Tophocles
Prospector
Last Guy in the Airlock
Posts: 85
|
Post by Tophocles on Apr 18, 2021 12:00:04 GMT -5
When news reaches engineering that the ship is going to use the scoops, Casca looks around to see how they attach on this ship. Every ship is different, and there's always an element of jury-rigging in his experience. The process is always the same, however -- disconnect fuel line, connect it to the hydrogen isolator, which itself is connected to the intake valve. The isolator on this ship, he notes, is high quality; it has a feedback tube that refills the oxygen tanks as well; a very efficient system. Casca traces the fuel line, ensures it's clean, and is ready for instructions from the bridge.
|
|
|
Post by erisred on Apr 19, 2021 23:28:13 GMT -5
Peng listens in to all the various chatter, then puts in (still in a pensive tone): "Guys, any reason we need to return to the surface? I got no drivin' need to face the music, 'ticularly since the Taggart A**holes who started this dance left us holdin' the pro-ver-bee-ul bag."Peng sucks in air through his teeth [which unbeknownst to him makes a dry grating sound through his lavalier microphone] then adds, " I vote we just toddle on out to the 100D limit and leave all this in our wake."After a moment, he adds: "Oh! I'd really like to see if we can catch some of that Taggart debris. Might be able to tell what we hit, maybe even where they got those bits . . . and so where they might go again, for replacements."
Charlie will plot a course to do that and send it to Tak. Blackjack says, "Got to refuel before we can jump out of here. Quickest is ocean refueling, Peng. I'd rather not spend the 3 or 4 days it'll take to get to the nearest gas giant. But, yeah, refuel and then scram is the order of the day. Charlie, you can take a quick pass looking for debris, but not too much time, and I don't want the ground pounders tracking us to where we refuel, so we need to be as invisible to them as possible."
"I know they are primative, no satellites, no SDB's, but they do have a Class C port and the ground based radar and comm systems that goes with it. They might have some radar elsewhere on the surface, too. So, take care." Blackjack adds, "Now, I'm going back to Engineering to offer the man back there the same deal I made to these two. Charlie, you have the bridge."
|
|
|
Post by erisred on Apr 19, 2021 23:33:06 GMT -5
Charlie will plot a course to do that and send it to Tak. Aarav returns to the sensor/comms console and begins scanning for the Taggart debris. He also scans for the ship itself and any other ships which are maneuvering in the area, while paying special attention to the comms channel to attempt to monitor any communication with Starport Control.
If he has any attention left to spare, he'll have another look at the sensor data on surface water sources, trying to identify the best secondary choices after the atoll that Charlie and Takeal had identified. There is a fast fading cloud of debris out past the first moon. You might be able to grab some of that, scoop it up and sort it later. There are no other ship transponders in the system and Aarav's scans don't pick up any in this system's either. Now, there could be some lying in wait out at the system's one gas giant or further out than the Clear Sails sensors can reach, but if there are they are several days away from the main world.
|
|
|
Post by erisred on Apr 19, 2021 23:53:23 GMT -5
When news reaches engineering that the ship is going to use the scoops, Casca looks around to see how they attach on this ship. Every ship is different, and there's always an element of jury-rigging in his experience. The process is always the same, however -- disconnect fuel line, connect it to the hydrogen isolator, which itself is connected to the intake valve. The isolator on this ship, he notes, is high quality; it has a feedback tube that refills the oxygen tanks as well; a very efficient system. Casca traces the fuel line, ensures it's clean, and is ready for instructions from the bridge. The Chief Engineer who had left a short while before comes back and takes a look at what Casca is doing, "I see you anticipated from the conversation up on the Bridge. Good work.""I'm Blackjack Miller, this ship's owner, for now anyway. What's your name?"
"I guess you heard we're going to do an ocean refueling, so I also guess you heard that I'm going to make you an offer." "Working passage from here to Elati or we'll drop you off near some settlement here and you can make your way back to the Starport. That's the best we can do, because we're likely to be detained if we land back at the port, and that's not happening if it can be avoided." Blackjack says, "You look like you know what you're doing and this ship is going to need a good engineer once I leave her on Elati. If you're interested in a long term berth, even a share in ownership, you've got a good shot at that aboard Clear Sails. If you agree to sign on, of course. What do you say?"OOC: All assuming Vhar says OK to the working passage. "I think Charlie and the others want to fish for some of the debris that blew off that pirate ship when Peng winged her. Any suggestions as to how we can collect some of it, a net of something?" Blackjack asks, then adds, "Ocean refueling is generally just a matter to sticking a hose in the water and pumping it into the tanks. It can be processed on our way out to the jump point, so that's very straight forward and much safer than refueling in a gas giant's atmosphere. It's been a long time since I had to do it, but Clear Sails is heading into unexplored territory, eventually, and will need to be able to do this sort of thing."He says with a grin, "Practice is a good thing."
