NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shadowdancer" data-source="post: 1754796" data-attributes="member: 515">Chapter IX Date: 166-993 Location: Aboard the Bray Keaven, Sentry systemThe Bray Keaven leaves Sentry orbit at 21:48 hours and heads towards the 100–planetary diameter mark. The transit is pretty uneventful, and traffic is pretty sparse beyond Sentry orbit given the vastness of the volume. In the starboard turret, Swann amuses himself by tracking the few vessels that fall within sensor range: a Hullen–class scout/courier leaving from Sentry Highport at about the same time as the Bray Keaven leaves orbit; a Gazelle–class close escort that is making some sort of far orbit patrol; and a Ushii–class free trader inbound from the jump limit. He tracks the scout/courier the longest since she appears to be headed in roughly the same direction, but at a lower acceleration. Martha keeps busy preparing systems for jump and wishing that the annual drive maintenance had been performed in Sentry, but as long as the drives are still within spec. Aidan and Saro spend most of the time chatting in the lounge. Aidan discovers that he is essentially restricted to the lounge and his room. Ian checks the ship’s locker and then goes to hang out in the lounge. Vasilii checks the cargo. The cargo appears to be well loaded and secured. As far as Vasilii can tell based on a two–hour inspection, all cargoes match the manifest and there isn’t anything notable other than Aidan’s three one–dTon cargo containers appear to be full of old electronics parts, many showing definite wear or at least heavy dust. One container has parts that are all still in original boxes with dates from about 100 years ago. On the bridge, Vargas and Kevon mostly engage in small talk for most of the transit. -----About 30 minutes after the turn–around point (to start deceleration), Vargas (and Swann from his turret) notice a 100 dTon ship (probably the Hullen–class scout/courier) go sailing by at a high speed around 10 kkm from them. Vargas and Swann both think that speed is a little odd since the ship is headed outsystem on that vector and should have started decelerating for jump if it were going to jump. A couple of minutes later, the Bray Keaven receives a panicked hail. "Signal GK! Signal GK! This is IMV Oser to any vessels in the area. We had an explosion in our cargo bay and our maneuver drive is out. The fire is under control, but we have two critically wounded crew. We are currently headed outsystem on a vector of . . . " The speaker gives his vector, distance, and speed, and then repeats the message. Looking down at the plot, Kevon and Vargas determine the high–speed, 100–dTon ship that passed is the Oser. Kevon estimates that the Bray Keaven could intercept the ship within about 45 minutes by turning around and accelerating for an intercept. There are no other ships within sensor range (a paltry 15 kkm for the Bray Keaven). Kevon taps the comms. "Okay, people. The Oser is heading out of the system," he announces. "I have no other ships on track, and these people need assistance. I recommend we lay in an intercept course immediately." -----Martha chimes back. "As we are in Imperial space, we’re obligated by law to assist them if we can do so without endangering the ship or the crew. However, I recommend we go in with weapons armed and at the ready, as these guys could be pirates!" Martha begins preparations in the event that she has to perform any emergency actions in engineering, such as pushing the older systems or instituting an emergency jump within the 100–diameter limit, should things go awry. -----After Kevon informs the crew of the mayday, Swann starts powering up the lasers and scanning for other ships even before Martha’s prudent warning about pirates. "I’ve played this game before, but from the other side," he mumbles to himself. -----The Doc is up and moving towards the sickbay as he tags his own comm, "I’m on my way to get sickbay ready. If you can, find out what types of injuries the crew have, and I’ll get what I’ll need prepped. Otherwise I’ll just try to be prepared for anything." -----"You know, you’d think an explosion — or the threat of one — is standard for everybody leaving this place," Vargas says, referencing the last time the crew headed outsystem. "I’ll see what I can find out, Doc." Vargas flips over to local GUARD frequency. "Oser, what is the status of your injured and the nature of their injuries?" The former Scout then turns to Kevon. "Could you try and get a message off to the eye-en requesting assistance?" Kevon nods to Vargas, then turns his attention to the comms on the emergency IN frequency. "To any Imperial Navy vessels with communications range: This is the free trader Bray Keaven. We received a Signal GK from IMV Oser, steady on vector 1-1-6-mark-8 out of system at 8-9-mark-4-6 kilometers per second," he says. "Oser reports loss of maneuver drive, due to an explosion in their cargo section. "Keaven is pursuing the vessel to provide assistance," the reserve officer continues. "Please respond. This message will repeat." The lieutenant commander sends the message and sets the system to repeat the message every minute. "Okay, we’re set. I’ll monitor ImpNav frequencies as we go along." -----Vasilii freezes while resealing the cargo containers of Aidan Silver and listens to the Signal GK on the open ship channel. He hurriedly finishes resealing the containers and makes his way to the weapons’ locker. Making sure no one is around, he collects a snub pistol and some magazines, and tucks the weapon under his jacket. Locking the container, he heads to the turret where Swann is stationed. Pitching his voice low, he informs him of his discovery with Mr. Silver’s electronic parts. Swann is a little surprised to find Vasilii outside the turret. He begins to nod his head as he listens to Vasilii’s description of Aidan’s cargo. "It could all be a coincidence, but we’ve had too many ‘coincidences’ lately," Swann says, also in a low voice, after checking to make sure his comm is off. "As discreetly as possible, inform Ian first, then the rest of the crew. Don’t bother Doc — if this is a real emergency, he’ll already have enough to deal with. "Why don’t you leave me that snub pistol and the clips, and go get another for yourself and one for Ian."</blockquote>

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