A few hours ago...
Dark Matter Bar
The Dark Matter bar, A rather repulsive and polluted environment befitting the polluted atmosphere of the city block and the world with it. Alcohol, soot, and smaug could be felt all over the place; while this place had all the makings of your typical late night bar, it seemed to be missing a particular factor...the alcoholics that would be enjoying happy hour on any other planet at this time of night. Instead the only thing filling up the bar space were a bunch of robots, some blantantly servant, waitress, and bartender bots, but some were sitting down in the bar, as if mimicking common customers of the establishment. Perhaps they were like that so as to imitate activity so that the more recent, more organic and/or sapient guests would believe it to be more active and open than it really was.
Inside this place, way in the back beside a window that looked out to a dockyard behind it, was a boy, no more than 18 or 19 by the looks of it, rather scrawny in muscular stature, and seemed to be wearing fashion that's...both outdated and unwise in a futuristic time like this. A red velvet overcoat over some black jeans, a white cloth shirt, and even an olden-style captain's hat on his head to boot. He doesn't say anything to you upon arriving, not even seemingly aware of your arrival, instead seemingly focused - almost in awe - on the straw that he was spinning like a top in a shot glass.
Whether by going straight towards him, or getting a drink and maybe some food first, he waits patiently for you to arrive regardless. Only when you are close does look up towards you, away from the spinning straw in his glass, but still says nothing. He then tilts his head towards the window, as if to say for you to look out it. What you find there would likely be as unexpected to you as the boy sitting there.
A giant, nay colossal ship that seemed to fill up most of the docking area by itself was just outside that area, but it was not like any ordinary ship, not because it was somehow advanced, but because it was somehow...outdated. It looked like a massive sailing ship from Earth's ancient times, right down to having a jolly roger hoisted atop its back sail, that of what appeared to be a black flag comprised only of a white circle protruding white spikes outwards as if to impersonate the coronal filaments of a total solar eclipse. It even seemed to be made out of wood with the exception of several metal tubes that seemed to disturb the otherwise classic design into a more steampunk one; it's a wonder how a ship like that can stand the gravitational pressure, or rather lackthereof of outer space. You look over at the side of the ship and see a name burned into its wood.
"...Aye, Nevermind the looks nor let it fool you, matey. Tis but a disguise, a shell for protection as well as intimidation. It simply did not feel right whatsoever to have me ship look anything less than the genuine article, a symbol for which we all should stand for. Course, a sea of black and diamonds is a treacherous thing to sail through on a ship of log and iron. Rockets may help it fly above the waters and lands alike but the moment it splashes the stars beyond, it wouldn't be long til sinks to an abyssal grave, and sinking up there's a million times worse than sinking down here...Savvy? ...Here's the real shipception, lad/lass. Not quite me style, but it's the only kind that can sail those black waters, so I can't complain." The boy said to the visitor, speaking in a rather over-the-top british accent to the point of pretentiousness. As he spoke, he held up a hologram device and placed it on the center of the table, activating it to show a hologram of the supposed REAL ship inside that wooden shell, clearly smaller and more reasonable for space-faring in design than the one out there by the docks. ...Though clearly still as unsubtle in its design as its supposed shell, something that might need to be worked on at a later date.
"This is the ship that poster you saw was for. Many came to this planet, but only a select few of you will be able to make it to this Bar. You're one of the lucky ones that me boy Arms filtered out. Seems at least he saw your potential. ...Happy you could come here, I can just tell by looking at you that the poster I distributed was well worth it. ...Oh it's no joke...Well, the name itself is. I had to use a different name to keep the marines and admirals from sailing onto me case. B. Morgan's the name of a poor pirate Captain that's sure to have a bunch of officers knocking on his door right about now. Shame how easy it is to get accused of crimes you don't commit in this galaxy, ain't it? My name is Arron Marshal Falcon, the Captain of the ship you came to hop onto." The boy, Arron, then said. It would be at this time that some of you may think of this as some sort of joke, or a prank. This kid? This pretentious, clearly inexperienced brat, is the Captain you were about to sign yourself to serving? Those who thought all of this as ridiculous would likely be about to leave, but then notice that the robots in this place started acting strange and blocking the door, keeping them from leaving.
