The Diaspora.
Remnants of two planets lost in a forgotten cataclysmic event predating even The Gap. Their bones strewn through the void in an orbit between those of Verces and Eox. Despite the ancient apocalypse, life still clings to asteroids and hunks of rock which drift endlessly through space. The former inhabitants of these planets have adapted even to this inhospitable environment. With wings of golden energy, these beings fly between the broken pieces of their ancestors' homeworlds. However, this is not how most creatures traverse the space between these places.
On one such remnant, a small spacestation hovers above a mining colony, a place for star craft to dock to receive payloads brought from the facility honeycombing the asteroid's surface and even deeper. The station does not have facilities beyond loading and ship repair; lodging and other typical residential services are maintained at the mining facility embedded in the rock.
The shuttle from the station seems to barely be moving. The current occupants suddenly roused when a cheerful humanoid woman's image appears on the monitor nearby.
"The shuttle will be arriving at Reklan Mining Facility in approximately 25 minutes. Please enjoy."
The computerized image switches to some videos of some currently popular Icons singing and playing music. Some may consider music. Others...perhaps not. The shuttle's passenger area contains some rather unusual individuals who all seem surprised to find themselves here...on the way to wherever they are going.
"Enjoy what? This music or the layover? I didn't really want either one," a soft voice with a gentle Castrovelian accent replies to the announcement (rather pointlessly).
A dark-skinned lashunta had looked up from her reading and listened attentively when the announcement came on. Now she stretches slightly in place, tugging on her rather plain but well-made forest green tunic where it has become bunched under the safety harness.
"When I think about the hours of life wasted on layovers, direct starship flights seem almost worth those ridiculous prices. Or they would be if I could afford them." She smiles at the occupant of the seat beside her, then wriggles restlessly to sit up a little more and peer out the tiny viewport with a disappointed sigh. "We are turned the wrong way to see anything interesting."
Her personal tablet rests idle on her lap, the screen displaying an article titled "Mechanotransduction and mesenchymal stem cell functional differences between ysoki and humans."
The small, light furred mouse-like person sitting between the Lashunta woman and an elderly human lady looks over towards Klimma when she speaks. Lashunta have a tendency to make Kip slightly on edge, but he thinks he's been doing a pretty good job not letting that bother him through the trip, hopefully any reservations he has haven't been noticed.
"You got a long wait at Reklan? There's gotta be a Decker you can hop on that'll take ya straight from there right? Though if yer just rock jumpin a Decker don't really save more than a couple days." The little ysoki shrugs his shoulders ruffling his blue jacket somewhat as Klimma tries to look out the viewport "Not too much ta see on the other side either, if yer hopin to see a gold jumper chances are pretty slim, and the 'Spora's not much but rocks otherwise."
Kip's eyes spot the tablet in her lap as Klimma shifts about catching a glimpse of the title on the display they a bit. A tiny, booted foot that doesn't even reach the floor of the shuttle was tapping along with the music, but stops as he cautiously asks "E.. err wha's that yer readin there? S-somethin about Ysoki cells?"
Eyes tightly closed, one finger softly tapping the centre between her brows in a regular tattoo. "It'll be fine, the hull is not just a flimsy piece of metal... she seems to say to herself in a quiet tone.
During the flight, the raven haired Lashuntan had tried to sleep and then tried to read, but it really wasn't helping as could be ascertained by the death grip her other hand had upon the leather arm-rest. As the music video changes on the monitor, suddenly Fiona opens her eyes and stares at it intently before letting out a deep sigh.
With a shake of her dark tresses, she then looks around the compartment as if for the first time.
Klimma turns from the viewport and smiles down at the ysoki. "It's a paper comparing the responses of ysoki and human stem cells -- you know, the cells that can be transformed into specialized cells, like nerves and muscles? -- to various types of stimuli: arcane magic, electricity, divine magic, biological agents. It's to learn how to best adapt bodies for limb or organ replacements and enhancements. My advisers said that comparative A&P is big right now, so I'm getting a refresher before the interviews with the big bio-engineering firms lined up on Absalom Station. My little vacation was good for the soul, but not so good for the brain."
"My flights are all set," she continues, "But I have a layover here at the station for a while. What brings you here? Are you a miner?"
