Public Cowboy Bebop (The Scar Worlds)

[Atlas Drake]

CRON DRIFT
SCAR WORLDS
​

"Drake to Wayfinder. Got eyes on that sensor contact."

Bitter stimcaf and moments like this kept the survey captain going. It looked like an old Concord cruiser. He pushed a few star charts aside and deployed their salvage beacon. With so many refugees to look after the fleet's resources were dwindling fast. Drake hoped there was something left of value. Maybe even precious hyperfuel. Scans out here in the Cron Drift were unreliable so the only way to be sure was to board her.

"Anyone up for a spacewalk?" he asked on an open channel, "Too much interference for probes."

They weren't the only ones scavenging on behalf of the fleet. Treasure seekers and desperate criminals some of them. Others for nobler purposes. Drake and his crew were a bit of both he supposed. Checking the seals on his enviro suit, the spacer reminded himself to keep an eye out for medical supplies in particular. Sometimes they still found survivors and the Wayfinder's medical bay needed more of everything for those wounded during pirate raids.

This was Drake's first EVA mission since nearly burning up over Csilla. Life support systems built into his suit noted an elevated heartrate while the airlock cycled. Floating weightless out into the black, Atlas took a deep breath of recycled oxygen. In between floating rocks the stars cast only a pale light so he reached up and turned on his helmet's glowlamp.

"Engaging short burn."

Thrusters on his back fired and Captain Drake hurtled through swirling gas and cosmic dust. He drifted to avoid a cloud of micro meteors then resumed his previous course toward the massive drifting capital ship.

1. Help Captain Drake salvage an old Concord ghost ship for hyperfuel and medical supplies. Pirate clans are known to hunt in this sector so remain vigilant. This might be a trap. Mission Payout: 5000 UCs​
2. Without the Wayfinder there would be no fleet. Injured refugees are piling up and the station's medical staff need volunteers. Mission Payout: 5000 UCs​

 

[TC-CS-4820]

The Forlorn Escape heard the call of the ghost ship, and like a siren the prospect lured her in. The stop was already along its route to a job, so the droid at the ships helm decided to take a quick pit stop. The long, boxy shape had its nose pointed towards the larger vessel like a barracuda stalking its prey. The sensor shunts and blackout generators caused the ship to go ghost, which just have given the comms officer of the Wayfinder a shock when a tight beam was transmitted towards it.
"Unknown vessel, identify yourself. Do you require any assistance? Or are you salvaging that ship?" The voice on the other side comms was TC-CS-4820's own voice, a soft, cold, and synthetic voice. It sounded both like it was a voice talking, inhaling, and being ran through a computer all at the same time. The weapons were active but not trained on the ship while The Forlorn Escape's sensors scanned it.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

There was something said to go back to one's roots. For a Starchaser, that was the exploration, the being neither here-nor-there part of life. For being in these transient locations was more what the Living Force called to Coren to do, than anything else. He was done fighting his wars, he was there to defend what the Jedi called home, and important, but he no longer sought war as a profession. He worked with the Outer Rim, the Trade League, and the Scar Worlds, to help secure what was out there, and repair what he could.

Perhaps it was his wife rubbing off on him.

He'd launched the ShortFin, a very agile ship, from the Dawn Chaser to assist Drake in this mission. The shuttle was designed for a war zone, which meant it could get in just about anywhere, and do its job. He'd already lost a few probes trying to help map this from the Chaser and wasn't about to waste any more. As the ShortFin found a decent vantage point, Coren could hear the call for going EV.

"Got an eye above you, Drake." Coren called over the comms. He was ready to go EV but saw a Sullustan and Mon Cala prepping their own suits, to assist Drake. He could sit out here and watch for pirates while they followed Drake in. "Can throw a line out for you." Being a combat shuttle, getting people in and out was always important, and as an aftermarket upgrade, Coren installed a grappling hook of sorts, mostly for a safety net for EV personnel.

