The Price of Expedience - Part 2

Simulator Room

Even the sharpest pilot and crew can use practice. Here, in this domed chamber lit diffusely by overhead glow panels, guild members can take advantage of simulator pods to hone their skills in flight and ship-to-ship combat. Several egg-shaped pods are arranged in a circle around a central simulation control computer, kept in an enclosed dome of liquid nitrogen.

Contents:

Citizen Jest'liana 

Sim Controller - Smugglers Guild

Simulator Pod 1

Jest'liana doesn't bother to put on a tape this time. She pulls off her jacket and slowly, methodically, begins going through the lessons she learned a long time ago. An invisible opponent is punched, kneed, and then knocked to the ground. Again. Faster this time. A intruder behind her. She whirls, leg snapping out. It soon becomes obvious that her defense relies mainly on kicks and evasions. Sweat sheens her skin as she forces herself faster, expression growing fierce. In her mind a certain face watches with cool indifference, and a growl escapes her lips. From that point on it is a battle, and with tenacity she strikes the air as if to obliterate that image forever.

What Jest doesn't notice is that Sha-El's in the other simulation pod. No simulation, but the doors are semi shut. Intent on her own practice, she doesn't notice the other girl. A rapier cuts the air in front of her with long, strong slashes. An extension of herself almost. Her skill is undeniable, her concentration intense.

Abernathy strides into the simulation room, his usual business-like air about him, sword rattling at his side. "Good evening, ladies."

Jest'liana turns, taken off guard by the rattle of the sword and then the voice. She falls from combat stance instantly and relaxes. She smiles and exhales a sigh, grey eyes losing their fierceness. "Hello there."

Abernathy stops short of the simulators. "We've got some information that might lead us to the Diamond Lil."

The young navigator's so intent in her practice that the spoken words startle her. At once she shoves the doors open and springs out in a crouch, her face grim and sweat-covered, rapier held at a dangerous and thoroughly competent angle. It's a while before the fire dies from her sienna-brown eyes as she notes Abernathy and recognition flares. "Sir."

Abernathy smiles wryly. "However, I have specific instructions as to how you are to receive that information and under what circumstances."

Jest'liana tilts her head to the side. "So, what song and dance do we have to do?"

N'Sha-El's eyes narrow a fraction. The rapier is tossed into her other hand and hefted lightly. "Another set up?" Her lips quirk in a sardonic smile.

Abernathy shakes his head. "Nothing major. I must accompany you, in order to ensure that Lord Fagin's interests are fairly represented. Also, you'll need to subcontract as many individuals as needed to load that polydenum aboard the Courser."

This time a furrow appears on Sha-El's brow. "There's only so much room on the Courser, sir...how many people do we need?"

Abernathy shrugs. "If you need to make more than one trip, so be it. I would think two or three additional personnel would do the trick."

N'Sha-El brushes a bead of sweat from her forehead. "We're not worried about the trouble..." she murmurs lightly.

Abernathy smiles, nodding. "All right. Then it's settled. Your crew will each be paid 10,000 credits upon successful salvage of the Diamond Lil."

Abernathy smiles faintly. "You'll be rewarded for the trouble, I assure you."

N'Sha-El brushes a bead of sweat from her forehead. "We're not worried about the trouble..." she murmurs lightly.

Jest'liana says mildly, quietly. "I think I could live with that."

A soft chuckle from Sha-El. "That's a lot of money..." she murmurs quietly. "But as long as I get those names...."

Abernathy nods slowly. "You've got the first name. I'll tell you more once we've recovered the polydenum and delivered it to Lord Fagin."

Abernathy glances around. "I didn't see Captain VanMahr downstairs. Is he aware of this mission?"

Jest'liana glances at Sha.

N'Sha-El runs her fingers through her hair. "He's probably prowling around somewhere," she says frankly. "He's not too far away I reckon."

Abernathy hmms. "Well, I'm going to head to Nephthys. Perhaps I can round you up some assistants."

Abernathy scratches his chin. "The Courser is spaceworthy, correct?" He smiles enigmatically.

Sha-El's brows shoot up and her chin tilts. "She's purring like a panther and running like an Arabian bloody stallion sir. No faster ship on Tomin, I'll damn well bet."

Jest'liana's chin lifts, her engineering skills somewhat called into question here. "Of course she is."

Abernathy smirks. "Good. I'll see you on Nephthys then? Get in touch with that captain of yours. A shipment this valuable, time is certainly of the essence."

N'Sha-El's eyes narrow. "I'll get in touch with him sir." A faint smile tinged with very real affection and some pride. "Time? The Courser flies sir. We'll get to it. And Jest's a bloody wizard at making those engines of hers purr like a woman in heat."

Abernathy chuckles. "Fine, I'll see you there, then." Abernathy bows politely, then turns to leave.

Abernathy heads into Corridor .

Jest'liana's grin turns decidedly wry and she swallows whatever instant response comes to her lips. She waits until Abernathy is gone and then raises an eyebrow at Sha.

Jest'liana says, "A woman in heat?"

N'Sha-El's lips quirk in a decidedly mischievous grin. "Women in heat purr, so I've been told," she murmurs, hefting her rapier and stroking its hilt voluptuously.

Jest'liana bites her lip VERY hard.

It doesn't work. She bursts out laughing. "..oh...oh dear.."

N'Sha-El's brows arch, her face bland as a pebble's smooth surface. But her eyes give away her arch amusement.

Jest'liana looks up at Sha, eyes glittering utter wickedness. Sha's bland expression makes her laugh the harder.

N'Sha-El merely strokes the hilt of her basket-hilt rapier again, with every ounce of sensuality reserved normally for the tenderer nuances of passion. "And this one here slides like a panting woman...." she murmurs, her gaze as wicked as Jest's. "Smooth till it makes you cry."

Jest'liana catches her breath and grabs for her composure. Sha's next words make her lose her grip and she closes her eyes. "Oh. Okay. I am okay. Now...where do we find Van?"

N'Sha-El purses her lips as she tosses a bead of sweat out of her eyes. "That I don't know. But the Courser's a good bet...unless he's out somewhere."

Jest'liana nods, gives Sha a very strange impish look and then sighs. "We need to find him."

N'Sha-El nods slowly and flings her head back in a long, languid stretch. "We'll find him." Her voice is calm, quiet and assured.

Jest'liana pulls her hair roughly from its braids and moves to her bag for a brush.

N'Sha-El merely wipes a forearm across her face, brushing off the excess sweat. She wipes her hands off on her combat fatigues, cleaning the hilt of her rapier meticulously on her tank top.

Jest'liana rolls her eyes and then grins. She pulls out a small ebony container about six inches long and an inch deep. She opens it, takes out a damp cloth smelling of very faint rose. She uses the cloth to wipe some of the sweat from her. She nods to it and then to Sha, eyes interrogative. "Want some?"

N'Sha-El's brows arch a little. "What in the bloody heavens is that?" she asks suspiciously, clearly never having seen anything like it before. She advances cautiously, a most comical expression on her face. "Is it....edible or something?"

Jest'liana laughs again. "No, Sha. It is a very nicely kept piece of cloth that is marketed for quick clean ups." She hands out the piece of soft cotton cloth to Sha.

N'Sha-El eyes the cloth, still wary, and takes it with infinite cautiousness. She sniffs it for a bit, rather like a puppy trying to figure out the edibleness of something it's just encountered, and wipes her brow gingerly with it. "It's...very nice...." she says finally, and there's gruff approval in her husky tones. "But let's check the office for Captain Van. I recall he wanted to mess with some bloody hell records..."

Jest'liana hides a smirk at Sha's reaction and merely nods.

Jest'liana says, "After you."

N'Sha-El briskly moves towards the door, rapier tossed lightly into her other hand. "Hope Genghis doesn't' bloody tear up the hammock..." she mutters darkly

Guildmaster's Office 

The gray walls of this spacious chamber are broken here and there by colorful portraits. One shows a sleek black vessel, all smooth lines and curves, against the violet and pink backdrop of the Tomin Nebula. The other, a holographic framed image, shows three people - a brooding man with wise eyes, a fiery looking woman at his side, and behind them both the hulking form of a large Oriental fellow. A mahogany desk with a comfortable leather chair is in one corner. Upon the desk sits a computer terminal.

Contents:

Citizen Jest'liana 

Citizen VanMahr 

VanMahr glances up with an utterly bored expression from behind the heavy desk. "Books." He taps a thick stack of the things. "They actually kept some accounts in books. The real ones from the looks of it. We're in worse shape than I though."

