Celeritas: Jupiter Feretrius

[DB_Explorer]

Celeritas: Jupiter Feretrius
OOC Thread

@DB_Explorer @HatsuZ @Daraken @Spectre558
@Jeboboid @Ryo0955 @tankdrop24 @Mina @Wade Garrett​

Vire, Ceda, Independent Asteroid Colony

Michael Waters gave a sigh as his sister sipped her coffee opposite him. "That is not an accurate summary of events Jean."

"Sure it is." Jeanette replied. "You left to be a mercenary to get away from all the farming and now your back and just to help ship some grain. Would you rather I focus on it taking dad's death to get you to stay here for more than a couple of days?"

"Sometimes I wonder what happened to the nice sister that help me get off this rock." Mike sighed as he leaned back.

"Locked under the espresso machine – it's a workweek. That sister also expected you to visit more Mike." Jean replied. "I'm sure something like the Celty could move something more urgent than grain, we still have those trophies for some of his runs."

"You should display them, might add some character to the place." Michael offered, gesturing away from the table and around the café. The stations mix of artificial and natural light streamed through the cafe's bay windows as it was afternoon local time. A scattering of patrons filled pale faux wood tables filling the café with a hum of conversation underlaid by a quiet piano piece from speakers. High ceilings kept the small café from feeling too small. Despite all the light and space that would be a wonder for anyone use to the more confined spaces of a station the café was like many Michael had seen on other similar large orbitals. Take his sister away and he could have been any of a dozen places in the outer solar system.

"You think so?" Jeanette replied. "Mementos from a ship? Maybe if we were closer to the docks. Which, I am for one, glad I'm not any closer to them I am here. We're on the border between the shipping center and the finical district. Which means I don't get a rowdy crew coming in every time a new ship docks – only their captains such as yourself." She said gesturing at Michael.

"Oh? So, your only here to keep my new crew from being rowdy?" Michael asked before taking a sip of his own coffee.

Jeannette waved her hand dismissively. "I don't need to do that – if they damage something I'll just charge you." She continued even Michael tried to defend his new crew. "I just want to meet them."

"Miss Laforet?" Both siblings turned toward the voice and then looked up. As standing by their table were a pair of very large men in business suits.

"That would be me." Jeanette replied as she stood up. Jeanette was not notably taller then average but the men still towered over her. "How can I help you gentlemen?"

The man offered a card in reply before talking. "There have been several cases of vandalism in the area ma'am and were perhaps wondering if you would be interested in supplemental security for your café."

Jeanette looked over the card before glancing up at the man for a long second before tucking it away in a pocket of her apron. "I thank you for the offer gentlemen." She replied with the same sort of forced politeness Mike new from business. "But I won't be needing your services – I'm sure my current system is more then sufficient."

"That's a shame." The man replied with a voice almost equally polite and fake. "It's a nice place you have here – be a shame if something happened to it."

"Yes, yes it would so-" Jeanette's reply was cut off as Michael slammed his hands onto the table as he pushed himself up.
"I don't mean to get involved in your business sis but to me that sounded of awful lot like a threat." Michael said as stared up at the men. Even with head of height he had on his sister the men still towered over him.

"Is that so?"

"It is." Michael replied. He pushed on despite knowing that in the years since he left the mercenary business he had started to have gray pepper his hair and let his exercise regime slip. He was likely as intimidating to these two muscle heads as a butter knife. He couldn't find himself caring at the moment though – not when they decided to be so blatant. "My sister here said she wasn't interested so be a good boy and learn that no means no - and leave."

"Well maybe I wasn't done talking to your sister." The man replied with a predatory smile.

Michael's reply was cut short as a bell jingled signaling someone else had just entered the café. Michael risked looking at the newcomers out of the corner of his eye lest they be reinforcements for the two before him. He didn't know if he should have cursed or cheered at what he saw.

It wasn't reinforcements for the two thugs, quite the reverse in fact – the newly hired crew of the Celeritas, his crew, had just walked into café Greenwich.

 

[Jeboboid]

"Ajax, heel." Helena murmured to her robotic hound as together they wound their way through the crowds. It was clearer than Mars, at least, the people around them giving the odd pair a somewhat wide berth.

Checking her wrist chrono, Helena confirmed that it was just about time for the meet-up. Their Captain, a Micheal Waters, had insisted on meeting them all off-ship, before letting them aboard. If she were being honest with herself, Helena felt nervous about the whole thing: She was so close, was one last step away from getting away from Mars for good, and suddenly he wanted to meet off-ship?

She sighed, shaking her head to herself, and looked up at the signs lining the walls. There, on the other side of the street; Café Greenwich.

Crossing the street, Helena stopped before the doorway inside, turning to Ajax. "Stay close now, don't wanna cause a ruckus or anything." As the robotic hound rumbled a response, she reached out, and pushed the door wide.

