Escape Trajectory: Makkuro — IC

Post by **ratwizard** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 3:26 pm

[SHOW]: Good work, Glitter. You got a way with people, I gotta admit. Finishing my beer then I'll meet you back at our ride.

Cass sends a quick reply, putting his compad on the bar before taking another sip of his beer. "That's why I take everything one day at a time. Easier to live in the moment." He takes a long pull, finishing the dregs of his bottle and planting it on the bartop. "Anyways, thanks for the chat. Been a long week," the junkie says, giving the navyman a casual salute. "Maybe I'll see you here again."

Cass slides his compad out of his pocket, paying the tab, before heading out toward the gravcar. We need to get this fucking tub and get off this rock. I don't want to end up like some burnout, drinking pisswater at the local haunt and feeling sorry for myself. Tried it once.

Post by **Fialova** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 4:43 pm

Tess picks her hat back up off the bar and quickly pays her tab before standing and following after the woman. As she is heading across the street she notices another message appear on her screen. She glances at it, but seeing it requires no response she simply leaves it for later. Following into the hotel she thinks, of course, I'd have expected nothing less. A cheap hotel near a bar is the perfect spot for her.

"Laelia, that's a pretty name," Tess responds to the woman, returning her smile as she walks into the room after her. "I'm Tess," she adds, before realizing that the warmth of the hotel is more than she wants to deal with in her coat. She unbuckles the belt keeping it tight against her before removing it entirely, revealing the top half of her bodysuit underneath. She places the coat and her hat on a nearby chair or table, before walking to the spot on the bed and taking the offered seat.

"So," she says, after situating herself in the most comfortable spot she can find on the mattress. "This might be an odd thing for me to ask you about, but I wanted to know if you'd tell me more about the Idarete navy. You must have heard things from these sailors, both before and after the Diktat's arrival. I'd like to learn more about what happened, and what is happening now."

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:09 pm

"Hey, you were just as important," Hikaru says with a smile. "The ship wouldn't work at all without you." He takes another sip of his mimosa, which is beginning to taste more like just straight orange juice than anything else. At least the cheap champagne taste is gone. He checks his compad, skimming Cass's message quickly before turning towards his new friends, eager to get more information out of them.

"Shame you guys don't have the ship anymore, otherwise we could head off this planet and get a real new start," he says with a shrug. "But I'd guess the Unspoken Word is just some scrap at this point, yeah?" He glances towards his tablemates, waiting and hoping for one of them to give him the info he's after.

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 12:44 am

"Cheers." He says, raising his beer as well and taking a drink. He despises the taste but forces it back, trying to make it look natural --- probably failing. He looks up at the person talking to him and sorta shrugged. "Felt kinda lonely, this was the only bar I've ever really heard of." He said, being slightly honest. "Came down for a beer and idle conversation."

He would glance down at his compad and read the texts he was missing, then quickly put it away. "Ah, damn, work." He says and laughs a bit, before moving to pay for his tab. "Might not be able to stay as long as I'd like. Don't think I'll have time for a second drink."

Post by **Namelessjake** » Mon Mar 08, 2021 10:50 am

[SHOW]: "Nice you meet you Tess. That's definitely a new one," Laelia replies with a chuckle, assuming a less seductive tone than the one she's been speaking to you with so far. "It's not like I have perfect knowledge of this - you fake quite a few things in this profession, listening included - but let's see," she says with another laugh, before thinking for a moment.

"From what I know, the Idarete Navy used to fulfil a mostly anti-piracy and smuggling role. They'd chase pirates away from the shipping lanes and stop ships for inspections - that kind of thing. Then... how long has it been now? A year or so ago the Diktat shows up with their actual Navy, this rock's small collection of skiffs doesn't stand a chance so they surrender without a fight. Everyone is now out of a job and the Diktat has done who knows what with the ships," she says, before pausing for a second.

"That's kind of it really. Now the Diktat is here doing their thing which mostly seems to be making life shitter for everyone," she adds with a sigh. "If you really want to know more about the current situation then one of the bars the Diktat soldiers frequent is probably a better bet. The Platform is crawling with their Navy so that would probably be even better although I've heard it's a lot harder to get up there these days."

[SHOW]

Cass"No problem, thanks for the company," the man replies, returning your casual salute with one of his own. "If you come by again you probably will," he adds with a chuckle, before picking up his compad again and opening up the same casino app he was playing before.

