All action starts at 'Coats Bar & Grill

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GANG! We got busted for copyright vio's for using Queen for this. UMD is allowing us to keep the video up in exchange for tracking our viewing stats. I recommend that you LOG OUT of your YouTube account before viewing it.


note to Atillian Crew-If I missed your character in the creds, please pm me. We've got a BOATLOAD of people flyin' on this thing.

Admin note: Players, feel free to post for any in-shuttle reactions, discussions, introductions, etc. Alexz, Rahl would appreciate it if you took a look at his eye once you get the chance. I'll progress up to the ship either tomorrow night or Monday.

The Breeze stretched out a kink in her long legs with a deep, contented sigh and a catlike twist of her hips that had her sprawled out across two or three seats as she began to card her fingers through the spill of Lovely's hair, luxuriating in the deliciously textural burn of the silky threads over her bloodied knuckles.

It was a hell of a thing, that was for sure. Getting passengers was shiny all by itself, 'specially ones that called her exquisite -and their eyes weren't painted on, neither, to be sayin' so, cause they made movies! Porno, even!- but coming on the heels of a bar fight as it did made her hope that things were going to get better for them.

Hell, even Rahl got to sock Cap'n Ted McRuttface. She'd have liked to get a few licks in herself, if she'd seen him first- she didn't know much about the guy, but what she did know was enough to turn even her stomach, and that was saying something, cause she'd once eaten a plateful of monkey testicles, and between the two, the nuts had been the more palatable by far. Speaking of which... "Thought we was gonna stick around fer a few, Cap? Y'know, stay in crappy no-tell motels, get drunk offa pissy tourist booze, the whole deal. What gives?"

Yangtree was last on board, he made sure of that, defering only to the Captain, 'still herding the crew like chillins, which I'm sure they resent the hell out of'.
The Captain seemed to make a head count, but that they were all on board one of Atilla's craft seemed to him 'pretty much happenstance.'

Rex sat uncomfortably in the chair, he'd strapped in and buckled up, but his back hurt now. And his left hand, the one that had held the little steel lipstick sized flashbang; it had made for a helluva punch, his knuckles were swelling up now.

'So much for soaking in a spa and smoking an overpriced cigar while stoned houri massaged my muscles under the warm magical mineral waters of the secret hidden springs of Santo, hmph.'

He shifted again in the seat, his back was bruised under his shirt; hurting now that the adreniline from the bar fight was over. The pain was straight across from shoulder blade to shoulder blade.

Yangtree finally found a place of some comfort, or at least minimal pain; with eyes closed, he rested his head and listened to the shuttle and the crew.

Jax suggested that someone's riding along with Bayttee... So if you want to riding with her, go ahead and write yourself in.

Bayttee sped her little two-seater car along, it's three wheels humming as she tried to keep pace with the speeder driven by the first mate. Drew? Short for something? Druscilla maybe? Either way, it was a speed-demons dream.

Neon orange, taxi-yellow, dirty-street gray: all whipped by in an impressionist paintings blur as the tiny car revved to it's highest capacity. Swerving hard, Bayttee managed to miss a pair of long-legged dancers crossing the road, only to have to jerk the wheel back over as a whun-dahn in a huge black hover-limo hogged the entire road.

"GET A LICENSE!" She screamed out her window, as she slammed on the brakes, sending the back end of the car swinging around. "BASTARD!"

Behind them, sirens roared and she had to smile smugly to herself. Out in the nick of time. "Let's not make a habit of that, Bay-girl." She murmured to herself. So far so good, she thought. She'd made contact, had a ride, shown she could hold her own in a tight spot.

And now she was running from cops through mid-day New Las Vegas Traffic! What a day, Bayttee, what a ruttin' crazy day!



Bayttee's car- only hers is substantially older and more battered looking. Kind of rusty.

The car looks built for one, but why not...


Rolf volunteered to ride the woman, Bayttee. He wasn't sure of his decision yet, considering he had caught glimpses of her during the fight. Rolf didn't know if he wanted to be on the wrong side of her fists. He climbed aboard anyway and the ride started like he expected, but soon...

Wow! This was almost as much fun as a gunfight. That put it pretty far from eating, but still awesome. Rolf watched the blurs of other cars as they sped along. As the collage of colors whizzed by he let out a roar of a laugh.

As the woman dodged a pair of dancers in the street and then swerved the other way to dodge some fancy-pants limo, Rolf reassessed his opinion of the woman. She is definitely the good kinda crazy!

As the back end of the car suddenly swung around, Rolf grabbed onto the door. "GET A LICENSE! BASTARD!"

"Heilige Scheiße! Ich denke, dass ich ein neues Paar Hosen benötige." Bayttee muttered something as sirens began to whine behind them. Those cops might need some convincin' to leave us alone..." Rolf removed his pistol from between his lower cheeks and glanced back as he let out another howl of laughter. "Things are startin' to get interestin', huh?"



Translation note: "Heilige Scheiße! Ich denke, dass ich ein neues Paar Hosen benötige." in english is "Holy [expletive deleted]! I think I need a new pair of pants."

The fight had ended as abruptly as it had started... Alekz was pretty sure they were the winners, but the crew had sustained their fair share of scrapes and bruises.

Aboard the shuttle, Alekz was too busy eyeballing the injuries of the captain to care about the other crew, or the newcomers. With what he referred to as his "essentials kit" clipped to his belt, Alekzander had a small pen light shining into the captain's eyes, his free hand holding his eye lid open.

"Maybe you are having concussion, Captain... do not be going to sleep soon..." tucking the light into a pocket, he pulled a small squeeze tube of disinfectant and placed a small dab on a sizable gash near the captain's eye. "or be getting into any more fisty fights soon..." stashing the tube back in his kit, he pulled a minuscule butterfly bandage and spliced the cut together... it might leave a terrible scar that way, but the captain was probably ok with that. "Or be getting into any fights at all, okay?"


He might convince Rahl of a stitch or two when they were back aboard the ship.. but for now he was healthy o-kay. Glancing around at the other occupants of the shaky shuttle, Alekz did his best to identify anyone else who might need treatment. He wasn't sure how many of his rag-tag troupe were content to lick their own wounds.

He was lucky.
Ghost luck some called it.

