End of the Road
Posted on Wed Oct 21st, 2009 @ 5:11am by Walter Jones & Lee Pierce & Jan Valentine & Charlotte Ashcroft & Hank Tasco & Max Sainexs & Martok & Sky Summers & Tyl'varas Shrive & Kyle Bowman
1,783 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Session One - Jailhouse Rock
Location: Outside of SB611
Timeline: current
== Drake ==
Brian brought the ship out of warp just out of range of the Starbase, in the distance, the telltale structure of the Federation Starbase was off in the distance. Undoing the harness straps from the chair he stood up and went into the back of the cabin. "We are here kids. Just need to wait for Jones and the ship then we'll head into the base."
Tyl'Varas opened up a bag that he had left on the shuttle. Out came a bottle of Andorian Ale, and a few glasses. He filled one, and then passed the bottle around.
Brian took the glass and the ale then passed it on. "Somehow we got out of there without getting our asses blown out of the sky."
Accepting the glass Lottie looked over the brim at the Starbase as it filled the view screen. It was enormous. Much larger then she had been expecting. Yet as larger as it was the station was also an eyesore to behold, then again the Warden wasn't exactly a ship of beauty either. Maybe the two complimented each other in a strange but practical way.
Tipping her glass she took a mouthful of the electric blue liquid, grimacing slightly at its extra potent strength and continued to stare at the station with trepidation. Walter had said they were going here to make use of the facilities and unwind a little, but having seen what mayhem followed them in the bar back at Heaven Lottie was concerned the bedlam would follow them and before they could make up some half decent excuse they would in tossed in the brig and their ship impounded.
Brian looked at everyone, he wanted to wait to make sure they would be ok before he said anything. "I just wanted to say before the ship got here, that after we hit the station, I'm leaving you guys, I can't take risks like this with a kid. I didn't want to worry any of you with this before now."
"Your leaving us?" Martok asked down his glass of ale.. "It is a shame. Your a good guy and a damn good pilot. You will be missed."
The softness of Brian's voice bought Lottie out of her stupor. "Why didn't you say before?" she asked coming to a stop at his shoulder. "You didn't have to go to Heaven I'm sure one of us could have piloted, although not as well as you." She smirked. "How old is your kid?" Although on the outside it looked like Charlotte had forgotten how to use her heart she was under all those prickles a woman, and like all woman she could get broody.
"Thank you guys, I couldn't leave you hanging out there on this mission" he thought for a moment about things before deciding it was still what he wanted. "He's 8 years old, I'd have to have his old man get popped on a job and leave him in an ophanage or something. I guess it is back schlepping stuff around a freight yard."
Lottie smiled sadly. "Well best of luck to you. Enjoy watching him grow up you're miss it when he leaves home..." her voice trailed away as if chasing a memory. Then with a shake of her head she clapped Brain on the shoulder and left him to his remaining duties.
== SS Warden ==
Walter walked back into the bridge of the ship, he had been munching on some food and patching up some hole in the ship. Sitting down in his chair he looked over at Kyle and nodded. "How long till we come out of warp?"
The pilot looked over his console "Well, as long as nothing goes wrong, i.e. the engines backfiring, thus leaving us arriving in teeny tiny pieces, then we should arrive momentarily." He looked round cheerily offsetting the pessimism in his voice.
"Alright well lets get this shindig going". Pushing the comm button he brought up the internal speakers. "Alright we are almost there, Jan make sure that when we disengage the engines, it doesn't backfire and blow us to hell, James when we get there I'm going to need you with me to deliver this plant to my Doctor friend."
"Got it, take us out of warp slowly, or the containment fields will rupture and blow us to tiny, tiny bits." Jan said, his voice crackling a little over the speakers.
"Sky, do you have any contacts here at this base? There still might be some heat on our friends I want to make sure this goes well."
"Actually from what I've heard about this Starbase on the news feeds, most of the senior staff and crew were lost during a Borg incursion. I did know the Captain, but it looks like he might be dead", she sighed as she called more information up on her console. "Commodore Beverly DeVuor is in command now. A science officer from the USS Genesis that was thrust into command through necessity. She looks like a bit of a push over actually. Shouldn't be any trouble, but the Security chief may pose a problem".
"Maybe I can use my animalistic charm on both of them, I am quite handsome" Jones smiled at Sky "I'll have to see about meeting this DeVour character, sometimes being on the federation payroll isn't that bad."
Sky looked around to face the captain and smiled warmly. "I'm sure that they will be putty in your hand", and then her smile grew with a hint of devilishness. "Or a skid mark on the heel of this Commander Mason. She sounds like a tough sort".
"Sounds like some tough love if you ask me." Jones laughed and sent you the subspace frequency to the Drake letting them know that they were almost there.
Whilst the others were talking Kyle began decelerating the ship. Normally dropping out of warp was a simple matter. However, the age and repair of the Warden meant jumping from 3 to nothing would tax the dampeners enough to leave them all as red smears on the consoles. So he cycled the ship down, from 3 past two to one. It was a strange sensation, but everyone managed.
Finally Kyle hit the kill switch and the ship dropped out of warp shuddering as she changed from warp to impulse engines. The view returned. Kyle hit the comm "Ladies and gents, we have arrived at Starbase 611. Please leave your seatbacks in their upright and locked positions as you leave the craft"
"Get ready to pull the shuttle in and then we'll contact the starbase about parking for repairs and such." Jones flipped on the docking lights for the bay to allow the Drake in
"Anti-matter containment fields are holding steady at 68%, nice job." Jan said.
"I do what I can" Kyle spoke into the comm. He brought the ship round presenting the docking bay for the shuttle's ease of access. He opened the comm. to the shuttle.
==Drake==
Brian saw the Warden jump out of warp and lazily come to a halt a few thousand meters away from them, he was happy to see the old girl still in one peace, he was a little sad that he wouldn't be joining them anymore after this but he had to, he couldn't take the risks anymore not with his kid. He started to ease the shuttle over towards the Warden and initiated the docking procedures.
"Hey guys, our ride is here, we'll be home in a minute."
"Good." Shrive poured himself another glass of ale, and quickly downed it. He glanced towards the pirate again, with an unamused look on his face.
As they approached the Warden at last Lottie felt a wave of relief to be back. No doubt Sky would be able to fill them in on the finer details of the station or become the subject of much banter but being one of the very few women on board Lottie wanted to make a friend with her, and maybe if Miller was still interesting a go with him.
Martok was thinking it was about time that he got some down time on a station. Its been awhile since he had had any down time. "About time we have had some down time around here. I'm sure we could all use some time to get over our previous battle."
Silently looking outside he was thinking back of his adventures, his history was well known in the galaxy. Yet these people did not even hear of him, he was surprised to say the least. From being one of the most feared pirate he was now nothing, merely a shadow of his own faction.
Norther Pirates a guild that fought in the Pirate war was victory at many battles, yet due betrayal and many deaths a large inner conflict arise. Even Max himself was was betrayed by those trusted on his own vessel. The Batavia.....a K'Vort class vessel that was in service as flag ship of the Norther Pirates. Now vanish and never seen again after Rear Admiral Harris took Sainexs in prison. He shrugs and closed his eyes for a moment then open it noticing the Warden a cargo vessel jumping out of warp. Well it is a beginning for him.
Suddenly an unknown voice came over the comm, "This is the Warden, proceed to dock when ready."
Brian moved up to the cockpit and eased the thrusters on the ship. The way that the Warden swung around was uncharacteristic of Jones, someone else must be flying her. The grav clamps on the bay grabbed the small shuttle and helped to ease it into the bay. With a soft thud, the Drake landed next to the other small craft in the docking port. Flicking off the engines and powering down he turned back to everyone. "Home sweet home, make sure to remove all luggage from your overhead bins and thank your air hostess."
--Bridge--
As the ship sluggishly enabled it's thrusters it moved closer to the station, the massive structure loomed in the windows of the bridge. A crackle came over the comm and Jones answered it.
"This is docking control Federation Starbase 611 Registration and Cargo."
"Captain Walter Jones, SS Warden N48E-MC, carrying medical research supplies for Doctor Emanual Stouffin" Jones looked over at Kyle and shrugged.
A long pause, Jones was ready to have Kyle hit the engines when the comm picked back up. "Docking permission granted come around to 252 Mark 5 pattern Delta, Welcome to Templar Captain." The comm system clicked off.
"Alright lets get parked and on the station." Jones laughed and headed down to the docking bay to greet the crew back.
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