Suddenly remembering her manners, she blurts out before Kip can answer, "Oh, I'm Klimma, by the way." With her accent, it sounds like "Kleema."
As if responding to Klimma's comment about the music, the image on the monitor switches from music to a popular feed following what appears to be a young human female, a feed called Arielle & Bubbles.
The feed has become a phenomenon for many reasons, but the chief among them: no one knows from where it comes. The show simply becomes available on many Pact World infospheres simultaneously showing the girl whom everyone calls Arielle wandering around in different environments seemingly alone with nothing but her stuffed bear friend. Arielle never acknowledges the camera, and no one has ever seen the face of the creature or robot (many suspect it's some kind of drone) which films her. The source of the feeds is always unidentifiable. So far no trace using magic or technology has successfully identified where they originate or how they become uploaded into the infospheres. Another source of consternation is why everyone calls the girl Arielle as her name has never been uttered anywhere on the feeds.
The current feed seems to be following behind Arielle as she picks her way across some barren rocky terrain. The sky above her is clearly night as stars of all kinds are visible. Oddly, Arielle seems to be well lit as if another light source is unseen off camera. The rock around her has a dark brown color and is clearly very grainy.
"Well, Bubbles," the girl says, "I think we're almost there. The fighting ship will be here soon. Things are going to be very exciting."
The camera rotates around Arielle so her upturned face is shown. In one hand she holds up Bubbles while the other is pointing to somewhere in front of her. The girl's eyes glitter as she looks up into the galaxy above, the starlight reflected in multiple facets almost like a gem.
When Klimma complains about the view, a display nearby suddenly activates showing both a view of the shuttle's current destination, the asteroid with the sprawling mining station of Recklan, and a rear view showing the hovering spaceport where a couple of starships have docked for repairs and deliveries. The front view shows a structure which has clearly evolved as the dark brown, grainy rock has been carved out, the subsequent holes filled and pressurized to make livable spaces for both work and residence. In the rear view, the shuttle is still close enough to make out the tiny specks of void-suited workers and engineering drones working between the craft.
As Kip comments on the possibilities of larger ships docking at the station for passage, a display lowers from the ceiling displaying the itinerary for all ships scheduled to drop by the space station for the next week.
As Fiona mutters with concern, a display near her suddenly lights up displaying the structural design specifications of the shuttle with an in-depth comparison with the requirements recommended by the Diaspora Protectorate. The article appears to endeavor to address Fiona's fears by displaying the shuttle is well within code for protection from the Void.
Bertrude wakes up with a start, her bleary eyes looking around for a moment without recognition until she sees Kip in the seat next to her. "Oh goodness me, I must have dozed off..." She gives a warm, tired smile towards Klimma and Kip, and continues in her somewhat wavery, weathered voice, though she leans in with squinted eyes through her circular glasses at the viewscreen. "Sorry, I must have been more tired than I had thought. We're getting close to our destination?"
She looks more specifically at Klimma, her expression still warm and kindly. "You can call me Bertrude, dear. And this young man is Kip."
Kip looks kind of relieved hearing the explanation of the article Klimma was reading, sounds like she's not looking to mess with brain cells. Hearing Bertrude wake up and introduce him Kip smiles and nods "Yeah, 'm Kip, nice to meetcha Kleema. Sorry if we woke ya up grammy, we'll be gettin to the station soon. Twenty minutes or so."
The young Ysoki glances towards the display when the music stops and it shifts to another program, the then furrows his brow as he notes other monitors near them have each changed what they were displaying to match what each of them were talking about. Then shifts his focus back to Klimma "Miner? Nah, jus' goin' for a visit, Gram's got some family we're off to meet. Who was it again Grammy? Grand niece?" Turning his attention back to Klimma he asks "Hittin up bio engineers at Absalom, you some kinda scientist?"
Klimma looks askance at the changing screens, antennae pressing flat into her tightly kinked halo of hair. "I think this sheep is eavesdropping. AI can learn many things, but it never seems to understand privacy... nor that sometimes people are better off wanting something than getting it." She smiles and nods acknowledgement of Bertrude's introductions, then laughs in response to Kip's question.
