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S3: Valorous; Aurora Class Transport Vessel
Topic Started: Dec 13 2014, 04:29 AM (14,331 Views)
Tojoyama
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Cap'n
AFRICA CHAMBERLAIN

"Thank you Samantha." she said as she took the cup of tea. Chamberlain was in a rare non-disaster fashion wise. Normally she would take to the most eclectic of outfits, mixing styles and tastes with such diversity it could be mistaken for some sort of planned Fashion Resistance Movement.

Today she wore a simple spring dress, flower and color. Her shoes still practical. It was out of date by a few years, but wouldn't draw undue attention by anyone.

She paced slowly around the table and spoke as Monte finished his little resume.
"He's got a few other tricks, which he'll not be sharing." Africa sat with a wink toward Sam then sat next to Monte.

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Sonya Gulliver Description
Africa Chamberlain Description
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CaptainNickHunter
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Mudder
On the bridge, the blue marble of Ariel swam into view of the windows. Nick eased the throttle in. The past week had been blissfully quiet, smooth. They glided about the ship, making necessary repairs, and Nick had managed to get some things done on his end as well.

As far as the training with Africa, it was going fine, but he found himself wondering if he'd continue.

Three sessions they'd had now in the cargo bay, and while she was patient and she herself was quite skilled, he didn't care much for the training. She was promoting a one-with-nature focus on balance and stretching, things Nick didn't much care for. When she began speeding up, showing him combat skills, he'd tried to stifle his frustration. He'd known how to fight. He'd been there.

It seemed damned inappropriate, he realized after the third lesson for this member of his crew to be teaching him how to fight. He was the captain, wasn't he? Was this lowering his guard too much?

On some level, he knew he agreed to it to spend a little time with her, bond a little more closely, scope out the stability of her relationship. But now, after realizing he wasn't a delicate as a combatant as she was, he began to feel inferior. This scalpel like precision with which she moved was so different from his own background, barroom brawling, heavy punches and kicks. These sessions would have to end.

He positioned the ship for atmospheric entry, as the ship began to rattle and shake like a tin can full of nails as it entered the atmosphere. He angled the engines for reverse blast for the landing. He grabbed the intercom off the ceiling panel and spoke into it.

"Coming in for a landing at Ariel. All hands brace for landing, strap yourselves in, be ready for a rocky landing."

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PMD14
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Lighthouse Keeper

As the Valorous came down into low orbit a light displayed on a screen in front of the Captain indicating the vessel was being scanned over - standard docking procedure. What surprised him, however, was the verbal prompt that followed.

"Valorous actual, this is Ariel Airspace control 74H. Please proceed to the Priority Strips, pad 9A. Your driver will be waiting." The voice was of a young lady, professional and formal. The request... the Priority Strips... was a little surprising. That was, essentially, the equivalent of First Class treatment, especially on a planet like Ariel. It would seem that whoever was awaiting this delivery had quite a hefty reputation.

No waiting for the Valorous, then - they'd be on the ground in minutes, the shaky old transport ship rubbing shoulders with shiny new star freighters and luxury liners.
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Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon
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SamanthaHunter
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Reavers Love Slave
Sam smiled as Africa and Monte joined her. Monte had an interesting offer. She could handle the mechanical stuff, but on those rough days, having a second pair of hands to handle the computer side of the ship would be awesome. "I'd actually really appreciate it, Monte. At times, it can get pretty hairy down there, in the engine room, and to be able to have someone just to handle the computer side of things would be awesome," Sam had said.

When Africa mentioned 'other things' she couldn't help but laugh, high and free, as she leaned back in her chair, and took another sip of her tea. Before she could add something to the conversation, the captains voice filled the room. "Work, work, work," she said, letting her chair fall back to all four feet, as she stood up to put her mug in the sink. Sam then wrapped her hand around an exposed pipe on the wall, and waited their landing.
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MacTrom
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Harbormaster
Monte headed down to the cargo bay, planning to stand by with Nick to keep watch on who or what wanted on board. Besides, they had that cargo to discharge. He had his dual shoulder pistols strapped on, and a heavy jacket thrown over his shoulders.

His light breakfast felt good in his stomach, and he felt light on his feet. The latest exercise with Africa had taken some of the strain out of his muscles and there had been other pleasures mixed in as well. Their closeness, the warmth of her skin against his, whether wrestling or in bed, gave him a sense of belonging.

For the moment, life looked good.



