Traveller Writeup #8!
Jun. 25th, 2008 09:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
realsorienAs I said, I've got it done. I thought this would take til Friday!
Another starting note for the writeup: we've a new player (Ben) in the group, and this created a very different start for the run. Normally, we begin with a recap of the last run to refresh everyone as to what had gone before. THis time, we dove right in without the refresher, as Ben's character wouldn't have ANY idea what he was getting into! So right off I'm kinda rushed as I scramble to keep up with my notes!
Its all good though, and so now we return to the crew of the Ardith's Silhouette!
When last we left our Intrepid heroes, Deyn and Maddox were sprinting madly for the berth of the Silhouette, planetary defense sirens howling around them! Running separately, they reach the ship just as the sirens... Stop. No warning, just a sudden cutoff. They board and start powering things up, sealing up and running checks. As they go, Deyn cuts the comm online and over the general hailing channel receives a message:
'This has been a test of the emergency defense broadcast system. If this had been an actual emergency...'
"Bloody HELL." He snarls. Maddox just glares at the comm board, shrugs and heads back towards class, returning on one of the remaining grav bikes. Deyn remains for as long as it takes to shut everything down again, then heads back himself. When Maddox arrives (15 minutes late), he is told that the tests are weekly! "Really? Is there anything ELSE I should know about?" He asks, not getting nor expecting a response.
In the meantime Keisha has completed the current leg of her treatment with Dr. Lanyier. "I think we've made real progress- We'll be starting a new treatment course when we get back- but don't worry, its nothing bad," he tells her, this statement not being reassuring at all. They return to the campus, Keisha proceeding to the ship.
By the time she arrives both Maddox and Deyn are back aboard. The three discuss what they've been doing, Deyn adding some flippant commentary to Maddox's statements concerning his current 'mad genius' modifications to the ships stress-tolerences. None of this is really what she wanted to hear, and once again she has a headache...
At about that time there is heard the muffled sound of someone pounding on the access-hatch! Deyn looks, and for some reason comes up with the idea that its Alphaunze come back early! Maddox asks if Deyn has modified the codes, and with Deyn's negative answer he heads down to see what the problem is. "Al, why don't you just come on..." He says as the door opens; "Oh! You're not Al!" Comes out when he sees who IS there. While it isn't Al, Maddox DOES know the man- Force Commander Lucanis Daarthi, retired, is his name. He's a Lutran, one of the many genemod branches of humanity, in this case possessed of a number of aquatic adaptations.
A long discussion ensues involving their past associations, and the bad news that the Force Commander bears. When Maddox hears the story, he invites Lucanis aboard so that he can relate the tale to all gathered. (Note- The discussion DID take place, but only about the first third was heard by me. I was asked to leave what I heard out of the writeup, and so this note.)
Once everyone is together, their guest relays the news. He'd been serving on a crabbing boat up north, with Alphaunze... And Alphaunze is the news: he was washed overboard and drowned. Alphaunze did come to long enough to ask Lucanis to 'tell them what happened.' Alphaunze was buried at sea, near the location where he'd drowned.
He then turns over Alphaunze's rucksack, containing most of his possessions. His ACR was sent into the water with Alphaunze. The news, of course, leaves the crew rather subdued. At Maddox' request, Deyn leads the Force Commander out of the ship. While Deyn is out of hearing, he talks to Keisha- "I trust him. You know my background and he's part of that. If he needs a place to stay, we should offer it."
Keisha is dubious, concerned of the security of their duty with the ISS. She decides to consult with Paine, via Dr. Lanyier- she heads back to the Psionics Institute for this purpose, and to inform Paine that Alphaunze is dead. Unfortunately, the good doctor is still too drained from the sessions of the past few days, and won't be able to make the connection until the next day. The meeting is scheduled for 9 AM.
Back at the ship, Maddox is planning a long sulk in is room when Deyn approaches him; "Commander? There's something I think we should do." "Is it illegal?" "That would be up to you or Keisha- she's the legal expert. I'd like to go to where Alphaunze died and perform a gun-salute." Maddox thinks a moment, then says, "That's kind of what I was thinking too... But Keisha will want to be involved." Deyn nods. "Understood. I'll contact her in an hour or so."
Lucanis (Luke hereafter) for his part is without a job or a berth- he'd left the crabbing fleet to deliver the message, and as such is at loose ends. Not having any idea what has been discussed on the Silhouette, he ends up in town at Mainstreeters with the traditional Meat On Bun meal there. While he eats, he encounters Gimp, who after talking with him a bit gives him his card; a possible job!
Before Deyn can make his call to Keisha, she returns to the ship. He explains what he and Maddox have in mind, and she confirms that it would be legal. It requires a permit, and a local honor guard could likely be arranged as well. All of this has to wait til the next day, after she speaks with Paine.
Another plan comes up though. Both the Navy and Marines have a tradition for a more personal 'honoring' of a fallen comrade- The Drunk. With Keisha being a bit less enthusiastic about the experience, the three decide to perform the 'ritual' on the upper hull- this will include consuming some of Alphaunze's booze, some of Deyn's, and smoking bad Marine-issue cigars... In the end, all three are kayo'd by the experience, and a horrid mess is left on the upper hull.
While this takes place, Luke is having a far more sedate experience. As in, not a thing of any particular interest is happening to him. He gets a room at the TAS hotel, and marvels at amount of space in the room- by Marine standards its huge, by civilian standards... Not so much.
