Boone, make another sensors check.
The other vessel (on an open channel): All right, we're willing to make a deal. Who wants off this rock?
Anson glances at his companions, asking wordlessly if they had any idea what they were talking about. He responds on the open channel.
Anson (open channel): A deal?
He waits for a response from the other vessel, prompting them to say more.
Shrugging his shoulders, Eli keeps his gun ready just in case their "friends" decide to try and retake the ship.
Georg: She's--they're probably trying to trade passage through the blockade for some of the emeralds.
Boone, another Sensors check.
Sensors:
So the 3rd copter is apparently trying to establish a radar lock on the 2nd copter, which is throwing up a blizzard of electronic noise.
You're pretty sure that the 3rd craft is seconds away from firing on the 2nd craft.
Anson races his mind for any options he can take at the moment. His communications were being ignored, they didn't have any defenses nor information on the area, the other vessel was trying to make a deal and their alliance was shaky at best right now....
He starts speaking aloud, perhaps to make it easier for him to think.
Anson: If they ignore we're a humanitarian mission, we have no leverage. We don't have anything to trade except the serum. Our own skills might be something we can exchange, but that's not ideal when we have our own mission and because we should be staying out of politics and be strictly neutral. Perhaps a threat or a bluff? This serum should be vital to people of importance somewhere, and perhaps the threat of their displeasure would be a good deterrent if all else fails. Risky, considering we can't back that up in our current situation, but something to keep in mind.
Georg: Could we threaten to destroy the serum?
Anson: Would it matter to them? Maybe if they have connections to the situation, or the risk that the disease is active here in the system as well. On the other hand, we could promise a reward for our safe passage and return but we have nothing to back that up either.
The five of you brood in silence, only occasionally interrupted by beeps and buzzings from the console.
Thaya: What's that? Is there someone knocking on the hull?
Now that you listen for it, you can detect a muffled, metallic ringing.
The alarm flashes on the console, indicating that there is someone requesting access to the airlock.
Anson blinks, surprised.
Anson: I'm opening the airlock. There seems to be little other option. Can someone get me visuals?
Anson will allow access to the airlock if no one argues.
Eli heads down to the airlock, stopping to get his ACR as he goes, just in case!
Arriving at the airlock, Boone toggles on the CCTV. He sees a young woman wearing what appears to a make-shift military uniform. She is not carrying any visible weapons.
Woman in airlock: Please, I understand you have medicines aboard the craft! I come from Millar's Crossing, we have sixteen advanced cases of Snydrome; without serum I doubt that they'll pull through!
If not, Eli will relay it to the bridge.
"What do you say Captain? Can we give away some of this serum?"
Anson: We negotiate if it comes to it. We need protection, they need serum. We're also bound by the rules set to us, but I think getting some serum back is better than none. However, I want Doctor Feldspar's opinion. If she can find a way to manufacture more here, that would be the best situation.
Dr. Feldspar does remember from reading the gazetteer on this world that it did have several pharama-tree plantations, at least before the war. Pharam-trees are engineered organisms that can produce medicinal compounds within their sap.
Anson: Ask them to lend us support in exchange for the serum.
Anson looks at the Georg and Thaya.
Anson: I hope we can still work together regardless. Despite our situation being caused by your group, I'm placing the serum of utmost importance and would rather have allies.
Eli toggles the intercom.
"You there. We can let some of the serum go, but our doctor says you have the raw resources to produce your own serum. Anyway, we need your support against those who hijacked us here. Are you willing to make a trade?"
Woman in airlock: We have a small pharma-tree plantation, but the gene sequencer is in Liberation Front territory. But we'll take any serum you can give us; but I don't know how we can help you. We don't have heavy weapons.
"Captain, we can't let them die. We must give them some of the serum."
Anson makes a decision and nods to Aurora.
Anson: I haven't been keeping track, how much serum do we have and how much would we need to address the sixteen advanced cases? We need to conserve at least a little if we are to try and produce more.
He addresses Eli to pass on the message.
Anson: Just tell them to promise to give us what aid they can. I'm sure they can at least give us information.
Eli hits the com button and relays the captain's words.
"Just hold on a bit and we will see what we can do for you. Any information you might have about this situation would be helpful as well!"
