| Logs |
2006 April 04
| Hunter |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Hunter Logs |
Part Three: Evaluations
Shao Kung and pirate vessel
4 hours out of Demeter
With the escape of the last of the pirates, the space around the remains of the Shao Kung and the pirate ship is quiet, and presumably heavily watched as the three salvage ships make their approach. They are still three hours away and are on schedule. The survivors of the attack are keeping proper vigil over the Shao Kung and her dead -- custom dictates that nobody is left alone in the black, even the dead (at least unless there's just cause to, but that's a whole 'nother application of violence).
Without Kingston to take care of, Nigel is able to apply all his time to the young Browncoat woman. She was shot up pretty bad -- someone on the Shao Kung's crew must have gotten in a good shot -- but she'll make it. She seems that she'll be coming 'round soon. In the meantime spot checks to get the pirate ship running proceed, since this appears to be the only means to get to their destination: Boros, one of the moons of Adarra.
Solbiort is pleased at how well things seem to be going now. After everyone's checked on their various specialties, she suggests folks have a shower, and then they can pause for some hot food before talking to the Browncoat and making further decisions. Nigel splits his times between checking on the wounded Browncoat and exploring the various engines and computer systems on the ship. He seems like a kid in a candy shop when he's in Engineering; more like a kid in a hardware store with the Browncoat.
Elgyn seems distracted as he works with everyone to check the ship over, making use of his modest mechanical skill learned from his Captain. But at a suggestion of showering and a meal, he follows Solbiort to her room. "Captain... may we talk a moment?"
Solbiort drops her duffel by the hatch and tosses her backpack on the cot, looking around with an acquisitive eye, "Ya, of course, di-di. Vhat you think? Big enough room?"
Elgyn looks around himself with a critical eye. He had put his own personal belongings here after retrieving them from the Shao Kung, and the captain's quarters being what they are, there's lots of room. "Certainly more than I'm used to." he says diplomatically. "Captain... it would seem your idea here is to make this group... a permanent fixture?"
Solbiort says, "Ya, if they vant to come along. This is a sweet little ship -- ve can do vell vith him. Hell, ve could do lots vorse!" She turns and grins at Elgyn curiously, "Why? Something you don't like?"
Elgyn smiles wryly. "We certainly have done... lots worse. And not something I don't like... not exactly. I have... concerns." The muscular warrior leans against a wall, radiating preoccupation. "I think we should first of all, get a better idea of who it is we're letting into our unit. They seem capable enough, but..."
Solbiort pauses from stripping off her armored leathers, with a small, "...foo! These need airing..." and grins at Elgyn, "Neh, I don't think the prettypretty's a good idea either. But the doc's a first class engineer from vhat I can tell, and Raj knows how to handle himself. Did you see how he defused the Browncoat girl?"
Elgyn waves a hand dismissively. "The Shepherd wasn't even my concern. And yes, the other two seem good at what they do. But we both know that a unit has to be able to trust each other if they will accomplish their objectives. I don't think it would be out of line to ask the others about themselves over that proposed hot meal... which brings me to my second point. What do we tell them about you?" He tilts his head. "We've gotten by on posing you as an ex-Browncoat to strangers, but... it seems like a loaded charge to not be honest to potential members of a team."
Solbiort pauses, boot in one hand to study Elgyn curiously, "If they ask, ve see how things turn out. Same as alvays." She tilts her head, regarding Elgyn for a moment, then says, "Vhat's really up, di-di?"
Elgyn absently sniffs at himself, and frowns, deciding to peel off his own leathers. He could definitely use a bath. Then he blinks at Solbiort. "It's just... this is a change, Captain. We've always been on our own. I am only... trying to think tactically about this new situation." Solbiort raises an inquiring eyebrow, waiting for Elgyn to continue. Elgyn has stripped to the waist, when he realizes Solbiort is still looking at him. "Really, that's all, Captain. I wouldn't be a good karl if I didn't inform you of my concerns and try to advise you."
Solbiort gives him a curious smile, but just nods, "Thank you, di-di. I shan't be lying to them, if that's what you're vorried about." Unless he has more to say, she simply continues herself as well. Elgyn seems satisfied with that as well, and absently moves to Solbiort's pack, taking out her hairbrush as if in anticipation.
Not long after the tasty dinner of heated and flavored protein synths -- the larder is at least stocked with standard spacer fare -- Nigel discovers the Browncoat is finally coming to. When the girl starts showing signs of coming around, Nigel thumbs the intercom, "We're about to have a conscious pirate down here. Figure someone probably has a few questions for her." He checks her vitals and settles, leaning with his back against the wall.
Solbiort brightens, gulping down the last of her food, then thumbing the intercom, "Coming! Vant any food brought for her?"
Nigel replies with a snort, "Nah. I want her on IV nutrients for a while and then maybe move up to broth."
Solbiort nods, "Check," and strides swiftly out of the galley, flipping her scarlet braid back over her shoulder.
Captain Solbiort Skialdmeyjar is definitely a tall, burly, and intense woman, standing an assertive 6'6". Snug breeches on her sturdy legs are tucked into tall black boots, which smell pleasingly of years of quality leather care. Riding low on her right hip is the holster for her heavy pistol, while on her left the utilitarian pommel of a large knife protrudes from a rune-covered sheath. Her well-worn leather tunic is brilliantly embroidered on the back with fiercely snarling, winged heraldic beasts tangled in battle, leaving her well-muscled shoulders and arms bare. Each wrist sports a wide, decorated [bracelet], while a slender cord about her throat carries several long, colorful beads. Her pale-skinned face is framed in short wings of flame-red hair, and behind her sways a long, thick scarlet braid plaited with a few glittering ornaments. Her deep green eyes study the world with confident amusement.
As they leave the galley, Raj asks, "Do we want to record this for future reference?"
Solbiort says, "Ya! If you've got the tools, bring 'em, please?" She swiftly turns up in medbay, curiously studying the girl.
Raj says, "Simple recording? Not a problem," as his configures his terminal and joins them.
Elgyn absently nods at the wisdom of Raj's words. "Perhaps we should appoint a spokesperson... unless we would rather intimidate her with numbers," he speaks to Solbiort in an undertone as the walk through the door.
Solbiort nods quietly to Elgyn, "If we need, ya. Let's see how it goes first."
Once within the infirmary, the Browncoat (with dusky skin, somewhat pale brown hair, and somewhat homogenous features -- it's hard to tell which world she might have hailed from) has already started to open her eyes, half-raising her arm from the bed. "What... when...?" she manages to say groggily.
Solbiort glances at Nigel, unsure whether he's a protective doctor or one who's happy to release patients as quickly as possible. At no reaction she smiles and shrugs, putting a large hand lightly on the girl's shoulder, "Stay down. You're healing. So, vhat's your name?"
