Chapter 7 - Opening the Pod

Turning towards Jack, Auren speaks. 
"[English] Jack, once you've stowed your suit, grab a restraint carbine from the arms locker over there. I don't want any surprises if he's hostile. Gunter, you do the same please. Vladomir, please break open the emergency medical locker on the wall and prepare to assist Lisa if she needs it."

Jack:
"[English] Okay Auren, that's a definite yes." 

Jack grabs the AutoShotgun off the scooter and slings it where he can get at it in a hurry, then breaks a restraint carbine out of the weapons locker. 

"[French] Hey Gunter, lets get the door in a cross fire."

Gunter:
"Ja"

Gunter follows Jack to the weapons locker, also arming himself with a restraint carbine. Gunter stands to the opposite side of Jack in front, and to the side of the escape pod. Catching Jacks eye, he nods at the shotgun and taps the laser pistol that he still has strapped to his belt.
"[French] Jack, plan for the worst and expect the best. Yes?"

Jack gives Gunter a feral grin and says 
"[English] If there's a Kaefer in there it's gonna look like cracker night!" 

He brings the carbine to his shoulder and drops to one knee as the door cycles . . .

The Man in the Pod:
Once the pod was in atmosphere and survival temperature it started to cycle the occupant to consciousness - if he was still alive and if the power cell wasn't gone - which of course meant the occupant would be dead any way. It hissed open being on auto from inside - not the usual case with escape pods - the occupant rarely knew how to set it on auto from inside. The control panel was torn open and the wiring was full of rude splices, like the pod had been repaired while the occupant ran out of O2 - sort of like old-time premature burial. The occupant groaned, the stimulants forcing him awake - he must have shut down the pod to coma status to stretch the survival margin of on-board life support - so obviously he knew what he was doing when he did it. Might have been a crewman, most likely.

Hunter's eyes jerked open - he was awake and under the influence of an amphetamine rush from the emergency stim pack injection. His eyes took a moment to focus - his mind was still full of crazy dreams where a monster Paco chased him in a stuffy labyrinth screaming pay up, Hunter! Pay Up! 

His eyes focused, he saw a couple of guys startled in the process of getting ready with stubby restraint guns. He spoke, thickly but with speed from the drugs - English, with east Texas twang 
"[English] I guess if you guys work for Paco, I'm dogmeat, huh?"

Jack:
"[English] Hah! We'll need an even better interpreter than Sali! What's a Texican doing out here?"

Hunter, after he finally gets out of the pod - 
"[English] You called me a Texican —damn right - some folks still call us Texans -we're no damned state anymore - pleased to meetcha!"

Jack:
Jack raises his carbine and smiles. 
"[English] G'day mate! You're a lucky bastard and no mistake! The chances of us coming past and taking the time to scour a debris field aren't worth thinking about. You'd better sit down, those pods knock you about."

Sali:
Sali arrives, poking her head in first. Smiling a brilliant white smile she says, 
"[French] Salut all, I am very glad to see I did not manage to kill any of you with my poor orders. You're all well I hope?" she says as sweetly as possible in French. 

She awkwardly plants her feet on the floor and makes a proper entrance.  
"[French] Well, I am getting better at this. Eh viola, this is it? The capsule?" 

Shrugging, she adds, 
"[French]Well, I am ready to translate. Let us go?"

Sali:
Sali steps forward as the man in the capsule begins to speak. Her first thought is to perhaps reassure the de-oriented fellow. Presenting herself so that he can see her she first addresses him in French, "Do you speak French?" then in English "do you speak French?" Waiting a second, she adds, in English, "We are not, what did you say, Paco? We are a private survey vessel. Can you identify yourself?" The woman speaking to him is tall and slim with a medium mahogany complexion and clearly Saharan African features. She smiles gently hoping he can focus well enough to be calmed.

Hunter:
"[English] I parlez-vouz not a whole hell of a lot, thank you. I can speak Mexican style Spanish pretty good!" 

He shook his head to clear it a little there was still a pharmaceutical cacaphony coursing through his veins. 
"[English] Whoooo! got the life support slow-downs workin' against the wake up juice - and that does addle a fella a bit - not to mention the shakes."

Sali:
Sali nods, and replies in English, 
"[English] Ah, I see, I'm afraid I speak Portugais and French, so I can understand you but I fear you will not understand me. I am Sali d'Alpha, a communications officer, I shall let you speak with our First Officer, Auren Bouchier." 