"Now now, is that anyway to treat your employer, just walk out on him the moment you notice something off about him? ...Well, I suggest you don't bother lad/lass, this place has quite a strict curfew to it that is currently in effect, and has been for about an hour now. We managed to trick the system to get you in here; getting you out, ...wee bit more difficult. Cameras and guards are everywhere out there, and they will have you arrested or shot the second you step into their sights. After all, a little birdy told them some rumor about a secret piracy ring going on around this city block, ...don't know why they'd possibly believe such a ridiculous story. I'm betting you're likely an outsider of this planet. So the moment they find out you're not part of their registrations, you get L. Prime's police force hunting you down and arresting you for curfew violation and Conspiracy. ...What's that? Explain what's going on? Sre, you can try that, but I don't think they'll believe you...If only you had evidence to prove you came here for legal reasons, oh hold on a second, you did...before you burned it to ashes. ...I know you came here for pirate reasons, which is specifically why me first mate filtered you and others like you, out of all the folk that came a knockin'. You can have them arrest me and me first mate, but they won't be able to catch us, and even if they did, you'd still be in their crosshairs along with us; they're a ruthless bunch, those Lancelot police. From the moment you stepped inside this bar, whatever bridge to a peaceful, law-abiding life, went up in smoke. ...Amazing, isn't it? A piece of legal paper, a right place at a right time, and the choice to follow these things, is all it takes to ruin lives. You likely came here knowing that, but all the same: ...Sorry bout that, matey." Arron explained to them. It would be clear now that this child, still as pretentious and obnoxious as he seems, had more to him than one would think. He WAS the one who somehow got an ad for piracy "legally" distributed across the many sectors and systems of the empire. He's clearly implying that he set this whole situation up in such a way that whoever walks in that door like you did would be faced with an ultimatum: Stay and listen, or leave and be labeled a wanted criminal, hunted down the moment you take that first step outside.
He's a still wack-job, and clearly mentally disturbed at that. But it's now clear that, at the very least, he knows what he's doing.
"You probably already figured this out, but I called out as many landlubbers as possible for a job offer...To join me on this ship, be a part of me crew, and take a share of all the loot we nab together. If you refuse, that's fine. ...You still gotta get onboard me ship so that I can smuggle you off the planet to a safer one, but I can guarantee you, you will be missing out on the many things we can plunder together, things that might lead you and others like you to a better life. You can accept my offer by answering a simple question: Why are you here? ...Hmm, Perhaps that's a bit too bland a question though. Let me put this another way: You came here knowing that you are being enlisted to be a terror of the black sea, a pirate. That tells me you came here with something you wish to gain. What is that something? What are you assuming you are going to get out of this...what is it you WANT to get out of this?" Arron asked. After you answer his question, almost immediately, you feel a thin plastic ring pressed against your forehead. It seems Arron took his straw out of the shot glass and has placed it on your forehead, looking through it like a microscope.
When asked what he's doing...
"Checking to see if you're lying...Me straw's a lie detector. Relax while I look into your brain, or...whatever you have that substitutes a brain." He answered. If one didn't already think him bloody insane before this point, one probably would now. Yet if you were lying about your answer, he certainly did detect it like he claimed. Was there something in the straw that could do this, or...was it some kind of ability from the boy himself? Either way, within seconds, he pulled the straw away and put it back in the glass. If you were lying he'd simply ask you to try again and answering honestly this time. But if you were telling the truth...
"Welp, looks like you're telling the truth. Honestly, as long as it was honest, it really doesn't matter to me what your answer was, matey. I need as many hands on me deck as I can get, need they be paragons or scoundrels. ...We don't have a lot of time, so let's cut to the chase: Me Ship is currently run by an army of robotic servants, Mites as we call them. Well, robot might be a tad a stretch, they're more like a swarm of little metal bugs really. They're currently hacking into those robots over there so as to keep them from mouthing a word of what happens here. The Problem is they're basic-AI drones; they understand commands given to them, but don't think like living creatures or even advanced AIs. In trying situations, they're fish without water, wiggling desperately til they die; they're not exactly combat ready for that same reason. Me ship needs more sapient folk like you and me in order to run it properly. I originally had such a crew but...they're no longer with us. Me an' Arms are the last ones left, and we can't run a ship that big with just two people, mites or no mites. I managed to get here because of my own experience as a Pilot, but the engines are...well, they're shot. I barely managed to get this thing here. It's a good engine that's designed for combat, but I'm no engineer and Arms can't do much on his own. All it needs is a few more engineers to lead the mites and fix it up, and it should be fine until we get to a station for a proper repair. I also have need of a Pilot - I frankly prefer to take command rather than fly the ship m'self - among other positions that need to be filled. You are here because Arms seems to have decreed you able to do one of the jobs we need. I'm afraid anymore questions will have to wait for later though. I've already 'arranged' for our first plunder, along with this one-on-one approach of interviewing I'm doing for everyone who walks in that door. Any ship or device you landed here with has already been taken by Arms and the Mites aboard me ship's Cargo Bay, so don't you worry about leaving anything behind. ...All that said, since you answered my question. I welcome you aboard. I'll be staying here until Arms confirms that everyone is present and accounted for, so get on board without me." Arron explained with a smile. As you do as you're told in this...bizzare situation, Arron stops you once, and asks you a question, upon answering, he nods and waves for you to go to the ship and wait for them.
The Question?
"Ah, how rude of me not to ask...What's your name?"
(For your flashback scenes, simply give your first impression, and your answer to both of his questions. If you want to add anymore details, you're free to do so.)
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Present Time
Typhon - Bridge
Once everyone shown their acceptance and reasoning to Arron, and reported to the bridge as told, Arron himself walked into the Bridge with the Alori Gila Monster Arms following behind him as he hops, quite literally into the chair in the center of the Bridge. As if they weren't even there, he simply took a minute or so to relax on the chair giving a sigh of refreshment, before he leaned to face forward towards his new crew. A bunch of tiny humanoid red robots, the Captain's "Mites", running around and doing as they are tasked as Arron began to spoke.
