Radune
ZMF Officer 
Ensign
The child of the sun
Posts: 428
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Relief
Dec 10, 2009 21:57:21 GMT -5
Post by Radune on Dec 10, 2009 21:57:21 GMT -5
Emil were heading toward the ship he were told to go to, the one spot of safe refuge, what would save him, and he felt he couldn't get there quick enough. His poor partner were still in really bad shape, and he didn't think he could fix her any time soon. Either way, after he got clearance to land on their ship, he entered the Horseman's Banquet. As soon as he managed to get his partner in place, I went outside and hugged the ground for a bit.
After that, Emil stood up and let out a few words of relief. "Thank goodness, solid ground.. It's been too long." He looked around for a while to make sure no-one saw him doing this, but it seemed like the cargo area were about as empty as they come.
He figured that he should pay the crew of the ship a visit, so he headed toward the cockpit area of the ship, knocked on the door and asked "Is it alright if I come in?"
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Relief
Dec 10, 2009 22:52:46 GMT -5
Post by sphinxgoddess on Dec 10, 2009 22:52:46 GMT -5
The heavy steel door that separated the Bridge from the Drinking Room for Discourse swung open slowly as the gray-bearded Captain Vindro pushed with his gnarled hands. His jaw dropped slightly at the man, or boy - he couldn't tell which was the case - that stared back at him apprehensively.
"Don't stand there gawking at the boy, Vindro, the rest of us want to see him." Though a slight grin tugged at the corners of her lips, Mahara's voice remained steady.
After the old sea captain hobbled to the side, the young pilot stood before the oddly matched crew of the Horseman's Banquet. Yet none of them studied the young pilot more astutely than the ship's captain.
He's so young, no wonder Vindro stared when he opened the door. Is this what the Federation and Duchy are reduced to now, taking babes from their cradles and feeding them on war and the solitude of deep space?
Even from a distance, Mahara could see various muscles in the boy's cheeks twitching. Whatever he might have heard about her from his superior surely had not prepared him to meet her - she had coupled a bruised violet bustier that made her richly tanned chest appear as fresh baked loaves of bread, with the most form-fitting black pants the boy had probably ever seen and knee-high, pointed-toe boots.
"Welcome to the Horseman's Banquet," Mahara greeted, but did not move towards the pilot. She was much more comfortable leaning back against one of the chairs bolted to the floor of the ship than going and extending her hand to the boy.
None of the other crewmen spoke, as if waiting for a silent signal from their vibrant honey-haired captain.
She obliged, saying, "You'll find we are much more hospitable than deep space. Xenick will show you to your quarters for the next few days; you have free reign to roam the ship, save for my quarters."
Xenick took the pause in Mahara's steady stream of words as an opportunity to add, "We'll take you to your room later. I know you've got some stories to tell, let's all have a round of beer and hear them!"
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Radune
ZMF Officer
Ensign
The child of the sun
Posts: 428
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Relief
Dec 10, 2009 23:49:14 GMT -5
Post by Radune on Dec 10, 2009 23:49:14 GMT -5
Emil just stood there, his mind blown. This crew wasn't what he had expected, or what he was told. Actually, did he even get any information about the crew? Anyway, having such a beautiful woman escort him to his destination might not be too bad.
Anyway, he decides it is time to try and be polite, so he saluted, and happily introduced himself. "I'm Seaman Emil Myberg of the Earth Federation Space Forces." After that, he bowed, and thanked them "Thank you very much for saving me, I'm eternally thankful for this. If there's anything you need help with, anything at all, I'll be happy to do it."
After that, he catches his breath, calms down a bit and agrees to share what stories he had to tell. The crew seemed like good people, so he loosened up a bit. He gladly recieves the beer, even though he knows he's not good with it. After that, he began talking about his "adventures". "Where do you want me to start? I've fought in some battles out here in space, pierced through enemy lines in order to try and destroy their source of income and I've had a superior officer pull a gun on me. And I've only been up here for a month!"