As you get up you see you're the first to leave - since Tess - with Hikaru and Creed still sat down. Heading outside you find yourself alone by the gravcar, save for a few pedestrians, with no sign of where Tess went.

Mechanics
[SHOW]
Your tab is 4 credits

[SHOW]

Creed"Fair enough," the man replies as you answer his question, his attention already diverting back to the Vertex game on the screens above the bar.

"Gotta earn those creds somehow, thanks for the beers," the other man replies as you mention leaving. A few moments later you spot Cass, across the bar, getting up from his stool and heading out of the bar.

Mechanics
[SHOW]
Your tab total is 12 credits

[SHOW]: "At times it barely did with us," Marko laughs.

"You'd think so but I used to sleep with a guy who worked in ops up on the platform. Annoyingly the logistics side of the navy got to keep their jobs," Pia says rolling her eyes.

"Oh yeah that asshole," Martine jumps in. Marko laughs in response.

"Anyway... he used to basically stalk me, using his access to look up the Unspoken Word's flight plans so he'd know when I'd be back on Idarete. A few months ago he noticed a ship made the journey up from Medus Landing - one of the small surface ports - up to the platform. Nothing weird about that except he said the ship was flying with a Diktat transponder signal yet there was no record of the ship ever landing there, and he swears based on it's profile it was the Unspoken Word," Pia says, then taking a large swig of her drink.

"The Unspoken Word was one of the newer ships in the Idarete Navy, it'd make sense they'd want to use it rather than scrap it," Marko says.

"Or it's just one of your crazy ex's trying to get you to reply to their messages," Martine says giving Pia a stern look.

While the trio are talking, you spot Cass get up from the bar and make his way back outside.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Mon Mar 08, 2021 1:00 pm

"Huh," Hikaru says plainly, listening inquisitively as Pia speaks about the last signs of the ship. "Weird that there aren't any records of it landing. It's like it's some kind of ghost ship." He lets out a quick laugh, knowing the ridiculousness of a haunted spaceship.

He catches a glance of Cass leaving the bar and wonders if he should make his farewell or not. He ponders for a moment. If we managed to get that ship, having three people familiar could be invaluable. But would they even do it? He looks over the trio, a slight frown on his face. "I've gotta ask. Are you guys happy here on Idarete? Or would you rather get off this rock if given the chance?"

Post by **ratwizard** » Mon Mar 08, 2021 3:10 pm

[SHOW]: 4 credits removed, down to 279 by my count.

"Hope your luck turns around," Cass says with a cheeky smile as he leaves.

Once outside, he spends a moment in quiet contemplation, leaning against the trunk of the gravcar. So we've got a lead on a former Idarete tub. The Unspoken Word. A patrol boat, too, shit. Quicker than a corvette and it's still got room to grow a crew. I wonder where they've got these things locked up.

[SHOW]: Is there any intranet digging, or even hacking, Cass can do to try and find a list of the impounds? And/or a roster of ships that may be impounded there? Or is that something we'd need to go to an info-site physically to access? Not sure what is available via compad.

Post by **Namelessjake** » Tue Mar 09, 2021 9:06 am

[SHOW]: Hacking secure severs generally requires a physical connection. You could instead make an Administer/Int check to see what Cass can find accessing various public records and databases using his compad.

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Tue Mar 09, 2021 3:53 pm

Eridas would nod at the two men and force back the beer. "Have a good day, enjoy that beer." he would smile awkwardly, hating the gross taste of the beer even more. He would carefully get up to leave. Seeing Cass as he made his way to the door, he tried not to make it obvious they were leaving together.

[SHOW]: I change my total by -12 Credits. The new total should be 690Cr.

Post by **Fialova** » Tue Mar 09, 2021 4:07 pm

Tess listens intently, nodding along as the woman speaks. Faking is smart, but not when it comes to listening. She has no idea how much the information she gathers from these men could be worth in the right hands, but I guess that is why she is servicing dejected ex-sailors and not high profile clientele. She has the looks, but not the cunning it seems.

When she finishes speaking, Tess hms for a moment before she responds. "Well, I've not much interest in going to a Diktat bar, that sounds... so rigid. You're much more interesting to listen to than any of those soldiers would be," she says with a chuckle. "You don't happen to know where the Idarete Navy was based out of, do you? Like an old fort or series of hangars or anything like that?"