The jingling of the bell above her signaled Helena's entrance, and any turning to watch her would see a young woman of slightly more than average height, body corded with obvious muscle beneath a plain white tank-top, stained with grease. Tied around her waist are the arms of a jumpsuit, and slung around one shoulder is a duffel bag obviously stuffed with tools. At her side stands what could be called a robotic wolf, easily waist high to Helena at the shoulder, it's red eyes gleam as it surveys the area for threats.

Comparing faces to the image she had gotten from her acceptance 'mail, Helena caught site of her boss-to-be quickly, standing next to a woman who appeared similar, if slightly better dressed, and a pair of rather large people wearing ill-fitting suits that reminded Helena of some of the bruisers she'd dealt with back on Mars.

Wary, Helena worked her way towards the four of them, Ajax at her side. Meeting the Captain's eyes, she said what she'd definitely not spent half an hour rehearsing the night before: "Captain Waters? I'm Helena Mitchell. It's good to finally meet you in person. This," she gestured to Ajax, who was staring directly at the thugs, performing a threat analysis, "is Ajax."

 

[Daraken]

A quick look at the battered but functional tablet in his hand had Nathan humming to himself in satisfaction before he returned the thing back to the satchel slung across his shoulder. Right on time and approaching the meeting spot without any issues in sight. Perhaps not the most impressive thing to be proud of, but the Martian would happily take what few victories life was willing to give him.

These last few years of hopping from ship to ship every time Myrmidon turned its evil eye on him had definitely gotten frustrating, but what could he do? Maybe this time he'd get lucky and things would last at least a year before he had to pull up stakes and move on. That was a nice thought.

In any case, Nathan found himself in a small crowd that seemed to be heading in the same direction as him, a woman and a surprisingly large robotic dog at the head. Following right on her heels as she entered the cafe that was the meeting spot, the ex-specialist bit back a swear as he stepped in and saw the sight that awaited him.

There was Captain Waters alright, his face matching the files Nathan had found on the man. Staring down, or rather up, at two suited thugs, tension thick in the air. Well, the optimism about his new job had been nice while it lasted. At least the sinking feeling of trouble was a familiar old friend.

Watching as that same woman introduced herself, revealing her to be one of his new fellow crewmen, Nathan followed suit as he took up a supportive position next to her. "Nathan Feng reporting in, Captain Waters," the Martian announced himself. "Do we have a problem here sir?" he asked, a hand clearly placed ready on the holster on his side.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Clink-clink-clink-clink!

The tinny sound of a metal spoon rattling against the sides of a coffee mug echoed through the cafe, drawing attention to the well dressed man seated in a corner booth.

Well, 'man'. Cybernetic enhancements and genetic modification might be uncommon, but bloodlessly pale, almost scaled skin and crimson pupils against black sclera were still something of an oddity.

Xande continued to stir his coffee, utensil clinking against the cup, attention focused on the swirling brown liquid as if nothing in existence could possibly be more important than ensuring the sugar and powdered milk were evenly blended into the beverage. And then he paused, looking up to survey the drama unfolding before him.

"Dreadfully sorry, dreadfully sorry. I can't help but notice there seems to be some sort of disagreement brewing, perhaps I can be of assistance?"

He smiled benevolently, revealing a mouthful of fangs that rivaled the cafe's entire cutlery supply for points and edges.

 

[tankdrop24]

Oswald Flowers stepped into the cafe, took one look at the situation, and walked right back out.

Of course the one ship he could find was going to some be run by some idiot in debt to the wrong kind of people. The universe seemed to love finding ways to needle his short hairs for the past few months. And like hell was Oswald going to be spending the next decade running odd jobs to help some useless charmer wannabe tread water.

But then he stopped, as thoughts of the alternative crept into his mind. How much longer would he keep a low profile here, with the bounty hunters and the debt collectors and the goddamned fucking press closering in? It had taken him months to find a ship that even remotely sounded like it would work out. Oswald could be dragged out the dark corner he had hidden himself into the light by people not kindly inclined to him.

Besides, if he intervened in this situation now and helped the 'Captain' dig himself out of the hole he'd undoubtedly dug himself into, than that would be some very precious social capital that would give him some ability to right the ship if that idiot took them into dangerous waters.

Oswald spun around on one foot and barged right back into the cafe, moving past the people he wasn't sure were hired goons or fellow crew members, and pulled up a seat at the table where the business was taking place. As he sat down, Oswald made sure to check that his sidearm was concealed snuggly in his back pocket.

"So..." Oswald pulled into the table, a faux polite smile on his face. "You're Captain Waters, I take it? I assume these fine gentlemen are your business partners?"

 

[Spectre558]

Doctor Aidrian Reid entered the cafe with the rest of the newly hired crew, keeping himself a bit off to the side, willing to let the woman with the mechanical hound and the outrageously gene-modded man take the lead. Recognizing Captain Waters from a picture Reid had looked up earlier, the doctor gave a polite nod.

