Elite roleplay: Off station

OFF STATION

Your ship, deep space, anything that is not happening inside the Citi Gateway or Ingaba...

General Roleplay Etiquette:

1. Control only the actions of your own character(s). (AKA: God Mode)
This doesn't matter how small the action is, even if it is as simple as scratching their nose or a direct reaction to something else that just happened. This applies to everything from casual conversation to full blown fight scenes. If you'd like someone to do something specific, PM that person, however keep in mind they are completely within their rights to say no. Especially if said action is inappropriate to their character and/or circumstance.

2. Don't brute force your way into another persons RP.
Approaching with a conversation starter is fine, or indeed some other small action. However charging in, guns blazing and disrupting the flow of another person/pair/groups conversation/arc is about as rude as doing so in real life. If something is going on that you'd like to participate in, be subtle about it. Put out a gentle hook for someone to take, but again, be aware that said hook may not be taken. If you fear it was simply unnoticed, PM the person or people it concerns. Or even leave a message in the OOC forums.

3. Good grammar and spelling is preferred.
We're not asking you to be perfect, but please at least demonstrate willingness. no1 iz gna tak u srsly usng txt spk. There's a wide variety of people here, many who speak English as a second, or even third language. There are even some with varying degrees of dyslexia and/or likely other issues that affect spelling/grammar. We accept them all here. However, people who aren't accepted, are those unwilling to accept polite correction. Remember that even a small thing like the placement of a comma, or the wrong use of there/their/they're can completely change the definition of an entire sentence.

4. Accept constructive criticism gracefully and politely.
If someone spots an issue with your writings, they may wish to help you improve that writing. They may do this through PM or even publicly air their thoughts on the OOC forum. If they have taken the time to be polite and explain what is wrong with your writing, the best way to behave is to respond in kind, using the same manner they have approached you with. It means they have taken an active interest in what you have written and wish to see more. Basically, you have a fan!

5. Don't take the actions or opinions of things done IN RP, to be directly relevant to the writers thoughts or opinions.
Basically, if some ones character calls your character a jackass, it doesn't mean the writer thinks you are a jackass. It's a ROLE they are PLAYING. Watch a movie. The argument between the characters isn't an argument between the actors involved. The same applies here.

6. It's not a popularity contest.
Your RP might be bustling with participants. You have 3 people off station in a fire fight, while another 2 are infiltrating the darkest areas of the station, meanwhile a group of 4 others are tracking your movements in an effort to stop you. Good for you, I'm sure it will be a thrilling read! But you know what? Sometimes the absolute BEST work, comes from two RP characters having a simple heart to heart. Both are valid, both are great, but NEITHER is categorically better than the other. Period.


Inara RP Etiquette:

1. Respect the setting and rules of the universe.
Inara is an Elite: Dangerous 3rd Party Tool. The RP Forums are set in the Elite: Dangerous universe. Elite: Dangerous has rules, as any fictional universe does from Lord of the Rings to Star Wars, or Game of Thrones to Star Trek. If you intend to RP within the Elite: Dangerous universe you are bound by the history and rules of that universe. Simply put, this RP forum is bound by the same rules as the game, so if it can't be done in the game, it is not permitted here. This applies to things from a 50Ly Jump Range on a normal, unmodified Sidewinder, to the destruction of entire stations.

2. Respect the characters created by others.
We have a wide variety of characters already here. It's expected that some will be similar, just as it's expected that two characters will be vastly different. Opinions of each persons character will naturally be varied, but all are valid provided they follow the rules of the universe. You are allowed to interact with, or avoid interaction with, any character in the RP forums. But you have no right to belittle others for their creation. You are not an authority figure on writing, nor are you directly affected by another persons imagination. You might not like it, but you MUST respect it.

3. Be caught up on current events before joining in.
You need basic things like character descriptions in order to interact with them. You also need to know what's going on in the surrounding areas. This is simply because the people you are hoping to RP with, might be gearing up to something that you might not want to be part of. Or simply that the most recent post, out of context, could leave a different impression on the goings on than if you gather that context. We don't expect you to read every single post from the beginning of the forums, just enough to get that basic understanding.

4. Either subscribe to, or frequently check, the Roleplay: Q&A and OOC forum.
People may be discussing something relevant to you there, or even discussing you directly. Perhaps someone asked what the general consensus on the existence or non-existence of a certain object. Or we're just chatting about random gibberish. Either way, be aware of it and use it. If you're unsure about something, such as how guns would look and or behave, or even the music selection, use the OOC forum to ask. We don't have all of the answers, but the collective knowledge and logic usually allows us to overcome an issue and come to a decision on what should be allowed. Frontier Developments, and even David Braben himself, don't have the answers to every possible question that can be asked.

5. Large Scale events exploding out of nowhere are a complete no go.
We get it. Everyone wants their character to be noticed and for people to be tripping over themselves to interact with them. In some audiences, an introduction involving you blasting in for landing in a fiery wreckage of a ship, before cart wheeling out and sword fighting 35 Ninjas before whisking off with the local celebrity for a glorious night of passion, is in fact, cool. This is not one of those audiences. It is generally considered better to build your character up slowly over time. Eventually, you might even have a legitimate excuse to fight those Ninjas. Maybe even with other RP participants by your side.