Sha-El strides in with Jest behind her. A careful observer, and even a not so careful one would observe that she has two rather prominent scratches on her nose, and her hands and arms are covered with tiny scratches. She's carrying a rapier and appears to have been practicing on the simulation deck. "Captain." Her eyes smile faintly, but it's so faint it could have been illusion. "We've some interesting news."

VanMahr glances between the two as he rises. "Have you?"

Jest'liana leans against the wall, her arms covered and a lingering smile on her face.

N'Sha-El tosses her head back slightly. "Yeh we do Captain. Some money for the guild..." Her eyes meet Van's quietly and steadily. "And a name."

VanMahr grunts. "Well, any name in particular? Hell, not that I feel blasted picky if there's money attached to it."

Jest'liana glances at the picture on the wall again, foot tapping lightly as a release for energy.

N'Sha-El shakes her head, resting her rapier against her hip as she stands it on the top of the scabbard. "Well there's a cargo involved, and a Jack Caspar who's disappeared with a ship called the Diamond Lil. That we've got to find, so Majordomo Abernathy tells me..." Her eyes lock with Van's once again. "The names Fagin promised us Captain. I've got one of them....and the rest of the information to follow along with 10,000 credits when we deliver the Diamond Lil's cargo..."

After briefing VanMahr and making up a checklist of things needed,, the girls and Captain head out to:

Main Docking Bay - Nephthys

The only place to walk in this large docking bay is a wide catwalk that stretches along the wall next to the customs entrance, opposite from the three docking ports. This catwalk stretches to the far end of the docking bay, along the wall until it stops at the opposite bulkhead. Extensions of the catwalk surround the docking ports and continue until they also hit the far wall, perpendicular to the main catwalk. There are three docking ports, which makes the main catwalk, and a total of six extension on either side of each docking port. The bay gives the overall impression of being strictly utilitarian.

Contents:

Shuttlecraft Shadowflier

Citizen Teel 

Citizen Narikki 

Majordomo Abernathy 

Courser

Abernathy turns as the shuttle lands and Sha emerges.

Abernathy smiles wryly. "We were wondering if the shuttle got hijacked."

Teel laughs. "Congrats, lizard. Let me know if you need any help."

Narikki turns. "It doesn't /look/ that way unless these are the hijackers. Which I doubt, since I met one."

Abernathy looks to Teel. "I think they need a bartender in the Cloak and Dagger."

Abernathy glances back to the crew of the Courser. "I've got a couple of hired hands here to assist with the salvage."

VanMahr follows behind Sha with a pleased expression on his face - that is to say, his usual scowl.

N'Sha-El emerges, business-like and brisk, a thin flat black bag slung over her shoulders. She just manages to catch the tail end of Narikki's words and her eyes narrow; she bristles almost visibly but holds her peace.

Abernathy nods, then gestures to the Courser. "Let's talk aboard, eh?"

Teel smiles. "Heya!"

VanMahr casts a quick appraisal over Teel and Narikki. "Salvage." He prowls across the floor of the hanger to the ramp leading up to The Courser's airlock. "First a shuttle and next a garbage scow."

Abernathy chuckles and shakes his head in amusement.

Narikki tilts his head. "I did not /mean/ to give offense," he says when he notices N'Sha-El's reaction.

Abernathy says, "I would think, Captain, that a 10,000 credit salvage fee is nothing to gripe about."

VanMahr flicks thick fingers over the access-pad. "It's the principle of the thing." It hisses open and he stands aside to admit his passengers.

Jest'liana smiles. "Captains discretion.." she murmurs.

N'Sha-El inclines her head to Narikki, after eyeing him up and down in appraisal. "S'all right..." To Teel she gives a lopsided grin. "Hey there."

Teel says to the woman, "Don't mind the lizard. He sometimes says stuff. He seems okay, though."

Narikki tilts his head the other way. "Excuse me for talking. I do that sometimes."

Abernathy strides toward the ship's ramp

Teel grins, full of excitement.

N'Sha-El chuckles at Teel's obvious enjoyment, then looks at Van quietly. "Let's go...." she murmurs, touching his arm lightly before ascending the ramp.

Gundeck 

Hammocks, bundles of goods, pots and pans and fiberoptic cables dangle down over the two outward facing rows of blaster carronades and the cramped corridor between. Here a cooler is tucked under a bench and there a stim-chamber doubling as a head is bolted between bulkheads. The scents of old cooking, human sweat, ozone and whatever cargo the ship currently carries compete to batter the nostrils. A vent overhead half-heartedly puffs out recycled air and a stale, futile, pine scent. The gundeck serves as living quarters and bunkroom for all hands and passengers on the Courser: rec room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and all. This is it. Hope you're comfortable with yourself and very close quarters.

Contents:

Citizen Teel 

Citizen Jest'liana 

Majordomo Abernathy 

Port Guns

Starboard Guns

Interface Panel

Narikki enters through the hatch of the ship.

Abernathy steps toward the far bulkhead, which really isn't that far. "We're racing against the Consortium, folks. Not much time to waste."

VanMahr enters through the hatch of the ship.

Narikki just picks a spot wherever there's room to stand. "Fine. The faster the better."

N'Sha-El ducks her head through the ship's hatch and glances up. "How many ships and who?" she asks quietly, making room for VanMahr's tall, lanky frame.

VanMahr closes up the hatch behind him with the clanging of metal and the hissing of a pressurized seal.

Abernathy shakes his head. "No telling how many. But we cannot assume we are alone in this hunt."

VanMahr hrmphs. "And who claims rights to prizes we might claim?" A pause. "That being the additional salvage from our competitors ships?"

Jest'liana looks towards Engineering, fingers itching. Then she tilts her head at Van's words.

Abernathy chuckles. "Get what you can. But we aren't getting a damned thing sitting here."

N'Sha-El's lips tighten. "We need coordinates. And I need a chart to enter the bloody information and deck the hell out of the Matrix." She tosses her head and marches towards the cockpit, glowering darkly.

Teel looks over at Abernathy. "I thought you said..." She shakes her head, and finds a quiet space to sit.

VanMahr nods grimly. "If you don't have it part of your patron's contract then it goes to The Courser's crew." He ducks under a low bale of fiberoptics and kicks an empty beerbottle under a bench. "Secure the empties Sha. Jest let's give the lady a bit of juice shall we? I'll take nav until you're done Miss Sha."

Abernathy wraps an arm around a pillar strung with a hammock, his sword banging against the metal.

Teel takes advantage of her small size to squeeze into a quiet space.

Jest'liana snaps to and salutes, a bright gleam in her eye. "Aye, Captain."

Jest'liana heads into Engineering .

Abernathy says, "All Lord Fagin wants is the polydenum. Anything else is yours, free and clear."

VanMahr slides feet first into the narrow tunnel leading to the cockpit with it's dim ruddy light.

N'Sha-El glances at VanMahr, something slightly kinder, softer, illuminating her eyes for a moment before she follows him into the cockpit.

Cockpit 

An amber glow seeps through the dim claustrophobic cockpit of this small craft. Three padded slabs are arrayed under heavy banks of electronics, avionics and other displays. Of the stars themselves there is no sign as a portal or viewscreen is absent. Instead, the bridge crew extends their senses out into the void with the digital and wave arrays of data swept up by the very sensitive passive and active detection systems on board. The first bench is the navigator's station with its bewildering melange of CRT monitors and a dangling set of headphones, the second signals the pilot's position with its joystick and holographic positioning sextant, and the third features the distended periscope-style targeting mask and firing solution monitors of the gunner's place. One exit is a portal to the rear leading into the gundeck and living quarters. The second is a small pressurized hatch near the feet of the gunner - likely leading to a small armory and boarding bay.

Contents:

Citizen VanMahr 

Weapons Console

Command Chair

Navigation Console

From Gundeck , Narikki bends down, nearly doubt under a bulkhead. "How long will it take to find the ship? I thought you didn't know exactly where it was."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy chuckles and shakes his head. "I don't. But I have a general idea."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy glances toward the cockpit, then raises his voice. "Everything okay, Captain?"

From Gundeck <Courser>, Lights flicker on around you as the main reactor core is brought online.

Lights flicker on around you as the main reactor core is brought online.

