Miraj finds the jostling trip to the Armada almost causes him to toss his breakfast. He does as well as he can to not let it show but relief shows clearly on his face as he finds himself on a stationary platform.
"Fine looking ship," Miraj says as he's finding a seat. "Solid construction. Well-maintained. I've been on fancier transports zat felt less safe than here."
After the Captain states his case, Miraj says, "Ve met with some reps of Astral Extortions-- er, Extractions, earlier und got a look at zee contract. I'm no lawyer so I couldn't parse zee legalese into plain common, but zee completing claims seem to turn on whether zis asteroid, being portable, constitutes zee kind of thing zee crew of zee Acreon vas contracted to report to AE or more like something zat fell into the category of 'finders keepers.' Is there anything ve can look for on zee rock or zee ship zat could turn things in your favor in zis regard? Ve have to be unbaised, but zat doesn't mean ve can't be on zee lookout for what benefits zee underdog. Between you and us, ve have a bit of a grudge against zee corporation already."
After hearing the Captain's reply to this, he also asks, "Do you have any information about zee crew or zee mission zat could help us figure out vot happened to turn zee ship into a ghost ship? Any communications? Any rumors about vot zey hoped to find or where zey vere going?"
The awkward silence in the the shuttle does not go unnoticed as Aureum wordlessly takes a place at the back. In between holding onto her seat as they hurtle through space, she steals glances at Diedre, and has a growing realization that the tension in the pressurized interior is her own fault.
The Lashunta's thoughts are elsewhere as the group is shown around the ship, but she does her best to keep it together as the Captain sits them down in the galley.
She nods when Serissi has finished speaking. "I see why their claiming a ship and its assets like that is a dangerous precedent. Not even just for the miners, but for anyone doing business with a corp."
"Is there anything ve can look for on zee rock or zee ship zat could turn things in your favor in zis regard?"
"Well, we've been callin' it the 'Drift Rock' because rumor has it that the Acreon picked it up in, well, the Drift. If that's true - that they scavenged it on the trip home - then we could argue the rock was obtained after Astral's contract was done and finished. Determining when they found it would be a boon to us."
"Do you have any information about zee crew or zee mission zat could help us figure out vot happened to turn zee ship into a ghost ship? Any communications? Any rumors about vot zey hoped to find or where zey vere going?"
"The actual destinations were confidential, but, uh, I might have seen a list of the locations - looked like a list of barren, rocky worlds across the Vast. Seemed pretty stock standard to me. Anyhow, they sent us a standard 'all good, heading home' message before they entered the Drift t' come back to Absalom. Everything seemed alright at the time; no mention of exotic rocks."
Captain Serissi pulls out his comm unit and shows the group some pictures of what appears to be a party.
"We had a little shindig last year t' celebrate the Collective's 25th anniversary - the crew of the Acreon was there." Serissi flips through images of miners, pointing out crew members of the Acreon when they show up.
Lauren spends the entire shuttle ride completely confused by what just happened. She tries tooling around on the infosphere to figure out what's going on, to put the apparent embarrassment into context, and only ends up more confused. Her people have communal tidal nursery pools where they lay and fertilize eggs ex corpus and raise young as a tribe, so what she finds seems completely alien to her. She hopes with a vengeance that she hasn't caused any offense, but doesn't understand what to do about it if she has.
As they enter the Dust Runner, she lowers herself on her tentacles to meet the change in height allowance by the ship compared to the station and begins making mental notes and assessment of the vessel as Captain Serissi gives the tour.
The talk of family gives Lauren her first pang of longing for home since she left, but she muddles through it, adding to the other's questions, "Is there pictures of the ship before we go?"
As the Captain shows images of the Acreon's crew, Diedre asks, "Could we get copies of those pictures? Since there's been no word from the crew, it might be good to know what they look like in case ... " she falters.
"Well, it might be good to have pictures of them."
Let it go, Didi. More important things to think about.
"Is there pictures of the ship before we go?"
"I don't have a deckplan for the ship if that's what you're asking," Serissi runs a hand through his reddish gray hair as he pauses, "but I could probably sketch one out for you. I've been aboard before."
Captain Serissi sketches a squat, symmetrical ship layout on a dirty napkin, with an engineering bay in the rear attached to a bridge at the front by a central hallway. Two cargo bays flank the hallway immediately forward of engineering, followed by a transverse corridor with port and starboard airlocks and then crw quarters in the front, behind the bridge.