Morning comes, and with the rising of the sun the three victims of the Drunk experience the tender mercies of the traditional result of a Drunk, the hangover. Each pries themselves up, Maddox heading to medbay to prepare an antidote, known as the Vile Concoction. He gulps it down, then feeds another dose to Keisha, who is running the edge of being late for her appointment! She chugs it down, hits the sonic shower and heads to the Psi Institute on a grav bike. Maddox and Deyn clean up as well, discussing further amenities to add to the ship- a sauna... whirlpool spa... But class beacons. Maddox heads in, while Deyn, with a later schedule, hoses off the upper hull.
For Luke, morning is far less of an endurance challenge. All he has to do is get up out of a comfortable bed, clean up and stat looking for some form of gainful employment; maybe a slight challenge on a backwater agrarian world, but it can be found.
Keisha manages to make it to her appointment with a few minutes to spare. Dr. Lanyier is there, as is an unusual chair. "Please sit down here," she's told, and complies. "Have you had any drugs recently?" he asks, and she stammers out the night's experience. The cure for the hangover turns out to be more of a concern than the alcohol and cigars! Once he's determined exactly what she's consumed, he reclines the chair. "Now this is a surgical procedure. Its still experimental, but its not that dangerous. You'll have a local, but you need to be awake during this, as it IS a brain-procedure." Despite this, after a while she blacks out.
Maddox and Deyn are in their respective classes, and while both are rather bored with what is going around they each come to a sudden revelation- They're almost through classes! Finals are upcoming! Where 'regular' students would have sudden shiverfits of anxiety at the thought, the two professionals have a very different one: AT LAST! Once they've taken the tests and Keisha completes her treatment, they're GONE. As class ends for Maddox, he finds Barb. "You were right," he says. "Your math WAS that good. I can't find a way to compensate for 25 g's." He walks away before she can say a word, calling to the professor: "You've quite the prodigy there!"
Time passes, and Keisha starts to wake... Or so it seems. She hears a voice, and it's Paine! She tells him what's currently going on, lets him know about Alphaunze's death and about Maddox recommending Luke as a possible replacement for the Siddite. "Hm. Hang on a moment, I'll get right back to you..." Says Paine, and she gets put on 'hold' effectively!
Maddox makes his way back to the ship, walking. He's somewhat in his own world and not really seeing anything around him. As he passes, a young man looks up and says, "Hey Maddox!" He looks at the fellow, not recognizing him. "Try not to dwell on it so much." He's told. "I try not to," he replies, and realizes that it was a psionic projection. He continues on his way, and as he passes through the restaurant strip of town he sees Luke, looking like he's unsure of just what to do. "Wanna get something to eat?" he says as he approaches; the answer is yes, and the pair go into Mainstreeters.
"So," starts Maddox; "This is where you ended up after mustering out?" "Well, not exactly," Luke replies. "I went here and there, and just ended up in this place." The pair spend the meal talking and getting reacquainted... With Maddox once again thanking Luke for having saved his life way back when. "Well, you saved mine too!" comments Luke. "Regardless, thanks." Luke gives out that he's now unemployed, the fleet having moved on without him. Maddox feels somewhat that the crew of the Silhouette owes his friend, and lets Luke know that there may be a place for him to stay, but he can't promise anything.
At the same time, Keisha has been 'reconnected' with Paine, and they continue their discussion. He asks that nothing be done regarding Luke for the time being, and lets her know that the pioneer will be insystem in about a month. He also dashes her hopes a bit, letting her know that its likely that she has some ways to go before she's fully recovered. Soon after, she wakes, still strapped in the chair.
The conversation between Luke and Maddox continues, the talk moving to Alphaunze. "What upsets me most is how we parted; it wasn't on the best of terms." Matters continue, winding up in more trivial concerns.
In Deyn's case, he starts setting up the details for Alphaunze's memorial. For the salute itself, he decides on a laser-barrage and a missile salvo, along with the proper ceremony. While he works on this, first Keisha then Maddox return to the ship. They need the coordinates as to where Alphaunze was buried at sea, so Maddox runs back off to find Luke again. As it turns out, he has EXACTLY the coordinates! Keisha clears the legal details and the permit, and there WILL be a local honor-guard... Four local-army Empress-class grav-tanks will accompany the Silhouette on the memorial.
Upon his return, Maddox comments that he's invited Luke along on the memorial run as a gunner, to fire part of the salute; Keisha is a bit perturbed by this, and asks if Maddox has offered Luke a position on the ship. "Well, kinda-sorta..." He replies, and Keisha gets pissed! "We CAN'T have him aboard! He could compromise our security!" Deyn tries to intervene to calm things down, but that backfires and she's now pissed at HIM too! "PAINE told me to keep him at a distance! The Pioneer is coming HERE!" She yells. She gets SO mad that Deyn feels his psi-jammer buzzing, blocking an unintended psi-blast!
Time passes, and the Silhouette takes off for the memorial. They rendezvous with the tanks, which form up in a wedge around the ship. Due to the limits of the tanks, they fly to their destination at 250 kph, still getting there in a relatively short time. Deyn and Maddox are in full-dress for the ceremony, as it Luke; Keisha is in her formal dress as well. Once there, they find the trawler that Alphaunze and Luke were working on at the site, flying colours of mourning. Keisha has Deyn hail them, and the ceremony commences.
