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.
Silvia Sharpe
03 Jul 2023, 8:52pm
'I'd need Jules' ship and a month to figure out if it was.'

I look off into the distance and look at the storm clouds. The looming storm brings a strange calmness to the surrounding valley. A cool breeze drifts in from the cold front moving through the area.

'These storms always brought me some amount of joy.'

Melli pops her head up and looks out towards the storm her brilliant white fur now a shade of brown and red. Her ears twitch as she hear the thunder and before I have a chance to scold her for ruining her fur she is off chasing down another critter in the undergrowth.

'As much as she is domesticated she is still a wild creature. I often wonder if I should let her free out here away from everyone. I just want to know how anyone knows what she is. I kept that information secret.'
Kasumi Goto
03 Jul 2023, 9:04pm
Silvia SharpeI just want to know how anyone knows what she is. I kept that information secret.'


“Well, I’m just saying, someone who knew you, or someone you knew closely, would probably know about what you did. Or you had the misfortune of some guy in legion with Azimuth working with you… if it was them, anyway.”

Another lightning, followed by louder thunder.

“Well, I was joking about the getting wet part, but now I’m not so sure if it’s not going to pull over the house. Anyway, I do quite like them too. A change from just boring old clouds or rain.”

I thought about the subject of the chip for a second.

“Say, I don’t suppose you ever mentioned that chip over an open comms line to someone else? Those are pretty easy to listen in on or catch the transmissions sent if you know how and where to look. I’ve been careful to not mention any details in our messages because of that.”
Silvia Sharpe
04 Jul 2023, 1:27am
'Nothing that wasn't encrypted. I suppose someone from the research group I was in could have said something.'

I look at Kira and lean back on my hands. The work from the crew grows silent as they break for the day. Melli comes trotting up from the left of us carrying her catch a triumphant pep in her step and she places the mountain hare next to me.

'I guess we both have things that remain a mystery at least for now. Though the only time I talk about Melli and what she actually is, is in person just like us and when I told you about her.'

Jackson approaches us and in an attempt to not startle and of us alerts us to his approach.

'Hello lasses. Just wanted to let you know we are packing up for the day weather report shows a shift in the storm. Unless you want to be soaked I suggest heading in.'

He turns and leaves not wanting to cause any uncomfortable situations for anyone.

'Ya thanks Jackie. Thank you for the heads up.'

I turn to Kira and motion to the cutter.

'Should we head in and we can check out that tinkering lab I saw you had set up?'
Kasumi Goto
04 Jul 2023, 1:36am
'Should we head in and we can check out that tinkering lab I saw you had set up?'


“Sure. Unless you prefer staying out here when that downpour arrives.”

I gestured to the storm front, where the rain falling down already reduced visibility underneath it, then looked to Melli.

“Though one of us looks like they could use a shower. And I’m afraid the catch is going to have to stay outside.”

I didn’t spare much of a look for the dead rabbit, or whatever it was. It certainly looked close to one. Though I didn’t much expect it to be left behind instead of dragged into the ship. Nor did I expect the hybrid creature to like getting doused in water - if anything, it looked proud to be dirty.
Silvia Sharpe
04 Jul 2023, 4:47am
Melli not wanting to give up her prize runs under the boarding ramp of Kira's cutter. The wind begins to pick up more and the sky grows dark. I stand and offer a hand to Kira helping her to her feet. Rushing inside I stop at the base of the boarding ramp.

'Melli! Come inside now! This storm looks bad!'

The little creature takes a few looks back and forth at her catch. She decides forgiveness is better than going hungry and brings her prize just inside the boarding ramp.

Making our way into the tech room I turn to Kira.

'So ya. I don't know who Jules was working for but if it is Azimuth I have no way of fighting them off. Ooooh Blueprints! Whatcha building?'
Kasumi Goto
04 Jul 2023, 10:29am
'So ya. I don't know who Jules was working for but if it is Azimuth I have no way of fighting them off.


“Well, I’ve obviously got no proof, but they seem like the most likely culprit. With all the spies and connections they’ve got, it’s far from impossible to imagine that someone snitched on you. Likewise, they’d have a certain interest in that chip, and will probably kill to get it. Or at least their …”

I needed to look for the wording I wanted in my head.

“… ‘benevolent aid’ would probably do that. I know if they ever got their hands on me, they wouldn’t think twice about cutting me open to figure out how it all works. Along with very probably unpleasant tests.”

