The Steam Voyange [IC]

[theGECKO]

Theo nodded, “A hobby of sorts? That’s always a good thing to have.” ‘Too bad I don’t have one…’ he thought. “A polymath…fair enough. As long as you can do what we need you to do when we need you to do it.” Theo smiled jokingly, “Can you do that?” he raised an eyebrow in question. “And you say you want to be a sailor? So you don’t have any experience on a ship then? Mind this is a sky ship. And I should mention, mechs will be involved. You ever piloted one?”

[FoxMask]

Deadra watched as Wezc left with a smile, "looks like its just you and me now Hound" she sighed placing a hand on the mochas head. She looked around, "let's get packed up" she said and walked around the room collecting all sorts of weaponry and clothes, she packed them into a large bag and threw them into Hound behind the seat.

[Base Four]

Theo nodded, “A hobby of sorts? That’s always a good thing to have.” ‘Too bad I don’t have one…’ he thought. “A polymath…fair enough. As long as you can do what we need you to do when we need you to do it.” Theo smiled jokingly, “Can you do that?” he raised an eyebrow in question.

"As long as sitting around without working is not part of the deal, I believe yes," Augustus replied, still unsure if the term 'hobby' addresses his requirement for cultural creativity: "for I cannot live without work." he concluded with a smirk.

“And you say you want to be a sailor? So you don’t have any experience on a ship then? Mind this is a sky ship. And I should mention, mechs will be involved. You ever piloted one?”

I do have experience on an airship, but by the name of the proton I do not want to speak about it. He thought as he frowned slightly at the thought of the last airship, now probably crashing into the ground burning somewhere out there.

"I in fact do have experience on an airship." He said, awkwardly dropping the second half of the statement. "As for piloting mechs, sadly not that much. However I consider myself to be quite a fast learner, and please note you're probably speaking of mechs with possibly the finest human mechanic you can find within a few hundred miles radius." He didn't exaggerate, he was quite confident of his ability of picking things up rapidly, and as far as he knew maybe not even most of the dwarven mechanics in the area were able to match his skills when it comes to dealing with machines.

"I guess you'd know me good enough by now...so, what is the deal?"

[theGECKO]

“That’s good to know.” Said Theo, “Mechs aren’t that hard to pilot anyway.” He chuckled merrily. “I say I know enough to hire you, yes. So you’re in. I have been hired by Sir Henry Adams VII to go in search of his ancestors research. I don’t know what kind of research, but I know the general location, and I know that we are getting paid. You will get your equal portion of three quarters of a million for your trouble.” He looked into Augustus’ eyes very seriously, “I don’t know why we have been given such a big crew, or why we might need mechs, so just be ready for anything.” Theo leant back in his chair again, “So if that answers all of your questions we will be leaving…” Theo looked around the room, and seeing that there were no more people waiting to be interviewed said, “round about now by the looks of things.”

[Skull]

Spider stepped outside, gathering some fresh air as he finally lit his cigar. The sun was beaming, and the cool breeze rolling in from the coast made for perfect weather today. Everything was going his way. In the morning he won some serious coin in a harmless scrap and by midday landed a security job for an excavation detail, all expenses paid. What more could he ask for? He glanced back into the Lantern and saw Theo finishing up his interviews. Spider remembered most of the faces that were in line and it appeared as though most of them were still in the tavern.

"I better get Kalesa ready." Spider muttered, referring to his mech.

[Base Four]

"Of course, Captain." Augustus answered jokingly as he put his beloved hat back on, and took a few steps back, ready to follow the people into whichever direction they were headed.

The look from Theo when the conversation ended was a little worrying though. It seemed to hint that something in this mission was, in fact, not going to be expected. "...just be ready for everything."...and for now, Augustus just hopes that whatever hint he failed to understand did not relate to the ships's engines.

[theGECKO]

After Augustus got up from the chair Theo took some quick notes. He pocketed the paper, and packed up the rest of his possessions. Looking around the pub Theo saw that most of the people he had told to be ready were indeed still there. He stretched his legs out under the table, and then stood to stretch some more, some of his joints cracking.

He made his way to the bar, rummaging in his left back pocket for some coin. He then tapped the bar to get the bar-man’s attention. The bar-man came over to him, “What you wanting?” he said with a smile on his face, and a glass in his hand. Theo returned the kind smile with his own and said, “This is for any trouble, or disruptions my presence has caused your business this evening.” He put his hand down on the bar, and then lifted it, leaving 4 gold coins on the bar. He then turned to walk away, then said, “If anyone returns wondering where I have gone, tell them to make it to the port by…” He looked at the clock on the wall, 6 o’clock, “…8, or they will have missed the party.” He smield again, and after giving the man a nod walked away. The bar-man’s smile grew as he took the money, then said as Theo walked away, “Will do, and anytime pal.”