All through the war, he had taken injuries and cuts, bullets and the close explosions.
Never once had he missed a night on the line, not up in the black jumping from ship to ship taking out the Indy space forces; not in the trenches when they didn't need him cutting through bulkhead. 'through and throughs'; cuts that missed arteries; blasts that tossed him like a straw rag doll.

Ghost luck some called it.
Those soldiers that couldn't seem to die, or even get hurt.
A rain of shells comes down, they walk away;
their ship crashes, they get a little glass in their hair.
Those soldiers that had that weird light around him. You knew they were getting through it alive.
When someone that everyone thought had the ghost did die,
it just made those others all the more spooky.

- - -

Yangtree opened his eyes to a small slit and spotted Alekz giving the rest of them the look over.

He'd like to have his back looked at, just to be sure;
pretty sure something cracked or pulled out of joint on his hand;
and his jaw and left cheek took a whack.

Rex had got no qualms about getting the medic on him;
you can't fight if you don't heal up.
But the idea of having the still certainly drunk Alekz setting his index finger back in it's joint properly isn't one he's too excited about.
Not the pain, he'd just like to have it done right.

Rex raised his hand anyway, like a good soldier, and showed him the swollen knuckles of his left hand.

- - -
He took another look around,
Breeze back there, and the new dolly-do-it-all.
As he leaned back in the seat, found that comfortable position again, the reality sank in.

There weren't any more battles coming. Barfights and deals gone bad, that's it.
He could go hire on with a merc band, but that was like shooting ducks in a barrel; not a battle, not the challenge. Not companies of soldiers spread out around him, following his lead; not a squad rocketing across the black to a ship with twenty times their number on it; not at platoon crawling through mud and blood to get close enough to charge a position with guns trying to kill you.
Flanking, covering, moving, waiting, planning.

Could've stayed on the dole. Alliance hunting down the diehards; the gangsters and bandito; the little tiny warlords. Just bigger ducks, still a barrel.

Besides, he liked ducks.

Could've stayed at Higgin's Moon, be out hunting insurgents now.
Hardly difficult, they tend to group together for the comfort of the revolution.
Or joined them, but then that'd be breaking them out to little cells, playing a different game.

No, it's all over.

'I've got this lot then, not that any of em'll give a flip.
That Baytee looks like a pal, we'll see.
And got the Breeze back there for fun'
- the little pang about something not being quite right about her,
that he's taking advantage of something precious long broke, it's still there, but hell, 'I'm only human'.

He smiled to himself.

'not a bad lot, got my gear;
got my health, still young;
flying around the black,
why would I want to go get a real job for?'

'nothing much can happen,
I got the ghost luck'

'just a lucky duck I guess'

"Things are startin' to get interestin', huh?"

"Interestin' don't begin to define it!" Bayttee laughed along with her passenger. He was alright, this one. She'd been a little worried that Rolf might be an uptighter, but if he was lovin' the ride, then he couldn't be all bad. The glance across the car had pulled her attention from the road for a split-second, "WHOA! Hold on!"

The split second had caused her to miss the turn that Andrea had taken, and Bay jerked the wheel hard, bringing the car up on two wheels for a second. It thunked back to pavement with an unnerving grinding sound, and then they were in the docking-ships lanes.

Bayttee floored it, catching air as they whined up the cargo ramp of the Atillian, then breaking hard and pulling the wheel right, so that they spun full-circle, coming to a stop facing the open bay doors. "HELLALUIAH! That was fun, wasn't it?"

She jumped out of the car, shaking both hands to loosen the 'death-grip' she'd had on the steering wheel. She glanced over to Rolf to see if he'd had a heart attack yet, and then up and out the shuttle soaring in. Something wet hit her foot and she glanced down- some kind of engine fluid from under the car. Oops. Wonder how good their mech is? Bayttee let out a little sigh, then shrugged over at Rolf, "Guess sightseein' Santo wasn't exactly in y'all's plans?"

"Thought we was gonna stick around fer a few, Cap? Y'know, stay in crappy no-tell motels, get drunk offa pissy tourist booze, the whole deal. What gives?"

"Sticking around didn't seem like the best idea after that bar fight. We'll get some shore leave next stop," he promised, wincing as he felt the swelling around his eye. That huen-dahn Ted sure knew how to throw a good punch. He didn't have time to reflect on it as the shuttle came closer and closer to the ship. At the sound of a solid docking, Rahl relaxed. He was home.

As the sirens approached, he tensed once again. Feds. "Seems we've got visitors..." Moving onto the ship, he keyed the all-call. "This is the Captain speaking. All new passengers, welcome aboard The Atillian. We seem to have some visitors of the official variety, so your tour is going to be delayed. Breeze, show the new passengers to their quarters; Rex and Drew, meet me downstairs."

Switching the comm off, he moved towards the cargo bay, cutting through the galley long enough to check on Shannon. He glanced approvingly over the meal that was in progress. "Make sure you set some extra places at the table. We've got a full house," he informed the cook. Stepping easily from galley to cargo bay, Rahl waited calmly as the sirens grew closer.

Rex Yangtree dozed a bit, a lecture by the old one at Academy, the void lecture, the one that left everyone scratching their heads and reaching for the Tao Te Ching.

He woke as the shuttle docked.

Sirens sounded, 'not a good sign.'
Great, his curiosity as to the Captain's cargo stirred up, but then, they hadn't got it on board yet. 'must be about the fight.'

" . . . Rex and Drew, meet me downstairs."

"Yes Captain." He replied, just loud to enough to make sure Rahl knew he had heard him.

Yangtree went straight there, Cargo Deck, waited for Drew and Rahl.
He made no sign by his posture that his back hurt, a quick look at himself at a reflection in a window told him he looked much as his Captain did; that he'd just been in a fight.

He nodded to Bayttee and another chap, one that had been at the bar.
The Captain had invited everyone back, passengers and potential crew;
that should play in their favor, taking a boat load of transients off the planet.

Rex took the Alliance Officer issue pistol out from his belt in the back and figured to either set it aside, or slip into the front of his belt if it was definate Purple Bellies coming to give them the go-around. 'Couldn't hurt.'

On The SHIP

Shannon had become accustomed to staying on the ship in his kitchen cooking. Always cooking. Finding ways to better flavor the protien. Some days he would even have help. Vuida was her name if he remembered correctly. She was too terrifed to leave. She often seated herself at the end of the table watching every move he made; every cut.