Post by **Namelessjake** » Wed Mar 10, 2021 10:04 am

[SHOW]: Laelia laughs at your comment on the Diktat soldiers. "As far as I know they were based out of the Platform. Probably the same facilities up their the Diktat are using," she says with another laugh, before thinking for a moment.

"Some of them did used to talk about several smaller ports on the surface, although I think they weren't owned by the Navy. They would just often be there as they're the ports the smugglers would use," she adds after taking a second to remember.

[SHOW]: A minute or so after you leave the bar, Creed appears - joining you by the gravcar.

[SHOW]: The men give you a nod goodbye and you make your way outside and join Cass who is waiting by the gravcar.

[SHOW]: "If they refit the Unspoken Word and changed the name, that Diktat ship didn't exist until it took off," Pia replies. "At least that was this guy's explanation for it."

"I doubt anyone is truly happy here, especially now with the Diktat. I'd love to go to Aldis or Strocho," Marko replies.

"Same," Martine adds. "If that why you're here? Hoping we'd still have our old patrol ship parked out with the gravcars?" She asks you with a laugh.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:09 pm

Hikaru shrugs and joins in slight laughter at Martine's comment. "Hey, worth a shot, right?" he says with a smirk. "But nah. Some of my... colleagues are after a ship to get us off this planet. I guess I was hoping there were some old Navy ships just lying around somewhere. Something in decent shape that no one would miss."

He looks to Marko and gives him a charming smile. "Then come with me, whenever we get a ship and can leave. I'll show you all around Strocho."

He turns towards Pia and Martine, knowing more help could be valuable. "Your company and skills would be more than welcome too. I know it sounds crazy, but we're really determined to get out off this rock and see some better places. Would you wanna come with and work with us?" He stumbles through his words briefly, unusual for him, but these are unusual circumstances.

He looks Pia and Martine in the eyes, empathetic for their plight on Idarete. "Look, I know you just met me and this all sounds ridiculous, but I mean it. You guys are worth more than some shitty, soul-draining factory. So how about it?" He raises his glass, as if giving a speech before a toast. "New friends and new chances. New beginnings."

[SHOW]: Recruit Marko as my henchman :^)

Lead to try and recruit Pia and Martine as crew: 6(2d6) +1 = 7

Expert reroll: 12(2d6) +1 = 13

Post by **ratwizard** » Wed Mar 10, 2021 3:13 pm

Cass leans against the gravcar, eyes glued to his gravcar as he taps in pull requests for Idarete public records. He nods to Creed as he approaches, not lifting his eyes. "How'd it go, beratna? Anything?" he asks.

[SHOW]: Administer/Int, looking for anything about impounds or scrapyard locations: 4(2d6) = 4

Post by **Fialova** » Thu Mar 11, 2021 5:58 pm

"Oh, interesting!" Tess responds, at the mention of the surface ports. There could still be navy ships there, or even ones used by smugglers. We will have to see if we can find those ports. I wonder if the leads they are gaining have more info on that.

She ponders for a moment, but cannot think of anymore questions to ask that the woman could conceivably know the answer to. She leans over and gives her a kiss on the cheek, leaving a faint orange-red lipstick mark where her lips touched. "Thanks," she says to the woman with a smile, before standing and walking to the chair with her coat and hat. "That was a helpful - and pleasant - conversation." She begins to walk towards the door, but pauses and turns back to face Laelia.

"Oh," she says, grabbing her compad, and sharing her contact to the woman's. "If you're ever in Strocho and looking for a good time, hit me up. We can have a little fun, my treat," she says with a wink, before making her way to the door and heading out. I guess I should head back, she thinks. Or maybe just wait in the gravcar. Might arouse suspicion if I leave with her but return without. As she makes her way out of the hotel, she shoots a quick text to the group.

[SHOW]: Learned that the navy spent a bit of time at the surface ports, hunting smugglers. Might be old patrol ships in one of those. Will meet back at the car.

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 12:07 pm

"I wasn't really in there long enough to ask much. As I thought, I'm... really not good at getting information out of people. But I had my first beer?" He sort of looks away after saying that, mentally kicking himself.

Post by **Namelessjake** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 1:21 pm

[SHOW]: "Likewise," Laelia replies with a smile. "If I am I'll do just that and if you're ever on Idarete again you know where I am," she adds with a wink.

