Securely in the jump, Kaisla sighs, “Thank god its Van Halen and not soft rock….”
Sen pauses looking over at Kaisla, ” you know Van Halen?”
“Yeah,” Kaisla says exasperated…”I’ve spent a lot of time chasing people down and a few times just hanging out in orbit after having my ass shot out from under me….got to have something to do to pass the time. Which reminds me…..” Kaisla dials up some information on her tablet and resolutely punches a few keys, “Dex right? Can you interface with my slate, IE005E242….shoot this message to Sen’s link, or display it ship board, whichever. Do any of you recognize this cat? All this goes against my normal protocol, professional courtesy and all that, but he sent me a private contract to retrieve a package of some sort. He told me you had it. Normally, I would do better homework but this was wicked short notice. Given the curve-ball this asshole has already thrown me, I somehow feel like he’s more of a threat than whatever else is going on.”
A grainy surveillance feed from Citi Gateway is posted on the data board showing a man in a garish mickey-mouse shirt going through security.
“EC, to answer your question, I’ve never seen that guy before but he was wearing a Federal Security Forces jacket, the same kind that they issue to the station patrols, y’know, those slimy assholes that prowl around outside of the station and can never decide if they want to enforce the no-fire zones or attempt to hijack you.”
“Good catch on the jacket.”
EC pauses for a moment.
“Hey, uh… reason I’m freezing’ ‘lady whose name I’ve yet to be told’… I don’t suppose you fly a black Fer De Lance do you? Because I learned the hard way that I have a kill warrant out on my ship since blowing past a security patrol at Citi Gateway in Inara. You might want to check your own ship. You too, Sen.”
He looks around at the inside of his escape pod.
‘Well, at least I’m not going down with the ship’ he thinks, taking a sip of his rapidly cooling caffeinated beverage.
“Hey, can the ship display in here? I can’t actually see the guy you’re asking about. And on a more serious note…” he pauses, slamming the rest of his coffee before it is too cold to be delicious,
“…I’m out of coffee and it’s goddamned freezing in here.”
The mega ship now under full jump and everyone fully secure Sen looks over the ships systems as he makes sure nothing is being disrupted in the jump. This being the first time he has ever jumped in a Mega ship, as well as the circumstances of having to do so, has him on more edge then normal.
Hearing Falcons voice over coms as she half whispers in a comment about the music his facial expression goes slightly distorted in confusion as he turns in his seat to look over to her to respond that she has any clue who Van Halen would actually be.
Turning back as he fishes out a cigar from his inside jacket and frees the Zippo from his pants pocket he gives the cigar a light as he keeps a close eye on the jump status. Suddenly Dex responds to Falcons request to access video sharing of files.
Dex comes in over coms. “I am sorry, I am not authorized to complete you wishes. Sir?” Dex asks Sen.
“I think it will be fine Dex. Go with basic information workspace with minimal workflow for now. ” Sen says a bit amused by the situation. Being satisfied with the jump status he relaxes a bit and looks over to Falcon as he listens to the banter between herself and EC. “Um Dex sort out that temp would ya?” Sen says a bit concerned pulling up the ships status display.
“Yes Sir.” Dex responds. “Video feed downloaded.” Dex alerts Falcon. Putting on all displays including the pod now.
Dex starts adjusting the pods temperature according to EC’s body temp to make it more comfortable. “How is that?” Dex asks over the pods com.
As the temperature starts to adjust a clear sound of fans and what resembles heaters kicks in. Dex takes a liberty to also display facial cams of each person in the bridge directly to the pod to make the mental processing for the occupant more toloratible. Each video feed showing the location on the ship and who is in what chair of the bridge.
“Sir the video uploaded is now fully rendered.” Dex announces putting it on Sen eyepiece.
Sen looks over the image that Falcon has passed he frowns some. Taking the cigar from his lips. “Hey Kat, can you cross reference that image Falcon just gave us? ” Sen asks, the request coming over all coms.
“Already working on it,, I just need to adj,,, oh NO.. um Sen, you will not enjoy this one.” Kat says as she feeds back her cross reference data.
“Are you kidding me!? Sen says looking at the other security cam view. He looks over to Falcon with a half annoyed half amused look on his face. “You darlin, were taking for a ride. And not the fun kind of ride that ends in a happy ending.” Sen changes screens and enlarges.
“People meet Jax Connor. This boy is a total con man and opturnist. Somehow he jumps ahead of trends and crap that is going down, all high profile in one way or the other. He bullshits his way through everything to make it seem like he has the hot scoop on something but truth is, he has no cash, no contacts, and no influence. He just gets him self in the shit, and somehow can con people into doing things in any way he can to take advantage of situations.” Sen rants in a nearly unfollowable narrative. He hears Kat clear her throat to signal to Sen to clarify. Sen pauses for a moment and turns in his seat some to face Falcon.
