Shadowdancer
First Post
Yes, and yes.Broccli_Head said:
Traveller T20: Tales of the Bray Keaven [Updated 12-20-05]
- Thread starter Shadowdancer
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Shadowdancer
First Post
Swann goes to his cabin to get his flak jacket, proceeds to the cargo hold to meet up with Darishun and Martha, then starts examining the explosives again. He squats down in front of the table to have a closer look at the leg.
First thing to consider is, if it was placed there by someone who really knew what they were doing, they were all going to die anyway. So he may as well take some risks.
He looks back at Darishun and Martha. "Right, may as well start. Martha, could you get me a couple of meters of non–conductive string? Darishun, would you rock one of the other tables slightly, so we can get an idea of their weight?"
He watches as Darishun strains to lift the enourmous device. Well, that isn’t going to work. Darishun ambles over. "I’m afraid it's too weighty at the moment. I won’t be able to lift it unless we dial the gravity down a little."
Swann thinks about it a little and decides that he doesn’t want to make any major changes at the moment.
Martha arrives back, and she and the Virushi watch a master at work. The entire time Swann works, he’s talking out loud into the comm. Eventaully he starts cutting the casing back away from where it has already cracked. "Still no connection between the case and the explosive. The casing seems to be a quickly fabricated covering and not an integral part of the device."
Eventually he cuts the casing almost totally clear on one side. "Choices. I can either dig into the explosive, and try and bore through to find out how big the bang would be. Each bit removed is one that won’t go off. Alternatively, I can keep removing the casing and looking for the detonators. Martha, would you throw a coin, please? Heads for the casing."
After a while he hears her hesitant voice. "The coin says heads."
"Oh well, I think the coin is wrong. I’ll start digging the explosive out. Could someone get me a plastic spoon and some bowls?"
Shortly after that Swann is calmly and smoothly digging the explosive out and pilling it up in a kitchen bowl. "That’s the third spoonful. Swap bowls. Can someone take this bowl, wrap it tightly and put it somewhere a long way from here? I’ll keep digging."
By the twelvth bowl, a good third of the explosive has been removed and Swann is getting down to the center of the device. "Oh, what have we here?" A wire ending in a small round ball is exposed to view. "Yup, they are defiitely cheap skates. The pastic is standard mining, the dets are standard electric dets. It’s all shelf gear. Cheap, too. That makes me very hopeful. It looks like this is definitely a bomb rather than a means of transfer. It is also a cheap one.
"We’ve been focusing fairly hard for the last half hour. I think it’s time for a cuppa. Let’s adjourn to the lounge."
Martha sips her Chocolate Mocca while Swann and Darishun chat. Darishun questions Swann about explosives and their usage; Swann answers, a little distracted. Vasilii comes in and sits down.
"So did the walk through find anything interesting, Mister Kugiikiishshi?" Martha asks.
"Indeed it did. I knew that it was a mistake to rush all the cargo aboard while the crew was still on its way up. There’s a pair of starship weapons right at the back of the cargo bay. It was only because we clambered over everything that we found them. It appears that someone is shipping arms. They didn’t even try to hide them."
"A missile launcher and a pulse laser, right?"
"That’s right, how did you know?"
"While I was working on the port turret, I had to dismount them. Once the turret is working again, I’ll put them back out there. Didn’t you know?"
"No I didn’t. I know that the captain has been worried about our lack of a turret. I don’t think he’s aware that we’ve got the guns to put in them."
"Sorry, I thought everyone knew."
Swann stands up. "Everyone ready, let’s get back to it. Oh Mr Kugeeky, have you found anything interesting on the ship yet?"
"No I haven’t." He spared a pained look at Martha. "Nothing interesting at all."
The explosives team troops back to the cargo bay.
Swann wipes the sweat from his brow. This was painstaking work, and the flack jacket just made it hotter. Still, they were definitely getting there. He had removed the vast bulk of the explosive and revealed a small black box connected to a dozen electric dets. There was a large external button that he expected had been pressed to arm the device, but there didn’t seem to be any method of disarming.
He thinks about it some more. It wouldn’t do any real harm if the device went off and all the dets fired, because there were no explosives nearby. "Martha, can you build me a small box to contain this thing and we’ll let it go off? Preferably something we can evacuate to reduce the blast."
She returns shortly with a 20cm cube of cabin wall. The component walls served well as impromptu building equipment. "I figure that if I take it into an airlock and evactuate before the lid is sealed, it will be OK."
Half an hour later, they have a small metal box with the trigger from the bomb inside it.
"Well, I don’t feel comfortable cutting into the trigger or removing the dets. This way, whenever it decides to trigger, the worst that happens is it will kill the box." Swann starts taking off his flack jacket. "We’re just luck it was a shoddy, quick piece of work. If the builder had had time or expertise, we would have all been dead long since. I’ll go and report to the captain that this particular bomb isn’t a problem any more. Where did you guys put the explosive?"
Darishun enthusiastically shakes his head from side to side in a bobbing motion and softly exclaims, "Well done, Swann! And, with this excellent box that Martha has provided, I’m sure that we’ll all be much healthier when this device goes off."
Continuing in a more somber tone, "Perhaps we should put the box in the port airlock, after we remove the rest of the cargo piled there? It seems close to the low berths, but better those than the life support systems!
"What do you think about the explosives? Scatter the bowls so as to minimize any possible explosions? Make little boxes for each?"
Swann smiles up at Darishun. "Putting the box in the port airlock sounds like a good idea. I believe we should put the bowls of explosives in the starboard airlock."
Darishun cocks his head quizically and says: "Starboard airlock? Near the life support systems and computer? Is that wise? Are the explosives ‘safe’ now? If so, or even if not, perhaps in the air raft compartment?"
Swann considers what Darishun said. "The explosives are safe as long as there is not another explosion or charge of some sort to detonate them. But placing them in the air raft dock might be safer, just in case. It also will allow us to avoid having to move the cargo out of the starboard air lock."
Swann then calls Argent on the ship’s comm to update him. "Captain Argent. This is Swann. We’ve finished disabling the explosive device. It was pretty crude and hastily constructed, just a detonater and the plastique. We’ve placed the detonater into a small box which should contain most of the explosion if it should go off. We are going to place that in the port airlock until we finish jump. The plastique is divided between several bowls, which we will place in the air raft dock until we finish jump."
Swann then rubs a hand across his face, considering how to broach this next subject. "There’s something else I need to tell you about. It’s not life-threatening, but you should be aware of it. I discovered it before jump, but since it wasn’t a pressing matter and things were so hectic, I decided to wait to inform you. Now that things have settled down somewhat, I guess now is as good as time as any. If you will please meet me in the port engine room by the fuel scoops and processors, I’ll explain further."
Swann goes to the engine room and waits for Argent. When the captain arrives, he reveals the smuggled bonsai trees.
First thing to consider is, if it was placed there by someone who really knew what they were doing, they were all going to die anyway. So he may as well take some risks.
He looks back at Darishun and Martha. "Right, may as well start. Martha, could you get me a couple of meters of non–conductive string? Darishun, would you rock one of the other tables slightly, so we can get an idea of their weight?"