N'Sha-El yanks the strap of her bag over her head, snapping the fastenings open and retrieving a sleek thin black computer. Out comes a length of cable, one end of which she plugs into her datajack, the other into the computer unit before powering it up with a tap of a slender finger. "Coordinates will be ready to run as soon as I get them Captain. In the meantime, I'm going to deck the hell out of the matrix as soon as I get a chance in the nav deck."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel watches the crew walk back and forth and in and out of various rooms.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Narikki says, "I suppose that is enough."

VanMahr calls back over his shoulder. "Everything is as good as can be expected Master Abernathy. If you can find something to hold onto do so. And if you can't, well, pray." He rises to make room for Sha at the nav console as he slips over into the command couch.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy continues keeping his arm around the pillar.

N'Sha-El sets her computer down and jacks it into her console. "Internal computer offline, Captain."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel digs in to her little hole, her eyes wide.

From Gundeck <Courser>, The whisper of recycling air emanating from the ventilation ducts begins to add to the myriad of sounds aboard the ship.

A roar emanates from the front of the ship as the thrusters begin firing up.

A light on your console flashes as the jump drives power up.

VanMahr mutters into a throat mike. "Prepare to for undocking."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy nods grimly.

The Courser undocks without a hitch and glides off into space:

VanMahr seems entirely engaged with the management of his ship.

N'Sha-El slips on a headset and flicks a few switches calmly. "Sir, I need those coordinates!" she calls back into the gundeck.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy sighs with apparent relief. "All right, the last sensor contact indicated the Diamond Lil was at a course of..."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy clenches his jaw. "And, assuming the Consortium got similar readings, they may be hunting in that vicinity too. Keep a sharp eye out."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana walks in and leans against a wall.

N'Sha-El flicks a few switches and her fingers fly over the keyboard of her console. "Setting course...what is this section of space?"

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy shakes his head. "Somewhere between the Fringe and Consortium. Maybe even in the Consortium."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel jostles a bit, but stays secure. "Hey, Domo, what's the chance of us having to grab the stuff from the Connies?"

Abernathy glances over at Teel and shrugs - no mean feat in the confines. "I don't like to gamble."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel gives a little laugh. "I do." She drops her head and laughs again, bitterly.

Only the sound of keys clicking as Sha-El mans her coordinates with a watchful eye.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana walks over to the Captains hammock and inspects a small bundle of black fur sleeping there.

VanMahr eyes the holographic representation of space hovering above his lap. At the center is a glowing spot that indicates The Courser herself as it smears physics before it.

Abernathy glances back toward engineering, then toward the cockpit

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy says, "Captain?"

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana heads into Engineering <Courser>.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana has left.

"Unidentified celestial contact sighted." Sha-El's voice comes almost leisurely as she jabs at a few keys on her console.

VanMahr calls back. "Biologicals in our coils. They'll burn out shortly. Sha?

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel says, "Biologicals? What kinda hoopy stuff is that?"

A laugh from Sha-El, and a throaty one. "Only Sanaens, Teel. Nothing to worry about. Genghis will keep 'em down shortly." She turns back to her screen, eyes alert and keen, tracking the progress of the celestial body on her radar screen.

VanMahr mutters. "Genghis? What, exactly, is a Genghis, Sha?"

Abernathy chuckles.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy says, "Captain, is it the Diamond Lil?"

VanMahr calls back. "Only a planet contacted. No ship contacts as of yet."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy draws in a deep breath and nods.

A savage growl from the young navigator. "We've passed /something/."

VanMahr glances to Sha. "Well, please be so good as to go back for a look at it?"

N'Sha-El punches in a few keys. "I'm going!" she snaps, her entire demeanor intense in concentration.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel says, "Hey, Domo, do you know what a biological is?"

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy glances toward Teel. "Vermin, I think."

N'Sha-El glances to VanMahr for a moment. "Genghis is a kitten." With that she turns back to her readouts and her fingers fly over her console.

VanMahr cocks a brow. "I see. We'll discuss this later."

N'Sha-El engages a few flickering lights. "He's in your hammock Captain."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel says, "Vermin. Okay. Thanks, Domo."

VanMahr says, "Good to see he found a home. Was he hunting down Sanaen there or taking some time off from a busy day?"

VanMahr's tone is distracted as he monitors the ships flight.

N'Sha-El calls back to the gundeck. "Sanaen are larvae. Biological vermin you might say, as the Majordomo put it." A pause as she flicks a couple of switches. When she does answer Van, her tone is just as distracted as she eyes her readouts on the screen. "He got rescued from a ditch last I heard."

VanMahr says, "That would seem to be my usual method of recruiting."

After a while, the Courser puts into dock:

Abernathy glances up. "We there, Captain?"

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel says, "Ick. Bugs would be a problem."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy glances toward the airlock.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy releases his hold on the pillar and steps toward the lock. "Bring weapons if you have them."

VanMahr hunches over as he makes his way aft towards the gundeck portal. "We're here. I can't say she's much to look at."

Out into the cockpit, both Sha and VanMahr, to join the rest of the crew and passengers:

Teel stands up and stretches. She takes a few wobbly steps, then seems to get her balance back.

Abernathy nods, then draws his sword and steps another step toward the lock. "All right, let's see what we shall see."

Abernathy disembarks from the ship.

Abernathy has left.

N'Sha-El emerges from the darkness of the cockpit with Van calmly and unflustered. "Let's hear the lady purr like a woman...." she murmurs with a wicked grin at Van.

Everyone disembarks, to find themselves in:

Craft Hangar

Yellow auxiliary lights flicker overhead. The deck of this broad domed chamber, used to store reasonably sized spacecraft, is emblazoned with the red encircled image of a generously endowed human female with curly blonde hair, a feather boa wrapped over her shoulders and strategically placed, and a glittering diamond necklace. Sparkling earrings dangle from her ears. Printed at the base of the image are the words: Diamond Lil.

Contents:

Citizen Teel <IC>

Citizen VanMahr <IC>

Majordomo Abernathy <IC>

Courser

Abernathy glances around slowly, like a hunter seeking quarry.

VanMahr pads down from The Courser. "Majordomo, there weren't any other contacts on sensors. Unless your expecting her crew?"

Abernathy smiles wryly. "I learned long ago not to take vacant sensors or a seemingly derelict ship for granted."

N'Sha-El prowls down the landing ramp, hand on the base of her blaster. Her eyes dart to and fro, taking in every inch of the derelict ship - or at least, seeming derelict ship.

VanMahr turns back to Sha. "Get back on nav and keep an eye on the sensors." He draws his blaster. "I suspect we're going to earn this."

Abernathy says, "Sensors are useless in here."

Teel looks around a bit naively, but soon becomes more wary as she views the others' reactions. "Looks like a ghost ship to me."

VanMahr says, "Oh?"

Abernathy says, "But I daresay this vessel may have a sensor readout somewhere."

VanMahr nods to Sha. "Belay that and come along."

Abernathy strides confidently toward the corridor. "Besides, we need all the hands we can get to haul the cargo."

Abernathy heads into Corridor.

Abernathy has left.

For a moment Sha's eyes narrow a fraction. "I'll go into the deck. Cover me Captain." With a toss of her head and an irreverent salute, she turns on her heel and moves after Abernathy, her back ramrod straight and tense.

Jest'liana shakes her head faintly, watching with wary eyes.

Jest'liana follows after.

Teel shrugs and follows.

Corridor

The air reeks of ionized vapor and scorched metal in this broad passage that cuts through the heart of the barge. Yellow auxiliary lights strobe intermittently, but without much effect except for making everything appear as if in slow motion. Occasionally, you can make out snatches in the hazy corridor: Black marks on the walls. Charred spots on the deck. Wires and conduits dangling from the ceiling.

Contents:

Citizen Teel <IC>

Citizen VanMahr <IC>

Majordomo Abernathy <IC>

Abernathy gazes around in amazement at the destruction.

Abernathy says, "Damn...I wonder if someone beat us to the punch."

Jest'liana says, "Split up or stay together?"

Abernathy scratches his chin, looking to VanMahr. "Your call, Captain."

N'Sha-El halts sharply, almost cannoning into Abernathy's back. Her hand slips to her thigh and unsheathes the large knife, smooth and slick as a panther's oiled coat. "There's got to be an internal computer somewhere. If I can get to it, I can probably bring it online."

Abernathy runs a finger along one of the long scorch marks in the bulkhead.

VanMahr snorts. "If it was valuable you can rest assured it wouldn't have been in plain sight. Do your reclamation people have any hand-held sensors Majordomo?" And to Sha. "We'll stay together for now. But we'll see to her logs and records in a moment."