Today he knew would be special. He had perfected the protien. Finding the right combination of flavor. Taking a small taste, Shannon spoke to himself. "Lovely."

"HELLALUIAH! That was fun, wasn't it?"

Rolf chuckled a bit as the car spun around in the ship. The adrenaline was gone now, and the ride was over.

"Guess sightseein' Santo wasn't exactly in y'all's plans?"

Rolf shrugged, "Bah, sightseeing don't usually involve food. And I didn't get to finish my meal at the bar." He rubbed his tummy to emphasize his statement.

"This is the Captain speaking. All new passengers, welcome aboard The Atillian. We seem to have some visitors of the official variety, so your tour is going to be delayed. Breeze, show the new passengers to their quarters; Rex and Drew, meet me downstairs."

Rolf wondered if they would eat soon, he was starving.

As he waited, looking through the viewport at the source of the approaching sirens, he turned and walked over to Bayttee and Rolf.

"Glad you made it Bayttee." He is indeed, she seemed 'kindred'.
Rex eyed the vehicle they had arrived in with some gleeful amusement, smiled and nodded at its appropriateness and functionality.

He offered his right hand to Rolf, "Rex Yangtree, Sergeant of the Guard."
Rex made a polite and yet slightly playful stiffening of the body, with a bow;
all but a click of the boots.
'the man has a bit of a soldiery cut to him... but then, after uniwar, who didn't?'

Yangtree is definitately feeling better, some fine recreational fighting;
a little rest in the shuttle;
dinner getting put on the table, new crew to meet;
the Breeze loosening up for god know's what;
now; just get out of this little entanglement.

"Don't worry about chow call, we've a fine cook. As soon as the Captain arrives and assuming we avoid criminal prosecutions and detainment, we'll be sitting down for sup."

He kept an eye on the cargo door, ready to join the Captain and X.O.

"So, your friend at the Tavern? You caught up on old times?" He said to Bayttee, flexing the sore left hand.

Lazarus stretched his arms as he left the shuttle, immediately spotting his equipment and the luggage he'd waved the hotel for in transit. Already pleased with the ruggedness of the crew, he removed a lens from his jacket pocket and began to frame the Attilian.

"Yessss, yesss...very nice, very worn, yet sturdy...screams frontier ride, aches for rustic sweat & lust!"

Looking around the cargo bay, he noted the space would suffice for studio space if needed, "Exquisite..." he mumbled to no one in particular.

Suddenly, he felt the weight of another upon his back, "What d'ya think brother? Think this band of brigands can get the 'ol juices flowing?" Lovely asked, now piggy-backing a ride on Lazarus.

"Indeed, sister, indeed! I'm seeing possibilities aplenty unfolding before mine eyes, my dear Lovely. We should have quite the adventure ahead of us here, yes...quite the adventure!"

<< OOC - Lovely GM'd w/permission >>

The cruiser pulled up outside, one of its inhabitants studying the Jester with a sneer. "These gorram scavengers. They're no good for anybody. Little better than Browncoats and most of them are sympathizers anyway. What are you doing, Reed?"

"Just practicing, boss," the younger cop responded, muttering under her breath.

"You're not going to last in this job," the elder predicted, looking to the open bay door. "Let's go." The two moved towards the open bay doors together, badges out.

"May I help you gentlemen?" The blonde had stepped forward, speaking first. The Captain, wanting to defend his precious piece of go-se ship? Another crew member, covering for an absent Captain? He seemed calm, arms folded across his chest. If Lawrence had to guess, he'd say this lean man had each hand on a gun. Spotting his extra muscle wasn't difficult either, a wary looking female standing off to the right and a dark man trying to hide the fact that he'd recently been hurt.

"Looks like you've seen some recent action. Been to Coats Bar & Grill lately?" Reed, remembering the right questions. Still, the looks she was giving, paying more attention to the ship than the criminals, worried Lawrence. Once they finished this, he'd remind her to stay focused when they were on the job.

"Possibly. Why?" The blonde again, deflecting their comments and preventing anyone else from being addressed. Yes, this was the Captain. The rest, on the other hand, from the piggy back ride to the street savvy woman near the door studying them, didn't seem to fit the equation. Allowing Reed to take the reins, Lawrence resumed his quiet study, moving slowly around the cargo bay. He didn't miss the blonde's nod, no doubt summoning one of the others to stop him.

Mira was more than happy to get out of the bar fight and follow along to the shuttles. She was confident she could talk herself into a job. She was ace at interviews for many reasons. She’d find a way to convince the captain of her usefulness. For now she just got on the shuttle and inspected the faces of those around her.

Quite a varied crew, they must be heading for something big if they were willing to take anyone who wanted to come. Little dollar signs and the cha-ching of a cash register filled her mind. After they landed she made sure to go right to the boss.

”Names Mira. Lookin’ t’work for fare on your ship. Met your boy Alekz already.” She said as the sirens became much louder.

”But you seem busy. After business is done how’s about we discuss my situation aboard your ship.” She didn’t bother getting flirty, it didn’t seem like it would fly. Good thing for Mira she was more than just a great body, her ability with computers and con tricks such as fake I.D. making might come in handy. Of course her fake I.D.’s didn’t always fool the feds but sometimes they did. Not long after she approached the captain, the port authority decided to show up. How the captain handled them would be a good indication of his ability to lead a ship. Mira leaned against a crate, crossing her arms and legs as she watched.

Now that Shannon had found the best way to cook protein, he'd keep the real meat for special occasions only. Like after missions, birthdays, or Captains orders. The smells of food traveled the hallways for noses. The air was a mixture of bacon, protein, and turnovers with cinnamon.

‘She’s here again today.' He thought as he looked at the far end of the table. Shannon smiled at her.

Vuida smiled back. 'Smiles today, this is a little off putting.' She thought to herself.

"Looking forward to a little grub?" Shannon said with the intent of picking her mind.

Viuda shifted in her seat so she was sitting with her back against the chair. "Oh yes, thank you. Your food is always delicious, Mr. Grey, but if I may say so. Your deserts are better." She smiled then.

'Just like a bird, always watching. She seems harmless enough, but she ever tries anything I ruttin' clip her pretty little wings.' Shannon smirked as he spoke, "Thanks."

