Lost (FT, CLOSED)

[Terra Reborn]

H.M.S Royalist
Seeker Class Corvette

The small imperial vessel cruised slowly through space, taking the time needed to recharge the Jump Drives. Royalist was one of a few small ships being used to provide Imperial Navy Cadets with experiance in deep space. Unlike the larger vessels that were being used to train the new recruits and officer trainees, the Corvette's were used by the newly formed Imperial Navy Cadet Corps. With so many young adults wanting to do their part in the Imperial Military, a Cadet Corps to provide early training and experiance for potential future personnel. Today the Royalist was carrying three Cadets and one Lieutenant who was taking care of them as they cruised around the edge of Imperial Space.

The quarters on the Royalist were cramped, it was after designed to carry as small a crew as possible, whilst carrying as much equipment as possible. Thankfully with only three cadets aboard, they had been able to move some of the bunks out of the ship and provide themselves with more space to move around in. With the Corvette on 'Auto-Pilot', the Lieutenant and gathered the cadets into the bunk section.

"Ok, so, what year was H.M.S Excalibur initially commissioned in?" Lieutenant Valazquez asked.

"2521" Cadet Jenny Palmer replied "Three Hundred years ago next month"

"Correct" Valazquez replied "Now, do any of you know why Excalibur is in such good condition?"

"Before the Admiral's personnel moved on, they were very careful to lock down and firmly secure the ships, sitting in the kind of space they were in, there was no degragation to any of their systems" Cadet Jed Lynham replied.

"And finally, what is the name of Excalibur's sister ship?" Valazquez continued.

"Excalibur doesn't have one" Cadet Josh Gibson replied "She's the only ship of her class"

Valazquez smiled and nodded, about to speak again when the Corvette suddenly began to shake violently. The four humans glanced at each other a before the Lieutenant darted into the front of the craft. Throwing himself into the chair and sliding his hands across the control as he endeavoured to find out what was happening. The three cadets looked at each other, nerves clear on each others faces. THey were after all only 17 years old cadets and this situation was clearly not going to end well.

"We've entered an unstable Jump Corridor" Valazquez commented "I can't throttle back"

The Lieutenant wouldn't speak another word as the console he was working at exploded, rather spectacually in his face, sending him sprawling to the deck, as the Corvette hit a spatial shear. Gibson glanced at his two friends before sitting in the secondary console and desperatly trying to pull the shuttle out of the Corridor.

"We're back in normal space" He reported as the corridor disappeared and normal space re-appeared "But where the fuck are we?"

The other two cadets sat down in the other consoles and began to try and figure out exactly where the corridor had deposited them, and how badly screwed they were. Soon enough it became clear that they were no where near Imperial Space and that they were going to need to find some help if they were going to get home, a star chart would be a good start.

"I'm sending out a distres call" Gibson announced.

"To any ships in the area, this is the Terran Imperial Ship Royalist, we have suffered a malfunction in our Jump Drives and require assisstance, to any ship in the area, please respond.

Right, I want one person, maybe two, to reply to this. No more, I'm not having dozerns of people turn up. This is intended to be in someones space, so unless you have a reason to be there, don't be without TGing either me or the guy who owns the space.

[Telvira]

Baaria System
"I say, cap'n! Come take a look at this sir."

Captain Richard Ellens, commander of the cruiser HMS Fearless, strode over to where his XO stood, hunched over a console. A younger lieutenant sat at the station, watching a lone blip on the RADAR.

"What is it, Coring?"

John Coring pointed to the blip. "Something just popped into the system, sir. Nothing big by the looks of it, but they're in a bit of a bother."

Ellens raised an eyebrow. It wasn't every day ships traveled through Baaria-the place was the closest the Empire had to a backwater. It was also a reason the planet only had two cruisers and a handful of destroyers and Customs frigates.

"Well," Ellens said, "Best go check it out." Coring nodded and snapped out the orders, and soon the cruiser was moving towards the stranded Terran corvette. As it moved, it sent a message, on the same frequency, to the damaged vessel.