6. Perfect characters are boring.
The point of a character arc, is that it is in fact, an arc shape. One who is morally unquestionable, fully kitted out and an infinite fountain of knowledge, cannot go through an arc. Give your character flaws. Be it a tendency towards befriending the wrong people, or a bad knee that frequently gives out at inopportune moments. It gives readers something to latch onto and empathise with. You can give your character exceptional capabilities at something, but it requires balance. She's a damn good pilot with no equal, but can't drive an SRV for peanuts. It can lead to some very interesting moments between characters, be it heartfelt or comedic.


Other Notes:
It should be noted that there can be exceptions to these points. For example, good grammar when a character is speaking is actually rare. Few people in real life actually speak with perfect eloquence after all. Or previously arranged actions during a fight scene, such as someone stumbling back after a punch. What's key to remember is context.

All in all, remember this is purely for fun. We have some seriously talented writers here, and others whose writing history starts and ends at high school. But many are willing to help out in whatever way they can. All it takes is that you ask nicely.

Also keep in mind that many people who RP here, also have logbook stories related to the character, or characters, they portray. If it looks like there's an "in joke" going on that you're unsure of, it's probably in those.

In fact, some users have even gone to the trouble of creating "alts" to RP with. If you read back far enough, it's usually pretty clear who has and hasn't, and which ones are the "alts". It's therefore not unheard of to see the apparent seizing of control of other characters. If you do spot one, point it out in the OOC section. If intervention is needed, it will be sorted quickly and (hopefully) politely.

Most, if not all RP participants here have Logbook stories pertaining to their character(s). These are for the reading pleasure of anyone who wishes to do so. While it can be useful to read them in order to gain a bit of backstory on a character you wish to interact with, it should not be assumed that your character shares that knowledge. Within the E:D Universe, these Logbooks either don't exist, or are private diaries kept by the characters. Either way, without explicit statements to say otherwise from the writer, your interactions should reflect that your character is in the dark about any information you, the writer/reader, have gained from reading the stories.
Sethellion Tam
16 Jul 2023, 10:15pm
13:47
July 16th, 3309
Azimuth 'Project Seraph' Facility.
Ship ID: KP-118 - Star Jumper


Science facility. Nice try, Azimuth. I know what you're really doing in there, Sethellion Tam thought to himself as the facility was identified by his scanners. Sensors that had been meticulously modified to keep him as far out of anyone else's range as possible while giving off the lowest amount of identifiable signature. This was a stealth retrieval mission before it was anything else, despite whatever the Consortium may have told him, and Seth was going to carry it out as such. Detection would be too costly, especially at this stage of the operation. Discovery by Azimuth when they thought him dead would be.... well... Seth just didn't think about that.

"Celeste, engage silent running and keep heat sink A available. Put heat sink B on standby. I only want to be seen if they are looking out of their windows."
Silent Running. Shields Offline. Thermal Signature concealed.
The posh voice of Celeste affirmed the orders to Seth's High Imperial way of speaking. Proper; intelligent; precise. A way of speaking that perhaps boasted of his upbringing within the tiered Imperial system of the Empire, and one that demanded attention. A way of speaking that came in handy when Seth was in the top medical school, having been the youngest to graduate in the top percentile and not always taken seriously. He was a Tam, a former noble family of some minor renown until events removed them from favor. That didn't stop him from excelling, however.

The Consortium was not a group that Sethellion had wanted to deal with or pay a small fortune to, but rather a necessity in that they were the only ones who could and would risk breaking into a facility such as this to recover what was taken from him. From his family. Doing so had cost him nearly the rest of his credits and he was dangerously under his rebuy cost....something he was continuously warned about. Fortunately the Star Jumper hadn't failed him yet.

Vasil of the ERS had offered assistance. Not as a free favor, mind you, but as a transactional business arrangement bound by contract. That contract being for the safe and discreet storage of a stasis pod and medical facilities to care for it, Sethellion would offer not only his skills and expertise as a medical doctor and biologist to the ERS but also his Phantom in the mission to bring Imperials to the Repatriation Society discreetly and safely. Something his skills were well suited for, given that combat with the invaders was not his specialty and he'd rather continue to use his Phantom for the job it was already heavily modified to do: Get things from point A to B without being noticed.

Sethellion would have to meet with this Mr. Vasilescu after the mission, and after several jumps despite the fourty or so LY range of the aptly named Star Jumper. Coordinates, a time, and a place, had already been given. Sethellion just had to make it in with Consortium agents, grab what he came for, and make it out safely.

Perhaps easier said than done....

Ready to begin the run, Doctor. You paid good credits for this, we'll get what we came for. On my mark.

"Well then. Let's follow them in, Celeste. If anything fires on us I want Consortium ships to serve as a buffer while shields are down. Time to get what I came for. She's been here in their grasp long enough..."

Last edit: 16 Jul 2023, 11:45pm
Kasumi Goto
28 Jul 2023, 8:18pm
This post picks up on the events of this log entry, and covers the immediate aftermath of them. The events in it, and those that follow where Kira is concerned, will run parallel to the ‘Whispers of the Tempest’ series, with reference links to the board posts, where required, in future log entries.


