An Excess of Interest (Main Thread)

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail looks over her cup at the pilot with that kind of dead stare that goes through people than at them, "Young man, I've been leading posse and catching villains before you were a gleam in your daddy's eye. I wouldn't take guff from better men like Hiram, and I won't take it now."

She sits the mug down, "Ever last one of you is scared to death. Bad things happen in the Black. You want me to give you ideas or plans? Awful big of you to make demands seeing as I don't know the situation or the problems you've stumbled into."

"You want an answer as to what I plan to do? Send your ship vid to the Sheriff over the Cortex and then business as usual. Keep this damn ship running and food on the table until we can find the sorry sonofabitch responsible and bring him to Justice."

She grunts and crosses her arms, "If one of you could stop pissing in your boots long enough to bring me up to speed, I might be able to give you a better answer."

[Candleman]

Arthur really tries to keep his mouth shut when meeting new people. He really does. But Abigail's response takes him off guard and he can't help himself.

He nearly spits out his tea, barely containing his mirth. He laughs, leaning back in his seat. "HA! Oh, my, see this is the kinda Captain we need! Goh, get jobs, get some cash and get back the pile a' Go-Se who got us in this mess!"

He sets down his mug and adjusts his bad arm, leaning forward again. "Now I'm just tha mechanic, and I don' know all tha' much about Captainin', but I say we jus' keep doin' what we been doin'. I jus' want to be able to eat and a place to call 'ome." He pats the bulkhead behind him. "And I go' that right here with Folly."

[LynMars]

Greta is taken somewhat aback by Abigail's declaration, but she quickly recovers, almost to the point where her startling could have been a trick of the eye. She sips her tea to calm herself and smiles at Arthur's statements.

She clears her throat. "Right now it seems that the trouble came from an old...acquaintance of mine, a powerful man named Maxwell Leong. He sent bounty hunters to try and kidnap me, under a false pretense. Which is part of why the doctor allowed one of the men to slip away, I believe. That's why we were so eager to get back in the Black after delivering our cargo, early. We were tracked last time through our job." Greta frowns and looks away briefly, tucking a loose strand of pale blond hair behind her ear.

"I can handle the jobs, it's why Captain Price hired me. If Yusheng says you can run the ship's operations and make the calls, then I'm all right with that."

[Wired*Nun]

Will speaks up. "One thing I learned in five years of military medicine is that leadership by committee is an oxymoron. Somebody has to be in charge. Now the only thing I want to be in charge of is my infirmary and my patients - and mayhap your souls, if you'll let me." he smiles, to show this is half a joke. "I'm willing to give miz Cross a try. Worst case, we vote her back out of office." He shrugs.

[samirah]

Yusheng lets the discussion continue for a bit longer if anyone else has more to say, then calls for a formal vote.

"Thank you for all your comment. Now we take a formal vote for if you want Abigail to be captain. I start first and vote yes. We go around room now."

Once the voting starts Yusheng waits to hear the votes from Arthur, Earl, Greta, Sam and Will before continuing.

[Wired*Nun]

"Formal vote? I have to say yes," Will says simply.

[Fulmen]

Sam looks back at Abigail for a moment, shrugs, then looks back at Yusheng, "I'll be abstaining."

[Candleman]

Arthur sips his tea and nods. It's obvious he approves of her leadership.

[LynMars]

Greta frowns at Sam. "Hardly a choice in these circumstances. For now, I'll go with Yusheng's judgment and agree. Ship needs a captain, and none of us are qualified for the position."

[samirah]

Yusheng slips her hand under Nan Ching's warm, fuzzy belly lifting her gently and placing her gingerly on the floor. Nan Ching scampers over to Earl putting her paws up on his knee and licking his hand with her rough tongue. She cocks her head and looks at him with bulgy dark brown eyes as if to say,"Won't you pick me up?".

Standing up again Yusheng looks at Abigail. "That settled then! Abigail, you now captain of Folly. Your first decision will be to decide if we add Xavier as member of crew."

With that, once again, she takes a seat. She picks up her cup of tea and sips it slowly enjoying its earthy herbal aroma. She listens intently to whatever Abigail may have to say.

[TreyKincaide]

Earl scoops the pup up in one meaty mitt and pets her absently as he tries to pay attention to the happenin's. Pain meds make it difficult for the slow man to twig onto what's going on.

***

Abigail nods to Yusheng and rocks back in her chair. She looks at Xavier, "He's got sand. We can use him. Up to the shareholders if they want to let him buy in after a grace period or not."

"Now, if anyone for any reason decides they want to move on, I'll buy out your share no questions asked. I intend to stay on the right side of the law and if that's going to be a problem deal with it before I have to. Now, I won't say anymore on that."

Abigail's gaze moves from one crew member, "It's time to get prepared. Learn what we need to do as a crew when the winds of fortune go south. I'd prefer everyone get used to carrying a hogleg or at least know how to use one in a scrap. But I ain't going to make anyone do anything they don't hold to.

"But we're gonna drill when we're going place to place so we know how to work as a team. It'll start off regular and then ease off once I'm satisfied."

"Arthur and...Earl was it? I want you two to rig up a place we can keep unwanted company. Xavier, help them out until Earl's okay'd by the Doc. Don't make it too comfortable. Also we should weld on scrap to the walk ways to provide more cover. Don't worry about making it look pretty."

"Greta we'll talk about possible jobs later. I want you and Yu to train with Sam. We only have one pilot. For now, just fix on knowing how stuff works so he doesn't need to be on deck all the time. In fact since we also only have one engineer and one Doc, we should all take the time to learn a bit from each other--enough to make due in a pinch. Enough to keep stuff working-or someone livin'--until help arrives."

"I'll pitch in where needed."

"There anything else I should know or may have forgotten? Or any questions?"

[Fulmen]

Sam stands up and looks at Abigail, "Where to cap'n? Do you have a place an mind or should we discuss it over a star map?"

[TreyKincaide]

"Sam, Greta, you and me will put our heads together in the cockpit after the meeting that way we can make the most of our fuel and schedule a job on the way."

Abigail looks at Greta, "I know some folks who might be willing to send some honest work our way. Something to get started on anyhow. Less chance than doin' business with folks we don't know."

[Fulmen]

Sam nods and turns to walk away. After taking a single step he comes to a dead stop, "Oh how stupid of me! With all this comotion I completely forgot..." He moves back over next to Abigail. "I actually suggest we hold off on looking for employment for a bit, at least until you take a look at something. You see, on our way here I picked up a lone object on our scanners. Upon futher observation it turned out to be a cargo container of all things, completely alone and with a weird wobble. I had noted it to Hiram and we were meaning to look into it further once we had finished our business here. I have coordinates and video footage if you want to take a look. It wouldn't take us too long to get there and check the container out more thoroughly."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail nods, "Salvage is fair man's game. I'll meet you in there shortly to look at the vid. Go ahead and nose us in that direction. If nothing else we could make use of the scrap."

The older lady stands eying the rest of the group to see if there're any more questions.

[samirah]

Yusheng remains seated as everyone begins to file out of the dining room, lost in her thoughts.

Oh, Hiram...I remember when you taught me how to fly Folly. You were so patient when I made a mistake. We would laugh together when I did something stupid. I miss you so much...

Her mind is jarred back to the present by the sound of chairs scraping the floor and heavy feet clomping down the corridor.

I really am out of practice though. I definitely need a refresher.

She rises from her chair and begins clearing the table of the cups and saucers. Before Earl exits the room she chirps,"Earl, you go back to bed and I check on you soon! You want me bring you tea and snack?" She waits for his reply then enters the kitchen to wash the dishes. Nan Ching follows at her heels hoping for a crumb or two.
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[David]

Xavier stands up and walks out of the lounge and into the dining area where he waits for Arthur.
This sounds interesting, it's been a while since I worked on building anything. A holding cell, huh? Well I have a few things that may come in handy here.
When he sees him leaving the lounge he will approach Arther and say, “Arthur, right? Ah know some 'bout computers & security systems, and ah'm no engineer but ah ain't bad with me hands. Also, ah have a few motion sensors and the like what that we could use, if you like. Let me know what as ah can do to assist ye.”

[TreyKincaide]

Earl eases himself back up, "I'd like that mighty fine, Ma'am." He lumbers his way back to his quarters.

[samirah]

Yusheng putters around in the kitchen making soup for Earl. An aromatic broth with lemon grass and cilantro, tiny meatballs and rice noodles. She makes some chamomile tea for Earl as well and takes the tray to his quarters.

"This give you strength and help you go to sleep. How you feel? I hope going to meeting not wear you out too much."

Nan Ching, having followed her mistress to Earl's quarters, hops up on his bunk and snuggles her warm body next to his legs where she can watch over the big, ailing man and comfort him with her presence.

Yusheng stays as long as Earl needs her then takes her leave to search for Will. She remembers he had asked to speak to her and has not yet had a chance to do so.

[Wired*Nun]

Meeting concluded, more or less, the crew drifts away to their respective tasks. Sam figures he should plot a course back to the cargo container, and maybe a couple of others as well for contingency. Besides, he feels strange when he is too long away from the cockpit. He figures the old lady must be able to do some basic flying. He needs to ask her about that.

Will is in the infirmary when Yusheng leaves Earl and Nan Ching sleeping. He looks up to see the diminutive woman enter, and pulls up a seat for her. "Please, sit down." When she is seated, he sits facing her, leaning forward in his chair, forearms on his thighs.

"Yusheng...I just wanted to talk to you about Hiram's remains. I've got the box here...but I don't know your customs or what you might want."

[samirah]

"There are many burial tradition in my country, but they are too involve and require you not have cremate the body. I would like have simple memorial service with crew, then I will take Hiram ashes and make place in garden for me to honor him in private. You make arrangement with crew for service??"

Yusheng waits to see if there is more that Will needs to talk to her about then leaves to find Abigail. If Abigail is available she says,"Abigail when you have chance I will be happy to go over accounts with you so you know where we stand with finance for the ship."

[TreyKincaide]

Yusheng finds Abigail sipping a cup of coffee poring over star charts. Vid plays on a nearby screen of the tumbling cargo container. She rubs her eyes and looks up propping one hand on the console, "It's Abi to my friends, Yu. Yeah, just let me figure out a couple alternate destinations in case this salvage op is a wash."

She looks for any prospective sectors nearby, "Greta, try to find some work in this area and let Sam know what our fall back options are. If you can't grok anything, I'll give some folks I know a holler."

She totes the mug with her as she walks Yu out of the small cockpit, "What am I looking at as it stands?"

[Wired*Nun]

Will replies to Yusheng, "Of course. It will be a Christian service, if I will be presiding, unless that offends you. I have to be true to my faith. I'll make an announcement as soon as we're under way. We can have it in the Black, as there's usually plenty of time then." He puts a hand gently on hers. "Whatever you need, you let me know."

The doctor lets her out, watching a bit sadly as she shuffles down the corridor and back up the stairs. He knows what a hard thing it is to lose a spouse...and as a shepherd, and a military doctor, he had his fair share of comforting grieving families. It never gets easier.

[samirah]

"It's Abi to my friends, Yu. Yeah, just let me figure out a couple alternate destinations in case this salvage op is a wash."


"Okay Abi, I leave you to finish your work. I will be in my quarter. That where I have books. You can come find me when you finish?"

Yusheng waits for a reply then heads toward her quarters. She stops by and peeks in on Earl to see if he is sleeping okay or if he is awake and needs anything. If he is awake she asks him if there is anything he needs. If he is asleep she continues on to her quarters and takes out the books to show Abigail.

[LynMars]

Greta follows Sam to the cockpit of the ship, looking over the blinking console lights and the stars beyond. "I've had the barest basics of pilot training, but it's been awhile. And not for anything like this," she remarks as she takes a look at the Cortex screen.

"You say we passed a cargo container before; if it is salvageable, I hope our new Captain's right about knowing people who will be willing to buy whatever we might find."

[Fulmen]

"I hope so too, though I'm more curious as to what is in the container. For it to just be floating out here in the middle of nowhere is quite odd." Sam gets up out of the pilots seat and motions for Greta to have a seat, "Why don't you play around with the controls a bit. There's not to much to run into out here and you can probably pick things up pretty easily." Sam will help Greta out if she chooses to give it a try, and will go over the basic controls of the ship.

[Wired*Nun]

The ship sets an easy, fuel-efficient course for the cargo container's location, leaving lots of opportunity to change direction if there is any reason to. Getting out of orbit makes Greta and Sam feel better, for different reasons - Greta because it's very hard to intercept someone in the deep Black, Sam because he likes to fly, likes the feeling of space around him.

There is ample time for pilot training; Greta and Yusheng take their turns getting familiar or refreshed at handling Folly. By the time they reach the location of the cargo container, Yusheng feels confident she can pilot in a pinch, and Greta feels like she can at least maneuver in open space or do an orbital insertion using the approach computers. She's not ready for planetfall yet, unless it's a dire emergency.

Earl takes the opportunity to heal up. He's up and around in a day or two, and Will says he's healing remarkably fast - almost superhumanly so, though he doesn't make a big deal about it. The ship falls into a routine again, with the pilot-trained standing bridge watch. Captain Cross takes the opportunity to set up watches and lay out her rules and standards for the ship. [feel free to expound on that] Folly is running fine, and Arthur tweks her systems until he's satisfied with her performance.