Abernathy chuckles. "You can't exactly hide this large a shipment of polydenum. And if they didn't store it in the craft hangar, it must be in a cargo hold."

Abernathy slips the scimitar back into its lash at his side and glances up the ladder.

Abernathy grips a rung and begins climbing.

VanMahr holsters his blaster with some reluctance and follows.

N'Sha-El furrows a brow a little as she glances after Abernathy. She does move a little closer to VanMahr and Jest however.

Corridor

Flickering bulbs fail to do an adequate job of lighting this dim passage on the uppermost deck of the barge. Black scorch marks on the bulkhead walls suggest a battle waged aboard this vessel with energy weapons. It isn't clear, however, who was fighting. Or who won.

Abernathy jerks a thumb toward port. "Cockpit's in there."

Jest'liana looks around. "Question..Where are the bodies?"

Abernathy sighs and nods. "Good question. Someone appears to have left a hell of a mess without much evidence."

VanMahr jerks his head towards the cockpit. "You two, see if you can't do something with the systems here."

Abernathy steps toward the hold.

Jest'liana nods curtly.

N'Sha-El's eyes narrow faintly, lips pursing a little. A single curt nod and she moves towards the cockpit. "Aye Captain. Be careful." To Jest, she gives a wry, grim half-smile. "To the death...sister." And prowls towards the cockpit.

Cockpit

Dim yellow auxiliary lamps do little to stave off the shadows consuming much of this chamber, which juts off the port side of the barge's main hull like a blister. Large windows, angled inward at roughly forty degrees, offer an expansive view outside. Charts on the aft bulkhead display much of the known territory in the Consortium and Fringe. Status monitors indicate how various systems are performing.

Contents:

Navigation Console

Jest'liana says, "I don't like this Sha..."

N'Sha-El nods slowly as she glances around. "Me bloody neither Jest...this damn place isn't so much as damaged." Her eyes travel the small space until she sights the navigation console. "Let me see if I can't power that up..." She moves towards it quietly.

Jest'liana draws her knife and takes up a guarding stance

N'Sha-El frowns a little. "Computer's offline...this is bloody strange Jest."

Jest'liana straightens. "Sha...I am going to look for engineering. I will be back."

Jest'liana slips out.

VanMahr arrives from Corridor.

VanMahr has arrived.

Teel arrives from Corridor.

Teel has arrived.

Jest'liana arrives from Corridor.

Jest'liana has arrived.

Teel scratches her head. "You need some help down here? They didn't find ja-oh, hey, Captain."

VanMahr considers Teel. "Jester you've met." He waves an idle hand to the other woman. "Sha, we'll check the computer when Jest decides the reactor's safe to power up."

N'Sha-El is seated at the bulk of a navigation console, frowning in thought. Her knife is firmly in one hand, the other rapidly examining buttons and switches.

Jest'liana says smoothly. "computers are down, so I figured I would look for engineering. You know where it is or is it hunt for it?"

VanMahr says, "Try the bottom deck, Miss Jest?"

N'Sha-El rises. "Probably somewhere off the hold." She tosses her knife lightly.

Jest'liana nods and slips out.

Teel heads into Corridor.

Teel has left.

N'Sha-El purses her lips, a frown on her brow. "Captain. I don't like this. This place isn't' even so much as bloody scorched. And Jest's right. no bodies." Her nose wrinkles a little.

N'Sha-El's lips quirk in a grin. "Purring like a woman in heat..." she murmurs as the lights on her console flash.

VanMahr grunts. "As long as Abernathy's on board I'll hold my peace. I don't like this one bit but if I did I probably wouldn't get paid for it. If you ask me the ship's picked clean and left for us to find. Someone has set us up."

VanMahr glances sidelong at Sha's comment. "Hrmph."

N'Sha-El frowns, her fingers flying over the keys of the console. "This is damn bloody strange Captain...." She motions for him to come over to her. "The reactor's up. Hull and fuel are all at bloody 100, and comm and life support are active. It's like someone's put her to sleep."

VanMahr nods. "I'm going to find our Majordomo. Stay on station."

N'Sha-El nods, her fingers flying over the keys.

VanMahr heads into Corridor.

VanMahr has left.

Abernathy arrives from Corridor.

Abernathy has arrived.

VanMahr arrives from Corridor.

VanMahr has arrived.

N'Sha-El glances up from the computer console. "What have you found?" She's still busy typing.

Abernathy shakes his head. "Nothing. Just a big mess."

VanMahr moves into the dim cabin behind Abernathy. "If I were a gambling man I'd bet it'd be wise to leave this hulk where she is until you could sweep her for traps and bugs. This just isn't right, none of it."

Abernathy nods. "We can come back with a towing craft."

N'Sha-El frowns lightly, her dark sienna-brown eyes riveted to the screen as if trying to sink something deep into memory.

Abernathy turns and strides brusquely for the door.

VanMahr snaps his fingers. "Miss Sha, I want a download of all the ship's logs and its manifest."

From Corridor, Abernathy yells, "Captain, let's roust the others and go!"

VanMahr says, "Put it on a disc. I don't trust there aren't traps laying in wait in the code as well. We'll check that too back on The Courser."

N'Sha-El nods quietly. "Cover me Captain..." she says as she hauls out a length of cable from her utility belt. "I can't fight when I'm doing this."

VanMahr calls out. "Aye, sir!"

N'Sha-El yells, "Wait up dammit sir! I need to check sensors!"

From Corridor, Abernathy yells, "Ah, to hell with you. I'll get them!"

VanMahr heads into Corridor.

VanMahr has left.

N'Sha-El jacks in her cable, her eyes furious as she rapidly types in a scroll of information. Then she yanks the cable out, shoves it into her belt and stalks out, her face grim and black as thunder.

Corridor

The flickering gleam of damaged auxiliary lights reflects off the fluid-covered deck surface. The liquid, acrid smelling and brackish, sloshes as you move in it. The scent suggests it might be something used to lubricate mechanical equipment. The starboard bulkhead is streaked with the slimy fluid, but the streaks appear to have been left by the dragging of human hands across the surface.

Abernathy glances toward the duct. "Did I hear voices?"

Abernathy yells, "Hello? In the duct? Anyone in there?"

Teel arrives from Corridor.

Teel has arrived.

N'Sha-El stalks out, her face grim and tight. Her eyes are blazing as she gives Abernathy a single, raging look and glances up towards the duct. A quick shrug. "Let me go up. I'm the smallest."

Abernathy arches his eyebrows.

Teel says, "Where's Jest?"

Abernathy says, "The devil you say."

VanMahr gestures to the duct. "Babysitting a stowaway. Or a survivor. Certainly a clue."

Abernathy yells, "Get the wee tot and let's move!"

VanMahr says, "You heard the man, Jester."

N'Sha-El eyes the air duct. "Up there." Without another word she makes for the side of the ship and swings herself onto some of the charred supports.

N'Sha-El yells, "Drop him and I'll get him Jest!""

Teel gulps.

VanMahr paces back to keep an eye on the corridor. Out of habit. One eye on the exit.

Kip arrives from Air Duct.

Kip has arrived.

Jest'liana scrambles out, boy cradled close

Abernathy rests a hand on the hilt of his scimitar as he studies the child.

Kip

A tow-headed human boy, no older than ten, he has deep blue eyes and a round face with dimples. His hair is corkscrewed and matted with something dark and sticky. His face is streaked with grime. He wears a loose-fitting gray jumpsuit and sneakers. A patch on the upper left of his jumpsuit front bears the name Kip Caspar.

Jest'liana says, "Okay..let's go then?"

Kip has his arms wrapped around Jest's neck, his face buried in her neck.

Abernathy grunts. "Captain VanMahr, I trust you have room for another mate aboard your ship?"

VanMahr says, "Mate, sir?"

Abernathy chuckles. "A hand. A helper. About four feet tall, by the look of him."

Teel says, "Cabin boy?"

N'Sha-El's eyes narrow sharply as she jumps down from the supports, studying the boy intensely. "Fucking bloody shit..." she murmurs savagely and her eyes are furious.

Abernathy sighs and shakes his head. "No one speaks the old language."

Abernathy glances to Sha. "Except for you."

Abernathy chuckles, then grabs a rung. "Shall we?"

Jest'liana continues a soothing litany of words to the boy. She meets Sha's eyes, grey eyes hard.

The boy raises his head, wet eyes wide. He stares at the short-haired Sha, his lip quivering slightly.

VanMahr turns back to study the Majordomo and then the boy with some incredulity. "I don't run a boarding house or an orphanage..." But he moves to follow Abernathy with no further protestations.

