"Hey, welcome back guys!" Otis says as soon as the PCs reach the bridge.
"She's ready for launch!"
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As the ship lifts out of the immediate battle area, the team gathers on the bridge. "What's the plan?"
"We're going to land at the edge of the Quardath. That means you guys have about a quarter mile to cover. Can't get closer than that; buildings are too tight and Defense Force hovercars are canvasing the area."
"We're way ahead of you on the takeoff, Joyride. We'll meet you guys just outside the Old City."
Esh can hear him lean away from the comms and yell to Otis, "Nothing we can't fix, right?" "Nothing significant. We should get the shields back to full in case they come back. The scrapes and bruises we can fix back at base."
"Otis, get me another heading!" "Roger that, Eshenvral; one mark 22.97 by 65.22 positive plane!" Otis says, reading out the coordinates as he passes them electronically to Esh.
"Oh, crap! Was that you, Esh? Sorry about that. Here, she's all locked on for you!"
Meanwhile aboard the ship, Otis, from the science station, calls over to Captain Tamrat in the pilot's seat. "Ah, crap. Cap'n, we got company. Ship just popped into orbit. Looks like a troop carrier, configuration unknown. Good bet it's Azlanti."
As the ship lowers itself, the boarding ramp opens to reveal Otis hanging on to the support strut, holding out his hand. "C'mon, Cap'n! Better get you safe until we can figure out what's going on. Besides, I obviously can't fly this thing worth a darn!
"Yeah, about that, Cap'n. We're...having some trouble getting this thing to fire. I could use a pilot down here."
Across all comms: "Um, Cap'n? We have a problem here. The ship's ummm, losing ground stability."
Bit of an eclectic bunch, not that I'm Mr. Corporate, or anything. You didn't tell me about the Medic. "That's Irina, a close personal friend of mine. If you take my meaning."
Otis turns to James. "Well, we should head down to main engineering and run through the preflights. Good to have you aboard, kid."
About 20 minutes later, once everyone neck-deep into checking out their individual stations and/or relevant ship-board features, a car pulls up outside, and Otis and Irina emerge, escorting an old Dwarven woman up the ramp. Entering the ship, Otis scans in and presents himself on the bridge, followed shortly by the others. "Hey, cap'n, I'm Otis, chief engineer." The middle aged man holds out his hand. "This here's Irina, the medic," he says, gesturing toward a much younger woman. "And this," Otis says grandly, gesturing toward the Dwarven "woman," "Is our fearless handler, Morgrym, in disguise!"
"Right, then. I'll notify Esh to start getting his stuff ready for transport. I think he's aboard Revenge right now."
"It's official, Quinn willed the ship to me, of all people. I guess because I've been with her the longest." "I was thinking about what you suggested, about the ship. If it's true and we are actually getting a new ship, I'd be fine with your idea." Otis says.
Otis opens the door and sees his ship-mate. "Old friend" seemed more appropriate; though they'd not known each other long, the former crew of the Revenge of Vera Gemini had all been through alot together. Notably, the death of their captain Olivia Quinn. Otis looked tired, his eyes puffy and sunken. Sharlavaka noted Irina's bag sitting on a chair by the vid-screen. "Hey, buddy. Good to see you."
"Dammit, Vera, take it easy up there! Those are real guns they're shooting!" Restore power to front shields:
Front shields at 9 (9/4/15/15)
"Full power to engines, Cap...er...Vera, Esh, whoever's in charge up there." Speed increased to 14 this round (T12 thrusters +2).
Otis puts his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Okay, okay. Let's get her remains down to your med-bay. I can start rigging up a cryo-chamber to slow the decomposition."
"Hey, I was starting to wonder about you guys! Looks like you find him. Otis Crembly, nice to meet ya," the engineer says taking Mesk's hand as if he were an old drinking buddy instead of one of the riches individuals in the Pact Worlds. "Where's the captain?"
"Boy, I really appreciate your help with these repairs. Would have taken me another month on my own, especially with this arm just now getting back up to speed."
