Year 2518

The people who inhabit the ‘Verse are a huge and varied group. No one, if they did even a mite’s worth of travel, would see fit to argue that point. The Alliance may think they can call all them billions its own, but the people of the Rim know better. Out there the Alliance finds itself stretched thin and a more… interesting variety of folk can find themselves a home. Not that the Core doesn’t have its delights, but its populace seems a might too preoccupied with its own neon bright democracy to care about much besides themselves. The Border worlds are less engrossed, but they still have pretentions of finery. Thus it would take a miracle to gain the attention of this whole group for any scrap of time.

‘The Vid’ wasn’t that miracle. It was all kinds of horrifying. The people of the ‘Verse had seen horror before though. Nobody would call the last weeks of the Unification War a minor backyard scuffle. So when ‘The Vid’ hit the Cortex it was almost a surprise how far it reached, and how much it affected folk. Then again… with its gruesome final moments, perhaps it hasn’t been so easy to dismiss. It revealed that the Alliance wasn’t some shining beacon of honour and honesty. They had their dark secrets and ideals they seemed willin’ to foist on everyone. No matter the cost.

Those from the edge, or frequently travelled there, knew about Reavers. Mad people bent only on killing, raping and eatin’ on a man’s flesh. It was hard to believe that the Alliance had made those men the way they were, but that kind of mutilation is hard to fake. Few remembered Miranda but that didn’t matter none. The only thing that did was that the Alliance had lied to the whole God-damn ‘Verse, and they had managed to keep their planet wide fuck up quiet. That took power, a scary kind of power.

The mood on the Rim worlds, home too many an old Independent, was grim. Not truly shocked but wondering what the result of this reveal would be. They feared more law, but in some a new hope for freedom stirred. No one was talkin’ war yet; those who had fought were still young enough to be listened to by those newly young and dumb. Change however, that was in the gossip. But whether Parliament is willin’ to bend to the wants of a stirred populace is the true question.

Perhaps they hope the crowd will quiet down and everything will go back to the way it was. Tickity-boo.

Perhaps it won’t though.

~~~~~~~~


Current Location: New Dunsmuir, on Beaumonde of the Kalidasa system.
Destination: Colchester of the White Sun system.


~~~~~~~~

Calgary

“No. Iwillnot hear it Riley. We are going to Colchester. Lou is too important of client nottotake.”

Kale could see Riley was not pleased with his decision. They had just been pulling into port when ‘The Vid’ (as it was now being called) had been broadcast over the Cortex. There had been no way to stop it, and in the typical non-deference to Kiia’s ‘no one in the cockpit when I’m flying’ rule, everyone had been in the cockpit to see it.

Kiia had shown her skill at piloting that day. She hadn’t crashed, a couple others around them had.

“The Core worlds aren’t going to be happy with this. They have quadruple the screens of any Border world and from what I hear, everyone got it. There’ll be riots.”

‘Wehavebeen over this. We aren’t going to a Core-Core world. Colchester’s a moon, a farming moon. We will be fine. Doyouthink the Rim worlds are better?”

She crossed her arms but did not reply. Kale could see she was still displeased though. Kale sighed, and patted her shoulder. “If it is as bad as you fear, wewillnotbethere long anyway. Just loading some ponies and we’ll be onourway.” He smiled in a ‘cheer up’ way but she wasn’t buying it. She crossed her arms and looked away.

‘Iwouldhavethought you would be more worried about this ‘Jim’ character we are meeting, then some riot that mayormaynot be happening a Sun away.”

“’Jim’ I can shoot. I can’t shoot a planet.”

Kale could almost hear the ‘yet’ in her sentence. He raised and shook his hands emphatically. “Nonono. No shooting. Not unless you are really sure he is about the shoot me. Thenitsok.”

She gave an ironic salute but finally smirked. A little.

Smiling he gave a decisive nod, “Good. Seeyouin15.”

Not waiting on her reply he turned and walked out of her shuttle. Whistling to himself he strolled into the dining hall, most of his crew was here, excluding Kiia who was… well he thought she was in the cockpit but he wasn’t sure. Harper was also present, looking much too mischievous for Kale’s liking. Edmonton was on the table, surveying the crew, ‘probably looking much more Captainy then I.’ thought Kale, amused.

With a quick pet for his cat Kale began, “Alright everyone. Riley and I are going off to notshootanyone, but hopefully gain a crew member. If—”

“Why can’t I be the new crew?” piped up Harper.

“Because Iamtheengineer and we need someone with ‘connections’. Do you have connections?”

“Well I’m sure I have Junction IV—”

“ThatisnotwhatImean, and do NOT attach that to anything while Iamnothere.” He tried to give her a stern look, but she just looked amused and not at all ‘obeying’ like. ‘Perhaps I should put her on the crew, just so she will have to listen to me,’ he unrealistically thought.

“ANYway, if anyone wishes to come, we leave in 15 minutes. If not,” he made a grand gesture in the direction of New Dunsmuir spread out behind him, “The city is yours. Trynotto kill too many folk. They’re stirred up recently.” Kale frowned. “Seriously, the Feds aren’tveryhappy right now so keep your heads down.”

Kale turned and went to go down the stairs when Harper called him, “Calgary! Calgary! Wait! Waitaboutlookingforshipparts?”

Kale didn’t stop, just continued down the stairs into the cargo bay. His red vest blew back out behind him a little as he sped down the stairs. Today his colours were gold tunic, scarlet vest with gold embroidery, a bright blue cloth belt and brown pants. It was all about impressions when hiring, and he wanted to make a good one.

As for the reason for his speed…he wasn’t exactly trying to run away from Harper, but she could manage to get him to agree to things he normally wouldn’t. At least when it came to Serendipity; as she knew nearly, but not quite as much as he did about ships.

He told himself that often, it made him feel better about his education.

“Nottoworry, nottoworry Harper. I will go assoonasIgetback. I need to find something, and yes, you have a nose for such things.”

“What is it? Maybe I already have? Is it a Winglet 4000? I thought Ser—”

“Nonono. Later. I promise. You can go searching now, Iwillcall when I am back. Or perhaps you can find where Kiia went? She’s disappeared andIdon’tthink she’ll be venturing out this trip.”

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So yes, your chars can come or not to meet Jim, or they can decide to wander New Dunsmuir. Maybe they can look for gadgets, parts, supplies or a drink somewhere, it’s up to you. If you’re coming, my next post will have us leaving, so don’t actually leave the ship just yet. Interact, get ready, whatever suits your fancy.

If you're NOT coming, you can leave when you wish.