Theo, now standing at the entrance to the pub, called out to its occupants, “Let’s go guys, our business begins.” And with that he left. He waited outside the pub, waiting as his new crew joined him.

[Rhynnyn]

Rhynnyn looked around the pub as he finished his drink. He saw the man he talked to earlier get up and talk to the bartender,Well it must be time to head out. He downs the rest of his mug of ale and gathers the rest of his things and starts for the door. As he steps outside, the last of the days sunlight hits his face. He shades his eyes with his hand and looks down toward the port. There is a steady stream of people heading down that way. He slings his clothing pack over his shoulder, and starts making his way to the garage where his mech was stored.

As he enters the garage, he sees the mechanic who owns it and he gives him a couple of gold pieces. "Thanks for watchin' 'er, Mack" He walks over and opens up the hatch, and slings his bag into the cockpit, She ain't a beauty, but damn I love 'er. He walks around the outside making all his usual checks, caulks a little grease into one of the leg joints, then climbs in her. He gets himself plugged in and goes over his checklist, before bringing her to life. Come on beautiful baby, Purr for me. The mech roared to life, a sound he always loved to hear. The mechanic and his assitants had the bay doors opened, and gave him the clear for the "All Clear." He gave them a thumbs up and the behemoth rose up and started out the doors to the port.

[Skull]

Spider pushed the large, sliding warehouse door to the side. He glanced over at the Dwarf who was in charge of guarding this lot. "You wanna help?" He asked as he started pulling the tarp off of his mech. It was on it's back nestled in a giant cart. The Dwarf simply shrugged motioning with his fingers the universal gesture that meant "coin."

"Whole lot of use you are. Must be the lowest of low if someone of your kind gets reduced to guarding a big dusty warehouse. Figured you all to be the innovative type. I guess not all of yeh." The dwarf pulled his sleeves back but before he could march over and give Spider a good thrashing, a carriage pulled in between them. Two oxen lumbered forward, allowing Spider to grab the thick-chained hook from the back of the carriage they pulled. He looped it around the front end of the cart that contained his mech and secured it with rope until there were no more knots to be tied.

"Alright..." Spider climbed up to the carriage next to the driver. "Off to the port." As they slowly trailed off, Spider checked to make sure the carriage was towing his mech, securely. The Dwarf was still red with anger and Spider said his goodbyes with a myriad of curse words.

[theGECKO]

The sun was low in the sky creating an orange sky. It was quite beautiful, and the sparkling river beside Theo made it even more so. Closer inspection on the river revealed it was dirt than water, but Theo ignored that fact, and enjoyed his surroundings. There was a patter of small footsteps running up behind him, and then a young girl stood walking beside Theo.

“Alice.” Said Theo, nodding at the girl. She glared at him, eyes full of either hatred or disgust, probably both now that Theo thought about it, but again he chose to ignore the details, and enjoyed the walk. “So is The Isambard ready to leave?” He asked.

Alice sighed, “Call me Captain, or Lady, Merc.” She said sternly, “But yes, as soon as your ‘crew’ start arriving we will be able to transport them with their mechs.”

“Not all of them have mechs,” Theo interjected, “I thought that’s what the mechs on The Isambard were for?”

“Well yes they are, but most pilots only drive one mech.”

“Not all of my crew are pilots.” He said.

Alice’s face dropped, “You can’t be serious, we can’t let inexperienced people like ‘that’ pilot Sir Henry’s mechs!”

“It’s a bit late for that, I already promised the ones without a mech a choice of the ones we have.” Theo smiled at Alice. “Anyway, it’s not like we are gonna need them, all we are doing is collecting some research…right?”

Alice went slightly quiet, not looking at Theo. “…Yeah, that’s all…”

Theo knew something was up, but wasn’t going to push, after all if something did happen, they did have the mechs. “Anyway, so the ones who aren’t pilots will need implants, has The Isambard got any space to do that?”

Startled by his quick acceptance of her obvious lie, Alice stuttered “Y-Yes,” recovering her composure she continued, “We have a sanitary medical bay, so I guess you can do it there.”

Theo smiled, “Great.” There was a silence as the two walked. Once they were close to the port Theo asked, “Wanna ride up in my ship?”

Alice didn’t even look at him, and just said “No.” And with that walked briskly away, towards her transport ship, shouting orders at the men, most of who were old enough to be her dad.

Theo watched her walk away, she reminded him of someone, but he couldn’t remember for the life of him who it was. He reached his own ship, sat on the steps, and waited for the others to arrive.