RP: SRSS Yggdrasill (PG-13) Salvage Run 4:Lor/Serenity's Arrival

ON: Yggdrasill

"Sorry about the shirt, I'll pay--huh?...well, okay...what did you want to talk about?" Toshiro asked, a bit surprised...

"The shirt? Don't... worry about that." Lain gave a rather light grin. "I doubt Reis would part with it if she cared overmuch for it. Our arrangements, though, Toshiro. They haven't been fair to you."

Toshiro scratched his head. "You mean the living arrangements? Well, you ARE a couple, and the fact you aren't asking for pay inclines me to make certain allowances as needed...is that what you meant?"

"...we take up a good bit of your space, and... I don't believe I am competent to serve for communications. Particularly in a place like Lor, which is completely alien to me. I'll... help as you need, Toshiro. But I think it would be better suited if I were to pay you, for our passage on Yggdrasill."

Toshiro scratched his head, a bit surprised... "I never expected you to learn Lorath right away, and most extra-planetary communications will be in Japanese or English anyway...I believe you're more than capable enough for standard communications, and for the rest, well, I didn't hire you as a linguist." He laughed a little... "Frankly, I'm not even sure if your accommodations are worth more than even intermittent services on the ship or not."

Lain shrugged one shoulder. "...well, my offer stands, either way. I'll work at communications until you find someone better." He glanced back briefly. "I find the accommodations perfectly suitable, honestly. The worst month of my life was onboard the Queen of the Stars. Luxury vessels are nerve-wracking." Realizing he was rambling, Lain turned his attention back to the conversation. "You're certain, then?"

Toshiro shrugged. "If you want to pay, I can always use the money to help make the vessel a bit more livable, but it's not a requirement by any means..."

"You'll surely put it to better use than I will. Fifty per week?" Lain was quite intent on paying something for what was, essentially, a free ride. "It just goes to liquor and guitar strings, otherwise. And I only really need one of those..."

Toshiro thought a moment... "Well, okay. But it's not a required expense. I still feel a little odd about not paying you for your efforts...oh! By the way, here you are....I got rank pins today...Reis' is a Passenger/Honorary Pin, and lacks any synthetic gem markings. Yours is a Junior Crewman pin, and has one synthetic gem...those gems denote rank...mine has all three gems and wings to boot, for example."

Lain spent a moment to stare at the rank pin idly, then grinned. He chuckled a bit, as he took it. "...this would probably make my parents happy. They might have preferred I get a Star Army rank pin..." It wasn't really a subject Lain cared to pursue. "...when can we land? I'd like to see Lor firsthand..."

Toshiro shrugged, not quite sure. "Not sure at this time...a Lorath ship is supposed to meet up with us and take the restricted technology...they sure are taking their sweet time, though, aren't they?"

â€

Remi's eyes fluttered open to the sound of the warnings of the pilot's controls. Her head ached, blood smeared her cheeks and had dripped on her clothes. A haze of smoke, and the burnt smell of circuitry filled her lungs as she took a breath. Slowly but surely the doctor climbed back into the pilot's seat of the shuttle. Lungs still burning from lack of oxygen from before, she tapped several commands on the console in front of her.

Damage was extensive it seemed from the reports, but at least the shuttle's poor shields had helped keep the thing intact. She checked her oxygen reserves and grimaced, the atmospheric scrubbers were off-line and there seemed to be a leak in the air supply, as well as engines, maneuvering thrusters, and hull damage. At least there wasn't any hull breeches...

Damn it all...

Well, that's what happens when a freighter captain strays to close to the minefields she supposed. Why she had even boarded the freight in the first place was beyond her, but it had been the closest and only current ship heading to Lor. The idiot man had skirted close to the minefields hoping to salvage something, what she didn't know. Remi had been in this shuttle actually at the time though she had reservations about the Tripster shuttles, prepping it to land on Lor when it happened. An explosion rocked the ship, taking the entire front half of the vessel out.

Fires erupted in the shuttle bay, and the doctor had to close the shuttle's hatch or risk being incinerated from the flames. She activated the tiny obsolete Tripster's shielding systems and rammed her way out of the bay, but in the process strained the weak protective fields nearly to the breaking point. And had even caught the tail end of the explosion as the freighter's rear section bloomed into a hellish inferno of burning debris and large chunks of twisted metal.

