Taylor Young
"Well now, ain't that somethin'" He spoke, eyes wide as the swarmfolk walks in. "I'd love to have a chat with them later, K’drunni ships are like nothin' I've ever seen. I've seen some of the pictures taken after 'Drive to Succeed of the Emerald Swarm' pulled off a win during the Saturn Route a few years back, definitely not designed to piloted by humanoids I'll tell you that much."
"Chairs can be a real nuisance," Arkady replied sympathetically. "They're constantly being used, moved and strained. Wear and tear on them is constant, no matter the materials used. You'd be amazed how often we need to fix chairs," she added after a moment.
She watched the swarm-person hit the buffet and was vaguely impressed by how they conquered all foods at once.
”The Emerald Swarm? Pompous attention seekers. The Convocation of the 18th and 551st cycle gave them honors for their triumphs against the splinter fleets and now they think they’re too glorious by half.”
Canny Resolve, for lack of a better word, pivots at the waist to face Taylor, the constituents of it’s body shifting the direction of their form.
It hover-walks over to Taylor and says cheerfully, ”So we hear you admire the works of the K’drunn. The works of the Emerald Swarm, more precisely. They are flashy, we know this well. We hail from the Azure Host, having been granted the privilege of diplomatic autonomy to represent it’s interests. Drive to Succeed, it is thought among the other hives, was controlled directly by the mind of it’s hive fleet. It hardly seems fair, but the Emerald Swarm has never been much of one for playing fair.” As it speaks, the many buzzing voices become less cheerful. A close observer would notice that Canny Resolve has placed a “hand” on it’s plate and is rapidly devouring the food. A benefit of having many, many mouths.
The swarm-being shrugs, ”Our apologies. We have entirely forgotten our manners. The hive fleets are prone to bickering like the brood-mates of the single-bodied. We are Canny Resolve of the Azure Host, and speak as one when we say we are extremely pleased to be here.”
"Always with the chairs," He agrees, smiling easy despite soon coming face-to-mass with a mass of insects. "I've fought with my cousins like that all the time back home, no worries. Pleased to be aboard with you."
Not knowing for sure whether they're adapt at human customs, he chooses to keep his hands to himself this time. He'd rather not have to try picking insect legs from the joints. "I've heard about the rumors, though authorities weren't ever able to prove anything. Whoever was behind all that flying though, that ship sure was a beauty. You know much about how the controls work in those vessels?"
"To ask how our vessels fly would be as if we asked how you know how to control your own body. They are extensions of the hive's collective will, as are we."
"Don't have much personal flight experience then," he nods, translating the metaphor with ease. "I've heard about some pilots experimenting with telelocation to place themselves 'inside' their ships, as it were. Make it an extension of yourself in a way simply fondling controls could never replicate"
"Well, that's all interesting and such, but I've got a date with a bottle. Be right back." Sapna goes to the bar, where Adelstein scans her first. Satisfied with the results, he produces her order:
Whisky Mac, please.
The young woman returns to the table with a slightly greenish golden liquid over ice.
Cheers! she says, and takes a solid swig.
Legion attends to their meal, their motions precise as they spoon nutrient paste into their mouth.
They nod to Rudo, ”I am aware. The captain briefed me on your arrival. Please, dispense with my title if you so desire. Though my view is far from universal, I view hierarchy as a relic of more primitive days.”
"Careful to say that around a Dokkar. Social hierarchy forms the base of my species' society. Of course, I myself have voluntarily departed from most of it's confines." She offers with a shrug, finishing the rest of her meal. "Hierarchy, I've observed, is quite important to humans as well. It tells you who's ass you're meant to be kissing."
Legion-12 gives the barest of smiles, "Careful to say that around an android. My people were built to, as you have noted, kiss the collective ass of humanity. It took 147 years for the androids to be recognized as equal to the other sentients, a full four years after the Dokka were invited to the Concord. Subjugation is a delicate subject, as you can understand, when so many of my kin still labor as property."
They take a deep breath, "My apologies. My passion for my cause frequently gets the better of me. Duty is foremost."
"Don't have much personal flight experience then," he nods, translating the metaphor with ease. "I've heard about some pilots experimenting with telelocation to place themselves 'inside' their ships, as it were. Make it an extension of yourself in a way simply fondling controls could never replicate"
Canny Resolve chuckles, an odd sound coming from approximately a bajillion bugs, saying at the same time with another segment of it's constituents, "We cannot say we had the pleasure to learn your name. Or is it names? At times it is hard for us to tell with the single-bodied."
