Searching the Harbor Part One

Participants: Narai, Dirionis, DS-3633, Leucohyle, Lilihierax, Porter, Reilly, Tullius Castus, Vince, Newt, Maina

Spaceport Landing Pad - Ope'mot - Kamsho - <Ope'mot>

Reilly is one of the last to disembark, hanging back to let officer and crew pass before making her way toward the storage locker she'd claimed upon boarding. She shoulders her way into a backpack converted from the scarred hull of an unidentified mechanoid, then pulls the lacquered weatherproof hood of her coat up around the crown of her lucky hat. Thus prepared, she joins the crew.

Porter walks down the ramp from the Nocturn. The first fat splatters of rain are striking the tarmac as the storm rolls in from the sea to Goddess Harbor. A battered-looking bus is waiting nearby to take the team to the wharf where the charter boat is waiting to take the Minerva and other interested personnel to the site of last week's rift incident.

Tullius Castus has donned his full rainsuit, in the same woodland camo as his clothing. His vest and such remain over it, though the rifle's got a cover over its barrel. "Well. Despite everyone's appeal to reason, it appears that my fondness for rain and discomfort have oncemore won out in my life's journey." He spits. "We're ready, sir." He says to Porter, apparently referring to himself plus his two other security dudes.

Outfitted a bit heavier than when he boarded the Nocturn, including a duffle over his shoulder, Dirionis raises his hood over his head as he clomps down the ramp, not too bothered by the weather. Dirionis nods his agreement as he falls in with the rest of the security types. "Ready."

"I'm 'opin' your XO didn't charter a bloody sailboat," hollers Reilly to anyone and everyone above the howling wind, her eyes an ominous glow against a sullen sky. Head low as if bulling against Mother Nature, the Sivadian presses onward, steps surefooted but hurried atop slickening ferrocrete and unerringly aimed for the bus. She boards, but only once the crew has done so, gaze scanning the darkening horizon in the interval.

Standing in the rain, without any sort of real protection, the Opodian Narai watches the shuttle land. He had heard of the journey that was taking place through several contact of his back on Comorro and decided to arrive before the shuttle. As the occupants begin to step out, Narai steps up towards them and offers a nod. "Greetings, travellers." Narai says, "I have heard of where you are going, I would like to join - assuming you allow it, of course?"

Lilihierax should really appreciate the oil-treated longcoat that Leu gave up to him. At least he won't be totally be soaked, but he doesn't really mind his hair getting wet and doesn't really seem to move that quickly with everyone else. His breifcase his watertight and his holographic gauntlet isn't effected by the rain, so water, at this point, at least, isn't really an issue.

DS-3633 follows down the Nocturn ramp. Its metal feet clanking loudly on the ramp. It doesn't seem to mind the rain or cold. Glancing toward the rest of the crew it says, "This unit encourages focusing on accomplishing our current task quickly, to limit the amount of time you are exposed to harsh weather conditions."

Vince is more or less standing out in the rain, staring out at the harbor as he wonders what his next bit of plan is. He adjusts his belt, and continues to stare at the harbor that he had witnessed before hand get drained into Comorro. He says nothing as he eyes the surroundings.

Porter stops at the entrance to the hoverbus so that he can turn toward Narai. "We'll need you to sign off on a liability waiver, but we've only got the boat rented for about eight hours. We should have room for you, and a local expert could come in handy." He extends a hand to the Opodian. "David Ransom Porter, captain of the Minerva."

From just behind Porter comes the muffled lament of one Jay Reilly - "gah, wet fur," - but it's her only protest.

Dirionis mutters something to the security crew as he peers around at the weather and the approaching Opodian. A small nod, but besides that, he seems rather emotionless. "All aboard." The merc says as he steps up into the hoverbus.

Leucohyle steps carefully out of the shuttle, pausing until she reorients herself with Lilihierax, beelining over to him to once again reach for his hand. Theta and Omicron, her robo-entourage, scuttle down the Nocturn's ramp to join her. A small, muffled chime comes from below her coat-sleeve, and she shakes her head a bit. She yawns one last time, and returns to her usual nervous small-animal posture.