"Arr... Everyone present and accounted for...? Good. Welcome aboard me ship, please mind the mess everywhere, She's had her issues, and the mites need an update on their chore procedure. So, there's no sense of telling you what you're here for, so let's skip the occupational introduction to piracy, and get straight to our current situation for...everyone who hasn't been told this already, meaning Arms and me'self are the only ones excluded. There's a Merchant ship up in the atmosphere waiting for us to "escort" them to safety after I warned them about Pirates coming to steal his everything. ...I neglected to mention that we are the pirates in question, but it doesn't really matter. They'll be waiting for us to follow suit and sail away with them to safer grounds. However, in their paranoia they may leave without us if we hurry up to meet them. So I won't hold you all for too long before we get started. Started on what you ask? ...Most of these new-age lazy-ass landlubbers across the black diamond sea of stars prefer virtual simulations to test your capabilities and wits without that danger to your life. Soldiers of the Empire, planetary police enforcers, even the pirates and mafias these days are all like that. Every virtual test's all programmed, prepared, and never gets that adrenaline of staying alive pumping into ye' veins because all you get by failing is a bloody Game Over Screen. I prefer to do this sort of work with an old-fashioned heart in mind. Real situations, Real quality testing, and more importantly, REAL consequences. I don't want you to show your stuff in a simulation because I don't want some what-if crew that I'm suppose to take word of a computer for the quality of...No offense to Rem. I want you to show your stuff where it matters most of all, in pure genuine reality where success RIDES entirely on your best efforts...Savvy?" Arron explained. He pushed a few buttons on the arm of his chair, making a few holographic screens pop up in front of him flipping them around so that everyone else can see them.
"So consider this your employment field test. As I said before, the Merchant is armed to the bloody teeth with his merchandise, and will fire up his cannons on our scurvy asses the second we start boarding them. But that's not all there is to it... We're violating the Planetary curfew of Lancelot Prime by being here at this time o' night. Normally, visitors aren't allowed to land here on Curfew, and the ones that were visiting are forced to either leave the planet before the curfew is up, or spend their night on the planet. Merchants are an exception, but even their escorts has to be from off the planet and awaiting them there. Fortunately for us, this was a new crew of Rookie merchants unfamiliar with Lancelot Prime's rules, so my little white lie drilled right into their skulls without resistance, though how rookies managed to get the kind of guns they did is beyond me. In any case, what I told you all about the strict ideals of this world applies to this ship as well. Oh, but you don't have to worry, because they won't arrest us if we fail...mostly because in about...oh...2 minutes or so, they'll be given orders straight from L. Prime's governor to shoot us dead the moment we're in their sights. ...Arms was getting hungry, so I arranged to invite the Governor's beloved pet for dinner. Said pet should be heading straight for the Governor's desk in a box as we speak...a wee-bit skinnier then when said governor last saw him, and with a picture of this very ship to remember us by. So, we're about to be on L Prime's most wanted list very soon. What's more of a problem that I sort of forgot to mention to you all: The Hyperdrive should be fine, but the engine has seen better days. It endured some battle damage; the mites are trying to maintain it, but there's only so much the drones are able to do without more...educated minds guiding them. ...In other words, from the second we set sail from L. Prime, We are inches from the Maw of Davy Jone's Locker! Your test is to pull us OUT of that ever gaping abyss, and Sail to calmer seas with Merchant's treasures in tow! We succeed and you shall prove to be the greatest crew I could ever hope to sail with. Fail and we ALL walk the plank!" Arron then said, showing a picture of the skeletal remains of the Governor's pet. Arms couldn't help but sigh, pinching the top of his reptilian muzzle as Arron started arranging hologram screens with the pictures of everyone on board. As Arron organized those pictures, Arms stepped up from behind Arron and looked at everyone.
"For those of you who couldn't understand a damn thing our Captain just said with all that olden lingo rambling, here's a more basic translation: Our engines are damaged, our merchant targets are going to defend themselves from us, and the Planetary imperials will want us dead the second we show our face. In other words, the moment this ship starts flying, we're fucked. We'll be put into a very bad situation, and your job is to get us all out of it in one piece with what we pillaged in tow. We get through this: you're hired. You fail: we all die." Said the Gila Monster Alori, as Arron finishes organizing the crew to their specific jobs.
