Blue Milk Run

[Azula Tindara]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

Whether she wanted to be or not, Kinsey was hauled to her feet. One massive fist gripped her forearm and yoinked her up as if she weighed nothing.

"Thaur," he said with a broad grin. "An' sure ye can hae a cigarra, but gotta smoke them in th' airlock ur else we'll gie in trooble," he added behind the back of his hand conspiratorially. This was at a volume that everyone in the bridge would be more than capable of hearing.

Thrukk plodding back to his station and pretended to press a few buttons.

"Captin!" he called very loudly. The silence that followed stretched for several seconds.

"Ah can confirm..." another pause, "'at th' weapons ur still attached tae th' ship."

At this rate they'd airlock the houk before one trip was done.

 

[Adder]

“Oh, frak yes. Pour me a—”

Before she could get out that ‘cuppa’, the ship jolted like junkie smoking his last deathstick. Adder was thrown into the side of the corridor and smashed her shoulder directly into one of the pipes running back to the drive room.

“Ffffff— what was that?”

Even as she yelled into her comm, however, the redhead already answered herself. She’d ridden a starship one too many times not to recognize the jerky behavior of their vessel. Her eyes darkened, vision expanding as she unholstered her Westar.

Playtime was over.

“How many, Kay?” she muttered this time, saving her breath for her quick ascent up the stairs. Force knew she wasn’t as young as she used to be, and the comfortable chair Sionoma had bought her a couple months ago wasn’t doing her any favors either. It wasn’t her fault, though, not really! You had to be mad to venture out into the afternoon heat of Sulon, and by the time the temperatures hit ‘bearable’ again, Adder was already tired enough to collapse into bed. Crime wasn’t exactly rampant in Baron’s Hed and thus running after bad guys didn’t afford much opportunity for exercise.

Put plainly, Ad Yrá Kjormenkaur Traficit was in miserable form.

[member="Kaileann Vera"] | [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] | [member="Tal"] | [member="Kinsey Starchaser"] | [member="Kurt Meyer"] | [member="Jethro Wright"]

 

[Kurt Meyer]

Pirates had always interested him.

In an intellectual sense.

Tatooine wasn't exactly filled with them, in fact, most of the time they now actually avoided the great dust ball he called home. Yet there was a certain companionship that smugglers shared with pirates. After all more often then not the two of them worked hand in hand. There was an easy distrust between the two groups, a healthy amount of distance. Kurt had always respected that distance, had made sure that it was always there. Of course, Kurt Reach wasn't Kurt Meyer, and thus all of that was really moot.

"Pirates." Kurt said simply. "Or a very aggressive security patrol."

Kurt kind of doubted the latter.

Okay he doubted it a lot. They would have at least talked first. "What I wouldn't give for a faster ship."

 

[Sal Katarn]

Hot caf splashed across the front of Jethro's roughspun shirt as the ship lurched out of hyperspace.

"Frozen choobies," he swore, slamming the mug down in the chair's cupholder. For a furious moment, he thought that that blasted Reach had broken his ship, then came talk of pirates. Interdiction? The bridge had become a frantic flurry of movement and words. Jethro wiped caf covered hands on his pants, struggling to stay on top of the situation.

Wright also wished The Bondara were a 'wee bit' faster right about now, as Thrukk might say. The options before him looked none too good. If they really were pirates, then they needed to know what type. Some would just take their cargo and leave. Others would take their cargo, capture them, then sell them as slaves. And then there were the really nasty ones, who'd take their cargo, kill the men, obliterate the boat, then take the womenfolk for their own personal satisfaction. Jethro would rather blow his own ship with all them inside than see that last happen.

"Good, Thrukk, bust out the armory. I want everyone armed." The Houk had a number of little 'toys' he'd seen fit to bring onboard. "Kaile, what are we showing on sensors? Kinsey, see if they're trying to hail us on comms."

Worst fear was pirates, but this far along the Triton Trade Route it could also be a small flotilla of planetary forces. One never knew in the Outback. The trip from Gandle Ott to Karideph along the Triton was supposed to take about thirteen days. Seemed like it would end up a whole lot shorter now.

He turned toward the droid and frowned. There was a high possibility that the droid Kinsey'd picked up was actually a lure. Left for cheap purchase to be picked up by an unsuspecting crew and broadcasting a signal that led the pirates right to the ship. But why give it a restraining bolt? Too many maybes.

