6 - Preparations
Emberhawk, Captain's Quarters
"I know, I know, I owe you 31 credits. I want to pay down 3 right now to get that interest rate lower," Zev sighs, this was the least of his worries right now and yet it was taking up his time, "Yes, I'm sure I don't want to make the minimum payment. You guys would love that wouldn't you?"
A long pause as the other party continues babbling on, Zev kicks his feet up on his durasteel table which is hewn from the side of the chamber itself.
"No, I don't want a new interest rate. I'm paying 3 credits down taking us down to 28, yes plus your pound of flesh for 29. Sure. Hey, we had a deal okay? I'm good for the money."
Zev leans back and sighs, "How much would you pay to travel the stars? At least 60 credits at this rate," he says wryly to himself.
"INCOMING PRIORITY MESSAGE," the ship's computer, Ember, klaxons loudly, nearly knocking Zev from his chair in surprise, "INCOMING PRIORITY MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AT PORT ELARION!"
"My goodness Ember, calm it! Who set this thing so loud?" he asks, adjusting the volume of his speakers.
"You did, Captain," a much softer Ember replies.
She supposedly wasn't an AI but he often wondered about that, her comedic timing was especially suspect... "Oh, right. So I did after that spat with Dax."
"Indeed sir, I believe you were blaring some Kaibarian Inferno Metal."
"Yeah, that's the stuff," Zev smiles, he really should go speak with Dax again soon but first... "Play the message."
"Captain Zev, I hope this message finds you well," the recorded Valona begins, "I apologize we couldn't speak in person, or even over the Net. Legislative sessions have begun and negotiations are... more demanding than usual. Especially since one of the leaders of the Isolationist movement was assassinated recently...
You wouldn't happen to know anything about that now, would you? Of course you wouldn't.
The operation for tomorrow is greenlit, something is going on at that Orange Sea facility. They won't let our inspectors in and we have reason to believe they're in violation of the Elarion Clean Air and Safety Initiative of 3988.
I spoke with my the legislature, we'll pay you 3 credits for the mission as well as 3 credits of danger pay and access to the Health Care bots as promised.
Zev, this mission is DANGEROUS. I can't stress this enough. Tread lightly and may the crystals guide your path. Sending you a brief of the area now.
I look forward to your triumphant return my... friend."
The hologram switches off.
"Geographic scans received Captain," Ember adds helpfully when something dawns on Zev.
"You've had them this whole time haven't you Ember? They were probably broadcast together."
"What? Nooo.... okay, yes. My protocols state that most humans prefer sequential presentation of data even-"
"Ember, in the future please present information to me when it is pertinent, you do a good job of that, but please don't mislead me as to when or how you obtained that data."
"Understood, sir."
"Now, let's give the crew the morning off - have them return by sun down, we're scheduled to visit our... friends at 2pm tomorrow, and I want everyone fresh for the mission." Zev commands.
"Yes, Zev."
Junkyard, Outskirts of Port Elarion
Sensor data from suit of Lira Venn. 4000.04.02 13:59 UniTi
"I'm telling you Lira, something is going on with Dravik! Watch yourself around him," Dax continues talking to Lira as he had been doing for the last half hour.
"Uh huh," she responds for the thirtieth time.
"And now the Captain is mad at me, that's got me steamed! I finally find a family away from the gang and..."
"And it's important to you."
"Yes! Yes, you get me!" Dax exclaims as Lira continues walking.
"Dax. Look at me." Lira says flatly, "I get no one. I am mutant. I explore alone. I work alone."
"Well, you're with the crew now aren't you?"
"For now."
"Hey, that's something!" Dax continues.
"Also, Captain is mad at you over killing priority target last mission. Not Dravik."
"..." Dax gulps, "It's that obvious, huh?"
"Aha!" Lira ignores his question as she bounds over to a scrapped Health Care Bot 1000. She deftly opens the side up and rifles through some empty Stim Paks before exclaiming, "JACKPOT!"
She holds the prize up to her visor, examining it closely - it looks like a broken Stim Pak but she exclaims, "All it needs is a little love!"
"Uh...yeah... take your word for it."
Lira glares at him, forgetting she wasn't alone.
"Dax, why you join me? I explore, ALONE."
"Just had to get out of the ship I guess and... I wanted to get to know you."
"Too bad," she deadpans, but so convincingly he's not sure how to react.
"Is joking," she adds after an awkward silence. "Mostly. Lira is not used to getting to knowing people. They always say, 'Lira is monster. Lira is hideous, watchout! Lira is what happens when spend too much time in toxic undercity'."
"I, uh, I'm sorry Lira that's terrible. That's why you got us though, we're your crew, right?"
"You know why little boy join gang?" Lira asks in response to his question.
"I, uh, hey now," he grows leery given his past... and being in the gang and all.
"...is to belong. You no different," Dax opens his mouth to speak but she raises her hand, "Is not so bad. You try make Lira belong. Appreciated, but Lira does not belong."
"Well this time Lira, we're here for you. When you're ready to belong to a place we'll be here."
Lira smiles for once, discreetly but she thinks Dax may just have seen it
The pair walk in amiable silence a few minutes when Lira hears Dax's comm buzz. He goes to private mode, muting his microphone, and his call is finished says, "Lira, this has been great. I've got a lead I'm tracking for the Captain do you mind if I...?"
"Go."
He doesn't have to be told twice as he takes off at a brisk jog. She continues walking back toward the Emberhawk, avoiding the people as best as she can.
Starlight, Port Elarion
Audio recording. 4000.04.02 15:62 UniTi
Dax: "Posh place for a meetup."
???: "Act natural, you're nervous as a child. I thought you'd done this before."
???: "Put it in! Just put it in. Hurry!"
Dax: "I can't find the blasted- Aha!"
???: "There you go, took you long enough. Never seen a data jack before?"
Dax: "I have, I just, not under the table before-"
???: "You know talking about this really defeats the purpose of STEALTH doesn't it?"
Dax: "..."
???: "This is a 360 recreation of the attack on Quintara IV, hacked together from the newsfeeds and... other sources as best as I could."
Dax: "Damn, this is fine work girl."
???: "Pause it at 32:31. See that black craft? Zoom in."
The audio recording is silent for nearly a full minute, save for the background chatter of patrons at the posh pub.
Dax: "What's that? Stealth ship of some sort? Hey, and there's the Emberhawk!" Dax exclaims as the Emberhawk enters the frame, passing the ship in black.
???: "Indeed, that's your beloved Captain flying away from the scene of the attack and what does our little friend there do?"
Dax: "...follows the Emberhawk out!!"
???: "That's right. And there's only two groups 'round here that can afford that sort of stealth tech: Unity and the Warpjacks."
Dax: "Not the Warpjacks, they were our biggest rival"
???: "You don't have to tell me Dax {inaudible} alright?"
Dax: "Yeah, we've got a deal. Thanks for the help, consider your favor called in."
Dax can be heard getting up, finishing a drink, then shortly after the noise from Starlight fades and the recording cuts off.
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