After splitting from Kaa, who was rambling about hyper and subspaces and Higgs fields as he speculated on the nature of telekinesis, Tasha made her way to the donut shop to check in on Hakeber and Lacci. A little bell rang when she entered, something familiar from shops back home, and she was able to spot her targets immediately. The Karnor and Vartan girls were in the back corner, with Hakeber making some questionably lewd gestures as she tried to explain something to the wide-eyed and slightly frightened looking bird across from her. Nearer to the entrance, Liza and Aaron sat at their own small table with steaming cups of something in their hands, and the remains of a few donuts between them.
Tasha can't help but grin -- Hakeber is always Hakeber, no matter what setting she ends up in. And, it seems Tasha isn't the only one scaring Lacci, so at this rate the hybrid might find the Vartan has bowed out without ever having to test her. That would solve a few problems, though it would also create others. She shakes her head, then turns to the table with Liza and Aaron and walks over to take a seat. "How's it going?" She asks the two, knowing they mean more than how they alone are doing.
"I have managed to keep Mr. Lightfoot from further challenging aliens to footraces," Liza claims, while Aaron looks drowsy. "I'm tempted to try something called espresso, since the coffee isn't that strong," Aaron notes, then gestures discretely towards the teenagers. "So far they've talked about digging up history, monsters and sex. Hakeber has managed to do so without naming any names or giving away secrets, which is impressive. I think she's had too much coffee."
Tasha takes her seat, pulling a chair and turning it around so as to lean on the backrest. It gives her wings room, and lets her rest her head. She flicks her ears. "How does she keep so much knowledge in her small Hake-head? You should see her on some of the drinks back on A, she'll write with both hands at full speed, it's amazing." The hybrid then lifts a hand, indicating she's ready to be served without looking over her shoulder. She's seen wealthy people do it, and while her seating isn't exactly dignified, her clothing and 'mezzode' style are enough.
There aren't any wait staff, apparently, but Liza gets up and asks Tasha what she would like, or if she wants Liza to pick something for her.
"Please do, Liza." Liza knows Tasha's likes fairly well by now, and the hybrid herself still needs to maintain appearances by appearing important. She just isn't sure how much she likes it, though theh not having to get up part is nice. Once the order is done, she turns to Aaron. "So how are you doing?"
"Our life experiences seem to be a lot more densely packed than what folks get out here," Aaron notes. "That's the impression I get from eavesdropping on Lacci. She's studied and traveled a lot and recorded things that have happened, but hasn't actually done much. Frankly, it all makes me feel old, rather than make them seem young. Hakeber has had more 'adventure' just going to school than Lacci has had in her entire life. Also, I'm pretty sure she's a virgin. I've heard most of Hakeber's stories already though, so it's all a bit boring. Liza talking about dressing you up to look respectable was more entertaining."
Tasha lays her ears back at the mention of sounding old. "That's how I felt, too. Talking to Lacci, I mean. The more we spoke the more she seemed really young, and, uh, irritating actually. I don't think she believes me when I tell her how old I am, I think a lot of people I've met think I'm some old Khattan or Khattan experiment and I just look young. She even made me feel bad about being with Gabriel, and I guess showing her to him didn't help her impression of me either." Her head shakes, slowly. Then she crinkles her nose. "I bet the stories of me were horrifying enough. The way I am now must be jarring for you. I mena, I just had my servant fetch me coffee."
"I'd never try to dress you up, certainly," Aaron notes. "Not my specialty! So, the age difference between you and Gabe is.. an issue? Or is that just a Vartan thing? I can sort of see it, given how inexperienced young people seem to be compared to what we're used to. But anyone you take with you needs to be able to look past their monoculture. And Lacci is the first of them you've had to deal with. She's at the age where breaking out of the mold is a big drive."
Liza returns, setting a big cup in front of Tasha. She can smell cream and something else.. peppermint? There's also a small box with a variety of donut holes. Their size would preclude the risk of Tasha getting crumbs on anything.
"That's part of why I picked her," Tasha notes, head turning to regard Hakeber and Lacci out of the corner of her eye. "Because of her potential and because of who she is, but mostly the latter. The stood up to a man for herself and for others, even though this was her first time alone in a strange place. I thought there might be something there, or could be. And she knows about Terrans, which should smooth things over. Should have, but ... " She trails off once her drink arrives. Liza gets a grateful smile, then Tasha pushes the box so that everyone is within reach of them; an offer. "Well, I have a lot else to worry about, right? So are both of you going to stay on board?" And then she has a sip.
"I think that I am still useful to you," Liza claims.
