Chapter Two: Queen of the Belt

[ateno]

"When you can get loose, please see to the police officers, and whomever is actually useful to us, as they come aboard," Indrani says to Pranit. "I'm stuck here with the power distribution system and the pressurization."

"Roger, i'm going to monitor for a couple and then try the lift. Orders for visitors sir, engineering shut down for visitors at this time I suppose. Pranit

[BackworldTraveller]

"When you can get loose, please see to the police officers, and whomever is actually useful to us, as they come aboard," Indrani says to Pranit. "I'm stuck here with the power distribution system and the pressurization."

"Roger, i'm going to monitor for a couple and then try the lift. Orders for visitors sir, engineering shut down for visitors at this time I suppose. Pranit

The monitoring shows nothing untoward, yet. After a while, Pranit tries the lift which, as hoped, opens at the press of a button. The squeal inside stops when he stamps on the hatch in the floor - and it latches shut.

Heading to the Crew Deck, there is still no sign of fire - must be a dodgy sensor. And so to the airlock and the waiting horde.

At the sound of the lift moving, Leiberkind says

"So - should I leave now then?"

[joertexas]

At the sound of the lift moving, Leiberkind says

"So - should I leave now then?"

Indrani looks at him. "You can move around the ship, now. Just be careful, in case something else happens. Please let Pranit, the executive officer, know that you're still working aboard."

[BackworldTraveller]

Leiberkind

Taking fullest advantage of the statement, Leiberkind stops the lift at each floors and peers into the various spaces...and upon reaching the Hanger

"I've found your missing crew member!"

[ateno]

Pranit presses a button on his arm and holds up his hands.

His voice comes over external speakers

"Everyone quiet, the heat and O2 are coming up to stan. We will get everyone in there as soon as we can, as per Captains orders and discretion".

Then he takes off his helmet and starts to recharge his system.

"Do we still have any chai left?"

[joertexas]

Pranit presses a button on his arm and holds up his hands.

His voice comes over external speakers

"Everyone quiet, the heat and O2 are coming up to stan. We will get everyone in there as soon as we can, as per Captains orders and discretion".

Then he takes off his helmet and starts to recharge his system.

"Do we still have any chai left?"

"You can let them in once you think the pressure is good. Make them cycle through the airlock, just in case. I don't want it overridden to dock mode just yet. The pressure isn't equalized, and I'm still running diagnostics to see where we might be leaking," Indrani tells Pranit.

[BackworldTraveller]

Ngora and Jinja

Ngora looks like she's honing a really sharp knife for Jinja's back. But with Tiberius there she seems as if she's holding back so as not to make too bad an impression.

"You should ask him about how come my father got set up...I don't think you should trust him aboard without an escort."

Jinja looks at Tiberius

"That would be for the new Captain to determine"

He pushes himself upright, collects the empty cups from the chocolate and asks

"Permission to come aboard?"

[Stirling]

Tiberius

"Perhaps you could identify yourself to the Captain, Mr Busai? Is the police forensic man joining you?"

[BackworldTraveller]

Jinja

Jinja waves at the Forensic Group...You guys coming?

And then he heads into the airlock.

The forensic guys follow with lights and bags and holo-recorders.

[joertexas]

Jinja

Jinja waves at the Forensic Group...You guys coming?

And then he heads into the airlock.

The forensic guys follow with lights and bags and holo-recorders.

The airlock is still passcoded. Indrani and Pranit have the codes.

[ateno]

The airlock is still passcoded. Indrani and Pranit have the codes.

Drinking his second cup of insta heat tea.

"I need you assurance that you will not attempt to enter engineering until the Captain allow it. Also I will allow you in, when the atmosphere is clear and the temp is is at least 5 C. Fair?"

Pranit

[BackworldTraveller]

The Forensics team seem aghast.

"The evidence was frozen and preserved. You are compromising it - You've probably traipsed over everything. You're lucky you haven't been arrested for Obstruction..."

Jinja doesn't seem to care

"Hey - Can we inspect the vessel now or shall we wait for the warrant and inspect it anyway?"

[cybersavant]

There is the yellow bulk of a Harbour Runabout partially blocking the view, but behind that is the shape that Reven has been drawn towards - fascinated yet horrified. Brown, once-human but dried to a husk with a rictus grin. The lights flicker...He's been stood here longer than he realised and the horrible figure is revealed as the mummified remains of a person, tied to a chair.
Reven
The heaters have turned on...You can warm you hands and feet and suit by standing close - or partly opening the suit to allow the warmth in directly!

Reven Stiilpahth warms his hands in front of the vent. Once his fingers work again he moves to the wall comm panel. "Captain, Reven here. I only made it as far as the hanger deck. I'm there now. You better come see this."

[joertexas]

Reven Stiilpahth warms his hands in front of the vent. Once his fingers work again he moves to the wall comm panel. "Captain, Reven here. I only made it as far as the hanger deck. I'm there now. You better come see this."

Indrani keys her comm. "I'm a little busy at the moment. What have you found?"

[cybersavant]

Reven Stiilpahth "I don't want to broadcast it; but you better get here before anyone else does."

[BackworldTraveller]

Reven sees the lift door open - Too soon for the captain, he sees the Forensics Guy (Leiberkind) step out of the lift.

"Hi" he says (and announces to the crew that he's found you) "Are you ok? Those suits don't really keep you warm do they?"

He looks at the hanger. "Ah. Have you been stuck with that thing?"

He looks at the footsteps in the frost.

"We'll, at least you haven't been near it. I'd best call this in"

[ateno]

"Hey - Can we inspect the vessel now or shall we wait for the warrant and inspect it anyway?"

If you want to go in before 5 C, go ahead, the atmo should be up soon.

[BackworldTraveller]

Jinja
The atmo was fine until you shut the door!

But if you want to wait and cook the forensic guy's evidence it wont be me that has to answer for that. And your full name is...

...Just kidding


The Forensic guys enter and start setting up to record the crew quarters.

"Hey, do you want this cabin open?"

[Stirling]

Tiberius

"Well all those piracy allegations and the seizure is behind the ship now. Not sure you can challenge any judgements or get the justice you deserve. It seems to me the crew were not suspects and the two involved, your dad Jojo and Hebden Cull are both deceased. The case closed, ship released, compensation settled.

It might seem unfair or unjust, but what else can you do?"

He says to Ngora as they watch proceedings on the varied screens.

[BackworldTraveller]

Ngora

Tiberius receives a full-fledged diatribe...

It's odd - Hebden gives evidence for piracy by a ship that was lost against a ship that no one recalls ever existing and goes into hiding and is killed there. Dad gets sent down for being involved on a ship he says was a jobbing merchant that never went near any vessel at the time they say and ends up dead soon after.

The Queen get impounded for smuggling goods that weren't illegal because of a tip-off by Hebden. The rest of the crew all walk away and cry "Wasn't involved, Wasn't me" but they know it was all a set up. They know something stinks but don't want to stir in-case it sticks to them.

What was the Queen doing that was so dangerous that it had to be stopped? For whom was it dangerous? What did Dad know that was so valuable that it got him killed?

"He was going crazy" they say. I reckon that whatever it was that eventually got him killed was getting closer. "His erratic behaviour lost him the PLDES contract". So what were the PLDES cover for?

"Its all a conspiracy theory"...Yep. It is exactly that!

And look - the old crew are all here in one way or another (well except Pinto and he's got his head so far up his arse he's ...well never mind), so you tell me - Just a conspiracy theory or an actual conspiracy?