"Could we get copies of those pictures? Since there's been no word from the crew, it might be good to know what they look like in case ... "
"Oh. Yeah." Serissi quietly transfers a copy of the pictures to the group, a momentary silence heavy in the air.
Diedre takes a quick picture of the layout the Captain sketches. She then stands and puts her hand on the man's shoulder.
"Hopefully they're ok," she says in an attempt to reassure him, but it sounds hollow even to her own ears. "We'll do what we can for their families."
~~~~
As the group returns and takes their seats on the benches of the shuttle, Diedre sits again in silent contemplation.
Lauren excitedly looks over the drawing, taking pictures of it with the camera on her comm unit before saying, "This 'deckplan' is precisely what I am meanings. Thank."
Lauren spends the trip back to Absalom Station trying to memorize the layout of the ship and contemplate where she would go in an emergency.
During the short ride over to the Dust Runner, Entiren seems somewhat at ease, much more so than he had been before on the Station. (Excepting, of course, for being rattled around) A few times, the others can see him glance somewhat wistfully at the cockpit, hands clenching around the bench beneath him.
Looking around as they are given a tour of the ship, Entiren nods appreciatively as he sees the obvious pride of the crew. Listening as Captain Serissi explains the situation from the Collective's perspective, he gestures understanding with what he is saying. As the group begins leaving, he walks over to the man and crouches down next to him so that they are on eye level with each other. He speaks to him in a low voice, saying "Just so you know, I have served with a mining crew before. I understand the difficulties that you can face from choosing this life, but I also know how much you care about your friends and family. I know that things must look bleak, but you must always have hope. I will do my best to bring back any good news that I can. May the Song of the Spheres shine luck onto you and your family."
Looking back towards Diedre, he says to her "I see nothing wrong with that. It is your body, and your choice with what to do with it. You could have done worse things."
Diedre smiles at Entiren.
"Thank you," she says, putting a hand on his arm. "I just wish everyone thought that way."
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Aureum spends the ride back to the station in silence, but taps her fingers anxiously against the seat.
As they exit the shuttle, she touches Diedre lightly on the shoulder, wordlessly asking her to hang back for a private moment.
”It’s fine that you do sex work. Not that you need my approval or anything, you’re an adult, you can make your own decisions—I just want you to know I wasn’t judging you; I’m comfortable with sexuality,”
She smiles, some of the nervousness melting away. ”I went to an all-girl’s college on Castrovel for gods’ sake, half of my friends cammed and constantly asked me to co-star because ‘nerdy girls are hot’, and ‘Lashuntas are trending’, and,” she realizes that she’s stalling and takes a breath.
”Sorry. The point is.” She averts her eyes, and feels her face flushing as she continues. ”I like you, and that’s already intimidating. And you’re also confident and open and it’s hot and I wasn’t expecting it. But I shouldn’t have reacted like that and I’m sorry.”
When Aureum indicates for Diedre that she wants to talk, Diedre cringes just a bit.
Here it comes.
As Aureum begins to bear her feelings regarding sex work, Diedre initially just stares at the floor, but, as she continues, the half-elf's face begins to burn and her ears begin a transition to a bright crimson.
Did she just say I'm hot?
Her hands begin to twist and she starts bouncing a little on her feet.
"Ummm ... that's totally ok," she says, not meeting the Lashunta's gaze, but failing entirely to hide the grin that's spreading across her face. "I shouldn't spring that on people all of a sudden. I could have ... I guess ... mentioned it without like 'plop' here's my life and naughty bits in your lap."
She finally looks at the young woman.
"So ... who were some of your friends? I never did live camming myself, but I'm familiar with some of the more popular faces on Castrovel."
Really? That's what you ask her?
"Umm ... did you ever do any camming?"
Didi!!!
"Sorry, none of my business," she says, holding up her hands and rolling her eyes. "But it's cool to know that we can be ... friends. You're pretty cool too."
Diedre takes the woman's arm and, with a spring in her step, joins the rest of the group.
Jehir admires the tidyness and efficiency of the ship as they go to see the captain.