He watches as Darishun strains to lift the enourmous device. Well, that isn’t going to work. Darishun ambles over. "I’m afraid it's too weighty at the moment. I won’t be able to lift it unless we dial the gravity down a little."
Swann thinks about it a little and decides that he doesn’t want to make any major changes at the moment.
Martha arrives back, and she and the Virushi watch a master at work. The entire time Swann works, he’s talking out loud into the comm. Eventaully he starts cutting the casing back away from where it has already cracked. "Still no connection between the case and the explosive. The casing seems to be a quickly fabricated covering and not an integral part of the device."
Eventually he cuts the casing almost totally clear on one side. "Choices. I can either dig into the explosive, and try and bore through to find out how big the bang would be. Each bit removed is one that won’t go off. Alternatively, I can keep removing the casing and looking for the detonators. Martha, would you throw a coin, please? Heads for the casing."
After a while he hears her hesitant voice. "The coin says heads."
"Oh well, I think the coin is wrong. I’ll start digging the explosive out. Could someone get me a plastic spoon and some bowls?"
Shortly after that Swann is calmly and smoothly digging the explosive out and pilling it up in a kitchen bowl. "That’s the third spoonful. Swap bowls. Can someone take this bowl, wrap it tightly and put it somewhere a long way from here? I’ll keep digging."
By the twelvth bowl, a good third of the explosive has been removed and Swann is getting down to the center of the device. "Oh, what have we here?" A wire ending in a small round ball is exposed to view. "Yup, they are defiitely cheap skates. The pastic is standard mining, the dets are standard electric dets. It’s all shelf gear. Cheap, too. That makes me very hopeful. It looks like this is definitely a bomb rather than a means of transfer. It is also a cheap one.
"We’ve been focusing fairly hard for the last half hour. I think it’s time for a cuppa. Let’s adjourn to the lounge."
-----
Martha sips her Chocolate Mocca while Swann and Darishun chat. Darishun questions Swann about explosives and their usage; Swann answers, a little distracted. Vasilii comes in and sits down.
"So did the walk through find anything interesting, Mister Kugiikiishshi?" Martha asks.
"Indeed it did. I knew that it was a mistake to rush all the cargo aboard while the crew was still on its way up. There’s a pair of starship weapons right at the back of the cargo bay. It was only because we clambered over everything that we found them. It appears that someone is shipping arms. They didn’t even try to hide them."
"A missile launcher and a pulse laser, right?"
"That’s right, how did you know?"
"While I was working on the port turret, I had to dismount them. Once the turret is working again, I’ll put them back out there. Didn’t you know?"
"No I didn’t. I know that the captain has been worried about our lack of a turret. I don’t think he’s aware that we’ve got the guns to put in them."
"Sorry, I thought everyone knew."
Swann stands up. "Everyone ready, let’s get back to it. Oh Mr Kugeeky, have you found anything interesting on the ship yet?"
"No I haven’t." He spared a pained look at Martha. "Nothing interesting at all."
The explosives team troops back to the cargo bay.
-----
Swann wipes the sweat from his brow. This was painstaking work, and the flack jacket just made it hotter. Still, they were definitely getting there. He had removed the vast bulk of the explosive and revealed a small black box connected to a dozen electric dets. There was a large external button that he expected had been pressed to arm the device, but there didn’t seem to be any method of disarming.
He thinks about it some more. It wouldn’t do any real harm if the device went off and all the dets fired, because there were no explosives nearby. "Martha, can you build me a small box to contain this thing and we’ll let it go off? Preferably something we can evacuate to reduce the blast."
She returns shortly with a 20cm cube of cabin wall. The component walls served well as impromptu building equipment. "I figure that if I take it into an airlock and evactuate before the lid is sealed, it will be OK."
Half an hour later, they have a small metal box with the trigger from the bomb inside it.
"Well, I don’t feel comfortable cutting into the trigger or removing the dets. This way, whenever it decides to trigger, the worst that happens is it will kill the box." Swann starts taking off his flack jacket. "We’re just luck it was a shoddy, quick piece of work. If the builder had had time or expertise, we would have all been dead long since. I’ll go and report to the captain that this particular bomb isn’t a problem any more. Where did you guys put the explosive?"
Darishun enthusiastically shakes his head from side to side in a bobbing motion and softly exclaims, "Well done, Swann! And, with this excellent box that Martha has provided, I’m sure that we’ll all be much healthier when this device goes off."
Continuing in a more somber tone, "Perhaps we should put the box in the port airlock, after we remove the rest of the cargo piled there? It seems close to the low berths, but better those than the life support systems!
"What do you think about the explosives? Scatter the bowls so as to minimize any possible explosions? Make little boxes for each?"
Swann smiles up at Darishun. "Putting the box in the port airlock sounds like a good idea. I believe we should put the bowls of explosives in the starboard airlock."
Darishun cocks his head quizically and says: "Starboard airlock? Near the life support systems and computer? Is that wise? Are the explosives ‘safe’ now? If so, or even if not, perhaps in the air raft compartment?"
Swann considers what Darishun said. "The explosives are safe as long as there is not another explosion or charge of some sort to detonate them. But placing them in the air raft dock might be safer, just in case. It also will allow us to avoid having to move the cargo out of the starboard air lock."
Swann then calls Argent on the ship’s comm to update him. "Captain Argent. This is Swann. We’ve finished disabling the explosive device. It was pretty crude and hastily constructed, just a detonater and the plastique. We’ve placed the detonater into a small box which should contain most of the explosion if it should go off. We are going to place that in the port airlock until we finish jump. The plastique is divided between several bowls, which we will place in the air raft dock until we finish jump."
Swann then rubs a hand across his face, considering how to broach this next subject. "There’s something else I need to tell you about. It’s not life-threatening, but you should be aware of it. I discovered it before jump, but since it wasn’t a pressing matter and things were so hectic, I decided to wait to inform you. Now that things have settled down somewhat, I guess now is as good as time as any. If you will please meet me in the port engine room by the fuel scoops and processors, I’ll explain further."
Swann goes to the engine room and waits for Argent. When the captain arrives, he reveals the smuggled bonsai trees.
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Broccli_Head
Explorer
Aha! The bonsai trees!
Can't wait to unravel that mystery.
Can't wait to unravel that mystery.
Shadowdancer
First Post
Argent is in the middle of the search forward when Swann’s call comes in. "Good work, Mr. Hellinic. As soon as we leave jump, we’ll open the airlocks and get rid of the explosives just in case. Anything else?"
Swann then rubs a hand across his face, considering how to broach this next subject. "There’s something else I need to tell you about. It’s not life–threatening, but you should be aware of it. I discovered it before jump, but since it wasn’t a pressing matter and things were so hectic, I decided to wait to inform you. Now that things have settled down somewhat, I guess now is as good as time as any. If you will please meet me in the port engine room by the fuel scoops and processors, I’ll explain further."
Argent rolls his eyes. What now? "On my way." He hits the comm again. "Mr. McConnell, meet me in the port engine room, please. Argent out."
Argent arrives in the engine room just ahead of Ian and they look in the fuel scoops at Swann’s discovery. "Great," Argent says, "First chemical, now biological smuggling. What next?
"Swann, go take a break, then head to the bridge. I want to get some sort of regular watch–keeping going if we can, and I need to put you in the rotation."
