Deep Black Sea: Across the Universe [Crew of the Gossamer, or ask before joining]

[Jorus Merrill]

[SIZE=11pt]MISSION[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=11pt]Traverse the [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]Nagai Trade Spine[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] across 150,000 light-years of intergalactic void to chart the satellite galaxy known as [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]Firefist[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt].[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]VESSEL[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=11pt]The Gossamer[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Lotekk-class Deep Space Transport, heavily modified[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Length: 1500 meters[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Armament: Low[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Defenses: Very High[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Hangar: 3 [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]two-seater starfighter[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] squadrons, assorted shuttles, assorted freighters/small craft belonging to various crew members[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Maneuverability: Low[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Speed: Moderate[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Hyperdrive Rating: 0.5, backup 10[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]CREW MANIFEST[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=11pt]Captain: Jorus Quentin Merrill[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Security Officers: [member="Noah Corek"] (armorer), Daymon Vale (secondary role), Nyraen Mirhage (secondary role), [member="Nemo"][/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Medical Officers: [member="Isis Varida"], Oros[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Tactical Officer: [member="Aedan Miles"][/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Science Officers: [member="Chip"], [member="Oros"][/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Communications Officers: [member="Kimiko"], [member="Jian Kylo"][/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Navigators: [member="Kalen Genet"], [member="Ivy Lasranae"][/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Shuttle/Fighter Pilots: Ivy Lasranae (secondary role), [member="Daymon Vale"], [member="Hypatia Najwa"][/SIZE]
• [SIZE=11pt]Engineers: [member="Losena Kyru"], [member="Dash Kessler"], Noah Corek (secondary role), [member="Nyraen Mirhage"], [member="Simone"] (IT systems specialist)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]CAPTAIN'S LOG[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]After a long, lonely trip across the expanse, we’ve reached Firefist, Companion Besh. I’ve made trips to three of the companion galaxies, gone all through the Rishi Maze, but it’s...how do I put this. It never gets old, but it never stops feeling strange, like you’re even more on the raggedy edge than you’d be in Wild Space. The vast majority of my crew has never been outside the galaxy before this trip. That long stretch before we reached Firefist, weeks of nothingness, has taken its toll on some of the younger crewers. Fortunately, Doctor Varida’s made sure to keep me posted when the cabin fever gets too rough.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Now that we’re in Firefist, there’ll be plenty to do. They may start to miss the quiet time. Teams are going out to handle all kinds of essential tasks. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]We’re in the fringes of Maccabree space -- squid-like cyborgs who wear huge, vaguely humanoid mechanical suits. Hopefully our comms officers can stay safe and negotiate our passage through Maccabree territory. I’m betting the Maccabree will want something in return. I just hope it doesn’t cost us too much in the way of supplies or time, but any agreement is better than none. (Suggested crew roles: communications, a pilot, some security, maybe engineering.)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Also, our water recycling system has malfunctioned. While the engineering team scrambles to make sure we don’t all die of dehydration, I’ve asked specialists and volunteers to take a transport to a nearby uncharted world and find some drinkable water that won’t give us all the runs. (Suggested crew roles: engineering, a pilot, science, security, medical, really anyone.)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]OOC/ So here’s the idea. You can split into ‘away team’ groups, do your own thing, stay on the ship and play with setting and character, write personal log entries, do whatever you like. I’ll guide the general situation from time to time and keep things moving forward, but feel free to have the missions turn out any which way, or have random things happen. Just have fun, really. Oh, and since there's a lot of us, please [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]tag your location or mission[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt].[/SIZE]

 

[Chip]

Location: Inside Transport Ship
Mission: Explore nearby planet, Locate drinkable water


Chip bobbed in the air and watched as the various organisms that made up the Gossamer's crew loaded the transport with the supplies they would need for their mission. The organics of the ship were mostly human or near-human of all sorts, though the usual suspects were present in high-ish population percentages. A few oddball species had managed to make it onto the crew as well. The ship's doctor had been a species that Chip had never seen before, though her biology would prove to be... typical of most humanoid organics.

