For the Casual Roleplayer (Pt. 2)

[Neverwhere]

This is to keep with the rules of 100 posts per thread only....
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Xypher groans heavily as the ship learches upwards. His ship wasnt exactly the most maneuverable of them all, but it could definately hold its own in a fight. As they began their ascent he thought 'Damn, this is too easy. Either that spy really does have connections, or he is just tricking us. Either way I dont know what to do with him yet.'

Shena, where are the humans?

*Computer* They are all in the sleeping quarters.

What? I thought I told you to put the last one in the cargo bay? Oh well, as long as he doesnt do anything with my charge I dont care. About our little 'conversation' before, dont mention it to the humans like that.

The image of the female reappears, this time in the chair next to Xypher. *Computer* Well, you did program me with your distaste for humans.

Yes, but not with my dislike for all humans. Some are fine, others couldnt find their way out of a paper bag. Look, no use bringing up ancient history with these lot until I know just exactly who I can and who I cant trust. Anyways, fly the plane for me. Im going back there to have a bit of a chat with our 'friends'.

With that he stands and begins to climb back down out of the cockpit and make his way back into the sleeping quarters.

[Dante]

Virgil rose and put the cigarette out, hoping to break the uneasy atmosphere. He wasn't used to dealing with this kind of situation.

"Excuse me, Ryan. Got to go to the toilet."

As he walked towards the door a thought crossed his mind. Are the toilets here compatible with humans, or are there even any on this ship? He suppressed a wry grin, and opened the door... to come face to face with the Darleth.

"Well, well. I was wondering where you had gone."

[Neverwhere]

He stares blankly at the human and something makes his nose tickle. He takes one sniff of the surrounding air and wrinkles his nose

You humans, must you always smoke? Not only is it a disgusting habit but it stinks. Now you've gone and smelled up my ship with that. I know for a fact Shena will not like cleaning up that stench. As for where I 'had gone', someone has to fly this ship. Its not exactly a state-of-the-art ship human. I have to get it airborne before Shena can take it back over. Now, where were you headed? Bathrooms? Yes, I have a 'bathroom' for humans of sorts. Its the same bloody one I use! I may not be of the human race *thank God (thats a thought btw)* but I am a civilized humanoid. Its to your right, rejoin us when you are finished, I am sure we have much to talk about.

[Derek R.]

(Oh I can't Keep up with this one heh. Good luck guys)

[Dante]

Virgil sighed to himself as he bore the irate alien's scolding. He'd gotten a lot of flak over the cigarettes before, from human mostly but none of the aliens he'd been with had minded much.

Before today, that was.

Raising his hands in an I-surrender gesture, Virgil chuckled in an effort to lighten the mood. "Alright, alright, I won't smoke on the ship any more."

Virgil went through the door and turned back.

"By the way, Stephanie's sleeping in the other room. Try not to wake her up."

He let the door close behind him, and began to analyse the situation as he paced down the corridor. The government was after her, which meant, by extension, they were after Ryan, the Darleth and himself as well. It had something to do with arms smuggling, but what...

Unless...

Virgil's head snapped up as a hazy memory crossed his mind. He remembered that the contact had mentioned something about classified records before catching himself and hurriedly changing the subject. But what link did it have with this?

No, it can't be. What are the odds? Virgil shook his head and walked on.

But you can never assume.

He quickened his pace. Suddenly, he really needed to go.

[LilWhiteMage]

Stephanie just laid curled up under the sheets of the bed for what to her seemed like ages. It had been, well, since before the incident at Stronghold when she had last gotten any form of sleep.

At least, that she could manage to take comfortably.

As her eyes slowly began to open from her slumber, she at first began to think that this whole horrible experience had been nothing but a bad dream. But as she looked around the small room, reality came crashing back down on her.

The company she had been working for wanted her dead. As well as her own government.

Quickly she shut her eyes again and took a couple of deep breaths to thwart the tears that were once again creeping up. The last thing she wanted to do was just turn into a sobbing, blubbering mess.

Not that she had done much better at the bar.

That was a different thing. She told herself. I was surely going to die. If it hadn't been for...

She realized she had never gotten the name of the man that had gotten her out of the bar in the first place. Her heart sank a bit, as she did not even know where he was, or if he was still alive.

In fact, she felt horrible that she had now dragged so many people into this.

That man from the alley. Sure... he worked for the government as well, but they were shooting at him as much as they were her.

Then Virgil. He didn't have to have stopped her there in the alley, but he did. And now he was in just as much trouble too for trying to protect her.

And finally Xypher. It only started as an innocent drink, but he had seemed to proven quite well that he was truly sent to protect her. After all, she was on HIS ship trying to get away again.

Sitting up, Stephanie sighed a bit, wiping away a few stray tears that had actually managed to break free. As she stood she grabbed the collar of her jacket, just letting the name tag fall to the floor with a light click.

She no longer needed that.

Jacket still in hand, she made her way over to the door and slowly eased it open, peering outside into the hallway.

[Neverwhere]

Xypher contorts his face as the human walks away. 'Humans' he thinks. As he turns to open the door to the sleeping quarters he is startled to find the door adjar, having just seen the human shut the door on his way out. A tired looking female is standing in the doorway, peering out quizically.

Stephanie, go back in if you please. I need to have a chat with all of us. However, I will not hinder your movements about this ship, but be weary; Shena will not like you to poke about in a few places. Do tell me if she becomes a bother, eh?

[LilWhiteMage]

"Oh.. Mr. Thelitram." She opened the door just a bit more so that she might see better. "If that's what you want.... I'll just sit in here while I wait on all of you. I'd hate to be a bother to... Shena."

She stepped back a little, trying to take a lower tone as if to hide her voice from the hearing of the ship. "Why is it that she is so.... irate... towards us?'

[GatoFiero]

Gerek haled himself up into the cockpit of his Jagati Omni-fighter. After leaving the combat area he had gone directly to the space port and into one of the little used hangars. Damn rates are so expensive to use, I’m surprised they haven’t demolished them and put in more normal landing pads. Digging under the seat he pulls out a field med kit and begins to treat the wound in his abdomen.

"Computer command line, communication mode, two bursts." The fighter's computer system activates. "Patch the first communication through to the jump ship, tell Isis that I’ve run into unexpected situation and we will be jumping soon." The computer gives an affirmative signal and waits for the second message, "the second communication goes to the operative, tell him to meet me here at the spaceport, and if he's not here within two hours I’m leaving without him." The computer acknowledges the second command and sends the messages.

Ugg, I’m getting too careless. I should have never gotten shot...hell i should have just left the woman back there in the bar, it looked like she already had a body guard...how ever incompetent he was at letting that situation develop. Still...

I wonder why that Shadow Wraith wanted to meet in that in that bar. Odd enough as it is that he could not contact anyone in his own clan. The Coyotes prefer to stay out of direct conflict and focus on research and development of technology, and then providing it to other clans such as Clan Wolf or Ghost Bear for protection from some of the more aggressive Crusader clans. Clan Shadow Wraith is more of a black sheep clan, forsaking clan space altogether to live in the free born sector. True, both the Wraiths and the Coyotes are wardens clans, but that, as far as I knew, was the extent of our relationship....so what could have caused one of their operatives to contact me?

[Neverwhere]

Xypher nods and follows her back into the stateroom. He notices the man from the alley sitting in the back of the room on one of the cots Shena had errected for them, arms resting on his knees. Xypher takes a quick survey of the area and he kruiks a few times and then takes a seat on the cot inbetween the two.

I cant wait for the other human here, I have no time. To start off with, Shena. Shena was programmed by a friend of mine, and I have merely .. filled out her personality, so to speak. She is, however, a sentient being with feelings and emotions of her own. She doesnt like humans because I am not particularly fond of most of them in my own right. My reasons for this are my own, and I will not discuss them here and now. Shena just took this a step further and I can do nothing to reign her in.

As for who hired me I cannot tell you that at this time. My instructions were to keep you alive and to only tell you as much as is prudent at this juncture. Who hired me is not prudent now, and shall remain with me until I deem it necessary to divulge it.

What I do want to know is more about why you have bounty hunters, the government, and that Wolf clanner after you. Yes I do know he is of the Wolf clan, and I suspect he has some suspicions about me. However, that can wait. As for now, I think it is time that you told me a few details m'am.

With that he sits back and focus' on Stephanie, awaiting her reply

[LilWhiteMage]

"Well...."

She went ahead and told the whole thing over again to him, just as she had with Virgil. How she was working undercover for her government finding evidence of marketing weapons. And of how things starting going wrong with the explosion at Stronghold and that it was from then that she was being sought out by both them and now the own people she worked with.

The whole time, her eyes laid on him, as though she at least owed him the truth about what was happening. "I'm so sorry that I've dragged all of you into this. I never meant for any of this to happen."

