+ Reply to thread
Page 2 of 50 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 5 6 12 ... LastLast
Results 51 to 100 of 2466

Thread: Star Trek RPG - Mission #6: "Marala"

  1. #51
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Luisa orders the Italian sausage ravioli and Giya, after thinking a bit, goes for the linguine in white clam sauce. They decide to split a bottle of fine Dorwinion chardonnay, and invite Onn to have some too, if she likes. Luisa says, "Things have been pretty good for me lately. I like my work on the Bridge - Vargas hasn't been too much of an ogre lately - and I hear I might be in for a promotion."

    "Good for you!" the Deltan says, smiling warmly. "You've earned it, and then some. I'm doing fine too - same old, same old though, pretty much."

    Kylah, Graham, Xiang and Mahmoud are beamed over to the space station. Leaving its transporter room, they soon find themselves in a busy galleria of sorts, with a high ceiling and many people moving through or gawking. Discreet signs indicate the way to the observation level, hotel, dining, no less than three bars, a chapel, customs, movie theater, administration, infirmary, security office, shops, astrophysics lab, gaming, residential level and orbital skydiving, among others.

  2. #52
    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
    Registered
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Coulsdon Cat Basket
    Posts
    10,342

    Default

    What was the old phrase. Wish you were here... Rangin had sent them from dozens of planets and this isn't going to be an exception. He goes hunting for small pictures of the planet showing some of the natural features.

    He is not going to take too long or be too fussy.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  3. #53
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Rangin finds a tourist-oriented shop that has just what he's looking for, and not too pricey, either. The sales clerk is happy to help him.

  4. #54
    Ape must not kill ape! general_urko's avatar
    Registered
    May 2013
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    2,837

    Default

    Graham's eyes widen, then narrow as Kylah whispers to him.

    "It's what people expect of me anyway."

    His jaw clenches and unclenches, and he instinctively takes her hand, just for a moment, with a gentle squeeze.

    "There's an old saying," he whispers, his voice catching slightly. "Be willing to take a bullet for your squad. You just offered to take a bullet for me, Mr. Kylah...I'd never ask you to do that. But give yourself credit for it..."

    He releases her hand and clears his throat. "It's just I've got a thing about heights," he rasps. "Figure you can outsmart, outfight, or outrun a Klingon...but a kilometer high drop..." He shakes his head slightly. "Scared shitless, really...but if you remind me I'm just being irrational maybe you can help me through it," he adds with a small smile.

  5. #55
    Administrator choie's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2012
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    4,914

    Default

    Kylah barely has time to accept Mr. Graham's gracious compliment before he reveals the truth behind his discomfort. She cannot help but blink in astonishment at the admission. He is afraid.

    But the more she rolls the thought around in her mind, the more it makes sense. As he said, he has relative control over other antagonists. One can learn their tactics, fight them, avoid them or evade them. He is most experienced in fighting, of course. But falling from a great height? It can possibly be avoided or evaded, but there is no fighting it.

    And yet he has agreed to do this. Why? I suppose that is bravery. Doing what you are afraid of.

    She gives him a quick nod and smile, the latter as warm and lasting as she can make it--which is not saying much. "I will do my best, if you will, sir. It must be relatively safe," she adds in a hopeful murmur. "So many people do this willingly, and they get through it, and must enjoy it greatly or they would not repeat the experience."

    The fact that the same can be said of many things, including acts she has not enjoyed herself, makes her regret her own words. But despite the flush on her cheeks, she turns to the others and inhales, girding herself. "I suppose we should head for the training area. Will it cost a lot of money to buy equipment or whatever is needed?"

  6. #56
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    Nia takes a half-glass of the Chardonnay for a taste, thanking her friends. "I hope you're right about the promotion," she says to Luisa with a smile. "Seems like there've been fewer of those going around. About time your superiority was recognized. I remember last year they tossed out a bunch to some newbies straight off their first mission with us, but lately... mostly pats on the head."

    And look what's happened now--both those officers are gone. Not that poor Fujishiro could help it... "Then again, one of the few exceptions was your comrade-in-navigation. Maybe Starfleet's realizing the import of making sure the ship gets in the right place." She grins and takes a sip of the wine. Not bad. Still, with fish she tends to prefer nothing but lemon water--the fresh lightness is such a good match for seafood.

    She also turns to Giya and asks, in a less jovial tone: "We haven't had a heart-to-heart lately--things have been so busy, I'm sorry about that. How are you holding up, with the Oath and all? I don't remember, have you heard back from the other Deltans in Starfleet? How did they decide to handle the situation?"

  7. #57
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Mahmoud says, "It's a hundred credits apiece. Don't have to buy any equipment, though; we rent everything from the company. Aaaand it looks like we go over here." He leads the way.

    Luisa chuckles at Onn's jest. "Yes, they tend to take that pretty seriously."

    Giya takes a sip of her own wine. "It hasn't been easy, Nia. It's just not the Deltan way to remain celibate. There were only a few dozen Deltans in Starfleet anyway, and there have been some resignations over the new policy, but not many. Most of us have stayed on. Duty before biology, you know?" She eyes your waiter from across the room, and smiles. "Although the oath doesn't apply while on shore leave, and with regard to civilians...."