"Of course you are! What would I do without my Liza?" Liza gets another smile, then Tasha picks up a donut holl and pops it in to her mouth, the sphere disappearing in to her cavernous canine muzzle.
"I really don't have anything better to do, and I'm curious," Aaron notes. "Too many people on this paquebot though. At some point you'll have to deal with wilderness, then I can feel more useful again."
"He does seem to have a finely honed instinct for when to run away from something," Liza agrees.
"How'd things go with the Eeee?" Aaron asks.
Tasha snorts at that. "I know. It's so civilized, even for out here. I might be dreading going to the inner worlds, uh, 'again'." She rubs her nose, then tosses another donut hole back before continuing. "I'm not sure what to do with myself either. I had been fighting monsters and exploring backwaters until just now, now I have to be diplomatic? I think I miss the wilderness, though I wonder if I'll also miss civilization after I'm far away again. Traveler, like Liza says." She turns to Aaron, then picks up and tosses a donut hole to him. "Oh, fine. We'll probably get what we want. They liked the package and had a ship ready. Kaa will probably squeak your ears off about hyperspace if you let him, now, though."
"What, he wants a special place to be hyper in now?" Aaron says after trying to catch the hole with both hands without crushing it. "Or is it for the kittens?"
"Don't joke Aaron," Tasha insists, though her eyeballing is more a warning he's revealing ignorance rather than true irritation. "You know hyperspace is the dimensionality where various Galactic ships travel, with D-Space used by Confederates and C-Space used by us, of course. They might be more properly called extra-universal regions, but they overlap, so it's a bit blurry whether they're dimensions, universes, or what. You know, technical things." Lecture done, Tasha lowers head her back down and has another sip, then notes, "The kittens can have any space they want. Blaze likes to sleep on my holoprojector and block half the projection, because it's warm and I think he likes messing with me because you are all smartasses."
"While you only aspire to smart-assed-dom?" Aaron says teasingly. "For Lapi it's more appropriate to say clever-footed. And yes, I remember the alphabetical reality list, and that there are 'sub' spaces to each one and a bunch of stuff about quantum energy states and speed of causality.. none of which I think I really need to know, any more than how to navigate an airship. Sky-stuff is your domain, ground-stuff is mine."
"And knowing to poison people," Liza adds.
"And.. knowing how to counter poisons too," Aaron replies.
"I don't have to aspire," Tasha notes primly, head lifting as she pops another donut piece in her muzzle, " ... I command." She lowers back down, then sticks her tongue out at Aaron before noting, "Well, sky stuff isn't very useful out here. I'm feeling kind of useless, if not for my ability to talk to things and the fact like more than half of you work for me so I don't have to be useful anyway. I don't know if I like it, though. I've always been more do-it-myself and hands-on. Well, I'm sure I'll find something. But, we should be getting back to the ship. We've done what we came for, it's time to go. We shouldn't remain in one port too long."
"Oh.. right, the whole pretend-to-be-another-ship until we can slip off and come back as our official ship?" Aaron asks. "The girls are talking about checking out Caltrop more, want me to stick with them as a chaperone so Hakeber doesn't break Lacci?"
Tasha eyes Aaron again, then tosses a donut hole at him with some force. "And don't call them the girls. You're making me feel old, now. But sure, chaperone away, It worked for me." She then sits up and picks up her coffee, sips, and begins to rise. "Liza, with me please. Lets go repor in and see about departure."
The buck just grins as the cake-ball bounces off his forehead. Liza puts on her jacked and picks up the box of donut holes for Tasha. "Of course, Tasha," she says, though still says the name in the same way she'd say ma'am.
It's something Tasha has gotten used to. In a way, it's her part of the deal between her and Liza. If she acted some other way, then Liza wouldn't be able to serve her as well, and so Liza wouldn't be doing her job or even have a chance to do it. And if Tasha is served well, and looks good, then Liza's own work is highlighteed that much more. The hybrid turns and makes for the door, not wanting to disturn Hake and Lacci and so ruin whatever they might have going. It's then a walk back to the ship. "Gabriel," Tasha speaksin her her new communications equipment. "I'm returning now. We should prep for departure, tell Kaa and the others to get ready. We've done what we can here and I think I'm ready to return to the black."
The navigation console is familiar to Tasha, with Gabriel next to her at the pilot station. Both are extended forward, which puts Kaa and Moka's bridge-tank below them. The console is showing Tasha an overview of the Caltrop system - the planetary nebula is centered on a neutron star and its binary twin, which is close enough for a gas column to connect the two. The target is the Aldersen point linked to the still-burning partner. The console has also been configured to use the flight characteristics of the John Carter.
