Thanica and Sshalah (Co-written by Dyelli Beybi and Harbertia)
Where the pair discuss the future.
Thanica stayed until after the others had filed out, waiting to see if anyone else had anything they needed to ask her, though most of the crew seemed content with what she had told them. It couldn't get any more specific since she really didn't know what they were walking into. Eventually she was left alone with Sshalah. It wasn't so long ago she would have been petrified to be so close to a Ragon, though she trusted Sshalah. She liked her. Who'd have thought that was possible?
"Than," Sshalah said, "I've decided to go along with the plan. I'll be of more use on the mission then I would staying behind. I never thought you'd abandon me, I simply didn't fully piece together what the plan was- part of having heard most of it with food on my mind." she said sadly. "Sure the threat of being tagged exists but, Carter trusted me with the ship and now he's being held. I still remember asking him if we where heroes back on Pleasure Haven, and I want to get him back. It's hard for me to let an objective go so it's still on my mind."
Thanica smiled, looking a little relieved as she did, "Thank you. I could use your help," she paused for a long moment before asking, "what's on your mind?"
Sshalah sighed, "While, you where in medical and I had command I - interrogated Saessa. I wanted her to stay in medical, bound to the bed but Raoul-" she took a breath, "she ended up being outside the medbay so I had her brought to the bridge. At the time we still didn't know the source of the implant. She told me that you told her that she'd be dropped off in Kiellar space. Did you actually tell her that?"
Thanica nodded, then shrugged, "I can't remember exactly what I said but I have promised anyone who wants to try to get home or settle somewhere safe that I'll try to get them there. That does include you as well... Though I'd need to think of a way to get you to your people without radically shortening my life expectancy," she joked.
Sshalah gave a soft closed moth grin, "I do recall you having made the offer before, you where standing looking up at Raoul and me as we filled you in on the tank issue. That's when we found out that Raoul's not welcomed there but still." she said with a smile as it was none the less a fond memory. She sighed though she still seemed in a good mood, "With, the recent development here- the Gollar ships coming here despite the Confederacy not wanting a direct tie to the operation- the fleet engagement- I'm getting worried and I'd rather be home then here if a war kicks off. It's like my heart's going further into my stomach..." she frowned, "I've spent weeks with you and the others but after all this- what happened today- and the Tz'aths on that station- part of me just wants to be home." she looked down not at Thanica- just down, "I miss the sand, and the sun- I feel that most of my time has been on metal- space stations and this ship. You'd probably like it there- I'm from Ashamana- it's an island. The sand's white, the sun white- the palms sway and marine mammals chrip to greet the morning. Our house over looks a stretch of beach with an open porch. We have rocks for laying upon and steps going to the shore- when I was little I'd sleep on the porch- listening to the avians and chirping things as a chill air lulled me to slumber." she wasn't looking at Thanica but she was smiling mildly in happy reflection.
"Then we'll try to make it the next thing on the list once we have Carter back," Thanica replied, "If the Gollar remain generous with the supplies, then we should be in a much better position then we were. It will give us some breathing room to start making our own decisions rather than running away all the time... Your home sounds lovely, I understand why you miss it." She wondered if there were places like that on Carter's planet...
Sshalah looked down towards Thanica with an appreciative smile; "Of all the places I have seen, no where has compared to it. I worry about my uncle, and kin and wonder if they are looking for me. That they might be out there still not knowing where I am- taking risks- facing things I have seen." she thought about the weapon used by the Devourer back on Pleasure Haven, "When," she swallowed a bit of her sadness, "when I do get home- I - I want to go back but I also don't think I've repaid you enough. Heck, I'm not sure if I'll be able to eat again. I mean- I know I'll be able to eat but- it'll be hard not to think about you. Part of me is afraid that you'll be a distant memory."
"In time, maybe," Thanica conceded, "Even if, by some miracle, I live out my natural life, get to 70 or even 80, you'll have many years ahead of you..." She reached across, touching Sshslah lightly on one massive forearm, "But you don't owe me anything; you've got me out of trouble almost as regularly as I've got myself into it! If it wasn't for you and the others I could have ended up as a 'pleasure slave', been eaten by that angry sarufi, been vivisected by the blue people or killed by that Kiellar brain-bug. If anything, I'm in your debt!"