  8. #58
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    Following Giya's glance with her own, Nia laughs softly. "So you're free to prowl at will, huh? Thank heaven for shore leave, then. And I think Luisa and I will let you leave the tip." Her mood sobers. "Still bothers me. Back home, laws mandated when I had sex, and who I had sex with. Cripes, I commit treason each time I sleep with a non-Sidonian, or every month I get the birth control injection. Sidonia's not allowed to join the Federation because of those laws, and justly so. It's not exactly the same as your Oath, but it's hard to believe Starfleet doesn't see that this is a slippery slope, asking you to change your entire biological instincts and lifestyle. It's one helluva imposition on you guys. I get their concern but..."

    She shakes her head and scowls, moving some veggies around on her plate. "There must be some better solution. What about assigning Deltans to ships in pairs, at the very least, if humans can't control themselves? Or maybe Starfleet Medical needs to get a move-on figuring out some biological countermeasure.

    "I mean... last year a single Elasian was on the Enterprise for under a week, and how fast did they figure out a way to protect men from those precious tears? And now we've got one on board causing a ruckus wherever she goes, but I don't see her being restricted from crying--hell, it's practically her favorite pastime," Nia says dryly before popping the fork in her mouth and chewing.

    "I don't know," she adds with a sympathetic sigh as she tilts her head toward Giya. "Just seems unfair, that's all. Anyway, I'm glad you're not confined to quarters during shore leave to make sure the locals are protected from your impossible-to-resist charm. Though if I were in the mood to issue a challenge..." Booker's face floats through her mind and she finds herself smiling. "But I'm not. I'll let you have this one, Gi."

    Of course, Nia knows if she did issue a challenge, she'd have little-to-no chance against a Deltan like Giya, unless 'must have hair' is the waiter's dealbreaker. The guy is attractive, no question. But Nia isn't tempted. Despite her usual hunger for variety, she discovers--to her own surprise--that Booker Graham is all she wants.
    Last edited by SidonianGal; 01 May 2017 at 07:58 PM.

  9. #59
    Ape must not kill ape! general_urko's avatar
    Registered
    May 2013
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    2,837

    Default

    Graham' glad to see Kylah smile for a change, although the feeling is balanced by the tight knot of anxiety in his gut.

    "A hundred credits?" he asks with mock outrage and as much bravado as he can muster. "This had better be something special, Faisal - I could get a glass of single malt imported all the way from Earth for that..."

  10. #60
    Administrator choie's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2012
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    4,914

    Default

    Kylah darts a look at Mr. Graham. She has to bite back her instinct to offer to pay for the outing. On the one hand she wishes the others to like her, and perhaps treating them will help ingratiate her to them. However, she does not want to flaunt her wealth--it would be unseemly, and possibly insulting.

    So she says nothing and tries to ignore her nervousness by taking in the sights, including the two colleagues who are near-strangers ahead of her. She wonders about their relationship. Are Lt. Xiang and Mr. Mahmoud friends, or something more?

  11. #61
    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
    Registered
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Coulsdon Cat Basket
    Posts
    10,342

    Default

    Rangin looks around the pictures on display and picks up a couple of small vignettes showing landscapes of Beta Antares IV, one of a beach at sunset and another showing some of the mountain ranges. He also picks up a copy of the rules for fizzbin, someone had obviously heard what had happened on Sigma Iota II and decided to cash in, knowing she would appreciate the game immensely.

    Rangin heads off to purchase the items and make that a fast trip back to the Yorktown
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  12. #62
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Kylah can't quite tell if Xiang and Mahmoud are an item - they're not being obviously affectionate with one another, but she senses that they may indeed be more than just friends.

    Rangin completes his purchases and returns to the Yorktown just in time to beam over to the space station with Park, his fellow botanist Lt. Gral, a Tellarite, and Ens. Chris Johnson, an American sensor specialist, all in Science blue. They enter the Honest Uncle Al's Orbital Skydiving Ltd. reception area just after Graham, Kylah, Mahmoud and Xiang do. Two civilians, young men in stylish suits, are also in the waiting room, one looking particularly nervous.

    After paying the receptionist, you each fill out a questionnaire - which, among other things, asks about previous skydiving (orbital or otherwise), spacesuit training and any difficulties with claustrophobia, vertigo, agoraphobia or astrophobia. You then each sign a rather lengthy waiver form and are met by your young, relentlessly chipper instructor.

    "Hi, everyone!" she says with a big grin. Graham notices that her nose has broken before - maybe twice. "Welcome to Uncle Al's! I'm Prudence Tomlinson, but everybody just calls me Pru. Anyone done an orbital dive before?" A few hands, including Xiang's and Johnson's, go up. "OK, great. I know we're all gonna have a blast together!"

    She leads you into a small auditorium; you take seats and the lights dim. She cues a display screen that fills one wall. "The Holloway Space Station is in synchronous orbit about 620km above planetary sea level. The Kármán line is 100km, so we're in the exosphere and, as you'll soon see, the view during the dive is amazing. Looking out a starship viewport is nothing like having it all around you, just beyond your suit visor." She shows graphics of the station, the planet and its atmospheric layers.