"Well, we've been callin' it the 'Drift Rock' because rumor has it that the Acreon picked it up in, well, the Drift. If that's true - that they scavenged it on the trip home - then we could argue the rock was obtained after Astral's contract was done and finished. Determining when they found it would be a boon to us."
"Presumably this sort of information would be in some kind of log?"
"The Astral Extractions people gave us a copy of the contract. Does the contract specify where the Acreon was supposed to be doing work for Astral? And for how long? The ship's log ought to tell us where and when they found the Drift Rock."
Jehir loads up the copy of the contract and looks it over for reference as to the time and location parameters of the contract.
"Actually, now that I think of it, did the Acreon send you a copy of the contract? Perhaps we should check to be sure that Astral hasn't made any... changes after it was signed."
"Well, we've been callin' it the 'Drift Rock' because rumor has it that the Acreon picked it up in, well, the Drift. If that's true - that they scavenged it on the trip home - then we could argue the rock was obtained after Astral's contract was done and finished. Determining when they found it would be a boon to us.""Presumably this sort of information would be in some kind of log?"
"Aye." Captain Serissi runs a hand over his face. "I should've mentioned in sooner. The ship's logs will be recorded in the bridge. After the crew themselves, that's the most important thing to us."
"Actually, now that I think of it, did the Acreon send you a copy of the contract? Perhaps we should check to be sure that Astral hasn't made any... changes after it was signed."
"Well, I never officially saw a copy of the contract, but..." Serissi scans the document offered by Jehir. "I don't see any changes. It's just a bunch of survey work on unnamed rocks in the Vast. There's a clause stating that anything discovered during the course of work that isn't in the contract is still Astral's property, but if you can establish that the Drift Rock was discovered after the contract work was completed, I think we have a good shot."
"So ... who were some of your friends? I never did live camming myself, but I'm familiar with some of the more popular faces on Castrovel."
Really? That's what you ask her?
"Umm ... did you ever do any camming?"
Aureum lists a few names; one or two moderately successful, but nobody very well known outside their niche audiences.
"I considered it, but no," she replies. "I'm still not great with people, but you should have seen me back then; all my research projects and an internship and full time classes... Uh, actually, I'm glad nobody here knew me back then."
"Sorry, none of my business," she says, holding up her hands and rolling her eyes. "But it's cool to know that we can be ... friends. You're pretty cool too."
Diedre takes the woman's arm and, with a spring in her step, joins the rest of the group.
"Yeah. Friends," she smiles, feeling a weight off her shoulders as they rejoin the others.
Before leaving Miraj asks one last question. "Zee Eox ambassador asked us to do something extra. He did not tell us ve should keep this request secret, so I'd like to ask you about it. He said zee ship was carrying a package 'destined for zee embassy.' He asked us to find it and bring it to him. Do you know anything about aee ship acting as courier or any other missions zey might have been doing at zee same time as their exploration work for AE? It makes me wonder where this package might be from und why someone would have crossed paths with a vessel in a remote part of zee void und given them a package for zee ambassador of a planet of undead. It hardly seems a thing zat would happen by chance."
"Do you know anything about aee ship acting as courier or any other missions zey might have been doing at zee same time as their exploration work for AE? It makes me wonder where this package might be from und why someone would have crossed paths with a vessel in a remote part of zee void und given them a package for zee ambassador of a planet of undead. It hardly seems a thing zat would happen by chance."
Captain Serissi shrugs. "I don't know anything about it, no. Hardly surprising, though - prospecting pays most of the bills, but every enterprisin' captain is playin' a collection of side hustles t' make ends meet. I've done stranger, myself."
After the questions have wound down, Captain Serissi thanks the Starfinders for their time. As they board the shuttle to return to Absalom, he leaves them with a final request. "Above all else, we need t' know what happened to the crew. They were like brothers and sisters to us. Please keep yourselves safe."
After a second rattling shuttle ride, the Starfinders find themselves deposited back on the Station in the earlier afternoon.
After shopping for some food and a water container in case they get stuck on the ship for a while, Lauren excitedly repacks her belongings and heads toward the rendezvous for the outgoing trip. As she waits for the others, she mumbles all the new words she's learned to her self, enjoying the way the sounds resonate in her bell. "Canteen... Deck Plan... Digital Footprint..."
