Three of a Kind (V2)

[JonathanBair]

Jon smiles and says "You know, they wont be looking for my cargo ship. We could take her back to her folks and may get a better reward that way then if we dropped her off to someone friendly and they take her home. "

Jon could feel C.K's breath lightly blowing on his neck as she leaned foreword into the back of his seat and was keeping a eye for her ship. He could feel the excitment with the change of her breathing when she seen the ship and said she sees it. Her ship is under them.

Jon smiles and says "I will orbit the pad a bit. See if anything looks out of place. Then I will stick this in your bay. Do I need to come in shallow or can I go deep in?" After Jon says it he realized how sexual it sounded. He wondered if it was just him being horny from not having sex for so long, or will she pick up on the meaning too? Jon stays silent waiting to see if she will react to the sexual tone or take it as just describing what the ship will be doing.

As Jon puts them in a orbit 3 times then he takes them in for the landing on the 4th orbit.


Jon thinks to him self that he is on the fence if he want to be with someone so wild. He likes it and finds it appealing, but its so drastic of a change. Jon also looks at they can do twice the runs if needed if they where a pair. He also thinks about how nice it is to have someone flesh and blood with him rather then Taya. He knew no mater what on how his life would change. Taya will always be making trips with him. He may need a third seat. That got him to chuckle a bit while they orbit in his ship.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 1:24 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station Spaceport, Cockpit Vintage Imperial Starhawk fighter, 38,907.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (AKA C.K.)

C.K. leaned over to peer out of the viewport as they approached the spacestation. She looked out as they passed over ring section green. "I see it," She smiled, "My ship is right beneath us."

Smiling he suggested, "You know, they won't be looking for my cargo ship. We could take her back to her folks and may get a better reward that way then if we dropped her off to someone friendly and they take her home."

That took C.K. back for a second before she shook her head adamantly, "No! No way, no how! That ship is pretty much all I have. Sure I stole it from the impound yard at IPF back on Galloway, but it's my freedom from those bastards that have screwed me over every way they can ever since the moment I was born..."

She trailed off realizing she had shared way too much with this veritable stranger. She sat back eyeing him defensively ready for him to make some sign he was about to stab her in the back in some way, as everyone inevitably wound up doing to her at some point. How had she felt so comfortable with Jon to open herself up so dangerously?

"Wherever I go," She eventually continued telling him, "It goes with me."

"I will orbit the pad a bit. See if anything looks out of place," He said with a disarmingly genuine smile to her, "Then I will stick this in your bay. Do I need to come in shallow or can I go deep in?"

He looked as if he just now understood the rather sexual innuendo that could be interpreted into what he had just said, and C.K. looked back and burst out laughing. "Hmm, you can go in as deep as you can manage. All you need is the skills and know how with your flightstick to maneuver it into the right spot."

They orbited the circumference of the station three times as he said and on the fourth began their approach. C.K. keyed in her admittance code so he could pilot the Starhawk through the forcefield and into the docking bay proper. They hovered over The Last Chance.

"Okay, Romeo," She quipped to him with another chuckle, "Position this bucket directly over the mounting brackets on top of the Chance's hull. Good handling with your stick there...yeah perfect. Now set it down and light a cigarette, Mr. love machine."

 

[JonathanBair]

As Jon worked his stick moving the ship to line up over the brackets. Jon asked "Any idea how much it would cost to buy it out right?" Jon smirked as she called him "Mr. love machine"

When they landed Jon let the ship idle as he got out and opened the cargo hatch to let Taya out. Jon said to Taya "Get in the back and monitor the government coms and to shut down the engines when he hooked the fighter up to the ships power." Jon pulled the CPU extension cord out and hooked it up to the ships power system. Jon knew Taya would get a message flashing on her monitors saying aux power supply active. Jon then looked around to see if he could see C.K.

Jon was wondering if he would be better flying cover for this cargo ship or if they would be better off with him at the controls of the cargo ship. He needed to work a few things out with C.K

Jon had some doubts about how good of a idea it would be to be flying in a stolen cargo ship. If he could get it legalized some how. Then that would make allot let hassle for them in the long run. He also understands her not wanting to leave her ship too. Jon could only hope some how he could get her to let it sit at his home for a bit after they sell her load till they can get her ship proper documentation.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 1:29 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station Spaceport, Ring Section Green: Docking bay 69, 38,907.05 KM from Warp point Termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (AKA C.K.)

"Okay, Romeo," She quipped to him with another chuckle, "Position this bucket directly over the mounting brackets on top of the Chance's hull. Good handling with your stick there...yeah perfect. Now set it down and light a cigarette, Mr. love machine."