"...That's exactly what I just said! ...Anyways, mateys, I've had the lot of you scanned and organized into your roles on this ship, based on your qualities and backgrounds. Each set or single one of you will each have a task. Those who aren't given specific jobs will serve as the Boarding party, and miscellanious deckhands whenever we're not doing any missions. All of your objectives are simple enough: Storm, Psi, and Spots, the Boarding party, are to board the Merchant Ship and take every bit of loot off them that you can find. In addition, if possible, I want you to capture and bring back the crew of that ship to this one alive. Cliff, Newt, and Spa, you guys are to join the Boarding party take whatever medical supply and food you feel you need to properly do your jobs. The Boarding party's secondary objective is to escort and safeguard them while they do this. Star, and Snow will be in the Engine room of the ship, doing whatever they have to to fix the Engine, or at least make sure it doesn't blow up in your faces before the day is done. Rem, as our computers expert, will be here on the bridge and the back of the ship with the other engineers updating and keepin' em comps maintained as the skirmishes start. The Mites will help the engineers and Rem both in maintenance, but make sure you give them specific orders of what to do; they're not capable of thinking outside the box like you three are. Serve and Grouch...-sigh-..."Reave", are to take control of the two Computers behind you all on both sides of the cockpit, with Wing in the center area to evade any and all attacks that'll be thrown at us." Arron explained to them, pointing to each member when saying their nicknames so as to tell them that those names are referring to them. He then looked at Arms who nodded back, extending his hands outward as a light turned on in the palms of both hands, combining together to form a holographic replication of the Ship.
"This ship has eighteen revolving pulse cannon barrels, three barrels on six turrets rotating on three rings, two turrets per ring. Normally the rings rotate the turrets around and the turrets themselves can rotate, so that we can fire from all directions. However, they're currently positioned to fire off the sides of the outer shell's port and starboard area and are locked in place, so there's no need to worry about advance movement controls on the guns for now. Instead you have to work together with Icarus, and Icarus with you, since they're locked to the sides of the ship and so can only fired in their respective directions. Therefore, Icarus will have to move the ship into positions where the cannons can be fired from the left and right of the ship. Tserv will take the left half, and Reaver will take the right. I've designed the OS on the gun programs myself, the push of a button can fire a single turret. Nine buttons for nine turrets, organized from back to front. (Meaning: Left-to-right for the left side and right-to-left for the right side.) Once we're in a position where we can unlock movement controls I'll guide you both through that, but for now, just focus on the nine buttons in front of you. The three of you will have to work together if you want to get anything blown up as things are. As for you, Icarus, much to the Captain's...arrogance, the pilot area consists of two step panels for acceleration and breaks, two control panels for the more advanced commands such as the use of the hyperdrive...and that big wheel beside the panels for steering the ship. ...Thankfully the Captain explained to me how it works, and its...disturbingly simple. Spin the wheel in a direction to make the ship go that direction, and the more you spin, the harder the turn. Apparently it's designed for maneuverability." Arms explained to the three.
"This is normally the part where I ask if you have any questions. But given our current predicament, we don't have much time left. We don't leave soon, and the planetary forces will likely find this ship and kill everyone in it. So any questions you have for me and Arms, I suggest saving for later, or answering on your own as we go about this. With that, Introductions are over mateys. The Engineering room's in the back of the ship, follow the signs, you can't miss it. The Boarding area's the way you came into the ship from. Don't worry about room arrangements for now, your stuff's been escorted to the cargo area and will stay there until this whole thing is said and done. It'll all burn and freeze along with us if we fail anyways. Cliff, Spa, Newt, and Boarding Party, get to the Boarding area. Engineers move to the Engine room, and the Compop, Gunners, and Pilot stays here to get the cannons online, and the rest of the computers operational. The Mite over there will fly us up to the Merchant ship, then will give the wheel over to Wing. Arms will be heading out with the Boarding party onto the Merchant's ship, but he'll keep his comm live to help all of ya on the bridge." Arron said. As soon as he finished, he gave a nod to the Mite who has the wheel, and the ship started to move out of the docks, curving upwards towards the skies and rocketing towards the merchant ship in question. As if on cue, the alarms would be heard blaring across the entirity of Lancelot Prime, waking up several factory workers, and making active the planetary forces.
They got closer and closer to the Merchant ship until eventually getting close enough to their side. While they were getting ready then to take off, suddenly both ships would see laser fire from the planet, as fighters started climbing up the atmosphere to meet them.
"Right on Schedule..." Arron thought. While everyone is likely distressed from getting fired on, the captain simply smiled as he sat back pressed his hands into a ball in front of his face.
"Alright everyone, Get into positions now!" He yelled. With the slamming of his fist on to the arm of his chair, the side rear of the Typhon's outer shell opened up, revealing a giant tube of some sorts that shot itself onto the door of the merchant ship, an electrical field then pulsates through the tube from the Typhon's end to the opposite end, causing the door on the Merchant's side of the connection to malfunction and open up. From inside the tube, as the electrical pulse disappeared to make it safe for the Boarding party to enter, you could hear loud voices from the other side of the merchant ship's door, as the door seems to glitch out, trying to close but ultimately failing every time. The merchant ship immediately began to fire on the Typhon, but the wood on the outer shell was surprisingly durable. As soon as the Boarding party moves into the merchant ship, however, the door closes and the tube disconnects, reeling back into the Typhon and allowing for Icarus to freely move the ship.
"Alright, this is it. Show me what you've got mateys...THE ECLIPSE PIRATES SHALL RIDE AGAIN!" Arron yelled excitedly.