"Captain, Doctor Reid reporting for duty." he said. Aidrian checked the pocket of his longcoat for the gauze and bandages he always kept on hand. From the way things were sizing up, someone might need them soon.

 

[Mina]

Klaudie had fallen in quietly with the obvious gaggle on the way in to the cafe. The air was clean, the floors polished, the walls brightly decorated, it was very cute. The woman running it did good work. The only obvious problem she could see was the two lunks disrupting the aesthetics. Her already gimlet eyes narrowed at them.

Talk was cheap. The boss would know who they were just like they knew who he was. Some dumb banter trying to make nice...not her style. There was one language this brand of tough understood, and it was one she was quite literate in. The roughneck's gaze danced from the goons to the cap and proprietor, then took a long stride forward to get just close enough to show the height wasn't some trick of the light.

Wordlessly she balled her ham of a fist, a slow crackle of popping knuckles punctuating the move.

 

[Ryo0955]

Alright, got all my stuff with me, got the hotel number in case I get turned away at the last minute, got clothing ready in case I start immediately...

Let's see what happens, then.

A lot of small moves here and there, but she was finally close to her destination... and hopefully a good, quiet job.

Elise finally managed to make her way to the meeting place requested by the job offer from her future captain. Hopefully, she'll stay on this crew for more than a few months. Thankfully, she started a half hour earlier than the map on her mini-tablet suggested, just in case of any distractions or... bad signs. Bad directions. ...bad karma? She wasn't convinced it existed yet, but she wasn't convinced it didn't, either.

Since she got to the meeting place earlier than expected (a... not quite run-down yet? old diner of sorts), she decided to wait outside and catch up on the latest entry of the 'Tempest' series of high-fantasy novels. She always admired the series for subtly tackling some deep issues in its text, the kind of things that spawned pages upon pages of discussions online. Unfortunately, there were detractors of the series that, not coincidentially, went up as the novels added more and more steampunk elements.

Unfortunatly, she distracted herself for a little too long. The meeting time was almost about to come up, and she was thankfully alerted by a small chirp from the mini-tablet. "Oh boy." She pockets the mini-tablet and half-shuffles, half-runs across to enter the cafe, internally trying to relax herself... and wondering if she'd get a bite to eat.

The moment she entered, Elise noticed a couple of burly guys stood against the Captain, one of the few she recognized due to the interviews; there were a few others she recognized from the latest missive, as well. Given the tension between her future crewmates (she wondered if that was the right word) and the burly-looking businessmen, she had a small idea of what could possibly be going on, but she decided to ask, just to be sure. She already had a few bad moments from reacting without knowing the whole situation.

After talking a bit with the others, Elise manages to figure out the situation. After thinking about it, she comes to a conclusion she feels she has to speak aloud, despite the very wrong circumstances.

"Ohhh... so it's like that."

She speaks a bit louder now, getting attention from a few others.

"Yeah, it's like the mafia people in those old books doing the 'extortion racket' thing. Y'know, they come in, they ask for some money to 'protect' you from other people, and then they start charging you more money, and they do the same thing to all the businesses, but they don't do anything to keep their own guys from wrecking the place... it's a mafia thing, you guys know what I'm talking about..."

Elise suddenly gets a lot of blank faces.

"...and we should probably do something about that. Yeah? Make sense?"

 

[DB_Explorer]

"I'd hardly call these gentlemen partners Mr. Oswald." Michael replied to his aging Cargo Master. "Though perhaps you could call this a … family matter." The captain explained before spotting Elise's brown hair working way through the small crowd now around the table – despite being a head shorter then most everyone else.

Michael swore everyone stopped breathing for a second as his petite apprentice engineer then blurted out what everyone was perfectly aware of but unwilling to say clearly. As everyone started reacting to the girl's comment Michael thought that perhaps nothing was said for very good reasons.

The pair of toughs was already getting nervous with the sudden arrival of a half dozen of his crew - and the intervention of the self claimed lawyer with like a shark that even made him pause. That was fortuitous timing – also a liability. Most of them could handle a gun, which was good out in the black but he didn't know their abilities in a bar brawl. Those skills are what you called perishable. Maybe the lawyer would bite them. Still perhaps the wannabe thugs would second guess starting something here now that their dirty laundry was out in the open.

"Shut it you fucking girl." The taller of the two yelled as he grabbed for her, hand just about larger than her head grabbing for a shoulder or arm.

Michael doubted anyone noticed the chair clattering to the floor as he pushed himself up, most of the patrons had already edged away from the incident and despite seeing some data slats out he doubts the cops would be here before it was resolved one way or the other. You don't try shit like this without at least the ability to delay someone just calling the cops on it all.