Energy shields had finally failed, and she had been thrown around by the shock wave causing her to slamming her head against a bulkhead. That's all she remembered before fading to sweet sweet unconsciousness. Now though it all seemed hopeless. She'd die out here, suffocate very likely, or drift into mine and vaporize.



Though there was a small glimmer of hope she saw, and if someone was crazy enough to come out here to save her. The comm system's distress beacon still seemed intact. Remi activated the beacon, and hoped someone was out there.

Eve was poking around inside the ships communications systems when she suddenly came across an automated signal. It was a distress call and it had only recently been activated. She immediately sent a message to Shaun.

"Shaun! Shaun! Shaun! Shaun!" She said quickly trying to get his attention.

Shaun grabbed his left ear trying to dampen the noise with little success. "gah! what the hell Eve!?" he said in surprise.

"Shaun, there's a distress beacon. Its close to the planet Lor. Somebody's in trouble out there." She replied.

Without saying a thing back to her Shaun jumped forward out of his seat and quickly tapped in a search scan. It took only a moment for the long range scanners to pick up the remains of the ship. Seeing the damage Shaun pushed down on the device on his ear.

"Captain! you need to get up here. We've got a recently downed ship near Lor. She's got the shit blown out of her and I'm picking up life signs. If we don't do something, whoever is out there is going to die."

Toshiro had stepped onto the bridge, and immediately reassumed command from Ken...

"Notify the Lorath Government as to the reason for our movement. Go toward the ship immediately, best safe speed! Try and hail the vessel!"

Shaun was already at the helm "Aye Captain....Eve jump in communications and send those messages" Eve immediately did as told. It was strange seeing the two suddenly working together as if having known each other for a long time.

As Shaun began piloting the Yggdrasill towards the vessel Eve sent a message down to the Lorath government. ~Attention Lorath space command. This is the SRSS Yggdrasill. We are entering the proximity of your planet to respond to a distress call. Please be advised our intentions are friendly.~

At the same time she also managed to begin hailing the damaged ship. "Attention damage vessel. This is the SRSS Yggdrasill. If you can hear me please respond. We are coming to assist. I repeat we are coming to assist."

She hacked and coughed a few times, rubbing at her eyes to try and clear her blurry vision. Remi was rigging the communications array trying to get something other than the distress beacon to work. Sparks flashed, and she reeled back cursing. Nursing a burnt finger, she went back to work. Her next attempt was rewarded with static. She ran a small cord to an outlet, and the static intensified.

Something seeped through however though badly distorted, a voice maybe? Or was it finally oxygen depravation setting in? Remi coaxed the communications panel to life, though it was dimly light, and flickered on and off still.

"Hello?!" She rasped into the mic, hoping what she had heard wasn't a trick of her mind. "Need...assistance...shuttle...damaged, lea..." The circuits of the comm system flared red hot and fused, killing the transmission in mid sentence.

That was all Toshiro needed to hear...he was immediately turning on Internal Communications.

"Kairi! Get to the Shuttle Bay with a hangar! Prepare to receive wounded! Wear the Kylie! We may have radiation leakage! Stop the radiation leak and get the occupant to the Med Bay!"

Toshiro was mentally preparing to receive wounded...if he had to, he may have to ask Kairi to undergo a hemosynthetic blood transfusion with the occupant...

"Until further notice, the Shuttle Bay used by this shuttle will be considered off-limits save by those with radiation protection."

Remi looked down as the system went dead, and saw a tiny fire near her feet. The doctor half floated half ran into the back of the shuttle, and found an extinguisher. She floated back and put the fire out, and hacked harder from the smell of burnt circuitry. Smoke tendrils wafted up from the access panel now filled with the fire extinguishing foam.

"Great...just god damned great.." Mumbling to herself. Remi tossed the extinguisher aside, and sat at the pilot's seat. The doctor checked her remaining air supply grimacing at it. Maybe it had been just her mind playing tricks on her after all, there hadn't been a voice over the comms. It had just been her trying to get her hopes up.

Ken had helped locate the distress signal, which is why he didn't pilot the ship.

(Minor retcon....)

