The Peacemakers - Alternity, Star*Drive Campaign

[Hammerhead]

Dra'Ked avoided smiling back at the human, knowing his smile would likely do little more than unnerve the well-meaning Administrator. The concept of peace meant nothing to the sesheyan, but freedom meant a great deal. "Thank you, Administrator," he said as a strange feeling gripped him. Pushing this feeling aside, he continued "I will endeavor to succeed in all areas. I have no further questions."

One question did weigh upon his mind, however. Why him? Surely within the Concord there were those more suited to command, those with military experience...but how many were sesheyan? He realized his position was little more than a peace offering to his people, to show the galaxy how diverse and egalitarian their new government was. Whatever. He would show how skilled and worthy he was of his position.

"May I depart, Administrator," he asked, rising to leave. "I am eager to begin as quickly as possible."

 

[Ozmar]

Dra'Ked avoided smiling back at the human, knowing his smile would likely do little more than unnerve the well-meaning Administrator. The concept of peace meant nothing to the sesheyan, but freedom meant a great deal. "Thank you, Administrator," he said as a strange feeling gripped him. Pushing this feeling aside, he continued "I will endeavor to succeed in all areas. I have no further questions."

One question did weigh upon his mind, however. Why him? Surely within the Concord there were those more suited to command, those with military experience...but how many were sesheyan? He realized his position was little more than a peace offering to his people, to show the galaxy how diverse and egalitarian their new government was. Whatever. He would show how skilled and worthy he was of his position.

"May I depart, Administrator," he asked, rising to leave. "I am eager to begin as quickly as possible."

"Yes, indeed. Good luck on your assignment."

You easily make your way to the ship, arriving shortly after the captain boards for the first time.

When you arrive, a holoprojected human female suddenly materializes before you and says "Welcome, Commander Dra'Ked." (This image actually pronounces your name with the same inflections as a native seshayan. And as you look at her, you realize that the holoprojection is set on a very low luminosity. You can see it just fine, but you wonder if a human, with their weak eyes, would even notice.) "I am Cee-Cee, your ship's artificial intelligence. I hope you will find your stay on board to be enjoyable."

 

[Ozmar]

Van:

As Van approaches the ship, he is met by a trim, bald officer dressed in the standard uniform. This is Lt.(jg) Caine. He salutes you as you board, "Welcome aboard, Captain. I am Lietenant-JG Thomas Caine. Welcome to the Pacific. She's all ship-shape and ready for departure sir, and I relinquish command to you now. The crew is mostly aboard. We await only Commander Draked and Lt. Commander Dane, who should be along shortly. Our supplies are loaded, and the ship is ready for take-off. Would you care for a tour?" He smiles amiably.

You are standing in the ship's cargo bay, half-filled with barrels and crates of goods and supplies. In one corner of the bay stand two massive suits of powered armor, secured under locked restraints. At the door to the rest of the ship, several of the crew stand at attention, awaiting your inspection.

As you move towards them, a holo-projection suddenly appears in the center of the bay, creating the image of a young woman in crisp military fatigues. The image's face is sweet and friendly, and in a pleasant female voice it says, "Welcome, Captain. I am Cee-Cee, your ship's Artificial Intelligence. I hope you will feel at home here on board the Pacific."

 

[Ozmar]

Administrator Kara
[sblock]With a slight relaxing of his posture Gabriel meets the Administrators eye easily. "Very well. That I believe I can assist you with as we progress. I would only have two more small questions and I will leave you to your undoubtfully busy schedule. The first is when do I report. And the other would be where."[/sblock]

"Report immediately to Captain Van Curran on board the CSS Pacific. The details are all here." She hands you a 3D. "Good luck, Lieutenant," she smiles.

Shortly after your meeting, you find yourself standing outside the airlock of the CSS Pacific, requesting permission to board. A holoprojection of a young, pretty woman wearing military fatigues greets you and welcomes you aboard.

"Welcome, Lt. Commander. I am Cee-Cee, your ship's artificial intelligence. I hope you will find your stay on board to be a pleasant and rewarding experience."

(Edit: See post #22 below for continuation...)

 

[Ozmar]

Adjusting the straps on his gridcaster for the jumpsuit's sleeve and mentally steeling himself, Lucas went to greet the crew, sweating all the way.

Lucas arrives slightly late to the ceremony. He enters the cargo bay just as the new captain is addressing CECCE's holoprojection. He quickly steps into line beside the other crew who are already there.

The crew present: Ebon, Friday, Duke, and now Lucas.

Lt. Commander Caine is standing next to the man who must be your new captain. He's wearing the standard dress uniform, but also sports a pair of sunglasses, looking slightly like an over-confident fighter pilot.

 

[jkason]

Van:

As Van approaches the ship, he is met by a trim, bald officer dressed in the standard uniform. This is Lt.(jg) Caine. He salutes you as you board, "Welcome aboard, Captain. I am Lietenant-JG Thomas Caine. Welcome to the Pacific. She's all ship-shape and ready for departure sir, and I relinquish command to you now. The crew is mostly aboard. We await only Commander Draked and Lt. Commander Dane, who should be along shortly. Our supplies are loaded, and the ship is ready for take-off. Would you care for a tour?" He smiles amiably.

You are standing in the ship's cargo bay, half-filled with barrels and crates of goods and supplies. In one corner of the bay stand two massive suits of powered armor, secured under locked restraints. At the door to the rest of the ship, several of the crew stand at attention, awaiting your inspection.