"Well, according to my mother, I am just an educated fool... but I hope to be a scientist soon. If I do well on these interviews. And maybe find a real job instead of an unpaid internship." She squinches up her nose at the idea of working hard for nothing but experience.
She looks curiously at the traveling pair. "Are you two related? Is your family on Reklan here, or are you just passing through?" She takes a quick glance back towards the more nervous lashunta and lowers her voice. "I hope we get down soon, before that poor girl has a breakdown. Some people never get over their fear of sheeps, no matter how much they fly."
Kip nods to Klimma when she talks about the AI eavesdropping, it takes him a moment to realize she's talking about the ship "Mmhmm sorry ta disappoint, but I ain't that interestin'." Kip says to the monitor in front of him.
"Educated fool? Better than an uneducated one I guess. Well once you take that step to be a full fledged scientist nobody can say yer a fool anymore." He shrugs his little mousey shoulders "I never really went ta school... at least not that I remember, was always kinda interested, but I guess just never had the chance. I dunno about bio-engineering though... that kinda weirds me out err." He waves his hand as if to wipe away that comment "Not that there's anythin wrong with you goin for it, just not really my gel. I'm more interested in different kinds'a tech. Y'know? Checkin out how different peoples make different stuff, how that all works, and how to make it all work together."
The Ysoki shakes his head fuzzy ears bobbling about at Klimma's question "Nah, I know we gots the same good looks, but no actual relation. Least not officially, though Grammy Bertie's pretty much family. Met her a while back and she helped ta land me a job, and kept checkin up ta make sure I was ok. Since then she's helped me out quite a bit, anytime 'm lost Grams always seems ta know where ta point me." with a shrug of his shoulders he continues "Dunno 'bout my family, never really met them, wouldn't know it if I did, Grammy's got family all over though don'tcha Grams?"
Kip follows Klimma's glance when she notes Fiona's having a rough time and nods adds also in a lowered voice "This pilot ain't exactly made it the smoothest ride either, prolly doen't help."
Looking towards Fiona he raises his voice enough so she can hear "Doin alright lady? We're just about there. Scariest part is enterin the atmosphere, but don't think that'll be too bad fer us. Mosta the 'Spora ain't got much for atmosphere ta enter."
"Following your interests is better than a life of regret, that's what I say, nothing foolish about that," says Bertrude encouragingly, though her lips press together disapprovingly at the idea of an unpaid internship, "But nothing wrong with being paid what you're worth, either. I hope you do great on those interviews."
She laughs pleasantly, though with a dry quality to her voice when she does, when Klimma asks whether she and the Ysoki are related, and she leaves Kip to answer that question, though she does confirm, "I have children and grandchildren and all kind of family all around the system, and this is just one stop along the way. I've been trying to enjoy my retirement. We're going to go see one of my grandsons and his spouse."
Her bespectacled eyes turn forward towards Fiona, and she makes a soft hum of concern, but again leaves Kip to do the talking.
As the shuttle shows the specifications of the ship, Fiona smiles wryly. "Yeah, no-one knows how to read those. Don't help anyway, back to 'Bubbles & Arielle' or maybe 'Punk Exposure'." Fiona murmurs to the computer.
Blinking she looks to the Ysoki; "Thanks, it takes a few days to get my flight legs and I don't really like these restrictive conditions. Oh, I'm Fiona, by the by. I hope I wasn't making you uncomfortable, or interrupting."
The monitors flicker at Klimma's rebuke, those near her simply power off while the one with itinerary returns back into the shuttle's ceiling.
The display closer to Fiona switches briefly to Arielle & Bubbles before flickering again to a view of what can only be described as urban dystopia. A group of cybernetically enhanced dwarves, vesk, and one gnome scream raspily while producing some extremely jarring music as the camera cuts between shots of the band (surely Punk Exposure) and various scenes of anarchic civil disobedience. The production value of the camera work and costumes is impressive, and the imagery supports the barely comprehensible lyrics implying that revolution is needed on all worlds. Just before the music vid replaces it, Arielle is seen pointing at the night sky above whatever strange vista she and Bubbles currently traverse as an advanced starship exits the Drift near a small spacestation.