Sshalah had a look of happy relief; "I appreciate you telling me this." Sshalah put the fingers of her other hand atop Thanica's hand that rested upon her forearm, "It means a lot to me." Sshalah smiled and took a breath. Thinking for a bit before lifting her fingers from Thanica's hand and asking; "How should I play this out? The Prisoner rouse... I don't imagine I'll be playing myself."
"Actually, I was thinking you would," Thanica replied, "The KC are expecting a ship to come vis the Gadawei system though they don't know what it is because of the communications lag. They know the Defiance got shot down in the system so the cover is that they picked up some of the survivors and arrested them after having seemingly been abandoned by the Gollar. That way, on the off chance someone recognises you, there is a good explanation."
Sshalah thought for a bit. "That makes sense, and is enough of the truth to pass even with a grain of falsehood but.. aren't we going to the same fleet that took the Carter... to rescue him... wouldn't that fleet know who was on the ground and if they'd captured the ship? Are we, taking over a compound before that fleet arrives... despite the-." Sshalah looked out at the maintenance being done; knowing there would be a delayed departure for the ship, "- oh, wait- we are taking the- are we taking the Gollar ship?"
"In the false narrative we are telling them, we are the Courier ship they were expecting anyway. We appeared in the system on schedule, spotted the downed Defiance, investigated and took prisoners," Thanica explained, "They know they lost a ship against the Gollar, which is the one we will be using, which is why Vrondich and Rabaech are, as we speak, modifying the ship so it doesn't appear to be the one they lost."
Several Days Later, Bridge of the 'Undeniable'
The ship the Gollar had captured was quite a bit smaller than the Defiance, with no massive cargo bay and one less deck, though it was about as heavily armed and the workmanship on the interior appeared to be of a much higher quality... which was to say it didn't look like it was falling apart. It was painted battleship grey throughout, with no shortage of fire fighting equipment and huge blast doors that could snap across sections of the ship if there was a breach. It was a warship, though not a particularly large one. There was just enough room on-board for the crew, though some people would have to temporarily share a room.
Vrondich had christened the ship the Undeniable, and since, by the time he told anyone that detail, it had already been programmed into the computers, Thanica didn't dispute it. In the efforts of keeping the ship as 'realistic' as possible in the event of a search, Thanica had insisted on Mihal taking the Captain's quarters, shoving herself in with some of the marines. Were they to end up in the unfortunate scenario of someone searching the ship, it would look a lot better if the Captain's quarters were full of things which belonged to the Captain. If it was full of women's clothing it might have raised suspicion.
The trip to the Zerataca took several days, just long enough for nerves to start to fray in the cramped conditions. Before anything could kick off though, they arrived. Thanica made her way up to the pilot's seat. She was wearing KC armour, though without the helmet at this point. In anticipation of having to put it on soon she had pinned her hair up in a slightly messy bun. She twisted to look at Mihal, "They're hailing us. You don't need to do anything at this point,I'll do the talking, though if they insist on speaking to you, just act rude and imperious if the person you are speaking to is a junior rank. You'll do fine."
She spun her chair back to face to console, "Zerataca, this is the courier ship Undeniable reporting the successful ratification of the Treaty of Gadawei by High Command. Copies of the documentation has been handed over to the Gadaweian authorities. While usually we wouldn't request permission to dock, we recieved a distress signal from a moon in the system and managed to recapture up a number of escaped Command prisoners including two Ragons. Our brig isn't suitable for restraining Ragons , certainly not for the duration of the voyage back into our own territory. Request permission to offload prisoners on the Zerataca."
As she finished, the Zerataca came into focus on the view screen. The ship was vast, with monstrous wing-like structures that jutted out from the central hull, bristling with massive weapons. The main hull itself must have had thirty or more decks, judging from the rows of windows spilling light out into the darkness of space. It was an impressive warship with laser batteries that could have destroyed the Defiance in a single hit, "Hold, Undeniable," came the response, followed by a pause of several minutes before the voice came back on, "Alright Undeniable, you are cleared to dock. Follow the instructions relayed to your console and do not deviate from the path provided."
"Understood, Zerataca," Thanica replied. She paused for a few moments then held up a hand to signal everyone that the KC were off the line, "Okay, this is it. Is anyone unclear as to what you need to do?" she asked, "There isn't going to be another opportunity."