She goes back over the Acreon's deckplan, trying to figure out where she would hide on the ship if she were injured or endagered and then does some spoogling about various ship maneuvering and control strategies, to make sure she's prepared to do her part getting them there.
Diedre will spend the evening shopping - with Aureum, hopefully - and she's going to spend about 50cr on essentials (i.e. clothes).
The half-elf arrives at the dock with a large duffle bag as well as her trademark backpack. Strapped to one side of the duffle is her newly acquired guitar and on the other is the designer autotarget rifle.
"It's totally unfair to wake up in the morning to a pounding head when you didn't even drink anything the night before," she bemoans.
Lauren waves an excited tentacle at Diedre when she arrives, "Sorry to hear your heads is hurting. Where am I to be servings on the ship?"
"Good morning, Lauren," Diedre says. The half-elf looks around but doesn't see anyone else gathered yet.
"Ummm ... how about you take the Science Console for now, if there is one."
She taps at her comm unit.
"I couldn't find any information about the shuttle so we'll just have to see what we get."
"Yes. Yes. Captain." Lauren says, shaking her bell from side to side in the affirmative.
For just a moment, Diedre forgets the thumping in her head and grins wide.
Captain Diedre? No, Captain Lhashi!
The grin remains as she begins looking over the ship they've been offered the use of.
Aureum doesn't buy anything, but happily joins Diedre on her shopping trip, content to simply accompany her while she tries on clothes.
---
The next morning, the Lashunta shows up bright and early, sipping coffee out of a disposable cup. Her blue hair is pulled back into a braid, and her weapons are strapped at her side.
"Morning Lauren. Captain Lhashi," she grins.
"Hey Aureum!" Diedre says, lighting up at the Lashunta's form of address.
Aureum also notices that Diedre's done something a little different with her hair this morning.
It's peacock blue and pulled up into a pair of high ponytails.
The half-elf shakes her head around cause the ponytails to flop back and forth on her head.
"What do you think?" she says. "I kept looking at yours and thinking, 'That's so pretty!', so I had to try it. I didn't want to do the same shade as yours - that would be weird - so I found a color that matches my guitar."
Early the next morning, the Starfinders meet just outside of Docking Bay 07, a restricted-access shipyard used exclusively by Station Security, the Stewards, and representatives of foreign governments. As Diedre, Lauren, and Aureum wait for their fellow crew members, a familiar voice echoes from inside the docking bay...
"Whadya mean the Hippocampus has been requisitioned for a special task? I've got a very impotahnt meeting to get to!
"No! I can't just take the Griffon! It smells like cheese ahnd feet! I hate cheese!
"Don't gimme that line ahbout diplomahtic relahtions! I'LL SHOW YOU DIPLOMAHTIC RELAHTIONS!"
The airlock slams open as McFeeblerduchy storms into the corridor. Looking up at surprise, his eyes narrow.
He points a stubby finger at Diedre. "You!" The bleachling gnome swings around to point his finger at Aureum. "Ahnd you!" Revolving again, he's suddenly flat-footed at the sight of the towering Scyphozoan. "Ahnd... probably you too! I think."
Straightening his uniform, the head of the Organized Crimes Task Force glowers at the trio. "If there's ONE scrahtch on mah fahvorite ship, there will be TWELVE hells tah pay!"
Before allowing a word in edgewise, he storms off.
"I guess we won't have it painted in my favorite color then," Diedre says with a giggle at the retreating figure.
Entiren will walk up to the others, just happening to completley miss seeing Sargent Mcfeeblerduchy. He nods to each of them in turn while greeting them. "Morning, everyone. I hope that you all slept well last night, and feel that you are ready for this mission. Any word on our ship yet?" He is dressed as he normally is, although he has swapped out the jacket with the burn-hole in the shoulder. The main difference that can be seen is that he now has a starknife on his left hip, and a medkit is strapped onto his back beneath his backpack.
After a few moments, a calmer voice addresses the Starfinders from the docking bay's security checkpoint.
"Don't mind the sargent - he's just angry because the Hippocampus is the only ship with enough cupholders to suit his needs."
A female human, with close-cropped hair and a security uniform in a lighter blue, approaches with a datapad. "I'm assuming you're our Starfinders this morning? Let's get you checked in, and then you can go familiarize yourselves with the ship"
After a brief process, the Starfinders are permitted to enter the secured hanger. Inside, multiple sub-bays hold diplomatic vessels from all over the Pact Worlds - Vercite pleasuresails, Eoxian boneships, and even a techno-organic Brethedan craft that seems to be... snoring?