Less than two days later Folly is nose-on to the tumbling cargo container. As they saw in the vids, it's rotating around one of its ends, as if that end of the cylinder holds all the mass.

Routine sensors turned on the thing, now that they aren't flying past it at high speed, show that there is some heat and vibration coming off that end as well, indicating that there is some kind of power source keeping it above background temperature. There is a hatch at the lightweight end, but it's going to be impossible to get to until the tumbing is stopped, or at least slowed.

The crew has to figure out a way to get ahold of the thing, or slow it down, without damaging themselves or Folly in the process.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail peers at the readings over Sam's shoulder. She shakes her head grimly, "Of course the ship's not outfitted with grapplers. Yer gonna have to do some fancy flying, Sam."

She reaches over and hits the comm, "We need to have a powwow, people. Report to the bridge."

Once people arrive and are brought up to speed, "Ideas?"

[Fulmen]

Sam thinks about it for a moment. "I supposee I could position the ship right in front of it, then thrust forward. That should hopefully counteract the spinning forces enough to make it manageable."

[Wired*Nun]

Will stares at the container, not saying anything at first.

[David]

Xavier studies the readouts for a while. Then wonders aloud, “Hmm... ah wonder if we could catch it in a net? Any one know if there be enough materials aboard to rig a makeshift net and lines to haul 'er aboard? Perhaps some Heavy duty cargo nets, or some such?”
Continuing to stare at the displays, “Now correct me if ahm wrong here, but if we had a long enough line attached to a large enough net, and we snagged that there pod, the spin on it would wind the net and line around it. Then we apply just a small bit of thrust, real slow like, to pull on the line. Now if that line don't go a-breakin on us, it just might slow the tumblin of that there pod somewhat.”

[Fulmen]

"Hmm... while that would work in theory... It is also assuming we have a very large net that is strong enough to withstand what I imagine would be really large forces. Though there may be someone here who's with numbers and figures than I am."

[Wired*Nun]

Will wonders aloud. "Any chance somebody could place a small reaction thruster on it? Slow it down some?" He looks over at Arthur.

[samirah]

Yusheng listens to the conversation intently, relieved that the idea of crashing Folly into the container has been replaced with more plausible possibilities. If we crash Folly into the container we will all die. Maybe the net or thruster idea will work.

She shifts back and forth on her feet feeling uneasy and wishing she had more knowledge of mechanics and physics. What she does have is simple common sense and something occurs to her.

"We not know what is in container. Maybe someone should take closer look at container before we think of bring it on board. It might have dangerous thing inside. What if it is booby trap? We need look carefully to make sure it not have any explosive or anything."

[Candleman]

Arthur squints at the container through the cockpit window, and runs his hand through his dark hair.

"Ah don' know if we have enough material ta make a net big enough ta grab that bugger. And Yusheng's right, we don' know what's in tha' thing. I don' think it's got any traps, but if we kin get someone over there, attached to Folly by a tether so they don' go flyin off inta the black, to check inside, it'll save us a mess of trouble if we find out it's fulla somethin' we don' want."

He shrugs, a lopsided gesture. "Hell, we give our intrepid explorer a reaction thruster, and they kin affix that if we find somethin' worth keepin'."

[David]

Xavier stares at the readouts for a bit longer, then steps back and absently rubs at the back of his neck.
Hmm... I wonder if that would work? Could be. Suppose its the best idea yet.
Waiting a few minutes to see if anyone else volunteers first Xavier says, “Well, ah aint got a lot 'o experience with this type ah maneuver, but ah reckon that ah got as good a chance of makin it over and back as any one else. Should we decide to send one over to take a look see, that is.”

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail chews her lip considering the alternatives, "Alright, let's see what you can do, Xavier. Suit up and tether over. Place the reaction thruster to stop the rotation so we don't have to spiral while you're over there. If you go ahead and go in with a tether, it'll drag the ship into a collision.

"Stabilize the container and Earl will join you if'n we have a suit big enough fer him to check it out."

[Wired*Nun]

Will speaks up. "Captain, Earl isn't really in shape for that yet...and I don't think he's trained for EVA. I am, though...I'm not sure about the others." He looks around, particularly at Greta and Sam, as if to ask.

[Fulmen]

Sam stands and looks over at Will, nodding. "Can't say I'm an expert at it, but I can get the job done. No doubt about it."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail frowns, "Cain't say I'm taking a shine to risking our best pilot or our doc." She grunts, "Fine Sam. After Xavier gets 'er stable and you park us git on down there to watch his six. Greta, you'll man the helm."

[samirah]

Yusheng looks around unsure what to do next. "Abi, you need me do anything right now? If not, I go back to my normal chore."

Nan Ching pads around the bridge going from one person to another snorting and snuffling at their feet. She sneezes and shakes herself sending a cloud of fluffy blonde dog hair into the air.

Yusheng looks down at the dog. "You need a bath! If I not needed for anything else I give Nan Ching a bath and brush her hair. Right now she shed too much!"

If she is not needed for anything else, Yusheng scoops up Nan Ching and marchs toward her garden.

[Wired*Nun]

Will waits until Yusheng is gone, then turns to Abigail. "Captain, I think she needs something to do now that Hiram is gone. Something more than cooking and housecleaning. She's lived on this ship for thirty years, I'm sure she can pilot the ship, help Arthur with some maintenance...She needs to feel necessary. And we have no depth. Everyone is a single point of failure. We need to cross-train in some skills." He rubs his arms, hugging himself. "Once we get some time, I'd like to get someone else trained as a medic."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail grunts, "I think I said as much a couple days ago. All right people. Arthur get to work on those reaction thrusters. Xavier and Greta go precheck the EVA suits and clear 'em for spacewalk. Greta, when yer done get yer fanny back up here to take over for Sam.

"Earl, see what you can do about finding a tether. Sam, figure out how to match the rotation of that damn thing long enough for the thrusters to be set. Doc, prepare the infirmiry."

"Yesterday, people. The longer we sit here the more likely it is someone's gonna use us for target practice."

He flags Will down before he heads out, "I know Shepherd. I know. I'll figure something out."

[Fulmen]

Sam nods and sits down in the pilots seat and begins to adjust the ships movement to match the rotation of the container.

[Wired*Nun]

It takes a light touch, but eventually Sam gets the ship matched up with the cargo container, both tumbling alongside each other with a common axis of rotation, like two bowling pins being juggled simultaneously. This makes them seem almost at rest relative to each other, but the centrifugal force is going to make flying over in a suit twice as tricky. Xavier will have to find the axis, launch exactly along the axis, and land at the axis of rotation, or near enough that the spinning structures won't throw him off. If he does slide off, the tether has to be long enough so that he won't be smashed against the side of Folly like a rat on a string...which will leave him dangling at more than 1 G at the end of the Folly's spin.

[LynMars]

For all her education, Greta isn't sure how to approach this problem in specific and so keeps her mouth shut while the others make suggestions, watching people in the room instead. She smiles lightly to Yusheng as the older woman makes her exit, though it turns to a frown of concern.

She nods at Abigail's order, heading down with Xavier to check the suits and help make sure the tether will hold. "This will be tricky. You be careful out there." She says quietly to the new crewmember.

[Wired*Nun]

The suits are in order, and there is plenty of standard EVA tether available. Xavier gets suited up with Greta's help. Will observes, tossing in his two cents when necessary. She runs the checklist off the the card attached to the locker, just in case. Space is an unforgiving environment. Once Xavier is ready to go, Will gets a suit out for himself and preps it for a quick on, just in case he has to go over or go out. You never know.

Will then heads for the infirmary to get everything in order, even though it pretty much already is. He readies a couple of drugs that might be particularly useful in a decompression injury. He readies a medbag in a space pouch, again with an eye for EVA, then heads for the airlock amidships. That will have to be the one where they exit from, because of the ship rotation.

[David]

Once the suit is on Xavier clips on a handgun with a massively over sized barrel (Vacuum case for those what recognize such), gathers the thruster gear and moves to the air lock. When he is in position he will signal such, “Xavier here. Ah'm at the airlock 'an ready.”
Once he is given the ok to go, he will secure his tether and open the outer lock doors, take another minute to judge and adjust his vector and then carefully launch himself slowly into the void.


Assuming successful landing he will check in and then attempt to place the thruster before continuing on to look for a point of entrance to the module.

[Wired*Nun]

Xavier aims for the center of gravity of the spinning cargo container, as the tether pays out behind him. His aim is good, and he lands on the big thing with mag boots activated. Space wheels around him as he stabilizes himself. He focuses on his feet to avoid getting vertigo.

There are ladder runs a quarter way around, and he carefully maneuvers himself over until he can clip on the tether, without putting on any tension. That would cause precession and an unpredictable wobble as it would turn the spinning thing partway 'round.

Now for the hard part. The thruster weighs nothing but masses about as much as he does. Once it's set, he won't be able to pick it back up again - it's not complex enough to have an electromagnet, not to mention the battery power that would take. It's got a standard chem-weld strip along one side and one end, good for one attachment. After that, it has to be cut off and refitted.

He has to decide where to put it - on the far end, spinning a long way from the center of gravity? That would be the most efficient, and provide the best control, the long end of the lever on a fulcrum. Or the short end? That's a lot safer for him to try to get to, as it will be much closer to the center of gravity and less likely to throw him off, but it will take a lot more push and fuel to slow the thing. Or he could put it in the middle along the flank of the thing, which would be the easiest but least efficient.

He knows once he gets it set, basically all Sam will be able to do is give it timed bursts. It's not rotatable.

[David]

Xavier will make his way slowly toward the far end giving the long lever arm advantage. He will take as much time as needed to get out there and set it carefully in place. Once it is set he will stay near it to babysit while Sam slows the rotation. Once that is done he will look for an entrance.

[Wired*Nun]

When Xavier gets partway "down" - out - toward the father spinning end, he realizes that it's not going to work. The G forces are just too great. If he slips, he is going to be hanging off a tether in 2.5 Gs or more and his only option will end up being cutting loose and having Folly chase him down in open space.

Going the other direction seems the best option.

Eventually he maneuvers himself onto the heavy end of the cargo container, and sets the thruster so that firing it will slow the container. He makes sure the chem-weld is solid before he unclips from the container itself and floats back toward Folly to let the thruster do its work without endangering his fragile flesh.

Once the thing is ready, Sam taps the thruster activator gently, beginning the process of slowing the tumble. If it's done carefully, it's going to take at least a half hour of careful corrections.

[Wired*Nun]

The ship intercom and PA springs to life without reason or warning. A signal is coming into the ship's comm board, and it's being routed to all parts of the ship, including suit radio.

Sam looks at it for a moment, trying to figure out what's happening. By the time he gets an idea, it's too late. Some kind of virus or worm has seized control of the ship's comm system.

"This is Mister Universe, bringing you the Signal!" the speakers boom. Everyone on the ship hears this. Some of the crew have heard this guy before, or at least heard of him. He hacks into public networks, Cortex feeds, anything that gets him airtime, and sends out anti-control - mostly anti-Alliance - propaganda. Sam punches a couple of buttons but realizes that short of shutting off all power, he can't turn it off. Every screen in the ship also comes to life, displaying the cherubic face of the most-wanted hacker in the Verse,

"This time I bring you something so big, so mind-blowing, so shiny, the Powers That Be are gonna crap themselves."

The feed crackles, jumps a couple of times. The picture changes, to show a woman filled with obvious fear. " - just a few of the images we've recorded, and you can see it isn't...it isn't what we thought..."

The Miranda broadcast rolls on, the full horror of the situation becoming clear over the next minute or two.

After the Reaver dismembers her in full 3-d cinematics, Mister Universe comes back on, looking less gleeful, more sober. "My boards are already lighting up, ladies and gentlemen. It's time to do some fancy dancing so I can keep the Signal going throughout the Known Universe."

The signal winks out and the comm system returns to normal, leaving just a stunned silence.

[Fulmen]

Sam hops on the intercom, "Well that was interesting. Everything appears to be back to normal now though so let's keep on with this cargo thing." Sam gets off the com and continues to try and slow the container.

[Wired*Nun]

As Sam works on the prosaic salvage effort, Will hunts down the Captain.

"Captain...I know we're in the middle of something here, but we need to start thinking about this broadcast thing, hard. If it's real...if it's not some kind of hoax...we might be looking at another Insurrection. At the very least, a lot of turmoil, breaking away, defiance. The Alliance holds the Border Planets by military and political power. They might just have lost that political power...and they don't even hold the Rim at all. Things could get very ugly, very fast."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail listens to the broadcast with a stoic frown. She mutters to Sam, "Keep an eye on our boy." She walks Will off the bridge spewing a string of profanities that'd make a spaceman blush with shame under her breath.

"If that vid has any truth to it and the Alliance is responsible for the Reavers, then you're damn right things are going to get ugly fast. An' I cain't say I'd blame those that want ta hold 'em to the fire. But I spent the last 40 years maintaining law and order. That's not going to change now."

She shakes her head and a white lock strays down her face, "We'll help who we can help. Do what we can do, but my main concern is still keeping this bucket afloat. I'll call fer a meeting when we're done with this job. Go from there."

"Now, carry yer ass on back to the deck cause we got a man out there that might need you," she turns her back on the Shepard and walks back to the cockpit.