As you move towards them, a holo-projection suddenly appears in the center of the bay, creating the image of a young woman in crisp military fatigues. The image's face is sweet and friendly, and in a pleasant female voice it says, "Welcome, Captain. I am Cee-Cee, your ship's Artificial Intelligence. I hope you will feel at home here on board the Pacific."

Van returns the salute awkwardly, hesitating for a moment at the end as he tries to remember who's supposed to drop the salute first. He tries his own smile to cover the sudden adrenal flight response he gets at noticing crewman in formation and at attention.

But that shock is soon replaced with the sudden appearance of the AI.

"I ... nice to meet you, Cee-Cee," Van stutters out. Then, not sure what to do next, he defers to the closest authority, turning to Caine.

"Did you say something about a tour? That sounds ... yes. I think a nice leisurely tour would be a good idea," he says, grinning his mad cover-up grin. Anything to get out from under so many eyes looking to him for direction at the moment.

 

[Prof Yeti]

"Report immediately to Captain Van Curran on board the CSS Pacific. The details are all here." She hands you a 3D. "Good luck, Lieutenant," she smiles.

Shortly after your meeting, you find yourself standing outside the airlock of the CSS Pacific, requesting permission to board. A holoprojection of a young, pretty woman wearing military fatigues greets you and welcomes you aboard.

"Welcome, Lt. Commander. I am Cee-Cee, your ship's artificial intelligence. I hope you will find your stay on board to be a pleasant and rewarding experience."

With a look of amused wonder Gabriel gives the AI holoprojection a salute. "It is good to meet you, Cee-Cee I am Gabriel. I am sure we will all find the experience most enlightening." Taking a moment to study the hologram before speaking again. "Could you tell me, or better yet show me where I might find the Captain? I would hate to break protocol this early in the mission." As he finishes a look of serenity plays across his face.

 

[Ozmar]

Van returns the salute awkwardly, hesitating for a moment at the end as he tries to remember who's supposed to drop the salute first. He tries his own smile to cover the sudden adrenal flight response he gets at noticing crewman in formation and at attention.

But that shock is soon replaced with the sudden appearance of the AI.

"I ... nice to meet you, Cee-Cee," Van stutters out. Then, not sure what to do next, he defers to the closest authority, turning to Caine.

"Did you say something about a tour? That sounds ... yes. I think a nice leisurely tour would be a good idea," he says, grinning his mad cover-up grin. Anything to get out from under so many eyes looking to him for direction at the moment.

Caine leads you quickly by your crew, introducing each in turn.

The first is a female mechalus wearing standard-issue jumpsuit. Her dark hair resembles dreadlocks mixed with various cables and wiring. She stares at you with a neutral expression, saluting belatedly when introduced. "This is Lieutenant Ebon, our pilot."

Next in line is a mid-sized human woman with caucausion/asian features and short dark hair. She wears an engineer's jumpsuit, and her left arm is clearly a cybernetic prothesis. "Petty Officer Jak Friday." She gives a perfunctory smile, which doesn't touch her eyes.

The next man salutes crisply. He's a tall, fit military type with a scar on his lower jaw. He's wearing a standard spacer uniform, and is introduced as "Spaceman Dukakis Lincoln".

And the fourth has just entered the cargo bay and moved up to the last place in line. He's sweating and wearing an engineer's jumpsuit which is slightly undone at the top. He wears a gridcaster on his left forearm. His skin is a flat, chalky white, giving him an unnatural complexion. His blond hair is slightly longer than regulation, and he doesn't meet your eyes as he salutes half-heartedly. "And this, sir, is Chief Petty Officer Lucas Tyler."

After inspecting the crew, Lt. Caine takes you on a tour of the ship. (See the layout in the Starships book if that is available.) The Pacific is a 50-year-old standard design Geneva Trailblazer with a few modifications, and has been recently retrofitted for its new commission. He points out the ample cargo space, gives you a quick tour of the various engine rooms, shows you the galley, the crew quarters, your stateroom, and finally brings you to the bridge. By the time you arrive on the bridge, Lt. Ebon is already there, and appears to have plugged herself into the ship's computer - biometric tendrils extend from her fingers into the console. As you sit to test the "captain's chair", CECCE appears before you and says, "Excuse me, Captain, but Lt. Commander Gabriel Dane has just arrived on board. Would you like me to direct him to the bridge?"

[Edit: Details on the ship to follow in a post tonight, once I can check the notes at home. -GM.]

 

[Ozmar]

With a look of amused wonder Gabriel gives the AI holoprojection a salute. "It is good to meet you, Cee-Cee I am Gabriel. I am sure we will all find the experience most enlightening." Taking a moment to study the hologram before speaking again. "Could you tell me, or better yet show me where I might find the Captain? I would hate to break protocol this early in the mission." As he finishes a look of serenity plays across his face.

"Certainly, Commander. I would be happy to lead you to the bridge where the captain awaits you. Please follow me." The holo-projected girl turns and glides through the bay. As the image moves into the hall, it vanishes, to be replaced by flashing lights in the hall that indicate the direction towards the bridge. "Please follow me, Commander," the welcoming voice invites.

You follow the lights through the ship and shortly find yourself on the bridge of the CSS Pacific. There are three people waiting you: the captain, a mechalus female, and a human male.

 

[jkason]

"Oh, well, I guess I should go meet him. Or maybe he should come here, or ... " Van stops when he realizes he's waffling out loud. Flopping down in the captain's chair, he decides the less he moves, the fewer decisions he has to make.

"Right, then. I'll just sit here and ... assess. CECCE, go ahead and send the XO up when he gets a chance."