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An egg shaped unidentifiable object lands into the water, rolling over and over as the harsh waves exact their fury. It smashes over and over into the reefs, activating the object’s preservation protocols. A blaring noise of an alarm and an artificial voice could be heard if one was nearby.
{Attention! User life pod is compromised. Awakening user now. Attention! User life pod is compromised.}
The thawing process was immediate, taking only three minutes to happen. The girl sees in front of her, nothing but water and an unforgiving sea beyond the safety of life pod’s shelter. She coughs once, then a second and third time to reawaken her voice.
“Computer. Activate nautical survival shelter”
The pod seems to accept the command and noises could be heard indicating it’s attempting to process the command, but nothing is happening.
{Systems compromised. Command is aborted. }
“What do you mean aborted? Um...”
The girl scrambled to open the compartments in her pod, looking for the manual.
“Computer. Status report!”
{ Life support systems : Emergency power
Lower deck : submerged
Energy systems : damage critical
Communication systems: unavailable
Engines: damage critical
Flotation system: damage light}
“What in the world? This tells me nothing of why the shelter won’t activate!”
{Nautical shelter unable to activate due to lack of energy and unsafe weather conditions. }
She flips the manual over to see the different shapes the she could try that might work. Finally she came upon one that is low energy to activate and should be relatively safe. She hopes.
“Computer. Activate water nest”
The machine expands a bit wider and continues still, creating the indicated shape. The life pod she’s in now stands in the middle of the ball shaped room. It’s about the size of a bedroom. The water that rushed in as the reconstruction was happening was now slowly being drained to the outside.
Keeping a close eye on the energy percentage of her short term shelter she activates the shield just for ten minutes, gathering the food and water she’d need until her water nest finds its way to land.
She finds the water suit and the bubble helm and examines the damage on the power. She decided that the engines are not an immediate concern, but electricity is. There’s two options, the hydraulics and the solar power.
Knowing that it could be days until the storm subsides, she decides to check out the hydraulics system below deck. The emergency lights don’t give enough light, but thankfully she has built in light in her suit. The hydraulics seem to have been overgrown with algae and plant life. She uses her survival knife to cut off the kelp that’s been holding the rotary blades hostage, keeping note to continually check for regrowth and that the bulbs of the kelp can be used as oil. She harvests a few bulbs, wrapping the kelp around her waist.
“At least I have a steady supply of food here. Yum... kelp and algae mush. “
The girl swims back up the upper deck to manage the inventory and storing the kelp and algae into the food processing system. After a few seconds, it’s been converted into small green cubes. Rations that are high energy but lacking in taste.
Looking at the systems screen, the cleanup seems to be giving her the energy She needs to keep the shield up for awhile. She sheds the suit and bubble helm and places them back in their compartments then sits back into the pod, now converted into a type of bed and puts on her seat belt, monitoring her environment through the shielded windows.
{Attention! User life pod is compromised. Awakening user now. Attention! User life pod is compromised.}
The thawing process was immediate, taking only three minutes to happen. The girl sees in front of her, nothing but water and an unforgiving sea beyond the safety of life pod’s shelter. She coughs once, then a second and third time to reawaken her voice.
“Computer. Activate nautical survival shelter”
The pod seems to accept the command and noises could be heard indicating it’s attempting to process the command, but nothing is happening.
{Systems compromised. Command is aborted. }
“What do you mean aborted? Um...”
The girl scrambled to open the compartments in her pod, looking for the manual.
“Computer. Status report!”
{ Life support systems : Emergency power
Lower deck : submerged
Energy systems : damage critical
Communication systems: unavailable
Engines: damage critical
Flotation system: damage light}
“What in the world? This tells me nothing of why the shelter won’t activate!”
{Nautical shelter unable to activate due to lack of energy and unsafe weather conditions. }
She flips the manual over to see the different shapes the she could try that might work. Finally she came upon one that is low energy to activate and should be relatively safe. She hopes.
“Computer. Activate water nest”
The machine expands a bit wider and continues still, creating the indicated shape. The life pod she’s in now stands in the middle of the ball shaped room. It’s about the size of a bedroom. The water that rushed in as the reconstruction was happening was now slowly being drained to the outside.
Keeping a close eye on the energy percentage of her short term shelter she activates the shield just for ten minutes, gathering the food and water she’d need until her water nest finds its way to land.
She finds the water suit and the bubble helm and examines the damage on the power. She decided that the engines are not an immediate concern, but electricity is. There’s two options, the hydraulics and the solar power.
Knowing that it could be days until the storm subsides, she decides to check out the hydraulics system below deck. The emergency lights don’t give enough light, but thankfully she has built in light in her suit. The hydraulics seem to have been overgrown with algae and plant life. She uses her survival knife to cut off the kelp that’s been holding the rotary blades hostage, keeping note to continually check for regrowth and that the bulbs of the kelp can be used as oil. She harvests a few bulbs, wrapping the kelp around her waist.
“At least I have a steady supply of food here. Yum... kelp and algae mush. “
The girl swims back up the upper deck to manage the inventory and storing the kelp and algae into the food processing system. After a few seconds, it’s been converted into small green cubes. Rations that are high energy but lacking in taste.
Looking at the systems screen, the cleanup seems to be giving her the energy She needs to keep the shield up for awhile. She sheds the suit and bubble helm and places them back in their compartments then sits back into the pod, now converted into a type of bed and puts on her seat belt, monitoring her environment through the shielded windows.
"Hoooo! Hummmm! The ocean calls me! Calls me home to me bonny lass! Hoooo! Hummmmm! I wander freely! Monsters below, can kiss my ass!" Langley laughed loudly to himself and pushed his wet brown hair out of his eyes as another wave crashed over The Laurel's twin bows. He was currently anchored to one of the three masts which sported solar sails the worked in conjunction with the wind or the sun's energy. Currently with the squall boiling around him the were being propelled through the waves at a fierce pace which only made Mad Langley's spirits raise. He counted the number of rungs below him and slid down the mast to the deck which hummed as his feet impacted with it. He moved with every wave and it almost appeared like a dance as he waltzed across the deck to the foremast so he could tighten up the sails a tad. That same dance carried him to one of the pilot houses so he could adjust the twin rudders to the stern while he looked at a floating screen in front of him. It depicted a blank circle with various ranging marks as a line swept around it. Wrinkling his nose at the readings, the seafarer took a step outside and let the stinging rain wash over him once more. He grinned madly and stared up at the rolling clouds above as he held his arms out.
"Come on ya beast! Let fortune smile upon me! My belly's hungry and Laurel wants some new toys!" He cackled gleefully to himself as he danced his way to the main cabin while counting his steps in a rhythmic pattern. He brought up the sonar screen to see if it displayed any readings other than what he expected and was pleasantly surprised when he noted a wavering blip the depicted something hovering on the surface while it crashed against the reefs. "Ooh! I hope its not seaweed!" The mad sailor mashed his grubby hands against several controls which caused bright spotlights to burst into life and pierce the darkness for a fair distinct while The Laurel sped through the storm in the direction of the surface anomaly.
"Come on ya beast! Let fortune smile upon me! My belly's hungry and Laurel wants some new toys!" He cackled gleefully to himself as he danced his way to the main cabin while counting his steps in a rhythmic pattern. He brought up the sonar screen to see if it displayed any readings other than what he expected and was pleasantly surprised when he noted a wavering blip the depicted something hovering on the surface while it crashed against the reefs. "Ooh! I hope its not seaweed!" The mad sailor mashed his grubby hands against several controls which caused bright spotlights to burst into life and pierce the darkness for a fair distinct while The Laurel sped through the storm in the direction of the surface anomaly.
Earlier:
Fushio is sprawled out on her back across a steel examination table, one of her feet hanging over the edge. Fully clothed, and wearing her normal light armor, she’s asleep. Not the suspended animation that the rest of the transport ship’s occupants got to enjoy, but rather just basic, normal sleep. The type that comes when it can between the endless rounds of the ship, or the maintenance cycles that needed to be completed.
