16. In orbit around Earth

[Renekin Skywalker]

Setting description
The ship made it's way through space, closing on the satellite. Even as the Galaxy's engines lit it's trail through space, similar ones were conceding on the same path.

In cargo bay
Mensk's research found some basic specifications of the equipment that were included in satellites like the one they were chasing. Tawfeek had found some winch cables for pulling the satellite into the hold. He was more interested in getting it into the hold Nd the taking it apart. If it was a dead hunk, no need to disarm it.

I any event, there were the basic zero-g and Eva tools available, and the winch cable.

On the bridge

After the conversations, and the eventual realization they were in a race, Tawfeek rarely left the bridge. His eyes were glues to the table.

Even Mensk was back up for the final details. (that is, everyon's there, again).

"Stephens, I count three other ships," he had said. "I know him. that's Jonas. Pro salvage. This one's a Blastarc hire. And the one converging on us has a fake ID. We'll know it when we get closer. The fake's our biggest concern. When we know who it is, we'll know why it's special."

Turning around, Tawfeek looked out the window.

 "Foreman, you play chicken with them. I want to be able to read the name on their bow. Clear?"

"When we get to the satellite, assuming we're first, Stephens, you stick to Mensk. I'll be on top of the ship. Mensk, you confirm it's dead, and we tow it in. It's live and we drop it.  We got Blastarc and Jonas viewing for a claim, and if we can't get it in the hold quickly, we won't be able to compete. We'll just get work elsewhere."

He looked around. "Are we clear?"

[dakota]

McKenna hadn't gotten the answered she had wanted, but knew she would have to llive with them for now and focused on the task at hand. Not given anything else to do, she stayed with the sensor readouts and let everyone focus on their jobs.

[kurff]

"Nice, A means to hold so we ca hold it up if we park the ship around it." he thought out loud, "Now I need a basic board in case I need to do mid-retrieval delays on any malfunctions...which I should be able to do in here.." and made his way back to the bridge.

"Understood I have a Winch set up to hold it once we park the ship around it. We leave the Cargo bay in Zero-Gee it should never even touch the bay floor. and slowly add gravity after its cabled up." Mengsk added, "As an alternate plan."

[Mierin]

Jessica nods at Tawfeek and says, "Understood."

[Dome]

Flip knew that somehow the Captain would interrupt the conversation before they came to a conclusion, so he didn't let it get him upset.

He had slowed the ship as they approached the coordinates so he could asses the position of the satellite, and the competition. He says to the Captain, "no problem. Mensk you better be ready, I am going to push things to the limit."

He then smiles and says, "everyone, hold onto something. MJ keep an eye on those sensors, tell me when I am getting close."

He pushes the ship to close the distance to the unknown. His goal is to buzz the ship but not stay close to it for long, but instead close on the satellite burning past the competition.

[dice=100](43)Pilot: Spacecraft: Heavy 60%

[dice=100](23)Navigation: Space 45%

[dice=100](22)Naval Tactics 40%

[dice=100](12)Sensory Equipment 45%[rand=422113589772480267434372673897655060192086753571136530355184376427]

[dakota]

"I'm watching." McKenna replied, watching the screen in front of her (read sensory equipment[dice=100]) . " Just make sure you don't hit anything please."[rand=17209813549197855568373939909402382445800408991552681079051969682]

[Renekin Skywalker]

On the bridge

The ship sped towards the satellite as it's three competitors closed in on it.

It didn't take long for Foreman to see who he was playing chicken with. Or for anyone on the bridge. Long before he could read the writing, he know the sillhouette. He had just helped get away from them only a short while before.

The Pooh Jihad closed on them.


In the hold

Mensk was suited alongside a well-armed Jessica and Tawfeek. Tawfeek had brought out a special for the occasion.

As he did a final weapons check, Tawfeek said very little, except, at one point, he looked at Jessica.

"A Blastarc reject shouldn't have this kind of attention, from their own contractor," he said, calmly. "I suspect this wasn't planned, and wasn't wanted. Keep on your toes."

[kurff]

JIC: [dice=20] [dice=100]
Initiative: [dice=20]
Mechanical Engineer 55%+5% [dice=100]
Navigation (Space) 65%+5% [dice=100]
Radio Basic 60%+5% [dice=100]
Jury-Rig 25% [dice=100]
"With any luck Flip passed the parallel parking portion of his flight training. and he can park the sat right in our cargo bay." He double checked his engines and the Winch position and linked up with the ships nav comp. He needed to be precise. Seeing the possibility of Zero G he had some safety cords ready just in case.

"Flip, Mengsk here. if you can get the sat in the bay while were at zero-G in here. I'd rather it not bang around much. Seeing as that power core in the sat may not be stable and they did fail to kill the sat remotely." he radios back to Flip then released the button.

Despite personal disagreements (if any at all) or any issues they were on the same ship and that was more important. A crew relied on each other to survive..and like them or not they were crew.

Truth was he didn't really hate any crew mates here. Sure they were a bit chatty, maybe a few issues in the head in some cases. All in all he didn't need to worry about knives in the back like his old company.