———

I woke up on the floor, my head pounding with terrible pain from not one, but two heavy doses of sedative, within the span of about two hours. Everything was still a blur around me, and I stayed laid on the floor, waiting for the dizziness to go away.

As it passed, the feeling was replaced with a growing, burning rage, as the increasing clarity within my mind brought back the memories of what had just occurred. Slowly sitting upright, I saw no traces of the woman that had attacked us, nor of Silvia and Melli.

“Stupid bitch… who does she think she is?”, I muttered, and slowly stood up, barely able to keep my legs steady. A note was pinned to the wall with my knife, and I walked over to read it, using the wall as support.

I am sorry it came to this. Silvia’s brother Jackson knows everything you have questions about. Find him at the hospital and treat him as a traitor. I only did this because I have no option other than succeed and survive. I do not welcome death, nor do I welcome the thought of being a living wall mount.

“Oh, sure, idiot. Tell me all about your fears of that slaver asshole, then run right back into his hands. Like hell you’re sorry. Only thing you’ll be sorry about is when I find you and put a goddamn bullet through your head.”

I pulled my knife out of the wall and returned it to its holder, crumpling the note into a ball before throwing it into a bin. Then, I picked up my pistol, pulled my hood back up, and left the hotel room. I dropped a chip with the relevant payment on the reception desk without a word, and walked out. Someone was awaiting my visit at a hospital, and I didn’t intend to keep him waiting.

——

Back at the hospital …

“Jackson Sharpe. Recently admitted here. Which room?”

My unusually short and direct approach, accompanied by an upset tone, had unsettled the receptionist, and drawn some attention - more than my concealing, black attire had, anyway.

“He’s on the second floor, third room on the right.”, the receptionist replied. “But why do you want to see him?”

“I have personal business with him. He has answers, and I have questions. The rest isn’t your business.”

I stepped back from the desk, still a little wobbly on my feet.

“I’m not sure I can just allow you to walk in, especially in your state. And he’s currently being attended by - “

“Shut it!” I was out of patience. “I’m not fucking drunk. I was just hit with two shots of medical-grade narcotics in the space of two hours because of that idiot, and I’m going to tell him about it. I’m not here to kill him or anything idiotic like that.”

“Alright, alright. But please don’t cause any trouble, and do it quietly.”

The receptionist clearly didn’t want to let me through, but they also had enough sense to not try arguing with an upset, and armed, individual, whose patience was on a short string. The elevator to the second floor opened up, and I stepped inside, quickly heading to the room I was told.

Rather than wait for the door to slide open, I slammed it into the frame, caring little for the damage. The doctors in it turned around, startled.

“Who are - “, one of them began to ask, only to be interrupted.

“Everyone, out of this room, now!”, I shouted, and pulled my pistol out, not caring to argue, or that I was acting rashly and somewhat out of character.

The doctors were quick to comply, a look of fear on their faces. I spotted Jackson trying to sneak out with them, and held him back by the throat.

“No, not you, asshole.”

I slammed him into the wall and remotely sealed the door off, standing in front of the man.

“W-who are you?”, he asked, either pretending to not know, or having forgotten, a certain panicked look on his face.

“The bitch that no one accounted for.”, I replied, letting all my anger out through my voice, which also had the effect of amplifying my Japanese accent. “Why the fuck did you sell out to that asshole Diaz?”

“What the hell are you talking about? I don’t know anyo - “

I put my left hand to his throat again and pinned him to the wall, driving the air out of his lungs, while holding my pistol to his head. My next words were spoken with a deeply menacing tone.

“Don’t fucking lie to me. You fucking led that asshole to us, and you’re pretending to have no clue about any of it? Do you think I’m some kind of brainless bimbo with more breasts and ass than mind?”

“Look, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Where’s Silvia? Why are you talking like she’s gone?”

“Because she IS, you fucking dimwit!” I slammed the pistol into his nose, causing an ugly cracking sound. “She was abducted by some red-haired idiot, and the only asshat that knew where we were is you. So if you don’t want to have every single fucking bone in your body broken, I suggest you start talking.”

“O-o-okay. Fine. I sold out to them, alright? Those bastards at Azimuth offered Diaz a quarter million credits for Silvia and her pet, and he offered me a share if I helped him capture her. Should have known he’d betray me. That asshole Grenshaw shot us down in the storm, caught most of the workers to sell them off to slavers. Left me with a tracking chip in my arm, which was about to be removed.”

“I knew that crash didn’t look like you’d been knocked out of the sky by the storm.” I shook my head, pondering the other half of what I’d been told. “So much for fucking family.”

I punched Jackson in the side of the head, causing his nose to bleed.

“Stop! I’m going to tell you all I know!”

“Yeah, you had better. And make it quick. I don’t want to be here when security catches on.”

I backed off slightly, leaving Jackson a little more room to breathe.

“Start with that red-haired bitch. Who the fuck is she to be all scared of that asshat, but still follow his every whim even when given another option?”

“Jules.”

“I meant her full name, not some fucking nickname that I already know.”

“It is part of her name. Julia Cavanaugh, but everyone just calls her ‘Jules’. She and Silvia got along for a while after Silvia’s wife died. I’m not sure what happened between them, but it sounds like some bad blood now. Not really surprised - that Jules is still a pirate, even if she has slightly more morals than the average one.”