The first sub-bay, however, contains a half-dozen matching ships with the sleek profile of an atmospheric fighter and an eye-searing yellow and navy livery with Absalom Station Security lettered along the body.
The furthest ship, swarming with mechanics, has evidently just undergone a reskin, with a pile of discarded armoring sitting to the side and a paint crew applying a fresh yellow to the bare metal. In addition to the new armor, a pair of lifeboats fixed to the aft dorsal of the ship and a turret-mounted weapon hanging under the center of the hull set the Hippocampus apart from her siblings.
"Not the prettiest thing, but a downright tank, if you ask me." Once all the Starfinders are checked in, the human security officer joins the group in the docking bay. "The Ambassador really sprung for all the bells and whistles - apparently he wants you to be ready for damn near anything."
Pointing at the ship, she continues, "They're nearly done with the retrofits - go ahead and familiarize yourself with the systems and controls. The Ambassador will be along in about an hour to see you off."
"Good morning Entiren," Diedre says, happy to see the Nuar. "Ready to be a pilot again?"
~~~~
Once Diedre boards the ship, she pulls up and begins perusing the ship's specifications at the first console she finds.
"Ok, now I'm officially nervous," she says as she reaches up and adjusts one of her ponytails. "They've added a friggen turrent to this boat. What the hells does this guy think we're going to run into between here and the Acreon? It's just in quarantine orbit for crying out loud."
She shakes her head.
"Hey Aureum? Could you and Lauren make sure that all this new stuff they've been bolting on actually works?"
Diedre then gets up and goes to stow her gear.
"Note, that could be for use against the Acreon itself. The Ambassador simply didn't know what we will find out there, so I believe that he is just being cautious." That said, Entiren will head to the polls seat. Selling himself into the seat, he examines the array of controls in front of him. Admiring the overall feel of the vehicle, he begins stowing his head aboard the ship.
”You look really good!” Aureum exclaims in regard to the half-elf’s hair. ”It suits you.”
A few minutes later, she circles the spaceship slowly, looking both at the retrofits the mechanics are working on, and the vessel itself.
Miraj shakes the hand of Captain Serissi as the group files out. "Thanks for the straight talk and sincere well wishes. Reading people's true intentions has been something of a survival skill for me, so I'm used to detecting all kinds of ulterior motives when I speak with people. Nice to sip coffee with someone who means what he says and says what he means. The Starfinders have lost one of our own to this situation and we're pretty certain someone in Astral Extractions had a hand in it. We'll get to the bottom of whatever happened and give you a detailed report once we're clear. Here's address should you need to reach me."
Miraj gives Serissi an electronic business card with his contact information.
Once back on the station, he does his own shopping. He takes a look at computers and cameras, but decides to delay that investment a bit. He has a spotlight added to his sword cane (25 cr), and buys a radiation badge (100), Environmental clothing for radiation protection (10), a pair of binoculars (50), and 3 Mk I serums of healing (150), for a total cost of 335, leaving him 91 credits.
If the group agrees, he will use the money in the team share account (375 cr) to buy 4 Mk I serums of healing, and 3 medpatches for emergencies (leaving 25 cr in the account).
During the night, everyone receives a message from Miraj. He includes a picture of a human male, black hair, brown eyes, and light skin. He has a day or two of dark beard stubble. His face has features that would suggest he may be distantly related to the Tien from old Golarion. The message says, "Just wanted to give you all a heads up as to the look I'll be sporting, using the holoskin projector we picked up. If we're going to be recorded for posterity, I want to be able to change my look in case we become famous or infamous. Plus I know a dragon back on Triaxus who thinks I'm dead and I want to make double sure I'm not recognized."
In the morning, Miraj shows up with his new look. He's still got his old overcoat and hat, but under it is environmental clothing to protect from radiation damage and a radiation badge on his chest. When he hears that Mcfeeblerduchy was on site earlier, he is glad to arrive fashionably late. Once everyone is in the ship, he gathers folks around to make a proposal.
