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Post by Weyrloc Karn on Aug 12, 2014 9:41:13 GMT -6
Another set of thuds tap along the metal floor of the flight deck, another visitor moving along. Karn never really bothered to check up on the floor itself, so his curiosity generally forced him to glance around at whatever he was able to see. Though, his overall goal wasn't to wandering aimlessly before the mission began, his main intentions seemed to be the medical bay of all places. As he moves over, he notes the two in the medbay, noting the more newer member, next to the hotheaded N7.. He heaves out a light, confused grunt, before shrugs regardless, his broad form soon wandering into the bay itself.
"The boss seems to have a real eye for talent.", would be the first thing Karn would hear as he wanders into the bay. "Oh, shucks, I thought people just liked me for my looks..", the krogan gruffly speaks out, a smirk present on his scaled lips.
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Post by Eric Lysander on Aug 12, 2014 12:25:58 GMT -6
"I suspect your methods are somewhat more refined than mine," Maelstrom said. "My philosophy is just to make the explosion as big as you can, and have as much distance as possible between yourself and the target. I've never been able to quite get the hang of focusing the direction of a detonation."
“I’m not exactly surgical,” Eric carefully unscrewed and opened one of the ordnances provided by Maelstrom. “And you don’t always have to do all the work. I’ll let you in on a little secret: the key to a good demo isn’t just the right amount o’ C12…”
He removed the core and held it while he slowly attached tiny clamps to either end to divert the arming circuits, rendering the explosive compound safe to extract.
“It’s gravity; physics. Anyone can vaporize a target with enough explosive. But when you’ve only got so much to work with and everybody’s expectin’ you to pull off a miracle… taking out a few key struts, lettin’ gravity and the fallin’ architecture do the work for you… that’s artwork in and of itself…”
Eric methodically disengaged the wiring and removed the explosive from its housing.
“Take these Praetorians. One was more than a handful. Three or more ‘ll be an absolute nightmare an’ll eat up our ammo supply if we let ‘em. Say one of those things moves to point trying to widen the crack in our position. We lance the shitbeast, melt it on the inside. Do it just right and the outer shell’ll still be intact and plop right down to plug up the hole in our spot. Might hold up to a burst or two from its friends but it’ll definitely stand up more against Collector weapons. Or if we can knock out its sensors, send it into a frenzy… get some distance or to cover… our problems may take care of themselves!”
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Post by Joe Fischer on Aug 12, 2014 13:46:56 GMT -6
"Oh shucks, I thought people just liked me for my looks," Karn said, stepping into the conversation.
"Oh, we do," Joe said. He then leaned over and said in a stage whisper, "I just didn't want to say it in front of the new girl, I didn't want to make her jealous!"
He then straightened up and said in a normal tone, "By the way Karn, have you met our newest team member?"
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Post by Weyrloc Karn on Aug 12, 2014 14:50:41 GMT -6
Karn gives a shake to his head, a grunt exhaling from his maw. "Nope', I stopped payin' attention after all that turian bullshit.." He glances over towards the newer member of the group, noting her features, race, the like. As to be expected, he was somewhat disappointed, the mystery stowaway causing such an issue looking.. Actually pretty normal. He simply gives a shrug however, giving his hand a meager wave as he shifts his form to face towards the new compadre. "How's it goin'?", he grunts out.
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Post by Morgan Bryn on Aug 12, 2014 16:48:02 GMT -6
"I just came by to see the newest member of the team and welcome you into the fold, that's all." Joe leaned closer as he was speaking, which gave Morgan the distinct impression that was NOT, in fact, 'all.'
"You know, we're in the same boat, and I don't mean that just literally," Joe continued. "This is my first job with this team too, but based on what I've seen so far, they're pretty good. The boss seems to have a real eye for talent."
"Oh, shucks. I thought people just liked me for my looks..." a deep voice rumbled from the doorway before Morgan could reply.
She looked up to see a large Krogan entering the medbay, his footfalls practically sending vibrations through he deck plates with each step.
"Welp, that settles it. Everyone on this ship is a giant..." Morgan stated quietly, but she didn't believe Joe heard her as he turned toward the newcomer.