"Moka's going to handle spoofing our neutrino profile," Gabriel explains. "She's been setting up the virtualized reactor and sensors since the shakedown tests, and they're still finicky, so you get to do the nav, just like old times!"
"I'll try not to fly us in to the neutron star, the Hake-bearest of stars." Tasha puzzle over the controls a moment, it has been a while, then begins to input the route planning. It's slow going, navigation was something encoded in to her brain but the reinforcement came only in pieces and her long duration stay in the recovery tank eroded much of what was. Still, she can do it. Basic navigation isn't that hard and they're not under duress. " ... annnnd, there. One Aldersen point. Standard no-rush economy route, so we look like we're just going about our business in the usual way. The business of a mining ship, that is."
"Sending route to Caltrop flight control," Gabriel says. He seems to listen to his earpiece for a minute, then nods. "We've got the clearance, taking her away from the dock on manual." He nudges the joysticks, and after a few minutes of drifting clear they begin their simulated thrusting maneuver until they're up to their target velocity. "Alright, engage internal inertial stasis Mr. Kaa. I don't think we need to go through a week of realtime if we can make do with one day."
"I love being able to dictate time," Tasha murmurs, then leans back and puts her hands behind her head. Her job mainly done, she's now on monitor duty. And monitor she does, watching her screens.
Kaa runs various tests, and confirms that the ship isn't going to be torn apart from the difference between internal and external inertia - something that the Phin always seems concerned about, since 'normal' stators affect things differently. "External Higgs manipulation steady-dy," the pilot finally reports, meaning that the Dark Horse's disguise is still intact. "Will return to realtime on final approach and deceleration. Going to need to secure everything before subspace entry. Lots of turbulence that close to neutron star."
"Then I guess we know what we'll be doing for a while," Tasha remarks, tilting her head. "I'll tell the crew, they can be mad at me." She looks around a moment, then turns to Gabriel. "So, did you have fun at Caltrop?"
"Not as edge-of-civilization as I was expecting," Gabriel admits as his station retracts onto the main bridge deck. "Going to follow up with the Seeders or anyone when we pick up the rest of the crew and supplies?"
"I dunno," Tasha admits, wiggling a little until she's half-slid, half-bunched in her command seat, lower than before. "I don't think I can stand any more politics right now. It was fun for a little while, but by the end I wanted to be a Titanian again. And Lacci called me old, plus I feel kind of useless out here. Not really useless, but kind of. I need to think about it all more." She scratches her nose, then shrugs. "I think I see what Katie meant about nobody seeing you for what you are now, though, so that's good, right?"
"I think she's up in the lounge," Gabriel notes. "Invention and Necessity stayed on the outpost to get the rest of the operation set up, so she's on her own for the duration. And you do seem older.. well, more experienced. Childhood lasts a lot longer out here in 'civilization' than it does back on Sinai and Abaddon. Or even back when I was young. Probably goes fast for the Phins as well, since they're still 'young' Clients and have a lot to try and prove."
"I'm also older from all this time travel." Tasha wrinkles her nose. She enevr thought her age might be a casualty to exploration, but there it is. "But you're right, it seems to. Go faster, I mean. Lacci seemed so young, even innocent, and definitely obnoxious, but I think she might be physically older than I am." The young woman eyes her screens, then glances back at Gabriel. "So, mind if I go check up on Katie? I'll inform the crew along the way, too."
"She's your girlfriend, so you'd better check on her," Gabriel says while winking to Tasha. "Not sure where Shojo and Yue are. The Jotoks may be in the Phin's quarters though, or with Dr. Knight."
Tasha looks a bit wide-eyed at Gabriel's insistence. "I never got to bring my partners with me though! Checking on people is so new. They never lasted this long!" She holds up her hands defensively, and in a shrug, knowing what Gabriel will have to say to that. "But I'm going! New things, right?" She rises well before the platform has started moving, then hops out before it stops. "I guess I'll just intercom-it if I have to, see you soon!"
Their are people in the galley as Tasha passes: Yue and Shojo. Shojo appears to be familiarizing himself with the autochef and other devices, while Yue looks slightly peeved when she spots Tasha.
"Hellllloooo! I'm here to annoy-warn you that we'll need to secure everything once we drop out of our timewarp, when we near the neutron star," Tasha calls in to the galley, eyeing Shojo a moment before turning to eye Yue in turn. She squints. "Yue, you look angry about something. Do you want to try and assassinate me now, or later? And what did I do now?"
"I saw Liza," Yue accuses. "You didn't bring any donuts for the crew! That is your most important function as ship owner, right next to buying the first round at the bar."
"I'll have to have Liza feel guilty for me, you're right." The young woman puts a hand over her heart and bows a little. "Do you know where the others are, I thought I'd personally tell them and now personally get told off. Maybe I should just use the intercom?"