"Rex Yangtree, Sergeant of the Guard."

"Rolf Pappenschtein, ex-soldier; current-merc." Rolf tried mimicing the man's little bow-like motion. He looks like a tough soldiery type, might have a friend here...

"Don't worry about chow call, we've a fine cook. As soon as the Captain arrives and assuming we avoid criminal prosecutions and detainment, we'll be sitting down for sup." Rex turned to Bayttee, giving Rolf the time to eye him more carefully.

The man is definitely a soldier, his build way of moving; they are similar to mine. Judging from the bow and the efficient way of moving maybe trained Allinace. Probably would be fit for command. That's good I'm not much for thinkin' anyways. It was at that point that Rolf's tummy reminded him(and anyone close enough) what Rex had said. He just couldn't wait for some food, and Rex said they had a fine cook... I'm already starting to like this ship. He nodded absently to no one in particular thinking about grub time.

"Pardon me." Rex said to Rolf and intended to say to Baytee, who was already out of sight. He moved close to the official folks that had come on board. His movement didn't suggest threatening, but he made sure the Alliance Officer's Pistol tucked in the front of his belt was still noticable.

He's not entirely sure just what the Captain's little head gesture meant, other than... something. But then, he's had less clear instructions. Initiative and arrogance isn't anything he'd been short of in the past.

"Hello Officers." He smiled like he was glad to see them, comrads of a sort; he stepped in front of them, as though looking for some sincere recognition, not touble.
"Good to see you mates about, I was just back at the coats bar earlier,"
He leaned a little close, "I heard some wannabee Dust Devils made some rather inappropriate comments."

Rex looked around, "I hear they got handed their hat in hand if you know what I mean." His face made a smirk, though if it's meant as a threat, or sort of an emphasis on 'know what I mean', Rex leaves to the officers of the law.



(edited)

Alekzander eyed the goings on of the cargo-bay carefully, watching the two strangers sullenly. Holding a rather malicious looking stuffed brown duck in his arms, he sidled slowly around the cargo bay in a wide arc, interposing himself between the door and the talking man, and affording himself a glance outside.

"Looks like you've seen some recent action. Been to Coats Bar & Grill lately?"

"Sometimes it is best to be being off the fence than defending the fence."

He furrowed his brow in thought... that wasn't quite right... Petting his duck affectionately, he began to edge slowly forward with a rather detached look on his face.

The captain was possibly suffering from a concussion... which meant he was highly susceptible to serious injury if these little piggys decided to start anything.

"Killing the queen ant is better than being eating picnic while itchy"
"Possibly. Why?"

Somewhere in Alekz still alcohol-saturated mind, he wondered why he was immediately on the captain's side, instead of the feds. What loyalty did he owe Rahl that caused him to be instantly willing to stomp the cop into the cargo-bay floor if he showed any intention of attacking the captain?

"Be shooting first, and asking questions later."

Alekz was stopped a few steps behind the man; it would take him but a split second to take a step forward and plant a boot in the cop's fat head. Still caressing his duck lovingly, Alekz did his best to hold the bored and distant look on his face... how menacing could a flanking oversized drunken russian be if he had a stuffed duck in his arms?

Eyes wandering from Rex to Mira to the cops to Rahl and back again, Alekz waited, with more patience than he thought he had, for some sign of which direction this was about to go.

"Quack..." he quacked rather loudly, holding the duck up to his ear for guidance.

He wouldn't laugh. He wouldn't laugh. He wouldn't gorram laugh! Still, watching Rex and Alexz work, each doing their own sort of fumbling in the presence of the Feds was enough to bring a near prideful smirk to Rahl's face. Which was funnier - the more obvious comedy of a drunk Russian holding a stuffed duck or the harder to laugh at view of Rex trying to figure out just where he fit in. The Feds looked around, the elder giving Rex a look that made Rahl's blood start to boil. The look in the younger cop's eyes, however...

The girl looked just plain bored, as if she wanted to get away from her partner. She wanted to get off the planet itself. Before Rahl's analysis could go any further, the veteran fed looked Rex up and down, studying him the way a dog familiar with poison might smell a piece of meat. The strangers confidence and bravado was there to put them on edge as he sneered around the cargo bay, glancing distastefully towards the piggybacking passengers whose names Rahl hadn't learned yet.

"As I heard it, the fight got started by a group about this crew's size...assuming there's more of you than those standing here in this cargo bay. This is a very large ship, after all. Sure to have plenty of nooks and crannies."

"You're out here investigating my ship all because of some bar fight?" Rahl arched a brow. "If we're not being bound by law, I have to ask you to get off my ship. We've got cargo to deliver."

"I'd like to see your papers." The younger Fed, trying to say the right words, sticking to the script.

"You want to see my pedigree, baobei?" Accompanying the tease with a wink, Rahl motioned Drew to go after the papers, ignoring the growing sneer on the older cop's face and focusing on the soft blush appearing on the younger's cheek.

"A roster of the crew and cargo, sir."

"It'll be here in a second. So, are you new at all this?" He moved closer to her, smile turned calm and rogueish, blue eyes sparkling.

"I-uh...I've only been in the field a few weeks."

"You're about to be bound by law if you don't watch your step!" The waver in his voice, the nervousness, meant Rahl had the upper hand once again.

At the false warning, Rahl held up both hands, showing that he wasn't touching her and had no plans to. "Just being friendly. It'll be a minute or two before my XO finds that paperwork for you. Why not kill the time with some conversation?" He kept his question innocent, briefly locking eyes with Rex and nodding towards the other Fed. After a glare, the Fed turned away, studying the crew's decoy cargo as Rahl took the opportunity to whisper instructions to Rex, his tone urgent. "Keep him distracted until Drew gets back and you'll get to move to the crew quarters." Instructions issued, he returned to the female Fed, false sweet-nothings at the ready. It was time to embarrass these Feds off of his ship.

Adam watched from the shadows, and when appropriate, he silently paralleled the cops’ movements. The pair didn’t realize that only a few crates filled with bogus cargo separated them from utter annihilation.

The Warlord was thirsty, and if his Master called him to battle, he would drink his fill.

"Oh, yippee," Rex replied, deadpan quiet enough for only Rahl to hear, and without restraint of the tempering the cynicism.