[Neverwhere]

He nods, and then turns to look at the other human still in the room

Well? Whats your story? Better be good, I dont like being shot at without a reason As his voice trails away, the faint sound of growling can be heard

I dont know how much longer I can remain here, as it is my birthday today and I think Im probably going to go out tonight and do something Ill regret in the morning! WHEE! Still, Ill post as often as possible.

[Dante]

As Virgil retraced his steps back to the meeting room, he flipped open his comlink and entered Rath's number. Rath had been with him ever since he had left the teams, and he was one of the best fixers anyone could have.

There was a ca-click over the audiophone, indicating that the call had been connected. Virgil had never understood why the communications companies had needed to use such an anachronism when all such calls were digital, but then again, it was not his way to question the vagaries of the system, merely to work around it and use it to his advantage.

"The job?"

That had to be Rath, always straight to the point.

"Makae's flown the coop. Some idiot started shooting in the bar minutes before the muscle was going to pick her up, and when she fled, some guys in suits and coats snatched her."

"Sounds like you screwed up. Weren't you supposed to keep an eye on her?"

" I would have, but there were... complications. In any case, by the time I arrived there were too many guys for me to have tried anything meaningful."

"I'll keep an eye on the beacon, then."

"That's not all. I got myself involved with some woman called Stephanie... somethingorother, working for Strongarm Industries - "

"You mean StrongHOLD, and her surname is Douglas, and she's being wanted for espionage and treason, right?"

"Okay, fine...How did you know about it?"

"There was another job posting. Find her and bring her in. 25'000'000 creds. And a pardon to anyone who does it. I mean as in complete amnesty. Even if you killed the Premiere and danced on his corpse in the middle of Public Square, they'll overlook it for this. You are in a prime position to save your ass, and you'd better take it because from what I know, the Ghost Stalkers and Shadow Wraiths are being called in to deal with the matter. And you know how things between these two sides always turn out."

"R...right. I'll think about it. In the meantime, I need more info about her and Stronghold. Can you do it?"

" Affirmative. Just remember, Ven... Virgil. Make your decision wisely, man. Over and out."

As he flipped his comlink off, Virgil could not help feeling that he had hit rock bottom and someone had handed him a shovel.

Then he breathed in deeply, composed himself, and entered the room again.

[LilWhiteMage]

Hearing the door open, Stephanie looked up and smiled faintly as Virgil walked in.

"Oh, there you are." She remained seated as he came through the doorway. "I was just explaining to Mr. Thelitram my problem."

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

He remains in his normal bored state and glances outside. He thinks about finding a rooftop to perch on for the night since he has trained the need for sleep out of his system. He then looks back across the bar but is stopped short by several milimetres of steel armor plate and a harsh voice that says " either you get out of your chair or I'll be claiming your head"
OOC: see? im that bored that I need to start fights with random characters :P

[GatoFiero]

<<Long Post Warning>>

I do not like this, if contact was still alive then he would have responded to message by now...Footsteps!

A man knocks on the front of the hangar.

"Hello? I have a package here for a mister Gerek Nash."

"...that would be me, who are you?" Said Gerek, moving his hand closer to the power gun next to his seat.

"I'm just a delivery man, nothing to get upset about. I'll just leave this package here. There's no need for you to sign for it." And with that the man left.

Being cautious, Gerek hopped down from the cockpit and retrieved the package. Well, this could be a bomb. But then who would want to kill me? ....ok who would want to kill me on this planet that has had the time to find me and prepare a bomb?

Gerek opened up the package and was startled by what dropped out. A letter, a data crystal, and a free born data disk.

Gerek opened the letter:

Nash, if your reading this then I’m already dead. I entrusted this package to a delivery service which specializes in after death deliveries. I'm sorry I could not talk to you in person but glad that even in death i have done my duty. To confirm that I am who i say, i have placed my data crystal in it, that should be enough even if you are a sceptic. The disk contains data on a free birth weapons facility that i obtained before destroying the facility. This however is only the tip of the iceberg, the reason i wanted to meet at that bar was because there was another there working for the free birth government, she was also doing an investigation and the information she can provide will be much more complete than the information provided on that disk. I realize that you will send this disk back to your home world and that they will likely disregard it as wild speculation from one of the lesser fringe clans. But please, find the free birth woman Stephanie Douglas. A photo of her is included on the data disc. I died because of this please do not dishonor my sacrifice.

"And the ilKhan gave us his final words,
charging us to protect those
with whom we found refuge in our time of need.
In this, our final duty, we shall not fail"
- The Remembrance, Passage 411, Verse 16, Lines 1-4 (Shadow Wraiths)

Gerek closed his eyes, and bowed his head in rememberence to this fallen brother, his honor will be preserved. Gerek took the disc to his fighter cockpit and inserted it into the computer. Encrypted, well at least he took precautions. *sigh* Well, no more reason for me to stay here.

Gerek powered up his Jagati, taxied onto the runway, and launched to rendevous with his jump ship holding a stealth position on the dark side of the planet's moon.

While in flight he ran a decryption program on the disc in his fighter. Once decrypted he arched an eye, well that's surprising, good thing i pulled her out of their after all. But now how to finder her.

Then he had a flash of memory, that one alien said he was her body guard. With that he accessed the planetary database and looked up the information on her "bodyguard." He's got a ship...*looks up docking listings*...and he's launched. She must be with him, that means that I have to play a game of catch up.

Gerek opened a comlink to his dropship, “Isis, power up the jump engines, we have a chase to start and they have a head start.”

[Dante]

Virgil smiled and fished out another cigarette, but he caught himself before lighting it and replaced it in the pack.

"Sorry. Force of habit."

He came over to the table and sat himself down in a nearby chair.

"So... we're all here, it would seem. Perhaps our host would care to tell us more about himself?"

[Neverwhere]

Nodding, Xypher acknowledges the humans entrance.

My name, for those of you who dont know, is Xypher Thelitram, and you already know my race. You've met my computer,Shena retells the story he just told to Stephanie to the clanner. (read above, im not gonna retype that stuff :D)

[Truce]

OOC-Gee...you guys play fast. I'm officially out, I'm too busy right now to keep up. Sorry, and see you later.

[LilWhiteMage]

Stephanie looked over to Xypher, then shifted her eyes back to Virgil.

She shifted slightly in her seat as she put her jacket back on finally. "I am a bit curious as to where we are going though."


I must go out for a little bit... going to go and eat and such. I'll hopefully be back within the hour

[GatoFiero]

[OOC] wha? There are only three clanners in this rp that I know of. One is dead, one is stuck in a bar back on the planet. And one is in an omni-fighter back to his drop ship to peruse your ship. If you read back, Gerek got left in the ally as you perused Stephanie. Gerek woke up, saw that no one was there, and used that time to go back to his fighter. During the time that he waited for the other clanner (he didn't know he was dead at the time) to contact him you guys left....unless you can telepathically communicate over great distances or I’ve misread something. I'll make this next post short, cause i could go into a lot of description that i don't thing is a good idea[OOC]

Gerek docked with his jump ship and began to follow the trail left by Xypher's ship's engines.

Tech note: Isis is the jump ship's main AI.

[GatoFiero]

ah crud, i double posted good thing there's an edit button.

[Neverwhere]

Shit... your right. You left, I was mistaking Dante for you. Sorry man!! Also, Im going out for a while tonight, time for some .. fun. After all, it is my bday! Hopefully Ill only do one thing that I will regret...

[LilWhiteMage]

There was a few moments of silence between them. "Well, if you'll excuse me for a moment, I need to go to the restroom."

She stood, walking over to the door and opening it just enough for her to slide through. She managed to find the restroom on her own, and as she started to head back, she began to snoop around a bit, going to the cockpit for a moment to see if she might could get any type of information.

She stopped though when she remembered the AI for the ship wasn't exactly the friendliest and would probably inform Xypher immediately of anything strange. With a light sigh, she began to head back towards the meeting room.

[Dante]

Virgil, bereft of his cigarettes, was getting edgier and edgier. He paced the room for a while after Stephanie had left, trying to think of ways to cheer her up. But he soon realized that without his "death-sticks", as Rath liked to call them, he wasn't going to be in a very cheerful mood.

Finally, he flipped his comlink open and thrust it in his pocket. Without looking at the screen, Virgil rapidly tapped out a text message to Rath. He didn't trust the ship's computer not to have audio sensors and spy cameras active, and he was used to messaging Rath this way. He withdrew it only to ensure that it was indeed going to Rath, and by that time the data had already been encrypted.

He sent the message just as Stephanie came back.

Elsewhere, on another planet, a man received a message on his computer. Noting the header, he called his boss, an elegantly dressed woman in her early thirties. After waiting for the aide to leave, she opened it.

"Rath, I need information on a Darleth called Xypher Thelitram and a being called Ryan Marong. Xypher is the Douglas woman's bodyguard, and Ryan is a government killer who swotched sides. I don't trust either of them, but since I'm going to have to work with them, I might as well know as much as I can about them. Thanks."