With that she steps back, gesturing to Auren.

Hunter:
"[English] Help me sit up, and get out of this thing. When Paco's leg-breakers sealed me up in this can it was with no concern for my hygenic needs on a long-term basis. The bastards even ripped out the control panel, and I had to re-wire sunavabitch while they were evacing me through the emergency air lock. - Bastards! I didn't owe Paco that much money!"

He struggles toa sitting position - 
"[English] Sorry for the smell, ma'am. I don't mind sayin' the prospect of a long-term death in a life-supported coffin was enough toloosen up everything before I settled down and fixed the wiring in the pod."

"[English] Sorry, my name is Langley, Hunter Langley and before I got put away in ong-term storage I was third officer aboard the "Lucky Seven" a tramp freighter which left Luna a bit ago. We were peacefully in transit and I was making a cargo inspection when my "friends" decided I had gone AWOL on a trifling sum of poker money I owed to a greasy loan shark name of Paco Ramirez - he ran some poker games in El Paso, Texas and Juarez mexico, where I lived BEFORE I decided some fresh vacuum would clear my lungs. You said your name is, Sally?"

Auren:
"[English] Hello Mr. Langley. As Sali indicated, I am the First Officer of the Crystal Marble. We picked up an automatic distress beacon signal and conducted a series of EVA trips to investigate. Your escape pod was the only one we found with an occupant. You said you were on a ship called the Lucky Seven? This pod has Roll Of The Dice on it. " 

Auren waits for Hunter's explanation before continuing.

Hunter:
[English]"Roll of the Dice / Lucky Seven same ship, Lucky Seven is a nickname. I was on a first cruise with her when I had my altercation with Paco's boys. Debris field - was the Roll of the Dice destroyed? She was fine when they sealed me up and popped me out the lock. Hell, I'm not sure what day or where the hell I am. I put the pod on "Coma Status" to increase my survival chances - I didn't really think I'd ever wake up."I didn't have a lot of time on board her, but if she's gone, I sure as hell don't know what happened to her."

Sali:
Sali arches a long eyebrow and says, laconically, in English, 
"[English] Well Mr. Langely, your ex-ship is mostly fragments now, and you are well outside of explored space. Bad luck I suppose. Well, I confess not having met many Texans before, or however you call yourselves." She adds in rapid French, "But well, we have such an honor."

Hunter:
“[English] There is no doubt ma'am that i am pleased to meet you! There is also no doubt that you are the prettiest face to which I have ever come awake. Unknown space? Just where am I ?"

Sali smiles and nods, 
"[English] Well I see they teach strategic flattery in your navy. Just where are you? Ah, well, I think you should ask our First Officer, or maybe not, we might have to put in your pod again." Sali pauses for a moment and then laughs. 

"[English] Apologies Mr. Langely, quite seriously, the exact location is a bit obscure to us, senstive commercial information we are told." 

She shrugs, 
"[English] We can tell you are far down the French arm. And you should really speak French rather than this strange English of yours, I'm afraid not everyone follows English, but we will make do, now won't we. Besides, I thought you English refer to it as the language of love, eh no?"

Jack:
"[French] You just need to speak English with a musical Australian accent Sali, then it's as romantic as can be!"

Gunter: 
"[repeated in German, then English and _then_ French] This is not so Sali, blatant French propaganda. It is a commonly known fact that Germanic is the language of love. Although I admit Australian accents do sound good!"

Gunter bursts into laughter.

"[French] Argh, my friends we will be arguing this subject for weeks. Could I suggest to save time, that we all agree I am correct and move on?"

Gunter smiles and waits for the verbal retorts.

Hunter:
"[English] Texicans as a group exude the language of love chemically like pheromones, Sally (Repeats in Spanish and halting French) (English)Now that I am clean it will take a while for the bouquet to build up again. French arm Huh? That wasn't the given address for the Roll of the Dice - I hope we don't have any of the "cucarachas" Kafers snifffin' at the root of our tails."

Auren:
"[English] Lisa, please check over Mr. Langley's condition; Vladomir will assist you."

Vladomir:
Looking down at Hunter, Vladomir rubs his beard and hands Lisa the medkit. Lisa moves forward with some medical instruments and begins a quick medical check while the discussion continues.

