POOHEAD189

Grim Galaxy: Shots and Chances

Neil bounced back into action with surprising endurance and dexterity. Every time the ship jerked as he sprinted for the cockpit, he'd leap as if he expected it. In actuality, timing the blasts and automated maneuvers by AVLN was fairly easy once you knew a few of the technical aspects of the ship. One leap had him touch the ceiling with his hands, and he swung by a pipe above him to continue forward through the cockpit access corridor.

Neil found himself in the cockpit, making sure the sublight thrusters were at maximum thrust before flipping on the Combat Maneuver Panel and reorienting the ship's radar to enhance upon the unidentified ship that AVLN had detected. He needed to find out what the son of a bitch was firing at them. "Lonney, lock in the auxiliary power and keep me informed of our shields," Neil said, taking control of the ship's turn and bank display.

The warning light on the top right flashed and Neil suddenly turned off the thrusters and spin the Highlander to the bottom left in a dive. The missile the warning beacon had cautioned him of flew clear, but it gave Sayeeda a perfect shot to take out the projectile as it did its best to turn and redirect course toward the Highlander once more. Neil had completed his maneuver and turned the ship around toward the cruiser heading for them. On the Combat Maneuver Display, he saw their targeting systems were locked onto whomever was after them.

With a smirk, he unlocked the Nidhogg torpedo release atop the controls and fired off two screaming missiles. They arced visibly out of the window before disappearing into the vastness of space. From the moniter however, he saw the ship chasing them was doing its best to make an evasive action.

"Two minutes before we're clear lass, if we get back o' track tha' is."

The ship bumped as Neil steered and reoriented the controls. "Shaaadup." the young man said, banking the ship back around to their previous coordinates and enhancing the thrusters once more so they could make time.
@Penny

Best of Tidings from Yours Truly

Nice to meet you!

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

I'm pretty certain the world would be better off without clickbait.

Grim Galaxy: Shots and Chances

"Ye got it, lass." AVLN declared on the speakers, and then went quiet once more. Neil followed Sayeeda, looking around the walls and the circuitry. Behind her, he nearly poked once of the loose circuits with his finger, before seeing it light up with a faint blue glow as if anything that came near it would be fried. He decided better not risk it, and slipped his free hand back in his pocket. "Smuggling I don't mind, either." He said matter-of-factly.

He starting rummaging around in some of the cargo boxes in the hold, seeing if anyone had left any loot in here from when last it was flown, even if the last to fly it was Gorlan's goons. "You're the Captain. Long as it's fun, I'll be behind ya." And it was at that moment he was disappointed that he hadn't the mind to use the name 'Gorlan's Goons' when he was in his custody. Sounded like a merc team, in all honesty.

The ship juttered a bit for a second, but kept steady. Neil glanced upwards, and then waited for a moment until he shrugged. He began to pick through the boxes once more, when something slammed into the hull of the ship like a hammerblow. Neil shot into the air from the sudden yanking of the ship's stationary gravity, and he hit the deck hard, bruising his back in all probability. "I'm up," he groaned, and picked himself off the ground as he tried to get his bearings straight.

"Ship's shields at 87%, lads."

"What's going on?" Neil asked. AVLN explained not a moment later that an unlabeled and unlicensed cruiser was in pursuit of them, firing lesser model missiles at the back of their hull. Neil only had to think for a moment before he realized it must be an OPR (Orbital Pirate Raider). "How many?"

"Just one far as I can tell."
@Penny

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

I read the article because certain writing partners of mine are slacking.

@Penny

It is pure drivel, he doesn't even pretend to cite any statistics, just makes a few off handed comments to veterans returning home and being down on Middle Easterners, throws in an attack on Trump and then moves on.

Sounds about right.

Grim Galaxy: Shots and Chances

Neil opened his mouth to deny what she was saying, and then he opened his mouth again and raised a finger to argue. But he could only give her a guilty smile. "I was excited," he said, his eyes moving down to the food in his hand. "I'll be sure to be more cooperative. Can't have us dying out there if we don't communicate." He admitted, and then leaned back as he chewed, closing his eyes with his head back on the chair's head rest. "Then again there's worse ways to go." he mused.

