Salvage on Whittier

A RolePlay Log by The Alliance and The Aces and Eights Crew and Friends
Title	Heavy Metal
Date	2013 January 16
IC Date	2532 March
Location	The Jungles of Whittier
Appearing	Danielle Carpenter (NPC) Jay De'Ath (NPC) Sinklar Fist John Hawkins (NPC) John "Doc" Holliday Lt. Heather Jacy Adelheid Victoria Reinhart "Rosie" Sypher Zank

When you need assistance, the Alliance can be there for you. Usually with a sting in the tale.

The jungle heat is damn near unbarable as the clock reaches 1PM in the afternoon. Sink and Mati are still inside the Aces while the others are still close, but outside the ship. Doc just took a swig of water...wipes his forehead. He looks a bit antsy as he waits for Sink and Mati's report. Doc rises...lights himself a cig...then looks about and sees the LT and her NCO's....after a drag Doc offers to the LT., "It shouldn't takes much longah....ah hopes." <English>

Meanwhile in the ship ... There is a pause in Mati's response. "Ooo I think I thumped mein head a bit, stinks so might have cut it a little." She says. "Nicked mein shin too stoppin, I hit a bump in the bulkhead I think." She explains before moving a bit better with a better pair of shoes on now. It's in the engine room she blinks and shakes her head. More German as she moves to touch the engine gently. She pauses and looks to Sink. "Sorry forget, I have ta get ya to learn German Herr Sink." She says as she grouches down. "Mein Gott! It's a mess in here!" <English>

"So what's the plan, sir?" Jacy asks, sipping from her own water. "They still checking out the ship?" She hasn't unzipped even the top couple of inches of her jumpsuit, and even though she's rolled the sleeves up she's sweating hard, her hair damply sticking to her skin. The two NCOs, in fatigues, are in better shape - they've stripped down to their t-shirts, but even those are dark with sweat. <English>

Doc shrugs a bit at the LT. "Still hard ta says Lt....yes they's still checkin her out...soon as whee git enough info then it'll beh time ta move tha ship...how whee goes about that is what'll need ta beg decided." <English>

Sink follows Matitie's flashlight into the engine room of the Aces, careful not to bump his head. His progress stops all of a sudden and just as suddenly he calls out, "Scat, scram, get out of here.", there's a shriek, and a high pitched caw, and those out side soon see two ticked off bats take flight out of the broken cockpit window. Soon Sink is beside Matitie and the engine. He mutters to her, "Looks like the cowling is busted up. The engine bolts might have snapped and there might be shifting of the engine if this is how it is. At least the cooling system is in serious jeopardy. I hope we got enough for some lift, we don't need much..." <English>

Jacy nods and settles back to wait. After a while, there's the sound of booted feet, and a small squad of troops arrive. At least, three of them are troops, like the noncoms having sensibly stripped off their fatigue jackets. They're pulling a couple of crates on hoversleds, and when that doesn't require their attention they're staring at the remaining two newcomers - one is an overweight man in a garish Hawaiian shirt and shorts, and he's accompanied by a willowy blonde woman in cargo shorts and a loose blouse. The man, breathing hard, holds up a hand for everyone's attention, and booms out, "Why, this is just perfect...get the equipment set up, Sergeant. Danielle? Get some shots of the ship first, the once-proud ship now laying crippled in this hellhole of a jungle, we'll sim up some crash footage as well, get some stock monkeys or something shrieking in the background, and then get some closeups of the characters...oh, that man there is perfect, the noble savage, get him in profile." He's pointing to Holliday. <English>

Laying down on the floor or what Mati thinks could be a floor. She mmms and nods her head softly. "Ja I see that though mmm. I think If ve can just..." She moves to pull out her tools and starts to work. The humming starts as Mati works. "I am gunna try to rig it a bit und see if that vorks." <English>

Sink sniffs the air in the engine room, then nods, and pulls out a lighter from his duster and strikes his sweaty thumb against it. Sparks go once, then twice, and finally Sink has his own light. Holding the flame up, he walks towards one side of the engine room, and starts to look over some damage there. He coughs, and starts tapping some pipes, then nods again, "The thrusters looks solid. If the engine has anything in her, we'll be able to steer, I think. Depends if the outports are blocked." He pauses and nods to Matitie, "Alright, rig away." <English>

She'd nod her head but Mati knows that Sink won't see her. "Ja Ja." She says while she moves to start rigging away. The lovely sound of clinks, clanks and clingalingaling. Click, clack clack cling. It sounds like almost a German Christmas carol while she is working. Is there any vay to get the lights on Herr Sink?" She asks while scooting a bit more to work. <English>

As others, unplanned to Doc's knowledge, arrive Doc tosses his cig aside and looks at them with hands in his pockets. "Ahhh...s'cuse meh?....jus whaat does ya thin yer a gonna does Mistah?" The question asked of the guy in the Hawaiin shirt. Doc starts walking towards the man as he looks at Jacy, "Youse knows anythin bout this?" Then to the man Doc says, "Ahm not ahll thaat sureah whants thins Photographed...so jus hang on fer a bit." <English>

Sink blinks at Matitie's request, "Lights? Why didn't I think of that. Lets see if the cells can make us a current." Lighter still in hand he heads to the electrical panel and start to flip a switches, and nothing happens. He starts to trace wires by hand and flame light until he finds something interesting. The lighter goes off, and there's a soft scrape of the machete coming out of it's sheath, and an even softer scraping and flicking. Only in the partial light from Matitie flashlight does Sink operate. There's a small spark, then two of the lights in the engine room come on. "When you have a sec", Sink says to Matitie, "Toss me some tape, will ya?" <English>

Hawaiian Shirt moves forwards, a beefy smile on his round face, and thrusts a hand forwards to offer to shake. "I'm Jay De'Ath. Spelled like Death, y'know, but De'Ath. This is Miss Danielle Carpenter..." and he leers at the willowy woman who is pulling out a handheld, but clearly professional-looking, camera from one of the crates. "And a great pair of legs she has too, eh, Captain, know what I mean?" Danielle must be used to the sexist commentary from her boss for she doesn't bat an eyelid but continues checking her camera over. Jay, seemingly unconcerned whether Doc takes his hand to shake or not, gestures expansively. "I'm producer for Critical Pictures, you might have seen us on the Cortex, currently under contract to the Alliance to produce drama-documentaries illustrating exciting aspects of life in the Navy, and hell, if they aren't exciting, we can edit them exciting, know what I mean? Heard there was a crash here, some poor bastard of a pilot put her down on this godforsaken hellhole, so we came as fast as we could. You the pilot?"

Jacy has hurried over and caught most of it, and looks a little awkward. "Yes, sir, I know about this. They arrived from Verbena earlier today on the shuttle. I've been ordered to give them 'every possible assistance'." From her faintly sour tone, it's clear those three words rankle. <English>

The tape does kind of fly over to Sink, though Mati grins happily. "JA take that Engine, ya vork for me ya Hundin!" She says happily and slowly move up to stand a bit. "I think she vill vork now, Oh sorry. Can't aim very vell vith mein feet. I got it close to you did I?" She asks and looks around. "Oh Mein gott, Herr Doktor is gunna have to do a lot of vork in here. I mean how can vone have an engine room like this?" Yup OCD Miss Order is trying not to start but she'd twitch if she could clean this place up, damn wreak. <English>

Doc looks between Jacy and the fat man..."So this ah came from high aboves ya...hrmmm...whell then..far be it fer meh ta intahfeers with anythin the Alliance does..." Doc does shake the man's hand and then says, "Nope...though ah ahm a pilot...this wasn't mah doins...ya sees..ah owns this ship...that's whay ah whanna knows whaat's goin on here....and befer ah gives magh blessin fer ya ta film ah has ta asks...whaat's in this fer meh and the ships crew?" Doc looks at Jacy hoping like hell she at least let's fat man answer. <English>

Sink watches the tape land sort of close to Sink and with one hand keeping the machete stripped cables connected. He reaches with the tip of the machete and flicks the tap into the air towards him. While the tape is in the air, Sink fumbles with the wrist strap for the machete, getting his hand through just in time to catch the tape. Teeth help getting a strip cut that is long enough, and soon the repaired connection for the light are holding themselves together without Sink's fingers. He moves over to Matitie "Aye, you got it close enough. So the engine will work? For how long? Come on lets get out of here and tell Doc the news." <English>

Thinking a bit as she tilts her head. "Vell I'm not sure how long until ve can start it up und I can get a reading hoping that the computer isn't overly damaged." She says and nods her head. "Sure though shouldn't ve start the engine und do a reading first before we tell him? Ve can answer any questions he has. Vould ya like to try?" She asks gently and smiles to her boss. <English>

Jay pumps Doc's hand up and down like he's pumping water at one of those oldfashioned farmyard pumps. "Why, sir, what's in it? Fame! Glory! The thrill of having your face plastered over a million Cortex screens! The heartbroken owner," he intones somberly, "on hearing of the death of his pilot as he fought to save the ship...and, sure," he waves his hand airily, "Your pilot may be right as rain, but it's a better story if he cashed in his chips, know what I mean?...and now the heartbroken owner comes to salvage the ship from the heart of the jungle! Fighting against the heat, the jungle animals...hey, Danielle, you remember that tiger footage we shot last year?...battling unrest in his crew...no offense, mister, but unrest and tension sells footage. Especially if it's over a woman...you got any wimmenfolk in your crew?" Jay looks around wistfully, as if expecting hordes of women to come scampering out of the jungle. <English>

Sink pauses for a moment, "Ah, I misunderstood. Righto, lets see what the readings say." Sink takes thame moment to re-sheath the machete. <English>

Doc arches an eyebrow as his hand is shook..then pulls it away. Doc looks at Jacy and says, "Ya'll a listinin to this tripe?" Doc looks at the man as he gets pissed off of his assessment of things. Doc moves close to the man's face and says clearly for all to hear, "No...yer not gonna does that dude...ifin yer gonna reports this then yer gonna does it raght....that orah ahm gonna sue tha shit outtah you , her, and yer company." Doc's face is almost close enough for nose to nose...? Nowah was thar anythin ah jus said thaat ya didn't undahstand?...an nobody got killed..crews al alive..some banged up a bit..but alive and well...ya'll whanna makes yerselfs a new Sci-fi movie...do it someplace else.." Doc is so close to decking this guy for his attitude of....fuck the truth we'll make it up as we go...money in my pocket." <English>

Hawaiian shirt chuckles, raising his hands in mock-surrender. "Easy, mister, easy," he smiles, the criticism of his operating methods sliding off him like water off a duck's back. "Whatever you say, son...you want the truth? We'll give you the truth, then." Danielle's got her camera working now, and she's angling in on the confrontation between Holliday and De'Ath, apparently zooming in close to Holliday's face. De'Ath smiles happily, "We'll make an angle of how you protect your crew, mister, I can see it in your eyes, how you protect them from the scum of the 'verse, know what I mean?....you wanna say a few words to Danielle here to get the ball rolling, maybe introduce yourself, know what I mean?"