Kip chuckles softly and shakes his head "Nah 'm the one nosin inta yer business, I ain't so low as ta start a conversation wit ya just to accuse ya of interruptin'"
The little rat man's grins towards her "An' don't worry about flight legs out here in space we'll jus' turn off the G's then who needs legs? Mine don't reach anyway" He kicks his short legs to show they don't make it to the floor.
Quite suddenly, the lights and power in the shuttle go out. The artificial gravity ceases to function shortly after, and anything not strapped down begins to slowly float around the cabin...including any passengers.
A single display flickers to life while some soft blue tube lighting along the floor and ceiling adds just enough illumination to the shuttle's interior to see. The same humanoid female's face as before appears on the screen.
In a very soft yet irritatingly cheerful tone, she says, "I'm terribly sorry about all of this, tee hee, but we have a rather serious problem."
Fiona bites her lip to avoid muttering; 'I told you so.' However the sudden loss of power and gravity has a calming affect on the Lashuntan, that the 'worst' that could go wrong has and now it's time for action or peace.
She pushes gently against the restraints over her chest to make sure she is secure. Then, under the pale blue light of the hologram looks around the cabin at the other passengers.
There is a subtle shift in Bertrude, her eyes going from tired to alert in an instant when the lights and power go out. After the artificial gravity stops, she stays down due to her belt, but shortly unbuckles it herself and holds herself down with the straps.
"What is the problem?" she demands of the screen, "And what is being done about it?"
Instead of responding, the woman's face disappears, and the display flickers back to the rear view of the space station. An rather advanced but unrecognizable starship is firing weapons on the space station and the ships currently docked there. There is a meager defense, but it is clearly outmatched. In the midst of this space melee, the unknown ship also sends out several torpedoes which seem to flash towards the viewer.
Another display suddenly lights up showing the mining facility and several explosions as the torpedos zip past the small shuttle and impact the surface of the asteroid and parts of the facility. The complete silence accompanying all the violence would be eerie to humanoids who are unaccustomed to the physics of the Void. Good thing there are only hardy spacefarers onboard this shuttle.
"I hope that answers your question, Ms. Bertrude!" the female's voice says delightedly. "As you can see, we are between two points that have come under attack by an unidentified star ship. I have minimized the power output and deactivated the shuttles thrusters in an effort to mask our presence. The shuttle's current trajectory of motion should allow us to reach the Reklan Asteroid."
Around the cabin, several indicator lights in the shape of a humanoid with a bubble around its head appear next to the unlit symbol for seatbelts.
"Void environment protection recommended," the voice gushes enthusiastically. "If you are not currently wearing protection from vacuum conditions, please consider this strong advisement. If you choose not to do so, Reklan Mining Facility cannot be held liable for your personal choice for possible decompression."
The giggle that follows this announcement is entirely unnecessary.
Klimma unbuckles, reaches into the bag anchored at her feet (mostly under the seat in front of her,) and pulls out the helmet and gloves that accompany her second skin armor. She dons the helmet first, then the gloves, then does a quick pressurization check to be certain all the seals are tight. She activates the environmental protection, having taken the warnings very seriously. Her boots do their job and keep her feet anchored to the deck.
"Boy, my father will be angry if he has to spend years paying off student loans for a daughter who was killed a week before her first real job interview. All investment, no return," she mutters as she dresses, then turns to her seatmate. "Keep, is there anything I can get for you so you don't need to unbuckle? If not, I'm strapping back een."
She looks at the screen. "Sheep, do you recognize the attackers? Why are they attacking both the station and the mining facility? Have they ever been attacked before? What does the mining facility produce, anyway?"
She pauses a moment, then adds as an afterthought, "And what do you find so funny about all thees?"
She hangs on to her loose harness so she stays relatively upright with respect to the deck.
Slowly taking deep breaths as the rest of the passengers ask pertinent questions of the AI, Fiona draws out a small shoulder bag and rummages around in it for a pair of black leather gloves. Taking rather more time than could be expected in such an emergency, she finds then and puts them on. The wrists of the gloves tighten to form a seal against the potential vacuum.
Next is a small studded leather choker that she affixes around her neck, which will create a force-field of air around her head with the canister of oxygen she clips to her belt.
The display returns to the image of the female humanoid smiling brightly, and she begins to answer Klimma's questions happily.
"No, I am unable to recognize them as I have not seen the attackers before this moment."