"Jonas is in medbay, probably still trying to figure out the list that Mr. Lightfoot gave him," Yue notes. "I don't know where the Jotoki are.. they could be anywhere, really. Lurking in the shadows." She wiggles her fingers as she says the last part. "And Shojo is right over there, being studious."
"He's always studious. You're all studious -- so I don't have to be!" Tasha wags her tail, which being a horse sort of tail is naturally a horse sort of wag. "Well, you know now. Have fun with the food machine, Shojo! Oh we may have another Vartan on board soon, may. Be nice to her. Or, I guess, don't. Whichever you like!"
"I have a very warm and inviting personality," Shojo says in his inflection-free monotone. Was it a joke?
"You do, it warms my heart and will charm that machine, I just know it." Shojo gets a kiss blown at him, then Tasha hurries from the room to go find Jonas. It definitely was a joke.
Jonas is just across the way in the medbay, studying a tablet while working on an unfamiliar machine. "Oh, hello Tasha," he says, looking up at the woman's entrance. "Is everything alright?"
"As alright as it ever is. I'm not wounded or shape-changing or anything today, if that's what you were wondering." Tasha puts her hands behind her back and wanders in, looking around. "I just wanted to personally let you know we'll need to secure the ship -- everything, really -- when we exit dilation and approach the neutron. And, you know, I thought I'd see how my crew is doing!"
"No adverse reactions to travel yet, or allergic reactions to the cats or Jotoki," Jonas replies. "I've got baselines for everyone now, and this.. list.. of compounds to try and synthesize from Lightfoot."
"He likes to do things the complicated way," the young woman insists as she leans over and peers at a piece of equipment she doesn't recognize. "Call him eccentric. We may be having a new member on board soon. If she joins, I'll have her swing by. Check her for all the usuals, get a baseline, check for cybernetics and maybe poke her with some needles. You know your job." And then she looks over. "How about you? Do you need anything, are you well?"
"I haven't been off ship much, but that is normal for a Belter," Jonas claims. "We're bred to handle isolation, and it helps me to focus. I've mostly been working with the Jotoki though, which are fascinating, and looking at the local Belter forums for anything of interest."
"That's good." Tasha straightens, then nods. "I was bred for things too, so I understand what you mean. So, how are the Jotoki doing? And did you find anything of interest in the forums?" She pauses, then adds, "I should also warn you we may be out of port for a while, and may be heading in to unoccupied space. There might be danger. Might."
"The Jotoki are very precocious, and also seem to be doing well with the proteins we have available, even if it means sharing with the Phins," Jonas reports. "As for the forums.. there is speculation about who we really are, of course, but nothing really noteworthy on that front. Although I understand we will be wearing a new disguise soon. Otherwise it is the usual bartering, claim reporting and salvage inquiries, along with requests that would involve the black market in any other system."
"It's good they're not too focused on us, then. I was a bit worried they'd wonder where our crew is, and which Belters are associated with the ship." Tasha looks around a moment more, then turns back and notes, "Well, I'd better go check on Katie. I am very happy the Jotoki are doing well -- when I think the crew is ready, we'll see about finding their home world. Maybe some of our other tasks will give us clues? Well, see you soon Jonas. Or, um, not -- you know how it is with seeing doctors!"
"I see.. I'll make sure to schedule your checkups through Liza then," Jonas notes.
"She's very good about it." Too good. And then Tasha gives a finger wiggle wave and is off again, heading for the lounge.
The lift takes her up to the VIP deck, and Tasha hears the strings of a guitar when she exits. She can see the back of Katie's head as the Karnor sits on the couch, strumming along and singing. "I still remember the shooting star I saw last night - I was waiting for... Hello, shooting star. Hello, shooting star again.." She stops there, and picks up her tablet to make some notes.
Rather than interupt, Tasha tip-toes -- difficult for a being without actual toes -- in approaching from the rear. When she gets close enough she then drops on to the couch, smiling up at at Katherine in an upside down, hair-touseled sort of way. "Hi, pretty lady. Come here often?"
"Ah!" Katie yelps, and then laughs. "Oh, you're back... and you have peppermint breath." The comment may make Tasha wonder if Liza gave her that because of her breath. "Liza went to clean up, and I like the view here," Katie says, pointing her chin to the external view of the nebula.
And now Tasha has something else to be self-concious about, but it's hard to feel bad about anything -- be it the world or yourself -- when someone like Katherine Vesuvius loves you. "Well I'm glad you like it! Space is nice enough without decoration, I think, but I've been looking at Khattan styles for the upper decks and I have some ideas. We'll see. So how are you doing?" She perks her ears forward, though they are a bit crumpled.