She is part of the skeleton crew that kept things running, and by proxy, the various passenger cargo alive. For all the automation and advancement that came with new systems and software, a living touch is still needed every now and then; Especially when things go sideways.
In her case, she represents the entirety of the medical staff on board. Mostly responsible for monitoring and maintaining the life support. For both the ship and the frozen occupants. Sometimes she cooks. The rest of the crew were the captain, some basic deck hands, and a couple engineers. Only six members total. Less people awake, less supplies, lower costs.
The room suddenly lurches, flinging the female Sul off the table, onto the floor, then skidding across the sick bay into one of the walls. The ship’s lights flicker and blink, but manage to stay on.
She wasn’t asleep anymore. Even if she had managed to stay sleeping, the ensuing alarm would have done the trick too.
Fushio pulls herself to her feet, moving quickly toward the sick bay’s computer, and quickly brings up the monitoring system for the passengers. Not having a direct link to the engineering information, it represented the most effective way to identify what was going on. At least severity wise. Simply count the bodies... or non-responsive chambers, if you wanted to maintain a sunny upbeat look.
A significant portion of the units are offline, clustered mostly toward the engineering department. The system readout shows them all going down simultaneously and near instantly. The locations suggest something... catastrophic happened... the lack of announcements from the rest of the crew also poses a problem... either they are very busy, or very dead.
She starts trying to initiate the emergency evacuation sequence. Each transport pod was designed to function as a short term survival system as well. The logic being that it is simply a better, more efficient, course of action to eject the passengers than wake them and hope they reach an escape pod. It is however, logically, one of those systems that required manual activation.
She is entering the final code when the secondary explosion hits, again sending her sliding across the floor. It probably saved her life... as a massive electrical surge caused the terminal to overload and explode. The lights flicker once more and go out, leaving the medical bay in darkness. The alarm dies off, the silence a sharp contrast. The emergency lighting clicks on a second later. Dim, but enough to get by.
Fushio is already up and moving again. Things are not going well. She opens a locker and pulls out her backpack and field supply boxes, quickly throwing them on. A strong sense of self preservation meant her stuff is always ready. This, unfortunate as it may sound, is not her first rodeo on a doomed ship.
She pauses at the medicine cabinet, and grabs two handfuls of what ever. One from the narcotic pain killers, the other from the antibiotics. She stuffs them into her pockets and darts out into the passageway.
There is a local, mechanical override for the stasis chambers, somewhere near the crew escape pods. That is her goal as she starts heading aft. In the distance, at the end of the passageway is an ominous orange glow from an out of control fire.
The ship’s pitch and yaw are getting progressively worse. Either no one is steering, or it’s beyond control...
She holds onto the wall as the ship continues to change angle, the back sinking lower... pausing as another small explosion comes from the bridge up forward... and again with a larger one with the engine room. A rush of air past her causes her to pause, looking toward the end of passage. For a brief second, the fire and engineering has been replaced with a narrow view of a planet before the emergency door slams down. A planet far closer than it should have been...
The gravity goes next. Without the engineering department, without power... the systems that were lingering on backup power are failing... life support would be going soon as well, if not already. But that wasn’t immediately dangerous.
Fushio brings her legs up, and kicks off the wall, sending her gliding down the hall. About midway down, her arm extends, hand snagging a pipe, and swinging her around a corner. Her next hand hold is a dead electrical panel, which she uses to stop her forward momentum. She is somewhere near the pod releases.
There’s a pause as she looks around, trying to find it. She pushes off the wall, and floats to her target, a series of three large handles on the opposite side of the walkway. Her hand hooks into the release, and she brings her legs up, pushing against the wall with her knees, bracing herself. She twists the mechanism, then pulls up with her body, providing the leverage needed to initiate the release. She slides over to the next, and repeats the process... only this time, mechanical latches can be heard releasing in series, running down the length of the ship as the emergency evacuation begins... but only on the lesser damaged side... and stopping about halfway down.
The first of the released pods launches mechanically, it’s departure hidden as the super structure of the ship let out a loud and foreboding metallic groan. The metal had been weakened by heat and force of the explosions, and now is slipping further into the near by planet’s gravitational pull... it’s mass would start to work against it. It would tear itself apart under its own weight, and the smaller pieces will burn up with its uncontrolled entry through the atmosphere.
There isn’t time to troubleshoot... even if she knew what to do... Fushio sighs... it is time to go.
She pushes off the wall, then kicks herself away heading toward the small bank of individual drop pods for the crew.
Now:
The crew pods aren’t as nice as the passenger ones. None of the fancy systems. No where near the padding. They’re safe... but not really meant to be an enjoyable ride. Budget constraints, and the ever important bottom line.
The drop through the atmosphere had been a ride... one of the air breaks had been struck by debris from the ship. As a result, it failed to deploy, and the unbalanced wind resistance put the pod in a spin. The parachutes deployed perfectly, but the sudden deceleration of the pod was from a greater speed. It jolted her hard... and one of the chutes detached. Between that, and the impact into the ocean, she’d been jerked around like a rag doll strapped into a harness.
The small escape pod comes to the surface on its own, naturally buoyant. And ballasted to right itself... even in the tossing waves of the storm. There is no window, but the sound of the water washing over the top is hard to mistake. Fushio’s inside the pod, still strapped in. From the movements, she can guess at the sea state outside, and as such, decides not to hit the release on the hatch. Not for now at least.... instead, she simply closes her eyes, and goes back to sleep.
Fushio is sprawled out on her back across a steel examination table, one of her feet hanging over the edge. Fully clothed, and wearing her normal light armor, she’s asleep. Not the suspended animation that the rest of the transport ship’s occupants got to enjoy, but rather just basic, normal sleep. The type that comes when it can between the endless rounds of the ship, or the maintenance cycles that needed to be completed.
She is part of the skeleton crew that kept things running, and by proxy, the various passenger cargo alive. For all the automation and advancement that came with new systems and software, a living touch is still needed every now and then; Especially when things go sideways.
In her case, she represents the entirety of the medical staff on board. Mostly responsible for monitoring and maintaining the life support. For both the ship and the frozen occupants. Sometimes she cooks. The rest of the crew were the captain, some basic deck hands, and a couple engineers. Only six members total. Less people awake, less supplies, lower costs.
The room suddenly lurches, flinging the female Sul off the table, onto the floor, then skidding across the sick bay into one of the walls. The ship’s lights flicker and blink, but manage to stay on.
She wasn’t asleep anymore. Even if she had managed to stay sleeping, the ensuing alarm would have done the trick too.
Fushio pulls herself to her feet, moving quickly toward the sick bay’s computer, and quickly brings up the monitoring system for the passengers. Not having a direct link to the engineering information, it represented the most effective way to identify what was going on. At least severity wise. Simply count the bodies... or non-responsive chambers, if you wanted to maintain a sunny upbeat look.
A significant portion of the units are offline, clustered mostly toward the engineering department. The system readout shows them all going down simultaneously and near instantly. The locations suggest something... catastrophic happened... the lack of announcements from the rest of the crew also poses a problem... either they are very busy, or very dead.
She starts trying to initiate the emergency evacuation sequence. Each transport pod was designed to function as a short term survival system as well. The logic being that it is simply a better, more efficient, course of action to eject the passengers than wake them and hope they reach an escape pod. It is however, logically, one of those systems that required manual activation.
She is entering the final code when the secondary explosion hits, again sending her sliding across the floor. It probably saved her life... as a massive electrical surge caused the terminal to overload and explode. The lights flicker once more and go out, leaving the medical bay in darkness. The alarm dies off, the silence a sharp contrast. The emergency lighting clicks on a second later. Dim, but enough to get by.
Fushio is already up and moving again. Things are not going well. She opens a locker and pulls out her backpack and field supply boxes, quickly throwing them on. A strong sense of self preservation meant her stuff is always ready. This, unfortunate as it may sound, is not her first rodeo on a doomed ship.
She pauses at the medicine cabinet, and grabs two handfuls of what ever. One from the narcotic pain killers, the other from the antibiotics. She stuffs them into her pockets and darts out into the passageway.
