Gravity

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

"Cheat the sim?" that caught Kaile's attention, confusion dancing over her face as she let her eyes drift from Tarn over to Asmus. What was that about?

However, Asmus had already gone and pointed out the prow battery and missile batteries. Honestly, she wasn't too interested in the ordnance systems as much as she'd be for hyperdrive, engines, and shields. Then again, a capital ship or even something like the Subversion was a whole 'nuther Bantha than a small freighter. Everything was different even if the basic innards were the same.

"That she is." Kaile gave a heartfelt compliment, earning another smile from the Fondorian.

"Been on her long?" she asked Tarn, curious.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Since she first sailed," he replied proudly. "Made XO last year right before Asmus was 'honourably discharged' from the Rogues and came to join us. And our Wing Commander gave a stunning display of his propensity to annoy the Captain the other day. To be fair the Captain decided to rig the sim. I'm assuming our ever social Janes got word of this and secretly changed his mission plan and dodged the bullet."

"...and then he had you hastily programme a few hundred TIEs into the sim to show us up and got annoyed when we thought it was fun..." Asmus added with a note of question, admitting nothing in return. Tarn merely tried to hide his smile behind his steaming mug.

"Did Janes tell you why we have hot showers on board?"

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Both of Kaile's brows rose high enough to disappear under her bangs. From the banter between Tarn and Asmus, something told Kaile that there was more to the story between the Captain of the Subversion and Asmus. Likely a conversation for later. Just by reading Asmus' body language told the Lorrdian enough that even if he hadn't admitted to anything, she was able to pick up the truth on the matter there.

That's when the most interesting subject on the why the Subversion had water showers came up. Color Kaile intrigued at that. Her eyes told the tale of her interest, hands coming to clasp at the small of her back.

"I'd often wondered that. Big of a luxury 'specially when out in the black for long periods of time I reckon." she shot Asmus a look from her peripherial.

"Haven't heard the tale, no."

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

Tarn dipped his head towards Asmus. "Go on."

Asmus grinned. "The Subversion has several layers of hull. During operation the generator kicks out a lot of heat. So we have special plates between the hulls to keep the outer hull from shining like a beacon on any passive scanners. These sinks have narrow channels which we push superconducting fluid through, which in turn runs back through all these tiny little pipes." He slowly lowered his hands, waggling his fingers. As a storyteller he was doing quite well given their history with showers. "Down into the water tanks which we use as heat sinks."

"Spare energy, recycled, hot showers. Saves spending generator power on sonics," Tarn finished. "And just much better. We can also extract energy into high density power packs back out of the water, but too much and the systems will expel super-heated water vapour to cool."

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

"Oh wow." now the espion was really surprised. "Huh." a little bit of wonder and awe went fluttering over her expression at that. Well that was a good way to use the spare energy and the heat. Reckoned they had a massive water recycler as well. If they had a way to still expel the hot water vapor in an emergency.

"Well that's one way to make folk feel a little fancy. Even if it's just a part of the cooling system." the right corner of her mouth perked up at that. A few of the bridge crew gave curious glances over at their direction. Asmus had a thing about coming over on the bridge now and then -- and taking a cup of caf or two. He was a social creature. And while he did enjoy giving a tour now and then, this was with someone they weren't really familiar with. Agent meant part of SIS, so likely someone temporary in the crew.

"Sonics ain't that bad." she managed to tease, giving a half smile that brightened her face again towards Tarn. Neither Asmus nor Kaile had to think far about their own past experience in one.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

Get a grip, he told himself as a mild flush reached his cheeks. Goodness she had gripped his long hair tightly. His knuckles slightly whitened as he locked his hands together firmly enough to ache to try and draw his mind from the past.

"Anyway, nice to see everything running smoothly up here," Asmus said. "We should continue the tour though!"

"Ha, you can grab a caf if you'd like Asmus," Tarn offered, turning back to his pilots for an update. A holographic projection of incoming mass shadows was displayed.