[LynMars]

Greta watches the broadcast, eyes widening as it continues. When the Reaver attacks the poor woman on the vid, she turns away, unable to watch the carnage.

"It's a prank. It has to be a prank--right? I mean, there's no way..." She leans on a console to hide the shaking of her hands after seeing that and what it claimed.

[Wired*Nun]

Before the last instruction, Will gives her that morally-certain stare that clergymen seem to learn in first year of seminary. "Law and order, and justice, and right and wrong, aren't always the same things." He leaves it at that, going back to the airlock with his ready suit and his medikit.

It takes a while but eventually the cargo container is mostly slowed, down to perhaps 2 RPM. That's about the best they are likely to do unless they want to try to rig grapples. It's enough to make investigation safe.

Now it's possible to access the cargo door at the lightweight end. There is no other door. It's sealed with a rather suprisingly complex locking mechanism, which needs codes and a link to some kind of unlocking device. There's very little chance of being able to override it, even if they hooked it into Folly's computer, as no one in the crew has any great hacking skills. However, Xavier can see that it could be opened with cutting gel, if the ship has any. It also could be cut open with a torch but he doesn't want to try to work with one of those EVA, he hasn't the experience, and would probably kill himself.

[David]

After inspecting the cargo door Xavier says in to the comm in a flat, near monotone, almost drugged sounding voice, “Looks sealed up tight, any one know if we have any cutting gel? Might do the job.”
Xavier is taking the news somewhat badly. His reaction is to shut down, stop feeling, stop expressing. This news has set him back something fierce.

[Wired*Nun]

[Yes, there is some aboard. Standard stuff for any potential salvage work. Mix its binary ingredients, lay it in the form of a doorway, zap it with a strong electrical charge, it will ignite in a short burn hot enough to cut through thin steel. Arthur will know where it's kept, with maintenance spares and tools.]

[samirah]

Yusheng stands in the garden where she has just finished bathing Nan Ching in the utility sink. She is unable to move for a moment after the grim spectacle shown on the vid. It's all just too much for her to handle. She deposits the wet, shivering Pekingese on the floor, then grabs a bottle of liquor from her private stash. She slumps down onto her favorite bench and pours herself a large glass full. Taking a long drink, she hangs her head and begins to sob.
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[Candleman]

Arthur watches the feed, eyes hardening. Seeing the violence, his dead arm starts itching, and Arthur begins frantically rubbing it, knowing he can't feel a thing. He's obviously distressed by the news, and comes to similar conclusions about the impending dissent. Of course, it means something else to a man whose only possessions are Alliance-brand.

He almost misses Xavier's mention of cutting gel, but he catches it in time. "Be righ' there," he radioes to Xavier and grabs his tools, then heads down to the cargo bay.

[David]

Xavier transfers back to the Folly and waits in the airlock for the cutting gel. Once Arthur brings it, he leaps back over to the cargo module and apply a small amount in an attempt to cut a small hole. Just in case the inside is pressurized. “Captain, Ah'm gonna try an cut a small hole just in case this 'ere container is pressurized. Permission to ignite?” Once he gets confirmation, Xavier will trigger the gel and move a little to the side.


Assuming he is not blown to kingdom come, or the like:
Xavier will move back to the (Hopefully present) new hole cut in the container, and try to get a look inside.
Once he has determined that the container is not pressurized, or that the pressure has dropped to a safe level to continue, he will apply the gel to cut a doorway. Once he has finished applying the gel, he will radio back, “The gels in place. Preparing to ignite. Are we ready captain?”
Once he gets confirmation, Xavier will trigger the gel and retreat around the corner. If it works he will then attempt to clear the entrance, and get a better look inside.

[Wired*Nun]

The small hole burned in the cargo container releases a small amount of gas pressure, but not much. The skin is thin, and easy to cut.

When Xavier cuts the doorway, the piece of metal drifts quickly away due to the container's centrifugal force. Something starts pouring out of the open hole. A closer looks shows that the material is some kind of packing, fist-sized lumps of lightweight foamy stuff. The rotation of the container is draining it out like a bucket with a hole in it.

It might be a useful thing to save or salvage, or it might be pointless, but short of trying to block the hole with his own body, he doesn't see much he can do about it. The stream of chunks squirts outward in a 3-d spiral. To the crew watching from Folly, it looks like a slow-motion fireworks display, or a spiral galaxy taking form.

[TreyKincaide]

A relieved sigh escapes Abigail's lips, "At least we didn't depressurize breathable oxygen." She peers at the screen, "Can we get any readings on what's being vented?"

[David]

Once the stream of packing material thins out Xavier will carefully enter the container and take a look around.

[Wired*Nun]

Ship sensors aren't equipped to say anything about the material, except that it doesn't show up on radar. It looks like "packing peanuts".

Inside the container, Xavier can see a lot of packing foam. Some of it is piled up at the light end, rolling "downhill" and out the hole as small tremors going through the structure dislodge it in waves. Some of it is piled at the other, heavy end, covering something like a blanket. Because it's past the center of gravity, it's staying there. But there's something underneath the thin layer. He can see some faint glows, greens and reds and yellows, peeking between the foam chunks.

To go any farther he has to unclip from the tether, but because he is on the inside, this is no longer unsafe. He can now either walk up the cylindrical wall, kicking though the foam, or he can make a small leap across the nearly-weightless space and land atop the whatever.

[Candleman]

Arthur can't quite take the quiet suspense of Xavier's mission, not with what he heard. He knows now isn't the time to discuss it, but contrary to his usual withdrawn stoicism he heads up to the cockpit, to watch, to listen, to just be somewhere.

[Wired*Nun]

In the cockpit Arthur finds Sam and Abigail. Will and Earl and Greta are in the cargo bay near the mid airlock, monitoring Xavier's progess.

Will begins suiting up. "We can't see what's going on with Xavier. He needs someone to help pull him out of there just in case...Greta, would you get on the comm to the Captain and inform her of my intentions? Barring her orders to the contrary, I'm going to go over there."

[David]

Xavier will disconnect the tether and walk along the wall towards the heavy end as he says, “I am disconnecting the tether and proceeding in. I can make out some colored lights coming from the far end of the container.”

[Wired*Nun]

"Wonderful," says Will, deadpan. "Could someone ask him not to do anything before I get there?" He hurries to close the suit, grabs his medikit and goes into the airlock.

Xavier walks along the wall. Magboots work just fine on the steel wall. He gets close to the lights and knocks foam bits out of the way. Underneath them, he sees boxes, about six by six by three. They are stacked in the heavy end, and each one of them has a control panel with lights on it. There is a number pad, and a button marked "Enter," another marked "Open."

[David]

Xavier says into the comm, “looks like we have some good sized containers in here, about six by six by three. Looks like the lights are coming from a control panel on each one. Looks like there is a number pad, a button marker enter, and one marked open. Ah think maybe we should move one out and see about openin it."

[LynMars]

Greta nods and goes to the comm. "Captain, the Doctor's planning to suit up and head over to help Xavier just in case, unless you have orders to the contrary."

If the comm station in the cargo bay will interface with Xavier's comm as well as the bridge, Greta opens a line to him too. "Xavier, wait a moment, we can't see what's going on, someone may be coming to help."

[David]

Xavier stops mid-reach when he hears Greta, and replies, “Ok. Ah'll wait here till ah hear more.”

He will then continue to look around the inside of the container, trying not to disturb anything in the process.

[Wired*Nun]

Will gets out to the cargo container in short order, and joins Xavier in the interior. He takes a look at the containers, shakes his head in wonder. "What the..." He brushes away foam chunks with a convulsive movement.

"We have to take these aboard. Somehow...Captain! Captain, come on the comm." When Abigail comes on, he goes on. "Captain...these are cryo-stasis pods. I saw them in the war. Normally they put badly wounded soldiers in them so they could be transported back to the core hospitals. The readouts say there are people inside..."

[Candleman]

Arthur's usually furrowed eyebrow arches, and he leans closer to the cockpit window. "Cryo-stasis?" he asks, to no one in particular. "Don' suppose we can sell them, eh?"

He's being sarcastic, but there is a tinge of honesty in his voice. The message from Mr. Universe has shaken him, and that plus the recent upheaval aboard the Folly has made him uncertain of the future.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail mutters another string of curses, "All right. Bring 'em aboard, but don't even think about opening any until we figure out what we're dealing with. Greta, Earl, fashion up several more tow lines."

There's a reason these folks were left out here.

"When they're all in, I'll want you to do a work up and then maybe, maybe we'll thaw one of them out. I'll meet you down in the bay. Double time soldier. The sooner we get away from here the better."

Abigail steps back from the comm, "Sam, plot a course to the nearest habitable rock, and start burning the moment we give the all clear."

She turns a sour face to Arthur, "No, but we can sell those pods for a good turn around. Maybe keep one aboard for our own use. Let's go fashion a pulley to draw them in, and then inspect the cargo. I'll decide what to do with the occupants in due course."

[Wired*Nun]

[Sam, pick a moon. Given the vagaries of orbital physics, it doesn't matter which one, choose one you like.]

It takes the better part of a day to get the pods aboard. It's a major undertaking with everyone helping - making a larger hole in the cargo pod, rigging lines and maneuvering the pods into the main cargo bay doors in vacuum. Once they get on board, it turrns out there are twelve of them. Each one weighs over 800 pounds, requiring that they dial down the grav in the cargo bay and put four people on each. They were connected to a small portable fusion source, which is also valuable salvage, so they bring that along and put it to the same use.

At the end of the day, they have twelve pods lined up neatly in the main bay, cords from the generator going to each. The empty cargo shell isn't of much worth, it's just a steel tank.

[David]

As they are finishing up Xavier asks the captain, “Captain, if we have the time, we could cut pieces of this container to use in making those fortifications to the railings, and fashioning that brig you wanted.”
If the captain agrees, Xavier will work with Arthur to scavenge what can be found to be of use, otherwise he will take a seat on the cargo bay floor near his bags and keep an eye on the cryopods.

[Wired*Nun]

[You don't have unlimited cutting gel. You could cut a piece big enough to come into the cargo bay, then use the normal cutting torch inside ship's air. If you set down on a moon, though, scrap metal is cheap and generally so is acetylene and oxygen. So it depends on how soon you all want the work done - immediately in case the people in the pods prove troublesome, or later when it's far easier, cheaper and less dangerous]

[TreyKincaide]

"No, we've been here long enough," Abigail shakes her head. "At most we're going to bring one person out of stasis." She walks over to the comm, "Sam, get us out of here."

"Will, there any readouts on these people? If not, pick one to work up. I want all of us except Sam or his relief there armed when he or she thaws. Try to save the cryo-tube if you can. Might come in handy one day."

[Wired*Nun]

Will wipes his hands on his trousers, more of a nervous habit than anything. "One's the same as another. There are no markings..." He looks over one of the pods for the seventeenth time.

"We can't open the pods without inputting some kind of code. The good news is, I don't think it will hurt to fool around. I mean, it's not like they are going to self-destruct or anything..." He looks just the tiniest bit unsure. "It would seem ridiculous to booby-trap them...nothing to indicate they are anything but what they seem..."

He reaches over to put in a code. The panel beeps. Will shakes his head. He tries another. One of three lights changes from red to green. "Haha." He hits Open. "Default code. 98765."

Condensation flash-forms as the pod cracks slightly, venting cold gas. "It will take about an hour to cycle through the awakening sequence. Don't touch anything, please." He begins pacing up and down, then looks at his hands.

"I have to scrub up and be ready, in case whoever is in this is injured." He dashes off to shower, change, and scrub, leaving the crew to gather around the pod. It keeps venting cold nitrogen, condensing water vapor and causing popping sounds as the insides warm and the surroundings cool.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail nods and walks over to the comm, "Yu, I need you down in the infirmary to help Will with whatever he needs."

He looks over to Will as he prepares to rush off, "You said we need to get her more involved, and we need someone else med trained. Kill two birds with one stone."

"Arthur, while we're sitting on our hands, I want you to check out the other pods carefully. Need to make sure none of them have a tracking beacon. Xavier, strip down, and go get yourself something to drink. Sit down and relax for a spell. Might need your top game before too long."

"The rest of you are welcome to hunker down. I'm staying right here for the time being."

Abigail puts her back to the wall and checks her piece as she waits.

[Fulmen]

Sam looks around on the starmap for a moment. Ok, looks like the nearest places are Ares and Haven, with Higgin's Moon a bit farther out. Sam quickly rules out the floating military base and the moon with the massive Anti-Air Cannon sets a course for Higgin's Moon. Sam then gets on the comm, "Okay guys, I'm putting us down on a nearby moon. We should get there... shortly."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail hits the comm with the back of her hand as she rolls the cylinder of the gun down one arm, "When we get there, I want you sit us down somewhere out of the way. Might eat up fuel, but I don't want to answer any questions about our guests. Worse comes to worse, we can thaw 'em all, take the pods, let 'em walk into town."

[samirah]

Yusheng takes a small nap and wakes feeling a bit more in control of her emotions. Yusheng gets the call from Abigail and asks her what is going on. When she learns the pods have been brought on board and one is being opened she is immediately upset and concerned. She makes her way to the infirmary as quickly as she can.

