Gothic Space Horror

[ScorpionJinx]

Micky looked back to Hue, he did seem familiar. "Yeah, I was there briefly at Diamunde. Would have been there longer, but had to pull out. My bird took some heavy hits, and my wise and all knowing cammander decided to withdraw and let everyone else do the cleanup." She leaned back in the seat. "I would have preffered to stay longer, damaged bird or not. You look familiar, cant quite place it just yet. But wait ..it will come to me. You think I have enough time to go stow my gear before this little meeting?" She folded up the ear pieces on her sunglasses and slipped them into her pocket.

[Scrasamax]

"Probably not," A tall man said. Judging from his ramrod straight posture and hat, he was the captain of this ship.

"I'd like to welcome everyone aboard the Ballard. Since we are only missing two pilots, I am going to start the briefing now. When they arrive, you can bring them up to speed." he said, puling out a small remote control. He pressed a button, and the room went dark as a small holoprojector ran up to speed.

A vitual image floated above the mess table, a starship, and a big one from the looks of her. The forward command area looked as imposing as the head of a sledgehammer, followed by a narrow spine that extended back through three antenna arrays. The body bloated out again into the manifold accomodations for the crew as well as scientific bays, engineerings and machine bays, and a plethora of sensors that no one present could name. The end grew sizably into the engineering compartment. Siz ion engines, each massing as much as the Ballard alone clamped in a ring around the central spine of the ship.

Somewhere inside of all of that iron and steel was a 3rd generation fusion reactor, plus a computer core likely smart enough to send anyone who was not a computer jock into a Luddite fit of anti-tech raving.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the United Earth Space Ship Celeste. She is 750 meters long and displaced almost point five million metric tons. She cost the UE alot of money, 12 trillion credits. We are going to get a hell of a lot of money for bringing her back. For eveyones information, this is my last cruise, and well it should be, we are all going to be independantly wealthy after this mission." he said.

"Now, there are a few catches involved. The Celeste is still a classified ship. No one talks about her to the outside, no letters, no messages. This is a classified mission.

"Celeste was on her shakedown cruise, running sublight engines only. Yes, I can see that look in your eyes, she has a FTL drive and can leave the Solar System. This in one of the reasons this is a classified mission. The other is that she is armed, the first of her kind. The Celeste is technically a military Light cruiser. Advanced weaponry like you cant imagine.

"This is why we are being paid so well. We dont touch anything we dont have to, and we bring her home no questions asked. Now, I have no idea about survivors, but we will take care of the matter as best we can." he said. He pressed the button again and the holoprojection flickered and faded. The lights came back on.

"Are their any questions?" he asked.

[ScorpionJinx]

"I have a question Captain." Micky looked to him. The holographic images had been commited to memory and to a special place in her heart. She loved ships, and that big beast was like the motherload. "A ship like that doesnt just sit out there floating in space. All that technology on board and they need us to rescue it. No offense Captain, but something doesnt smell right." She held up both hands, palms facing outward in the way a person did when they might have said something offensive."I mean this is a good ship and good crew, otherwise we wouldnt be here, but as much money and stuff went into that ship, it dont seem right they would be sending us. Y'know. Especially since it's suppose to be classified."

[Ria Hawk]

Pockets was looking at the holo of the ship in a slightly wistful manner.  Clasified meant no touchy, which mean she couldn't examine it as well as she would like.  Well, she could look, anyway.  She didn't say anything; there were no questions she had that could be answered right now in a timely manner.  However, what Micky had said made sense.  Naturally, Pockets didn't chime in on this, because she didn't want anyone thinking twice about letting her go.  So she just quietly stuffed the ration bar wrapper into a pocket and waited for the answer.

[Luke Lavin]

Hue had the same suspicions as Micky, this mission while the pay looked to be good had Fubar as he would out it written all over.  The only thing that didn't make him get up and leave right now that ship was probaly already in a preflight sequence there was no going back now.  

Hue let out a long sigh, at least he had brought a weapon aboard.  It was a standerd issue Sunjet Laser pistol that he had smuggled out of the base after Diamunde his last campaign.  The image of the floating hologram hung in his mind, it was sinister.  He had heard stories of ship computers that were so advanced they could pilot a ship with out any human intervention, rumors, but rumors started as fact, distorted yes but they had to come from somewhere.  

