1.3 - Ain't No Rule Saying a Dog Can't Play Pirate (Closed)

[DJ P4NTSL3SS]

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Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Kesperziaiepr, Urien, Eirene
The Mine Expedition, Borite Countryside
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

---

When the members of the crew have assembled, Earrod and Administrator Ura relay that they will head back to the nearby stables in order to gather enough mounts and supplies for everybody. They don't even make a comment about the number of people who are coming out to check the pumps at the mines. After all, they will happily remind, with Oghman spies potentially out there: more guns in a potential fight is better. After a few hours they return to the ship with more of those thin-furred, four-eyed horse-like mounts, with saddlebags and packs heavy with the materials for making camp. The supplies to make a fire, tenting, a bed-roll, and other material that helps to make the journey easier. This includes a rather thin, dry, crispy bread that Earrod strongly suggests you soak in tea or warm water before taking a bite.

The first of you to ignore that advice may very well come away with a chipped tooth for your trouble.

The journey out into the countryside takes two days. Earrod advises that normally it'd be one day by direct horse ride, however with the belief that sabotage might be afoot, he wants to take a more circuitous route to avoid potential scouts or slaver parties that might be watching for just such a repair expedition to head out for the mines. At the cost of more time spent traveling, you are able to take in more of the greenery and thin grassland, and rolling hills, of Borite's surface. heading out of summer, the air is relatively cool, and when on open ground its almost enough that the more sensitive among the expedition might opt for long sleeves. But otherwise, clear skies in all directions mean that the night is spent under a clear, starry night sky to enjoy while gathered around a campfire before bed.

There are a few troubles, of course. A slightly slower pace means that when you get nearer the mine, it is late enough that you need to bed down for the evening to avoid working on the pumps in the dark. So you bed down in sight of the mines, with the warm glow of Borite's two suns cast over the whole scene as they sink below the horizon.

On the morning of the third day, you head into the valley where the mines are.

The mining operation itself is rather unassuming when you first see it from a distance. You approach it on a dirt road that is visibly worn and pressed by truck tires and wagon wheels, winding through a long stretch of woodland until you reach a box valley. Earrod explains that the path you have taken is even more secretive and circuitous than the route the minors take to avoid being observed from the air - though the miners typically need no more than a half day's ride. And when you arrive in the box valley, you have trouble initally spotting the entrances to the mineshafts hidden among the woodland. Ten entrances are hidden among the trees, clearly camouflaged to be hidden from above or at a distance.

As for the pumps, there are ten in total and they are spaced out across the valley in such a way that, as Earrod suggests, if he were to take one half, and your ship's maintenance technician the other? The two 'groups' can split the valley in half and meet at the far end when they are done. The pumps are located near the mouth of each mineshaft, in wooden bunker-like structures that are mostly buried save for the camouflaged rooftops and the air chutes that allow ventilation. There is no lighting in these 'bunkers' meaning that the best visibility is achieved during the day with the door propped open, and even then it pays to have a flashlight at hand.

And the sabotage is not subtle. When Urien draws out one of the first of the air filters, it smells absolutely putrid. A smell so overbearing in the small space that anybody in the bunker-shack needs to go stand outside and give a few minutes to let the space air out, or risk tasting breakfast a second time. And when coming back in, you can tell it wasn't a clever method: urine and knives. Somebody very clearly soaked the output filters in urine, and slashed the tubing for the intakes to make the pumps lose air pressure. The lack of air pressure meant an increase in temperature as the pump up-cycled to try and make up for it, heating those same filters with the ambient heat of the pump's engine. Had the miners not thought to turn the pumps off before coming back to town, it could have led to the engines being burned out with stripped parts.

You have everything you need for the pumps to replace it, but its upsetting work all the same. And something best done with gloves and a cloth bandana over your mouth and nose.

Earrod has the same experience, rushing up and stumbling up the steps, coughing and waving his hands in front of his face as he comes back up under the open sky. He looks pale and a bit sickened from the whole experience, and insists on taking a few minutes sat on a tree stump to smoke his pipe before - with a dark green bandana over his face - heading back into the shed to resume the repair.

But beyond this? The next two days pass uneventfully.

Urien and Earrod leading the rest of you down the respective sides of the valley, trekking from one mine shaft's pump to the next with tools and other supplies in hand. The evening of that first day, you all are able to retire to camp - this time set up in the valley, even just inside the mouth of one of the mine shafts if any of you insists on doing so. After a meal of vegetables and light meat boiled into a stew - some of the last fresh provisions that Earrod brought along for the venture - the work continues the next day as before.

And finally, with work finished on the fourth day, you head out of the mine through the more 'official' and worn path at Earrod's suggestion to give your mounts an easier time after the last couple of days of riding rough overland.

But one thing that stands out as you leave, at least to Urien after a second glance, is tucked away in a patch of trees near the mouth of the valley.

You almost miss the legs of the tripod, hidden among the branches of a fallen tree. But when you peer closer? You can see it. A simple black, metal tripod tucked away in the shade. A curved radar dish atop it spins slowly and silently. Around it, the grove of trees is dark and silent. If you listen, you can hear the chirp of small birds and the scurrying of wildlife. Despite what you can see, the wildlife would tell you that you are alone. So that would mean whoever set this up is either gone or have been laying low and hidden away for some time now.

 

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Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Rhane, Mahan
The Reclaimer's Intent, Borite Downport
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

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When you explain the plan for Krrsh to spend some time in low berth, he seems to whilt a bit. After all, any spacer knows about the betting pool that tramp freighters run when they are taking on passengers for such a lodging. But he seems to understand the logic: if he was lying about the fuel deposit in deep space, then this would be the surest way to see him pay for misleading you. So he follows you down to the low berths during a period where Dazl is outside walking around the perimeter of the ship, and in quick order he's prepped and in one of the low berth pods.

What follows is two days spent fruitlessly looking for a vendor who might be willing to buy your cargo - and having little luck.

One thing of note, almost lost to you in your time spent heading to the coachhouse in order to make use of their phone to call out to potential vendors - with the helpful suggestions of the barmaid - you almost miss that the bodies of Dazl's deceased crew go missing. Each of them over the course of three horus on the first day. And if you look around, there is no sign of Dazl, either. If he is taking them, he comes and goes seemingly before you might be able to catch sight of him. And you can't shake the feeling that it might be deliberate.