Keisha gives a well-executed and proper speech for the fallen, and thereafter the salute is fired. Deyn, at attention on the bridge salutes, and Maddox notices that the capacitor banks actually drop- Luke has managed to overcharge the guns for the salute! "Alphaunze would have wanted it that way," He thinks. Keisha thanks the honor guard and all and sundry part company. Maddox decides to kick it into high gear as they leave, and does so just after Deyn gives the "All hands to stations" call- As the thrust mounts, Luke actually finds himself pinned momentarily; this ship has LEGS!
They easily cross mach 5, before they go vertical and break atmosphere; Maddox wants to test the modifications to the ship's structure, at least as far as he can without killing the crew! He takes them out to the gas giant, performing a slingshot around the massive planet. The ship pulls 17 g's, 7 of which is felt through the compensators and anti-hijack systems! Through these tests all aboard remain conscious- Keisha however, not being used to military-style maneuvers, opts for a dose of medical slow to remain awake.
After the joyride, they head back into port. Deyn and Maddox still have classes before finals, and Keisha still has more treatments at the Institute. The first two get invited to an attempt to get a core-sample of the strange mineral/artifact that they brought back from the mining excursion. To get the sample, the Geology department is utilizing the mining lasers on the barge! Everyone takes their places behind blast shielding, goggles are donned and the lasers fire! While the artifact is untouched, the beams reflect off its surface and tear into the walls of the bay! Nobody is hurt, but the thing isn't even warmed from the onslaught! Deyn and Maddox are fascinated with it, but Deyn is also concerned: Who made this thing, and where did it come from?
Time passes, and Keisha goes to her final session. When she gets there, she is once again connected to Paine- the timetable has been moved up, with the Pioneer being insystem in two weeks time. She is a touch nonplussed by this, but there is also the relief that they're finally going to be traveling again.
In this time, there have been several more attempts to core-sample the artifact; each time, the thing remains totally untouched. Nothing affects it at all- not extreme cold, plasma-cutters, particle-beam weapons... Which means whatever its made of borders on the supposedly impossible.
The remaining two weeks pass for the most part uneventfully. Both Maddox and Deyn pass their finals, although Deyn needs to retake one of his tests; while he does succeed the second time, it is certainly not to his or Professor McNallay's liking. He keeps the textbooks and will be poring over them for some time to make SURE he knows the material as he should.
For his part, Luke has been working on the farm owned by Gimp, whose real name is Eric. The harvest is complete, and once again he finds himself at loose ends. Before he heads back into town from the farm, however, Eric gives him a parting gift: A box of flash-bang grenades for an ACR.
Keisha receives a call on the ship on the comm- the Pioneer is insystem! She is asked for authentication's and countercodes and she gives same. She is instructed to meet the Pioneer at an arranged point in orbit in 24 hours, and to 'bring the package,' meaning Luke. She asks if either Maddox or Deyn have seen him, but both say no. Maddox goes out to look for him, knowing that he'd been working for Gimp/Eric, and with his help locates and retrieves the Lutran.
The pair return to the ship, and while the systems warm up Maddox goes off to have a last talk with Professor Helix. He lets the Professor know that the Silhouette is heading out, and they exchange TAS contact numbers. Both are hoping to hear more about the others' research projects- The Artifact, and Maddox's work on drivesystems. Barb is there, but all she says is "Bye" when he compliments her.
Back at the ship, Deyn gets a call- its Lindsay! He tells her that they're leaving, and she insists on one last meeting! He knows that they're on a timetable and tries to beg off, but when Keisha says its alright and Maddox confirms that they'll make it, he bolts for her place for a last tryst.
With everyone aboard but Deyn, accommodations are arranged for Luke in Alphaunze's former quarters. All of the things that might raise questions have been removed and stowed out of sight, so they don't have that issue to deal with. Deyn gets back, slightly late, and the Silhouette blasts off for their rendezvous. Maddox uses the moon for a slingshot maneuver, and due to this they actually make the meeting as they needed to- they would have failed to meet up on schedule otherwise!
Deyn, knowing what is coming is in duty-dress uniform. Luke notices this and asks "Should I be dressed for this?" Both Deyn and Keisha answer yes, with Deyn adding "Although he doesn't think so," with a jerk of the thumb towards Maddox.
At this point the Pioneer is just visible to the naked eye. Monitoring his instruments, Deyn says, "Captain, just for your information, we are now under lock." Meaning that the Pioneer now has acquired them on scan and knows EXACTLY where they are. Moments later, the Pioneer remotely blanks the Silhouette's nav-beacon and takes full control of the ship.
Slowly (as speeds in space go) they are brought in to the Pioneer; Luke is getting quite the eyeful! He at first thinks that they're headed for some kind of secret military space station, which isn't unheard of... But then he sees the engines, and realizes that it is one monster of a ship! Deyn notices that the Pioneer seems to be fully fueled- "I believe we'll be jumping out of here almost as soon as we touch down in the landing bay." He states. The Silhouette is brought in, touches down and suddenly powers itself down. Deyn says, "I HATE when they do that..."
The quartet debark and head off into the Pioneer, Keisha leading the way. They cross the landing bay, Luke noting that there are guns following HIS progress in the progression. They pass through an airlock door, and there's Gaffer! "So you've brought me some new meat, eh?" He says. Luke is left to Gaffer's tender mercies while the rest go to meet with Paine Couliard and Jeff Sikkink. The last thing they hear from behind them is Gaffer saying to Luke, "I'm going to make a MAN out of you!"