“Okay, here is what I think.” He points at the image of Jax on the screens. This boy got wind of the data. Most likely just after the crash. Maybe he saw where our dearly departed pilot got to. Maybe dock 11, hell maybe he saw Kats meat head break in to our dock who fucking knows, but one thing I do know he he figured something good was up. Not knowing what, just knowing it was something. He bull shit his way into getting security to set him up with a desperate manager to carry out what appears to be a ligit contract for recovery but all in all. ” Sen looks back at the screen and points at Jax. “That son of a bitch pulled a fast one on you and got some poor suckers to pull you into a shit sandwich.” Looks back to falcon and places the cigar back in his teeth and smiles. “Unless you expect to get paid in cigs and music data chips, you got suckered beautiful.” Sen says turning back in his chair shaking his head that Jax somehow got mixed up in this too and that those he conned are more then likely after him for unpaid contracts once again. “Damn station rats.” He sighs thinking of the years of getting that kid out of trouble.
Kaisla’s blood starts to boil as she listens to the information Sen describes. How could she get swindled?! How could she be so foolish as to blindly assume that a contract that good would just fall into her lap like that? Dammit, she knew better! She always did her homework and she shouldn’t have budged on her own rules.
That’s okay…she could figure out a way to make a profit off this and get her revenge. First step was to figure out where to find this Jax kid and put a bullet in his brain. That would go a long way to putting things right.
But before she could do any of that, she had to figure out what the hell was going on now.
“So…I have some questions. You, Sen, how do you know Beardy and what’s he got to do with all this? Second….why the hell are we going all the way out to guardian space? I have no clue why we have bounty hunters after us unless we seriously pissed off someone at Citi Gateway, in which case – fuck them. They’re easy enough to dispatch but its just another problem that we have to deal with. Lastly, why is Kat wearing high-heels?! Seriously…that must be uncomfortable!”
An alarm sounds off in the bridge and everyone turns to see as Kaisla unstraps from her chair and wobbles over to the coffee machine….established safely in witch space, moving around wasn’t so much a problem, it was if the Nav computer had a hiccup and slammed them out or hit a radiation rift that would shred her to pieces. To her immense frustration, she might not be the best smuggler (obviously) but one thing she did know was flying.
She walks over to the coffee machine and drops a packet in the chute. Moments later, steaming coffee trickles out into a cup. She wobbles back over to the escape pod and bangs on the hatch..
“Hey beard-cicle! This coffee is delicious!” then straps back into her chair.
EC watches Kaisla wobble back to her seat with a grin and looks into his empty cup with an over-emphasized pout.
“Aw, why you gotta do me like that?”
Well, at least the temperature was heating up a bit, he thought to himself.
“You know, Sen, you seem to have a lot of old friends involved in this comedy of errors. This honestly seems like some movie-grade coincidental macguffin-level stuff. Only problem is, this isn’t the movies… which means this isn’t coincidence… which means you know more than you’ve told us, and as much fun as we’ve had thus far, I’m with the thrift-store chameleon over there, I’m gonna need some information here. This started out as ‘hey I might have some work for you’ and evolved into an epic shitshow.”
*Looking over Kaisla.* Listen, I can see that this has turned into a cluster of a situation, but let me state with absolute clarity that I my self, and my crew have been pulled into this shit sandwich and I am as just as much as in the dark,,,,, ” *Sen pauses a bit as he knows this is not 100% true but continues* Just in the dark as you are! Here is what I know, ” *Sen takes a chance at gaining allies to get out of the entangled mess and offer up much as he can to calm situations down and maybe gather force.*
*Looking over to the near by seat he watches the look on his unexpected passengers face as he can see she is not thrilled. Not only because she is in a situation on a long jump on a compromised mission that she strives for each and every situation to be perfect but because all in all she was placed here by a half wit but brilliant con man. Sen takes a moment to process the look on her face as he has been there once before. More then once in fact he breaks the silence*
“Okay, listen! Here is the deal. There is something about this data that is a hot potato and as we have seen nothing ends well in this. It has been bad luck from the start!”
Looking over at Kat, Sen Says. “Data fracture protocol number 410..” His words seeming more somber then usual.. Kats expression hesitant as she looks around at the others in the cabin,. Her expression almost saying ((No you cant do that to them! No… omg no…)) *But she swallows her reservations as she says outloud* “Dex, facial scan and encode of military data to encryption of faces present.” The look on Kats face showing a look of total devastation as small IR scanners drop from the celening of the dreadnaught to scan , Kat, Sen, Kaisla and EC’s face suddenly. The voice of the ship saying to everyone. “Fragment bio breakdown complete.” Kat leaning her head back in reservation and exhaustion to the thoughts of what is to come.
