SS Iscariot - Episode 1: New Beginnings

[Tereza]

Location: Dock

As the remaining members of her new crew streamed past Tereza did what she could to remain convinced that this was indeed the preferable choice to taking her chances with the hired muscle Iscariot provided. Thankfully Mel was already leading her towards the bridge by the time her resolve had time to soften. And by then it was too late.

"Help me take her out,"

Her helmet came off as she slid into the co-pilot's chair and was tucked into a footwell where it would be mostly out of the way for now. A ship this size didn't rely on rudder pedals. Well practiced hands traced over the console before her, bringing it to life . It took a few moments to become familiar with this particular model but high end military tech didn't change too much from one application to another. In short order she had a pre-flight checklist drawn up on her display as well as the ship's main system diagnostics. Rather than read through the list. Proper procedure was for when they had plenty of time, 'Reza jabbed the all clear button and shifted the readouts into an upper corner. "RCS thrusters engaged and online, primary thrusters are green." A slight pause as she navigated a quick menu. "Ship is now sealed. Ready for launch."

Shifting her hands from displays to twin joysticks, Tereza had always prefered flying HOSAS to HOTAS, Mel's sticks had the main, but should for any unforeseen electrical issues arise Tereza would be nearly perfectly mimicking the other woman's actions so when control of the ship automatically transferred over, there would be no loss of control. With a heavy thrum the Ship disengaged from the dock and scuttled away from the station with it's RCS thrusters. Deep in the engine bay Pete would be able to sense the change in attitude of the powerful machines around them as, acting in the near perfect concert military trained pilots were expected to display, Melody and Tereza brought the ship up to speed leaving a wash of ion particles in their wake.

Once the ship was no longer in immediate danger of colliding with anything not hidden by here unto previously unknown Alliance visual cloaking technology Reza turned to look over at Mel, as well as anyone else who had made their way up to the bridge. "So. Guess this makes me a pirate now huh?"

[Holger Heyerdahl]

Location: Dock

As Holger entered the ship he had a new mission. Pans. His first instinct was to go to the kitchen. The scene of much confusion and ferocious fighting. But why would Melody want him to find pans? Was she hungry? Holger didn't know much about cooking. That duty had fallen to his sisters, Helga and Erna, and Holger had been told not to enter the kitchen upon penalty of getting a smack with a wooden spoon. Surely Melody would not assume Holger knew how to cook. It couldn't be pans that she was looking for.

Holger shivered in the cold of the ship.

Plants, perhaps? Though St. Albans was a particularly bare planet, always cold and used mainly for mining, there were some wooded areas Holger had frequented as a child. And during the war, there had been many areas with many plants in which he had fought and killed men. In fact, he had met Melody in one such place. But plants on a ship? Preposterous. Holger remembered from his childhood lessons that plants needed sunshine and there was no sunshine in The Black. That is why it was called "The Black." It wasn't plants.

Goosebumps covered his body and his thick, ginger hair stood on end as the artificial atmosphere of the ship kicked in.

Plans? Not likely.

Paints? Izak was on that.

Parents? His mother was dead and his father far away.

Pallets?

No. No. No. No.

Holger nakedly wandered the ship wondering what in the 'verse Melody wanted from him and then, he figured it out, and that was only because he arrived at the one room on the ship that could give him the answer.

The Laundry Room.

"Pants!" He said, happy to have figured it out. What he found was so much more than pants.

Moments later...

Holger appeared at the door to the bridge, his smile as bright as the clothes he had on. He wore must have been the dress uniform of the commander of the ship. It was a lighter gray, with bright silver epaulettes and a matching silver rope hanging across the chest, silver buttons flanking the lapel all the way down to his belt. The pants bulged slightly at the thighs, and it was to Holger's fortune that the man had apparently been a broad fellow, for the whole thing fit Holger well. The look was completed with a peaked hat (with silver laurels) and, white dress gloves, and black knee high boots shined to perfection. "Not just pants." He said with a grin.

[Izak Archer]

Location: Dock

Izak was long situated in the bridge before Isa's order to do so, and the armory was locked down, so he had no real reason to leave. He noticed as Melody, with another woman in tow, swept onto the bridge. She was ready to bolt. Who knew what happened this time.

Then there was Melody, hauling him out of his seat.

The one for the weapon controls...which would not do her much of anything.

Not like he could do anything.

"Do you mind?" He asked as arrogantly as possible to piss Melody off further. He rolled his eyes as she started in on being in charge again.

Only one problem with the turrets however, they were automated...at least so far as he could tell. He wasn't entirely thrilled with the idea of using them from the bridge. Beside the tracking system would pick up too,much and not fire anyway.

He watched as Melody started moving switches and hitting buttons. "Lovely to see you skipped the surgery to get the stick removed from your arse."

He ran through a mental checklist as to who was on board their vessel...at least else who he knew was coming.

"Everyone been corralled?" He asked, waiting for Melody to move. He sat back down as Holger strode in, regarding him with a raised eyebrow. He was surprised that the Alliance found such a giant to command a ship.

"I said it once, and I'll say it again, Alliance uniforms never looked anywhere near as good as the ones you browncoats had."

He stopped and thought for a moment. "Though if the whole ship has a lot of them, they could be quite useful."

[Isa Romero]

Isa raised her brow at the naked behemoth wandering into the ship. But he seemed like he'd be good for something....if not pure intimidation.  Between him the cat, they seemed to be a crack team of individuals.  But the remainder of the crew was on board, and there were more important things to worry about.  She turned on her heels and made her way towards the bridge, perhaps taking a bit longer than she should. Isa relaxed and her hand found its way to the wall, her gait slowed and she breathed deeply. Closing her eyes she felt the hum of the ship through her fingertips, a small smile curling onto her lips.

Opening her eyes, Isa straightened her back and returned to her original mission.  Quickly making her way to the bridge. She walked in on what seemed to be a...disagreement between Mel and Izak. 

"Lovely to see you skipped the surgery to get the stick removed from your arse."

"We may not be under the alliance banner, but I still expect decorum on my ship..."She paused, her eyes drifting towards Izak, "And I expect you to respect your XO." Isa's gaze remained on Izak for a moment, letting her last comment sink in. Her gaze quickly snapped forward and she moved close towards Mel and Tereza, "Nice job ladies." Her hand reached for the comms and pulled the speaker toward her, "Good Afternoon everyone, this is your Captain Isa Romero. For those I haven't met yet, we will shortly. In the mean time, get settled, and welcome aboard the Revenge. " Releasing the comm Isa put back the speaker, she looked briefly down at Mel, smirking , it was good to be back.