Still – so much for second guessing the wisdom of starting something here and now.

 

[Wade Garrett]

"Shut it you fucking girl." The taller of the two yelled as he grabbed for her, hand just about larger than her head grabbing for a shoulder or arm.

Click to shrink...

"Now, that is simply uncalled for."

The pale man rises from his chair with sinuous grace, still stirring his coffee, still smiling a razor edged smile.

"I can understand being a touch irritated, with this young woman implying that the you two fine gentleman were trying to enter into a reparations and securities contract without being duly licensed to do so. Why, the penalties such an action carries...fifteen years at indentured labor, and that, that, my good fellows, is the statutory minimum. A bit harsh, perhaps, but the Securities and Reparations industry does have a vested interest in preventing bad faith actors from entering their field."

The smile widens, spoon still clink-clink-clinking against the glass.

"It would be quite a bother to institute formal proceedings over a little...misunderstanding like this, but...oh, were are my manners? Frightfully sorry, please allow me to introduce myself. Xande Thibau. Accredited Barrister for Levi & Aethan. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

 

[Ryo0955]

Elise didn't realize what kind of social faux pas she committed until the pair of brutes converged on her position.

At that point, she stood in sudden fear, embarrassment, and realization of her mistake, meaning she didn't quite react until one of them grabbed her with his muscled arms and basically trapped her. Squirming did no good.

When she heard someone talk back to the guys, she instinctively, but wrongly, realized that her situation just got worse. The person's smooth tone, complemented by his so-obvious-even-she-could-get-it subtle threat of... legal action? made her fear the speaker and whatever they had planned for her.

When she made eye contact, her face paled at the speaker's visage. Then she realized that the guy was... on the ship's roster?

Elise's head started to hurt. She was very confused, but also annoyed, the latter directed at herself. Technically, it wasn't even Day 1, but things had already escalated... well, 'quickly' was an understatement. She could only think of the phrase 'zero-to-sixty' for some reason.

Because of the cacophony that was her mind, Elise hadn't quite caught what happened next; she hadn't even noticed if anybody else said anything at that point. One moment, she was held by the big guy, the next she was shoved into... shoved into...

...shoved into the arms of that scary guy.

The word 'Xande' appeared in her mind randomly, and she desperately hoped that was the guy's name. She spoke with the same volume as a mouse:

"Thank you... um, Xande?"

 

[HatsuZ]

[Sakura and Misa]

A tall woman and a young girl with cat-like ears and tails walked down the street.

"Mama, do you think the ship'll have enough room for my models?" Inquisitive blue eyes looked up at Sakura.

"I'm sure it will, kitten... we're getting officer's quarters... if not, I think we can put up some more shelving. Probably."

"Great!"

Sakura slightly smiled at her daughter's enthusiasm. Having to keep everything boxed up due to having a tiny living space was a pain. So was having to drive a shoddy little shuttle instead of a ship!

The two came to the entrance of a café, and Sakura quickly checked her phone to see that it was the right address. Yup.

Next she made sure her shirt was on properly, her pants were wrinkle-free and...

"Don't worry mama, your tail is still there" Misa giggled.

"Of course it is, dear. Now, what did I say about meeting the captain?"

"'Be polite and take a breath between questions'?"

"Exactly." Sakura yanked open the door and, still holding Misa's hand, stepped inside. And saw an argument brewing.

 

[Mina]

"Shut it you fucking girl." The taller of the two yelled as he grabbed for her, hand just about larger than her head grabbing for a shoulder or arm.

Click to shrink...

Because of the cacophony that was her mind, Elise hadn't quite caught what happened next; she hadn't even noticed if anybody else said anything at that point. One moment, she was held by the big guy, the next she was shoved into... shoved into...

...shoved into the arms of that scary guy.

Click to shrink...

And her former assailant was faced with a wall of angry looking ex-factory drone. Klaudie squared up, knowing whoever swung first got the worst of this in the aftermath, but not about to let a bullying jackass go any further.

"You like playing with girls, do you. Fun for you, big man. Well, I like fun." She leaned in close enough to count the pores on his nose.

"Try me."

Spoiler

Full Defense

"It would be quite a bother to institute formal proceedings over a little...misunderstanding like this, but...oh, were are my manners? Frightfully sorry, please allow me to introduce myself. Xande Thibau. Accredited Barrister for Levi & Aethan. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Click to shrink...

Fuck.

Lawyers.

 

[DB_Explorer]

This job was supposed to have been easy. Sure, the café was in a better part of harbor district, what with being near the edge of it and closer to the merchant houses but that just meant they would have been able to extract more cash out of the place.

First mistake – they approached the café's owner, cute little thing in an apron, while she was talking with some dude. Looked like one of those ship captains. Course he decided to take offense at their business offers. One guy they could handle – easy.