Abernathy shrugs. "We can't rightly leave him here, now can we?"

Abernathy clanks up the ladder.

VanMahr says, "I'll take him as far as Nephthys..."

"I what sir?" Sha's voice is sharp and unusually tense. She moves over to Jest and the lad quietly enough. "It's all right..." she murmurs. At Abernathy's words her eyes blaze. "We're not leaving ANYONE here!" she storms. "And bloody HELL you'll deal with me if you do!"

Jest'liana murmurs to the boy. "Don't worry Kip. Captain Van is just a grump sometimes." Her tone holds laugher and reassurance.

The crew of the Courser, along with Abernathy and the newly rescued child Kip, leave the Diamond Lil and board the Courser. Upon which transpires:

Kip whimpers slightly, then ducks into the tiny hole Teel occupied.

N'Sha-El glances at the boy once more as she clambers aboard the ship. As she catches sight of the name tag on his shirt, her face stiffens and a sharp hiss comes from her. "Dammit...bloody DAMMIT." With that she turns and stalks into the cockpit, her back ramrod straight. She's visibly upset.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana says, "Sha, what?"

From Gundeck <Courser>, VanMahr gestures to Teel curtly. "Keep that lad's head down during launch. If we do have company out there it could get a bit rough. Jester, you've a job to do and get on it." He makes his way after Sha to the cockpit.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana raises an eyebrow, and inclines her head.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana heads into Engineering <Courser>.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana has left.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel notices that her old spot is taken. She nods to VanMahr. "Yes sir, Captain."

N'Sha-El doesn't answer, merely seats herself at her console. Her movements are sharp and curt, her face smoothed into that dangerously calm mask so often seen before a fight. Her fingers fly over the keys.

VanMahr all but falls into the command couch and straps himself in.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel grabs hold of the pillar nearest to Kip's spot. "Heya, spud. My name's Teel." She doesn't smile, but her voice carries all the warmth needed.

N'Sha-El glances over to VanMahr for just a moment. "Jack and Lil Caspar are dead. That's their son."

VanMahr glances back. "How do you know this?"

N'Sha-El adds, as she savagely flicks switches, "Or they're alive and somewhere. I decked the Matrix last night digging up bloody background."

From Gundeck <Courser>, The incessant hum from the ship's engines suddenly fades away.

From Gundeck <Courser>, The air suddenly becomes stale as life support loses power.

The air suddenly becomes stale as life support loses power.

Your readouts go blank as the computer loses all power.

A small light blinks as the sensor array loses power.

A small light blinks as the communications beacon loses power.

From Gundeck <Courser>, A small blinking light indicates that the RICS have lost power.

From Gundeck <Courser>, You hear a large powerdrop as the jump drives power down.

From Gundeck <Courser>, (!) *** Life Support Systems Are Failing *** (!)

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy glances around sharply

A darkened light on your console indicates that communications are not online.

VanMahr glances up from his station.

N'Sha-El leaps up from her console. "Dammit!" Her voice is intense and harsh. "Captain...get out now. I'm going to try and rewire the damn computer..."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel says, "Oh of all the hoopy...."

N'Sha-El yells, "Jest! what the bloody hell is happening??"

N'Sha-El glances up sharply. "Captain...the sensors are gone."

Through a portal, you notice space before the ship shimmering and expanding and contracting, all at the same time

VanMahr curses coarsely as he rips the belts off the command couch's harness and slips over into the gunner's position. "Gunnery is dead. No response. I do believe we should hold tight. Try to hail that devil, Sha."

"Bloody HELL!" Sha-El rips the computer cable from her belt and shoves it into her datajack, plugging in the other end to the console.

VanMahr calls back over his shoulder. "Master Abernathy. We have company."

A rip begins to form in space before you, and the sensor readouts go wild, blipping off the scale as something incredibly huge begins to approach from the other side.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy steps toward the cockpit, gawking. "What in the name of all that's..."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel clutches the pillar like a drowning woman. "S'gonna be okay, kid," she says to the small boy, though you wonder if she just might be talking to herself.

N'Sha-El snaps, "Down! EVERYONE get down!" Her fingers fly frantically over her keyboard.

Emerging from the rip in space, the alien vessel throws off incredible waves of energy that cause the Courser to rock violently.

VanMahr's tanned face seems unhealthily pale in the ruby spillage from the alert lights. "Don't panic. Either we're dead or we're not. Establish communications Miss Sha!"

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel jumps on top of Kip.

VanMahr says, "Hold tight!"

N'Sha-El punches furiously at her console. "I can't! The communications are down!"

From Gundeck <Courser>, Abernathy staggers sideways and slams his skull against the bulkhead, and sags to the ground, unconscious.

The alien vessel, a malevolent and dark craft that seems to suck the light from the stars, closes on the Courser. The hole in space behind it snaps shut with a violent aftershock wave.

Sha-El's dark face is set grim. "I think we just found our polydenum...." she murmurs, her voice suddenly dangerously calm. She punches a key savagely.

Two great doors appear to open in the hull of the alien vessel and a blue beam shoots out.

VanMahr curses. "Screw the polydenum. Get life support back up, Jester!"

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana arrives from Engineering <Courser>.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana has arrived.

N'Sha-El snatches her blaster from her side. "All systems are down Captain and there's no getting any of them up again...."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana says, "Someone run messages back and forth between me and cockpit! I cant hear a thing!"

The Courser is drawn toward the alien vessel.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana heads into Engineering <Courser>.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana has left.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel yells, "Sha's having a hard time getting systems back up!"

VanMahr holds tight onto the grips on either side of the targeting-scope as he peers into the jaws of the impossible. "Well, prepare to be boarded." This a hiss between clenched teeth.

The Courser is drawn aboard the alien vessel and the doors begin to grind shut behind her as she settles onto the deck.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel yells, "We're gonna be boarded!"

N'Sha-El's eyes are narrowed, devoid of all expression. Calmly she jerks the computer cable from her head and shoves it into her utility belt before drawing her blaster to the ready, sliding her knife from its sheath with her other hand. "Like old times Captain..." she murmurs very quietly, moving from her console to flank VanMahr.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Kip peeks out from underneath his hiding place, his eyes intelligent and almost feral.

VanMahr's amazed gaze lifts to Sha. "Was I there for times like this?" He pulls himself from the gunner's couch as he draws his blaster. All the while he braces himself with one hand against the bulkhead.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel says, "I'm not gonna let them take you, kid. Don't worry."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel crawls over and pulls Abernathy's sword from it's sheath.

VanMahr glances down at Abernathy in passing. "We'll give him a report later." Carefully, the captain steps over the man's body with a nod to Teel.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel says, "I've got the wanker's sword, Cap'n. I'll guard the boy here."

N'Sha-El moves to flatten herself against the dark bulk of the tunnel wall. "I'm staying here Captain..." she murmurs grimly. "Can't let them get all the surprises can we..." To Teel she nods curtly. "Jest. Where is she?"

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel says, "Engineering."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana darts in, expression frustrated and demanding answers to all sorts of questions she is too smart to actually mouth.

From Gundeck <Courser>, VanMahr nods grimly to Teel as he proceeds to Engineering. "Sha, if the power stays on be ready to disembark." As Jest emerges he eyes her grimly. "I'd explain it all to you but I'd be lying. All I know is that a big bastard of a ship's swallowed us. Don't fire unless fired upon. Teel's got the boy and you've got my back."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana nods.

N'Sha-El's face peeks out for a moment, nodding curtly. "Aye Captain..." Her eyes lock on his face for a long while, then she disappears into her chosen position.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana says, "anyone have a blaster I can borrow, just in case?"

From Gundeck <Courser>, VanMahr moves to the airlock. "I hope those bastards breath the same as we do." He gestures Jester to one side. "With a weapon, thank you. Although I'm sure kind words would be just as effective."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana smiles sweetly at Van and bats her eyes before glaring a little. Then she grins. "Like I said, anyone got a weapon I can borrow?"

N'Sha-El tosses Jest her blaster. "Take that. I've a knife." A grim satisfaction in her voice. "She's ready to taste blood."

From Gundeck <Courser>, Teel carefully pulls Kip back from the hatch to a safer spot.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Jest'liana takes the blaster and gets ready to leave with Van, guarding his back.