You make your way back down to the entrance of the hotel and step outside onto the street. Looking across at the bar you spot Cass and Creed already waiting by the Gravcar.

[SHOW]: Your quick search yields little in the way of results. You are only able to find the city's page for retrieving gravcars impounded by the city's security forces. You do find a listing for a scrap yard on the city limits, however you can tell from it's location it would be under the ice so probably has little in the way of ships or ship parts.

[SHOW]

Hikaru"I'm in," Marko replies with a shrug, with no hesitation.

"Wow Marko I know it's been a while but I didn't know you were that desperate to get laid," Pia laughs. "You're right though," she says turning to you.
"It does sound crazy.... Fuck it why not?" She says after pausing for a moment. Pia raises her glass to your toast with Marko following her lead.

"Really?" Martine asks them, looking between the pair before sighing. "Well I guess if you can actually pull it off, there's not really any downside," She says before raising her own glass as well.

"Well should we go then?" Marko asks, looking to you. "We're not going to find a ship sitting around here drinking."

Mechanics
[SHOW]
+1 Marko
+1 Pia
+1 Martine

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:25 pm

Hikaru's somewhat shocked as Marko so readily volunteers, despite the insanity of the whole situation. His face slightly reddens and he smirks as Pia pokes fun at the young ex-navyman. I'd say that makes two of us, but desperation's not a good look on me.

The pop star's even more surprised as Pia and Martine agree to his proposal, but he smiles. He touches his glass against theirs, gulping down the remainder of his drink and setting it on the table in satisfaction. I can't believe that worked. Fuck, we've got a crew! He pulls out his compad, composing a quick text for his companions back at the car.

He looks over his new friends and nods, getting up from the table. "Right. We've got a few leads to follow, and your help will make things easier."

He looks back at his new crew, eyes focused mostly on Marko, and he smiles. He takes Marko's hand into his own and, once they've paid, he leads them to the car.

[SHOW]: Might have just recruited three ex-Navy maintenance workers They should help us find a ship, and then we've got a maintenance crew

Post by **ratwizard** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:54 pm

Cass looks up, catching the man's slight grimace, as he chuckles warmly. "No shit? First sip?" he asks, finding himself unsurprised that he believes the claim. "You're an odd guy, Creed, you know that? Genuine, nice, but odd."

He pats him on the shoulder appreciatingly before frowning down at the buzz from his compad.

"Oh," Cass manages, a huge smile growing across his face, as he thumbs through a response. "Oh fuck!"

[SHOW]: About time our luck turned around. Good fucking work. See you at the lift.

Post by **Fialova** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 7:54 pm

[SHOW]: Wow, busy boy. How cute are they? Knowing you, they must be easy on the eyes.

Tess shoots off another text in response, as she reads the couple coming rapidfire to her compad. She smiles and shakes her head lightly as she read's Hikaru's final message, curious to see which sailors would be joining them. I guess I wasn't as much help as I thought I'd be, she thinks, as she approaches the gravcar.

"Hey," she says, with a small wave as she draws near. "It looks like Hikaru has done all the work for us. Hopefully these new recruits know as much as he thinks they do," she says, taking a seat on the hood of the car once she is nearby. She then pulls the beanie back on her head and puts the coat back on, the cold of the icy city coming back to her in full force now that she is outside once more.

Post by **Namelessjake** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:02 pm

Hikaru soon joins the three of you outside the bar with his new three friends, holding hands with a man and then two other girls in tow.

"Umm... hi I'm Marko," the man says when they arrive near the gravcar and it becomes apparent you're with Hikaru.

"Pia" one of the girls says with a smile. "And I'm Martine," the other adds.

"So what's the plan now?" Marko asks you, mostly looking at Hikaru.

Post by **ratwizard** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:30 pm

Cass waves to Tess, putting his compad away after a failed search of the impounds. "No luck on my end other than the name of that ship."

He turns to see Hikaru and the three others approach, his eyebrows raising. Wow, he really got three of them to come with us. Hope they're not slag-brains.

"Cass," he says, giving the three an easy smile. "Welcome to the crew. We're... well, we're working on a better ride than this." He turns to Hikaru. "Yeah, Glitter, what is the plan?"

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 7:26 am

Creed shrugs. "I guess I am." He reads the text as well and nods. "Good." He waves at Tess as she approaches, and does the same hesitantly as Hikaru and his new friends arrive. "My name is Eridas... I hope you four have a plan."

