Editing Episode 308: With Friends Like These, Part Two

We board and passing through the passenger lounge Nika sees the Tokarev sitting on the table.

We board and passing through the passenger lounge Nika sees the Tokarev sitting on the table.

Rina refuses to touch it.

Rina refuses to touch it.

She snatches the box off the table.

She snatches the box off the table.

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Rina stomps down the stairs to the locker.  A resounding slam from the locker door drifts up the stairs, followed a moment later by the crash of a cabinet hatch and a Russian curse. Nika fills her lungs and yells in the direction of the stairs.

Rina stomps down the stairs to the locker.  A resounding slam from the locker door drifts up the stairs, followed a moment later by the crash of a cabinet hatch and a Russian curse. Nika fills her lungs and yells in the direction of the stairs.

She comes even with the rest of the party.

She comes even with the rest of the party.

Joshua declines, saying he should be here if we call for help.  How’s he going to help?  Faria’s got our only shuttle, it’s not like Joshua can ride to our rescue in it.

Joshua declines, saying he should be here if we call for help.  How’s he going to help?  Faria’s got our only shuttle, it’s not like Joshua can ride to our rescue in it.

Of course! A trip to the junk yard is what all emotionally and/or physically beaten up guys need to make themselves feel better.  

Of course! A trip to the junk yard is what all emotionally and/or physically beaten up guys need to make themselves feel better.  

Looking at the cargo bay a little closer we notice offset from the center of the floor are six pylons of New Tech origin, making a rectangle of four with two spaced evenly on one side.  Based on what we know of cargo equipment, we think the pylons are force field generators, and given it’s New Tech, fairly expensive.

Looking at the cargo bay a little closer we notice offset from the center of the floor are six pylons of New Tech origin, making a rectangle of four with two spaced evenly on one side.  Based on what we know of cargo equipment, we think the pylons are force field generators, and given it’s New Tech, fairly expensive.

Rina overhears and unzips her coveralls just a teense further down, so as to get at her gun easier.

Rina overhears and unzips her coveralls just a teense further down, so as to get at her gun easier.

Rina gets Arden to help her and he crouches at the opening of the engine works, handing her the tools she needs as directed.  And as Arden and Rina are busy, the rest of the crew start noticing the  little things.  How the ship’s crew are kinda shifty, how they don’t move as if they’re accustomed to being on a ship, and the fact that even though they’ve thrown the hsip open to salvage, the crew seem rather interested in keeping an eye on everyone.  Joshua tries getting a read on the ship’s crew, but nothing solid comes through.

Rina gets Arden to help her and he crouches at the opening of the engine works, handing her the tools she needs as directed.  And as Arden and Rina are busy, the rest of the crew start noticing the  little things.  How the ship’s crew are kinda shifty, how they don’t move as if they’re accustomed to being on a ship, and the fact that even though they’ve thrown the hsip open to salvage, the crew seem rather interested in keeping an eye on everyone.  Joshua tries getting a read on the ship’s crew, but nothing solid comes through.

There’s a long pause where Nika looks at Joshua to gauge his intent and determines he's serious.

There’s a long pause where Nika looks at Joshua to gauge his intent and determines he's serious.

There are a few of the ship’s crew standing in the engine room ostensibly to keep an eye on things.  One of them gets a call on his earpiece and he puts a hand to it and listens.

There are a few of the ship’s crew standing in the engine room ostensibly to keep an eye on things.  One of them gets a call on his earpiece and he puts a hand to it and listens.

He leaves the engine room for the crew lounge just outside. Joshua moves to the engine room door to check on the man.  Joshua pokes his head around the jamb, glances out quickly, pulls back in.  He’s seen the guard walk over to other crew members and point in our direction…and those other crew members leave for’ard, away from the engine room.

He leaves the engine room for the crew lounge just outside. Joshua moves to the engine room door to check on the man.  Joshua pokes his head around the jamb, glances out quickly, pulls back in.  He’s seen the guard walk over to other crew members and point in our direction…and those other crew members leave for’ard, away from the engine room.

Joshua goes back to Nika’s side and tells her what he’s seen, wary of the returning guard.

Joshua goes back to Nika’s side and tells her what he’s seen, wary of the returning guard.

Rina fills her lungs and hollers back.

Rina fills her lungs and hollers back.

Rina rolls her eyes at the equipment hanging over her head.

Rina rolls her eyes at the equipment hanging over her head.

Which comment earns Nika a raised eyebrow from Arden as Rina thrusts her hand out to him.

Which comment earns Nika a raised eyebrow from Arden as Rina thrusts her hand out to him.