Once she arrives she speaks to Abigail in hushed tones,"Abi, I am very concern about who these people may be in these pod. They may be dangerous. They may have disease that can infect us. We should have talk about this before we bring pod on board and certainly before we open pod. I help Will prepare what he need but I not expose myself to pod until I know it not dangerous. "

[Candleman]

Arthur nods to Abigail--er, Captain Abigail, and jogs to the engine room for his trusty tool box. He pops it open and tosses his shotgun inside, then heads back down to the cargo bay. Once there, he skirts around the edges of each pod, avoiding the venting one and giving them all a once-over. He doesn't fiddle with any electronics, but if he notices anything beyond the keypad and locking mechanisms he'll try and get a better idea of what it is.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail looks Yu square in the eyes and holsters her ivory handled sidearm. She talks softly and low, "I had already considered the possibility of infection, but the Doc didn't seem worried, so I'm not. The Popsicle may be dangerous, but then so am I. If it turns bad, then I'm going to put a bullet square in their brainpan.

"You asked me to Captain this boat, and that's what I'm doing. I'm not going to run every decision past you 'cause I already said I won't lead by committee. If that's what you want, you're welcome to make the tough choices and set me back down on Bernadette."

She sighs and runs her hand to guide her graying blonde hair behind one ear, "Life's about taking calculated risks, Yu." Her eyes are sad as she looks at her old friend, "I think this risk to help these folks is the decent thing to do. I know it's awful soon and you need to take your time, but eventually you're going to have to make the decision either to grieve in your garden or live by becoming a member of the crew."

"Courage is doing the right thing even though you're scared. You can put that on my tombstone, because I'm going to keep doing the right thing until the day I'm not wily enough to avoid being bushwhacked. Otherwise, I'd be dead on my feet before my time. For now, I'm going to continue showing the trust in the people on this ship to do what their good at and hope eventually everyone-including you-shows me the same kindness."

[Wired*Nun]

Sam looks around ont he radar for a moment. Looks like the nearest landing zone is a Bernadette Moon. Great, I'm sure the captain is gonna appreciate backtracking. Same gives a bit off a sigh, whips the ship around and sets a vector that should get them there as rapidly as possible. Sam then gets on the comm, "Okay guys, I'm putting us down on the nearest moon. We should get there... shortly."

[Please pick a moon that is described in the RPG book, that way we have some information about it. Or make a brand-new one up along with a decription. Heading back to one of the central planets might be inadvisable given the unrest sure to be happening right now.]

[Wired*Nun]

Arthur nods to Abigail--er, Captain Abigail, and jogs to the engine room for his trusty tool box. He pops it open and tosses his shotgun inside, then heads back down to the cargo bay. Once there, he skirts around the edges of each pod, avoiding the venting one and giving them all a once-over. He doesn't fiddle with any electronics, but if he notices anything beyond the keypad and locking mechanisms he'll try and get a better idea of what it is.

There is nothing attached to the pods that anyone saw or sees now, other than the power cords. The fusion generator is a standard model. Ship sensors have detected no beacon transmissions or anything like that. Anything unusual about the pods is likely to come from the inside of one of them. Everything external seems all right.

[David]

Xavier nods to the Captain, “Yes sir, captain.” Then he grabs some clean clothes from his gear and heads to the fresher. Once that is taken care of he takes a rest. After about 45 minutes Xavier heads back down to the cargo bay, feeling a little better.

[samirah]

“"You asked me to Captain this boat, and that's what I'm doing. I'm not going to run every decision past you 'cause I already said I won't lead by committee. If that's what you want, you're welcome to make the tough choices and set me back down on Bernadette."

Yusheng doesn't shrink away from Abigail. She looks at her old friend and sees the same stubborn streak she had to deal with in Hiram. "Abi, you right, we all make you Captain. Final decision belong to you. However I like you consider something. Hiram have strong will and big opinion, but he always ask for input when he need make important decision. He know he have blind spot, everyone does, so he ask for input to make sure he no forget something. He still make decision. All I try to say is that you consider ask for input before you make big decision like this in future. You ask us before we send Xavier to cargo container, why not ask for input before bringing pods onboard? It only take a couple minute."

“She sighs and runs her hand to guide her graying blonde hair behind one ear, "Life's about taking calculated risks, Yu." Her eyes are sad as she looks at her old friend, "I think this risk to help these folks is the decent thing to do. I know it's awful soon and you need to take your time, but eventually you're going to have to make the decision either to grieve in your garden or live by becoming a member of the crew."

Yusheng could be offended by the latter comment, but realizes diplomacy is not Abi's strong suit, so she addresses only the first part. "I know it right thing to do to save people, especially since Reaver might come. Again, I just want to take a minute next time to discuss."

“"Courage is doing the right thing even though you're scared. You can put that on my tombstone, because I'm going to keep doing the right thing until the day I'm not wily enough to avoid being bushwhacked. Otherwise, I'd be dead on my feet before my time. For now, I'm going to continue showing the trust in the people on this ship to do what their good at and hope eventually everyone-including you-shows me the same kindness."

"I no say I don't trust you, but crew doesn't know you like I do. I think it build up trust and respect more quickly if they see you take a minute to ask for input. Remember, we are team. It good to make other member feel like you think they are important. It not make you seem weak. It not mean you not know how to decide and have to ask what to do. It make you look wise."

Yusheng waits for any reply from Abi, then turns to Will.

"Okay Doc, I here to help you. What I need to do?"

[Wired*Nun]

Will has stayed back to give the two their conversational privacy. When addressed, he says, "Let's get a stretcher in case he needs to be moved, and then we just have to wait. You can't rush cryo-stasis, you'll just end up injuring or killing the patient. I've got several drugs here that may help, depending on that the ailment is." As he talks he turns, drawing her with him on the short trip back to the infirmary to pick up all the supplies they will need. They put everything on the stretcher to carry it gently back to the cargo bay.

[TreyKincaide]

"Well, if we all get sick and die, Brother Will can talk us into heaven, seein' as it will be his fault." She grins tightly, tips her hat, mock-serious. "What's done is done. Let me know when I'm fired." She turns back to supervising the goings-on.

[samirah]

Yusheng shakes off the tension from her conversation with Abigail and turns to help Will gather medical supplies for the new passengers. Once in the cargo bay she looks around in awe at the pods with their flashing lights and cords.

Now that her concerns have been assuaged she is curious about the people in the strange contraptions. She follows Will as he arranges the supplies responding to his requests as quickly as she can.

"Doc, why you think these people in pods?? How long you think they been there?"

Feeling a new sense of purpose, Yusheng momentarily forgets her grief and throws her whole self into the tasks at hand.
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[Candleman]

Arthur steps back from the bank of pods, satisfied in his search. He steps up to Abigail when she finishes her conversation with Yusheng, and says "All clear, Cap'. No kinda beacon or nothin' beyond the generator. I don' think there's any way to tell who's inside short a' lettin' them out, either." He leans in close, conspiratorially, as if the men in the pods could hear him. "I got me shotgun as well, like ya said."

He leans back. "Anythin' else ya need me for? Engine's doin' fine, I can stick around if I'm needed."

[TreyKincaide]

"Well done. We're good until Will gets close to finishing up," Abigail replies solemnly. "Then, it's going to be me, you, and Xavier making sure that our newest guest doesn't get rowdy. At some point I'm going to want you to start thinking about how to patch one of those pods into the ship's power but that can wait."

"If you want to rest a spell, now's the time."

[Wired*Nun]

"I don't know," Will answers Yusheng. "There's no way to tell...I don't see any dates or paperwork. It's strange they are in this cargo pod, though. Normally cargo pods are used for bulk cargo, so the pod can be swapped from ship to ship. That makes them really good for smuggling, too, since the cargo stays hidden from any transshippers. If I had to guess, I'd suspect this shipment of people isn't excatly...aboveboard."

Will and Yusheng finish laying out the medical supplies on the next pod over. It makes a convenient table. "Be ready to get whoever it is on the stretcher, and put him or her up on this pod, so I can work. Then be ready to move 'em into the infirmary."

They wait a few more minutes, until the next indicator light turns green. There's a whine and the crack widens to a handsbreadth, then comes a click. Will reaches for the lid, pauses a moment with both of his hands on it. "Don't get too jumpy, folks. Whoever is in here isn't going to be feeling too chipper...and you can't normally put anything but a naked body in these things anyway." He lifts the top.

There's a cloud of condensation that clears in just a moment. Inside, sleeping in a loose fetal position, lies a man. A black man. A big, black man.

He looks just like Earl.

[samirah]

Yusheng stares at the man in the pod, her eyes wide, her mouth open in disbelief. She looks at Will, "Doc, I think I crazy! He look like Earl to you?" Shaking her head she continues, "You and me no be able to lift him alone. You need get more people or somebody stronger to help you." She looks around at the others in the room.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail's surprise briefly registers as an uncertain swallow, but the grizzled old marshal gives a nod to the men to help out regaining her composure.

***

Earl lumbers over towering over the pod looking concerned Yusheng bein' upset, "Ma'am. Is you okay?" He looks down into the pod confused, "I don' understan'. That's me lyin' there." The gentle giant gestures for Yu to step back, "Lemme he'p. Mebbe he can tell us what's goin' on when he's waked." The towering man helps Will as instructed to move the body from the pod to the gurney.

[Wired*Nun]

"Wait, please," Will says as people move to touch the sleeping man. "Let him come around naturally. He doesn't seem injured, so he wasn't put here because of wounds..."

[I'll give people more time to post before I go on]

[David]

Xavier steps back from the pod when Will asks for them to wait.
Hmm.....Somethings going on here. Why would he look like one of the crew? Just where did this Earl come from? And who is he...are they? Brothers? Clones? Whats going on here, whatever it is, I don't like it.
While not exactly nervous, Xavier appears to be more alert now that the pod is opened and the contents revealed. His attention, unlike the rest [Assumed] is not on the pod, but rather focused on Earl.

[Candleman]

Arthur actually laughs, as the pod opens to display Earl's doppleganger. It is a nervous laugh, a bewildered laugh. "What the fuck? Earl? Okay alla this is gettin' a little too weird for me now." His eyes stray to the other pods, and he turns away from the group to face them.

"I swear to God if I find meself in one a' those things, I'm gonna shoot him!" he says, a mocking smile on his face.

[samirah]

Hearing Arthur's comments, Yusheng begins to laugh hysterically, almost uncontrollably. A funny thought has popped into her head and she struggles to regain her composure so she can share it. She settles down and takes a breath. She pokes Abigail's arm and with a mischeivous grin says,"And if Hiram in one of these pod, you out of job Abi!!" She winks at the silver-haired captain and begins laughing again. It feels good to let loose and helps her release pent up tension and emotions.

[Wired*Nun]

Will eventually decides that it's safe - medically - to wake the sleeping man.

He gently puts a hand on the man's shoulder, giving it a slight shake. "Sir...wake up, sir."

The man stirs, rolling over and exposing himself to all concerned. Those interested can see he's circumcised, and his skin has many small scars in various locations. There is no pattern, but it appears the man has had a hard time somewhere.

Earl looks down at himself, comparing the scars he has - from working, rock mining chips, getting beaten by overseers - and finds they are very similar. He wonders whether the man was a miner too.

When the man sees the crew looking down at him, he holds up an arm to cover his face, and curls back into a fetal position, defensively. "Nooo..." he cries, piteous for such a big man. "No more. Please." His voice is thick and raspy with the cryo.

Will takes a small bottle and holds it to the man's lips. "Here, drink this. It's all right, You're among friends." True or not, it's reassuring. "And turn that light down, will you?"

With the bay lights a little dimmer, the man drinks from the bottle and sits up, looking around in fear. "Where sarge? What people you?" He takes the bottle out of Will's hand, finishes it. "Request more," he says, holding it out. Will takes the bottle back, hands it backward to Yusheng.

"Fill it up again with the dextrose, please," he says without looking.

"Who are you?" asks the doc.

"Pri-" the man stops in confusion. "Pri-..." He stops again. He struggles to speak. Finally, he hangs his head. "Fo'. Number Fo. I can't..." He raises his head, with tears in it. "I can't remember. Number Fo." He holds up his forearm, as if warding off a blow. There is a new laser burn scar the size of a soup can lid. He stares at the scar in wonder.

"Number Fo."

Earl looks at his own arm, at the same spot. At the same kind of scar. He always figured he got it from a laser drill, though he can't remember when. His memory never was very good.

The man notices Earl's movement, swivels his head around. He stares at Earl, then starts weeping again.

"You brother? B.I.A.?" he asks.

[TreyKincaide]

The gentle giant stares incredulously at himself and the confused doppleganger. He steps forward when Fo begins weeping again, "There. There. It be alright, Number Fo. I be Earl Henry and you be on the Folie."

"We be a freeman's ship. You be driftin' in space and Ma'am set out to he'p you'uns out. They's good folks, they is, 'specially Ma'am. She reads to me at night after I be shot in the belly like Mama Henry used ta though I never be shot in the belly before I's had to leave Mama."

Earl looks around, "Can we get him a blanket, he looks mighty cold?"

He turns a sympathetic eye to the crying man, "I don' knows rightly where the sarge be. Mebbe in one of d'ese pods here we foun' ya in. It'll be alright Number Fo. I's promise."

"Now, if'n I ken ask ya. Why do you look like me? Are you my brother? Did you get those scars in da' mines like I did? Were bad folk's ugly ta' ya' too? It's alright if they did. There be no bad folks here. Jess' nice, good he'pful men and ladies, yes they be."