Argent walks to the nearest intercomm. "Argent to Dr. Talbek. Doctor, I hate to do this to you but you might want to bring your bag of tricks to engineering. We've got a possible biologic contamination in here, and I’d like to know if it was part of the problem at Alief."
"Biological? WTF is going on aboard this cockamamie ship?!" Doc Saro thinks. He hits the intercom and replies, "OK Mr. Argent. I’m going to grab my vacc suit and my ‘bag o’ tricks,’ as you put it, and I’ll be right down. Got any info for me right now, to give me some idea what I’m up against?"
"I think you can leave the vacc suit," Argent says, "Mr. Hellinic discovered some sort of plant in the fuel scoops and processors that it appears the former captain was smuggling. If there is something infectious coming from them, we are all probably infected through the closed circulation of the ship’s life support system. I’d like to find out if these plants could be connected to what’s happening on Alief."
"OK, I’ll grab some things and be right there." Saro packs up some chemical testing material, some plastic baggies and whatever else he thinks is necessary and heads to engineering.
Argent switches comm channels. "Argent to Smythe. Martha, report to engineering now."
When he arrives in engineering, Saro says, "So what do we have? What’s this plant that’s giving us all the heartaches? Botany really isn’t my specialty, but I’ll give it a go."
When Martha arrives, Argent asks her to look in the fuel scoops and processors. "How long have the fuel scoops and processors been down like this? Were they like this prior to the ship’s last landfall at Alief?"
Swann then rubs a hand across his face, considering how to broach this next subject. "There’s something else I need to tell you about. It’s not life–threatening, but you should be aware of it. I discovered it before jump, but since it wasn’t a pressing matter and things were so hectic, I decided to wait to inform you. Now that things have settled down somewhat, I guess now is as good as time as any. If you will please meet me in the port engine room by the fuel scoops and processors, I’ll explain further."
Argent rolls his eyes. What now? "On my way." He hits the comm again. "Mr. McConnell, meet me in the port engine room, please. Argent out."
Argent arrives in the engine room just ahead of Ian and they look in the fuel scoops at Swann’s discovery. "Great," Argent says, "First chemical, now biological smuggling. What next?
"Swann, go take a break, then head to the bridge. I want to get some sort of regular watch–keeping going if we can, and I need to put you in the rotation."
Argent walks to the nearest intercomm. "Argent to Dr. Talbek. Doctor, I hate to do this to you but you might want to bring your bag of tricks to engineering. We've got a possible biologic contamination in here, and I’d like to know if it was part of the problem at Alief."
-----
"Biological? WTF is going on aboard this cockamamie ship?!" Doc Saro thinks. He hits the intercom and replies, "OK Mr. Argent. I’m going to grab my vacc suit and my ‘bag o’ tricks,’ as you put it, and I’ll be right down. Got any info for me right now, to give me some idea what I’m up against?"
"I think you can leave the vacc suit," Argent says, "Mr. Hellinic discovered some sort of plant in the fuel scoops and processors that it appears the former captain was smuggling. If there is something infectious coming from them, we are all probably infected through the closed circulation of the ship’s life support system. I’d like to find out if these plants could be connected to what’s happening on Alief."
"OK, I’ll grab some things and be right there." Saro packs up some chemical testing material, some plastic baggies and whatever else he thinks is necessary and heads to engineering.
-----
Argent switches comm channels. "Argent to Smythe. Martha, report to engineering now."
When he arrives in engineering, Saro says, "So what do we have? What’s this plant that’s giving us all the heartaches? Botany really isn’t my specialty, but I’ll give it a go."
When Martha arrives, Argent asks her to look in the fuel scoops and processors. "How long have the fuel scoops and processors been down like this? Were they like this prior to the ship’s last landfall at Alief?"
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Shadowdancer
First Post
Swann heads toward the crew lounge. "I am getting hungry after all that demolitions work," he thinks to himself. "Wonder if there’s anything good left to eat? Or if there’s anything left to eat, with that Virushi on board."
Swann chuckles to himself. "That Darishun is quite an interesting fellow. Pretty sharp, too — he had some good suggestions about the explosives."
Arriving in the lounge, Swann heads over to the storage compartment for the rations. He opens the door and pokes his head inside. "Hmmm, let’s see what we can see. Miip stew. No, I had that yesterday. Or was it earlier today? Adukgin goulash. Kukalu casserole. What is in this stuff?" He checks the ingredient labels on some of the packages. "Just as I thought. These are all the same — they just have different names. Well, I guess it's the casserole. And some groatberry cobbler for dessert."
Swann heats his choices in the processor, then sits down to eat them along with a HavaCola. As he eats, he begins to hum, then softly sing, some neo–retrorock classics: "Jailbait, jailbait, messin’ with them is like messin’ with your fate. Jailbait, jailbait, . . . "
He finishes his meal and discards his trash in the refuse collector. He leaves the lounge and heads toward the bridge, still singing quietly to himself: " ’Cos girl there's no turning back. You’ve done crossed the Rubicon . . . "
As he walks, he thinks over the events since coming aboard the Bray Keaven. "I still think that bomb was meant for someone on Aleif. Someone saw a brief window of opportunity open, and decided to take it. Sloppy job, though. I wonder who is was meant for? Was it meant for someone who would be using the imaging table, or was the ‘leg’ meant to be removed and the bomb transported somewhere else by agents already on the planet. Or maybe someone else serving in the relief armada. Or . . . " Swann stops in mid–stride, his song forgotten. "What if someone on this ship was planning to use the bomb when we reach Aleif?"
Swann resumes walking, and singing, and thinking. "Hmmmm. If it is someone on this ship, who could it be? It could be just about anyone. We don’t really know anything about each other. I’m pretty sure we can rule out Darishun — from what I’ve read, most Virushi are pacifists. And he’s shown no signs that he might be abnormal for his species.
"I don’t think it could be the doctor. He seems too laid back, and genuinely nice and caring. Could be putting on a good act, but I don’t think so.
"Martha’s a pretty unlikely candidate. She was already on the ship, and came close to dying in the outbreak. I suppose she could have known about the plague beforehand, and took steps to protect herself. But that’s an awful lot of trouble to go to for one frellin’ bomb. And a crappily made bomb at that.
"Well, I guess I’ll have time to think this over during my watch on the bridge."
Swann arrives at the bridge and enters. "Well, you’re relief’s here."
Swann chuckles to himself. "That Darishun is quite an interesting fellow. Pretty sharp, too — he had some good suggestions about the explosives."
Arriving in the lounge, Swann heads over to the storage compartment for the rations. He opens the door and pokes his head inside. "Hmmm, let’s see what we can see. Miip stew. No, I had that yesterday. Or was it earlier today? Adukgin goulash. Kukalu casserole. What is in this stuff?" He checks the ingredient labels on some of the packages. "Just as I thought. These are all the same — they just have different names. Well, I guess it's the casserole. And some groatberry cobbler for dessert."