So Katie reaches up to straighten out Tasha's ears. "I'm doing fine," she claims. "I can function without Mr. I and Miss N, you know. And I think you should decorate in your style, not try to mimic someone else's. It should reflect you, if it's your ship, shouldn't it? What makes you feel the most comfortable?"
Tasha unabashedly enjoys having her ears straghtened. She lids her eyes and wags her tail, but of course it's on the other side of the couch. "I didn't say you couldn't, did I say you couldn't function without them? I didn't." The young woman's shrug is inverted, then she pauses to think for a moment and answers, "I'm not really sure? I've always been traveling on ships that don't belong to me. I traveled light, because there was never room and I was poor, and because I'd just have to carry it. I don't think I've ever had my own home, or place, enough to think about it. Even my quarters back in the Pit were mostly empty. But, I was thinking a combination of Khattan style and exhibits showing our travels. Artifacts, paintings, that sort of thing. I'll leave the walls showing the outside, or maybe the sky -- depends how I feel. Rain. Storms. But like a portrait, with the trimmings in a Khattan portrait style."
"What is Khattan style?" Katie asks. "Is there a Khattan lounge on Caltrop? I've never been to the desert cities on Sinai after all."
"You seemed to enjoy the hunting lodge look in Titania," a soft voice says from behind Tasha, where Liza has likely snuck up on her.
"Uh, I guess when I say Khattan style I mean Harmonia. Like Harmonia. But maybe with a style more like a home or ship. I need tot hink about it, I've been so busy with everything else!" She then extends her arms, holding them out. "Kaaaaatieee, politics are boring and make me feel old. I see what you meant by nobody seeing who you really are, I think I'm forgetting. Save me?"
Katie laughs, and says, "You have to come around to my side of the couch first! And I suppose we need to find some artifacts and artwork then? We can't just have Liza pose naked for guests."
"I've seen Liza naked, it's nice but she's not interested in me so it'd just make me feel uncomfortable as her boss." Tasha strains to reach the floor with her hooves, then pushes off until she slides further and then ends up on Katherine's side in a heap. She busies herself by not being a heap, then scootches back until her head in in Katherine's lap. "Better? And how do you deal with it?" Her ears perk, then she widens her eyes. "Should I find a younger woman to run off with, is that the answer?"
"How do I deal with.. bunnies?" Katie asks with raised eyebrows. Liza is standing nearby in her bathrobe after all.
"No not bunnies, politics! And lying about who you are, putting on a mask to be what people expect. I can't just be 'Tasha from Sinai' without endangering everyone and our home worlds. I have to be 'super fancy Khattan mezzode agent-of-unity Aldara Argentine'." She then also points at her ears, helpfully and obviously.
"Oh hon, pretending to be something you aren't is what being an adult is all about," Katie says, and boops Tasha on the nose after setting down her guitar. "The whole Khattan thing was just so you wouldn't stand out, I think. You don't have to stick to it. Once we have that Confederate ship, we can protect the back door into our system and it won't matter as much. The Galactic governments must know about it, after all the drama with the Silent-Ones. If they want it kept quiet, they can provide the cover story themselves. But really I don't think anyone would believe it among the general populations, if it was even news at all. Ooo, legendary system that we sent a colonization fleet to was colonized, and they're still there! But you can't visit them!"
"And they have a thousand kind of uplifts, aliens, and magic that lets you do anything? Even my sister was skeptical that mages existed, I think it was the robes. She said it was 'such a cliche' or something. Gabriel remarked on that too. They have some weird stories back on Terra." The younger woman shrugs, but then wiggles a bit more to get comfortable, laying her head out, muzzle down. "It helps all the Galactics have some stake in things, even if some or all of them would rather have the, um, stake all to themselves?" She blinks at the unintentional Karnor pun. "Anyway, maybe it'll work out? I doubt anyone will believe I am what I am anyway. Oh, her? She was created by an old Karnor ghost-hero made from ancient Vartan and Karnor lines, then she found a spaceship in a mountain and talks to aliens and gods annnnnd-" She just snorts. It even sounds unbelievable to her.
"See? Plus the likelihood that even 1% of anyone would care," Katherine notes. "See, on Abaddon we don't really think of Sinai much. It's hard to get to, and so on, but yeah it's full of wonders and so on but hey, I have to get to my job in the morning and there's a shortage of cabbage and my doctor says I have to stop eating cheese and the Pit of Himarr is way more important and did you hear that the Celestial life dome exploded or something, just like that other one.. right? The Confederates? See, if it's not your job to be concerned about this stuff, you aren't going to be concerned about it. What makes you important isn't that you come from a magical mystery world, it's that you have a ship that is apparently undetectable to anyone but the Titanians if you don't go out of your way to make it detectable."