There is a local, mechanical override for the stasis chambers, somewhere near the crew escape pods. That is her goal as she starts heading aft. In the distance, at the end of the passageway is an ominous orange glow from an out of control fire.
The ship’s pitch and yaw are getting progressively worse. Either no one is steering, or it’s beyond control...
She holds onto the wall as the ship continues to change angle, the back sinking lower... pausing as another small explosion comes from the bridge up forward... and again with a larger one with the engine room. A rush of air past her causes her to pause, looking toward the end of passage. For a brief second, the fire and engineering has been replaced with a narrow view of a planet before the emergency door slams down. A planet far closer than it should have been...
The gravity goes next. Without the engineering department, without power... the systems that were lingering on backup power are failing... life support would be going soon as well, if not already. But that wasn’t immediately dangerous.
Fushio brings her legs up, and kicks off the wall, sending her gliding down the hall. About midway down, her arm extends, hand snagging a pipe, and swinging her around a corner. Her next hand hold is a dead electrical panel, which she uses to stop her forward momentum. She is somewhere near the pod releases.
There’s a pause as she looks around, trying to find it. She pushes off the wall, and floats to her target, a series of three large handles on the opposite side of the walkway. Her hand hooks into the release, and she brings her legs up, pushing against the wall with her knees, bracing herself. She twists the mechanism, then pulls up with her body, providing the leverage needed to initiate the release. She slides over to the next, and repeats the process... only this time, mechanical latches can be heard releasing in series, running down the length of the ship as the emergency evacuation begins... but only on the lesser damaged side... and stopping about halfway down.
The first of the released pods launches mechanically, it’s departure hidden as the super structure of the ship let out a loud and foreboding metallic groan. The metal had been weakened by heat and force of the explosions, and now is slipping further into the near by planet’s gravitational pull... it’s mass would start to work against it. It would tear itself apart under its own weight, and the smaller pieces will burn up with its uncontrolled entry through the atmosphere.
There isn’t time to troubleshoot... even if she knew what to do... Fushio sighs... it is time to go.
She pushes off the wall, then kicks herself away heading toward the small bank of individual drop pods for the crew.
Now:
The crew pods aren’t as nice as the passenger ones. None of the fancy systems. No where near the padding. They’re safe... but not really meant to be an enjoyable ride. Budget constraints, and the ever important bottom line.
The drop through the atmosphere had been a ride... one of the air breaks had been struck by debris from the ship. As a result, it failed to deploy, and the unbalanced wind resistance put the pod in a spin. The parachutes deployed perfectly, but the sudden deceleration of the pod was from a greater speed. It jolted her hard... and one of the chutes detached. Between that, and the impact into the ocean, she’d been jerked around like a rag doll strapped into a harness.
The small escape pod comes to the surface on its own, naturally buoyant. And ballasted to right itself... even in the tossing waves of the storm. There is no window, but the sound of the water washing over the top is hard to mistake. Fushio’s inside the pod, still strapped in. From the movements, she can guess at the sea state outside, and as such, decides not to hit the release on the hatch. Not for now at least.... instead, she simply closes her eyes, and goes back to sleep.
Jade was woken shakedly by the computer alerting her of nearby large objects. The screen shows two blips, recognizing one as the mother transport of the ship her and her family were on.
She dwells on thoughts of her family for a moment before shaking her head. As her sister would say, sorrow can wait when you have to survive.
She scrambled to find a way to communicate, first asking the computer to put out a signal. Unfortunately, the pods comm system is in disarray, probably damaged by the rapid growing vegetation of this planet. Looking to her bag pack, she finds a flare gun and three flares. Should she brave the storm to fire a flare?
She mentally shakes herself for her cowardice and puts on the bubble helm. Then she harnesses herself to the center of the shelter so she doesn’t get pulled out by the waves. Readying the flare gun, she secured everything and quickly went up the wall ladders and opened a section of the shielded solar ceiling, leaving only the top half of her body exposed to the elements.
She looks around to see two distant figures, hoping that they were friendly. A large wave goes over her and the sea nest, but they emerge soon after. Thankfully, she was harnessed. If not she would have been lost.
Jade fired the flare gun, a bright red light and smoke letting them know her direction. Making sure they’ll know where she is, she leaves the safety of the railing and attempts an open air walk to the signalling light that tells where her pod is. Instead of
Walking though, she’s crawling, being buffeted by the waves over and over as she made her way over, her attempt being supported only by the ridges of the water nest design.
Finally she makes it. The comm tower and emergency signal lights are covered with aggressive kelp and algae. She cuts them loose, making sure that the lights are able to rotate before moving on to release the comm box. She opens it and thankfully it’s intact. She turns the key that was displaced by the plant life and it lights up. Picking up the phone she broadcasts a short range broadcast, seeing as long range broadcast is impossible due to the more advanced systems being unavailable.
“Hello! Can anybody hear me? This is Jade Cloud from the Transport Freight: Haven. May Day! “
She looks on the box to see the number of her pod, but she had to brush the encroaching algae away.
“I’m on pod number VIP04-3H! Please! Is anybody there?!”
She dwells on thoughts of her family for a moment before shaking her head. As her sister would say, sorrow can wait when you have to survive.
She scrambled to find a way to communicate, first asking the computer to put out a signal. Unfortunately, the pods comm system is in disarray, probably damaged by the rapid growing vegetation of this planet. Looking to her bag pack, she finds a flare gun and three flares. Should she brave the storm to fire a flare?
She mentally shakes herself for her cowardice and puts on the bubble helm. Then she harnesses herself to the center of the shelter so she doesn’t get pulled out by the waves. Readying the flare gun, she secured everything and quickly went up the wall ladders and opened a section of the shielded solar ceiling, leaving only the top half of her body exposed to the elements.
She looks around to see two distant figures, hoping that they were friendly. A large wave goes over her and the sea nest, but they emerge soon after. Thankfully, she was harnessed. If not she would have been lost.
Jade fired the flare gun, a bright red light and smoke letting them know her direction. Making sure they’ll know where she is, she leaves the safety of the railing and attempts an open air walk to the signalling light that tells where her pod is. Instead of
Walking though, she’s crawling, being buffeted by the waves over and over as she made her way over, her attempt being supported only by the ridges of the water nest design.
Finally she makes it. The comm tower and emergency signal lights are covered with aggressive kelp and algae. She cuts them loose, making sure that the lights are able to rotate before moving on to release the comm box. She opens it and thankfully it’s intact. She turns the key that was displaced by the plant life and it lights up. Picking up the phone she broadcasts a short range broadcast, seeing as long range broadcast is impossible due to the more advanced systems being unavailable.
“Hello! Can anybody hear me? This is Jade Cloud from the Transport Freight: Haven. May Day! “
She looks on the box to see the number of her pod, but she had to brush the encroaching algae away.
“I’m on pod number VIP04-3H! Please! Is anybody there?!”
Langley's craft cut through the roaring waves easily, as if it were made for riding storms. Every which way the ship tilted, the mad man seemed to tilt in the opposite direction and thus remain stable as if he were rooted to the spot. His wild brown hair streamed out behind him as he neared the object his tech had located for him, no doubt a piece of wreckage he could salvage. As he neared this object, Langley made his way across the deck of The Laurel and into the main cabin where the majority of the controls were. He had set his ship up with as many modern amenities as he could. Ships would crash and he'd dive or climb on board to scavenge anything still working. Eventually he ended up with a ship that was likely the most advanced thing on this damndable planet. However, some of the tech he had scavenged was set of radios capable of picking up just about any frequency that was out there. Sure, he never expected them to work or hear anything on them. He simply put them in sweep mode to scan through the frequency bands and stop on any errant signals that might be something worth looking into. He didn't realize that those radios would change his life some day.