Swann heats his choices in the processor, then sits down to eat them along with a HavaCola. As he eats, he begins to hum, then softly sing, some neo–retrorock classics: "Jailbait, jailbait, messin’ with them is like messin’ with your fate. Jailbait, jailbait, . . . "
He finishes his meal and discards his trash in the refuse collector. He leaves the lounge and heads toward the bridge, still singing quietly to himself: " ’Cos girl there's no turning back. You’ve done crossed the Rubicon . . . "
As he walks, he thinks over the events since coming aboard the Bray Keaven. "I still think that bomb was meant for someone on Aleif. Someone saw a brief window of opportunity open, and decided to take it. Sloppy job, though. I wonder who is was meant for? Was it meant for someone who would be using the imaging table, or was the ‘leg’ meant to be removed and the bomb transported somewhere else by agents already on the planet. Or maybe someone else serving in the relief armada. Or . . . " Swann stops in mid–stride, his song forgotten. "What if someone on this ship was planning to use the bomb when we reach Aleif?"
Swann resumes walking, and singing, and thinking. "Hmmmm. If it is someone on this ship, who could it be? It could be just about anyone. We don’t really know anything about each other. I’m pretty sure we can rule out Darishun — from what I’ve read, most Virushi are pacifists. And he’s shown no signs that he might be abnormal for his species.
"I don’t think it could be the doctor. He seems too laid back, and genuinely nice and caring. Could be putting on a good act, but I don’t think so.
"Martha’s a pretty unlikely candidate. She was already on the ship, and came close to dying in the outbreak. I suppose she could have known about the plague beforehand, and took steps to protect herself. But that’s an awful lot of trouble to go to for one frellin’ bomb. And a crappily made bomb at that.
"Well, I guess I’ll have time to think this over during my watch on the bridge."
Swann arrives at the bridge and enters. "Well, you’re relief’s here."
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Shadowdancer
First Post
Chapter VIII
Date: 111-993Place: Aboard the Bray Keaven, in jump space between Sentry and Alief.
Darishun wearily finishes moving the last of the cargo that needs to be moved out of the port cargo lock (where the detonator box is), and then plods up to the lounge for a quick snack. As he gets to the lounge his head is drooping a bit, and alarmingly, he seems to sway a little from side to side.
After a brief pause, he grabs a couple of fruit–flavored drink bulbs, two ration packs, and a bowl of carbo bites, and then plops down (with a thud that reverberates through part of the ship) to eat.
-----
Vasilii briskly strolls into the crew lounge. Swann, Martha, Argent, and the Doc are already seated, listlessly chatting while pushing the food around their plates. Vargas is with them eating his breakfast, industriously girding his loins for another day of surprises in the engine room. Darishun is sitting to one side of the lounge.
"Good morning fellow crewmates," Vasilii says, "You appear surprisingly unhappy now that the bomb has been disarmed. I had hoped that you would have been most pleased."
Argent squints up at the impossibly well–rested merchant. "Did the search of the ship go well?"
"Very well indeed, Captain. It appears that the armament that is missing from the port turret is actually right at the back in the cargo bay. That is one nice thing to know. Other than that, a cursory glance through everything onboard seems to have cleared everything. You four seem to still be working despite the finalization of the explosive. Is everything correct?"
Argent gestures to Martha to bring the Merchant up to date. "It appears that the last Captain fitted a pressure–resistant compartment to this vessel and smuggled things in it. It’s been there for at least six months in my impression and the most recent thing was a collection of bonsai. We’re worried because it has raised a variety of legal issues as well as the risk of contagion. That’s not even mentioning that the plague itself could have been hibernating there while the rest of the ship was subjected to vacuum. So yes, we’re a little tired."
The Doctor interrupts before Martha can start what was clearly going to be a tirade at the Merchant. "Miss Smythe, you’ve been on your feet for two days with minimal sleep while your still recovering from your recent ordeal. I would suggest that you go to bed for at least 12 hours straight. Do you have anything to add to your earlier comments?"
"No. According to the records, the fuel purifier was taken offline six months ago, and I have no idea when the bonsai were put in but looking at the fittings, they would have been in air the entire time the ship was vacuumed."
The Doctor looks around at the other two. Judging by reflexes, they both still had a fair way to go before fatigue started to effect their judgement. He himself was fairly well rested and could still go strong for another couple of hours. He had added a caffeine supplement to one of his earlier drinks, and the effects were still strong.
"These smuggled bonsai. This I have not seen before, I would be most grateful if you could show me. I have served on Merchant vessels before and it is always useful finding out where smugglers hide their cargoes." Vasilii seems positively cheerful at the prospect, and the team troops to the back of the ship.
-----
As Vasilii, Argent, and the others head towards the lift, Darishun finishes his second ration pack (Foeil Monk Fish), cocks his head to one side for a moment, and decides to let his curiosity get the better of him in spite of his exhaustion. He waits patiently for the lift to return to the upper deck, descends, and then troops off after the others.
-----
As the door to the smuggling compartment swings ajar, Vasilii scrambles backwards, his face showing a mix of horror and terror. Argent slams the door shut.
"What is wrong, Mister Kugiiky?"
"Those trees are Star Flower trees. We will all be killed!"
Swann whistles silently. Star Flower was a highly illegal drug made from the pollen of a small flowering shrub. The trees had been plucking at a chord in his memory, nice to know what it was finally.
The air filters in the storage compartment should be collecting the pollen. They had a small fortune in a highly illegal drug sitting in the compartment. Yes, the Imperium had declared that all dealings with the drug were punishable by death, and the drug itself was reputed to be risky to manufacture, but no rewards without a little risk.
Star Flower is one of 40 or so drugs which are totally forbidden within the Imperium. Rumor had it that the Zhodani used it. Swann looks around at the others.
Vargas quickly speaks up. "I say we take the trees and put them in the airlock with the explosives. Once we get to Alief we blow them the hell into space. Sterilizing the compartment with a flame thrower would probably be a good idea as well." He looks like he means it.
-----
As he rounds the corner, Darishun sees Vasilii recoiling back into the corridor. His curiosity aroused, he continues down the corridor until he catches just the last whiffs of conversation about the Star Flower.
"Ah, most curious. That explains the smuggling compartment. I would think that the good doctor might be more concerned about any residual pathogens being in the smuggling compartment than being sentenced to death for dealing in drugs.
"Still, perhaps quietly disposing of the filters and trees as soon as possible would be the wisest course of action, particularly since we do not want to distract others from our primary goal of helping those on Alief."
Swann’s mind is racing. "There’s a small fortune sitting here, and it just fell into our laps," he thinks. "Illegal drugs aren't really my thing, but megacredits are megacredits. Still, I don’t think the rest of the crew would be inclined to go along with anything this illegal."
Swann looks at the others. "The big guy’s right — we should quietly dump this stuff when we leave jump. Even though none of us had anything to do with it, it's best to avoid any unnecessary Imperial entanglements. Besides, since Martha was on the ship when the plants were brought on board, they might charge her as an accessory, even if she didn’t know about them."
Another thought creeps into his mind, but Swann keeps it to himself. "Who were these plants intended for? And will they come looking for them? And was the bomb planted on the ship to destroy the evidence, and to keep us from talking?"
A solemn shadow passes over the Doc’s face as he digests the news.
"This is unexpected. I, too, agree that we should dispose of these plants. However, I am hesitant to sanction just disposing of them in a manner that could be construed as suspicious." Doc pauses in thought for a long moment.