Jacy looks uncomfortable as she listens, edging around so she thinks she isn't in the camera's field of view, and spreads her hands helplessly. <English>

It's about this time that a familiar figure, duster and all, actually rolls off the top of the ship and lands on his feet, half-crouched down, a newly fashioned necklace of sinew and tiger fangs around his neck. "Might be a better idea, to put the camera's away.." The mercenary instinctively keeps his head down, concealing his face that way but even with his face covered someone might be able to vaguely see the new markings on his neck, like somethings been stained into the skin recently. <English>

Good time to take advantage of the situation. Quickly thinking Doc looks into the camera and says bluntly, "Ahm Doc Holliday..an this here crashed ship ah owns..an ifin this dude don't tell it like it was ah'll sue him....No ah wasn't tha pilot...tha Pilot was one Esthah Gomez..tha Captain ah recently hired...of ahll tha crew Captain Gomez was the most hurt...rest o tha crew got a few bangs and bruises but are fine." Doc looks at the Fat man and adds, "There's the staht o yer news reel.." Doc looks over and sees a familiar figure...hears his words, than says, " <English>

Good time to take advantage of the situation. Quickly thinking Doc looks into the camera and says bluntly, "Ahm Doc Holliday..an this here crashed ship ah owns..an ifin this dude don't tell it like it was ah'll sue him....No ah wasn't tha pilot...tha Pilot was one Esthah Gomez..tha Captain ah recently hired...of ahll tha crew Captain Gomez was the most hurt...rest o tha crew got a few bangs and bruises but are fine." Doc looks at the Fat man and adds, "There's the staht o yer news reel.." Doc looks over and sees a familiar figure...hears his words, than says, "Thaat'd beh mah feelins too..cept ourah good LT has been ordered to co-operate with...these people....buht that doan hold any mustard with meh...seeins as ah owns this ship." <English>

Danielle films Doc Holliday's introductions as De'Ath looks on approvingly...but then Sypher makes his dramatic entrance, and De'Ath steps forwards to grab Danielle's shoulders and whirl her around towards the newcomer. "Get that! Are those real fangs on his neck? Mister Holliday, who's this? He with your crew? Get in tight, Danielle!" Handheld camerawork, all Blair Witch Project realite.

Nodding her head to Sink, Mati moves to start the engine. She crosses her fingers as she starts it up. True to form like any engine that just got crashed, it's a complete false start. Mati pauses and tilts her head. She speaks to the engine in German before moving her hand to try and fiddle with it. Rule of thumb kids, if it's broken fiddle with it before trying again. So Mati does that and tries it again. The engine starts up and starts to hummm to live. "JA!" She says happily. <English>

Sink Watches Matitie work. He knows better then to get between Matitie and her engine. So Sink watches and when Matite starts it up, he claps, then sets to work. He flicks on the diag computer and waits for the readings coming in. "Good work." He shuffles over a bit so Matitie can look too.

When theres mention of them taping him, Sypher's body jerks into motion, cutting an odd path, trying to keep out of the camera's line of sight, right up until his hand connects with the lens and covers it. Those violet eyes are unusual for a human, but the markings on his skin? they look even worse. Up close they look like some twisted tribal design, meant to instill fear in itself. "Off.." he gives simply to the camera girl, not looking strait at her as he speaks. His eyes bore into the fat man and he tilts his head calmly, asking him, "Have you ever had nightmares..?" he asks calmly, even smiling a little. He doesn't answer whether he's crew or not, but from the look of the man? he's probably not stable enough to BE on a crew for any length without creeping them out. <English>

Danielle, the camera girl, stumbles backwards, her eyes wide with fear. She pulls the camera back with her, hugging to to her chest as though it were body armor; she can't take her gaze off of Sypher, and from her expression she is the one going to be having nightmares. On the other hand, De'Ath's expression just becomes one great placid beam. "Oh, that's magnificent. Can you do that whole run-up thing again, only this time..." and his face darkens with anger, "Danielle, film the gorram man, that's what I'm paying you for!"

Jacy steps forwards now, deciding that this has gone too far. "Mister De'Ath, time out here..." she says sharply, raising both hands into the classic 'T'. "I'm sure you can take your discussions with this gentleman..." She gives a uneasy smile in the direction of Sypher, "...offline. Miss Carpenter, why don't you take some shots of the jungle, or something?" Peacemaker. <English>

Doc turns his head and looks at Jacy...he senses an underlying suggestion...and complies. He backs away from the fat man...."Doan pushes mah button any hardah De'ath....Dov starts back where he was as Sypher quickly passes him going towards De'ath. As Doc lights a cig he says to Jacy, "Thanks LT." <English>

There is a man standing on the outskirts of it all. A stranger in a sea of strangers. He is silent, not leaving the area of assembled people, though not a part of them either. <English>

Zank walks down the ramp of Jia his sleeves rolled up and a water bottle in his hand "When the hell did we land here...." Zank grumbles something about sleeping pills and then looks around and raises an eyebrow "Annn...a ship crashed..." <English>

Smiling to Sink, Mati nods her head. "Danke Herr Sink." She says while she moves to look at the computer. She mms and points to the screen as she reads it. "Vell ve can get it off the ground due to here und here, these numbers are gott. However I can't say for how long, since here... und here ..." She points to a few other numbers. "They are in the gray zone, there is too much damage pinging back from the engine und the stabilizers to give an accurate number. So ve might get it up into the black, but to fly it nein. Ve vould have to tow it back then hope ve can start her up again to land her in the ship yard." She says to Sink looking a bit worried. "IF ve had a mobile vork place und ve could do this at the landing point it vould be so much easier." <English>

Sink looks to Matitie, and then back to the screen, "It's as I thought, we'll have to haul it back into yard. I don't think we have the parts with us to get it done here at the landing area. But if you think we can get it back to the Dragon, we can probably get it back to Persephone." He frowns, "Well, take what reading you can and lets head back and let Doc know. I think the Alliance wanted to let it slide down hill on hover sleds... if we can fly it down to the landing area, I think everyone will be happier."

Sypher gives the fallen camera woman an almost apologetic look with those violet eyes, but then the fat man asks if he could do it again and that twisted little smile comes back as he looks at the man, walking towards him and actually grabs his shoulder, patting his shoulder as he muses, "I could, but I'm not going to." with a little chuckle. He sizes the man up a moment, then explains, "See, nightmares are amusing, you know that? They could haunt you for years, destroy your life? Ruin your career.." He looks the man right in the eye and that smile thins to something wicked as the hand on the shoulder reaches up to pluck, a single hair from the mans head as he muses. "I'm going to give you, one chance. Truth, is all I want to see in this story. Not something you make up, not something you twist to make a profit. Understand?" as he is saying this, the mans absently working to twist the hair into the sinew of the necklace around his neck, "Tell the truth? And you'll find something precious in it, but if I hear of one lie, one tiny, little fib? And I'll make sure the spirits haunt you into insanity." that smile never leaves as the mercenary turns away from the fat man, giving a simple, "Like I said.. nightmares are amusing." <English>

Danielle, the camera girl, swallows hard. She's suddenly sweating profusely, a dark patch appearing under the armpits and on the back of her blouse when she had hitherto been so cool in the jungle heat. She takes the suggestion to go film the jungle to heart, and turns around and hurries quickly away from ScarySypher, stumbling over the vegetation, angling towards the group of soldiers. They are enjoying the show, and equally are enjoying playing protector to the girl. Really, in terms of sexism, they're as bad as De'Ath.

De'Ath's jolly smile slowly starts to fade as Sypher speaks, and several times during the speech he opens his mouth as if to say something, but closes it again. Finally he finds his voice, sweat streaming down his face. "I....I'll tell the truth," he mutters thickly. A hand goes up to pat his hair where Sypher pulled out a hair, his fingers twitching. He watches the mercenary walk away and pulls out a large florid handkerchief to mop the sweat from his face.

Jacy stares at the exchange, but as nobody seems to be killing anyone right now, her job here is complete. She exhales a breath she didn't even know she was holding, and wanders away from Sypher (who is just a little scary right now) and from De'Ath (lest she be tainted by association with the producer). Holliday is a safe option right now, and she tells the Doc somewhat weakly, "Media types, huh?" <English>

Looking over the readings s she looks to Sink. "Ve can try, though if ve do get her off the ground. I'd say low low alt because I can't say vith any certainty that she vill last up in the air." She frowns gently and sighs a bit. "I vish I had better news." Though she looks at the mess they had to get through and looks down at her shin. Yup metal got her pants and ripped it, looking in it she cut herself but it's not too bad though the blood has clotted by now. Her bandana is covering the other cut on the side of her forehead, though with the sweat it has trickled down the side of her face a bit. "Vell off to climb up again. Ya vant to break the news to him?" She asks her boss trying to coax him into saying it. <English>

Doc walks around now trying hard to stay away from De'ath..and wondering what's taking Sink and Mati so long.. <English>

Zank after walking for a mile north and following the peices of the crashed ship until he comes apon the wreckage and crowd around it. "Holy crap...." he scans the crowd looking around for people he might know. <English>

Sink looks at Matitie closely for the first time, "Are you okay? You should not have open wounds here in this jungle. Ya, I'll tell him, come on, lets climb out, tell Doc and find you a first aid kit." He leads the way through the ship, carefully, then to the cockpit, and to the rope. Sticking his head out he looks about the jungled area, "Wow, there are more people out here." He mentions to Matitie before swinging out over the edge and repelling down the side. "Be careful.", he warns her. <English>

Sypher quietly walks over to the camera woman if the soldiers would allow, remaining silent as he approaches, trying not to be as creepy this time around. He does give Doc a glance, quirking a brow ever so slightly before offering him a thin smile and turning his attention back to the camera woman.