Tullius Castus asides to Reilly, "Eh, we'd be fucked anyways. Yeah, let's get on, people." He appears to be waiting for everyone else to board first, this time.

The Opodian nods to Porter, "An expert, I am not really. But I should be able to assist you." Narai extends his 'hand' to Porter, "I am Narai. And I suspect eight hours should be enough." The bear-like creature nods, looking at the rest of the group before boarding the hoverbus.

Vince's head turns to look at the other parts of the harbor, noticing the bus, and the people around it. One individual he recognizes was Narai. Curious as to what is going on, he approaches it, carefully, travelling around it and trying to act inconspicuous. As if he was just walking by. As he nears the end without the door, he approaches the bus. Opening one of the cargo compartments for luggage, he slips in. A weird place for him, but it works for his purposes.

DS-3633 follows to the hoverbus. The Phyrrian looks towards Porter and asks, "Is the current working hypothesis that there is an object in this area that caused the rift on Comorro?"

"You need to stop looking so frightened." Li looks down at Leu after he boards the hoverbus. "I hightly doubt anything is going to happen to us en route. If it was really an issue I can look ahead for you?"

Porter nods to Narai. "On the bus you go, then. Good to meet you." He then turns toward DS-3633 and says, "Makes sense that a powerful artifact was involved. The question is whether it's still down there and if we can get at it." With that, he starts up the steps into the bus so that he can find a seat in the back to settle down with his PDA before the rain really starts pouring.

/"'ey!"/ Reilly's voice rings out, the thrust of an accusing finger toward the would-be stowaway underscored by a crack of thunder. /"You! Mind you right yourself an' show me your 'ands!"/

DS-3633 is already looking in the same direction that Reilly is pointing, quietly watching. Its eyes flash dimly, though in this weather, you'd only notice if you were close to the unit.

Dirionis is looking down at the hoverbus floor when he hear's Reilly's shout. A pause, and he raises a brow, digging through his duffle bag and peering towards the commotion.

Leucohyle follows Li onto the bus, and as they settle into their seats, cranes her neck at the ruckus outside. "Errr," she starts, and then shakes her head, smooth brow furrowing, as she turns back to the others who have already boarded. "Th-there appears to be some manner of -situation- outside?"

Vince pauses in his tracks, and slowly turns for Reilly. His hands are shown...he had seen this numerous times, but it was usually him that did the cuffing. As he awaited instructions, he looked at all the individuals present, considering his options.

The Opodian takes a seat on the bus, looking around at the others on the bus, nodding politely. Narai smiles, excited to be on this journey - it has been some time since he had done anything truely interesting - not including the near drowning and near death experience on Comorro the other day. While the others are starting to get all bothered by something on the outside, the Opodian is completly oblivious to what is going on.

Porter lifts an eyebrow upon hearing about the commotion. He leans toward the window to his right so he can peer out at Reilly facing off against some guy trying to stow himself in the luggage compartment of the battered hoverbus. He looks toward the spaceport terminal with all the shiny starships bound for other worlds, then at the rows of inexpensive hovercabs waiting to haul passengers off to the city. But this guy wants to ride the one crappy bus bound for the fish-stinky harbor. Curious. Then, a low muttering: "Must be *really* desperate for a ride."

Reilly's hand finds the butt of her pistol as she advances, though she does not draw her weapon - it's merely a warning. "We don't 'ave time for this," she growls, as much a general statement as it is reprimanding of Vince. As if to drive the point home, lightning slices across the sky above, washing the tarmac in a flash of white light. "Explain yourself an' do it /fast/ 'cause we're jackrabbits on a bleedin' /date."/

"Whaddya want me to do with him, Cap'n?" Diri asks as he rises with his rifle, pulled from the duffle bag. He moves for the head of the bus, peering back at Porter for his answer before moving to join Reilly outside, rifle held in his hands. "Jackrabbits on a...Where do get that shit...?" A smirk from the Lunite who regards Vince. "Hey, listen. We're kind of in a rush. Mind not tryin' to fuck with our bus?"