[LilWhiteMage]

"I'm back... sorry I took so long." She thought up a quick excuse to cover for her having gone and searched the ship a bit more. "I got a bit lost."

She put on a most charming smile.... kinda made you wander just how she could have gotten herself into such deep trouble.

Stephanie walked past Virgil, getting a passing glance at his comlink.

Hn? What is he doing with one of those...?

Shaking her head slightly, she replaced the semi-confused look with another smile as she sat back down across from the men.

[Tor]

[ooc] Have been at school for the most of "your" night and so since I'm free today I can be with you for now [ooc]

Joins the gang, in a drunken stupor fashion

Sorry, just had to get some bad memories out of my head... Virgil you'll understand won't you...

A bottle falls down from his coat

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

OOC: ive been away for a day or two whats happened that applies to me?

[Neverwhere]

As Xypher finishes his story he turns to the humans, switching back between the two.

What's your story humans? I only know Stephanie's name here, and what/who she is. Care to enlighten me?

Tenjin, I dont think too much happened in way of you

[Dante]

Virgil noticed the brief shift on Stephanie's face, but he paid it no heed.

"Me? Well... My name is Virgil. I'm a "retriever" - that is, I get things back for people. "Things" here can include people, and I was about to recover a woman for my client when the unpleasantness in the bar took place."

Virgil leaned back in his chair and looked at Xypher, Stephanie and Ryan in turn.

"It would seem, for better or worse, that we are in the same boat. Now, like Stephanie said, where are we heading? Furthermore, what do you intend to do there?"

[Neverwhere]

Xypher nods, and looks over at the other human who appears to have fallen asleep.

I am taking you all back to the only truely safe place I know of. A planet near the base of that clanner I was fighting with back where we all met. No, dont object, we are going. Im not going exactly to the clanner planet, as I know them too well. You will no doubt have a massive bounty by now, and if I take you there they will turn you in without a second thought. I have a base on this planet we are going to, but its not exactly built to withstand an army. It will be able to hold its own against a couple people, but past that we are on our own.

[Dante]

A hundred thoughts raced through Virgil's head at once, but with practiced discipline, he picked out the relevant ones from his stream of consciousness like a crane catching a fish.

Too many variables here... how permanent is this base of his? Is hiding all that we're going to do? What if we're discovered? It is there home planet after all... And what about Ryan? He doesn't seem too stable... In fact, the Darleth might be trying to turn them all in for the money already... It would be the perfect excuse, asking us to wait in his base while he called down a heavy weapons team on us... But then again, he didn't kill me, and he could have simply knocked Stephanie out or killed her if he had wanted the money... He could have let the ship guns blow Ryan to bits also...

And then, it was clear to him. He would have to trust Xypher with his safety for the immediate future. The Darleth held all the cards now, and he was the only one with any concrete plans for the group. Though Virgil had plans of his own, the time had not come for them yet... nor would it ever come if he broke with them. There was simply too much opposition to go it alone.

"I see. In any case, do you know where I could acquire better weapons? I feel a little over-exposed with only a pair of pistols and a bunch of mini-grenades for self-protection."

[GatoFiero]

OOC: ive been away for a day or two whats happened that applies to me?

[OOC] Here's what's happened that might concern your. You had a partner who was also in that bar. He's dead now. I have the information that we wanted to give us in the bar. I sent a message to his comlink, but he didn't respond so i left planet without you. Suggestion: "barrow a ship."[OOC]

Isis: "Update, I have extrapolated their likly general course."
Gerek: "Well? Spit it out."
Isis: "There is a 77% probability that they are heading into the clan sector."
Gerek: "Can you be a little more precise than that? The clans have alot of worlds."
Isis: "Strana Mechty system."
Gerek: The homeworld?! Are they psyco or do they know something that i do not?"
Isis: "There is more than one planet in the Strana Mechty system than Strana Mechty Prime."
Gerek: "....power up the HPG (hyper pulse generator, a method of neigh instanious communication across great distances. more clan tech). Send a message to Coyote, tell them to get Ghost Bear to scramble their fleet. If the crusaders see them and get the information that that woman has then things could get very ugly between the free births and the clans."

------
Clan Information to come later, i gtg to class now.

[LilWhiteMage]

He was about to retrieve a woman for someone.... He couldn't have been looking for me could he?

Stephanie quickly looked down towards the ground, feeling a bit uncomfortable again.

Maybe... He IS just trying to get me. She looked up towards him for a moment before looking back down. He's so nice though.

And even if Virgil might try to take her, Xypher would protect her, right? Unless he was just the same.

She paid little to no attention to the rest of the conversation between them as she tried to think things through.

"...could acquire better weapons?"

Quickly she jerked her head up as Virgil said that. "You men and your stupid weapons! Those things are the reason I'm in this mess to began with! Er..." She stopped herself, looking back down.

[Neverwhere]

Xypher had been just about to respond, but was startled by the quick, and greatly emotional, response from the girl. He smiled reassuringly.

To answer your question, yes I do know where you can find better weapons. Strana Mechty Prime. Xypher begins to grin I believe we will be a measly 3 planets from there. If you feel so enclined you my borrow one of the other ships I have at the base and take a bit of a travel. Oh, be sure and take a few million credits with you though.

However, I must plot our course of action now. I cannot divulge how we will be getting there as I do believe it was way to easy to leave that planet behind us. I must go make precautions.

With that he stands, nods, and leaves the room.

[LilWhiteMage]

This is just a little note to wish all of ya'll a Happy Turkey Day ^o^

I'm going to be gone until late tomorrow night... cause I'm going out of state to visit my family.

Until I see ya'll later tomorrow night, have fun and be good.... Have a nice Thanksgiving and eats LOTS of turkey! ^o^/)

Later friends!
~LWM~

[GatoFiero]

[OOC]Ok, time for some info about the clans. Clans can be divided into two groups, the warden clans and the crusader clans. The wardens believe that they can re-unite the human worlds through guiding the many fragmented governments into a new age. The crusaders believe that they can only do this through force of arms.

Clan Homeworld: Strana Mechty Prime (individual clans have their own homeworlds too, but Strana Mechty Prime is the combined clan homeworld where the clans gather).

Primary Warden Clans and specialties:
Clan Coyote: Very Heavy Research and development
Clan Wolf: Planetary Combat
Clan Ghost Bear: Interplanetary Combat

Primary Crusader Clans and specialties:
Clan Jade Falcon: Planetary Combat
Clan Smoke Jaguar: Minor Interplanetary Combat, Minor Planetary Combat, Medium Research and Development.
Clan Cloud Cobra: Interplanetary Combat, atmospheric air combat, Minor Research and Development.

Free Birth: Any human that was conceived and born the old fashioned way.

True Birth (clanners): Created through use of advanced genetic engineering. Clanners who excel in their duties have their genetic data which is encoded in their data crystal, entered into a clan codex (i guess you could even call it a gene pool). The data contained in the codex goes into making the next generation of clanners.

Why are the clanners separated from the other humans? Why do they have more advanced technology than the other humans? The first interplanetary human empire colapsed (because of reasons i will not go into). The Military, rather than becoming pawns in the new era of human war, chose to go on what would later be called the "Second Exodus." When the clans left, they took with them all the advanced weaponry and research the united human government had, thus setting back the other humans a good 30 to 40 years in technology. 200 years later human civilization, speeded by other alien civilizations, has finally expanded to have encounters with clanners. Once conflict began breaking out between the clans and the other human governments clan technology began to leak out of clan hands (lost in combat, captured ships, ect.. the normal stuff that happens in war). But the other human governments are still unable to produce such weapons as the clans, because of lack of resources, facilities, or just plain intelligence.

A book called The Remembrance details the exploits of past clan members dating back to the Second Exodus. Each clan has a slightly different version of The Remembrance, told from their viewpoint of battles, arguments, ect... In The Remembrance, it is told that Alexander Kerensky's last request before he died, (leader of the second Exodus, the person who created the clan society was his son) was that the clans should one day return Earth and once more reunite the human race under one banner.

Why are their clans outside clan space (example clan Shadow Wraith)? Some clans dicided that they would be more effective if they worked from the inside of the human worlds. This stratagy is generaly frowned upon by the larger clans because they view it as underhanded. Clan Shadow Wraith is a warden clan that went underground into the human worlds. [OOC]

[Tor]

Stumbles over to the chair where he and Virgil sat down and talked

-Where is every body, I could swear I saw them here...