"Also I'm cute and charming, but not as pretty as you are!" And so tasha wiggles her ears, rolling over and smiling up again. "But you're right. I guess I can stop soon, once the door has its guardian. The guardian is really cute, too. Like, the cutest space ship."
"Does it look like a bunny?" Liza asks. "I also did some research, and I think that even if our origins were known we cannot be claimed as Clients, since we were already uplifted and our 'home world' itself cannot be reached or occupied. While it has not come up with the current Client species, apparently there is a clause saying if they can defend against Galactic technology they cannot be categorized as Clients."
"I guess it'd be hard to enforce. "You're out Clients!" "No we're not, come make us!" "Uh, well you can do your own thing, but still!" It'd eb humiliating for the Galactic that tried to make the claim, and if they hate anything it's being humiliated." Tasha shakes her head at that, wondering at strange priorities. "Well. I feel better. So." She looks up at Katherine and asks, "Do you need anything? Are you okay with having your quarters off of the lounge? Is there anything I forgot?"
"I ate the rest of your donut holes," Katie says unapologetically. "And I want to cuddle with Liza because she is super fluffy looking. Plus, up here I'm not distracted by all the sex other people are having. You and Gabriel don't count as other people though. I assume Hakeber will have the stuff to stock the bar up here with when we get back?"
"Other people? Sex?" Tasha has mainly focused on her own sexual escapades, and has been off ship. "Well, I'm glad everyone is happy and keeping busy, I guess! I should pay more attention." She lifts a hand and waves Liza over, then holds out her arms invitingly. "So am I not providing enough sex? Because, you know I can be providing. Like, a lot of it! All the time. I am here to help!"
Liza comes over, and Katie chuckles. "It's just that the Phins are noisy, and the rest is more.. I'm a Karnor, I can smell things. Hakeber and Yue get up to things with that other bunny. Jonas and Shojo and Liza seem to be the only chaste crewmembers. Well, and the Jotoki, which.. I'm pretty sure they don't need partners since they're already made of male and female legs."
"It's a big universe of sex," Tasha agrees. She hauls Liza over to hug her, sitting up and leaning against Katherine so she can hug them both. "Oh, before I forget, we'll need to secure everything for the approach to the Aledersen point. Loose items, furniture, well, anything. The neutron star is going to be hard on our systems, so we're being safe. Otherwise you both have an hour -- well, more like half an hour now -- to do what you want before we exit the time dilation and return to normal time near the point."
"So.. we have to secure the bunny then?" Katie asks with a grin. "I will pack up my grooming supplies. I assume the shuttles and Melchior aren't going to slide around?"
"They're secured to the deck by various systems," Tasha notes. She hands Liza off to Katherine, then stands up. "And since this is your first trip in to the Maelstrom and out in to the Galactic, I will secure your things for you." She then turns away, searching out Katherine's belomgings as she notes, "Oh we may have a new crew member. Maybe. Lacci. You don't have to talk to her or anything, but I thought you should know."
"Why wouldn't I talk to her?" Katie asks, as she also has to get up to collect her guitar and tablet, leaving Liza on the couch.
Tasha picks up a bag and carries it over to one of the walls, touching the wall until it reveals a seam, then slides open. She gestures for things to be put inside. "Well, she's a little obnxious. See, the Galactics seem to grow a lot slower than we do. Learn slower, grow up slower. Eveything has been done and is done for them, in some ways. Our lives are way more dangerous and, um, adventuerous than theirs is. Hake-bear might as well be an action hero to the Galactics. Look out, they might say, she can catch a cold and is bretahing dusty air. Shocking!"
"They can't be that fragile," Katie points out. "I've heard Yue and Jonas talking about the near-infinite ways to die in space. It's like living inside of a paper house suspended over a lake of acid. Everything can kill you! Including moving too fast. Too fast.. that just isn't right. So I imagine they have to learn a lot of safety stuff growing up on a spaceship. I don't know about you, but I was monstrously destructive as a child."
"I, um, might have been a bit destructive." For some reason Tasha looks down at her fist, and then hides it behind her back. "But of course they know about space, it's the other things they don't know about. And they have AI, and porcedures, and ten-thousand years of practice to get it all right and easy. Caltrop is considered a backwater system, less civilized, you know. I mean, compare Caltrop to Abaddon or Sinai." She shrugs, then steps aside so the otehrs can put things away. "But enough about them. Have you thought about what you want to do aboard ship?"