"Royalist, this is His Majesty's Ship Fearless, ship of the Royal Navy of the United Stellar Empire of Telvira. We are coming to your aid, please make ready to receive boarders. If your ship cannot be repaired here, it will be towed to the Baaria drydocks. Please power down all weapons. Hostile action will result in your destruction."

[Terra Reborn]

H.M.S Royalist
Seeker Class Corvette

"Charming" Palmer muttered.

After all the Pulse Cannons had never been powered up in the first place, considering the ride they had just gone through very few of the ships primary functions were fully-online beyond life support. The sensor package, however, was working and was able to get pretty good readings from the alien ships that were coming to their assisstance. The Corvette was drifting in space, for a very good reason. Gibson had cut all power to the engines, he wanted to make it look like they were adrift so as to fully ascertain whether or not the aliens were likely to be hostile and take advantage of the situation. If they did, the element of suprise would have been on the Royalist's side.

"Let's cut that out" Gibson said sharply "We don't need that kind of shit, Can one of you go and see if we've got an P1's?"

Lynham nodded and headed back into the rear section of the craft as the two other cadets manned the ship, using the thrusters to stabalise the ship to allow for a safer tow to where ever these people were planning on taking them. A few moments later Lynham returned with three P1A1 Pulse Pistols in holsters. Handing them out, the three cadets quickly placed them on their belts.

"Do we all know how you use them?" Lynham asked.

"Point and shoot" Palmer dead-panned as she pointed to the powerclip and powerclip release, safety and trigger.

"Will you look at that" Lynham commented as they watched the alien cruiser approach "It looks just like a ocean ship from Earth"

The Three Cadets watched with interest as it approached before quickly going about that ask of securing the vessel. All the classified data stored aboard the vessel were secured in the Computer mainframe behind a full security system. The Corvette's AI began to record all internal activities and the sensor-log bouy was updated, just in case.

"Ok, Lids on" Gibson ordered, the three cadets put their issue Cadet Corps Beret's on and waied to see what would happen next.

[Telvira]

The lifeboat gracefully slipped out of the hangar, loaded with half a dozen people from the Fearless. Three Royal Marines, two engineers, and the ship's 3rd in command, Lieutenant Adam Williams.

The boat floated up alongside the corvette's airlock, and Williams went to the radio strapped to the back of one of the Marines.

"This is Lieutenant Williams hailing Royalist, I and a small number of crew are in a lifeboat outside your vessel. Would you kindly please open the airlock?"

[Terra Reborn]

[b]H.M.S Royalist
Seeker Class Corvette[/b]

"Do you think we should tell them we are Cadets?" Lynham commented suddenly as they watched as the smaller alien craft approach.

It was after all a legitimate question. There was the possibility that if the aliens were told that they were only cadets they would be treated differently, or perhaps it would even change the aliens intentions. Of course, lieing to an alien race wasn't the best thing to do as soon as you met them so there was also that particular aspect to consider.

"Yes" Gibson replied eventually "Trustworthyness is an important part of being an Officer, and although we aren't yet, we will be soon"

The two other cadets nodded their agreement as they assembled near the airlock, which led into a small chamber in between the rear section and the piloting section. Standing at ease they ordered the AI to unlock the airlock and allow the aliens to board their vessel. They kept their hands in the 'at-ease' position, as close to their sidearms as they could without appearing threatening.

Then they waited.

[Telvira]

The airlock opened, and into the corvette stepped history.

The first man in was one of the Royal Marines, dressed in the standard battle dress. His rifle looked exactly like an old Lee-Enfield.

Behind him came a man in basic blue overalls and a gray shirt, carrying a toolbox. Behind him came a man in an officer's dress, and last was another Royal Marine.

The officer came to the front.

"Lieutenant Williams, Royal Navy," Williams said. "We're here to see what we can do about your problems."