Hue needed this money, Marines were never paid well and the last view jobs had kept him just afloat.  He would go through with this but still didn't feel good about.  

"If this is a military cruiser and it is disabled maybe we should take some weapons just in case what ever disabled that comes for us." Hue said his words rang in his ears.

[Alec_Shadowkin]

"Warning, the maneuvers you are performing are exceeding inertial dampeners and compromising structural integrity. Stop immediately..."

"Stupid thing..." Eric "Pere" Johnson shook his head and slowly pulled his rescue craft out of the triple corkscrew he was in and righted his course for the Ballard. He had been given this mission last minute, but was certainly appreciating the opportunity. His money was fine, but there was never a reason to not get more. And besides, he'd been getting bored, so hopefully this would be interesting, at least for a while. As his little craft moved to dock with the Ballard he kissed the small cross he had tattooed on the back of his left hand, and made a silent missive to God.

The craft docked and he grabbed his small bag, taking it down to the crew quarters before heading toward medical, then the bridge. He didn't have much with him, just his Good Book, a couple changes of clothes and a pair of throwing knives he had had made special. He had one tucked into the top of each boot, God forbid he ever had to use them, but practicing with them was typically a rewarding way to burn some time. He arrived in medical and began to look around for the medical officer...

[Shadoweagle]

Maurice, after listening to the questions of the others, voiced in his own opinion in an almost sarcastic voice, "If you will forgive my scepticism, captain. How does a state-of-the-art piece of machinery like that end up needing us to hauled it?" The mans expression hadnt changed since he had gotten into this room, and his voice harbored no fear or curiousity. It was mainly Pliers' pessimistic attitude that caused him to ask this. He had been on enough missions to not really care how dangerous it may be, and quite truthfully, he didnt feel any terrible portent about this mission at all - Its just another job to him.

[Scrasamax]

Lt Marney was in the process of locking down the medbay when Pere approached her. She noticed the cross on the back of his hand and favored him with a smile.

"I havent been on a ship with a chaplain in a long time." she said. We are still waiting on two pilots, and if they dont show up soon, we will have to pick up replacements when we stop at Europa to refuel."

"I guess that means it is time for the physical, and then you need to get down to the mess as soon as you can. The captain has already started the briefing. Have you done a rescue mission before?" She asked as she grasped him firmly and told him to cough.

[Scrasamax]

"That is a valid question from our 2nd engineer." the captain said.

"Why do we need to take a jaunt across the solar system to rescue a state of the art classified military craft? There are a number of reasons, first and foremost being that the UESPA has asked us to and they are paying us a small mint to do it.

"But you want details, why this ship, why you." he said addressing their concerns and fears. "The Ballard is the most powerful rescue ship in the fleet. We can dock with the Celeste, and bring her in under our own power. There are not many ships that can make that claim, and none that can do it in a timely manner.

"Secondly, for our engineers, the Celeste does not have a back-up fissionable reactor, or a back-up 2nd gen fusion reactor. She has one 3rd gen fusion reactor, battery banks, and solar arrays. If she had a reactor event," Explosion, meltdown, contamination, radiation leak, and a dozen other nasty words replaced event in the minds of the mechanic and the crewmen who knew about fusion power, "She would be stranded on emergency power. There would not be enough power to run the long range transponder, and thus, she vanishes. This is the scenario the UESPA has given me."

"Good question, any more?"

[Luke Lavin]

"Other than the Ballard obviously, what in the way of equipement and weaponary do we have at our disposal.  No offense Captain but I worked with UESPA to accept everything the intel boys say at face value.  Anything could ahve causeed that ship to go off tracking. Anything." Hue wasn't one for superstion he just wanted to make sure that they had all the equipement they needed for this.  It is better to have a gun and need not use it then not have a gun and need it.

[Scrasamax]

"An interesting question." The captain said.

"Obviously there is the Ballard herself. Plus she carries four shuttles, two of them rescue boats for pulling survivors out of a ship quickly, and two are salvage scows, armed with plasma cutters, and hydraulic arms. The Ballard also carries ten lifeboats, with a supply duration of one month."

"As for weaponry, Ballard is unarmed. There is no weapons locker, no arsenal aboard this ship. We are rescue salvage, no privateer marines. I have a very lax attitude towards contraband.

"I dont care if you have smuggled cigars, gambling dice, pornography or a d**n vibrator. That is your business and as long as it keeps you sane while we are whistling through dead space then all the better. However, if I even hear rumor of a weapon being smuggled on board, there will be hell to pay, you understand me."