"Passionate indeed," She notes, eyebrows raised and lip curled upward. "Not to worry. The concept of slavery isn't unknown to my kind. Creating driders has been outlawed in most Dokkaran nations for nearly a generation now, but some still cling to older ways of thinking."
With an easy smile, "Just the one, so far. Taylor Young."
Without a face to read expressions on, it's a little hard to exactly tell what Canny Resolve is thinking, but it's tone is mirthful as it says, "That sounds quite distinctly like two names."
"Doesn't it just?" He laughs, "It varies with human cultures but where I'm from, we've got our given name and our family name. Combined together, that's who we are. You're 'Canny Resolve' of the 'Azure Host.' I'm 'Taylor' of the 'Young' family line."
They nod to Rudo, ”I am aware. The captain briefed me on your arrival. Please, dispense with my title if you so desire. Though my view is far from universal, I view hierarchy as a relic of more primitive days.”
Interesting, he hadn't seen that coming... the dispensing bit.
He waited for a pause n the conversation to express himself.
I do not mean to argue, Commander. But, perhaps if we considered the title as a node "attribute" instead of epithet. It helps less structured , entropic minds, visualize and maintain order.
How one uses, abuses or wastes their rank or title is something entirely different.
I has assumed you would identify us and only meant to be thorough, Sir.
"Legion's a strong advocate of Android rights, understandable given the history," Janessa notes.
"Unfortunately for them, we work in a job that demands hierarchy. Rest assured, at least, that our Chief Mate won't abuse their authority."
"Reassurance is welcomed." She nodded to the lieutenant, setting down her empty glass.
Janessa, please tell me more about... Security Chief Khamphet. I'd read his official file and the action report. But, that's a little like reading your own obituary.
I'd like to know more of the man, especially if I have to live up to expectations. He smiles.
Was that a barb or was he trying to put her at ease and let her know that her earlier words were not untoward?
Doctor, shall we go check out the desserts? Or find out the punch line to... Two humans and a Spathinae walk into a bar...
Janessa's face goes a little sad, but she smiles a slight smile.
Replying to Rudo
"He was a special man. Always smiling, always happy to see you. Short but very muscular. He hailed from rural Thailand. I think the fact that we had that rural origin in common gave us a sort of link most people in this century don't get. He was an imperfect man, but a good one."
Legion nods at Rudo, ”You raise an excellent point. I assure you, my distaste for the strictures of command does not preclude me from working within it, and maximizing my efficiency at that task. It is reminiscent of a poster I have seen in several industrial facilities…’you gotta do what you gotta do.’
To Legion-12
I tend to agree, but willingly stay within the construct of hierarchy and rank. The higher the rank, the more latitude one earns, I suppose. But, doing what we gotta do does remind me of home.
To Janessa
Well then, I hope that his spirit may guide my hand as needed. And that, my own actions honor his memory.
People laugh when I tell them I of all people are from somewhere between Crookston and Thief River Falls... rural indeed. He chuckles.
Minnesota.
"Ironic origin point for a security guard, between Crooks and Thieves," Janessa laughs.
"For me, Chalk Bluff, Arkansas."
She humms slightly, scooting her chair back. "I was thinking of taking my leave, but... Well, I believe the term is 'girls have a second stomach for sweets'?"
My absolute favorite pastry is the Napoleon, it comes in different kinds... which makes it tricky.
There's a really sweet sort with a sugary icing for the top... and my weakness is the flaky crust kind, usually have more cream filling. With some coffee or tea... comfy cozy decadence.
Oren seems rather pleased to have Doctor Yusil as a confectionary partner in crime.
The evening draws to a close with new friendships being kindled, old relationships and crushes being teased, and a good time had by (almost) all. Warrant Officer Patel got especially frisky with a few crewmen after sneaking one too many drinks.
Presenting Adventure A1, The Last Flight of the OMS Auspicious
Scene 1
The Bridge
14:22 hours, a little over 6 hours into a 12 hour shift.
In Scene (PCs): Commander Legion-12 (at the ready), Ensign Taylor Young (at the helm), Lt. Rudo "The Saint" (at main weapons console), Lt. Vassally-Simmons (via comm from Engineering, two decks below)
(NPCs): Captain Moses Cooper (in the captain's chair), Lt. Janessa Williams (at the science station), WO Patel (from the lower Heavy Laser Turret)
For the last several days, the OSF Guangzhou's assignment has been searching for the missing merchant vessel OSM Auspicious. Searching for a missing vessel in space, even along their known route, is a tedious process, especially with the limited sensors of the Guangzhou. Having been in service for over two decades, she was due for a sensor upgrade, but that would have to wait. For now, the crew made due the best they could, limping along at an incredibly slow rate of speed in both real space and Drift Space, scanning for any clues of how the Auspicious disappeared.