Asmus took the offer and headed to a small recess in the wall with paper cups and a nozzle. "Ah the good stuff. Right so you've seen most of B-deck. The restricted zone, the observation rooms. The infirmary...sorry again about that. Missile loading bays are hardly thrilling and even I can't get in there. Oh we can pop past the armoury and get a requisition form. Two birds." He stepped back from the machine with his cup in case she wanted one. So many more complex notes in the steam that rose from his cup. And not hot enough to burn. Kaile would notice he'd redressed his right hand, but left the left free to heal in the air. His brow furrowed in obvious concern.

"How is your head by the way?"

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

"Nice to meet you, Commander." the brunette said as they excused themselves, only to add in.

"Oh.. no I'm fine." Kaile gave a small shake of her hand to gesture she was okay without caf as well as to answer the question of her head. Although the rather excited expression Asmus told her that he was looking forward to it. Of course, the talk of caf brought to mind his hands. Glancing down she caught that one hand had fresh bandages while the other did not. A stark reminder of the previous night and where his hands had been brought a slight flush to her face.

"Ain't got a headache anymore... so all the better." they neared back to the lift. "How are your hands?" she managed to ask.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Ah left one didn't look so bad so I thought probably best to let it heal," he replied. It was obvious that he was holding the cup of caf particularly carefully. They both seemed intent on avoid each other's eyes on the way to the lift. Perhaps that was what prompted him. Only a couple of seconds in the lift down, but enough to take her hand and give it a brief squeeze. And retreat very quickly before the doors could slide open.

"So the armoury is opposite to the infirmary on the starboard wing," He lead her towards the rear of the ship, past several supply rooms. "We can view engineering from up here, but if we go down to Deck C we can get up close and personal with the reactor and the engines. Ish." He wasn't allowed too close to the delicate stuff anyway. He led her onto a narrow corridor. Up the narrow stairs was the observation deck on the opposite side to the one that'd watched a show in.

"Can really feel the thrum of the engines out here. The ones out wide. Eight main thrusters, awesome straight line speed. Two either side of engineering, four out wide and two further up the frame. Nothing right in the middle as the rear hangar door is there."

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

The corridors were rather tight, so Amus and Kaile had to watch their step. The last thing they needed was another caf incident. Having Asmus mention the infirmary brought to mind what the Bothan nurse had mentioned about Asmus. Well that was another story on its own. Good thing the low hum of the engines resonated throughout the area where they were walking along with. Every now and then they would catch other crew members walking by, prompting a nod and a hello from Janes as they passed.

Kaile had yet to really meet the rest of the crew. Being a social creature like Asmus meant he was well aware and familiar with those who called the Subversion their home.

The observation room was larger than that on B Deck, but had more areas to sit in. There were a few pilots there along with a few of the mechanics. Lucy included...

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

There was a slight twitch in the corner of his eye as he noticed Lucy there. He'd spoken to her at some length after the incident, but she hadn't seen him strolling around casually with Kaile yet. She didn't always think her actions through. Still, all he could do was press on. If she saw him deliberately avoiding her that could actually make everything far worse, especially in the long term. She was a friend and took good care of his ship. He didn't want to spoil either of those things.

"Good few people up here now," he said. "Any of the pilots you don't recognise and I can introduce some of the mechanics?" He recalled that he hadn't mentioned hearing about Omar's advanced from Chad. Too late to mention it now, he thought as he saw the Zeltron.

Oh fething feth feth.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Oh course things couldn't just go swimmingly. Nope, it was a stark reminder to the pair that they were on the Subversion, a very small ship for its size, abliet a powerful Intel gathering one.

It was the Zeltron who saw them first, much to Asmus' chagrain. You could see it all play out on that coral face. Surprise, amusement, devilry, and a side of mischief. Surprise to see Janes and Whiskey Girl together, amused as he realized that a paticular Redhead mechanic and a boring Fondorian were also here, devilry at the thought of what popcorn eating drama might ensue, and finally mischief as he wondered just how much he could push his luck to stir the pot even more.

Janes was a walking beacon of emotion for the Zeltron, so feeling his joy turn to alarm once he walked in at the very least quelled the most obnoxious of temptations from Omar. Of course that also came with the lamentation at the realization that his chances to get that sweet agent in his bunk were quickly dwindling.

Shame.