"I assumed my role would be more face-to-face or smooth-talking," Katie admits. "Now that I know more about communications I figured I could be the.. uh.. receptionist? Whoever talks to other ships and tells them to please wait, or has to ask for something."
"I think that's 'Communications Officer'. We do have ranks aboard ship, but they haven't been formalized yet, nor have the positions. We're still working out teh chain-of-command for emergencies, but we do have an outline of positions and ranks based on the usual crew arrangements. Because people are inexperienced, the chain-of-command will be fluid until everyone is settled. We can also create speciality roles for people who do more than one thing." Tasha then nods to Liza. "Liza is Ship's Steward in addition to being my personal assistant. Moka is Navigations and Information Analytics Officer."
"I thought she was the science officer," Katie admits. "At least, I could sort of almost follow what she was doing some of the time. I just heard that she's been designing parts of the ship that.. weren't there originally, somehow. Aren't you also a Navigator? But then, Gabriel is the Captain, but I know he still likes to pilot when he can. Or when Kaa lets him. Dr. Knight, at least, is clearly the doctor. What do Shojo and Dr. Sen do?"
"Shojo works under Jonas, he's considered a Medical Technician aboard ship, and a Medical on the ground. He's basically one of my ground operations support people. I've been thinking of creating a team just for doing things in old ruins, alien bodies, you know, not on the ship, but for when people still need to stay on the ship to run it. Shojo is one of those people. I guess the Terran equivilent is a marine? He'd also help with ship's security if people boarding us was more of a risk." Tasha turns to the wall rack, eyeing the equipment and then moving to sort it out a bit better so it won't shift as much. "But he can do more if he wants. Dr. Sen is Dr. Sen, she's a Terragens agent and she does all those things. but she also helps Hake-bear with research, does investigations, helps on the ground. I guess she's like an Information Officer, but she does more."
"Right, I forgot that she was an archaeologist too," Katie says, helpfully.. looking over Tasha's shoulder. "Mr. I and Nessy are likely going to remain on Caltrop to run a local office for the ship. What did you have in mind for this new girl, and what does Lightfoot do besides keep Hakeber happy?"
"Aaron will probably help me on the ground and remind me I'm not too big for the universe," tasha says with a snorted laugh. Katherine can see how Tasha packs, leaving little room and placing soft items between more delicate hard ones to cushion shock. The condensed packing style also prevents movement, and all loose items are tucked or stowed away where they can't get loose. "He migth not know a lot about technology or ships or, well, not a lot about the Galactic world but he has, uh, practical sense. Wisdom? He's like me, he'll figure it out or find some other way. He's the one I started with, after all." Once everything is squared away, Tasha turns and smiles. "Lacci? Uh, what was she for ... Oh. We need a Vartan, a Galactic one. She also has a Terran historical background which should ease her transition annnd I think she might become a lot more once she gets over being childish and limited!"
"Whose job will it be to oversee that process?" Katie has to ask. "I don't know if any of us are very mentor.. ish? Mentorly? Maybe Jonas or Dr. Sen. Or Aaron, if he was able to deal with you when you were still trying to grow up? Although Hakeber could.. teach her bad habits."
"Hake-bear is well on her way to mentoring her in bad habits." Tasha winks, then starts walking towards the exit, waving people to follow. "I'll think of something. Maybe she'll learn on her own? I'll make sure she keeps very busy though, so she can learn. So, want to see a binary star? One's a neutron. It's tiny."
"A bunny star," Liza says, and follows along in her bathrobe. By the time they reach the bridge, the rest of the crew are there as well, since it has the sturdiest seats. The 'window' has a nice view of the plasma-stream being siphoned off of the twin star to the surface of the neutron star, which causes the brightness filter to activate. "We'll be coming around to the far side of Caltrop-B," Gabriel notes. Dilation is still in effect, since the view is changing rapidly.
By this point Tasha has sent the shipwide notification to stow all loose gear and all other items, uncertain where the Jotoki were, and made sure to check on (and stow) Blaze and Creamsickle. Blaze has been stowed in Tasha's arms, while Creamsickle remains with the Jotoki. "So, eventually the neutron will probably collapse in to a black hole, it depends how long it takes for it to reach the threshhold. With another star to consume, it's just a matter of time," she asides to Katherine and Liza.
"And then the Terrans will be locked out," Jonas comments. "In a few million years, anyway. Stars are big."
Kaa announces the final approach and deceleration, and asks that everyone secure their seats and harnesses. The navigation display shows them coming to a stop at a specific point in space.