He hands her the torch from her tool bag. Rina fires it up and starts cutting.

He hands her the torch from her tool bag. Rina fires it up and starts cutting.

With submachine guns.  

With submachine guns.  

Joshua goes back to Nika and murmurs into her ear.

Joshua goes back to Nika and murmurs into her ear.

Nika looks around the engine room.  The only exit is the door to her back, the one that the men with the submachine guns will walk through any second.

Nika looks around the engine room.  The only exit is the door to her back, the one that the men with the submachine guns will walk through any second.

We’re boned.

We’re boned.

She looks. It’s true. They slide.

She looks. It’s true. They slide.

Joshua mans one half, Nika mans the other as the servos slowly glide the doors shut. The men outside pick up their pace.  Inside the workings, Rina’s calling for more tools as Arden notices what’s going on.

Joshua mans one half, Nika mans the other as the servos slowly glide the doors shut. The men outside pick up their pace.  Inside the workings, Rina’s calling for more tools as Arden notices what’s going on.

Arden rises and draws his gun to cover the doors.  The doors are closing agonizingly slowly.  The gap in them is down to a yard and the men with the guns are coming up fast.

Arden rises and draws his gun to cover the doors.  The doors are closing agonizingly slowly.  The gap in them is down to a yard and the men with the guns are coming up fast.

The doors finally close, mercifully before the men outside start shooting…but not before one of them slides through at the last second like a batter sliding for home base.  He’s armed with only a pistol and since Nika’s closer to him, Joshua leaves her to deal with the man while he tries to lock the doors against the rest.

The doors finally close, mercifully before the men outside start shooting…but not before one of them slides through at the last second like a batter sliding for home base.  He’s armed with only a pistol and since Nika’s closer to him, Joshua leaves her to deal with the man while he tries to lock the doors against the rest.

At this point is all about gaining control: Nika kicks the gun out of the sliding guard’s hand and it goes flying under some equipment.  Rina’s stowed her tools and is squirming back out.  Arden covers the guard on the floor with his weapon. The guard crawls out of kicking range, fearful for his head…or his crotch.  Connecting either with Nika’s boots would put him in a world of hurt, which he’d like to avoid thank you very much.  He scrambles to his feet.

At this point is all about gaining control: Nika kicks the gun out of the sliding guard’s hand and it goes flying under some equipment.  Rina’s stowed her tools and is squirming back out.  Arden covers the guard on the floor with his weapon. The guard crawls out of kicking range, fearful for his head…or his crotch.  Connecting either with Nika’s boots would put him in a world of hurt, which he’d like to avoid thank you very much.  He scrambles to his feet.

He complies. We herd him next to the other two people in the engine room with us.  They don’t give us any trouble. Apparently we’re the only ones with guns in the room.  However there are a lot of people on the other side of the door who have guns who want in.  Joshua manages to punch in the right sequence to get the doors to close again. It remains to be seen if he can keep them shut.

He complies. We herd him next to the other two people in the engine room with us.  They don’t give us any trouble. Apparently we’re the only ones with guns in the room.  However there are a lot of people on the other side of the door who have guns who want in.  Joshua manages to punch in the right sequence to get the doors to close again. It remains to be seen if he can keep them shut.

Nika grills the man on the ground.

Nika grills the man on the ground.

She draws her gun.

She draws her gun.

Hello, you came in here with weapons drawn.  Nika’s not entirely convinced that shooting us wasn’t the plan to start with.  

Hello, you came in here with weapons drawn.  Nika’s not entirely convinced that shooting us wasn’t the plan to start with.  

Like hell.

Like hell.

Seeing Nika has the man on the ground well in hand, he turns his attention to the two others who happened to be in the room with us.  Arden gestures them to the deck.

Seeing Nika has the man on the ground well in hand, he turns his attention to the two others who happened to be in the room with us.  Arden gestures them to the deck.

They obey meek as lambs—they aren’t part of this altercation and don’t want to be part of this altercation and will do what we tell them to so they can survive this altercation.   

They obey meek as lambs—they aren’t part of this altercation and don’t want to be part of this altercation and will do what we tell them to so they can survive this altercation.   

Ankles cross.  And hands go on heads for good measure.  One has to wonder of they’ve done this sort of thing before.  Former prisoners, perhaps?   

Ankles cross.  And hands go on heads for good measure.  One has to wonder of they’ve done this sort of thing before.  Former prisoners, perhaps?   

Joshua attempts to lock the door and he manages to do it.  There might be overrides, but for now, the damned thing is closed.