Dark Matter Bar
The Dark Matter bar, A rather repulsive and polluted environment befitting the polluted atmosphere of the city block and the world with it. Alcohol, soot, and smaug could be felt all over the place; while this place had all the makings of your typical late night bar, it seemed to be missing a particular factor...the alcoholics that would be enjoying happy hour on any other planet at this time of night. Instead the only thing filling up the bar space were a bunch of robots, some blantantly servant, waitress, and bartender bots, but some were sitting down in the bar, as if mimicking common customers of the establishment. Perhaps they were like that so as to imitate activity so that the more recent, more organic and/or sapient guests would believe it to be more active and open than it really was.
Inside this place, way in the back beside a window that looked out to a dockyard behind it, was a boy, no more than 18 or 19 by the looks of it, rather scrawny in muscular stature, and seemed to be wearing fashion that's...both outdated and unwise in a futuristic time like this. A red velvet overcoat over some black jeans, a white cloth shirt, and even an olden-style captain's hat on his head to boot. He doesn't say anything to you upon arriving, not even seemingly aware of your arrival, instead seemingly focused - almost in awe - on the straw that he was spinning like a top in a shot glass.
Whether by going straight towards him, or getting a drink and maybe some food first, he waits patiently for you to arrive regardless. Only when you are close does look up towards you, away from the spinning straw in his glass, but still says nothing. He then tilts his head towards the window, as if to say for you to look out it. What you find there would likely be as unexpected to you as the boy sitting there.
A giant, nay colossal ship that seemed to fill up most of the docking area by itself was just outside that area, but it was not like any ordinary ship, not because it was somehow advanced, but because it was somehow...outdated. It looked like a massive sailing ship from Earth's ancient times, right down to having a jolly roger hoisted atop its back sail, that of what appeared to be a black flag comprised only of a white circle protruding white spikes outwards as if to impersonate the coronal filaments of a total solar eclipse. It even seemed to be made out of wood with the exception of several metal tubes that seemed to disturb the otherwise classic design into a more steampunk one; it's a wonder how a ship like that can stand the gravitational pressure, or rather lackthereof of outer space. You look over at the side of the ship and see a name burned into its wood.
"...Aye, Nevermind the looks nor let it fool you, matey. Tis but a disguise, a shell for protection as well as intimidation. It simply did not feel right whatsoever to have me ship look anything less than the genuine article, a symbol for which we all should stand for. Course, a sea of black and diamonds is a treacherous thing to sail through on a ship of log and iron. Rockets may help it fly above the waters and lands alike but the moment it splashes the stars beyond, it wouldn't be long til sinks to an abyssal grave, and sinking up there's a million times worse than sinking down here...Savvy? ...Here's the real shipception, lad/lass. Not quite me style, but it's the only kind that can sail those black waters, so I can't complain." The boy said to the visitor, speaking in a rather over-the-top british accent to the point of pretentiousness. As he spoke, he held up a hologram device and placed it on the center of the table, activating it to show a hologram of the supposed REAL ship inside that wooden shell, clearly smaller and more reasonable for space-faring in design than the one out there by the docks. ...Though clearly still as unsubtle in its design as its supposed shell, something that might need to be worked on at a later date.
"This is the ship that poster you saw was for. Many came to this planet, but only a select few of you will be able to make it to this Bar. You're one of the lucky ones that me boy Arms filtered out. Seems at least he saw your potential. ...Happy you could come here, I can just tell by looking at you that the poster I distributed was well worth it. ...Oh it's no joke...Well, the name itself is. I had to use a different name to keep the marines and admirals from sailing onto me case. B. Morgan's the name of a poor pirate Captain that's sure to have a bunch of officers knocking on his door right about now. Shame how easy it is to get accused of crimes you don't commit in this galaxy, ain't it? My name is Arron Marshal Falcon, the Captain of the ship you came to hop onto." The boy, Arron, then said. It would be at this time that some of you may think of this as some sort of joke, or a prank. This kid? This pretentious, clearly inexperienced brat, is the Captain you were about to sign yourself to serving? Those who thought all of this as ridiculous would likely be about to leave, but then notice that the robots in this place started acting strange and blocking the door, keeping them from leaving.