Second mistake – It wasn't just one guy. Soon Willis had people coming out of the god damn wood works. Couple looked easy enough – though there was a lass that looked like she crushed heads with her hands for hobbies and that robotic wolf that looked like something from an action flick. Willis was beginning to think at that point they were rapidly getting in over their heads – damn the information they had on the café saying it was an easy mark.

Third mistake – By the time everyone had shown up everyone already knew what was really going on. Well except one girl who decided to blurt out what was obvious to the entire world. That just wasn't how this game was played. Willis had decided then to try to take control of the situation by grabbing the girl – maybe a hostage would help his position.

It really hadn't helped at all. Instead it brought that god damn shark face into play. It wasn't so bad – he had seen some pretty crazy mods in his time. But then the guy ticks off some legal shit cool as a cucumber and an accent that oozed money. Then he smiled that smile with way to many teeth and for a moment Willis wondered if the legal shit was just cover for something more… basic.

Which made Willis come to the professional decision to nope the hell out of there. He shoved his would-be hostage at the lawyer before using the commotion to get away from the group and the table that started this mess.
He was running by the time he got to the door and didn't even notice the women he passed at cat girls.

 

[tankdrop24]

It was at this point Oswald reached his limit. He exploded into uproarious laughter, the best he'd had in years, at the expense of the two dumb idiots who'd just been metaphorically caught with their pants down. The best part was that while one of the chuckleheads had the good sense to get the fuck out of dodge, the other one was just standing there, like a deer stuck in the headlights. "I must be starting to go senile, because for moment there you two really had me going there. I thought you were leading a gang of cronies to intimidate some deadbeat schulb who's too damn cowardly to actually meet in a place with some real chest hair. But no, you two were just a couple of overgrown toilet logs so low on the criminal shitbag food chain that you consider bullying some crappy cafe to a profitable fucking venture. And just what the fuck are you wearing anyway? Some cheap fucking suit? You ain't breaking anyone's legs in that, you look like you're pissing yourself over not screwing up your twenty-fourth consecutive job interview."

Oswald paused for a moment. "You're still here? Really? What the fuck do you think is going to happen? That one little shitstain in business suit is going be able to take on whatever fucking insane asylum this idiot dredged up? We're not going to pay for your medical bills if you just stand there and take it." Oswald gestured to the door. "Go on, get out of here, before you make your mother wish she'd fallen down that staircase even more. The door's right over there! Go on, get!"

 

[DB_Explorer]

Michael watched as the second, and last thug, scrabbled out of the café like he had been whipped. Considering the older loadmasters triad though the analogy seemed more then apt. With the immediate threat running with its tail between its leg Michael glanced back at his sister.
Michael knew the look in her eyes.

"Jeane, don't tell me you tend to handle this yourself." Michael asked slumping back into his seat across from her.

"And why not?" The brunette replied with a huff. "It's not like the cops are going to do anything? Quickly? They wouldn't have come here if they had to worry about that."

"What was the plan, exactly? If my crew hadn't shown up?" Michael asked. "Gather the girls up and go get your money back?" Michael continued, already knowing the answer. "This isn't like back when you could just grab the girls and deal with them – especially if they have an in with the cops like you said."
She pulled the business card the two men had given her at the start of the encounter with a huff before handing it to Michael. "Fine Mike – you handle this." She said. "and you better keep me appraised, since if you don't handle it – I will. Not going to let my place get pushed around like that."

Michael pocketed the card as he stood up. "Thanks' sis." He turned toward the rest of his crew. "Suppose I should actually all show you the ship at this point, come on follow me."

The Vire spaceport, like every spaceport on Cedas, was, from the point of view of most residents, underground. In actuality it was placed as close to the surface of the asteroid as possible. Gravity in the docks was a touch stronger then the main living deck and unlike those wide spaces the docks were an enclosed series of broad tunnels and passageways only opening up as one came to one of the many docks.

The Celeritas stood in one of those docks. Stood being a better descriptor then laying or something more reminiscent of older naval or plane travel as the ship soared up past the viewing windows like a skyscraper. The reason was straight forward – the ships decks lay perpendicular to the direction of the main engines meaning the ships own acceleration could provide gravity. It also meant that the engineering spaces could hold the gravity systems to drag everyone toward it when they were coasting.

Not that the Celeritas looked much like a skyscraper, more like a bloated and only vaguely aerodynamic airliner. The broad and stubby wings acted as propellent tanks and radiators both for the ships system while the rest of the smooth curves of the outer hull hide the more practical series of connected cylinders that made the inner pressure hull. The smooth curves were for more than aesthetics though as the claim was that it helps reduce direct impacts from micrometers and increased the chances of glancing hits increasing time between needed hull repairs.

The golden winged Pegasus gracing the 'nose' of the ship though was very much an aesthetic choice.