"Whaddya want me to do with him, Cap'n?" Diri asks as he rises with his rifle, pulled from the duffle bag. He moves for the head of the bus, peering back at Porter for his answer before moving to join Reilly outside, rifle held in his hands. "Jackrabbits on a...Where do get that shit...?" A smirk from the Lunite who regards Vince. "Hey, listen. We're kind of in a rush. Mind not tryin' to fuck with our bus?"

Vince glAnces to Dirionis, and then to Reilly. "I got the wrong bus, obviously." He looks around..."I do need a ride. Mine has seen to have left with my stuff, but oh well." He looks to the bus he was trying stowaway in, as he tells his lie in a manner that could sound believable.

Leucohyle tilts her head, pulling a clean shop rag out of her pocket to clean the bus window with a characteristic squeaksqueaksqueak. "...oh. I've, I've seen that fellow before, on, on Materi Syna. Overmind-Dean was, was speaking with him. Terribly illogical behavior for a unit."

DS-3633 tilts its head to the side. "This unit advises caution. That individual is a Phyrrian Tasker from the future. I do not believe it possess full awareness of its current situation. It may behave illogically."

"Nothing can ever go right ever." Li replies, getting up to his feet. Sliding the left side of his coat, he sets a hand on the pistol that he hardly uses, watching from out of a window. Leu's comment gets a small scoff of laughter. "That's a -Phyrrian-? Not very deceptive for Sentinel unit."

The captain rolls his eyes, then sets down his PDA and gets to his feet. He wanders down the aisle to the front of the bus, takes a few steps down so that he's back on the tarmac as the rain really starts to fall. He motions for Dirionis to lower the rifle, then moves to stand beside Reilly and face Vince. "Don't have much time for foolishness, friend, and we're a long way from Vanguard territory, so I've got no real sway over whether they perforate you or let you go. Really, I expect that all depends on you telling the truth with some rapidity."

Dirionis keeps his rifle pointed down, nodding slightly and adding helpfully, "Yeah. Cut the crap."

Lilihierax barks out laught, which is really a change from his broody McBrooderson attitude from earlier. Letting his coat loose to hang back over him, he drops back into his seat. "Oh my. Do let Dean know, my dear, that one of his own was caught snooping about our ship. I'm sure he'll be all sorts of curious to hear about it."

Vince looks both ways, not believing he had failed. It was obvious this was going to be much harder.than he thought. He studied DS, saving his specifications for a later time in his database, before he shrugs. "I was curious, what with all the folk with guns entering a bus."

"C-certainly will," Leu pipes, squinting out through her protective lenses, watching the scene with open curiosity. "I I do not believe he is a part of the Enclave as-of-yet. Could explain the er, mild disorientation he he seems to be experiencing." She settles back into her seat, content enough to observe.

Porter gives a nudge of his head toward where Narai sits on the bus. "Some people just *ask nicely*." He clasps his hands behind his back, rivulets of rainwater slicking his hair and streaming down his face. "You can do that, right? Much more productive than shoveling a load of crap and calling it cream puffs."

"Random dude in a rainstorm? Not sure hitchhikin' is the best choice as far as security goes." The Lunite points towards a hover cab. "There's your ride, guy."

DS-3633 looks from Vince to the armed soldiers and Porter. "I do not believe this unit represents a threat to the crew at present, despite its illogical behavior. I have attempted to convince it to do as Colonel Porter suggested." With that, it steps onto the bus, to extradite itself from the situation should it turn violent.

The Opodian remains quiet, as he waits for the hoverbus to get going. He finally figures out what is going on, his full attention to the situation at hand. As he listens to everyone talking, he shakes his head. "We should depart soon!" He shouts, but he is stating the obvious.