But being ever willing to carouse and make associates, you find that Aman Coxand-Robarn, her husband Chrone Robarn, and their associate Selly Jenker have all rented quarters in the coachhouse that you have been making calls from. So you are able to approach them and ask if they would join you for meals and socializing. An offer they happily accept - Aman and Chrone with more chipper enthusiasm to start, than Selly to start. But even despite Selly's reservations to start, the four of you find good company to share tea and stories until you are able to tastefully broach the topic of finding a buyer. It is then that Aman presents the fact that, like her father, she is fully literate despite not having been seen with a book in her hand since she landed back on the planet. And she is more than happy to use her native familiarity to assist in finding a buyer.

On the third day, Dazl returns from out of the wilderness with stains of dirt and grime on his arms, face, and shirt. The shirt he was wearing is clearly stressed and torn at, and when addressed he only gives a simple nod and grunt before trudging aboard the ship to make use of a refresher in an otherwise unclaimed stateroom. When that is done, he seems to return to relative normalcy based on his behavior in the short time that you've known him thus far.

And on the fourth day when the buyer Aman arranged for you arrives with his trucks, as well as some supplementary horse-drawn wagons, you can set to work unloading the cargo. Something that Aman, Chrone, Selly, and Dazl all happily help with. It is when you have loaded on the last of the industrial goods, with the petrochemicals having been the first things unloaded for safety and efficiency, that you see a ping on one of the master control terminals down by one of the doorways into engineering. A sensors ping, a high-strength transmission. But by the time you access the terminal, the transmission has finished. It was fast - it lasted no longer than the minute it took you to be notified of it and get to the terminal.

Somebody broadcast on a powerful transmitter. But you can't tell from where, to who, or what was said. The sort of transmission that would make a Navy signals expert proud, clearly.

Edited September 30, 2023 by DJ P4NTSL3SS (see edit history)

[Dastardly Tristar]

Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Kesperziaiepr, Urien, Eirene
The Mine Expedition, Borite Countryside
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

Five thousand credits for regular maintenance? Urien had heard worse offers before, but kept his loose mouth shut for once and accepted the work. The journey through the woods was peaceful for once - no longer bombarded by the flood of white noises that he had gotten acclimatized to in the Intent, the Solomani visibly relaxed. Astrid acted as she pleased, bounding through the long grass and often disappearing for hours on end only to return with her own lunch and dinner, though Urien was certain that a wildlife preservationist would weep at the ecological destruction of the planet's aviation population.

The party separated as they entered the box valley, with Kesper going with Earrod and Urien stuck around with Eirene. He didn't bother to engage her with small talk, even if there was several years worth of life to catch up to - he knew her to not be a pleasant conversationalist even at the best of times. Instead he put his energy towards the life support pumps. Earrod's crew had done a commendable job to mask the pumps with what tools they had, but there was a sense of pride in him that refused to acknowledge it. "Crude." he simply commented before going down into the bunker, torch out in case the lights weren't working.

He wished he had thought about wearing a full body suit, just in case of a gas leak. When the steaming cloud of ammonia hit his face he jumped back, swearing wildly and ran out of the bunker. Wiping his face and using his canteen to wash off the stench, he took a moment to settle down and reassess the situation. Or rather, the sabotage. The planet's history with raiders, keen on suppressing their technological development was well known to him. This had to be the work of those raiders - he just wished they hadn't resorted to bodily waste. Looking at Eirene and wondering if she too, had been as badly affected as he was by the gagging stench, Urien simply sat by the gnarled roots of a nearby tree, breathing in the fresh air.

After recomposing himself and wrapping his face with a piece of cloth, Urien returned to work as quickly as he could. He kept one of the damaged air filters in a spare bag, making sure to keep it sealed to avoid the smell from leaking. Maybe the good doctor could extract any leftover urine sample and give a clue to the saboteur's identity. He had a sneaking suspicion that it might have been one of the miners or mining officers. Maybe they were on a payroll - either way, he at least had proof of sabotage, in case anyone doubted him.

At each and every pump, he'd swear death threats to the saboteur. It kept his mind from thinking untoward thoughts, and reduced the stress from the disgusting work. "Dirty mother****ers!" he said at the next pump, angrily kicking the damaged air filter out of the bunker.

By the time they regrouped with Earrod on the fourth day, Urien was fuming. Even if he didn't get shot at, it was the mere indignation of having to work in the wake of someone's waste. It damaged his Solomani dignity, whatever there was left that wasn't soaked in ammonia. "Please," he pleaded from 'horseback' to Earrod. "Please tell me there is a hot bath somewhere on this planet."

Midway through their trek out of the valley, Urien heard Astrid's distinct mewing in a copse of trees. "Here girl!" he called out to her, but the cat refused to return. He could see her snow-white tail swishing in between the branches. She seemed to call him to come to her, almost yowling. Urien slid off the saddle and whipped out his shotgun, just in case there was danger ahead.

As he approached Astrid's position, he spotted the radar dish. Astrid, ever the explorer, jumped out of the bushes, licked her chops and stared balefully at Urien. There was no mistaking the purpose of the surveillance gear before him. He lowered his weapon and called out to Earrod, pointing out the dish. "Well, so much for your efforts, old man. I have to ask - how long ago was this mine set up? Because I think the Oghmans knew all about it, possibly from day 1."

He pulled out his signal jammer, tossing it in his hand thoughtfully. The man looked around, trying to identify any lookout positions in the nearby hills and woods. At the risk that they were being watched from afar, he called Astrid to him and turned back to their mounts. "We need to go back, quick as possible. We can come back later, I already have a plan to catch this rat of yours. As a betting man - your skies might have some unwanted visitors as well." He posited the next question to the Intent's crew. "Do you think they will jump the gun, or call in the cavalry?"

Edited September 30, 2023 by Dastardly Tristar (see edit history)

[Emmettmcglynn]

Mahan had never imagined himself much of a merchant, and the time spent on Borite did little to dispel that belief. After two days of futile calls and headaches, he finally gave and fell back on the training he'd received in naval academy: recreational drinking. That, thankfully, proved to finally give him a breakthrough and finally he was able to get their goods sold. As he stood on the cargo ramp chatting idly and watching the trucks and carriages slowly fill with their goods, heard the distinctive ping of the sensors picking up a transmission.