Thinks back

-Aaah they've gone to the bridge

Starts to slowly walk towards the bridge while taking out some "sober pills"

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

He rises to his feet and looks at the person in front of him " I must admit you have some nouse talking like that to anyone but you have made a serious error talking like that to me" With that the man's torso armour begins to buckle thanks to Tenjin's seemingly inexhaustable Telekinetic potential. The man winces in pain as his chest begins to collapse. Tenjin looks at him "do you have a ship?" the man doesn't respond so he clamps down harder "I SAID, do you have a ship?!" The man struggles to nod and say "Bipedial Attack Armour...capable of atmosphere entry and exit" before passing out. Tenjin releases his mental grip on his torso and takes the access card "thankyou you have been most helpful"

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

OOC: thankyou Gato for the history. We all know what kind of society we are working in! PS the seemless integration of Clan Shadow Wraith (CSW) was excellent

[Dante]

Even as Stephanie spoke, he winced. He hadn't wanted to say or do anything that might make her think about the subject of weapons, and then he had gone and done exactly that.

Idiot! You stupid, stupid idiot! She'll trust you about as far as she can throw you now!

There was a stiff, uncomfortable quiescence in the room after Xypher left, Stephanie looking down, Virgil doing the same. The tone she used reminded him of something he had wanted to forget. Those exact same words...

"You men and your stupid guns! Those things are the reason this happened! And what use were they to Ren? Nothing! Men with guns just end up trampling on other people's lives! You should know, you... idiot!"

Then she had slammed the door in his face and told him never to come back. The words had echoed themselves in his mind even until now.

Since that day, he had carried one pistol at most on him, not the mini-arsenal of the old times. This made his current assignment was bitterly ironic, given that it was his last one and he was going to plunged into the middle of the violence he had tried so hard to avoid.

And as he looked at Stephanie's face, he was struck by her resemblance to Ren. No doubt the race had been different, but the sad look on her face... like a kitten that nobody wanted...

"No..."

Stephanie looked up, startled by the sudden break in the silence.

"Stephanie, I... I'm sorry I had to talk about weapons and let you remember all those things again. It's just that... The last time something like this happened, an innocent person died because I wasn't prepared. I'm... sorry."


OOC: Sorry for taking liberties with your character, LilWhiteMAge! Gomen!

[Neverwhere]

Im not going to be able to pots for at least the rest of the day if not for part of tomorrow as well. I found a last minute ride home that I wasnt expecting for the holidays and I took it. Sorry for that guys. Basically my extent over the next day (since Im gone) will be me trying to keep anyone from persuit and also making it to the planet w/o coming across any clanners. Again, Im sorry guys.

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

He begins to wander out the door but his concience gets the better of him. He turns around and places a small card on the man's chestplate which contains an amount of funds equal the cost of his BAA. Tenjin wanders back outside and looks at the BAA he happened to "purchase". The Armour seems akin to a Gundam or Arm Slave in its appearance and mauverability. On one shoulder is the clan Coyote marking. on the Primary chest armour is the Classification code "AS-102 Quill" Tenjin shakes his head "its still not as advanced as CSW's Destiny model but it will have to do" With that he clambers into the cockpit and launches into space.

[Tor]

Now pretty sobered up he enters the bridge looking at the console he realizes which planet they are heading towards

-WE CAN'T GO THERE! he sudenly yelled THATS THE CLAN SECTOR!

Trying to calm down he starts again

-That place is bad news...the clans will kill us, they are a bunch of heartless brutes.

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tenjin checks the external camera feeds on both sides of his BAA. On the left he sees the glimmer of a ship's engines. He activates full burn on his thrusters in order to get within hailing distance, creating quite a large heat signature at the same time and a massive corona of engine flame.

[Tor]

-Virgil you must help me here I don't want to die... They are shurly going to blast us out of the sky even before we reach the planets atmosphere

His feets began to shake as the memories of the clan wars raged through his head, and when he swore not to return to this sector of the universe. Shure he was a freeborn and not a clanner, but being raised in those areas was just as hard as being one of them just without the priveliges of being helped if something went wrong

-Why are we going there anyway the empire will shurly find us there too, we must further away from it than this.

[Dante]

Virgil glanced over at Ryan. Irritation flashed briefly over his face before being replaced by a a look of disappointment.

"We don't have much of a choice now, Ryan. I'm not the captain of this ship, and Xypher says that he has a base on this planet. Besides, we'd look even more suspicious if we suddenly braked and turned away."

Virgil looked back at the main window. The disc of the approaching planet grew larger and larger.

Please God, let us make it through safely...

[Tor]

Nervously he ties his hair into a tail so that it doesn't come in the way

-Your probably right, but... I don't know how to say this, but...

He started to breath heavely

-I'm wanted there for murder of a Clan learder... but it was self defence, but the clanners didn't want to listen to me. They just looked uppon me as a murderer. I'm in an extremely thight spot now, if you understand.

Walks over to the closest chair and sists dovn with his face hidden by his hands.

-They would not listen to reason, it would have been ok if it was he who killed me, but when it was *I* who killed him in self defence it suddenly became murder. Wheres the logic?

[LilWhiteMage]

[OOC ^-^ It's okay Dante, I don't mind. I would have been here last night to post, but we came home to a call that my friend's store was being broken into ;-; The cops came and took three people... but from looking at counts so far, he's already found that over 300 dollars worth of games and systems were stolen. ;'-'; And here I was thinking I moved to a GOOD town. Okay. Enough rant. By the way, cute avvie ^^ /ooc]

Stephanie stared at him for a moment as he apologized.

He really means it.... Maybe... I was wrong to think..

"It's alright." She replied quietly as she continued to look at Virgil. She took a few more deep breaths as she further calmed herself down. "It's just... you know..."

As she trailed off, her eyes shifted to the main window as well. She was slightly worried about being so close to Clanner territory, but she held faith that Xypher wouldn't let anything happen to her if he was truly her protector.

And perhaps Virgil will protect me too.

It had seemed like that was what he meant when he was explaining his reasoning for asking for more weapons. Stephanie turned her head slightly to watch him, not really paying attention to any of the others now. He seemed like the most caring, wonderful person in the world...

But even still, that little seed of doubt was still planted in her head.

She gave a light sigh, returning her look to the planet growing ever closer.

[Dante]

That same sinking feeling from before came over Virgil as he heard Ryan speak.

Again, more trouble for me.

Virgil could not help feeling respect for Ryan, however. Anyone who could defeat a Khan in combat certainly deserved it.

"You surprise me Ryan. For one of your ability, I'd expect you to be more calm about killing. Granted, he was an Khan, but if you kill, you must prepare to be killed."

Then realizing his face was still too grim, he forced himself to relax and smile slightly.

"Then again, I don't blame you for not wanting to throw your life away needlessly. The fact of the matter is, we're going into Clan territory whether we like it or not. I believe our host will try to avoid the Clans as well, so you don't need to worry about discovery. We're trying to hide from the Clans too."

"I think, though, that your time would be better spent trying to remember the ways we can move invisibly through the cities, rather than moping about whether you might get caught. We can't do anything about it now that we're within sight of the planet.

[Tor]

Still breathing heavely he glanced up and started to stare coldly into Virgils eyes

-My job was never to kill anyone... I'm not an assasin, I was a spy, I kept a low profile, but still I'm always like this before it starts. When were on, we'll be invisible to anyone whose looking for us. Aight'?

He turned to Stephanie

-And you miss should get some new clothes... I should too though. Are there any human clothes here?

He didn't know what had happened to him when he answered Virgil as harshly as he did, but he suddenly felt stronger than he had just a second ago

-And maybe some makeup or something, we would not want anybody to recognice us thanks to our faces.

A wicked grinn came upon his face

-Somehow I feel that this is going to become *verry* interesting

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tenjin watches on the external feeds as the ship he'd been trying to catch up to seemed to be slipping away and heading for a nearby planet. He sighs "dammit can't this thing go any faster?" with that he draws out a small holo-keyboard and begins typing in a code. As soon as enter is pressed the BAA activates the overdrive sending Tenjin and the BAA hurtiling through space at seeminly impossible speeds while creating an engine flair similar to the corona of a small sun and a heat signature to match

OOC: surely you have to be able to notice that!

[LilWhiteMage]

"You were in secret ops as well?" Slowly turning her head, Stephanie looked back at Ryan.

A change of clothes to help disguise ourselves.... That isn't too bad of an idea.

Nodding, she stood up. "I'll go and see if I can find anything, since I was told I could go pretty much anywhere on the ship. If I find something for you, I'll bring it back for you sir."

As she began to leave the room, she couldn't help but wonder why Ryan had gotten that odd look. Oh well. That wasn't of any concern at the moment.

Stephanie searched from room to room, finally coming across what seemed to be a storage area of some sort. After digging through a couple of boxes, she found some older clothes.

Retreating to the bathroom, she changed into these new clothes, consisting of a pair of dark slacks, though they were a bit baggy, and a 'new' jacket to put over her blouse. She hummed lightly as she buttoned up the jacket, then began to pull her hair back.

Holding her hair in one hand, she used her mouth to pull up her sleeve, grabbing in her teeth a small hair tie that she had wrapped around her wrist... an old force of habit. Once the hair tie was free of her arm, she finished pulling up her hair into a low bun.