Rex hadn’t liked the way the older officer looked at him. If the man was any kind of Alliance, Rex felt he deserved respect until a valid reason said otherwise. The Alliance Officer's pistol in Rex’s belt made it plain who and what he was.

Former Officer Yangtree turned on his smooth talking, ass kissing charm;
he spoke with soft satiny lips and the words of a pit viper.

Rex walked slowly, pacing around the two officers, closer to the older male senior.

“Say there young detective. Are you paying attention?”
But he’s clearly addressing the older, turning his head in his direction.
“Always observe carefully when your superiors, or at least those of higher rank, are demonstrating their skills and acumen. The logic employed by your Senior Detective here, determining that our crew size was the same as someone he might, or might not, be looking for; despite admittedly not specifically knowing the actual size of our crew or stating the number he is looking for. Is it an amazing bit of the deductive approach versus the rather more supportable by investigating means, that being the inductive; or is it a carefully tossed net that entraps us no matter how many crew we have on board, since after determining that number, it could always match that number which he is, or maybe is not, in fact, looking for.”

Rex walked between the two officers, then another couple of steps; giving them a chance to exchange glances, very likely he figured there was a general mutual lack of respect, or at least now, a division. They were hardly working well together before, not let them share the embarassment of exactly what alliance business is being served here.

“But I doubt your mentor got to this fine station in life by feeding you these fine tidbits, relying more on you sniffing them out on your own. Is there a better way to learn how to best avoid the pitfalls, dead ends and bad stumbles than witnessing them for yourself; to ingrain them in your mind so that you can best repeat them; and then, when graduated to a senior position yourself, only then actually find the usefulness, . . or not, . . of their application?”

This was the usual spot when the general would exchange a glance with a colonel and wonder if someone should stop him from continuing. He liked getting that glance, it usually resulted in the end of any repeated invitations to staff meetings.

Rex looked back toward the younger officer and smiled sweetly.
“That’s right Dear, they’re rhetorical questions, quite right not to respond.”

Then again to the senior, “So which was it Dee-tective? Are you looking for rioters or smugglers, or just on a general papers review? I’m not sure I heard you specify, being as my mates and I were quite busy minding our own business.”

The Breeze had taken her sweet time getting down to the cargo bay, so she only caught the tail end o T-Rex's garglemesh-up of confusion, but she caught the gist of it. It went a long way toward explaining why there was a clown-car full of feds tromping round the cargo bay being official all over everything, but not so much about why Smart-Aleky had a duck. That was kinda weird. She wasn't too clear on the rusty pile of bike-shaped go-se oozing over in the corner that looked like it'd been used to beat a social worker round the head, but that was okay. Now that she thought about it, maybe it was good she hadn't been there to see how it all went down- it'd make a hell of a story.

The cops were less okay. They were fine if they were off hounding somebody else for manslaughter or rape or gravedigging or whatever, but it was much less funny if they were doing it on your doorstep, especially since there were passengers' hands to be held and trashpiles to fix. She did not need cops hanging around throwing her off. It was really annoying.

She vaulted the last four steps, stomped up to the cop that seemed to be running this freakshow, and prodded him in the chest, shoving him back a step. "You don't got a warrant, you don't got no cause to be here flappin' yer gums an' usin' up me air, like. So scram! Vamoose!" She planted her hands on her hips and scowled. She could take him. "Don't just stand around tryin' to be all intimidatin' with yer badge an' yer flunkies, ya look like a ruttin' idiot. Go ahead'n arrest us already if it'll help ya get off with yer buddy's wife tonight, but if not, get outta here an don't be a ruttin' tease!"

"Don't just stand around tryin' to be all intimidatin' with yer badge an' yer flunkies, ya look like a ruttin' idiot. Go ahead'n arrest us already if it'll help ya get off with yer buddy's wife tonight, but if not, get outta here an don't be a ruttin' tease!"

"And....CUT! shouted Lazarus. "Bravo, Dear, BRAVO! Essence, my dear, ESSENCE! You are absolutely CHANNELING Serenity James today! I assure you, Dame James is rolling over in her grave just to say, BRA-VO! Exquisite...yes...exquisite!" he continued, finally letting the lens he wore around his neck rest on his chest.

A quick look at the officers and the lens was once again raised to his camera eye, "And officers, dear God! The two of you were just MADE for a CorCast screen! Lovely, dearest, you MUST see these two sterling examples of stardom discovery, come quickly!"

Before the two could respond, Lazarus continued,"Now, if you don't mind, would you indulge me please by..."

"Offering us your names, fine keepers of the peace," Lovely interrupted, just in the nick of time.

Under normal circumstances, when her brother made his patented genitalia inspection request, Lovely found his nonchalance adorable and his subject's reactions entertaining, to say the least. However, current circumstances required prudence be the order of the day, as she had no desire to be bound by law...at least not until she'd had a chance to be bound by The Breeze.

After Lazarus shot her a puzzled look, she continued,"You see officers, my brother and I are CorCast producers, always on the lookout for...talent," she smiled.

Slinking up close to the younger of the two officers, Lovely began to caress her face, "Ah, yes, very nice, defined features...yes," she stepped back, running her eyes up and down the woman's body,"adorable figure too...absolutely 'liscious!"

"And you sir, if you don't mind me saying," she said to the older, male officer, "are the essence of rugged! Oh...where are my manners? My name is Lovely, the handsome gentlemen with the camera lens is my brother, Lazarus...here is our card." she cooed, handing him her Lovely Productions card.

"And this," she said excitedly, waving her arms around the cargo bay, "is the on location set for our next CorCast production! Rather gritty, don't you think?"

Digging into the small satchel at her waist, she removed a leather id wallet, "And forgive me again, here is our filming permit, complete with Core, Border World, and Rim stamps...I hope you find that all is in order and to your...satisfaction, Officer...?"

Officer Lawrence found his head spinning as people, presumably crew, appeared out of the wood-work. One of them seemed to be ex-military, likely Alliance; he could certainly talk the talk well enough. Out of nowhere came a brunette firecracker, getting in his face and throwing accusations as the Captain cringed, unable to catch her in time as he awaited the inevitable. Already, Lawrence was making a list of charges against this motley group of go-se.