"Now now, is that anyway to treat your employer, just walk out on him the moment you notice something off about him? ...Well, I suggest you don't bother lad/lass, this place has quite a strict curfew to it that is currently in effect, and has been for about an hour now. We managed to trick the system to get you in here; getting you out, ...wee bit more difficult. Cameras and guards are everywhere out there, and they will have you arrested or shot the second you step into their sights. After all, a little birdy told them some rumor about a secret piracy ring going on around this city block, ...don't know why they'd possibly believe such a ridiculous story. I'm betting you're likely an outsider of this planet. So the moment they find out you're not part of their registrations, you get L. Prime's police force hunting you down and arresting you for curfew violation and Conspiracy. ...What's that? Explain what's going on? Sre, you can try that, but I don't think they'll believe you...If only you had evidence to prove you came here for legal reasons, oh hold on a second, you did...before you burned it to ashes. ...I know you came here for pirate reasons, which is specifically why me first mate filtered you and others like you, out of all the folk that came a knockin'. You can have them arrest me and me first mate, but they won't be able to catch us, and even if they did, you'd still be in their crosshairs along with us; they're a ruthless bunch, those Lancelot police. From the moment you stepped inside this bar, whatever bridge to a peaceful, law-abiding life, went up in smoke. ...Amazing, isn't it? A piece of legal paper, a right place at a right time, and the choice to follow these things, is all it takes to ruin lives. You likely came here knowing that, but all the same: ...Sorry bout that, matey." Arron explained to them. It would be clear now that this child, still as pretentious and obnoxious as he seems, had more to him than one would think. He WAS the one who somehow got an ad for piracy "legally" distributed across the many sectors and systems of the empire. He's clearly implying that he set this whole situation up in such a way that whoever walks in that door like you did would be faced with an ultimatum: Stay and listen, or leave and be labeled a wanted criminal, hunted down the moment you take that first step outside.
He's a still wack-job, and clearly mentally disturbed at that. But it's now clear that, at the very least, he knows what he's doing.
"You probably already figured this out, but I called out as many landlubbers as possible for a job offer...To join me on this ship, be a part of me crew, and take a share of all the loot we nab together. If you refuse, that's fine. ...You still gotta get onboard me ship so that I can smuggle you off the planet to a safer one, but I can guarantee you, you will be missing out on the many things we can plunder together, things that might lead you and others like you to a better life. You can accept my offer by answering a simple question: Why are you here? ...Hmm, Perhaps that's a bit too bland a question though. Let me put this another way: You came here knowing that you are being enlisted to be a terror of the black sea, a pirate. That tells me you came here with something you wish to gain. What is that something? What are you assuming you are going to get out of this...what is it you WANT to get out of this?" Arron asked. After you answer his question, almost immediately, you feel a thin plastic ring pressed against your forehead. It seems Arron took his straw out of the shot glass and has placed it on your forehead, looking through it like a microscope.
When asked what he's doing...
"Checking to see if you're lying...Me straw's a lie detector. Relax while I look into your brain, or...whatever you have that substitutes a brain." He answered. If one didn't already think him bloody insane before this point, one probably would now. Yet if you were lying about your answer, he certainly did detect it like he claimed. Was there something in the straw that could do this, or...was it some kind of ability from the boy himself? Either way, within seconds, he pulled the straw away and put it back in the glass. If you were lying he'd simply ask you to try again and answering honestly this time. But if you were telling the truth...
"Welp, looks like you're telling the truth. Honestly, as long as it was honest, it really doesn't matter to me what your answer was, matey. I need as many hands on me deck as I can get, need they be paragons or scoundrels. ...We don't have a lot of time, so let's cut to the chase: Me Ship is currently run by an army of robotic servants, Mites as we call them. Well, robot might be a tad a stretch, they're more like a swarm of little metal bugs really. They're currently hacking into those robots over there so as to keep them from mouthing a word of what happens here. The Problem is they're basic-AI drones; they understand commands given to them, but don't think like living creatures or even advanced AIs. In trying situations, they're fish without water, wiggling desperately til they die; they're not exactly combat ready for that same reason. Me ship needs more sapient folk like you and me in order to run it properly. I originally had such a crew but...they're no longer with us. Me an' Arms are the last ones left, and we can't run a ship that big with just two people, mites or no mites. I managed to get here because of my own experience as a Pilot, but the engines are...well, they're shot. I barely managed to get this thing here. It's a good engine that's designed for combat, but I'm no engineer and Arms can't do much on his own. All it needs is a few more engineers to lead the mites and fix it up, and it should be fine until we get to a station for a proper repair. I also have need of a Pilot - I frankly prefer to take command rather than fly the ship m'self - among other positions that need to be filled. You are here because Arms seems to have decreed you able to do one of the jobs we need. I'm afraid anymore questions will have to wait for later though. I've already 'arranged' for our first plunder, along with this one-on-one approach of interviewing I'm doing for everyone who walks in that door. Any ship or device you landed here with has already been taken by Arms and the Mites aboard me ship's Cargo Bay, so don't you worry about leaving anything behind. ...All that said, since you answered my question. I welcome you aboard. I'll be staying here until Arms confirms that everyone is present and accounted for, so get on board without me." Arron explained with a smile. As you do as you're told in this...bizzare situation, Arron stops you once, and asks you a question, upon answering, he nods and waves for you to go to the ship and wait for them.
The Question?
"Ah, how rude of me not to ask...What's your name?"
(For your flashback scenes, simply give your first impression, and your answer to both of his questions. If you want to add anymore details, you're free to do so.)
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Present Time
Typhon - Bridge
Once everyone shown their acceptance and reasoning to Arron, and reported to the bridge as told, Arron himself walked into the Bridge with the Alori Gila Monster Arms following behind him as he hops, quite literally into the chair in the center of the Bridge. As if they weren't even there, he simply took a minute or so to relax on the chair giving a sigh of refreshment, before he leaned to face forward towards his new crew. A bunch of tiny humanoid red robots, the Captain's "Mites", running around and doing as they are tasked as Arron began to spoke.