As Langley leaned against the bulkhead and monitored the screen for the object of his interest, he heard a brief crackle within a speaker as his radios swept over Jade's distress signal. Upon detecting life on that particular frequency, the radio locked onto it as best it could and relayed everything over the speakers. "-de Cloud from the Trans-Transport Freight: H-H-Haven. May Day! I’m on pod number VIP04-3H! Please! Is err-body there?" Langley heard that female voice and it shook him so very to his core that he nearly fell into the captain's chair. Some deep instinct inside of him knew exactly how to respond to this woman's distress call and before he knew what he was doing, he had the transmitter in his hand. "Pod Victor India Papa Zero Four Tac Three Hotel, this is Captain Langley Ward of The Laurel. I am in receipt of your distress signal and have you on radar. I am approximately two mikes out from your location and closing. Remain inside your life pod until I arrive on scene. Captain Ward, Out."
Langley dropped the transmitter from limp fingers and brushed his hands back through his hair as he tried to figure out what in the hell just happened. Another person, here? This place never brought anyone, only death and salvageable tech. Only death. Only death... Langley beat against his own head with the palm of his hand as he took a deep breath and wipe his palm against the window so he could clearly see a strobe light in the distance when the rolling waves permitted. Grabbing a jacket that was a size too big with a sleeve missing, Langley wrapped himself up in it and ran back out on deck. He made his way to the bow where he had a rig set up that would close and entrap debris so he could simply push it with him in order to salvage it on the go. He didn't have a proper method of bringing things on board aside from hooks and strapping items to himself so this would have to do.
As The Laurel approached the life pod, Langley stood at the bow like a statue and shouted back to the pilot house at his AI. "Laurel! Dead slow and engage turbulence dampeners!" The ships seemed to act of its own accord and some odd floats along the hulls inflated and deflated at the proper times to maintain a level deck despite the waves. Inching towards the life pod, Langley's bearded face was lit up bit the signal strobe upon it. Closer and closer he watched the jaws of the salvage capture device get until they were directly on either side of it. Reaching to his right, Langley swiped on the controls and watched as those jaws wrapped themselves tight around the pod, forcing it to bob along with the stable ship. Only then, amid the storm, did Langley nimbly hop onto the domed roof of the life pod and find the access hatch. He sat up there staring at it for what felt like a lifetime before balling his hand into a fist and pounding upon it loudly. "This is Captain Langley Ward of The Laurel! Are you there?!" He nearly shouted himself hoarse, unbelieving that this situation was actually happening to him.
As Langley leaned against the bulkhead and monitored the screen for the object of his interest, he heard a brief crackle within a speaker as his radios swept over Jade's distress signal. Upon detecting life on that particular frequency, the radio locked onto it as best it could and relayed everything over the speakers. "-de Cloud from the Trans-Transport Freight: H-H-Haven. May Day! I’m on pod number VIP04-3H! Please! Is err-body there?" Langley heard that female voice and it shook him so very to his core that he nearly fell into the captain's chair. Some deep instinct inside of him knew exactly how to respond to this woman's distress call and before he knew what he was doing, he had the transmitter in his hand. "Pod Victor India Papa Zero Four Tac Three Hotel, this is Captain Langley Ward of The Laurel. I am in receipt of your distress signal and have you on radar. I am approximately two mikes out from your location and closing. Remain inside your life pod until I arrive on scene. Captain Ward, Out."
Langley dropped the transmitter from limp fingers and brushed his hands back through his hair as he tried to figure out what in the hell just happened. Another person, here? This place never brought anyone, only death and salvageable tech. Only death. Only death... Langley beat against his own head with the palm of his hand as he took a deep breath and wipe his palm against the window so he could clearly see a strobe light in the distance when the rolling waves permitted. Grabbing a jacket that was a size too big with a sleeve missing, Langley wrapped himself up in it and ran back out on deck. He made his way to the bow where he had a rig set up that would close and entrap debris so he could simply push it with him in order to salvage it on the go. He didn't have a proper method of bringing things on board aside from hooks and strapping items to himself so this would have to do.
As The Laurel approached the life pod, Langley stood at the bow like a statue and shouted back to the pilot house at his AI. "Laurel! Dead slow and engage turbulence dampeners!" The ships seemed to act of its own accord and some odd floats along the hulls inflated and deflated at the proper times to maintain a level deck despite the waves. Inching towards the life pod, Langley's bearded face was lit up bit the signal strobe upon it. Closer and closer he watched the jaws of the salvage capture device get until they were directly on either side of it. Reaching to his right, Langley swiped on the controls and watched as those jaws wrapped themselves tight around the pod, forcing it to bob along with the stable ship. Only then, amid the storm, did Langley nimbly hop onto the domed roof of the life pod and find the access hatch. He sat up there staring at it for what felt like a lifetime before balling his hand into a fist and pounding upon it loudly. "This is Captain Langley Ward of The Laurel! Are you there?!" He nearly shouted himself hoarse, unbelieving that this situation was actually happening to him.
She is back on the ship. Not the transport. Not the Haven... but one she has not been on for years. It’s oddly quiet... no voices... no sound at all...
She turns around slowly, taking it in... and as she completes a full rotation, another person has joined her. A male Sul. Younger. It’s a face she recognizes, even if the last time she saw it, it was half burned off.
“...I finally died, didn’t I?” Her own voice seems loud, and out of place. The figure simply stands there. Silent.
“I mean, because I don’t know...” Her voice trails off as he lifts a finger to its mouth, motioning for her to be silent.
It’s mouth opens, “Can anybody hear me?” It’s a woman’s voice, which only further confuses the female Sul, especially as it continues... the voice coming out clear from the wide open, unmoving mouth. “This is Jade Cloud...”
And then the wall next to them both exploded.
Fushio jerked awake. She’d have hit her head... again... if not for the harness holding her. She looked around, disoriented, before remembering where she is. Her body relaxed. Dreams, you are fickle beasts... who is Jade Cloud?
“I’m on pod number VIP04-3H. Please? Is anybody there?!”
Fushio looks around. She missed the majority of the broad cast while disoriented.
The pod, internally, is only about the size of a coffin. And, judging by the sound of the ocean, and lack of water inside, still sealed. Where is the voice coming from?
Now a man’s voice came: “Pod Victor India Papa Zero Four Tac Three Hotel, this is Captain Langley Ward of The Laurel. I am in receipt of your distress signal and have you on radar. I am approximately two mikes out from your location and closing. Remain inside your life pod until I arrive on scene. Captain Ward, Out."
Fushio felt along the wall of the pod, about where the voices were coming from... and found a hand held radio wedged between the jump seat and the wall. Must have come lose in the fall. Probably when it turned on. That, or bouncing around with the flow of the seas.
She grabs it, and tries to look it over. Only the pod is sealed and unlighted... so it’s basically pitch black. She feels it with her fingers instead, and presses the transmit button.
“This is...” She hesitates, releasing the button, not sure how to identify herself... she presses the button again. “This is the Chief medical officer of transport freighter Haven.” It was technically true. In a broad sense. She continues. “Broadcasting on an open frequency. Does anyone read? Over.”
She turns around slowly, taking it in... and as she completes a full rotation, another person has joined her. A male Sul. Younger. It’s a face she recognizes, even if the last time she saw it, it was half burned off.
“...I finally died, didn’t I?” Her own voice seems loud, and out of place. The figure simply stands there. Silent.
“I mean, because I don’t know...” Her voice trails off as he lifts a finger to its mouth, motioning for her to be silent.
It’s mouth opens, “Can anybody hear me?” It’s a woman’s voice, which only further confuses the female Sul, especially as it continues... the voice coming out clear from the wide open, unmoving mouth. “This is Jade Cloud...”
And then the wall next to them both exploded.
Fushio jerked awake. She’d have hit her head... again... if not for the harness holding her. She looked around, disoriented, before remembering where she is. Her body relaxed. Dreams, you are fickle beasts... who is Jade Cloud?
“I’m on pod number VIP04-3H. Please? Is anybody there?!”
Fushio looks around. She missed the majority of the broad cast while disoriented.
The pod, internally, is only about the size of a coffin. And, judging by the sound of the ocean, and lack of water inside, still sealed. Where is the voice coming from?
