T20: High Law and Low Justice, Part 3

[doghead]

A quick glance at the large berths tell him they have been deactivated, and he notices the panels behind which their oxygen and nutrient supplies are stored are slightly ajar, and six empty (?) liguid oxygen canisters lie scattered on the floor along with the spilled contents of the woman's medical kit.

That gives Saanath pause for thought. His first impulse had been that the large creatures had been of some importance. But then nobody important travels Low. And she wouldn't have been scavenging their oxygen would she? If that is indeed what she was doing. Something to sort out about later, he decides and pushes on.

He moves past Hold P, the door to which is emblazoned with the symbol of the Imperial Courier Service.

Eh? As Saanath pushes on he tries to recall if he has seen or heard of anything like it before.

"Fine, but when the boat docks, I need a rated pilot on the bridge ASAP. Assuming we get some power, I can probably get this hulk under way, but that's about it."

"Saanath here. I can pilot this thing if you can get someone down here to handle the hanger end of things. I'm in the last hold now, heading for the Ships Vehicle Hanger. No sign of life down here so far." But still the Hanger to go ...

 

[Wilphe]

Ruzz'koff looks at Vrykris, "That might be an idea, but as I am up here anyway, lets see what we can do between us."

To Quinn, "When we get maneuveur power I'll be heading for the bridge ASAP. You can't fight with a vessal from engineering, but you sure as can't fight it without power either."

OOC: Hopefully Vrykris will attempt either Damage Control or Power Routing.
Ruzz'koff wil be issuing Commands and advice (DC15, 13 in Leader, +2 bounus to everybody's skills and saves if he pulls it off)

 

[Maerdwyn]

Eh? As Saanath pushes on he tries to recall if he has seen or head of anything like it before.

While the fastest method of communication across space is via the X-Boat network operated by the scouts, that's only for data transmissions (email, credit reports, photos, etc.). Physical mail is tranported by the ICS; the government contracts with private ships, which supplement their passenger or commercial income with the money from the mail contracts. Ships are limited in the amount of cargo space they can devote to mail, as this protects they system from a loss of an overly large mail shipment, and ensures that there are always a lot of ships carrying mail at any one time, in most parts of the Imperium. Any time Saanath has heard of a ship carrying mail, it's been controled by one of the larger corporations in the Domain (Gateway Shipping, usually), or at least an outfit allied with such a corp.

 

[Maerdwyn]

"When we get maneuveur power I'll be heading for the bridge ASAP. You can't fight with a vessal from engineering, but you sure as can't fight it without power either."

"Is that you [wheeze] Ruzz'koff? I thought you [wheeze] were on the other boat..." Zaedhrarrg's voice, speaking very softly in Gvegh comes over the comm network. He sounds terrible, and his voice is accompanied by a crackling sound that is probably environmental on his end.

 

[Wilphe]

"Zaed? What's your status, over?"

 

[Maerdwyn]

"Zaed? What's your status, over?"

"oh good[Wheeze] well, if you're here, you can pilot it in [wheeze] the rest of the way. I need to sleep, [wheeze] just need to [wheeze]sleep a bit."

 

[Wilphe]

"Zaed, have you docked with the Dvonn? Are you in the hangher? Get a vacc suit on now, over?"

 

[Maerdwyn]

"...[muffled sound] ...you can shee [wheeze] where w'yare can't [wheeze] you? Come up here[wheeze] you need to[sound of a chair swiveling]. "Nooo! [Howl, soon cut off by awful coughing.]" There are footsteps in the distance, not well picked up by the microphone Zaed is using, then, baleful vargr sobs.

*******

It's at this point that Trelene starts coming to, jostled awake as Zaedhrarrg pushed out of his seat. Her nose has been bloodied inside the vac suit; she must have been been knocked around violently when the missiles hit. Had they both struck the boat? She thinks so. The pilot's seat is bloody, and turning back, she sees a piece of shrapnel protruding from a wound in the back of Zaedhrarrg's head as the vargr cradles Julia's body in his lap and sobs. Pieces of shiny metal have embedded themselves in the interior of the boat, including the back of the two pilots' chairs. She guesses that only being slumped over unconscious saved her from being hit. Though at least she would have had the suit to protect her. What was it? she wonders, before noticing the jagged top and nozzle of the apparently exploded oxygen tank on the floor. On the plus side, the boat still seems to be moving, somehow, and even more amazingly, she thinks she just heard a gasp from channel she'd, optimistically, left open on the comm. She takes quick look at the cracked monitor in front of her - the jamming is, at least for now, gone!

 

[Guest 11456]

Trelene Scrautigue : Luriani Navy 2/Prof 7/Trav 1: Retired Makhidkarum Vice President

Trelene looks about the cabin and speaks on the open channel.

"Beta to Dvonn! This is Trelene on what is left of Beta. Anybody out there? Over!"

 

[doghead]

Saanath dismisses the ICS from his mind and picks up the pace.

"Zaed, what's your present location?"