Instantly he drops out of his air of relaxed friendliness and back into his old persona of a career naval officer. With barely a word to the others he pivots and makes for the nearest console at speed, swapping it into sensors mode and scanning the air for inbound ships. He was never a sensor tech himself, but he was trained to fill any roll a bridge with at least the basic amount of competence and the Harrier did half the work for him even without that training. As the two incoming ships appear on his scans, his lip curls back in disdain at their paltry size and low speed. Clearly the abuse of the defenseless had left them sloppy and complacent, notions which the Intent would soon disabuse them of.

Turning back to his companions of the past few days, he appraises them of the situation in clipped terms.

"We've got two ships inbound, thirty minutes out, and neither moving as fast as they can. They only began moving after getting an encoded transmission from the mine where the others are. I suspect they're Oghmans and responsible for the mine sabotage. I'm going to pick up the rest then intercept the raiders, so either get on board or get to safety. Dazl, I know you're a spacer - want in?"

He only barely waits for them to reply, and doesn't stick around for any form of conversation, leaving the moment all present have acknowledged the news. Moving briskly to the bridge, he drops his sword into the chair's scabbard and raises the crew at their position to let them know the news.

"Captain speaking. We've got two ships inbound to your location responding to an encrypted signal sent just now. Transponders dark, almost certainly Oghman raiders. Mod-cutter and pinnace, 50 and 40 tons repsectively, both at low speed. I'm in bound to pick you up, then we'll show them what a real war bird can do."

After giving them a chance to reply, longer than he'd given the Borites and Dazl to be sure, he sents his final message: letting the downport know.

"Downport, this is the Reclaim's Intent. Our sensors indicate two craft incoming, no identification, thirty minutes out. I'd advise you begin whatever protocals you have for this occurance. We're moving out, will be back soon."

With his last message sent he turns his attention to the pilot's controls. After ensuring that the landing pad is cleared and anyone who wanted to get onboard was stowed away he activates the M-Drive and lifts off, making for the canyon the crew were currently working in.

[Sneaksby]

Despite the grim task ahead of them repairing the reeking filters, Kesper kept his good humor, taking off his headscarf and tying it around his nose and mouth without a word of complaint. He was no engineer, but he still had hands, and so helped Earrod where he could: handing over tools, holding the flashlight, and any other heavy lifting. All the while he psionically scanned their surroundings for threats, as far as he could without forcing it, and found none. Unless the wildlife started getting ideas.

Seeing Urien point out the hidden dish, Kesper chuckled ruefully and clapped a hand on Earrod's shoulder. "Looks like we've been made."

"We're safe for now," He called back to Urien, "There isn't anyone but us for a few kilometers. But I expect one or more ships to be en route as we speak."

Just as he moved to key his radio Mahan's report came through. 

"Away Team to Base. You read my mind."

He allowed himself a little smirk at the private joke, a hint of bloodlust at the impending battle twisting his expression.

Edited October 1, 2023 by Sneaksby (see edit history)

[DJ P4NTSL3SS]

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Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Kesperziaiepr, Urien, Eirene
The Mine Expedition, Borite Countryside
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

---

Earrod gives Urien a small smile, dabbing at his own face to do away with the grim and grit that has collected since the work began, "Of course. We aren't complete primitives." He gives a strained laugh, clearly just as run thin by this whole event as the Solomani, "The coach-house near where you landed has quarters and warm beds, if you are wanting a chance to stretch your legs outside your ship." And with that he turns his attention to leading the way out of the valley, electing to go the shorter and more 'traditional' route before the discovery of the radar tracking device is made. An event that sees him grimly reaching to the sheath-holster on the front of his saddle, where a lever-action revolver has sat this whole time, unused and out of mind until now.

He looks between you, "I think you may be right. Keep sharp, friends. The Oghman are more sly than many off-worlders give credit for."

 

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Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Rhane, Mahan
The Reclaimer's Intent, Borite Downport
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

---

Aman and Chrone seem the most caught off-guard when the coming attack is announced. There's a flash of fear in their faces and they seem to freeze for a moment. After a moment of looking between the two of them and the space-farers who have so kindly given such advanced warning, it seems that he is the first to snap himself out of it, turning to the two of them with a snapped, "Go! Now, get on the wagons and run!" He all but shoves the two of them towards one of the waiting wagons where the merchant is beckoning them to come along. He turns to look to the nearby fringe buildings of the starport, but then gives a double-take to those of you he can see aboard the ship, "Do what you can, spacers. We'll prepare as best we can."

And he takes off at a run, boots pounding the dirt as he sprints for the perimeter of the landing pad, calling out, "Alarm! Alarm! To the guns!"

Dazl looks to the sky and narrows his eyes. He grits his teeth. Rolls his shoulders. And like a shot, he's belting up the ramp, through the newly emptied cargo bay, and clambering up the ladderway. He shoots straight for the armory, following close behind Mahan before turning off for it. When he emerges, he tosses an accelerator rifle and a bandoleer of magazines to Dr. Te-Lari Kyra

 

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Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Rhane, Mahan, Kesperziaiepr, Urien, Eirene
The Reclaimer's Intent, Borite Downport
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

---

The Reclaimer's Intent lifts with ease as it comes to life, the ramp not even fully shut before the vessel is already cruising over the tree-tops. It is nowhere near as taxing a flight out to where the mining team are as it was for them to make their journey on mounts trying to avoid being seen - as the proverbial crow flies, an overland journey of two days is turned into a flight of minutes. There is even a rush of air and dirty washing up over the assembled group returning from the mines as the Harrier comes down to land, overshooting the group so that its a simple matter to rush into the cargo bay while the vessel keeps its nose pointed towards the approaching hostiles.

As the ramp comes down, Dazl is already holding post in the cargo bay, standing front and center with an accelerator rifle in hand as if he expects at any moment the vessel might be swarmed by Oghman raiders lurking in the treeline. He regards each of you for a moment and only when the cargo bay door is shutting and the Reclaimer's Intent lifting again does he quit the post.