“Yeah, no fucking kidding. If I’d let Silvia get her way, she’d have torn that woman apart. And maybe I should have, on second thoughts. But what the fuck does Azimuth have to do with this?”

I already knew the answer, deep down, but I wanted to be certain.

“They’ve got to want that chip in her head, or something to do with it. Has to do with their research in linking a Thargoid ship to a human, whatever Silvia’s own research would help with there.”

“Do you have any clue where they’re taking her?”

“Other than that they probably returned to Diaz’s carrier, I'd guess they're taking her to their primary research facility. No idea what they'll do with her there, but I doubt it’ll be good. Are we done here now?”

'Hm... getting into their primary research facility would be difficult. And risky, considering what they'd do with me there. I'd do well to stop the handover before it happens, but I have no clue where to find that asshole's carrier...', I thought to myself, and replied to Jackson's question.

“Almost.”

I paused to think again for a second. This man had barely provided me with any useful information to go by, and he had far less remorse than I would have wanted him to.

“As family members go, you’re pretty shitty of one. You sold out your goddamn sister to a slaver asshole that got her wife killed, got her kidnapped, and took away one of the only friends I’ve made in the last four years. You deserve far worse than this.”

“Wait - “

I swung the back of my pistol into Jackson’s forehead, knocking him out cold. If he hadn’t learned his lesson already, that almost certainly would make him do.

“That’s for her. At least they can also fix your broken nose now, idiot.”

I quickly walked out of the hospital and back to my ship, which by now had been mostly repaired. A message - two, in fact - were in my inbox, informing me that the application for Elite ranking in ship-to-ship combat had been reviewed and accepted, along with the - original - triple Elite status that that brought.

“Real fucking consolation.”, I muttered to myself, a strong hint of sarcasm present.

“Your statement does not match your vocal intonation.”, EDI remarked.

“It’s called sarcasm,” EDI. Look it up.” I was not in the mood for jokes, and quickly changed to the subject that actually mattered to me.

“Access the port’s registers. Look for any ship registered to Julia Cava - Cavana - whatever.” I put the family name of the woman into the database. “Red hair, a little taller than Silvia, has a bunch of cybernetics. Make it quick - don’t want to be here if port authorities figure out I just beat a man up.”

“What did you do?” EDI’s tone was one of wary curiosity.

“That stupid woman left me a note telling me to pay a visit to Silvia’s brother in the hospital.

One result found. A ship registered to that individual has recently departed the facility. It is an Eagle called the ‘Pit Viper’.”, the AI replied, then paused momentarily. “What is your interest in her?”

“That bitch ran off with Silvia, that’s why.” The hatred I now held for Jules came out fully again.

“Do you wish for me to track the ship?”

“Don’t bother. They’ll be long gone by now because they used a carrier to come and go. Could be anywhere in the Bubble at this point.”

I sighed.

“Tell the - my, carrier’s crew to be ready to depart once I arrive.”

“Where are we going?”

“Inara. I just… I …”

I fell into silence, and hit the takeoff command, quickly abandoning the port. My Cutter hadn’t yet been returned to it, still undergoing basic repairs to return it to basic flight condition, but I didn’t care. I’d simply get it transferred over later.

For now, I wanted to be gone from this port, even if security cameras wouldn’t have caught my identity due to the hood, and Earth overall. Much like every other place I’d visited, it had only provided beyond shitty experiences.

It took a few minutes to clear the atmosphere, so that I could engage the ship’s hyperdrive. Once I arrived at my carrier in one of the neighboring systems, I retreated to my personal cabin in the hab quarters immediately, and curled up on the bed to cry, letting out the other pent-up emotions within my body.

It had barely been any time since I’d passed my near-suicidal bout of depression, and already the world was throwing all this bullshit at me again, risking to take yet another person that I valued from me. The only plan I could form in my head was to head back to that station in Inara to try keeping my mind even slightly focused on other things, until I had enough composure to begin looking properly.

The only real consolation I had from it all was that the hive’s voices were quiet, while the implant recovered from the sedatives coursing through my body, and when it temporarily took over its functions after the first injection. I crawled underneath the sheets of the bed, hiding myself from the rest of the world as I cried out my emotions, falling asleep from it, the sedative's aftereffects and continued exhaustion, which itself was caused by lack of sleep, just moments before the jump initiated.
Venus Duval
03 Aug 2023, 8:49pm
Location Unknown.

I stand staring out the main canopy into the dark embrace facing away from the nearby star. Frustration, anger, hatred, sorrow, regret, all swirling around me. My emotions untapped and unbound wreak havoc on my torn soul and identity. I had been on the run for months, hunting down leads, searching for the only person I have left. Just when I think I'm close my world, my love, my soul are torn from my body. My heart aches and my muscles sore. Thoughts in my head are no longer coherent, just a jumbled up mess of chaos.

I begin to wander the corridors of my anaconda. A darkness filling me, consuming me. Tears form in my eyes as the though of meeting Melli for the first time rushes through my head. The excited screeches and chatter coming from that little ball of white fluff as she jumped around finally getting to meet the person that brought her handler soo much joy and happiness. Silvia's infectious smile and laughter resonates through the mountain side home we had in Amenta.