Kairi patted Serenity. ~Must go, please stay here... Get some sleep if you want.~ Not waiting for her reply, she burst out of the room, answering Toshiro with a quick "Hai!". She arrived quickly to the cargo bay, where the Kylie was stored, and stripped down. She had done this a couple of times before, but wasn't completely confident in her ability. As she activated the suit, she sighed and clunked her way to the shuttle bay.

The doctor knew what would happen soon. And quite frankly, she didn't like it. Remi stopped all nonessential use of the oxygen, and as a result, the artificial gravity effects ceased. The neko clung to the chair a little longer and let herself slowly, but surely float from it. Her hair splayed about behind her due to the gravity no longer holding it in place, and she blinked several times, a small sense of utter hopelessness began to seep in.

She scoffed at this. Only if her former comrades could see her now, and she knew what they'd say. It made her a little angry on the inside, the whole remembering them, and hearing them taunt her for beginning to give in so easily.

The Yggdrasill brought the shuttle into the Shuttlebay with it's grappler as carefully as possible. There was likely a jostle. The area outside the shuttle flooded with air...

"The shuttle is in the hangar..."

Serenity blinked as she saw her mistress bolt off, confused. But she was in the kitchen now, somewhere she was familiar with. With a small smile and the wag of her tail, she went to work doing what she did best, cook.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Lor came a quick response. "We have receeived your transmission and we are dispatching additional help along with the vessel for salvage you have acquired. They will arrive in a few moments. Please contact them should you have any trouble."

Sure enough a few moments later two Lorath ships appeared, two Bringers of Thunder armors exiting the back, the rather imposing power armors hovering closer to the ship. They each had a plasma sword attached to their backs, but seemed ready to transport either the salvage, or any of the ship as need be.

Toshiro responded to the communication quickly.

"Understood. Please wait before we turn over the needed salvage. We've taken on a damaged shuttle and may have wounded to tend to. If you wish to send aid, you may enter via the port Shuttle Bay, the personnel airlock, or the Cargo Airlock to the rear of the ship. The starboard Shuttle Bay contained the damaged shuttle, but there is radiation danger. Only those in radiation shielded Power Armors or environmental suits can approach the shuttle directly."

ON: YGGDRASILL

From one of the power armors came a reply this time, "Understood sir, we will wait until you are ready." The two power armors circled the ship slowly, not threateningly of course, simply in a protective way.

The shuttle for the most part was beaten to hell and back. The DRIP drive seemed to be hanging on by small metal shreds, and there were massive dents, and scorch marks. There was a slight hissing sound coming from the Tripster; it seemed the oxygen was leaking, and the hissing was growing weaker, and weaker; until it stopped. There had been so little oxygen left; Remi had passed out, and was now sprawled out on the deck of the shuttle, unconscious. The computer system; after detecting an rich oxygen atmosphere began opening the hatch. The now scorched and blackened hatch's servos groaned in protest; metal screeched as the hatch began to slowly, but surely open. Air was sucked inside of the interior with a loud hiss, but the hatch groaned once more like a dying animal and stopped halfway open.

Kairi clanked towards the shuttle, noting the piercing crackle of the Geiger counter inside the helmet, and SLAMMED a gauntleted fist into the hatch,
making it buckle and scrape. Now that she had a handhold, she grabbed it and bent down, shuffling under the hatch and then suddenly and forcefully standing up, crumpling the hatch like a drink can.

The hatch stayed in place for a moment, before being ripped open fully.

Toshiro flipped on communications to the Starboard Shuttle Bay again. "Kairi, what is the situation down there? Is the occupant alright?"

The doctor's chest barely moved, she didn't so much as twitch a muscle since she was unconscious.

Kairi looked around, using infrared to see if anyone was still warm enough to be alive. "I see one live occupant... barely..."

Toshiro nodded, keeping the channel to the Lorath open should any new developments occur. "Get them out of there immediately and into the primary medical bay. Turn up the oxygen to 40% air content once you arrive. You'll find the controls next to the interior of the door."

Remi seemed to be close to a suitcase, her hand looked as if she were grasping for it; as if it were important. Meanwhile, the DRIP drive's deuterium supply began to peak, radiation pulsing slightly at a higher rate. It looked like the thing was getting ready to blow.