"So, that's the gist of the situation." Michael said as he finished summarizing the events and situation to the crew, as they sat around the faux wood table that acted as both the ships mess deck and meeting room. "Aside from it being my sister that's involved, this town is our homeport and it would be less then ideal to allow thugs, as bad as they are at the job, to try shit like this unchecked. Unless Miss Noihara." Michael nodded toward the pilot. "Can find a better trajectory I figure it take little over a mouth to get to Jupiter with the delivery which gives us four days to sort this mess out." He placed the business card on the table. "But we at least have a place to start."

 

[tankdrop24]

"So, that's the gist of the situation." Michael said as he finished summarizing the events and situation to the crew, as they sat around the faux wood table that acted as both the ships mess deck and meeting room. "Aside from it being my sister that's involved, this town is our homeport and it would be less then ideal to allow thugs, as bad as they are at the job, to try shit like this unchecked. Unless Miss Noihara." Michael nodded toward the pilot. "Can find a better trajectory I figure it take little over a mouth to get to Jupiter with the delivery which gives us four days to sort this mess out." He placed the business card on the table. "But we at least have a place to start."

Click to shrink...

The prospect of having to spend the next few days dealing with this mess had very much drained Oswald of the amusement the situation had initially presented him with. "I'm getting a bonus for this." Oswald said as a statement of fact, not a request, as he sat, arms folded, at the table. "You might be able to pressure the rest of these schlubs here to put out your fires for you, but unlike any of them save for maybe Mr. Seafood over there I actually know what the fuck I'm doing, and I don't do this sort of shit for free, you know." In truth, Oswald didn't expect to get any extra money out of this, but if he started off with a high price and negotiated down, he could at least get an informal sense of authority within this excuse for a crew.

Oswald cast his eye down at the business card on the table. He clicked his tongue as he picked it up. "Now, let's see what these clowns are calling their little circus act..."

 

[Jeboboid]

Michael pocketed the card as he stood up. "Thanks' sis." He turned toward the rest of his crew. "Suppose I should actually all show you the ship at this point, come on follow me."

Click to shrink...

Hefting her bag onto her shoulder, Helena nodded and nudged Ajax with her foot, causing the robot to rise back off it's haunches and follow as she in turn, followed her new captain from the cafe.

The Celeritas stood in one of those docks. Stood being a better descriptor then laying or something more reminiscent of older naval or plane travel as the ship soared up past the viewing windows like a skyscraper. The reason was straight forward – the ships decks lay perpendicular to the direction of the main engines meaning the ships own acceleration could provide gravity. It also meant that the engineering spaces could hold the gravity systems to drag everyone toward it when they were coasting.

Not that the Celeritas looked much like a skyscraper, more like a bloated and only vaguely aerodynamic airliner. The broad and stubby wings acted as propellent tanks and radiators both for the ships system while the rest of the smooth curves of the outer hull hide the more practical series of connected cylinders that made the inner pressure hull. The smooth curves were for more than aesthetics though as the claim was that it helps reduce direct impacts from micrometers and increased the chances of glancing hits increasing time between needed hull repairs.

The golden winged Pegasus gracing the 'nose' of the ship though was very much an aesthetic choice.

Click to shrink...

On applying to the job, Helena had looked up the class specifications of the Celeritas. She knew that it likely wouldn't be that helpful, ships like this all had their own ways of working, built up over years of repairs and outright replacement. Still, she couldn't help but smile slightly as she saw the ship she would now be living on for the first time.

It was bulky, almost fat as it stood in the hanger, it's stubby little wings and the golden Pegasus ornament on the nose doing nothing to really enhance it's appear. To Helena's eyes, however, it was perfect. After all, it was more than just a ship. To her, it was freedom.

"So, that's the gist of the situation." Michael said as he finished summarizing the events and situation to the crew, as they sat around the faux wood table that acted as both the ships mess deck and meeting room. "Aside from it being my sister that's involved, this town is our homeport and it would be less then ideal to allow thugs, as bad as they are at the job, to try shit like this unchecked. Unless Miss Noihara." Michael nodded toward the pilot. "Can find a better trajectory I figure it take little over a mouth to get to Jupiter with the delivery which gives us four days to sort this mess out." He placed the business card on the table. "But we at least have a place to start."

Click to shrink...

The prospect of having to spend the next few days dealing with this mess had very much drained Oswald of the amusement the situation had initially presented him with. "I'm getting a bonus for this." Oswald said as a statement of fact, not a request, as he sat, arms folded, at the table. "You might be able to pressure the rest of these schlubs here to put out your fires for you, but unlike any of them save for maybe Mr. Seafood over there I actually know what the fuck I'm doing, and I don't do this sort of shit for free, you know." In truth, Oswald didn't expect to get any extra money out of this, but if he started off with a high price and negotiated down, he could at least get an informal sense of authority within this excuse for a crew.