    "You'll each be wearing a Ruiz-Perry Mark 7 divesuit," she continues. A diagram of the suit appears and she briskly points out its features. "The good ol' RP7 has ablative armor, an antigrav unit, backpack with emergency retrorockets and, of course, both drogue stabilizer and main parachutes. Tried and true. Life support is multiply-redundant and you'll have air for more than four times the length of our roughly hourlong dive. The onboard computer allows for manual control or autopilot; it's up to you as to which you want to do. For first-time divers, I recommend relying on Otto. As your dive instructor, I can also remotely take control if I absolutely have to." She grins again. "Don't worry, I hardly ever do. There's a helmet camera, and afterwards you'll be given a tape with your recorded dive for when you want to take a stroll - or a plummet - down memory lane."

    There are some uneasy chuckles in the darkened room, and she begins talking about the suits' design and safety features in more detail.

    The International Space Station orbits at about 400km altitude; Felix Baumgartner's famous 2012 Red Bull Stratos jump was from only 39km up.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n_line
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exosphere
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull_Stratos

  13. #63
    Administrator choie's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2012
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    4,914

    Default

    The apparently friendly intent of the name "Uncle Al" is lost on Kylah, who immediately associates it with her own uncle. Although the notion of Aldaan ever wishing to be called "Al"--no matter how much he might pander to other cultures in his ambitious attempts at diplomatic overtures--is so far-fetched as to be humorous. Still, there is something forced about the mundane nickname. She dislikes it and it makes her feel less confident about this adventure, not more.

    She tries to ignore this anxiety, as well as the likely reaction Aldaan would have if he knew she was behaving recklessly for mere entertainment. Her concentration focuses intently on the instructor, while unconsciously she leans against Mr. Graham, wanting to comfort him as well as herself.

    The whole room seems full of nervous energy, and Kylah feels electric pins and needles skittering across her skin. Deep breaths calm her somewhat, but a nudge of something familiar among all the strangers keeps nagging at her. She tries to flick the sense away, knowing how important this training is.

    Unfortunately, terms like Kármán line, ablative armor and drogue stabilizer might as well be part of the Aelyrr vocabulary words that Kylah was never able to translate. She might have learned them at the Academy but--like much of the technical training she received there--they were so far from her concentration on Communications that whatever meaning they might have once held for her has been lost.

    Her fingers curl a bit more tightly into Mr. Graham's sleeve. She wants this over with and is tempted to flee. Still, she remains in place. If I do this, it will be an accomplishment. This is not what is expected of me. Focus on that. She eyes Mr. Graham's profile, not very visible in the darkness. What is he thinking? Is all this technical explanation helpful to him, or is it as intimidating as it is to her?

  14. #64
    Ape must not kill ape! general_urko's avatar
    Registered
    May 2013
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    2,837

    Default

    As "Pru" explains the kilometers involved Graham's anxiety rises.

    Ironically, concerning as it is, noticing her--perhaps repeatedly--broken nose is calming. It calls him back to his job: is this a hazard of jumps? Do I need to be prepared to stay in control if a take a bump? And, more importantly: what happened? Who did it? Is this something somebody needs to help with...

    The technical details of the suit and systems helps too: focus on the equipment. The tools, tolerances, parameters...

    If some shithead were to try to punch Pru in the face while we're free-falling it's your job to be able to stop it even if you're scared shitless, Booker...

    As a sense of purpose helps settle him, he unconsciously puts a hand around Kylah's fingers that are clutching his sleeve.

  15. #65
    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
    Registered
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Coulsdon Cat Basket
    Posts
    10,342

    Default

    Rangin listens to the Pru ramble on about the design and the suit. The fact the trip is an hour long, didn't really phase him, he had been on longer diving trips on Balorus IX, but suit safety is always paramount and so he listens carefully making sure to understand all the features.

    The only thing that worries him is the fact the the furthest he has fallen to date, is probably about 3 metres from several trees, and so this is just a little bit further than before. Considering one of those times he wound up with a sprained ankle, albeit with several very juicy pieces of fruit, Rangin hopes this fall will be a little more gentle on landing.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  16. #66
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    After the instructor has talked for another ten minutes or so, she says, "OK, that'll do to start." The lights come up. "Any questions?"

    Rangin notices Graham and Kylah sitting very close.

    Park says, "I already did a little research of my own, ma'am, but I wonder if you could tell us a bit more about the risks of orbital skydiving."

    "Sure!" says Pru, still chipper. "And please, call me Pru. It's very safe, despite how it looks and what you might think, and fatalities are rare. Uncle Al's has been in business for almost 20 years and we've never lost anybody. Freakouts are a little more common, but those of you from Starfleet have already been intensively screened for any mental issues, and our non-Starfleet guests today," she nods at the two civilians, "both have previous spacesuit experience and should be just fine."

    "'Freakouts'?" one of the civilians repeats a little sharply.