"You don't got a warrant, you don't got no cause to be here flappin' yer gums an' usin' up me air, like. So scram! Vamoose! Don't just stand around tryin' to be all intimidatin' with yer badge an' yer flunkies, ya look like a ruttin' idiot. Go ahead'n arrest us already if it'll help ya get off with yer buddy's wife tonight, but if not, get outta here an don't be a ruttin' tease!"

As he reached for his badge, more than ready to haul this group in and scrap the freighter, trying to decide whether or not to unload his gun into the girl's belly, Reed shifted away from the crew, ignoring the previous advances of the Captain. No doubt the cocky blonde was mentally writing his will or planning his phone call; Lawrence glanced briefly to the Captain, infuriated to see that he still looked calm and cool. He'd haul the whole group in, check their records and-

"And....CUT! Bravo, Dear, BRAVO! Essence, my dear, ESSENCE! You are absolutely CHANNELING Serenity James today! I assure you, Dame James is rolling over in her grave just to say, BRA-VO! Exquisite...yes...exquisite!" What the rutt was this? Reed jumped as Lawrence continued to scowl. The entire ship was full of fong-le luh-suh. "And officers, dear God! The two of you were just MADE for a CorCast screen! Lovely, dearest, you MUST see these two sterling examples of stardom discovery, come quickly! Now, if you don't mind, would you indulge me please by..."

"Offering us your names, fine keepers of the peace. You see officers, my brother and I are CorCast producers, always on the lookout for...talent. Ah, yes, very nice, defined features...yes, adorable figure too...absolutely 'liscious!" These people were completely insane. Watching as the female swooped in, interrupting whatever the lens toter had planned to say, Lawrence found himself struck speechless as he struggled to see just how things worked on this ship.

"And you sir, if you don't mind me saying are the essence of rugged! Oh...where are my manners? My name is Lovely, the handsome gentlemen with the camera lens is my brother, Lazarus...here is our card...And this is the on location set for our next CorCast production! Rather gritty, don't you think? And forgive me again, here is our filming permit, complete with Core, Border World, and Rim stamps...I hope you find that all is in order and to your...satisfaction, Officer...?"

The stroke to his ego had the desired effect as he accepted the card, passing the rest of the information to Reed. "Get this checked," he growled, still suspicious. Something wasn't right on this ship and it seemed everyone was covering for someone. Still, the outspoken firecracker had had a point: if they weren't going to press charges, they would have to leave.

"Checks out, Sir. So do the ship's papers." Reed, still looking starry eyed and trying to hide it, passed him the papers, which he returned to their respective owners. "Let's get the rutt out of here. Good day, folks."

Turning, he moved down the cargo bay without looking back. He couldn't stand the smug look sure to be on the Captain's face, the look of the victor. Gorram Browncoat supporters, no good pirates... Glancing over, he groaned before barking back towards the ship. {b]"Reed, let's go!"[/b] This time, he would accept defeat. Next time, he'd find a reason. Next time, he'd comb that ship from top to bottom. Next time, he'd be ready.

From the shadows on the catwalk above, Bayttee watched the entire proceedings with some trepidation. Not until the Port Authority strode down the ramp, irritable at having been put out, did her more than ample breast heave a sigh of relief.

She finally had an in and if those hwun dahn moron PA rutt-monkeys had humped it ... Well, it didn't bear thinking on. Instead, she found her smile and shook her head in disbelief at the insane antics that a pair of straight badges could hardly hold up to.

"Well, girlfriend, let's just hope you can." She murmured to herself before calling over the catwalk, laughter bubbling her voice, "Y'all got some balls on ya, you know that? And... 'Quack'!?!?! Hope that ain't a statement of your skill set, doc!"

Rolf scratched his head as everyone started to go crazy. He watched as person after person came and babbled to the officers, trying to decide if this was some kind of diversionary tactic or if everyone had just lost their ruttin' minds.

The officer in charge seemed to be just as confused as Rolf was. The doctor man had a duck and was quacking one of those dancing women-folk was prodding and yelling, then the other was being all sexy and sweet talkin'. My head is starting to hurt. Although, this pointed towards some really fun times.

As the officers left Rolf let out a low whistle. "I think my head is going to explode. If that was on purpose, than I am going to be just as crazy as that seemed in a few days." Rolf emphasized his statement by sitting on the floor where he had been standing by the car.

Rex moved out of the way and took a seat on a crate. He looked to the Captain, and raised his eyes to indicate his order was beyond being followed now, others seemed to be taking matters into hand.

'So much for the Captain's plan? where's Drew with those papers?'

Chaos arrived in the perfect compact form of Breeze, quickly followed by her dancing partner, Bedlam. The third wheel, Pandemonium, quickly joined in.
'just the way the Captain planned it.'

Yangtree grinned with malignant amusement, 'Do we do anything that anyone actually plans or has a clue on the prior-to?' Yet he watched as they ran interferrence, keeping the senior officer and his young protege overwhelmed. Perhaps Rex heard shuffling of feet, or just a good instinct. He turned to look over his shoulder, to find Adam Man not far away, looming over his Captain like a rabid grizzly about to spring from a jack in the box.

'great' Rex made sure he wasn't in the line of that cataclysm.

The papers arrived and the Officer let it go, Rex remained uncertain as to the nature of the man's visit, unless he was addled by the antics. There must be a better way, 'if our papers are in order, why the releasing of us stooges in hysteria?'

Bayttee called from above, she that disappeared like a browncoat shadow from the Core sun. She spoke to Doc Alekz, "Y'all got some balls on ya, you know that? And... 'Quack'!?!?! Hope that ain't a statement of your skill set, doc!"

Rolf seemed as dismayed as Rex.
"I think my head is going to explode. If that was on purpose, than I am going to be just as crazy as that seemed in a few days."

"Not to worry mate, unscripted and improvisation is our method."
Rex remained on the crate, setting the pistol to the side for better comfort, he leaned back against another crate.
"Balls and quackery', be our motto."

Feeling as confused as the now absent cops, Rahl ignored the opportunity to remind The Breeze of just how lucky they were to have had the two passengers - Lazarus and Lovely - speak up. Before he could truly thank them or even begin with introductions, he had work to do - work in the form of the blonde female running up the ramp, all but throwing herself at him. He and Nichole exchanged an open mouthed, breath stealing kiss before he managed to push her gently away, one arm snaking around her waist.