Atlas Drake

 

[TC-CS-4820]

The enforcement ship's radar pinged with a second ship in range, as the droid, if he was a human, would have groaned. He would have to deal with more people trying to salvage the ship. The shape moved through the void silently as he cut his sensor scramblers, the ship suddenly popping up on the other crafts' radar. The weapons were still silent on The Forlorn Hescape, all Retractable weapons pulled inside. A second second beam communication was shot towards the ShortFin and the same voice cold and metallic crackled through the comms.
"This is The Forlorn Escape. Identify yourself and the purpose for your this stop. If our goals align I suggest we make a temporary alliance to discuss shares of the haul."

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

Starship: "The Vagabond" Heavy Cruiser.
Bridge Crew: Click here.
Objective: Protect the Vagrant Fleet.

How long had it been since Caedyn last stood aboard the Vagabond? The Rebellion. It had started off well but quickly died out in the face of stronger adversity. Since then, her crew and captain had been taking on missions where they could do some good in the Galaxy, staying in contact with House Arenais but otherwise undertaking much smaller missions until Caedyn had called upon them for the first time in quite a while.

Gene Whayeson sat upon the bridge, the captain's chair overlooking the rest of the officer stations with the transparisteel port encompassing the entire forward wall looking over the hull of the vast destroyer. The starlines all shot passed them, hyperspace route well and truly underway, making good time towards their objective: the Vagrant Fleet of which Caedyn had requested the crew to assist him in protecting. According to recent reports, pirate activity in the sector was at an all-time high and the former Jedi Knight had expressed his desire for potential "future business" with them. Whatever that looked like.

"Nearing our coordinates Captain" Commander O'jakri announced.

"Copy that. Lieutenant Henders, time to take us out" Captain Whayeson responded, turning her attention to the man at the helm. "Lieutenant C'Heri. Inform Caedyn, please. He may wish to be on the bridge when we arrive" She added, this time looking to the communications station where the Kiffar stood, nodding in compliance.

It wouldn't be long before Caedyn reached the height of the starship, the turbo lift carrying him up to the bridge just as the Vagabond exited hyperspace and arrived within the sector shared by the Vagrant Fleet. "Everyone" Caedyn greeted the crew with a smile, moving towards the observation platform at the front, leaving the vessels command to the rightful captain.

"Good timing" Captain Whayeson responded with a faint smirk, soon turning her attention back to the mission and raising broad-range comms on an open channel to signal their arrival to the rest of the fleet. "This is Captain Whayeson of the Vagabond to the Vagrant Fleet. We have arrived and are ready to assist in whatever capacity is required of us".

Atlas Drake | TC-CS-4820 | Coren Starchaser​

 

[Toby Russen]

Concord Ghost Cruiser
Tags: Atlas Drake , TC-CS-4820 , Coren Starchaser , Caedyn Arenais​

"Attention nearby vessels," Mr. Nine spoke over an open channel, "This is Mr. Nine, captain of the Overhall. Was in the area, so I figured I'd drop by and provide some support for ongoing salvage. I've got available storage and warmed-up laser cannons at your disposal, Vagrant Fleet."

Nine grinned, leaning back in his chair and putting his feet up on the dashboard of his Class 720 freighter. As an adventurer, Nine couldn't turn down the salvage of a ghost ship. Mystery, pirates, and the allure of the unknown were just a few of the factors that had drawn the Umbaran to the old cruiser. He had no intentions of claiming salvage. He didn't need the supplies. Besides, Nine was getting payed enough in adventure. Of course, Atlas Drake was a fellow explorer. Mr. Nine caused trouble from time to time, but he helped his own. An explorer's code, you might call it.

"I'll keep turbolaser fire off your back, Captain Drake," Mr. Nine assured. "Just don't have too much fun out there. I might jump out and join you."

Mr. Nine was only half lying. A part of him did want to fly out into the vacuum of space and board the abandoned vessel, but he restrained himself for now. The boarding crew would need the covering fire.

 

[Brooke Waters]

The galaxy had so much going on. So much strife. Brooke had found herself thrown into that once before. But now, she was a Witch, she was a leader, she was a healer. Making her way out, with the other Explorers from Kattada, she had been bouncing from world to tropical world, looking for more answers, for more ways to bend the Force to her will, and that will was to assist others. To assist broken worlds and injured people.

The small corvette she had been using to move her and hers around to do Force based research was passing by the region where the Wayfinder was and the call had gone out for assistance with refugees. While note everyone aboard the Seabreeze was a Witch nor a healer, she was, and there were a few medics. She understood what the Vagrant fleet was doing.