"Eh, couldn't hurt," Otis concedes.
Sharlavaka found Otis in the Med Lab, on a bench huddled between Esh's experiments and Isis' fermentation equipment. He was looking into Irina's eyes, their faces inches apart. As if startled out of a dream, he suddenly looked up at the bipedal lizard. "Oh! Hey, there Sharlavaka!" Irina had put a healing sleeve over the older man's arm, a scanner resting in her hand, un-monitored.
"Auuurgh!"
"Finally! Damned thing!" Otis shouts, thumping the electromagnetic resonator. "Shields increased 8.75%, captain!
"Dammit, sorry, Captain, but the shields are out of luck!"
Trying to divert energy to the shields: "Dammit! The aft pulse spinner's on the fritz again!" (fails to divert to shields)
Divert power to the shields:
Engineering Phase: Otis attempts to give the Revenge some "pep" to help her catch the invading ships heading for Zothune.
Success! +2 to the Revenge's speed this round.
Divert power to the shields:
"I'm on it, Captain! Oo! Ow, that's hot!"
Engineering Phase Otis attempts to divert excess power to Speed, assuming it might be useful at the start of the battle.
Otis is hanging out in the med bay with Irina, retooling the scanners yet again. For the last hour or so, he's been trying to get a better grip on our medic and what makes her tick.
"As long as we don't take too long," Otis replies. "Morgrym's gonna want to see this stuff."
Isis spoke over her comm. "Vera, can't you shoot it just enough to deflect its course?!" She managed to sprint at the same time. "Negatory on that Isis. It's a 36 mile chunk of rock. Nothing we have will touch it."
"Time to impact?" "Ten minutes, 20 seconds."
"Guys! I hope you found some cool stuff in there, because we've got a problem," the engineer's voice echoes over the comm. "There's a big meteor or landmass or somethin' headin' our way. Vera projects it's trajectory comin' right through our current position. We need to get out of here!"
Otis smiles and now looks the young woman in the eyes. "No, just...nice to have you aboard." With that he turns and quickly shuffles off, leaving Irina staring curiously after him.
"Thanks a lot, doc. Irina." Otis says, taking the medications. He sits there for a few moments, looking into nothingness, avoiding eye contact. "Well, okay. Guess I'll get going. Be seeing you around."
"Well, you're the doc in my book. Anyway, I got this pain..." Otis goes on to describe his symptoms.
On the way back to Zothune, Otis stops off in the med bay. He hesitates for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and entering. "Hey, doc! I'm wondering if you can help me with a little problem."
"I can't keep us going this speed forever without some consequences, guys. Let's get this done!
Engineering check: "Cap'n, I've diverted energy to the engines, for the time bein'. Vera should feel a little pep in her step right about now."
"I hear ya, guys! I'll have Vera move us on the other side a' that freighter there."
"Cap'n, what's goin' on down there?" Otis asks from the ship. "Vera says Absalom Station is scrambling fighters."
"Yes, thank you. Um, how are you?" "Well, you know..." Otis says cryptically. Isis found she most certainly did not know. else she would not have asked. That said, he seemed distant. The one moment in the conversation he seemed to wake up was when the music changed for an instant, and his eyes focused on the floor before drifting away. Looking quickly up at Isis, Otis said "They're all dancing right out there. Go, have a good time. Leave old Otis to his beer."
"Hey," is Otis' simple reply. He seems distracted, but quickly redirects his gaze away from whatever or whoever it is, to make eye contact with Isis. "Find the stuff you were shopping for?"
Otis sits at the nearest bar and orders the most boring brand of beer you can imagine. Sitting back in his baggy jacket, he surveys the dance floor, stopping now and then on his comrades on the floor, but the older man is seemingly hesitant to join them.
"Roger than, Cap'n." Otis blurs after Irina's suggestion. It's a little surprising, because Otis is more of blue collar than a dance club, but maybe drinks is drinks.
"Engineering reports ready, cap'n," Crembly's voice comes over the comm.
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