"I see you made it, bao-bei."

"Good to see you didn't leave me behind. You kept your promise," she smiled up at him.

"Always." Another smile, almost relaxed before he whispered in her ear. Nichole closed her eyes, leaned towards him in the brief moments his breath tickled her ear and neck. "Whatever you say, Captain." Letting her fingers linger on his body as she moved away, she stepped back to wait as Rahl headed to the all-call.

"Maynard, Vuida, and Myra, please come to the lower cargo bay in three minutes." Dealing with passengers, a person always had to be polite. Killing the comm again, he scanned the cargo bay. Nothing to do but wait. Itching to finish the business portion of things, he moved over to Lazarus and Lovely, trying hard not to think of them as saviors.

"I have to know: was that talk about a CorCast production honest or just a line for the Feds?" The idea of having the ship, her crew, filmed... Rahl didn't need another visit from Silko's goons anytime in the near future. Behind him came a dull thud from the catwalk as Drew pulled out the luggage of the three passengers a bag at a time.


Drew GMed with no permission whatsoever.

Shuttering at the sound of her own name, Vuida looked up at the loud speaker. 'Ruttin great, what’s going on now?' A look of discontent washed across her face.

Shannon looked at her puzzlingly. "Don't wanna go, huh? Can't say I blame ya, kiddo." Shannon smiled at his own comedy.

Snapping back, Vuida hissed out, "It's not funny. Why do always turn things into a joke? Your such a dog's dropping!" With her words spoken she rushed out of the room determined that something was a foot.

'What if the Alliance is here, and they want to speak with everyone? I'll be caught for sure. Gorram it all!' Her face puckered as she reached the cargo bay. Looking towards the Captain, she spoke softly, “You rang Cap’n?”

Occ: 100% permission for shannon. :)

"Lend a hand then mate?" Rex called out to Adam over his shoulder as he headed up to the catwalk. He joined Drew as she pulled luggage out.

As he climbed the stairs he looked toward Breeze and the film crew,
'or whatever they are'.
He exchanged a glance to any of them that seem interested in something besides the next closeup.

'use her name' He thought on the way up, 'don't be such a jarhead'.

"What's up Drew?" He said, actually sounded pretty civvie mate-to-mate, at least to his ear.
"A little inspection of the new folk in the foc'sle? Passengers too ay?"

Feds. Were there any more annoying, hypocritical rats in the ‘verse than them? Mira didn’t think so; she’d had way too many close encounters with them to want to give any the benefit of the doubt. She may have been living life on the wrong side of the law, but so were the officers enforcing it. Everyone was crooked, everyone had a game. Just like this crew.

For one thing they took anyone in and that alone was enough to signify this ship could be in for a rocky ride. For another thing they took Mira in and when ever did she not rock the boat. That wasn’t her intention here, just as it wasn’t her intention to screw over Kasern, at least by the end it wasn’t. Go-se happened though and if a better offer came along she had no emotional attachment to this crew.

She had enough translatable skills to make herself useful to the crew, some visible others not so much. The crew and passengers, new and old, were a mixed bag. Different chemicals mixing together to form something new. The real question was whether the chemical soup would mix well or have explosive consequences.

For the most part everyone seemed to be satisfied with the situation other than where the feds were concerned but they wouldn’t be around long and the crew would be off. Right now she was a passenger but she would swing her way onto the crew. Gain the trust or lust of a couple and the rest would accept by default, that was usually how it went on ships. If one had the right support, for example the captain’s, the crew generally accepted with either a shrug, smile or sigh. That was her goal, the captain seemed to have some ties to women on the ship already so she opted not to go the seductive route with him, she could play that card on someone else.

The smart money was on her showing off her other skills. Her artistry with falsifying documents such as ID’s was always useful but she knew her bread and butter was he acquaintance with computer systems and if she really needed to extend her resume for them she could do patch work on engines, not that she liked getting dirty… in that way; but it was something else to fall back on.

She remained silent, leaning against a crate and watching the crew. Picking her potential targets and making mental note of the apparent relationship of each crew member with another. The longer-serving members of the crew seemed fairly close, which made Mira pray to God that she hadn’t signed on with one of those touchy-feely crews. Touchy-feely was okay if it was literal but not in the usually construed meaning.

Seemed the one boy was Alliance-bred, officer’s pistol. She’d seen plenty of them, both hanging in a gun belt on a bedpost and with the hammer back ready to blow her face off. Mira knew to tread carefully around Rex.

She couldn’t help but thoroughly enjoy the performance by the fiery girl as she was right in the feds faces. A shame that dancer had gotten to her first really. Speaking of, she and her brother went to work soon after the Breeze. It was amusing seeing the one feds head spinning as he tried to deal with the eclectic cast. Eventually the feds left, dejected as their plan of pushing around a lowly ship captain went south faster than Mira on a millionaire.

She was impressed at how this crew held its ground against the feds. She would have to make a similar impression on them, there’d be time for that of course. She didn’t figure they’d be throwing her out the airlock if she didn’t immediately make herself useful. Mira watched the captain as he addressed the other passengers, she’d get a proper conversation in with him once he was finished getting everything settled. Until then she remained leaning against the crate, eyes watching the goings on of the crew like a hawk.

"I have to know: was that talk about a CorCast production honest or just a line for the Feds?" Rahl asked.

"Line? Oh not at all, dear. Are you familiar with the adult CorCast series "Friction"? My brother, Lazarus, and I are the creators and producers. Mixed animation & live action erotic..." she paused, noting a concerned look on Rahl's face. "Of course, we would certainly seek your permission before proceeding. Should you object, our activities while aboard your vessel would be limited to those...inspirational in nature."

She smiled at Rahl, biting the tip of her finger while taking in his features. "Otherwise, I can assure you...we operate with the utmost discretion. Should you," she paused, looking him up and down with the quick lick of her lips, "...or any of your crew wish to "participate" in our live action scenes, well, if you are familiar with our work, you'll know we never show the faces of our "actors"...one of our creative trademarks I suppose."

Another mischievous smile, and she found her fingers gently moving up the captain's chest, "Our discretion policy also encourages some to set aside their inhibitions, freeing the exhibitionist trapped in their souls. Do...you...posses any of those pesky inhibitions?"