"What if the Captain makes a recording of our findings and when we space these plants. That way we can make a report to the proper authorities when we get a chance — or if everyone would rather not volunteer the information — we’ll at least have something to cover our collective asses, if we get questioned about it later. Though it’ll be looked upon as very suspicious if it gets uncovered and we didn’t come forward to start with."
Doc finishes his little speech with a bemused shrug and looks around at the others.
"In any case, we need to seal these back up immediately, and I’ll need to run tests on everyone for signs of the pollen in our systems."
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Broccli_Head
Explorer
I agreee with Swan...megacredits are megacredits!
Shadowdancer
First Post
Argent listens to the crew’s opinions on what to do with the contraband plants in the fuel scoops.
"Doctor, take enough of the plant that you need to use for sample and, if necessary, antidotal purposes only. Check the crew for any contamination from the plants and prepare any possible treatments.
Saro nods in agreement. "I think I’ve gotten enough samples when I checked the plants before, but I’ll take a few more just to be safe." He places a few more clippings and leaves in a sealed bag.
Turning back towards the others, Saro says, "I’d like to examine Martha and Darishun first, so that they can be sent to rest as soon as possible. And then I’ll take everyone else after that. I need to get the sickbay ready, but I’ll be ready to start in half an hour. I’ll be expecting you then," he nods toward Darishun and Martha before heading to the sickbay.
Darishun looks up wearily and softly says, "As you wish, Doctor."
Argents says, "The remaining plants we will seal up and put in the airlock with the explosives. We’ll space them both as soon as we emerge from jump and are a safe distance from other vessels in the fleet.
"We should also record everything we do in relations to these plants for the authorities. We’ll transmit a report to fleet command and Imperial Command on Alief by tight beam upon emergence from jump.
"Let’s assume, for sake of survival, that someone else in the fleet may be involved in the smuggling efforts on the vessel. Let’s go over the external communications system again as carefully as possible; I don’t want any mysterious ‘failures’ to occur.
"We need to also check the remaining weapons turret to double-check that the weapons actually work. If we can safely inspect the ‘empty’ turret while in jump, let’s try to do that also; I don’t want to be caught off guard if we are carrying any other surprises in there.
"Make sure your vacc suit is on hand when we emerge from jump, in case we are attacked."
Darishun cocks his head to the side, pauses, and says, "An insane thought just entered my mind: are the explosives an attempt to cover up the presence of the Star Flower or to some how damage the rescue effort? What if the plague on Alief doesn't really exist, and this sickness was an attempt to take out the crew because of the Star Flower? Are there any records that can be salvaged from the computer or the previous captain’s personal effects?
"If we destroy the Star Flower, we must do so in a way that no one will notice, or they are otherwise distracted. Simply tossing the plants out the airlock may not work since they’ll just be drifting around out there.
"I have obviously been hanging around humans for far too long since I have these thoughts in my head."
Vargas speaks up in response to the Virushi’s statement. "While true, the Flower won’t be much good if its been exposed to hard vacuum. How about tossing it and the explosives out, zapping both with the starboard turret and call it a test firing?"
As the others discuss the plants, Vasilii contemplates the value of the Star Flower, trying to remember why the plants are so illegal. When an opportunity presents itself, he approaches the Captain in private.
"Captain Argent," Vasilii begins, "in regards to the Star Flowers . . . " He pauses and looks around to ensure their privacy, "Permission to speak freely, Captain?" Vasilii waits for a response. Argent nods. "I think it would be unwise to space the flowers. To do so may run the risk of the plants contaminating other planetoids in the Aleif system. We will also not learn who put the plants there in the first place. I suggest we leave the plants in the scoops and seal them up as before. That we also rebuild the leg on the imaging table. We could then monitor who picks up the scanner and perhaps solve the mystery of the explosives. As for the plants, someone may approach the ship to pick up that cargo as well.
"If nothing happens and we are left with both the explosives and the flowers, I am certain I could find a buyer in the Sentry system when we return."
"Mr. Vasilii, you have some good ideas, but you’ll have to excuse my law–and–order manner. Your ideas about resealing the scoops and reattaching the leg on the table are good, but I don’t think we should sell the Star Flower plants. We need to turn them in. However, if we can we should lure out the group trying to smuggle the things.
"We’ll hang on to them for the time being. Let’s make sure the scoops are sealed enough to prevent any further possible contamination at Alief. If we are not approached during the mission, we’ll turn them over to the system authorities before departure along with any documentation we have been developing on how the items were found. If we are approached, we try to find out as much as possible about them and turn them in when we have enough evidence against them."
"Captain," says Vargas, one hand raised to gain Argent’s attention, "I’d just like to point out that if we wait until someone in authority is asking us why we have contraband aboard which warrants the death penalty, it may already be too late to have our protestations of innocence believed. Just a thought."
"Doctor, take enough of the plant that you need to use for sample and, if necessary, antidotal purposes only. Check the crew for any contamination from the plants and prepare any possible treatments.
Saro nods in agreement. "I think I’ve gotten enough samples when I checked the plants before, but I’ll take a few more just to be safe." He places a few more clippings and leaves in a sealed bag.
Turning back towards the others, Saro says, "I’d like to examine Martha and Darishun first, so that they can be sent to rest as soon as possible. And then I’ll take everyone else after that. I need to get the sickbay ready, but I’ll be ready to start in half an hour. I’ll be expecting you then," he nods toward Darishun and Martha before heading to the sickbay.
Darishun looks up wearily and softly says, "As you wish, Doctor."
Argents says, "The remaining plants we will seal up and put in the airlock with the explosives. We’ll space them both as soon as we emerge from jump and are a safe distance from other vessels in the fleet.
"We should also record everything we do in relations to these plants for the authorities. We’ll transmit a report to fleet command and Imperial Command on Alief by tight beam upon emergence from jump.
"Let’s assume, for sake of survival, that someone else in the fleet may be involved in the smuggling efforts on the vessel. Let’s go over the external communications system again as carefully as possible; I don’t want any mysterious ‘failures’ to occur.
"We need to also check the remaining weapons turret to double-check that the weapons actually work. If we can safely inspect the ‘empty’ turret while in jump, let’s try to do that also; I don’t want to be caught off guard if we are carrying any other surprises in there.
"Make sure your vacc suit is on hand when we emerge from jump, in case we are attacked."
Darishun cocks his head to the side, pauses, and says, "An insane thought just entered my mind: are the explosives an attempt to cover up the presence of the Star Flower or to some how damage the rescue effort? What if the plague on Alief doesn't really exist, and this sickness was an attempt to take out the crew because of the Star Flower? Are there any records that can be salvaged from the computer or the previous captain’s personal effects?
"If we destroy the Star Flower, we must do so in a way that no one will notice, or they are otherwise distracted. Simply tossing the plants out the airlock may not work since they’ll just be drifting around out there.
"I have obviously been hanging around humans for far too long since I have these thoughts in my head."
Vargas speaks up in response to the Virushi’s statement. "While true, the Flower won’t be much good if its been exposed to hard vacuum. How about tossing it and the explosives out, zapping both with the starboard turret and call it a test firing?"
As the others discuss the plants, Vasilii contemplates the value of the Star Flower, trying to remember why the plants are so illegal. When an opportunity presents itself, he approaches the Captain in private.