"I'm sure that by then you'll have some other form of interstellar travel. That's a long time for a civilization not to grow. Isn't that right, Blaze?" And so kitty and hybrid rub noses for a moment before Tasha looks up again. "Well, time to navigate. Come along, Navigational Assistant Blaze." Occupying her command seat is a bit tricky with one hand full, but she manges, settling in and securing the straps of her couch with the cat tucked in to her jacket. There's enough room to move, but with the straps in place Blaze can't escape to float or careen. Mostly the kitten can poke his head out and watch things. "We're on course, do I need to make any corrections, Captain?"
"No, we're going to have to leave this part to Kaa," Gabriel says.. and purposely has his arms folded so he won't be tempted to make a grab for the control sticks. "The Maelstrom is his specialty. I have no idea how being this deep in the gravity well is going to affect it. But we need to look like we're in a Terran ship for this."
"Dropping our camouflage," Moka announces. An artificial klaxon sound plays over the intercom - the traditional 'submarine' dive warning, supposedly.
"Is everyone ready?" Tasha looks back, checking to make sure all members of her crew are accounted for and secured. "You probably realize by now this is no ordinary ship, be ready for anything."
"We can only be tossed around in three of eleven dimensions at least," Gabriel says, just before the ship dives and it feels like it is a lot more than three dimensions. It reminds Tasha of the time the Rake was caught in a sudden storm, but feels more like what airships report when they drift into a Forbidden Zone.
It makes Tasha's teeth ache, even clenched, and she lays her ears back as she holds on. Once it's over she blinks away the stars in her vision, then looks down to make sure Blaze is alright. "E-everyone okay?"
The kitten has burrowed deeper into Tasha's clothing, and she can feel his claws. The shaking begins to smooth out after a minute as they pull away from the singularities. There are groans from Katie and Liza, but no complaints. Once things fully smooth out, Moka declares that it's safe to move around, just before the Jotoki scurry into the bridge, clicking and whistling like mad. Creamsicle's fur is all poofed out.
The hiding makes Tasha feel bad, but it can't be helped. Blaze and Creamsicle aren't the first animals she's directed in to a storm, but at least she can be content they're better off here with her crew than alone on some deserted asteroid. She turns to the Jotoki, who are also wayfarers drawn along her journey. "Are you three alright?" She asks, assuming they're used to Kaa's Maelstrom antics and wondering if their alarm means something unfortune has happened.
"Terran ships don't have stators," Jonas notes. "We're used to this sort of thing." Yue looks like she might be about to dispute that, but doesn't say anything. Shojo is.. Shojo. If anything in the ship was going to be steady, it would be him. The Jotoks are both wet, so were probably in the main water tank in the ship's belly, although the kitten doesn't look damp.
"Swinging wide and north, will c-come back into Caltrop system from above," Kaa notes. "Time to switch over to new IFF. When he hit realspace in an hour, we'll officially be Dark Horse. Pick up Hakebabe and booze and nummies!"
Well, at leats everyone is okay, Tasha comforts herself, turning back to her display. Unsurprisingly there isn't much to see given the Maelstrom defies normal space navigation and can only offer approximates, 'surface' information when it's available or can be extrapolated or determined from prior records, or information made available by 'surfacing' part of the ship for a quick scan. She thinks more might be displayed, but would need to talk to the Niss and Kaa. Much of what is displayed comes from Kaa's own implants, which forward his use if the mass sensory equipment. "That's one vote for booze and nummies," she tallies. "Anyone else wnat booze and nummies?"
"Star yes," Yue declares, escaping from her seat. "And it's a Belter tradition to pack a lot of caviar, too. Very high calorie density for its mass."
"Yes, caviar and Vodka," Jonas claims.
"Booze and nummies it is. I'll have Liza, Mr. I and Miss N. work out the details." Tasha has hr own dining preferenes, of course, but Liza knows most of them and she doesn't have enough experience with the new varieties of food and drink to contribute much. Liza will know. Liza always knows. Though, there is one thing, "And some Black Hole Beer for me.
"Don't get up just yet," Gabriel tells Tasha. "You're going to be flying us back to Outpost Caltrop once we surface. The Horse doesn't fly quite like Belle, so you'll need the practice."
Tasha blinks at this, doing a double take. "Wait, I get to pilot? I never get to pilot." She eyes Gabriel a moment, then leans over the edge of her seat to look at Kaa. "Really?"
"I'll be a be ready to rest after pulling us through that boiling knot," Kaa admits. "Moka needs to fine tune new body shell and spoof a Khattan reactor, so gotta kill some time. Coming in way outside usual hyperspace limit."
"So Kaa does have a limit. That's good to know," Tasha remarks as she leans back in to her chair. "Well, I am ready to pilot. I don't get to fly, chop up monsters or pilot my Titan. I am ready."