"I'm not permitted to answer that, tee hee!"
"Further clarification required."
"Please direct your attention to the display beside you."
A report detailing the exports of the Reklan Mining Syndicate appears. Common exports indicate types of stones desirable for construction and art as well as alloys used for star craft construction particularly those capable of atmospheric entry and departure.
"I do not find anything particularly humorous. You must be referring to my bubbly personality! My creator always found himself lonely and depressed, so he programmed me to be cheerful and enthusiastic especially in times of high stress and anxiety."
The image winks and gives a thumbs up.
"Ship, are you piloting as well as running the systems?"
I wish her designer had just bought a bride somewhere, Klimma thinks somewhat grumpily.
Bertrude quietly gets her bag from under her seat, removes some headgear and puts it on. She seems distracted from paying much mind to anything while donning it. When she is done, she says, "Don't the AIs normally do that kind of thing these days? These new fangled technobots are really different from when I was a girl." She sniffs and says pointedly in a way that is directed towards the AI, "They were more polite, let me tell you."
"Kip, hon, can you tell me if this is sealed on right?" asks Bertrude as she gestures towards the headgear.
Kip groans as the gravity shuts off "Ya weren't 'spose to take that seriously" When the giggly AI voice explains there's some kind of serious problem he frowns, and when the screen shows the space station under fire his frown deepens, and he starts to unbuckle himself. When Klimma offers to get things for him he nods "Sure, if you could grab my helmet and gloves under my seat tha'd be great."
The little Ysoki shifts to help Bertrude with her helmet adjusting it so that seals properly
Listening to the answers to Klimma's questions and following the order he furrows his fuzzy brow "Wait a sec, You're not permitted to answer why they're attacking? So you know why, but don't have auth'rization t' tell us? Who's preventing you from tellin?"
When Klimma and Bertrude talk about the AI piloting Kip nods "Yeh, most AI can do some basic piloting, but can't compare to a living pilot. I wouldn't 'spect a simple shuttle out here ta have an AI like this though usually see older more like yer talkin about Grammy. This one seems to let's say take extra liberties 'm guessin there ain't no pilot. Though right now she said she nixed the thrusters 'n basically anythin usin power, so nobody doin much for pilotin right now. AI lady, let me inta the cockpit, we're gonna want someone in there if we gotta start dodgin lazers."
[b] "You might be a living pilot, but are you any good?" [\b] Fiona asks with a wry tone, whilst she holds onto the chairs padding.
Kip looks over at Fiona after her quip "If ya've got a better suggestion 'm all ears. Maybe we'll get through jus' floatin dead like this, but if not I'd like ta have someone in there ta crank the wheel." The little Ysoki secures his helmet in place "I flown a few ships, but ain't no decorated war vet. Slicin through crossfire ain't my idea of a leisurely flight, I'll be better'n nuttin though, 'less we got another volunteer." He looks around to see if anyone else is going to offer up their skills or if anyone has a suggestion.
"I agree with Keep. Unless this AI is specifically designed and tested for combat, I feel better with a human or android at the helm. Of course, the best case would be to have one of us pilot and allow the AI to copilot, if it is agreeable." Having finished handing Kip's gear to him, she waits for him to finish sealing his suit. "Pilot Keep, I have no skill as a flyer, but I am a decent engineer and hacker. I will help with the computer or mechanical issues if I can. And IF this sheep is designed for humanoids to pilot."
Looking about the room, her dark eyes wide open; "Good reasoning, I just want to know whom I'm trusting with my life." With a quirk of her lips and raise of her eyebrow to let the furry fellow know she's joking.
Having no skill at mechanical operations much less flying a spaceship through an active battle field, the Lashuntan outlaw keeps out of the discussions. She turns to Bertrude and quips; "Guess we should just sit here and hope!"
"Ship, are you piloting as well as running the systems?"
For the first time, the female's smile slips slightly, and a slight twinge of rose creeps into the pale blue luminescence of her image.
"Er, well...I am, but shhh! Please don't tell the Savant," she begs. Then she giggles and stage whispers conspiratorily, "I'm not supposed to be doing this without a biological pilot onboard as cover."
"Wait a sec, You're not permitted to answer why they're attacking? So you know why, but don't have auth'rization t' tell us? Who's preventing you from tellin?"