Captain Cooper sat almost imperiously in the "big chair", his mood signified only by an occasional shift of position accompanied by a slight wince.
"Lieutenant Williams, Report"
Williams gazes at her sensor readout from the science station.
"Still nothing, Captain. Wait..." she pauses as she tries to understand the data the sensors are throwing at her.
"Bulky metallic object, approximately the size of our vessel, adrift in real space. Looks like it might be a cargo container, sir."
"Continue scanning for details. Helm, approach the coordinates."
Listening in with the mic off, and she usually did, Arkady began to check through the ship's primary systems as they approached. It looked like a ruined hulk, but traps were a thing that happened, and ships didn't become hulks because it was a fun thing to do - often something gutted them. Since she had no wish for the Guangzhou to join whichever poor ship's corpse floated in the void. And if everything was working right she was a hell of a lot less likely to get caught off guard.
The Guangzhou is in top shape. All systems report full ready. You could probably even squeeze a few extra drops of power out of the systems in a pinch.
"understood, Captain." Taylor replied promptly, eyes glued to the screens in front of him.
The high mood he'd felt days prior was on it's last dregs as the monotony started to settle in. This was exactly the same dreadfully boring work he'd come to expect from the OSF, dragging it's feet across space in the vague hopes of finding a grain of rice atop Olympus Mons. With their luck, this would just be another iron-silicate composite like the one reported last shift.
One of this size wasn't even particularly unusual.
Regardless of how he felt about his work, he'd never stoop so low to be willfully incompetent about it. Gliding the Guangzhou into position for their outdated sensors to get a better read wouldn't be any trouble for him at all. Hell, if he was particularly adventurous, maybe he could get them within visual range.
Legion-12 stands on the bridge at the ready for any shipboard problems that may arise.
Ensign Young easily gets the ship into visual range of the comparably sized space debris. With piloting like that, if it had a hatch he could have docked with it. Captain Cooper nods approvingly.
"Readings confirmed. Statistics match those of a Mariner class cargo vessel's Port Side container."
Suddenly, Janessa's face goes grim with urgency.
"Incoming hostile fire! Evasive!"
"Ah hell-" With gritted teeth, he practically punches several icons on his nav-screens before gripping the analogs. With a complex twist of his wrists, the ship suddenly jerks to one side.
vs. 19 (Guangzhou AC 15 + 4 for Taylor's impressive evasion)
The Guangzhou dives to starboard as several high-speed 50 mm projectiles fly right overhead, completely missing the target.
Initiative:
Guangzhou: 1 tetranode computer use spent to adjust to 23
Opponents:
Guangzhou wins initiative. Losers move first (except gunnery). I will post the situation soon.
Lt. Williams announces "Three marks! Two D'Naki interceptors and a Terran-designed transport incoming!" She passes the coordinates of the vessels to the rest of the bridge.
The Guangzhou is the blue icon. The dime is the cargo container. The larger gray icon is the transport, and the two smaller grays are the interceptors.
The losers have completed all actions except shooting.
All PCs may now act, round one.
Lt. Williams raises shields and scans the transport.
"Transport is medium sized Brisbane class transport. Heavily modified. real space speed is class 8. Armed with lasers, light torpedos and an EMP cannon!"
Too close, they were too close! Damn these sensors, where the hell were they hiding? The interceptors were bad enough, but he did not want to be in optimal range for that transport. With determination, Taylor jerked the controls backward to buy them some distance.
Taylor pulls the Guangzhou back to a safer distance, though it's only a respite. With class 8 real space speed, it's faster than Guangzhou. But their weapons will be quite out of range for this round.
The interceptors are another story. They'll likely be able to fire, but at least Lt. Williams got the shields up in time.
Legion, Rudo, and Arkady may act.
"Attention hostile interceptor. This is Captain Moses Cooper of the Orion Space Force. I recommend backing down before we shove those bullets back up your hindside."
Intimidate (Taunt Attempt):
Arkady sighed, staring at the enemies on screen for a moment before diverting some power from less essential systems - the ship's entertainment system was going to be spotty - and giving the ship's weapons a nice little boost.
Rudo and Legion still to act in round 1.
Captain, I feel the interceptors are a distraction... intentional or no. Our shields can handle their weapons. The Transport is the greater threat.
Warrant Officer Patel, let's take the modified monstrosity down a notch or two. We will concentrate our firepower on the Brisbane class transport.