Kairi's Geiger counter was clicking so fast it sounded like a fluctuating whine. "Toshiro! I'm grabbing the girl and the suitcase. As soon as you see me exit the shuttle, get it the FUCK out of here!"

Toshiro nodded. "Understood!" He immediately switched to the channel with the Lorath. "Attention all nearby vessels. Clear the way from the Starboard Shuttle Bay of the Yggdrasill! A damaged vessel will be ejected, and a nuclear explosion is imminent! Raise your shields and get to the port or aft of the Yggdrasill!"

"Understood, thank you for the warning." The two Lorath power armors bolted to the left of the ship, docking with their ship which prompted their shields to be raised.

The shuttle's onboard computer came to life, and began to sound an alarm.

Kairi burst out of the shuttle, gently but quickly set down the girl and her stuff, and used the Kylie to move lightning-fast to the shuttle, pushing it with maximum thrust.

Toshiro saw the ship shoot free, fortunately away from Lor. "Attention all vessels! Nuclear Explosion Imminent! Unstable reactor traveling on a vector of 19 mark 2 from the Yggdrasill's position at 0.02c!"

The battered little shuttle's engines began to grow an angry blood red color. Radiation spiked, and a soundless detonation flashed a bloom of radioactive fire a minor shockwave accompanying it flared into existence and just as quickly faded.

Toshiro sighed, relieved... "Threat is over...you may resume previous stature. I am still awaiting word of the shuttle's occupant. They are barely alive at the moment."

Kairi walked back to the girl, picking her up gingerly and bringing her to the medbay. "Toshi-kun, she's going to be alright... It appears that she has--shit."

Toshiro blinked. "What was that last part, Kairi? What was that?"

By the looks of it, Remi had nearly suffocated.

Kairi tore the helmet off her head and turned down the augmentation to non-dangerous levels on the Kylie. She began CPR, shouting loud enough that the helmet could pick up: "She's coded, Toshi. Get someone down here who can grab the defibrillator. Now!"

Toshiro grimaced. "Shaun! You were in the Nepleslian military, and should have basic medical training. Please get to the Primary Medbay!"

Shaun was watching the monitors and listening to Eve as she assessed the situation until he heard Toshiro call for him. Without wasting a moment to give a response he leapt out of his seat and ran out of the room heading for the medical bay.

Eve came on over the com system in the medical bay. "Miss Kairi, Shaun is on his way to the medical bay now. He should be able to assist you"

Kairi nodded. "Thanks, Eve. You don't have to call me "Miss", though." She started mouth-to-mouth...

With the addition of CPR; Remi's lungs began to move a little more, but that was about it.

Serenity, oblivious to the happenings of the others, continued to simply cook.

It took Shaun only a moment to get to the medical bay. He ran across the room and came to a halt near the two almost slipping. He frowned as he gripped Remi's wrist trying to find a pulse. He looked at Kairi "quick hand me the medical scanner and turn the power as far down as it will go. Too much power and the scanner could hurt her:

There was a very faint pulse barely there. She seemed to be hanging on by sheer willpower.

Kairi threw the helmet back on the armor. "Pulse is faint and irregular. Shock 'er."

Toshiro got on the communications with the Lorath. "The situation with the occupant is touchy, apparently. If you wish to dock and render aid, you have permission to board the Yggdrasill. Our medical bay is small, however, so don't send too many people if you elect to assist."

The captain thought it over for a moment, before he spoke. "What house is the Helashio from?" Obviously the crew had been informed of the ships occupants. "What is the color of her hair?"

Shaun pressed his head against her chest listening for her heart. As he did he looked up at Kairi "her heart and lungs are working, but she's taken in too much smoke to be sure." He grabbed the defibrillator and pulled the top part of her dress open. He poured the pad fluid on and rubbed them together for a moment before pressing them down against her chest. "1..2..3..CLEAR!" He released a jolt on three and looked at Kairi for her pulse.

Toshiro blinked. "She is from Fyunnen, and her hair is red..."

Remi's back arched from the jolt, and her face seemed to contort slightly. The pulse was still there however.

"There is no need, the Fyunnen train them in most medical problems. She would be more fit then us, there are no Llamnel on our ship." The captain shrugged a little.
Kairi nodded. "Pulse is regular and strengthening. Toshi-kun, we're good here... She has severe oxygen deprivation, though, and she's dehydrated."

