Luna Dual System
Quadrant XXI
Sector 1-21-001
Station 1-21-246-007
Date: 02/26/2391

The Luna Dual System gets its name from the notable dual moon Planet Lunaris orbiting a common yellow star. It is quite the anomaly as both scientists near and far are astounded that it is orbited by two massive moons that seem to collide with each other every million years. Luna I and Luna II both have desired metals used for constructing the hulls of most large spacecraft.

Station 1-21-246-007 or Luna Station is one of the first adaptive stations invented by the Depend Corporation. It features the ability to attach and detach segments from the main hub to create more space for more people or spacecraft. It recently underwent additional construction adding on a biodome which would assist in food for the local populace.

—

“Captain DeBaker,” Hangar Master Henry chuckled to himself, “definitely got himself a keeper… or herself.” He looked at her ID on the computer monitor before turning his gaze to the nameless freighter sitting in the hangar. A paper calendar on the wall next to his setup had a red circle around impound day.

The hangar had four large bays. Three were used for the shipping or receiving of goods whilst the last was a temporary storage bay. This bay housed the nameless freighter and the captain was present at its resting place. She was there but in the eyes of the Hangar Master, she wasn’t. A single person couldn’t maintain a freighter. He never spoke directly to her, but they both knew she had 48 hours to get her crew to her ship, get it designated, and have it out of the hangar.

—

Luna Station never should have even been considered to be a space station. All intentions were to make it a constructed living habitat. It had all the manners of a colony on any planet, aka the social system. The better maintained upper section housed the upper class, while the moderately maintained middle section housed the middle class, and the least maintained lower section housed the lower class people. People used it loosely as mankind met with several other space faring aliens hundreds of years ago. Mankind and aliens didn’t always see eye to eye but they dealt with each other enough as to not be in endless conflict.

The security of Luna Station was top notch. There was barely a sliver of underworld activity going on. The only exception to this was a semi-brothel, semi-hotel that welcomed everyone. The local law enforcement wanted to have it shut down, but everyone knows the Macabre family had their hands in keeping it running. The Twilight Horizon was its name, and it was here that most poor captains found cheap crew to operate their spacecraft. A particular group of four were to be found here, or perhaps not.

*VOIDED*VOIDED*VOIDED* *VOIDED*VOIDED*VOIDED*

“Captain,” an automated voice sounded to Captain DeBaker, “station scans show, that all crew members have arrived. They are currently awaiting further instruction.”

Captain DeBaker remained motionless as she seemed to have found her way to her quarters. Her expression was blank and her body swayed side to side slowly, methodically.

“Captain,” the automated voice came to life again, “I am reading unstable health signs. Might you see your way to the medbay?”

As the Freighter’s AI finished it’s questioning, DeBaker fell unconscious onto the floor. A red light appeared on the large monitor in her room. It portrayed the eye of the AI.

“Emergency SOS Activated,” the AI sounded, “all crew members, make your way to dock 5. Any leave you have accrued is now voided. Failure to respond will result your expulsion from the crew.”

—
Dalkalo sat in a corner of the Twilight Horizon. He knew very little of his new captain, but in due time he would meet her. He sat on edge, twitching, at the sight of the door every time it opened. He would periodically plug and unplug a tube attached to his mask so that he could drink it. He had scanned everyone in the room, countless times. His anxiety rising nearly blowing the top of his skull off.

‘Where is the captain? Is she here already? The crew could be any of these people here,’ He regularly thought. There was a man that caught his attention more than once. He was definitely a giant, one hell of a mechanic. Except this guy had, “look at me, and I will punch your face in,” kind of look on his face. He fumbled with his drinking tube when his PDA activated red. He quickly noted that he could hear the same odd hum, but couldn’t see them when he turned his attention to what it was saying. Before focusing in, he let out a soft sigh noticing the giant wasn’t receiving the same message.

“Emergency SOS Activated,” his PDA announced, “all crew members, make your way to dock 5. Any leave you have accrued is now voided. Failure to respond will result your expulsion from the crew.”

Dalkalo shot to his feet. ‘An emergency?’ Without taking a second look, he tossed money on the table for his drink, and rushed out of the Twilight Horizon. He studied the station for the past three months when he was on break from the small end jobs he took up. He knew that taking the elevator to the freight yard would be unpredictable, and he was confident in his physical ability to make it to the freighter in half the time.