Look! Someone who isn't pissed or scary. At least yet. Danielle, dutifully panning across the foliage of the jungle, picks up the approaching Zank and zooms in with her camera as he approaches, but she nervously breaks the filming off after a few seconds to wander a good thirty or forty yards away, shadowed by a couple of the military goons (in case she's in need of rescuin'), and sets up her camera to take a picture of an entirely innocent parrot flying colorfully overhead. In turn Sypher shadows her. And then, glancing round, she spots Sypher out of the corner of her eye, and startles. The parrot disappears off her viewfinder as the camera jerks in her hand. She stares at him with wide, fearful eyes, again bringing her camera protectively to her chest. One of the goons steps forwards a pace, eyeing Sypher with that expression that all men get when they're about to lock horns over a woman, but doesn't say or do anything. <English>

Matitie ponders a moment and tilts her head to Sink. "I... oh." She moves her hand to her forehead. She shakes her head. "I had hoped the fall vouldn't have been so bad." Mati explains before she nods her head to her boss. She moves to follow him out gently, she waits for Sink to clear the cockpit before she moves to the rope. She takes her time getting up as she winces just a touch as she gets up and over. She sees more people and blinks. "Oh my." She says softly. <English>

Doc is being attentive to their surroundings when he hears a voice he'll never forget. He instantly rises and looks about as if they were about to be atacked, is what it looks like. Then he sees Zank and hisgrin turns into a abig big smile, "Whell ah'll beh damned...look someone left the door open an let anyone in." Doc starts walking towards Zank. His long time friend. <English>

Sink looks to Matitie, then around to find Doc. Spotting him he turns to Matitie, "I'm sure Doc will have something for those cuts, come on. We'll let him know and get you fixed up some." Sink raises an arm in greeting to Doc as he approaches, "Holliday, we got some news. As you probably noticed, the engine, it starts, but it's looking rather rough. Space is right out, but we might have enough in her to get her to the other ships. Can't guarantee anything though. Did you get an assessment from the Alliance folks? And who are these people?" <English>

Sypher takes a small cloth handkerchief from a pocket inside his coat, completely clean, white silk, and offers it to the woman as he walks up, not paying much mind to the soldiers as he says something to the woman, trying to speak quietly enough that no one else (especially not her producer) might hear. While he speaks, the mercenary, regardless of how dolled up as he is to look frightening, offers the woman a kind smile. <English>

Looking to Sink, Mati tilts her head. "Vell he is a doktor but don't press him on mein cuts. Can fix them later really." Mati isn't one to fuss really about her cuts. It's something that happens and she doesn't mind it at all, she's just careful as where to walk and how long she stands on one leg. Other than that she just stands behind her boss confused why there are so many people. <English>

Doc stops dead in his tracks and moves towards Sink and Matie, "Whell..thaat's prolly moreah than ah could wishes fer Sink. Doc sees Matie, "Mati?...ifin ya would grabs thaat black bag yondah..please an brings it ta meh?" Doc looks back at Sink, "yeah ah her her start up..didn't sounds too good...as fer the Feds?..no whee hasn't talked bout the actual move as yet...whee wanted t hear whaat Mati had ta says..then knock heads an plan this move....doan think the move is gonna happen taday...buht ifin we makes s decision taday whee can start first thin in tha mornin..." <English>

Doc adds, "Those two seem to be reporters..he likes to make stuff up as to what happened..ahm not havin any o thaat,..." <English>

Sink give Holliday a nod as he takes of his stetson and then the bandanna, and rings it out, "Alright, here's the risks in trying to fly her. One is crashing a second time, two, is that we won't be able to control her once she is in the air, and maybe crash into some other ship, and three, more damage to the structure, just by the stress. Maybe the Alliance has a better plan, I don't know." He blinks away some sweat then turns away from Doc and snaps the bandanna a few times, making a fine mist of sweat, before putting it back on his head. "Reporters? You mean crazy people. Coming out here... maybe they have a death wish." <English>

De'Ath, the producer, is fussing over his camera boxes, probably as a way to keep his mind occupied with something other than Sypher's threats. Danielle blinks at Sypher, glancing quickly over at her boss and then back again. She's still nursing the camera to her chest. "Look, mister, I'm sorry, I'm just here to do a job..." she stammers. "I don't mean any harm." She moistens her lips, then asks his permission to leave, "If you don't mind, mister, I'll take some shots of those two that just came out." She nods over to Sink and Matitie.

Jacy is oblivious to the exchange between Danielle and Sypher. She steps forwards towards Sink and Matitie, listening to the words said. She motions her two original NCOs forwards - Hawkins and Rodriguez, who come forward at the best pace they can make over the uneven jungle floor. "You really think you can fly her?" she asks Sink bluntly. <English>

Tilting her head a moment and looking to Sink, Mati makes out half of what Doc says. Translator she needs a translator. She looks at him for a moment, honestly asking Doc. "Vhat is a yon-dah? I'm sorry I don't understand." She says and thinks looking to the Allaince. "Vell I can give mein report orally to them if they like. Though Herr Sink is vright, oh!" Mati pauses. "If ve can get them to at least lend some say 6 single pilot planes, ve can create a cradle to cradle her to the landing pad. From there, if the Alliance vould be so kind as to dock ya ship on vone of it's much larger ships und piggy back it back ta 'Phone und land it in the ship yard. Ve can do so much more to help save her und fix her." Mati explains and then says. "She doesn't sound good due to the state of ya engine room und the inside of the ship. She's in bad shape Herr Doktor und vill need to be vorked on in und out a lot." <English>

Sypher chuckles quietly. "Like I said, wasn't my intent to scare you, miss." He offers a smile, then starts off towards the ship, giving the woman a nod and a parting smile before he starts to climb up back on top of the ship. He'll be watching the producer, closely, from his vantage point atop the ship, all the while fiddling with that strand of hair thats been bound into the necklace he wears. <English>

Doc ponders everything he hears....decisions decisions...he stands there rocking heel to toe as he thinks. He looks At Sink, "Can whee gits tha aces intah yer ship orah would ya prefers it goes on the Feds ship....?" <English>

Doc looks at Matie, "Yondah...as in..ovah there..." he points to his black bag. <English>

Sink looks to Jacy and shakes his head, "Hey, I've flown quite a few ships, but I never said I would be the one flying her. If Doc doesn't have anyone else, I'm willing to try, but I hope he's got an ace up his sleeve. I think we can give her lift and the thrusts appear to be in order, so ya, flight is possible with a good pilot. But there are those risks I just laid out. If there's a less risky plan, I would love to hear it."

Sink smiles at Mattie, "Yonda. He meant over there, where he set down his black doctor's bag, but if you are okay, it can wait until after we've made a decision." Sink then pauses and looks to Doc, "Well, it's not my call who's ship. I'm willing to do the lift, but the Longbow, she's seven times bigger, then the Dragon, so it might have a smoother ride into and out of the gravity wells. If the Temperance is willing to lift you at no cost, and if they are on their way to Persephone, or which ever shipyard you are headed too... they might be a better choice. It's your call, it's why they pay you the big bucks.", Sink smiles slightly. <English>

Danielle is a good little camerawoman, for the moment she's dismissed by Sypher she brings the camera up, immersing herself in her work to try to burn the fear from her mind, walking over to the little group of Sink, Matitie, Holliday and Jacy. She pans from face to face, trying to keep the camera directed at whoever's talking, but she can't resist panning it down to Matitie's injured leg. Her producer, meanwhile, is shivering, despite the heat, as he obsesses over the spare cameras and lights in the crates the soldiers bought along.

Jacy purses her lips. "You'll have to talk to Captain K'mora or Lt Commander Wong about payment," she says quietly, "That's above my pay grade. But like I said earlier, we put two options on the table. Jacking her up on airbags and towing her out on hoversleds, or a heavy lift ship coming into atmo to pick her up in a cradle. Either way's gonna be time and expense. Sounds like you're considering a third option, flying her out at least as far as the spaceport, and that's shiny too. Like Captain Fist said, sir, it's your call," she tells Holliday. <English>

There is a translation by both Doc and Sink, Mati ohs gently as she nods her head. She turns to walks over and get the bag. "Sorry just don't get the ah accent a bit, then again most English doesn't sound vright at times." She states innocently enough as she slowly comes back to hand Doc his black bag. She looks to Sink and then to the Alliance. "It's mainly vhat is going on vith the balance can't fly correctly if ya don't have the vright counter veight und the computer's read outs show she's a bit vacked as vell in ploting courses und such." She looks to Sink. "Vell ve can plot a position several meters from the ships, und fly it there trying to keep from the ships. Or ah do ve have a shuttle I could fly that as a vay point for plotting for ya or vould ya like to do that und I can fly it." Mati bites her lip a moment pondering how to do this. <English>

Doc presses his lips together...and says, finally..."H'ok then here's mah thoughts...whaat ah wishes ta sees....ah doan whanna take undue precautions..but ah agree thar's a certian amount of risk....whay ah sees it is this....Sink?...ya'll whill drives if that's ok...youse whill git her up off the ground...long enough fer the Feds ta git thier Hovah sled's undah her....then...the hovah vehicles whill ease her out to the spaceport..." Doc looks at Sink, "so ifin ya can raise her at the spaceport then whee can git her in the Dragon...she's plenty big enough fer tha aces..seeins ah can puht her inside tha Jia.." Doc looks at everyone, "Ok whaat's does everyone thin?...if ya disagrees with meh tell meh so...buht tell meh why.." Do cwaits for anyone to start. <English>

Sink rubs his chin a bit, "Well, I think it's a solid plan, as long as the hover sleds can keep the ship over the canopy. I think I can manage keeping it off the ground for a short time, even with the lack of balance," he nods to Matitie, "and not crashing is a good thing. Ya.. all considered.. solid plan." <English>

Hawkins, the grizzled NCO, gives a reluctant nod towards Jacy, who speaks for him. "Sounds good, sir. We'll get the hoversleds flown in tomorrow, there should be sufficient on Beaumonde. Meantime I'll get the Temperance's artillery tasked to start clearing a swath of jungle back to the spaceport. We don't have to get it level but we have to trim down the higher elevations. I'd appreciate it if you could warn your people there's gonna be live gunfire." A ghost of a smile. "We don't want anyone getting spooked, thinking the next U-war is breaking out." <English>

Nodding her head to Sink as she slides her hands behind her back gently as she stands there quietly. Mati slides her backpack down to what seems to be a messenger bag. "Do ya vant me ta come vith ya Herr Sink or be at the Dragon?" She asks gently and moves to be ready to move on Sink's word. <English>

Zank stays within earshot of the conversation once he is close enough and listens letting the people talk. He is about to offer another possiablity to the ones being talked and agreed on when Sgt Hawkins speaks and finishes with his comment of a new Unification war. Zank goes silent and bites back a smart ass remark that would probably land him in jail. He turns back and looks at Holliday "Ya hover sledes dont work Doc...could let me try and fly her." <English>

Doc looks over at ank...his wwords, then looks at Jacy, "Whaat about thaat Lt.?....yer sleds gonna beh enough ta does tha job?" <English>

Sink looks to Matitie, "I think you should be with the ship for the take off, there might be something that needs an emergency adjustment.", then he hears Zank and then looks to Doc, "I don't mind if someone else flies the ship. Don't mind at all." He then pauses and looks at Jacy, "Planning on dropping shells? I know I hate this planet, but I don't hate it enough to see it leveled. I was joking back there, it was the heat talking, ya know?" <English>

Jacy looks at Hawkins. "Four heavy-duty sleds should be adequate, sir. They're designed for moving heavy transformers. Trick will be to keep them together. Figure we can chain them together, then add some welded braces to tie both them and your ship into one big happy bundle," Hawkins says quietly. He nods to Doc, "It's doable, provided your pilot can set her down smoothly on them."