    "Yeah. Sometimes people just can't handle it once they're out in space and see the planet below getting bigger and bigger." She shrugs. "Again, it's very, very rare. In the worst cases, as I said before, I can take control of your suit, sedate you remotely or even have you beamed back. HQ and I get continuous suit telemetry on the respiration, pulse, perspiration and so on of all our divers, and we can intervene before things get too out of hand."

    The civilian who asked the question turns to his friend and they begin whispering.

    "Any other questions?" Pru asks.
    Last edited by Elendil's Heir; 07 May 2017 at 02:56 PM.

  17. #67
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    Having finished her meal, Nia hails the waiter, though her grin is aimed at Giya. "Here's your chance," she says under her breath before the handsome young man gets to their table. "I guess Luisa and I will leave you to work your magic. But I expect all the details of your conquest once leave's over."

    Whenever the waiter arrives, Nia will pay her bill and then ask Luisa if she's got any preferences for what they should do next.

  18. #68
    Administrator choie's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2012
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    4,914

    Default

    Kylah listens to the civilian's question--and Pru's answer--with increasing trepidation. If there is one thing of which she is certain, it is that her psychological state is not what it was before she joined the Yorktown. Pru's description of a so-called "freakout," which she wonders if Dr. T'Var or someone a bit more sensitive would consider a severe panic attack, sounds sickeningly familiar. How many of those has she suffered in the past three months?

    This feels less and less like a good idea. Why is she doing this? What is she trying to prove?

    I want to conquer my fear of something. Just once.

    Distracted by these thoughts, she belatedly realizes she is still holding on to Mr. Graham in an inappropriately close fashion. She pulls back, whispering an apology, and draws her hands together in her lap. It takes effort not to tear at her cuticles in nervous energy. She cannot think of a question for the trainer, but she hopes someone else will.

  19. #69
    Ape must not kill ape! general_urko's avatar
    Registered
    May 2013
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    2,837

    Default

    As Pru describes the planet "getting bigger and bigger" Graham suspects his own pulse and perspiration might be ticking up.

    He's a little shocked to become consciously aware of the contact between himself and Kylah - which only happens as she pulls away.

    Don't think about the planet. Think about your job...

    He clears his throat. "If someone's, ah 'freaking out' near us, do our suits have enough power to slow the descent for two?" he asks.

  20. #70
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Giya's Deltan pheromones must have already kicked into high gear, as the waiter seems quite flustered and almost forgets to charge you for your meals. Giya whispers to him and they have disappeared somewhere together by the time Nia and Luisa rise from their seats.

    Out on the sidewalk, Luisa says, "I don't have any particular plans. What would you like to do?"

    Pru says to Graham, "You almost certainly won't be close enough for that, as everybody needs plenty of elbow room during the dive, but the RP7's aren't designed for that anyway."

  21. #71
    Administrator choie's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2012
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    4,914

    Default

    Her throat is dry, and Kylah wishes she had some water right now. The longer the preamble, the less comfortable she feels. This is torture. Why cannot we just go? It seems like weeks, not hours, since she accepted Mr. Graham's invitation. On the bright side, perhaps if Pru keeps delaying, there will be no time to take the jump before their shore leave is up.

  22. #72
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    Nia suggests taking a walk for some post-meal exercise. Truth is, she's somewhat distracted. She hasn't seen Giya "in action" before, so to speak--at least since the Oath.

    Maybe one of the other downsides of the Oath, which shortsighted Starfleet didn't consider, is that forcing celibacy on a species that treats sex like breathing will only make them more... dangerous, for lack of a better word... once they're no longer under such constraints. Nia can't help remembering the change in the waiter from perfectly lucid and friendly to almost mesmerized under the Deltan's spell. It was unsettling. As if he had no will of his own.

    She always thought there was more conscious choice involved in the dynamics between the Deltan-human coupling, but quite honestly if Giya can simply... well, 'spritz' her hormones out in order to win a sexual partner, how much consent is really involved on the target's side?

    "You know," she says slowly almost to herself, "I'm not comfortable with what just happened. It might be that forcing celibacy upon Deltans means that once they're finally 'set free' they lose some of their...um... judgment. Maybe after being forcefully pent-up for so long, Giya used a sledgehammer on that guy where a mere tap would have sufficed. Am I making sense?"

    She shakes her head, eyeing the scenery without seeing much of it. "I like Gi a lot, but she probably can't help it. Biology is biology. It's like me: I suffocate if I don't get the air I need to breathe, and if I go too long, I find myself taking huge, gasping breaths. Maybe Deltans are more dangerous to humans under these restrictions than Starfleet realized. They need an outlet more than once every two months."

    With a sigh, she shrugs. She'll talk to one of the doctors on board, or Rachel Hayes. Or Rangin, she realizes. The xenobiologist might be the most logical person to consult of all. "What do you think?"

  23. #73
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Guzman nods thoughtfully as you walk. "I understand what you mean, and the Starfleet policy certainly seems to incentivize a Deltan to scratch that itch at the first possible opportunity on shore leave." She scratches her earlobe. "Still, y'know, the guy looked pretty smitten with her almost from the moment we walked in. I'm guessing he doesn't get too many bald knockouts in his restaurant. And I've never heard that those Deltan... sex-smell-thingies are absolutely irresistible - just powerful."