|
|
Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
|
Post by Aarav on Apr 20, 2021 0:05:02 GMT -5
There is a fast fading cloud of debris out past the first moon. You might be able to grab some of that, scoop it up and sort it later. There are no other ship transponders in the system and Aarav's scans don't pick up any in this system's either. Now, there could be some lying in wait out at the system's one gas giant or further out than the Clear Sails sensors can reach, but if there are they are several days away from the main world. Aarav sends the debris sensor data to Charlie's console. "Sensors are showing no other ships in the inner system," he says to Charlie and Takeal. "Though it doesn't look like there's sufficient sensor capability to find a ship at the gas giant or elsewhere in the outer system."
|
|
Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
|
Post by Aarav on Apr 20, 2021 8:42:06 GMT -5
There are no other ship transponders in the system. . . . Aarav carefully records Taggart's transponder code in the sensors database, cross-referencing it with other data records of Clear Sails' encounter--the weapons fire, the pursuit maneuver profile, the lift sequence from the starport, sensor readings of Taggart, etc.--here at ShiraLea.
|
|
|
Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 20, 2021 8:51:31 GMT -5
Charlie will plot a course to do that and send it to Tak. Blackjack says, "Got to refuel before we can jump out of here. Quickest is ocean refueling, Peng. I'd rather not spend the 3 or 4 days it'll take to get to the nearest gas giant. But, yeah, refuel and then scram is the order of the day. Charlie, you can take a quick pass looking for debris, but not too much time, and I don't want the ground pounders tracking us to where we refuel, so we need to be as invisible to them as possible."
"I know they are primative, no satellites, no SDB's, but they do have a Class C port and the ground based radar and comm systems that goes with it. They might have some radar elsewhere on the surface, too. So, take care." Blackjack adds, "Now, I'm going back to Engineering to offer the man back there the same deal I made to these two. Charlie, you have the bridge.""Got it." Charlie tries to find the densest area of debris and calculates a minimum time pass. If the man on sensors picks up something useful, he'll see if they need to pause. He'll also look for a course down that will have the ground siders as much in the dark about where they're going as possible.
|
|
|
Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 20, 2021 8:54:50 GMT -5
There is a fast fading cloud of debris out past the first moon. You might be able to grab some of that, scoop it up and sort it later. There are no other ship transponders in the system and Aarav's scans don't pick up any in this system's either. Now, there could be some lying in wait out at the system's one gas giant or further out than the Clear Sails sensors can reach, but if there are they are several days away from the main world. Aarav sends the debris sensor data to Charlie's console. "Sensors are showing no other ships in the inner system," he says to Charlie and Takeal. "Though it doesn't look like there's sufficient sensor capability to find a ship at the gas giant or elsewhere in the outer system." "We'll just have to hope no one is out there. If we spot a collectable and interesting looking set of debris, we'll be pausing to collect what we can. See if you can determine what the debris comes from as we encounter it, if you can."
|
|
Tophocles
Prospector
Last Guy in the Airlock
Posts: 85
|
Post by Tophocles on Apr 20, 2021 13:52:42 GMT -5
Blackjack: "I see you anticipated from the conversation up on the Bridge. Good work."
Casca: "I figured when we re-entered the atmosphere... Plus, there's been no call to add the baffles needed for a port landing." Casca shrugs. "Though you've taken aboard some extra passengers you weren't counting on".
Blackjack: "I'm Blackjack Miller, this ship's owner, for now anyway. What's your name?"
Casca: "Casca. Casca Vhar." He offers his hand, after wiping it on the same cloth he had already used to remove the blood. "I hope your friend in sickbay is stable."
Blackjack" "I guess you heard we're going to do an ocean refueling, so I also guess you heard that I'm going to make you an offer."
Casca: Casca thinks of his dinner reservation he had made back in port, but realizes he actually has no other business to attend to there. "I actually didn't know an offer was coming, but I am actually free to travel right now."