Now a man’s voice came: “Pod Victor India Papa Zero Four Tac Three Hotel, this is Captain Langley Ward of The Laurel. I am in receipt of your distress signal and have you on radar. I am approximately two mikes out from your location and closing. Remain inside your life pod until I arrive on scene. Captain Ward, Out."
Fushio felt along the wall of the pod, about where the voices were coming from... and found a hand held radio wedged between the jump seat and the wall. Must have come lose in the fall. Probably when it turned on. That, or bouncing around with the flow of the seas.
She grabs it, and tries to look it over. Only the pod is sealed and unlighted... so it’s basically pitch black. She feels it with her fingers instead, and presses the transmit button.
“This is...” She hesitates, releasing the button, not sure how to identify herself... she presses the button again. “This is the Chief medical officer of transport freighter Haven.” It was technically true. In a broad sense. She continues. “Broadcasting on an open frequency. Does anyone read? Over.”
Jade waits about two minutes, hoping somebody would hear. Or that there were other survivors from the Haven. She’s clutched onto the tower for hear life, being buffeted by the waves until finally she hears a response.
The phonetics used was familiar to her because of her family’s military background, helping her understand the gist of what the Captain was saying despite the interference. The girl cries in joy to hear another person behind the line. She was about to respond when she heard another person on the transmission. This one clearer than the one before.
She picks up the receiver and dislodges it from the box before quickly stuffing it down her bag pack and heading down to the hatch.
“I’m here! I’m here! “ she scrambled to reach the man, a relieved look on her face. She sees a large wave approaching them and opens the hatch, pushing him inside before jumping down and closing the hatch behind them.
She holds on to the walls as the wave passes.
“I’m so glad to see another person. I’m Jade. “ she smiles at him then remembers that another voice was transmitted through the receiver.
She opens her backpack and places the contents on the damaged communications console. She scrambled to find the manual and keys needed to assume navigation controls and lays them on the console as well.
“Okay. So I think these are the stuff we need to get the comms working properly. There was another voice on the transmission as well. If we can fix this we can get a clear video call to her. But... I’m not very good with fixing machines. That was my sister’s expertise. “
She remembers her instinctual response to the wave and blushes.
“Sorry about pushing you... “
The phonetics used was familiar to her because of her family’s military background, helping her understand the gist of what the Captain was saying despite the interference. The girl cries in joy to hear another person behind the line. She was about to respond when she heard another person on the transmission. This one clearer than the one before.
She picks up the receiver and dislodges it from the box before quickly stuffing it down her bag pack and heading down to the hatch.
“I’m here! I’m here! “ she scrambled to reach the man, a relieved look on her face. She sees a large wave approaching them and opens the hatch, pushing him inside before jumping down and closing the hatch behind them.
She holds on to the walls as the wave passes.
“I’m so glad to see another person. I’m Jade. “ she smiles at him then remembers that another voice was transmitted through the receiver.
She opens her backpack and places the contents on the damaged communications console. She scrambled to find the manual and keys needed to assume navigation controls and lays them on the console as well.
“Okay. So I think these are the stuff we need to get the comms working properly. There was another voice on the transmission as well. If we can fix this we can get a clear video call to her. But... I’m not very good with fixing machines. That was my sister’s expertise. “
She remembers her instinctual response to the wave and blushes.
“Sorry about pushing you... “
Langley got to see another human face for exactly one second before he was pulled inside the life pod and the hatch closed after him. He landed hard upon the deck of the pod and noted how incredibly organized it was despite the emergency situation. He sat himself down on the floor in absolute shock for several moments while she talked quickly at him about hearing another voice over the same frequency and it was as if she was speaking too fast for him to understand. What had he gotten himself into?
He'd been on his own for almost a decade and suddenly there was a living breathing human here who needed HIS help. He allowed himself a second to hyperventilate before he got to his feet and looked at the tech in her hands with wide eyes. "I uhh. I have a ship. A ship. It's just above us and has a whole suite of communications gear. Gear. Gear." Langley pounded the side of his head with his palm for a brief moment before offering an apologetic smile. "Laurel's just up here. We can swing about and pick up the owner of that distress call."
He climbed the ladder to the access hatch and shoved it open. That brief glance into Langley's mental state and physical appearance made it abundantly clear that he was not entirely there. He was thin with wirey muscles and long tangled hair. His beard was unkempt and rolled down his chest in dozens of knots. He smelled of salt and looked as if the very sea itself had created him to roam her waters. Upon the dome of the life pod, Langley reached down and helped Jade up where she finally got a look of Laurel, the three masted ship with a tri-hull design that looked like a predatory bird of some kind. The deck was dappled white and gray with various sections that only contained netting before dropping off into the water below. Three distinct cabins were on board that had various uses but after helping her aboard, Langley warily guided her to the primary one.
"This is the pilot house, it leads down to the living area and is where I navigate the ship." He twitched slightly as he brushed his hand across the controls and made a few corrections to their course while bringing up a half dozen screens which showed him the general location of the distress call. "There she is..." He pointed the small blip out on his screen before grabbing the transmitter in his opposite hand. "Last station calling, this is Captain Langley of The Laurel. I am in receipt of your transmission and have triangulated your position. Please remain calm while my station navigates to your position. My station is roughly 3 nautical miles away from your position. Should arrive within 15 minutes. How copy, over?"
He'd been on his own for almost a decade and suddenly there was a living breathing human here who needed HIS help. He allowed himself a second to hyperventilate before he got to his feet and looked at the tech in her hands with wide eyes. "I uhh. I have a ship. A ship. It's just above us and has a whole suite of communications gear. Gear. Gear." Langley pounded the side of his head with his palm for a brief moment before offering an apologetic smile. "Laurel's just up here. We can swing about and pick up the owner of that distress call."
He climbed the ladder to the access hatch and shoved it open. That brief glance into Langley's mental state and physical appearance made it abundantly clear that he was not entirely there. He was thin with wirey muscles and long tangled hair. His beard was unkempt and rolled down his chest in dozens of knots. He smelled of salt and looked as if the very sea itself had created him to roam her waters. Upon the dome of the life pod, Langley reached down and helped Jade up where she finally got a look of Laurel, the three masted ship with a tri-hull design that looked like a predatory bird of some kind. The deck was dappled white and gray with various sections that only contained netting before dropping off into the water below. Three distinct cabins were on board that had various uses but after helping her aboard, Langley warily guided her to the primary one.
"This is the pilot house, it leads down to the living area and is where I navigate the ship." He twitched slightly as he brushed his hand across the controls and made a few corrections to their course while bringing up a half dozen screens which showed him the general location of the distress call. "There she is..." He pointed the small blip out on his screen before grabbing the transmitter in his opposite hand. "Last station calling, this is Captain Langley of The Laurel. I am in receipt of your transmission and have triangulated your position. Please remain calm while my station navigates to your position. My station is roughly 3 nautical miles away from your position. Should arrive within 15 minutes. How copy, over?"
The initial lack of response is a bit disheartening. Not a lot, as obviously the others were not, or are not, presumably in much better shape than her. But, it’s also possible the radio didn’t send. 50/50 shot. Like everything in life. It did or it didn’t.
She taps her fingers on the back of the radio, while trying not to dwell on how coffin like the escape pod is. She just kinda lays there, the waves rocking her... at least that’s not too bad... it sounds rough up there... and so far she hadn’t been tossed around to badly.
She’s about to try broadcasting again when the male voice comes back over the radio:
“Last station calling, this is Captain Langley of The Laurel. I am in receipt of your transmission and have triangulated your position. Please remain calm while my station navigates to your position. My station is roughly 3 nautical miles away from your position. Should arrive within 15 minutes. How copy, over?"
She raises an eyebrow, “In Route, Aye. Don’t panic? Wasn’t planning on-“
At about that instant, her pod lifted and suddenly drops back under the water, which leads into a violent roll. Through it all, she holds down the transmit button, so her very colorful choices of words are heard quite clearly over the air.
The pod pops back up to the surface, upside down. She is hanging face down from her harness. She clears her throat, and brings the radio back up toward her face. The pod slowly rolls back over.