“And as to how they’d get access to records of otherwise classified work, well, they happen to - probably - have the support of a shadow organization comprised of the biggest, narcissistic assholes that humanity has to provide, which itself has its fingers in basically everything so they can try to keep us nice and controlled. They might also be why we’re fighting this nonsensical war against the Thargoids. They even have a whole contingency plan set up in the Formidine Rift for the event of exactly this kind of conflict.”

“Oh, and if the subject ever comes up, I never told you about the Club and you don’t know what or who they are.”

I turned my attention to the blueprints.

“Was. Was working on these. Small tweaks to various things around the ships I own, backup power supplies if I need to shut off main power, you name it. Some are just standard engineer modifications.”

My right hand pointed to the remnants of an Imperial Hammer railgun sitting in the corner.

“The remnants of my last project, which was probably the last for a little while. I needed one of those to build that thing you locked away in the armory… and if you need to know how I got an Imperial Hammer without the necessary authorizations, let’s just say, I happen to know a very specific Imperial princess a little too well.”

I sighed, looking at the work of the past… how long had it been? My mind recounted the time since I’d returned to human space, coming out at nearly a year.

“I buried myself in this work, even when it felt like my whole body was on fire from pain, ignoring what was obvious. I was so stupid, even trying to openly admit to my condition in publicly readable logs. Not that it changed what Azimuth already seemed to know. Nobody else seemed to care or notice, and I’ve since removed them, but …”

A low rumble passed through the ship, muffled thunder from outside.

“EDI, please close all of the shutters on the ship’s windows and canopy. No point in it all getting wet when we’re not even looking outside.”

The room we were in, which wasn’t far from the reactor bay and thruster housing, as well as the FSD chamber, didn’t have any windows anyway, so it mattered little.

“So… where’s… I forgot the name of your pet again. She won’t… well, shouldn’t get too wet under the belly of the ship, and if she stayed at the top of the boarding ramp, should also be covered from the wind.”

Right as I finished that sentence, heavy rain began to hammer the hull, accompanied by much louder thunder.
Silvia Sharpe
05 Jul 2023, 3:47am
'Melli is probably sitting at the top of the boarding ramp eating her catch. She will likely come running in if there is a lightning strike too close......'

I dont even finish my statement before a bolt of superheated plasma from the storm above strikes the ship. A loud ear splitting explosion from the air being ripped apart by the electrical charge tears through the ship. The lights and systems go haywire as the massive electrical charge reverberates throughout the ship. Melli let's out a terrified screech and bolts through the ship in search of me and Kira. The terrified creature basically skids to a halt and hides under a desk in the room.

'Huh. Haven't had an atmospheric lightning strike on a ship before. Been struck several times out in a Lagrange cloud but never planet side.'

I look to Kira to determine what she would like to do in this situation.

Last edit: 05 Jul 2023, 5:22am
Kasumi Goto
05 Jul 2023, 11:12am
I look to Kira to determine what she would like to do in this situation.


“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not going to go outside in that weather. Knowing my luck, a lightning bolt’s going to find its way under the hull to zap me.”

I sighed, moving away from the workbench, and just sat down on the ground, legs crossed. My energy levels felt drained already.

“The ship’s going to be fine. It’s taken a few charges of Thargoid lightning already when I was evacuating people. Doubt this is much worse.”

I didn’t know what else to say. Or what to do, for that matter, other than keeping an eye on the terrified creature under a desk that I forgot was in the room.

“I never know what to do when I’m bored. I’d just take off and start doing something, but still feel like I wasn’t having fun with it. Because there was no point to it, just doing it to be busy instead of because I wanted. Nothing I’ve done in the last few years had a point, and I can’t even remember most of it.”

I gestured to my head with my right hand, as if to say the damage resulted in severe memory loss, then let it hang in a resigned manner. I hadn’t even remembered to take my hood off, yet, and the storm outside felt like it reflected my mental state - turmoil, darkness and sadness, sometimes all mixing together, other times coming on one at a time.
Silvia Sharpe
05 Jul 2023, 12:08pm
The soft roar of rain was soon accompanied by a much more aggressive crashing sound. Loud clanks and clang can be heard as what I would assume were large chunks of hail smash into the ship and landing pad.

'Hail. I hope you have insurance on this ship.'

The words come out of my mouth in a sarcastic and joking manor. I take a seat on the floor and motion for Melli to come over to me. Her fur a dull shade of pink and brown both from the dirt outside and the hare she had been eating. Another loud clap of thunder and a massive vibration as a bolt of lightning strikes the landing pad. The wind outside picks up and the resulting sound is eerie as the air moves across the Gutamaya ships intricate body panels and curvature.