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Relief
Dec 11, 2009 0:35:16 GMT -5
Post by sphinxgoddess on Dec 11, 2009 0:35:16 GMT -5
Mahara watched Xenick's grin grow into a smile that spread like wildfire as the young pilot introduced himself. Finally, someone close to his own age he can sink his teeth into, she thought. Xenick clapped one hand on the young fellow's back and began to push him back through the door to the Drinking Room for Discourse. Through the space between Jarl and Treyden's shoulders, who followed the space-born youths, she could tell Emil's shoulders were tense. Though he listened intently to Xenick's rabble, the pilot's head crooked upwards and to the side several times, as if something hovered just over his shoulder. Mahara noted this quietly, and turned to take the captain's chair at the front of the Bridge.
"Ya'ar not joinin' us, m'lady" Vindro asked quietly. He hesitated in his steps to join the younger crowd. Glasses could be heard clinking from the other room.
"No," she replied in her usual firm tone. "I'd like to take the controls for a while and think. Alone."
"Suit yourself," the older captain said gruffly. A shrug followed. "Ya'ar gonna miss out on some nice ale. Bought it m'self, actually, at our last docking."
At that Mahara turned, swiveling her chair in the process.
Her blank demeanor softened a little, at that remark. "Thank you Quin, I will make sure I take some later."
He nodded slightly, then took his time getting to the others. Emil could be heard from the Drinking Room for Discourse, excitement in his voice, "Where do you want me to start..."
"I want to hear it all!" Xenick gushed. Young as he was, a frosty glass of beer sat in front of him. He took turns holding onto the cold handle with both hands, and wiping them off on the wooden table before clutching the handle again.
Opposite Xenick, Treyden took a large swig of the fine amber. He stifled a hiccup behind a large hand smudged with black grease. He sat his glass down and ran his finger around the rim once.
"You'll have to forgive the boy," he smiled. "It's just us older men on the ship and the captain.I'm afraid we're rather boring and," he stopped for a moment to look at the doorway. "She doesn't talk much."
A few seconds passed before Xenick started up again.
"So what's it like?" He asked. Before Emil could answer, Xenick quickly continued, "Piloting a suit has to be exciting. I mean, minus your superior pulling a gun on you and all. Were you scared coming up here into deep space, all alone? What am I saying? You couldn't have been, what with having that big suit to sit in. I"ll bet -"
"Xenick!" Jarl interrupted suddenly. Xenick looked at the communications specialist, and fought the urge mouthe the question "What?"
"Let the man speak for himself. He can't tell us his tales of battle and glory if you won't give him the time to." Jarl grinned, his unseeing blue eye fixed on the lad.
"Oh sorry," Xenick replied. "Go ahead Mr. Emil, tell us your stories! I'll be quiet for a while and let you take the stage."
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Radune
ZMF Officer
Ensign
The child of the sun
Posts: 428
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Relief
Dec 11, 2009 1:08:19 GMT -5
Post by Radune on Dec 11, 2009 1:08:19 GMT -5
Emil were not used to being the center of all attention, so he got really tense and nervous again. He tries to find words, but can only seem to stutter "Er.. Um..". After that he stops for a bit and takes a few really deep breaths. He starts again, and this time, he actually manages to talk. "Actually, being all on your own in space is really frightening.. I had to always look every way, all the time, and the lack of people almost made me go mad. You might think of the suit as something exciting, but after you've been stuck in it for a long while, it feels more like some sort of prison, made to hold you in, where nothing can leave. I think I might've been talking to myself a few days in, but I'm not sure. I try not to remember those days."
After that, he let out a sigh, and tried to lighten up the mood a bit. "But that's not something I'd like to talk about too much." He smiled and tried to think of something better to talk about instead. "Oh yeah, I met an amazing woman on the earth, when they drafted me." Emil shows the crew the picture of Laura that's in the locket he has around his neck, and then he keeps talking about her. "She's really amazing, I only saw her for a few days, but she never seemed to stop smiling, and her happy personality always seemed to spread to other people, everybody near her seemed to smile as soon as she arrived. I guess she might be popular, or something."