I collapse to my knees as the weight of sorrow becomes too much to bear. I let out a heartbroken and angry cry as my two worlds collide in a violent display. Each one fighting to overpower the other. Each trying to claw their way to the top. The soft loving caring side of me that brought Silvia to love me being washed out by the blood thirsty revenge seeking angry military woman I used to be.

War, internal war, that is what I was going through. Everything in my life had ceased the day that Silvia was taken from me. Seeing her, bruised, broken, and yet trying so hard to be strong... For me. She was worried for me, worried that I would lose myself if I chased Diaz down. In a sense I did. I lost sight of who I was trying to be. I was trying to be like the servants to my family that took me in and raised me like one of their own after my parents had died. Kind, compassionate, understanding... but in the end I was a loose cannon.

Now I lay here on the floor crying. A darkness inside of me that has no form. Has no plan, no hope. All that remains of the Venus Silvia knew, is but a memory. I am angry all the time. Everything sets me off. I struggle to find my way back to the light but that darkness, that evil vile vicious woman I had to become, she wants to be free. She wants to destroy the entire universe just because it will get her what she wants.

That poor girl Kira.... She didn't deserve that outburst. She didn't deserve the way I treated her. I have become the monster under my bed. I am angry. Though that anger is more at myself. I hate who I am, I hate what I have done. I don't know who I am anymore. I..... I just.....

What do I do? How can I heal? I just want to end this evil, end the darkness, end..... everything..... I can't feel my body anymore... everything is.. numb. my limbs refuse to move. My heart feels like its going to explode. The thoughts in my head are on overdrive. I just want..... silence. Yes that is what I need i need to make the thoughts stop, make the inner me listen, make the demons retreat, but..... they won't.

They won't let me free. Won't let me remove the shackles and the chains. I am bound to them and them to me..

Who am I? A royal? A lover? A fighter? A monster? A killer? A friend?..... or am I a foe?

A foe to myself. And enemy internally, fighting myself. Kicking away all the good parts of me?....... No that can't be true. It simply cannot be how my life is to go.

Just make it all end. End the suffering, the pain, the anger, the sorrow, the hate..... the light.

Never once have I seen the darkness and welcomed its presence. I embrace the cold, dark, empty void within. I see in it peace and prosperity. Love and laughter. The woman I used to be. The one I want to be...

Yes... I welcome you void. I will wear you like a cloak, a suit of armor, hiding in my own little shell of false security..... Wait....

No! I will not sacrifice myself to the lies of the void! I AM...... strong. I have to be. For Silvia. For the love of my life. The light at the end of my tunnel. The spark that ignites my warmth. And for Melli. The little fox that saved my lovers life. That little ball of fluff in this hellish landscape of life.

I only want this torment to end! I want this pain to go away. This unyielding darkness to cease its assault. But it won't. It persists growing exponentially every single day. I fear one day I won't wake up. Or I will wake up and Silvia will be but a figment of my imagination. That all of this was just a dream rather a hellish nightmare.

I lay on the floor of my ship as tears stream down my face. The emotions raging on like a tempest.
Creamy Goodness III
04 Aug 2023, 6:27pm
Meanwhile, a few thousand light years to the galactic west.
Willow Thorn
07 Aug 2023, 9:02pm
All the talk of tracking a fleet carrier had lit a fire under Willows ass. After a nice drink and chat down in the pilots market with Vasil away from the pointless posturing up in the bar, Willow had a restless night’s sleep. It wasn’t just putting up with a little rotation gravity and the discomfort of the cast on her crushed arm that kept waking her up, she was thinking of getting back out in to the black.

The painkiller that the blue haired head-case had given her helped her drop off, but it was booking a flight to McCormick Dock in HIP 21750 that let her mind rest in the end. Her ship, Bramble Barb was there in long storage. Citi didn’t want staff taking up space in the limited docks they had, and the mooring fees would have eaten her wages any way. She couldn’t fly with just one arm, but just sitting in her python would feel great.

Most of her work had been done in The Wisp, a D-Back her dad had given her when she left the family salvage firm to start her own business. She’d busted her butt working every recovery, and reboot job she could get, trading any salvage she could load onto her ship to buy the python. Even if it was bolted down, Willow had salvaged it.

Bramble Barb was more than just a great ship for both her primary jobs; it was going to be her home. For years, she had been storing Saud Kruger cabin and facilities parts at her dad’s warehouse. Her family had helped her out, and the savaging had paid off. She’d spent more than a month building custom living quarters in the size 7 bay in the Barb.

A few weeks after that, The Outfit had happened to her, and Willow spent a few months running to the rim in her old D-back trying to come to terms with what had happened. Now the Barb had been recovered, Willow had decided to get a normal job to even out her head, and that was fine until she was injured, and the missing barmaid had reminded Willow how much she enjoyed tracking lost ships.



There she was looking just as good as she did after Willow had finished the customizing her. A fresh paint job always helped. Taking in the view was great, but sitting in the big chair would be better. It wasn't just the lack of gravity that made Willows steps feel light, it was getting back to her own ship and the freedom it offered. Feeling the stick in her good hand was great, and Willow played with the consoles as if she was going to take her out, but that wasn't going to happen with one hand.