Auren:
"[English] According to SAM-N reports, the Roll Of The Dice is blue listed [ooc - check out KevinC's site Challenge Article "Catch and Carry Team" for infor on SAM-N and the list colors]. Coupled with what you've told us about lone sharking, I am concerned about the safety of my ship and crew. How do I know that you are not a pirate plant, sent in advance of an attack? This system is not on a major trade route and it is unusual to meet other ships here."

Hunter:
"[English] “Blue-Listed? Heck I sure didn't check that before I boarded her. Frankly my money was gone and neither the lunch nor the air is free on Luna - I just took whatever job I could find. The buys that boosted me out the airlock were passengers, I recognized them from where they boarded. How far from Earth am I?”

“[English] I've got my papers with me, I think they were in the bag with my toolkit, heck I just picked them up from the first officer after he signed me on and logged my papers. I'm an ex-Texican navy officer, my discharge papers are in the zipper pouch in my carry-all..”

Lisa, turning towards Auren. 
"[English] His health is good, especially considering what he says he has been put through." 

Turning towards Hunter. 
"[English] You are very fortunate Mr. Langley... other, less clever people in your situation would have died."

Vladomir scoffs silently at the remark. 
"[English] If he were so clever, he would not have criminals chasing him about known space. Though he does seem to be lucky. I think that maybe his getting dumped and the destruction of the 'Dice' are two separate things. Why would they bother to dump him out the airlock if they were planning on blowing up the ship?" 

Pausing as he rubs his beard again, he continues. 
"[English] I think perhaps the two hooligans have perhaps suffered a more severe fate." 

Vladomir shrugs and goes silent again.

Auren:
 "[English] Very well, Mr. Langley, welcome aboard. Accommodation is a bit cramped, so you'll be bunking with Vladomir in a double stateroom.

Vladomir rolls his eyes and gives both Auren and Hunter sidelong glares before shrugging and donning his wide brimmed hat.

Hunter:
"[English] Don't worry Vladomir, I plan on takin' a shower soon as the doc finishes her check up. Maybe a shave if I can bum a razor."

Auren:
"[English] I'll have Lisa gather some clothes and toiletries for you so you can change and freshen up. After that, Jack and Gunter will take you to the sick bay where Lisa will give you some vaccinations and other shots. We can't have you infecting the crew or anything like that. I'll talk to our Captain and see what he wants to do with you. Normally we would return you ASAP to the nearest authorities to allow you to report what has happened, but we are on a tight timetable and may not be back to such a place for several months."

Hunter:
"[English] Pleased to come aboard, sir. Here's my papers and I am ready for duty."

Auren:
"[French] Jack, you and Gunter can escort Mr. Langley up to his stateroom along with Vladomir. Once he has freshened up, bring him to the aft crew quarters on the bottom deck to see Lisa in the sick bay. Anton, you're to go with Lisa right now to get that bruise looked at. Karl, the same with you for your arm. ...I don't want to hear any excuses, BME needs everyone in tip top shape. Stuart, finish up in here and then get some sleep. Sali, prepare a quick summary of the EVA findings. We'll meet in the crew mess (top deck) in 25 minutes for a formal debrief with Hendrix."

With that, Auren heads off towards the bridge.

Jack:
Hunter is taken up to the medical section along with the others, Jack smiles and says 
"[English]  You go first Hunter, we'll tell you where to go. The boss runs this ship on a military footing out here and you bein' Navy know the drill. I personally reckon you're luckier than a squadron of Lotto winners and that there's no way you're a plant but an order's an order." 

Jack doesn't point the carbine at Hunter, but he stands well enough away that he can bring it to bear in case he has to. 
"[English]  I hate to say this mate, but there's not a lot of hope for yer mates I'm afraid. What position where you again? Third eh? You must've been the sensor man too. Looks like while they were pullin that low act on you, someone was preparing one for them, by sliding in quietly when the sensors were unattended. What was the ship doin out here? We're a helluva long way from Luna."

Smiling at Jack's verbal assault on the newcomer, Gunter falls in behind Jack and follows the pair to medical section.

Hunter:
“[English] I don't rightly know, friend I was put in that can supposedly on the way to Tirane - I can't figure it out. Maybe those bastards used some magnetic grapples to fix my pod to the hull, and I didn't come loose till the ship bought it. I hate to think that the crew would cooperate in putting me in the freezer like that - I can't begin to figure out why my body would be worth that much to Paco - In order to leave Luna at all they had to fill my spot on the crew, if they were pirates - having me on the roster would be enough - but why keep my ass in storage?" 