He smiled, very amused at Sayeeda's bewilderment at the new accent AVLN had. Neil knew the accent as Skyre from the system of the same name, supposedly from independent colonists from Old Earth who fled a northern island to govern themselves. Truth be told, his one and only love had been from that system. Or her ancestors had been. She never did tell him why her older family had settled on Fotus those centuries ago. He'd almost wished they hadn't.

Taking away the thoughts of melancholy, he reared himself back up on the seat. "Thaler's a rough place." he declared, impressed from this girl's experience. She'd mentioned a few things off handedly that had him wondering about what jobs she'd been doing. Probably a few stories there.

"I got plenty of bounty hunting experience," he said. "Granted most of it is me evading them. But seeing as I'm here and they're not, I think I know how to do their job better than them." Neil meant it as a joke, but he found himself utterly serious when he was considering bounty hunting. His criminal record did lend him some insight into where a lot of the galactic scum would be mingling around.

He shrugged. "But that sounds like as good of a plan as any. I fly and fight, you bag and tag." A wink accompanied the idea. "Thing is, you haven't exactly told me what you were planning to do with this ship before you had a partner..."
@Penny

What's your favorite stupid movie?

Major Payne (Choooo Chooo!)

@Lady Amalthea

Grim Galaxy: Shots and Chances

Neil leaned on the wall next to the entrance way at the very edge of the room, hands in his pockets as Sayeeda chewed on the rations they had. "Only one way to find out," he said with a sly look on his face, before shifting his weight until he was no longer leaning. His legs moved with a practiced grace, yet with a gait that showed he wasn't really trying to make it look such a way. He was simply light on his feet.

Sliding over next to her, he opened up another box with a Repton dagger he had stashed in his back pocket. It was a fairly large blade in need of a sheath. He had one stuffed behind his lower back to use just in case, and he bit into the box with it before reaching in. He didn't find coffee, but a few sweets were apparently not out of the question. Orbital Plumps were what they were called. Chocolatey and filling, a good snack for a traveler who didn't feel like eating the dull rations one was often used to.

He tossed her one nonchalantly. "As for the Highlander, this thing is a right impressive piece of equipment." He admitted, opening an Orbital Plump for himself and chomping onto it. The creamy center was rich and very enjoyable. He swallowed, and nodded in approval, his eyes distant. "It's freedom is what it is." He told her, his voice now un-joking and calmly sober for near the first time they've spoken. 'Soon as we grab this kid of his. I almost wonder if there's a bounty on his head and we could get a better deal elsewhere..."

He smiled to show he was joking, though the twinkle in his eye gave the impression he never did let a fun opportunity slide no matter how off it might seem. He grabbed a bit of rations from her box as well, and then back-stepped before he plopped down on a chair, eating at his leisure. "Either way. After this job we'll need another. Maybe bounty hunting is a good one. What were you planning on doing before finding out you were sharing the Highlander with a stud like myself."
@Penny

Dogs of War: Old World Mercenaries

Cyrdic grit his teeth, glad he was gaining some ground on denying this woman. He didn't know if it was his Ostlander bullheadedness, his sword, or his love for Camilla battling the lust this woman brought. Probably a combination of all three, he realized. Still, he knew he needed to think crisply, and he couldn't do that as well as he would like if Elspeth was still in the same room as he. It was almost a relief when she said she wished to talk to Camilla, and led her into another room.

He let out a breath, and closed his eyes for a few moments to open them again and drink in the sight of a bemused and beglamoured Ricardo with what very much looked like a dagger poking from within his trousers. The lewd sight, as well as the soulless, or at least glazed over look of each servant's eyes stabbed through the haze of his mind. "Ricardo."

The man said nothing, simply gazing around as if this place was so full of wonder. Longing was in his eyes, and his body shifted as he waited anxiously for the woman Elspeth to return. Cyrdic spoke his name again more forcefully, and the man turned to him with a curiosity in his eyes. "Ah yes, we need to discuss what we're to do when I return to my master. I say we follow the lady Elspeth's recommendation, yes?"