'Not everything you do has to have a purpose. I know a lot of what I do makes no significant difference to the universe around me. All that matters is that the things you are doing matter to you.'

I look around the room at the many bits and bobs laying around. The imperial hammer being the most prominent thing in the room. The mag rails and several other components have been stripped from it. The sound of Gail and rain increases to a steady onslaught. Another loud clap of thunder followed by a strange almost charging sound as the ions in the air begin to align. The sound grows louder and louder until eventually the tension in the air reaches a maximum then a bolt of lightning so massive the landing pad let's out a groaning sound.

'This one's bad even by my standards.'

Another bolt of lightning strikes a nearby tree causing it to splinter into thousands of tiny pieces. Chunks of the trees core and bark pelt the ship.

'If I was bored I would just disappear for a while. No one really knew where I was or what I was doing and I preferred it that way. Heck even when I was younger I always found myself looking for a purpose. As time moved on my desire for a purpose turned into a desire to enjoy every moment.'

'I found peace in chaos. I found beauty in the devastation of the stars. I began searching the stars for anything that could fill a void in my soul that seemed to never go away.'
Kasumi Goto
05 Jul 2023, 12:28pm
“And when you no longer have that, then what?”

The question was as genuine as I could make it sound. I remotely activated the prismatic shield of the ship, mostly to cut out the noise of the hail hitting the hull - it wouldn’t stop the wind passing over it, or the rain droplets and smaller hail stones.

“Nothing I’ve done for a long time now felt like it was ‘fun’. Like I was just doing things to… do something, to stop myself from just sitting around being bored, and going insane. Even going out into deep space, which was one of the things I always wanted to do as a child, eventually became a dull task, a distraction from the world. The recruiters and instructors of the Pilot’s Federation made it sound so great… until it wasn’t.”

I sighed again, listening to the sounds outside.

“For all the technological advances we’ve made, even reverse-engineering alien technology, we still haven’t come far from when we threw rocks at anything not human. Not even tens of thousands of light years from the Bubble, I had solitude from their voices, in my head. They were just quieter, like they are now.”

“I don’t think that thing in my head likes it much when I’m not in a good spot. But feeling down and like I haven’t slept or eaten for days for the rest of my life doesn’t seem like a great idea, either.”
Silvia Sharpe
05 Jul 2023, 2:26pm
Kira Goto“And when you no longer have that, then what?”


'You find something new. You try something you've never done. I know if feels like you have done everything but there is always something out there that you have never seen or done.'

I look around as another bolt of lightning strikes the surrounding area.

'You know sometimes you just have to try the impossible. It seems like you want to be rid of whatever thing is inside of you. I say try the impossible and remove it. I think its a scare tactic to keep you connected. You know if I were sadistic enough I would implant something and have the failsafe be the fear of death. What happened when they tried to pluck it out? Or have you been too concerned about the potential of death?'

I pause thinking about the possibility that the thing itself is causing the fear of dying in order to stay inside and alive. Sure the two are interconnected but not all parasites kill the host when removed. It was all just theory but the options Kira had were limited. Either starve to death or risk death through removal of this thing.

'Just remove the controlling portion of the thing. You are clearly very much so alive. And without it I doubt you'd be dead.'

I lay down on my back and sprawl my arms out to the side. The interior of this ship even in this room is leaps and bounds nicer than any of the ships I'd find myself piloting.

'The elegant nature of this ship makes me uncomfortable. As dull as it is the Challenger I flew to help Ina in the maelstrom feels more like home to me than Gutamaya ever did. Venus was the eloquent and appearance fancy shmancy one out of the two of us. Always clean always perfect. Me I was always a mess. Dust on my armor at all times. My hair a mess. My ships as you saw are typically baring some marker of the adventures I've been on.'

I let out a sigh and close my eyes thinking back on the good and bad on my life.

'I failed soo many times doing the things I thought I could succeed at. My experiments went wrong more than they did right but I always had support to keep me going. Venus was everything to me and the day she died.... the day I watched her die.... was the day I lost who I was. I lost my way, lost my hope, lost my beacon in the night. I found myself staring into the void and found it too could stare back into me. It reached up and clawed at the ground beneath my feet. I fell into a pit that sent me into a frenzy.'

A couple of tears fall from my closed eyes as the pain from the recent past finds its way back into my life. My face shows the level of hurt and emotion that would typically cripple a person. My voice wavers as I continue.

