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The past few days have been a whirlwind of excitement! Zhane managed to land a spot in the biggest music event this side of the galaxy: the Out of the Nest festival at Songbird Station. This could be Neon & Noqual’s chance to finally make it big! But there is one problem—the band’s only means of transport, an old clunker of a starship called Mama’s Little Helper (nicknamed MLH), lacks a Drift engine for the long trip. Luckily, if the band dropped everything, packed up MLH, and left right away, there would be just enough time to make it to the Diaspora and reach the concert hall with a tiny bit of time to spare... so that’s what you did!
A few days of travel into the trip—just as the cramped quarters of the Mama’s Little Helper begin to grow close and stuffy—you enter the Diaspora. The journey to Songbird Station seemed close to an end, that is until MLH began to rattle and gurgle, spewing smoke that looked much thicker and smelled far more fowl than normal. Not long after, the ship’s engines failed dramatically. With a few well-placed kicks, Nuya was able to restore maneuvering thrusters long enough to land on a nearby hunk of rock just outside a fuel pump and an ugly little diner named Buzz’s. MLH is out of commission, but the show is scheduled to start in just a few hours!
Nuya does what she can to secure the ship until they can get back to it, grabs her gear, then activates the environmental seals on her suit. "Let's finish out this gig ... we can use the profits from it to get MLH back in the sky. Hopefully Buzz will have a line on some other transportation options ... and I could handle a burger, too."
"Yeah, but talking and eating will only get you so far. We need to catch a ride now - or "borrow" someone's spaceship for just a little bit. We can return it later, this is an emergency!"
Sem slams down on a seat next to her bandmates.
Ship trouble, oh man. At least we can be on time, well maybe.
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Nuya returns from the engine room covered in what you hope is dust, rather than fine carbon particles. Apparently your quartzoid manifold coil broke during the flight. And MLH isn't going anywhere without a new one.
There are a few other starships that have landed at the asteroid, presumably to refuel. Well, hopefully to refuel. None look to be of designs that use Manifold coils the same size as MLH though.
So, with little in the way of options, the band heads off to get a burger and a smoothie, and see how they might get to Songbird station before the gig starts.
Insider the diner.. oh my. You pass through a "vending" hall that has half a dozen ancient vending machines before making your way into the diner proper.
The scene is somewhat less than welcoming. A ditzy tune that sounds closer to hold music than anything you would listen to is playing on the jukebox. The diner is dirty, and the half dozen or dirty tables each has a single dirty spacer, pointedly ignoring each other as they sip their own personal poison.
The diner has only one member of staff present, a single android standing in the middle of a circular counter in the center of the building. 'He' looks up as you enter, offers you a nod, and then returns to pouring a drink from one of the three taps on the counter.
Nuya looks around the room and smiles. "Hello. Any music fans in here? We're looking for a lift to Songbird Station. In kind of a hurry, since we're performing." She points at her gyro-guitar. "We could probably slip you in as crew, if you'd like to listen to some of the concert."
Dwinite frowns a bit as he listens to the ambiance, but at Nuya suggestion he nods in agreement I better get my keyboard then
Sem approaches the android at the bar tapping the bar taps.
"Cheapest booze you have! I have a show today, so I'll just need something to take the edge off. Nice rhythm you got going ~” she displays some of her skills tapping on the counter as well.
“We need a ride out of here - can you recommend any of the fine patrons here who would be willing?”
Nuya glances toward Zhane, thinking that winning these patrons over might be more up his alley than hers. She begins to contemplate which of the ships out there would be the easiest to hotwire, if they have drop back to their fallback plan.
Someone want to change the song on the Jukebox? Seriously, there might be some kids here listening to it.
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Buzz fills a slightly dirty looking glass from the left hand tap. "Toiletry machine isn't set to restock until end of the week.." he sighs.
"Try one of the patrons. They might help you. Or the infospehre..." he points to a computer terminal that is dangerously close to the too-cheerful music emitting from the jukebox.
Buzz looks at Zirul "Be my guest.."
Nuya motions for Dwinite to try his hand at the computer terminal. She helps offer some advice.
Zirul will go over to the Jukebox and pick another song, unless he has to pay for it, then he won't pick a song.
As well as accessing the infosphere looking for a ride, Dwinite leaves a message on the bands spacechirp feed. Maybe one of the fans at Songbird Station or going to Songbird Station could divert to pick them up.
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The jukebox is a standard Dek-Tones model, designed to connect to the company’s central servers and play any song anyone could request, assuming an active subscription. There is a message flashing on it about "ubscription ended, please contact customer services to renew..."
From the glares being directed at the juke box, Zirul gets the feeling that if the music doesn't improve soon, it might be being returned. In pieces.
Dwinite knows no way of hacking that subscription but... hey... he leaves a message for his fan-group before noticing there is a stage for live performance... even if it does currently seem to be a storage spot for empty boxes and used but not yet cleaned, beer mugs.