"Arr... Everyone present and accounted for...? Good. Welcome aboard me ship, please mind the mess everywhere, She's had her issues, and the mites need an update on their chore procedure. So, there's no sense of telling you what you're here for, so let's skip the occupational introduction to piracy, and get straight to our current situation for...everyone who hasn't been told this already, meaning Arms and me'self are the only ones excluded. There's a Merchant ship up in the atmosphere waiting for us to "escort" them to safety after I warned them about Pirates coming to steal his everything. ...I neglected to mention that we are the pirates in question, but it doesn't really matter. They'll be waiting for us to follow suit and sail away with them to safer grounds. However, in their paranoia they may leave without us if we hurry up to meet them. So I won't hold you all for too long before we get started. Started on what you ask? ...Most of these new-age lazy-ass landlubbers across the black diamond sea of stars prefer virtual simulations to test your capabilities and wits without that danger to your life. Soldiers of the Empire, planetary police enforcers, even the pirates and mafias these days are all like that. Every virtual test's all programmed, prepared, and never gets that adrenaline of staying alive pumping into ye' veins because all you get by failing is a bloody Game Over Screen. I prefer to do this sort of work with an old-fashioned heart in mind. Real situations, Real quality testing, and more importantly, REAL consequences. I don't want you to show your stuff in a simulation because I don't want some what-if crew that I'm suppose to take word of a computer for the quality of...No offense to Rem. I want you to show your stuff where it matters most of all, in pure genuine reality where success RIDES entirely on your best efforts...Savvy?" Arron explained. He pushed a few buttons on the arm of his chair, making a few holographic screens pop up in front of him flipping them around so that everyone else can see them.
"So consider this your employment field test. As I said before, the Merchant is armed to the bloody teeth with his merchandise, and will fire up his cannons on our scurvy asses the second we start boarding them. But that's not all there is to it... We're violating the Planetary curfew of Lancelot Prime by being here at this time o' night. Normally, visitors aren't allowed to land here on Curfew, and the ones that were visiting are forced to either leave the planet before the curfew is up, or spend their night on the planet. Merchants are an exception, but even their escorts has to be from off the planet and awaiting them there. Fortunately for us, this was a new crew of Rookie merchants unfamiliar with Lancelot Prime's rules, so my little white lie drilled right into their skulls without resistance, though how rookies managed to get the kind of guns they did is beyond me. In any case, what I told you all about the strict ideals of this world applies to this ship as well. Oh, but you don't have to worry, because they won't arrest us if we fail...mostly because in about...oh...2 minutes or so, they'll be given orders straight from L. Prime's governor to shoot us dead the moment we're in their sights. ...Arms was getting hungry, so I arranged to invite the Governor's beloved pet for dinner. Said pet should be heading straight for the Governor's desk in a box as we speak...a wee-bit skinnier then when said governor last saw him, and with a picture of this very ship to remember us by. So, we're about to be on L Prime's most wanted list very soon. What's more of a problem that I sort of forgot to mention to you all: The Hyperdrive should be fine, but the engine has seen better days. It endured some battle damage; the mites are trying to maintain it, but there's only so much the drones are able to do without more...educated minds guiding them. ...In other words, from the second we set sail from L. Prime, We are inches from the Maw of Davy Jone's Locker! Your test is to pull us OUT of that ever gaping abyss, and Sail to calmer seas with Merchant's treasures in tow! We succeed and you shall prove to be the greatest crew I could ever hope to sail with. Fail and we ALL walk the plank!" Arron then said, showing a picture of the skeletal remains of the Governor's pet. Arms couldn't help but sigh, pinching the top of his reptilian muzzle as Arron started arranging hologram screens with the pictures of everyone on board. As Arron organized those pictures, Arms stepped up from behind Arron and looked at everyone.
"For those of you who couldn't understand a damn thing our Captain just said with all that olden lingo rambling, here's a more basic translation: Our engines are damaged, our merchant targets are going to defend themselves from us, and the Planetary imperials will want us dead the second we show our face. In other words, the moment this ship starts flying, we're fucked. We'll be put into a very bad situation, and your job is to get us all out of it in one piece with what we pillaged in tow. We get through this: you're hired. You fail: we all die." Said the Gila Monster Alori, as Arron finishes organizing the crew to their specific jobs.