Keisha, Maddox and Deyn are told to head to the cafeteria and get something to eat. Thereafter, they'll meet with Jeff and Paine. Food is had and shortly thereafter their meeting takes place, Jeff and Paine being informed of the events of their time on-planet; this includes details on the bizarre artifact collected by Maddox and Deyn (Deynite!), the newest research performed by Maddox, and Deyn's newest theory as to the pirates. Shortly thereafter, Maddox goes off to work with Dr. Schick, to aid in the resurrection (the first of many) of Luke after his first encounter with Gaffer's teaching techniques. Deyn returns to the Silhouette to offload Alphaunze's Battle Dress, along with the other non-secure materials related to the late Siddite.
Maddox meets once again with the AI Dr. Schick. The good doctor has learned a few things since last they met, as has Maddox; they compare notes, and discuss their soon-to-be-new-patient, Luke. "A Lutrani? I have now worked with one as of yet," states Dr. Schick. "I have," replies Maddox, "But only in a battlefield situation." "Then we will both be learning? Good," replies Dr. Schick. And shortly thereafter, their patient arrives.
Back with Luke, at the point where he was separated from the others... Gaffer leads his new vict... Er, recruit to the training area, making small talk about combat with Luke. "So, you're going to be joining up with that bunch?" Gaffer asks. "I guess so," responds Luke. "Good. Now, you'll wanna change out of that stuff and get into a jumper- they're in there. (Luke changes and comes back out of the locker room) Okay. So... lets talk about armor. In combat, armor is the MOST important thing you have. Do you agree?" "Um, yeah?" replies Luke. "Why aren't you wearing armor now?" [BLAM! ... Thud.]
"Hm," says Dr. Schick. "Gaffer is using the lead impactors again. I have asked him not to do so due to the toxicity." Maddox nods. "The fragmentation makes the cleanup more difficult too." "True." (over the comm) "Gaffer? Please cease the use of the lead impactors." "Aw!" Says Gaffer. "But this NEXT one is important! ...Okay. (grumbles)" "We'll see how it progresses now." Dr. Schick says, this time only to Maddox.
Time passes, and after he's reconstructed, Luke awakes in a bunk back in the training room. "You ready?" Gaffer asks. Luke is a bit off-balance, and replies in the affirmative. "Okay. Armor is the MOST important thing to a person in combat. Put that armor on!" (Luke does so.) "Right. Armor." (Gaffer draws and fires) [BLAM! whump!] (Luke gets up!) [BLAM!! WHUMP!] "TOUGH little guppy, aren't you!" Says Gaffer. Luke tries to close and kick Gaffer, but fails to hit the disturbingly fast, nightmarishly dangerous Valerian, and [Blam! thud.] Luke is whisked back to Dr. Schick and Maddox.
"Have you ever Psych-Eval'd Gaffer?" Maddox asks. "No. Only Paine and Jeff are allowed to evaluate Gaffer, and then only for as long as he allows it." Maddox isn't sure what to think about that...
Luke wakes again, this time knowing that something has happened. "Eat something, kid!" Says Gaffer; "So. Got the idea of armor yet?
Over the following weeks, Luke dies many, many times to Gaffers tender ministrations, The Silhouette finally gets its point-defense guns and Maddox gets thoroughly versed in Lutrani physiology. Deyn monitors the installation as best he can, not trusting anyone but Maddox where the Silhouette is concerned. He has a talk with Keisha as well, telling her of his theory concerning Pelinoboc and the pirates, that rather than being a cult, it might instead be a world. She tells him that she'll speak with Paine about it, and Deyn gets permission to research further as long as he doesn't get in the way of Paine's technicians.
When it comes time for them to leave, actually when they're headed to the ship to board, they're approached by Gaffer. "Say... when Alphaunze went down for the last time, did he have anything on him?" Luke confirms that the only thing that Alphaunze had with him when he was buried at sea was the ACR. "Well, I gave something to Al that was very special to me- my boarding axe. Have any of you seen it?" Nobody has, but Maddox realizes that the most likely place for it would be with Alphaunze's Battle Dress. So the group heads to the quartermaster's stores to check the armor- Sure enough, in a holster on the leg of the armor is the boarding axe.
"Okay. Glad that this wasn't lost!" Says Gaffer, and then hands it to Luke! "You don't lose this. It was given to me by my pappy. Do you guys need anything?" Deyn half-seriously asks for a valet-robot. He gets a robot, but it isn't a valet! Its an assassin android! Gaffer also gives him a flechette grenade, and an actual paper-paged book on all of the weaponry they currently possess. Luke gets a suit of Battle Dress and an FGMP-15 to go with the boarding axe, plus a riot cannon, hunting rifle and a sonic cutlass. Keisha gets a snub-machine pistol and a selection of grenades, while Maddox gains a pair of stun-gloves and a new stun-pistol.
They part ways with Gaffer and get back to the Silhouette, loading their new toys aboard. They have no plans to go back planetside, though not without second thoughts- they'd originally planned to stock up on Real Food, but they never got around to it. Notably, going back there wouldn't necessarily be advisable, especially since they've been told to have no contact with the people they met... Possibly this has to do with the likelihood that the Artifact was collected in a less-than-pleasant military action, and a great number of memory-erasures may have taken place...
Shortly, the Silhouette is fully fueled and in space once again. They're on a course designed to eventually take them back to where they started, 4 years ago! Sozopol is left behind...