Jacy glances back at Sink. "No shells, sir, just heavy calibre guns, maybe flame throwers. Trim the tops off some of these tall trees, make sure there's no unneccessary bumps along the way." <English>

Moving to take off her gloves, and then her vest. Mati moves to roll up her sleeves before putting her clothing into her messenger back. She takes off her own bandana and wrings it out. She gets her water bottle to a drink and then a little to wash her bandana out a bit. Wringing it again she moves to clean up the side of her face where the blood was. The cut can be seen its a medium cut that seems to be sticky at the moment. Mati moves to put her bandana back over her forehead and winces but shakes her head to hide the cut and keep it safe. She nods her head to Sink. "Ja vol!" She says to Sink. "Shall ve hope back in?" She asks her Boss before starting to head to the ship. <English>

Doc ponders and says, "Ok then..Zank you'll do the flying then...buht whee's still gonna do tha hovah sleds...Hawkins says it's doable..an ahm comfertable with that." <English>

Sink takes a good look at Matitie, "We could hop back in, but we better have a plan first, what do we have to get done? I was hoping it's not too much, 'cause I want to head back to the Dragon ASAP and crank the A/C." <English>

Zank nods at Doc's words "Sounds good Doc and if we crash an die its not like you can scold me." he smiles sheepishly. <English>

At Doc's pronouncement, Jacy nods, falling back. She takes her comm and starts to speak to the Temperance, letting her superiors know about the plan. Hawkins and Rodriguez drift after her. Danielle keeps filming, going as best she can from face to face. She's still sweating, and she's still keeping half an eye on the figure atop the Aces and Eights. <English>

Nodding her head Mati smiles nad thinks. "Ok vell if they can come soon vith it ve can get it done now. But if they are talkin' about tomorrow best to go back to the ship und shower a few times." She says and mmms. "Possibly vash our clothes out several hundred times." <English>

Zank comes down the ramp of the Jia and streches getting ready for the big move today. Diffrent possablitly run through his head and what they might face in the coming move attempt. <English>

Sink gives Doc a long look, "Oh, what did we miss?". He plants his feet, and crosses his arms, to rest his chin in his hand. He nods to Matitie, "How are the injuries?", and Zank gets a nod as well as a , "Morning.", before he turns his attention back to Holliday. <English>

Doc sips his coffee and sees Zank coming down the ramp as Sink asks his question, and doc replies to it, "Whelp..ah've only gots one worry taday....it's tha Feds doiin their shoot-em-ups ta clear some o the foiliage...whaat's ta say they woan accidently hit tha Aces whilst they firin at the jungle?" Doc takes a drag off his cig, "MOrnin Zank...mornin Mati....lookin good thar girl. <English>

Nodding her head to her boss Mati points to where they are all taped up and covered. "Ok, sunk a bit last night but ... vell vhat'cha gunna do? Eh, could have been vorse." She says with a smile. Mati pauses a moment and smiles nodding her head to Doc. "Ah dunke Herr Doktor I thought ah, vould be best to dress better to vork on ya engine." She says with a smile. Then she asks. "Vhy vould that come up to be a vorry? I'm sure being there are a lot of people here they vould insure there vasn't any vay they could hit ya ship. It vould be rather bad on their PR due to the camera crew here." She says softly. <English>

Zank grins and "yea well bad RP for the feds any day makes me smile." He chuckles a bit and lets the matter go for the moument and turns it to the comming actions "So Doc do ya want me in the ship when the hover sleds are doing there thing?" <English>

Doc looks at Zank, "Ahhh..say whaat?...not ifin they hots mah ship....thaat wouldn't beh so funny at ahll.." Doc taakes a drag and says back to Zank, "Um like yeah?...thaat's the lan..you get in..fire her up..and raises it straight up so the hovah sleds can git undah it...then beh gentle as the feds slowly moves her to the spaceport here." Doc lloks over at a transport and points to it, "Ah'd says thaat is the Fed transport ship that has those sleds in it...seems like everythings here ta git this job started."

Sink nods slowly to Doc, "Well they haven't run they firing plans past me, but from what was described, they were just hitting the higher trees, not leveling everything between here and there, so it's possible they might hit the Aces, but only if they have a risky firing plan." He nods to Matitie, "As long as it's not showing signs of infection. That's what has me worried. Getting an infection here could be deadly. As for the engines, if you wanted to get something done before the lift, we may have time... I just don't know about the schedule for today." He gives Zank a chuckle, before he returns to silence. <English>

There is an Oh that comes form Mati. "Vell I'll be sure to vatch und make sure I don't get too bump-ity bumped in Herr Doktor <English>

There is an Oh that comes form Mati. "Vell I'll be sure to vatch und make sure I don't get too bump-ity bumped in Herr Doktor's engine vroom. I'm sure it vill be okay just vill makes sure the engine und the systems vrun vhile ve are in the air." She bites her lip. "I just hope that it lasts long enough to get here to behonest." <English>

A shuttle rises up from the Temperance in a blaze of thrusters, circles around once, and then starts to slide sideways across the sky in the direction of the downed Aces and Eights. A waist-gunner's position slides open, and the circular maw of a chain gun issues forth. And then it begins to spool up, and after a moment it unleashes fiery death into the jungle. Every fifth round is a tracer round, so it's easy to keep track of. It's targetting tall trees, scything through the verdant jungle like a hot knife through butter; century-old trees collapse under the rain of firepower. In its wake, those animals lucky enough to survive the onslaught chatter and screech indignantly.

From out of the Temperance comes striding Lieutenant Heather Jacy, followed by the camera crew, the willowy Danielle already filming the angel of death as it cuts through the jungle away to the north. And from the cargo bay issues four hoversleds, chained together and towed by another shuttle. Engines spool up and they rise higher from the ground, enough to clear the trees. Jacy gives them a glance and looks over at Sink and Holliday, walking towards them. <English>

Zank listens to the conversations going on and watchs the action unfolding with the alliance shuttle and watchs as it destroyies the tree tops. He thinks back into his past and seeing and shooting ship like that right out of the sky with his fighter. He chukles at the memory. <English>

Doc hears the thrusters of a fed shuttle craft and trns to watch it. It circles and then slips off towards the Aces. When he hears automatic gun fire he looks again and now sees what they are doing...and it's nothing he envisioned..now he can relax a bit. "Guess ah was werryin bout nothin Sink.." Doc looks over and see Lt. Jacy heading towards them. When she's close enough Doc says, "Mornin LT...hope ya had a good nahgts rest last naght....seems everwun took advantage of the evenin ta cools off." Doc simply gives the reporters a nods of recognition. <English>

There is a wave to the Lt, as Mati seems to be happy relaxed and dressed ready to work. She stands behind Sink as she watches what's going on. Of course she is just the happy engineer and stands there waiting to get to work. YAY! <English>

The producer, De'Ath, seems subdued today, his florid complexion now pasty and pale. He just nods to Doc and mops his sweaty face with his garish kerchief, leaving the good Danielle to take the shots. Danielle is concentrating on the people today now she's covered the departure of the gunship, zooming in close on anyone she catches speaking out loud, her expression bland and emotionless.

Jacy greets Doc. "Morning, sir. Yeah, air conditioning was great - I hope none of your crew were out there in the jungle?" She raises her voice as the shuttle towing the hoversleds passes overhead, engines turning over happily. Of course, it's unloaded now. Let's just see how well it performs with a ship atop of the gravity-defying platform. Jacy continues as the tow/lift convoy drifts off after the gunship, apparently in no hurry, "I guess we'll be ready when you are, sir." <English>

Doc looks at the lt and smiles, "Whell seeems whee'd best beh a gittin that a whays too...Zank here's gonna does the flying o tha Aces, whilst Mati and Sink werk in tha engine room keepin an eyes on the engines fer any possible trouble...whee gonna hike it orah do ya has anothah shuttle ta moves thins along pahaps?" <English>

Nodding her head to Doc, Mati gives a wave to the pilot. "Hullo, Mati Reinhart, pleasure to meet you." She says introducing herself to Zank. Of course she walks with her boss (Sink) and starts to head to the ship. YAY fixing en-gines, we're fixin' en-gines ... all running around all day! <English>

Sink glances up at the towing sleds before he starts walking with Matitie up the trail. Even though the path was cleared the day before, Sink still swings his machete as he walks, "I'm rather happy that the heat is lower today. Nice to walk and nicer to operate the ship in. Folks make fewer mistakes when it cooler, and we need this to go almost perfectly." <English>

Zank nods and again listens. He nods to Sinks words "Agreed...i would rather not crash....well again." <English>

"That's both our shuttles you see right there, sir, but I can do you a hoverMULE with enough juice to clear the tree canopy." Jacy agrees with the sentiment of not hiking through the jungle yet again, even if the temperature may be a degree or two cooler than the previous day; the humidity certainly hasn't let up. She speaks into her radio, and not more than a few minutes later a hoverMULE, piloted by a young (and attractive) NCO comes skimming down the ramp and over to where Jacy is standing. Jacy scrambles up into the jumpseat, but there's plenty of room in the back; De'Ath hauls himself up barely, the hoverMULE rocking dangerously from side to side as his weight comes on the antigrav device, and gives a hand for the willowy Danielle to scramble up. <English>

Danee slips out of the Jia making sure the hatchway has sealed before moving up the ship towards the gathering. She has mosquito netting hanging off her hat like a sack. She seems happy not to have to deal with the no see ums. She stops at the edge of the group and listens. She is in no hurry to make herself known to the others but is not in hiding either. <English>

