"What the fuck happened! First, the damn ship is sitting there, then it running circles around us, spitting laser shots before ours are even warmed up!" Gresham was gloriously pissed, smashing his fist down on the arm of his captain chair. The chair he saw himself ruling his small world from.
"What about Booth? He said he was going to calibrate the sensors as soon as we started warming up the lasers. Next thing we got a life pod firing off." Rawley was more than a little confused. Some answers were a bit longer coming to him than other people.
"Who the hell do you think was in that lifepod ya moron! It was Booth! He abandoned the ship as soon as trouble started!" It wasn't like he actually trusted Booth. He didn't trust anyone. But now gresham was left with this idiot.
Blake travelled the ships' main passageway on a Grav Sled controlled by Aubrey, one stop to pick up Ensign Connelly, then continued on to the cargo bay.
"How do we retrieve objects like the life pod Aubrey?"
Repulsor beams, sir. Exterior and interior. They are only effective in vacuum, outside of gravity."
"I wonder what an upgraded repulsor beam is capable of? Guess we'll find out at some point when I get around to it."
They arrived at the Engineering Bay doors to the cargo bay, current still unpressurised to keep their life pod occupant in place.
"Put some atmosphere in there, please, aubrey, and open the doors when it's safe.
The rush of air could be heard from the otherside of the bay doors increased as the volume of air allowed the sound to tavel to them. As it tapered off, the Bay doors opened to reveal the lifepod sitting in the centre of the Cargo Bay.
"Should we have lifpods on the ship Aubrey? Seems like something we should have. Or are you a "lifepods are for quiters" kind of a.i?"
Aubrey, for his part, took this statement as it was meant, the Captain just thinking out loud.
"No obvious weapons are being detected sir. Shall I release the lifepod hatch now?"
Blake raised his carbine slightly, hoping he wouldn't be given a reason to use it. "Please do so Aubrey."
"Very well Sir, please step to the side. Lifepod explosive bolts will fire in 5 seconds."
Step aside they did, though the hatch did not fire across the bay as Blake expected. It popped and dropped only a metre from the lifepod.
The first thing to exit the lifepod was a pair of arms, hands empty and held up. Following them a more than slightly stressed voice.
"I'm unarmed, please don't shoot! I'm not a threat!"
Ensign Connelly looked at the captain with an amused expression and called out to the occupant " Come out with your.....just come out. Don't start any trouble an trouble and there won't be any trouble."
A skinny grubby looking man in his mid 20's climbed out, his hands held comical high in the air. He stood statue still, like any move he made would be his last.
Ensign Connelly approached him and patted him down for weapons, stepping back to Blake with a nod indicating he was clean.
"Please lower your arms. Explain how you ended up aboard that ship. My ship a.i will monitor your vitals for signs of deception. Honesty will get you alot further than lies with me."
The next 5 minutes was a wave of fast talking confessions from a petty criminal. In that brief time he rapidly spilled every crime he ever committed up to the point he signed on the the pirate ship. To be fair, the guy was a talented tech who's criminal history was barely at the level of pickpocket. It was more embarrassing to listen to than appalling.
Blake put a stop to the rant by slinging his weapon and holding a hand up.
"OK that's enough. We can give you passage to a destination we haven't chosen yet. You'll be monitored at all times by the ship. Keep your nose clean and we'll all get along fine. Let's get you quarters and some food. A shower and fresh clothes would be a good choice as well I think." Blake had caught a wiff of the smell coming of the guy. Spaceships were not a place to forego personal hygiene.
As the walked to the main passageway through engineering, the man goggled in awe at all he was seeing.
"This is a LT 2500 cargo transport! I seen the specs of these in an old Manuel when I was a kid. A reliable ship sure, but what you've done to it is incredible!"
"There's a reason for that mate. Can you keep a secret?" Ensign Connelly said, with a wry smile.
"Uh...sure". With that, Elenor leaned in close to the man an mock whispered "So can I." Then stepped away smiling.
Blake chuckled at that, liking Elenors style.
Reaching the Mess area, Blake pointed out a free crew cabin.
"I'm captain Blake Fisher. That is Ensign Elenor Connelly. What's your name?"
"Aaron Booth"
"Ok Aaron. You can use these quarters to clean up. Use the shower and IVA suit provided. Food Synthesizer is in the Mess. Do Not give the children any trouble, that's a hard rule. Stay off the bridge."
With that Blake walked away, heading for the bridge.
"Keep an eye on him Aubrey."
"Two eyes captain. As often as I can spare them. That display of honest in the cargo bay was quite pathetic, if I may say so."
Blake laughed at that. "Wasn't it just. Seems like a smart guy that doesn't have enough good friends around to stop him from being stupid."
"Indeed sir. It would appear you have a talent for finding people in need of help. Have you considered joining the Church sir?"
Blake choked for a moment with laughter. "That was a good one, Aubrey."
"Thank you, Sir."
"So what would we need to build that fabricator I mentioned?"
"I will need time to consider the requirements, sir. You are suggesting a cross between a repair bot and a food synthesizer. It is theoretical possible. The devil is in the detail, so to speak,captain."
Blake was at a loss at what to do at this point. As far as he was aware, he had repaired and claimed the ship. But his System had been silent on that subject.
Upgrading the ventral laser turret was the last thing he had to do at the moment, unless upgrading the Repulsor beams counted.
"We will need supplies, sir. Materials for the food synthesizer. Fuel is required, though we currently use a fraction of the previous consumption."
"To purchase these things, we will need credits from traded items. We have a limited number of credits available currently, enough I believe for mooring costs at a facility where we can gain information on preferred trade goods, particular goods that may be obtained via your repair skill. "
"Plot a course for a reasonable safe port then please."
"Plotting course and engaging FLT, sir."