  24. #74
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    Nia laughs at 'sex-smell-thingies.' She might have to pass that one along to Andy. "Smitten, maybe, but at least when we walked in there, he was able to talk in complete sentences and perform his job. Once Gi started working on him, the guy was practically unable to count my credits. And didja notice him floating after her right in the middle of a workday? I sure hope he had a break coming," she jokes, "or Giya just cost him some wages."

    She grins and shakes her head, though it is still somewhat hinky. Well, hopefully Luisa's right and the waiter is in full control of his senses. As much as anyone would be, given such a strong attraction.

    Her mind switches to focus on the sights. "You interested in shopping? I owe some presents to a few people. And I'd love to see some greenery, if there's a park around or anything. You know me and nature. Oh. Thalen said something about orbital skydiving--that doesn't interest you, does it? I'm not super into the idea myself, but I wouldn't wanna stop you if you wanna give it a try."
    Last edited by SidonianGal; 09 May 2017 at 10:48 PM.

  25. #75
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Guzman shakes her head. "Neg on that. I have no interest jumping out of a perfectly good space station. But shopping or a stroll through a park would be fine."

  26. #76
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    "Awesome. Now let's see what we can waste our credits on." Nia eyes the options around the two of them. "I'd like something a little unusual. Books would be nice. I mean, the real kind." She's always looking for unusual cookbooks for A.J., and she really needs to catch up to Booker in the gift department. That gorgeous plant and snowglobe are still by her bedside, and she hasn't given him a thing--well, nothing tangible. They haven't spoken about literature much, but Nia hopes she can guess his taste, or at least find something that represents her own feelings.

    If they walk around for a while and find a bookstore or antique store, Nia will suggest they hop inside. She'll also be on the lookout for anything that appears to indicate the direction of a park, lake, or anything that shows off the planet's natural side.

  27. #77
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    After ten minutes or so of walking through Holloway's tree-lined streets, you find a bookstore which looks nice. There are tapes, readers, datapads and some actual old-fashioned bound books (some of which are quite pricey). Guzman also notices a sign for a city park not far away.

  28. #78
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    Drawn to the older books, Nia peers at the titles. Anything involving food--a chef's memoirs, some obscure recipe book--might catch her eye as a gift for A.J.

    And for Booker... Hmm. Something... tough. Man against nature. Man against crime. Some mystery? She struggles to remember some of his background, and tries to find any authors or subjects that reflect what she knows of him.

    A scowl lowers her brows. Shit, we really need to talk about each other's basic stats, not to mention our likes and dislikes. This shouldn't be so hard!

  29. #79
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Nia finds two hardcover cookbooks, one from Thailand and one from Deneva, and a long-ago crime novel also catches her eye - The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. It is a 2017 American reprint and in excellent condition, considering its advanced age.

    On the space station, the civilians' whispering gets a little louder, and then one of the men abruptly stands and walks out. The other remains, blushing crimson.

    "OK, if there are no other questions," Pru says, "let's get you into your divesuits!" She leads you into an adjoining room, sizes you each up and, with two assistants, begins helping you into the bulky suits.

  30. #80
    Ape must not kill ape! general_urko's avatar
    Registered
    May 2013
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    2,837

    Default

    Graham makes a point of checking and double checking every aspect of the suit and its controls, as Pru described it.

    "We'll all laugh about this tomorrow, right Faisal?" he grunts, forcing a grim smile. "I think maybe you're buying the drinks after we jump."

  31. #81
    Administrator choie's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2012
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    4,914

    Default

    Kylah casts a sympathetic look at the man who has escaped the room, then his embarrassed companion, before they are all shuttled off to get into their suits. She tries to slow her breathing down while paying attention to anything the people helping her are saying. Out of what seems like a cacophony she dimly hears Mr. Graham joking, and she forces a smile at him. He feels more scared than she is, and if she can pretend to be calm, maybe it will help?

  32. #82
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    Nia's mouth twists as she deliberates. The Earth cookbook might be more appropriate, but she also suspects A.J. has a plentiful collection of recipes from his home planet. So she goes for the Deneva option, taking a peek inside to see if there's any price there.

    An ancient mystery like this Maltese Falcon seems ideal, though Nia worries about the cost here too. She's not the sort who spends much of her income; the bulk of her savings is primarily there for whatever her mother needs, assuming she can get in touch with the Federation envoy to Sidonia. Still... once in a while, Nia does enjoy splurging.

    She searches for a salesperson to see if she can afford both books.

  33. #83
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Faisal grins as he pulls on his helmet. "If you can keep from screaming like a little girl on the way down, sure, Book - the drinks'll be on me."

    After much pulling and tugging of straps and buckles, you are each snugly ensconced in your divesuits. Graham is satisfied by the condition of his suit and its controls. Pru quickly but thoroughly double-checks everybody.