Dr. Feldspar feels that 8 to 12 vials of serum, if used judiciously, should be sufficient. Altogether you have some 1400 + vials remaining (if I remember one pallet was exploded), remember, you were delivering supplies for a planetary level crisis.
Woman in airlock: What do you want to know?
Fineline: The sensors are going crazy; as far you're able to tell the helicopter that arrived from the south has exchanged weapons fire with the copter that had, just minutes before, landed, a little to your north-east.
Anson mutters about Boone not being here before addressing Thaya and Georg.
Anson: Either of you good with sensors? Weapons fire's been exchanged between the copter from the south and the one that just landed a little to our north-east.
Anson then addresses Boone.
Anson: Ask them about the conflict, particularly who are in the area right now. We have three copters of unknown factions, weapons have been fired, and we have no protection of our own. Anything that can help us out right now.
"Anson, we have plenty of serum. A small dosage for them wouldn't be missed," Aurora pleads.
Eli again passes on the information to the woman outside.
"We can spare a few vials for you and your people. Wait there and the doctor will bring them!"
Eli then calls to Dr. Feldspar to gather up the vials and bring them to the hatch.
Thaya and Georg both shake their heads.
Feldspar carefully collects the needed vials, and then joins Boone at the airlock.
"Ok step back. I have you covered so no funny business. The Doc will bring the vials to you."
Eli opens the sealed door to let Feldspar take the vials to the woman. Eli keeps his ACR trained on the woman.
Anson continues to monitor the comms, talking aloud to address Thaya and Georg.
Anson: If either of you can think of anything that would help, it would be appreciated. I don't like the idea of getting caught up in the crossfire. Perhaps you can talk to your group? They might have a better view of the situation.
Georg:Do you have a ECM suite installed on this vessel?
To which Fineline can only sadly shake his head.
Dr. Feldspar steps into the airlock, and passes over the carton containing the vials. Boone tenses. If she tries to take the doctor, I don't really have a clean sight-line.
Dr. Feldspar explains some basics about the serum: the proper dosage and possible side effects. The woman listens carefully.
Young woman: Would it be possible to set up a com-link between our clinic and you? I could really use your advice on some of the severe cases.
"Yes, I'll give you the necessary information."
The young woman gratefully takes the serum. She gives the doctor a frequency and a time in which to broadcast.
Fineline: It appears that the airborne helicopter was struck by some kind of missile fired from the ground, as it spirals to a fiery crash some 800 meters to the west of where the the Louis Wu is.
Fineline informs the group of his discovery.
Anson: I... can't think of anything to do other than wait and monitor the situation. If any of you have suggestions, I'd be glad to hear it.
Georg: The bombs have been defused...I don't suppose there's any reason why you shouldn't put me and Thaya out, and then just simply take off?
Fineline is explaining, as Boone and Dr. Feldspar return to the bridge, that it will take ten minutes to fire up the engines, and another ten minutes to then reach that point of the escape trajectory that they could reasonably expect to be safe from most 'tactical' anti-aircraft weapons.
Boone nods thoughtfully, and then pulls up the sensor logs.
Boone: I have an idea, but it'll need your help Georg, and we'll be putting our lives in your hands. It looks like that the helicopter that went down was able to make a controlled landing. If we could get to that copter, I could probably slave their ECW suite to our sensors; with some-one then operating the ECW console in real-time, with my instruction, we might have a change of getting back into orbit.
.
Anson nods to Boone.
Anson: I'll trust that what you're saying is correct, but wouldn't the one operating the ECW console be left behind?
Looking over the console, and having spoken to the others, Eli come to a decision.
"I'm going to have to stay here and operate this thing manually. You go and get this serum back to where it belongs. I'll be fine...I did service with the Scouts and have some knowledge in staying alive in hostile country. Besides, I'll have Lessra and her friends to help me. I will try to get off-planet and meet you back at the Station, if possible. Otherwise, have a good life!"
With that, Eli grabs his gear and exits the Luis Wu. He gets behind the ECW console and waits for the ship to take off.
Anson: Wait, Eli—
Anson watches Eli leave before he can discuss it more. Georg looks confused, already preparing to do it himself.
Georg: Well, what of me and Thaya? I would still like to help.