Post by **Fialova** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 7:18 pm

"Oh ho," Tess exclaims, as Hikaru approaches with an apparent beau and two women as well. Definitely cute, especially Martine. How am I not surprised he used his charms to lure himself a boy toy? It seems so much like something I'd do. Maybe I am rubbing off on him. She chuckles lightly to herself at the thought, before stepping forward to the new people.

"I'm Tess," she says, placing herself near to Martine and Pia and glancing them over. What could have convinced these two to come, though? He's not interested in them, and his disinterest should keep them from being interested too. Do they really want to help some fugitives steal a ship just for fun? Or maybe he told them how cute his best friend was too?

"The plan for now is to take a ride in that gravcar," she responds to Marko's question. "Best if we talk about the rest once inside. The side of the road is not an ideal place, and I'm a bit cold," she says, rubbing her arms to feign more discomfort than she is actually experiencing. I wonder what all he told them. And what they told him.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:56 pm

Hikaru feels a slight pit grow in his stomach as Marko and the others immediately look to him for guidance on how to proceed. Is this how it's gonna be when we get a ship? I've never been a leader, but fuck it, why can't I handle it? He looks to Tess and nods. "Yeah, that's a good idea. Too many eyes and ears out in the open," Hikaru says, opening the gravcar door, glancing at the meager interior. "If we can all fit... Might be a tight squeeze." He sighs.

He looks over the three newcomers, knowing he shouldn't keep up the lie about his identity too long or it could spiral out of control. "I should be honest with you guys now that we're here. My name's not really Kaoru." He clears his throat, looking at Martine in particular, knowing she recognized him but couldn't place it. "It's Hikaru. Yes, that Hikaru."

Post by **ratwizard** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 2:04 pm

Scratcherclaw wrote:"If we can all fit... Might be a tight squeeze."

"For you guys," Cass says, pulling the front passenger door open and treating himself to the seat.

He cranes his neck behind him, watching the reaction of the newcomers. Hope his house of cards doesn't crumble. At least he's clearing the air early, though.

Post by **Namelessjake** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 2:15 pm

"Nice to meet you guys," Marko says, after you all introduce yourselves, the others offering similar sentiments.

"Ah you fucker, I knew it!" Martine responds to Hikaru's revelation, giving him a playful punch on the arm. "My younger sister loves your band," she adds.

"Well done Marko you've pulled yourself a celebrity," Pia says, teasing her friend who can't help but blush. She then turns her attention to the Gravcar. "It should be fine if we're only going around the block a few times anyway. My car is parked over there so I'd like to pick that up afterwards," she says, pointing at one of the other vehicles parked outside of the bar.

"The new love birds can sit on each other's laps," she adds, pushing Hikaru and Marko into the back of the car before climbing in herself, followed by Martine.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 4:45 pm

Hikaru smirks, rubbing his arm where Martine had playfully punched it. He shrugs. "Hey, I can't just walk up and be all 'sup, I'm a pop singer. Wanna help me get a ship?'" He grins as she mentions her sister's love of the band. "Well if you need an easy birthday gift for her..." He laughs, pointing to himself.

The pop star climbs into the car, sitting himself on Marko's lap as the teasing friend suggested. Fuck, his legs feel toned. Guess it makes sense that ex-navy would be in shape. He pulls out his compad, showing his screen to the three newcomers. "Here's my number, so you guys have it. Just... don't post it online, yeah?"

Post by **Fialova** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 5:33 pm

Tess laughs as Hikaru's secret results in a jab to the arm. Oh, I like her. He's going to hate it when we become friends and tease him in tandem. She watches as the others all file into the car, taking all of the seats available. Placing her hands on her hips, she says, "well, I'm going to need a lap too it looks like. Any volunteers?"

Post by **ratwizard** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 8:37 pm

Cass' lips tighten in discomfort, peering through the open car door. "I'm sure they won't mind in the back. It's just for a few minutes."

He pushes a button and swivels his chair around slowly, watching for any errant feet in the way. "Creed, you wanna just take us around the block a ways?"

No way anyone's sitting in my lap. I've had enough fuckups for a couple days.

Post by **Namelessjake** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:43 pm

Marko pulls out his compad tapping on it as he takes down Hikaru's number.

"I guess it'll have to be mine," Martine replies to Tess, being the one sitting by the still open door.