    Onn finds a sales clerk, who shows her the list prices of the Deneva cookbook and the mystery - 150 and 225 Federation credits, respectively. Kind of pricey but not too much so, Onn thinks; about what she'd expect in a nice shop far from the worlds on which they were published.

  34. #84
    Ape must not kill ape! general_urko's avatar
    Registered
    May 2013
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    2,837

    Default

    Graham rolls his eyes at his friend's comment, and forces himself to return Kylah's smile.

    Except he fears it may look like a death grimace as his anxiety--which he knows is not entirely rational--continues to rise.

    This is ridiculous, Booker. You'd be less nervous charging a Klingon outpost... What would Nia think? She wouldn't be screaming, she'd be shouting with pure joy having a great time and probably doing figure eights well beyond the nominal capacity of her suit...

    The thought of Nia smiling and whooping it up is some comfort... Yeah, while you free fall shrieking your lungs out... She wouldn't hold it against, though, he thinks with both certainty and affection.

  35. #85
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    Nia keeps her internal wince hidden and smiles at the clerk. "Great, I'll take them. Could you gift wrap them, please? Separately, I mean?" she adds, waggling one book in each hand to emphasize that they're distinct presents.

    After handing them to the salesperson, Nia turns to Luisa and murmurs, "Now I wish we'd hopped out of the restaurant and let Giya pay the whole tab." She clucks her tongue in mock regret and then raises a hand toward her friend. "You getting anything?"

    Once the purchases are paid for, Nia will wait to see if Luisa is finished shopping, and then will join her in heading to see the city park.

  36. #86
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Pru finishes her checks of everybody and then quickly suits up herself. One of the attendants gives her a suit check. "OK, everybody, airlock time and final instructions," she says. "Here we go." She leads you, clunking along in your suits, into a large airlock adjoining the suit compartment. It is big enough for everyone at one time.

    After Onn thumbs a credit tab, the clerk giftwraps the two books very nicely and gives them back to the Sidonian officer with a flourish. Luisa is tempted by a 2044 edition of Don Quixote but decides not to get it. You go back out on the sidewalk and head towards the park.

  37. #87
    Administrator choie's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2012
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    4,914

    Default

    The crowd is not helping. Kylah tries to stay near Mr. Graham but, as she knows, it will not matter once they are hurtling helplessly, wildly, and utterly untethered, down from this station through the planet's stratosphere--

    Inhale, she commands herself as she finds her pulse racing faster. She must concentrate on something other than fear. Very well. It is not the stratosphere first, anyway. Her Academy lessons... what did they teach her? We will hit the exosphere first. Then the--the mesosphere.

    The combined energy and emotion of the crowd start to press in on her. She blinks and forces herself to focus. The mesosphere, that is right. Next the stratosphere, the thermo--no, the troposphere, and then... and then... What is next? She licks her lips. The planetary boundary layer. After that is--

    After that is nothing, she realizes. Nothing but the ground.

    Which we will land safely upon, she assures herself. Ms. Pru told us they have everything in control. They must do this every other day, at least if the station is available. And no deaths, she said. After how many such dives? It must be thousands.

    Her eyes widen. Math! Math will require some brain computational power. Kylah leaps on that--math is not her strong suit, and so she will have to focus carefully. Let us say they do this one hundred days a year, give or take, depending on availability and weather permitting. And each dive includes... how many people? Figure that out and multiply by a hundred, then by--by twenty years, I believe she said...?

    Kylah takes a quick look around the crowd, her eyes pausing unconsciously when she spots any crewmates as she scans to calculate the group's number.
    Last edited by choie; 15 May 2017 at 07:54 PM.

  38. #88
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    Nia swings the bag at her side, pleased by the purchase, and enjoys the walk with Luisa. "Y'know, I know in some ways getting printed material that's not in your own language is a pain. Unless you're really good at picking up...say, Denevan. Which I don't think A.J. is. But it's the thought, right?"

    She tilts her head in a sort-of shrug. "Well... I appreciated the thought some years back when Captain--uh, let's just call him a certain Captain--gave me a book of poetry by this old Earth author, with one apparently special poem marked by a platinum bookmark. Except I couldn't read English without tremendous difficulty and a lot of help with a translator program, so he had to read it to me. But it was still the thought... or at least, the message...that mattered. Even though the message turned out--"

    The memory of the gift grows clearer, and suddenly Nia can't keep from chuckling, then bursting out into a full laugh. "I can't believe I'd almost forgotten that! Let's just say there were still issues in the UT's ability to translate into Sidonian. There still are, for that matter. Some words just do not carry over. The words that get substituted can be, um, inappropriate. Often hilariously so, as they were in my brave, dashing, but a tad culturally clueless ex-lover's gift."

    She makes a private note to tell the smutty story to Booker. Luisa isn't as prim as her fellow female Navigator, but she's still a bit reserved, and Nia wants to respect that. The wicked smile is probably more than enough for Luisa to get the gist. "So, Lu," Nia says, curving her arm through Luisa's to link their elbows in a friendly manner. "Was that book gonna be for you, or did you have anyone else in mind?" As she speaks, she looks around the path at the view surrounding them.
    Last edited by SidonianGal; 15 May 2017 at 08:37 PM.