Humming quietly, chipped darted through the air above the heads of the organics (and the occasional labor droid) and took stock of the supplies as they were loaded onto the small ship. Mostly, it was just a lot (and I mean a lot) of empty containers for them to fill once they had located the water they needed. There were additional containers that were already full... Some contained chemicals that could break up some elements common to exo-planets, which usually produced water and a byproduct chemical that could be filtered out later. Then there were numerous burning agents, in case they found frozen water and needed to melt it. But also included were several task specific bits of equipment.

There were a handful of speeder bikes and cargo-transport speeder on the off chance that they couldn't find a safe landing zone for the transport and had to transport the water a long way before loading it. And, of course, there were numerous handheld scanners. Each member of the away team had been given a personal scanner with which to search, and the transport itself was currently having its sensors re-calibrated for geological use.

Oh. And food, Chip noted as he took inventory of the next few crates being brought onto the ship. He supposed the organics would need to eat if the mission ended up taking a few days or more to complete.

 

[Noah Corek]

Location: Personal Cabin
Mission: Explore Planet, Avoid Getting Too Thirsty

Chief Security Officer/Armorer/Secondary Engineers Log

Companion Besh, I refuse to call it 'Firefist'. Whoever thought that naming one of the seven companions something as idiotic as 'Firefist' was a good idea should be taken into a Coruscanti back alley and shot...several times but I digress. This isn't the first time I've time I've been outta the galaxy, hell not even the first time I've been to Companion Besh. Almost a decade and a half ago, when I still served the Republic, a very bad man thought if he ran far enough and fast enough that we'd lose interest. I have to admit, I'd be a liar if I said I didn't enjoy ending that evil bastards life. Eh enough of the old days.

Anyway Jorus brought me on to act as the Chief Security Officer of this mission. He surprised me when he also asked for me to be the ships armorer and a secondary engineer, the second was more surprising than the first. Apparently he was one of the few friends I have that knows I actually do have a formal education. Anyway while we were traveling to Besh I busied myself with my duties. Making sure no conflict broke out on the ship, maintaining the armory and helping out the engineers. After the first few weeks though this turned into boredom.

Due to Jorus' good people sense he had hired some of the best professionals, so I only had to stop a couple minor scuffles and the ship was running like clockwork. This left me the armory only and while weapons were one of my favorite things in the galaxy I can only polish blaster rifles for so long. So this left me hours on hours of free time, something that even on long deployments I had little of. Luckily in anticipation, or was it preparation, I had brought along my old guitar, something I learned to play on aforementioned long deployments, a datapad filled with a library of books ranging from military field manuals to alternate history fiction novels. These two activities, combine with a little more vigorous than usual exercise routine has kept my mind and body sharp.

Well I think this is a good place to leave off. I've gotta get geared up for a mission to make sure we all don't die of dehydration. Ah what I wouldn't give for a simple mission to just kill something or someone.

Chief Security Officer/Armorer/Secondary Engineer Noah C. Corek V

 

[Dash Kessler]

"Personal Log, stardate... Ah, kriff. I'll have to get back to you on that one. Days have a way of blurring together lately... Anyway, I guess you could say that it's been a little while since I first came aboard the good ship Gooseberry. I'll save you the boring, possibly incriminating details, and just say that life back on the galactic cessheap that is Terminus was becoming a little too hot for comfort. Couple of easily avoidable misunderstandings with the local constabulary, nothing major, but enough that I figured signing on with the first outbound ship was a decent way to let things cool off for a spell.

Course, never counted on that ship leading me to be on-board one captained by the legendary Jorus Quigglyfeth Merrill, that's for damn sure. Probably ain't a corner in the galaxy that hasn't heard that name. The man has won, lost and built just as many ships as he has fortunes. Practically help shape the galaxy as is. Guy is a kingmaker if ever there was one. Always pushing for the frontiers.

That said, I honestly have no idea what he's got planned for this journey. Details were slightly vague in the wanted ad I skimmed. Not sure it would matter regardless. Way I see it, sticking around a guy like that, some of that good fortune has to rub off sooner or later, right?"