"It's a good thing we're used to living on a cramped ship," Pia says with a chuckle as you all manage to squeaze into the car.

Once you are all inside Creed pulls away and begins circling the area.

[SHOW]: Text from Marko:

Post by **ratwizard** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:57 pm

With his chair turned back and everyone in the gravcar, Cass finally gets a good look at the three techs that Hikaru had picked up. Young, clueless. Like the rest of us I guess. Hey, she's cute, he thinks, second-glancing at Pia before clearing his throat.

"So, what's the plan?" he asks again.

Post by **Fialova** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:10 pm

Tess frowns as Cass makes it clear he is not interested in sharing his space, and instead turns to face the women in the back. Her smile returns, if only a little, when Martine seemingly reluctantly offers her lap. "Don't worry, I don't bite," Tess says, as she climbs into the back and positions herself on the newcomer's lap. "Unless you're into that sort of thing," she continues, with a light chuckle.

Once everyone is inside and the doors are shut, she listens to Cass' question before adding on her own. "Yeah, where are we headed? I assume you guys know where a ship is we can, uh, repurpose?" She pauses a moment, before asking, "is the place guarded?"

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:40 pm

Hikaru looks down at his compad as it buzzes and grins, his face slightly blushing. I'm gonna like having him around. He composes a quick text back before looking towards Cass and Tess as they ask about the next steps on procuring a ship. "Well, the Diktat's taken some of the ships for their own, the Unspoken Word among them. Doubt we can get our hands on one of those," Hikaru says, offering a shrug to the pair.

"You mentioned surface ports where the navy hunted smugglers, yeah?" the singer asks Tess, raising an eyebrow. He looks towards the ex-Navy members. "I don't suppose you three know where we could find one of those?"

[SHOW]: Comfy down there, handsome?

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Tue Mar 16, 2021 2:47 am

Creed just focused on the road ahead of him, and whoever else might be on the road. No fancy tricks this time, just around the block, and there won't be any issues. He thinks to himself and takes a deep, relaxing breath. He finally registers the conversation, hearing Hikaru mention the navy and being reminded of the earlier text. Those bastards... He thinks. He knows too well how that ended up.

Post by **Namelessjake** » Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:21 am

"Were you even listening to what I was saying in there or were you to engrossed by this one?" Pia butts in to ask Hikaru as she gestures to Marko.

"According to my contact the Unspoken Word was refit and turned into a Diktat vessel at Medus Landing - which is one of those ports," she explains. "The Unspoken Word may now be spoken for but there's a good chance there are ships there still, either mid refit or waiting their turn. Those ports don't exactly have ship building facilities so I can't imagine they've finished refitting the whole Navy."

Post by **ratwizard** » Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:39 am

Cass bites his lip, mulling over Pia's intel. Grabbing something during refit might have a few holes, but it's nothing we can't patch up.

"So are these third-party contractors refitting the ex-Idarete ships? Or the Diktat engi corps? There's gonna be security either way but, gotta say, it would be nice to only worry about some rent-a-cops and not a fucking military."

He sighs. "Either way, good lead. Glad to have some help for this."

[SHOW]: Would Cass recognize what Medus Landing is and/or be able to find its location on his compad's map/intranet?

Post by **Namelessjake** » Tue Mar 16, 2021 9:15 am

[SHOW]: Searching Medus Landing quickly brings up its location. It is a few kilometres outside of the city, connected to the rest of the tunnel network by a single road which towards the end begins to ascend upwards towards the surface.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Tue Mar 16, 2021 11:17 am

"Oh!" Hikaru says, somewhat blushing at the mild scolding he's received. "I guess I assumed the Diktat had that place locked down tight." He rubs the back of his head nervously. "But if that's not the case, it's our best shot." Please let it just be a bunch of hired muscle there, and not a full Diktat force...

He thinks for a moment. "Did the Unspoken Word have a sister ship at all? Getting a ship you guys are familiar with already seems like a good idea."

Post by **Namelessjake** » Tue Mar 16, 2021 6:04 pm

"Not sure sorry," Pia replies to Cass at the mention of the security.

"There were a few other patrol boats in the Word's class, the others had similar systems though so we should at least have some idea of what we're doing as long as the Diktat haven't changed too much,"Marko says answering Hikaru's question, he then goes to add something but stops himself. A moment or two later he speaks up seemingly having gained more confidence in his idea. "From what I've heard about the surface ports, they're basically just a few buildings connected to the tunnels and then landing pads on top of the ice. They probably would be guarding the tunnel and the building but the ice? Probably not," he says.