And there we leave off until the next exciting episode!
Another starting note for the writeup: we've a new player (Ben) in the group, and this created a very different start for the run. Normally, we begin with a recap of the last run to refresh everyone as to what had gone before. THis time, we dove right in without the refresher, as Ben's character wouldn't have ANY idea what he was getting into! So right off I'm kinda rushed as I scramble to keep up with my notes!
Its all good though, and so now we return to the crew of the Ardith's Silhouette!
When last we left our Intrepid heroes, Deyn and Maddox were sprinting madly for the berth of the Silhouette, planetary defense sirens howling around them! Running separately, they reach the ship just as the sirens... Stop. No warning, just a sudden cutoff. They board and start powering things up, sealing up and running checks. As they go, Deyn cuts the comm online and over the general hailing channel receives a message:
'This has been a test of the emergency defense broadcast system. If this had been an actual emergency...'
"Bloody HELL." He snarls. Maddox just glares at the comm board, shrugs and heads back towards class, returning on one of the remaining grav bikes. Deyn remains for as long as it takes to shut everything down again, then heads back himself. When Maddox arrives (15 minutes late), he is told that the tests are weekly! "Really? Is there anything ELSE I should know about?" He asks, not getting nor expecting a response.
In the meantime Keisha has completed the current leg of her treatment with Dr. Lanyier. "I think we've made real progress- We'll be starting a new treatment course when we get back- but don't worry, its nothing bad," he tells her, this statement not being reassuring at all. They return to the campus, Keisha proceeding to the ship.
By the time she arrives both Maddox and Deyn are back aboard. The three discuss what they've been doing, Deyn adding some flippant commentary to Maddox's statements concerning his current 'mad genius' modifications to the ships stress-tolerences. None of this is really what she wanted to hear, and once again she has a headache...
At about that time there is heard the muffled sound of someone pounding on the access-hatch! Deyn looks, and for some reason comes up with the idea that its Alphaunze come back early! Maddox asks if Deyn has modified the codes, and with Deyn's negative answer he heads down to see what the problem is. "Al, why don't you just come on..." He says as the door opens; "Oh! You're not Al!" Comes out when he sees who IS there. While it isn't Al, Maddox DOES know the man- Force Commander Lucanis Daarthi, retired, is his name. He's a Lutran, one of the many genemod branches of humanity, in this case possessed of a number of aquatic adaptations.
A long discussion ensues involving their past associations, and the bad news that the Force Commander bears. When Maddox hears the story, he invites Lucanis aboard so that he can relate the tale to all gathered. (Note- The discussion DID take place, but only about the first third was heard by me. I was asked to leave what I heard out of the writeup, and so this note.)
Once everyone is together, their guest relays the news. He'd been serving on a crabbing boat up north, with Alphaunze... And Alphaunze is the news: he was washed overboard and drowned. Alphaunze did come to long enough to ask Lucanis to 'tell them what happened.' Alphaunze was buried at sea, near the location where he'd drowned.
He then turns over Alphaunze's rucksack, containing most of his possessions. His ACR was sent into the water with Alphaunze. The news, of course, leaves the crew rather subdued. At Maddox' request, Deyn leads the Force Commander out of the ship. While Deyn is out of hearing, he talks to Keisha- "I trust him. You know my background and he's part of that. If he needs a place to stay, we should offer it."
Keisha is dubious, concerned of the security of their duty with the ISS. She decides to consult with Paine, via Dr. Lanyier- she heads back to the Psionics Institute for this purpose, and to inform Paine that Alphaunze is dead. Unfortunately, the good doctor is still too drained from the sessions of the past few days, and won't be able to make the connection until the next day. The meeting is scheduled for 9 AM.
Back at the ship, Maddox is planning a long sulk in is room when Deyn approaches him; "Commander? There's something I think we should do." "Is it illegal?" "That would be up to you or Keisha- she's the legal expert. I'd like to go to where Alphaunze died and perform a gun-salute." Maddox thinks a moment, then says, "That's kind of what I was thinking too... But Keisha will want to be involved." Deyn nods. "Understood. I'll contact her in an hour or so."
Lucanis (Luke hereafter) for his part is without a job or a berth- he'd left the crabbing fleet to deliver the message, and as such is at loose ends. Not having any idea what has been discussed on the Silhouette, he ends up in town at Mainstreeters with the traditional Meat On Bun meal there. While he eats, he encounters Gimp, who after talking with him a bit gives him his card; a possible job!
Before Deyn can make his call to Keisha, she returns to the ship. He explains what he and Maddox have in mind, and she confirms that it would be legal. It requires a permit, and a local honor guard could likely be arranged as well. All of this has to wait til the next day, after she speaks with Paine.
Another plan comes up though. Both the Navy and Marines have a tradition for a more personal 'honoring' of a fallen comrade- The Drunk. With Keisha being a bit less enthusiastic about the experience, the three decide to perform the 'ritual' on the upper hull- this will include consuming some of Alphaunze's booze, some of Deyn's, and smoking bad Marine-issue cigars... In the end, all three are kayo'd by the experience, and a horrid mess is left on the upper hull.
While this takes place, Luke is having a far more sedate experience. As in, not a thing of any particular interest is happening to him. He gets a room at the TAS hotel, and marvels at amount of space in the room- by Marine standards its huge, by civilian standards... Not so much.