"Oh, we do. I just didn't want to say it in front of the new girl. I didn't want to make her jealous!" Joe replied in a mock-whisper. "By the way Karn, have you met our newest team member?"
"Nope. I stopped payin' attention after all that turian bullshit." The large Krogan fixed his gaze on Morgan. "How's it goin'?"
"I didn't get turned into paste by a mech and then got hired onto the crew. All in all, a good day," she replied. "Joe here was just welcoming me on board and explaining that I clearly don't have enough scars for his taste," she smirked toward the man.
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Post by Maelstrom on Aug 12, 2014 16:54:07 GMT -6
"Our problems may take care of themselves!”
"Oh, I've managed some of that sort of thing in the past," Maelstrom said. "Not regularly, mind you. The places I find myself are usually VERY sturdily-built, and I tend not to weigh myself down great deals of ordinance. Usually, when it comes to taking down a base, I just use Uranium and Plutonium after getting what I need."
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Post by Weyrloc Karn on Aug 12, 2014 19:19:05 GMT -6
"I didn't get turned into paste by a mech and then got hired onto the crew. All in all, a good day," Morgan replied.
"I'd call that some shit if I ever heard it..", he chuckles out. "So what? You got your ass stuck in here and they just let you in after all that? Hell, you'd beat that depressing turian any day." Karn would fold his arms together, his larger arms taking up most of the space one would call a chest.
"Joe here was just welcoming me on board and explaining that I clearly don't have enough scars for his taste," Morgan soon smirking towards Joe.
"If I had enough credits for every woman that told me that..", he grumbles out. "Sorry kid, your lucks ran out here.", he gives out a small laugh, himself smirking at Joe with his broad, scaley lips.
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Post by Joe Fischer on Aug 12, 2014 19:20:54 GMT -6
"Joe here was just welcoming me on board and explaining that I clearly don't have enough scars for his taste," Morgan said to Karn with a smirk.
He stared at her for a second, incredulous, before roaring with laughter. He laughed for a good thirty seconds, laughing so hard he had to lean against the krogan for support.
When he was finally done, he stood up and wiped tears from his eyes. "Damn, that's a good one, I hadn't heard one that good in years!" he said. "You're all right, Morgan, I don't care what anyone else might say. If anyone else gives you any trouble, let me know and I will personally toss them out the nearest airlock!"
He patted her on the shoulder before heading off, muttering "Not enough scars" and chuckling.
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Post by Eric Lysander on Aug 13, 2014 8:26:18 GMT -6
"Oh, I've managed some of that sort of thing in the past," Maelstrom said. "Not regularly, mind you. The places I find myself are usually VERY sturdily-built, and I tend not to weigh myself down great deals of ordinance. Usually, when it comes to taking down a base, I just use Uranium and Plutonium after getting what I need." “Sure’s no better way to cover your tracks or send a message your enemies.” Eric studied the extracted core and compared it to the sonic spike housing. “Hmmm…. looks like we need to trim a little fat off this puppy. Not to worry, it’ll still pack the punch we need; the eezo core’ll compensate. Hold this for a second.”
Eric gently handed the explosive core over to Maelstrom and then went to open one of his strong boxes. He came back shortly with what looked like a miniature lathe along with some tarp which he laid out over one end of the workbench. He had Maelstrom lay the core on it while he set up the lathe.
“So what’s your take on our new recruit Morgan?” asked Eric, changing subjects. “Did she just bungle onto our ship lookin’ for a way off Cartagena or does she have a plan? She was able to crack that vid without much of a strain. Bit of a wise ass; doesn’t sound like she grew up on Earth. And she’s practically a midget next to everybody else here. Heh, they say good things come in small packages… but then Pandora’s Box wasn’t very big, either…”
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Post by Maelstrom on Aug 13, 2014 9:17:17 GMT -6
"But then Pandora’s Box wasn’t very big, either…” Lysander said.
Maelstrom was comfortable enough dealing with explosives. Grenades meant to be used in tandem with biotics were not exactly an easy-to-find item. Still, he always kept a great deal of respect for the volatile substances. It was the only way to keep all of one's extremities.