"I guess it's time for the old 'woo them with your music' trick - never thought I would get to replace an old jukebox."
Sem grabs her anti-grav drum pads and is ready for some stardock rock!
There's a stage .... sort of .... I'm going to get my keyboard He leaves the bar to go do that.
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You can certainly set up in competition to the juke box, and for the first time in the two or three minutes since you arrived, some of the patrons actually look interested in what you are doing.
Pulling your gear out of MLH takes a few minutes, but hey, its not like you have anything else to do with your time at the moment. Eventually the stage is cleared and you are all set up. The crowd looks like a tough one though..
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Nuya runs the equipment through a quick sound check, then takes her position. Once sure the guitar is tuned, she looks to Zhane for a sign of which song he wants them to play.
He plays loud and hard and with some attitude.
Nuya raises an eyebrow at Zhane's choice of song. Not sure this audience is so hardcore, but, hey, he's the one who knows how to work the crowd ... She supports him, including going as intensely as she can during the solo in the middle of the song.
Nuya nods appreciatively, getting a sense that ... maybe? ... the crowd is warming to them. Says to Zhane, "This didn't seem like an Abysshead crowd, but looks like they didn't hate it. I'd avoid Strawberry Machine Cake, though ..."
Sem is destroying her drums.
Zhane plays some Ozzy Osbourne songs for the crowd. He starts with the song Dreamer, then moves to Black Rain, then to It's a Raid. Then he moves onto Black Sabbath and Judas Priest songs if he has time
Zhane rocks the heavy metal stuff.
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As Zhane breaks into his second set, toes start tapping and there are a couple of cheers. Sounds like a popular sound. And then they turn the amp up to eleven, and, hard though it maybe to believe the thin crowd actually starts to join in! Even better, nobody can hear the jukebox.
When you take a break, a vesk approaches you.
"I couldn't help notice your ship looks like its having some trouble.."
Zhane turns towards Nuya when done. Not hardcore eh, they loved heavy metal. Maybe we will try rock and roll next.
Zhane towards the Vesk. Ah yes, ship trouble, any chance you could repair that? We are on a tight schedule.
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"Repair no, but you have the looks of folk who are in a hurry to be somewhere else." he says. Extending a clawed hand he introduces himself as Kadyn.
The vesk wears scuffed power armour, that has obviously seen better days. Equally obviously is the black eye patch that gives him quite the roguish look.
"I wanted to see what yer were made of before offering my services. But if you can impress this crowd, well, maybe you are worth owing me a favor. Grab your stuff and meet me over at the Saint of Anger, if you want a lift."
A quick look outside shows the Saint of Anger to be a grim looking ship with several weapons and other adornments that look designed to inspire unease.
Nuya enthusiastically nods to the Vesk. She offers an expression of gratitude in Vesk.
In Common, she says, "Like I mentioned, we're making our way to Songbird Station. Are you heading that way?"
"Well, that was easy. And convenient. And suspicious. I wouldn't count on getting to Songbird without some scuffle." Sem warns the band, after Kadyn leaves.
Nuya looks over the ship, trying to get a sense if the ship looks like it's seen battle frequently, or if the design is more for aesthetics and intimidation than functionality.
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Nuya, while the design is certainly there to intimidate, it is a practical ship that is more than capable of holding its own in a real battle.
There are obvious signs of patchwork where its shields have not quite been strong enough in the past. Still, it looks well maintained and quite serviceable. Especially compared to MLH.
Zhane travels over to the Saint of Anger when ready. Wait a minute guys, did he say Saint of Anger? That ain't no Saint. Saint Anthony, Saint Thomas, those are saints, but Saint of Anger, well that is a Oxymoron. Zhane waits for the laughs at his bad joke.
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The interior of the ship is austere, and quite as formidable as the exterior. Not conducive to the normal creative process the band follows. But at least it is getting you on your way.
Still, there are (unpadded) steel seats for you to sit on. And once you are there (although perhaps not all belted in...) the ship launches with what Nuya thinks might be a little unnecessary thrust. Buzz's asteroid vanishes quickly into the blackness of space as you change course toward Songbird station!
It'll likely be a few hours, even with the impressive thrust of the Saint's engines.
Nuya says, "Sorry, I missed your name. Thanks again for the lift."
Sem takes a look around the ship, not having any skill to actually investigate it.
Dwinite also looks around the ship then settles down on the bridge.
Ship is humming along he says. Mostly with battle hums
He also looks over at Zhane. Weren't we getting a bit far from stardock rock there on that last set? Some of that sounded more like Abysshead Thrash Metal. he says quietly
Zhane looks over at the others. I have a feeling his idea of quick, isn't our idea of quick. Murphy's law will apply here today and, anything and everything will get in our way to make us late.