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But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free I've got nothing but affection for all those who sailed with me
Stick with me baby, stick with me anyhow. Things should start to get interestin' right about now

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CaptainNickHunter
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Mudder
Quote:
 
"Valorous actual, this is Ariel Airspace control 74H. Please proceed to the Priority Strips, pad 9A. Your driver will be waiting."


Nick eased back on the throttle and gripped the yoke hard with his left hand as his right went to the radio. He held the microphone to his mouth for a second, thinking. Priority strip, pad 9A? That was a swanky spot, and there was a driver waiting? For a moment, he'd wished he'd given the old girl a good power-washing before they left Verbena. They were on a final approach, there was no time for thinking like that now.

"Valorous actual confirms. Final approach complete, initiating landing now." He spoke, and clicked the radio back against the bulkhead.

Valorous nestled down among the luxury liners, the space yachts, and for a moment, Nick looked down longingly at the clean lines of one of them nearby. What he would do, who would he kill for a yacht like that? He could still run cargo with it, they'd get stopped a lot less if they looked like core citizens on vacation, and the boats were fast, too. He was smitten with the fresh white painted metal with a thin red stripe, accenting it's curves, the glass and the delicate bubble-like curvature.

The landing gear rattled him from his reverie as it deployed, a great nasty, rusty groaning sound as always and he pulled back on the yoke until they touched down with a brief metallic thud. At least, he thought, he'd stuck the landing, anything to reduce the horrified looks of passerby staring at the great rusty hulk of the ship. He locked it in to ground controls, switched the engine off, and listened as the metal bulkheads all settled around him, tiny creaks and groans. He stood up, stretched his back, yawned, checked his pistols on either side of his waist, and pounded down the metal deck through the kitchen.

"Monte, Sam, let's go. Africa, you stay put, hold down the fort." He pointed to each of them. "Also, Sam, later on, get a look at that landing gear, I'm tired of it embarrassing me."

He proceeded on through the kitchen and down into the cargo bay to await the cargo recipient.
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SamanthaHunter
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Reavers Love Slave
Sam waited for the thud of landing, keeping hold on the pipe. As they landed, that ever comforting sound of the ship moaning and groaning entered her ears. The sounds of the ship gave it the rustic and trusty personality that she loved so dearly. And then Nick came down and ruined it, telling her she had to fix it. That she had to fix the one thing, or at least one of the things that made this ship her ship.

"I bet if we were anywhere else in the whole damn verse you wouldn't be saying that. You'd be thanking me that we actually had a working landing gear," she joked with a smile. "Come on, Captain. You don't really want to belong here, with all of these rich, centeral planet húndàn, right?" Sam followed him towards the cargo hold, a cheery smile. "What's next, you'll make me go change? Put on a silver jumpsuit and walk around with my hair all done up like a central planet mechanic?"

As she slid down the stairs she smiled some more. "This ship is the finest in the verse, or at least the verse that actually matters. 'Cause this ship is loved. All those yachts out there? No one loves them enough to travel to three different solar systems just to find the right lug-nut. Nah. Valorous has heart. She's way better,"
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Tojoyama
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Cap'n
AFRICA CHAMBERLAIN

Africa listened to the siblings banter and smiled. They were bonded by blood and a kinship that she had found rare, even in families.

As Monte prepared to disembark she gave him a kiss and a pat on the bottom. "Try not to get anything important shot or impounded."

Then she took a position at the entrance of ship and watched the comings and goings of their prestigious landing area.
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MacTrom
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Harbormaster
Monte responded to Africa's kiss by wrapping her in one arm and holding the kiss a little longer than she expected. As he released her, he grinned. "I'll return with all my bits in place. Heck, this here is just a simple drop off. Can't hardly go anywhere but good from here. And those shiny boats? Hell, been on them as well and the crowd that runs them don't care 'bout nothin' but the cleanliness of their tables. Can't stand the bustle and nattiness that they tend to show. Not my cup of tea. Thanks but no thanks."

He stepped down off the ramp and patted the side of the Blaze. "Give me a boat that's been through it all and held her own. That's the sign of success. "


Posted Image
But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free I've got nothing but affection for all those who sailed with me
Stick with me baby, stick with me anyhow. Things should start to get interestin' right about now

Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image

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PMD14
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Lighthouse Keeper

As the transport ship opened up, the Captain and his entourage were met by a small party of suits. Just a few metres away from the ramp of the Valorous sat two vehicles - a black, sleek limousine and a glossy black van. They must have pulled up in the time it took for the Captain to land the vessel and make his way down to the loading ramp.