“Notice, report directly to the Captains Living Quarters,” his PDA blurted abruptly. ‘What!? How am I supposed to know where that is?’ He questioned himself as he bolted to the ship after reaching the freight yard. He rushed up the ramp and into the ships cargo hold.

“Navigator Dalkalo reporting in,” he said into his PDA, “where are the living quarters?” He said as his eyes landed on a corridor label marked Living Quarters. He rolled his eyes and thought he should have responded with nevermind.

Dalkalo stopped in the doorway as he saw Captain DeBakers body laying on the floor. ‘Uh-oh,’ he could only think to himself as he stared in awe.

*VOIDED*VOIDED*VOIDED* *VOIDED*VOIDED*VOIDED*

Captain DeBaker was a young individual and most mistook her name by her fathers when only reading the surname on the page. Once they read ‘Apple’ everyone knew she was a female captain and some would laugh or taunt her which she chose to ignore most of the time.
She had forty-eight hours to figure out a crew, save the ship from getting impounded, and get out of the hangerbay within all that time. Stretching her arms forward than up with fingers locked together, she groaned, and continued her way down a corridor.

The young woman would find herself in one of the digital control rooms, she purposely got to this room to see if she could ask them to put an ad on the electronic boards for at least fifteen minutes. Upon talking to the worker inside and figuring out an agreement, they agreed to make the ad and only for fifteen minutes which was somewhat unsettling to the captain, but she wouldn’t fret about it.

Quickly the ad began to pop up on certain long screens around the busy parts of the station, “Hopefully somebody sees this.” She mumbled to herself.
The ad reading;

---

Everyone! Meet at the hangar position, viewing dock C-3 if you are interested in being a part of a new crew! What is needed? A pilot, mechanic, navigator, and engineer!

---

@Smiter19@Sylvan@Jorcool@LostDestiny

After the ad was confirmed to be up and running, Apple thanked the man and went on her way. Her walk was one of who was on a mission, and she always seemed to be. Fast paced and ready to get going, but she understood that she might be spending a few hours trying to find a whole crew, a mission, and getting the ship out of the hangar.
Under all these circumstances, Apple DeBaker could consider herself already annoyed while being on station 1-21-246-007 for multiple reasons; the main one right now was that she was on a time limit.

Making her way to hangar position, viewing dock C-3, a place where you are not exactly around the ships, but you are in a viewing or meeting room. Most people go to these to watch their loved ones take off or a captain trying to assemble a crew.
Many things happen in the viewing docks, so she ended up going right there to wait for a little bit to see if anybody was even interested in her ad.

DeBaker decided to take a seat at one of the tables, back facing the wall, and eyes facing the open entrance of the viewing dock, “Time to wait…” She crossed her arms and leaned back, placing her feet on the table with legs crossed.

Steve sat at a table in the Twilight Horizon, drinking some of the cheap booze places like this were known for. He had been there for several weeks, working odd jobs to make ends meet. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary, mostly the maintenance and repair of the station's many electrical systems. In the past weeks, he had been to most of the station's middle and lower sections, and even got to go to its recently installed biodome to help in maintaining some of its agricultural machinery.

He had just finished his drink when he noticed a change in one of the Twilight Horizon's screens. An ad had started to play, and it was one that he would surely be interested in. Starship engineer? Being part of a new crew? he thought Maybe I can finally leave this place behind. Steve stood up, paid for his food and drink and went to his room, getting most of his tools, some spare clothes, and anything he would need.

Steve then leisurely made his way to viewing dock C-3. He'd been on the station for some time, of course, and he knew that it was the dock looking out over the storage hangar bay. Guess that new ship must've finally found an owner. As he arrived at the viewing dock, Steve spotted a young woman, perhaps about five years younger than him from what he could guess. As he walked into the room, he gently put his toolbox down and said "I assume you're the one who sent the ad, and captain of this vessel? I'm surprised, it's been in storage for some time. My name is Steve Artis, and I'd like to serve aboard this ship as an engineer."

The fifteen minutes were not even up on the ad yet, and Apple DeBaker could already say she has met some unique individuals from her offer. Within the first five minutes, she has either rejected or told a handful of people that she would consider hiring them. She understood that she only had forty eight hours to get a crew assembled and ready to take off, but she was one to keep with her gut instinct. Most of the people that showed up seemed to not know anything about a spaceship or they knew a little and pulled the rest out of their ass. This caused a decent amount of time to pass.