The image on the screen simply smiles and shrugs in response, but since Kip gets drawn into another conversation quickly after, he may not have noticed.
"AI lady, let me inta the cockpit, we're gonna want someone in there if we gotta start dodgin lazers."
"Oh! You want to be my bio-pilot façade?" the image claps her digital hands excitedly. "That would be perfect. Now he can't be cross with me!"
A door in the bow end slides open, and two seats can be seen in front of several brightly lit panels and controls.
"Oh, Kip is a plenty capable pilot, but if you need help at all, I've flown from time to time in my day." Bertrude smiles at Fiona, and seems about ready to nod agreement with her when the AI speaks and the older woman's smile falters.
"As cover?" repeats Bertrude, unimpressed with the what the AI is saying. "Cover for what? This is all very suspicious... Klimma, what do you think? You said you know about-" She gestures vaguely around the ship, "Computers. Can computers be suspicious?"
Kip raises an eyebrow hearing that the AI is not supposed to be doing this, it's not that surprising that there are instructions in place that a bio-pilot needs to be present, but that the AI would disregard the rules, and has been reprimanded for this in the past is pretty curious. The little Ysoki also takes note of the name The Savant who is apparently who this AI reports to.
He looks curiously at Klimma when she describes she can do engineering and hacking and smiles "Excellent, glad t'hear there's a capable engineer on board. Ho'fully we won't need yer skills, but may need to rely on you t'keep us flyin if we do take some shots."
Seeing the door slide open Kip nods and unbuckles himself from his seat to prepare to move over to the controls "Ahh thanks I'll head over there." He turns to Klimma before he leaves "Kleema will ya give me your comm ID? It'll be easier ta talk over comm if 'm over at tha helm."
Assuming she's willing Kip will exchange comm info with Klimma before pushing off the seats and floating towards the open door and control panels. He looks over to Bertrude as he starts to sail past "Looks like two seats in there Grammy, ya wanna come with me or stay with Kleema and Fiona?"
Settling himself down and strapping into the seat in front of the control panel Kip "Bio-Pilot yeah, but façade not s'much 'm a real pilot ready ta take the controls once the thrusters're back online." He says to the AI once he's properly seated at the panel. "Ya got a name I should use? Callin ya AI lady or ship seems kinna weird... Ah, and ya got like a serious mode 'r sumthin? All dis bubbly gigglin when we're in danger makes it seem like yer makin fun o' our plight, and ain't give a rat's b'nana 'bout 're lives. 's pretty... off putting."
Klimma performs the standard SYN/ACK protocol to sync her comm unit with Kip's. "Sheep, is there any engineering or science console on board, or just the two helm seats?" she asks over common channels before switching to Kip's private frequency.
On public comm channels: "Bertrude, AI are not just computers! They are sophisticated personalities of their own. Like people, they have strengths and challenges. In this case, our AI has not been combat-trained, so Keep can help." Klimma smiles reassuringly at Bertrude and Fiona. "I will help our defensive or maneuvering capabilities if I can."
Klimma pulls her personal computer from her bag and tries to access a local info net for data about AI's.
In the pilot seat Kip suddenly tenses his fur immediately sticks straight out and he cries out "NO! Get out!!" The mouse man claws at his helmet as if trying to get to his head inside "Gyaa! OUT! NOW! OUT! Get outta my mind!"
Oops, Klimma thinks, and immediately ceases trying to communicate telepathically.
As the feeling of chagrin at Kip's reaction causes her to hesitate in further telepathic contact, Klimma enters her search string into the asteroid base's local infosphere. A very small image of what looks like the female AI appears in the corner of Klimma's screen. It has a complete body instead of just being a bust, but the image is in a chibi style. She is holding a banner stating 'Loading. Thank you for your patience' and dances happily in place while smiling with twinkling eyes as a circle begins to slowly draw itself around her. She is almost completely encircled when a flurry of things happen all at once.
A display suddenly lights up in the shuttle's pilot cabin showing a middle aged human(?)'s face. The race is questionable as much as half of the face is covered by cybernetic enhancements or replacements.
"Jolene!" the face barks.
"Waaaah!" yelps a blushing holographic projection of the female AI which suddenly bursts into existence in the seat next to the screaming Kip. "S-s-s-savant!"