Doc arches an eyebrow, "Heh thaat's jjus as good.." Doc turns to Sink and hollars out, "SINK!!!...MATI!!!..c'mon back no sense walkin..takes too much time..whee gots a ride..." Doc waves then both back to ride the hover mule. As he turn to get on the mule he sees Danee...."Hey Rosie..ya wwhannanride and watch these fine folks move tha ace back ta the spaceport?...ifin so takes mah hand ah'll helps ya up." He reaches a hand towards the woman. <English>

Nodding her head, Mati agrees with her boss as she follow Sink to the Aces' and Eights'. Glad to be in shorts she's able to move a bit faster though mind you she's careful of her bandage on her right shin. She looks about and lets her funky styled shoes help her have better traction in the jungle as she moves. "Jah, Herr Sink. It vell be much nicer to vork in something a little less hot." She states before sliding her leather gloves onto her hands, though they are fingerless. At Doc's shouting, Mati looks up and nods her head heading to the hovermule then. At the calling out of someone else Mati looks back to see who Rosie is. <English>

Zank follows Doc to the hover mule and jumps up into the mule takeing a seat. He sits down next to the young camera operator getting comfortable and minding his own buissness. He looks as Doc mentions the young Danee and gives a soft smile to the women. He waits quietly for the mule to get under way do everything in fact to ignore the feds surrounding him. <English>

Once everyone's aboard who's coming aboard (and Jacy's NCO will wait until everyone is accounted for and seated safely on the bench seats in the back), the engine is gunned and the hoverMULE rises smoothly up, wavering a little in the thick humid air, just brushing the top tendrils of the jungle canopy as the NCO follows the yellow brick road trail off after the two shuttles preceding it. Jacy, in the shotgun seat up front, cranes her head round to yell over the whine of the engines, "Staff Sergeant Hawkins is commanding the tow shuttle. Rodriguez is in the gunship, but he'll transfer over when they get there. We're gonna hook up the second shuttle /behind/ the hoversleds, so it can't overrun the prime mover."

Danielle smiles briefly at Zank beside her, then goes back to zooming in close to Jacy's profile up there in the front. <English>

Danee grins at Doc's offer of a ride moving forward to get on board. "I did not want to miss this. When The Grandmother gave Chovian his first ship it had to be removed from a cave. That was interesting to watch. We made a picnic of it. All the girls from the convent sat for hours just watching. It was alot of fun." she pushes the netting onto the brim of her hat all hundred yards of it and takes the offered hand to climb on. "Hey Pilot." she smiles at Zank before finding a place to sit. She nods at Captain Fist then turns to watch the stuff go by. <English>

Sink hearing Doc call to them Sink returns from the path and blinks, "A mule? Why didn't we take on of those yesterday?" He hops on with the rest and grabs hold. When he sees Danee he smiles broadly, "Hey there stranger. Long time no see. How have you been?" <English>

Holliday is content to stand holding onto the roll bar as the Mule moves towards the aces.He asks the LT, "How long ya figure till whee gits thar LT?" <English>

Watching 'Rosie', Mati listens to the woman as she looks at the dress and manner of the woman. She does give a friendly wave to the woman, though with Zach's lack of acknowledgement and everyone else knowing everyone else. Mati quietly moves to sit indian style on her seat if she can and pulls out her PDA. Quietly working on it and lets everyone talk, she starts to work out what's wrong with the engine from her seat. <English>

Zank nods as Danee sits and the Mule begins to move. He looks over at the women whos is going to be the Engineer incharge of engiens while hes flying. He leans over and speaks up louad enough to be heard by Mati "What ya say ya name was again i missed it the first time?" he border accent seeming thicker over the engines. <English>

Danee looks back at Sink with a smile. "It has been ages. I am well. You look good." she takes a grip on the edge of the seat. "Poppa Janos had a heart attack and I have been on Deadwood helping." she smiles at Mati "hello, I am Actually Danee (Dah Knee) McGuire. I'm the cargo master on the Jia. I just came along for the ride." She grows quiet as the air tears at her hat and so she pulls it off to hold on her lap. <English>

"Five minutes, sir," Jacy tells Doc. Yes, far preferable to have five minutes smooth(ish) ride with the wind in their hair than two hours slog through the uneven terrain beneath the verdant canopy. The lush forest spreads out like a green ocean as far as the eye can see, rolling waves of treetops. Treetops marred only by the fresh scars made by the gunship as it blasted away some of the nobler specimens. Far ahead but rapidly growing closer, the two shuttles are manevering, someone driving the hoversleds remotely and bringing them down near the stern of the Aces and Eights in that two-kilometer-long swath of destruction it made through the trees. Danielle is kept busy, and she's concentrating on filming the human interplay between the various persons aboard; presumably CGI can be used to recreate the ship movements if they're needed later. <English>

Sink raises an eyebrow to Danee, and says as gently as one can while yelling over the sound of the rushing wind, "Oh, I didn't hear about Janos. I'm so to hear about it. How is he doing now? How is the ranch on Deadwood doing? Cal said something about a security contract out there but didn't get into the details." He shrugs, "I'm glad I look good, I'll take as may complements at my age as I can get." There is a grin on Sink's face, as if this Mule ride was the best thing that happened on this trip so far.

Doc nods to the LT and gives her a thumbs up and yells out, "Thar's tha clearin up yondah...ah can seess tha Aces nowah..." He hopes everything goes fairly smoothly as he would really like to get this over today..sides Esther's still in the Jia's med bay. <English>

It's at the question, Mati's head comes up and looks about. Oh! Names and people, she smiles and gives another wave. "Mah-tee ... Rein-hart." She says loudly over the engine to Zach and nods to Danee as well. "Guten Tag! Ah ... " She thinks a moment translation translation, OH! "Ah Gott Morgen ah ... Morning. I'm vone of the Engineers at Herr Sink's shipyard, I got the engine vorking on ya ship a bit for ya to fly it. Though vhat I vill do is try to get the systems as stable as possible vhile ya fly it. So .. I vould ya mediate to Buddha for a good ah flight?" She says questionably while she gives a happy/worried look on her face. But what always builds confidence in a budding friendship is her giving him the thumbs up sign for 'we'll do a good job ... right?'. <English>

Zank chuckles at Mati's enthuziasum and concern at the same time " Guten Morgen...Im Zank Lines its good t' meet ya Miss Reinhart..Ya plan sounds shiney" his german sounds very odd with his accent but it comes out clear enough to be understood. "Im sure we will make this work well." <English>

Danee smiles and nods, "Nice meeting you" to Mati and then to Sink "He is good and the Ranch is progressing." she turns to look as Doc points out the clearing. Her smile fading, "She looks so sad sitting there all scraped and scarred." she says to no one in particular. <English>

The hoverMULE comes sweeping in, doing an orbit of the crippled craft and the two hovering shuttles which have, temporarily, withdrawn to a safe distance. The four massive hoversleds, deactivated for now and lying like huge coffins on the ground beside the Aces and Eights, are ready for the ship to be moved on. Jacy is exchanging some last minute words with Hawkins on the comm, and turns back to yell to Doc, "The two shuttles are standing off until you're safely down and your engines have shut down. Then we'll move in and secure the load, chain it down as best we can." There's clearly something about 'chaining it down' that Jacy isn't saying, for she reddens faintly and turns her gaze back to the view through the windshield. Then the hoverMULE is setting down near the hoversleds to disgorge those of her passengers that are going to be more intimately acquinted with the move. Jacy says, "I'm going to be watching from this." She slaps the hoverMULE's grab bar. "So's Mr De'Ath and Miss Danielle here. Anyone else needing a front row seat, stay on board. The rest of you..." And Jacy twists around now to look soberly at Zank, Doc, Sink and Matitie, "Good luck." <English>

Doc nods to the Lt., "Ah'll beh a joinin them...Zank ah means in tha cockpit. Doc grins at Zank and arches an eyebrow as if to say...yeah ahm a comin along fer tha ride. He looks at Danee and says, You best stay in the Mule...you'll prolly have one o tha best seat in tha house fer this show..." That said doc step off of the mule and starts walking towaards the Aces. <English>

Nodding her head to Zank, Mati smiles as she tilts her head. "Vell I do have hope und ya Deutch is seir gutt." She says with a smile and tilts her head back. "It's a nice day, much better than yesterday. Yesterday vas so seir schliche." She says and looks to Danee. "Oh she's just a bit injured but she knows ve are comin' back. See!" Mati points to the ship. "She vould be bouncin' up und down to see ya all und happy ya have come. No vorries Herr Sink und I vill do our best to get her better for ya all. Honest." <English>

Zank smiles and nods to Mati before hoping off the Mule and following his old friend to his ship. He catchs up to Doc following next to him "Ya know this might actaully work...." he grins at Doc before looking the ship over from the outside and chuckling to him self. <English>

Danee nods at Doc staying in her seat, "be safe" as Zank stand to disembark she reaches out to touch his arm, "don't take any chances, you are too precious to us to lose." her concern for both Zank and Doc obvious as is her concern for Sink And Mati, "Everyone be careful" she says to the group departing. <English>

Sink nods to Danee, "Aye, sad. It's injuries are stopping it from being what it should be and doing what it should. We'll get it back." He gives Matitie a smile as she says the same thing as he does. Sink then gives Jacy a shrug, "Thanks. I really hope we don't need it." Sink stands then he says to his tech, "Ready?", and he gets off the mule, and heads to the Aces, giving the ship looking her over again. "Lets hope we the insects we import aren't dangerous." He looks back to Danee, and nods, "Careful."

Normally Jay De'Ath, the florid producer, would be all over Danee, trying to interview her for a splash of color. A genuine Paquin gypsy involved...maybe she could cast the bones and predict the outcome of this, or cast a blessing on the affair, he would suggest. Normally. But today he's subdued, puffy bags under his pig-like eyes, staring numbly at the crippled ship across the clearing and not making any producer-like assholish comments to Danielle. The camerawoman, meanwhile, has made good and sure to zoom in tight to Jacy's dramatic 'good luck' and equally for Doc's noble statements, because even if her boss has inexplicably turned into a zombie she has a job to do, dammit.