After breathing in the cockpit for a while, the talk about tracking wakes back in the bar swam around in her mind. It was too late, the people going to find Silvia would have left by now, but it wouldn't do any harm to see what she could find out from Sol logs over the last few weeks. If someone got a carrier in there, they had inside help, and someone may have seen something. Besides, Willow could use her analysis station, and the computer with one hand. It'd pass some time

Last edit: 07 Aug 2023, 9:09pm
Willow Thorn
08 Aug 2023, 1:27pm
The search was taking a long time, but Willow had nothing better to do thanks to her arm. She rolled the rod from her extract bottle with her tongue making the cap spin against her lips. Sol was a tourist destination for obvious reasons, but it was also the seat of Federal power, so it was well monitored. The idea a civilian owned carrier could drop in and out, and not get logged and tracked was madness, but apparently it had happened.

Taking the cap in her fingers, Willow dipped it back in its bottle and pulled it out covered in the thick tar. Just as she was putting it back in her mouth, the scrolling text on the holo-display stopped.

“Thats too easy” said a girl's voice over the coms “Queen Ann’s Revenge. Thousands of years, and light years between them, but pirates never change. I got your ship, but we’re gonna need to see didges in the account before I tell you the rest”

“Ok cool, um, let me,” One hand was hard to deal with. Taking the rod in her teeth because that much extract straight on her taste buds was way too much, Willow searched for her slate. “Kay, wait, just opening my bank”

It wasn’t much for a simple search, and Willow had plenty from her trip to the rim, even after spending most of it on mercenaries and assassins.

“There, paid in full. As always” said willow make sure to close her bank app. Hackers were hackers after all.

“Ok, payment received” said the voice “So, there was a visitor that didn’t appear on the official register, but lucky for us, some holiday makers on a cruise liner snagged a few images of one Queen Anne's Revenge, and not the ocean sailboat belonging to one of history's most famous assholes”

“Your guy, an asshole of epic standing himself, jumped with in pissing distance of T Tauri. A system also full of practicing assholes. Damn, I feel like a proctologist. Your dude Diaz, not a good guy. I wouldn’t advise fucking with his bizz, and if you want more from me, the price just when up. Right up”

“Like, you got more?” Asked Willow in case she could get a freebie.

There was a pause “I’m gonna say yes, but don’t waste your credits. All I got you can find out yourself. If you do want me to dig into Queen Anns happening to pop up near T Tauri, you're gonna be paying for a team and some guys we can find dumb enough to go there”

“So yeah, I get what you're saying, I guess I got my own dumb guys” said Willow thinking of the people she had encountered at the Galactic. “Thank you; maybe catch ya next time I need.. “

They had killed the line already. The people from the board she used for expert support were not big on getting personal with clients, even repeat customers like Willow. It was for the best.

Now she had something useful, and she wasn’t even on Citi Gateway. Pushing the extract rod to her cheek, Willow grabbed her pad again and booked a shuttle back to Citi.

Last edit: 08 Aug 2023, 2:01pm
Meowers
13 Aug 2023, 9:47pm
...Shortly after I jumped into another totally worthless, desolated and every other way unremarkable system on my route, my ship comms beeped an incoming message sound.

From: Kasumi Goto

Just got done working with Willow. I’ll definitely let you know when it’s all ready. Or I guess our Imperial ‘friend’ will. And before I forget to mention it, apparently that ‘contact of hers’ turned out to not be a fluke, but what they bring will probably only be good as a distraction.

Anyway, Thargoids permitting, I’ll go through the data I got now, then send what I find to both you and blue-hair. Or we can discuss it in the bar once I’ve reviewed it - your call.

And this message, kind of... Pulled me out of hypnotised hyperspace-travelling state. Something to look at and something to think about, a little break from staring at the fabrics of space whirling in front of me. I dropped Marshmallow onto the stable orbit over a star and wrote a reply.

Glad to hear it, hope they won't mess anything up. And I think you can do both: drop those messages to me and Jenna so they could stay in inbox as a reference to look at and refresh the memory, and then we may discuss it. Though, I'm still struggling to find a language in which 'Jenna' and 'discussions' may be put in one sentence close to each other. Bashing your head against the bulkheads is way more productive. Maybe we should talk about it and figure something out together, between us, and then just let her know the facts. Still, depends on the information.

Wishing best of luck to you, will be waiting for your reply.
Kasumi Goto
14 Aug 2023, 7:47am
Buzzing in my head.

I tried to ignore the hive’s voices that began to breach the embrace of my sleep’s void and continue resting, feeling barely like I had slept. After a few futile attempts of rolling around in the bed, I allowed my weary eyes to open.

It had, much to my - sleepy - surprise, been just over eight hours. With no nightmares, not that it seemed to have improved the recovery phase of the body. There was a message from Meowers, timestamped to just after my impromptu departure.

Nothing in it I could immediately answer to. I put aside the wrist computer and closed my eyes again. Too early for my brain to work properly, and even if I couldn’t sleep more - unlikely, given what was going through my head -, waiting in bed like this would at least allow me to start the day at my own pace.
Kasumi Goto
14 Aug 2023, 10:52am
It'd taken an hour or two of rolling around and intermittently napping, as well as a rather odd, but somewhat pleasant, dream, for me to wake up properly. Part of me felt like checking any potential needs of the local Maelstrom front, but it appeared the Imperials near Hadad were giving it as good of a fight as it would get, even launched into a rather ambitious recapture project for the Omumba system, comparatively close to the Titan.