[Terra Reborn]

H.M.S Royalist
Seeker Class Corvette

The three Cadets saluted smartly once they figured out that they were being adressed by an Officer. Although it was an alien, and not of their military it was good form to salute anyway. The Cadets kept their eyes on the entire party, playing particular attention to the armed personnel, whos weapons appeared similar to something out of a history book, although there was obviously something different that made it a practical weapon in the modern age. Either way they liked their chances if it went to a firefight, in the crampted quarters of the Corvette they would have more space to move with their sidearms than their 'friends' would with their rifles.

"Cadet Captain Josh Gibon, Imperial Navy Cadet Corps" Gibon replied simply "Thank you for any help you can offer us in getting our systems online, top on our list are FTL communications, as we'll need to contact our homeworld if we turn to be beyond the range of the Royalist, on that note would it be possible to get a local star chart, our navigational sensors are off-line so we can't determine our position accurately"

[Telvira]

"OK," Williams said. "Chief, think you can swing it?"

The man in the overalls shrugged. "Have to see the damage."

"Righto. Cadet, could you please show Chief here to the things that need fixing. He's pretty top at his job, if he can't get it working you're welcome to use the ansible back in port. We can get you a proper map there too, and anything else you need? Any chaps badly banged up, might need a doctor?"

[Terra Reborn]

H.M.S Royalist
Seeker Class Corvette

Gibson sighed.

"Our officers dead" He Replied.

As the other two cadets took the chief into the front to show him the systems, includeing the parts on the outside that would need to be repaired in someway shape or form. Gibson instead led the officer into the cargo compartment where Lieutenant Valazquez had been respectfully placed. His eyes closed and a spare blanket placed over his body. It didn't look like it, but the officer was in fact in stasis, where he would remain until they could return to Imperial Space and he could be given a Military Funeral.

"He was killed when our Tactical Computer blew up in his face" Gibson explained "Poor guy, he was due for promotion"

[Telvira]

Lieutenant Williams shook his head. “Bloody shame. Sorry about that, mate.” They stood there awkwardly for a while, until Chief returned with the cadets.

“Well?” Williams inquired.

“Pretty banged up, leftenant,” Chief replied. “Not much I ‘kin do here ‘sides keep the tub from exploding. Figure it’ll need some time in dock.”

Williams nodded, turning back to the Gibson. “Well, looks like you’ll be staying for a while, until your ship is fixed or your people send someone to pick you up. We’ll head back to the Fearless, manage the tow.”

The boarding team departed, and soon after the Fearless had grabbed hold of the corvette via magnetic grapple. With a silent roar of fusion engines, the cruiser turned back to Baaria.

From space, the planet seemed to be a uniform tan/brown, covered in deserts by the look of it. Several large splotches of grey were visible, marking major settlements. In orbit, there hung three massive elevators, designed for transit from space to surface quickly. Also visible were the docks from which the Royal Navy operated; two more cruisers, the same make as the Fearless, and one larger ship could be seen, as well as a host of small vessels.

[Terra Reborn]

H.M.S Royalist
Seeker Class Corvette

With their new 'friends' off-the-ship, the Cadets returned to the front compartment to watch as their ship was towed deeper into the system. For all intents and purposes the meeting had gone as well as could be expected. Now all they needed to do was find a communication system that was capable of reaching the distance required, provide the Navy with their co-ordinates and the wait until Excalibur could be spared to come and pick them up. Exactly how long that would take remained to be seen.

Whilst the three of them tried to perform some repairs with the help of the Royalist's AI, they were not trained Navy Engineers so what they could do was limited. They were able to stabilise the Life Support, which was something as they now wouldn't die of asphyxiation.

"We're gonna get through this" Gibson promised"

[Telvira]

The new arrival was quickly explained to the port authorities, who set aside a berth for the crippled corvette. In drydock, the ship was enclosed in a protective grav-bubble, a handy device which allowed for zero-g maneuvering, with oxygen. Mechanics could operate in much easier circumstances, with the benefits of zero-g.

As the repairs began, the crew was informed that they were welcome to exercise their shore leave privileges. Directions to the nearest space elevator were given, one that would take them down into the main “port” city of Haven.