Earrod is comparatively more panicked, not quite sure what is going on as he ushers his mount to one side of the cargo bay to loosely secure its reigns. As if he might have need of it shortly. Looking to the ceiling as if trying to get a sense of what his happening, he shakily makes his way to the staterooms where he had been quartered only days before, "Is this the visitors you spoke of, friend?"

With the Reclaimer's Intent moving for the fight, you all are able to move to various positions unimpeded.

On open communications, as the Reclaimer''s Intent rises up above the trees once again, the cutter broadcasts, a rough and crackling voice with the sounds of a ship in action in the background on unencrypted channels, "Unidentified vessel! You trespass on the hunting grounds of Chief Keia! Power down and surrender, and we might spare you!" And then, boiling the air as it fires, a single beam of a beam laser crosses the sky. The first contact, a modular cutter identified by automatic nomenclature on the sensors as Romeo 1, has fired!

The shot strikes the hull even as Mahan turns to evade, causing the auto-dampening of the displays to kick in. But the damage seems superficial at best according to what the sensors report.

Then the flickering beam of a pulse laser follows moments later, striking to the rear of the Reclaimer's Intent. The vessel lurches for a moment and readings indicate a sudden - but brief - loss in grav-plate output. The controls feel more sluggish, now.

"There's more where that came from, intruder! And a torpedo battery if you want a fight!"

Resolution, Round 1

• Stage 1, Maneuver
  • Reclaimer's Intent uses 1/6 Thrust for general maneuvers.
  • Romeo 1 (Mod. Cutter) dedicates 1/4 Thrust for general maneuvers.
  • Romeo 2 (Pinnace) dedicates 1/5 Thrust for general maneuvers.
     
• Stage 2, Attack
  • Reclaimer's Intent has no weapons ready to fire!
  • Romeo 1 targets Reclaimer's Intent, and fires a single shot with a beam laser!
    • Reclaimer's Intent takes evasive action, -4 penalty!
    • Romeo 1 hits, doing 5 damage!
    • Reclaimer's Intent takes 1 damage!
  • Romeo 2 targets Reclaimer's Intent, and fires a single shot with a pulse laser!
    • Reclaimer's Intent takes evasive action, -4 penalty!
    • Romeo 2 hits, doing 10 damage!
    • Reclaimer's Intent takes 6 damage!
       
• Stage 3, Action
  • Reclaimer's Intent took evasive action against Romeo 1! (1/5)
  • Reclaimer's Intent took evasive action against Romeo 2! (2/5)
  • Romeo 1 attempts a signature lock on Reclaimer's Intent!
  • Romeo 2 attempts a signature lock on Reclaimer's Intent!
    
     
• Status of Reclaimer's Intent
  • Hull: 62 / 69
  • Armor: Bonded Superdense, 4
     
  • Power: 185 / 260
    • 40, Basic Ship Systems
    • 1, Low Berths
    • 120, Maneuver Drive
    • 8, Sensors
    • 1, Missile Rack
    • 15, Particle Barbette
       
  • Ammo:
    • 12 / 12 Standard missiles
       
  • Criticals:
    • Severity 1, M-Drive (-1 to control)
       
  • Crew:
    • Mahan is acting as pilot!
    • Urien took command of the sensors station!
    • Kesper took command of the dorsal particle barbette!
    • Eirene took command of the ventral missile turret!
    • Rhane is acting as a marine!
    • Dazl is acting as a marine!

 

 

Edited October 6, 2023 by DJ P4NTSL3SS (see edit history)

[Dastardly Tristar]

Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Rhane, Mahan, Kesperziaiepr, Urien, Eirene
The Reclaimer's Intent, Borite Downport
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

Seeing the Intent burn at a quarter to lightspeed on an intercept course for the field team blew any fears that the Solomani had, replaced with a manic grin of excitement. "Oh you better believe they are. Get strapped in - find a cabin and stay there until we tell you to." Urien gave Earrod his general orders, before rushing up for the bridge.

He made it just as the ship lurched as it took the first instance of damage from the approaching craft. He nearly slipped, but held onto a safety railing - a function he didn't expect a Sindalian ship to have - and regained his footing. Urien hopped into the sensor station and slipped the headphones around his ears, muffling everything but the rumbling of engines and the whirring of his station's processor. Fingers flew across the keyboard, as he ran a quick diagnostics of the ship. "We have taken minor damage to the grav-plates." he cried out, confirming what Mahan probably already knew.

As the ship ran its diagnostics, he flipped open the communications channel but held off on broadcasting. Just what would he say, in this exact moment?

"Unidentified vessels. You have just open fired on a 200-d ton warship. Not only are you engaging with limited weaponry, but your combined weight and displacement barely equals to our own. You have until our gunner starts to turn your ships to slag to power down and land. What happens next is entirely on you. Godspeed."

[Emmettmcglynn]

Mahan remained quiet as the crew mounted up, trusting in them to take up their pre-arranged positions as he maneuvered around the two incoming vessels. The cutter's shot was an amateurish affair and easy enough to evade, but doing so burnt up more momentum than he'd anticipated - Borite's gravity was a quarter G higher than his native Drinax's - and as he adjusted to compensate the pinnace's laser swept over the side of the ship. Even before Urien gave a damage report he felt the ship absorbing the wound, and when the Solomani gave it verbal confirmation he let out a low hiss.

"I had intended to be charitable and offer them terms, but it seems they would prefer a demonstration." He said in an even tone that didn't match his dark expression.

Briefly his face contorted into gruesome expression before returning to naval professionalism. It wasn't just that they'd damaged his ship, nor that they were reavers who menaced the lands of noble Sindal, though both certainly galled him. Rather it was that they did so without any appreciation for these things. The Oghman Chief clearly lacked any actual tactical acumen, planning as he was to attack a dedicated warship with a pair of barely-armed civilian vessels puttering about at minimal speeds, and now they were attempting to threaten a nimble craft with lumbering torpedoes as if she was a lumbering freighter. Did it ever occur to them how far the Trojan Reach had fallen from its glory days? What a Harrier-class represented? Would they even care? All were unlikely. It was disgraceful, both to this Chief Keia and to Drinax as a whole for being unable to maintain the splendor and glory of Sindal.

Now, however, there was a chance to demonstrate. They wouldn't understand the significance, but not all demonstrations were for the benefit of those involved. With his hands on the helm, he moved to make distance between the Intent and her attackers while keeping the pursueing craft in steady view of the dorsal gun.

"Mister Kesperziaiepr," he said, "a shot from the barbette into that pinnace if you would. We shall see how their aim fares then. Perhaps their Chieftan will be open to parlay then."

Show this

Once Round 2 Begins: 3 Thrust to making distance, 1 Thrust to aid Kesper's Gunnery, 2 Thrust reserved for evasive action.

We're still in Round 1, this is not applied until after everyone has posted.

 

[Niraverine]

The longer Eirene spent on repairs, the more creative she was getting in regards to what she would do to the heathens who decided to damage the facility in this particular way. If only she could get her hands on them! Her wish was granted soon enough.

Considering her foul mood and less than civil daydreams it was no surprise that when the Ogmans finally appeared and she boarded The Reclaimer's Intent, she ran to the missile turret as fast as she could, full of gleefully vengeful thoughts. She was more than ready to fire it, preferably at Romeo 1. The crew made ridiculous demands, fired at her ship, then tried to gloat and it seriously wounded the Corsair's professional pride.

"Missile loaded and ready to fire", Eirene announced through the comm, a manic glint in her eyes.

 

Edited October 6, 2023 by Niraverine (see edit history)

[Sneaksby]

Falling into his seat, Kesper cracked his knuckles and quickly reacquainted himself with the controls and caught up on the situation. This was a bit like an eagle fighting pidgeons, but it never payed to toy with and underestimate your opponent, especially not hardened pirates. He had every intention of decisively crushing them.

The variables raced through his mind: speed and distance, the target's evasive maneuvers and Mahan's efforts to line him up for a shot. Accounting for it all, Kesper fed data into the ship's computer until it spit out a firing solution. Everything looked good. He wouldn't hesitate.

"Let's give them a taste of old fashioned Sindalian glory. Firing now."

Fully aware of the terrifying power at his fingertips, he almost felt sorry for the raiders as he pressed the button that would destroy them. They would probably all be dead before they even realized something was wrong at least, and that was a mercy.

[DJ P4NTSL3SS]

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Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Rhane, Mahan, Kesperziaiepr, Urien, Eirene
The Reclaimer's Intent, Borite
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

---

The Reclaimer's Intent, even sluggish on the controls, can respond reasonably enough still. It is a warship, after all. The vessel is able to shoot up and turn once more, accelerating all the more as it turns with its previously damaged grav plates turned towards the advancing raiders. 'Retreating' in posture only, it would seem, as the turret and barbette slew their aim to the rear of the newly stabilized fighting platform.

There's an audible growl of annoyance over comms, "Strike us down if you think you can, intruder! Chief Keia has a hundred-fold more!"

And with that, in the barbette's control seat, the displays flash in front of Kesper. They show a projection of the pinnace as the targetting computer lays out everything the ship's sensors can read on it. Its current speed, its composition. All of this data fetched from broad-sweep readings by the ship's automated systems, refined and turned into sensible readings by Urien's deft work, and laid out for the gunners to make use of. As Kesper depresses the triggers, there is a hum all around him with energy systems flaring up to account for the sudden spike. A rumble through the whole turret that carries through the seat. A near-invisible streak of blue-green light cuts through the sky.

Aboard the pinnace, the raider at the helm has just enough time to read the warnings from the computer and key the ship's internal comms. But it doesn't due any good. At this range, the beam hits true on the nose in a matter of seconds. Most of the others are dead in their seats before they even hear what the pilot is starting to scream.

The pinnace splits open, lengthwise at the top like a hotdog left to boil for too long. Metal rends and snaps. The powerplant explodes at the rear and the whole vessel is fragmented into various parts. They careen down into the woodland below and on impact, another fireball erupts as the liquid hydrogen detonates. The fireball registers as little more than a blip on Urien and Kesper's screens, and on Urien's console the marker for Romeo 2 is struck through. One target splashed.

At the same time, as Eirene slips down into the direct control station for the ventral turret, already displays light up as the computer detects a gunner's presence. Situated under a stack of twelve loaded missiles, Eirene can take the controls and easily set the interface to target the modular cutter. Information is piped to the consoles in front of the corsair that give a feed on the status of all twelve missiles and their payloads - the fire-control system already dumping input into the programming bus. Meters showing each missile coming live, engines pre-heating, display.

A single button press and the overhead rack audibly rumbles as the missile comes to life.

Louder than the barbette's fire, the missile leaves the tube and streaks across the sky.

Not picking it up on their sensors - and with the missile streaking at 10 Gs through the open sky - it screams over the landscape with its engine leaving a brilliant trail in its wake. It hits Mach 10 and is covered in the glow of plasma. The modular cutter has barely turned to avoid terrain when the gunner sees the brilliant light streaking towards the vessel. He barely cries out a warning, a mere second before impact. The force throws him from the station, laid out on the deck.

Urien and Eirene both have display prompts telling them the results of the hit.

The modular cutter's drive signature grows weaker, and its belching smoke out the side where the missile struck, a gaping hole in the hull. She is clearly making to turn away from the fight now, trying to return the way they came and leaving the burning body of the pinnace in the ground. A moment passes after Urien's declaration, "Freeze in the deepest hells, intruder!" He is growling over the comms, "Chief Keia will see you burn for this! You've made powerful enemies! Strike me!"

But even then, the modular cutter is starting to angle away. It seems as if they might be intending to run and quit the field.

Resolution, Round 2

• Stage 1, Maneuver
  • Reclaimer's Intent uses 3/6 Thrust for general maneuvers.
  • Romeo 1 (Mod. Cutter) dedicates 3/4 Thrust for general maneuvers.
    • Romeo 1 sits at Medium range (1/5 Thrust, advancing)
  • Romeo 2 (Pinnace) dedicates 3/5 Thrust for general maneuvers.
    • Romeo 2 sits at Medium range (1/5 Thrust, advancing)
       
• Stage 2, Attack
  • Reclaimer's Intent fires!
    • The particle barbette is fired at Romeo 2!
      • Romeo 2 takes evasive action, -2 penalty!
      • Reclaimer's Intent hits, dealing 48 damage!
      • Reclaimer's Intent deals 399 rads!
      • Romeo 2 takes 48 damage, 399 rads, and is destroyed!
    • A missile is fired at Romeo 1!
      • Romeo 1 takes evasive action, -2 penalty!
      • Reclaimer's Intent hits, dealing 8 damage!
      • Romeo 1 takes 8 damage!
      • Cascades result in an additional 6 damage!
  • Romeo 2 is destroyed before they can fire!
     
• Stage 3, Action
  • Reclaimer's Intent took evasive action against Romeo 1! (1/3 Thrust)
  • Reclaimer's Intent took evasive action against Romeo 2! (2/3 Thrust)
  • Reclaimer's Intent took maneuvers to aid the gunners! (3/3 Thrust)
  • Reclaimer's Intent attained a sensor lock on Romeo 1! (+2 to targeting)
  • Romeo 1 took evasive action against Reclaimer's Intent! (1/1 Thrust)
  • Romeo 2 took evasive action against Reclaimer's Intent! (1/2 Thrust)
  • Romeo 2 took maneuvers to aid the gunners! (2/2 Thrust)
     
  • Romeo 2 is moving to quit the field!
    
     
• Status of Reclaimer's Intent
  • Hull: 62 / 69
  • Armor: Bonded Superdense, 4
     
  • Power: 185 / 260
    • 40, Basic Ship Systems
    • 1, Low Berths
    • 120, Maneuver Drive
    • 8, Sensors
    • 1, Missile Rack
    • 15, Particle Barbette
       
  • Ammo:
    • 11 / 12 Standard missiles, loaded, 0 in reserve
       
  • Criticals:
    • Severity 1, M-Drive (-1 to control)
       
  • Crew:
    • Mahan is acting as pilot!
    • Urien is at the sensors!
    • Kesper is on the dorsal particle barbette!
    • Eirene is on the ventral missile turret!
    • Rhane is acting as a marine!
    • Dazl is acting as a marine!

 

 

Edited October 8, 2023 by DJ P4NTSL3SS (see edit history)

[Dastardly Tristar]

Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Rhane, Mahan, Kesperziaiepr, Urien, Eirene
The Reclaimer's Intent, Borite Downport
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

Urien kept his cool watching the beam signature flare up, then cool down only to be subsumed by the exploding ball of fire that was Romeo 1 mere moments ago. His jaw however, remained clenched with tension. He snapped out of his temporary malaise to mark the location of Romeo 1's trajected landing zone for retrieval and salvage: he had very little hope for any survivors, but the scrap could be potentially useful.

Something else occupied his mind. This was, by and large, a pointless exercise in self assured suicide. The raiders must have sported the hardware on the approach, and yet decided to make a bold move. As one half of his brain made the preparations for a targeting solution for Kesper and Eirene's next shots, his other half spat out a quick and dirty scan of the airspace: what if it was a distraction, a gamble to get information off world? As one monitor pinged green to affirm its success, the other gave a dour, neutral tone that may as well have been failure. Urien smacked the monitor angrily, and opened his mouth to spit out an insult, but had another idea.

Keying into the open radio frequency, he mocked the remaining raiders openly. "Your 'fight'? Your fight just fireballed, and you are next. Stand down and live, or flee and die like a dog." he made sure they knew he had a lock on them when he made the declaration.

The reply was admittedly what he expected. Switching to ship comms, he addressed Kesper and Eirene through their headsets. "Try to cripple their engines if you can." It would simplify the process of hunting down the Oghman spies on the planet, and maybe squirreling a bit more information from them too. Chief Keia? New names and new records to fill - life was getting busier and busier by the day for the agent.

Watching Romeo 2 limp back pitifully, Urien kept up his mockery of the enemy ship - the most harmful thing he could do at the moment anyway. Pulling out an old Solomani stereotype from the depths of his mind vault, he keyed into the open frequency again, taunting the enemy. "Chief Keia a bitch, and you too. C'mooon, powerful enemies? You're piloting tinpots strapped to an engine and firing mining lasers at us! Powerful my ass, you can't even take a light hit like that? Bitches."

[DJ P4NTSL3SS]

---

Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Rahne, Mahan, Kesperziaiepr, Urien, Eirene
The Reclaimer's Intent, Borite
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

---

A push at the newly sluggish controls is all it takes to send the Reclaimer's Intent screaming through the sky towards the retreating contact. Screaming through the sky at Mach 10, the displays in the bridge have to filter out the glow of plasma on the vessel's nose, and for several minutes, the people of Borite's downport are able to hear the echoeing cry of the Reclaimer's Intent as it flies after its prey.

Comparatively, when Urien sets about jamming the modular cutter, the electronic bands go quiet once more. The cutter is rendered silent.

What follows is several minutes of running down the cutter even as it tries to flee. The Harrier-class commerce raider has more than enough engine to run down a typical cutter, and that is before accounting for any battle damage that missile has caused. Dwarfing the smaller vessel, casting a shadow over it in so many senses of the word even as it desperately tries to juke or shift away. They slip to one side and the Reclaimer's Intent is already waiting for them. They shift to the other and the comparatively hulking warship is there, too. Penning them in by a measure of inches and feet as it draws closer.

Their pilot clearly tries to slip away, but that does no good. Inevitably, at hypersonic speed, the two vessels meet. The cutter crew clearly realize the game is up, having slowed to a hover over the last several minutes as you dog them again and again. When they finally stop, it is an easy matter to move the Reclaimer's Intent into position.

Inside the Reclaimer's Intent, the crew who are to act as a boarding party have time to suit up and prepare. The ship's armory has enough equipment to five marines with accelerator rifles for such an action. Dazl, having already taken it upon himself to get one to Rahne, does the same with the others. All those who are going aboard are met by Dazl tossing them one of the ship's accelerator rifles and a bandoleer of ammunition before he moves down to the airlock to join everyone.

Earrod, for his part, keeps to the same stateroom he quartered in on the way to Borite, assuring you all that he will not move about the ship until he has assurance that whatever is happening is done. He locks the door from the inside.

Opening the airlock is easy enough. The crew of the cutter haven't even shut it down.

The first team through the airlock, led by Kesper, runs into some quick and immediate trouble when exiting the airlock into the hall that connects the forward section of the vessel to the modular bay area. With a scream, a leather-clad raider comes bursting from a ship supply closet with an ax in hand. His battlecry is cut off just as it starts with a round from the Zhodani's stun gun that sees him knocked to the ground mid-jump. From there, with the remainder of the boarding party coming through the airlock, it is a thing of short work.

Kesper, Urien, and Eirene split towards the cockpit. This means that they have to pass through the forward cabin space. Three raiders are in there, and they already look in a bad way. The air is thick with smoke as the life support systems of the vessel are clearly strained from all the damage the ship has sustained, and there's visible sparking overhead through an iris valve that leads to the craft's only turret. On the ground, a bandage wrapped around his head and over one eye, a man is being tended to by another with the contents of a medical kit spread out haphazardly at his side. When the three enter, the apparent medic throws his hands up.

When the two men still standing look like they might start to fight, a quick pistol-whip across the jaw from Urien sends one of them to the ground with a grunt of pain, and it seems to disabbuse the other of any notion of resistence. The medic helpfully, wordlessly points to the cockpit door. And as soon as that door opens, the man in the seat, stressed and clearly aware he's outgunned, slowly raises his arms, and doesn't put up a fight when he's pulled from his chair and dragged from the small craft's bridge.

At the other end of the ship, Dazl and Rahne are able to head for the cargo compartment.

The cargo module is not as smoke-filled and hazy as other parts of the vessel. And that is because of the gaping hole in its side, where the missile first struck. Along the other wall of the module are several cages. Hard, steel things and each is clearly designed to hold a single person, with their wrists trapped - bound - sticking through metal plates in the cage door to prevent them from being able to move around in the cage much at all. Mercifully, they are empty. At least right now.

Further back, it can be found that instead of the traditional reserve cargo space sported by this pattern of cutter, there is instead more powerplant.

And more smoke. Clearly the powerplant and engine systems are in bad shape.

The engineer, in grease stained coveralls and with bandaged hands, seems confused at first to see the two gun-toting strangers come into the engineering space. They yelp, falling from where they worked and scramble back into a corner of the engineering space, "I can - I can help! I know engines! I'm useful, I swear!" They are quick to cover their face with one hand. Dazl keeps back towards the entrance to the engine space, watching the cowering figure but with his rifle lowered. The engineer - a human - flinches at any touch.

All of this - sweeping the ship section by section, taking control of each portion of the vessel - can be watched from Mahan's station as suit cameras show what each member of the boarding party see. In a span of a minute the ship is controlled, with the cutter's crew under control, and the vessel seized. Sitting in the air, both vessels suspended by their M-drives.

The pilot of the cutter, scowls as he looks to you, "Kill me, you cowards. Kill me and see what Chief Keia brings down on your heads."

Resolution, Round 3

• Stage 1, Maneuver
  • Reclaimer's Intent uses 6/6 Thrust for general maneuvers.
  • Romeo 1 (Mod. Cutter) dedicates 3/3 Thrust for general maneuvers.
    • Romeo 1 sits at Short range, retreating (0/2 Thrust)
       
• Stage 2, Attack
  • Reclaimer's Intent doesn't fire!
  • Romeo 1 doesn't fire!
     
• Stage 3, Action
  • Reclaimer's Intent holds a sensor lock on Romeo 1! (+2 to targeting)
  • Reclaimer's Intent is jamming Romeo 1! (Unable to transmit!)
    
    
     
• Status of Reclaimer's Intent
  • Hull: 62 / 69
  • Armor: Bonded Superdense, 4
     
  • Power: 185 / 260
    • 40, Basic Ship Systems
    • 1, Low Berths
    • 120, Maneuver Drive
    • 8, Sensors
    • 1, Missile Rack
    • 15, Particle Barbette
       
  • Ammo:
    • 11 / 12 Standard missiles, loaded, 0 in reserve
       
  • Criticals:
    • Severity 1, M-Drive (-1 to control)
       
  • Crew:
    • Mahan is acting as pilot!
    • Urien is at the sensors!
    • Kesper is on the dorsal particle barbette!
    • Eirene moves to act as a marine!
    • Rhane is acting as a marine!
    • Dazl is acting as a marine!

 

Resolution, Round 4

• Stage 1, Maneuver
  • Reclaimer's Intent uses 6/6 Thrust for general maneuvers.
  • Romeo 1 (Mod. Cutter) dedicates 3/3 Thrust for general maneuvers.
    • Romeo 1 sits at Close range, retreating (-3/1 Thrust)
       
• Stage 2, Attack
  • Reclaimer's Intent doesn't fire!
  • Romeo 1 doesn't fire!
     
• Stage 3, Action
  • Reclaimer's Intent holds a sensor lock on Romeo 1! (+2 to targeting)
  • Reclaimer's Intent is jamming Romeo 1! (Unable to transmit!)
    
    
     
• Status of Reclaimer's Intent
  • Hull: 62 / 69
  • Armor: Bonded Superdense, 4
     
  • Power: 185 / 260
    • 40, Basic Ship Systems
    • 1, Low Berths
    • 120, Maneuver Drive
    • 8, Sensors
    • 1, Missile Rack
    • 15, Particle Barbette
       
  • Ammo:
    • 11 / 12 Standard missiles, loaded, 0 in reserve
       
  • Criticals:
    • Severity 1, M-Drive (-1 to control)
       
  • Crew:
    • Mahan is acting as pilot!
    • Urien moves to act as a marine!
    • Kesper moves to act as a marine!
    • Eirene is acting as a marine!
    • Rhane is acting as a marine!
    • Dazl is acting as a marine!

 

Resolution, Round 5

• Stage 1, Maneuver
  • Reclaimer's Intent uses 6/6 Thrust for general maneuvers.
  • Romeo 1 (Mod. Cutter) dedicates 3/3 Thrust for general maneuvers.
    • Romeo 1 sits at Adjacent range, retreating (-6/1 Thrust)
       
• Stage 2, Attack
  • Reclaimer's Intent doesn't fire!
  • Romeo 1 doesn't fire!
     
• Stage 3, Action
  • Reclaimer's Intent moves to board Romeo 1!
    