"I'm back!" She said in a sing-songy voice as she returned to the meeting room with an armfull of clothes. "I wasn't sure of what size you wear, so I just brought a few for you to pick through. If they don't work out, I can always go look for some more."

Setting the pile of clothes onto the table, Stephanie smiled at both Ryan and Virgil, brushing away a stray strand of hair that always seemed to get into her eyes whenever she had her hair pulled up.

[Neverwhere]

Xypher yawns, the events of the day finally catching up on him. His eyes being to close, but he remembers that he must stay awake or the probability of them being caught greatly increases.

*Computer* Xypher, I have detected two encoded transmissions being sent from the ship.

What? From whom? To whom? When? What did they say?

*Computer* I do not know that information. One originated from the bathroom, while the other originated from the sleeping quarters.

'Hmm, sleeping quarters. That doesnt narrow it down any... As for the bathroom, only two people have gone in there so far. Virgil and Stephanie. But which?' He closes his eyes and begins to massage his temples. A long sigh escapes his lips and he leans back in his chair.

Well, keep working on decoding any messages sent in or out. Infact, do not let transmissions into this ship unless cleared by me. Got it?

*Computer* Yes sir.

Oh, and keep a one way comlink so that I can hear the sleeping quarters open at all times. I want to know whats going on in there.

'That will prevent them from setting me up. Still, I wonder who it could have been...'


Sorry guys/girls, but im still occupied. I should be free by tomorrow. Sorry!! Ill just post when ever im able to do so (i.e. now). Dont worry, I hvaent forgotten you...

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tenjin gives a confused look "surely they should be able to see me or at least hail me. hmm maybe its the Clan Coyote markings" with that he concentrates, the Coyote marking turns black and warps into a CSW logo
"I hope this helps because otherwise im finished" he says as he looks at the remaining air display.

[Dante]

Virgil could not help smiling as he heard Ryan's angry retort. A part of him him was worried about aggravating someone who was capable of killing a Khan, but the rest of him dismisssed this as an idle concern. Angry or not, he doubted that Ryan was a man who killed needlessly or willingly.

In some ways, we are more alike than we think, Ryan.

Oh well. At least he wasn't demoralized any more.

The sound of the door opening and Stephanie entering drew Virgil's attention.

"I'm back!" she said in a sing-songy voice as she returned to the meeting room with an armful of clothes. "I wasn't sure of what size you wear, so I just brought a few for you to pick through. If they don't work out, I can always go look for some more."

Virgil immediately rose and went to her side, taking the ball of clothing.


"Let me help with that. Disguises?"

As he took the garments and dumped it on the central table, he realized that his coat was generic-looking enough that hardly anyone would recognize it. More importantly, this coat contained very high-grade armor plating - enough to withstand even energy weapon blasts. While it was heavy, Virgil was so used to its weight that it was nothing more than a particularly heavy garment for him.

He sighed as he realized that he wouldn't be able to part with it, anyway - this piece of incognito armor had been commisioned years ago, when he was still in the business and commonly got into vicious firefights.

"It kept me alive and whole back then... It'll do the same now..." he murmured. "Hats, hats, hats..."

He chose a wide-brimmed black leather one with a black hatband. It matched his coat, and he'd always liked the feel of leather on the skin. As he was rummaging through the pile, he suddenly realized that he reeked of sweat, cigarette smoke and alcohol.

"Okay, it's official. I stink. So if you don't mind, I'm going for a shower now, okay?"

He left the room, and as he did so, his hand reached into his pocket. After ensuring that nobody could see him, he whipped his comlink out and hid in in the folds of his coat, only its luminescent screen shining in the darkness.

"MESSAGE ERROR - PACKET TRANSMISSION INCOMPLETE"

Damn. Probably jamming of some kind. But on whose side?

He slipped the comlink into an inner pocket and thumped his fist into his other hand.

Damn. I hate feeling this out of the loop. Hmm... maybe burst transmission would help...

Virgil opened the comlink up, again keeping it within the folds of his coat, and he rapidly configured it to send in burst mode. He sent the old message from before, with an addendum -

"Rath, this Xypher is also incredibly rich - he was willing to part with a few mill and a ship just to get rid of me. He also has a base in clan territory, and you know how hard it is for a "freebirth" to survive there, let alone a non-human. He seems to have everything prepared, and it sounds a lot like a set-up now."

"Also, it turns out the Ryan guy killed a Khan of some kind. Try and dig up some dirt on that, will you?"

Virgil almost pressed the "SEND" button when a thought came to him.

If they can jam my comms, it might imply that they can perceive them... If I transmitted in the bathroom when nobody else was around, they might catch on.

He saved the message instead, then thrust it back into his pocket.

When I get back. When I get back...

[LilWhiteMage]

Stephanie smiled and nodded as Virgil came to help her seperate the clothes. "Yeah, I figure that it will at least help us a little bit should we get stopped or something."

She would laugh a little as he put on the hat. "It looks nice."

"Okay, it's official. I stink. So if you don't mind, I'm going for a shower now, okay?"

"Alright then, we'll see you again in a little bit." Giving another nod, she went to straighten up the pile as best she could, at least so that it wouldn't look quite so messy.

As he left, she looked back over to Ryan. "You go ahead and pick out something, and then I'll take this back where it belongs." She brushed aside a stray hair again, continuing. "Hopefully Mr. Thelitram won't be too upset with us for borrowing these old clothes."

Which makes me wonder... what's taking him so long? You'd figure we'd be getting close to docking soon...

[Neverwhere]

His mouth slowly breaks into a grin as the Shena finishes her calculations.

*Computer* Xypher, we are being trailed by two ships.

Two? I figured one, they must want her more than we had anticipated. Hail the ship making the heat signature first, tell him to stop making himself so obvious, or I will be forced to shoot him out of existance before the clanners have a chance to. Then, hail the second one, the clanner one, and tell him to meet me at Telan Delta in exactly three hours. Oh, and tell him that I already have a free pass with the clanners, and calling in an attack force, as I know he will, is just stupid. They wont shoot me anyways. He grins. This is almost too easy Shena, pilot the ship to Telan Delta at nine-tenths speed. Im going to the sleeping quarters. I need to see these new ... disguises. I believe I can make them look much more meaningful.

Xypher begins to stand up, streatching as he does so. 'Man, this has been one helluva day. Maybe this quary wasnt worth the price? Nah, the bounty on her is too great to just give up. After all, how else am I going to mantain my grip on Telan Delta?' He grins, then slowly decends back into the main hallway.

[edit/ooc] This is all between me and the computer btw.. doing this with just the two of us. Alla the ppl in the ship are in the sleeping quarters im assuming, and if not, then I wouldnt have said that. Ive just gotten a little confused as to where everyone is/was :D[/edit/ooc]

[GatoFiero]

Isis: I am tracking a high heat source closing fast on our rear, sensors indicate that it is a mech. Visual censors confirm that it is so, and that the mech bears CSW markings.

Gerek: Huh, perhaps I left too soon. Slow down so he can catch up. When he get close enough open the vacuum storage chamber to let him enter.

Gerek sat back in his chair. Things were getting odder by the minute, but at least he could give the other data crystal back to CSW.

Gerek slammed his fist on the arm of the chair, such a dishonorable way to die, caught in the middle of a cross fire. But I will make sure his death was not in vain.

Isis: We are receiving an incoming transmission from the Tinron ship.

-----

Shena: We request a rendevous at Telan Delta in exactly three hours. We also advise against calling in any attack forces. We have an agreement with the IlKahn which allows us free and safe passage throughout all clan space. Calling in additional ships would only draw more attention to ourselves than would be healthy. End transmission.

----

I do not like this. They have an agreement with the IlKahn?! If they speak the truth then shooting at them would bring great dishonor to the IlKahn, and that would in turn bring down his wrath on my clan. And what is this about meeting on Telan Delta? *sigh* this is starting to get out of my league.

Gerek: Isis, send an affirmative message to the Tinron ship. Then I want you to prep an encrypted burst transmission for the clan HQ. Include in the burst all information found on the disk, a recording of Tinron transmission, my after action report from the bar incident, and the report on my primary mission.

[Tor]

Looking through the chlothes he found some things that he liked, and picked up a black leather coat, a widebrimmed hat, a pair of blue jeans and a red shirt

-Hmm this should do... Where can I change?

He gave Stephanie a glance as he asked. Anything that could hide his marks from the time he worked for the goverment was appreciated, the only things that he could not hide was the momories, and that was dangerous. If he was realy unlucky they would soon meet a psycikmaster, and then it would be by-bye

-What was your job in the empire? I got a whole file about you when I was supposed to track you down, but it didn't tell me much, basicly it only told me about your looks and habits, sooo...

[LilWhiteMage]

Stephanie grabbed what was left of the clothes and started to walk down the hallway that Virgil had gone down minutes earlier. "Well, there's a bathroom down this way. Plus, it's close to the bedroom."

Looking back at Ryan, she continued. "As for my job... I started out as a free agent. I would find information and give it to them whenever I felt it was good enough for them to know. Apparently, they really liked the work I did and offered me an actual position. This was my third job working for them... the first one by myself. But it's all gone to hell and back..." She let out a sigh as she kept walking.

She led the way down the hall, coming across a lone room on the right side. "I have to put these away."

"If you go all the way down..." Shifting all the clothes into one hand, she pointed further down. "... you'll see where the bedroom area is. Go down a little bit more and on the left there's a couple of doors. The first one is the bathroom. You can change there if you like."

She opened this door with her free hand. "I'll be down that way as soon as I drop this off." And with that, she slid inside, closing the door behind herself.

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tenjin recieves a message "reduce your engine signature or I will open fire." He sends a message back "the only reason im doing this is because im short on air, furthermore its getting hard to breathe..." he cuts his engines and drifts through space at the same speed.

[GatoFiero]

Isis: The CSW mech has stopped accelerating. Highest probable reasons: Engin overheat, lack of fuel, engin malfunction, energy conservation to prolong life support systems. Shall I reverse course and Intercept?

Gerek: *sigh* At least we know where they are going, i guess we can just meet up with them later. But i still want to keep an eye on them, launch a stealth probe. If they get into trouble i want to know it. After the probe is launched, then retrieve the CSW mech. Restore power to the 3rd deck medical bay just in case. I also want you to lock down the primary mech hanger and power up the secondary hanger. If he asks any questions tell him that we had a critical system malfunction and the primary hanger is exposed to vacuum at the moment.

Isis: Do you think that is necessary?

Gerek: 300 year old mechs tend to arouse one's curiosity. Even CSW would be tempted to backstab us for a shot at a Star League era weapons cache. That mech is to only be seen by the Coyote, Wolf, or Ghost Bear techs.

Isis: Acknowledged. Any other orders?

Gerek: Can you reverse entropy?

Isis: Can you calculate jump trajectories, utilize point defense lasers to defend against multiple incoming projectiles and make a damn fine pot of coffee; all at the same time?

Gerek: Point taken. I’ll shut up now.

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tenjin's vision starts to go dark. From what he can make out from the gloom of his vision there seems to be a ship but even then he can only make out the hangar lights. He strains to type a message reading "life support has failed prep O2 tanks" and sends it before passing out and losing control of the BAA.

[Dante]

Nothing like a good shower to get your thoughts together...

Rubbing his face dry with the towel, Virgil moved towards the door and collided with Stephanie. Reflexively, he quick-stepped back and he cocked his wrist to release the pistol from within. Then he saw it was Stephanie, and he let his hand fall, then shot it forward again, this time to steady her.

"Sorry, Stephanie," he said. "My bad."

He picked up the towel and slung it over his shoulder.

"Xypher's a very thoughtful man. He's got everything here, shampoo, conditioner, body foam... even facial wash and hair gel."

Virgil smiled again and winked at her.

"You have very good taste in men, my lady... well, don't want to keep you. I'll be off now."

He left and closed the door behind him.

[LilWhiteMage]

Being alone again, Stephanie had the chance to do a bit more exploring. She dropped the clothes off and went to another door on the other side of the door.

Opening the door, she stuck her head out and looked down the hallway. It was an extension of the same hallway she was in a moment ago- the halls in this area seemed to just loop around, which could be useful or not.

Good for getting people he doesn't want in here lost...

Upon seeing noone else in that section of hall, she stepped out, giving another look before she began walking again.

Surely I can find some kind of information about him somewhere around here... anything would work... I need to know if he's really someone I can trust. Especially since he won't say anything, and he's taking us to one of the worse places to be right now...

"Huh?" Having been buried in her thoughts, she forgot to watch where she was going and bumped right into Virgil.

I'm back at the bathroom so soon?

She stumbled back a little, but was quickly caught by Virgil in an effort to help her steady herself. "Oh..." She looked up at him. "It's alright, Virgil."

She stared at him for a moment, still a bit wet from the shower he just got out of, then looked down at his hand.

"...." Stephanie just stood there quietly, looking back up to his smiling face as he commented on how thoughtful Xypher was, then how she had good taste in men.

Feeling a faint blush creep across her cheeks. "Well uh... thanks....I'll... see you in a little bit..."

As he turned to leave, she quickly spun on her heel and went back the way she came.

What was that all about? I can't be acting like that at a time like this. I have to concentrate on getting a bit of information gathered before we get to Strana Mechty

[Neverwhere]

Xypher slowly beings the descent from the cockpit. Near the bottem he hears some voices from the direction of his showering room, and as he quietly beings to move towards them he beings to think. 'Who would be over there at my personal shower? There is one in the sleeping quarters; course, it is an open view one, and I dont think Stephanie would be too comfortable with it.' A small smile crosses his lips. Right before he could round the corner he almost runs into someone rushing back the way he came from.

Stephanie? Oh, it is you. You look refreshed after your shower I must say. Where is the other one you were talking to? Never mind, I see him now. Virgil, Stephanie, we need to talk about our destination with our other guest. I think it is time I told you exactly where we are going and what it is that we are going to do once we get there.

With that he turns, and gestures to the pair to lead the way.

[LilWhiteMage]

Stephanie stopped dead in her tracks as she came face to face with Xypher now.

Damn... there go my plans...But wait, did he just say he was going to explain everything?

She turned and looked over her shoulder, still seeing Virgil just a bit away through the cracked open door of the shower room.

"That's good." She started as she faced Xypher again, then took the lead as he gestured her to. "I've been wondering... and a bit worried about us going to Strana Mechty."

She started to walk back towards the meeting room, also quite curious as to why he was making her lead. Just a minor thought, but shouldn't he as the one who was pretty much in charge be leading? She shook her head clear of the thought, coming to the meeting room and taking a seat in one of the chairs while she waited for the others.

[GatoFiero]

<<Long Post Alert>>

The BAA was taken aboard with a thunderous crash. Sparks flew from the deck where armor grade metal gouged long scratches into the extra thick deck of the secondary hangar. Both Gerek and Isis winced at the sound of the ship being damaged.

Isis: Well, I would say that the debate whether the pilot is in trouble or not is solved.

Gerek: How can you say that? He just landed.

Isis: Because, he's either dead, dying or unconscious in that cockpit...or he's going to be when I get a hold of him.

Gerek: Heh, how are you going to do that? Didn't you lose all of your avatar bodies?

Isis: I still have my dress body! I don't need a combat body to kick some's butt if they pilot that bad. But back to the subject at hand, I have re-pressurized the secondary hangar.

Gerek entered the half light of the secondary hangar. Since it is almost never used, the secondary hangar has always been near the bottom of the neigh endless maintenance/repair list. A ship this size was never intended to have only two crew...well, if you do not count the bots.

Walking up to the downed mech Gerek found the emergency release for the hatch. With a noise reminiscent of a balloon being popped, the hatch flew off the mech and the pilot fell 3 feet to the floor. Huh, guess it's a good thing the mech wasn't standing, otherwise he'd be severely injured...but since he fell, that means he's either sloppy for not being strapped in, of very considerate of the people rescuing him.

Gerek, not sure whether or not the pilot would be dead, had come armed with an apparatus to determine if the pilot had any life signs.
---MUD style start---
*Gerek wields a long metal rod*
*Gerek pokes the body of Tenjin*
*Gerek pokes the body of Tenjin*
*Tenjin groans*
---MUD style end---
Well, he's alive. With that thought, Gerek drags the pilot to a waiting stretcher outside the hangar and takes him to the medical bay to treat O2 depravation.

Upon leaving the medical bay Gerek collides with Isis's dress avatar entering.

Gerek: *from on the floor* There's no need for that, he was unconscious.

Isis: I know. I just thought that someone should be here when he wakes up, since your going to be moving the CSW mech into an alcove. Then your going to repair the holo projectors on the hangar deck, their positions are to awkward for my maintenance bots to reach.

Gerek: ....fine fine, I was going to do that anyway.

Isis: And take a shower, I never noticed until I entered this avatar that you smell bad. Go now! shoo shoo!

Gerek: My are not we bossy today.

Isis glares. Gerek quickly stalks off down the hall.

--------
Name: Isis
Species: AI
Gender: Has a feminine personality
Preferred Appearance: Like her namesake, Isis prefers to have an Egyptian mystique about here. With long black hair, tanned skin, and almond eyes, she could be a dead ringer for the ancient goddess.
Currently Wearing: A baggy blue jumpsuit commonly worn by techs. Hair is inexpertly bundled up to her head, held in place with what appears to be a plastic shipping tie.
Other Information: Although an AI, Isis has had the fortune to have many avatars constructed for different occasions where she would wish to physically leave the ship. Isis can either back up herself onto an avatar or move her entire core into an avatar (which would allow her to make an escape in the event the ship were captured). Avatars are constructed through use of the clan's advanced cloning techniques and use of cybernetic technology. Avatars can be created for different purposes as well, for example: fighting avatars are stronger and faster, dress avatars look and move the most human like, maintenance avatars (not to be confused with maintenance bots) are dextrous and have modifications which allow them to go into vacuum. Unfortunately, through circumstances that only she and Gerek know, most of her avatars were destroyed.

[Tor]

-Yeah.. just wait a sec ok? I'm just going to change.

After a cople of seconds Ryan returns to the group jumping on one leg trying to get the last foot in theto the pants

-Ok what is it you want to tell us mister... What is your name?

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

(several hours later)
Tenjin begins to regain conciousness as air fills his lungs. In a matter of minutes his eyes snap open and he sits up rather quickly looking around like a skittish cat. He looks around at the medbay. He gets a sudden sharp pain in his head and realises that one of the thirteen scars on the left side of his face has opened up "why does that always happen?" he mutters and stands up. he wanders to the door but realises that his sword has been taken. He shrugs and takes a quick look at the door "hmm they'd be stupid not to lock it"
With that he taps on the seemingly featureless gauntlet on his left arm and extends two fingers. A Hacking device extends from the seemingly solid gauntlet. Tenjin opens a small hatch near the door and plugs the Hacking tool in, the door opening with a wirr. Tenjin steps out into the hallway and looks around.

[GatoFiero]

Isis was having such a nice dream. That's was one of the reasons why she liked this avatar, sleep gave her mind a chance to rest, and in computer form she could never do that. She even felt a ting of sympathy for her copy that was still running the ship's systems...or was she the copy? She never could figure that out.

Suddenly her stomach started to grumble. That was one of the drawbacks to this body, it was so humanlike that it had some of the human weaknesses. She loved food, she just did not like the way her body got rid of the food waste. Perhaps I could devise some sort of alternate system...

Isis yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she looked around the medical bay. I guess it could not hurt if I went and got a quick bite to eat. Then her eyes fell upon the empty medical bed. humm, I should probably go after him. But then again, what harm could he do? Plus, he's probably hungry like me! I mean we are both technically organic, so i should run into him while I’m getting a bite to eat in the kitchen. Yea, sounds good.

And with that, Isis went of at a brisk pace toward the kitchen to make herself a BLT, and perhaps another nap afterwards.

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tenjin glances around the hallways some more and cautiously makes his way to the kitchen. he stops at the door sensing a rather confusing presence. He can feel the mental signature in his mind but the being in the next room seems to be devoid of any spirit or soul.
"hmm probably an AI avatar," he looks around the room again "and a decernable lack of shadows this will be tricky..." he looks at a ventilation duct near him "... but where would I be without these things" He removes the grate and slides in. He reaches the middle of the kitchen area and gets hit hunger pains "dammit what a time to become hungry" he peers through a grate on the roof "when she leaves im getting something to eat" he mutters as he slides back just far enough so he can see in without being seen.

[GatoFiero]

Isis bustled about the kitchen, making herself a BLT according to her food database. She had tried to make some of the more complicated foods once, but found that they took to much work, and tended to end up with...less than desirable results.

As Isis moved about the kitchen she sampled the various different kinds of finger foods available. Since this ship was designed for a much larger crew compliment there is always more than enough food. I should sample as much of this food as possable for, uh, research! Yea, I will research the sence of taste for it is my duty as an AI!

Isis (with a large hunk of bread in her mouth): Alright, i have the sandwich done and i have the desert cookie right here... curses, i need something to drink.

Isis puts down the plate with the BLT and cookie and heads toward the back of the kitchen and into the walk-in fridge to get something to drink.

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tenjin continues watching, now starting to get slightly irritated "what the hell is she doing now?!" he mutters. The craving for food was getting worse. If he did not eat soon he would surely lose conciousness again. He considers his options for a moment. He removes the grate on the roof making sure it doesn't hit the floor and drops through while Isis isn't looking. he swiftly replaces the grate and slides over to the counter on his hands and knees making no sound in the process. he reaches the counter and presses his back up against it hoping not to be seen.

[GatoFiero]

Isis returns from the fridge with a can of beer. Humm, i wonder how this tastes?

*snif snif* Smell like a dirty human in here now. Isis looks at her food to make sure it is safe. Food's safe that's what matters. Boy I sure am glad this body did not get destroyed, this is the only one with taste buds. Isis conveys her plate to a table and just as she is about to take a bite she realizes. Dang, I forgot the syrup! Isis rushes off to the walk-in fridge once more.

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tenjin listens as the footsteps become fainter as he strains his already exhausted mind for ideas as if going through that whole ordeal with that BAA wasn't enough now I have to try and get nourishment from a kitchen containing a food-addicted AI-avatar he still has no idea where he is or where he's headed. he smells his stealth suit "great I smell like humans that would have to be a giveaway to any right-minded person" he decides to wait but his patience is wearing thin. He glances up at the table "hmm BLT, im not a big fan of sandwiches but its not like i have the time to cook a Hokkien noodle stir-fry" with that he takes half of the BLT and runs out the door.

OOC: this sooo reminds me of MGS2!

[GatoFiero]

Isis returns to the table carrying a bottle of maple syrup.

Isis: "Oh yea, you can not have anything without syrup...."*looks at her sandwich, half gone*

Snif Snif. *looks toward the door* G e r e k, I will get you back for this! *looks back to the sandwich* But first! *Isis pours maple syrup over the other half of the BLT* I eat.

[LilWhiteMage]

*while waiting for others to post where she is* o_o I must say... that's the weirdest taste in food since... my cousin... she used to eat ketchup on everything... >.>

*continues to wait, working up her D&D char*

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tenjin finishes his half of the BLT and wonders where the pilot would be. He turns right quickly placing a couple of steps on the wall to compensate for his speed and enters the bridge.

[Neverwhere]

Xypher slowly follows Virgil and Stephanie down the hall. 'I wonder how much is vital to tell them. They surely dont need to know everything. Perhaps just that the clanner is following us.'

*Computer* Xypher.

Excuse me Virgil, Stephanie. I will be right back. He turns quickly Yes Shena? What is it?

*Computer* We have recieved no word from either ship yet. Course of action?

Keep relaying the message and keep your current course. Also, send a message to the Korriao about our current scenario. Tell him where he can reach us, but be vague. I think he is hiding more from us than I care to have hidden. He returns to the sleeping quarters.

Sorry it took me so long, I just had to do some maintanence things. As for where we are going, we are going to Telan Delta in the clanner main system. Yes, they are looking for us, but I have had enough dealings with them to have them ignore us for a while. I hope Still, we are going there and upon our arrival I will have to leave, with Vrigil, to go and meet the clanner that was on the planet where we all met. Now, as for your "disguises", they will work for most things, but do not ever take them off. Dont speak unless spoken to, keep your face hidden at all costs, and dont go into well light areas unless you know its safe. Yes, staying in the shadows is dangerous, but you will be safe at my base. I will inform you of more when we land. Any questions?

[LilWhiteMage]

"Uhm, I have a question." She raised her hand a little, a slightly concerned look on her face. "You said.... you and Virgil were going to meet one of the clanners."

She traced her finger around in circles along her knee now. "I just want to know, am I going to really be safe? I mean, I know you said we'll have plenty of time to stay here safely, but what if someone finds us while you are out?"

"Any even more.... if someone should find us, and try to talk to us, that's just ASKING for trouble. I guess what I'm trying to say is... are you absolutely sure that nothing is going to happen to me?"

[Tor]

Finaly finishing his pants, he looks towards the alien

-Of course we, both me and her has been agents of the empire so just take it easy ok, and Stephanie I'll take care of you till they return.

As he said the last part he quikly glanced and smiled towards her like a father watching his child play

[LilWhiteMage]

Stephanie turned and looked over at Ryan, cracking a faint smile.

"Thanks Ryan."

Though he tried to reassure her that he would make sure that she would be safe until her return, she still couldn't help but have this uneasy feeling.

As though something really was going to happen.

Why would he just ask Virgil to go with him? He says it'd be safer with me staying behind, but I still can't help but feel like...

She stared down at the ground.

... like I'm being set up or something.

[Neverwhere]

Two things about your safety, one, you have him. Two, you will be in my base. There are pleanty of places to hide, just ask Shena to take you to one once we get there. Now, I must go back to the cockpit if there are no more questions?

He peers quizically around the room.

[LilWhiteMage]

Shifting her eyes back up to Xypher, Stephanie shook her head no. "That was all. I take it we're getting close to landing soon."



I included a pic of how I would imagine Steph... yeah yeah... I SO ripped this pic from Disgaea... But it fits her I think. >_>

[Tor]

Looks back at the alien

-Yeah one more question...