“...be advised... a rogue wave may be heading toward you. Unable to give a direction. Over.”
She releases the button.
She taps her fingers on the back of the radio, while trying not to dwell on how coffin like the escape pod is. She just kinda lays there, the waves rocking her... at least that’s not too bad... it sounds rough up there... and so far she hadn’t been tossed around to badly.
She’s about to try broadcasting again when the male voice comes back over the radio:
“Last station calling, this is Captain Langley of The Laurel. I am in receipt of your transmission and have triangulated your position. Please remain calm while my station navigates to your position. My station is roughly 3 nautical miles away from your position. Should arrive within 15 minutes. How copy, over?"
She raises an eyebrow, “In Route, Aye. Don’t panic? Wasn’t planning on-“
At about that instant, her pod lifted and suddenly drops back under the water, which leads into a violent roll. Through it all, she holds down the transmit button, so her very colorful choices of words are heard quite clearly over the air.
The pod pops back up to the surface, upside down. She is hanging face down from her harness. She clears her throat, and brings the radio back up toward her face. The pod slowly rolls back over.
“...be advised... a rogue wave may be heading toward you. Unable to give a direction. Over.”
She releases the button.
Jade allowed Langley to guide her to his ship even though she felt it was much safer on the Water Nest.
Nest... that’s a pretty nice word for it. Maybe I’ll just call it that from now on.
{...Rogue wave....toward...you...direction}
That was all the girl heard before she saw the massive wave. Panic rolled in as she was unfamiliar with the new ship. All she found was a small utility closet as there was not much to hold on to. She decided that was the safest bet and went inside, hoping that they’ll be alright and the Nest won’t dislodge from the Laurel.
Nest... that’s a pretty nice word for it. Maybe I’ll just call it that from now on.
{...Rogue wave....toward...you...direction}
That was all the girl heard before she saw the massive wave. Panic rolled in as she was unfamiliar with the new ship. All she found was a small utility closet as there was not much to hold on to. She decided that was the safest bet and went inside, hoping that they’ll be alright and the Nest won’t dislodge from the Laurel.
Langley heard the transmission about the rogue wave and turned to look out the cabin window at the massive wall of water which raced in their direction at one hundred miles per hour. It was surreal moment of clarity that afforded the seafarer who was no longer alone enough time to gently brush the metal console of the cabin's navigating station. Throughout all these years, Laurel and himself had been the only two on this planet capable of intelligent though. Much as he enjoyed her company, Langley wrote every line of code and every possible response Laurel could have to any situation he might think of. What worried him now was that he didn't hear anything from her now. A slow glance to the direction of the utility closet let him lock eyes with the rescued woman as she braced for inevitable shock. It felt as if Langley's heart slowed to a stand still and he let his body work in the manner it felt necessary.
No longer shaking and stuttering, Mad Langley Ward let a creeping laugh jump in his throat as he felt the jubilation of no longer being alone. Spinning the old school wheel in the direction of the wave, Langley's finger danced across the console and the ship lurched into action. It's sluggish speed before hand had been under sail while the seafarer attempted to preserve his stores of energy until the storm passed so that the solar sails could recharge it. However, as Langley grasped a couple throttles on either side of him and punched them forward, the most peculiar sensation came over himself and no doubt the woman hiding in the closet. Thrusting forward, The Laurel cut through the slack waves which seemed to grow smaller the closer the rogue wave came. With every bit of speed they put on, the ship seemed to raise out of the water on stilts which were at the bottom of the three hulls. A wild humming shook the ship and a flying piece of debris smashed through the cabin's main window, showering the sailor as he briefly ducked for cover. When he stood back up he had a couple cuts on his face and arms but his smile grew ever more fierce as The Laurel rushed to meet that wave head on.
"OOH! The castaway has found a way! Roll down, heave out! He turns the rudder and let's loose SAIL! Roll down, heave out!" Mad Langley's jubilant singing was reminiscent of the old sea shanties sung by the sailors of earth hundreds of years ago. His hair streamed behind him and his beard whipped about as wind rushed through the open cabin windshield. "Oh up and over he'll sail us through! Roll down, heave out!" The Laurel's frame creaked and groaned as it tilted backwards and began to climb the long wall of water. In moment he was only staring at sky as he raced to crest the wave before it broke and flipped the Laurel over. "THE DEEP BELOW'S NO PLACE FOR ME! ROLL DOWN, HEAVE OUT!" Metal shrieked as a mast sheered off due to the sheer stress put upon it. The long shaft of metal whistled as it whipped past the pilot house.
Langley's clearly insane mannerisms and enthusiasm saw The Laurel almost the entirely up the sheer face of the rogue wave but suddenly they began to slow as the ship attempted to climb an entirely vertical stretch of water. "BUT IF IT'S THE DEEP FOR ME! ROLL DOWN, HEAVE OUT!" He punched several controls which angled the planes that had been lifting The Laurel out of the water to a sharp decline. Suddenly, Langley's stomach dropped as The Laurel launched itself directly at the crest of the wave and disappeared inside of it. For one brief moment, water rushed into the pilot house and nearly dislodged Langley from the controls. With a grimace on his lips and the muscles of his arms screaming in protest, he hung on to the wheel. Suddenly, the sensation of weightlessness and whipping air overcame them and The Laurel punched out the other side of the wave in a massive spray of water.
"THROUGH AND THROUGH THE WAVES WE GO! ROLL DOWN, HEAVE OUT!" The Mad Captain screamed as the Laurel hurtled through the air before slamming back down onto her hull on the back side of the rogue wave. They began picking up serious speed while on the decline and Langley angled the planes to lift them out of the water once more. This speed and high vantage point let them see the strobe light of the coffin shaped life pod. Snatching the transmitter off its hook, Langley shouted into it. "Ready yourself Chief Medical Officer of the Haven! Captain Mad Langley of the good ship Laurel inbound to your location!!"
No longer shaking and stuttering, Mad Langley Ward let a creeping laugh jump in his throat as he felt the jubilation of no longer being alone. Spinning the old school wheel in the direction of the wave, Langley's finger danced across the console and the ship lurched into action. It's sluggish speed before hand had been under sail while the seafarer attempted to preserve his stores of energy until the storm passed so that the solar sails could recharge it. However, as Langley grasped a couple throttles on either side of him and punched them forward, the most peculiar sensation came over himself and no doubt the woman hiding in the closet. Thrusting forward, The Laurel cut through the slack waves which seemed to grow smaller the closer the rogue wave came. With every bit of speed they put on, the ship seemed to raise out of the water on stilts which were at the bottom of the three hulls. A wild humming shook the ship and a flying piece of debris smashed through the cabin's main window, showering the sailor as he briefly ducked for cover. When he stood back up he had a couple cuts on his face and arms but his smile grew ever more fierce as The Laurel rushed to meet that wave head on.
"OOH! The castaway has found a way! Roll down, heave out! He turns the rudder and let's loose SAIL! Roll down, heave out!" Mad Langley's jubilant singing was reminiscent of the old sea shanties sung by the sailors of earth hundreds of years ago. His hair streamed behind him and his beard whipped about as wind rushed through the open cabin windshield. "Oh up and over he'll sail us through! Roll down, heave out!" The Laurel's frame creaked and groaned as it tilted backwards and began to climb the long wall of water. In moment he was only staring at sky as he raced to crest the wave before it broke and flipped the Laurel over. "THE DEEP BELOW'S NO PLACE FOR ME! ROLL DOWN, HEAVE OUT!" Metal shrieked as a mast sheered off due to the sheer stress put upon it. The long shaft of metal whistled as it whipped past the pilot house.
Langley's clearly insane mannerisms and enthusiasm saw The Laurel almost the entirely up the sheer face of the rogue wave but suddenly they began to slow as the ship attempted to climb an entirely vertical stretch of water. "BUT IF IT'S THE DEEP FOR ME! ROLL DOWN, HEAVE OUT!" He punched several controls which angled the planes that had been lifting The Laurel out of the water to a sharp decline. Suddenly, Langley's stomach dropped as The Laurel launched itself directly at the crest of the wave and disappeared inside of it. For one brief moment, water rushed into the pilot house and nearly dislodged Langley from the controls. With a grimace on his lips and the muscles of his arms screaming in protest, he hung on to the wheel. Suddenly, the sensation of weightlessness and whipping air overcame them and The Laurel punched out the other side of the wave in a massive spray of water.