"We are heading into deep space, well away from civilian traffic. We cannot afford to loose a crewmate in a dispute of any sort. Every person here is vital to the mission. Plus I would try and remember what happened to the Calypso* (OOC channel) before playing with firearms."

"If in the odd chance that some of you have smuggled weapons aboard, you have an amnesty period of 24 hours to turn the weapon into the drop box at my quarters. There will be no questions asked, nothing pressed. If I find it later, you spend the rest of the mission in a holding cell, and then are released to the proper authority once the mission is complete. Anyone care to spend something like 18 months in solitary confinement?" He asked.

[Michael Jotne Slayer]

"Excuse me sir, I have a question."  Severin had just entered the room, so he might have missed some vital part of this briefing. Nobody had noticed him when he came in, but they were staring at him now all right.

"I just caught the last part of your briefing, that there are no firearms aboard. I respect rules captain, I would not dream of breaking any of them.
My question is, sir... Do we have any tactical plan or any theory about the why and how? There is some possibility that violence was involved, there has to be. We are talking about a military aircraft."

Severin was cold and sweating, but he had to get his point trough.

"My point is... if we get problems of any hostile sort, do we have a backup plan involving weapons of our own?"

[Alec_Shadowkin]

Pere left the med-bay, glad the examination was finally over, how he hated those things. He walked down the hallway to the mess hall and opened the door. It opened up on what looked like almost the entire crew having some meeting or other. "Sorry I'm late." He slipped in as the door shut and quickly grabbed a seat.

[ScorpionJinx]

Micky wasnt liking how this mission was shaping up. But it was either go on the mission or go  broke. She sighed. "Cpatian, are you going to stock up on extra O2 scrubbers? It looks like it is going to be a long mission." She knew cigar smoke was hell on the enviro controls. That and O2 scrubbers helped keep the recycled air breathable. It wasnt like they could just open a window. A sound caught her attention. "Hey Captain, I think we got another person on board...maybe lost." She motioned towards the sounds coming from the lift. If they were going to the bridge, boy were they in for a surpise. The crew was meeting down in the Mess. She sat thinking a moment. "We may not have weapons on board but the Celeste is a militray craft. She's bound to have weapons on her.They wouldnt send her out naked...not even on a test run. Would they?" She didnt want underestimate the military's capacity for stupidity.

[Luke Lavin]

Hue didn't need to say anything after that, no captain, on any ship he had never been on didn't carry a weapon of some sort.  Hue didn't let anything show on his face but he was relieved he had brought some weapons.  At least he knew he could rely on Micky, the rest he would have to find about on the voyage.  

Hue caught Micky's eye and gave her a slight nod.

[Scrasamax]

"The Celeste was on a shakedown run, not a test run. She was at full compliment, which included a small contingency of marines for ship to ship action. So yes, she has a full arsenal in addition to her capital weapons." The captain said. "There is no chance she fell on account of pirate, or hostile action. Her maneuvers were in an undisclosed green zone. We are not going to be gunning down pirates, or aliens, or whatever in the hell else some of you are thinking." He took a deep breath.

"I think some of you might be making more of this mission than it actually is. Perhaps some of the details seem spooky, but more often than not, these missions are simply showing up, and towing in a ship. We are being well paid for our discretion, which means after the mission, no one talks about it. We are professionals and this is a plum of a contract."

"If any of you have cold feet, speak now. If you think this is too scary for you, then, we will put you out at the Europa stop and pick up a crewman who is less superstitious." The captain said.

[ScorpionJinx]

"Sir, I'd rather go in prepared for anything than to be caught with my pants down around my ankles." She noticed the look Hue had given her. Good to know she wasnt alone in this. She would have to talk to him later. But until then. "Last question Captain. When do we leave?" She was ready to kick this mission in the butt and get started. Time was money, and none of them were getting any younger.

[Scrasamax]

"We are still waiting on two crewmen, a pair of pilots, to report for duty. If they do not arrive, in say the next ten minutes, we leave without them, and send a message ahead to Europa to pick up two high rated pilots there. You snooze, you loose." The captain said.

"That being said, I want this ship ready to launch in five minutes. Stations everyone." The captain said.