'When I say I killed the only person who gave a damn about me I meant Jules. She was there even when the rest of the universe left me to die. I threw myself into the abyss quite literally and she rushed to bring me back into the ship. I am far from perfect and the skeletons in my closet would tell you the same. This mystery we call life has its challenges for everyone some more than others.'
Kasumi Goto
05 Jul 2023, 3:23pm
'The elegant nature of this ship makes me uncomfortable.


“I don’t much like it either, but it’s just the best option available for moving people out of the war zone, if a station with a large pad is at hand. And I never got around to redecorating, only had that awful white paint stripped and replaced. I prefer the Phantom for most of my tasks, a Corvette or Fer-de-Lance for anything that requires a ship to be shot up and nothing else. Used to use a regular Krait for fighting back against the Thargoids in the Bubble until I couldn’t tolerate it any longer… it’s currently set up for Maelstrom diving.”

I scoffed at the idea of using the elegant ship for distinctly non-elegant purposes.

“I used to use this Cutter as a mining ship first. Then I used it for the rescue efforts, because of its speed and internal space without sacrificing ship defense, and occasional cargo hauling. Never wanted one of those awful, ugly Lakon bricks in the Type series. I hear they’re about as agile as a brick, too.”

I stopped myself from getting dragged into talking about my ships too much, and moved to another of the subjects currently at hand.

“I don’t think the thing in my head is just trying to get me to keep it inside through the fear of death. Those people at Aegis have had enough time to examine Seo’s implant, and I’m inclined to believe them when they say they couldn’t touch any of its internal mechanisms or disconnect it for even a short time. It might just be too complex for our current understanding of Thargoid technology. And I already am alive well past my due. What if it needs that piece to function at all?”

“As to what happened exactly, well, the Thargoids aren’t directly responsible for my messy state. When I said it was Azimuth putting a failsafe into a mind control chip, I meant it. They seemed too afraid to keep me or something, after an unsanctioned operation to look for more potential candidates to merge with a Thargoid ship’s consciousness. Used that chip to have me in that system where the Proteus Wave fired, and the Thargoids got interested in me.”

I paused to catch my breath.

“They probably tried to pull the chip out for their own implant and, well… you can probably imagine what happened when it sent an electrical charge through my body in an attempt to kill me. Something they couldn’t have known would happen, but I don’t know why they decided to keep me alive. And I’ve had too many close encounters with death to want to chance it again.”

I sighed, and chose to lay down as well.

“I told you this yesterday, about having a sister once. What I did and went through after watching her die… I couldn’t even say anything to her, not even a simple goodbye. She was just gone, one moment to the next. Ripped out of my life like …”

I made an outward ripping gesture at my chest.

“She was the only person that ever meant anything to me. Everyone else in my family - they weren’t even the one I was born into, but my parents died before I could remember them - just yelled at me for daring to be different. Then yelled some more when I got annoyed and didn’t answer, ignoring them. And they were surprised when I began to act like that, no longer taking their constant bitching seriously. Every time I made a “problem”, it wasn’t ‘Why are you doing this, help me understand’, but ‘Stop doing this you dumb idiotic shit’.”

“So yeah… when she died, I was just… it was like a mirror shattering from a hammer getting thrown into it at full force. I stopped caring for my life and those around me for months, regardless of the consequences. Those scars I have… are from the same thing that indirectly killed her. Delayed me to where I could no longer do anything. The second time, we were even, but I still got a second scar on my neck. The third time… I put a bullet through that monster’s head after I beat him.”

The hatred in my voice rose as I recounted that particular part of my past, after the pain and sadness of the loss had come out, then abated again. As if on cue, loud thunder roared outside.

“But I was still never the same after that. It’s been years, but it still hurts all the same. Not like those self-proclaimed psychology experts claim. I’d lost the only thing I cared for, and not long after that the world I knew fell apart around me too, throwing me into the wider galactic society. I’d been isolated from it until that point… or, at least, they tried to.”

I’d lost the line that I was following, but it was getting too personal anyway. Before I got lost following the darkness within me, as much as I wanted to ask her why she was wasting her time with me wailing about everything that was wrong, the wind outside started howling again, as though the storm still hadn’t expended all of its energy. I could feel a light tremble in the ship’s frame.

“Alright, this is getting a little ridiculous. This storm’s not going to turn into a tornado, is it?”
Silvia Sharpe
05 Jul 2023, 4:28pm
Kira Goto“Alright, this is getting a little ridiculous. This storm’s not going to turn into a tornado, is it?”