Blackjack: "Working passage from here to Elati or we'll drop you off near some settlement here and you can make your way back to the Starport. That's the best we can do, because we're likely to be detained if we land back at the port, and that's not happening if it can be avoided." Blackjack says, "You look like you know what you're doing and this ship is going to need a good engineer once I leave her on Elati. If you're interested in a long term berth, even a share in ownership, you've got a good shot at that aboard Clear Sails. If you agree to sign on, of course. What do you say?"
Casca: "Well, I'll certainly come to Elati with you." (He realizes that this might throw off the trail of any pursuers he might have, esecially if the departure wasn't logged and he wasn't on board.) "As to whether I stay, I guess I'd be interested in learning what the sort of business the ship usually conducts. And who the captain would be -- fine if everyone is an owner, but there has to be some sort of clear hierarchy, don't you agree?" He pauses, and turns some things over in his head. "A share in the ownership of a ship like this is not unappealing."
Blackjack: "I think Charlie and the others want to fish for some of the debris that blew off that pirate ship when Peng winged her. Any suggestions as to how we can collect some of it, a net of something?" Blackjack asks, then adds, "Ocean refueling is generally just a matter to sticking a hose in the water and pumping it into the tanks. It can be processed on our way out to the jump point, so that's very straight forward and much safer than refueling in a gas giant's atmosphere. It's been a long time since I had to do it, but Clear Sails is heading into unexplored territory, eventually, and will need to be able to do this sort of thing."
He says with a grin, "Practice is a good thing."
Casca: "Indeed. Is there a ship's boat? It might be a bit more maneuverable so close tp an atmosphere for harvesting debris, and would have a greater variability in the thrust than this ship. I can fly it for you. If you have some cables that would stretch from bow-to-stern, you could use thread major pieces and affix them at the bow. It would be secure, and would balance itself, but it would require offloading any material not in a cargo hold at a highport."
|
|
ateno
Traveler
Posts: 111
|
Post by ateno on Apr 20, 2021 15:32:01 GMT -5
Loud enough to everyone in the Bridge.
"Well now that the initial problems are no longer trailing us, and I am a member of the crew, can I ask for some food and water, meat if you have it. I am so hungry.
Also, I could use a bath and some clothing. Draw a laser weapon out of ships stores?"
Ekhunoz
|
|
Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
|
Post by Aarav on Apr 20, 2021 18:56:43 GMT -5
"If we spot a collectable and interesting looking set of debris, we'll be pausing to collect what we can. See if you can determine what the debris comes from as we encounter it, if you can." Aarav begins a secondary scan of the debris field, focusing on the larger pieces, anything that has a radiation (including heat) or active energy signature and for any organic material. "How are we going to bring this aboard?" he asks. "Is there a console in engineering or aboard the launch where I should be sending these sensor scans?"
|
|
Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
|
Post by Aarav on Apr 20, 2021 18:58:30 GMT -5
Also, I could use a bath and some clothing. Aarav does his best not to grimace at the odor. "Let me second the request for a bath for the Furry One," he says with a grin.
|
|
|
Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 20, 2021 20:03:59 GMT -5
"If we spot a collectable and interesting looking set of debris, we'll be pausing to collect what we can. See if you can determine what the debris comes from as we encounter it, if you can." Aarav begins a secondary scan of the debris field, focusing on the larger pieces, anything that has a radiation (including heat) or active energy signature and for any organic material. "How are we going to bring this aboard?" he asks. "Is there a console in engineering or aboard the launch where I should be sending these sensor scans?" "Send it to engineering. Blackjack or the other guy might have some skill in determining what we're seeing and have ideas on recovery. Engineers have mysterious skills. Thanks."
|
|
Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
|
Post by Aarav on Apr 20, 2021 20:26:11 GMT -5
"Send it to engineering." Aarav sends the sensor scans of the debris field to the maneuver drive console in the port lower enginer room and, after a thought, also to the power plant console in the upper engine room.
|
|
|
Post by raikenclw on Apr 20, 2021 20:40:16 GMT -5
Peng puts in: "I 'pect using the launch would be easiest. Match vectors with the debris, then EVA to pull it in. Or snag it with a grappling line, if we got one of those in a locker somewhere."
|
|
|
Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 20, 2021 20:49:41 GMT -5
Peng puts in: "I 'pect using the launch would be easiest. Match vectors with the debris, then EVA to pull it in. Or snag it with a grappling line, if we got one of those in a locker somewhere.""Probably. Really depends on how scattered everything is." OOC: Is he still in the turret? If so, we maybe should open the hatch now since he's right there.
