Tiglath wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 4:44 pm
terrymixon wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 2:37 am She laughed.
"Oh, I think you'll get rewarded. As for a bluff, no. I really did find the DNA. As for finding weapons made for humans, I suppose that wouldn't shock me. The Ancients pulled humans off Terra and scattered them everywhere. That implies there is a certain level of servitude they expected. There should be things that they can use."
Aster turned to face you, not leaving your arms.
"We're in dangerous territory, Garvin. The siren call of something like this would be far too much temptation for some to resist. Tell no one about this place. My superiors wouldn't hesitate to vanish you. The base, too. Let them be blinded by the avarice they feel about the ruined city and the portals. If Doctor Metz really can make more of them, gods, that would turn everything on its head. Want to visit Captial? Poof, there you are. Keep that under your hat, too. In fact, tell no one anything at all until we can meet with your soon-to-be patron.
"At this point, they won't refuse their support though they might have conditions. I can use what you've given me to get in to see them, but time is not on our side. As much as I would love to stay here with you and see everything, we need to get moving or we might be screwed. The window of opportunity is closing, and we have to get hopping. The portal is on the destroyer, and I need to get it transferred to your ship. I hope your offer of a bed still holds because I'm not sleeping on the couch. Let's get back and get moving. You can come with me to pick up the portal. Maybe Roscoe, too. That will help keep me from being waylaid by wandering gasbags like the Captain of Knowledge."
Garvin brightens
"Well, if you're stayin' over... that's 'andsome!"
He comms Roscoe
"Get your clobber on kid - we're assistin' a lady. Bring yer razor wit an' fisticuffs skills - just in case the Captain of Knowledge gets any o' the jokes".
Garvin will gear up in a vacc suit (and load the skill in place of explosives) so as to be useful.
To his comrades he says
"This should be no bother but keep monitorin' just in case there's a highly educated tantrum".
When ready he prepares to follow in madam Treegarden's "wake".
Considering that you're going over to the destroyer aboard a shuttle, there's really no need for a vacc suit. I'm going to say that with that knowledge you're just going to go in your regular clothes like Madam Treegarden. If you'd rather be the odd man out, just let me know and I'll adjust the events.
The interior of the high port, as you remember, is very workmanlike for the most part. Not a whole lot of fancy things other than the few concealed jams like the restaurant you visited. The trip to the bay where Madam Treegarden's shuttle weights only takes a couple of minutes. There are a couple of crewmen standing outside the bay door and they allow the two of you to pass without comment, maintaining their positions as you board the shuttle.
The trip over to the destroyer is quick and easy. When you arrive, the two of you are met by a naval commander. The woman nods to Madam Treegarden.
"Welcome back aboard, ma'am. What next?"
"I'm going to be moving the cargo I brought aboard over to the Lost & Found, Commander Santos. So as not to take you away from the important task of guarding the discovery, I'll release your ship to get back and join the other destroyer and wait for the vessel I'm going to send to pick up the find. I need to get everything that I brought with me loaded aboard the shuttle and some people to make sure that we get it to where it needs to go without interference. I prefer to keep this low-key but this cargo is extremely valuable, so it's security is the highest priority. Try to balance that out for me, please."
The woman nodded.
"I think we can find an appropriate balance, ma'am. I took the liberty of having all of the cargo you brought aboard prepared for transport under the assumption that you would be moving it. It shouldn't take more than five minutes to put everything aboard the shuttle and have you on your way."
"Excellent. Thank you. Please pass along my gratitude to your people and your captain."
The loading of the shuttle is quick and efficient. You spot a rather large crate that is about the size of the teleportal. There's also a sampling of smaller crates that likely hold examples of the other cargo that Roscoe seeded aboard the Ancients ship. As the woman said, it took less than five minutes have everything aboard the shuttle.
In the meantime, four Marines in their standard duty dress arrived. Your keen eye picks out the fact that they have armor underneath your uniforms and their sidearms look quite businesslike. Backing them up were four more in combat armor with a full load out.
Madam Treegarden raised her eyebrow.
"That doesn't look very low-key to me."
"They're not going to be traveling with you, ma'am. At least not directly next to you. They'll be fifteen or twenty seconds behind you but ready to respond in an instant if there's trouble. Most people that see you going through the corridors are going to attach the two groups to one another because of the separation."
"If you say so. Let's get this show on the road. We've both got places to be."
Once everyone loaded back aboard the shuttle the trip back to the high port went quickly and as soon as you arrived, the crewmen guarding the bay secured a small, powered loader to carry the cargo and loaded everything aboard. The three of you and your four escorts head directly toward your ship. The four Marines with the heavy weapons follow along discreetly.
Just one it looks like you arrive without any incidents, a familiar figure steps out of the side corridor just in front of where the
Lost & Found is parked. He smiles in a very self-satisfied way as he approaches. When the Marines make to intercept him, Madam Tree Garden waved a hand to stop them.
"It's okay. I know him. What can I do for you, Mister Nirkha?"
His smile widened.
"Once again, you seem to have forgotten my title. I suppose that's okay. You're entitled to call me whatever you like. I only stopped by to congratulate you."
She frowned.
"About what?"
"Why, the fabulous find that you secured here in the Aki system. A little bird told me that Mister Slade passed along information to you that led to a major find. Rumor has it that it's a complete base in semi-operational operational condition. That is something amazing. I've said for years that there was something in the system and it's gratifying to have someone prove me right."
Her frown became a full-blown scowl.
"That is absolutely untrue. There was no major discovery in the system."
"Really? I don't suppose you'd let me look inside these boxes that you're carrying. I'm willing to bet you anything that they contain Ancients artifacts proving that you did indeed find something extremely major in this system. My contact didn't have all the details, but they certainly knew more than enough to fill in some of the blanks. This is going to change the study of the Ancients going forward. I can feel it. It's wonderful to be on the cusp of something new and to play some small part in the progress."
"Please, don't go starting false rumors about something you know nothing about."
He grinned.
"Too late, and they aren't rumors if they're true. I only reported the facts to everyone aboard the liner. We're all very excited. I'm confident that word is spreading like wildfire. You will be famous. Oh, and I suppose you will too, Slade."
She looks like she's ready to throttle him. Or order the Marines to shoot him.
Actions?