"I have a bad feeling about zis package Ambassador Nor wants us to pick up. He said it did not contain contraband or anything illegal, but I don't expect he'd tell is if it did. Maybe it will be nothing, but I'd feel better giving zee stewards advance notice that when ve return, ve vill be bringing something back zat they might vant to inspect. Zat way, if it does turn out to be something dangerous or wrong, ve won't be charged with smuggling or sued for damages zat might ensue. If ve do it on zee down low, then Nor von't know ve tipped zem off und vill just assume zee stewards were being efficient."
”You look really good!” Aureum exclaims in regard to the half-elf’s hair. ”It suits you.”
At Aureum's praise, Diedre bounces up and down on the balls of her feet.
"I'm glad you like it," she says, hardly containing her happiness.
"If ve do it on zee down low, then Nor von't know ve tipped zem off und vill just assume zee stewards were being efficient."
"Once we leave," Diedre says, "I'll see if I can have an anonymous message sent off to Mcfeeblerduchy, tipping him off to possible contraband cargo."
She looks around.
"So when is that bot supposed to get here?"
"Ok, now I'm officially nervous," she says as she reaches up and adjusts one of her ponytails. "They've added a friggen turrent to this boat. What the hells does this guy think we're going to run into between here and the Acreon? It's just in quarantine orbit for crying out loud."
"It's a Steward vessel. Perhaps they were planning on the upgrade anyway."
"... Maybe it will be nothing, but I'd feel better giving zee stewards advance notice that when ve return, ve vill be bringing something back zat they might vant to inspect. Zat way, if it does turn out to be something dangerous or wrong, ve won't be charged with smuggling or sued for damages zat might ensue. If ve do it on zee down low, then Nor von't know ve tipped zem off und vill just assume zee stewards were being efficient."
"This is why I asked the Ambassador to have his people meet us at the airlock when we arrive. If they put a diplomatic designation on the package then they can get it through customs themselves."
"Frankly, I don't want to interfere with the package at all. There's no way that you could prevent the Ambassador from hearing about it if we notified the Stewards. That's a big organization, and word will get around. If the Ambassador is smuggling things into the station, I don't want to be the one that got him in hot water."
After the gnomes tirade... "He was... anger. What was he angered for?"
When they're led to the ship, Lauren bounces with excitement and nervousness before climbing aboard and adjusting herself to the height of the new ceilings. She then begins to examine the ship and familiarize herself with the science officer console.
"Hmm..."
Lauren turns to the others from the console. "I think everything in order."
As the group discusses the package from Nor and its implications, Lauren thinks back to her home planet of Primoria. For centuries, her people were at war with a race of sapient fungal creatures called the mycelars. During the war, her people thought they were completely in the right. It wasn't until after the scyphozoans admitted to themselves and the mycelar that the scyphozoans started the war over prejudice about the mycelar nature of living off of death and decay that they were finally able to bridge peace between their peoples. She wonders if the Eoxians are in a similar boat to the mycelar. They are fundamentally different than the others here. She doesn't fully understand how, but it can be plainly seen by looking at them. They look different and smell of decay, just like the mycelar. Perhaps all this mistrust is unfounded, like it was with the mycelar.
Lauren returns from her train of thought and addresses the group, "I think we not mess with package."
As Aureum and Lauren inspect the ship, they find it to be in order. Although the modifications were clearly rushed, they appear to have been installed correctly and competently. Over the next hour or so, the mechanical team finishes up the last of their work, turning the Hippocampus over to the Starfinders, who busy themselves with learning the ship's systems and controls.
"I trust everything is in order?" The voice of Gevalarsk Nor resonates softly in the docking bay. Looking up, the Starfinders can see the ambassador standing on a catwalk above the starships, flanked by a pair of bone troopers and trailed by a small hoverdrone.
Smoothly descending the stairs, Ambassador Nor meets the Starfinders just outside the ship. Without pausing, the hoverdrone continues into the interior of the Hippocampus. "I am glad that the Security mechanical team was able to retrofit the ship on such short notice. I wanted you to have every advantage possible."
Glancing about, Nor sees the mechanical crew packing up their tools. "It appears that you are fully prepared for this endeavor. I will not delay you. Do you have any last questions?"
Lauren waves her tentacles in the negative. "Ship seems prepared. Thanks you. I have nothing for you."
She lowers her bell and raises it to her full height in respect, before heading back onto the ship and strapping herself in for the ride.
After the gnomes tirade... "He was... anger. What was he angered for?"
"Oh, don't mind him," Diedre says with a dismissive wave of her hand. "He's always angry. That's just his default setting."
Glancing about, Nor sees the mechanical crew packing up their tools. "It appears that you are fully prepared for this endeavor. I will not delay you. Do you have any last questions?"
Diedre puts on her best professional smile for the undead politicion.
"None that I'm aware of, Ambassador," she says, looking around at the rest of the group expectantly.
”Everything looks good,” Aureum reports as she joins Diedre and the Ambassador. ”I’m going to head inside and get familiar with the engines.”
She politely nods to the ambassador, before turning and following Lauren into the ship.
"This is why I asked the Ambassador to have his people meet us at the airlock when we arrive. If they put a diplomatic designation on the package then they can get it through customs themselves."
"Frankly, I don't want to interfere with the package at all. There's no way that you could prevent the Ambassador from hearing about it if we notified the Stewards. That's a big organization, and word will get around. If the Ambassador is smuggling things into the station, I don't want to be the one that got him in hot water."
"In my experience, it is more likely he zat vill get us in hot water." Miraj pauses and glances at Lauren. "Hot water: zat is an expression for trouble with zee authorities."
Turning back to Jehir, he continues, "Zis situation reeks of a smuggler's game of giving some unsuspecting tourists a package to carry home as a personal favor, assuring zem it is nothing illegal. If nobody checks zee package, then they get their contraband delivered at no risk. If it is discovered, zee tourist is arrested. I'd prefer zee insurance of making sure zee stewards are aware of something they may need to check. Ve can hand it off to Nor and zey can be there to check zee contents. Let's assess zee situation once ve know what ve are dealing with."
After giving the ship a quick look, Miraj asks Diedre, "Where do you vant me? Science, engineering, or gunnery? Or shall I stand around and look pretty?" He mugs a moment, acting like a model showing off fine clothing.
When Nor shows up, Miraj stays out of sight, not wanting to explain his change in appearance. Once they are under way, he figures the guy can puzzle over who the new guy is if the wants to.
After giving the ship a quick look, Miraj asks Diedre, "Where do you vant me? Science, engineering, or gunnery? Or shall I stand around and look pretty?" He mugs a moment, acting like a model showing off fine clothing.
"Never discount the benefits of looking pretty," Diedre says with a smile and a toss of her peacock blue hair.
She sobers a bit.
"How about you take a second seat at Science for now. If we run into trouble, you can take the coilgun in the turret."
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"Roger."
Miraj checks the controls for the coil gun and makes sure he can shift positions quickly as needed. Then he begins running diagnostics and begins to do some preflight checks. He pauses a moment and looks longingly at the pilot's chair. He had once dreamed of being a starship pilot, dodging missiles while maneuvering to place the enemy pirates square in the sights of the ship's big gun. He shakes his head and the fantasy fades.
Seeing that the Starfinders have their task well underway, Ambassador Nor departs the docking bay after wishing them the best of luck. Inside the Hippocampus, the crew takes their seats as their tag-along hoverdrone affixes itself to the ceiling, capturing the entirety of the vessel's interior with a full 360-degree camera.
"Hippocampus, this is Bay 07 Control. You are cleared to take off at your leisure."
Awareness of being in front of the camera settles into Deidre and she feels ... at home.
"Take us out at your leisure, Mr.Vraken," she says with confidence.
Subconsciously, she is already calculating where the dead spots of camera coverage are. Knowing not to be there if she wants to be seen and, perhaps more importantly, where to be if she doesn't want to be seen.
Having settled himself into the pilots seat, Entiren will give a nod back towards Diedre. "As you say, Captain. Here we go." Turning back to the control panel, he brings the Hippocampus fully online. Reaching out, his right hand settles on the thrust controls while his left moves to manipulate the directional controls. Feeling the steady humming of the ship around him as looks out of the docking bay, he feels a sudden longing to just begin flying off towards the twinkling lights of the distant stars. If only...
Softly sighing as he remembers the strict limitations they are under, he initializes the route programmed into the guidance system. Dialing up the thrust, he slowly brings the shuttle out of the docking bay. Following the directions of the pre-planned route, he begins flying the ship towards the quarantined Acreon.