'Probablity if that is low. Mountains don't see tornados at least not in the region we are in. The most we will see is the heavy rain, hail, and a massive amount of wind, sometimes the gusts are upwards of 100mph. These storms usually get worse right before they fall off.'

'This has got to be your first time ever experiencing a mountain thunderstorm. The storm fronts get kind of "stuck" on the mountain peaks and the weather kind of rolls over itself creating a turbulent mass that will rage on until enough of the front pushes past the peaks and pulls the storm along. Typically right at the peak of the storm and the wind shear is at its highest is when the front kind of slumps over like a weird slime like miasma.'

I stop to listen to the muffled sound of rain and hail plinkering on the hull and landing platform. The wind howls through the trees and some of the largest can be heard creaking and groaning seemingly straining against the wind. A loud pop can be heard as one of the largest trees is split at the base. Screeching and squalling can be heard and the tree come crashing down. A large bang accompanied by shaking of the ship as the tree strikes the cutter. A second lesser impact rings through the hull as a second smaller tree falls on a the left side thruster.

'Well if you were planning on leaving I am not so sure that is an option now. We are just going to have to ride out the storm.'

Melli cautiously makes her way out from underneath the desk/workbench and slinks up onto Kira's chest. She is trembling with fear but seemingly wants to be a comfort creature for Kira having sensed her pain and concern.
Kasumi Goto
05 Jul 2023, 5:50pm
'Well if you were planning on leaving I am not so sure that is an option now. We are just going to have to ride out the storm.'


“Don’t underestimate how sturdy and powerful a Cutter’s engines are. But I don’t see why we’d go anywhere, and I can’t take control of the ship anyway.”

My response sounded a little more bitter than I intended. Melli then snuck onto my chest and formed a ball there, but I wasn’t too happy about the weight on it, making it harder to breathe.

“Somewhere that isn’t on the chest or belly, please.”

I provided a generous back scratch as an incentive, then looked back to Silvia.

“I haven’t got much of a clue about mountain storms, no. Just that the rocks act as a natural rain barrier. Though I’ve got enough of an experience with other storms that’d make some of Earth’s most powerful hurricanes look tame in comparison. They were bad and frequent enough that it required some really big walls to be built around cities so they could even stand.”

I didn’t really want to talk about my home planet, so I changed the subject back.

“You know, I haven’t mentioned it yet to anyone, but Seo did kind of save me a while ago… must’ve been two or three months now? I don’t quite remember. After Azimuth failed to capture her because those Far God fanatics intervened, they decided that I was a better target. Only they were clumsy and not only had me escape twice, but also nearly killed me when they tried a third time.”

“I’m not really sure who or what ended up destroying them. Might’ve been the Thargoids, because I probably didn’t destroy a Vulture, Anaconda and Fer-de-Lance in a Phantom with two burst lasers and plasma accelerators. At least, not all three.”

I stopped to breathe, not thinking fondly of the incident.

“Either way, I guess Seo felt responsible for me being there because she encouraged me to stay out here on the lookout, while she was at Aegis’ primary facility. Personally got me out before my ship’s powerplant blew up - it was really badly wrecked - and I bled out. Still spent like a week in a coma due to how much blood I’d lost, thanks to something hitting me hard right here.”

I gestured to the spot where Melli currently lay, seemingly making no moves, other than the visible trembling.

“Took at least a month to heal up some broken ribs and a sprained arm - of course, my right one - too. So there’s the story of how some incompetent mercs nearly killed me when they were told to catch me alive. Or the few parts I actively remember, anyway.”
Silvia Sharpe
05 Jul 2023, 6:56pm
'Huh. Well you wouldn't know it but I'm still healing from a broken knee and wrist. I wish I could have seen the life leave that man's eyes. I wanted to watch him suffer the way he made me suffer. I wanted to plunge a dagger into his chest slowly and watch him down in his own blood for what he made me witness.'

Melli moves off of Kira and curls into a ball to her side. The thought of torturing Diaz as brutally as I possibly could think of puts a sadistic smile on my face. My face softens shortly after as the thought passes and I am left with a hollow feeling in my chest.

'This life doesn't make any logical sense. I can do the best I can but life always comes along and kicks me in the teeth for being happy.'

I sigh and lay there silently for a few moments. The steady sound of rain pittering against the hull. I break the calming sound by calling over to Edi.

'Edi end Kiras systems restriction. Give her full control of the ship. I feel as though she is no longer a threat to herself at this stage.'

"Yes Silvia. Kira you now have full control over ship systems. I will be standing by for your orders."

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