“Hang on everyone! Drop out time!” Sen suddenly shouts out as the Mega ship starts to wind down. A large bang is heard suddenly as a massive cracking is felt thgrough the structure of the ship.
“Dex as the fragmented data been sent to our guests ships” Sen shouts out as he starts to unlock from his seat. Hearing the others unlock as well around him as the Mega ship has come to a stop to its destination.
“Yes Sir, all data has been sent and also sent to Raine. ” *Sen not even looking up to the 5th person of data break down announcement and to the others meaning a element they have no idea about he gets the ship ready for more*
Sen looking around at everyone on the Deck. He says “I am not your enemy! Those that thrust this on my ship and my crew and ultimately YOU, are….” * Sen looks around and starts to launch into his next statement before the Ships AI interrupts . “Sir I have detected an internal security force announcement to contain everyone on board. Shall I activate defensive protocols? ” Dex askes as Sen locks eyes with each person on his bridge.* “Time to go people!” Sen exclaims as Kat jumps back to her chair to unlock the hatches for the guests to exit in a hurry. “GET OUT OF HERE FAST! SEND ME A COMS REQUEST WHEN YOU CAN!” Sen shouts out! “Dex? Locate Raine!”
EC didn’t need to be told twice.
Grabbing his carbine and again function-checking it out of habit, he nods at his new friends.
“Needed more damn coffee anyway…” he mutters, jogging down the ramp toward the door, throwing his jacket back on.
Once outside, he can see commotion has already started as the other occupants of the megaship began to move about.
EC couldn’t risk an open gunfight with this much collateral. He quickly shoves the carbine beneath the jacket.
He begins to head toward where the Animus is docked, but sees the security team cresting the stairwell ahead of him and does a quick 180.
Breaking radio silence, he reaches out to the Arbiter:
“Arbiter, you guys make it on the megaship?”
**Roger, sending you our dock info**
Probably for the best… with its cracked canopy the Animus really needed repairs anyway. He pulls out his data slate and schedules a repair crew while he trots as fast as he inconspicuously can toward the Arbiter’s landing pad. He could come back to retrieve the ship later.
Fortunately, the Animus was configured to forward all data transmissions to the Arbiter when EC was not aboard, so the data Sen sent should be waiting for him there.
Replacing his tablet to his jacket, he looks ahead and sees one of the security crew coming his way through the crowd that has started to gather.
Thinking fast he scans the area… ahead, between them, was a wall-mounted first-aid station. EC picks up the pace and cracks it open.
He grabs a few useful items… blood clotter, pain killer, anti inflammatory agent, antiseptic… and an aerosol anesthetic.
“Excuse me sir!” he hears from behind him as a hand grabs his shoulder. EC spins and sprays the anesthetic into the guard’s face.
The guard immediately begins to look like he is going to pass out and starts to lose his footing.
“Whoa buddy, ” EC says nonchalantly, bear-hugging the man and dragging him toward a bench on the side of the walkway.
“Looks like you have a little bit of jump sickness, why don’t you sit down here for a minute.”
EC jogs off again, rounding the corner, and comes to the door to the Arbiter’s hangar.
As it hisses open, he runs straight up the ramp to the ship, tosses his carbine in the arms locker on his way by, and enters the bridge.
Jumping from his seat Sen rushes over to the console behind Kat and adds a message to his long time friend Raine. “Emergency protocol Gitchi” he types in before hitting send. Turning to rush back to his seat as Kat unstrapps and rushes over to stop Sen to express a dire concern. “SEN! WHY?” Sen stopping for a moment to look at her. “We do not have much time to get our asses out of this dock. Lets argue this while we launch yeah?” Sen quips.
“Sen, you had the data split up, and those parts distributed we already know are the borning details like possible station locations and, and energy surges being detected out here. But because it has the federation priority code attached it it all it makes them all a target!” Kat says pointing at the door they took to exit. “And we have this data about the thargoid movements and the damn hive! We need help!” Kat says on a slight shaken breath.
Taking Kats shoulders in his hands Sen explains. “Kat, we are all targets right now. At least both have a bit of a bargaining chip with the tagged data, and enough breadcrumbs to follow back in the event we are killed. It will protect them more then hurt them but we had to keep the meat of the data, and we have help, its coming, Raine. ” Sen explains.
Kat takes a moment to think on what Sen has said as she looks down at the floor as she process. “So we gave them just enough to use to surrender if need be without giving away the sensitive stuff but enough if they keep it they can follow back?” Kat asks as she wrapped her head around Sen’s logic looking up at him.
“Kat, you are the most knowledgeable person I know about Thargoid research, and tell me if I am wrong but that data shows a massive fleet of attack ships being tracked.” He asks.