[ScorpionJinx]

"Yes Sir." Assuming the meeting was over and that they were dismissed she stood up, leaning over long enough to grab her gear. "Got to report to the med lab." Micky turned and left the room, her gear slung over her right shoulder. She paused long enough to deposit the gear on her bunk and made her way to the Medlab, her orders still in hand. "Lt. Marney, I presume" She said as she walked into the lab. Micky handed her papers to Marney. It was Micky's results from her physical she had recieved not even 5 hours ago, and the results of her Psych evaluation. Lt. 1st Class St. George was of good mental and physical health. "Willing to submit to a second physical according to protocol. WOuld have been here sooner but reported to the meeting in the Mess hall first."

[Luke Lavin]

Hue had stowed his gear in a compartment not far form the sick bay, he went and checked everything was secure.  He checked the Sunjet he had it was sleek and non reflective, then slipped it into a suitcase along with his field medical gear, he grabbed the case and headed to sick bay.  

Lt. Marney and Micky were behind a curtain, Hue remained in the foyer so not to intrude.  When they were finished he began, "Corpseman Long reporting Lt." Too Micky, "When you had your short stay at Diamunde, do you remember taking out some tanks that were closing in on some downed men I was aidind.  Well you really saved my ass that day and alot of other good Marines too, and I never got a chance to thank the pilot you pulled us out of that oven. Thank you."

[ScorpionJinx]

Micky raised a brow while Hue spoke. She finished buttoning her shirt as she turned to face him. "That's where I know you from." She nodded, remembering some of the events a Diamunde. "Good to know you made it out of there. I was just doing my job.So your going to be working here with Lt. Marney?" She looked to Marney and mouthed the word 'lucky'. She would have to find ways to come down and socialize with these two when she wasnt on shift. It's good to have a friendly relationship with those who might have to sew you up one day. "Thanks for the physcial Doc. I'll see you around Hue. As for me, I have a pilot's seat to report to."
Micky left the medlab and made her way to the bridge. She slipped into the pilot's chair and adjusted the controls to her preference. She went through the diagnostic checks, everything was green. She slipped the com head piece over her ear and adjusted the microphone. Pressing the com key her voice came out over the intercom."Begin lockdown sequence. All sections, I repeat. Begin lockdown sequence." It was the last call for crew to get onboard and to their stations. Any and all equipment/ cargo needed to be checked and locked down. Last thing a ship needed was equipment shifting while exiting the spacedock. Micky then switched lines and recieved her exiting flight pattern. The information was feed into the flight controls.
She waited to hear from the different sections of the ship to confirm lock down had been completed. While she waited, she strapped into her seat. Sometimes leaving the docks got alittle rough.

[Ria Hawk]

Pockets left the mess, thinking.  She'd have to swing by the captain's quarters later, drop off her gun.  She had really brought it more out of habit than anything else; sometimes on those junk salvage operations, the crew could get a little rough.  Besides, weapons were the one thing she wasn't worried about.  ANYTHING down in the engineering bay could be used as a weapon, properly applied.  
It was looking like she was one of the few who wasn't military; but that was okay.  And the grumpy guy, Pliers, was her assisstant engineer.  She had some doubts how that was going to play out.  
As she ran down the hall towards engineering, her mind automatically switched over to her jobs.  She'd had a glance at the engine systems before the meeting; everything looked fine.  She reached the bay and started prepping for launch.  "Engines up and normal; green all across.  Beginning lockdown sequence."

[Luke Lavin]

Hue smiled as Micky left, he nodded to the doctor then seated him self in an acceleration couch.  He had some luxury liners had inertia compensators so good you could stand while they left port.  Hue doubted that from his experiance on a military craft if you weren't properly starpped down you could end up flat on the deck with severe inguries.  Hue suspected that the salvage ship would be a balance of the two but not by much.

[Michael Jotne Slayer]

Severin had taken pilot chair next to mickey, he ran a system check on the computers and made himself familiar with the operation buttons.
A little older tech than he had been training with, but that made it even simpler to use. The check turned out good, all lights were on green.
They where good to go anytime now.

[ScorpionJinx]

Micky nodded to Severin as he took a seat. She pressed the com button. "All stations secure and the boards are green. We are ready when you are Captain." She then looked to Severin. "Recalibrate Aft controls by .04 degrees." The minor adjustment to compensate for false proximity warnings caused by magnetic waves there in the dock. She had learned that on her first trip out on the Cataran.