From her perch on the crate, Nichole looked over the assemblege with mingled indifference and excitement. The passengers looked to be a grab-bag of variety, most of them pretty quiet. It was clear they didn't know just what to do. Was Rahl as desperate for coin as he seemed? If so, why would he be calling others down to the bay like he was? Putting her wonderings aside, she looked to the crew, spotting the mechanic and recognizing her. What was her name? The Breeze. Right. Why a parent would give their child a name starting with 'the' was anybody's guess. Of course, as she remembered from the few visits of shore leave in the past, this woman was crude enough to deserve such a simplistic title.

The crew seemed as diverse as the passengers, though not much more talkative. That would come in time, she knew. Was the dark haired woman now in Jesse's spot as First Mate? It looked like it. The inebriated lunatic looked like a push-over, simple minded and straightforward. Hopefully he wasn't crew... As luggage flew over the railing with little care as to its contents, Nichole smiled to herself, watching Rahl work as she wondered just what the muscle man in the back was doing. Had Rahl picked up a bodyguard?

"...adult CorCast series "Friction"? My brother, Lazarus, and I are the creators and producers. Mixed animation & live action erotic..." At the woman's words, Nichole's ears perked up, eyes shining in awe. Lazarus and Lovely of Lovely Productions would be here? And they wanted to film?

"Our discretion policy also encourages some to set their inhibitions aside, freeing the exhibitionist trapped in their souls. Do...you...posses any of those pesky inhibitions?" As Lovely's hand moved, fingers going up his chest, Nichole walked over, hips swaying in a way she hoped would claim Rahl's attention as well as the attention of the two filmmakers. Draping her arms around the body she was intimately familiar with, she tilted her head, letting her blonde hair touch Rahl's as he returned the gesture, smiling in a relaxed way she knew only happened when she was around. Smiling to Lovely, she planted a quick kiss just beside Rahl's mouth. "That word," she reassured, giving the phrase weight normally given a dirty, but unspoken swear, "is not in our vocabulary."

Angling her gaze upward, she gave Rahl the look she knew would melt him. "Come on, bao-bei. You know we'd be great on-screen. Why not give the audience the sparks they want to see?" Her sensual temptress tone was accompanied by a teasing wink as she waited for Rahl's decision, knowing full well she would get what she wanted.

.. . . . .another mischievous smile from Lovely, and she found her fingers gently moving up the captain's chest, . . .

Rex Yangtree stopped with the luggage handling. He sat on one of the larger pieces, his eyes just able to see over the edge of the catwalk.

He motioned to Drew with his hand and entire arm as he continued to listen to the rest of the film strumpet's seductions... "this is getting good." he whispered to Drew.

Then the lady that had put the lip-lock on the Captain made her move, "Hey, you don't think Adam's going to... misinterpret... naaawhh."

Lip-lock put her arms around Rahl, "whoakay then."
'Nah, Adam wouldn't...' well, he didn't really know for sure.

He had the pistol still, in case,
'after all I don't really know them, there's no telling just what kind of relationship Adam and ... aww... no...'

Rex laughed quietly, no one heard but Drew.

The Breeze hooked her thumbs through a loop in her green polky-dot suspenders and threw herself against a storage crate with a grumbling sigh. "That weren't hardly worth the time to take a dump!" She muttered crossly. "Those feds were ruttin' pathetic! Leavin' cause they don't got a warrant?" She snorted and shifted restlessly against the crate, crossing and uncrossing her legs. Frustration always made her feel like she had to punch something.

"So!" She chirped, and clapped her hands briskly as she spun around to face the part of Rahl she could make out under Nichole, practically brimming over with genuinely contrived cheeriness. "We done here, cap? Cause 'less you got some kinda dance party planned to celebrate Laz'n Lovey-dovey's victory over the feds," she sketched a lazy salute toward the hotness in question, loose and sloppy, two fingers flicking towards her forehead, "well, we 'pparently seem to workin', so maybe I should go do that." Nothing against Lazarus and Lovely's little advertisement, it sounded funner'n donkey punching a cheap Persephone whore, but she was in no mood for Nichole today, hypothetically sexy movie or not. She didn't want to be here, she didn't want to working, and she definitely didn't want to see Cap making nice with his, uh, whatever, when every time she did something similar lately it made her feel like Reggie was waitin' behind the door ready to call her out again.

"What's up Drew?"

She was no longer alone, Drew noticed as Rex Yangtree joined her. She had just finished with another luggage when she heard a question with her name in it. Stopping her work for a second, she shrugged without any answer. She wasn't sure what to tell. She was not very interested in the conversation that was being held between the captain and the passengers. She just did as she was told and tried to be less in the way. She wasn't really the one to form a opinion about any kind of production. She loved her work and she loved this ship but anything beyond that hardly interested her, expect thinking about her son back home.

"A little inspection of the new folk in the foc'sle? Passengers too ay?"

Inspection? Andrea looked at Rex with a tinny smirk forming on her face. Now that he had mentioned it, it didn't seem all that bad of an idea. After all, she was one of three oldies on the ship and like Rahl and The Breeze, she did have a bit more rights then the rest of the lot. Then again, Rex was pretty new himself. Raising eyebrow, for once she decided to tease him about it. "Well, Yangtree, you being one of the new ones, you might just fall into that place. Wouldn't you say?" Well, she could talk. And she could sure as hell tease when she wanted to. And sometimes, Andrea just couldn't resist herself, even though they were rare occasions when she really felt like she wanted to do it. Besides, she was still feeling good about herself after the fight. She was being overprotective when the whole thing began, but further into the fight, she began to enjoy herself.

"this is getting good."

Pulling another peace away, she looked at Rex when he sat down one one of the luggage that he had moved. He was sitting down? Was he serious? There was at least two more and he wanted to stop. As she watched him, she noticed his motion. He seemed to be listening to what was being said with the rest of the crew, unlike Drew her shut her hearing from them. But when he whispered to her, she shook her head. "Good hardly covers it. More like uninteresting if you ask me." She really did not find any interest in any kind of productions of any sort. Perhaps it was hard to believe for those that enjoyed the topic but Andrea did have a way of her own at some things.

OOC: Rahl has full power to GM me when I don't find the time between my studying to apply. I was just trying to pick up on where he left off. Don't really think highly of the post but oh well.