Emil realized that he had been talking non-stop for quite a while now, and he got a bit embarrased and instead tried to get the others to talk for a while. "Say, I'm kinda curious about you guys. I haven't heard much about rouges, except for what my superior officer, the one that pulled the gun on me, have been yelling about. I think he called you guys 'indecisive fucks', but you seem nothing like he made you sound. So.. could you tell me a bit about yourselves, as well?"
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Relief
Dec 14, 2009 0:30:09 GMT -5
Post by sphinxgoddess on Dec 14, 2009 0:30:09 GMT -5
The crewmen of the Horseman's Banquet passed around Emil's photograph with care. Treyden kept the picture for a little longer than the others; he held it between his thumb and index finger, tapping it lightly on the back as if it reminded him of someone. When he turned it over to Jarl to inspect, he declined to share his thoughts.
"She's a pretty lady. Full of life," Jarl grinned, and handed it back to Emil.
Jarl then leaned over the table towards the young pilot, ready to tell their own share of adventures, or in this case, the lack thereof.
"Now about your superiors," he started, a smirk stretching across his face. "I wouldn't say we're indecisive."
"Yeah, we just go where the money is," Xenick chimed in. As young as he was, not much older than nineteen, he understood the ways of business for those unaffiliated with a side.
A heavy gulp followed by a loud burp, let loose by Treyden, disrupted the chatter. Seconds later the men were fanning the air in front of them trying to get the foul smell of liverwurst and beer away from their noses. Vindro even removed his captain's hat in an attempt to move the air quicker.
"My word boy, I've smelled some rotten things in m'life, but tha' liverwurst rubbish makes for some o' the worst belches that've ever traveled up m'nostrils." The old seaman grimaced. The look on his face made the others burst out in laughter.
Treyden wiped his mouth with his bare forearm before speaking. "Anyway," he began, "we've had nothing real exciting to come across. We try to take relatively straightforward trade routes that will get us to our payday earlier rather than later; ones that the Zeeks and Feds don't patrol much."
"And in the time we've been trading," Jarl pointed out, "we have only been blocked once by patrols. I'd say that's pretty decent luck."
Another glass clattering unevenly against the table turned everyone's attention to the space-born boy. His hands shook terribly, rattling his beer glass as a result. A deep flush of red overtook the natural birch-white color of his cheeks. He was not yet halfway finished with his drink, but the others could tell it would be a long while before Xenick could hold his liquor like the rest of them.
"Okay boy, that's enough for you for now," Jarl said quietly as he pried the sweating glass from Xenick's trembling hands.
In an exaggerated movement, the kind only a incredibly tipsy, lightweight person would make, Xenick leaned back into his chair. A moment later he had reached into a pocket on the inside of the vest he wore, and produced a meager lump of cash.
"It's true we, don... we don make much money right now," Xenick slurred. His face then shrunk slightly, into a look of determination despite being inebriated.
He looked at Emil with a steady gaze, and continued. "But we will. Soon," he swallowed, "soon we'll be crossing between the planets in a ship bigger and better than the Duch or your officers could ever offer us."
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Radune
ZMF Officer
Ensign
The child of the sun
Posts: 428
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Relief
Dec 14, 2009 11:47:59 GMT -5
Post by Radune on Dec 14, 2009 11:47:59 GMT -5
Emil couldn't help but smile once he saw the crew of this ship. They just seemed to.. get along so well, everybody likes each other, and they probably all trust each other. Unlike the ones he himself is working with. He couldn't help but let out a small tear, however, he managed to wipe his face clean using his arm before it started for real. He did comment a bit about it, though. "You know, you guys all seem to work so well together, I'm really jealous." Emil showed small signs of being drunk already, hiccuping every once in a while, but nowhere near as bad as Xenick's drunken slurring.