"Seems too damned convenient to me," Maelstrom said, trying not to let himself get agitated and accidentally slip up with his task. "A video implicating our team-lead in a murder pops up, one that none of our crew's tech-experts can successfully analyze, just minutes before this girl comes crawling out of the ductwork. She just happens to be able to take on the challenge? You've taken a trip or two around the galaxy, Lysander. Since when have you known the universe to ever be quite that convenient or tidy? That's like us landing on this base we're going to and finding that the Collectors all just got depressed and shot themselves in the head right before we got there."
"Until she's proved otherwise, I've got a grenade and a thermal clip ready and waiting for her, and I've already put the Vengeance on heightened tactical alert."
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Post by Eric Lysander on Aug 13, 2014 11:14:58 GMT -6
Eric loaded the core and switched on the lathe. It spun slowly and its shaping blade was specially treated to prevent sparking. Little by little Eric fashioned the core into a shape that would fit inside the spike housing. “You got a point there, Mal. But still, she may have her uses. Ultimately it’s Fearless Leader’s call and he’s holding her to her contract. If she’s trouble we hafta have solid evidence to convince him, preferably not a smoldering corpse.”
Eric thought some more.
A tech small enough to squeeze through ducts and vents, running around a converted turian cruiser filled with mercs and a guy with a salvage operation that rakes in millions… yeah, I can say ‘potential hostile takeover.’ Having the person who decodes incriminating evidence against you being the one who does you in…? Sounds like something Zaicress would come up with… Eric stopped the lathe, the core now cut and shaped to form. “So assuming our little pixie has it in for us, what’s her objective or who’s her target? A move’s already been made against me; we squelched that. You think she could be workin’ for Udina? Taggin’ along to see what Mr. B knows ‘bout his side op?”
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Post by Maelstrom on Aug 13, 2014 11:28:25 GMT -6
"You think she could be workin’ for Udina, taggin’ along waitin’ for a chance to off Mr. B for findin’ out ‘bout his side op?” Lysander asked when he stopped the lathe. Maelstrom made a mental note to look for a similar model. A ship's fabricator could only do so much.
"It could be that," Maelstrom said, not entirely convinced. "Then again, I doubt anyone on this boat, except maybe Iskra, is short on enemies. Seems doubtful someone would go to all this trouble to get at one of our new recruits. No guarantee they'd accept the job. That means the real target could be you, Meldom, Murchadh, or Bridges.
"Or it could just be corporate espionage or sabotage. Some company takes issue with Bridges financial enterprises and not Bridges himself, and they want whatever he has. That could be just as big of a threat as anything, if she chooses the wrong moment to make her move or slips up.
"Then again, it could be the work of another organization that's historically taken an interest in captured human civilians. Especially when it's the Collectors that take them. I think that's most likely, since they have a score to settle with me as well."
He leaned back against one of the crates. "To be perfectly honest with you, I don't completely trust Fischer either. Trust takes time. That said, the circumstances surrounding his joining the crew, however, are far less suspect, and I'm willing to give him the benefit."
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Post by Joe Fischer on Aug 13, 2014 11:53:41 GMT -6
Joe chuckled as he made his way down to the cargo bay, looking for Maelstrom to tell him that he far as he was concerned Morgan was all right.
As he entered, he could see him and the old man hunched over a case, working on something.
"...and I'm wiling to give him the benefit," he heard the biotic say.
"Give who what benefit?" he asked.
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Post by Maelstrom on Aug 13, 2014 12:12:07 GMT -6
"Give who what benefit?" Joe asked.
"Among other things, Udina the benefit of a quick death," Maelstrom laughed. One thing he liked about working in the Vengeance was privacy.
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Post by Joe Fischer on Aug 13, 2014 12:36:50 GMT -6
"...Udina the benefit of a quick death," Maelstrom said.
Joe felt his anger flare up like a supernova. "Got to disagree with you on that one, Mel," he said, his usual smile gone. "I think a quick death is far too good for someone who sells out his own race to the Collectors--especially children. If it were up to me, I'd swipe that resurrection tech from Cerberus so I can kill him for each child that got turned into paste by those damn bugs."
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Post by Maelstrom on Aug 13, 2014 13:06:11 GMT -6
"If it were up to me, I'd swipe that resurrection tech from Cerberus so I can kill him for each child that got turned into paste by those damn bugs," Fischer said.