Shaun put the defibrillator back in its case "If she wasn't one of those neko...." He shook his head and sighed in relief "She'd be dead"

Toshiro nodded. "Thank you for the information. I will inform her immediately..." He switches to the kitchen channel. ~Serenity? This Toshiro. Lady in room you wake up and eat. Big Hurt. People say you healer. Please help girl!~

Shaun grabbed the cross hanging from his necklace to his lips and kissed it "Thank you...."

Serenity blinked as she heard the announcement and looked around the room, confused dearly where the voice had come from. With another blink, she simply turned down the food to a very small simmer, and moved from the kitchen and made her way down to the room. She seemed to have no trouble finding her way there, and as she entered she came closer to the others.

Kairi looked up, imposing in the Kylie armor. Her voice emanated from the external speakers: ~Serenity, it's me. This girl needs your help, she is suffering from oxygen deprivation and dehydration.~

Toshiro monitored the situation as best he could from the bridge...

Shaun looked at Kairi as he grabbed a few things from the medical cases. "Why are you still wearing that?"

Serenity blinked and nodded. The Kylie, while it was imposing, was still no where near as scary as a angry Fyunnen, at least not to her. Course, she hadn't seen the armor in operation. As she heard the conversation she thought it over for a moment, before she looked to see what Shaun was getting first.

Kairi slumped. "Because," she snapped, "I am naked under here so that the SLICS interface can be accessed by the Kairi armor."

Shaun had grabbed a small bottle of pain killers "She's going to feel like shit when she wakes up...."

Serenity tapped Kairi on the armor and spoke the best she could, "Oxygen mask...I..V.." She watched Kairi and waited for her to act, not sure of where anything was in there.

He nodded "Fine...you should probably go ahead and go change. I should be able to handle things from here..." He stopped as Serenity spoke. He looked around the room trying to find an oxygen tank "No idea who this girl is....but she's right."

Kairi stood, the Kylie making a soft "vreen" sound. "You heard her, Shaun. I'll be right back. To Serenity, she said: ~This man can help you. I'll be right back.~

Shaun managed to finally find a mask. He pulled the tank over to the table and adjusted the strap. He gently lifted Remi's head as he slid the mask over her face. He found himself looking back and forth to Serenity as he hadn't actually seen her aboard the ship before. "so...you the one they found the other day?"

Serenity nodded as well, blinking as she tapped Remi's skin at her elbow, trying to find the vein. She looked to Shaun again and repeated, "I...V...need"

He nodded "Right" He pulled the IV holder over to the table and went back to the supply case to grab a full IV bag. After attaching it to the pole he handed Serenity the tube while holding onto some tape for holding it in place.

Serenity nodded and after tapping her twice more, she slid the needle into the flesh, hitting the vein dead on. She placed a gauze she had found, along with the tape over the needle. After she made sure it was secured, she flicked the small vial that hung just below the bag to get the fluid flowing.

Toshiro continued to wait, listening...

Shaun pulled up a chair and sat it next to the table before sitting down in it. "Alright we need to keep an eye on her. I guess I can take first watch." Shaun then pressed his hand against his ear "Eve, watch over the weapon systems for me. I doubt we will need to fight as long as the Lorath are around, but we don't want to take any chances with wounded on board"

Serenity looked to Shaun, blinking once as her tag waved back and forth. Seemed she was waiting on something.

Kairi ran back into the room, dressed in her bodysuit again. "How's the patient?"

Shaun looked over to Kairi as she ran into the room "She's stable now"

Toshiro sighed with relief....

For the most part Remi just laid there. Her chest moved at a weak steady pace.

Serenity smiled as Kairi entered the room, her tail wagging a little more. She still seemed to be waiting on something.

~Is she alright?~ asked Kairi.

Serenity quickly nodded, her smile a bit wider.

~You did a good job, Serenity,~ Kairi smiled, offering her a hug.

Her tail was nearly a blur as she heard the praise from her new mistress, smiling widely as she snuggled against Kairi.

Shaun leaned back in the chair "Ok you two...that's way too much affection for one room. I'm going to take the first watch over the patient. Who wants to go next?"