Nigel is watching the girl, but with a certain amount of detachment; he's got a different puzzle in his hand. This one seems to be made up several links of chain joined together oddly. "She's right," he says in the girl's direction, "you've got a hole in your belly. Staying down will keep it from ripping back open."
The woman makes a sound as if she's not going to complain, then glances at the hand, and follows it up to Solbiort. She frowns, still a touch dazed. "You're... you're from the Shao Kung?"
Elgyn's own expression is placid as he lets Solbiort take the lead, though his eyes seem vaguely amused at Nigel's offhandedly callous comment. Solbiort says, "Ya. Nihao. And your name, rank, and ship is...?"
She sags a little, still weak but oddly comforted by the question. "Molly Cooper, Corporal, 1673rd Carapace Regiment out of Ashtoreth. Or what's left of it. Our ship is the Feng Wu [Dancing Phoenix]." She opens her eyes a little, watching Solbiort as if waiting for the next shoe to drop.
Solbiort nods, "And you attacked the Shao Kung... vhy?" Elgyn's eyes widen at the revelation of the nameless soldier's regiment. He begins to get an inkling then of how this woman, at least, might have found herself in this situation... though he waits for her next answer before making any assumptions.
She seems to be fading again. "We were... running low on supplies. No medicines, jumping for the fringe, needed food... Captain Gorman, said we had to privateer for funds. Tried to tell him no; wouldn't listen to a... to a ruttin' corporal. Then Shao Kung's crew opened fire...."
Solbiort listens quietly, her expression tired -- she's heard this story before. "Vhat vas your destination and cargo?"
Nigel watches, eyes narrowing slightly. As she starts to fade, he wanders over and starts checking her vitals again, "She's probably going to go back to la-la land real quick here..."
Cooper groans a little, wincing as she starts to slip under again. "Resurrection... Fleur...." And she does indeed go back into unconsciousness.
Elgyn blinks and glances at the others. "That last bit make sense to anyone?"
Solbiort nods to Nigel... then sighs softly as the woman passes out again. She looks up at the others, "Ve're going to have to decide vhether or not to hand her over to the authorities." To Elgyn she says, "Probably some new happy-drug or something."
Raj says, "Well, that didn't give us much to work with. The 1673rd, and a 'Captain Gordon'..." He turns sharply to Solbiort, "Why would we not turn her over to the authorities? Didn't her and her friends just try to kill us all?"
Solbiort shrugs lazily at Raj, "Don't know. Just thinking aloud... because she knows there are veapons on this ship. No one else but ve do." She grins, rising, "Let's check the cargo, eh? Now I'm curious."
Elgyn hesitates, mulling it over. "I vote against. She's not a bad soldier. And we do have information we didn't have before... the Shao Kung, for all their talk of diplomacy, opened fire first."
Solbiort grins over her shoulder at Elgyn, "Or so she says!" She heads for cargo, "Come on, all! I vant to see vhat ve have to sell."
Nigel shakes his head, "That's no drug I've ever heard of, either of 'em." He makes sure the girl is just back under and not completely slipping away -- at least not yet.
Solbiort's voice floats back over her shoulder, "Hey, di-di -- one of the moons of Adarra is Fleur-de-Croix, remember?"
Elgyn sighs, following. "You make a good point. I would like to believe her... especially considering her past. Her regiment was one of the hardest hit... I doubt if there's more than a handful left of the 1673rd."
Solbiort murmurs dryly, "Three, at a guess."
Nigel sort of meanders out after the others once he's sure the girl isn't about to die -- at least not in the next five minutes. Solbiort will pull her terminal to start inventorying cargo. She looks around thoughtfully... then grins and strides over to the crate the Browncoat girl collapsed against. "Start here, ya?" She methodically starts opening the crate.
Elgyn's brow knits as he starts helping, opening crates. "Something she said before she passed out the first time... she wanted us to take care of someone. I wonder what that's all about..."
Solbiort nods, "Vas odd." She looks at the other two, then at Elgyn... then smiles, "So... got a qvestion for you all. You interested in starting up a proper crew for this ship?"
Raj says, "You've thrown out a couple of comments like that: 'stuff to sell' and 'shares' and the like. Are you expecting to own this ship? Don't you think there's a good chance this is somebody's stolen property? Like some government's property?"
Solbiort looks up at Raj and smiles, "Maybe. But if it is not, ve haf von it fair and sqvare by right of arms. Nigel, did you notice any suppressed registration information vhen you vere breaking the lockdown on the board?"
Raj laughs, "Oh! The lawyers will love that!" He shrugs, "We are in the middle of nowhere. It could happen, I suppose..."
Nigel runs both hands through his hair again, thinking. He almost gets the puzzle tangled -- almost. "Not suppressed so much as just really muddled. The pulse-beacon is re-programmable, which is really interesting but also not a very legal idea. And this thing has more names than a socialite after her ninth divorce."
Solbiort stops what she's doing and turns to look at Nigel incredulously, "Vhat?!" Elgyn looks blank... he knows a little about ships, but Nigel's response is mostly babble to him, so he doesn't share Solbiort's reaction.
Nigel blinks at Solbiort, then arches a brow, "You want me to repeat that whole ruttin' thing or was there a particular piece you wanted again?"
Solbiort says, "Ee da tuo da bien!" She thumps down on the crate and thinks a bit, then waves a hand at Nigel, "Hokay, let me be sure I got that right. Ve're on a hot ship -- vith veapons! -way out in the Dark vith dead bodies next door, a prisoner-of-war, and the authorities coming in soon. Ya?" Elgyn blinks. That, he gets. Solbiort adds, "Tzao-gao! Vhere's prettypretty? Does he know this?"
Nigel mulls that over and then nods, "Yeah, that's just about what I said."
Raj gets a sly grin, and says, "Ah! Didn't you notice our little miss Molly said 'privateering,' not pirating? I don't think this is a simple little gunboat. It's a smuggler, probably with papers from one of the Indeps from the war, not that that matters now... if it's well armed enough, they may have been doing some commerce raiding, too."
Elgyn says, "Hold on, this isn't as bad as it sounds. They'd know we're not the bad guys, yes? Our names would be on the Shao Kung's passenger manifest, yes?"
Solbiort frowns, drumming her fingers on the crate she's sitting on... then runs a wistful hand down the ship brace next to her, "Vell, niou-fun. I vanted to keep this pretty little boy..." She nods to Elgyn, "Nah, not bad, but... vhat a vaste to give such a beauty avay, after all our effort!" She pauses, getting a very thoughtful look... then slowly turns and looks at the others, "Actually, my qvestion still stands, boys... do ve vant to run this pretty little ship, or give it up?"
Nigel snorts and then chuckles, "Look, if we run we're keeping the girl with us. I may not like her much, but she's my gorram patient." He shrugs, tucking the puzzle into one of his pockets, "Other than that, I don't care."
Raj says, "Well, that's sorta what you said, Nigel. If the muddle's good enough, this could have been a spy or a scout..." he shakes his head and continues, "-but not with this crew."
Elgyn steeples his fingers, absently touching them to his lips. "If we run with the ship, surely there might be... complications. The authorities looking for us."
Raj says, "Run it? Let's get to port first, and see what the law wants to do with it and us. No use planning a grand adventure if the ship's going to be seized, impounded, or just swiped by the locals."
Solbiort says to Raj, "Sorry, I mean run as in fly it successfully." To Nigel she says, "Done -- ve keep the girl!" To Elgyn she grins mischievously, "Ah, keeping me honest? Jing-tsai! Hokay, vant to hear how ve handle the ship?"
Elgyn glances about. "I don't know about the others, Captain, but you have my attention."
Solbiort grins, looking enormously pleased as she continues uncrating things, "Hokay, this is how stuff like this is usually done in the Dark, vhen ve take a ship by salvage or by right-of-arms. Vhat I'm describing is how the survivors arrange to benefit from the ship, or how a mercenary group functions."
Solbiort says, "First, vhen a ship is taken by arms, any non-prisoner survivors usually get to be part of those who benefit from it. Currently the surviving Browncoat is classified as either criminal, or prisoner-of-var, so she doesn't get a share. I'm going to take Raj's vord on Dr. Kingston -- that he's not a pirate plant -- and I think Elgyn's right about Quan -- that he's a vell-meaning but untrained civilian. So that means ve're talking about the following group," she ticks off on her fingers as she lists names, "Me, Elgyn, Nigel, Raj, Dr. Kingston, and Quan. Six folks, if they choose to participate." She nods once, then looks up and continues,"
"So, first, ve'd organize and form a company -- ve can call it anything ve vant. Everyone in the company gets one vote, and if they're not present to vote they either have a proxy, or they're presumed to be abstaining. To call for a vote requires a 2/3s qvorum, vhich ve currently have.
"Once ve've organized the 'legal fiction' of the company -- vhich is the vay ve cover our asses against law suits -- ve then agree to put a percentage of all profits into maintaining and running the ship and its crew, since that's vhere our profits come from. The usual percentage of profits dedicated to the ship's maintenance and running is about 80 percent -- for crew, food, vater, cargo, air, repairs, etc -- and the remaining 20 percent vill be shared equally among the members of the company.
"Next step: our company hires crew to manage and run the ship, then 'departs the scene,' so to speak. From then on it's up to the crew to handle things and make a profit." She grins, "Un-coincidentally, the crew is usually drawn from the members of the company -- us. The crew uses the usual 'shares' arrangement mercenary groups use: captain gets 2 shares, all officers get one share apiece, and remaining crew (if any) gets 1/2 share of the profits from their efforts. Ve sort out the crew slots amongst ourselves, take good care of the ship, and once the ship and necessities are paid for, the remaining cash in the ship's percentage is shared out according to the captain/officer/crew paradigm.
"This encourages the crew to not blow a huge amount of cash on chrome bumpers on the ship, for example, since it bites directly into their gains. The other benefit allowed by organizing a company to 'own' the ship and hire crew for it is: if one of the officers dies, or if ve decide ve need to hire more crew, or if one of the original survivors doesn't vant to be crew -- then ve don't have to make new folks into owners of the company, and ve aren't required to hire all the company owners as crew, and ve can take care of the survivors of any of the original folks, should they die. So, does that sound good to everyone? Any questions?"
Raj says, "So this happens in two steps? I can see this ship, and perhaps any reward for aiding in the recovery of the Shao Kung, being the property of this 'company' you're suggesting. That's a pretty neat way of handling it. I'm sure some lawyer type can help us straighten out the details, about the numbers, and rights and all that mouthwash. I'm just not sure what you mean about a mercenary group. What they heck are you planning on doing with an armed ship like this anyway? The whole pirate... excuse me, privateer thing didn't work out too well for these folks, now, did it?"
Nigel clears his throat, "Of course, we might be able to hide."
Solbiort says, "Hide vhat? and vhy?" Elgyn is considering Solbiort's proposal when Nigel speaks up, and looks equally bemused as to Nigel's suggestion.
Raj gives Nigel a bit of a sideways glance. "Hide from what? Do you think someone else still has some interest in this ship or the crew?"
Nigel rubs the burn scar with his fingertips, "Uhm, hide the ship." He paces back and forth a few feet, chewing his bottom lip, looking thoughtful, "See, there were some controls that looks like the rearranged things... like it would be possible to hide the weapons, make the shape different..."
Solbiort looks fascinated, "Ve could have a... a blockade runner vithout having to show as von? Ve could do legitimate business and still protect ourselves from pirates?" Her tone is almost dreamy, "That vould be... truly vunderbar!"
Nigel shrugs at Raj, smirking slightly, "From whoever. The whole running away idea had been advanced."
Solbiort's eyes are bright as she murmurs, "Oh, I love this ship already!" She grins at Nigel, "Hokay, ve vorry about that later. For now, I'd say let's do it. First, shall we create a company to benefit from this ship we've taken?" She nods to Raj, "You want to vote for Kingston, since you know him best?"
Elgyn says, "I don't think the Captain was suggesting we be pirates, Raj. But having a ship with weapons is far preferable to one without, if we so choose to make our way space-bound, rather than on a specific planet."
Raj says, "I have no reason to flee the scene of a pirate attack that's resulted in six? ten? deaths. If Solbiort is correct, we'll wind up with clear title to this ship, and can sort out what to do after the paperwork is dry. I still need to find out what happened to Doctor Kingston, and report in."
Elgyn arches an eyebrow. "Report in? To whom?"
Raj says, "Weren't we all going somewhere, when this happened?"
Elgyn glances at Solbiort. "Nowhere specific. We were hoping to find work at our next stop." Solbiort grins and continues inventorying crates while folks talk things out.
Nigel grins broadly at Elgyn, "I was going away. One place is as good as another to me." Nigel isn't exactly burly. In fact, wiry is probably the best way to describe him, so he doesn't try to open the crates. He just moves stuff around, taking note of what's in them.
Elgyn nods in satisfaction to Nigel as he levers open another crate, eyes returning to Raj. "How about you? What's your story, soldier?"
Raj says, "Strangely enough, Elgyn, I have gainful employment and simply disappearing will, at the very least, make folks think poorly of me when I try to get work in the future. I'm sure Doctor Kingston's sponsors will be very curious as to where he went."
Elgyn ahahs. "We certainly wouldn't want to make trouble for you," he assures Raj. "On the other hand, perhaps we can help you find your charge. Together."
Raj says, "Look, you're between gigs, and this looks like a great thing. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though. Let's let the ink dry on the paperwork. Let the locals sniff us up and down, make nice with the lawyer, and such. When they're looking at the next problem, they won't care what we do -- together or apart." He looks from one to another in the room, "Unless there's some real strong reason we don't know yet to not do that..." and lets the question hang in the room.
Solbiort says, "Um, I'm not sure I vant the locals doing too much sniffing. How easy vould it be for them to notice the, ah... oddities of this little ship? Ve can fill out the paperwork on Boros just as easily as here."
While the discussion has proceeded, the group has been inventorying the cargo and opening containers and crates together. This particular one is the one the Browncoat had been found next to. The crate is a bit worn but is relatively new: typical pressure-treated wood hammered together in some other port to protect the cargo within. At a casual glance there are three of these particular crates in the cargo hold, and about a dozen more of varying sizes -- a couple even the size of standard cargo containers. This one, though, when they lift open the top they discover... another crate inside. Or more to the point, a polycarbonate-plasteel box that hums. It's obviously got its own internal power, it looks to be quite solid, and it's like no device that any of the group has every seen before.
Raj says, "Nigel, you said this ship could disguise itself a bit. You have any idea to what degree? How much (more) like a beat up old rat trap can this boat appear to be?"
Solbiort looks indignant, "This is a lovely little beat up rat trap -- don't be rude to him!" She pats the wall brace consolingly, then grins mischievously at Raj... and continues uncrating and categorizing things.
Elgyn smiles and looks at Raj. "She has a thing for ships." Solbiort chuckles.
Nigel chews his bottom lip, "Honestly? Probably one helluva lot like a beaten-up old cargo boat." The humming from the box gets his attention, however, and he peers at it, "Well, that's awfully interesting."
Elgyn pauses in mid act. "Pardon?"
Solbiort says, "Vhat you find? Anything good?"
Raj says, "That's what science types say just before a great big discovery or a great big explosion." Solbiort laughs! Nigel rolls his eyes at Raj, leaning over to peer at the plasteel box, hands stuffed deep in his pockets as if he doesn't trust himself not to touch it.
Elgyn doesn't quite laugh, but there is a strangled sound like he might be choking one back. He comes over cautiously to where the others are standing, peering in. "That doesn't look good. Perhaps it's this 'resurrection' the girl spoke of."
Nigel finally reaches out and slides his hands over the box, fingers fluttering over the controls, but not actually touching them, "It's... probably a cooling system of some kind. Could be anything from cryo to steak..."
Solbiort looks over, brightening, "Steak? Mmm... check it out!"
Elgyn chuckles. "That might be nice, if unlikely... fresh meat... 'course, I doubt we should eat it if it's that. Likely fetch a high price, and once we eat it, it can't be sold."
Raj whispers "boom" as Nigel reaches for the ominously humming black box. Solbiort glares at Raj, working hard to suppress a grin.
Nigel shakes his head, standing back up and brushing his hands off on his coverall, "I can't right here. We'd have to get it completely out of the crate." He actually grins at Raj, "Nah, I'd warn you if I was about to blow you up."
Solbiort says, "Vhat do you need to get it out of the crate for study?"
Essentially, the wooden planks surrounding the box need to be removed completely, leaving it lying on its pallet. Nigel walks around the crate, peering down into it, "We just need to get the sides off. It can stay on the base here." He kicks the bottom of the crate, but very, very carefully.
Elgyn looks disappointed. "You don't have some gizmo you can point at it that will tell us what it is?
Solbiort nods, rising and striding over with a crowbar in hand, "Right. Let's get this done, then." After a few minutes' work of prying and creaking wood and squeaking nails, the crate is taken apart, leaving the crate within exposed. Solbiort calmly and carefully pries off the wooden sides, pragmatically noting, "Sooner it's clear, sooner Nigel can study it, sooner ve know vhat ve've got here." Then she waves Nigel forward, wiping her forehead with her free hand, "All yours, ace."
Nigel continues his circuits around the box, crouching down and running his fingers over some ports, "This is meant to be hooked up to monitors. To monitor vitals..." His brows draw together as he pushes back his feet, scratching his head, "It's locked. It's definitely a medical cryo box, but it's locked."
Solbiort settles on a nearby crate, her elbows resting on her knees, "So unlock it. Or do you vant it someplace vhere you can hook it up to monitors first?"
Raj leans toward the device, "How locked is it?"
Solbiort grins at Raj, "Better than the board vas, obviously." She smiles as she rests her chin on one fist, relaxing and watching Raj and Nigel examining the strange box. If it works out, this is going to be an amazing crew!
Nigel just shakes his head, "Nah, the lock isn't what's bothering me. Who locks a gorram cryo-box?" He slides his hands lightly over the controls again, "You have to have someone out here to open it... what if the timers woke the occupant up and no one was there to unlock it."
Solbiort says, "That'd be vhat Miss Molly meant by 'take care of him,' then, I'm thinking?"
Nigel shakes his head, "I mean getting through the lock doesn't bother me. The fact of it being there does."
Solbiort nods. "Hokay. Vant to vait and ask Miss Molly more? Or start monitoring now?"
Nigel says, "And I definitely want it someplace with monitors before we open it."
Solbiort nods, rising, "Hokay. Vill Infirmary do?"
Elgyn seems bemused by Solbiort's reaction. "Is it standard to ship people as cargo?" he asks no one in particular.
Solbiort shakes her head and grins ruefully at Elgyn, "No idea, di-di, but vere it me, I'd vant out."
Raj says "Why would they have a hold full of frozen folks in lock-down, and where were they going with them?" He asks Solbiort, "Are you planning on opening these things? We don't know anything about them, or why they're in storage."
Solbiort says, "Vell, this is our cargo. Ve have less than three hours, slightly more than two, to determine if ve keep it, or give it to the authorities. So... the more information ve have, the better decision ve make, ya?"
Elgyn looks at Raj. "I think we should at least open one; get a sense of things. We can't honestly keep these people under if they've had it done so without their consent."
Solbiort says, "And from vhat I know -- no, it's not typical to ship even prisoners in cryo. I think the authorities feel it defeats the purpose of doing time in prison, you know? Not that they never vill do it, but typically no -- prisoners are not put on ice."
Raj shakes his head, "I would advise against it," and points to the console on the box, "This is the kind of thing you put on something you want folks to think twice about opening. This thing is that short of a land mine. Don't expect to just shut it back up, and spin the lock, either. Whoever set this will know it's been tampered with."
Solbiort frowns consideringly. "So... if ve open this, ve open it for good, ya?" She looks around, "Is this the only von, or are there more like this?"
Nigel nods, "And I'd have to do some playing about with the equipment in there to monitor this thing... it's generations ahead of the med bay."
Elgyn's face darkens. "If this enterprise is legitimate, we can assuage feelings. If it is not, I don't care who's angry as a result. We cannot simply ignore this. It's not our cargo. We're under no obligations."
Raj shrugs, "It would be a good idea to assume so. We can probably shut it back up, but the folks that set the thing are going to know. We might be able to muddle it a bit, but no guarantees."
Solbiort looks levelly at Elgyn, "It is ours now, di-di."
Nigel scrubs his hands over his hair again, "I thought I saw a couple more crates that looked like it."
Elgyn says, "Our by salvage, yes, Captain. But that doesn't mean we have taken up the previous owners' responsibility to deliver it. We've signed no contract."
Solbiort says, "That is correct, di-di -- and I'm not a slaver, even if only accidentally. All right. Let's open this one, leave the rest. Nigel, go fiddle vith Infirmary for vhat you need. Raj, Elgyn, can you help me move this carefully to Infirmary?"
Elgyn nods. "Gladly, Captain."
Solbiort says, "Once ve get more information, know vhat's going on, ve'll know vhat to do."
Raj says, "Sure. Heavy lifting a specialty..."
Solbiort smiles ruefully at Raj, then looks around for something good for heavy lifting. She studies the crate thoughtfully... then says, "Or... maybe better for Nigel to bring things out to it? Kinda big to fit in Infirmary, I'm thinking?"
Very shortly, Nigel has moved his gear out into the cargo bay, and hooked up the diagnostics to the crate. It's as he suspected: as soon as he plugs the gear in it starts showing vitals. Whomever is within is being kept in mid-term cryo-stasis. They can be awakened fairly easily with the gear Nigel has at hand -- a touch of adrenaline here, a cortical enervator there, and so on -- and could, in theory, be put back under -- or at least into short-term cryo-stasis.
Solbiort watches over Nigel's shoulder, listening to his explanations, and nods, "All right. No convenient name tag for us... so vake 'im up." She steps back to give the experts room.
Raj cracks the security -- it was fairly simple, even though it appears specially built into the cryo-box. Reviving the occupant is a little more difficult, and Elgyn steps up to help some. After several tense minutes, at least one myocardial infarction, and a few hits with the defibrillator to essentially jump-start the guy's brain, they relax, and the crisis point has passed.
Within the cryo-box, curled up in a fetal position and wrapped in a clean white medical singlet shot through with anathermistors to help draw heat away from the body, is what appears to be a man with short-cropped salt-and-pepper hair and a heavily-lined but pale face. He's really looking like he's been spending way too much time without exercise -- which is halfway okay since it looks like he hasn't been eating much, either, considering how somewhat gaunt he is.
Raj says, "OK. Not steak." Solbiort watches with silent interest, grinning at Raj's comment... then curiously pulls out her terminal and starts looking for any reports on a large group of people all gone missing at once. She looks around the cargo bay, silently counting up how many boxes that look like this one, so she has a better idea of the size of the group of missing she's researching. Then she hms... looks like a total of three such crates, including this one. She stays out of the way of the men working to revive this one, and does more searches for such news.
Nigel says, "Nah. He looks stringy to me." Solbiort gives a small snort of laughter as she works over her terminal.
Elgyn's face darkens. "Have some respect for the man..." he growls, still a little irritable from when Nigel was pushing him around from when Elgyn was attempting to assist.
Elgyn nods quietly. "We didn't exactly need more..." he looks up as Solbiort laughs.
Raj says, "No disrespect intended, Elgyn. This just... complicates things a bit, don't you think?"
Solbiort smiles ruefully at Elgyn and the others, "Vell... the mystery deepens. I can't find any missing persons reports. No kidnappings, no folks missing from vacations, no missing Alliance leaders the Browncoats might have taken... and no missing Browncoat prisoners either."
Nigel says, "It's not like the man can hear me. In fact, he's not going to be awake for a good little while."
Solbiort says, "Longer than two hours, Nigel?"
Nigel eyes Elgyn up and down. "You know, you were actually a lot of help out there," he admits, rather grudgingly. Elgyn blinks at Nigel, not expecting a compliment out of this ornery fellow. Nigel turns his attention to Solbiort, "Maybe. Probably. People recover at different rates. Even then, he doesn't look like he's up to running a gorram marathon or something."
Solbiort sighs, closing down her terminal, slotting it into its belt pouch, and rising, dusting off her hands with finality. "Right. Am thinking if ve can't get him up in about an hour, Miss Molly needs to do some talking for us then. Nigel, can you vake this guy up by then, or shall we try our other unintended guest?"
Nigel shakes his head, "No way I can bring him up safely in an hour. I might be able to get the girl conscious by then."
Raj says, "Unless they're big-deal, hot-wanted fugitives of some sort or a very high-profile snatch, it could take a long time to find out who these folks are."
Solbiort says, "I think she knows, Raj, from her reaction to you. Ya, Nigel... settle this guy, then vake her up, please? You vant any help moving him?"
Nigel chuckles, "I think need is more like it."
Solbiort grins at Elgyn and murmurs something in a guttural tongue, in a somewhat soothing tone. Then she nods to Nigel, "Tell us vhat you need; ve make it happen." Elgyn looks at Solbiort thoughtfully and nods in response, quiet as the others plan.
After about half an hour, the nameless man is settled into a bed in the infirmary, the others are gathered, and Nigel is ready to wake the Browncoat and keep her awake. Solbiort crosses her arms and leans a hip against a counter, out of folks' way. Heavy lifting she can help with... medical stuff she doesn't mess with. Elgyn stands there with his arms crossed, watching. His facial expression is one equivalent to a well-armed trench: barbed wire, machine guns, and all. Solbiort slides over next to Elgyn (as Nigel's working) and softly murmurs to him, "You hokay, di-di?"
Elgyn sighs. "I just feel... oddly betrayed." he grudgingly admits.
Solbiort gives him a startled look -- then drapes one arm over his shoulders as they watch Nigel, "Vhy, di-di?"
Nigel does a couple of last checks on mister nameless and then starts working on getting the Browncoat conscious again. "I can't guarantee how long she'll be up, but we might get some answers..." Shortly, Cooper is slowly brought back to consciousness, a little less dazed this time. She glances around at the four gathered about her bed, and gives a faint, exhausted sigh.
Elgyn seems comforted in part by Solbiort's embrace, but quiets as the Browncoat wakes up. Solbiort squeezes Elgyn's shoulder lightly, murmuring, "Ve talk more later." She steps forward and says to the woman, "Corporal Cooper, report -- who are you are shipping to Fleur-de-Croix?"
Nigel keeps a hand on Cooper's shoulder, keeping her pressed down against the cot, "Stay down. You're still gut-shot and I don't want to have to deal with all that all over again."
The woman nods to Nigel, then looks confusedly to Solbiort for a moment. "How -- wait..." Her expression becomes professional -- or rather more to say, becomes a little hollow. "I'll ask you to identify yourself and your unit, ma'am."
Solbiort says crisply, in her best Major's voice, "No, you vill not. You vill tell me who these people are, so ve do not simply turn you and them over to the authorities." Elgyn looks sidelong at Solbiort, but says nothing. He's still conflicted by these events.
Cooper recoils a little at the tone of voice Solbiort takes, then sighs. "Yes, ma'am. There's nothing to be done for it now. The man is General Wintarsen and his advisors, Colonel Xian Wei Shian and Sergeant-Major Lunette Danviere. We freed... released... um, rescued them from the Ariel maximum security prison several weeks ago."
Arvid Wintarsen. While not the most well-known of names from the Unification War, he was widely-known as a strong, charismatic leader. His insistence on fighting the war on his terms won him many units, which divided the Independence Factions' forces in the middle years of the war. Then, a couple of years before the war ended, his fight was brought to an end when members of an Alliance special operations team captured Wintarsen and he was sent to an unnamed penal colony. His current location is not known, but it is -- officially -- most definitely not the penitentiary complex which orbits Ariel.
Elgyn finds himself speechless. Solbiort nods once, then asks more gently, "Who vere you to deliver to on Fleur, and vhat vere Vintarsen's future plans?"
Nigel looks a little puzzled. The girl obviously thinks the names are very important, and Elgyn and Solbiort's reactions bear it out. They aren't so familiar to him. The breaking out of prison part he gets, though. "Mmm... so 'hot' would be a mild way to explain the cargo?"
The woman blinks at Solbiort for a moment, confusedly. "We were... we were delivering Wintarsen and his advisors. I don't know what his future plans are. I don't know if he has any, he's been in cryo for... well, we were told a long time."
Elgyn says, "We've gone beyond illegal substances trafficking, if that's what you're asking, Nigel. Far beyond."
Solbiort murmurs to Elgyn, "Visually identify the one ve haf from old vids if you can, di-di." She nods to the woman, "Very good, corporal. Rest and heal." She looks at Nigel, "Let her go under."
Elgyn's heels come together, almost as if coming to attention. "Yes, Captain." He immediately leaves the room.
Nigel just nods and starts putting the girl back under, "Back to sleep, girlie."
Cooper gets agitated. "Wait, please... just, please take care of him, don't let them take him back there! He can't be at all healthy! If nothing else he deserves... better..." and she slips back into unconsciousness under Nigel's medication.
Nigel speaks without looking up from his work, "He's my patient; I'll take care of him." The tone is somewhat chiding as if the girl should already know this about him.
Solbiort goes back to leaning against the counter, arms folded as she silently regards the sleeping man coming out of cryo... and a very, very concerned expression on her face. Elgyn returns shortly, fiddling with Solbiort's terminal. "Yeah, I've got something... looks a pretty close match." He hands the pad to Solbiort, who takes the pad and studies it silently, comparing it to the man before them. It's pretty clearly Colonel Shian. Solbiort swears softly under her breath, looking away as she hands the terminal back to Elgyn. She rubs one finger thoughtfully over her lips for a few moments... then looks up at the others. "Nigel, I'm guessing you're too young for the var. Raj, vhat vas your unit and rank, please?"
Nigel says, "Mmm... you're right about the war."
Solbiort adds, almost as an afterthought, "Let's... repair to cargo, away from the prisoners. Nigel, you can either turn on the intercom, or join us vhen everyvon's stable, hokay?" Nigel waves Solbiort away as he works.
In cargo, Solbiort snarls, kicking an inoffensive crate, "Ta ma duh! We need this like we need to be hauling garbage!" She settles grimly on it, then looks inquiringly at Raj. Elgyn is quiet... trying to collect his thoughts on this.
Raj filters into the cargo bay with the rest. He leans up against some crates and says, "Now that the war is over, I don't have a unit or rank. Next question, please."
Solbiort sighs, leaning back on her elbows and crossing her booted ankles, "Figures... everyone's got something to hide now." She frowns, "This isn't going to be easy, is it. Vell, got to try... Alliance or Indep, Raj?"
Raj shrugs, "Alliance, and no, it's not going to be easy, not with General Not-Steak in a box in the hold, no."
Solbiort nods silently, thinking. Elgyn finally ventures, "He does deserve better, Captain. No one should be allowed to waste away in cryo."
Solbiort looks up at a sudden thought, "Elgyn, see if there's any news on the cortex of a jail break for the last... year, please? Maybe two." Elgyn fiddles with the terminal for a bit... he's not exactly proficient, but news feeds are something he had familiarity with...
Raj shrugs, "I don't know what he deserves, but I have no intention of getting any of this idiotic little 'pirates' scheme on me. How secure are these damn things, anyway? Could we put them in a cargo net and float them away? They've been in storage for how long now? Another month or two wouldn't hurt them, would it?"
Solbiort winces at the very thought, "No, Raj. Lost in the Dark... that's just... wrong."
Raj says, "Not lost. Put there for safekeeping. You don't think the locals are going to let you just spirit these away like contraband chocolate, do you?"
Elgyn doesn't look up from the terminal. "There is another option."
Solbiort says, "How vould they know ve have them?" She looks over at Elgyn, "Ya?"
Elgyn says, "Load the crates onto the other cutter. Have it be gone before the officials arrive. Just claim the pirates made off with both of them. Meet back up later."
Raj brightens a bit, "I like that. Very clever. We'd need to fiddle the logs a touch, but that's doable."
Nigel wanders out into cargo and leans against a wall, "Believe me, I don't think that's going to be hard on this ship. It's the Shao Kung's passenger manifest I'm worried about."
Solbiort says, "Vhy so, Nigel? You think there really vas a plant there?"
Nigel says, "No. Because if we send the cutter off, we're going to have to explain why one of the pilots is missing."
Elgyn looks up from the terminal. "Nothing. Looks like the Alliance is keeping the theft quiet."
Raj says, "We set it on a ballistic course. We'd know where it was, but it'd be completely dark."
Elgyn says, "That is an option, presuming the cutter has an auto-pilot..."
Solbiort says, "I can keep the salvors off this ship, here -- they're going to be here for the Shao Kung and the deceased. They're not paid enough to pry. But vhen ve get to Boros, vell... it'll be a different story then. The Browncoats must have had some plan for evading detection."
Raj says, "Not much auto-pilot needed. One burst of juice and it's good to go. Not like it's going to run into anything."
Solbiort says, "But that's not the issue ve have at hand currently. I take it from our reactions, ve're taking them vith us, ya?"
Elgyn folds his hands behind him. "I will do whatever you do, Captain... but it is my wish we not hand them back like so much... steak."
Solbiort smiles ruefully at Elgyn, rubbing one cheek worriedly, then says, "Raj, Nigel -- vhat do you say?"
Nigel declares "Well, we're not dumping them." He brushes his hands off on the sides of his coverall. Solbiort nods to Nigel, then looks inquiringly at Raj.
Raj says, "Well, I've got to say dropping them off someplace nice and warm, like the local hoosegow sounds pretty good, but I'm guessing I'll get the hairy eyeball and ignored... so what's the plan? The locals show up and pick up the pieces of the Shao Kung. This ship isn't on their list, so we say 'Thanks! So long! We'll take this ride home! Goodbye!' and they float off. They'd expect us to show up at Boros, but we'll try to either figure out where they were going instead, or how they were going to get past the locals on Boros with the boxes, yes?"
Solbiort sighs, taking a moment to stretch her arms over her head, then roll her shoulders to get loosen up her muscles. Finally she says slowly, "Vhere I come from, vhen you take responsibility for someone, you take some responsibility for their actions. So I have to ask... vhat do ve do if Vintarsen vants to start up the var again?" She gives Raj a thoughtful look and adds, "I'm becoming more and more curious as to vhat you'll be reporting in, too."
Raj says, "Look at him goggle-eyed and get him a white jacket with extra-long sleeves? I think he missed his chance, don't you?"
Solbiort grins. Elgyn's lips purse. "I expect he might be happy enough just to have a life... but if it's otherwise, I expect we'll have to convince him that such a course would be... unwise."
Solbiort nods to Elgyn, "I agree... but do Raj and Nigel? Ve're asking an awful lot of them. Do they vant on-board vith this?"
Raj says, "On board with what? Getting these boxes past the salvage team? Let's say that works. It doesn't seem implausible. Let's say we get to ground somewhere, and get these boxes off the ship. Then what? Contact the folks Miss Molly was working for?"
Solbiort says, "Apparently."
Elgyn nods. "They would have the resources to keep these folk hidden -- something we don't have. We might even be able to trade them for Dr. Kingston."
Solbiort sighs, "Var's been over for... almost a decade. Got to admit I feel sorry for the poor boys now -- that's a damn-all long time to stay frozen."
Raj says, "Well, they'll obviously try to shoot us up a bit, and get their ship back, and the like, which can be handled. I really don't think the University will be interested in an exchange of prisoners. I don't really know how they'll handle any request for ransom. Any obvious repercussions I missed? We're ignoring aiding Indep prisoners, escaped from some secret facility and like that, right?"
Elgyn looks archly at Raj. "Would you rather get Dr. Kingston back quietly, or admit someone stole him out from under your nose?" he queries.
Nigel has one of his little puzzles out, tossing it from hand to hand, "Oh, making things disappear isn't so hard." As he's talking, he smiles and the puzzle is there one moment, gone the next. The doctor smiles and holds both his hands up in front of his shoulders.
Raj snorts, "OK. Good trick. Can you do it with two boxes and some old coot? That would make things soooo much easier."
Solbiort grins tiredly, watching Nigel, and comments, "I like your style, boy." She looks at Raj and says quietly, "Raj... are you vith us on this, or no? Don't have to be... but ve need to know."
Nigel says, "What I'm saying is that if we can hide the fact that the ship has guns, there's probably places to hide the boxes. And even the people."
Solbiort blinks, straightening, "A... blockade runner -- of course! There must be hidey holes around here somewhere!"
Raj points out, "They didn't hide them very well from us..."
Elgyn says, "They didn't think they'd need to."
Solbiort says, "They d- vhat he said." Nigel nods in agreement with Elgyn.
Raj nods, "And I think we can agree they weren't very good at this whole pirate thing, too."
Solbiort looks around thoughtfully... then looks equally thoughtfully at Nigel, "All right. You vant to hide something in here. Vhere vould you put the secret entrance?"
Raj says, "The first place I would look is Engineering. Lots of mass to muddle sensors, and that's where Quan bumped into the last two, right?"
Nigel looks around, hands in his hair again. It's no wonder he always looks like he just rolled out of bed, "Hrm... well..." He squints around himself, chewing on his bottom lip.
Solbiort covers a grin, watching Nigel. She turns to Raj as Nigel thinks, saying softly but firmly, "Raj. In or out?"
Nigel motions around the hold, pointing out a couple of spots, "Hell, we've got a couple gorram good places right here." His lips spread in a very broad grin, that brand wrinkling up. "They must have been real ruttin' dense not to hide them themselves."
Solbiort smiles at the enthusiastic young man, "See if you can break in, then, Nigel, ya?" She looks back at Raj, "Vould like to know your unit in the var still too. Vill trade you, if that makes you more comfortable."
Nigel nodnods and looks around, eyes already going distant, "I'll probably need to borrow someone to do the heavy lifting and prying for me." Elgyn steps up, as Solbiort is still focused on Raj... Solbiort smiles her thanks to Elgyn, then looks patiently back at Raj.
Elgyn looks squarely at Nigel. "Open up the hidey-holes first?" he queries, grabbing a pry-bar.
Nigel nods, "Hidey-holes indeed. You might want a couple wrenches, too."
Elgyn arches a brow. "Maybe I should go get Solbiort's spare toolkit..." He looks around to see if there's a toolkit anywhere obvious.
Nigel laughs, "Or you can just use mine." He starts wandering over toward the mule, where his kit has been sitting since the Shepherd drove it over.
Elgyn coughs. "Fair enough..." he admits, following the young prodigy.
Raj stops and says, "This isn't a question of trading any damn thing. This is a question of threading a minefield. Before we move, I want to know what I'm getting 'in' on. OK, so you don't want to leave these poor suckers in deep freeze. Perfectly understandable, but... they're tar babies. We're stuck to them, and if we don't know what we're going to do with them, we'll just get more and more tar on us. So... hide em, get them back to their pirate buddies, and forget we ever saw them, right? Miss Molly goes, too."
Solbiort murmurs calmly, "That's one option, ya. But if we're going to do that, I vant to know who I'm potentially getting into trouble vith."
Raj laughs quietly, "What does it matter what I tell you, right now? You're going to do your investigation when you can, and it won't matter one damn bit. Either you'll know 'who I am' by the time we land this tub, and whether or not you'll trust me any further than you can throw me, or not... and I'll know the same about you, won't I?" He lowers his voice and says very quietly to Solbiort, "Do I really need to point out Molly's the only one that's seen us all, heard our names, and knows that we know about the General and his frozen buddies?"
Solbiort murmurs back, "She's seen me and the doctor. I've stood right next to her every time for a reason. But if ve're going to get into trouble vith her lot and the authorities... then once again, I vant to know who's at my back, Raj. I imagine you do too."
Raj shrugs, "Yeah, but we don't have the luxury of time to work on that, do we? Why don't we start with the assumption neither of us are jerks, and concentrate on hiding the bodies. I think we can agree that's pretty much a requirement. I have no intention of annoying anyone that doesn't deserve it. I've had enough of that."
Solbiort studies Raj silently for several heartbeats... then nods, "All right." She looks over at the other two and smiles, calling, "Hoya! You two found anything yet?"
Nigel waves back, answering, "We just got the gorram tools. But we'll have them tucked up tighter than a Shepherd's bunghole before long."
Solbiort snorts amusedly, shaking her head. Raj says, "Well, we're not a shy bunch. I think that's a good sign." Solbiort chuckles.
Elgyn gives Nigel this look, "Look, I can take the biting sarcasm, but please, never give that image to me again. Or anything like it."
Nigel grins at Elgyn, "I'll keep in mind that it bothers you." Not exactly a promise, that.
Solbiort says, "Hokay, hide the bodies. Should probably get all the food, air, and vater from the Shao Kung that ve can. Then vhat... inventory the rest of cargo, right." She looks at Raj, "Want to help me vith that?"
Raj says, "How much extra space do we have in that hidey hole? Room for another box or two? Something about this one here seems familiar, and I'd rather not remember what it was too late. I'd like to hide it just on general principles, if we can."
Solbiort says, "Vhich box?"
Nigel says, "We've got more than enough room to do that. "
Raj says, "This one here." He points out the remains of the crate Shian was in, and helps schlep it into the cubbyhole. Elgyn grunts, muscles straining a little as he's taking the other side of the crate with Raj. After the crates have been stowed out of sight and everything tidied up, the group moves what remaining food, air, water, and fuel from the Shao Kung that they can. They're just in time for the arrival of the salvors.
Later....
At one point during the clean-up proceedings, Solbiort notices she and Elgyn are the only ones in the room. She glances around to double-check, then continues working along with Elgyn as she murmurs, "So, di-di... you still feeling oddly betrayed?"
Elgyn blinks at his Captain's sudden query. His instinct is to brush it off, but he doesn't. Instead, he quietly gives it some thought. "I am not sure how I feel. The situation had changed, but..." he replies in a subdued tone.
Solbiort pauses for a break, sitting on a crate. She pats the crate next to her in invitation, "Vant to talk now?"
Elgyn hesitates, and then comes to sit himself, seeming slightly discomfited, but not enough to not speak. "You know how I feel about the war. We lost, and perhaps not rightfully, so, but it is past. A true warrior bears no malice for his fellow soldier, even if he lives on the opposite side. And while I may have issues with the Alliance way of thought, it would be dishonorable to become a pirate or a terrorist in response to that. One does not gain honor by behaving dishonorably. Therefore when it seemed these soldiers had become nothing more than petty criminals...it angered me."
"Oh, I will not say that all my comrades were the best of people. But I felt a kinship with them... a sense of purpose, or rightness to our cause. Therefore, the idea of them abandoning that...it made me feel betrayed by these folk I would have once called shield brothers."
Solbiort nods thoughtfully as she listens, idly taking a moment to re-braid some of the long wisps of scarlet which have come undone from her plait. She's silent for a bit after Elgyn concludes, then finally says, "Vell... I see two possible reasons for this behavior." She smiles a bit ruefully at Elgyn, "Do you remember, several years ago, vhen... vhat vas his name -- the schtupid dungheel who kept baiting you... Carson? Vas that his name?"
Elgyn finds himself watching Solbiort doing up her hair. "I remember. I was glad when he left...any more of that, and I'd have broken his jaw." he comments placidly.
Solbiort nods quietly to herself, "Ya, und he vould have deserved it. Anyvays... you remember asking me at the time about vhat vas wrong vith him, and my telling you about the difference betveen soldiers und varriors?"
Elgyn squints a little. "I remember the conversation, but not the specifics..."
Solbiort grins, "Vell, that's von explanation of vhat might have happened here. As I said then, there are varriors, and there are soldiers. Soldiers are there to follow orders, do the job, get paid... honor isn't part of their equation. So if these folks vere soldiers, then ve see behavior like this." She runs her fingers through the hair she's plaiting, straightening it before continuing, "Und the other reason... vell, that von's harder to explain maybe..."
Elgyn tilts his head, slowly nodding. "Do try." he asks.
Solbiort sighs, thinking as she absently braids the small decorations into her wrist-thick scarlet plait. She slowly says,
Solbiort says, "The other possible reason has a great deal to do vith honor, I think. It has to do vith... vith responsibility, and being a good valkyrie -- it's not like other cultures don't have their valkyrior, after all -- and the essence of doing one's duty to one's people. So... so if this Captain Gordon vas thinking like a valkyrie, then she or he had people to care for, and helpless ones at that."
Elgyn purses his lips, nodding agreement and comprehension...and oddly finding himself comforted by Solbiort's words. It would seem time among other peoples has done her good.
Solbiort says, "In that situation, one goes vithout before allowing one's... protected, the folk you are responsible for, to go vithout. Captain Gordon had a mission of honor, I'm guessing -- to free three who vere unjustly harmed -- and in that mission, it's possible she thought there vas no cost too high to succeed. In that situation, anyvon not under her protection, anyvon vho isn't part of her group... is the enemy."
Solbiort says, "And the enemy is just another obstacle to success." She looks thoughtfully at Elgyn, adding, "Do you understand vhat I'm saying, di-di?"
Elgyn's brow knits. "I think so. It is still an alien concept, though. No Ulundi warrior would ever think that way. One does not simply set aside the principles they live by."
Solbiort finishes off her braid with the last hair decoration, and casually tosses it over her shoulder, then puts an arm around Elgyn, "Different principles, di-di. She probably vas thinking first of her mission, then of her people's velfare. The enemy is not regarded as human vhen von is desperate and starving."
Elgyn finds himself leaning into Solbiort's embrace. "I would hope I would never find myself in any such situation, Captain." he replies, his face troubled.
Solbiort smiles slowly, her eyes a little weary, "Ey, ve all do, di-di. I guess it's part of... of maturing, to realize the 'verse sometimes makes us bend our principles a little." She's silent a moment, then says quietly, "Vhy you never vant to go home, di-di? Vhat principle you vorried about breaking -- if any?"
Elgyn shakes his head, straightening up as he plants his feet. "That has nothing to do with principles, Captain...I have told you, there is simply nothing there for me any more. And going there would only remind me of what I have lost." he says quietly. "We should finish...the salvage crew will be arriving shortly."
Solbiort is silent for a moment, her gaze distant... then she simply murmurs, "Of course."
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