The docks were alive at this time in the morning, vehicles and people going this way and that. Even the haulers and trucks that moved cargo around were glistening and spotless - everything was sterile, almost unnaturally. The Valorous, where she sat, almost seemed to pull the light out of the air around her, leaving a dark shadow in the middle of the huge, exclusive space port.

"Captain Hunter, it's so good to meet you." One of the men steps forward, extending a hand to Nick. He is tall, slender, and bald. His face taut, yet flashing a wry smile, and his accent is an exotic one which the crew have never heard before. His hands are gloved, like those of a chauffeur. Behind him there are six others - four stand silent, hands clasped behind their backs, wearing dark sunglasses. The fifth and six, also in suits, stand by the limousine.

"We've been expecting your arrival, though didn't think you'd be in until later today. Names Trencher. On behalf of Mr Vukic and his associates here in Capital City." The bald man speaks again, shaking hands with the Captain.
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Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon
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CaptainNickHunter
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Mudder
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"Captain Hunter, it's so good to meet you."


Nick smiled broadly and shook the man's hand warmly. When he released, he pointed back into the cargo bay where the crates waited.

"Feel free to send your men on in there to collect your cargo." He smiled again.

Quote:
 
"We've been expecting your arrival, though didn't think you'd be in until later today. Names Trencher. On behalf of Mr Vukic and his associates here in Capital City."


"It's a pleasure," Nick spoke. "We were making good time, and I figured you'd appreciate an early arrival, my crew does good work. We're always on time."

He pointed to Sam and Monte behind him.

"These are my associates, Samantha, our first officer, and Monte."
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MacTrom
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Monte nodded at the introduction, and waved the shoremen onto the cargo ramp. His eyes followed their progress as they went about securing the cargo. While things looked like they were being handled, Monte relaxed a bit and turned away to look over the rest of the landing dock, paying attention to the comings and goings of other ship's handlers.

"Nice bit of country you have here. Keeping quite busy, I see. Been a stretch of time since I've been on this class of earth. A long time."



Posted Image
But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free I've got nothing but affection for all those who sailed with me
Stick with me baby, stick with me anyhow. Things should start to get interestin' right about now

Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image

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Tojoyama
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Cap'n
Africa Chamberlain

It looked like the recipients of their cargo were ready to receive it. Africa moved back into the ship and too a position off to the side where she could watch them and especially the one mysterious crate.

In her spring flowery dress, relaxed and free of any concerned look; she was rather inconspicuous. She floated from one foot to the other, raising the ungrounded foot up so that the knee bend was 90 degrees. All with a dancers grace.

From headphones around her neck a junk folk tune played softly, just loud enough for her to hear the beat, quiet enough the sounds of the cargo bay could still be heard.
Sonya Gulliver Description
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PMD14
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Lighthouse Keeper

Trencher smiled in greeting to Samantha and Monte as the four men in suits and sunglasses deployed with rapid, synchronised enthusiasm into the cargo hold of the Valorous. The leader of the four gave a short nod to Africa as they passed by and, using a small hydraulic trolley, started loading up crates from the cargo bay floor.
Monte
 
"Nice bit of country you have here. Keeping quite busy, I see. Been a stretch of time since I've been on this class of earth. A long time."
Trencher cocked an eyebrow at Monte with an expression on his face that suggested he wasn't interested in this man setting foot on his fancy planet, let alone listening to his small talk.

"Yes, uh... quite." He redistributes his weight to one foot, then the other, hands wrung in front of him awkwardly. Then he turns back to the Captain, clearing his throat.

"Shall we, then? The goods will be offloaded at our warehouses on the other side of the docks while we handle the bureaucracy." He gestures to the limousine and one of the nearby suits opens the back door, revealing a plush black leather interior and the feint echo of classical music.

Here, in the shadow of the hulking, rustic Valorous, none of the men seem to find the scenario out of the ordinary one bit.
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Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon
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Tojoyama
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Cap'n
AFRICA CHAMBERLAIN

Nothing changed in Africa's demeanor. On the alert or relaxed, it was all the same in her studied and now natural calm. Awareness was inherent at all times, relaxed as well. The movements in the cargo bay observed, noticed, her own mind enjoying the music. All was one, an intermingled diverse dance of daily existence.