“Yes, but its more then that!” Kat exclaims. Walking over to the console and starts to explain just as Dex sets off the emergency lights inside the cockpit.
“Sir I have identified a mag clamp release restriction issued for our docking pad. I have also detected 5 heavily armed ship security forces moving our direction. I would highly suggest a rapid departure given the situation.
Both Sen and Kat looking up at the flashing light as they listen to Dex’s warnings they turn to face each other for only a second as they rush off to their seats.
“NOTED!” Sen says as he scrambles. Jumping into his seat and strapping in, Kat shadowing the movements of locking into the seat. “Dex can we get out of here? Send launch request?” Sen says hopeful as Kat is busy trying to access some type of emergency override send request to the ships automated traffic control.
“I will try Sir.:” Dex responds.
“And Kill the disco! ” Sen shouts out to Dex as the flashing red lights go out. “Launch cleared Sir.” Dex responds as the docking pad starts to move. Kat looks up from her mad scramble to find a plan B and sighs.
“For fuck sake.” The Dreadnaught spins on the pad and lifts as Dex once again chimes in. “I was able to override the Mag clamp restriction order but it is temporary.” Sen looks down and hits the thrusters to take the Dreadnaught up. “That’s our Cue.” the Dreadnaught starts to lift up just as a mag clamp fails to fully release. Causing the ship to bank on the edge and clip the side rail of the megaship. “Holy shit! PUNCH IT!” Kat yells out as an electric surge starts to spark from the mag clamp surface of the mega ship and the dreadnaughts landing clamp pads.
As the Dreadnaught breaks free from the megaship, Sen hits the boosters and raises the landing gear, dropping flairs as he boosts. “Best flight ever Conduit, thanks for having us, see you next time, Dreadnaught out.” Sen calls out over the ship to station comlink as he diverts all power to thrusters hitting the boost control button over and over getting enough distance from the ship and the ferry as possible. The mass lock dropping just as Sen kicks in the jumpdrive.
Sen looks over at the Nav panel and locks in a course for the ruins. “Kat the data is showing a covert outpost near the ruins, am I seeing this correctly?” He asks.
“Yes, that is where Ben is. Shall I try to reach him?” Kat asks.
“Damn right! He sent us this data from Federation HQ to deliver he better have a Damn good story for putting us in such the shit.” Sen says as he turns the Dreadnaught to the planet to follow the directions to the temp base set up on the surface.
Kat looking confused as she tries to dial in the coded transmission signal to reach Ben. “Wait, this is, this is not right?”
Sen looking over to her. “Whats wrong?”
Kat looking over to Sen. “Didn’t you say that Falcon was conned into all this by someone named Jax?”
“Yes why?” Sen asks slowly and wary of the answer as he watches Kats face look over the coms data before she turns to look back at him.
“That coded contact information in the data, as Jax Connor at the covert station as the main contact. It says he is Ben’s assistant.” Kat says back confused.
Sen expression drops as he turns back to look out the window. “We better hurry.” Sen says his expression showing serious concern. “Has anyone from the ground station answered?” Sen adds
“No, its , its,, like it is there but not there?” Kat says back as a incoming hail from EC comes in.. “Sir, EC is trying to hail us shall I put it through?” Dex asks.
“Kat keep trying, Dex, patch in EC.” Sen says.
((((((( ON THE COVERT STATION WHERE THE LEAD THARGOID RESEARCHER HAS SET UP BASE AND HAD THE DATA SENT TO THE DREADNAUGHT THE INSIDE OF THE STATION IS FILLED WITH SMOKE, LIGHTS AND ALARMS FLASH ALL AROUND AS THE FATE OF BEN COMES INTO VIEW )))
((Jax connor sits at a console as he desperately tries to send a help call))
“Come on, come on! ” Trying another set of frequency ranges on the console he calls out again.
“Hello? Anyone this is Black monitor one, we have been attacked and are in need of emergency assistance! We have seven to ten people that have attacked our federation station and we need help asap, please send security services. The Federation researcher Ben ,,, ”
Suddenly Jax stops to listen as he hears foot steps coming down the hallway. The sounds of alarms and sparking wires make it hard to hear Jax starts to panic more and tries yet another frequency hoping something will get out. “This is Jax Connor, I am on board the Black monitor, I need help! please anyone!” Jax says in an almost whisper.
((A Figure emerges from the shadows as she closes in on Jax. The Rose and her band of mercenaries hunting Sen and the Dreadnaught comes into view as her face shows a grin as she walks up on Jax, finger on the trigger of the blaster rifle as Rose walks up.
“Hey sweety, why dont you knock off all that calling for help and we have a talk huh?” She says as Jax turns slowly to look at the weapon pointed at him.
Views: 1573 Comments: 0 Likes: