219 replies to this topic

[Dehoffren]

The hotel room look bare without her, well it would have done if the pile of discarded clothes that she had shrugged off previously weren’t lying in an uncermonial clump. He had expressly ordered that the hotel housekeeping droid didn’t come in to the room as he felt the quality of cleaning, as proved by ,Morgan’s staff, was below par but as he began to fold and sort the mess he sighed at the task. With much lack lustre he shined his shoes mulling over Shranael’s reaction the first time she had watched his routine, good hearted sneer was the best description of her face, but still he couldn’t settle. He need a distraction, something to take focus his mind, he discounted waiting for the Marquis as that would only leave more time to sit and ponder, he had no desire to interact with Morgan and his pre flight checks would only take a fraction of the time he had to spare which left Lady Margaret.

Closing the door behind him, he made his way back to the ship, shoulders slumped as if carrying a weight. The bridge was much as it had been left, he slotted into the pilot’s chair still relishing the way the cushioning supported every muscle in his back and began running the diagnostic. His flitted back and forth, as readouts panned up the screen before opening a comms channel “Lady Margaret, it’s Orthan I was wondering if you required my services? I have nearly finished the pre flight checks and find myself at a loose end”

[grenitos]

"I have arranged for the ships boat to be taxied tomorrow my dear.What i could do with now however is an expert on computers and the ins and outs os Government administration."

He then proceeds to tell Margaret about what he saw on the screen.

[kropotkin41]

Margaret responds instantly to Orthan's call, 'What are you doing up on the Bridge Orthan?' she demands, more amused than cross, 'Are you suffering withdrawl symptoms from piloting already? I think we will need you on top form tomorrow to fly us all to Quare, and also to oversee the taxiing beforehand to the launch quay. So, you take the rest of the shift off and get yourself some rest and relaxation. If and when Shraneal calls in I shall tell her that you have the evening off.'

The screen goes blank and at that moment a yard technician comes on to the bridge. 'Good evening' she says chirpily, 'I hope I'm not disturbing you, I just have to have a quick look at the sensor console before I knock off shift, that way I'll have an idea of where to start next time.'

She then bustles over to the sensor station and starts a few tests on the damaged components. 'It looks like you guys saw some pretty rough action.' she says conversationally as she works, 'It's only a shame that that was your welcome to this system.'

.......meanwhile when the Marquis has finished telling the tale of the Harbour Master's office to Lady Margaret:

'I don't know what to make of that Rupert' Margaret says with clear concern both in and voice and on her face, 'Surely they would not be so stupid as to do anything hostile to an Imperial-registered ship. You are quite right, if we could find someone capable of hacking into the yard's system we might find out something, otherwise all I can think of doing is approaching the Imperial Consulate on Quare directly and asking them; we carry enough clout to be told what intelligence they have. But I wouldn't want to send a communication from here, would you?'

Edited by kropotkin41, 21 January 2011 - 10:11 PM.

[grenitos]

"Mo my dear i feel we need to find ourselves a computer expert who is experiencing some financial trouble,maybe we could help them out!"

[Dehoffren]

“Of course Madam that is most kind of you” responded Orthan flicking off the comms unit and sighing, the last thing he needed was more time off to dwell. He was about to sink into further melancholy mood when a voice chirruped in causing him to spin in the chair. His idea was to face head on the disembodied voice but he had jumped so that the chair spun wildly round leaving him looking over his shoulder at the new comer. “I’m sorry who are you” he enquired trying to put on a dignified voice even though his body was at an acute angle “I thought Gryff was dealing with the equipment up here?”

[kropotkin41]

The technician smiles at Orthan in a somewhat mischievous pixie-like fashion. 'I am sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Gryff? Who is that? Your engineer? No, I work on the yard, on the repair team, you know?'

She continues with her tests before adding 'This is mostly shot to be honest, it is pretty amazing that it was got back on-line whilst you were in space.' She regards you again with amusement as you continue to crane your neck..... 'So why are you alone up here, all jumpy, and like you'd fly off right now if we weren't in dry-dock?'

........meanwhile...... 'Well Rupert I am not so sure that we will be able to find anyone on this yard who might be able to do the job. Maybe I should call Arrago and Shraneal and see if they might add a computer tech to their shopping list for tonight, someone who will do a well-paid job with no questions asked. What do you think?'

[grenitos]

"Yes if anyone can find such a person they can my dear!Have you finished here?What about Morgan?If so maybe we should head back,its upsetting to see the old girl in such a bad way."
The Marquis pats the Esperanzas wall as he says that.

[Dehoffren]

“Alone?” his eyes darken at the word, as if it compounded his loneliness without Shranael “Only temporarily, I like to make sure that all is in order prior to take off, I prefer not to have any unforeseen mishaps once we are flying.” He watched for a moment whilst she began her duties, after all it didn’t pay to take anyone at face value. A painful twinge in his neck reminded him that his current position was both ridiculous and painful and stood up taking a few steps towards the woman with his hands clasped behind his back “Our chief Engineer is quite the whiz, it doesn’t surprise me that she nursed the sensor module until we could land...Will it take long to repair?”

[kropotkin41]

'You won't be flying anywhere in this crate for a while flyboy' the technician laughs, 'You're funny! Listen, why don't you come and have a drink with me? I'm off duty now. Back on to this next shift.'

[Dehoffren]

“Flyboy!” repeated Orthan incredulously “I can state quite categorically that I am a highly qualified pilot and not a simple rat-tag muffin charlatan” he stated indignantly as he stroked the counsel near his hand affectionately “The Esperanza is a fine vessel I’m sure she be functioning at her peak well before you expect” Orthan’s bluster melted into embarrassment as the woman laughed “I’m afraid I will have to decline your offer, even though I am too off duty as of now, as I’m...” he struggled to find the correct term “Attached and I wouldn’t want “He struggled again, girlfriend sounded immature and there wasn’t any formality to their relationship so how was he to describe it “ I wouldn’t want to appear anything other than transparent” Even Orthan could tell that his wittering on appeared awkward and stumbling

[kropotkin41]

'Oh I see' the technician says, apparently taking a little delight in Orthan's self-inflicted predicament. 'Well, I didn't ask you out on a date Pilot Officer, just for a drink. Come on, I promise I won't compromise your transparency. It's not often I offer to buy someone a beer twice on my wages. What do you say?'

[Dehoffren]

Orthan blushed, “I’m sorry I presumed far too much” he apologised “I would gratefully accepted your offer of a beverage and perhaps a chat about our ongoing repairs” with a flourish of his hand he motioned the tech to lead the way

[kropotkin41]

'Yes indeed it is My Dear' Lady Margaret says, 'I know how attached your family is to this ship. Now, one moment, from here I can call Arrago through the ship's scrambler........'

With that Lady Margaret calls Arrago and asks he and Shraneal to go in search of a hacker who might be able to help. Once the call is made, she smiles at the Marquis, saying with gentle sarcasm:

'With such an embarrassment of fine eating establishments Rupert, where shall we dine this evening? Do you feel like beer followed by a targ kebab or........... shall we have the kebab first?'

......meanwhile.......

The tech leads the way from the bridge and off The Esperanza; 'My name is Del' she says, 'that's short for Delaware, it's a place on Terra apparently, my family is Solomani going way back.'

She asks Orthan to wait at the staff locker rooms for a few minutes and then comes out changed out of her overalls.

'The bar I normally go to to have a drink is quite a quiet place, come on, like everything else on this yard it's only a minute's walk away.'

[Dehoffren]

Orthan followed obediently a step behind Delaware “An unusual and very fine name I must say” he said hoping that the compliment would make amends for his previous terseness “I am Orthan by the way” he straighten automatically as he introduced himself “I actually prefer a quieter ambience that those raucous places you can go to. The art of conversation are quite lost in them. Have you been part of the team here for long?” he enquired

[kropotkin41]

'Coming up two years' Delaware answers your question after a short delay during which time she has bought a couple of drinks and brought them to a table in, as she promised, a relatively quiet bar. 'In all that time I have taken all of three weeks leave to go to Quare.' She shakes her head by way of indicating that there isn't much to see there either. 'To be honest with you Orthan I am saving up to get myself passage to another system, I have always wanted to work in one of those big Imperial-style starports. Yep, almost there, and then I can get off this rat-infested yard.'