"Captain Argent," Vasilii begins, "in regards to the Star Flowers . . . " He pauses and looks around to ensure their privacy, "Permission to speak freely, Captain?" Vasilii waits for a response. Argent nods. "I think it would be unwise to space the flowers. To do so may run the risk of the plants contaminating other planetoids in the Aleif system. We will also not learn who put the plants there in the first place. I suggest we leave the plants in the scoops and seal them up as before. That we also rebuild the leg on the imaging table. We could then monitor who picks up the scanner and perhaps solve the mystery of the explosives. As for the plants, someone may approach the ship to pick up that cargo as well.
"If nothing happens and we are left with both the explosives and the flowers, I am certain I could find a buyer in the Sentry system when we return."
"Mr. Vasilii, you have some good ideas, but you’ll have to excuse my law–and–order manner. Your ideas about resealing the scoops and reattaching the leg on the table are good, but I don’t think we should sell the Star Flower plants. We need to turn them in. However, if we can we should lure out the group trying to smuggle the things.
"We’ll hang on to them for the time being. Let’s make sure the scoops are sealed enough to prevent any further possible contamination at Alief. If we are not approached during the mission, we’ll turn them over to the system authorities before departure along with any documentation we have been developing on how the items were found. If we are approached, we try to find out as much as possible about them and turn them in when we have enough evidence against them."
"Captain," says Vargas, one hand raised to gain Argent’s attention, "I’d just like to point out that if we wait until someone in authority is asking us why we have contraband aboard which warrants the death penalty, it may already be too late to have our protestations of innocence believed. Just a thought."
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Shadowdancer
First Post
Chapter IX
Date: 111-993 to 112-993Place: Aboard the Bray Keaven, in jump space between Sentry and Alief.
Argent wearily looks at Vargas for a moment, takes in the weary crew at a glance, and then speaks. "Look, it’s late. All of us are at least short, if not dangerously so, on sleep at this point. Given that the immediate danger has passed and we’re not going to be emerging from jump for another six or so days, why don’t we get some sleep after Soro gives us a quick examination?"
Looking at Vargas, he continues. "Mr. Vargas, I do believe that you have the bridge watch. Wake me in 4 hours, and I’ll switch with you. We should be able to dispense with the bridge watch shortly while in jump, but I’d rather have someone keep an eye on things for a little while longer."
Taking in the assembled crew, he adds, "I hope that it goes without saying that I expect that the fuel scoops and their contents remain sealed until we decide the proper course of action. We’ll meet again at 0800 tomorrow morning."
With that, Argent seals the fuel scoops again and leads the crew up to their exams.
-----
Doc Soro quickly completes cursory exams of the crew. All show some signs of exhaustion, but no signs of contamination from the hemmorhagic agent. Those who were present when the fuel scoop area was opened show some minute quantities of Star Flower pollen on their persons, and Soro recommends long showers and a double cleaning of their clothing.
With the exams completed, the crew heads off to a much needed night’s rest.
-----
Having gotten some rest lately, Vargas heads for his duty station on the bridge. The former Scout drops into the pilot’s seat and begins checking the systems’ logs for notable activity. While doing so, he thinks about how this mission was shaping up. Certainly not dull.
He thinks about the comments regarding the Star Flower. He’d be all too happy to space the damned things but whoever said it was right — someone with long arms might come after them seeking retribution. Vargas wasn't frightened by the prospect of conflict, he just preferred to know more about who might be gunning for him.
Checks complete, Vargas settles back to wait for Argent to relieve him.
-----
Assembling at 0800 in the lounge, the crew, some a little bleary eyed, begin the morning with a little more energy, if not having minds any more at ease than before.
Shaking his head sadly at a couple of tardy arrivals, Argent begins. "I hope that you’ve all had a good night’s sleep. We’ve got six days before jump emergence, and I’d like to spend those days productively. We need to decide what to do with the Star Flower, if any maintenance/repairs will be done, and what we'll be doing to prepare for our arrival in Alief."
With that, he glances around the room and waits for a response.
Swann rubs a hand across his face and looks around the room before answering. "I think leaving the Star Flowers in the scoops, for now, is a good idea. I’ll check the filters every couple of days to clean them out, unless someone else wants the job.
"I also like the idea of filming all of our activity with the plants. I’ve served on some ships where we might cut some corners when it came to some rules, regulations, and laws, but nothing that carried a death penalty. I like my life, and intend to keep on living it as long as possible.
"But I also think it is important we try to discover who else was involved in the smuggling. It might have something to do with the explosives, or it might not. If nothing else, for our own safety, we need to try to find out. If those plants don’t end up going to their intended destination, and we just dump them into space without saying a word, anyone who knows about the plants might assume we kept them and sold them to someone else. So they might come looking for us in order to take the credits, or get revenge, or both.
"I’m assuming there is some type of safe or strong box in the captain’s cabin — that would be a good place to keep the recordings."
At this point, Martha looks up from her bagged Jok Moo (a sort of rice porridge), and replies. "There is the captain’s safe in the captain’s cabin. We’ll have to try and crack it though, because the old captain certainly didn’t give me the access codes."
Swann nods, then starts talking again. "As for maintenance and repairs, I thought I’d take a look at the port turret and see if I could get that working before we reach Alief. The way things have been going, we might just need it."
Martha brightens at this comment and responds, "Well, I think that between the two of us, we can get that port turret operational again. We can’t install the weapons while in jump space, but we can do everything to get that turret ready to receive the weapons. Installation and initial setup will still take about eight hours, though."
Looking dejectedly at the limited range of Marine rations available for breakfast (the one thing he thought civvy street would have improved on Marine life), McConnell sighs and pours his Java into his Jok Moo, mixes it with a large amount of sugar, and speaks up. "Well, at this point I agree with Swann. Put the flowers back in the scoops. It seems to me that since the former Captain was smuggling them and that they are somewhat delicate that he probably picked them up at his last stop and that their intended destination was back at Sentry. Maybe the bomb was meant for Martha for not delivering them there? It seemed too crude and too easy to spot to be a military job.
"Of course, if that’s true and there are survivors at Alief, then someone may be expecting a return payment of cash — if the Captain was a courier rather than a speculator. Either way, people who deal in this kind of stuff aren’t too worried about who they might have to kill to keep their business going, and it would be best to be alert both here and back at Sentry when we next make Realspace.
"Perhaps also, Martha could you have a think over the next couple of days and give us a little more information about your last stop at Alief? Did the Captain have an opportunity to collect and stow the flowers there? Do you know who his usual contacts are or where he liked to hang out? Anything that might help us get a better picture of his likely activities would be good.
"Of course, there are still plenty of other possibilities, and we’ve got the relief effort ahead of us first. As for the plague, it’s definitely real but probably not airborne. If it was airborne it would likely have been still hanging around in with the flowers — which were never depressurized and are connected to the life support system — and we would all be dying by now.
"In the meantime, I’ll be glad to lend a hand with the cargo inventory. I’m not much good with technical engineering and maintenance, but I’m willing to pass tools and scrub filters if needs be."
With that he starts shoveling his Jok Moo down, as if by eating it quickly he won’t have to taste it so much.