    
     
• Status of Reclaimer's Intent
  • Hull: 62 / 69
  • Armor: Bonded Superdense, 4
     
  • Power: 185 / 260
    • 40, Basic Ship Systems
    • 1, Low Berths
    • 120, Maneuver Drive
    • 8, Sensors
    • 1, Missile Rack
    • 15, Particle Barbette
       
  • Ammo:
    • 11 / 12 Standard missiles, loaded, 0 in reserve
       
  • Criticals:
    • Severity 1, M-Drive (-1 to control)
       
  • Crew:
    • Mahan is acting as pilot!
    • Urien is acting as a marine!
    • Kesper is acting as a marine!
    • Eirene is acting as a marine!
    • Rhane is acting as a marine!
    • Dazl is acting as a marine!

 

 

Edited October 8, 2023 by DJ P4NTSL3SS (see edit history)

[Niraverine]

The vessel was in a rather sorry state, the Corsair noted with some detachment, still not entirely believing in what she was seeing. The Reclaimer's Intent turned out to be a small piece of technological art - a very deadly one.

Further investigation led part of their party to the cages and that information soured her mood.

It was therefore not really a surprise that she didn't have even an ounce of patience for cheeky barking of a defeated enemy pilot. Eirene slowly spinned in the pilot's chair that she liberated a moment ago and glared at the pilot icily. "Those are slavers' cages in the cargo." She slowly raised from her seat then grabbed the man by the front of his clothes and shoved her Gauss pistol under his jaw.

"As it happens", she informed him conversationally, "I am in the business of freeing goods, moving and then liquidating them. I follow some rules though and if I find out that the goods are feeling creatures I liquidate the owners of the cargo instead." The safety of the pistol clicked. "So one more empty threat or taunt and I shall redecorate this room with your brain just like I redecorated this whole ship with one accurate missile", the corsair growled, the anger after discovering the tight cages finally flaring.

"Now, who's that loser you've been invoking for the whole time?" The question was once more a lazy drawl, although keeping the facade required some effort from her.

Edited October 8, 2023 by Niraverine (see edit history)

[Dastardly Tristar]

Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Rahne, Mahan, Kesperziaiepr, Urien, Eirene
The Reclaimer's Intent, Borite
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

Urien sucked air through his teeth. They had been dangerously close to butchering civilians. Who knew what the next battle against the raiders might bring? He shook his head, rolling his wrist - the pistol whip had rattled his bones. There was a much bigger problem on hand. The agent looked at the mess of blown coolant pipes and pistons, shaking his head wordlessly. He approached the nearest console that wasn't sparking, remembering the last hostile console. Luck wasn't with him initially, as the screen proved unresponsive. He tried his best to ignore the raider's engineer, cracking a guess at the state of the ship's engineering room.

His initial analysis? It looked - bad. There was a pungent smell in the air as well that came through his suit's filters. Holstering his weapon, he pointed at the engineer and asked for the name.

Arryne.

Hoping that the engineer was as useful as he claimed, he directed Arryne towards the fuel tanks and to give him a reading on the levels. As he returned to the console to give it another crack, he heard the reply back from the other engineer. "Son of a bitch. . ." he muttered softly.

"Well I have good news and bad news." he radioed back to the boarding party for their ears alone. "Good news is - this bird still has some life left in her. Seems like the missile did a number on the engines and powerplant, so the ship is bleeding power and thrust. The bad news is, she is also bleeding fuel, and she has got just about enough to make an emergency landing within the next hour or so."

He paused to double confirm the readings, making sure Arryne hadn't fed him false information. Clearly satisfied, he gestured to Dazl that he was going to leave the engine room - they didn't have the parts to perform any repairs, so it was time to regroup. Pulling his mag-revolver out, the Solomani marched Arryne out into the common room where presumably, everyone else was gathered. He made a slight detour towards the cages, picking up the cuffs on the way.

"Well, I suppose it is a good thing the missile did not do more to the ship than it already has." He held up the cuffs towards Kesper. "Thought you may want to cuff them." He pointed at the pilot with a smug expression. "And maybe gag this one. Or would you rather we have you strung to the hull of our ship, so you can beg Chief Keia to rescue you? Choice is yours."

[DJ P4NTSL3SS]

---

Borite / Sindal (Trojan Reach 2219)
Rahne, Mahan, Kesperziaiepr, Urien, Eirene
Romeo 1 and the Reclaimer's Intent, Borite
019 (Harrier, Week 2, Day 4) 1105, Imperial

---

"I - sorry." Arryne seems to wilt when Urien asks them to show their findings again, and they don't look Urien in the eye. While an engineer in their position might be able to lie, the raw facts of the matter don't. The ship is damaged, badly, and it would be hard to exaggerate just how much was done to the vessel when Eirene's missile struck true. Wordlessly, head hung low, they walk out into the cargo bay and towards the front of the ship.

Dazl nods at Urien's update and quickly signs, "Stay / me. Room / secure.I will stay here and secure this room."

The ship's pilot grunts as Eirene pulls him to his feet, and he clearly is just about to say something scathing or insulting before the muzzle of a gauss pistol is pressed under his jaw. He suddenly freezes, still trying to keep up the glare. But he noticeably twitches at the sound of a safety coming off. His eyes flick between Eirene and - when he joins - Urien and the engineer. He keeps his hands up now, as if that alone might coax the corsair away from the idea of blowing his brains out against the nearest bulkhead, "Now - now there's no need for this. We are just surviving. This is our way of life. We wouldn't kill you for yours."

Though once Urien speaks, he looks to Eirene again. Clearly, he's suddenly envisioning the stories of Old Sindal, of how the slaver-hunters of the Empire would sail with the frozen bodies of pirate captains hung from their hulls like jewelry. And those stories never say just how kind their captors were prior to even that ghoulish treatment. There's a genuine fear in his eyes, "Chief - Chief Keia won't stand for this." There's a tremble there, "He - Chief Keia is the Lord of the Stars. He has a fleet. A whole fleet. And many friends. That was why we were here." And he's quick to add, "This wasn't our idea!" He nods.

The man that Urien pistol-whipped, newly cuffed and sat against a wall, grunts, "Well - "

The pilot shoots a glare, "Shut. Up." And he returns his focus to Eirene, "This wasn't our idea! Chief Keia has made a deal. New allies. He wanted us to help those allies. The - the Aslan." He tries to nod, but the prod of the weapon's barrel prods against him from the motion and he immediately stops, "Find engineers. Technicians. Experts. As good as bought, already. I never sold any slaves!"

Edited October 10, 2023 by DJ P4NTSL3SS (see edit history)