"Well if it isn't our illustrious leader!" He cried out, drawing attention to the pair. Okay, didn't mean he couldn't poke just a tiny bit. Chad and Asmus might hang him from his toes if he did anything more but really, sometimes everyone needed a bit of prodding.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Wind it in Lieutenant," Asmus said. The tone was mild complaint, not strict order. Enough that Omar sat straight and lost most of the smirk but still kept a smile. "This is Agent Vera, just going on a whistle-stop tour of the ship. "This is Lieutenant Commander Ro'vena of Wraiths, the second best Squadron within the SIS."

She had actually watched his treatment of her zeltron squadron mate with approval up until that point, but reacted to that introduction with a twitch of the lekku. "Pleasure to have you aboard Agent Vera," she replied politely. Omar's lips were trying to smirk again.

"Lieutenant Commander Eston Chad, Wraith squadron," Asmus said. "We'll be back briefing him later today."

"Agent. Look forward to it."

All going well so far, Asmus reflected. But now...

"And this is Lieutenant Detreet Omar," Asmus said, waiting to see what the Zeltron would say next.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Ah, yes this bit right here.

Right.

"A pleasure," she replied with a welcoming tone to Ro'vena. But as for the other two...

Well she already met Chad and Omar back at the mess. Did they not tell Asmus? There was a devilish twinkle in the Zeltron eyes that made her realize that this might become even more embarrassing. Her cheeks flushed as Kaile recalled her earlier behavior. Just great--

"We've met." Kaile added, nodding towards Omar and Chad. Of course that's when the red headed woman playing Sabaac to the right eyeballed the group. Even from this distance kaile read the tension that ran through the woman's grip on her cards. She wasn't happy.

"As always, my pleasure." With all the pomp and circumstance Omar gave a slight downward bow of his head and a gesture of flair. Truth be told if he didn't at least do something everyone would think something was off.


“I see the Captain is giving you the two credit tour.” The fact that Asmus has done this before helped be the balm on the sting to Lucy’s pride; but it still hurt.


“Over there you'll see the ones we owe to not falling out of the sky,” Omar gestured to the sabacc game with the off duty mechanics.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Yeah, let's go see hello quick then head down to engineering," Asmus said. "Catch you guys later, but I'm mostly on planning today."

No need to any sideways glances now. She would know. She always knew. Perhaps that was agent training to read people, he wondered.

"Everyone," he said with a wave. He knew most of the engineering and logistics crews well and like most pilots took an interest in exactly what was going on with his ship.

"This is Agent Vera who's with us for a while. This is Junior Lieutenant Like Jeckard who is in charge of the deck crews." Asmus kept fairly informal, but some things like introducing the officers first came naturally now. Unfortunately he did get confused by all the different roles and ratings once one got beneath Petty Officers like Lucy.

"This is Lucy, Polb and Rith who do the best damn job of keeping Wraiths flying. Duesh there handles fuelling and getting all the sensor data off the ships. And Udlless there works under Chief Officer Inx in main engineering."

They'd meet the huge man who ran engineering later. For some reason he thought Kaile would like him. Perhaps because most mech heads who didn't have him looming over them all day tended to get on with the loud, affable man.

There were general pleasantries exchanges. Asmus have Lucy a warm smile as she seemed to be doing a reasonable Jon of putting a brave face on.

"Hi," the redhead said, her smile never quite reaching her eyes. "Hope you like it here. Will you...Be with us long?"

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Sometimes Kaile would wonder if it was a good thing she could read body language at all.

The friendly smile that the Lorrdian wore lingered, but there was no denying the slight tension that ran along the length of her spine at the question. Just looking at Lucy - up close and personal - left the espion with a bit more clarity on the situation at hand. Lucy had a sweet spot for Asmus. She could tell by the way her eyes kept darting back to the Wraith Captain beside her, how she had watched his every move as soon as he came in.

A slight pang hit Kaile's chest. "A pleasure meeting you all. Pardon for the bother." she added, only to turn those chocolate brown eyes back towards the redhead.

"One can't ever tell when or where the job takes you." she added as vaguely as she could. The agent couldn't divulge more than that, but it was clear that the mechanic had an interest on when Kaile would be gone. Would she make a move on Asmus then? Would he go along with it? If she hadn't come onboard, if this ship hadn't been the one assigned to extract her, where would that have left them --

Stop it.

