The other pirate, a young woman, also sporting a similar tat, watches, bemused as the weapons are stowed.
Anson resigns himself to doing as asked, though makes sure to arrange his weapons such that they are easily accessible upon the opening of the locker.
Anson: Fancy a meal while we talk? I haven't eaten in a while.
Thune: Sure, there'll be no harm at that.
Suddenly it strikes you, when you last visited Asimoff in person, on the resort world of Gurnsbeck, that style of tattoo was all the rage among the youth. Of course, it was a populous planet, and such fashions to have a way of travelling far.
Aurora catches up to the others in the galley. "I've seen Boone to his bunk. A little rest and he'll be on the mend. I can't say the same for the Major. I've put him in cryo-sleep, but he'll need medical attention as soon as he is awakened."
Anson keeps their tattoos in mind, eating the food. He thinks over the numerous events that's happened. Has it been only a day, a few hours? It feels longer than it really was.
Anson: I'm exhausted myself and could do with some rest. Unless there's anything else you want to mention?
He directs the question to their captors. He doesn't know who they are and what side they're on, if they'r even aware of their cargo, but he's not ready to broach the topic yet without making some observations.
Thune: It'll be 72 hours till we fall back into the Engarno system. So till then we'll all just take it easy.
Engarno, well that makes sense, as it is the closest system.
Thune: Boone sure did a job on the drone, didn't he.
The two pirates begin collecting the pieces of the shattered drone, stuffing them into a mesh bag.
Fineline appreciates their spacer discipline: a clean ship is a safe ship.
Anson nods and then speaks to Aurora.
Anson: Alright then. I'm going to check on Boone before turning in. Dr. Feldspar, I would appreciate your company, if that's alright?
Still feeling a bit shaky from his encounter with the "zap-bot", Eli rests in his quarters, trying to figure out what has happened and where they are going.
Aurora nods and follows Anson.
While waiting for Aurora to arrive, he checks Boone's quarters for bugs, raising a finger to his lips when someone tries to ask what he's doing. His skills are lacking in this regard, but it helps ease his paranoia and gain some semblance of control.
Calming down, he speaks to the others.
Anson: Well, this is a mess we're in. I don't see any option but to follow orders. They have a fusion charge on board, our cargo of serum hostage, have a ship with more guns, and probably outnumber us. And we still have little clue on who they are but they seem to have been expecting us. I'd like to say I'm open for any ideas but I'm seeing no choice but do what they say if we want to get out of this in one piece and with the serum intact.
Boone continues to hold his aching head and shakes it now and again as Anson speaks.
"Well there is not much we can do, like you said, but there is a lot we do not have to do, like cooperate. I do not see that really helping us much, though. just me being stubborn and foolish most likely, but maybe we can create small acts of sabotage to keep our captives on their toes...and of course keeping a weather-eye for any chance of escape!"
Anson: Well, that improves our situation. We're still held hostage and powerless, but at least we don't have the threat of immediate destruction. I'm not sure why he volunteered that information but that's something to follow up on when we get him in better health. I would vote against sabotage, Boone. Maybe if the sabotage helps us in some way instead of pissing off our captors, but we also benefit if they're more relaxed. Keeping an eye out for escape is always good, however.
Anson looks around and checks how long he's been in the room.
Anson: Alright, we've been here long enough. It's been a long day so we'll take the time to rest. And I don't want them to get suspicious about what we're doing here. We won't hold meeting like this regularly due to the danger but I suggest doing them impromptu when we can. I also suggest that we simply pass along information to each other in private when needed. Not ideal, but safer.
Thune: The patient, how's he doing? .
There is no sign of the other pirate.
All right, I'm assuming that everyone heads to their bunks. Thune appears to be taking up sentry position in common room, where he can be sure no one enters the bridge without his notice.
So unless anyone wants to do something: assume that six hours have passed, with everyone taking some much needed rest.
Anson heads into the kitchen to grab something quick to eat, nodding to who passes by. He's unsure where to proceed from here, a hostage in his own ship, but he might as well take care of himself.
The nap that Eli takes refreshes him somewhat, although some of the damage he took from the 'stunbot' linger on. He makes his way to the galley to get something to eat and sits with Anson when he gets there.
"So now what Captain? Who are these guys and what do they want?"
Aurora joins Boone and Fineline in the galley, more from a sense of unity that anything else.
Georg wanders in, and timidly heats two meal-paks.
Anson looks at Georg when he walks in and replies to Eli's question.