Maelstrom managed to let pass the surge of anger and paranoia that rose within him at the mention of Cerberus. "Citadel's not an easy place to pull that sort of thing off with a VIP, and scum like that tend to stay places where better men and women are willing to lay down their lives in the defense of others. Got to allow for practicality, man."
After a brief pause, he added, "If you really feel that way, though, maybe you should join me for one of my Cerberus raids sometime. I could be persuaded to look the other way while I download the base's memory core."
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Post by dargene on Aug 13, 2014 13:47:13 GMT -6
Meldom walked down into the group nodding at them "gentlemen" he said slighty tired " what are we speaking about ?", looking at each person he smiled, his visor slowly running down statistics about each person, Meldom hardly paid attention to it only noticing elevated levels of aggression "touchy subject ? Lots of.. emotions are out
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Post by Joe Fischer on Aug 13, 2014 17:49:16 GMT -6
Joe was about to reply to Maelstrom's offer when Meldom showed up. "Gentlemen, what are we speaking about?"
He then looked the group over. "Touchy subject?" he asked. "Lots of...emotions are out."
"Nothing much," Joe said in a surprisingly light tone despite the anger running through him. "Just discussing what should be done with politicians who sell out their own race. I imagine your people...dispose...of such problems quickly and quietly, don't they?"
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Post by Morgan Bryn on Aug 13, 2014 19:57:57 GMT -6
Morgan had a tendency to be what was commonly referred to as a 'wise-ass,' and tended to blurt out the first thing that came to mind. Often this wasn't appreciated by others, which was why she was so surprised her snarky joke toward Joe was so well received.
"You're all right, Morgan, I don't care what anyone else might say," the merc commented, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "If anyone else gives you any trouble, let me know and I will personally toss them out the nearest airlock!"
"Careful there, Joe. With this crew, I might have to take you up on that offer..." she smiled as he patted her shoulder, surprised when the man excused himself so quickly, leaving her with the large Krogan.
Perhaps she had made him uncomfortable with her joke after all... especially if he really did have an interest in either of the scarred individuals she'd caught sight of him speaking to in her presence. One could never be sure, but as an avid 'people watcher' Morgan was sure she'd find out eventually.
"So, Karn," Morgan began, carefully disconnecting her equipment and tucking it back into various pockets and pouches on her clothing. "What is it you do on this ship, exactly?"
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Post by Eric Lysander on Aug 14, 2014 8:27:19 GMT -6
Speak of the Devil and he appears, thought Eric as Joe suddenly came up beside Maelstrom. His thoughts of the junior N7 as far as trustworthiness were that he did not seem capable of betraying anyone in the group. However his eagerness to impress and please could possibly be used against him. Manipulate him without realizing it until it was much too late, especially if a female was involved. But the subject was quickly shelved and switched over to Ambassador Udina by Maelstrom to mask such concerns. Before Eric could volunteer a word Meldom also stopped by to inquire on the small gathering. As the others spoke about the ambassador’s treachery Eric listened while he worked on completing the anti-Praetorian ordinance. He placed the reshaped explosive compound into the rear compartment of the tip - the warhead, seating it on the electroplating that would be channeling energy from the eezo core. He connected up the arming circuits, checking that the micro battery was set to off state before uncoupling the safety clamps on the wiring. He then placed the outer shell over the modified sonic spike innards and screwed it shut. Finally he took out a launching cap from his weapons ordinance crate, unscrewed the back end of the modified spike and attached the cap. It was designed to fit into the barrel of the more popular guns in use around the galaxy. Once the cap was stuck in a rod would extend outward from it further down the length of the barrel; an induction rod that would use the gun’s magnetic rail mechanism to fire the grenade or missile at the other end. The cap also came equipped with a chip that interfaced with the gun’s processor that calibrated the user’s gun to fire the ordnance at the correct velocity.
Eric interfaced with the attached chip using his omni-tool, feeding it the required settings. Once programming was completed he opened up the lathe and poured the compound shavings into a small container, covering them up to be saved for future use along with any fragments that did not end up in the catch bucket. He set down the container on the workbench and stood in wait for an opportunity to speak.
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