"This is Silver Concord Corvette Seabreeze, we see you Wayfinder. Bringing some medical supplies and healers your way, should be there within the hour." The call went out from the human communications officer. The ship righted itself, and began to move. Following in the ExplorCorps and Frontiers Corps direction, even Brooke, who was needing to be near a world, was doing her best to be a Warden of the Sky, and sometimes that meant a longer stint helping out.

She looked to her crew who were already prepping the gear they could bring aboard. If they needed space, the Seabreeze was already pre-set to be a mobile triage station.

 

[Atlas Drake]

CRON DRIFT
SCAR WORLDS
TC-CS-4820 Coren Starchaser Caedyn Arenais Toby Russen Brooke Waters
​

"Copy that, ShortFin."

Retrothrusters fired and Drake caught the grapple line. While hooking his suit up he could hear local comm traffic echo in an otherwise soundless helmet.

"Attention vessels, this is the independent refueling platform Wayfinder. We are conducting ongoing salvage operations in this area. Observe security regulations and you may dock to trade. Be advised there is suspected pirate activity in our current sector. Your safety cannot be guaranteed."

With so many ships orbiting their mobile station it was no wonder the Vagrant Fleet was starting to get noticed. Atlas shielded his eyes when another much closer ship's floodlights washed over the nearby ShortFin.

"Unknown vessel, identify yourself. Do you require any assistance? Or are you salvaging that ship?"

"Forlorn Hope? Captain Atlas Drake of the Constellation. The ShortFin here is helping my crew with a legal salvage claim. By rights we found her first, but I reckon we could use all the hands we can get on this one. Each crew gets an equal take. If that sounds good to you, join us on board or keep an eye out for pirates."

Reminded of this potential threat, Drake switched channels.

"How's it look out there, Overhall?" the survey captain asked, "This could be pirate bait, or they might try and steal our claim."

Climbing hand over hand along the grapple line, Atlas reached out for the old star cruiser and made contact.

 

[Toby Russen]

Concord Ghost Cruiser
Tags: Atlas Drake , TC-CS-4820 , Caedyn Arenais, Coren Starchaser , Brooke Waters ​

"How's it look out there, Overhall?" the survey captain asked, "This could be pirate bait, or they might try and steal our claim."

"Dark," Nine replied over the coms. "I'm not seeing any signs of exhaust heat."

Nine pulled his legs back, sitting upright and evaluating the cruiser.

"If it is a trap, look out for large debris," Mr. Nine advised. "A small enough ship could hide in plain sight with their engines off. Could mess you up proper, I reckon. As for out there..." Nine turned to the inky darkness of space, "I wouldn't be surprised if they jumped in close and personal. Pirates aren't militaries. They need to hit hard and fast. Makes them do some bloody crazy things."

Nine actually quite liked throwing down with pirates. They were certainly a challenge, but simple to understand. It was sort of like Dejarik. If you knew your enemy's playstyle, you could position your pieces in the best way to capitalize on their shortcomings. Granted, it certainly wasn't as fun as a good old-fashioned gunslinger's duel, but Mr. Nine found great fulfillment in naval battles.

"Keep your eyes peeled," Nine continued. "If a raid comes, it'll be sudden. You won't wanna be caught out in the open it that happens."

 

[Coren Starchaser]

His people were keeping their eyes out. Porter was watching Atlas Drake for vital signs, and Coren himself was watching the Force. Should any danger sense tingle on, he'd do what steps he felt would best protect the EV team. He was all for going on away missions, but after Tython, he wanted to do a little bit of chair time. His own ships had joined the Vagrant Fleet to provide some military cover, as well as to explore the reaches of space.

Worse came to worse, he'd haul Drake in. At least one of his Sullustan crew were prepping to get out there to give him cover, an oversized personal shield emitter was always a nice touch.

"This is Captain Starchaser aboard the ShortFin to the Forlorn Hope. Just here for some legal salvage. Weapons are off, shields are on for protection. Bit of extra traffic where I'm not confident they won't fire first and ask questions second." To be true, the Fin was a better combat vessel than his precious freighter, and the weapons would come online much faster on this vessel.

