29. Freedom Station.

[Renekin Skywalker]

Static.

The lawyer ended the recording.

"That's it?" He asked Jessica, on the stand.

Jessica nodded. "That is it."

"And The Pooh Jiohad carried you and the remained of the Galaxy crew to Liberty Station?"

Jessica nodded again. "That is correct."

"And the Galaxy itself?"

"Lost sensor contact shortly after communication was lost," She said. "The ship's trajectory was incaculable, and the tracking beacon was deactivated." She explained.

The lawyer turned to the judge. "And so it was."

A week later, the crew were gathered among a small crowd of people in the courtroom. The judge was sitting down to make his judgement.

"While the wreckage of the Galaxy and the asteroid fragment have not been found," The judge read for his statement. "It is none-the-less that the series of events, which necessitated the sacrifice of the vessel would not have occurred were it not for the negligence of Inner-Belt Mining corporation. Had they not sent the fragment towards Earth, the Galaxy would not have had to intercept it, nor divert it. This court finds no grounds in Inner-Belt Mining's objection to the methods used. It further commends Captain Tawfeek for his sacrifice." The crowd started applauding this finding, to which the judge banged the gavel for silence. He was obviously not done. "May he rest in peace. To the Dominion's objection to the opinion of its likelihood to co-operate, this court has no comment." This led to a lot of murmuring, especially among the reporters. "This court finds that the loss of livelihood caused by Inner-belt Mining's negligence is a legitimate claim. This court therefore fines Inner-Belt Mining for loss and damages, in addition to those already levied."

He pounded his gavel. "This court rests."

People got up to leave. A few supporters came over to congratulate the four of them (Foreman having woken up and is now being NPCed). The reporters had left the main room, working on their stories.

The four were soon left alone, with the military lawyer and Captain Xerox in the room.

And continue!

[dakota]

Once they were all alone, the silence of the group was deafening. McKenna stood with her arms wrapped around herself, feeling kind of awkward, "So I guess that's it. Any of you have an idea what you're going to do now?"

[kurff]

per: t9xOK77q1d20
JiC:1d20
JiC:1d100

Skills:
Computer Operation: 1d100/85% (pass)


"We move on. If anyone else wishes to continue on the path of interstellar work I plan on looking now..all of you are welcome to join or leave. But remember this." Mengsk spoke plainly, "He would not give up or sit idle and wait for an oppertunity to help his crew..we shouldn't.

"THis means we do need a ship or to join one I'm certain people will look for crew..add to that we saved the earth..finding employment won't be hard." he pauses, "I will make a few phonecalls to some old contacts. Maybe someone has an old ship or knows someone a who needs crew. Even if they can get us into a spot to make money to buy a ship." he said with some confidence, "My guess is some of you may have a few friends. Any of them that we can 'safely' call that might help are worth a call." he looked in his call list on his palm pilot computer and oniine for any sort of offers that might suit him and the others.

1d20·1d20·1d100·1d100

[Renekin Skywalker]

Foreman and Jessica stood on either side of McKenna, about to comfort her. Then, realizing what they were doing, each looked awkward and paused.

"Work is a good idea," Xerox said, taking his eyes off the trio. "It will get your mind off other matters."

"And in reality," the lawyer added. "The settlement will not play out for some time."

Jessica nodded. "Alright, so we work."

Foreman turned to Mensk. "Find anything?"

Amongst the want adds, a relatively new posting showed a captain looking for an experienced crew. Applicants were to go to Docking Lounge AA5 on Friday.

[kurff]

"A captain wants an experienced crew..I'd say we are a good fit. All the major areas of expertise needed are covered. The adds pretty new so it should be a good start. I'll leave a message with some old friends as well just incase this ad does not pan out. Captain Tawfeek would not want us sitting around waiting so lets not dissappoint. Docking Lounge AA5 on Friday.." he nodded.

The loss of Tawfeek was tragic, and he'd miss the man. Though found no tears nor did he think Tawfeek would want people mourning over him. In his mind the best way remeember him was to move forward and honoor his memory by deed. Once he could get a ship it would indeed be called Galaxy..for now this mysterious captain and his boat would have to do.