[samirah]

Yusheng refills the bottle with more dextrose and hands it to Will. Then she grabs a blanket and places it over the naked man in the pod. Patting him gently she says,"It be okay, Fo. We no hurt you. We take care of you. Doc, you want me fix some hot tea or soup for Fo?"

Nan Ching has been napping in the common area but, hearing all the racket coming from the cargo bay, her curiosity gets the best of her. She tears through the corridors of the ship until she reaches it. Scampering around to each person sniffing and sneezing she tries to figure out what all the fuss is about.

[Wired*Nun]

There. There. It be alright, Number Fo. I be Earl Henry and you be on the Folie."


"Earl Henry. Name, civilian designation. You not B.I.A. You look like B.I.A." He reaches up to grip Earl's hand, very hard. "Strength index point nine three." He releases the hand, takes the blanket gratefully.

Why do you look like me? Are you my brother? Did you get those scars in da' mines like I did?

He looks blankly at Earl's question. "All brothers look the same, except for...for..." he holds his head, grunts. "Memory...Scars?" He looks at his arms. "Training. Tolerance. Tracking. Yours..." he looks at Earl, rubs his eyes. "Your scars wrong."

It be okay, Fo. We no hurt you. We take care of you. Doc, you want me fix some hot tea or soup for Fo?"

"Yes," responds the doctor. "I think that would be a good idea. The soup, anyway. Let's hold off on the tea. And Earl, do you think you could get mister Four some clothing in your size?"

Will encourages and helps Four get out of the pod, enough to sit on the padded inner edge, feet still inside the cavity. His arms are corded with lean muscle, in a different, more aesthetically ideal way than Earl's. But his face...it's the same face. Not just similar, but like they were twins. It's easy enough to tell the difference, what with scars and haircut. This man's head is shaved, and he appears younger - perhaps twenty years old, whereas Earl looks more like thirty. He stares curiously at Nan Ching.

"Canine. Dog. Pekingese. Toy...Toy..." he grinds to a halt. "Toy." He looks up and around at the rest. "I can't remember."

[TreyKincaide]

Earl nods vigorously and bounds off to get the younger lookalike underclothes, a shirt, and a pair of overalls. He glances at himself in the mirror noting his short red stubble cut short before bouncing back with the bundle under one arm.

He hands them over, "Don' worry none. Sometimes I's have problems 'membering too."

[David]

Xavier continues keeping an eye on those here in the cargo bay.

[samirah]

Yusheng exits the cargo bay and heads for the galley to prepare soup for Fo. Nan Ching follows her mistress, always hoping food will be forthcoming.

Yusheng prepares a hearty, nourishing soup with homemade vegetable broth, baby carrots, snow peas, mushrooms, bean sprouts and tofu. As she prepares the vegetables she tosses a few carrots to Nan Ching. The little dog snatches them up quickly making small crunching sounds with her teeth. She finishes and looks up in anticipation.

Yusheng prepares the soup quickly, making plenty for the whole crew who, at this point, are probably hungry as well. She takes a steaming bowl of the aromatic liquid to the cargo bay and carefully hands it to Fo. Nan Ching follows, of course, focusing her attention on the bowl of soup and glancing occasionally at the floor to see if any bits of food have fallen.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail who has been strangely silent during the exchange strides forward thrusting her hands in her pockets, "I think that's enough fer the time being. Let the boy thaw out before asking him any more questions."

"Earl, Xavier, Will...keep an eye on our guest. I'll be in the kitchen with anyone else who has an opinion on what to do with our soldier boys. Greta, give Sam a chance to stretch his legs. He's been in the saddle all day. Call me if Four remembers anything useful."

She catch's Yu's eye and tips the brim of her hat as she wanders towards the kitchen for a cup of java. She takes a hard seat.

What the hell am I going to do now?

[samirah]

Yusheng follows Abi to the kitchen thinking of having some tea and soup. She dishes up a bowl of the steaming liquid then fills a second one in case the captain is hungry too. "Everything that happen, very strange. I not know what to think of Fo." She takes the two bowls to the table offering one to Abi, then fetches her tea and returns to the table to enjoy her meal. She can't imagine what must be going through Abi's mind.

In the meantime...Nan Ching stays behind in the cargo bay, not wanting to miss any of the action. She watches all the people scurrying about and making a fuss. She dodges out of the way, sometimes just in time. She finally seeks refuge under a table where she can see all the action without being stepped on or kicked. She cocks her head and looks around the room, confused.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail stares into her coffee and mindlessly slurps at the soup. She's quiet for a time before muttering, "Seems that the boy's a clone gathering from the way he said that all the brother's look the same. I don't know Earl too well, but I can see how some folk would try an' use his strong back and gentle disposition to their benefit."

Abigail looks up with a plumb ponderous look on her face, "This stinks of the Alliance 'specially if'n what we saw on the vid was in any way shape or form the truth. So who are they? Is Earl a clone or were they cloned from him or his kin? Why dump 'em in the middle of the black? And most importantly what the sam hell to do with 'em?"

[Wired*Nun]

"We'll have some food for you soon," Will tells the man. He nods, and sits unnaturally still on the inside edge of the pod, hands on thighs, waiting. Will remembers that pose from during his early training...they called it "sitting at attention."

Four takes the clothes gratefully, then stands up. Because he's still inside the pod, he looks even bigger than he is, which is plenty big. When he steps down, dressed in Earl's clothing, they look even more similar.

He look to Earl for instructions. "What are my duties?" he asks.

Will looks at Earl too, wondering what the crewman will say.

************************************************** ***

Greta relieves Sam in the cockpit. Just before he leaves, the long-range detector alarm begins to beep.

Passive detectors show somebody transmitting an active radar signal, from about 400 klicks out. Rule of thumb is to presume you can see them passively at twice the distance they can see you with active pinging. It's not trying to hide, and doppler shows it's coming toward their location at a decelerating pace of around 1000 KPH. With Folly's transponder turned off, they have about 13-15 minutes before they are spotted. It's a civilian-grade radar signal.

[Fulmen]

Sam quickly moves over to the doppler and watches it carefully. He reaches for the com on the wall without breaking line of sit from the blipping radar, "Uh... Captain you are needed in the cockpit A.S.A.P."

Once the Captain arrives, Sam will explain the situation offering the following input, "It appears to be civilian and approaching the cargo container for investigation. Should I try to hail them?"

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail's face sours and she drops her spoon. One moment she's sitting and talking to to Yu, the next she's in the cockpit, "No. Get us the hell out of here. Whatever they're selling, we ain't buying."

***

Earl looks confused, "You's a guest, but if'n ya wants to he'p out I's see no harm in it. Listen to the doc. He'll check ya out. Try to remember how you'uns ended up at here and what you be."

[Fulmen]

Sam gives a nod, moves past Greta and sits down in the pilot's seat. He takes off as quickly as possible in the same direction the approaching ship is heading.

[samirah]

Yusheng frowns when she hears Sam's call for Abi. She knows it means some sort of trouble. She clears the table and heads for her quarters. Entering the space she shared with Hiram for so many years, she begins searching through his belongings. Where is it?...Where is it?...Ahhh...here it is! Hiram's pistol. She runs her hand along the cold metal of the weapon remembering how Hiram taught her to shoot. She shakes off the memory and puts on the holster and gun fully intending to make it a permanent part of her daily wardrobe. I will talk to Abi about this and let her know I'm able to help defend myself and the other crew members, that is, unless she has reason to object.

Yusheng is jarred from her thoughts by a scratching sound at the door. She opens it to find petite Nan Ching impatiently demanding entry.. After all, she lives there too. The dog, wanting to see what's going on, eagerly sniffs her master's belongings, her doggy brain unable to comprehend that she will never see him again.

Yusheng tidies up quickly and exits her quarters followed by the inquisitive dog. She heads to the cockpit to see if she can find out what's going on and what, if anything, she can do to help. Before she arrives she feels the increased movement in the ship.

[Wired*Nun]

Sam pilots the ship 180 out from the approaching ship, avoiding full burn because of the flare of energy that gives off, keeping the ship just under. After the Folly reaches full inertialess drive speed, those in the cockpit see the signal fade astern.

Still, they know their particle exhaust is trackable by anyone with decent sensors. How likely is it the pickup was being made by a tramp freighter without that capability? No way to tell. They need to pick a destination and a reason for going there soon. Higgins' Moon is desolate enough to hide in the badlands, but the population is too small to hide among the people. Abigail has to think about strategies for keeping the ship away from whoever it is. Whether it's some Alliance skullduggery, or someone else, the crates of frozen people represent some kind of important, probably expensive, resource to someone.

Yusheng gets to the cockpit to see Greta and Sam piloting, with Abigail directing.

Earl looks confused, "You's a guest, but if'n ya wants to he'p out I's see no harm in it. Listen to the doc. He'll check ya out. Try to remember how you'uns ended up at here and what you be."

Those in the cargo bay feel the ship accelerate. Four looks up, then around. He says, "Maneuvers." He looks down at his hands, fingers curling and uncurling. "I..." He looks confused again. "I don't know. You brother. Your speech incorrect. Memory...Training complex A-X-Alpha. Tactical..."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail pores over star charts looking for anything nearby that may afford an advantage. She throws a chart to Yu when she steps in, "See if you can find anything that may buy us time to get out of this mess."

***
Earl looks plum flummoxed, "Tactical? You must be soldiering folk. Settle down. There's no rush now. No, there isn't. Uh-uh. You be taking your time, now."

[Wired*Nun]

[I'm not going to worry about the geography of space. Trey needs to make something up for Abigail to start for, then I'll run with the implications - a moon, a space station, a planet - just give me a description of what she's looking for less general than "something that can afford an advantage"]

[samirah]

Yusheng stands in the cockpit looking confused. She looks first at Abigail, then at the GM, then at Abigail, then at the GM.

[Fulmen]

Sam looks back behind his pilot seat to see people poring over charts. "So, uh.... anyone have a good idea of where to go. I mean, I can fly this thing in a straight line for as long as you wish, but running into something with an orbit might be beneficial at some point." Sam places a finger on a chart, "Higgin's is close, but I'm open to anything in the Mid and Rim sectors."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail chews her lip before looking up and shows Sam the chart, "Head for the Delouth trade route. We'll travel upstream to confuse the dogs for a bit, before making a break for the Rim. It's traveled enough that anyone looking for our signature will be thrown off the scent long enough to get us gone."

[Fulmen]

Sam nods, "Sounds good to me." He looks over the chart briefly to make sure his coordinates and vectors are right, and then turns back around to his controls. "I'll get us there as quick as possible."

[Wired*Nun]

Folly burns at all deliberate speed for the shipping lanes as whoever it is fades behind them. They can only hope they have lost whomever was nosing around the cargo pod. It takes a couple of hours to get there.

As they pull into the shipping lanes Sam picks up transponders from other vessels, and turns theirs back on. Wouldn't do to have a wreck. He also turns the active radar anticollision system back on in case of debris and asteroids.

A lot less travel than usual right now...only one big bulk transport from United Shipping...no Alliance vessels showing, either, which is unusual. They normally patrol pretty heavily.

*********************************************

Will says, "No duties right now, Four. This is a rest period. What do you usually do during a rest period? Not a sleep period..."

The man looks puzzled. "Rest...watch things? Play games?" He holds up his hands, then makes pushing motions. "Lift things..."

"Lift weights?"

"Yes, weights. That's it." Four looks around, apparently to see if there are any weights handly. He stalks over to a tiedown bar on the wall, frowning. He reaches up high to grasp it, placing his forearms against the wall, then does a chin-up, levering himself up with pure animal strength. He smoothly repeats the process ten times, then lets go. He brushes off a bit of something after stepping away. "Good."

Will's adam's apple works a bit. "That takes a lot of strength..." he mutters.

The crew watch Four walk around the cargo bay, warily in the case of the armed men, but Four does not seem to be any threat. Instead, he seems like a calm, slightly more organized, less talkative version of Earl, with gaps in his memory. He can't seem to remember some names for things, and can't put complex ideas together. Items of rote memorization pop out from time to time - military terminology, mostly.

As Four does some vertical push-ups against the wall, Will says quietly to the rest, "It looks like he was some kind of soldier. Cryo-stasis doesn't normally cause memory problems, and I didn't see any evidence of surgery or recent drug use. His bone structure is identical to Earl's...some kind of twin or clone. I heard rumors at medical school...secret cloning labs. Most clones are unstable - telomeres start breaking down, short lifespan, cancers, mutations...fine if you're raising veal for the wealthy, not so good for human beings. Maybe they licked the problem...or almost."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail steps back down to the cargo hold once the imminent danger lies safely behind them. She cottons up to Will and the others, "Wouldn't make no difference fer shock troops. What if this was the Alliance's answer to the Reavers, or failing that to kick the holdouts on the Rim in line?"

***

Earl scratches his bald head, "So Four mebbe sick? If he be a clone what does that make me? I's 'member things--'cept fer numbers and books--jess' fine. Why would someone wanna make me a brother and put 'im ta soldierin? He don' even knows what it means ta be free. People what did this be bad folks. Badder d'en d'em mining folk." He looks sadly at the younger robot version of himself.