Excerpt taken from the personal log of D. Kessler,
Engineer onboard the S.S. Gossamer.
​

​

LOCATION: Maintenance Tunnel D
OBJECTIVE: Fix the Water Recycling System

"Kark Merril. Kark his perfect hair. Kark his gorram smug smile and kark his blasted, two-bit gorram water recycler. In the ear. With a dune-cactus. Sideways." As tirades went, that one would barely warrant a cresh minus grade. After spending the last several hours dragging himself through the seemingly labyrinthine warren of maintenance and ventilation tunnels that wove throughout a vessel as large as the Gossamer, however, Dash Kessler honestly couldn't bring himself to fully commit to a decent litany of cursewords. Not when it currently felt like he'd lost a quarter of his body weight sweating it out in the oppressive heat. The scoundrel ran a hand through his hair, the collective grease, grime and sweat from his exertions causing it to spike and hold in complete disarray. "Please, someone, tell me that was the last bloody alert?"

It wasn't, but he'd be willing to accept a lie in that immediate moment. Anything was preferable to the truth that, when the vessel's water recycler had abruptly decided to commit mechanical suicide, the resulting failures had rippled and cascaded throughout the entire efficient yet fragile system. While the task to repair such a system was a fairly simple, if laborious challenge to complete on board a freighter, on a capital vessel some fifteen hundred meters long...

His shoulders cracked alarmingly as he rolled them, trying to free out the stiffness that had settled in from the tight, cramped close quarters of the tunnels. Knowing that any relief would be temporary at best. The alerts pinging to his wrist comm were ceaseless. Taunting him with the latest failure detected. Each electronic buzz as torturous, and as seemingly endless, as the fabled Teeth of Tatooine.

"Karking Merrill."

Gut instinct be damned, he should've stayed on Terminus. Even the prospect of cooling his heels in a six by eight cell with a roommate named Big Barooga was preferable to this hell hole. If nothing else, at least he would have had running water.

 

[Hazel Scheler]

Location: Inside Cockpit of Transport Ship: Undesignated AT-120 Freighter
Mission: Explore nearby planet, Locate drinkable water
Role: Captain Transport Ship to planet and back again in one piece.
[member="Noah Corek"] [member="Chip"]

"Have you decided upon a designation for the ship yet, Miss Scheler?"

The voice sounded from the comms of the ship, an easy if not mildly mechanical male voice.

"Not yet Brom," Hazel replied as she ran diagnostics on her ship - a fruitless endeavor considering the pristine state of it, but one made out of habit, "still open to suggestions."

"You've not liked anything I've suggested thus far."

"So you're just gonna quit then, eh?"

"That is not what I meant."

The woman smirked, good eye drifting to the running chart of supplies and rations for the mission. Good thing this ship had plenty of modifiable cargo space, they were going to need it.

 

[Isis Varida]

Location: Medical Bay

"Well now this is interesting." She was sitting there and had a look on her face, the supply of lollipops next o her on the desk mostly empty but checking status reports and what might be good for the well being... At least she didn't have to worry about pregnancy or someone bringing things on board. Jorus was good about keeping a tight ship. Her medical robes were gleaming under the lights of the small bay she was sitting in, head ridges twitching for just a moment when she rose up and went towards the refresher applying some oil to keep irritates from drying it out. The thigh pack of equipment on her hip we she took out the little canteen for some water.

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Since no one seemed to take it upon themselves to be securing much, Daymon took it. Down by the entry ramp he stood, stripped to the waist of his armor around him with a flak jacket over his chest. Just in case. You didn't live even the short amount of time as a mercenary around the cartels he had without learning to wear caution and damn near paranoia like bedclothes. Each piece of armor was being checked for the umpteenth time and slid on after a thorough polish and clean. With a click, he slid two retaining pins into his armor's breastplate, and then swung off the flack jacket, he rolled up the protective armor weave down at his waist to cover up the plain white muscle shirt and secured it closed, then swung and cinched on the breastplate.