"Thalvi, I need you up here. Got a droid needs inspecting." he said into his earcomm.

[member="Kurt Meyer"] | [member="Adder"] | [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] | [member="Tal"] | [member="Kinsey Starchaser"] | [member="Kaileann Vera"]

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Jethro Wright"] [member="Kurt Meyer"] @Adder @Thrukk Gulpdar [member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

Stumbling to her feet, Kaile slammed her hands down on top of the sensor array. She was still very much disoriented, and the pain seemed to pound throughout her skull. A frantic touch tap along the sensor and then four little boops came up.

"We got four!" she shouted over her shoulder, blood already trickling down her hair and spilling onto her shirt. A few drops struck the sensor panel, and she wiped them away with a brush of her hand.

"Got a gunship, and three other freighters." two of which were fast, one which had interdicted them. Who knew who else or how much more was out there.

 

[Onith Trill]

[member="Jethro Wright"] [member="Kinsey Starchaser"] [member="Kaileann Vera"] [member="Kurt Meyer"] [member="Adder"] [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] [member="Pollux"]

A droid that needs inspecting. Simultaneously pleasing and frustrating. Frustrating that I have to wait while I have pirates to shoot, but pleasing because it implied caution and competence from Captain Scruffles. I should be manning a quadlaser turret or doing a quick weapons check on a rifle I haven't used. Instead I am left standing here waiting. Perhaps if I was in a suave holoflick I'd offer up some useful pirate killing information to save the day, earning the trust of the captain and the swoons of the ladies. But the Maker, probably some sneering imperialist, dictated I be a soldier instead.

"I shall wait then." I respond while calculating the likeliness of who 'Thalvi' is and how quick he or she may be. 81% chance it's Mohawk, inconclusive data to deduce her quickness. I might as well be doing something useful in my spare time so I begin running through my new Medic file to see if I can find any new critical targets on near-human physiology.

Hopefully the CHENG won't read my thoughts and find that suspicious.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Jethro Wright"] [member="Kaileann Vera"] [member="Adder"] [member="Kurt Meyer"] Thrukk Gulpdar [member="Tal"]

The little puddle of black nail polish began to slide under her station. The teen felt a yank on her arm. The feeling of weightlessness. And then solid ground. "Thanks," she grinned up at Thrukk and brushed herself off. "And yeah, cigars later," she offered a conspiratorial wink and limped back to her chair.

The captain swore. And something about a droid. "They're jamming us, sir."

Not a good sign.

"Totally rude!"

Was this what Katya usually did? Face scrunched up as she tried to remember. "I'll keep trying." If only she knew who was on board and she could reach them through Spacebook. She still manages to update her status: Monday pirate attack. #rude. Headset switched back to a private channel to Adder.

"Too many. Adder. Come up! I swear I checked the droid...I don't know."

The others would hear her on the bridge. Shoulders slumped in shame. What if this was all her fault??

"Wait. I got some chatter on an outside feed. They're preparing to board."

 

[Azula Tindara]

There was a noise like a mountain crumbling. A sudden series of cracks that resounded around the bridge. Thrukk finished cracking his knuckles and maneuvered his bulk out of the chair. Firing weapons right now would do little more than piss off the significantly better armed gunship.

He was about to go and fetch his favourite cannon - and some of his least favourite guns for the rest of the crew - when he stopped dead at the sound of a voice on Kinsey's station.

"Come in freighter. Power down and surrender."

Thrukk rudely leaned across Kinsey's station. "Weuz! Alrecht mah auld mukker whit ur ye up tae these days?"

"Thrukk you old bugger, how are you? I'm pirating, obviously. Yourself?"

"Guid thank ye, Aam private security!"

"Don't suppose I could convince you to waste the crew for us? Ten percent!"

"Ah ye ken Ah cannae dae 'at. Ah hae a reputation tae uphauld. Bad fur business!" Thrukk exclaimed with a chuckle. He wondered if Kinsey was thinking he might just break her like a twig for credits. He placed one hand over the microphone and gave her a wink. "Ten percent! Who does he hink Ah am?" he asked. Not very reassuring."

"What are you carrying anyway? Scans say fluid."

"Blue milk."

"Get out of here!"

"Aam nae haverin' Weuz!" Thrukk protested.

"Really? Wow, you must be cheap these days. Alright, cos you're an old friend I'll convince the captain not to airlock the lot of you. Meet me down at the airlock and we'll talk having that cargo and you can be on your way."