"...That's exactly what I just said! ...Anyways, mateys, I've had the lot of you scanned and organized into your roles on this ship, based on your qualities and backgrounds. Each set or single one of you will each have a task. Those who aren't given specific jobs will serve as the Boarding party, and miscellanious deckhands whenever we're not doing any missions. All of your objectives are simple enough: Storm, Psi, and Spots, the Boarding party, are to board the Merchant Ship and take every bit of loot off them that you can find. In addition, if possible, I want you to capture and bring back the crew of that ship to this one alive. Cliff, Newt, and Spa, you guys are to join the Boarding party take whatever medical supply and food you feel you need to properly do your jobs. The Boarding party's secondary objective is to escort and safeguard them while they do this. Star, and Snow will be in the Engine room of the ship, doing whatever they have to to fix the Engine, or at least make sure it doesn't blow up in your faces before the day is done. Rem, as our computers expert, will be here on the bridge and the back of the ship with the other engineers updating and keepin' em comps maintained as the skirmishes start. The Mites will help the engineers and Rem both in maintenance, but make sure you give them specific orders of what to do; they're not capable of thinking outside the box like you three are. Serve and Grouch...-sigh-..."Reave", are to take control of the two Computers behind you all on both sides of the cockpit, with Wing in the center area to evade any and all attacks that'll be thrown at us." Arron explained to them, pointing to each member when saying their nicknames so as to tell them that those names are referring to them. He then looked at Arms who nodded back, extending his hands outward as a light turned on in the palms of both hands, combining together to form a holographic replication of the Ship.
"This ship has eighteen revolving pulse cannon barrels, three barrels on six turrets rotating on three rings, two turrets per ring. Normally the rings rotate the turrets around and the turrets themselves can rotate, so that we can fire from all directions. However, they're currently positioned to fire off the sides of the outer shell's port and starboard area and are locked in place, so there's no need to worry about advance movement controls on the guns for now. Instead you have to work together with Icarus, and Icarus with you, since they're locked to the sides of the ship and so can only fired in their respective directions. Therefore, Icarus will have to move the ship into positions where the cannons can be fired from the left and right of the ship. Tserv will take the left half, and Reaver will take the right. I've designed the OS on the gun programs myself, the push of a button can fire a single turret. Nine buttons for nine turrets, organized from back to front. (Meaning: Left-to-right for the left side and right-to-left for the right side.) Once we're in a position where we can unlock movement controls I'll guide you both through that, but for now, just focus on the nine buttons in front of you. The three of you will have to work together if you want to get anything blown up as things are. As for you, Icarus, much to the Captain's...arrogance, the pilot area consists of two step panels for acceleration and breaks, two control panels for the more advanced commands such as the use of the hyperdrive...and that big wheel beside the panels for steering the ship. ...Thankfully the Captain explained to me how it works, and its...disturbingly simple. Spin the wheel in a direction to make the ship go that direction, and the more you spin, the harder the turn. Apparently it's designed for maneuverability." Arms explained to the three.
"This is normally the part where I ask if you have any questions. But given our current predicament, we don't have much time left. We don't leave soon, and the planetary forces will likely find this ship and kill everyone in it. So any questions you have for me and Arms, I suggest saving for later, or answering on your own as we go about this. With that, Introductions are over mateys. The Engineering room's in the back of the ship, follow the signs, you can't miss it. The Boarding area's the way you came into the ship from. Don't worry about room arrangements for now, your stuff's been escorted to the cargo area and will stay there until this whole thing is said and done. It'll all burn and freeze along with us if we fail anyways. Cliff, Spa, Newt, and Boarding Party, get to the Boarding area. Engineers move to the Engine room, and the Compop, Gunners, and Pilot stays here to get the cannons online, and the rest of the computers operational. The Mite over there will fly us up to the Merchant ship, then will give the wheel over to Wing. Arms will be heading out with the Boarding party onto the Merchant's ship, but he'll keep his comm live to help all of ya on the bridge." Arron said. As soon as he finished, he gave a nod to the Mite who has the wheel, and the ship started to move out of the docks, curving upwards towards the skies and rocketing towards the merchant ship in question. As if on cue, the alarms would be heard blaring across the entirity of Lancelot Prime, waking up several factory workers, and making active the planetary forces.
They got closer and closer to the Merchant ship until eventually getting close enough to their side. While they were getting ready then to take off, suddenly both ships would see laser fire from the planet, as fighters started climbing up the atmosphere to meet them.
"Right on Schedule..." Arron thought. While everyone is likely distressed from getting fired on, the captain simply smiled as he sat back pressed his hands into a ball in front of his face.
"Alright everyone, Get into positions now!" He yelled. With the slamming of his fist on to the arm of his chair, the side rear of the Typhon's outer shell opened up, revealing a giant tube of some sorts that shot itself onto the door of the merchant ship, an electrical field then pulsates through the tube from the Typhon's end to the opposite end, causing the door on the Merchant's side of the connection to malfunction and open up. From inside the tube, as the electrical pulse disappeared to make it safe for the Boarding party to enter, you could hear loud voices from the other side of the merchant ship's door, as the door seems to glitch out, trying to close but ultimately failing every time. The merchant ship immediately began to fire on the Typhon, but the wood on the outer shell was surprisingly durable. As soon as the Boarding party moves into the merchant ship, however, the door closes and the tube disconnects, reeling back into the Typhon and allowing for Icarus to freely move the ship.
"Alright, this is it. Show me what you've got mateys...THE ECLIPSE PIRATES SHALL RIDE AGAIN!" Arron yelled excitedly.