His smile turned into a more sheepish grin

-You didn't answer me when I asked for your name

[Neverwhere]

He smiles

Xypher. Xypher Thelitram. Actually, I dont think I ever got your name. Whats your name? As for landing, we are almost there.

[Tor]

Still grinning sheepishly towards Xypher

-Ryan Marong... My parents liked earth names

[Dante]

OOC: LWM, that is an incredibly cute picture... but if Stephanie really looked liek that, I doubt they'd let her into bars...


"Me? Go with you? I don't really mind either way... but what will Ryan be doing?"

Virgil was feeling pretty uneasy about this. While his previous... activities involving the clans had been subtle, with no overt bounties posted on him, he was sure that the merest sighting of him in clanner space would trigger internal security teams all over the sector to converge on him. And if they captured him, if they didn't kill him, they would most likely inflict tortures on him that wouldm have him begging for death.

Neither was a particularly attractive proposition, but if the clanners were going after him, hopefully they'd overlook Stephanie...

Damn.

She's really growing on me.

This can't be good.

[LilWhiteMage]

I really hope they know what they're doing.
Those blue-green eyes of hers still held a lot of concern as her head hung a bit. She continued to focus on the ground rather than on Xypher or... or Virgil.

What's coming over me? I've been told to stay behind and lay low plenty of times, why should I not feel comfortable with it THIS time?

Her eyes trailed skittishly to glance up at Virgil, only for a moment, before shooting back down to their earlier focus.

I really wish he didn't have to go... If only he could just stay here with me and....

She stopped in the middle of that thought, shaking her head faintly.

What am I thinking? I hardly even know the man. Honestly.... I still am not sure whether he's just trying to bring me in. But, on the other hand, he's so charming.... and nice... and...

Stephanie let a small sigh escape her lips, her eyes shutting as she just sat there now in a bit of a daydreamy state, almost like a little schoolgirl thinking about all the reasons that she found him.... appealing.

[Dante]

What are you doing, Virgil? You can't afford to be distracted now - you're going to walk straight into the lion's den!

"It can't be good, all right," Virgil whispered as he turned and walked away from Stephanie. As he did, he flicked his sleeves straight out, letting the pistols within slide forward into his waiting palms. In one swift motion, he had released each gun's magazine and checked the rounds. Not good. Two in one, three int he other, out of fifteen.

Time for a reload.

Virgil slipped each new magazine into the butt of his pistols with a crisp click, though the sound hardly penetrated his clouded mind.

He replaced the pistols in their sleeve-holsters, but he could not put back the memories that he had released.

[LilWhiteMage]

CLICK

Stephanie broke quickly from her train of thoughts, jumping a bit as she heard the click as Virgil replaced the loads in his guns.

It's okay... It's just Virgil reloading.

Her heart raced.. Never had she been so scared of that sound in her life. After all, she had dealt with plenty of cases in her time, though most weren't for the government.

Why, at one point, she was known to not go anywhere without a gun or some other sort of weapon on her body for protection. But when she had gone to work on this case, she wasn't allowed any weapons for obvious reasons.

She drew in a deep breath, shutting her eyes again. "I've really got to try and relax..." She murmured silently to herself.

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tejin paces around the bridge looking out through the windows into space. "nice ship you have here, though the secondry docking bay could do with some repairs" with that he turns to face Gerek...

[GatoFiero]

Gerek: "We have had to prioritize repairs, this is a large ship. But your crash landing didn't exactly help the situation."

Gerek swivelled around in his chair to face Tenjin.

Gerek: "But enough of that, my name is Gerek, blood name Nash, I am with Clan Wolf, Space Ranger Division. This is my ship, the Windrunner. You have probably meet the AI, she is named Isis. She does not get to use her avatars much so she is probably slacking off somewhere right now."

Gerek reaches over his shoulder and punches a button. A picture of the Windrunner appears on a nearby screen.

Gerek: The Windrunner is a modified Essex Mk. II Destroyer, optimum crew compliment 491, current crew compliment of two Trueborn and an AI with a bio-android avatar. We replaced main dock's the fighter specific bays with standard fighter/mech bays. Same with the smaller secondary hangar. We Beefed up the armor, engines, computer core, ect.. She is a little old but all the extra space we gained from upgrading all the older components leaves room for surprises like internalizing most of the weapons so we look less threatening, adding point defense weapons and double reinforcing the hull.

Gerek dug into his shirt and pulled out a pair of semi-clear data crystals, and examined them carefully.

Gerek: Here, *Gerek tosses Tenjin a data crystal* that is probably what you came here for. Your mech was damaged in the crash, once it's repaired well refuel you and you can be on your way.

[OOC] dang it's hard to keep from using contractions for these clanners. But i think i succeeded in getting through the size of the ship and how unusual it is to have such a small crew. I'm assuming that Xypher either a: doesn't know that the ship isn't fully crewed or b: he doesn't know the ship's spec's. If you want to see what i based the ship design off of the here's the link Clicky (http://www.sarna.net/w3t/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=74264&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1) [OOC]

[GatoFiero]

[OOC]
http://img.atpictures.com/parasiteeve/eve031.jpg
This is what i think Stephanie looks like.

http://img.atpictures.com/streetfighter/sf144.jpg
Replace the orange with black or grey and that's what i think Tejin looks like.

http://img.atpictures.com/fmpanic/fmpanic14.jpg
The hair's a little on the red side, but i would say that's Gerek

http://img.atpictures.com/nadia/nadia92.jpg
That's a pretty good pic for Isis

I would post pics for the rest but it's getting late for me. [OOC]

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tenjin catches the Data Crystal and sighs "well you might want to think about hiring some more personnel" he smiles a bit more "and the BAA wasn't mine I had to buy it off some arrogant fool in the bar." He examines the Data Crystal and lets out a saddened sigh "Another death...CSW needs to re-think some of its laws if its going to survive in this age of firearms...anyway would you like to inform me as to where you put my sword? Oh and by the way I'm Tenjin Matsukaru, leader of Clan Shadow Wraith" Tenjin smiles. He would never understand how someone as young as 26 became leader of one of the most powerful Clans to date. Sure his master had been slain by an excommunicated Member but he felt that it was his lack of experience and wisdom that was getting his Wraiths killed. He felt as though it had been pushed upon him at the worst time possible. Tenjin regains his thoughts "so where to now?

OOC: Gato, Tenjin is more of an athletic build. Plus his suit is a little more technicly advanced (hes got to be able to wander past cameras and motion sensors without being picked up!) but apart from that you were pretty spot on. (I dont wanna sound fussy its just that I have an exact image of what he looks like in my mind)

[GatoFiero]

Gerek: "He must have been highly respected in your clan for a SaKahn to come out and retrieve his crystal personally...or perhaps you do not even use the Kahn system anymore. *sigh* As for a sword, I am afraid I know nothing about that. If he sent it to someone he did not send it too me."

Gerek turned back to face the screen, eyes hard. "As for right now, we are going to meet up with the reason you subordinate died, and find out exactly what's going on. We should be approaching the rendezvous in an hour-thirty, your welcome to come along but i suggest you shower up first. Go ahead and take any quarters that are not locked up."

[Neverwhere]

Xypher quickly glances at the radar screen while preparing for the final approach to Telan Delta. 'Funny, the 2nd ship has disappeared. The clanner must have shot him down or taken him in. I never will understand these humans and why they feel the need to show mercy. Still, he must have a reason for that, and that reason is not to be underestimated.'

Shena, give me coms please.

*Computer*Ready.

Virgil, Stephanie, Ryan, we will be on final approach within the next few minutes. It will take approxametly 10 minutes to reach my base. Virgil, please come to the cockpit, we have things to discuss. Ryan, Stephanie, there is a locker in that room in the back-left corner. Inside you will find a few arms to carry with you. Feel free to use them to protect yourself if you wish. There will be a small aresnal (sp) inside my base, but I will explain those later. Any questions can be directed to me in the cockpit. Again, Virgil please come up here for a little bit.

*Computer*Coms disengaged.


Nice pics, Ill go around and see if I can find something for my character (doubtful). Also, this is post 99 so we need to start a pt 3 very soon. Gato, nice ship! Very well planned specs on that thing too.

[Tor]

-Ok...

He turned towards Stephanie

-I hope you will tolerate that I might have to kill if they find us here. But as I said... It is *if* they find us.

[Tenjin Matsukaru]

Tenjin trys to remember where he left his sword "ah, thats right" He rushes off down the hallway and returns a few minutes later his sword in hand " I took it off before I passed out so that it wouldn't get caught on the edges of the BAA cockpit door" He removes the sword from its sheath. The silver and obsidian blade glitters harmlessly. Tenjin drops a piece of paper onto the blade and watches as it spits in two "still good and I will be tagging along, the death of a warrior such as him cannot go unpunished." He sheathes his sword and wanders off down the hallway.

OOC: BTW part 3 is up.

[LilWhiteMage]

Yup... got me a post over there... guess we just need to go ahead and close this one now, ne?