Joshua attempts to lock the door and he manages to do it.  There might be overrides, but for now, the damned thing is closed.

Nika tells the guard on the deck what’s what.

Nika tells the guard on the deck what’s what.

He’s not getting through to the Boss.  He looks up at Nika.

He’s not getting through to the Boss.  He looks up at Nika.

He holds the comm to his ear.  Listens.  

He holds the comm to his ear.  Listens.  

Nika turns her gun sideways and shoots two rounds into one of the consoles.

Nika turns her gun sideways and shoots two rounds into one of the consoles.

'''Blam! Blam!'''

'''Blam! Blam!'''

Joshua isn’t.

Joshua isn’t.

Enough of this.  Nika snatches the comm from the man.

Enough of this.  Nika snatches the comm from the man.

It’s not fair to engage in a battle of wits with someone who’s clearly unarmed, but Nika takes advantage anyway.

It’s not fair to engage in a battle of wits with someone who’s clearly unarmed, but Nika takes advantage anyway.

Clearly unarmed.  Right.  Nika gestures him to go over with the others.  He goes.  When he’s kneeling like the others, Arden has Rina frisk the prisoners for weapons.  She finds a stun stick.  Prison grade.  Packs a punch.  She hands it to Arden.

Clearly unarmed.  Right.  Nika gestures him to go over with the others.  He goes.  When he’s kneeling like the others, Arden has Rina frisk the prisoners for weapons.  She finds a stun stick.  Prison grade.  Packs a punch.  She hands it to Arden.

Does the name Alexander mean anything to anybody, Nika wants to know.  Nope. We all come up blank.  Nika gets back on the comm.

Does the name Alexander mean anything to anybody, Nika wants to know.  Nope. We all come up blank.  Nika gets back on the comm.

What’s he take us for? Idiots?

What’s he take us for? Idiots?

She cuts the comm off with an eyeroll.  And in a couple of minutes, we can hear an odd sound…like hissing.

She cuts the comm off with an eyeroll.  And in a couple of minutes, we can hear an odd sound…like hissing.

The sound’s coming from the door.  There’s banging. They’re burning their way through.   

The sound’s coming from the door.  There’s banging. They’re burning their way through.   

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She looks.

She looks.

Rina grabs a length of pipe and threads it through the dog wheel while the others look around for pipes to lay down in the door tracks long enough to keep the doors closed.  That way the guys on the other side can’t just cut through the lock and slide the doors open enough to stick a gun or themselves through.  Ten inches is all they’ll need.  With the proper length of pipe in the tracks, however, there will be no wiggle room and they’ll have to cut a hole through big enough to admit them.  That will take time, hopefully time enough for us to find another way out of here.

Rina grabs a length of pipe and threads it through the dog wheel while the others look around for pipes to lay down in the door tracks long enough to keep the doors closed.  That way the guys on the other side can’t just cut through the lock and slide the doors open enough to stick a gun or themselves through.  Ten inches is all they’ll need.  With the proper length of pipe in the tracks, however, there will be no wiggle room and they’ll have to cut a hole through big enough to admit them.  That will take time, hopefully time enough for us to find another way out of here.

Joshua looks over at Arden as they start laying the pipes in the tracks.

Joshua looks over at Arden as they start laying the pipes in the tracks.

Rina figures that since the ship is grounded and there is no plasma or other nasty crap flowing through the engines, she might manage to find an access or maintenance hatch to the outside through the engines themselves.  She starts making her way through the workings of an engine to find one, encounters stuff she has to cut through and engages her torch.   

Rina figures that since the ship is grounded and there is no plasma or other nasty crap flowing through the engines, she might manage to find an access or maintenance hatch to the outside through the engines themselves.  She starts making her way through the workings of an engine to find one, encounters stuff she has to cut through and engages her torch.   

She gets past the bottleneck and yells for the crew.

She gets past the bottleneck and yells for the crew.

They follow her voice, end up in the vast metal tube of the combustion chamber, duck past the secondary burn coils, and fetch up against a spot in the engine that’s translucent—meaning that it’s thinner than the rest of the walls.  Rina applies her torch, her hammer, and then her booted foot to it, busting through the weakened metal.  In a minute she’s got a hole big enough to escape through.   

They follow her voice, end up in the vast metal tube of the combustion chamber, duck past the secondary burn coils, and fetch up against a spot in the engine that’s translucent—meaning that it’s thinner than the rest of the walls.  Rina applies her torch, her hammer, and then her booted foot to it, busting through the weakened metal.  In a minute she’s got a hole big enough to escape through.