From Gundeck <Courser>, Kip allows himself to be moved and takes a spot less than a step behind Teel, cheek resting on the small of her back

Vessel Containment Area <RKV Harrower>

The shadows consuming this chamber make it seem at once both infinite and claustrophobic. Your footsteps, your voice - even the slightest whisper - echo dramatically in this cavernous bay. Giving some sense of scope is the relatively small landing platform upon which you stand, a grid of dark gray metal surrounded by waist-high railings. Extending from the platform to a hexagonal tube in the distance is a railed catwalk made of similar metal. It is unclear how high the platform is suspended above the bottom of the chamber.

Contents:

Citizen Jest'liana <IC>

Citizen VanMahr <IC>

Eye Balthazar <IC>

Courser

Seer Orandius <IC>

Lt_Colonel LeBeau <IC>

Councilman Dahan <IC>

Boarding Tube - SCT Bunker Hill

Orandius stands near the boarding tube of the Bunker Hill, back straight, head slightly bowed, the cowl of his robe obscuring his face.

Balthazar sees Sha and then nods sadly. "It is she."

Orandius

A plain brown robe hangs loosely over this man's frame. A deep cowl casts long shadows on the man's face, his blue eyes darkened almost to blackness by them. His skin has an olivish cast, looking drab next to the thick brown cloth.

He carries himself with an airy grace, as though his head is somehow lifting him towards the ceiling. His lips quirk at the corners, as if in response to some small, perpetual jest. Sturdy sandals adorn his feet, his walk made whispery by them.

LeBeau watches the crew exit carefully, his hand hovering above a holstered pistol on his thigh

Orandius folds his arms before him, hands disappearing into his sleeves. He nods at Balthazar's statement.

VanMahr's nose wrinkles as he eyes Dahan. "You have approximately three seconds to back off, sir. Shall I count out loud?"

Dahan floats back towards the Bunker Hill group.

Jest'liana's lips twitch in a smile.

Balthazar steps closer and bows faintly to Sha. "Miss, I see that the prophecies have once again proven accurate - unfortunate as that may prove."

Teel exits from the Courser.

Teel has arrived.

Dahan telepathically sends, 'Force is not necessary.'

Kip exits from the Courser.

Kip has arrived.

Balthazar's frown deepens as he sees the child.

N'Sha-El emerges, feline predator on the prowl, her eyes flaming, face dangerously calm. She glares around, knife held at the ready. "Where the bloody hell is Jack Caspar? and what have you done with his wife?" As Balthazar steps forward she swings around. "And who the /HELL/ are you?"

Orandius remains silent, though his eyes trail to each new person as they emerge.

Balthazar

A tall, wiry middle-aged Shohobian Mystic clad in ankle-length brown robes and leather sandals. His skin, the greenish-brown color of olives, offsets his silver eyes and hair. He wears a bronze medallion shaped like an eye on a crimson sash that stands out starkly against the dull color of his robes.

Teel grips a sword as she guards the small child. It doesn't look like it's her sword.

Balthazar steps back from N'Sha-El. "Ah, we have not met, but I know of you. I am Balthazar, the Eye of Val Shohob and now a fellow prisoner of the Hive Minders."

LeBeau steps forward as N'Sha starts yelling and asking questions of Balthazar.

VanMahr's gaze flicks from one to the next as the rather ominous length of the barrel of the man's blaster follows. Ticking off potential future targets. In the end his regard settles on Balthazar.

The small boy peers curiously from behind his chosen protector, his eyes wide and curiously intelligent. In a futile gesture, he wipes a bit of grime from his face.

Jest'liana lowers her weapon a hair. "Why don't we just calm down a moment, shall we?" she murmurs. "Sha?"

N'Sha-El swings to LeBeau, eyes narrowed. "Stand back or I blow your bloody head off...MISTER." She growls. Then she turns back to Balthazar, her face wary. "The Eye...Aye I've heard of you....from Jaxx."

Dahan drapes a feeler on LeBeau's shoulder, and pulls him back slightly.

Balthazar nods. "It was I who, along with your friend saw to the recovery of Martin Lovine."

Orandius shifts his weight from right foot to left, then glances at Balthazar with an unspoken question in his eyes.

LeBeau narrows his eyes slightly as Sha addresses him and his hand twitches slightly over his pistol but does not draw it.

Balthazar seems to pay no heed to Orandius.

VanMahr without preface holsters his blaster. "We can't shoot them all if this is a trick. There'd be more watching. And if it isn't there's little profit to be had at any rate. Jester's right, Sha."

N'Sha-El's lips press together tightly. "What do you want?" Her voice is strong, demanding. "What do you want with us?" She gives no sign of having heard VanMahr, but her position relaxes just enough to where she isn't coiled spring tight any more.

Teel blinks. "Fellow prisoners, huh? What a hoopy mess."

Jest'liana apparently takes this guarding Van seriously, cause despite her own admonition to calm down, she waits a moment longer to holster her weapon.

Dahan telepathically sends, "May I tell them of our tale?'

Balthazar nods to Dahan

VanMahr seems to sense the telepathic contact is from Dahan. His gaze narrows on the creature warily but he makes no further hostile gestures.

Dahan floats forward a foot or two toward the newcomers, and begins to speak telepathically. 'Slightly over a day ago, this Vanguard ship was sent out to intercept a ship containing a shipment necessary for the Castorans. We found the ship, the Diamond Lil, the shipment, and a very dead crew.

Kip whimpers softly

Dahan continues, 'Soon after, this mammoth of a ship emerged, we lost power, and were dragged inside. We haven't been about to leave, but we have been allowed to explore this ship slightly.'

Teel lowers her sword. She turns to tousle the hair of the boy who is behind her. "S'gonna be alright, yeah? Told ya. We got out of the ship just fine."

Dahan telepathically sends, 'Perhaps you could tell us how you got here?'

As Dahan speaks LeBeau slowly reaches behind him and pulls out a foot long cylinder which he begins to twirl in his right hand.

VanMahr grunts. "Travel agent on Tomin Kora. I think I will demand a refund."

Jest'liana shakes her head slowly at LeBeau, grey eyes stern and lips in a half smile. Her fingers fan out near her blaster, just a hair closer to drawing now.

Balthazar tilts his head slightly, sensing the sarcasm and allows himself a light chuckle.

Balthazar suddenly frowns as his gaze drifts toward the boy. "Oh...no."

N'Sha-El's eyes are drawn to the hooded figure behind Balthazar. Her eyes narrow, and she tilts her chin. "What do you want from me?" she demands, her voice quiet but intense. "Who..." Her gaze goes to Kip; she steps back a pace towards Teel, shielding her and the boy.

Teel catches the Eye's gaze and stands directly in front of Kip. "What?"

Balthazar puts two fingers to his chin and steps back. "His mother...his father..." He turns to look at Orandius. "Both dead. He was with her, hiding! How did we miss them?"

The boy clings to Teel's right leg, his fingers nervously clutching the fabric of her jumpsuit. His cheeks are smeared with grime.

Teel says, "Because ya did a hoopy job!"

Balthazar snaps his head around to regard Teel with regret. "I am unfamiliar with the term, but I feel horrible for leaving a child clinging to his dead mother..."

Balthazar says, "The boy...the son of Jack Caspar."

VanMahr's fingerless-gloved hand rests lightly on the blaster in its quick-draw holster as he observes the exchange around Kip.

Balthazar looks to LeBeau. "You met his father, I believe."

The boy raises his wet eyes to gauge Teel's reaction, his face now dead calm.

LeBeau looks over "Yeah for about a minute before he began to rant like a mad man an started to shoot ad us."

N'Sha-El turns briefly to lock eyes with VanMahr, and her sienna-brown eyes speak more than words. Then she turns away, drawing a deep breath, gaze falling for a moment on Jest. A pause. Then back to the other men and the jelly-fish like floating creature and she is deadly calm, serene, all trace of tension gone from her face and demeanor now.

VanMahr clears his throat. "Would someone please explain to me what a Hive-Minder is precisely? And what would it want with us?"

Teel rolls her eyes. "Hey, jet jockey...his son is here. Don't speak ill of him."

The brows above the boy's blue eyes furrow at the man's remarks, but he says nothing, only moves closer to Teel.

Balthazar points to the Courser. "Captain, your vessel has an OtherSpace Drive, correct?"

VanMahr nods fractionally.

Dahan telepathically sends, 'I can answer that question. A Hive Minder is the people who run the OtherSpace Drive. They are also known at the Ri'Kammi.'

Balthazar nods in agreement with the Centauran

VanMahr ahs. "And they are enforcing a recall?"

Balthazar smiles faintly, sadly.