"It's true we, don... we don make much money right now, But we will. Soon, soon we'll be crossing between the planets in a ship bigger and better than the Duch or your officers could ever offer us.", he slurred.
Emil were actually pretty impressed by his bold statement. To think someone would brave the long path between planets just in order to get money.. People have been underestimating these guys, they might actually be able to succeed with their dreams. "Wow, you guys are amazing. I've never been to any other planet than the Earth and my home colony, but I've always wanted to.." He thought for a while, and then continued. "But I couldn't, the officers already seem to think badly of me, and I'm sure they'd think of me as a deserter if I did something like that. And being executed is something I'd much rather avoid, if possible. But I'm still impressed with you guys, you're much braver than I am.."
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Relief
Dec 14, 2009 23:56:22 GMT -5
Post by sphinxgoddess on Dec 14, 2009 23:56:22 GMT -5
Mahara crossed the distance from her captain's chair to the doorway of the De-Classified Operations Room with long, hip-swaying strides. Her boots made sharp click-clack sounds against the metal panels of the ship's floor. Emil's voice grew louder as she neared the doorway; his disappointment at not being able to travel freely, she thought, seemed to swell up in his chest and force its way into everything else he uttered. That's why he speaks so unsteadily; he is afraid to just be himself, Mahara thought.
As she reached the threshold to the next room, Mahara paused to lean against the framing. She expected the men to already be staring at the doorway when her lean body peeked through the tiniest bit, but they weren't. As much noise as her boots had made, for once the crew had been distracted by a drunken spacenoid and the subject of their latest employment. A cautious smile brightened Mahara's quaint face for a moment. She always chose her words carefully when speaking to her crew, and now would be no different.
"I doubt they would execute you for mere desertion," she said, her voice soft but not sweet. Jarl and Treyden spun in their seats instantly after hearing her voice, both nearly taking a spill into the floor.
Mahara's golden-brown eyes read Emil's face. He had questions and wanted answers, but patiently waited for her to explain further.
She entered the room, walking behind her vacant seat to the bar area. She poured herself a glass of beer, and continued.
"But if you were to openly commit an act of treason against your government, say... giving away secrets or destroying a piece of your goverment's property," she paused, and looked at Emil. "Now that, would be a reason to execute you."
Mahara returned to her claw-footed chair at the head of the table, making herself comfortable in its antique cushions. Sweet beer trickled through her lips and down her throat. She swallowed in a lady-like manner, and did not allow a rising burp past her tonsils.
She glanced up from her glass. A smirk eased some of the tension of keeping a blank visage. "Besides, there isn't much they could do to you if you were already gone by the time they realized you had defected."
Perhaps it was the dim candlight from the hanging lanterns that cast a strange glow about Mahara's face as it bounced off of her syrup-colored hair. Whatever the cause, a mischievous look crossed over the captain's face. A look that, on a normal pilot or captain, might be mistook for scheming. But the young Indian beauty was merely planting a seed that might be reaped at a later date.
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Radune
ZMF Officer
Ensign
The child of the sun
Posts: 428
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Relief
Dec 15, 2009 18:48:39 GMT -5
Post by Radune on Dec 15, 2009 18:48:39 GMT -5
The captain had just entered the room and somehow managed to calm Emil down with just a few sentences. The charisma she has is much more than Emil had ever seen before, and now he understands why she is the captain. He has a feeling she's planning something, but by now he didn't really care, he just wanted to talk with her a bit more.
"Honestly.. I'd love to live like you guys do, without having to worry about your superiors going nuts or fighting battles where it feels like you could die any second, but I don't think I can. Not yet, at least. But if I ever feel the urge to just leave everything behind and run away, I'll try to find you, and prove myself worthy."
Emil felt that this woman and her crew were more trustworthy than anyone he'd met in the EFSF, but he still shouldn't let himself think too far ahead, so he decided to change the subject rather quickly.
"Where are we headed, anyway? The orders I get keep on changing, and now I haven't gotten any for a while, so I actually have no idea where they need me."
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