He didn't want to supercede what Drake said, this was more his mission after all. Eyes on the controls, and the sensors, he was waiting for Hope to make a move. It wasn't what he wanted to do, but the galaxy was a rough place.

"Hows the space lanes treating you, Overhall?" Perks of being a Warden of the Sky? One never stopped, and always knew a thing or two about the going ons. "You too, Vagabond, all good?"

Atlas Drake Toby Russen TC-CS-4820

 

[Brooke Waters]

The Wayfinder was in view, and Brooke's corvette moved in and docked. She wasn't about to bring it in. She had a damned hard enough time with her yacht. If it wasn't on the water, she'd be honest, she was no good with the controls. The clearance came fairly quickly, maybe it was for the Concord call, or maybe it was the official-unofficial link of many vessels out of Kattada to the wanderers of the galaxy. The Frontiers Corps had a lot to do.

There was a lurch as the vessel touched to Wayfinder and the force cylinder opened the airlocks, allowed a pressure equalization that made Brooke crunch her nose. Maybe it was the number of aquatic hybrids, or just divers, but the pressure was kept a little heavier on the Seabreeze. She'd be fine in a few minutes.

Stepping out to the front of the cylinder, in a light blue cloak over her spacer coveralls, she was looking like any real traveler, but she was putting her information into the terminal to link into the rest of Wayfinder, letting others know the arrival was prepped for at least triage and some treatment. Other medics, the ones who were actually doctors followed her and got pointed in a few different directions.

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

Starship: "The Vagabond" Heavy Cruiser.
Bridge Crew: Click here.
Objective: Protect the Vagrant Fleet.

"Attention vessels, this is the independent refuelling platform Wayfinder. We are conducting ongoing salvage operations in this area. Observe security regulations and you may dock to trade. Be advised there is suspected pirate activity in our current sector. Your safety cannot be guaranteed."

"Copy that Wayfinder, we have you covered" Captain Whayeson answered Atlas Drake 's communique while watching over her monitoring station, holo-visual screenings viewing all her senior officers' proceedings over the Heavy Cruisers Security, Communication and surveillance as well as the engineering reports feeding back information over the Vagabond's performance.

"You too, Vagabond, all good?".

"It's been smooth sailing thus far, Master Starchaser" Caedyn Arenais answered over the communications frequency to the Shortfin, taking the lead due to their past experience and the length of time it'd been since their last time working together. The former Jedi smiled as he spoke into his commlink, redirected through the Vagabond's communications station.

"I didn't expect to be finding you out here" he added with a bit of a grin, turning to glance back over his shoulder to the rest of the crew, mindful that he did not take up the airways too much in case it were to impede on their duties.

"The Vagabond's in prime shape, Shortfin" the Captain added soon after the Jedi had finished; "She's a well-armed vessel currently without a port of call, but we're here to do some good so keep us posted if you need us".

Atlas Drake | TC-CS-4820 | Coren Starchaser | Brooke Waters | Toby Russen​

 

[Toby Russen]

Concord Ghost Cruiser
Tags: Atlas Drake , Coren Starchaser , Caedyn Arenais, Brooke Waters ​

"Hows the space lanes treating you, Overhall?"

"Never better," Nine replied. "It gets more interesting out here every day. What with the rampant pirates and ghost ships about, I'll have enough stories to tell at bars till the day I die."

Mr. Nine quite liked the idea of telling stories in a bar. It was the reward granted to explorers who survived long enough to tell their stories. They were the stuff of dreams, the things that inspired young men, women, and those in-between across the galaxy to take up a blaster and set to the stars with little more than a few credits and a blaster at their side. At least, that's how Mr. Nine saw it. Tales of adventure had always captivated the mind of his childhood-self. He had a bias towards the art.

"The Overhall's running in top shape," Mr. Nine continued. "She's prepped for cargo and personnel defense, Shortfin. Just give the word." Mr. Nine leaned back a little, readjusting his signature hat. He opened his coms to all nearby vessels. "So, what brings you lot out here?"

 

[Atlas Drake]

CRON DRIFT
SCAR WORLDS
TC-CS-4820 Coren Starchaser Caedyn Arenais Toby Russen
​

"Activating mag boots."