Another stranger approached, she glanced at them with serious eyes and a friendly expression. In her thoughts, she could say she liked this one just by the looks of him. As he stated that he wanted to be the engineer, she smiled since he was actually the only ‘engineer’ to pop up with a toolbox as if he was ready to work.
This gave the impression he was ready to work and she repositioned herself so her feet were not up on the table. With a gentle voice she introduced herself, “Hello, Mr.Artis. I am Captain DeBaker, pleased to meet you.” She seemed sincere when it came to talking with this individual, Steve Artis.

Chuckling when he stated that he would like to serve aboard the ship as the engineer, she had a sarcastic comment, “You are the only engineer to actually bring a toolbox and introduce yourself, so I would be foolish not to accept.” Yes, her words were sarcastic, but they seemed endearing as well as if she would really appreciate Steve Artis being a part of the crew. Anybody that would know Apple DeBaker for more than a few hours could tell she had a hard time expressing one emotion at a time, she was human, and she could even consider herself complex at times.

“Welcome Aboard.” Apple understood her words might not be fully clear, so she cleared it up by welcoming him into the crew.

@jorcool

*Corrections Made*

April had just finished up a few odd jobs around the station when she looked up at the screens to check if there were any other job postings. "Interesting, crew needed. Been a hot minute since I have done any work on an actual ship." She wasn't talking to anyone in particular, mostly to herself out loud. Packing up her stuff she headed to the area specified on the screen. She had to double check it a few times, and ask for directions. She was still getting used to the layout of the station. Eventually she managed to make her way to the viewing dock where she spotted who she assumed was the one who put out the add. She also spotted a rival of hers looking rather dejected.

"What's the matter Sanders, you get rejected? Too bad." She teased the man. In civilian settings the two were pretty friendly with each other but when it came to jobs there was some fierce competition. Though everyone knew April was the better of the two. The male shoved her to the side a bit, more as a joke than anything else and wished her good luck leaving with a wink. April then approached the woman whom she assumed was the captain.

"April Reyes, here to take that mechanic job. Trust me, I was born to do this. Well, not this specifically but I am the best damn mechanic on this station so, it would be silly not to hire me." She ended her little humble brag with a wink. Was she full of herself, yes, yes she was. But she wasn't bluffing, she was up there in terms of quality, anybody worth there salt knew the name Reyes. "Also I gotta get off the damn rock." She added with a chuckle while she fiddled with the wrench she had never put back in her belt.

Dalkalo sat in a corner of the Twilight Horizon. He sat on edge, twitching, at the sight of the door every time it opened. He would periodically plug and unplug a tube attached to his mask so that he could drink it. He had scanned everyone in the room, countless times. His anxiety rising nearly blowing the top of his skull off.

‘Are you real? Are you?’ He asked a man sitting across from him.
‘Of course I am,’ he replied lowly, ‘I am you.’

Dalkalo grabbed his head in agonizing pain before slamming it onto the table. He sighed deeply before fumbling with his drinking tube only to stop when he realized his PDA lit up. A new advertisement appeared, requesting a crew, but more importantly a Navigator. He twitched only a quick spasm before paying for his drink through his PDA.

Dalkalo shot to his feet and rushed out of the Twilight Horizon. Any chance to escape this anxiety and chance to leave the populated station, he would take. Over the past three months while he was stranded on the station, he made note of every side path available. He knew that taking the elevator to the hangar would be unpredictable and it was possible for him to get trapped inside with a group of people.

He shuttered at the thought, as he quickly moved through the darkness of the underworld making it to a maintenance stairwell. Ten flights up, he was at the corridor leading to the hangars. He checked his PDA, 'C-3'. Dalkalo saw too many people to count walking out of the C-3 Viewing Room. He slowed his pace as he heard, "welcome aboard."

He stopped at the door, his heart pounding in his chest, his breathing becoming noticeably louder as his suit slightly malfunctioned. Another person walked past him, that he turned his head to. He took a deep breath and following them in stopping in the threshold coughing violently.

His anxiety seemed to disappear as it was replaced with confidence. Only two people stood in the room, the Captain and someone else, along with the third person he had been following. He raised his hand in a form of greeting.