Jacy waits until everyone's off who's getting off, then taps her noncom on the shoulder and motions up. The engines and the antigrav spool up, and the hoverMULE slides off to a safe distance, setting up an orbit around the Aces and Eights. The two shuttles have withdrawn even further and are circling in the distance several thousand feet up. <English>

Seeings Doc was the first one out of the mule..and was joined by Zank it is they who arrive at the rope from the cockpit. Taking hold of the rope he starts up by saying "Ahm tha ownah so first one inside." after reaching the broke out view port Doc clammers through and hollars back to Zank, "Yer turn Zank!" <English>

Hopping off the mule as Mati looks on to the group. She smiles and nods her head to Danee and gives her a thumbs up. She looks to Sink. "Vell lets make it happen, Cap'tin." She says with a bright smile and heads to the ship. Of course the rope scaling into the ship will be fun, but this time she has the right shoes so it will make all the difference. She waits for Doc and Zank to get in before she tries. <English>

Zank climbs up the rope and into the ship "Yea...havent done that in a while....Wow...bit of a mess in here." He looks around and dusts off a console seeing a spider crawl across it. "Thats great...wildlife." <English>

Danee turns to kneel on her seat as the mule begins its ascent. She can't help it that she is both curious and excited as well as concerned and afraid. But she cannot help and so she watches. She was not asked to but she still crosses herself in the estern orthodox manner and says a small prayer. For bothe the workers and the ship being moved. <English>

Sink smiles at Matitie's determination, "You monitor the engines, I'll monitor the thrusters, and electrical, okay?" then waits for Matitie to climb the rope. As he waits he chuckles at Zank, "I hope you brought a blade.", he says tapping the machete he has now sheathed, "Last time there were some pretty big bats in there. Who knows what else has made a new home." <English>

Jacy's watching intently, watching the little insect-like people (or so they look like from that distance) swarm up the rope and enter the cockpit. "OK," she mutters, realising that Danielle's camera is on her and deciding she needs to give some expositional voice-over for the benefit of the Cortex, "all they need to do is lift off, translate the length of their craft, and drop it on the hoversleds. Should be nice and simple." Nevertheless, it can't escape Danee's, nor indeed anyone's notice that the two shuttles are a mile or so off and the hoversled, a few hundred yards off, is pointed away from the wreck ready to make a quick getaway.

De'Ath watches Danee cross herself, and moistens his flaccid lips, /trying/ to get himself back into the game. But Danielle's way ahead of him, and has scrambled across the open rear area of the hoverMULE to pan from Jacy to Danee, filming their reactions. <English>

Meanwhile as the others begin to arrive inside Doc busies himself by cleaning off the co-pilots console. When Zank arrives Doc says, "Yer gonna have ta do this from the co-pilots seat....Captains seat was screwed during tha landin....sorrah bout tha intrudahs Zank....jus tha whay it is Jus nowah.." He pats the seat for Zank and says, "Ah'll sit in the Comm seat and watches an prayin ourah luck holds out." <English>

With a nod of her head, and a tug on the rope, Mati is in the ship and ready to work. As Sink gives the orders, Mati smiles and tilts her head pulling out her wrench. "Vell ve see anything else ve can kill it dead." She says ready before she starts to move slowly down into the ship to the engineering room. "Ah hunting ve vill go... ah hunting ve vill go. Hi ho the merry-oh, a huntin' ve vill go." She says while getting back into the room. "Oy! So messy!" She moves to get herself into place by the engine.

Zank nods pulls out a blade and sticking the large spider. speaking to Sink "Ugly frikin thing..." he says and then talks to Doc "Least they hit something soft when she laned could have been alot worse ya hit a rock bed." he looks over the console for any obvious serioos damage. <English>

Danee has no clue how long this is going to take so she makes herself comfortable. It does not seem so hot up here and fewer if any insects so she leaves off the hat. Her attention not straying from the downed ship. Even to leaning slightly over the edge of the mule to see. <English>

Jacy calls over the wind noise to Danee, "M'am? Need some water? You need to stay hydrated." She pulls out a water bottle from a locker at her feet and offers it across with a pleasant smile. Danielle hesitates, glances at De'Ath, then lowers her camera. "I'll have one," she calls, abandoning filming duties temporarily in favor of avoiding becoming dehydrated, and Jacy passes her the originally offered bottle and finds another to re-offer to Danee. <English>

Sink climbs in after Matitie, easily, as if taking the high ground came second nature to the old captain. He gives Doc a smile, then says to Zank, "Open you com to frequency 333.11. We won't be able to yell instruction once the engines are started. With the cowling damaged as it is, not only is the cooling in jeopardy but so is the noise dampening system. Good luck and be gentle but firm." He gives the pilot a nod, then heads through the engine room and joins in with Matitie's song, before settling into the engine room. He starts going over the connections and the piping calling off checks to Matitie as each sub-system checks out or doesn't. "A mess, aye, but focus on the job, and we'll deal with the mess a bit later." <English>

Doc nods for Zank to take his seat, "Let's git this show a movin..ah ahlready owe the feds a ton o money.." Thaat said Doc takes his seat . buckles in...then waits for the show to start. He says softly, "OH dear Lord..please let this werk..and sees to it no one gits hurt in tha process..amen." <English>

Whistling as Sink joins her, Mati nods her head deeply. "Ja, I vill focus hard. I have to be really close to this thing. Ja, trust me I vill be for sure. Ah, I did do some chantin' last night, so vill keep good thoughts to get this done Herr Sink. I just hope it vorks." She says and crosses her fingers for luck. Mati moves to get ready and waits, making sure that the engine will fire. Softly she starts to chant in German. <English>

Zank nods and tunes his Comm to the right channel before sitting down and waiting for the engines to start and give him some power to his consles. He clicks his com unit. "All right im set up here...go ahead and give her some power...keep it slow and low just enough to run a test to see whats workin and what we need t' keep an eye on." <English>

Once the crew climbs into the Aces there is nothing to see. The soft sounds of the Rainforest have faded at this altitude and so it is like watching paint dry. But She knows that any moment something might happen and she would just die if she'd hvae missed it. So she remains alert and curious.

Sink does the final checks of the systems then locks eyes with Matitie. Seeing she is ready he thumbs his icom, "Zank, are you listening? We are ready down here. Systems are, usable. You'll have seventeen percent more thrust on the port then starboard, and aft will be a bit heavy. You'll have to ease it at first, until we know everything is going, then you might have to punch it to get it out of the gorram muck. Just try not to buck us all out of the ship with that one. Ready when you are." <English>

Jacy shrugs and uncaps the water bottle herself, taking a slug and offering it to the noncom piloting the hoverMULE. She shares the bottle, taking a grateful sip, and Jacy busies herself by rolling up the sleeves of her jumpsuit the military way, one long fold followed by one shorter. It's hard when you're wearing it, but she must appreciate the cool breeze on her forearms when it's done. <English>

Doc sits back and says, "I figure Mati whill staht tha engines fer ya Zank..doin it raght nowah...." <English>

Hearing that the pilot is ready, and so is Sink. Mati does her engineer magic and slowly starts the engine. She speaks to the engine in German coaxing and gently getting it to start up. Moving her hands to start the engine, the engine starts up on the first time. "JA! That's vhat I'm talkin about! JA! Gutt girl! Ja ja, Mama is very proud now ya got to keep goin' for us Liebekin." she say to the engine. <English>

Zank lets the power flow through the ship and to his consoles as things power up around him. Some of the screens protest and flicker. Zanks main readouts flicker...Zank smacks the screen givining it flickerless life. He watchs the read outs carefully. "Doc if we die here...im blaming you." he says quickly and then gives the read outs one more look over and prepares to fire the thrusters. "Alright folks....hold on...." Zank gives the thrusters power and the whine of the engines spreads throuhout the ship. <English>

Danee reaches into a pocket and pulls out a tie. Then she pulls her hair back out of her face and secures it with an elastic scrunchy in bright yellow. Returning her attention back to the Glade just in time to see the ripples of air movement coming from the engines. She smiles and leans just a little farther out over the side to see better. <English>

Sink holds on to the quarter turn regulator on the plasma manifold, with is right hand, his left holding onto the engineering console where is focus is. His focus remains constant on the dials and computer graphs and gauges with red indicator lines. Every second or so he minutely adjusts the flow regulator, a little more a little less. Even when Matite encourages the engine, Sink never looks away from the gauges and dials, only a small smile appears. Half way through the lift, something crawls into Sink's eyesight, and he lets go of the console, and draws the machete, slowly, never taking his eyes off of the gauges. As the creepy blochy black and red twelve legged but crawls up the console Sink holds out the machete, steady unmoving until the bug is in just the right spot and SMACK! With the side of the blade he squishes the bug against the console's top, splattering it around the engine room. Speaking into his icom, he says calmly, "Your good Zank, everything's okay down here." <English>

Jacy, too, has twisted around completely in her jumpseat and is now kneeling on it, watching the ship laying there in the clearing. "They've started the engines!" she says unneccessarily, but Danielle is filming every word again now, and even De'Ath nods repeatedly to himself, his multiple chins bouncing as he does so. The noncom behind the steering tiller is watching in the rear-view mirror, her baby-blue eyes intent. <English>

Doc feels the rumble of the engines...and the coms between Sink and Zank....the Aces shudders a bit at first due to the icky sticky stuff it is sunk a bit into..."Guess yer a gonna has ta punch it Zank..jus like ole Sink said...guess this is whar yer pilotin skills come in ta play." Doc holds on tightly now not knowing exactly what to expect from this manuver. <English>

Mati was working on the engine so she didn't see the bug, or well as one would say the big farkin horse of a bug. It's at the movement of Sink's arm Mati sees it. "Oh mein..." She ducks behind the engine when the bug is crushed, missing adding bug guts to her clothing. She ews softly and shakes her head. "Ah mental note, make sure ve dip this thing in bug killer vhen ve get it out of here." <English>

Zank dosnt verbably respond to the words from the engine room but there acknowledgement is the sound of the engines whineing harder as more power is poared into there capaictors. The muck is stronger and is holding the ship good. Zank flicks a couple switchs next to his screen draining a capaitor and pushing the extra stored engery directly into the thrusters. The Engines scream loadly for a moument witht he extra engery and the force is enough to release then ship from the jungles mud. The ship relases with a jolt as it tryies to level it self now that its floating. <English>

Danee suddenly realizes how far out she is leaning and with a blush she scooches back to sit on her heels. Maybe that is when she realizes that had she fallen she would have been in a huge amount of trouble. Her fingers tremble but she has to watch and with in a few moments she is back up and looking over the side. She watches and can almost feel the ship strain to be released from the jungle floor before it jerks off the landing sight. She gasps waiting to see if it stays airborn or sinks back into the muck. <English>