Jon chuckled at her innuendo as he followed her orders asking, "Any idea how much it would cost to buy it out right?"

"Somewhere in the neighborhood of two hundred thirty million credits," She said turning the handle on the overhead hatch so she could climb out of the cockpit, "Why you want to make me an offer even knowing the papers I got for it are forged?"

She climbed out walked over to the overhead hatch on the Chance continuing, "Not that I'd sell you my ship...this ship is mine...the first thing I can ever really say that about, and a bonus I took it from those crooks in suits." She looked up at him. "You probably won't understand what its like for me not having grown up in a world where you're already several thousand credits in debt just for the privilege of being born. Like everybody gets with those rat-bastards at IPF controlling everything on Galloway."

He hooked up the umbilical from the chance to the starhawk and told his droid to monitor the comms. C.K. lifted the hatch open and told him, "Welcome aboard."

She climbed down through the airlock and into the interior of the Chance. She pointed him down the hallway, "That way's the cockpit. To the right and left are crew cabins and the lounge and head. In back is the engineroom, and access to the cargo hold."

"Let's head to the cockpit and get the Chance out of here," She said heading down the corridor. When they reached it she began powering up the freighter's systems. She looked over at the comm console and saw a flashing light. "Seems your droid has flagged a transmission from the StarComm relay at the Warp point..."

"Let's see what it found." She hit the play button and a voice began speaking.

"This is breaking news from Interstellar Newsdesk all the way from the Capital on Old Earth.

Yesterday a terrorist attack occurred from a kinetic strike initiated from a ship in orbit. Where Geneva once stood is a smoking crater. Authorities estimate the death toll to be in the millions including the majority of members of parliament...

...as well as...the Emperor himself and the Empress and Crown Prince Jean-Paul and Prince Enrique also...

[SOB]

…This is a terrible tragic day for the Empire...

…The only survivor of the event among the royal family is Princess Aurora. Who was just returned from a school trip among the fringe colonies aboard Imperial fleet. She is currently heading recovery operations with members of several houses of the nobility.

…Unfortunately that support for her is not unanimous. Several other houses are unifying in opposition demanding the Princess be genetically tested to verify her identity.

…Fighting has not broken out but all indications are that the fleet is divided in half between the two factions...If the issue of the princess' authenticity is not resolved open warfare over her succession is likely...

...A media blackout is being enforced over all of this with no indication of it being lifted...several of my colleagues are being arrested without charges...I've condemned my career and probably my freedom in broadcasting this report out to the colonies who would have remained completely ignorant of any of this...

…Oh god...They're at the door now...

…This is Maria Morimoto-Rojas of ISN...signing off...​

She looked at Jon. "Oh shit. What do we do now?"

 

[JonathanBair]

When she asks if he wants to buy it out right. He chuckled and said "Nope just wondering what it would take to get it to be legit. If you don't have to worry about fake papers that will open up more jobs for you."

C.K said "Not that I'd sell you my ship...this ship is mine...the first thing I can ever really say that about, and a bonus I took it from those crooks in suits." She looked up at him. "You probably won't understand what its like for me not having grown up in a world where you're already several thousand credits in debt just for the privilege of being born. Like everybody gets with those rat-bastards at IPF controlling everything on Galloway."

Jon smiles and says "I don't want to own your ship, but lets sell your load and run mine till you can get the funds to buy it and not need to worry about the fake papers. Its your baby, I get it. Like this fighter here. This is my sweat and blood that made this what it is from parts that I picked up here and there. My girl anit the prettiest lady but shes mine."Jon pauses for a sec and says "I was thinking if we get my main cargo ship up and running. You can use that to get the credits to buy your ship outright and have peace of mind."

Jon fallows C.K around looking around where she shows him. When C.K mentions lets get going. Jon nods and moves into the pilot seat. He starts the run up protocols so they can take off.

As they start to lift off the they both read about the attack on Aurora's family. Jon says "Shit that is much bigger then just after her. We got the last royal of the family in are care."Jon sighs as he menuvers the cargo ship around the pad and lifts off with out telling anyone. Jon says to C.K "If they are after her, you flying this thing will get you killed. If you want to keep this thing you might want to take me up on my offer to run my ship for a while."

Jon takes a old cargo run that has been out of service for a few years now. Jon says "I can run to the belt and we should be out of sight most the way. Then I can swing back to my place. We gotta pick up Aurora so she don't try and call someone if she hears about her family."

Jon knew government get taken over by things like this. Jon just never seen it happen. Now he seams to have gotten him self tangled up into the crazy mess all the way.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 1:37 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station Spaceport, Ring Section Green, docking bay 69, Medium freighter: The Last Chance,

IC: Callista Kailokainos (AKA C.K.)

She looked at Jon. "Oh shit. What do we do now?"

The man had somehow slid into the pilot's seat while they were listening to the ISN reporter's message. She sat down in the co-pilot's seat eyeing as he took the controls and began the disembarking sequence. It was annoying. She was only a decent pilot. She was a much better engineer...but still this was her ship, and shouldn't have asked to take the helm?

"Shit that is much bigger then just being after her." Jon sighed, "We got the last royal of the family in our care."

"So what now," She asked, "We can't just hand her off to the fleet office without figuring who they're loyal to...And they know me and now you too have her too."

Shit! This was very deep and very dark waters filled with flesh-hungry dragonfish.

"If they are after her, you flying this thing will get you killed." He told her sympathetically, "If you want to keep this thing you might want to take me up on my offer to run my ship for a while."

"But...I don't want to just leave the Chance behind," She said feelingly. If she did they'd be on his ship not hers...It'd be like she was back on Galloway. No independence. And worse yet she'd have to rely on him. She wasn't prepared for that.

"I can run to the belt and we should be out of sight most the way. Then I can swing back to my place." John said piloting out the big unwieldy freighter. Damn, he was pretty good at it too. "We gotta pick up Aurora so she doesn't try and call someone if she hears about her family."

She nods, "Do we tell her? If we do, what then?"

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon says to her "We should stick to the plan and get her then drop your load off."

As Jon start to fly a old back door rout from the city exiting the city. Jon says "It's a old military run rout to the belt". Jon looks over at her and says "If you park it at my place. Don't think of it as leaving it behind. Just think of hiding it out of sight. Anyways it's not like you would never see it. If your flying my cargo ship then I would think you would be staying at my home with me when not on runs, so you can get to your ship as much as you want then. Hell if you want you can sleep in it while its at my place."

About 10 minutes Later they get to the asteroid belt and he ducks the ship in the outer ends of the belt. Jon powers down to quarter speed. Jon smiles now going much slower saying "This is a old trick I picked up. Most outer sensors will be scanning up to the belts. So with us going slow we can move in the belt with out much trouble I hope. never ran a ship this size like this in it tho, but we should be shallow enough not to run into the big rocks. Tho this ship will need a new paint job by the time we get the princess and your load out of this system."

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 1:37 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Fulton asteroid belt, Medium freighter: The Last Chance, 38,907.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E Warp Point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos

She nods, "Do we tell her? If we do, what then?"

Jon shook his head at that, "We should stick to the plan and get her then drop your load off."

She nodded, "But what do we do about her...so she'll be safe?"

He didn't answer. C.K. frowned. Jon probably didn't have an answer to that yet. She sure as hell didn't.

After a few minutes they crept up into asteroid belt. The farthest end of it. "Why are we going this way?"

"This is an old trick I picked up." He explained, "Most outer sensors will be scanning up to the belts. So with us going slow we can move in the belt with out much trouble I hope."

"You hope," She asked alarmed.

"Never ran a ship this size like this in it though," He explained, "But we should be shallow enough not to run into the big rocks."

"You're risking my ship on this," She said her alarm rising.

"Though this ship will need a new paint job by the time we get the princess and your load out of this system." He continued.

"A new paint job," She said looking out the viewport and noting a big rock they were getting to close, "Tell me you see that ahead of us?"

 

[JonathanBair]

Ck asked about what to do with the princess. Jon keeps flying slowly making his way home. Jon sees his home rock and sets the ships com on a low band that hasn't been used for 50 years. Its just now basically used by Jon and his droids. Jon opens up the coms saying "open the door I am coming around to land at guest lock." He knows his driods will be listening for the call on old short way transmitter set to the channel. He also has a newer coms on the normal channel but the old set works good to get into his home.

Jon smiles and says "wait and see" a second later a larger asteroid pushes the mid sized one out of there way. Jon says "there is a few sub planets in here. I fly here allot in my fighter so I got a good chart. Taya has them programed and she normally dose the navigating. The closer we get to my home tho the better I know it." Jon waits a second then adds in "As the rocks get bigger they get more mass. That gives them there own gravitational pull. The smaller body's can get caught in orbit or pushed away as the larger body's come near. Some times the smaller ones tho get sucked into and crash into the bigger rocks making them that much more bigger. When they get to be small planet sized bodys they get there own orbits. If you spend time in here you will learn to read what they will do. Like if there path is to steep to the bigger mass they will get pushed away. If the pass is to shallow of a angle they will get sucked in..

Jon looks too CK and says "Well I think we should tell her and ask her to stay here while we drop the load off, and pick up a power system. My old family cargo ship hasn't been used for a long time with me doing the slow refit. So we could get it up and running and try and take her home if she wants.... or if she wants to come with us to sell your load and run to her planet. Tho I think getting my cargo ship would be far safer for her."

Jon slips the ship just in front of the sub planet near the top of the asteroid. About 20 seconds later Jon banks the ship into a near by sub planet and says "we are home" They can see a small opening that is hidden in a crater so it looks like a big cave. As they fly into the cave they see the metal plating and the doors. As they come into the 3rd landing bay to set down on its pad. Jon now starts to power down the ship. Jon looks over at C.K an says "ready to brake the bad news?"

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 1:49 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Fulton Asteroid belt, Cockpit The Last Chance medium freighter, 31,771.88 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (AKA C.K.)

"A new paint job," She said looking out the viewport and noting a big rock they were getting to close, "Tell me you see that ahead of us?"

"Wait and see," He said with a knowing smile.

C.K looked out of the viewport to the large asteroid shift out of their path. She turned her head looking at Jon to explain how he had shifted the path of multi kilo-ton hunk of rock.

"There is a few sub planets in here." He explained, "I fly here allot in my fighter so I got a good chart. Taya has them programed and she normally dose the navigating. The closer we get to my home though the better I know it."

"That still doesn't explain what I just saw happen," C.K. pointed out, "How in space did you know that rock would move out of your way?"

"As the rocks get bigger they get more mass. That gives them there own gravitational pull. The smaller body's can get caught in orbit or pushed away as the larger body's come near," He told her, "When they get to be small planet sized bodys they get there own orbits. If you spend time in here you will learn to read what they will do. Like if there path is to steep to the bigger mass they will get pushed away. If the pass is to shallow of a angle they will get sucked in..."

"Oh," She said looking out the viewport feeling a little bit inadequate in comparison.

They flew on for a while more before Jon turned to her saying, "Well I think we should tell her and ask her to stay here while we drop the load off, and pick up a power system."

"What's with you and that little cargo shuttle you go on about," She asked, "You seem far too attached to the idea of getting the stupid thing going again to me."

"My old family cargo ship hasn't been used for a long time with me doing the slow refit." He replied, "So we could get it up and running and try and take her home if she wants.... or if she wants to come with us to sell your load and run to her planet. Though I think getting my cargo ship would be far safer for her."

"You may be on to something," She chewed her lip thoughtfully, "Whoever's the puppetmaster here in Ashford must know my ship and your fighter, but he won't be looking for your cargo shuttle. The only way out of this system is for us to sneak our way out, and I agree that your shuttle's the best option we have to do that with."

"Damn it," She swore irritably, "I just hate the thought of leaving the Chance behind though."

She looked at him, "After a lifetime of getting screwed over I have trouble trusting people...especially people I just met...why should we trust you?"

She sat back in her chair thinking about the princess...why should she and Jon trust C.K.? "Poor kid, she has no idea how deep in the shit she is in. I do...I was born getting the shitty end in life...I should try to turn her over for a quick pay out before this game gets too rich for my blood. But for some reason...I don't want to...I want to help her instead."

Then Jon said, "We are home."

She watched out the viewport as a rather indistinguishable asteroid began opening up showing another docking bay hidden within one of its craters. They flew the Chance into and set down, and began the powering down sequence for the freighter. Jon looked to her rising from the helm saying, "Ready to break the bad news."

"No, not yet." She said looking at Aurora standing at the foot of the docking bay looking at Jon like he'd better agree and adding, "Let her have one more night of out of the shit before shoving her underneath it."

 

[JonathanBair]

C.K asked why she should trust him. Jon didn't have a answer for that other then he could have flown off rather then stick around and get in that shoot out, and he also got in a dog fight he didn't need to get into. Jon said "Well other then the fact I stayed to help you out on the pad and got into a dog fight rather then just turn you over. Do you have a reason not to trust me from my actions? Sure I grew up with my folks running cargo, so I had a very different life as you, but haven't I only tried to help you? Even offered to let you use my ship to work for cash to get the papers for yours? Have I done anything to make you think you couldn't trust me?"

Jon nods in agreement and says "That sounds like a plan. God knows how long it will be till she can relax once we tell her"A seconds later Jon asks "Did you want to see the old shuttle that I am working on?"

Jon knows it looks funny with the small cockpit attached to a hold 3 times as thick as the cockpit area is. All the joints where good welds and the metal had been reworked, so they look like uniform sheets. So it didn't look as if the hold was bunch of scrap thrown together.

As the ship is all powered down now. Jon stands facing her and smiles as he says "Lady's first"

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 1:52 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Fulton asteroid belt, Jon's secret hideout, 43,227.21 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Aurora Fairmont and Callista Kailokainos (AKA C.K.)

Aurora watched the freighter set down on the landing pad of the docking bay from the bay's entrance. Jon's droid Patty stood beside her. While Jon and C.K. were away she had tried to focus on making herself useful-anything to keep from dwelling on who was trying to assassinate her or why or how they had access to an element of the fleet or Lupo's salvaging guild or Turner Station's security force...

So she had focused herself on making supper for the three of them-which was an interesting challenge for her since prior in her life she had never even boiled water. She had always had her food cooked by servants. In that Jon's droid had proven invaluable showing her the military instant meal packets in the hideout's pantry and how to activate their self-cooking functions. Certainly it wasn't a meal worthy of the fine-dining banquets she had grown up going to but looking down at the three bowls of steaming beef stroganoff she felt a huge sense of accomplishment.

She had also found a bottle of wine that was odd since she'd never seen a merlot-this one from a vineyard on the newly settled Lancelot B colony-quite that shade of green. She had experimentally tasted it and found it had a salty and citrussy taste to it. Often when settlers imported earth crops to newly terra-formed or just completely alien soils it altered the original product some in very beneficial ways or some in decidedly disastrous ways-such as the introduction of Terran rhubarb to the ecosystem on Galloway colony and its effect on the virus that had wiped out 90% of the population and indefinitely impoverished the survivors.

There was another thesis project here...academically she was piqued on the subject.

She watched the two of them walk down the gangplank to the docking bay.

"Did you run into any more trouble," She asked them.

C.K. shook her head a little too demonstrably, "No, it was all smooth sailing. Nothing happened."

Something in her voice told Aurora that she wasn't telling her the whole truth here. Her eyes narrowed saying, "I made us dinner in the galley."

"Great," The salvager nodded towards their hero, "Jon has something he wants to talk to you about over what we're gonna do next."

She turned to Jon, "What do you suggest?"

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon is somewhat stressed as he walks down out of the ship to the landing pad. He shot Aurora a smile and asked in a friendly tone "how did you like her stay here?" When Jon heard she made supper. Jon had a look of shock on his face. Jon said "There is food here? Oh ya them spare ration pack things. This should be interesting, As I never used them before." Jon started to head to the kitchen/dinning room area by taking a few steps and asks "who wants to join me?"

C.K told Aurora that Jon have something to talk to her about. . Jon lets out a sigh saying "Aurora your folks are no longer looking for you, They know you made it out and are safe, but I think it would be best for C.K and my self to sell her load and pick up a power system then we can come back here to get my ship up and running. Then we can take you back. If we wait to use my freighter it will be more safer for you. Then if we where to keep using C.K's freighter or my fighter."

Jon did not lie persay. He really did feel that when her family got killed there spirits would see where she was and that she was safe. So the spirits would be more at peace. It was also true that her staying home while they sell the load and get the power system would be much safer for Aurora. The trip would be much safer in his old family cargo shuttle with the now tripled cargo hold putting it into a small cargo freighter rather then a jumbo shuttle.

Jon smiles and says to Aurora in a friendly voice "Things on your world is very dangerous. I want to give us the best shot at getting you home safely. So if you do stay here while we do the 2 runs. I gotta ask you please not to contact anyone. We will get you home soon as you can so you can see folks in person. Please, Are you willing to hang out here for a while?" The last bit was more in a pleading sound tone. Clearly the request meant allot to Jon and he was really hopping she would go for it.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 2:01 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Fulton asteroid belt, Jon's secret hideout, 43,227.21 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Aurora Fairmont and Callista Kailokainos (AKA C.K.)

She turned to Jon, "What do you suggest?"

"Aurora your folks are no longer looking for you, They know you made it out and are safe," He sighed, "But I think it would be best for C.K and my self to sell her load and pick up a power system. Then we can come back here to get my ship up and running. Then we can take you back. If we wait to use my freighter it will be safer for you. Then if we where to keep using C.K's freighter or my fighter."

Aurora blinked, "You want me to stay here for that long?"

"Things on your world is very dangerous. I want to give us the best shot at getting you home safely. So if you do stay here while we do the 2 runs. I gotta ask you to please not to contact anyone." Jon said with an amicable smile on his face.

"You don't think I should contact my father," She surmised.

Jon continued in a pleading tone of voice, "We will get you home as soon as we can. So you can see your folks in person. Please, Are you willing to hang out here for a while?"

She nodded, "I shall consider it."

"Princess..." C.K. said as if trying to expand on Jon's argument, but Aurora cut her off.

"Let us eat now," She turning to walk down the corridor to the hideout's galley, "Then the two of you can tell me what you two are hiding from me."

 

[JonathanBair]

As Jon walks down the corridor. Jon says frankly "There is a split in the army. some is loyal to the crown and some are not. I just want to get you home safe and sound is all"... A few seconds pause Jon says "No one has seen my parents old cargo shuttle run in 10 years. With the refits I have been doing its hold is way bigger, so the odds of anyone connecting it to me is slim to none. My fighter is well known and so is C.K ship. While we do the 2 runs if we can get stopped we can try and play it off as bad info they got. If we get stopped and your not on board we can let them look. That makes it safer for us and you. *Jon sighs* that everything"

Jon hopes this info will help Aurora take it for what it is. Jon is not telling her about her family being dead as he don't want her to fall apart while being left alone. They can tell her that small detail later on when its needed.

Jon eagerly says "I cant wait to see the wonders you made for dinner." Jon hopes the shift of energy and conversation will pick up the mood.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 2:01 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Fulton asteroid belt, Jon's secret hideout, 43,227.21 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Aurora Fairmont and Callista Kailokainos (AKA C.K.)

"Let us eat now," She turning to walk down the corridor to the hideout's galley, "Then the two of you can tell me what you two are hiding from me."

"We're not hiding anything from you," C.K. laughed a little too hard.

"There is a split in the army. some are loyal to the crown and some are not. I just want to get you home safe and sound is all" Jon explained following her down the corridor.

"You're saying that some of my father's military are being openly disloyal," She gasped.

"What do you think happened to your escort flotilla at Kai Epsilon, Aurora," C.K. put in.

"It fits but...I just can't believe it..." She said, pleaded really, softly, "...Those men and women swore an oath to uphold and preserve the royal family...my father in particular."

"No one has seen my parents old cargo shuttle run in 10 years. With the refits I have been doing its hold is way bigger, so the odds of anyone connecting it to me is slim to none. My fighter is well known and so is C.K.'s ship." Jon continued,"While we do the 2 runs if we can get stopped we can try and play it off as bad info they got. If we get stopped and your not on board we can let them look. That makes it safer for us and for you. *Jon sighs* that everything"

"What you say makes some measure of sense, Jon," Aurora conceded.

"Then its decided," C.K. nodded to the other spacer, "After dinner me and Jon will go down to check out this shuttle of his and see if its spaceworthy...you'll stay here until we return."

"I cant wait to see the wonders you made for dinner." Jon said as they stepped into the galley.

Aurora smiled gesturing to the three bowls of beef stroganoff and the merlot from Lancelot B. "It's not much, but I am quite proud over it."

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon moves to a chair and holds it out saying "princess" then when she sits he scoots her up in her chair. Jon dose the same for C.K... Jon then moves to a seat and slips in him self. After a few bites Jon says "I don't think I could do better my self, and this Merlot. Wow I forgot I had it. Came from a colony who needed medical supply's I was one of the few ships that would risk catching the infection that was running rampant in the colony. Come to think of it.That was also the last run the shuttle made. Then I started work on expanding the cargo hold."

Jon takes a sip of the drink as it has a nice but odd flavor. Jon digs into the stroganoff. Eagerly eating it as he is staved from not eating all day.

When Jon cleaned his plate up he smiles looking at Aurora and says "This really hit the spot. Thank you, it was a nice treat." Jon sits back relaxing and enjoying the drink more while waiting for the others to finish there meals.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 2:11 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Fulton asteroid belt, Jon's secret hideout, 43,227.21 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Aurora Fairmont and Callista Kailokainos (AKA C.K.)

Aurora smiled gesturing to the three bowls of beef stroganoff and the merlot from Lancelot B. "It's not much, but I am quite proud over it."

Jon like a actual gentleman held her seat out for her and Aurora obliged him with a warm smile of gratitude as she sat down and allowed him to scoot her up to the table. C.K. got her own chair and just looked at him with a appraising eye as he took his own seat.

They began eating and the military meal was not the finest dining C.K ever had. It was a little too salty for her tastes, but it was quite good on an empty stomach. The wine though was different but actually surprisingly good. C.K. had a little too much of it. For when she got up she felt a little tipsy.

Soon the meal was eaten and Jon had gotten up to clean his plate. "That really hit the spot. Thank you, it was a nice treat."

Aurora smiled feeling a surge of pride over being able to cook a meal that people actually enjoyed.

C.K. eyed him as she started cleaning her plate asking, "So can we check out that shuttle...hopefully it won't be such an eyesore as your modified Starhawk."

 

[JonathanBair]

C.K. eyed him as she started cleaning her plate asking, "So can we check out that shuttle...hopefully it won't be such an eyesore as your modified Starhawk."

Jon chuckles and says "Do you think you can walk, you may need to lay down and rest a bit by how your swaying. As for my ship being a eyesore. Well the hold looks good. Nice and wide with a shuttle nose attached. Once it has a power system upgrade she will be a fine little freighter. Yes we can go look at it tho. She is a good ship now as long as I don't get to close to a planet or need to go anywhere fast as she is now. The shuttle module is air tight with a air lock, so it can be used for taking on cargo outside of a breathable setting. Like space or highly gas area.

Jon says "If you want to see it. Come with me to bay 1" Jon turns to Patty and says "Patty can you have Taya move my fighter to bay two." Then Jon leads them to the cargo bays/landing pads.

Jon turns to C.K and says this home of mine has 3 large bays that can be closed off. Bay 3 is kept clear for visitor's ship. 2 is my main fighters pad and cargo storage. Then bay 1 is the cargo ship. Bays 1 and 3 both have there own exit air locks. Bay 2 well its more just for parking or holding cargo.

As Jon walks Jon says my cargo ship has came in handy collecting extra asteroid particles. Moved this to where it is and made a good chunk of its mass. Could make it bigger if needed to add on more but will have to be mind full on the rest of the asteroids in the belt. Get it to big and it will suck them into it.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 2:34 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Fulton asteroid belt, Jon's secret hideout, 43,227.21 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (AKA C.K.)

C.K. eyed him as she started cleaning her plate asking, "So can we check out that shuttle...hopefully it won't be such an eyesore as your modified Starhawk."

"Do you think you can walk," He said with a chuckle, "you may need to lay down and rest a bit by how your swaying."

"Oh you're a laugh riot," She said sarcastically before lying her ass off wildly, "I'll have you know I can handle a lot of booze, and I can drink you under the table any day, mister."

"As for my ship being a eyesore. Well the hold looks good. Nice and wide with a shuttle nose attached. Once it has a power system upgrade she will be a fine little freighter." Jon continued, "Yes we can go look at it though. She is a good ship now as long as I don't get to close to a planet or need to go anywhere fast as she is now. The shuttle module is air tight with a air lock, so it can be used for taking on cargo outside of a breathable setting. Like space or highly gas area."

"All I hear is big talk from a big man," C.K. laughed, "I'll judge your shuttle with my own two eyes, Romeo."

"If you want to see it. Come with me to bay one." Jon retorted.

After he gave instructions to his droid she followed after him saying, "Lead the way."

He began explaining the layout of the docking bays to his hideout. When they reached bay one, and she got a good look at his cargo shuttle with a bigger cargo module welded onto the frame she whistled shaking her head, "Woof. This thing's not gonna win any beauty contests...you sure its spaceworthy?"

She began looking around it with an eye of a self-trained engineer. "The welds are neatly done and seem airtight. The drive units seem solid, and the stabilizers are good. You even added beefier landing struts knowing you'd need them when this thing starts hauling larger loads than the originals were designed for."

She looked at him with an appreciable nod at his modification skills. "This beast might actually fly."

She gestured to the engine units, "Lift her skirt and let me see her private parts...You say it only needs a stronger power system...but if I'm gonna fly around in this thing I need to know how good it is."

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon opens the rear side door to the cargo bay. In the back of the cargo bay there is a long but narrow room. Jon says "I plan to have the bigger power plant here with new engines. The ones I am using now is still the cargo shuttle ones foreword of the hold." Jon leads C.K to the front of the hold. He opens a airlock hatch door. Few feet more there is a second one leading to the back of the old cargo shuttle. Jon says "Here it is. The one that came with the shuttle. It can lift this thing off. Moves slow in space, as its so under powered now." Jon smiles and asks C.K if she wants to take it for a spin near by in the belt? If so let me lock down bay one doors. Bay 1 had a hidden door, in the face of this rock."

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 2:34 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Fulton asteroid belt, Jon's secret hideout, 43,227.21 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (AKA C.K.)

She gestured to the engine units, "Lift her skirt and let me see her private parts...You say it only needs a stronger power system...but if I'm gonna fly around in this thing I need to know how good it is."

Jon opens the rear side door to the cargo bay. In the back of the cargo bay there is a long but narrow room. Jon says "I plan to have the bigger power plant here with new engines. The ones I am using now is still the cargo shuttle ones foreword of the hold."

She nods stepping into the shuttle stretching out her arms to measure the space indicated, "With these dimensions...you'll probably need a military grade engine...an Excelsior 2300-A series or even 3100-E series engine unit or if you got the cash to spend on it...maybe an Abercrombie powertech 3 series engine. Yeah, that'll get you the juice in power you want without stressing the structural integrity too much. That's the engine you really need, but the only problem is that's a brand new model...it'll be very pricey on any of the black markets."

He leads her deeper into the shuttle and shows her the pitiful Pasquale and Gregorin Engineering Commercial grade Liftmaster engine unit."Here it is. The one that came with the shuttle. It can lift this thing off. Moves slow in space, as its so under powered now."

"Not to mention the company that makes these are so full of shit they're famous for cutting corners but have so many sweetheart deals with the empire they've pretty much cornered the whole market in commercial shuttles like this one. So they can afford to make weak pieces of shit engines like this and expect to rake in the profits." C.K. shook her head. "At least we can see how well she handles."

Jon smiles, "Want to take for a spin in the belt? If so let me lock down bay one doors. Bay 1 had a hidden door, in the face of this rock."

She nodded, "Yeah, let's get this ugly bitch in space and see how well she can dance." She chuckled at what she said adding ruefully, "Probably like an elephant with cement ballet shoes."

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon exited the ship threw the old shuttles side passenger door. He went to the wall and hit a button causing the force fields to activate then he hit another button that caused the wall in front of them to slip. The top part moving up and the lower part moving down. Jon runs back to the cargo bay door and shuts it then moves to the shuttle part and closes the door. Jon comes up to the cockpit area and smiles seeing C.K sitting at the helm. Jon smiles and slips in the co-pilot seat and says "we are all secure, She has ok thrust but cant go more then sub-light speed. Feel free to take her out."

A few second later Jon asks. "In any of them wrecks. Do you think any of there power systems would work in this thing? I don't mind paying for new, but if I can get something off a wreck and fix it up. That may be a bit more in my price range."

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/Date: 2:49 PM, Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Fulton asteroid belt, Jon's secret hideout, 43,227.21 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (AKA C.K.)

She nodded, "Yeah, let's get this ugly bitch in space and see how well she can dance." She chuckled at what she said adding ruefully, "Probably like an elephant with cement ballet shoes."

Jon left the shuttle to begin the process to lower the forcefield and open the exterior doors. C.K. laughed and slipped into the pilots seat of his shuttle as he had done with her ship. She laughed again when he entered and slid into the co-pilot's chair.

They left the asteroid in the shuttle and C.K. got a feel on how the beast handled, "Ugh...this thing steers like a concrete block...and barely even crawls at a snails pace."

"In any of the wrecks. Do you think any of their power systems would work in this thing?" He asked her nodding at her.

"Well," She shrugged, "What you really need is that Abercrombie model, but I suppose we can get by with any engine better than the piece of shit P. & G. engine. provided you modify it like you seem to do with everything you own."

"I don't mind paying for new, but if I can get something off a wreck and fix it up." He pressed, "That may be a bit more in my price range."

"To be honest you could buy an Excelsior model-you can virtually trip over the damned things in any salvage yard-and a pair of beefed up power capacitors from off the shelf and probably get the same benefit as the Abercrombie but cost you 10% less." She shrugged. "That'd be your best bet there."

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon smiles and shrugs while saying "I never all up on there specs. This ole thing just needs something to give her some git up and go. With her side cargo doors. She should be good to haul anything we can stick in her. Even if a space walk is needed. This part can be air tight and we can open the hold up to space." Jon grins hoping that may make C.K think about using this ship once it gets the power its so badly missing.

Jon smiles and says "Don't need to worry about papers too, so can take the loads anywhere. (Jon pauses for a second) What do you think? Would you be willing to help fix her up and fly her. Anything you make you can put to paying your ship off. Could keep your ship in bay 2 so this thing and my fighter uses 1 and 3." Jon hopes that the offer would get her too help him with getting a good power system. Jon adds in "she has 3 rooms, can sleep 6 so if I was with you on a run, we wouldn't need to bunk in the same room even." Jon grins.