Oswald cast his eye down at the business card on the table. He clicked his tongue as he picked it up. "Now, let's see what these clowns are calling their little circus act..."

Click to shrink...

Eyeing Mr Flowers with suspicion, Helena furrowed her brow slightly. If he 'Knew what he was doing', that probably meant he was like some of the gangsters back home. She made a mental note to catalogue all of the engine parts and spares just in case some of them went 'mysteriously missing'.

Voice soft, she spoke: "Captain. If you are ordering us to intercede, I will follow your lead. But I am still unfamiliar with the ship, and I would prefer to acquire a working knowledge of the systems so that I can make necessary repairs and adjustments as required before any problems can arise."

"Besides," She hefted her kitbag, filled half with her personal toolkit, and the rest crammed with what clothes she could fit. "I would like to know where I might stow my things before anything occurs. I work better when I know where my space is."

 

[Daraken]

This job sure was off to a great start wasn't it? Well, what's done was done. Hardly the Captain's fault for going to his sister's defense, and not like he and the others hadn't jumped right in either. Anyways, with a small crew like this, a personal problem would easily turn into a bigger problem for everyone else, and like Waters said, letting some two-bit thugs push them around their homeport wasn't any good. Best to keep his new employer happy and help get this whole situation done with as soon as possible.

The Martian's eyes flicker over to Oswald as the other man speaks his piece, Nathan raising an eyebrow at the somewhat greedy demand. Even if it was his prerogative, he was being rather caustic about it wasn't he? At least the engineer with the giant robot dog was businesslike. Shaking his head, ex-specialist leans wordlessly over Oswald's shoulder to read the card in his hands.

Allied Security Associates

With a name and basic contact info acquired, Nathan once more pulls out his old tablet from his pack, thumbing it active and opening up a search via the colony's datanet. Now to see what information was available online...

 

[Spectre558]

Aidrian followed the rest of the crew in relative silence, taking in the Celeritas as they entered. It seemed a decent ship to him, having a bit more character than the drab military transports he had grown used to during his time in the service. He would have to get down to the medbay at some point, ensure that everything was properly stocked and sorted. Reid didn't doubt the captain's preparedness, but it would make the doctor feel better to see to it himself.

"Aside from it being my sister that's involved, this town is our homeport and it would be less then ideal to allow thugs, as bad as they are at the job, to try shit like this unchecked.

Click to shrink...

"Judging by what your sister said back at the cafe, I'm guessing the authorities won't be much help in this?" Reid asked, somewhat rhetorically. Corruption seemed little different wether it was on a planet or a station. They'd just have to work around it.

"I'm getting a bonus for this." Oswald said as a statement of fact, not a request, as he sat, arms folded, at the table. "You might be able to pressure the rest of these schlubs here to put out your fires for you, but unlike any of them save for maybe Mr. Seafood over there I actually know what the fuck I'm doing, and I don't do this sort of shit for free, you know."

Click to shrink...

Aidrian turned to face the older man, a slight frown on his face. "There's no need for such coarseness," he said disapprovingly. "We're all in this now. The least we can do is be civil."

 

[tankdrop24]

Allied Security Associates

Click to shrink...

Aidrian turned to face the older man, a slight frown on his face. "There's no need for such coarseness," he said disapprovingly. "We're all in this now. The least we can do is be civil."

Click to shrink...

"Allied fuckin' Security Associates? Those goddamned morons wouldn't know a good name if it stabbed a fork in their eyes." Reid's remark had completely bounced off of Oswald, who threw the business card back down onto the table with a look of disgust before standing up and beginning to pace around the room.

"The way I see it, there are three ways we can bite into this shit sandwich," Oswald stopped, and held out a hand with three fingers up for effect, which shortly became one. "Number one, we ask around, see if anyone else has been bothered by the chumps. See if we can find any leads, talking some idiots to help us get rid of the people 'protecting', or maybe if someone smarter is doing that, tip off a bigger fish that people are muscling in on their territory." One finger became two. "Two, we check out the local network, see if they've got a presence there. Learn what we can about them, especially if they've got anything we can hack." Two became three. "Three, we find whatever rathole the Assoccasion is operating from, and case the fucking place. Look for entry points, security blind spots, who goes and comes out and when." Oswald lowered his hands. "Since we've only got four days, we're probably going to have to split up to cover more ground. Path of least resistance is probably to get the local fuzz off their ass to do this job for us by finding some evidence that they can't or won't ignore. Or make some." Oswald took a deep breath. "Any questions?"

 

[HatsuZ]

"Allied fuckin' Security Associates? Those goddamned morons wouldn't know a good name if it stabbed a fork in their eyes." Reid's remark had completely bounced off of Oswald, who threw the business card back down onto the table with a look of disgust before standing up and beginning to pace around the room.