"I reckon most of us round here know that feeling working with SIS." that got a round of chuckles and nods. Indeed, they all knew well how one thing could change from the next.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Oh, forms!" Asmus said suddenly. Perhaps Kaile would be impressed at how smoothly he feigned his apparent recollection. His hand moved towards the small of her back to steer her away but he managed to snap it back down to his side. Someone else noticed that movement though.

More pleasantries and they made for the stairs down to the armoury. Down there would be several open blast doors before a single hatch manned by a requisition droid.

"Oh she hasn't given up has she?" He murmured softly as they turned down the stairs.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Kaile wasn't sure what to say. She could have said, yeah she still has feelings for you. Or she could keep quiet. Actually, it really wasn't any of her business so did she really need to say anything? Have to? Stars, this was awkward. Kaile wasn't sure exactly what to do in this specific situation.

It was silly really. She spent a lifetime being able to socialize and gather information from folk through casual conversation. They'd often spill their woes over lost loves, found loves, the fun times, sad times, or just plumb angry ones. In every situation she'd been able to lend a comforting ear and some conversation. Most folk just wanted someone to be able to spill their thoughts onto. A place to bounce off of. Kaile would provide that.

It was just a bit more difficult when the subject in question dealt with a woman that likely was gonna have Asmus follow up on once she was gone. Like, why wouldn't he? Lucy was a pretty girl and it was pretty damn obvious she was sweet on him. Top it off from the earlier conversation out in the mess hall, she wasn't too off put about making her intentions quite clear. Likely wouldn't have minded making herself at home in his cabin and --

"Forms and armory right?" Kaile abruptly added, following suit to what Asmus had bounced off to earlier.

"What exactly would we need to fill out?"

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Sorry," Asmus whispered noting her lack of response. The urge to hold Kaile was strong. This was a mess she didn't deserve to get dropped in. Whatever gods rolled the dice seemed to be playing games with them.

"Yeah can't just go walking around with weapons. When I go in for an extraction I generally take a CC13 or two, a sidearm and a survival pack which also contains restricted items. I put in a form and they prep it all and get it loaded in the shuttle for me."

"Hey Tee-three! Can we get a form please?"

"The standard form is on the ship's intranet and can be freely downloaded and returned. As I have told you six times to date."

The slender humanoid droid was able to convey just a hint of annoyance in its tone.

"Yeah but have you tried to navigate the..."

"Here is a form," Tee-three replied in resignation, sliding a datapad through the hatch. Behind the droid racks and racks were visible, filled with standard SIS weaponry.

"Much obliged!" Asmus replied cheerily. "So, down to engineering and then flight control I guess? Any other restricted kit you want?"

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

"I doubt I've a need for weaponry in either." she added, not quite sure why they would need a weapon out now. It took a moment for it to dawn on her that he meant for the upcoming mission.

"Oh. Vo took care of that for me." she gave a slight wave of her hand in front of her. "He has everything set." as he did for every mission. Uniforms to boot. Besides, she'd long upgraded from the Moph stunner she used a long while ago. Had to.

"Hello Tee-Three," her smile shone in friendly greeting to the droid as Asmus tapped out his form.

"How's it going for you?" she inquired, trying to keep that awful mental picture racing through her mind.

"It fares as good as any day." his ocular flaps gave a slight shift up and then down. Rather expressive for a droid.

"Would be better if the intranet forms were used."

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

Asmus pulled something between a grimace and a grin as he turned away. "Alright alright send the link to my restricted workspace, have a nice day Tee-Three!"

They turned and headed back down the corridor that linked the 'wings' to the main vessel. There was a narrow set of stairs to head down towards engineering.

"You know I've always liked Vo," Asmus said. There was a concern lingering in the back of his mind that Lucy would try something drastic again. "You'll love Inx by the way. Never ever drink with him. He's a big lad, puts it away and expects everyone else to do the same. I... still get drunk quite easy," he admitted with a chuckle. Thinking back to their secret mission to board the Quin.

"Get to indulge in messing around with tech still?"

They would soon approach a heavy set door. The other side was much darker than the brightly lit corridors that connected the ship. The powerful reactor was recessed below the main engineering walkways, with SIS crewmen at their stations. Inx would be prowoing around as always, but he would shift from stern boss to loud and jovial host in a flash.

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