[Wired*Nun]

"Yeah," replies Will, somewhat bitterly. "What if? People like this would only have to live long enough to give their lives for the cause...I saw enough of that in the war." The usually placid Shepherd shows some passion.

"I want to find some good medical equipment...DNA sequencers, holo-imaging better than the diagnoster we have. I'm really interested in finding out if Earl and Four really are...identical, or do they just look that way?"


Earl scratches his bald head, "So Four mebbe sick? If he be a clone what does that make me? I's 'member things--'cept fer numbers and books--jess' fine. Why would someone wanna make me a brother and put 'im ta soldierin? He don' even knows what it means ta be free. People what did this be bad folks. Badder d'en d'em mining folk."


"I just don't know, Earl. I want to get some answers for you. How old are you? For sure? How many birthdays do you remember?"

[LynMars]

Greta watches Four with an impassive expression, holding back whatever she's feeling through years of discipline. Inwardly, she's as confused as anyone else by the big man's appearance in the cargo container. And the images of the Miranda broadcast still have her wound tightly, so she's fallen back on her training to remain in some semblance of control.

She can let it all out later in the relative privacy of her quarters.

At the Shepherd's words, she considers a moment, glad for the distraction. "Depending on where we go, I might be able to call in a few favors to get you access to those things, Doctor. But it goes without saying that the farther from the Core we go, the harder such equipment will be to find."

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, survival is first...Greta, maybe you can get on the Core-tex to try to see some news reports and texlogs? Things could be fine or they could be a mess, depending on where we go."

[Candleman]

Arthur watches Four amble around the cargo bay, disgusted. Not at the big man, but with whoever spawned him. Before, he'd be hard pressed to even imagine cloning, but with the Miranda broadcast fresh in his mind, he wouldn't put it past his former government. Even having grown up on a core planet and fighting for them during the Independence War, he's learning more and more to hate the Alliance.

He shakes his head, scowling, then warily glances at the other pods.

"Will. You think any a' them others'll have any answers? We gonna open them up too?"

[TreyKincaide]

Earl purses his lips, "I's rightly don' know, Doc." He bunches his eyes together trying hard to think, "I's...I's was in my twenties when mama had ta' send me away. Then them bad peoples took me to the mines."

"The mines are funny things, Doc. Cain't tell if it be day or night. Makes a body lose all track of time. It's either mining, not-mining, getting whumped on somethin' terrible, or dying. I's know I was in the mine fer a long, long time. Seen alota folks die. I tried ta' help cause I's big and strong, but sometimes they still die."

[Wired*Nun]

Will. You think any a' them others'll have any answers? We gonna open them up too?"

Will responds, "I'm not making that decision...but I would hope not, until we set down at least. One is enough to deal with right now."

"I's rightly don' know, Doc." He bunches his eyes together trying hard to think, "I's...I's was in my twenties when mama had ta' send me away.

"What I meant was, Earl, how early can you remember? Like, do you remember being five years old? That birthday? Or anything your mother told you about being different...or did you ever visit a special hospital where people did tests on you?"

[David]

Xavier continues to keep an eye on the man from the pod, not sure how he feels about all this.
On the one hand, it seems wrong to clone a man without his consent, or to take away a thinking beings freedom. But, on the other, is it really as bad as the rest of the crew seems to think? Is it really that monstrous to try to create a perfect soldier, one who never knew any other life, will never have to readjust to civilian life? Never miss a family that they may never see again? Never feel that their old friends and family can never understand what they have been through? Is that really so bad? Maybe, maybe not. What he does know is that, from what he has heard, there is a potentially unstable, physically impressive, military science experiment wandering around, and he had best keep a close eye on it. Not to mention the rest of the pods.
For now Xavier decides to keep his mouth closed, and his eyes and ears open.

[TreyKincaide]

"Mama tole' me I was special. I's don' 'member any doctors or tests. I's never was good at book learning or figurin' numbers or the like. Met with some 'special' teachers ta try to learn me better s'all."

Earl scratches his head, "It was jess' me and mama. I's 'member being a boy and being teased. I's kept to myself alot, though."

[Wired*Nun]

The crew settles in to an uneasy routine for a few hours. Four uncomplainingly doing exercises or resting in the cargo bay, watched by Earl and Xavier and whoever else helps him out...Will going back and forth to the infirmary with blood samples and questions for Four, none of which illuminate the situation much. He seems unable to remember much of what he has recently done, or what was done to him.

The Cor-tex is filled with news reports, corlogs, vids and rumors. It's hard to sort out what is true and what is not.

The Alliance feeds are announcing that the Miranda broadcast is a cruel hoax, and that the world known as Miranda failed to terraform due to unusual seismic and atmospheric conditions. "The cyberterrorist known as Mister Universe has overstepped himself, and has been apprehended. He will be judged according to his crimes, chief among them the spreading of these lies."

Another Alliance feed, playing in all Alliance outlets, heralds the destruction of Reavers as a significant threat. "For a long time these pirates have preyed upon innocent shipping in the less-well-traveled lanes, forcing the expenditure of tremendous efforts and sacrifices on the part of Federal Navy personnel. Due to a brilliant strategy devised by a team of Alliance military experts, a large portion of the Reavers have been drawn into a battle of annhilation with superior Navy vessels. Estimates of enemy casualties approach one hundred percent. While we cannot relax all vigilance, the space lanes will be much safer from now on, and Alliance patrols wil be able to be reduced to an appropriate level returning hard-earned tax dollars to the public welfare."

Another piece announces spending increases for a number of sectors including education and entertainment grants, as well as investments in civilian space infrastructure in some of the Border Planets.

Nonalliance feeds include one from Newhall, which along with New Melbourne have a significantly different take on the situation. These feeds report that the veracity of the Miranda broadcast is being examined, and they are intending to send investigative ships from planetary forces to determine the truth. They also report that their senatorial delegations have been instructed to block any legislation or ratifications until the situation is sorted out, and that their planetary militaries have been brought to heightened states of alert. "We are engaged in a massive, but well-planned bilateral military exercise with our sister planet New Melbourne, ensuring our readiness and demonstrating to any reavers or breakaway factions that we are ready to defend ourselves, our citizens, and the international spacelanes leading to our planets."

Texlogs and fora have a lot of rumors posted on them. Some of the more interesting ones include the following:

- Reavers have destroyed the Alliance navy and are roaming the shipping lanes at will, preying on ships.
- The Alliance has broken up into two factions along Asian/Caucasian racial lines. Shinon and Londinium are at war.
- A New Independence Movement is sweeping the System, all the Border Planets and Rim Worlds are giong along, and this time the grip of the Alliance will be broken.
- Newhall and New Melbourne have broken away and formed their own Independent government, and worlds are rallying around them.
- Newhall and New Melbourne have been occupied by the Alliance.
- Miranda is a world full of Reavers, and the Alliance is engaged in a full-scale battle to destroy it.
- Reavers are humans infected by alien DNA and can infect anyone they touch or bite.
- Scattered sightings of "Men in Blue" have been reported. These men are aliens that kill people with their strange blue hands.
- The moon of Whitehall has been wrested from nominal Alliance control by a local warlord, Patience Ruthward, and has declared itself independent.
- The moon of Haven has been taken over by slavers.

Analysis of the standard astrogation model shows that Deadwood is the closest Rim World, a sparsely-populated moon with only a few big towns, lots of small ones, and a lot of nowhere to hide in It seems like a sensible place to go to, if the goal is to set down as soon as they can.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail looks over Deadwood's specs. She settles on a spot well outside one of the larger towns, "Bring us down there. Close enough ta civilisation ta resupply and figure out what's going on, but remote enough not to cause a stir."

"Once we've touched down, we need to see about setting up a perimeter."

[Candleman]

Arthur leans over Greta's shoulder as she scours the Cortex, spending more thought than he should on how close he isn't getting to her. The rest of his thoughts are more concerned with the general outcry over the Miranda broadcast.

Of course the Alliance denounced it; they denounce anything and everything that isn't favorable. He's acutely aware of their use of propaganda and political illusions and isn't deceived for a second. However, he himself isn't sure of its credibility. He wants to believe it, wants to have proof that they aren't all good, but the implications are enormous. The Alliance is the cause of the greatest threat to mankind beyond its own mangy self? That's a tall order, and one he just isn't sure about.

The other planets, Newhall and New Melbourne, are slightly more intriguing. What if these two planets did become the center of a new independence? Arthur's been in the Federal Navy, and was born in a Core world, but that just means he's more privy to the Alliance's injustices. "the expenditure of tremendous efforts and sacrifices on the part of Federal Navy personnel" his ass. He was on a cruiser for years, before and during the Independence War, and he never saw any part of so-called 'reaver space.' They had nothing to do with it, traders be damned.

Even so, as much as he'd like to see a new government, it frightens him. He's seen enough war, what with his cruiser being boarded. He's seen friends die and bodies and the coldness of the Black. He doesn't want any part of the strife that will surely follow.

He heads down to the engine deck, taking solace in the whirring and tumbling of the great machine. At least, he thinks, the engine's cacophony has a purpose. Who knows what the machinations of men will cause.

[David]

Xavier pays no attention to the Cortex feeds. He works very hard at appearing to pay no attention to the cortex feeds. He is focused on the new arrival(s). He works very, very hard at remaining focused on the new arrivals. It's not that he believes any of it. He was never sure that he believed in the “Reavers” in the first place. Sure, there are things out in the deep black, things one should not ponder too closely. There be all manor of cruelnesses that men can get to without need for a nearly mythical creature like the “Reaver.” The Alliance ain't perfect, Xavier knows that, has known it for quite some time in fact. No, he works so hard at not being distracted, for just that reason, to not be distracted. After all, there is a heretofore unknown doppleganger of one of the crew on board, and then there are the other containers with the verse only knows who, or what, inside. And this crew hired him, Xavier Ingvar, to protect them from come what may. And thats what he is going to do. He is not going to let some wild claims of horrible deeds from the past distract him from his duty. So, no, he is not looking at the cortex. He is not listening to any wild speculation about rebellions, or monsters, or anything else not directly affecting this ship or its crew right here and right now.





Thats why he is in the cargo hold, watching the newcomer. Thats why he is not on the bridge, or in his bunk, or doing any of the other little things he would normally be doing about now.





Not because the bad thoughts keep trying to worm their way in at the corners of his mind. Not because the suggestion the whole verse is on the verge of rebellion makes those sounds, the normal ones, the ones the Folly has made ever since she blasted off into the black, those familiar, comfortable sounds, makes them sound a lot like artillery, and men dieing all around him. No, that is not it at all.

[Fulmen]

Sam pays little attention to the broadcasts. He doesn't expect any of the things people seem to be freaking out about to effect him in the slightest and besides, he has a ship to pilot. He brings the ship in to Deadwood and looks for a large flat area near Abigail's specifications that will provide a decent place to land. He puts the ship down in that spot and then turns to Abigail, "What now?"

[Wired*Nun]

Arthur takes solace in the routine of the mechanical. He remembers a snippet from a classic music disc handed down from his great-grandfather, who said it was from Earth-that-was..."Welcome my son; welcome to the machine." The 'verse may turn to crap but he had to keep this piece of it flying.

Xavier's do-it-yourself Zen almost works. Focus on the job...coping mechanisms as old as human society help him keep it together. And if Xavier's job is securing against danger, then he judges Four to be a very, very dangerous man. For one thing, he's huge and strong. So is Earl, but Earl seems gentle for all of his size. This guy seems confused for now, but every now and then he gets a kind of focus in his eyes...what war vets call the "thousand-meter stare." Xavier had seen that look on men before.

On killers.

Hell, he'd seen it in the mirror.

But he'd never seen a man who would go from ready to kill to complete loss quite as easily and often as Four. Something just wasn't right in his head, somehow. Some loose wires in there.

The ship sets down on Deadwood, about ten klicks outside of a big town the map calls Hickock. It doesn't look like there's any radar around. The only real spaceport is on the other side of the moon in the almost-city of Bisbee Springs.

The landscape is dusty and dry, the atmosphere thin. Those things usually go together. Scrubby bushes and small trees dot the gullys and washes, and a low ridge separates their landing site from the view of town. There's a fair chance that no one saw them come in on the low approach.

"I'm ready, Captain," Will says to Abigail, hoisting a bag onto his shoulder. He's dressed in outdoor clothing, a short duster and a battered cap, his essential collar showing at his neckline. "What's the plan?"

Four is staring out one of the side ports when they come down, but turns to the rest after Folly becomes still. "Field maneuvers?" he asks, with a slightly disoriented tone.

[TreyKincaide]

"We're going into town to size up the locals. We need to see what these folks make of everything before we get crackin' on pickin sides. Gotta make a living and keep the Folley afloat."

Abigail stops and looks Four, "Nah. Xavier, Earl, Four. Set up a perimeter around the ship. Secure the area, but don't scare any local farmers."

"Anyone else that wants to stretch their legs on some solid dirt's free to come along."

[Candleman]

Arthur shakes his head. "Nah, I'll uh... I'll stick around on the ship." He motions nervously inside.

He peers outside as they leave, standing on the threshold of the cargo bay.

[samirah]

Yusheng looks at Abi,"I like go with you. I need stretch my legs and I like see what they got in town. Might find supply for kitchen or garden." She grabs a backpack and stands ready.