Hunter shook his head several times, Damn he knew he'd never been lucky with cards - wwas this a life change or had he blown every bit of luck he should have ever had in getting found like this.

"[English] In the Texas Navy I was tactical officer on one of their frigates for a year before I left. I'm a dab hand with remote piloting and am watch qualified. The job of third officer was a step down from my qualifications but with no money and Luna's attitude toward vagrants, I had to get something - general labor in the waste reclamation plant in Luna City is not a position I want on my resume either."
"[English] I guess my luck has changed, hope I didn't use it ALL. Don't worry, I'd be a little leary of me too. Fortunately, my clothes are fitting as loose as they are - it's easy to see I've been eating through a needle for a while."

Sali:
Sali listens to her comrades responses to her observation with an air of bemusement as they make their way to medical. Smiling, she replies in the end, 
"[English] Well, you must recall I did say it was the Anglo-Saxons who called the French language the language of love, not francophones, no? The metropolitans call it the language of Moliere, so I think it is some strange Ango-Germanic sense of inferiority." 

She smiles wickedly and shrugs lightly. 
"[English] Of course everyone seems to have some strange opinion on the topic, although I confess I have never heard of such claims of smell before. Now all I really wanted Mr. Hunter to do was begin learning the language most understood on the ship, to make my job easier!" 

Sali reflects for a moment, and adds, 
"[English] above all if we run into the caffards, inchallah this will not happen."

When Sali mentions this, Jack stiffens and smiles. 
"[French] Hey! Leave it to me! I learned some rare and unusual French in la' Legion! For instance, the correct way to address a young lady is . . . "

Sali arches her eyebrow and responds dryly, but with a half smile, 
"[French] Ah, well they do teach you such interesting things in the Legion, it appears. Not precisely the old literary forms I see."

Anton has been standing alone away of the conversation around the Man in the Pod. Saying nothing and with a expressionless face. When ordered to go to the sick bay he slowly starts to walk towards it, in complete silence and with his eyes looking absolutely straight forward. 

Turning to Anton to see if he understood his vulgar French, Jack stops smiling and asks quietly 
"[French] You all right there Anton?"

Extremely slowly, nay, in slow-motion Anton turns his "cold eyes" from the door at the end of the corridor and meets Jack eyes in a "locking grip". His eyes reveils no emotions... Slowly he lifts his hand and draws it through his hair never loosing the "locking grip" with Jack's eyes. Then he utters a short and smacking " mmmh !" and turns his head in another direction marking "the end of discussion".

Karl:
"[German] Anton, are you are right? Would you like help getting to the sickbay?"
Karl's face is frowned as he looks with concern at Anton.

Sali observes this and stops. She watches for a second and then says, after Karl intervenes, "[French] I think there is an issue? Anton, my friend, you seem a bit off? Everything okay?"

Jack:
"[French] I think Anton would rather not go to MedBay, maybe he just needs to sit down for a bit. I *really* think it's important that he's not forced if he doesn't want to go. That's never a good idea, never."

Karl:
"[French] Anton, Do you want to talk in private? [German] Does something about our new arrival concern you?"

Anton warily looks at his "friends". 
"[French] What is it with you ? I'm fine ! I have been medically examinated ! I only have to lay down for a minute !" Anton seems unpleased and marches off to his cabin." Turning as moving saying: "See you at the debriefing."

Sali looks at Anton moving away, and says to Jack, 
"[French] Well I shall never understand these Germans." 

She turns, smiling, to Jack and says, 
"[French] And I half thought of giving him a massage to relax him." 

Then she makes off herself.

Jack (Smiling brightly) 
"[French] Wow! I'm so tense! Did I tell you that? Like, it's amazing that you should just mention tha . . Hey, come back!"

Sali casts a glance back and smiles winsomely, 
"[French] Ah yes, well, perhaps another time my dear. It is the distressed which need attention first. But perhaps with the proper encouragement, but how would Auren feel about such a use of my time?" 

She winks, laughs and whisks away.

GM: Debrief
Location: Crew Mess

The characters are all seated around the mess as Auren and Hendrix enter the area, floating in gracefully. Auren clears his throat, quieting the various conversations that had been going on.