Morning comes, and with the rising of the sun the three victims of the Drunk experience the tender mercies of the traditional result of a Drunk, the hangover. Each pries themselves up, Maddox heading to medbay to prepare an antidote, known as the Vile Concoction. He gulps it down, then feeds another dose to Keisha, who is running the edge of being late for her appointment! She chugs it down, hits the sonic shower and heads to the Psi Institute on a grav bike. Maddox and Deyn clean up as well, discussing further amenities to add to the ship- a sauna... whirlpool spa... But class beacons. Maddox heads in, while Deyn, with a later schedule, hoses off the upper hull.
For Luke, morning is far less of an endurance challenge. All he has to do is get up out of a comfortable bed, clean up and stat looking for some form of gainful employment; maybe a slight challenge on a backwater agrarian world, but it can be found.
Keisha manages to make it to her appointment with a few minutes to spare. Dr. Lanyier is there, as is an unusual chair. "Please sit down here," she's told, and complies. "Have you had any drugs recently?" he asks, and she stammers out the night's experience. The cure for the hangover turns out to be more of a concern than the alcohol and cigars! Once he's determined exactly what she's consumed, he reclines the chair. "Now this is a surgical procedure. Its still experimental, but its not that dangerous. You'll have a local, but you need to be awake during this, as it IS a brain-procedure." Despite this, after a while she blacks out.
Maddox and Deyn are in their respective classes, and while both are rather bored with what is going around they each come to a sudden revelation- They're almost through classes! Finals are upcoming! Where 'regular' students would have sudden shiverfits of anxiety at the thought, the two professionals have a very different one: AT LAST! Once they've taken the tests and Keisha completes her treatment, they're GONE. As class ends for Maddox, he finds Barb. "You were right," he says. "Your math WAS that good. I can't find a way to compensate for 25 g's." He walks away before she can say a word, calling to the professor: "You've quite the prodigy there!"
Time passes, and Keisha starts to wake... Or so it seems. She hears a voice, and it's Paine! She tells him what's currently going on, lets him know about Alphaunze's death and about Maddox recommending Luke as a possible replacement for the Siddite. "Hm. Hang on a moment, I'll get right back to you..." Says Paine, and she gets put on 'hold' effectively!
Maddox makes his way back to the ship, walking. He's somewhat in his own world and not really seeing anything around him. As he passes, a young man looks up and says, "Hey Maddox!" He looks at the fellow, not recognizing him. "Try not to dwell on it so much." He's told. "I try not to," he replies, and realizes that it was a psionic projection. He continues on his way, and as he passes through the restaurant strip of town he sees Luke, looking like he's unsure of just what to do. "Wanna get something to eat?" he says as he approaches; the answer is yes, and the pair go into Mainstreeters.
"So," starts Maddox; "This is where you ended up after mustering out?" "Well, not exactly," Luke replies. "I went here and there, and just ended up in this place." The pair spend the meal talking and getting reacquainted... With Maddox once again thanking Luke for having saved his life way back when. "Well, you saved mine too!" comments Luke. "Regardless, thanks." Luke gives out that he's now unemployed, the fleet having moved on without him. Maddox feels somewhat that the crew of the Silhouette owes his friend, and lets Luke know that there may be a place for him to stay, but he can't promise anything.
At the same time, Keisha has been 'reconnected' with Paine, and they continue their discussion. He asks that nothing be done regarding Luke for the time being, and lets her know that the pioneer will be insystem in about a month. He also dashes her hopes a bit, letting her know that its likely that she has some ways to go before she's fully recovered. Soon after, she wakes, still strapped in the chair.
The conversation between Luke and Maddox continues, the talk moving to Alphaunze. "What upsets me most is how we parted; it wasn't on the best of terms." Matters continue, winding up in more trivial concerns.
In Deyn's case, he starts setting up the details for Alphaunze's memorial. For the salute itself, he decides on a laser-barrage and a missile salvo, along with the proper ceremony. While he works on this, first Keisha then Maddox return to the ship. They need the coordinates as to where Alphaunze was buried at sea, so Maddox runs back off to find Luke again. As it turns out, he has EXACTLY the coordinates! Keisha clears the legal details and the permit, and there WILL be a local honor-guard... Four local-army Empress-class grav-tanks will accompany the Silhouette on the memorial.
Upon his return, Maddox comments that he's invited Luke along on the memorial run as a gunner, to fire part of the salute; Keisha is a bit perturbed by this, and asks if Maddox has offered Luke a position on the ship. "Well, kinda-sorta..." He replies, and Keisha gets pissed! "We CAN'T have him aboard! He could compromise our security!" Deyn tries to intervene to calm things down, but that backfires and she's now pissed at HIM too! "PAINE told me to keep him at a distance! The Pioneer is coming HERE!" She yells. She gets SO mad that Deyn feels his psi-jammer buzzing, blocking an unintended psi-blast!
Time passes, and the Silhouette takes off for the memorial. They rendezvous with the tanks, which form up in a wedge around the ship. Due to the limits of the tanks, they fly to their destination at 250 kph, still getting there in a relatively short time. Deyn and Maddox are in full-dress for the ceremony, as it Luke; Keisha is in her formal dress as well. Once there, they find the trawler that Alphaunze and Luke were working on at the site, flying colours of mourning. Keisha has Deyn hail them, and the ceremony commences.