Cyrdic should have known that was what Ricardo would say, but he had not. A dangerous realization crept within Cyrdic as he regarded the Tilean with the slightest tilt of his head. His jaw set hard. "Snap out of it, you idiot." Cyrdic began, before he felt something reverberating from within his sword. It wasn't a howl, however. It was a growl and a whimper, and something tugged at his heart that he knew what it had to be.

His anger at Ricardo had distracted him from the very real danger of Camilla being alone with this woman. This...

"Ulric, no." He breathed, cursing himself for letting Camilla be alone with this witch for any reason, even if it was to see more clearly. He knew she was in danger somehow, and a longing appeared in him just as strong, if not stronger, than this enchantress had placed upon him. But this was a base instinct further enhanced by his sword. Loyalty to a mate.

He was out of his chair and across the room within the span of a heartbeat. One handsome gentlemen stood at the door to guard, a rapier in his hand. "Mein herr, the lady Elspeth bade you and your companion speak out here while she discussed private matters with the lady Camilla."

"Out of my way." Cyrdic said, but the man simply began to speak again, holding out a hand to keep Cyrdic at bay. If he was in a more calm state, Cyrdic would have told him once more. But when it was Camilla that was on the line, he brooked no chances and grabbed the man by the cuirass before he could bring his rapier to bear. The gentlemen found himself in the chair that Cyrdic had been sitting in not a moment before, only the chair was now broken in two from the weight of the tossed man.

"Cyrdic?" Ricardo asked, shaking his head as if trying to shake sleep away. The Ostlander was already ripping his sword out of his scabbard and opening the door. When he found it locked, he shoulder rushed it, caving it in slightly. "Camilla!" he called, and then shoulder rushed it again. The second attempt shattered the oaken barrier, sending the wood scattering to the floor. Within the room was a balconied bed, and Camilla lain atop it with Elspeth baring her teeth at Cyrdic, needle sharp canines protruding from her mouth.

"Leech," he said, aghast. The surprise only lasted a moment however, and fresh, feral, and wolfish rage welled up within him once more. He let out a warcry and ran forward, thanking Ulric and Sigmar there was no blood yet as far as he could tell.
@Penny

Grim Galaxy: Shots and Chances

"You got it," Neil said as the ship entered the full realm of 'outer' space. He glanced back as Sayeeda headed out the Cockpit Access Cooridor, and he let out a breath as he shook his head. He felt like he was going to need to loosen her up somehow. He wondered where the mainhold was, and if there was anything enjoyable to do there yet. Not only that, but food was definitely something they should make sure they had.

"AVLN. We got food on this tub?" Neil asked as he made ready the accelerator compensator display. The mechanical yet clear voice of the AI popped up through the front speakers. "Yes, sir. Full provisions available for you, the Captain, as well as four more human passengers for three months."

"I don't know, I can eat quite a bit." Neil replied, and then tilted his head in curiosity when he saw the AI display. "Huh..." He poked it, and a list of settings coalesced onto the screen. "You mind if I call you Lonney, AVLN?"

"You can refer to me however you wish, sir." The AI replied, before Neil clicked a button. The AI replied again with an automated response. "Hola compañero de primera" it said.
"Nah," Neil replied. He clicked again.
"Nǐ hǎo xiānshēng huǒbàn."
"Nope." Click.
"Kon'nichiwa saisho no nakama."
"Dead language." Click.
"Bonjour mon premier ami."
"Ugh, come on." Click.
"Oi lad, you the first mate on this tub, eh?"

"...That is perfect." Neil said, and the next thing he knew the Highlander was in free space past the Hodierna orbit. He set up the engines for sublight travel for now as he set up connections with the nav beacons. The switches flipped audibly as he moved on instinct, his actions drilled into his mind from his time in the Ordo Sanctus. "Hey Lonney, you think you can compute the trip to Savran for me while I check on where the Captain is?"

"Roight. Ah fink she's headed for the Main Deck pas' the Engineer's Quar'ers."
@Penny