"THROUGH AND THROUGH THE WAVES WE GO! ROLL DOWN, HEAVE OUT!" The Mad Captain screamed as the Laurel hurtled through the air before slamming back down onto her hull on the back side of the rogue wave. They began picking up serious speed while on the decline and Langley angled the planes to lift them out of the water once more. This speed and high vantage point let them see the strobe light of the coffin shaped life pod. Snatching the transmitter off its hook, Langley shouted into it. "Ready yourself Chief Medical Officer of the Haven! Captain Mad Langley of the good ship Laurel inbound to your location!!"
“Ready yourself Chief Medical Officer of the Haven! Captain Mad Langley of the good ship Laurel inbound to your location!!"
Fushio smiles. That is a fun title. Probably one she could use for a while too. No one to contest it, and it’s not like it really matters that the Haven is in pieces... and somewhere between low orbit and the bottom of the sea.
Well, that at least explains the rogue wave. A giant hulk of burning space wreckage would certainly displace some water... another realization sets in.
“Damn it!”
She punches the hatch for the pod. Hard. Yet remains unphased by whether it hurt. She almost throws the radio too... not that it would go far... but it would be a bit difficult to reach depending on where it landed.
She realizes she is transmitting still, and releases the button, saving the others on the channel from a few other choice words. After she calms down, and takes a large breath, she lifts the radio again, pressing the button in.
“I mean, copy. I’m not going anywhere... so, by all means, take your time.”
Calm, but still irritated, judging by the tone.
She lowers the radio... then brings it back up.
“I know this is asking a lot, but... If you happen to see my hat while in route... could you grab it? I seem to have... misplaced it. Over.”
Her arm lowers to rest on her chest as she releases the button again. She really liked that hat.
Fushio smiles. That is a fun title. Probably one she could use for a while too. No one to contest it, and it’s not like it really matters that the Haven is in pieces... and somewhere between low orbit and the bottom of the sea.
Well, that at least explains the rogue wave. A giant hulk of burning space wreckage would certainly displace some water... another realization sets in.
“Damn it!”
She punches the hatch for the pod. Hard. Yet remains unphased by whether it hurt. She almost throws the radio too... not that it would go far... but it would be a bit difficult to reach depending on where it landed.
She realizes she is transmitting still, and releases the button, saving the others on the channel from a few other choice words. After she calms down, and takes a large breath, she lifts the radio again, pressing the button in.
“I mean, copy. I’m not going anywhere... so, by all means, take your time.”
Calm, but still irritated, judging by the tone.
She lowers the radio... then brings it back up.
“I know this is asking a lot, but... If you happen to see my hat while in route... could you grab it? I seem to have... misplaced it. Over.”
Her arm lowers to rest on her chest as she releases the button again. She really liked that hat.
Jade places herself in a ball like position, the safest position she knows of just in case they get flung to and fro and she bounces in the closet like a ping pong ball. The rogue wave hit them hard, but somehow she was alright. Sure she might have a few scrapes and a fair share of bruises from items being jostled around her, but the girl was fairly safe. She waited a bit longer to make sure they were steady and no more waves are heading in their direction before leaving the closet.
The girl witnesses another life pod being brought in by the captain and helps in what way she could. She tries to follow his direction the best she could. From what she could see, they’ve made it past the worst of the storm. The weather should clear up in awhile.
Once the other pod was safely secured, she looks the person over, making sure she was okay.
“Hi. I’m Jade. “
The girl witnesses another life pod being brought in by the captain and helps in what way she could. She tries to follow his direction the best she could. From what she could see, they’ve made it past the worst of the storm. The weather should clear up in awhile.
Once the other pod was safely secured, she looks the person over, making sure she was okay.
“Hi. I’m Jade. “
Sailing down the rest of that rogue wave and rescuing the next life pod was a whirl of activity. Langley could barely remember anything of what was happening before he found himself hauling that coffin-like pod on deck and cracking the case to let the Chief Medical Officer out. As she spilled out onto the deck, Langley helped her up while Jade looked her over. Now he had TWO people on his ship in less than an hour. What in seven hells was going on here?
Fushio simply waits. There’s a lack of alternative choices, really.
She waits for the ship to arrive.
She waits for them to drag the pod on board.
She waits for them to open it.
At some point, while waiting, she fell asleep. Impressive, possibly, given the relatively short amount of time.
It was not the hatch opening that woke her, but rather the sudden greeting of rain from the weakening storm. She hits the release on the harness, freeing herself... and at that exact moment, the ship rolls, enough that the pod shifts, and her and her back pack spill out onto the deck.
She takes the hand offered her as she rises to her feet. She is Sul, an uncommon race of bipedal creatures similar to earth rabbits. She looks a little worse for the wear, tired more than anything else, mostly because her fur hides the bruising on her body.
She looks over the two of them... quickly recognizing their genders, and identifying at least one as Captain Ward... the other, she guesses to be girl from the radio, which is confirmed a moment later when the girl introduces herself.
Jade. The name from her dream. She looks at the radio she still clutches in her hand. At least that part makes more sense now.
“Hello, Jade Cloud.” Her focus turns toward the gentleman with her. “And greetings to you as well, Captain. Thank you for retrieving me.”
Fushio bends down, and picks up her backpack from the deck of the ship, and slings it over her shoulder.
“As much as I would love to continue this conversation, perhaps we could maybe... not have it in the rain?”
With that, she glances around, and starts walking across the deck. There is a slight stiffness to her gate, caused by the soreness of her body, but she seems to just be pushing through it. She opens a door, and lets herself into what she guesses is the main cabin.
She waits for the ship to arrive.
She waits for them to drag the pod on board.
She waits for them to open it.
At some point, while waiting, she fell asleep. Impressive, possibly, given the relatively short amount of time.
It was not the hatch opening that woke her, but rather the sudden greeting of rain from the weakening storm. She hits the release on the harness, freeing herself... and at that exact moment, the ship rolls, enough that the pod shifts, and her and her back pack spill out onto the deck.
She takes the hand offered her as she rises to her feet. She is Sul, an uncommon race of bipedal creatures similar to earth rabbits. She looks a little worse for the wear, tired more than anything else, mostly because her fur hides the bruising on her body.
She looks over the two of them... quickly recognizing their genders, and identifying at least one as Captain Ward... the other, she guesses to be girl from the radio, which is confirmed a moment later when the girl introduces herself.
Jade. The name from her dream. She looks at the radio she still clutches in her hand. At least that part makes more sense now.
“Hello, Jade Cloud.” Her focus turns toward the gentleman with her. “And greetings to you as well, Captain. Thank you for retrieving me.”
Fushio bends down, and picks up her backpack from the deck of the ship, and slings it over her shoulder.
“As much as I would love to continue this conversation, perhaps we could maybe... not have it in the rain?”
With that, she glances around, and starts walking across the deck. There is a slight stiffness to her gate, caused by the soreness of her body, but she seems to just be pushing through it. She opens a door, and lets herself into what she guesses is the main cabin.
Jade releases a relieve sigh. After helping out the Sul, she moved into the main cabin with the other two so they may speak more comfortably.
“It seems the storm is subsiding, so we shouldn’t have to worry about the weather for awhile. “ she sits down at a nearby crate, her hands in her lap.
“I’m glad to see other people. Though I’m not sure how many people from the Haven survived... I’d love to look for other survivors, but we need to make our living situation a bit better. “
She looks to Langley then back to the Sul.
“Captain Langley, you’ve been most kind rescuing us. I hope we’re not causing a burden. “
The girls inferiority complex seems to be sleeping through, but her stubbornness keeps her in check.