The image of the man's face suddenly blurs as if some type of interference with the image has occurred and his word's distort.
"Drav...missile has dama...actor! The experi...Drift beac...is..."
Whatever he was going to say is lost as his image and the display simply shuts off.
The monitors displaying the asteroid base and the repair space station also blink out and vanish....but the displays remain active. Instead the actual locations have blinked out of existence...
Every color in the shuttle seems to invert for several seconds. When everything returns to normal, the front monitor displays an imminent landing on the asteroid is approaching. But it might be less than a smooth one...
Bertrude had gone with Kip at the offer to do so, and has been watching the console from behind him. When Kip starts to panic, she puts a hand on his shoulder gently, reassuring the Ysoki, "Honey-honey, you gonna be okay? What happened?"
Her lips purse with displeasure when the projection appears in the other seat, and her brow furrows with further confusion, repeating, "What happened? You need me to take over for a bit?" She readies herself to take control if the Ysoki does not signal right away that he is calm enough to make the landing.
Klimma hauls herself back into her seat via the restraint straps and fastens them. "Everyone strap in for a quick landing!" she yells unnecessarily.
When the colors of the world invert, the hologram of the AI called Jolene emits an "Erk!" then vanishes abruptly.
Several lights begin blinking on the panel of instruments in front of the pilot chairs.
"Trajectory and speed indicate collision is imminent," states a much more subdued verison of the AI's voice. "Course correction or deceleration is recommended."
On the display above the instruments, the asteroid's indistinct rocky surface begins to become much more detailed.
Kip snaps his head over to look at Bertrude when she puts her hand on his shoulder he looks at her with fear widened eyes which gradually seem to focus into recognition "Grams..." Shaking his head slowly the Ysoki "I'm uhh..." He doesn't have time to finish his thought as he spots the asteroid quickly charging towards them.
Kip visibly shakes off whatever it was that was affecting him and gets into piloting mode looking over the controls hearing the warning of an imminent collision he growls "Yah I noticed, and what do ya expect me ta do about it when you've deactivated the flaggin thrusters?" Judging in his mind the time it will take to engage the thrusters he shakes his head and grumbles to himself"Main thrusters'll take least two minutes to warm up... we'll have made a nice hole in the asteroid by then."
"Grammy hit the stabilizers, I'll try emergency thrusters that'll be our only chance to avoid plowing head long inta that ast'roid"
Hearing Klimma's warning to strap in he calls back "Yah hol' on real tight landin' is a real generous way ta put wha's gonna happen."
Making sure that the straps are even more secure than before, despite having checked them frequently during the flight, Roxanne looks about the passenger cabin with a worried look. "Jolene, what is the asteroids designation?" she asks worriedly as her worst fears have materialised.
Her hands grab the padding of the seat, muscles tensed before she remembers her training at the monastery and old brother Wynn's teachings. With a roll of her shoulders she tries to loosen her muscles, like before she lands on a bamboo floor - but a thousand times worse.
Kip immediately recognizes the shuttle's controls have been released to manual. Several indicators and notifications flash on the panels indicating not all systems are online.
Jolene's voice states simple, "This asteroid is designated RKL-N 317 for navigational purposes. It's commonly called Reklan by the current residents."
Seeing the manual controls have been released Kip immediately tries to adjust the course pulling up hard on the controls "We're in luck, emergency thrusters are still active, gonna be a little rough, but think we can avoid smashing directly into the astr'oid"
"The outdated c'nstuction could work in our favour, our debris shield is layered plating 'stead o' an energy shield, the layers should be able ta absorb more of a physical impact wit'out punchin through..." He glances towards Bertrude "Y'know... hopefully"
Bertrude nods understanding when Kip gives her instructions, and she gets to work following them. She pushes herself into the seat that Jolene had recently vanished from and straps herself in with one hand, while operating the controls with the other. Despite not having any affinity for the computers that she had come across in the ship, co-piloting seems to come naturally to her even with the relatively unfamiliar configuration. "Stabilizers are active."
She smiles at Kip, and whether it is genuine hope in her expression or a show to try and put the Ysoki at ease is unclear. "I've made it out of tougher situations than this one, and so will you."