[Terra Reborn]

H.M.S Royalist
Seeker Class Corvette

It didn't take the cadets long to decide that they would infact go down to the Planet, as there was little they could do to help up here, not in any realistic sense anyway. Leaving the AI in charge, they pulled on their smart GP jackets and Beret's and headed off the Corvette and followed the directions. They were all still armed, and would remain so unless told otherwise. The general plan was also to stick together as they didn't need anyone getting hurt, or even lost.

"How long you reckon we'll be here for?" Palmer asked as she brushed her hair behind her ear.

"Depends, it's doubtful we can get the Jump drives fully working, and it all depends on how soon Excalibur can come to pick us up" Gibson replied "Time will tell"

[Telvira]

Haven was a city built around the elevators. From the moment the Terrans stepped off onto the dusty ground of Baaria, they would be accosted by all manner of merchants. They were male and female, some alien, selling trinkets, maps, drugs, themselves, or other beings. They were insistent and loud, trying to outdo each other, but all but disappeared after one left the port itself and entered the city.

There the vendors were more subdued, often hawking more respectable wares (though the prostitutes remained) from pushcarts or stalls. There were 3D movie halls, clubs, hotels, and stores-anything that wasn't built to cater to ship crews was built to house and support the people who worked in those businesses.

Along with Telviran humans, there were quite a few beishar, descendants of a colony of Twi'leks that had landed on Baaria long ago. They were all dressed in similar plain, white clothes, and many of the women were actively being hawked as slaves. No one paid it much attention besides those actively involved.

[Terra Reborn]

Imperial Cadet Landing Party

The Cadets kept together, not wanting to get caught up in all this activitise of various stages of legallity. There was nothing they could do, they had no authority, so they just kept themselves to themselves until they reached the actual city. They looked around, taking in as much as possible, they wanted to make a good impression on the Imperial Navy once all this was finished of course, so the more they could report about another world and another Stellar power, the better. They tried to remain as small as possible, not attracting attention, although their uniforms probably didn't help that endeavour as it caused them to stand out, even amongst other uniforms.

They moved between the various shops and attractions, taking a look and finding out ifany of the supplies that were currently on their Corvette could fetch enough money to allow them to enjoy themselves. Surely the Navy wouldn't mind.

Would they?

[Telvira]

New Haven
There were plenty of places willing to exchange goods for currency, or convert foreign currency into Telviran pounds. The rates were probably below the actual exchange ratio, but it wasn’t like they could get a better deal.

With Telviran currency in their pockets, they would be able to enjoy whatever leisure activities they preferred. Their uniforms got them one or two looks, but one saw all kinds show up in New Haven so there wasn’t much more than cursory examination.

[Terra Reborn]

Imperial Cadet Landing Party

Once they had local money, the cadets quickly got about the task of looking around for something fun to do. The general consensus was that they would have to be careful, the last thing the Empire needed was for a bunch of cadets to cause a bigger diplomatic incident than they already had, amongst other things, starting a brawl probably wasn't a good idea.

Presently however, they found a Club and went inside.

[Telvira]

The clubs in New Haven made no false promises-they were not designed to be institutions of relaxed leisure, they were designed to get ship crew on shore leave drunk, possibly high, and laid as fast as they could lay money down.

The club the cadets entered was arrayed slightly like a planet. It was circular room, with various layers. On the outer layer, people stood around and talked and drank lightly; this was mostly for meeting people. The next layer was for the drinkers and smokers; everyone had a drink and many people had stimsticks, their tips glowing bright red.

Beyond that, things got more risque. The next layer boasted the "respectable" dancers, who had the same amount of clothes on when they left as they had on when they came on (it still wasn't much). After that came the strippers, a dozen raised platforms on which women, human and beishar, swayed and danced to the pulsating techno beat, wearing little to nothing.

And in the center, like the molten core of a planet, were the whores. For enough money, you got a clean girl, a private room, and some private time.

Each layer cost money to enter, effectively multiplying the cost of getting to the center by several times. It was a brilliant scheme, one that was the standard in such institutions nowadays and very lucrative.