Keisha gives a well-executed and proper speech for the fallen, and thereafter the salute is fired. Deyn, at attention on the bridge salutes, and Maddox notices that the capacitor banks actually drop- Luke has managed to overcharge the guns for the salute! "Alphaunze would have wanted it that way," He thinks. Keisha thanks the honor guard and all and sundry part company. Maddox decides to kick it into high gear as they leave, and does so just after Deyn gives the "All hands to stations" call- As the thrust mounts, Luke actually finds himself pinned momentarily; this ship has LEGS!
They easily cross mach 5, before they go vertical and break atmosphere; Maddox wants to test the modifications to the ship's structure, at least as far as he can without killing the crew! He takes them out to the gas giant, performing a slingshot around the massive planet. The ship pulls 17 g's, 7 of which is felt through the compensators and anti-hijack systems! Through these tests all aboard remain conscious- Keisha however, not being used to military-style maneuvers, opts for a dose of medical slow to remain awake.
After the joyride, they head back into port. Deyn and Maddox still have classes before finals, and Keisha still has more treatments at the Institute. The first two get invited to an attempt to get a core-sample of the strange mineral/artifact that they brought back from the mining excursion. To get the sample, the Geology department is utilizing the mining lasers on the barge! Everyone takes their places behind blast shielding, goggles are donned and the lasers fire! While the artifact is untouched, the beams reflect off its surface and tear into the walls of the bay! Nobody is hurt, but the thing isn't even warmed from the onslaught! Deyn and Maddox are fascinated with it, but Deyn is also concerned: Who made this thing, and where did it come from?
Time passes, and Keisha goes to her final session. When she gets there, she is once again connected to Paine- the timetable has been moved up, with the Pioneer being insystem in two weeks time. She is a touch nonplussed by this, but there is also the relief that they're finally going to be traveling again.
In this time, there have been several more attempts to core-sample the artifact; each time, the thing remains totally untouched. Nothing affects it at all- not extreme cold, plasma-cutters, particle-beam weapons... Which means whatever its made of borders on the supposedly impossible.
The remaining two weeks pass for the most part uneventfully. Both Maddox and Deyn pass their finals, although Deyn needs to retake one of his tests; while he does succeed the second time, it is certainly not to his or Professor McNallay's liking. He keeps the textbooks and will be poring over them for some time to make SURE he knows the material as he should.
For his part, Luke has been working on the farm owned by Gimp, whose real name is Eric. The harvest is complete, and once again he finds himself at loose ends. Before he heads back into town from the farm, however, Eric gives him a parting gift: A box of flash-bang grenades for an ACR.
Keisha receives a call on the ship on the comm- the Pioneer is insystem! She is asked for authentication's and countercodes and she gives same. She is instructed to meet the Pioneer at an arranged point in orbit in 24 hours, and to 'bring the package,' meaning Luke. She asks if either Maddox or Deyn have seen him, but both say no. Maddox goes out to look for him, knowing that he'd been working for Gimp/Eric, and with his help locates and retrieves the Lutran.
The pair return to the ship, and while the systems warm up Maddox goes off to have a last talk with Professor Helix. He lets the Professor know that the Silhouette is heading out, and they exchange TAS contact numbers. Both are hoping to hear more about the others' research projects- The Artifact, and Maddox's work on drivesystems. Barb is there, but all she says is "Bye" when he compliments her.
Back at the ship, Deyn gets a call- its Lindsay! He tells her that they're leaving, and she insists on one last meeting! He knows that they're on a timetable and tries to beg off, but when Keisha says its alright and Maddox confirms that they'll make it, he bolts for her place for a last tryst.
With everyone aboard but Deyn, accommodations are arranged for Luke in Alphaunze's former quarters. All of the things that might raise questions have been removed and stowed out of sight, so they don't have that issue to deal with. Deyn gets back, slightly late, and the Silhouette blasts off for their rendezvous. Maddox uses the moon for a slingshot maneuver, and due to this they actually make the meeting as they needed to- they would have failed to meet up on schedule otherwise!
Deyn, knowing what is coming is in duty-dress uniform. Luke notices this and asks "Should I be dressed for this?" Both Deyn and Keisha answer yes, with Deyn adding "Although he doesn't think so," with a jerk of the thumb towards Maddox.
At this point the Pioneer is just visible to the naked eye. Monitoring his instruments, Deyn says, "Captain, just for your information, we are now under lock." Meaning that the Pioneer now has acquired them on scan and knows EXACTLY where they are. Moments later, the Pioneer remotely blanks the Silhouette's nav-beacon and takes full control of the ship.
Slowly (as speeds in space go) they are brought in to the Pioneer; Luke is getting quite the eyeful! He at first thinks that they're headed for some kind of secret military space station, which isn't unheard of... But then he sees the engines, and realizes that it is one monster of a ship! Deyn notices that the Pioneer seems to be fully fueled- "I believe we'll be jumping out of here almost as soon as we touch down in the landing bay." He states. The Silhouette is brought in, touches down and suddenly powers itself down. Deyn says, "I HATE when they do that..."
The quartet debark and head off into the Pioneer, Keisha leading the way. They cross the landing bay, Luke noting that there are guns following HIS progress in the progression. They pass through an airlock door, and there's Gaffer! "So you've brought me some new meat, eh?" He says. Luke is left to Gaffer's tender mercies while the rest go to meet with Paine Couliard and Jeff Sikkink. The last thing they hear from behind them is Gaffer saying to Luke, "I'm going to make a MAN out of you!"