|
|
|
Post by raikenclw on Apr 21, 2021 17:34:19 GMT -5
OOC: Peng came out of his turret in time to hear Blackjack's "specifyin'" and has since been propping up the bulkhead beside that open hatch. True to form, Peng shows no inclination whatsoever to perform physical labor his own self.
|
|
Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
|
Post by Aarav on Apr 21, 2021 18:59:26 GMT -5
Peng puts in: "I 'pect using the launch would be easiest. Match vectors with the debris, then EVA to pull it in. Or snag it with a grappling line, if we got one of those in a locker somewhere.""I've also sent the debris sensor data to the power plant console in the upper engine room," Aarav says. "That's near the hatch to the launch, right?"
|
|
|
Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 22, 2021 13:52:53 GMT -5
Peng puts in: "I 'pect using the launch would be easiest. Match vectors with the debris, then EVA to pull it in. Or snag it with a grappling line, if we got one of those in a locker somewhere.""I've also sent the debris sensor data to the power plant console in the upper engine room," Aarav says. "That's near the hatch to the launch, right?" "Should be. I don't spend much time back in engineering. Blackjack puts you to work of you do that."
|
|
Tophocles
Prospector
Last Guy in the Airlock
Posts: 85
|
Post by Tophocles on Apr 23, 2021 13:49:26 GMT -5
Casca, having been put to work by Blackjack in engineering, continues to work.
|
|
Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
|
Post by Aarav on Apr 23, 2021 18:51:50 GMT -5
"I've also sent the debris sensor data to the power plant console in the upper engine room," Aarav says. "That's near the hatch to the launch, right?" "Should be. I don't spend much time back in engineering. Blackjack puts you to work of you do that." Aarav looks over at Peng. "Peng, is it?" he asks. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Gazi. Aarav Gazi." He glances back at Charlie and Takheal. "Will Captain Blackjack decide how to capture some debris . . . and who will do it?"
|
|
|
Post by raikenclw on Apr 23, 2021 21:53:52 GMT -5
Peng begins cleaning and trimming his fingernails with his Blade, which is rather like watching someone use a sledgehammer to drive finishing nails. Nobody's ever seen him slip up while doing this, but it can still be a bit disturbing to watch. Aarav looks over at Peng. "Peng, is it?" he asks. Peng nods without looking up from his task. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Gazi. Aarav Gazi." At this sally, Peng glances up long enough to say, "Pleased to meet ya."
[Aarav] glances back at Charlie and Takheal. "Will Captain Blackjack decide how to capture some debris . . . and who will do it?" Peng looks up again and offers, "'Spect he'll leave it to us to handle. I'm guessin' he's gonna be spendin' most of his time 'til we jump hoverin' around Cho's bedside."Slipping his Blade back into its hidden sheath, Peng adds: "If and when we come across some extra creds, we might want to mount some extra cannon charge capacitors. Havin' the ability to get off a few rapid-fire shots could be real useful, down the road a ways."
|
|
Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
|
Post by Aarav on Apr 24, 2021 9:33:53 GMT -5
Peng begins cleaning and trimming his fingernails with his Blade, which is rather like watching someone use a sledgehammer to drive finishing nails. [snip] At this sally, Peng glances up long enough to say, "Pleased to meet ya."Aarav gulps at this--the knife-handling rather than the greeting--and after a moment nods in acknowledgment, then turns his attention back to the sensors.
|
|
|
Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 24, 2021 17:26:01 GMT -5
Peng begins cleaning and trimming his fingernails with his Blade, which is rather like watching someone use a sledgehammer to drive finishing nails. Nobody's ever seen him slip up while doing this, but it can still be a bit disturbing to watch. Aarav looks over at Peng. "Peng, is it?" he asks. Peng nods without looking up from his task. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Gazi. Aarav Gazi." At this sally, Peng glances up long enough to say, "Pleased to meet ya."
[Aarav] glances back at Charlie and Takheal. "Will Captain Blackjack decide how to capture some debris . . . and who will do it?" Peng looks up again and offers, "'Spect he'll leave it to us to handle. I'm guessin' he's gonna be spendin' most of his time 'til we jump hoverin' around Cho's bedside."Slipping his Blade back into its hidden sheath, Peng adds: "If and when we come across some extra creds, we might want to mount some extra cannon charge capacitors. Havin' the ability to get off a few rapid-fire shots could be real useful, down the road a ways." "Truth. I seem to remember Ben Dean can fly a ship's boat, but maybe the new engineer can as well. Best to ask, I suppose. Since Blackjack is likely going to be busy, I'll take figuring that off his hands." Charlie opens a com channel to engineering. "Engineering, this is the bridge. We're going to see about picking up some debris from the pirate before we go down to refuel. Does the new guy--Casca?--have experience with a vacc suit or ship's boat? We can find some extra hands for use, but we'll definitely need a pilot."