Anson: I don't know, but we'll keep our heads down for now. But Georg might be willing to tell his side of the story.
Georg: I don't know-- Thaala is waiting...
Anyone want to attempt a Persuade check (using either your Intelligence or Status mod)?
Anson's eyes flick to Aurora, recalling a mention that she has some training in the art of persuasion. Or was it debating? Despite not being sure, he slightly inclines his head towards Georg, indicating she should give it a try.
"Come on, Georg, you can share with us."
"Yeah Georg...spill the beans!"
Georg looks extremely uncomfortable, but, he begins to talk: The Major, he's my uncle. He brought me into this. Look, there's a fortune in emeralds on Engarno, but nobody can get them off planet because of the blockade. But your ship, nobody's going to fire on it because of the serum on board. And if another vessel, was to make simultaneous planet-fall with you, hiding in the shadow of your data-signature, then they should also be able to leave at will; again spoofing your signature..
Anson: I see... That's a good plan. Not that I approve of it, of course. That answers one question and they won't really interfere with our mission when they've done what they wanted at least.
Georg looks somewhat relieved. Georg: Yeah, if you just wait it out, everything will work out; you'll be able to go your way with the serum.
Any further questions for Georg? If no, consider yourselves twelve hours into your transit to Engarno.
"I can't believe this is all for some lousy gems! People's lives are at stake and you don't care! And they call me a mercenary. Get out of her Georg, you make me sick!"
Looking somewhat abashed, Georg shuffles out of the room.
So, were 18 hours into the Engarno jump.
K. I'm assuming that a kind of sullen truce takes hold aboard the vessel. 36 hours have passed. If no one is going do anything unusual, we'll just say that next 36 hours passes by equally uneventfully.
So, the 72 hours pass. Watching the pirates you note an interesting dynamic: Georg is obviously smitten with Thayla, and she seems to willing to exploit this infatuation, though it is clear that she and Thune 'are an item.'
At any rate, some twenty minutes before you leave jump-space for the Engarno system, everyone is crowded into the small bridge.
Thune: As soon as we leave jump-space the picket ships are likely to begin challenging us. Fineline, go ahead and tell them exactly what the situation is: you're a hi-jacked vessel carrying vital medical supplies.
Unspoken is the very real possibility that the picket ships could blast both the pirate ship and the Luis Wu out of the sky, if they are not convinced of the Luis Wu's identity.
Anson does as Thune instructs, quickly signalling the picket ships, first following the normal protocol.
Picket Ships: By order of the Imperium this system is interdicted space, break off course immediately.
Anson: This is the Luis Wu. We are carrying vital medical supplies for the relief of SND and have been hi-jacked by pirates. I repeat, we are carrying vital medical supplies for the relief of SND and have been hi-jacked by pirates. We are requiring planet-fall on Engarno.
Long, tense minutes pass, with everyone staring at the communication console, like they could pull the message from across space with their eyes. When the answer comes, it is terse and to the point: Permission for Engarno planetfall granted.
Anson releases the breath he's been holding before having the mind to respond.
Anson: Roger that.
He makes sure they're safely headed towards Engarno once more before addressing the pirates in the room.
Anson: Well, it looks like your plan worked.
Thune obviously expecting some private time with the com-set : I'll need to confirm some things with the boss.
Anson waves his hand and leaves him to it.
Anson: Fine, fine. I'm just relieved this has worked so far.
Thayla shepherds everyone out of the bridge. Georg jokes about needing to change his underwear.
A few minutes later, Thune asks Fineline to come back onto the bridge.
Thune: Landing coordinates have been entered into the system. We're going to maintain the sync-lock until we're 200 km. up, then we're switching over to manual.
Planetfall, with your controls slaved to another vessel, until you're just about 200 km. above the surface. That could be risky, there'll be very little margin for error.
Eli go in search of Dr. Feldspar. Once he finds her, he asks,
"So what is the deal here. Are we simply set free once they have what they want? I do not trust them a bit...I want to take a look around to make sure they have not hidden a little 'surprise' onboard for after they are gone. Dead men tell no tails, as they say!"
"I agree," the doctor whispers back.
"Well then, shall we gather the captain and do a little 'look-see' around the ship. I have a feeling these pirates will not be just letting us go!"
Eli looks for Anson and tells him his fears, then begins to search around the ship.
Anson: Planetfall when slaved? That's risky, almost unnecessarily so. I can understand it when doing tandem maneuvers, but can't you get bridge control released for this?