Auren:
"[French] All right everyone, this is the formal debrief of the debris field search. Interstellar Law articles 3459.2 and 3502.4 require that any vessel that responds to an automatic beacon call must file a full report with the authorities at the next port of call. As part of that report, interviews must be conducted with any and all personnel directly involved. These interviews must be recorded and attached to the formal review. As second in command of the Crystal Marble, I will act as recorder. Captain Hendrix will direct the interviews and act as representative of the responding vessel."

Taking out a datalogger, Auren, sets it down on his lap and presses a few buttons. Speaking briefly, he begins.
"[French] At approximately... "
The interviews takes about 30 minutes to conduct, with each individual present adding his or her testimony as required. Concluding the interviews, Hendrix thanks each person for their efforts and announces that an Lv100 bonus will be paid to each participant. He then excuses himself and returns to the bridge.

Auren:
"[French] All right everybody, B watch is on deck right now. Those of you on B watch should grab a quick bite to eat and report for duty. A watch is off for another six hours.
[ooc: Watch reminders]

'A' Watch

Command – Hendrix
Helm – Phillipe
Navigation – Doron
Communications – Van
Auxiliary – Lisa
Engineering – Valerie

'B' Watch

Command – Auren
Helm – Saad
Navigation – Erika
Communications – Kevin
Auxiliary – Stuart
Engineering – Lisette

Floating (no watch assigned)

Chief Engineer – Ben

Characters

Sali - B Watch with Kevin on communications
Karl - A Watch with Valerie in engineering
Vladomir - A Watch with Lisa on auxiliary
Jack - B Watch with Lisette in engineering
Gunter - A Watch with Van on communications
Anton - B Watch with Saad on helm
-----
Pulling a chip from the pocket of his flight suit, Auren tosses it over to Hunter.
"[French] Hunter, BME has decided to offer you the same employment opportunity as the rest. You'll be on B watch with Erika on sensors. Take some time before you report to review the information on this chip and get it back to me."

Turning to face the entire group, Auren addresses them all.
"[French] I would just like to add my own appreciation of a job well done for the work performed out in the debris field. It was a very dangerous situation and everybody handled it very well."

Looking at Vladomir,
"[French] And Vladomir, we'll make a spacer out of you yet -- you're a natural!"

With that, the group breaks up and those that are hungry sit down for a quick meal.

Karl:
"[French] So, Auren, where are we off to next?"

Auren:
"[French] We'll discharge here for the next two days before proceeding to the next system, Transit System Alpha 2. After that; Tango-7."

Sali:
'[French] Auren, do we have any data from the destroyed ship's recorder? I'm quite curious as to know if there is any hint of who hit it. Or if no one else has the time, I can run it."

Auren:
"[French] No, I'm afraid not. The recorder unit is sealed and cannot be opened without the proper tools and by the proper authorities. Tampering with it is a criminal offence, so we'll have to refrain from working on it. There is a finders fee that gets paid out for recovering it. That's where the Lv100 per person EVA bonus is coming from; Hendrix is passing a small portion of the finder's fee on to you."

Sali arches an eyebrow and shrugs slightly. Clearly not satisfied, she simply nods her head and asks, 
[French] "Very well, in that case we should lock it up I suppose."

Gunter:
"[French] Sort of like maintaining the chain of evidence Auren? Not tampering with evidence, and the like?"

Auren:
"[French] Yes. If we were successful at opening the assembly and reading the data, we could be guilty of having been part of what ever happened to the roll Of The dice."

Hunter eats and eats some more - and there does not seem to be enough water in the tap to kill his pod-induced thirst. While doing so he reviews the job offer - Hey, it did not seem there would be any opportunities for landfall where he was now, and they wanted to pay him for his time. Well, the Roll of the Dice had worked out pretty well to this point and there did not seem to be any indication that his run of luck had ended - why not take a job, take a trip. Maybe some of these foreigners needed an education in how to play poker - who better than a Texican to give them one. When it came right down to the fact of admitting it he missed the navy anyway, nothing seemed to have gone right since he left the service - and here he was miraculously rescued from lingering death by a privateer survey ship. Hunter might as well see if they had a spare eye patch and pet parrot in their "slop chest".

Langley spends the time between reading and signing off on the contract on the bridge, familiarizing himself with basic info on the ship which miraculously discovered him. He wants to know its sensor gear and remote weapons and probes so he can operate the equipment with his usual aplomb.