Everything was a dull gunmetal, and any symbols or allegiances were long scoured off, and the only thing he bothered affixing to it was an old metal sergeants chevron on the left pauldron. There wasn't a formal rank on this expedition, but it served to make some of the crew listen to him even if they didn't know what the rank meant. He'd probably be a Lieutenant or higher by now if he had stayed in service. Leaving the gauntlets and other bits of VanirTech alone, he turned to the assault rifle, beginning to field strip and clean it. Daily range practice and drills meant it still needed cleaning and tuning. Marksmanship was like any skill - if it atrophied you took twice the time to rebuild it.

Nearby lay a disruptor pistol unholstered, and a combat knife unretained and rammed into the side of the container he sat on. The detail wasn't the strictest... But anyone coming in would have to go through a chokepoint of empty cargo containers he had the engineers save, or over them. And at the least he would hear them coming and sound the alarm. More than likely be able to dive behind the small barricade he had made and fire on them as they came through the gap. Or get back into the ship. Hawk like eyes narrowed in focus. He'd have to get with that Corek fellow, discuss strategy and what their system was. Security detail without some cooperation was doomed. Maybe go do that since he had a good thing here. Hardly a better place really.

[member="Noah Corek"] | [member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Darth Athora]

Location: Maintenance Tunnel C
Objective: I'm Gonna Wrench It!
Squad: [member="Dash Kessler"]

To work the underbelly of ships was a hard and thankless job. Countless hours of tinkering and toiling below where the temperatures were nigh unbearable. It was hell. But, damn, was it the most fun place on a ship. You may be suffering, but those around you were suffering as well and they made it tolerable.

With fusioncutter in hand, Losena maneuvered her way through the engine room, avoiding the scorching pipes around her. She couldn't afford yet another jumpsuit after what happened to the last one. Losena stopped at a terminal built into the wall and began keying inc ommands, checking the diagnostics. "Hey, Dash. Getting some wild readings down there. You remembered to return knob B to the upright position, yeah?" Losena chuckled after her little tease.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

DIPLOMATIC TEAM​

[member="Kimiko"] [member="Jian Kylo"] + whoever wants to go​

​

"Hi, Comms, this is the Captain. Looks like we've got a transmission coming in, Maccabree border patrol getting antsy that we're sitting here. If you can negotiate safe passage for us one way or another, I'd be much obliged. You don't want to see me try my hand at diplomacy, let's put it that way."​

​

​

LIFE SUPPORT TEAM​

[member="Losena Kyru"] [member="Dash Kessler"] + whoever wants to go​

"Ah, folks, this is Captain Merrill to the engineering crew. That whole thing about the water recyclers breaking down? Yeah, there's, um...we've got reports of stone mites chewin' on the bulkheads. Think you can repair faster than they can eat? In the meantime I'm sending down [member="Daymon Vale"] and a security squad. Watch your backs. These little guys'll nibble right through armor if you let'em. I've notified Doctor [member="Isis Varida"] and Doctor [member="Oros"] to be on standby for injuries. Got a couple of mild ones on the way to sickbay right now."

GET US WATER TEAM​

[member="Ivy Lasranae"] [member="Chip"] [member="Noah Corek"] + whoever wants to go​

​

"Hi folks, Captain Merrill here. Long-range sensors picked up what looks like an abandoned structure on the planet where you're headed. Watch your backs in case of leftover defenses or scavengers. On the plus side, where there's been civilization, there's probably water. Just a matter of finding it, right?"​

​

​

 

[Dax Perl]

With an engineering team already on the water recycling problem, and [member="Noah Corek"] and a few others already searching for a drinkable source of water there was nothing to be done. Security had kept things under control, not that much had happened on the ship and as far as Dax was concerned, unless someone attacked them out here, he was off, for a little while at least.

Dax took this brief period of repose to stand in the hangar bay and stare out into the void at the distant galaxy that housed everything he had ever loved. He could never tire of this sight. Dax had been outside of the galaxy only once before. Back then, he'd been chasing down an apparent ghost ship when it'd made an unexpected jump, straight into the void. He still remembered everything that had happened that day. But most of all he'd remembered the view. As child, all he'd ever wanted to do was explore the galaxy, but once he'd seen the galaxy from afar, he wanted to explore other galaxies as well. He'd never had a chance...until quite recently. When the Marshall had seen the posting, he jumped at the chance, for purely selfish reasons. He doubted he'd have a chance like this ever again. Besides, Dax had really lucked out when he'd seen his lover's name among the crew.