[Terra Reborn]

Imperial Cadet Landing Party

"Look you two, behave yourselves" Palmer said almost warnignly as they got drinks and sat down at a table to begin drinking "WE're not having any trouble, Ok?"

The two other cadets nodded as they glanced around the room, taking in the various sections, and the price it would cost to get into them. For now they would remain here. Lynam sighed as he glanced over at Palmer. He had feelings for her, that much he knew, but he was also pretty sure that she was never going to return them.

With a sigh he turned back to his drink.

[Telvira]

New Haven
Not many people bothered them while they had their drinks; most of the people in this place were too drunk to try.

After a while, a man in a uniform came over, drink in hand.

“Navy pukes, I’ll bet,” he said, clearly not exactly in command of himself. “Fucking Navy, gets all the fucking glory these days. Hmph.” He took a long drink, polishing off the glass.

“You Navy types wouldn’t last ten seconds on land,” he said. “Got no, no spine. Prob’ly run and piss yourselves. Heh.” His face was covered in a stupid grin, one born of drunkenness and a belief in one's innate superiority. It was the kind of face that usually ended up getting punched.

[Terra Reborn]

Imperial Cadet Landing Party
New Haven

By the time this drunken fool came over to them, it was fair to say that the cadets had had some drinks. The most level headed of them was, unsuprisingly Palmer as she realised the need to keep an eye on the two idiots that were now apparently in her charge. Needless to see she could see a problem developing almost immediatly. Of the three of them she was the only one to notice that the drunk was adorned in a Uniform, usually not the best people to start a brawl with, as it always ended up badly.

She sighed. Imperial Cadets received basic Hand to Hand combat training to prepare them for Naval service, but against a fully-trained soldier, the best they could do was avoid getting hurt to much, unless they got lucky.

Of course, when drunk, all that shit went out the proverbial window.

In the end it was Lynam who stood up, balled his hand into a fist, pulled his arm back before promptly slamming his fist into the Drunks face as hard as he could physically manage.

[Telvira]

OOC-Sorry for the mega-delay

The man went stumbling backwards, blood flying from his nose. He stumbled backwards onto the table behind him, obscenities flowing from his mouth.

His buddies, who had been gathered nearby, were understandably outraged. Three more soldiers were quickly advancing on the cadets, all noticeably drunk and swinging at the "damn Navy pukes" who had the audacity to hit an Army man.

[Terra Reborn]

Imperial Cadet Landing Party
New Haven

"You are a god-damn idiot" Palmer scowled in the direction of the idiot in question.

Needless to say the Cadets were in trouble, and they just needed to get out and back to their ship before they really got themselves into trouble. With at least three soldiers advancing on them, and several more potentials, they needed some firepower on their sides. It was at this point that Palmer remembered that she had a P1 strapped to her hip. Un-buckleing the strap and pulling it out and arming it, the weapon made a distinctive buzz, that could be muffled for stealth, but right now they needed to make an impact.

The other two copied, but kept their weapons by their sides, insteam Palmer held it up in the air, making it clear she was armed.

"Hey...Hey... stay back" Palmer shouted loudly "I don't want to use this, but will if I must!"

[Telvira]

The crowd was not visibly subdued by the brandished weapon, but the staff was not amused. A trio of burly men, bouncers, soon shoved their way through the crowd. They too had pistols, still holstered, and small clubs.

"No weapons in the club," one said, hand resting on the pistol. "Put 'em away. And you," he turned to the soldiers. "No brawling. Go back to your drinks."

The crowd, seeing there would be no fight, began to return to their tables.

[Terra Reborn]

Imperial Cadet Landing Party
New Haven

Palmer shrugged, it had the desired effect either way. The cadets settled back down again to finish of their drinks. They would probably head back to their ship in the near future, but for now the would at least finish their drinks. Most likely the bouncers would be keeping an eye on both groups. The Cadets because they were armed, adn the soldiers cause they were clearly plastered. Palmer caught Lynam looking over at her often, he blushed promptly when caught, meanwhile Gibson kept glancing towards the inner sections.