“I’m eager to help in whatever way I can. I’ve some working facilities in the Nest as well if you’d like to tour it sometime. “
She smiles sheepishly, knowing she’s spoken quite a bit with her thoughts seeming to leap from one topic to another. Perhaps it’s a nervous mechanism of hers.
“It seems the storm is subsiding, so we shouldn’t have to worry about the weather for awhile. “ she sits down at a nearby crate, her hands in her lap.
“I’m glad to see other people. Though I’m not sure how many people from the Haven survived... I’d love to look for other survivors, but we need to make our living situation a bit better. “
She looks to Langley then back to the Sul.
“Captain Langley, you’ve been most kind rescuing us. I hope we’re not causing a burden. “
The girls inferiority complex seems to be sleeping through, but her stubbornness keeps her in check.
“I’m eager to help in whatever way I can. I’ve some working facilities in the Nest as well if you’d like to tour it sometime. “
She smiles sheepishly, knowing she’s spoken quite a bit with her thoughts seeming to leap from one topic to another. Perhaps it’s a nervous mechanism of hers.
As they moved into the main cabin so everyone could get in out of the rain, Langley let the Sul and woman converse for a bit as he busied himself with placing a clear sheet of over the main viewport seeing as it was destroyed during the rogue wave. He almost didn't respond when Jade addressed him directly because he was so unused to actually talking with another person. Giving a start, the mad captain turned about to two expectant pairs of eyes. This was definitely something he was going to have to get used to. "A-Ahem. Its no trouble at all.. If I'm being honest, I could use the company." He attempted a smile but realized the reason the both of them were visiting was because their ship crashed and a lot of their friends or family must of have died. "O-Of course I'm sorry for what happened to you..! Just.. I've been on Thaeria for almost ten earth years.. You're the first living beings I've seen in all that time.."
He trailed off for a moment before looking out through that clear plastic at a life pod on his deck and a nest in his salvage capture unit. "Now I don't mean to be rude... Be rude.. Be rude.." He gave the side of his head a swift hit of his palm. "But there is plenty of room below decks for you both, making the life pods quite unnecessary. However, we could use your pods to supplement the existing systems on board as well as repair some of the damage from the storm. I don't mean to go around breaking your stuff but it seems to me that integrating it with The Laurel would make the most sense." He fidgeted with several controls upon the console as he sailed the ship out of the storm. He'd never had to ask to salvage anyone's stuff before. They were usually dead by the time he got there.
He trailed off for a moment before looking out through that clear plastic at a life pod on his deck and a nest in his salvage capture unit. "Now I don't mean to be rude... Be rude.. Be rude.." He gave the side of his head a swift hit of his palm. "But there is plenty of room below decks for you both, making the life pods quite unnecessary. However, we could use your pods to supplement the existing systems on board as well as repair some of the damage from the storm. I don't mean to go around breaking your stuff but it seems to me that integrating it with The Laurel would make the most sense." He fidgeted with several controls upon the console as he sailed the ship out of the storm. He'd never had to ask to salvage anyone's stuff before. They were usually dead by the time he got there.
Fushio sets her bag down on a table. As Jade starts talking, she glances at her, but quickly avert her attention at the comment about survivors. Fushio opens her bag, and starts checking things.
Next, she removes the box she wears on her stomach. She sets it on the table by her bag, and opens it. After a moment she reaches into one of her pockets, and fishes the vials of medicine out. She sets them into the hinder lid of the container, the repeats it with the other pocket.
She only glances at the other two as they converse, not really having much to add to the conversation at the moment. Mostly, she’s checking each vial, identifying what it is, then placing it properly into the larger case.
Next, she removes the box she wears on her stomach. She sets it on the table by her bag, and opens it. After a moment she reaches into one of her pockets, and fishes the vials of medicine out. She sets them into the hinder lid of the container, the repeats it with the other pocket.
She only glances at the other two as they converse, not really having much to add to the conversation at the moment. Mostly, she’s checking each vial, identifying what it is, then placing it properly into the larger case.
While Jade understands that it would be good to improve on the Laurel, she wasn’t keen on giving up the safety and privacy she has on the nest. Privacy.... there wasn’t much that she needed, but as a reclusive person by nature, she needed her space.
“Oh! I’m not good with people either... as for intergration...An integration could certainly be done. But I don’t want to completely dismantle the nest. I...I w-want to keep having my own space...”
The nest was pretty much the size of a studio apartment. Perhaps a bit smaller. It was designed to be very efficient with space, integrating most if not all the necessities.
There was one piece of equipment especially that she was grateful for. The technology that placed the human race in equal footing with the longer lived races. The fabricator. With this, as long as they had the materials, they will be fine. It’s the first thing she wants to check.
“Actually. If you’d be willing. Perhaps we can check the Fabricator to see if it’s still working. It lets us make almost anything as long as we have the materials. Kelp from the bottom deck of the nest is quite aggressive, but packed with vitamins. Their seed pods also contain natural oils. It’s a steady source of food and keeping it tended will keep the hydraulics running. “
She trailed off, not wanting to be the only one speaking. It was difficult to speak up, but she’s doing her best. She hopes Langley won’t be angry with her for not wishing to give up her nest.
“Oh! I’m not good with people either... as for intergration...An integration could certainly be done. But I don’t want to completely dismantle the nest. I...I w-want to keep having my own space...”
The nest was pretty much the size of a studio apartment. Perhaps a bit smaller. It was designed to be very efficient with space, integrating most if not all the necessities.
There was one piece of equipment especially that she was grateful for. The technology that placed the human race in equal footing with the longer lived races. The fabricator. With this, as long as they had the materials, they will be fine. It’s the first thing she wants to check.
“Actually. If you’d be willing. Perhaps we can check the Fabricator to see if it’s still working. It lets us make almost anything as long as we have the materials. Kelp from the bottom deck of the nest is quite aggressive, but packed with vitamins. Their seed pods also contain natural oils. It’s a steady source of food and keeping it tended will keep the hydraulics running. “
She trailed off, not wanting to be the only one speaking. It was difficult to speak up, but she’s doing her best. She hopes Langley won’t be angry with her for not wishing to give up her nest.
Langley gritted his teeth for a moment and leaned against the console as he tried to figure out exactly what it would take to keep the nest as a part of the ship without entirely dismantling it. He obviously couldn't have it taking up all the space in his salvage claw but only the bow or stern of the ship would be able to hold the nest without causing too much drag on the Laurel. Even then, having something that large permanently attached to his light craft would impede the ship's capabilities indefinitely. There was really not else for it, the main body of the nest would have to go, but perhaps there was a way to preserve her privacy at the same time.
"I respect your need for privacy, however you must understand that I can't simply keep the nest in the salvage claw. Not only do I need the claw to work but a heavy weight in the bow at all time is essentially suicide should we get into another storm like that. I'd place it in the stern but that would create the same issue. So stick with me here, what if I moved my stuff out of the starboard hull and set up shop in the main cabin? There's plenty of room in there to set up much of the nest's furniture and other comforts and you can have it all to yourself. We can move the fabricator and other equipment to the main cabin where everyone could use it and any other gear you have on board we could find a spot for as well."
Langley wasn't used to confrontation. Sure, he recognized that not everyone would be able to immediately adhere to his lifestyle, but there were going to have to be a couple of compromises, not to mention his ship was the only mobile salvation on this planet.
"I respect your need for privacy, however you must understand that I can't simply keep the nest in the salvage claw. Not only do I need the claw to work but a heavy weight in the bow at all time is essentially suicide should we get into another storm like that. I'd place it in the stern but that would create the same issue. So stick with me here, what if I moved my stuff out of the starboard hull and set up shop in the main cabin? There's plenty of room in there to set up much of the nest's furniture and other comforts and you can have it all to yourself. We can move the fabricator and other equipment to the main cabin where everyone could use it and any other gear you have on board we could find a spot for as well."
Langley wasn't used to confrontation. Sure, he recognized that not everyone would be able to immediately adhere to his lifestyle, but there were going to have to be a couple of compromises, not to mention his ship was the only mobile salvation on this planet.