And now he'd gotten to experience the wonderment and fascination that came with staring at a galaxy all over again and for once, he felt at peace. Sure, he felt a little guilty as the crew around him worked, and hard at that, but no one made an effort to bother him anyways. It wasn't like he was going to listen to them anyways, save for a select few among the thousand plus aboard. 'No matter...' Dax thought to himself, 'I should go see if anyone needs some help or anything...'

 

[Dash Kessler]

CURRENT LOCATION: Maintenance Tunnel D
CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Fix the Water Recycling System, Play Exterminator
FELLOW WRENCH MONKEY BRIGADERS: [member="Losena Kyru"], [member="Tegan Katarn"]
APPARENTLY OVERPAID SECURITY: [member="Daymon Vale"] & Co

"Yeah, yeah, I've got your upright knob right here, cheeka." Dash shot back as he studied readout display on his wrist comm, smearing grease over the plaspex screen in the process as he ran another system check in the vain hope that something had changed in the last few seconds. Unfortunately, whatever miracle the corellian spacer was waiting for was apparently still awaiting for that connecting flight to come in, with the feedback continuing to shine with a sea of baleful red dots. His sweat laced forehead furrowed slightly. Kark, there were actually more of the blasted lights now if anything. That couldn't be right, could it? "Uh, this could be the heat stroke talking, but anyone else seeing this? The cascades failures should be stopping now that system is offline, but it looks like the issue is only getting wo---"

On cue, their fearless leader's voice popped up over the intercom. Stone mites? Security teams? Sickbay? If this was how Merrill normally operated, no wonder it had been so easy for someone with Dash's record to find a spot on-board the ship. Everyone else with half a brain was clearly wise to his game.

"Guess that explains that." He muttered, peeling his sweat soaked flight suit down to the waist, adjusting his tool belt to secure the sleeves he tied into a loose approximation of a knot. Hand hesitating near the ionic concussion blaster he kept strapped to his thigh for eventualities such as this. It had been more out of habit lately than anything, never figuring that he'd actually have to use it anytime soon. Least of all in a greasy, cramped hell of a maintenance tunnel of all places. Was he really paid enough for this? Then again, did it really matter? If those mites chewed their way through the ship, none of them would be around to collect a single credit. He tapped his comms open, setting it to wide broadcast over the immediate area. "Katarn, Kyru. I dunno about you two, but I'm not really in the mood to play hunt the bugs on my lonesome down here while we wait for our fearless protectors. I've already seen this horror holo. The witty, handsome guy always gets eaten in the first act."

Not exactly true. Normally it was a Rodian that died first in the b-holos, or perhaps even a Gran if they were feeling particularly progressive on their casting choices, but it wasn't as if there were many on hand to shoulder that role of a lifetime at the moment.

"The maintenance bay on this level is only a stone's throw away from an armory locker. Thinking it might be a good place to regroup and rearm. You guys in?"

 

[Sebastian Thel]

Location: Maintenance Tunnel C
Objective: Fix the Water Recycling System
Allies: [member="Dash Kessler"], [member="Losena Kyru"], [member="Hypatia Najwa"], [member="Tegan Katarn"]

Deep within the bowels of the ship, Sebastian tightened a huge bolt in the side of a pipe as he listened to the colourful vocabulary of his fellow engineer over his commlink. The days turned into weeks as the isolation pressed even Sebastian's need for social interaction and he had become closer than he had expected to his fellow crew members.

Thirsty and coated in sweat from the heat of the ship's water system, Sebastian looked away when a beep on his comm device alerted him to more damage in another compartment. He squeezed out from beneath the pipes when he had finished tightening the bolt and shoved his goggles up onto his forehead. The alert beeped from the compartment just around from where Losena was working and he jumped onto the ground and grabbed his toolbox.

"I'm on it." The small engineer spoke to Dash through his comm device, before walking around the corner to meet Losena. Exchanging a smile, he ran a hand through his hair, which was spike up with grease and slime, probably making it look very silly, not that Sebastian cared.

"There's some electrical damage in compartment D, I'm going to squeeze in and check it out." Walking past Losena, he pulled his goggles back over his eyes and unhooked the latch of the compartment door, where electricity danced over pipes. The inner workings had been fried by something gnawing at the wires.

Setting his toolbox on the ground, Sebastian selected a screwdriver and spanner, along with some metal sheets and welding equipment, which he fastened to his bracers. He climbed into the compartment and crawled through the tunnel inside, his small frame making it fairly easy for him to move around.

Once inside, Sebastian heard the sharp rustling of teeth chewing metal and as he crawled further into the system, he came across large bugs, which seemed to be made of moving steel, chewing away at the pipes. "Oh kark!" The engineer cursed as he pulled himself away, quickly crawling backwards and squirming out of the tunnel to avoid the bugs biting his face.

Just as he jumped on the ground, Dash spoke to him over his comm device, suggesting that the engineering department regroup at the armory. Not knowing how to use a weapon, Sebastian cupped his chin in thought and considered any possible alternatives.

"That sounds like a plan." Sebastian spoke into his comm device. "I don't know how much use I'm going to be with a weapon, but I'm willing to try anything at this point." He decided to wait until the engineering crew gathered at the armory to see what devices he could work with when devising a plan.

 

[Kalen Genet]

Unlike some of the crew, this wasn't quite Kalen's first time being outside of the galaxy proper, although he'd never made it this far out. Normally he would stick to the Rishi Maze, rather than Firefist—so he was somewhat out of his element. The last time he'd been in Firefist at all he'd been doing everything he could to avoid getting found by any of the natives.

Smuggling was a dangerous job no matter which galaxy you were in.

All that considered, he was definitely off-limits for the diplomatic team. He'd be useless. Instead, he was hanging out near their fearless captain himself, [member="Jorus Merrill"]. And none of the messages he'd heard the man give were particularly heartening. "I'm sorry, did you just say stone mites?" he asked quickly, talking around the sandwich he was eating. He swallowed it—somewhat painfully, given it was only half-chewed—before continuing. "Where the kark would we have picked up stone mites, Jorus? K1-70 and I even joined in on the inspection at our last port to make sure we didn't have any." The astromech droid he'd just mentioned shuddered involuntarily, giving a very displeased squeak at the thought of stone mites being on the ship.

"Don't worry, Kay. We won't let the pests get to you. Besides, you should be able to fight them yourself, shouldn't you?"

 

[Ria Misrani]

If Hypatia were being honest.

She just wanted to get away from it all.

She'd been contact with [member="Ahani Najwa"] for a short time and the revelation of their - relations. Well, neither she nor her brother took it too well, but when the offer to get away from the galaxy for a minute came through. She took it, the thief, smuggler and sometimes pilot figured it was a nice break from the way of things. She was wrong, Hypatia wiped the sweat from her brow and looked down at Dash. "Handsome? Is that what you call a nerf herder who fell off into the ugly pond."

Hypatia kept the little knob joke tucked away for later. Stone mites, Force be with them all she thought and trudged past him and the others to the Armory. Not a lot was known about the Thyrsian except her name and she wanted to keep it that way. Basic facts, she looked about late twenties and had purple hair, stood at about one point six meters or so, not very tall for her race, or most races to be exact.

[member="Dash Kessler"] | [member="Daymon Vale"] | [member="Tegan Katarn"] | [member="Losena Kyru"]

 

[Hazel Scheler]

Location: Inside Cockpit of Transport Ship: Undesignated AT-120 Freighter
Mission: Explore nearby planet, Locate drinkable water
Role: Captain Transport Ship to planet and back again in one piece.
[member="Noah Corek"] [member="Chip"]

Hi folks, Captain Merrill here. Long-range sensors picked up what looks like an abandoned structure on the planet where you're headed. Watch your backs in case of leftover defenses or scavengers. On the plus side, where there's been civilization, there's probably water. Just a matter of finding it, right?"

"This is good news," Brom echoed with a hint of enthusiasm.

"Like ruins do you?" Hazel asked as she checked the status of the scanners reconfiguration.

"Ruins play a vital role in the research of past civilizations, Miss Scheler. Of the many tasks I was responsible for, exploring ancient ruins was by far one of my favorites."

The ship's AI made a curious sound. Was that a...sigh? Hazel looked around, nonplussed, "Something wrong?"

"I suppose those days are over," the ship answered in a solemn tone.

Took Hazel a moment to realize what he meant, it often didn't occur to her that Brom had once been very real and very much alive. She frowned, casting her single-eyed gaze around, "Nonsense," she replied finally, pushing up from her seat, "you'll be joining me."

"I am a ship, Miss Scheler, this is not a large possibility."

"Sure, but you're also connected to my armor now. That Darso fella did good work."

"So he did."

It was gettin' time to git-goin and Hazel's fingers were getting itchy. The woman turned to exit the cockpit, steping down the short hall to the cargo ramp where she stepped out into the open cargo gullet of the Gossamer, "Right folks, Water Team get ready for launch. We've got one planetary rotation to do our job and get back to the Gossamer."

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

Location: Bridge, specifically, comms station
Current Objective: Not get everyone killed
Role: Diplomat (Oh boy!)
Assistance: Please?!

Ki sat listening and watching the rapidly approaching Maccabree security forces with a hint of excitement. This was why she was here, to ensure the Coalition's diplomatic mission was clear and concise. No one would get hurt from any extra-galactic forces. Though she would happily learn as they went along.

"Unidentified vessel, state your identification and purpose, or be fired upon." the greeting party sent over, and was roughly translated.

Ki queued her mic, which ran through another translator on the way to the transceiver,"Greetings Maccabree forces! This is Kimiko of the Outer Rim Coalition, aboard the Gossamer research vessel. Our intentions in your space are purely scientific as we wish to widen our knowledge of our extra-galactic neighbors. We can speak in person if desired?"

She ensured her message went through before falling back in her seat with a sigh.

Oh boy, this'll be fun.

 

[Arage Bao]

CURRENT LOCATION: Maintenance Tunnel D
CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Fix the Water Recycling System, Play Exterminator
FELLOW WRENCH MONKEY BRIGADERS: [member="Losena Kyru"], [member="Dash Kessler"], [member="Sebastian Thel"]

"Sure thing, D, but if the cap' asks why his shiny ship is full o' holes gon' point at ya." Well, as shiny as a huge bulk freighter with more years on it than most stellar systems had could get. It was definitely one of the better maintained ships of this scale she had been on. Usually the owners left maintenance by the wayside when they had a kilometre of scrap to command from point a to point z.

Obviously they were gonna be using ionic weaponry for this chit.

"Might be best if we sweep 'em deck for deck, Dash an' me can ionize the buggers, while Kyru and Thel start repairing the damage, eh?" Because from Thel's tone it seemed more likely he would shoot one of 'em in the ass, instead of being useful against the mites.

"That way we will have eyes on the decks we already swept, if they suddenly return."

Rather than find out six hours later when they thought they were done. Boots dashed against the deck when Tegs dropped off the ladder and joined up with the others near the armory. Took a moment or two to punch in the identification keys, before they stepped inside. Tegs immediately whistled- the armory was a load of beauty as far as she was concerned.

Her rebel past gave her a good eye on gear and this was state-of s'far as she was concerned.

"Don't worry, Bas," She mentioned over her shoulder to Sebastian as Tegan picked out an ion blaster. "We will handle the guns, you focus on the repairs."

Would be best that way.

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Fearless Leader: [member="Jorus Merrill"]
Apparently Hapless Wrench Monkeys: [member="Dash Kessler"] | [member="Losena Kyru"] | [member="Tegan Katarn"]
Crewmate/Immediate Proximity: [member="Hypatia Najwa"]
Location: Main Armory

Sitting at an armorers bench, Daymon was taking a set of spanners to a nozzle that was efficiently attached, but definitely after-market so far as when. A literal grouping of piles of parts scattered across the bench. A vibro-saw and plasma cutter sat near at hand to him, and so did discarded pieces he had dissected. What sat in the middle was a contraption that was far from pretty, but would prove quite useful. Several others lay completed in a bag at his feet. Oxidizer spray was the quickest way to deal with stone mites, he had suffered through an outbreak of them in the Alliance. That, and a quick leaf through the HoloLibrary revealed that as well.

Maintenance seemed confused why he wanted it for stone mites until he explained, and then they were nearly falling all over themselves to help with the project. A frame to hold the spray canister, with a short rifle like stock for a few and pistol like grips for others. A quick release to replace the canisters, and a crude sling mount. As well as a narrow spray barrel for a tighter release to minimize overspray and collateral damage. While he was far from an engineer, any SpecOps commando should and likely had on occasion improvised weapons. And to be fair, a maintenance crew chief had helped him work out the basic design before leaving Daymon fully on his own to continue replication as he sought out more things to cannibalize and distribute. The original suggestion had been to just use the cans, but Daymon felt there was a loss in accuracy and response time that way. And simply using Ion could wreak even worse havoc inside a ship than the spray.

"Karking hired as security and now elevated to the post of a glorified exterminator. Will wonders never cease?

Hitting his comms, he spoke again once it was keyed up.

"Vale to maintenance and Security. The main armory has some jerry-rigged oxidizer spray guns. Pretty effective against the mites. I could use a hand or two in the armory. We need to form coherent parties and directions of search or they'll just scatter and we'll never actually hunt them down fully. Weapons will be with maintenance chief, i'll leave out when I have a few extra hands. Ion works too, just watch where you fire there"

 

[Darth Athora]

Location: Maintenance Tunnel C
Objective: Arm up
Grease Monkeys Buddies: [member="Tegan Katarn"] | [member="Sebastian Thel"] | [member="Hypatia Najwa"] | [member="Dash Kessler"]

"Bugs. Why'd it have to be bugs.." Losena growled with disgust at the mere mention of creepy crawlies from the captain of the ship. "Yeah, I'll meet you there, Dash." Losena made her way towards the armory after sliding her way out of the maintenance tunnel. "And don't worry, Tegan'll protect you from those big bad bugs. Heh." Losena could not help but take every chance she could to poke fun at Dash. Meanwhile, she herself was a bit creeped out by the thought of bugs on the ship.

As she neared the armory, Losena could hear the sounds of skittering just above her head. She quickly pulled her blaster pistol from her hip holster and pointed it upwards. She shined her flashlight up and saw nothing, breathing a sigh of relief afterwards. "Relax. Breathe and relax. Just the shadows playing tricks on you." The paladin returned her blaster to it's holster and continued on to the armory.

"Hey Teegs. Sebastian. What's up?" Losena stood in the doorway of the armory, offering a slight smile to her buds.

 

[Sebastian Thel]

Location: Maintenance Tunnel C
Objective: Continue Repairs
Allies: [member="Dash Kessler"], [member="Tegan Katarn"], [member="Losena Kyru"]

When Tegan spoke to Dash over the comm, Sebastian had to squint slightly to understand what she was saying. After a few seconds, he understood most of the sentence and had to nod in agreement to the idea of being wary of blowing too many holes in Jorus' ship.

"Yeah, I was thinking that too." Rubbing the grease off his forehead and onto his trousers, Sebastian nodded again to Tegan. She was right in saying that the most sound idea was for Sebastian and Losena to continue repairs, while the others combated the stone mites.

Along with the others Sebastian scampered towards the armory, the soles of his boots clanging lightly with the metal. He climbed up the ladder and met Dash and Losena, along with Daymon, who was currently in charge of securing the weaponry. Brushing the remaining rust off his hands, he raised his eyebrows as he surveyed the vast array of arms at their disposal, not he was interested in using any.

"Hey Losena, are you much of a fighter?" Sebastian spoke to Losena as the others selected the ion guns. "Or are you going to stick around and help me with repairs?" The ends of his mouth dented upwards in a cheeky smile.