Thrukk silenced the comm. "Captain, Ah dae believe 'at man's plannin' tae shoot me. Permission tae shoot heem first?"

 

[Adder]

Just as the CHENG managed to drag her feet onto the main deck, everyone decided to answer her all at once. Figures.

“A droid— ?” She blinked away the sweat in her eyes and grabbed her spare hydrospanner from the belt clinging to her hips. The main one was still grounded together with the backup drive for misdemeanor and insubordination.

“What the Nether did you do this time, Kins?”

Her voice came out only half as strong and intimidating as she would’ve liked, but that’s what four sets of stairs’ll do to you. Damn old models and cheapskate builders. If they survived the pirates, she was going to install an elevator or die trying.

“Shivit. Forget it!” They were running a skeleton crew as it was and [member="Kinsey Starchaser"] was doubtless needed on the bridge. “I see it. Him. Thalvi out.”

With a heavy heart, Adder shoved her Westar back into the holster and stalked towards [member="Tal"]. Like it or not, she was going to have to rely on [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] to convince the pirates that attacking them wasn’t worth the material and mental damages involved. If anyone could do it, it was that mountain of muscle and industrial machinery.

“Alright, you inconvenient rustbucket,” Thalvi was far more rude than the ex-cop, after all. “Don’t make me get rough with ya. Open up!” She gave the hydrospanner a good rattle to underline the threat.

“Now, tell me… what’s a battle droid like you doing out here?”

[member="Kurt Meyer"] | [member="Jethro Wright"] | [member="Kaileann Vera"]

 

[Sal Katarn]

A gunship and three freighters, long odds for The Bondara to handle by herself.

The thick, nearly incomprehensible brogue in which Thrukk conducted the 'negotiations' left Jethro a bit nonplussed. He eyed the Houk as he stood up from his chair.

"He is? Alright. We'll let 'em enter through the forward lift of the cargo pod."

The only other option would be the starboard airlock, right next to the living quarters and medical bay. A firefight there would put holes in places Jethro would rather not have holes. The cargo pod on the other hand was a gigantic container freight. If they were going to get into a shooting match with some pirates, he'd rather have it go down there than anywhere else.

"I'll go with Thrukk to the armory, then shut down the main energy field sealing the cargo area as soon as we're all in our thinsuits, armed, and waiting for them. "

Without the energy field, there'd be no atmosphere in the cargo bay. Firefights in vacuum tended to have less explosions. Another reason he'd rather keep the pressurized living quarters pirate-free.

"We give 'em two options: we let them take a third of our cargo free, without firing a shot, then they turn tail and leave. Or we open fire on 'em with everything we got and they can pry whatever's left from our cold, dead fingers. But we'll only do this if we're all agreed. I might be the captain of this boat, but I'm not about to order you to get into a fight we might not win. Besides, those are part of your shares you'd be giving up."

He scanned the still unfamiliar faces of the crew. First run together and they went straight into every hauler's worst fear. Fortunately, the Bondara wasn't just any ship. And her crew wasn't just any crew.

"Are you with me?"

[member="Adder"] | [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] | [member="Kinsey Starchaser"] | [member="Kurt Meyer"] | [member="Kaileann Vera"] | [member="Tal"] | [member="Pollux"]

 

[Kaile Vera]

Kaile took a pause all while the Captain was giving his speech. A singular glance cut through to [member="Kurt Meyer"], passing on an understanding that came from just traveling together for so long. Well, there was little much else they could do. All they had was the ship and their wits.

And a few little tricks up their sleeve.

"I aim to do what I can Captain, and support the crew in whatever way." Kaile said plainly.

"S'long as we do it together."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

"HeyheyheyHEY. Thruuuuuuuuukk," she squirmed as he overcrowded her station. She was pinned between his arm the console. Back pressed against his arm as her feet planted on the ground. Face began to tint red as she pushed back with everything she had.

PushpushpushPUUUUSH

It was like trying to get out and push a star destroyer with your hands.

"Thalvi - it wasn't my fault! I SWEAR!" She eyed the droid, it was barely in her line of site.

A huge exhale escaped her lips as she finally gave up from shoving Thrukk away, lips pursing to puff a strand of wayward dark-hair away from those Starchaser blue eyes. Hand reached out for her bright pink nailpolish. Just within reach of her pinned position.

"I'm with you Captain. For whatevs."

"Thrukk, get off and get me a big gun please." She craned her neck and gave him puppy-dog teen-eyes. "Or I'm going to paint a big heart on your arm right now."