  39. #89
    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
    Registered
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Coulsdon Cat Basket
    Posts
    10,342

    Default

    Rangin just flows along with the rest of his group paying little attention to Graham and Kylah, not wanting to spoil the jump for any others.

    As he tramps into the airlock he does wonder if they will be gently walked into space and pushed into the general direction of the planet or if the violent decompression will do it instead.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  40. #90
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Pru leads the nine skydivers out from the airlock after it cycles through. Graham, Kylah, Rangin, Mahmoud, Xiang, Park, Gral, Johnson and the lone civilian find themselves on a flat surface of the space station, an open deck about ten meters by thirty. Beta Antares IV, blue, green and lovely, fills the sky above you. Mahmoud notices two of its moons, waxing crescent and seemingly close enough to touch off to starboard, and points them out.

    The instructor says over the common subspace radio circuit, "OK, here we are on what we call the front porch. Your boots are magnetized - don't worry, we'll bring you back if you drift off too soon, easy peasy. Just take a minute to acclimate yourself and then we'll get ready for the dive."

    Guzman tugs in Onn's arm a little tighter and muses, "Is there a Denevan language? I thought they just used Federation Standard."

    She smiles at Onn's story and asks, "Who was the poet in the book you got?"

    Then, "I was thinking of getting the Cervantes for one of my sisters, but it was much too expensive, although I did like it."

    The park is pleasant, with winding trails, green lawns, many trees and the occasional statue - Onn notices a heroic one of Zefram Cochrane - or sculpture.

  41. #91
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    Nia laughs. "You know, I have no idea if what I just skimmed through was Federation Standard. I didn't recognize any of the recipe ingredients on the one page I did see. It all looks like gibberish to me, to be honest. I mean, I can read the basics on a control panel, but my tribe-realm's system of written communication is very different from F.S. It's more... graphic. Logogram-based. Like what I've seen of a couple of your planet's ancient languages. Well, I hope you're right and A.J. finds this easy to use." She lifts the bag and glances inside, not that she can see through the gift-wrap or anything. Just an automatic gesture.

    In response to Luisa's question about the poem, she lets her smile return to its salacious twist. "Um... it was a while ago, but Whitman somebody? Or maybe Whitman was the surname? I don't even remember the exact poem title, except that at first I thought my 'friend' was about to read me something about androids or robots, 'cause the title mentioned something about electric bodies, but it turned out to be waaay different."

    It's a shame that Luisa couldn't buy the book she wanted. Nia would ask if she could lend Lu the credits, but doesn't want to find out that the cost is too much even for a short-term loan. "That's too bad. Kinda makes you wonder about how those old books got there in the first place. I mean, think about it. Someone cares enough to drag this antique object to a remote colony--might even have been in their family for generations, right? Had to be something special about it to allot precious space in cargo for it.

    "And then," she continues thoughtfully while staring up at the Cochrane statue, "it ends up in some store where other visitors, hopefully those who can read the language, will buy it for relatively exorbitant prices that I guarantee dwarf whatever the original owners got for them." Nia frowns. "Kind of sad. Makes me think they had to dump some of their favorite belongings out of financial need."

    With a shrug, she takes a moment to inhale the freshness of the park's surroundings. As always, she has the primitive urge to flop on the green, sweet-smelling grass and just roll around until her body soaks up the dew. After a silence, she finds her gaze roaming around, looking for a body of water. Even a fountain would be lovely. The sound of running water is like a melody that never loses its charm. And even after fifteen years, the sheer luxury of using water for decoration still delights her.
    Last edited by SidonianGal; 18 May 2017 at 11:19 AM.

  42. #92
    Administrator choie's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2012
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    4,914

    Default

    Oh my... Kylah stares at the planet, almost mesmerized, and then her eyes greedily take in the moons when Mr. Mahmoud shows them off. For several seconds the awe-inspiring beauty outweighs her anxiety, and she cannot help taking an experimental step in the direction of the moons. It has not been that long since she was tested in mag-boots back at the Academy, but it still takes quite an effort to remember the correct way to walk--if taking two painstaking steps counts as walking.

    It is only natural for her to turn to her colleagues to see if they are as impressed, but her soft smile and (literally) starry-eyed gaze nearly meet Velir's eyes, and so she hurries to switch to Mr. Mahmoud. "How beautiful," she says softly. To be honest, she would be more than happy just sitting here, on the ledge, and admiring the view.
    Last edited by choie; 18 May 2017 at 11:21 AM.

  43. #93
    Ape must not kill ape! general_urko's avatar
    Registered
    May 2013
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    2,837

    Default

    It seems like there are some "oohs" and "ahhs" at the scenic spectacle, but Graham's attention is drawn to the vast expanse of "nothing" he knows must lie beneath them. He wonders if he'll get out of this if or when his suit's life signs monitors trigger some kind of alert...

    He turns to breathing techniques he's practice for a long time, clear the mind, posture, breath...

    He's far away.

    Far enough that the top of the line scope is maxxed out.