I internally wished them luck and got up - slowly - instead, starting out with a simple shower, enjoying the hot water as it ran across the various parts off my body and removed unwanted substances from its skin. Once done and dried off, I got dressed and sat down on the bed, examining the data I intended to look into the previous day, before the Thargoids decided to have other plans for me. Specifically, a folder referring to a 'Project Deliverance'.

"'Project Deliverance'? What kind of nonsensical Azimuth bullshit is this?"

I dug into it further - none of it was good. In typical Azimuth fashion, a megalomaniac plan to use a Thargoid ship - no mentions made to whether they had one - as a Trojan horse by sending it into a Titan, packed full of some kind of explosive. And Silvia was the intended vector, through the use of the chip in her head, with another twenty civilians onboard Diaz's carrier to repeat the experiment if it showed some success.

"Idiots. That plan would never work. Our explosives do about as much damage to a Thargoid as getting tickled, and they think they can use those to disable a Titan? We don't even know where the ships go through it."

I shook my head. Not only was the plan guaranteed suicide, but it would only work with explosive devices based off of Guardian technology, and no amount of shielding would hide those, even onboard a Thargoid ship. I had no telling how the surrounding Thargoids around a Titan would react to that mixture, but I doubted it would be positive, especially if they were aware of a non-Thargoid pilot controlling the ship.

Then, there was the problem of them not even knowing if the Thargoid ship would accept the connection. They'd only gotten it to work for Seo, without knowing how, and I had no real way of telling if I had ever been hooked up to one, even if some of my nightmares made it seem that way.

There was still some data left. It made matters look worse, telling me that an Anaconda set up as a medical ship was supposed to pick her - Silvia - up rather soon, along with the other civilians. The file made mention of a very specific designator, that I knew only one rather nefarious group under the employment of Azimuth to use, for both it and its escort fleet. Not a good sign. I set myself to typing up a message, setting both Meowers and Venus as the recipients.

I've gone through the data. There might be some complications. Won't say more over an open channel, in case anyone's listening. We need to talk about this in person. You know where to find me.

- Kasumi

I hoped they'd know, at least, as I hit send and ordered my carrier, which had arrived while I slept, to jump back into a system close to Inara. Then, I took off from the station and headed to the carrier myself, looking to hitch a ride rather than fly myself. A second message was sent to Meowers separately while I waited for the jump sequence to complete.

If you want to talk one-on-one, let me know here. We'll probably get some time to before the action kicks off, anyway.

- K
Meowers
14 Aug 2023, 5:36pm
...There was always 'something else to do' in the camp, but the majority of chaos and disorder were dealt with already, and my second-in-command has been good so far at keeping things in order while I'm busy adventuring. Both planetary militia fleet and AXDF forces had new recruits to train, and, thankfully, it wasn't that impossible: stationed relatively far from the frontlines, we enjoyed relatively safe environment and patrolling the surroundings wasn't the number one priority on our lists. Though, even if it wasn't yet stated directly, everyone knew that we're heading to the major battle somewhat soon, that's just how it works during the wartime.

Anyway. I woke up and, finishing morning keep-myself-human rountines, checked the messages. There were three of them from Kasumi.

I've gone through the data. There might be some complications. Won't say more over an open channel, in case anyone's listening. We need to talk about this in person. You know where to find me.

- Kasumi

* * *

If you want to talk one-on-one, let me know here. We'll probably get some time to before the action kicks off, anyway.

- K

* * *

Hey.

So, about that second-to-last message… I don’t think I really answered it properly. So I’m going to now.

I think, or maybe just feel like, I should be the one thanking people. It seems like, lately, every time there’s something wrong I find a person that’s there to just listen. Or bash me on the head to knock my brain back into the right position. And from those I least expect it from, too.

And to think I came into that bar once just because I didn’t know what to do with myself. Anyway, we can talk about this more later. Currently waiting in port for things to kick off.

* * *

"Godsdamned Azimuth, as if having a full-scale war isn't nasty enough," it sounded more like an excuse for another leave rather than rant, but I thought I owed people here some less formal explanations after concluding the official part of delegating my tasks for next few days. "There's some sensitive data we can't push through comm channels and I'm yet to know it, but they were never been doing something that has a common sense. And now a person who helped me once is being held captive. I guess I should go and do a thing."

"And if you end up in a hospital again, don't expect me to be merciful," a bit of encouragement from Mion in private never hurts, "Be it ordering them to give you the ugliest MREs possible, or sneaking in to cover your bandages in teens boys-band lyrics, my revenge will come."

* * *

While Marshmallow's systems were warming up for a take-off, I composed a reply:

"Figuring out what to do with yourself can take longer than you ever imagined, but it can also bring something new into your life. Maybe something that you needed, but didn't know about.

I'm heading for Inara then. Will send you a message once docked at Citi."
Venus Duval
18 Aug 2023, 11:39pm
Continued from the Docks

The small fleet of ships and myself arrive at Kasumis Carrier the Normandy. After requesting and receiving authorization for docking we touch down. The main task force steps off their ships keeping them spooled up. A few of them simply need to stretch their legs in the zero-G environment. A few of them perform exercises to get their bodies used to the environment they will be fighting in.

I depart my ship and wander around the carrier. The utilitarian design of the interior is far less interesting than that of an Imperial ship. I manage to find my way to the lounge and shut off my mag boots allowing myself to float in the lounge. I make my way over to a viewing window and position myself into a criss crossed "sitting" position. I close my eyes and allow my mind and body to drift.

My thoughts settle on distant memories from when I was younger. My first time stepping foot into the cockpit of a combat ship and learning how to fly it. I was clumsy at first overcorrecting my trajectories. Ending up putting myself into very violent spins that sucked me back into my seat. I had my FA switch locked out and forced myself to learn to fly without it. It took me months to properly learn to pilot my ship.

As the memories pass through my mind a smile forms on my face. I take a deep breath in and release it slowly. Time was short now and one the other end of this was a nightmare in comparison to this calm before the storm. I knew not what state of mind Silvia would be in nor if she was uninjured. I also thought about Kasumi's question once more.

"What if Azimuth decides to show up?"

That was the real hard question. I didn't know what to do. I didn't have a plan for that. I don't think anyone could have a plan for their appearance. Would we grab what data we could against Diaz and run? Would we stay and fight them hoping we could make it out of their alive? Would it be best if I sacrificed everything to protect everyone else? Do we abandon the mission?

That last question received a very hateful no from deep within my soul and it was right. Mission abandonment was not an option. Getting Silvia and Melli off the Queen Anne's Revenge was the only thing that truly mattered. Diaz and his crew could wait. I struggled to come up with an answer from Kasumi and instead decided to begin a meditation.
Kasumi Goto
19 Aug 2023, 11:39am
I was in the middle of setting myself up when I received automated notifications that a number of ships had docked at my carrier. Had to be Venus’ fleet and Meowers, so I decided to send the two of them a message.

We should meet on the observation deck before we set off. I’ll join you there once I’m done preparing.

I hit send and returned to my previous activity - I’d already gathered a bunch of ammo for my railgun, seven spares, one loaded, with twelve rounds each, spread around my belt, either safely secured or tucked away in a belt pouch. A med kit as well, plus some shield disruptors and ammo for my pistol. No grenades - not a risk I wanted to take on a spaceship.

Next up was my armor. Simple, black chest piece, though considerably bulkier than one would have expected. Yet wearing it never seemed to pose any problem for me, at least yet. It covered most of my chest and some of the waist, including the sides below my arms, complemented by shoulder pads and guards for lower half of forearm, and top half upper arm, held on by straps. None of that silly ‘boob armor’ to be seen anywhere, just simple, solid protection, as it should be.

I separated the chest piece into two halves to fit it, moving on to the additionals once it was secure. Then, two more pieces to fit onto my boots, covering the front of my shins to the knee, and slightly above them, equally held by straps.

I double checked to see that everything was held safely, then looked at my helmet. No need for that yet. I placed it in a locker on the bridge, along with the two weapons I’d be taking, and left for the observation deck.
Meowers
19 Aug 2023, 1:08pm
Continued from The Docks

I read the incoming message: it had me and Venus in the recipients list. If Kasumi wanted to see us before the things... begin, then it was definitely something important. Whatever this meeting was going to be dedicated to, I thought it'd be better to finish any preparations by packing myself into the armour suit; doing so, I gave the 'Big Bag of Funny Things' a brief look. Phah. Enough ammo to melt the engine of that godsdamned carrier. Perhaps. But I liked to think that way. Finishing with the suit, I left the cockpit and went to the observation deck.

Being first from our group to reach it, I took one of the vacant seats near the window and directed my gaze to the starscape.

Last edit: 19 Aug 2023, 1:54pm
Venus Duval
19 Aug 2023, 1:24pm
I arrived at the observation deck briefly after Meowers having read the incoming message that had pulled me from my trance like state. Enjoying the freedoms of zero-G I opted to float my way there. The lack of pressure on my joints was a relief. I found a decent spot and allowed myself to float in place rather than taking a seat.

I look out the window into the black expanse of space a feeling of belonging washing over me. I enjoyed the stars. Looking at them, being amongst them, and feeling as if I was at home. A smile spreads across my face. Even in this moment before facing a storm that we may not survive I felt at peace. The abyss was always a welcomed sight for me.

Last edit: 19 Aug 2023, 1:35pm
Kasumi Goto
19 Aug 2023, 1:45pm
I arrived at the observation deck with Meowers and Venus already there. I wondered how they’d react to me basically looking all but ready to go to war with the universe itself.

Two knife holders were present on me alongside the other stuff I carried, one on the back of my belt, roughly in center, with handle oriented toward the right hand. It held a knife purely designed for going in as efficiently as possible for a quick kill.

The second, on the side of my left thigh, was holding a knife with a serrated edge, rather to be used to inflict as much damage per hit as possible on a tougher opponent. The pistol holder, yet to hold any weapon, was opposite that on my other leg.

“You won’t get to see me like this often.”, I remarked to the two women as a greeting. “Now that we’re all three here… first things first, I need a destination for this big hunk of metal.”

I gestured at the carrier with an encompassing motion, using my arms.

“Second, what we do if Azimuth shows up. We have to consider the eventuality that they chose to speed their schedule up.”

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