[dakota]

McKenna looked up at the lawyer and could not help the hint of venom in her tone, "This isn't about the money." She looked at the others, " If you think that's the best idea, count me in. My only other option is to go back to the hospital, and I have no desire to do that. I guess we kill time until then."

In her heart she was not sure she wanted to crew for another ship either, but the others were staying together so she thought it was for the best. It might even be what it took to get her out of the emotional rut she had been mired in since the Galaxy was lost. "Be nice to know who it is posting the job. Last thing we need is some greenhorn captain, or worse, some snot nosed kid with the keys to daddy's freighter."

[Renekin Skywalker]

Foreman looked over Mensk's shoulder as the bailiff ushered them out.

"A green captain would't be so bad," he said, finally sidling up to McKenna. "We would be the ones teaching him to be the kind of captain we would like. Instead of the other way around. Friday's tomorrow, right?"

"And new captains tend to have th easier jobs," Xerox added. "But the spoiled ones, I agree. Avoid them."

Jessica nodded. "Wait, AA5 on a Friday? That's an odd coincidence."

[kurff]

"Is it someone you know of or perhaps you know personally?" he asked with a bit concern but did not show the concern visibly or verbaly. He sounded mor or less curious. This was getting interesting.

"McKenna, Between Jessica and I we can probably look into who it is before signing on. Sounds like a wise idea to me." Mengsk agreed. THe last job they had he probably should have looked into..but it worked out sort of.

[dakota]

"Mengsk, I wasn't implying we blindly jump at the first job we're offered. I'm not an idiot." She replied somewhat sternly, before looking at Jess, " What's a coincidence? You've had Something happen in AA5 before?" She sighed and looked at her friends, "You know what, this racket is over and we won. Let's go get a drink or two and celebrate the captain's memory. Least we can do for him, right?"

[Renekin Skywalker]

"Lounge AA5 was where Tawfeek and I hired you all," Jessica answered, as she turned to walk. "I'm sure it's just a coincidence, though."

[kurff]

per: BB17K3wg1d20
JiC: 1d20
JiC: 1d100

"I prefer to avoid blind employment offers as well. I was just planning on meeting the guy then we would discuss whether we take the offer as group. I Never said, did not implied or in anyway suggest that I held that belief you were an idiot. I was just offering to do a more extensive background check if you wanted one. I was going to do a background check on the offer anyway.." he responded, "I almost never take a blind offer. Well I did once." he grinned.

"As for the drinks say when and where and I can definitely go with that." he agreed with McKenna.1d20·1d20·1d100

[dakota]

"Must be a popular spot Jess, right?" McKenna said to the coincidence, then shook her head at the engineer, "Relax Mengsk, I know what you meant. Jst giving you a hard time since you make it easy," she teased. "Let's find a bar, get blitzed enough that Jess actually cracks a smile and we toast the captain until they cut us off. Sound good?" McKenna knew the others knew she was bluffing since she could not handle her liquor, but she did not care as long as they stuck together. And if she ended up going back to with Jessica or Foreman, so be it. Or both crossed her mind, and a light smile traced her lips.

[Renekin Skywalker]

"I have been smiling for the last 20 minutes," Jessica sighed. "Can you not tell?"

"And I didn't hear any of this," the lawyer said, parting ways.

"I'm listening," Xerox said, following, with a grin. "And, popular or not, Deror had a soft spot for that lounge. Even before I met him."

Luckily, the media had gotten bored waiting, and had moved on to something else.

Equally lucky, there were plenty of drinking establishments in Freedom. A new neighbourhood, in fact, had just been completed and opened on the outer fringes.

[dakota]

"First Mengsk not getting sarcasm, now Jess is busting my hump. All I need is Foreman to get in on the fun and my day is complete." McKenna scowled. She pointed at Xerox, " You aren't helping either. So bring on the beer."

[Renekin Skywalker]

"This is the fun?" Foreman asked, getting in on it. "Oh."