    The chatter is urgent, but calm. It ebbs and flows like music, check ins, back chatter, but everyone knows when to talk and when to listen....no wasted words.

    No wasted breath.

    And nothing exists in the world besides his trigger finger and what he sees through one eye.

    Omega. Omega.

    The voice is quietly urgent, but not panicked, barely perceptibly louder than the other chatter--which goes quiet immediately.

    We have confirmation hostages are being killed. Terminate with extreme prejudice.

    New voices join the symphony. "All entry teams on station. Primary entry teams countdown on mark."

    Another. "Anyone with a shot, take the shot."

    A pause. A voice from command, watching everything through drones and body cams. "Graham has a shot."

    It's true. Nothing exists in the world except his trigger finger and the top of a cranium poking above the transom.

    "Graham, take the shot."

    It's like the voice of a helpful store clerk. "Sir, you're next."

    "Graham, take the shot."

    He's ready to jump.

  44. #94
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Guzman says, "Probably Walt Whitman. He wrote some kind of racy stuff for his day, back in the 19th or 20th centuries. I read him in high school."

    As to old books found far from where they were first printed, she says, "It is a little sad. Then again, maybe those kind of books will find new readers, people to appreciate them, instead of just sitting in a storage space or warehouse somewhere."

    Onn thinks she might hear the sound of water in motion somewhere ahead, through the trees, not far away.

    Park, seeing everything around him, whispers simply, reverently, "Wow!"

  45. #95
    Administrator choie's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2012
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    4,914

    Default

    Kylah girds herself and tries to prepare for whatever comes next. The wait is only making this worse.

  46. #96
    Oliphaunt SidonianGal's avatar
    Registered
    Apr 2015
    Location
    choieville
    Posts
    1,327

    Default

    Nia smiles affectionately at her friend. Luisa was simply being herself, cheerful and perpetually the glass-half-full type. And yet... something in her words causes a strange swell of melancholy in Nia, though she doesn't acknowledge it at first. She tries to keep her expression light and warm, only turning away from Luisa when the smile starts feeling false. It's easy to hide; she just pretends to be enjoying the view.

    No one would call Nia a pessimist, or someone inclined to brooding. Quite the opposite, in fact. Really, it was mostly a detective-like curiosity that made her wonder about the books' histories in the first place. But Luisa's response... it tugs at her, hits a little too close--unintentionally, of course. Luisa has no idea what Nia herself has given up.

    Most of Nia's past life consisted of abandoning things. Her planet. Her mother. Her newborn infants. Sidonia and her Ma, she can contact and learn about, even if it takes months for any communication. But the others...

    She's spent nearly two decades pushing away the guilt that there are children, adults now, leading lives that Nia knows nothing about. Strangers who might think their birth mother didn't appreciate them, didn't want to keep them. Or worse: that they don't think of her at all.

    "Y'know," Nia says suddenly, "I feel like getting some exercise after that lunch, do you mind? Race you to wherever that water is!"

    She doesn't wait for a response, just pushes herself into a faster trot. She sprints forward, letting the future--not the past--urge her on.
    Last edited by SidonianGal; 19 May 2017 at 11:29 PM.

  47. #97
    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
    Registered
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Coulsdon Cat Basket
    Posts
    10,342

    Default

    Rangin stands on the front porch as Pru calls it and soaks in the atmosphere, looking around at the stars and down at the planet below Stepping slowly around as the mag boots keep him firmly clamped to the outside, he picks a position on the edge and just looks in wonder at the sight.

    And then, ever so slowly, he relaxes, The suit is fastened tightly around him, but is still not a perfect fit with just a little room for manoeuvre in it and he pushes slightly off with his toes. Ignoring those around him, he lets himself slowly float around inside the suit.

    "Beautiful, isn't it?" he says over the comm to Gral and Johnson as he feels the pressure drop away.*
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  48. #98
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Guzman laughs and says, "You're on!" She and Onn run down the path, with Onn, despite her purchases, proving to be slightly faster. A young couple with a child in an antigrav stroller step out of the way as the Starfleet officers race by. You emerge from a thick cluster of trees to see a greenish-blue lake and a small waterfall just to your right.

    "It sure is," Johnson says. Gral only nods silently.

    Pru gives the group final instructions, including a demonstration of either standing or tuck-and-roll landing techniques which you each have the chance to practice, before saying, "All right, time to dive. You'll step off the porch at 30-second intervals and your retros will automatically fire to give you a nudge out of orbit. I'll be the last to go. Who'd like to be first?"

  49. #99
    Administrator choie's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2012
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    4,914

    Default

    Kylah, her mouth dry, looks expectantly at Ens. Mahmoud. He was the one who was so enthusiastic about this outing.... Let him take a flying leap, as it were.

  50. #100
    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
    Registered
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Coulsdon Cat Basket
    Posts
    10,342

    Default

    The call to go first brings Rangin out of his reverie. It's something he is used to having happen to him. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.

    Besides, the sooner he goes, the sooner he is away from Graham and Kylah. He's just not in the mood to face them.

    "I'll go." He puts his hand up and waves in the general direction of Pru.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

+ Reply to thread

Posting rules

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts