Starpath: Scoundrels of the Interstellar Highway - Games

Maddox knocked on Yanim's door and stepped inside. "You wanted to see me, boss?"

Rask nodded in response to Yuga. "Of course. The crew did a bang-up job, that's for sure. Boss is just a bit preoccupied right now, or else she'd have told everyone herself. Hold on a sec, I oughta turn this on-" he said, opening up the comm so the crew could hear him. "Alright crew, listen up. So, the fact of the matter is that we just caused a lot of people some headaches... Donatello especially, keh. "We won't be encountering the Mafia much at all from here on. They tend to cluster up around their bases of operation an' take turns suckin' each others' cannoli's, so they're not going to come after us. But as far as the Grand Prix job goes? Don't talk about it with outsiders. Everybody, and I mean [I]everybody[/I], had money riding on that race, and we fucked it all up. We might be able to run away from a few fights here and there, but we don't need the ire of the crazy quilt jarhead confederacies that run the outer fringes. 'Specially since those guys are often our customers. "Between killin' Briggs and the bets which were made on the operation, we managed to break even after bonuses to everyone. But this ain't a nonprofit- we got plans, and that means more work in the near future. Work that some of you might not agree with, since, see, we gotta take orders from someone other than the Boss so that their money will become our money. Funny how that works. And, well, we got a pretty good lead from our friends at Argos, the ones who wanted Briggs dead. Hot tip- if you ever want to get on someone's good side, murder one of their enemies, keh. "So, we're gonna shimmy over to the Sol system and touch down at Korolev Station, on Mars. Our contact says he's got something he wants us to take a look at there before we sign any agreements. I've also been told we've got a new employee... So uh, save an extra seat at the tea party. Oh, and one other thing. It's gonna be a bit cold up there by human standards, 'cause Korolev is up near the northern ice cap." ((For those of you who don't know, Mars in this game's universe has been terraformed and is now colonized as a second human home world.)) "That being said," Rask droned on, "Boss wanted me to pass along a few commendations for good conduct during the past three days. First and foremost, we'd like to acknowledge the self-sacrifice of Porter and the example he set in the process. For superior mission coordination, we also thank Yuga. Hariim's diligence and persistence kept us several steps ahead of our enemies on the cyber front. We thank Jag, for efficiency and original thinking, and finally, Frosty, for his special efforts to reduce civilian casualties. The rest of you did a satisfactory job, and we're thankful, but these five deserve special mention. That's all." As soon as Rask had turned off the comm, he rolled his eyes. [I]As if anyone actually cares...[/I] [editline]18th May 2016[/editline] --- Yanim stood with arms crossed and looked at Maddox. "Do you have your weapon? Let me see it."

((Wait did Porter actually die or is he in critical condition?)) [editline]18th May 2016[/editline] Maddox nodded and detached the sling holding his rifle. He extended his arms, allowing Yanim to get a clear look of it.

(( Critical condition. He's not dead. He basically threw his own body in front of the fire for his teammates. Filled with bullets. ))

((Porter is basically a vegetable until Chapter 2 begins.)) Yanim took the rifle from Maddox, calmly flipped the gun over in her hands and looked the receiver over. "Ah, so it does have a safety," she said, almost flippantly. In a flash, she released the magazine and agressively cleared the chamber before dropping the gun on the floor. "Hm. Looks like I dropped it." She shrugged, staring at him for a moment to judge his reaction. "Both of us have mishandled this weapon today, Maddox, but your decision could have cost the lives of your crewmates. Pick it up, and be thankful that you aren't picking bodies off the floor of the stadium garage in Port Town."

[b]EDIT:[/b] Maddox retrieved his weapon and the dumped magazine. He looked at Yanim "I understand boss. It won't happen again." He inserted the magazine and reconnected the weapon with the sling. "Anything else?"

Yanim's expression softened. "Yes," she said. "I dislike having to play this role, barking at good operatives when I should be thanking you for the work you did. But I want to make something clear to you that your new captain might not understand. Each of us is responsible for all of us, through careful consideration of our own actions. I know that she spoke with Taylor today about what happened in the pit lane, but ultimately it was your finger on the trigger, not hers. Your action. I'm sure you agree with this point of view. We cannot rely on others to stop us from taking lives when it isn't necessary. "That being said, I cannot overstate your value to this company, which is why I won't reprimand you further than the penalty the captain has already assigned. As a soldier, you are far more disciplined than most of the other members of this crew. On your next mission, I'm certain that you'll prove indispensable, and opportunities will come to recover your lost wages. For now, I would like to reassert my interest in our personal arrangement." "Yes man, I was about to get to work on that." "Please do," Yanim said. "That will be all for now." Maddox saluted and walked out the door. --- [quote]January 15th, 2385: I've been pretty much invisible for the last few days, exactly how I like it. The mood onboard the ship has been fairly positive since everyone got some rest. Yanim has even been talking a bit with Captain Yuga- just simple things, current events, et cetera. Rask is looking forward to setting up shop in a new headquarters, and has been jabbering on and on about some deal TBC might be making with Argos. I've been told that once we get our HQ, I'll be expected to go with them, but I can't imagine myself living a terrestrial life. Still, it's tempting. They keep talking about this idea they have, they call it the Interstellar Liberation Army, or ILA, and they want me involved with all sorts of aspects of its development. Supposedly, I'm going to begin a pilot's training program. That's all well and good so long as they keep increasing my pay. We're approaching space belonging to the Sol System Government right now, and so it won't belong before the usual border security checks. After that, we land on Mars and see what all this fuss is about. -Neasha Kyral, Second Lieutenant, Terika-Belladonna Company[/quote] ((Going to bed now. You guys probably don't need my narration to get to Mars. Korolev Station is just a large facility for servicing fleet vessels owned by YsCom and their partners in the middle of nowhere. Imagine an old Soviet AFB in Siberia. That's the aesthetic I was planning on.))

As Maddox left Yanim's quarters he went for the armory to begin work on the project assigned to him by Yanim and Rask. As he sat down he noted that most of the crewmembers had left their weapons for maintenance and cleaning. One thing caught his attention tho; namely a bolt pistol someone had dropped off. He went through the armory's check-in logs and found a note from Valkyrie. He smiled and shook his head. He'd have to reconfigure the pistol and send it her way later on. But first he had to finish the assignment. Preferably before the ship reached Mars.

Yuga activated the comms to the ships speaker systems. "Attention crew, we will be arriving at Korolev on Mars in roughly 16 hours. Take this time to rest and prepare yourselves for the next assignment. Engineering, I have placed an order on some new fuelrods that will need picking up and installing. Make all the preparations for this before we reach the station. We will also be taking on a new crew member, so someone should prepare one of the rooms for him. We don't want more incidents of personnel sleeping in the corridors. The payment for the previous job and the additional bonus has been transferred to your accounts. Should anyone have anything to discuss regarding past, present or future matters, please see me at the bridge. Thank you." Yuga had during the travel brewed herself another cup of tea and now sat in the captains chair enjoying it and her usual incense vapors, ambient terran classical music playing in the background.

(( There were cabins available this whole time? ))

[We though you knew.] [QUOTE]Oh, and I mentioned to your sister the idea of you two getting a tat together. Should probably talk to her about it sometime.[/QUOTE] "She's currently busy with other things, so it wont be any time soon. Calling the next one."

(( I always thought that there were cabins only to accommodate the original crew members, and any new ones would have to sleep in the cargo bay or something. I seriously didn't know. ))

[QUOTE=F T;50344248](( I always thought that there were cabins only to accommodate the original crew members, and any new ones would have to sleep in the cargo bay or something. I seriously didn't know. ))[/QUOTE] (( It's pretty much there are as many cabins as there need to be kind of thing from what I understand. ))

Meanwhile, in the medbay, Dio was bored out of his mind. He had just woken up to find his upper torso wrapped in bandages and an IV drip in his arm. Still, that didn't stopped him from voicing his complains in the communicator to everybody to hear. Heck, he didn't even care who is listening, as long as they got his message. "Hey, I just woke up and...can someone bring me some tea? Maybe a computer or something as well because I'm boooooored as fuck right now." Dio started rubbing his cheeks, they felt slightly sore...as if some idiot who didn't want to live slapped him while he was unconscious.

Amelia gets a notification on her phone that Dio has woken up. She fell asleep after Amy consolidated her. Well rested she runs over to the med bay, finding Dio talking into his communicator. Along the way, she picks up a fresh, earl gray tea that she already had made. The machine kept it warm. "Oh! You're awake! That was pretty quick," she compliments. "Here's some tea to help you wake up." She hands him a drink. After laying it down, she claps her hands together, with her head resting on it, glad to be hospitable.

Jag nodded and closed the link to the Holomap, leaving the bridge an moment later after being dismissed. The Corsair then sends it's time walking and inspecting the inter details of the vessel's hull. Looking over it's many scars it has taken over it's long life. It caused Jag to briefly reminisce much of it's old ship, it's old crew and the missions they had all served in. From the both their proud victories to their bitter defeats. Yet that was all in the past, Jag couldn't spare the thought to dread or dell into about such things. Now was the time to change, to build and to reap it's investments that it has laid out so long ago. Within the latter of the hour, the scared Sanghvi arrived at the armory. It's racks and lockers filled with ten of dozens of weapons and munitions, however most we're now in hundreds of pieces. Varying from small springs to large bolts, all laid out in an organized fashion among the benches before the weapon smith. Himself, looking down at them with a focused stare. Leaning over them with both arms propping him up as he stood in deep thought over the disassembled arsenal that laid at his feet. "Greetings, Weaponsmith Maddox." Jag said while entering the room, it's tone was claim despite the noticeable scar it earned just an few hours beforehand. "I see that you have already begun resuming your earlier duties." Jag said while taking an step closer, looking down at the many bits and pieces spread across.

With the sudden revelation that there are cabin rooms still available, Frosty immediately sets out to claim his. Moments later, the door outside his cabin had a paper tag stuck on it, and on it was written: "THE F-ZONE."

Maddox nodded towards Jag. "Good to see you Perditus, heard you carried Vakarus and Dio to safety. Good work on that." He put together the upper part of a weapon receiver while looking at Jag. "Can I help you with something?"

Valkyrie paused as she heard that they would be going to Mars. "Mars? Like, Sol System Mars?" she asked, as she was finishing up Bucky's tat. [I]Uh oh.[/I] She was still wanted by police forces in humanity's home system. Hopefully people wouldn't recognize her. And she wasn't going to prison if she had anything to say about it. [QUOTE][video=youtube;9m3CIBPAyoU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m3CIBPAyoU[/video][/QUOTE] "Well, finished." she said finally, as she sat back in her chair. Beautiful work, even if it was just a blocky maroon 'WORKHORSE' printed on Bucky's shoulder, it was still nice to look at. She then looked over at Alex. "Next?" [B]....[/B] Taylor had finished half the bottle of vodka, peer at the remaining clear liquid in the bottom. Good thing she could handle her liquor, otherwise she'd have been like Amelia when Ahaz spiked her hot chocolate. She glanced over her shoulder at the others. Valkyrie was tattooing Bucky. Huh, didn't know the gynoid could actually [I]BE[/I] tattooed. She hadn't been called in by Yanim, so maybe she wasn't going to get chewed out. She checked her holo-tablet. Their pay had arrived, her's sliced in half just like Yuga had said. She sighed, and divided it like she always did. Half into her personal account, and the other half sent to the account she had set up for her mother. She slipped it back into her pocket afterwards, then stood. She departed from the bar, and headed towards the Armory. She had seen Jag head in there a few minutes ago, so she was curious as to what he wanted to speak to her about earlier.

((I guess I could go ahead and start now right? Do some bullshit at Korolev until y'all get here so that Sega has something to work off of for the intro)) [I]Johannes sighed, tilting his head first right, then left, then rotating it around in a half circle to the rear. Each time, a loud satisfying crack popping off like a muted gunshot. He was sitting on top of a perimeter wall just outside Korolev, one leg dangling off the side of the wall, another propped up against a spotlight housing, his arm slung over the knee of that leg. With the most minute of movements, he flicked his eyes to one side and the display inside of his helmet lit up, silencing the annoying "ping" of an incoming data transmission. A small window opened up, and an almost natural sounding secretary program began speaking in his ear.[/I] [B]Meijde, Johannes Van Der - New Assignment incoming. Voice print authorization code required. "De zwaarste gewicht is een veer om de last van het verlies." Confirmed. Message is as follows: Meijde, Johannes Van Der - has been assigned to craft "Murumasa". Contractual obligation for this assignment is listed as "Terika-Belladonna". Assigned position is listed as "Mercenary: Raid, Boarding". Work type undisclosed. Pay scale undisclosed, preliminary investigation shows within acceptable range. Contract term undisclosed. Accept or decline? "Accept." Contract accepted. Ship "Murumasa" currently en route to Korolev Station. Estimated time of arrival is 16 Solar Hours.[/B] [I]Johannes nods and then presses a spot on the back of his helmet just below the base of his skull. A soft hissing sound eminates from the armor as the neck seal is broken, and he pulls the helmet off and sets it next to him. Johannes reaches up and runs a gloved hand over the top of his head, pausing at every small scar, before dragging his hand down over his face with another sigh.[/I][B] "Finally some work. It's about damn time."[/B]

