying. "Okay. Okay, good, that makes sense. Um, then second question. Doesn't really change my answer on this, but what can I expect a half-percent share of Aiya to equate to, in credits? Just trying to get that in perspective."

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 05:44 PM

“No clue - Eisheru just dumps money into my account every month. More than a little. You would have to ask him.”

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 05:47 PM

You don't even know? Natalia knew Svenka was clever enough to run the mental math on that. So this just meant... Christ, she didn't know what her income was? Just "enough?" Good Lord, that was a downright spoiled kind of wealth. Explained a bit, though. "Oh." She paused, looking at the document a little longer. "Well. Doesn't change much anyway. You've got me."

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 06:27 PM

she appears to be doing mental math. “About a hundred. And good.”

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 06:32 PM

Natalia assumed that meant 'hundred thousand.' Had to, right? Yeah, definitely. Unbelievable as that was. So that was... a hundred grand for a half-percent, growing up to sixfold for... Woah. Scrolling to the bottom of the documentation, she signed, confirmed, and passed it back. "So, am I supposed to be calling you 'boss,' now?" Natalia asked with a half-smile, joking by her tone.

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 06:38 PM

“No. Ugh. Svenka will do. Ugh... so... welcome aboard.” She extended her hand

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 06:42 PM

Oh crap, right. Handshakes. Without gloves or anything in the way. Could be worse. Could have gone for a hug instead. Well, would that be worse? Terrifying, but also kinda nice. whatever. Natalia shook the offered hand, trying her hardest to keep it from shaking and more-or-less succeeding. "Thank you."

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 06:51 PM

She releases the handshake and steps back. “Hug or no hug?”

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 06:53 PM

Ah fuck. "Um." A moment's hesitation, and she put her arms out. Obviously nervous, rigid, tense as all hell. "Please."

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 07:48 PM

Svenka brought her in to a full hug, head tucked into her shoulder. “Thanks for the reset.”

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 07:56 PM

Ah. So that's where the blind terror went. Natalia was damn near petrified, stock-still and holding on almost too tight, trying to stop herself from hyperventilating. "Mhm. I. U-uh, you're welcome?" she stammered out, beating the panic down as hard as she could. "I, ah, t-thank you, too. For the reset and just... ev-" Her breath caught in her throat, and the last words came out a little choked. "Everything else." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 08:13 PM

She pulls back. “Shit. Crossed a line didn’t I? Sorry. Just. Was. Well, the last part of this trip was really fun, after the bad shit.”

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 08:20 PM

Nat let go, arms crossed out of instinct. She smiled weakly, looking frayed and terrified, yet somehow happy despite that. "Uh, no. Well. Yes, but that's okay. Can't get used to it if I don't, y'know, make myself do it. Sorry. Hard." She took a slow, shuddering breath. "I really liked this too. Everything after the reset. And lunch. The lunch was good." She paused. "But, uh. No. Didn't do anything wrong. I liked the hug. Terrifying. But good."

Svenka Vilnovha 07-Jul-20 08:23 PM

“Terrifying? That... is easily the least wonderful way I have had a hug described.” She smiles. “Everything in its own time.”

Natalia Toivonen 07-Jul-20 08:28 PM

"Yeah. Eventually. Enough contact and maybe I won't, uh, freak out, maybe, when it happens. I mean. I would appreciate, uh, help with... oh fuck that sounds weird." Another breath. Less shuddery. "Anyway! Sorry, kinda ruined the moment, ah..." She trailed off. "Yeah. Sorry." (edited)

Svenka Vilnovha 08-Jul-20 09:17 AM

“Nothing is ruined. You aren’t being an insufferable bitch. Vulnerability is ok.... its actually good. And its a good thing to work on.” She looked away from the conversation to a readout “Looks like spike in 20 - ready to get this stuff home?”

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jul-20 09:23 AM

A small nod. "Okay, good. Yeah. I'll get on station in just a sec. Just gonna..." Lay down until my guts stop doing somersaults and my hands aren't shaky? Yeah... can't say that one. "Yeah it'll just be a little bit. See you on the bridge." A pause, and Natalia started back towards her room for the all-too-common ritual of locking the door and just trying to breathe until she wasn't coming apart at the seams. Once that was done, she got herself back to her station and set for the last checks on the spike drill. This time, at least, she was looking forward to spending a couple weeks locked up in the ship with these people. (edited)

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jul-20 09:50 AM

(Good to get travel days and get underway if you are

)

Svenka Vilnovha 08-Jul-20 09:52 AM

(Same here)

Nekosmash 08-Jul-20 06:58 PM

(Any stops on the way back or do we break right for home?)

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jul-20 07:07 PM

(I haven't got any stops in mind)

Nekosmash 08-Jul-20 07:09 PM

(I don’t think there’s anything on the way back we didn’t stop at on the way there )

Natalia Toivonen 08-Jul-20 07:10 PM

(Yep, just retracing steps iirc)

Svenka Vilnovha 08-Jul-20 07:13 PM

(Nothing planned on my end!)

Nekosmash 09-Jul-20 08:25 AM

(Counting 14 days home from here )

(Essentially the same route. Using Galeta to get back to UNW/gs territory where there’s fueling opportunities )

Svenka Vilnovha 09-Jul-20 08:28 AM

(Talk 44/90)

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jul-20 08:28 AM

(Survive 44/90)

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jul-20 10:56 AM

(So once we're back at Acastus does this get archived and we go back to personals? Not sure how group missions work in that regard, as far as how they are ended) (edited)

Nekosmash 09-Jul-20 11:02 AM

(Yeah that’d fine we are back so unless you’ve got other group plans we are done)

Natalia Toivonen 09-Jul-20 11:03 AM

(A few things to talk to Svenka about, but they don't have to happen here.

)