Dahan telepathically sends, 'We do not know. They have not communicated with us.'

N'Sha-El's eyes drift to Orandius. A brow arches, furrows as she stares at him for a long long moment.

LeBeau says, "Dat is wha id seems like if no someting else."

Orandius looks at the boy silently, the blue of his eyes dimly visible in the double-shadow of the bay and his cowl. His expression is hidden, but there is a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

Balthazar gestures toward the hexagonal tube. "We have learned some things. Unsettling at best."

Dahan dips slightly in acknowledgment.

Jest'liana grins and cocks her head to the side. "Phew, for a second I was thinking that was a weapon." she says dryly amused. "How fallible of me."

VanMahr says, "We seem to have time to discuss it."

VanMahr says, "What is it you've learned?"

Balthazar smiles faintly. "Captain, words will do it no justice."

Balthazar strides down the catwalk toward the tube.

Dahan telepathically sends, 'You may see for yourself, but we have found old used...Come, see for yourself.'

Orandius follows Balthazar wordlessly, his sandals whicking on the floor of the bay.

LeBeau turns and heads for the tube.

VanMahr glances back to Sha. "Keep an eye on Teel and the boy? Jester, you're with me."

Dahan floats toward the tube.

Kip prepares to follow Teel

Teel says, "We're stayin here?"

Jest'liana looks at Sha for a moment, exchanging glances.

VanMahr grunts. "I suppose it doesn't matter, does it? Come along, then."

Dahan telepathically sends, 'We sent some marines in to secure the area earlier..we didn't find any danger.

Dahan floats toward the tube.

Teel says, "What happened to them?"

Dahan telepathically sends, 'They are sleeping on the Bunker Hill I expect.'

Teel smiles a little.

N'Sha-El glances towards VanMahr and Jest, brow arched. "What was in there?" Her voice calm, quiet.

VanMahr's scowl deepens as he looks about. "In where?"

Dahan telepathically sends, 'It is not far. If you fear ambush, you may take me hostage while your people explore.'

Dahan telepathically sends, 'Deeper into the ship...That hexagonal tube over there.'

Jest'liana looks at Van and Sha, expression slightly puzzled.

VanMahr glances to Dahan. "Our ship is rigged to explode if we don't return to deactivate it in five minutes." Such a poker face could likely make a man rich. "I don't think hostages are called for."

N'Sha-El tosses her head lightly. "Nice place for vacation...adventure included, bring your own sanity." She glances back at Teel and Kip. "Go if you have to Captain...Jest go with him. I'll stay with the lad and Teel."

Dahan's lack of a face makes it hard to register his emotions. 'Then come.'

Kip watches the strange jellyfish creature with open curiosity.

VanMahr moves at Dahan's side. "Or is it ten? I should pay closer attention. Sha, do you remember?"

N'Sha-El gives a short laugh. "More like 30."

Jest'liana sighs and shakes her head. "Captain, if I end up loosing my One good gown because you missed timed this..."

VanMahr nods curtly. "So it is."

Teel grins a little as she notices Kip's reaction to the jellyfish..

N'Sha-El tilts her chin a little. "Go or stay Captain? Or should we all go in?" Her voice is too quiet somehow...

Dahan descends a few inches, and uses his feelers to support his weight.

VanMahr says, "Sha, keep an eye on The Courser and reactivate security. Meet up with us when you're done."

VanMahr says, "Jester, worry about my flank first and I'll consider your concerns about your gowns as noted."

N'Sha-El nods fractionally. "Teel, take the boy and go with Captain Van and Jest. I'll be back...soon." She spins on her heel and stalks towards the Courser, back straight.

Teel snorts. "The kid's been through enough. We'll stay here."

"You don't' want to be on the exploding end of a ship..." Sha's words are parting shot as she clambers aboard the Courser. "Worse than staying with the pack."

Dahan waits quietly while the newcomers speak among themselves.

Sha goes to deactivate the security system on the Courser, emerging to find:

Kip takes Teel's hand and goes with her. (into the Courser)

Sha then heads into the:

Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>

Pale mist spills from a broad tube overhead and forms a rolling, swirling haze in this rather warm chamber, a gridwork structure reminiscent of being inside a mechanized apple. The deck seems to rumble soundlessly. A ladder stretches upward into the shadows. Two archways lead into other segments of the habitat.

Contents:

Citizen Jest'liana <IC>

Citizen VanMahr <IC>

Councilman Dahan <IC>

Lt_Colonel LeBeau <IC>

Seer Orandius <IC>

Eye Balthazar <IC>

Dahan telepathically sends, 'Do not try the ladder...it is protected by a force-field.'

Dahan telepathically sends, 'One of these rooms houses some survival gear..some from the SCF Tycho. The other houses a computer.'

VanMahr mutters to Sha. "Riddles. Riddles in riddles. Give me something to shoot at or bargain with. But this? What am I to do with this?"

Kip arrives from Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Kip has arrived.

Teel arrives from Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Teel has arrived.

Teel walks in, holding Kip's hand with one hand, the sword in the other.

Dahan is floating in the middle of the room and group.

N'Sha-El moves up behind VanMahr and lays a hand lightly on his shoulder. "Let me deal with those..." she murmurs, a wry amusement in her tone. She glances around. her gaze going again to Orandius with a puzzled frown. To Dahan however, she merely says calmly, "Where's that computer? Let me see what I can bloody do with it."

Balthazar looks to Orandius. "Brother, I believe I should retire to the Consortium ship for the evening. Perhaps I can sort through what I know, see if I can add to our understanding here."

Dahan lifts a feeler in the direction of the port room.

Orandius nods, saying softly. "Of course, Eye. I will answer their questions in your stead.

VanMahr relaxes fractionally at Sha's comment. "And that one seems to know you." He nods to Orandius.

Balthazar bows slightly to his companion, fingers steepled before himself. "May this universe, should it ever deign to grace our ears with its voice, guide us."

Balthazar nods to the others, then strides toward the tube.

Orandius steeples his fingers, bowing slightly in return to Balthazar.

Kip blinks sleepily

Balthazar heads into Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Balthazar has left.

N'Sha-El's gaze drifts to Orandius again, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I know you from bloody somewhere." Her tone abrupt. "Damned if I know where. But I do."

VanMahr rubs the side of his nose with a pair of fingers and nods to the parting Balthazar. "Stay alive."

Dahan telepathically sends, 'The computer is to the port...I hope you may find out more about it then we did.'

Kip tugs at Teel's pantleg. "It scares me here. Can I go back to the ship?"

Orandius turns his gaze to Sha, inclining his head. "It is possible. Have you visited Val Shohob?"

Teel looks down at Kip. "Aw, man, way past your bedtime, huh?" She looks to VanMahr. "Hey, Cap'n...Kip's sleepy. Can we go back to the ship?"

Jest'liana glances at Sha, sees that she is standing close to Van. Jest takes a few steps over to the ladder, expression curious.

Kip straightens, his small fists clenched. "I can go myself."

LeBeau watches Jest "I'd be careful if I were yu, dat ladder is shielded last we checked"

N'Sha-El tilts her head sharply, a frown creasing her brow. "Val..." Her eyes widen suddenly. "Only one person knew I was going to visit..." A pregnant pause as she steps closer to Van unconsciously. "Jaxx." An incredulous tone. "It's not bloody you is it?"

VanMahr's gaze is drawn up towards the tubing overhead. "Aye, Jest, let them back in the ship." He glances back at Sha. "You have the codes."

VanMahr's words, entirely, seemed meant for Jester.

N'Sha-El motions to Jest. "She knows them Captain."

Teel says, "I'd feel better if I went with him."

Jest'liana glances over at LeBeau and smiles. "I know. I heard." she sighs, hearing Van. She walks over to Teel and Kip.

Orandius steeples his fingers before him, inclining his head to Sha. "I am Seer Orandius, and it is indeed possible that you know me."

VanMahr says, "Both of you go for all I care. When he's tucked please do rejoin us?"

Kip sighs deeply, his grimy face fallen. He mutters, "I could go by myself"

Jest'liana says, "But if you went by yourself you wouldn't know where to find Genghis."

Jest'liana smiles at the boy, her tone mysterious.

Kip tilts his head at that.

Teel grins. "That's right."

Kip turns for the door, pulling at Teel's hand.

Kip has left.

N'Sha-El's face is a study in conflicting emotions. "Seer....Orandius...Jaxx!" Her tone is one of finality. "Orandius Jaxx...that was the name we were introduced as..."

Jest'liana heads back.