 

[Azula Tindara]

"A'richt lassie, thir's na need fur that. besides a'm awready a bonnie shade o' purple as it is" Thrukk stood back up, giving the teenager her space back. His chest, as broad as two humans across the shoulders shook to his low rumbling chuckle.

Stopping, he added something in a soft whisper just for her: "That's nae a jimmy a lassie lik' ye wants tae hae a chat wi' anyway." She might have thought she'd adopted Thrukk, but he had a different notion.

"I'm wi' ye captain," he called loudly. "Ah will hae some o' option tae` two please. Ah will gang doon 'n' catch up wi` thaim oan mah own if you'd lik'. They'll turn tail wance a've given Weuz a shoeing."

Thrukk had no intention of fighting them off alone, but this was what he was paid for. The crew seemed a nice bunch. Violent people often weren't nice. If a little of his confidence rubbed off on them they had a chance though. People who weren't used to violence didn't have the ability to fight whilst scared too. Not the capacity for both. Thrukk could conduct violence in his sleep.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

Kurt wanted to say that was stupid.

Pirates weren't really known as the smartest bunch. Sure there were a few that would have taken the deal, probably made off quite handily too, but most of the time Pirates were Pirates because...well because they took what they want. Some of them gave a spiel about Freedom, about wanting to do whatever whenever, but most Pirates were just bullies plain and simple. They took for themselves, they killed and slaughtered, and most of them weren't keen on looking like cowards.

Kurt knew this because more then one of his former friends had turned to piracy.

He also knew, however, the value in team cohesion. The Navy had taught him enough to let him know that it didn't do all that well if everyone except for one guy was a against a certain plan. More often then not a situation like that turned dangerous. So instead of objecting Kurt simply chimed in.

"Sure." He said flatly. "But after, we're having a conversation about bringing my interceptor on-board."

With The Coil he'd be able to cut these pirates to ribbons., but right now all he had was this old piece of junk.

 

[Onith Trill]

[member="Kurt Meyer"] | [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] | [member="Kaileann Vera"] | [member="Jethro Wright"] | [member="Kinsey Starchaser"] | [member="Adder"] | [member="Pollux"]

"Currently I am being opened when I should opening hostile organics with hot plasma." I reply to the CHENG's question. "If I could dream I would, but instead I will longingly make firing solutions for probable points of entry against probable pirate species." I continue to elaborate as the CHENG literally opens me up. My body is compliant to her demands. Even if I didn't have the restraining bolt resistance would be futile at this point. The chances of a successful encounter with six humans and a Houk of unknown skill levels without a weapon is so fractional my logic programming has trouble putting an exact number to it. The CHENG would find that my model is mostly stock, but also had a Lord of the Fringe Identification Number, probably denoting former service in a Fringe Droid army.

Not that I knew that was in there of course. Memory wipes and all.

Meanwhile Captain Scruffles is rallying the crew with his 'Fight or Die' speech. Motivational stuff really, a tear almost formulates on my photoreceptor. Almost. "I prefer options that involve shooting pirates." I say to Captain Scruffles, before turning my photoreceptor back to the CHENG.

"If I'm cleared for duty of course."

 

[Adder]

“Yeah yeah yeah, save it for someone who cares,” Adder talked right over [member="Tal"]’s metallic complaints. Nothing but whining and grudging cooperation today. Being CHENG was even more thankless than being a cop, it seemed.

Before she could make another scathing remark, her mouth stopped working mid-sentence. “Huh. Will you look at that,” the redhead drawled, glancing up at the droid’s empty photoreceptors. “Fringer, are ya?” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she fingered the restraining bolt in slow little circles. “It’ll be our little secret.” For now.

“The droid’s clean,” she said as she stood again, wiping her hands into her pants after stuffing the hydrospanner back into her belt. “And I agree. Ain’t nobody gonna take my profits.” The southern twang of Thalvi was quickly seeping back into her speech, undercover training kicking in.

“Kins, Tal, you’re with me. We’re rigging some directed charges.”

[member="Jethro Wright"] | [member="Kinsey Starchaser"] | [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] | [member="Kaileann Vera"] | [member="Kurt Meyer"]

 

[Sal Katarn]

Directed charges? Jethro's right eye twitched. He'd some experience with 'em from his days as a miner. Thalvi like as not knew exactly what she was doing. Seemed a very competent sort. Still, he couldn't stop the images of explosives ripping open massive hull breaches and sucking them all into space from poppin' into his noggin'.

Best not to dwell on the maybes. Trust your crew.

Wright smiled tightly. "Alright then. Let's give this Weuz a boot where the stars don't shine."

First thing was first, had to take care of the boarding party. After which they could worry about the gunship n' freighters. Reach and Kay were still on the bridge, with full access to the Bondara's weapon systems. The AG-2G needed a gunner, but the ventral blaster turret and the conner net launcher could be operated from the bridge. There was also the aftermarket dorsal dual ion cannon, but Jethro wasn't sure it'd do them much good in this situation.

He turned, exited the bridge on the port side passage and made his way toward the makeshift armory with the Houk. The armory was in fact just a spare crew quarters converted into a temporary hold for their cluster of small arms, where they lay hanging from pegs on the wall and stacked neatly in a pair of boxes. When they'd been purchasing equipment, he'd left the decision on what armaments to bring in the hands of their boisterous bruiser.

The ex-miner gave the contents of the room a once over. "So about the plan, did I mention that I've never fired a gun before?"

[member="Kaileann Vera"] | [member="Kurt Meyer"] | [member="Adder"] | [member="Kinsey Starchaser"] | [member="Tal"] | [member="Pollux"] | [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"]

 

[Kaile Vera]

There may have well been a collective groan then.

"Right!... well, I have a stun blaster you can use then." chimed Kayleigh Bohannan. "Their pretty easy. Point and shoot." Taking her own Moph stunner, she handed it over to the Captain.

"Safety is here. Power dial is here." she'd explain, keeping the man busy while the rest of the crew could go on and do what they needed to do. If she could give him a quick lesson all the better.

And it was safer with a stun weapon than a real blaster....

"Just gonna dial it to good ol' regular humanoids.. should do you just fine with one shot." she added, trying to remain chipper.

""Course, if that don't work.. shoot one or two more times and they'll get knocked out right as rain then!"

[member="Jethro Wright"] @Adder @Tal @Kurt Meyer [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] [member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Blue-eyes widened as she looked up at Thrukk. Fingers released the pink nail-polish. Very, VERY hesitantly. She slipped it in her pocket, instead. Maybe those other pirates wouldn't like it either. Could be a good weapon. Mabes.

Much smaller hand reached out as she tugged on Thrukk's massive boulder of an arm.

"Just don't forget about our earlier, deal. I can't smoke a cigarra alone."

They both knew she totally could. It was her version of saying 'take care and watch yourself. People care about you here.'

"Right roomie." Standing, she mock-saluted Thalvi. She gave her droid a thumb's up. "Let's do this thing! BAM. I mean, like, totes not a pun." Following behind, she went to slip on a grav-suit. Then she'd meet back up with Tal and Thalvi for explosion awesomeness!

So cool.

 

[Onith Trill]

[member="Kurt Meyer"] | [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] | [member="Kaileann Vera"] | [member="Jethro Wright"] | [member="Kinsey Starchaser"] | [member="Adder"] | [member="Pollux"]


They were about to be boarded. The Houk was ever practical, if attempting to be a bit amusing. The Captain's display of caution and competence seemed to end when he had to fire a weapon, a task he not only hadn't done but told his crew he hadn't as well. The helmsman was ever cheery about the prospect of using directed charges and even gave me a thumbs up. He wasn't sure what kind of ship he was on, but he also felt he wouldn't have to ask himself what kind of ship he was on in another twenty-four hours.

"Complying." I respond, accepting the given nickname and responsibility. I'd like a blaster, but that can come later. For now directed charges would work. Following the CHENG to her workspace I find she's got a few actual directed charge, and a few that need a little jury-rigging. Without much in the way of instruction I get to rigging and setting. Use and construction of explosives come pretty standard in a soldier's programming. I resist the urge to engage in a little information gathering or 'small talk'. Now's not the time, now's the time to ensure we get out of here safely with our cargo.

Our cargo. Feth it I'm a part of this freak family of a crew now.

"What are your plans for deployment?" I ask Thalvi, giving a question actually relevant to our survival. She also know my secret, that apparently I was a Fringe Soldier. Getting to know her isn't a terrible idea with that information. She seems to think we should keep it a secret, and with no memory lately I don't have any reason not to believe her. Perhaps Fringe soldiers are persecuted now, or the captain's not fond. Either way she's the mechanic, and the last person I need to piss off.