Keisha, Maddox and Deyn are told to head to the cafeteria and get something to eat. Thereafter, they'll meet with Jeff and Paine. Food is had and shortly thereafter their meeting takes place, Jeff and Paine being informed of the events of their time on-planet; this includes details on the bizarre artifact collected by Maddox and Deyn (Deynite!), the newest research performed by Maddox, and Deyn's newest theory as to the pirates. Shortly thereafter, Maddox goes off to work with Dr. Schick, to aid in the resurrection (the first of many) of Luke after his first encounter with Gaffer's teaching techniques. Deyn returns to the Silhouette to offload Alphaunze's Battle Dress, along with the other non-secure materials related to the late Siddite.
Maddox meets once again with the AI Dr. Schick. The good doctor has learned a few things since last they met, as has Maddox; they compare notes, and discuss their soon-to-be-new-patient, Luke. "A Lutrani? I have now worked with one as of yet," states Dr. Schick. "I have," replies Maddox, "But only in a battlefield situation." "Then we will both be learning? Good," replies Dr. Schick. And shortly thereafter, their patient arrives.
Back with Luke, at the point where he was separated from the others... Gaffer leads his new vict... Er, recruit to the training area, making small talk about combat with Luke. "So, you're going to be joining up with that bunch?" Gaffer asks. "I guess so," responds Luke. "Good. Now, you'll wanna change out of that stuff and get into a jumper- they're in there. (Luke changes and comes back out of the locker room) Okay. So... lets talk about armor. In combat, armor is the MOST important thing you have. Do you agree?" "Um, yeah?" replies Luke. "Why aren't you wearing armor now?" [BLAM! ... Thud.]
"Hm," says Dr. Schick. "Gaffer is using the lead impactors again. I have asked him not to do so due to the toxicity." Maddox nods. "The fragmentation makes the cleanup more difficult too." "True." (over the comm) "Gaffer? Please cease the use of the lead impactors." "Aw!" Says Gaffer. "But this NEXT one is important! ...Okay. (grumbles)" "We'll see how it progresses now." Dr. Schick says, this time only to Maddox.
Time passes, and after he's reconstructed, Luke awakes in a bunk back in the training room. "You ready?" Gaffer asks. Luke is a bit off-balance, and replies in the affirmative. "Okay. Armor is the MOST important thing to a person in combat. Put that armor on!" (Luke does so.) "Right. Armor." (Gaffer draws and fires) [BLAM! whump!] (Luke gets up!) [BLAM!! WHUMP!] "TOUGH little guppy, aren't you!" Says Gaffer. Luke tries to close and kick Gaffer, but fails to hit the disturbingly fast, nightmarishly dangerous Valerian, and [Blam! thud.] Luke is whisked back to Dr. Schick and Maddox.
"Have you ever Psych-Eval'd Gaffer?" Maddox asks. "No. Only Paine and Jeff are allowed to evaluate Gaffer, and then only for as long as he allows it." Maddox isn't sure what to think about that...
Luke wakes again, this time knowing that something has happened. "Eat something, kid!" Says Gaffer; "So. Got the idea of armor yet?
Over the following weeks, Luke dies many, many times to Gaffers tender ministrations, The Silhouette finally gets its point-defense guns and Maddox gets thoroughly versed in Lutrani physiology. Deyn monitors the installation as best he can, not trusting anyone but Maddox where the Silhouette is concerned. He has a talk with Keisha as well, telling her of his theory concerning Pelinoboc and the pirates, that rather than being a cult, it might instead be a world. She tells him that she'll speak with Paine about it, and Deyn gets permission to research further as long as he doesn't get in the way of Paine's technicians.
When it comes time for them to leave, actually when they're headed to the ship to board, they're approached by Gaffer. "Say... when Alphaunze went down for the last time, did he have anything on him?" Luke confirms that the only thing that Alphaunze had with him when he was buried at sea was the ACR. "Well, I gave something to Al that was very special to me- my boarding axe. Have any of you seen it?" Nobody has, but Maddox realizes that the most likely place for it would be with Alphaunze's Battle Dress. So the group heads to the quartermaster's stores to check the armor- Sure enough, in a holster on the leg of the armor is the boarding axe.
"Okay. Glad that this wasn't lost!" Says Gaffer, and then hands it to Luke! "You don't lose this. It was given to me by my pappy. Do you guys need anything?" Deyn half-seriously asks for a valet-robot. He gets a robot, but it isn't a valet! Its an assassin android! Gaffer also gives him a flechette grenade, and an actual paper-paged book on all of the weaponry they currently possess. Luke gets a suit of Battle Dress and an FGMP-15 to go with the boarding axe, plus a riot cannon, hunting rifle and a sonic cutlass. Keisha gets a snub-machine pistol and a selection of grenades, while Maddox gains a pair of stun-gloves and a new stun-pistol.
They part ways with Gaffer and get back to the Silhouette, loading their new toys aboard. They have no plans to go back planetside, though not without second thoughts- they'd originally planned to stock up on Real Food, but they never got around to it. Notably, going back there wouldn't necessarily be advisable, especially since they've been told to have no contact with the people they met... Possibly this has to do with the likelihood that the Artifact was collected in a less-than-pleasant military action, and a great number of memory-erasures may have taken place...
Shortly, the Silhouette is fully fueled and in space once again. They're on a course designed to eventually take them back to where they started, 4 years ago! Sozopol is left behind...
And there we leave off until the next exciting episode!
