Silver clouds turn to golden stairs (Ch. 3b: Day 2)

psikeout · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:55 pm

(quick reply)

"Don't fry the ship," replied Rock, exhaling. "Keep a leash on yourself."

Greens · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:21 pm

It didn't take a crystal ball to see that Ace was not thrilled either with the prospect of letting a stranger, however well decorated on their own ship. Least of all when they carried robotic cargo. But for all his tell-tale groans and 'I am so over this' expressions, the serval stood fast. He wasn't going anywhere just yet.

The only clear response he gave was to Jam, following her orders direct from he captain. A one-sided, tight-lipped sneer of exasperation, shortly followed by a limp-armed shrug that was gone as soon as it came.

NPC · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:31 pm

It didn't take long at all before the newly enlarged group crested the ridge and began the final descent down to the waiting ship. The robot tailed along, seeming more intent on examining the others than actually hurrying to their transportation, yet no words were spoken quite yet.

Basch marched on ahead of the others as soon as his eyes fell onto the ship, spotting the awaiting monkeys and feline. He came to a halt a few feet away from the boarding ramp, studying Rock. Gradually, Basch's stance became straighter, more respectful, even, looking at the white primate with steady eyes.

His voice was clear as he spoke a single question.

"Permission to come aboard?"

psikeout · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 12:14 am

Rock, standing atop the ramp, was recognizable enough to justify the formality in this case, for once. Full SIAF spacesuit blues on, replete with reflective bloodstripe, web gear with life support pack, pistol jutting from its holster, and armored helmet on his head (obscuring his face with its completely mirrored gold lenses and respirator mask), combined with his extremely upright stance, hands folded behind his back (as if he wasn't wounded), made him look deathly serious, and it really wasn't an act. Where he may have lacked discipline in day-to-day interactions, he didn't take his role as a soldier lightly. And, while he hadn't been on duty in an official capacity in a while, it was hard to be any more at war than they presently were, even if there were no longer any other soldiers around to call allies.

"Granted; welcome aboard," he replied formally but flatly, his already naturally rattly-low voice further distorted by his helmet's amplifiers.

Rock introduced himself quickly, but with all expected decorum—save for a salute, which he seemed just conceited enough to deny the GUN officer (though he would reciprocate immediately if offered one). "First Lieutenant Lazarus Lochert, South Island Air Force First Space Division. Acting captain of the SIRSV Lagrange."

NPC · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 3:41 pm

"Captain Erik Basch, G.U.N. Air Force. Former captain of the UFS Carnelian," answered Basch quickly. It seemed, despite his years of being stranded, that the man was still capable of listing off such titles.

With the formalities out of the way, Basch stepped up to the boarding ramp, glancing around at the ship, studying it.

"Quite the sturdy ship you have..." he commented as he looked about, having been too focused on the introductions to bother doing so before. "Is this the vessel you were brought here by, or are you simply using it to scout the planet?"

Meanwhile, the captain's robot companion stood back, staring up at the ship. It was as if it had never seen such a thing before and was curious to just watch for the time being. Eventually, it began to step forward, drawing nearer to the growing group as it started to listen in on whatever conversation may occur.

psikeout · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 4:04 pm

"It's the ship we came in," Rock confirmed. "Repurposed freighter turned 'research vessel'... Supposed to be incognito," he explained, and turned to show the way back to the bridge. No time for a tour, unfortunately. "We've got an advanced AI operating a weapons platform—basically our only turret. We came to investigate an anomaly near the ARK, but %$#@ went very wrong, and, well, here we are." He clanked up a claustrophobic flight of metal stairs, voice reverberating off the walls. "We've already lost the mercs and GUN troops we had floatin' around the colony at the onset, so all we've got's an all-civilian crew now."

"Tough civilians, though," he added (apparently forgetting about Juke).

Basch might have found the corridors between the individual chambers a bit cramped, as the vessel was built on South Island, with South Islanders and their generally small statures in mind, but the seats at the bridge were still easily large enough to accommodate.

Seafarinhare · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 4:23 pm

At some point between the short walk from the point of interest, and the freighter, Badge had transformed back into his suit before climbing aboard.

"Sorry to interrupt the briefing for our new friend, but..." He paused, looking between Basch and then Rock, "I don't know what the plan of action is, but before we head into the city, I would like to deploy my ship." He said, pointing a thumb toward the back, where the cargo hold was.

psikeout · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 4:30 pm

"Good idea," replied Rock. "I'll open the bay doors for y'soon as we're in the air."

A flying launch would give Badge a little more leeway than expecting the poor dude to blast his fighter out through the mess of trees they'd smashed on landing. In truth, though, Rock had almost forgotten about the fighter craft. His visor hid his expression of discontent at the realization that he was starting to slip on the details...

NPC · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 4:41 pm

As Basch kept pace with Rock through the ship with hunched shoulders (he truly looked misplaced there), he nodded at the appropriate times as the monkey spoke, intent on listening.

"The ARK you say?" he questioned with almost an amazed tone after he let Badge give his query towards Rock. "I've seen plenty of those other ships that have come through, but the whole ARK. Heads must be spinning back home..."

Now within the bridge, he managed to stand a bit straighter. Even if the man didn't even hit six feet, he still loomed a bit higher than most of the crew, providing a strange comparison between the two military men, seeing how the taller of the two still needed to crouch some in order to fit there.

"But, from your description, it sounds like you feel your crew is capable of rescuing the other civilians. I have no clear idea how you intend on doing so, and I believe there is no purpose of informing you of the danger in the city, but you can see me assisting in any way possible. I've been stranded on this grass-filled rock for far too long now. Its about time I try to regain some actual purpose. I'd rather not see the fate of my crew reoccur with yours."

psikeout · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 4:54 pm

The helmeted, combat-ready suited-up primate paused, hand resting on his seatback. (Even his tail was wrapped in some sort of black, STF-coated puncture-resistant sleeve, and fully covered.) He looked back toward Basch before taking his seat, as if contemplating something. "Do you fly?" he asked, and gestured with a tilt of his head toward the empty copilot seat.

NPC · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 5:02 pm

This managed to get a grin out of the bearded captain.

"Yes, of course," he replied confidently. "I may be a bit rusty after all these years, but I have plenty of hours under my belt to make it count."

And with that comment, he brushed past Rock and sat down without hesitation in the seat. Basch suddenly looked quite comfortable as he adjusted a bit, as if he were allowed to enter familiar turf of experience. Already he seemed a bit more pleased with the situation, even if they were about to fly into a death-zone.

psikeout · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 2:07 am

Satisfied with the captain's enthusiasm for flying, Rock plopped down, strapped in, and grabbed the yoke.

"Buckle up."

Before they knew it, the ship had lurched and hurled itself skyward, soaring out of and over the treeline, straight ahead with a roar.

Silver clouds turn to golden stairs (Ch. 3b: Day 2)

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