***After April's and Captain DeBakers Dialogue Exchange***

"KRRZRZKRZZZKR," Dalkalo's mask grinded out. He immediately stopped, punching his speaker which replied with a loud screech. He quickly removed a three pronged tool stabbing it into the speaker snapping it free from it's perch.

"My apologies, Captain," he said with a short bow to Captain DeBaker, "I am Dalkalo, Ace Navigator from the ISF University. I am a prior inhabitant of "ExoDaus Plageus," which explains my suit. I know I am a far more qualified Navigator on this station, than anyone else you may meet today."

He placed his arms behind his back, in a resting position, "I will not fail to impress you."

After the sarcastic remark given to Mr.Artis, Apple DeBaker’s attention was taken away by a female that introduced herself as a mechanic. An engineer and mechanic already running up to bat, she smiled from both of them showing up. When the stranger spoke more and more, Captain DeBaker couldn’t help but almost laugh.

“You’re a cocky one!” She seemed into the attitude and arua that the other was projecting in the room, she liked it, and she could give it right back from time to time. Shaking her head when the comment of, ‘it would be silly not to fire me’ was stating.
There was not much choice and the individual that came before the girl as a mechanic was not a very promising one or somebody that would fit into such a crew. A crew of sarcastic, cocky, and confident individuals that wanted to get off this trash rock, “I’ll take your bet on that, Miss April Reyes.” Apple’s voice was confident and somewhat challenging, “Now I have high hopes and standards for you.” A teasing tone came out with a smirk to follow.

Stretching and leaning back in the chair, Captain DeBaker acted as if she had to think about something for a moment, “Don’t we all?” Questioning when it came to wanting to get off this rock which the captain would barely consider it a space station -- It was ancient in a sense, “Welcome Aboard, Miss April Reyes. I hope we can get you off this rock.” Captain DeBaker smiled.

__Approaching scene of Dalkalo__

Upon watching the individual come into the picture and apologizing, her eyes were somewhat wide at the whole scene that played out. She wanted to ask a few questions, but she knew it might come off too blunt and decided to hold her tongue for the time being; she would ask when they got more acquainted.

When the individual was vocalizing his title, degree, and experience, Captain DeBaker nodded her head with agreement. She was enjoying that this individual was from an academy, but she could say in a sense academy or not -- Going through such a course didn’t make you a good navigator.
Raising a brow when he bowed, formal… interesting, she thought while letting her eyes lift with his straightening, “I hope you do not fail to impress me especially with such a background, welcome aboard Mr. Dalkalo.” She was enjoying the cockiness from everyone. A Captain wanted a crew that knew what they were doing and knew they were good at doing it.

@LostDestiny@Smiter19

April smiled when the Captain accepted her as the ship's mechanic. She turned to the door and yelled quite loudly "Suck it Sanders, I am out of here." Not really knowing if the man was still close enough to hear her. "Anyway, I won't let you down you can count on that." She hadn't yet noticed the other individual that had entered after her. How she hadn't noticed him until he spoke confused her. He was an odd individual to say the least. She scurried to the side beside the other man who was also here, seeming to have also taken a position on this ship. Though she didn't say anything not wanting to draw attention away from the strange person speaking. She crinkled her nose a bit, concerned that she would be stuck on a ship with a stuffy academy man. At least they would be working on different parts of the ship. Not like she knew much about the other man who had entered before her either.

@Zora

Ryker puffed on the cigarette dangling from his lips, and blew smoke thru his nose, "This must be the place."
"What the hell did I get myself into?"
Taking one last puff, he flicked the cig against the door,before stepping inside.
After walking around like a lost puppy, he stumbled upon, what he believed must be the bathroom.
"Nope, not what I'm looking for."
Ryker left the room, looking for the captain's quarters.
He passed by a few people, but kept a straight, stern face, not a glance or greeting.
Finally reaching the captain's quarters, he watched a loud mouth girl exit the room, telling someone to suck it.
Hell, maybe I'll fit in well with these losers.
Clearing his throat,he stepped inside the room.
"Excuse me ma'am, I'm looking for Captain Debaker."
He had no clue that he was checking out the Captain's assets, nor that he spoke to her.
Not one to be patient, he tapped his foot repeatedly on the floor before saying,
""Hey honey, can ya tell the Captain, that Carl Ryker is here, he's expecting me."
" I'm the new security. smirked Ryker.