"The way I see it, there are three ways we can bite into this shit sandwich," Oswald stopped, and held out a hand with three fingers up for effect, which shortly became one. "Number one, we ask around, see if anyone else has been bothered by the chumps. See if we can find any leads, talking some idiots to help us get rid of the people 'protecting', or maybe if someone smarter is doing that, tip off a bigger fish that people are muscling in on their territory." One finger became two. "Two, we check out the local network, see if they've got a presence there. Learn what we can about them, especially if they've got anything we can hack." Two became three. "Three, we find whatever rathole the Assoccasion is operating from, and case the fucking place. Look for entry points, security blind spots, who goes and comes out and when." Oswald lowered his hands. "Since we've only got four days, we're probably going to have to split up to cover more ground. Path of least resistance is probably to get the local fuzz off their ass to do this job for us by finding some evidence that they can't or won't ignore. Or make some." Oswald took a deep breath. "Any questions?"

Click to shrink...

Sakura's ears flattened against her head as she frowned.

"Tone down the language please, since we have a child onboard and you never know when she might be listening". She knew that her daughter was currently unpacking her things in their shared stateroom, but Oswald seemed a bit too comfortable with the obscenities.

"Still," her ears perked back up, "thank you for suggesting a course of action that doesn't involve shooting anyone" she said drily.

 

[tankdrop24]

Sakura's ears flattened against her head as she frowned.

"Tone down the language please, since we have a child onboard and you never know when she might be listening". She knew that her daughter was currently unpacking her things in their shared stateroom, but Oswald seemed a bit too comfortable with the obscenities.

"Still," her ears perked back up, "thank you for suggesting a course of action that doesn't involve shooting anyone" she said drily.

Click to shrink...

Oswald rolled his eyes. He didn't get the point of holding back around kids. The little buggers thought swearing was the coolest thing ever the second a curse crossed their ears, and always started spewing some themselves. No point in delaying the inevitable.

"I said we were going to gather intel to decide what our next step is going to be, I didn't say we weren't going to have to shoot anyone, period. Though it's probably best to avoid a complication like that, if we are on such a tight schedule."

 

[Ryo0955]

Elise took a few moments to herself after what had just happened. After everything that happened in such a short time frame, she needed it. She took a chance to quickly gawk at the Celeritas after catching up.

The ship looked nice. At least it looked like a step up from some of her previous jobs. Certainly better than the clunker that was home during her 2nd job. She used her mini-tablet to look over the e-mail with the supposedly 'preliminary' roster, just to be sure on who was who.

Voice soft, she spoke: "Captain. If you are ordering us to intercede, I will follow your lead. But I am still unfamiliar with the ship, and I would prefer to acquire a working knowledge of the systems so that I can make necessary repairs and adjustments as required before any problems can arise."

"Besides," She hefted her kitbag, filled half with her personal toolkit, and the rest crammed with what clothes she could fit. "I would like to know where I might stow my things before anything occurs. I work better when I know where my space is."

Click to shrink...

@Jeboboid

"I..." She looked over to what Helena had suggested. "I agree on what Helena had said. Both the familiar... ship area thing and the helping out part. I mean, I can help with looking into computer systems, but I'm better with actual hardware."

She stayed a little closer to Helena, more out of instinct than anything else; she stole a few side looks at the engineer's mechanical companion, trying not to marvel at it but failing anyway.

"Hi, uh..." she offered a hand to Helena. "I understand you're the Chief Engineer, right? I'll be your assistant for the next... well, however long we're together, I guess."

She thought for a moment after that. "So... do you think it'll be a good idea to take those guys out? I mean, if we eliminate them, then some other group's gonna take over their territory and then we're back to square one. At least, that's how it usually works..."

 

[Jeboboid]

@Jeboboid

"I..." She looked over to what Helena had suggested. "I agree on what Helena had said. Both the familiar... ship area thing and the helping out part. I mean, I can help with looking into computer systems, but I'm better with actual hardware."

She stayed a little closer to Helena, more out of instinct than anything else; she stole a few side looks at the engineer's mechanical companion, trying not to marvel at it but failing anyway.

"Hi, uh..." she offered a hand to Helena. "I understand you're the Chief Engineer, right? I'll be your assistant for the next... well, however long we're together, I guess."

Click to shrink...

"I am." Helena said, trying to hide the surprise in her voice at the smaller woman speaking up from right next to her. When had she appeared there anyway? Giving herself a mental shake, she took the proffered hand, giving it a slight, but firm shake as she tried not to break the tiny thing. "I look forward to working with you, Miss Harmon."

She thought for a moment after that. "So... do you think it'll be a good idea to take those guys out? I mean, if we eliminate them, then some other group's gonna take over their territory and then we're back to square one. At least, that's how it usually works..."

Click to shrink...

"Miss Harmon makes a good point. Scum like this always manage to rise to the surface. Even if we were to kill them all, once we leave, another group will likely have the same idea."