Captain Drake felt the derelict hull tug against zero g. Vertigo slowly faded as he reoriented himself. From this perspective the ShortFin appeared upside down. Using slow measured strides Atlas navigated towards an airlock. Bracing himself so he wouldn't fly off, the scavenger tried to heave it open but it wouldn't budge.

"Dank ferrik!" he cursed, "Looks like this is a two man job. Coren, mind lending a hand? Unless the Vagabond can spare any crew."

While he waited for more manpower Atlas turned around and admired the view. Crossing an expanse like the Cron Drift could be treacherous. Locals theorized some ancient calamity had wiped out an entire star cluster, leaving behind a massive asteroid field filled with black holes and other gravitational anomalies. It all swirled in nebulaic gases giving their surroundings an eerie beauty.

"So, what brings you lot out here?"​

"Fortune and glory, kid. Fleet's heading off to greener pastures in Wild Space, if we can make it across the Scar Worlds. Bryn warlords torched whole sectors out here so they hire prospectors like me to forage."

 

[Toby Russen]

Concord Ghost Cruiser
Tags: Atlas Drake , Caedyn Arenais, Coren Starchaser , Brooke Waters , TC-CS-4820 ​

"Fortune and glory, kid. Fleet's heading off to greener pastures in Wild Space, if we can make it across the Scar Worlds. Bryn warlords torched whole sectors out here so they hire prospectors like me to forage."

"Fortune and glory, huh?" Nine echoed with a grin. "I can get behind that."

It was mainly the glory part. Everyone died eventually, but legacies didn't. There was a way to overcome death, and not in the comically evil manner the Sith did. Fame, glory, and exploits on the galactic scale was the true path to immortality. That was the road that Mr. Nine was walking. Of course, he was still young. There was a long way to go before he had himself any of that.

"Gotta say, never been to Wild Space," the Umbaran continued. "My father did back in the day, in this ship no less. Told me wacky stories about it till the day he up and kicked it. What's it like out there?"

 

[Tessa Sedaire]

She wasn't exactly used to EV, but she was a natural according to Jorus. The more time she spent with the aging shipwright and spacer, the more she liked black caff and disliked people. Nevertheless as Atlas Drake pinged for help, she had just began to depart her vessel, and her suit comms send a tight beam of audio to him.

"Way-ho captain. Tesa Sedaire of the Heartfire.... I'll be there in a few to assist with entry."

Pressing off from the airlock, she slimmed her profile as she shot out and maneuvering jets steered her to land with a click of mag boots next to the Captain. Nearby, the Heartfire dropped all cloaking and baffling, broadcasting friendly idents to those salvages in the area and old Underground codes from her father to those who would know them it would appear as if it were Julius Sedaire on scene. She smiled a grin that wrinkled up her face full of freckles as she threw a jaunty salute and kneeled next to the airlock.

"Old ships have deadman lock systems... We'll still need two, but without..."

Her gloves sparked a bit as she touched the airlock and twisted her fingers in a peculiar pattern, sweat beading on her brow and the Force suddenly leaping to her command.

"A little encouragement... "

A click and hiss as a bolt slid back and out.

"It would take twenty. Now it's ready for a heave and ho..."

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The nimbleness of the combat shuttle was always fun to fly. Coren enjoyed it, even more when it wasn't being used for war. He had his Rassilon fighter for that, should he need to prove himself to anyone. But his ships, well, they represented a few other things. His freighters were for moving goods, he had at least one courier shuttle, but the ShortFin was designed to get into places where eit wasn't supposed to be. Be that behind a firing solution, or into a place for some good view.

Hearing call from Atlas, the Starchaser nodded. "Coming out, just gotta hook up the helmet." He called as he looked to one of the Sullustans. "Keep the lights on us and the engines warm." Grabbing his lightsaber, the white-gold shoto, in case they needed it, the Jedi Master grabbed his EV helmet, securing it as he entered the airlock.



Took him a second to get out, the gunmetal of the Vanguard Exploration Suit, the armor had been more updated to be lighter, and more apt for exploration, and the back jets were thrusting their muted orange. "View out here is always somethin', isn't it, Drake?" Coren said as his magboots clicked to the ground. He turned his attention over to Overhall. "We may need you for the cover, should things go south. And Wild Space is a trip, let me tell you."