After taking care of Amelia, Amy left her room quietly. After a panic attack like that, she needed her rest. They both did. Amy walked to her cabin. Once there she slipped into something other than her armor. She felt like that thing was going to stick to her at that point. She sat in her bed and started to read the news emerging from the shady parts of the galaxy. [QUOTE]BOOME SDF RELATIONSHIP CONTINUES TO GROW Thanks to the Boome's help, the siege of Novithus is now broken. Commander Rollonso promised to leave a battalion of troops in order to help the piece-keeping. The commander himself said that he plans help the SDF take down fanatics untill the contract expires GOLD DUST STOCK CONTINUES TO DROP To noone's surprise, the stock of the Gold dust mercenary group continues to plumet. Experts say that the stock will be worthless by this time next year. Vulkov had this to say. "This sort of drop is normal. The galaxy is going through a time of change. So our services are not as sought out as before. I can assure our investors that we will be back on our feet in no time. DEATH VIGIL LEADER ASSASSINATED! Sources say that the Executor of the Death Vigil, the man simply known as Mordecai, has been assassinated by a sniper's bullet, that pierced his heart while he was in his own home. Although the suspects are many, noone has yet taken credit for the plot. The date for the funeral is yet to be set. [/QUOTE] "Rot in hell you old bastard." Her gloating was interupted when she heard a loud slam comming from the cabin next door. A quick look outside revealed the sign that says 'THE F-ZONE'. "I'm not going there unless I'm drunk or have some tail with me." she said as she went back inside. ---- [QUOTE]Next?[/QUOTE] "Yep." Alex removed his shirt. "You can probably see [URL="http://previews.123rf.com/images/designof/designof1402/designof140200587/25984679-Artistic-vector-tattoo-sketch-animal-Stock-Photo.jpg"]the bear.[/URL] Just make the fox a similar design."

[QUOTE]"Yep." Alex removed his shirt. "You can probably see [URL="http://previews.123rf.com/images/designof/designof1402/designof140200587/25984679-Artistic-vector-tattoo-sketch-animal-Stock-Photo.jpg"]the bear.[/URL] Just make the fox a similar design."[/QUOTE] Valkyrie inspected the bear tattoo. "...Yeah, I could do a fox like that. Pretty easy. Want the colors to match or a different color?" she said, changing the ink cartridge in the tattoo gun. She cleaned the needle off with a napkin from nearby. Bucky moved from the seat and sat in another chair next to her, allowing Alex to get into position.

"Same color is just fine"

[QUOTE]"Same color is just fine"[/QUOTE] "Alright...got any toothpicks?" she asked, as she popped a black ink cartridge into the tattoo gun.

The monitor connected to Porter starts beeping. His heart rate becomes faster and faster to a stable pulse instead of the hibernating slow heartbeat. A groan moves up his throat and out his mouth, with his eyelids shaking as they open up. The blinding light makes him squint. His facial muscles tense up from the white room. He moves his head up to see that his body is repaired and recovered completely. Relieved, he lays his head down on the medical bed. After resting for a few more seconds, he leans up, sitting straight, then puts one leg on the ground, and the other. Before he is able to stand up, Porter is greeted by the teary eyed doctor standing next to his bed. Amelia. She runs towards him and wraps her arms around his torso, leaning her head on his stomach. "You scared the hell out of me," she smiles, closing her eyes and letting the tears of joy flow out freely. Porter wraps his arms as well, and the two finally reunite... again. "Feels like deja vu..." he mutters. There was a time he had a similar experience. It was around 10... 11 years ago. A blurry memoryOh well, what matters now is that he's alive, ready for duty on the Murasma again. [i]He lives...[/i]

Bucky uses the fact that she doesn't have a conventional endoskeleton to inspect her tattoo. She admires the piece of work, and moves aside for Alex. She settles in and gets comfortable, and watches Valkyrie do her thing.

[QUOTE]Alright...got any toothpicks?[/QUOTE] "People bite down on toothpicks? There is a stack of them on every table, just grab some."

[QUOTE]"People bite down on toothpicks? There is a stack of them on every table, just grab some."[/QUOTE] "Oh, its not for you. Its for me." she said, glancing over at the table. She spotted the container and grabbed one from it, then slipped it into her mouth. It twirled about, being moved by her tongue, then found a spot in the corner of her mouth. "My tats hurt, but not that damn much unless I'm tattooing your dick or something." She looked his back over. Wow, quite a few tats. All around a large, cracked skull with a thirteen in the center. Most looked pretty decent. "Were these traditionally done? A lot of them look like they were done by hand." she asked, examining them all.

Jag nodded to Maddox, looking about the armory for spit-second before replying. "Not too much, Weaponsmith Maddox. I just deem after spending some away from the armory, that it would be within my interest to further check the changes you done to it in full detail. Now that I have time to idle about." Jag explained while it begin to walk around the many benches and weapon racks, it's implant quickly taking note of everything on them. Most of it was already cataloged but still, Jag was thorough with every aspect went it came to the tools of the trade.

Maddox nodded. "I haven't done any groundbreaking changes really, I've more or less only organized the crafting tools and weapons while also cleaning up the machines onboard."