Jacy, too, was oblivious to Danee's plight until the Romani woman pulled herself back from the edge. She watches a few moments to make sure that Danee is alright, then says with some relief in her voice, "Careful there, m'am. No falling.” But seconds spent looking at Danee is seconds that Jacy isn't watching the Aces, and she looks quickly back at the ship. <English>

Without removing his eyes from the gauges, Sink scrapes the sides of the machete against the corner of the console and grins, "Aye, we'll bug bomb, and soak every last critter out of every last little hidey hole and egg laying hole there might be." With the machete clean, he sheaths it, then mentions to Matitie, "Watch the off gas pipe M3, it's reading hot. You might have to shunt that one." And just as Sink finishes speaking Zank asks for more power from the engines, and there's a beeping as and flashing from the console, "The M3!", Sink calls out to Matitie, as he starts opening and closing valves, now with both hands. When the ship kicks itself out of the muck, Sink is tossed up and he looses his footing, and sprawls, his and uncommon reflexes allow him to miss hitting chunks of debris knocked loose. <English>

Doc feels the ship drag at first and grits his teeth and says, "COME ON...MAAANN!" When it's evident the ships is freed of the much Doc says almost joyfullt, "COME ON...BABY!!" <English>

Gasping as she moves back before Sink yells to her. Mati turns as she moves to get to the pipe to try and shut it. She pulls on it hard to close it while Sink shows Mati that he is an acrobat. Mati would clap at that if she wasn't using her strength at the moment to shut the valve. "Grrrr close you mother soaked full of bug slime Gorramit pipe!" Then the German words start before she looks to Sink. "Ya alright there Herr Sink? Don't'cha get hurt on me now. I don't vant Frau Lirin thinkin' I vasn't vatchin' out for ya and returnin' ya to her broken und all. She von't trust me again ta keep ya safe und all." Engineer, body guard, happy dappy German woman ... yeah Mati is a Chocolate parfait for sure ... screw the onions! (shrek reference) <English>

Zank yells out "SORRY" that was more for the people in the engine room he just threw around with that jolt. Zank slowly starts to get the ship high enough off the ground for the sleds to get under the ship. Zank talks "Any time the gorram feds are ready t' move the sleds im all for it...dont know how long ill be able to keep her level...shes being tempermental." <English>

Danee turns to smile embarassedly at the LT. "I'll be careful" but her gaze does not stay on the officer. Her attention returns swiftly back to the aces although she is more careful about where she is in relation to the mule. Watches as the Aces wobbles and then stablizes. She holds her breath waiting. <English>

Somewhere, someone hits a remote on the hoversleds, and the four giant beasts quiver and stir into life. They rise up, the chains that hold them together creaking and groaning, and inch by inch they start to slide under the crippled ship. Their own self-propulsion is just enough to aid in positioning, but nowhere near powerful enough to coordinate the heavy lift of the Aces - that's a job for when the two shuttles are coupled up. The heavy steel girders on the sleds hit the crumpled underside of the Aces and Eights, steel grinding against steel as they slither along underneath. It's wise that whoever's operating the sleds, presumably Hawkins from the safety of the nearer of the two orbiting shuttles, is well out of the way - any human trapped between the ship and the hoversleds would surely be smeared to something the consistency of strawberry jam in a heartbeat. One of the sleds pauses, hung up on some twisted steel that used to be part of the Aces' engine cowling, and frees itself with a scream of tortured metal, careening into the next sled with a stomach-churning thud. It's not pretty....but it's working. <English>

Sink grunts as he lands, and winces as he raises himself, "I'm ok, ok, nothing that won't heal before Lirin examines me next. You? All okay?" But he doesn't have the time to wait for an answer, it's a two step sprint back to his station, the valves, and the gauges. Though Matitie has gotten the loudest alarm, many more have went off in the few seconds the station was unmanned. A flurry of hands going, spinning wheels, turning levers, and pressing buttons. "Aiya, Huaile! Something's wrong", he mutters, then takes a step to a pipe, taps it, nods, takes a step back, and kicks the pipe. There's a sound like a gurgle, and there's a shutter and shake to the ship and the exhaust port on the back of the ship bellows black smoke for a minute. Sink returns to the console, nods again, "Fixed." When the sleds attach them self and grind steel, and thud, Sink grabs onto the console with both hands, "Grab something Matitie!" <English>

Doc winces as he can clearly hear the scrunching and squealing metal on metal. His grip onn the arm holds tighten to white knuckles..."Come on Baby...hold tagethah fer me fer jus a bit longah." <English>

It's at the closing of the pipe, Mati looks over to Sink fully. She nods her head a bit as she smiles. "Ja, seir gutt mein thinks. I got the pipe now have ta ..." She moves from the pipe to get back to the engine when Sink tells her to grab something. That's when wrenches are really good to have around you. She feels the buckling and the wrenches come out, she moves to latch them onto anything she can. It lands on some non-essential pipes. "Gao yang jong duh goo yang!" She cries out while holding on. Of course as the ship tends to settle in the engine doesn't like that. Mati tries to monkey her way a bit to read it. "Dear Buddha in Nirvana! Vhat the Serenity Valley is going on down there?!" She looks a bit worried to Sink. (And yes she just said 'Motherless Goats of All Motherless Goats') <English>

The four sleds are now fully under the Aces, bobbing slightly as they make and break contact with the hovering ship, each contact marked with an echoing clanging thud that's doing nothing for the paintwork on the underside of the Aces and Eights. Jacy mutters to herself, "C'mon, you can power it down now....take it down, Captain, ease it down..." <English>

Zank feels the shock and thud of the sleds as they move into position and Zank starts to settle the engines and the ship onto the weight bearing power of the sleds. "Were settled on the sleds....." Zank keeps the engines low but is stairing at the read outs like a hawk. "Next step...."**** <English>

Danee is not sure she heard the squeeling of metal on metal or just thinks she can. But she winces and then grins as a flock of parrots take flight. They circle the clearing and then land back into the trees. Boy does she have a short attention span. But she does look back at the Aces and the sleds being placed under her. When the ship settles down onto the she winces again. then she takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Relieved. <English>

Sink remains standing with all the jostling, and says to Matitie, "I think it's the Alliance sleds, or I hope it's them. The better hold...", and the engines quiet down and does the shaking. It takes a moment before Sink lets go and trusts the new position of the ship. He trims one lever and uses his icom, "Zank, we good? Are we going to power her totally off and trust the sleds?" <English>

Doc hears Sink's comment. He turns in his seat and looks at Zank wanting to see what his pi;ot will do.

There is a nod of understanding coming from Mati as she sighs deeply and slowly watches Sink test out the new stability before she tries it. Slowly padding her foot shaped shoe onto the floor before she lets go. She takes a deep breath as she looks to Sink. "Ah next time ve do an employer/employee bonding run, I think ve have a few good solid drinks of coffee in us." She says with a grin. "I only think I had vone today." <English>

Zank responds to Sinks question "No..were going to keep em running incase these sleds fail...never really had trust in hover tech...esppcially on somethin this heavy...keep em ready t' spin up quick incase this Alliance tech fails on the way t' the pad." he takes a breath "yall alright though...dam sleds almost did more damage than the crash?" <English>

Danee sits back on her heels as the Aces settles heavily onto the sleds. She can't help the grin that forms. she can't help the feeling that just a wing and a prayer got it up and onto them. She leans forward resting her forearms on the side of he mule to watch. <English>

Remotely commanded, the sleds sink down towards the ground and settle, eliciting more screams of tortured metal...but finally all is still, one sled canted at an angle, the Aces and Eights tilted drunkenly...

At a command from Jacy, the two larger shuttles break from their holding pattern and come skimming in. One settles down a hundred yards from the stricken ship, the loading ramp opening, and a squad of engineers comes walking out. A MULE, too, bucking over the uneven ground, dragging a heavy towing chain where each link is the diameter of a man's thigh, two engineers taking the heavy links at the far end and shackling them to the sleds. The engineers swarm up onto the sleds...and start pulling out tools that they'll use to secure the Aces to the sleds. Mostly with chains, secured through shackles to the heavy lift hoversleds, and then welded or wrapped around some handy strut on the Aces.

It's here that the first casualty of the day happens - a young private, using a plasma torch to cut open the hull of the Aces to get at a weight-bearing rib inside, cuts through a hydraulic line. High pressure hydraulic fluid is unpleasant stuff to say the least, and if the woman hadn't been wearing goggles she'd be blinded permanently. As it is she reels back, screaming shrilly, clawing at her face, and the soldiers at each side of her drop what they're doing and help her down, guiding her back to the shuttle, where they will find an emergency wash station for her. The willowy Danielle is there of course, handheld camera zoomed in tight to where the stricken engineer is being helped along.

Staff Sergeant Hawkins is there too, his lips set in a tight line as he watches his subordinate be helped away. He has a bullhorn, and raises it to his mouth to call out in an amplified voice that echoes around, "Two minutes, ladies and gentlemen, then I want everyone clear for the lift. She tips over, I don't want anyone underneath," he states dryly. <English>

Sink grins at Matitie, "Aye, we should have done this on a second cup, or third. I'll add that to the staff bonding checklist." He grins and lets go of the console and stretches, then coms Zank "Roger. We'll be ready down here." Sink starts to do neck rotations when another alarm goes off, "Hummm... hydraulic pressure is dropping...", icom clicks, "Zank is there anything going on out there?" <English>

Doc shakes his head, "Whaat the frick?..we're leakin hydralic fluid? oc looks at Zank, "Now whaat?" <English>

There is a chuckle from Mati as she nods her head to Sink. "Ja, that vould be good." She says smiling. Best way to break off tension, tell a good joke. It's at the alarm going off Mati turns. Listening to Sink she looks back at gages and shakes her head. "I don't see how, everything here is doing just gutt. Vhat vould bring on a leak like that?" <English>

Zank looks at his gages and shakes his head. "I dont know....unless the Alliance is messin with something there not supposed t'..its not a dangerous leak yet..." he looks around "Doc see if ya can see anything from the window i dont wanna leave this station." <English>

Danee has no idea that someone was hurt as she is not on the comm frequency. She sits up in the sky watching the ant people move about and just watches. <English>

Someone calls over the general hailing frequency, "We got a hydraulic leak, port side...someone cap the gorram thing!" It's spraying hydraulic fluid everywhere, but a gloved and goggled engineer moves up on it, crimping the tube closed with a heavy pair of pliers. It's not a perfect repair, it's still spurting little arterial spurts of the sticky red fluid, but it'll hold until they can get to the spaceport. Jacy has her noncom bring the hoverMULE down to land so they're closer to all the excitement. But Hawkins is in charge down here, and she defers to the grizzled old Sergeant on matters of salvage. <English>

