MINI-EVENT: RENDEZVOUS

[returnjourney]

MINI-EVENT: RENDEZVOUS

March 9th, 2022
Tasked with picking up some emergency botanical supplies, the Peregrine stopped in Meodriotope in February and is now making haste towards another ship, for a rendezvous and hand-off of the supplies. In late morning, the view out of the windows on one side of the Peregrine will be blocked almost entirely by another ship — the Feather, also from the Admiralty's fleet. The hand-off will take place here, between two ships.

In the afternoon (local Peregrine time), a mini transport from the other ship docks in the Peregrine's loading bay. Three passengers disembark to assist in the loading, have some brief conversations, and then be on their way.

If you have any questions about the event, please ask here.

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1. Observing the Feather

The Feather is one of the oldest ships in the Admiralty's fleet, a fact that is perhaps less known than intuited, simply by looking at it. While the Peregrine's sleek helices and centre spire move through space like some deep-sea organism, the Feather is a great drifting whale, its broad and boxy body speckled with simple portholes. The sides are painted with murals — abstract swirls of colour, flowers the size of houses, massive birds flitting between them. There's text that must have taken quite the ladder to paint: "Hope is a thing with feathers!" The murals are patchy and worn, but there's a lot of love there.

But despite how massive it is, it floats weightless in space. It comes so close to the Peregrine's side that it almost seems like they could brush, and the ships' respective force-fields thrum as they "merge", blending into one large bubble. In the distance, one can see quite a number of passengers on an outside deck, gathered at the railings to watch. Too far to shout across, but certainly close enough to see tiny limbs waving hello!

In the observatory, the computer monologues:

"The Feather. Currently on the 18th year of its current mission. Current population consists of 295 wardens, 306 inmates, 5 graduates in-transition and 53 supporting staff. Most passengers are from Earth Variants. The Feather is currently headed by Navarch Margaret "Old Lady" Lloyd, a Navarch with 45 years of experience..."

2. Loading the Materials

Want to lend a hand? The more the merrier. The crates of Lover's Kiss must be brought to the loading bay, checked and then loaded into the waiting transport ship. Caution is a must; we can't have the flowers crushed or damaged when they're sorely needed for medicines at their final destination.

Helping, of course, are the representatives from the Feather: two wardens and an inmate. (They'll have their own top levels below!)

3. Rewards

Passengers identified to the Navarch as having assisted in the gathering efforts will have a delivery bot stop by with a clear plastic container fogged over by steam. The container is warm to the touch, and opening it reveals a lusciously greasy cheeseburger with all the fixings, a mound of thick-cut salted french fries, and the fattest, cheesiest, richest-looking slice of pizza known to mankind. The food is cradled by red food-wrapping sheets with a white PIZZA PLANET logo. Enjoy!

(Or kill someone for a french fry after weeks or months of eating processed food substitutes. You do you.)

4. Oops, Caught Red-Handed!

So there was that thing the Navarch said — the flowers are fragile and must be handled with care, as they are only useful intact. And sure enough, on the surface of Meodriotope, dutiful flower-pickers had discovered that if you plucked them too roughly, they'd explode, leaving red stains that take weeks to wear off skin, even with dutiful scrubbing. It's been weeks and they're just starting to fade, fortunately, but there's a second phase.

Passengers stained red might discover they're having trouble sleeping. The redder they are, the longer their minds refuse to rest. In severe cases, this results full-blown insomnia. In mild cases, the body may shut down while the mind remains completely alert. These effects could last anywhere between a few days to a full week.

Good luck!

Comments

[smugreport]

Nah, I put it together back home.

[ It's said in a way that's meant to be casual, but there's nothing casual about it, Rhys is all pride about his augments. ]

But I bet I could make one here with the right parts.

[goty]

[A scoff, something like a laugh, as she considers it.] Or we could use your arm-

[A thought crosses her mind. But she needs to know she can trust this guy first.]

What kinda parts?

[smugreport]

[ He picks up some of the remaining flowers, tossing them into the crate. ]

Oh you know, connecting modules, an interface with a locking component, at least thirty feet of one millimeter wire. Easy stuff if we were anywhere but here.

[goty]

Oh, right, [Ellie says sarcastically,] that stuff, easy. Whatever that stuff is.

[smugreport]

Don't tell me you're another person from Ye Olden Times.

[ When were robots invented?? At least she doesn't think he's a witch or it's an illusion or whatever. ]

Here, I'll simplify it: metal hinge part plus electricity make arm move.

[goty]

[She rolls her eyes, but doesn't say anything-- for all she knows, she's from his olden times. But if she is, it's a good sign for her future.]

Where d'you keep the battery?

[smugreport]

Okay you're totally from somewhere backwards.

[ He extends his arm, rotates, and points to a port near his armpit. ]

In the future, we recharge.

[goty]

[She doesn't respond, because this guy clearly doesn't need her input to form conclusions. She reaches out to touch the metal arm instead.]

Can you hide stuff in it?

[smugreport]

Ahh-haha

[ A nervous laugh as he watches her touch it with a mild level of trepidation. Someone in this level of bad shape proooobably doesn't have the strength to do damage. Showing off will always win out over self preservation. ]

Like what? Snacks?

[ Actually...that isn't a half bad idea. Note: build snack compartment in next model. ]

[goty]

[Ellie resists the urge to roll her eyes.] Oh, c'mon. I meant, like, a knife.

[smugreport]

Not this model, it's meant for programming and interfacing, not opening boxes.

[ Though that's a pretty solid idea as well. Adding it to the list. ]

Now that I think about it though, a knife would have come in handy more than a few times. What's your job back home? I should put you on the ideas board when we can all go back.

[ Joking but only kinda. ]

[goty]

Uh- [what.] I used to run patrols. I just mean a little compartment, for a folding knife, maybe.

[smugreport]

So you were a guard?

[ He's gonna take his arm back now, but he studies it for a second, thinking about where he could fit hidden compartments. ]

That's usually what pockets are for, but I guess having it in the arm would add an element of surprise.

[goty]

No, I- [She's not explaining her job, it's not even her job anymore. She shakes her head and tries again with the actually important thing--] You'd be able to hide it from wardens, c'mon.

[smugreport]

Oh.

I'm not really a

[ He makes a stabbing motion. ]

kinda guy. Not in the physical sense, anyways.

[goty]

[Squinting judgmentally,] There's another sense?

[smugreport]

Uhhhh you know. Metaphorical stabbing?

[goty]

Is metaphorical stabbing gonna be much good out here?

[smugreport]

Probably more than physical, if you're careful about it.

[ Finally he stands, brushing off the last stray flower from his shirt (now dotted with red blotches) and tossing it into the crate. ]

Rhys, by the way.

[ He extends his organic hand for a shake. ]

[goty]

[Ellie lets out a breath, not quite a laugh. Her expression is still somewhat skeptical.] Okay, tell me before you metaphorically stab somebody. I wanna see that.

...And it's Ellie. Hi.