"Conditions on the surface aren't exactly great, there's a reason the city is built beneath the ice," Martine replies, clearly not buying too much into Marko's idea.

[SHOW]: Having flown in and out of these sort of ports, you can confirm Marko's description of them is pretty accurate. There usually isn't any kind of perimeter fence or anything due to there being nothing but desolate wind swept ice flats surrounding them.

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 12:39 am

"No," He'd start suddenly, "Marko is right. I've been in similar spots enough times to know there's very little on the surface beyond the pad itself. Inside would be a different story."

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 2:14 pm

"Hm," Hikaru says, listening to Marko's thoughts, not trying to discount it even as Martine already has. "Are there any other surface ports? Like, would it be possible for us to catch a ride there and get dropped off near the Medus Landing?" There's gotta be some way to bypass the guards, right? Or would that just be too easy?

Post by **Fialova** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 4:16 pm

"Do you have any ideas what the guarded portions of the tunnels would be like?" Tess asks. "Are they near residential areas, or are they separate from the town itself? Is it possible to hide nearby?" She shifts a bit in Martine's lap, finding it hard to get comfortable in such cramped and unusual conditions. Hikaru might be having a good time grinding up on his new boy toy, but this is so annoying.

Post by **ratwizard** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 6:27 pm

"Maybe we could approach from the surface. I'm sure with enough cred, we can pay someone to lend us a skate," Cass thinks aloud. "No guards, easy access. Crack our way into a ship and off this rock."

He looks between the others. "If you guys are familiar with the patrol tubs from before, then I might be able to falsify the launch codes and get us flying."

Post by **Namelessjake** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 7:49 pm

"I think they're a ways from the city so it's basically just the tunnel and nothing else," Marko says answering Tess' question. "There are a few ports though," he adds in reply to Hikaru.

"Yeah I think between the four of us we shouldn't have too much trouble getting the ship to respond to us," Martine says to Cass.

Post by **ratwizard** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 2:10 pm

Martine's confidence in their attempts gives Cass pause for a moment. He glances her over, then Pia and Marko. "You... guys do know that if we do this, we're pretty much leaving this rock behind, yeah?" he asks, slowly and uncomfortably.

"I mean, your gravcar, your pads... might not be able to get back to them. At least not for some time, and not without a quiet plan. The four of us are already ready for that. You uh... you sure you are?"

He grimaces, knowing it's a difficult question. Sure, maybe Glitter doesn't want me to scare them off with this shit. But I wasn't ready to leave Alldis. I didn't want to. But I had to. That was a fucking tragedy, and I don't want to throw these three chucklefucks into that sort of life just because they landed in our laps tonight. Uh, literally, even.

Post by **Fialova** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 2:41 pm

"I feel like we don't know nearly enough about these ports to make any sort of plans," Tess says with a frown, as the others express their ignorance of how they are setup, or even exactly where they are. "We should see if we can find plans for them, or someone who knows more about their layouts. They were used by smugglers, right? Maybe Bao has more info," she continues, talking more towards the original group now than to the newcomers.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 11:33 am

"Hm," Hikaru says, mostly to himself as they continue figuring out the best way forward in securing the ship. "That's not a bad idea. The more info we have, the better." He shifts a bit on Marko's lap, turning to smile at him for a moment. "Doubt there's anyone with as much intel on this kind of stuff as him, at least with the Navy gone."

Post by **ratwizard** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 2:28 pm

"Not a bad idea at all," Cass says, grinning at Tess. "He has no reason to distrust us, and every reason to give us a boost getting off Idarete. No hurt in trying, and we have the cred to pay for intel if need be. Who wants to make the call?"

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Sat Mar 20, 2021 8:24 pm

Creed chewed on his lip, paying more attention to the road than the conversation. "Hm... I don't really think I have an opinion here. I guess I can find a lot to pull over in, give someone time to call and stretch our legs or something."

Post by **Fialova** » Sat Mar 20, 2021 8:38 pm

"Or we could just head to the warehouse til we come up with a plan," Tess responds, before taking out her compad. "I can make the call, I guess. It was my idea." I imagine these newbies know who Bao is. Hopefully this doesn't cause them to get cold feet.

[SHOW]: Call Bao