Sink hears that there's a leak on the port side, and sees the pressure level off, and does one more, actually shutting off the system in question, "Well, we've lost the flaps on the port side", he announces over his icom, "Hopefully we won't need to move them from their current trim levels." He sighs and shakes his head to Matitie, "I hope that's all the extra damage she takes." <English>

Doc unbuckles from his seat and makes his way to the broken viewport...He slips through and grabs the rope and sorta hand over hand lowers himself a bit..until he can see down the length of the ship....he's too far away to see the actual leak. He does see Hawkins and hollars, "Hey Sarge!!....howah long befer whee heads ta the spaceport..." There Doc is sorta swingin on the rope..but his hands are tight aroud it and his feet are properly positioned so that one foot presses the rope to the other foot keeping himself comfortly stop where he is. <English>

Agreeing with her boss, Mati nods her head deeply. "Ja, oh how does that sayin' go." She moves to clear her throat a bit and does the WORST botched job of an accent EVER! "Ja, I don't be thinkin' she can'tah take much ah more of dis Cap'tin. Odervise she's ah gunna really blow someding." She looks to Sink with the expression 'I didn't completely kill it did I?' She does wince a bit hoping it's not too bad. Oooh if only Mati could see Holliday on the rope a song would come out. 'He flies through the air ignoring the fates, look it's the Doc of the Aces and Eights.' <English>

Hawkins looks up at Doc dangling there from the rope, and holds up a single finger. Another towing chain is lowered from the remaining shuttle, attached to the other end of the Aces and Eights. So now we have the Aces, chained down to the four heavy-lift hoversleds, with a shuttle chained to each end of the sled raft. Danielle scrambles back aboard the hoverMULE with Jacy - De'Ath has never left it, staring as if shellshocked at the bulk of the Aces, and in particular its upper surfaces. The troops file back aboard the landed shuttle, Hawkins last to go, not leaving until everyone is off the ground. He stands in the loading bay of the shuttle, one hand braced on a structural rib, and surveys the situation with his cool grey eyes. Then he lifts his comm to his mouth and broadcasts over the general hailing frequency, "Captain Fist, Mister Holliday. You ready for this shindig to get started?" <English>

Zank listens to the communications across the net and looks at all his read outs and sends quick message across the next "Things are looking steady in here im ready just waiting on Yall's go ahead...things start acting funny let us know so we can get the engines somewhat helpful." <English>

Danee just sits there watching. waiting. she begins to bite her nails then realizes she is and clasps them firmly in her lap. She watches Doc on the rope but does not comment. <English>

Sink lets out a roar of a chuckle at Matitie, "I haven't heard anyone try to do that in... ages, since I was in military collage.", he claps his hands in joy, and then presses his icom to his ear, and answers, "Ay Sergeant Hawkins, the engine room is ready." <English>

Doc quickly moves back to the broken viewport and it's a bit of a struggle for him to get back inside but he manages it. As he returns to his seat and buckles up he says to Zank, "They's ready Zank...nowah fer tha critical paht...gittin her back ta the spaceport...let's not panicks...just takes it smooth an easy.." <English>

She grins happily as Mati gives Sink a thumbs up. "Vell mein Fader used to do that a bit around the shop und I have tried to do it a bit to tease him. I did good then on it?" She asks as she snickers softly, and bows happily. She tilts her head a bit. "Oh I hope this vorks Herr Sink." <English>

Zank looks at Doc "I ant panicing any your the one with the nervous look on his face...." he grins breaking the tension. "we will be alright John" <English>

Danee waits for the ships to begin it's move to the space port. She chews on her lip but remains seated not sure she wants to watch but has to almost like a train wreck. <English>

The four hoversleds are the first to move, their engines spooling up with a shrill whining noise. Metal creaks and groans as they take the weight of the Aces, slowly lifting the heavy ship up. A chain snaps under tension, scything through the air before thudding into the hull of the Aces with an echoing clang. A weld fails with a dull crack. But the Aces is being lifted, the engines on the four hover-sleds pulling together. Slowly they rise up, ten foot, twenty foot, thirty foot...slowly up to treetop height. And now the shuttles are moving too, the long towing chains rising up from the ground. The lead shuttle is doing the towing, the rear shuttle doing the braking...Hawkins watching like the hawk in his name. Danee, Danielle, De'Ath and Jacy (and her noncom) are circling at a safe range.

And then the convoy begins to move, sliding slowly towards the spaceport. A treetop untouched by the chaingun assault is touched, branches cracking and splitting, but the massive procession moves on relentlessly. <English>

Sink nods to Matitie, "You did just fine.", as the ship starts to move, but not under its own power, he nods slowly. "Aye, I hope this works as well. This is rather spooky. I know how it feels to be move by the giant repair claws at the yard, but this, where the movement is from below... much different feeling. Must be how an earthquake feels." <English>

Doc grunts at Zank...it's been a while since Doc had to puht up with Zank's dry humor. "O course ahm uptight....evertin thaat's been done ah hear a 'Ca-ching' (Cash register noise) raght aftahwards...sure hope this doan breaks meh financially..." <English>

Smiling happily that she got it right, Mati gives the thumbs up. "Gutt I vas a bit vorried I got the accent vrong." She admits and then feels the ship move as well. She nods her head deeply. "Ja, I don't like the feeling of nein control just feels a bit off setting." <English>

More trees are scalped, the slender upper branches no match for the inexorable progress of hundreds of tons of steel and aluminum, and there arises a great shrieking from the birds and monkeys knocked from their perches. The air beneath the sleds shivers and trembles in the antigrav field. The lead towing chain, initially drum-tight, is now hanging loose, because the sheer momentum of the Aces and Eights is carrying it along at a steady pace, the shuttles just keeping pace and occasionally firing their thrusters to nudge their tow sideways a little to avoid this or that rocky outcrop. The smell of jet fuel from the shuttles is acrid in the air, they must be burning through fuel like it was water. <English>

Zank grins but nods at Doc "I get ya Doc just breakin tension is all..." he feels the ship move and the smell of the fuel outside leaks into the cock pit. "Well i can say i didnt expect t' be doing this this week though...gotta keep life intresting though...hey an ya dont have t' pay me for helpin so theres a pluse." he chuckles and goes back to stairng at the screens. <English>

Danee sighs and just relaxes as the ships move ever so slowly back towards the Landing area. This close to the rainforest the humidity is fierce. She puts back on her hat as she is attacked by bugs. <English>

Sink takes infrequent glances at the gauges, as they chat, "More then just a bit..., but not enough now to make me toss up breakfast." Sink then asks Matitie, "So how is your family doing? All are well?" <English>

It was only five minutes from the spaceport in the hoverMULE, but the return journey is longer - an eternity longer. At a minor course change another set of securing chains snaps in sequence, crack-crack-crack, and a tremor ripples through the raft of hoversleds; from his vantage point in the open cargo-bay doors of the lead shuttle, Staff Sergeant Hawkins calmly issues a suggestion to the pilot. The pace is picked up a little by the towing craft, its thrusters exuding a fiery blast to readjust the pressures on the hoversleds - a blast that incinerates a flock of colorful parrots flying hurriedly by, their charred bodies and once bright plumage tumbling like so many broken toys into the emerald jungle below. And then the spaceport is in sight, the ominous bulk of the IAV Temperance dwarfing the other ships there, and the raft carrying the Aces and Eights is sliding down, gradually descending, the rear shuttle starting to brake its momentum. Hawkins' voice comes calmly over the comm, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I suggest you brace for arrival." <English>

Doc, looking out the viewport from his seated position takes a deep breath..exhales heavilly and says to Zank, "Thar's th a spaceport dead ahead...son o a bitch...whee's actually gomma does this....anothe 3 minutes and whee'll be landin." <English>

Looking over the engine Mati seems confident things are going well. She smirks to Sink's comment. "That's vhy I didn't have breakfast to be honest. I didn't vant to paint the engine vroom blah." She says and then nods her head. "Ja, Mama is driving Fader nuts vith vedding this und that. He spends much of his time in his office or vith vone of mein Brothers. It's kind of funny." <English>

Zank nods to Doc and gets ready make this as smooth a landing as they can the sound of snapping chains is no help as they near the space port. "Lets make this smooth as we can Doc..." <English>

Danee continues to watch. When the chains snap she flinches. when the birds get baked she almost cries. But she is very happy to see the landing area. <English>

Sink chuckles, "Aye, I can understand your father in that sense. How go the wedding plan...", and Sink presses his ear to the comms, "Brace for stoppage, we be almost there. Lets hope this is smooth." He grasps the side of the engineering console, and waits. <English>

The raft is descending, crunching through the upper portions of the trees surrounding the spaceport, splintering branches and trunks....but the pilots of both shuttle tugs are skilled, and the momentum is checked to almost a complete halt as it kisses the ground. "Kill the hoversleds!" roars Hawkins triumphantly, and in an instant the antigrav field disappears...but the drop is only a foot or so, and with almost a blissful groaning of strained metal the raft sets down on the ground with an emphatic finality. Most of the remaining chains snap in sequence, their job done. The shuttles release the towing chains, the heavy steel links crashing down into the jungle below, and both craft peel off to clear the area. Hawkins' voice booms over the comms link, "Mister Holliday, the ship is yours!" <English>

Doc feels the configuration of vehicles hit the ground and everything comes to a halt. Doc sighs and as he stands he hears what Hawkins has said...he replies to him with, "Many thanks Sgt Hawkins....jus has yer bosses send meh tha billan ah'll anti up with em...again many thanks.." <English>

Bracing herself Mat nods her head and takes a deep breath. "Avright ... I hope this vorks!" She says and moves to hold on tightly and braces herself. <English>

Zank raises the engines output just as the hoversleds break there power. The tilted Ace's comes down with the hoversleds but dose not hit as hard as the rest of them with the force from the thursters..Zank has the ship in a tough hover "Sink raise thuster power and keep the power even for just a but longer." Zank take the drunkin looking ship slowly but surely towrds her resting place the ship looking like its only being held by a thread in the sky. Zank is sweating to say the least. <English>

Danee slips from the mule as soon as it touches down. Then she runs for the Jia. She is both thrilled and relieved that the Aces has been retrieved but potty breaks are taken when they can be. : <English>

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