"Shaun, this is the best way to talk to her. She comes from a society far different from ours. Now," she said, "I'll take the next shift." She gave Serenity an extra squeeze and disengaged from the hug--though she offered a shoulder to snuggle into.

Serenity smiled and purrs a little, her tail still wagging as she snuggled into the offered shoulder. She seemed to really like any affection.

Toshiro contacted the Lorath ship... "The situation has been largely resolved and the victim is stable. We are prepared to dock for item inspection and transfer at your convenience."

Shaun took his jacket off and laid it over Remi. As he did Eve suddenly spoke up "Shaun I thought you disliked....." He quickly interrupted her knowing what she was going to say "No Eve....only a few in particular"

Again the two Lorath power armors slipped out of the ship and came closer. "Just hand over the technology to the two power armors."

The doctor merely laid there; not feeling the jacket seemingly oblivious to the gesture. She just laid there; breathing, her breath misting the mask. Inside however, her body was slowly but surely repairing any damage to it.

The Yggdrasill began to internally move the restricted technologies and the items it did not wish to have into the airlock, and opened it, sending out items. These were a Mental backup device, dead Mishhu Organic Computer Parts, a Frozen/dead Mishhu Brain-slave pilot, a Lorath corpse from Fyunnen, a Quintessent Hyperspace Torpedo with a dead pilot brain, and a Tortured Neko corpse who died crying.

Shaun sat up in the chair as he heard the transmission through Eve. His expression suddenly became very serious. He squeezed his teeth together, but decided not to say anything.

Toshiro continued. "I don't know who is in the Mental backup Device...can you let me know when you scan it?"

The two armors began to gather up the items and report them back. As the mention was made of the ST back up machine, the ship began to move closer. Soon it was asking a request to dock.

"Docking request approved. Please dock with Port Bay..." Toshiro replied...

The ship did as told, and soon enough the captain of the ship was just at the side of the ship, waiting on Toshiro.

Toshiro had left command to Ken and went to his side as well, and opened the airlock upon confirming pressure on the other side... "Welcome to the SRSS Yggdrasill...who am I addressing?"

"Captain of the LSDF Traveler, Searcher. Greetings Captain Toshiro, I am here to pay a reward." The captain smiled a little, his pure white eyes closing as he scratched he back of his head, his hair a deeper purplish blue color. He reached into a small pouch at the side of his waist, and soon enough pulled out a beautifully stunning diamond. It was five carats in total, and of a absolutely perfect cut.

END

Toshiro's eyes widened at the sight of the diamond...he obviously had never seen a diamond that large that wasn't manufactured for industrial purposes, and CERTAINLY not that pure...

"Sugoi...It's amazing, thank you...just who was in that Mental Backup Device?"

"We are unsure, but the model is of Lorath make, so we can only assume it is one of ours."

The captain shrugged lightly as he watched Toshiro. He smirked a little as he saw the reaction to the diamond.

"Seems you offworlders haven't seen diamonds like this. A shock for a empire so rich. This is a smaller one on the planet too, I have one at home as big as my fist."

He held up his hand in a balled up fist for emphasis.

Toshiro smiled, scratching the back of his head, a bit embarrassed.

"Well, this is a civilian vessel, not a military one. Salvaging has decent profit and wealth in it, but gems aren't usually among the debris...thank you--oh! There is one more thing I have to turn over I almost forgot. This ship came stock with an Interdiction Device I have been told to remove and turn over to the authorities. It's been removed and is waiting to be turned over. If you wish, you can inspect it before taking possession."

"I suppose it would be best. Lead the way captain."

The Lorath captain bowed his head slightly and held his hand out, a smile on his face still as he folded his wings closer to his body, so he could get them through the small ship passageways.

Toshiro nodded and lead the Lorath Captain to the cargo bay, where the OEM Geshrinari Interdiction Device was stored. Being a civilian model and an older one, it was particularly large...likely freeing up a sizable chunk of Engineering...

"When I reported the device, we were given one week of amnesty to remove it and turn it in, you can check that detail...given that it is a stock device, the Star Army said it would contact Geshrinari Shipyards, the designers of the original Vampire Class, and talk with them. When you take it, I was hoping you'd contact the Star Army and tell them you have the device and have visually inspected it...I will do the same. is that okay with you, Captain?"