|
|
Tophocles
Prospector
Last Guy in the Airlock
Posts: 85
|
Post by Tophocles on Apr 24, 2021 18:43:47 GMT -5
"Bridge, This is Engineering. Cascs. Ess-Boat Pilot as my primary for the past 8 years, running interface for the high and mighty. Rated on Vaccs as well, as per standard. Happy to give a hand if it helps."
|
|
|
Post by Terry Mixon on Apr 24, 2021 20:35:01 GMT -5
"Bridge, This is Engineering. Cascs. Ess-Boat Pilot as my primary for the past 8 years, running interface for the high and mighty. Rated on Vaccs as well, as per standard. Happy to give a hand if it helps." "Thanks. We'll find a couple of people to help collect the debris and send them down your way. We're routing the sensor feeds down there. If you can determine what looks interesting, we'll get close." Charlie looks at Peng, Tak, Ekhunoz, and Aarav. "Volunteers to help collect the debris? It was your idea, Peng. That smells an awful lot like volunteering."
|
|
ateno
Traveler
Posts: 111
|
Post by ateno on Apr 24, 2021 21:21:37 GMT -5
"Thanks. We'll find a couple of people to help collect the debris and send them down your way. We're routing the sensor feeds down there. If you can determine what looks interesting, we'll get close." Charlie looks at Peng, Tak, Ekhunoz, and Aarav. "Volunteers to help collect the debris? It was your idea, Peng. That smells an awful lot like volunteering."
"I would support my ... crew in any way, I need something to eat first, at least a high glucose and protein drink, I miss those."
Ekhunoz
|
|
Tophocles
Prospector
Last Guy in the Airlock
Posts: 85
|
Post by Tophocles on Apr 24, 2021 23:40:37 GMT -5
"Roger," says the voice coming from Engineering. "Is there a particular target for retrieval? Is this salvage for resale? Or are you removing evidence?" The voice is neutral as it asks this. Whatever the answer, Casca will just say "Understood."
Two Vacc suits hang in Engineering, both well maintained. One has Blackjack's name stencilled on it in clear, precision lettering. The stencilled name on the other one is covered by various measures of tape, each with a different name scrawled on them each in a different hand.
Casca smiles to himself, grabs the thick roll of tape on the small shelf above the suits, tears off a strip, and covers the others. He replaces the tape and grabs the marker, and writes his surname i block letters: V A H R.
The console pings when sensor data is present, and Casca takes a look, and identifies some initial targets.
|
|
|
Post by raikenclw on Apr 25, 2021 0:24:01 GMT -5
"Bridge, This is Engineering. Cascs. Ess-Boat Pilot as my primary for the past 8 years, running interface for the high and mighty. Rated on Vaccs as well, as per standard. Happy to give a hand if it helps." "Thanks. We'll find a couple of people to help collect the debris and send them down your way. We're routing the sensor feeds down there. If you can determine what looks interesting, we'll get close." Charlie looks at Peng, Tak, Ekhunoz, and Aarav. "Volunteers to help collect the debris? It was your idea, Peng. That smells an awful lot like volunteering." Peng visibly blanches, then recovers his equilibrium enough to reply: "Well . . . I do own a vacc suit, but I ain't never done serious EVA in it. I'd probably get in the way more than anything else."Peng then waits - trying not to look concerned in any way - to see if Charlie orders him to go get his suit.
|
|
Aarav
Traveler
Posts: 173
|
Post by Aarav on Apr 25, 2021 9:09:10 GMT -5
"Thanks. We'll find a couple of people to help collect the debris and send them down your way. We're routing the sensor feeds down there. If you can determine what looks interesting, we'll get close." Charlie looks at Peng, Tak, Ekhunoz, and Aarav. "Volunteers to help collect the debris? It was your idea, Peng. That smells an awful lot like volunteering." "I've had only the minimum emergency training in a vaccsuit," Aarav says, glancing at Peng. "Last twenty-minute exercise must have been . . . over two years now," he adds. "But I suppose I could pilot the launch if necessary. Small craft like that can't be all that different from piloting a starship in normal space."
He returns to scanning the debris field, continuing to send updates as needed to the now-active console in Engineering. Occasionally, he makes another scan for other ships--and Taggart, doing his best to monitor comms channels with starport control as well.
|
|