Teel gets tugged away.

Jest'liana heads into Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Jest'liana has left.

Teel heads into Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Teel has left.

VanMahr says, "You mentioned learning something, what was the word, unnerving?"

LeBeau nods, "Well dare was two tings really."

Orandius tugs gently at his cowl, making more of his face visible, a few spikes of silvery hair appearing as he does so. He then tugs his cowl back up to its

Dahan telepathically sends, 'One of the things we learned of was that the SCF Tycho was held here...probably for 52 years.'

From afar, Orandius favors you with a wink before tugging his hood back up.

LeBeau points across the hall "In dare is a room full o supplies such as food an water, one o da crates was from a ship da STF Tycho which jus reappeared after mysteriously vanishing 52 years ago

Sha-El's eyes widen some more and she tosses her head sharply, a nervous reaction perhaps. One hand, unconsciously perhaps, reaches to lay on VanMahr's wrist lightly, slipping down into one of his large hands.

Orandius senses, "N'Sha-El recognizes you. And she is nervous as well."

LeBeau says, "Den in the room behind is a terminal which holds da images an information of many ships classes and battles da ar unrecognizable to anyone"

Dahan telepathically sends, 'There are still some supplies there if needed. The other has to do with the computer we found...'

Orandius slides his hands back into his sleeves. "Much of the food is rancid, but we will not go hungry.

Dahan nods.

LeBeau says, "Id seems dat id is a history o everyting da Hive mind has seen an run across, bu id is written in some alien language."

LeBeau says, "We were able to scan da images off da screen and we are running da ships an da systems thru ar ships computer now."

Jest'liana arrives from Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Jest'liana has arrived.

Dahan telepathically sends, 'I invite you to investigate either of these yourselves, and see if you can come to any new conclusions.'

"If it's a computer, I can take a shot at trying to decode it." Sha-El's voice is brisk.

Teel arrives from Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Teel has arrived.

Orandius says, "Its complexity far exceeds that of our own, N'Sha-El...Though you must surely try."

Dahan telepathically sends, 'Then come see for yourself.' Dahan begins to float toward the port room.

LeBeau says, "Well dare is only tree buttons on id, an da tech is very advanced, dat is way we could only scan da images off. Bu I am also no computer tech."

Teel is not wiping tears from her eyes as she walks back into the room. Really.

VanMahr rubs at his chin as he follows Dahan. "I'm not staying here 52 years. I've expenses and bills..."

Dahan heads into Memory Chamber <RKV Harrower>.

Dahan has left.

Orandius says, "Come, N'Sha-El. Let us try your skill."

VanMahr heads into Memory Chamber <RKV Harrower>.

VanMahr has left.

LeBeau nods "Dat is why we must work together to get out o dis mess

Orandius heads into Memory Chamber <RKV Harrower>.

Orandius has left.

Memory Chamber <RKV Harrower>

Hazy blue light glows eerily from behind the gridwork walls, giving an unsettling cast to the roiling mist that swirls through this chamber in rapid eddies around your legs. Near one wall stands an electronic display terminal of some sort.

Contents:

Citizen Jest'liana <IC>

Citizen Teel <IC>

Lt_Colonel LeBeau <IC>

Seer Orandius <IC>

Citizen VanMahr <IC>

Councilman Dahan <IC>

Terminal

Teel says, "What's with all this mist?"

LeBeau says, "We were able to scan da images off da screen and we are running da ships an da systems thru ar ships computer now."

Dahan telepathically sends, 'I invite you to investigate either of these yourselves, and see if you can come to any new conclusions.''.

Orandius says, "I would assume that our captors have different needs than we do."

Dahan telepathically sends, 'We really don't know.'

Jest'liana crouches down to touch the ground, curious about what its composition might be.

LeBeau shrugs as he leans against the wall near the terminal twirling his cylinder. "Don no exactly bu id dose no seem to harm us."

N'Sha-El stays close to VanMahr, her hand still tucked in his. Her eyes wander the chamber, taking in every inch of the room before her eyes settle on the terminal.

VanMahr squeezes Sha's hand lightly before letting it go. Barely noticeable to the casual observer, this gesture. "I don't suppose that if we started making a mess of place that the owners would have to show and explain themselves?"

Orandius says, "I doubt that we could do anything to affect them...I suspect that the foodstuffs are there for our benefit alone."

Dahan telepathically sends, 'I doubt it. You should see the mess in the other room.'

LeBeau says, "Noding much to make a mess ove, an we need da supplies in da next room should we run out of our own."

N'Sha-El moves over to the terminal, professional and businesslike now. She examines it thoughtfully, ignoring the conversation for now, head tilted. "Jest, what's the ground like?"

Alien Terminal

A panel with sharp angles like a trapezoid with a shattered spine with a gleaming reflective face sits atop a metallic post for this terminal, which is bolted securely to the gridwork decking. A few buttons next to a display screen can be seen. They are marked @,^$^, and *^@.

Teel cocks her head to one side. "Could be side effects from it." She looks at LeBeau's cylinder. "And what is that hoopy thing?"

Jest'liana stands up straight, expression neutral.

Dahan focuses its attention on LeBeau's response.

LeBeau looks down at the cylinder in his right hand. "Dis, ids noding really, jus a liddle toy o mine."

Jest'liana shakes her head a little. "Just a metal." Spurred by restless energy she begins to walk the perimeter, such as it is.

Intense gaze, concentration focused solely on the terminal. Sha-El narrows her eyes and blows away a fragment of what might be dust? Fluff? Who knows what it might be. One finger reaches to punch a key on the console. Then another. And another.

The angled display screen before you begins scrolling through row after row of indecipherable alien script, although the far right column seems to contain similarly formatted data in groups of three, each separated by a squiggly sort of hash mark.

Teel looks completely unconvinced by the explanation, but does not press the issue.

VanMahr prowls to the console and peers over Sha's shoulder. "Are you sure that's the best way to go about this?"

The angled display screen flashes two-dimensional image packages that show hundreds of spacefaring craft - some familiar in design and others utterly alien - and some sort of data to the right of each quick-flashing image written in alien script.

The angled display screen glows bright as it shows scene after scene, without sound accompaniment, of spacecraft clashing against each other in violent dogfights. Often the planets seem to change, although one icy looking world seems to recur more than the rest. In some of the battles, you recognize some classes of ship, but can't seem to place the arch-winged, translucent craft that seem to be the target of their attacks.

Orandius says, "There is no harm in pressing those keys...Each pulls up a different set of information. None of them seem to have any other function."

The young navigator doesn't answer, her eyes only for the screen as a sudden myriad of strange letters scroll over it. She purses her lips lightly. "I could try and write a program to crack this..." she murmurs.

VanMahr hrms thoughtfully. "Something like a cryptography algorithm? Would that work on an alien tongue?"

LeBeau says, "As I said we have da computer on our ship running thru da images o da ships an da systems to see if dare ar any dat can be identified, but cracking da language id self could take awhile."

Jest'liana touches a wall, one finger cautiously extended. She looks over her shoulder at Sha and Van, then returns her attention to the wall. Then she glances over to LeBeau.

Dahan telepathically sends, 'You may try, but I don't expect much to come of it.'

VanMahr glances back to LeBeau. "No offense, of course." And to Dahan, "Sirs. But I've seen computers and then I've seen Sha and computers."

N'Sha-El runs a hand through her purple streaked hair, her thin face looking almost demonic with the strange play of mist and shadows and the dim light from the screen. "The three keys I just pressed are already part of a deciphering clue," she says distantly. "Jest. Come here."

LeBeau nods "Non taken, 'm a pilot no a comp tech."

Dahan telepathically sends, 'I wish you well. Perhaps you could introduce yourselves...we seem to have plenty of time.'

Jest'liana doesn't turn her head, but her eyes slip to Sha. She raises an eyebrow. "What is it?"

N'Sha-El glances up from the screen. "How many classes of engine do you know?"

Jest'liana relaxes a little and strides over to Sha. "Enough. Why?" She moves to peer over her shoulder.

VanMahr pats Sha on the shoulder. "I'm going to see to Abernathy. He hit his head rather hard when we were gathered up. Carry on."

Teel says, "I'd better go too. This _is_ his sword, after all."

Dahan telepathically sends, 'It is late. I may see you again in the morning.'

Dahan starts to float out of the room.

Dahan heads into Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>.

Dahan has left.

VanMahr heads into Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>.

VanMahr has left.

Teel heads into Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>.

Teel has left.

Continued in The Price of Expedience - Part 3