After plodding over to the dispenser to get his third Marine ration, Darishun ambles over to Saro and suggests, "Doctor Saro? Perhaps it might be a good idea to train us in how to deal with a plague outbreak. I’ve had a little bit of training in biohazard procedures, but most of my time was spent on search and rescue."
"That's a good idea, Darishun," Doc looks around at everyone, "but seeing as we are all very tired, let’s say tomorrow after lunchtime I’ll hold a quick class for everyone. Until then I suggest that everyone get as much rest as possible, allowing for your work schedule. I’d also like to examine every one at least every other day, just to stay on top of any Star Flower spores that might escape."
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Shadowdancer
First Post
Argent listens carefully as each crew member speaks in turn, pauses for a moment, and then speaks.
"All right then. So, Martha and Swann, look at the turret and get it operational. As Martha said, I don’t think that we can install the weapons while in jump space, but we can get that turret ready for installation.
"After you have completed the turret installation, please comm me, and I’d like you two to help me get that captain’s safe open."
Turning to Saro, he continues. "Dr. Saro. We have the second small port cabin open — the one closest to my cabin. Why don’t you set that one up as a sick bay and prepare to give us a class on biohazard procedures? I also expect you to monitor the crew's condition every few hours for the next few days."
Taking in the group, "If any of you feel the slightest bit of discomfort, I expect you to report to Dr. Saro immediately."
Now looking at Vasilii, Ian, and Darishun, he adds. "Darishun, Ian, and Vasilii, continue the inventory of the supplies. If you find anything suspicious, alert me immediately."
At this, the massive sophont shakes his head from side to side, and softly mutters something about "shivok."
Finally, Argent concludes with, "And Vargas and I will be alternately manning the bridge, checking out the logs, and preparing two message files, one containing the information about our bomb, and one containing all information about the Star Flower.
"We’ll meet again for dinner. Let’s get to it, people."
When sophonts start to leave the meeting, Doc motions to the Captain that he’d like to speak with him. In a hushed voice he says, "Mr. Argent, I’ve kept my suspicions quiet thus far, but what with the explosives and the flowers. . . . Ever since the start of the outbreak and the gathering of supplies, it has struck me as peculiar at how fast everything was mobilized. It is almost as if this outbreak was anticipated by the higher authorities." Doc pauses. "My suspicions may not mean nothing from nothing, but I thought I should share them with you in case."
The day proceeds pretty quickly and without notable incident.
Martha and Swann are able to get the port turret operational after a day of hard work. After some consideration, they both decide that installing the missile launcher and pulse laser will take about eight hours in normal space.
Dr. Saro sets up his temporary sickbay in the lower forward port small cabin. It is a bit cramped, but it’ll do. Saro also prepares a little class (four hours long) on biohazard procedures for the next day. No one has shown ill effects of Star Flower exposure or evidence of the hemmorhagic disease.
Darishun, Ian, and Vasilii manage to inventory more of the cargo. At this point, about two–thirds of the cargo is inventoried. No surprises so far. The process is slow going given the need to move things about.
Vargas and Argent spend most of the day on the bridge. They find no surprises there.
Over his dinner of "authentic replica Eru steak," Argent notes the reports of the crew and decides that the crew was coming together pretty well. Surely not a proper Navy crew, but it’ll do for a scratch group.
Saro was tired after the long day of setting up and arranging his equipment in the small sickbay. Then having to pull a biohazard presentation for laypeople out of his rectal region — Oy! What a day!
Stopping in the lounge, Saro grabs a noodle ration pack and heats it up. Looking around, he announces, "I’ve got a little presentation ready for tomorrow, and if it’s all right with the Captain, I’m going to hold it after breakfast tomorrow — say at 1000. We can break for lunch at 1200 and finish it up afterwards."
Listening to Saro report, Argent comments, "1000 tomorrow will be fine, doctor." Taking in the group, he adds, "Everyone heard that, right? I expect all of us to be there tomorrow for the class.
"Swann and Martha? Since you've gotten as far as you can get with the turret, I’d like for you to see what you can do about that safe in my room tomorrow after the class. I’ve got data packets prepared, and I’d like to keep them in the safe.
"Darishun, Vasilii, and Ian? I’d like you to continue the inventory after the class."
Finishing up his noodles, Saro cleans up, then looks around the room again. "Right now I’m bushed, so I’m going to head out for some shut-eye. But if anything comes up, don’t hesitate to wake me, that’s my job after all."
"Sure thing, Doc," Ian says. "I'm feeling OK now but if I have to eat much more of this cornbread I’ll go crazy. Anybody got any Galarglic and Killi sauce? Nothing else will save it. Seesh. Marine rations on a civilian ship. The gods must hate me."
Saro heads to his cabin.
After a quick meal Ian goes to a relatively clear, and well secured, corner of the cargo bay, turns off the grav plates in that section, and does his Zero G exercises. He then hits the fresher.
Feeling somewhat pleased with their progress, Martha spends the early evening in the lounge with the others before retiring to her room. Despite her long day, sleep does not come as easily as she would have hoped. Instead, recent events and revelations dance through her head. Sadly, they keep returning to the same vicious cycle, and the dreams that haunt her, sometimes day and night. She can’t even develop a good, righteous anger at the Old Man before the terror takes over. Numerous times, Martha pulls herself out of the living dream, her eyes drifting over toward the vacc suit nearby, making sure it was close at hand and accessible. For Martha, sleep was, indeed, a long time coming.
After his shower, Ian kicks back in the lounge and flicks through the ship’s Tri-D collection. "Oh wow. Reworked Ancient Classics: ‘The Andromeda Strain’ — I wonder what that’s about? Anybody mind if I play it?
Swann is sitting in the lounge, finishing his supper of Adukgin goulash. He chuckles to himself at Ian’s choice of movies. "No, go right ahead and watch it. You might even discover something useful for our mission. Just don’t be surprised if you start feeling paranoid during and after."
"No problem there," Ian says, "I was in counterintelligence against the Zhodani. Nothing like thinking that someone could know that you are thinking that they know what you are thinking all day to make you just a little crazy. And you know Star Flower is used in creating Psi-drug. Trust me — you can just take it for granted that I’m already paranoid. At least the drink dispenser has Pangalactic Bourbon. Anybody else want a shot?"
Most of the crew watches the rather vapid remake of an ancient vid. There are several shouts of "Oh, come on, you idiot!" as the characters on the vid remove their helmets at unfortunate times.
During the vid, Swann starts thinking about the safe in the captain’s cabin again. "I wonder if there are any more surprises in there," he thinks to himself. "A stash of credits, maybe, or papers for a secret Magi bank account. Depending on how long the old captain was involved in smuggling Star Flowers, he could have hidden away a tidy little sum. But first we have to get inside the safe. I wonder if the locking mechanism is tied in with the computer. Might be worth a look before going to bed."
After disposing of his trash, Swann goes to the bridge to poke around in the computer system and files, to see if there is a connection to the safe, and if there is any information about the safe that might come in handy. The safe appears to be on a completely disconnected from the computer. The only mention of note is that the safe was installed on Sentry about 10 years ago by a fairly reputable firm. Swann doesn’t recognize the model number, but the brand is pretty decent securitywise. Cracking the safe could prove to be interesting. Swann goes to bed.