[David]

Xavier nods to the captain, “Yes'sir, Captain.”
then turning to Arthur, “Any chance what tha there might be some fencing, or if'n not, some heavy gauge wire on board? Somthin ta string up as a perimeter fence?”


Assuming that there is nothing what would work as such:
“Ah didn think as that there would. Well, Earle, Four you two feel like lending a hand?”


Assuming that they do:
Looking with a critical eye to Earle's wounds, “Earle, you take it easy now ya hear, if you feel it needful go take a rest. I don wan you a-slowin down your recovery here. Why don' you start by taking a walk around, see if you can find any good hidin' places near the ship. If we know where they are, we can keep an eye on 'em, ya know? Or use if'n it become needful”


Then looking Four up and down, “Four, you be knowin 'bout settin' up a perimeter? We got ta clear a little space around the ship, an' ah-dentify likely routs of approach. You know how ta do tha' kinda thing?”


If four does, then Xavier will keep an eye on him proceed to set up a perimeter, clearing as much cover out a few dozen yards around the ship as he can, and scouting the area for concealed approaches.


[If there was some material useful for setting up a perimeter fence, or if such can be found in the immediate area, then Xavier will ask Four to help set it up in such a way as to attempt to funnel anyone coming into an area with good visibility from the ship.]


Once that is finished Xavier stops and thinks for a few minutes, trying to decide whether he should set up an observation post on the ridge, or stay with the ship to keep an eye on Four. After wrestling with the dilemma for a while he decides that he had better stay.


When he returns to the ship he will speak with Arthur, and Sam or Greta if either of them stays and set up an alternating watch, if he agrees.

[Fulmen]

Sam could definitely use a little tim out of the cockpit. He grabs his pistol and then heads out with Abi and the others to take a look around.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail climbs behind the mule's driver seat motioning for Yu, the Doc, and Sam to climb on. There's a twinkle in the old woman's eye as she settles into the controls. To Yu, the years seem to melt away and her old friend for a moment looks like the stubborn reckless light hearted girl she use to know.

When everyone's aboard, Abi guns the unloaded mule shooting down the ramp. They kick up a trail of dust as Abi laughs her way towards town.

***

Earl nods vigorously, "I's won't hurt meself Mister Xavier, sir. Doc's been telling me that I'm about completely healed. S'almost like I can heal faster than other folks. Dunno bout that, but I's promise that I won't over do it." He whispers, "I's keep an eye on Fo' fo' ya too."

Earl bounds out in a circle around the ship looking fo' hidey holes.

[Wired*Nun]

There's no fencing, at least not enough to matter.


Four trots out of the ship, flexing his hands as if he wants something to carry. He looks at the Xavier's weapons, then at his own hands, then runs his hand across his middle, as if missing something. His head swivels left and right. He looks at the high ground, about two klicks away.

"Good fields of fire. The ridge dominates us if they have mortars or heavy machineguns. With only light weapons we either ambush or patrol." He retrieves a steel leaf-spring from the spares under the watchful eye of Xavier, and starts hacking down plants with casual strength.

Once the scrub has been cleared, Four takes some thorny cut brush and fills in gaps, and widens others along some natural lines of approach. Then he sets up tripwires with cans and pebbles for a low-tech alarm system. He asks for access to explosives and detonators, but that's not going to happen...They locate some ambush positions and improve them with small berms and concealment.

From time to time Four pauses, looking off into the distance and seeming to enter a trancelike state, before coming back out after a few seconds.

They don't see anyone or anything other than the dwindling dust trail from the mule, and some big lizards that look like they might roast up good, if they can be caught. A couple of vultures turn circles over the ridge, floating in the updraft, hoping.

All of this takes a couple of hours.



***************************************

Abi, Greta, Sam, Yusheng and Will climb into the big mule. The mule zips down the ramp and Abi begins negotiating her way through the scrubland. While her hand and eye are steady enough, after the second time she almost spills everyone into a gully it's obvious she has no skill to speak of in driving the mule. Someone - Sam is the logical choice - has to take over or they have to drop down to a crawl - or they can wreck.

It's a lot more pleasant for everyone once he does, no matter that it spoils Abi's girlish fun.

Up on top of the ridge Sam drops the mule to an idling stop for a look-see. About eight klicks away - five miles in the old measure - they can see the sprawling town of Hickock to the west, with a dirt or gravel road running off to their northeast up and over the north-south ridge. Farms, or more likely ranches, lie between their location and the edge of town. There's something - an observation post, a weather station - where the road crosses the ridge, about a thousand meters north. If it's manned, they might have seen the dust from their mule, and would probably have seen the Folly set down. However, they don't see any rush of vehicles heading toward the ship, not even a single one.

They could keep going cross-country slow down the slope of the ridge and catch a country trail they can see among the ranches, or they could go up the ridge to the intersection of read and ridge near the unidentified installation. Or they could split the difference and go down-cross-slope and catch the main road near the bottom of the ridge.

[samirah]

Yusheng is happier once Sam takes over piloting the mule. She didn't relish the thought of taking a nasty spill in the heavy vehicle. Settling into her seat, she closes her eyes and enjoys the fresh air and sun. She coughs occasionally when the dust kicks up too much.

"Abi, you want us all stay together when we get to town? Or we break up in group? Like I say before, I want look for some things for kitchen and garden. Maybe get special food to cook for crew."

While she's speaking she pulls out her backpack and removes a small pair of binoculars. Lifting them to her eyes she takes a quick look around to see if there's anything noteworthy to see. Whatever she sees she informs the others, then offers the binoculars to Abi.

[Wired*Nun]

The town doesn't have many folks about. Not many on the roads, either. Not much stock out in the fields nearest to where they are watching.

Off the the left, south of town that is, there is a ranch burning. Not just one fire, but several buildings are burning. The smoke rises thinly into the hot dusty day. She can see horses and vehicles moving around the fires.

The installation on the ridge looks to be a weather station of some kind. She can't see whether it's occupied or not.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail takes a look, "Let's see if we can lend a hand. Take us in that direction. That is, if'n everyone agrees."

[Fulmen]

Sam nods and begins heading in that direction, slowly at first to give people time to voice a disagreement with the plan.

[Wired*Nun]

[Presuming "that direction" means toward the burning ranch - it's a good ways away, about 10K, a bit farther than the town and not over a main road - they will have to find their way among the ranches on the farm roads]

Sam maneuvers the mule carefully down the slope, speeding up a bit when he picks up a dirt road that connects to the haphazard network that runs between the small ranches.

Several ranches go by before they come upon a kind of roadblock. They can see barriers of tipped carts and farm equipment, with three men on the near side looking over the barriers, toward the other direction.

The sound of the mule catches their notice, and they scramble to take positions facing the oncoming mule instead.

The mule can't get through even if there were no guards, and the men all have rifles, which are now pointed their way. It seems prudent to stop before they get to the barrier and parlay, or maybe they should turn around?

[Fulmen]

Sam begins to slow down as he approaches the makeshift barricade. He comes to a complete stop about 30 feet away. Looking back to the rest of the group on the mule he says, "I'm ain't a big fan of dying at the moment, so I suggest one o' you gits ta talking."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail grunts and hops down. She rubs her hands on her pants and slowly approaches palms out. She sizes up the three men as she gets closer, "S'cuse me. We were headed into town and saw the flame. Thought we'd offer a hand. What's going on here?"

[Wired*Nun]

The oldest of the three, a man who looks to be a fit rancher of sixty or seventy, glares suspiciously. "Offer a hand? To who? You ain't from aroun' here, is you? Where you in from?" There must be some subtleties of dress that makes the man believe they aren't locals. Or maybe it's the blue bandannas they are all three wearing. Might be some kinda faction ID, or might just be a family thing.

The other two look like forty and twenty or so, respectively. The youngest one looks sweaty nervous, and Abi doesn't like the way he's fingerin' the trigger. One slip and she'll be plugged.

[TreyKincaide]

Abi unfocuses her eyes so while she's talking to the older rancher she can monitor the twitchy boy in her peripherals, "Easy now. I'm Marshall Abigail Cross-retired and I captain a small trading ship, The Follie. We just set down coming out here to the Rim to get our bearings during all the craziness that's going on. There's gonna be a lot folks that need help.

"Like I said. We saw the fire and thought there might be women and children. Just being neighborly. Now, son, if'n you don't want our help, then we'll be on our way into town to resupply. Think long and hard before you go to squeeze that trigger."

[Wired*Nun]

The young man licks his lips and glances at the old man. "Whattaya think, granpa?"

"I think you better settle down, Billy," says the fortyish one. "These folks don't look like sympathizers."

"Mebbe they - "

"Shut up, Billy," snaps the older man. He thumbs the hammer down on his rifle and points it at the sky, then stands up and climbs spryly down off the feed wagon he was crouched in, to address Abi.

"Don't know what one tramp trader kin do fer helpin', 'cept fer keeping out of the way." He reaches up to scratch under the brim of his battered leather hat. "Mebbe there's some folks want transport, and people allas kin use hard currency." He looks them over once more.

"Ever since Miranda, things been a mite dicey around here. Most people don't like the Alliance much, and them's that do should oughta be smart enought to keep it to themselves...but the Olsens never were that bright." He points a thumb back over his shoulder, in the direction of the fires.

"Only thing is, once a mob thinks it's a posse and gets to burnin, they might not know when to quit. Might not know who to shoot and who not to, either."

[David]

Xavier watches the large man with a mixture of honest respect, and trepidation. Once he has spoken to Arthur regarding a temporary watch rotation and pointed out how four and he had altered the terrain around the Folly, Xavier grabs his rifle and invites Four to accompany him on patrol. He will first circle the ship, staying close, and then move up to the ridge, staying below the top, and occasionally moving up to look over the top and study the distant landscape. Once he is convinced that there is no one within a klick or two, he will start looking for an opportunity to bring down one of the big Lizards.

[Wired*Nun]

Patrolling around the ship, David and Four find no signs of permanent civilization, though there are traces of the transient - discarded objects and trash here and there, tracks of horse or mule. Four puts a few random objects in a sack he finds, and carries the lot with him.

When they get to the ridge to their west, near where their mule passed over it, they can see some kind of tower or installation about a klick to the north, on the ridgeline. To the south is open country, to the east they can see the Folly grounded, and to the west, the town of Hickock. There are small ranches down the slope and to the south of the town, and one of the ranches off a goodly ways away looks to have fires burning.

"Weather station," says Four, pointing at the tower. "Highest point on the ridge for several kilometers. Excellent observation point." Looking toward the fires, he narrows his eyes. After a moment, he says, "Firefight in progress. Light weapons of civilian grade only. Threat zero to present personnel." Then, musingly, as if remembering something not often thought of: "Intervention in civil matters is contraindicated, unless specifically authorized and instructed."

Xavier had several opportunities to shoot a lizard. They range from half a kilo up to probably fifteen kilos. Might be good eating.

[David]

Xavier is definitely impressed by fours visual acuity. The lizards look good, but he decides to wait until hearing from the others before discharging his weapon. If there is fighting going on, he does not want to draw any attention this way.
After checking back in with the Folly, Xavier will return to a slow patrol, with Four, spiraling out from the ship to about a half a click then spiraling back in.

[TreyKincaide]

"I see," Abigail says through her teeth. Even out here. The old woman's seen her share of lawlessness and destruction that lynch mobs bring and it never fails to raise her hackles. "We'll mosey on into town then." She tips her hat and turns back towards the mule.

[Wired*Nun]

The older man tips his hat in return, saying, "My name's Tom Lindquist. Double-T Ranch. If you treat it gently, you can use it around town, mebbe, Miss Marshall Cross." He winks at her good-naturedly. He turns to the other two.

"Open up, let these folks through."

They scramble to roll one wagon out of the way, opening a narrow gap just big enough to get the mule between.

"Keep yer head down and yer eyes open, folks." They wave as the mule buzzes down the road, then quickly reset their barrier.

They pass a brace of horses going their way, a couple of teenagers on them, then some wheeled and hover traffic. All of the vehicle drivers or riders seem armed, but not immediately hostile. Wary, more like.

They wend their way toward town, the smoke from the burning ranch off to their left.

At the edge of town, on the main road, there's a marked sherriff's light truck, with a light machine-gun mounted on the roll bar and a deputy behind it. Other deputies lean their butts against the fenders, rifles in their hands, watching the traffic coming and going. They give the mule a good looking-over but don't seem to have any problem with it.

A couple of blocks in and the streets crowd up, the mule slowing to a walk, wending among foot and animal and mechnized traffic. Things mostly keep to the right, but that's about all you can say for any sort of rules of the road. There's a haphazard mix of businesses and houses, mostly made of brick of various sorts.

[Wired*Nun]

Bo Si Ting threads his way among the mix of western devils and people in the streets, looking. On the surface, Hickock looked peaceful and under control, but beneath the frenetic calm of people going about their business, he could feel the explosive tension. There are cops, both sherriffs and city cools, plus bundles of Regulators, on every corner, in every business's doorway...and that meant a lot of eyes to dodge.

His only defense was his anonymity. Just one more Asian face in the crowd, with nondescript work clothes, straw hat and sandals. Just another coolie on his way from here to there.

Citizens - or, hell, denizens - were theoretically equal throughout the Verse. But the truth was, some places it was better to be a round-eye, some places better to be almond. But another truth was that if you wanted a good life, it was better to have money and connections...and if you wanted to not be noticed, it was better to look like you had neither.