Looking to the door, and familiarizing himself with what it felt to be EV, as it'd been a while, Starchaser nodded. "This one?" He didn't want to start slicing it, but did reach out to it in the Force, with the intent of giving it a firm and solid yank. All while his wrist top datapad beeped. Julius was out here?



Toby Russen Atlas Drake Tessa Sedaire

 

[Atlas Drake]

CRON DRIFT
SCAR WORLDS
Coren Starchaser Caedyn Arenais Toby Russen Tessa Sedaire
​

"Gotta say, never been to Wild Space," the Umbaran continued. "My father did back in the day, in this ship no less. Told me wacky stories about it till the day he up and kicked it. What's it like out there?"

"It ain't exactly paradise," Drake admitted, "But there's plenty of blue skies and farmable land for these poor folk to make a new life far, far away from all those star wars."

Turning slowly in his envirosuit, Atlas raised an arm to shield his eyes when their glowlamps clashed. Starchaser and Sedaire floated into view, and although they made no sound voices echoed through his helmet's comlink, drowning out the survey captain's own breathing.

"View out here is always somethin', isn't it, Drake?"

"The stuff that dreams are made of..." he murmured back while Tessa examined the problem.

Captain Drake watched her do the magic hand thing and a large metal bolt floated free. Once again bracing himself against the airlock, Atlas heaved and with a little extra push from his Jedi friend the outer hatch reluctantly ground open.

"Good work, Sedaire!" the spacer said after catching his breath, "We're in. Overhall, Vagabond, be advised. Comms may be a little spotty inside the hull. Keep a weather eye open."

While Drake and his team ventured inside, an unidentified sensor contact drifted out from behind one of the nearby asteroids and powered up its engines.

 

[Toby Russen]

Concord Ghost Cruiser
Tags: Coren Starchaser , Caedyn Arenais, Atlas Drake , Tessa Sedaire ​

"We're in. Overhall, Vagabond, be advised. Comms may be a little spotty inside the hull. Keep a weather eye open."

"Roger that, Captain," Nine replied. "Good luck in there."

Mr. Nine turned his attention towards his sensors. He began to take note of the vessels in the vicinity, counting the number of friendly ships were currently in the area. The Umbaran noticed that there was an extra heat signature, one that hadn't been there before. It was making it's way towards the Concord Cruiser from a nearby cluster of asteroids. They had contact.

"Be advised, I'm picking up heat sigs from behind those rocks," Mr. Nine informed the other vessels. "It could be a hostile."

Mr. Nine was positively shaking with excitement. He was always game to help another explorer, but it was the prospect of danger that really got his blood pumping.

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

Starship: "The Vagabond" Heavy Cruiser.
Bridge Crew: Click here.
Objective: Protect the Vagrant Fleet.

"Be advised, I'm picking up heat sigs from behind those rocks, It could he a hostile."

"Lieutenant C'heri?" Captain Gene Wayeson turned to look back over her shoulder to the Catharian Officer at the communications and surveillance station aboard the Vagabond's command centre.

"Confirmed. Unknown contacts" Ticia C'heri responded with a feline growl.

"Hard to Port, Lieutenant Henders" The Captain soon instructed the helmsman before turning to her second in charge, Loni O'Jakri; "Ready the ION cannons. The moment they prove hostile, immobilize them so our friends here can get in close and finish them off" she ordered. The Heavy ION Cannons aboard the Vagabond Cruiser had the firepower and the range over the smaller vessels in the area.

Meanwhile, Caedyn Arenais remained upon the observation deck at the head of the bridge and watched the distant vessels unable to make out friend from foe at their current visual range. He wasn't a Naval Officer by any means, but rather an unusual investor who previously held more importance on the play of things in the Galaxy than he currently did nowadays.

The Crew still accepted his supervision and respected what he had to offer, but technically he was still just a civilian aboard an otherwise military vessel. Being aboard the Cruiser didn't ease his lack of direction in life at the moment, but it did offer him some distractions in times such as this.

"We've got you covered Concord. No visual yet. Ion Cannons are being primed, and you can do the rest once their wings have been clipped".

Atlas Drake | TC-CS-4820 | Coren Starchaser | Brooke Waters | Toby Russen​