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CaptainNickHunter
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Mudder
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"Nice bit of country you have here. Keeping quite busy, I see. Been a stretch of time since I've been on this class of earth. A long time."


Nick whipped his head around to Monte, his look that of irritation. What was he doing, bringing that farm boy gosse into his speech, showing his cards. These men were clearly sharks, why was he spilling blood into the water?

"Monte, I'll be doing the talking here." He said curtly and turned back to Trencher.

Quote:
 
"Shall we, then? The goods will be offloaded at our warehouses on the other side of the docks while we handle the bureaucracy."


Nick chuckled audibly to gloss over the weirdness and nodded with a smile. He stepped toward the limousine and climbed in, sliding all the way inward to make room for Sam and Monte.
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SamanthaHunter
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Reavers Love Slave
Sam stood to the side, keeping her stance relaxed, and her hands folded behind her back. Once again, her plan was to stand there and shut up, trying to keep herself looking professional, or as professional as she could with a little engine grease on her chin. As the captain introduced her. She nodded simply as to acknowledge that she was Sam, and that she was actually an associate. Not just some stranger.

A limo pulled up, and Sam tried her very best to pick her jaw off the floor. The last time she had been in a limo had been... Never! She had only seen these things in a movies and heard them described in books. She waited for the captain, and then climbed into the plush limo. "Damn," she said under her breath. This was a life she could get used to!
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Tojoyama
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Cap'n
AFRICA CHAMBERLAIN

Her ears were sharp, and when the Captain spoke somewhat harshly to Monte, they burned just a little. She wondered for a moment why Nick had not provided instructions on behavior prior to, if it was that important. Or maybe it was all part of an act. Surely it was no secret they were border and rim world folk, though of course Africa wasn't.

She made eye contact with one of the longshorement loading up the crates, smiled and nodded friendly then returned to what appeared to be mindless wanderings. A slightly larger smile as she awaited Monte's response the Captain's harsh tone.
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PMD14
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Lighthouse Keeper

Nick Hunter
 
"Monte, I'll be doing the talking here."
Trencher raised an eyebrow at this, though his composure quickly turned back to formal and friendly when the Captain laughed. He then directed the trio to the car, smiling.

"Please, after you."


..... // VALOROUS

Once the group had piled in, Trencher and one of the suited personnel also climbing into the spacious rear of the vehicle, they started moving. The remaining four men who were working inside the Valorous with the crates were almost finished by now, ferrying the goods to the large waiting van efficiently and in silence.

One of the men, the youngest of the four, caught Africa's attention as he was returning for the final haul of crates. He looked quite young, maybe just in his 20's, and his face had an unexpected youthful innocence to it. His eyes glinted with something unexpected and he looked away.

Fear.


..... // THE MEETING

The tinted windows of the limousine didn't allow for much of the outside world to reach in, let alone give the passengers a good view out. Nick, Monte and Sam all sat to one side, while Trencher and his silent colleague (quickly identified as some kind of security due to the bulge of what appeared to be an uzi under his jacket) sat opposite. In the middle was a small glass bench. To one side, an assortment of alcohol - hard liquors and spirits and wine.

For a minute or two, the silence was unbearable.

"Is this your first time on Ariel, then?" Trencher clearly intended to hide the patronising tone of his words, but the small, momentary grin of his bodyguard gave him away. He directed the words to the Captain, though his eyes kept looking over Monte.

His bodyguard, a towering man without much muscle to him, but large nonetheless, seemed more to have eyes for the Captain's sister than anyone else.
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Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon
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MacTrom
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Harbormaster
Monte was still feeling the burn of Nick's comments and held his tongue as they crawled into the limo. Even when prompted by Trencher, Monte didn't respond immediately, but rather, glanced at Nick for a reply. He tilted his head slightly, watching the careful gaze of the thug Security, before giving a slight nod in acknowledgement. No sense giving away his true calling.

It had been years; decades even, since he had graduated from Ariel's esteemed house of learning with the master degree of cryptoarcheaology. Professor Turring might even still be in residence there. His mentor, not that much older than him, was devoted to the histories of Earth-That-Was. Monte had taken on that mantle as well, but found that the outer rim and border worlds held more interesting artifacts. The question that always bound the two of them together was whether there had actually been something or someone here before the Exodus.




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But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free I've got nothing but affection for all those who sailed with me
Stick with me baby, stick with me anyhow. Things should start to get interestin' right about now

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