Everything at the docks was locked down tight right now. If you didn't have class 1A creds and money, you weren't getting on anything...and what there was, was sparse. Ever since Miranda, everyone was leery about taking any risks, and men had been shot for looking the wrong direction.

But there had to be some way to get out of town, other than just hoofing it down the road. He heard there were checkpoints at every road out, and other, less official checkpoints out farther, between towns and villages. He couldn't stand that much scrutiny. All it would take was one turn of bad luck.

His roving eyes catch sight of an anomaly...a mule floating slowly down the street, through the crowds, with a crew of...well, kind of a mismatch of people. Not off a company freighter, but not wearing local duds either, not of any type of people he'd seen lately. The differences ranged from subtle to gross, but he is pretty certain they aren't locals.

And if they aren't locals, and they aren't from a company freighter or regular passenger line, and certainly not Feds...maybe they represent a way out.

The driver is young, big, competent-looking, wearing a leather jacket over a jumpsuit. Next to him sits an older, weathered-lean woman in a dirty white duster and battered Stetson. In the back, he sees a shepherd in his collar, an older Asian in fine, clean clothing, looking like she never saw the sun...fine porcelain skin, still beautiful even in middle age. And another white devil...or angel, in this case, a gorgeous woman trying to hide it under plain work clothing and tied-up hair.

A strange collection of people riding an empty mule, trying to hide their unfamiliarity with the town...what did it mean? Outsiders? From where?

[Vortigern]

Bo Si Ting, Coolie Extraordinaire, watches the new arrivals through the crowd for a measuring and long seeming couple of seconds before approaching and bowing deeply. "Nimen hao. Wo jiao Bo Si Ting, Nimen guixing shi shenme?" ( Hello. I'm called/my name is Bo Si Ting [ Bo is the family name ], What is your honored/honorable surname? )

He speaks with a deferential tone and manner, bowing several more times as ( presumably ) he is answered and introductions go around with his hands palm to palm in front of him. "Hen gaoxing renshi Nimen. Nimen dei fajue shenme, Wo hui bang Nimen fajue shenme? You pianyi you fangbien." ( Very pleased to meet all of you. If you all need to find something, I am capable of helping you? I am cheap and convenient! )

"Weishenme Nimen zai Hickock? Zai zher Nimen zou shenme?" ( What brings you to Hickock? What are you here to do? )

Basically he is trying to ingratiate himself with the group as a 'local guide'.

[Fulmen]

Sam eyes the man carefully before extending his hand. "Uh.... hi there.... the name's Sam." Sam doesn't say much else, instead glancing at the rest of his group for a moment and allowing them to finish introductions. As the rest of the group and this new man chat, Sam looks around to try and get the lay of the land and see where they need to head to next. The new guy seems way too friendly, and a little too Chinese. Hopefully they can be on their way soon.

[Wired*Nun]

[Everyone understands enough Chinese - or English - to get by at minimum functionality.]

[Vortigern]

[OOC: That was my understanding as well, that basically just about everyone speaks both languages. ]

[samirah]

Hearing her mother tongue, Yusheng looks up to see the nondescript Asian man speaking to the crew in the mule. Unsure whether the others understand everything the man says, she loosely translates his words into English.

"His name, Bo Si Ting. He want know our name and why we here. He want know if he can help us. He probably want money."

Switching to Chinese, looking at the man she bows her head slightly and says, "My name is Price Yusheng." He recognizes that Price is her western family name. She must have either married one, or assimilated quite thoroughly. "The westerners will probably be more comfortable if you speak in English." Her accent and use of the language shows she is from the upper classes, perhaps from Shinon itself.

As the others introduce themselves she studies him carefully. She feels a bit wary but knows Abi has an excellent instinct about folks and trusts the right decision will be made in this situation. She's willing to go along with whatever Abi decides.

[Vortigern]

Bo Si Ting stops speaking for a moment, eyes lingering on Yusheng as she speaks. Perhaps overlong for mere conversation... but not strictly speaking beyond the bounds of politeness. His own accent in chinese is similar. When he speaks it is in english. "Ah, my apologies. Indeed I couldn't help noticing you all are from out of town. I'm not a local myself either. Yet I 'have' been here for a little while. Long enough to grow familiar with the place. And, ah, while I certainly have a healthy interest in money... that isn't necessarily my only interest in life." he says, smiling once again.

[samirah]

Not wanting to step on the captain's toes, Yusheng smiles and nods at the Asian man, then looks at Abi. She is content to let her captain take charge of the conversation with the stranger.

[TreyKincaide]

A bit too anxious. The old woman casts a wary eye on the helpful 'local,' "Park the mule. Name's Abigail Cross." She looks as sour as her last name. "If we're going to jaw about business, we're gonna do it over a drink and not in the middle of road."

After they get settled and head to the local firewater pusher, Abi orders a shot of whiskey and dead stares Bo, "Now, what's going on here, and why are you so eager to hook up with foreigners?"

[Wired*Nun]

They find a saloon a few doors down, with mules, cycles, trucks and horses in the lot out front.

It's not very crowded inside, being the middle of the day, and this doesn't seem to be the kind of place for a lunch bunch.

After getting drinks from the bar, they settle in at a table near a quiet corner to talk. There's no table service.

A jukebox plays something through fuzzy-sounding speakers, covering up quiet conversation.

[Vortigern]

Bo Si Ting settles into his seat gingerly, taking the wide hat from his head and setting it on the next table. His expression is pensive for a moment, but he starts speaking anyway. "After the broadcast recently, have you seen it? ( I assume confirmation ), Well after that ... things have grown rather tense here. More than tense. I have been giving some thought, in concern for my own safety, to finding somewhere else to be. Violence has a way of being contagious. And right now the local authorities and the common sympathisers are ... not getting along. The port is locked up rather tight. A regular civilian passenger like me doesn't have a good chance of finding a ride. And the red tape to get on that ride, besides, is a battle all on its own."

He stops for a moment, looking around at the group before sipping at his tea. He makes a slight grimace, shaking his head. "I know we have only just been introduced. And I am, technically, asking you to do something the local authorities would frown on. But at the very least, wherever you are going next I would appreciate going with you. Doesn't matter where as long as there is a port there I can make some other arrangements from. I can pay, as a passenger, or if you prefer I am not an unskilled technician. I could work my way as a com-tech, if you are in need of someone like that?"

[Wired*Nun]

Greta stands up, murmuring something about checking on something. She walks over to the bar and begins talking with the bartender, hands him some money, then takes a slip of paper over to a public terminal tucked into another corner of the room. She logs on and begins accessing something.

Will watches her go, then returns his attention to the man in front of them, watching Abigail negotiate some sort of arrangement, if he seems likely.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail chews at her lip, "Might at that." She rocks back on two legs of her chair back against the wall. She narrows her eyes, "Likely ta be the same ever'where, though."

She looks over towards where Greta'd sashayed off to and glances back, "I don't take on anyone who's on the run without a good reason. If'n I find out later rather than sooner, I'll turn 'em in for the bounty mesself. Comprende?"

[samirah]

Yusheng settles down at the table with Bo, Abi, Sam, Greta and Will. It's been a while since she's had her favorite, a Red Lotus. She takes a long, thirsty drink letting the distinct flavors of lychee and cranberry linger on her palate.

Listening intentely to the converstion between Bo and Abi she continues to try to size him up.

When Greta leaves the table it distracts her attention. Oh, she must be checking on some sort of job for Folly. That reminds me...I need to look around town to see what kind of supplies they might have for my kitchen and garden. Maybe I can find some special surprises for the crew.

Yusheng finishes her cocktail and pushes back from the table. "Please excuse me. I go across street to store to look for supply." Looking at Abi she continues,"What time you want me come back? You want me meet you here?" She waits for a reply, then strolls across the street

[Wired*Nun]

Will exchanges looks with Abi and Sam, then stands up. "How about if I come along?" He's obviously not comfortable letting the diminutive woman walk away into a strange town. He'll accompany her if she doesn't object. He figures Sam and Abi and Greta can handle one guy.

[samirah]

Yusheng looks surprised, but kindly accepts Will's offer to accompany her. "Thank you, Will. Now I have help to carry, so I can buy more thing!" Her eyes twinkle mischievously. "So, Doc, you need supply too? Maybe we do LOT of shopping!" She continues a lighthearted banter as they step out into the street. Taking a deep breath of the fresh, but dusty air she thinks how good it is be off the ship for a change.

[Wired*Nun]

"You're welcome," the Shepherd replies. "Perhaps the talented mister Bo can port your purchases," he says dryly. "We're in pretty good shape in the infirmary, but it's always good to see what's available."

They wander down the street until Yusheng sees whatever shop she wants to investigate. Will keeps his eyes open, looking out for pickpockets or muggers or any other sort of trouble, but most people seem to be keeping to themselves, what with so much security and law-enforcement in evidence.

[Vortigern]

Bo Si Ting straitens in his chair, hands going wide in a self deprecating manner. "I'm nobody the feds are looking for, if that is what you mean. I mainly make my living buying and selling, or as a com-tech. I'm not in the habit of being nefarious. Tends to be a good way of getting shot."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail grunts and finishes off her whiskey in one go, "Alright then. I'll take you on a trial basis. We'll go from there."

[Vortigern]

Bo Si Ting smiles, nodding in response. "Thank you. Anything I can help you with here in Hickock then? If you are looking for anything in particular I might be able to point you where to go. And not to, for that matter."

[Wired*Nun]

Arthur hears the comm beep with a message of some sort. Normally he lets the others deal with the comms but bein' as he's the only one aboard ship, he figures he'd better check it. After fumbling through the half-remembered sequence, he finds a message from Greta.

I'm sorry, but I'll make this short and to the point. By being aboard Folly I put everyone on the ship in danger. I've located some old friends here, so I'm disappearing now. Please don't try to find me. Thanks for everything.

*********************************************

After patrolling a bit more, Xavier notices a helojet following the road, heading into town from a ways off. When it gets to a point above the road nearest Folly, it turns off the road to head at sudden speed directly for the ship. Kind of an unusually high-tech vehicle for a Rim moon, though not unheard of.

It's marked with just a tail number and a very nice, if subdued, gold and grey paint job. It doesn't have any obvious armaments.

It circles the ship once, taking a look at it apparently, before setting down about fifty yards off the nose, in the only really decent clear spot to land. From Xavier and Four's position two hundred yards off on the rising slope of the ridge, they can see the side door open and two men with long arms get out, taking relaxed positions watching two points of the compass. A moment later, they can see what look to be similar gunmen on the other side from them. They put Xavier in the mind of guards, though, not soldiers, as they don't hit the deck or take covered positions. One man with a rifle from high ground could put a world of hurt on them.

A moment later they see a fifth man with no rifle walk from the helo to the ship, to apparently knock or buzz at the main personnel hatch.

Arthur hears the buzz of the hatch pager. Looking out a porthole, he sees a well-dressed man in his fifties, distinguished-looking, in a craggy, frontier sort of way.

*******************************************

Abigail notices that Greta is no longer in sight. She must have slipped out to the toilets...there was no sign of trouble.

*******************************************

Will and Yusheng shop for their supplies, chatting politely to pass the time. Will takes the opportunity to practice his decent Mandarin and rough Cantonese, always keeping an eye on the people around. His collar and his companion keep things relaxed, with the regulators and cools nodding to them as they enter and exit the shops.

[David]

First Xavier will tell four to hold his position, then try to raise Arthur on the comm. Assuming he succeeds:
“Arthur, we got comp'ny. There be four men guarding that Helojet what just set down. I got 'em covered. Looks like one more at the Folly's hatch. Can you raise the captain? See if'n she be know'in any thin 'bout this?”

[TreyKincaide]

"Supplies, mostly. Don' reckon' we'll find much in the way of work in these parts. Mainly we're just keeping our head low," Abigail responds with a tip of her hat brim.

[Vortigern]

Bo settles his hands, folding them together in his lap, still nodding slightly as Abigail speaks. His expression becomes considering before he speaks. "I could find some rather well paying passengers more easily than you might think. There are plenty of union and indep folks alike who think this place is about to sprout pitchforks and then go up in flames. A lot aren't sure it is safe on the roads these days as both sides would like to think they are going to win, and assume people trying to leave then 'must' be on the other team. We could do a good deed and get some scared people off-world, like myself, and make a fair ammount of coin doing it I would imagine. But I'd be careful. Like I said, both sides want out. Last thing a ship needs is a general brawl among the passengers. At the very least I'd say be careful of weapons and contraband when we bring them on."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail grunts, "I'm not quite ready to take on folks, yet. There's another situation we need to deal with once we get the locals scoped out, supplies bought, and a little ship's conf'rence."

"We came here to catch our breath, and I'm not about to start hopping around until we agree on where to go from here on out."

[Vortigern]

Bo nods, shifting a bit in his seat. "Alright. If you have a shopping list or the like I'm sure I can be of use with that."

[TreyKincaide]

"The rest are already takin' care of most of that, but I reckon we can take a walk," she tips her empty shot glass down on the table.

"We could use some scrap metal fer patchin. Ran into a bit of trouble with some passengers here back which led to shootin," she adds by way of explanation. "It wouldn't hurt to pick up some shells and spare irons neither. If'n there's a Cortex term, we can also find out who's shooting who today."