Discord
08-03-2022, 11:29 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-04-2022, 12:34 AM by Ignispark.
Edit Reason: Tweaked for clarity
)
OOC Note:
I'm going to put on another bit of music to accompany the narration.
Anyhow. The chimera has a brilliant plan. It looks over the map and the locations of the signals...it can go to A...deliver them to C via hyper-velocity delivery...and perhaps let the station borrow some light armaments? Small shadow abnormalities are not the trickiest, generally speaking. If that doesn't work out it can always call them again after it checks into D.
The ranger sends three short responses. First, to the immediate vessel.
This is rescue vessel Eyepiercer. Signal acknowledged. Please hold for EVAC. I will be with you shortly. Except a vessel capable of hyper-velocity delivery. I plan to take you and your ship with you and send you to a nearby station of relative safety, provided your vessel is small enough to be launched and intact enough or reparable for acceptable safety margins. Please prepare a status report for my arrival. If any hazards appear in the hours before I arrive, I am available to provide tactical advice.
Then, to the station.
This is rescue vessel Eyepiercer. Signal acknowledged. Requesting permission for a planned hyper-velocity shuttle launch. I am responding to a stranded ship's call and will attempt to send light armaments and tactical advice for typical small shadow abnormalities. The delivery should occur within a few hours, provided approval and ideal timescale. I have another distress beacon to respond to of potential emergency afterwards, so it may be some weeks before I can return to assist in person. Feel free to keep in touch over comms if needed.
Finally, to the distant distress beacon.
This is rescue vessel Eyepiercer. Signal acknowledged. If possible, please respond with relevant details. I may take a couple weeks to reach you. Hold fast. If you need any advice in the coming days, I will be available.
And, the ranger gets a couple of quick responses. The crew of signal A, apparently of the vessel 'Greaseskipper', report their vehicle, other than a failed engine and skip, is relatively intact. Additionally, it is a self-sustained shuttle type vessel, so it should be fine for hyper-velocity launch. The chimera will probably still inspect it in person, but this is a fairly good sign. The station at signal C responds, providing clearance for hyper-velocity launch and providing well-wishes. As expected, the generic distress beacon is silent.
The Eyepiercer reaches the system of the Greaseskipper with little issue. As it approaches the world of the distress signal, it becomes apparent how the ship ran into engine problems. It is an icy world alit with auroras and electromagnetic activity. While beautiful, and certainly a draw to travelers, vessels without proper shielding can run into problems. The Eyepiercer and its shuttle, Twilight Execution, are both capable of terrestrial, spatial, and other maneuvers in a variety of extreme environments. Over-engineered? Perhaps. Useful? Doubtlessly.
Landfall is made with the main ship, as towing the Greaseskipper into space will be easier that way. The crew trudge out, in EVA suits. They smell of tourists. The way their suit is closely tailored and shaped more for aesthetics than reason, the forgoing of optimal vision shielding for the benefit of a clear visor, and their general demeanor of half-confused and half-awestruck. The ranger exits its vehicle, which to be fair, is rather unique. Not to mention it is a bit of a unique creature too, but it doesn't give a shit.
It begins conversation immediately. "I have read your reports. Regardless, I will inspect your vessel for additional damages. I will ensure you are ready for a safe launch to orbit, then a launch to a nearby station. Note any concerns."
The tourists shuffle around. The one with a green and gold EVA suit that seems to be some sort of greyish white goat person speaks up. "Uh. There's, nothing wrong with that. I'm Alum. ...Do you know how to greet people?" The ranger tenses up and briefly considers how mean it is allowed to be to a random stranger in response.
One of the other tourists, a wolfperson in a violet EVA suit, elbows Alum before speaking up. "What they mean to say, is thank you for picking us up. You're great. And hi. I'm Flax."
The chimera makes a simple response. "Acknowledged," ceasing to consider things like leaving them behind on the ice planet.
The third tourist, some sort of mantis person, opens up the Greaseskipper's door. The chimera investigates the core systems first. Computer, flight control, and data are all intact. The reactor had minor damage that could be fixed with a spare part on hand. The sublight engines could be returned to partial function and the emergency shutdown features of the skip could be re-enabled with some clever cannibalization of the main skip drive, in case the station's catch mechanism has a fault. Other than that, the crew quarters are of little interest.
Alum seems to have a variety of small figurines of people in odd garb you do not recognize, alongside some electronic devices. It seems they are a gamer. Flax has a variety of ancient technology. It is so incredibly outdated that it is surprising that they have that much. The third crew quarters was rather sparse and stoic, with some interesting geometric art pieces laying around.
The ranger politely informed the crew of optimal safety and seating arrangements for the upcoming flight, before asking for permission to include a package to the nearby station with the Greaseskipper. The crew approves, without much fanfare. It then parks the Twilight Execution nearby and picks up the Greaseskipper in the Eyepiercer's Hyper-Velocity launch system. It anchors the ship into the ground, before launching the Greaseskipper into orbit. It then attached a tow to its own shuttle and enters orbit, picking up the Greaseskipper once more, before flying out far enough for a safe shot at the station's Hyper-Velocity Receiver. The skipper is then launched as a faster than light bullet that tears through space and time. Don't worry about it, this is a safe enough practice when space is already like a gnarled sponge anyway. There's no real issues with slicing it up every now and again. With the crew of A arriving at C with some supplies, everything should be in order.
Anyhow, the chimera then returns its own shuttle to the main docking spots and takes in the tow line. So far everything is nominal. It brings the Eyepiercer up to superliminal speeds and begins flooring it across space to try to reach the next destination, signal D.
It receives communications from the station informing the ranger of the safe arrival of the rescuees and thanking it for the information and loaned arms. The crew of the Greaseskipper also send their thanks, once again. It files these away before doing a routine overview of the ship and its systems. Aside from a couple minor tune-ups it quickly gets done, everything is optimal.
...It is left with a question that many in transit are left with. What to do to pass the time between now and arrival at the distress beacon? (And...perhaps, you can give the answer to that ever elusive question, listeners.)