After a relaxing evening, the crew turns in and, surprisingly enough, mostly have a good night’s sleep without any interruptions, emergencies, or sudden revelations. The sole exception is Martha, partly because of recent trauma and partly because she can feel/hear faint reverberations from Darishun's snoring coming through her cabin wall.
Upon waking up and realizing that the night passed without incident, most of the crew starts to suspect that something is seriously wrong.
"All right then. So, Martha and Swann, look at the turret and get it operational. As Martha said, I don’t think that we can install the weapons while in jump space, but we can get that turret ready for installation.
"After you have completed the turret installation, please comm me, and I’d like you two to help me get that captain’s safe open."
Turning to Saro, he continues. "Dr. Saro. We have the second small port cabin open — the one closest to my cabin. Why don’t you set that one up as a sick bay and prepare to give us a class on biohazard procedures? I also expect you to monitor the crew's condition every few hours for the next few days."
Taking in the group, "If any of you feel the slightest bit of discomfort, I expect you to report to Dr. Saro immediately."
Now looking at Vasilii, Ian, and Darishun, he adds. "Darishun, Ian, and Vasilii, continue the inventory of the supplies. If you find anything suspicious, alert me immediately."
At this, the massive sophont shakes his head from side to side, and softly mutters something about "shivok."
Finally, Argent concludes with, "And Vargas and I will be alternately manning the bridge, checking out the logs, and preparing two message files, one containing the information about our bomb, and one containing all information about the Star Flower.
"We’ll meet again for dinner. Let’s get to it, people."
When sophonts start to leave the meeting, Doc motions to the Captain that he’d like to speak with him. In a hushed voice he says, "Mr. Argent, I’ve kept my suspicions quiet thus far, but what with the explosives and the flowers. . . . Ever since the start of the outbreak and the gathering of supplies, it has struck me as peculiar at how fast everything was mobilized. It is almost as if this outbreak was anticipated by the higher authorities." Doc pauses. "My suspicions may not mean nothing from nothing, but I thought I should share them with you in case."
-----
The day proceeds pretty quickly and without notable incident.
Martha and Swann are able to get the port turret operational after a day of hard work. After some consideration, they both decide that installing the missile launcher and pulse laser will take about eight hours in normal space.
Dr. Saro sets up his temporary sickbay in the lower forward port small cabin. It is a bit cramped, but it’ll do. Saro also prepares a little class (four hours long) on biohazard procedures for the next day. No one has shown ill effects of Star Flower exposure or evidence of the hemmorhagic disease.
Darishun, Ian, and Vasilii manage to inventory more of the cargo. At this point, about two–thirds of the cargo is inventoried. No surprises so far. The process is slow going given the need to move things about.
Vargas and Argent spend most of the day on the bridge. They find no surprises there.
-----
Over his dinner of "authentic replica Eru steak," Argent notes the reports of the crew and decides that the crew was coming together pretty well. Surely not a proper Navy crew, but it’ll do for a scratch group.
Saro was tired after the long day of setting up and arranging his equipment in the small sickbay. Then having to pull a biohazard presentation for laypeople out of his rectal region — Oy! What a day!
Stopping in the lounge, Saro grabs a noodle ration pack and heats it up. Looking around, he announces, "I’ve got a little presentation ready for tomorrow, and if it’s all right with the Captain, I’m going to hold it after breakfast tomorrow — say at 1000. We can break for lunch at 1200 and finish it up afterwards."
Listening to Saro report, Argent comments, "1000 tomorrow will be fine, doctor." Taking in the group, he adds, "Everyone heard that, right? I expect all of us to be there tomorrow for the class.
"Swann and Martha? Since you've gotten as far as you can get with the turret, I’d like for you to see what you can do about that safe in my room tomorrow after the class. I’ve got data packets prepared, and I’d like to keep them in the safe.
"Darishun, Vasilii, and Ian? I’d like you to continue the inventory after the class."
Finishing up his noodles, Saro cleans up, then looks around the room again. "Right now I’m bushed, so I’m going to head out for some shut-eye. But if anything comes up, don’t hesitate to wake me, that’s my job after all."
"Sure thing, Doc," Ian says. "I'm feeling OK now but if I have to eat much more of this cornbread I’ll go crazy. Anybody got any Galarglic and Killi sauce? Nothing else will save it. Seesh. Marine rations on a civilian ship. The gods must hate me."
Saro heads to his cabin.
After a quick meal Ian goes to a relatively clear, and well secured, corner of the cargo bay, turns off the grav plates in that section, and does his Zero G exercises. He then hits the fresher.
-----
Feeling somewhat pleased with their progress, Martha spends the early evening in the lounge with the others before retiring to her room. Despite her long day, sleep does not come as easily as she would have hoped. Instead, recent events and revelations dance through her head. Sadly, they keep returning to the same vicious cycle, and the dreams that haunt her, sometimes day and night. She can’t even develop a good, righteous anger at the Old Man before the terror takes over. Numerous times, Martha pulls herself out of the living dream, her eyes drifting over toward the vacc suit nearby, making sure it was close at hand and accessible. For Martha, sleep was, indeed, a long time coming.
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After his shower, Ian kicks back in the lounge and flicks through the ship’s Tri-D collection. "Oh wow. Reworked Ancient Classics: ‘The Andromeda Strain’ — I wonder what that’s about? Anybody mind if I play it?
Swann is sitting in the lounge, finishing his supper of Adukgin goulash. He chuckles to himself at Ian’s choice of movies. "No, go right ahead and watch it. You might even discover something useful for our mission. Just don’t be surprised if you start feeling paranoid during and after."
"No problem there," Ian says, "I was in counterintelligence against the Zhodani. Nothing like thinking that someone could know that you are thinking that they know what you are thinking all day to make you just a little crazy. And you know Star Flower is used in creating Psi-drug. Trust me — you can just take it for granted that I’m already paranoid. At least the drink dispenser has Pangalactic Bourbon. Anybody else want a shot?"
Most of the crew watches the rather vapid remake of an ancient vid. There are several shouts of "Oh, come on, you idiot!" as the characters on the vid remove their helmets at unfortunate times.
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During the vid, Swann starts thinking about the safe in the captain’s cabin again. "I wonder if there are any more surprises in there," he thinks to himself. "A stash of credits, maybe, or papers for a secret Magi bank account. Depending on how long the old captain was involved in smuggling Star Flowers, he could have hidden away a tidy little sum. But first we have to get inside the safe. I wonder if the locking mechanism is tied in with the computer. Might be worth a look before going to bed."
After disposing of his trash, Swann goes to the bridge to poke around in the computer system and files, to see if there is a connection to the safe, and if there is any information about the safe that might come in handy. The safe appears to be on a completely disconnected from the computer. The only mention of note is that the safe was installed on Sentry about 10 years ago by a fairly reputable firm. Swann doesn’t recognize the model number, but the brand is pretty decent securitywise. Cracking the safe could prove to be interesting. Swann goes to bed.
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After a relaxing evening, the crew turns in and, surprisingly enough, mostly have a good night’s sleep without any interruptions, emergencies, or sudden revelations. The sole exception is Martha, partly because of recent trauma and partly because she can feel/hear faint reverberations from Darishun's snoring coming through her cabin wall.
Upon waking up and realizing that the night passed without incident, most of the crew starts to suspect that something is seriously wrong.
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