@Zora

“Thank you, Captain,” Dalkalo slightly bowed again before turning to his new comrades. He eyed them up and down before taking a place beside them. Three crewman, no pilot yet. That’s a first. Usually they are the first ones to take jobs considering how eager they are to get going.

"Hey honey, can ya tell the Captain, that Carl Ryker is here, he's expecting me. I'm the new security.” Dalkalo heard coming from the doorway. Ryker stood there with his foot tapping.

“Maybe you should be more professional,” he said stepping towards Ryker, “or is that how your type work? Shoot first ask questions later? A professional would recognize their captain when speaking to them.”

Captain DeBaker gave Dalkalo a warm smile, she was glad that so many different individuals showed up to try and get aboard this ghost ship. Anybody would notice the out of place crew, they all had their stereotypical standout careers somewhere on them. Everyone was accounted for except a pilot and DeBaker looked around, hoping somebody in the more than not crowded room would step up and prove that they were a worthy pilot, “I’m glad to hear.” She gave April a smile.

Glancing over her shoulder towards the crew, she felt like it was going to be a trip finding a pilot now. Was that a bad thing? No, not at all. It was just going to delay and maybe cause some stress for Apple DeBaker; she was on a time limit after all.

Noticing Dalkalo and another that introduced themselves as Carl Ryker, they seemed to know each other, and she wasn’t getting the best vibe from in between the two. On average most people were sarcastic and quick with words even if they were not the best, Carl Ryker was definitely assuming that Apple DeBaker was her father or a male. Not the first time this has happened and it wouldn’t be the last time.

She stood up for this one and smiled at Carl Ryker, “Can a Captain not be a woman?” She raised a brow with a smirk on her face. She wanted to see how the individual would react, she liked to research people when it came to how they were. Her arms were crossed, naturally, she kept a distance from most even if she considered them a friend.

@LostDestiny
@HEAVY METAL
@Smiter19

@Zora
Ryker swallowed hard, 'oh boy, I really stuck my foot in it this time
Instantly, the soldier in him took ahold of the situation, he stood erect and saluted "Begging the Captain's forgiveness, ma'am, sir."
"Yes ma'am, I didn't think....straight, being locked up in a small cell, one forgets his duties, until reminded."
Ryker had feeling, he was digging the hole deeper, so he just stood there, thinking of what to say without causing further damage to his new job
"Ryker reporting for duty, ma'am. "
He would deal with Dalkalo when he saw him again, of all the dirtiest damn luck to be stationed with that son of a bitch.
Out of one hole, and into another, now I know how Alice felt.
Ryker snapped to attention and waited for the Captain's response.

Over the years, Apple DeBaker learned to not be offended when people assumed she was a male captain. At first she minded somewhat, but who she was now could care less or at least poke some fun about it. Chuckling when the male, Ryker, swallowed hard and instantly begged for forgiveness.

His reaction caused her to wave her hand in a sense of saying, it doesn’t actually matter, but she seemed to keep that warm smile on her face. A captain that still had positivity written over her; that’s how most could tell a captain was young, inexperienced, or both.

“You’re completely fine. I could care less about what you refer to me as, though I do prefer my name or title Captain.” She added her preferences, but she has been called so many different things over the years that a pronoun wasn’t going to hurt.

Raising a brow when the individual stated they were reporting for duty, she leaned on her hip, “What duty are you reporting for? Are you asking to come aboard as crew?” Apple questioned while staring right into the man’s eyes. She was trying to figure him out, he seemed to be sometype of trained individual or at least thought he was.
Saluting and switching attitude right away when it came to who was in charge and everything, Ryker was appearing military to the young captain.

@HEAVY METAL

@Zora@HEAVY METAL

“I’m sure he would want to come aboard, Captain,” Dalkalo said crossing his arms, “not everyday you run into one of the Secfo keeping us trapped on our planet. What was it you secfo’s said, ‘a hazard to life itself.’ Can only imagine what he did, that landed him in prison.” Dalkalo chuckled.

“Where’d I last see you,” he said leaning towards Ryker, “was it before you were arrested,” he coughed, “never been myself.”

@Smiter19@HEAVY METAL

The sudden tension made April shift on her feet awkwardly. "Now now, no need for hostility from either party? Right? I am sure whatever he did he served his time for and has come out a new man. Maybe." Clearly these two men knew each other but it wasn't in a friendly capacity, or even a competitive one. At the very least the strange person who had taken a job as there Navigator had some level of dislike or distrust for this other person. She had no clue what the history was, and if she was being frank she didn't care. "Maybe you should let the man speak for himself instead of letting your biases cloud the judgement of others." This statement was almost a stark contrast to her usually bubbly behavior but she didn't like when others tried to influence how people felt about a person that wasn't them. Still despite her tone she shifted on her feet, she knew she had butted into something that was probably not her concern, but she had no filter and tended to say things out loud before thinking about them.

@Zora@LostDestiny@HEAVY METAL

“Yes…” Dalkalo said pointing his glaring eyes to April, “it is wrong of me, to be annoyed over ten years of oppression.” He tapped the tanks hanging tightly to his back. Taking a breath in.

He started mumbling to himself, before telling April, “Sorry. Got a little sucked into the moment there. Nothing against you.” He pressed a button on his wrist turning a few lights off on his mask, “I’m going to go fix my suit.”

Dalkalo walked to a seat viewing off into the hangar. He used the same three pronged tool to fix the speaker amplifier he had removed. He fixed his eyes on three people staring at him. All standing opposite of April, Steve, and DeBaker. Shadows of people they once were.

‘Not real,’ he murmured to himself, ‘at least not anymore.’ The lights on his mask came back to life as he reinstalled his module. The shadows disappeared out og sight, and out of mind, at least for the time being.

Ryker removed an envelope from inside his pocket,"This should explain everything, it's from General Patterson."
Ryker knew these tactics of Dalkalo were just to bait him in, so he'd lose his cool, and retaliate.
He kept his composure, letting the fool run his mouth, because Ryker knew, sometime, and somewhere, they would be by themselves on the ship, and then, and only then, would Ryker shut the man's mouth permanently.
"Ma'am, Captain I mean, this is my second chance, and only chance to dig myself out of the hole, I was in before coming here."
" I am what this ship needs, and you have my word, I will not fail you or the crew."

@Zora@Smiter19

Raising a brow while the other began to talk, Dalkalo, seemed to be very blunt and straightforward when it came to how he felt about Ryker. Rolling her eyes, everyone seemed to not mind each other at all or be at each other's throats; an average stance in a crew.

April spoke up and seemed to be trying to get the situation to die down between the two men. Apple DeBaker parted her lips and reached for Dalkalo for a second while he walked away. She seemed to want to comfort him or figure out the situation some more, but she instantly crossed her arms and gave Ryker a glare.

“General Patterson?” Question in a tone of voice that showed she might not even care for the title nor the name. Grabbing the envelope without a second thought, she began to open it, and glanced up at Ryker while she did.

Her expression seemed to stay neutral when Ryker spoke and she read the letter. The whole conflict between Dalkalo and Ryker was an interesting one, but she didn’t want any terrible incidents happening between crewmates.

“In all honesty, Mr.Ryker. I could care less what this letter has to say and I can say that the ship probably doesn’t need you.” Speaking firmly when it came to the man. She wasn’t being disrespectful nor trying to be rude, but she was trying to be realistic in this sense, “If you have one chance here, you have one chance on this ship, Mr.Ryker. I hope you understand that. I do not want any accidents happening between you or Mr.Dalkalo; there will be consequences if there is.” Captain DeBaker was hoping her words would make it clear that she was not going to tolerate heavy occurrences.

Most would probably shew the man away, but she wasn't too cold in the heart.“One chance, Mr.Ryker.” Apple DeBaker added emphasis on her stance of where Ryker would be in her mind. She did not want any foul play and she would keep an eye on both Ryker and Dalkalo from now on. In all honesty, DeBakers approach was rough and cold, but she did not have any hard feelings towards Ryker; she just wanted to make herself clear to him.

After making herself clear, she began to fold the envelope and it's content into her pocket. She would keep it for now, and she went back to sit on the chair she was originally on. The woman was in need of a pilot, but she could honestly try and get the ship out of impound. Would they let her? Who knows till she tries.

@HEAVY METAL
@Smiter19
@LostDestiny