"For a minute we will lose gravity if we can park around the sat. When that happens we may need to turn grav back on fast and that means this sat will fall. so be careful not to get under it. If all goes as planned the sat will be right near the winch and I can just hook it up. then we fly away fast. the sat not touching cargo bay floor at all." He explains looking at his hand comps engine reads and nav stats.[rand=10957640972243499071263461051138344711960039803596634801372892889215]

[dakota]

McKenna kept watching the monitors (roll carried over), cowering a bit in her seat as the other ship was coming right at them.

[Dome]

Flip shakes his head. He toggles the comms, and says, "Mensk your going to have to hitch a line and try to tow the sat in or something I have my hands full doing my job, can't do your's too. I'll give you the best possible chance but its on you mate."

He moves the ship and says still into the comms, "Captain, the Pooh Jihad, is closing in on us, so this is going to have to be very fast."

He closes off the comms and says, "Doctor I need some readouts, you need to tell me how close they are to us. That's your focus, they are the big guns...literally."

Flip tries to push the ship close to the satellite, depending on how close the Pooh is he will try to back the ship up to the satellite.

He will not even look for the pirate ship, expecting the doctor to do it for him as now he gets to try and dock the ship with a satellite. He looks at the sensors to determine the ship's position and the satellites as well as the other competitors. He then tries to get the satellite right behind the ship. He toggles comms and says, "everyone, get ready, we wont have much time."

[dice=100](4)Sensory Equipment 45%
[dice=100](30)Pilot: Spacecraft: Heavy 60%[rand=0293422209528355632530652782990636790933516323172797686224131522564]

[kurff]

"Right, I can do that too. but I figure if you parked around it we'd resolve who gets it first. Once I check it of course..." then closed his comms.

"I'll jump out and lets hope they don't try an kill me then..." He checked his gear and took a few, "Since he's flying around I'll need just one person to manage the fail safes in here...just in case my suit malfunctions." Mengsk started to the cargo bay door. As he stood near the door controls he checked a few spray cans he had on his harness.

[dakota]

McKenna was nervous as she watched the screens, glancing up at the viewports from time to time while muttering, " _{From now on, I just stay in my medical suite and wait for someone to hurt themselves}"

As Flip gave her directions, she began to call out the sensor's readings, not realizing her nervousness was causing her to make errors.

forgot Read sensory equip roll [dice=100] )[rand=789888067202420833824775306570475043666994541039560407852866171]

[Renekin Skywalker]

In the hold

Tawfeek patted Mensk's helmet. "Aw, now, no-one's going to have time to check your connect, so you should make sure it's good to go before the doors open."

On the general comm, Tawfeek says, "Foreman, I'll trust your judgement," he said. "You still have to slow down t it. If you can swallow it in he hold, do it. if not, we'll do it the old fashioned way."

He turned to Mensk. "I'm betting they want it in one piece, so if we can anchor it first, tha will be enough."

On the bridge

If McKenna was right, the satellite would be there soon, and it was the size of a basketball, and not the many-tonned hunk of junk Mensk had dug up information about. Or, perhaps, it was further than her readings suggested. He could see it getting closer, though.

At the same time, the Pooh Jihad was building up speed, and closing on them. It was looking like their captain wanted to play chicken.

[Dome]

Flip listens to the comms traffic and thinks, 'wow he trusts me. Lets hope he isn't wrong to do that.'

Comms on he says, "All right I will try, I'm closing on the satellite, I'm going to try and keep the sat between us and the 'Pooh' maybe they wont fire, but they may use a grapnel or something. Then we could be in a tug of war if we get it latched too," he mutters stating the obvious.

He changes the ships course to put the Sat between them and the Pooh.

Once close enough he toggles comms again, "Ok cut the gravity in there so you don't feel the g's of this maneuver, but hold on. Open the cargo bay doors too. Everyone else, if your not strapped in, you have about 10 seconds." He leaves the comms open as he watches his distance to the satellite. He will line the ship up with the satellite, and cut the ships engines and reverse the ship direction letting the momentum of the ship drift the sat into the cargo hold adjusting with maneuvering thrusters if necessary to keep sat centered in cargo bay.

Back through comms, "tell me when its in. I'll give the engines power so the thing doesn't slam into the back end of the hold. The tie it down, and close the doors and we will book."

[dice=100](23)Naval Tactics 40% (the crazy maneuver he is about to attempt)
[dice=100](22)Sensory Equipment 45% (sat location relative to ship)
[dice=100](13)Pilot: Spacecraft: Heavy 60% (adjust course to keep sat between the pooh and the galaxy)
[dice=100](22)Pilot: Spacecraft: Heavy 60% (flip ship so cargo hold is pointed at sat use thrusters to keep sat centered as ship coasts back)
[dice=100](15)Pilot: Spacecraft: Heavy 60% (power to engines to stop satt from slamming into wall)

{ooc: not sure how many rolls i needed, but whatever.}

[rand=22121462613993462917520944236796610678325053802651886539315077109]

[kurff]

"Oh yeah, that sats probably got Data worth millions...and if that is Blast Arcs competitors you can bet they want it intact as bad." he linked a strap to a spot.
"of course we have no way of knowing whats in the Data buffer that didn't get deleted or left on the satellite." he grinned as he prepped.