Vince shrugs a bit, and there is a brief pause, before he nods. "Then may I tag along?"

Cognizant of the fact that she is not the ideal person to negotiate on civil terms with a Phyrrian Tasker, Reilly simply waits in the door of the hoverbus, leaning against the railing on the lowermost step, red eyes on the captain and the troublemaker. She ignores DS, but echoes Narai. "I invite your attention t' th' 'arbor, Colonel sir!"

Porter frowns at Vince. "You tried to slip into the luggage compartment, you lied about your motivations, and now you expect us to reward that behavior by inviting you to come with us? No, sir. I don't think so. Maybe some other time." He looks to Dirionis and says, "Meter's running on our boat. Chop's not getting any lighter." Porter then walks up the steps and nods to the driver. "I think we're about done here."

"Because picking up stragglers is exactly what this scientific mission entails?" Li raises an eyebrow while an arm is put around Leu. He's content to toy with graphs and readouts on his gauntlet. Porter's decision does get a sigh of relief.

Vince shrugs, and he ventures off to a cab, as if he was listening to Dirionis. As he enters the cab, he belatedly decides not to follow the bus, and instead chooses a different destination.

Reilly moves further in to take her seat when the exchange concludes, settling herself across the aisle from Diri. Her greeting to him is a slight upward nod.

Dirionis is the last to move towards the bus, leaving Vince with a, "Don't be followin' us, either." The Lunite steps aboard, smirking a bit at Reilly. Passing by the crew, eyes flicking to look at each one as he does. He retakes his seat, making sure his rifle is safety'd as he throws it back in his duffle. A thumbs up to Porter and a look back to Reilly. "Ever been to one of those 'Splash mountain' kind of amusement rides...?" He peers out the window. "If you did, sure as hell hope you liked it."

Leucohyle leans on Lilihierax as he puts his arm around her, and also sighs with relief. "How does that saying go, n-never a dull moment?"

"I would prefer dull." Li intones to Leu. "I don't spill my coffee as often." Porter settles back into his seat, plucking the PDA off the cushion as the driver engages the transmission. The human captain watches through the rain-splattered window as they pass the cab accepting Vince as a passenger. "Future Phyrrian, eh?" he asks DS-3633. "Rifted here, I take it."

Newt watches Vince head off for the taxi and, once he gets in follows up behind Diri, "What's a splash mountain?"

DS-3633 looks up to the other crew. It nods to Porter. "I believe it may have been damaged during its travel through the rift that brought it here. I will discuss it with Overmind Dean."

"Discount service at a Timonese brothel," deadpans Reilly to the Minerva's diminutive pilot.

"I, I heartily agree, dear," Leu pipes to Li at his 'coffee' comment, looking up at him adoringly for a moment before her little eyebrows knit together at the rest of the bus's conversational track. "...wh-what?"

Ten years ago, Porter might've taken offense at such a comment being made in the presence of a minor. But, then, Newt isn't a minor, exactly, anymore. Instead, he just gives a soft chuckle before his attention returns to the disturbed future Phyrrian. "If he's...damaged...is he a threat? Should he be, y'know, neutralized? Or is that the point of talking to your pal Dean?"

"Don't listen to her," Diri says with a smirk and roll of his eyes to Newt, half spun around to face the kid. "Big ass ride. Your in a log or somethin, and you just plummet into the water, get soaked. You'll see when we reach the harbor." A snicker, "Keep your visor closed." An amused look towards Reilly.

"It is a Phyrrian matter. I say let them handle their own business." Li replies. Mostly to DS. "The future timeline that I came from that's how they tended to do things. I'm sure the Overmind will either have him repaired or simply tear him down for parts. Probably depend on his mood, really." Beat. "Though, that would be a real waste, I think."

DS-3633 nods again to Porter. "That is what I will discuss with Dean. I do not believe it has posed a danger yet. But it is possible. I will leave the decision of neutralization to Dean. I am not equipped to execute any such neutralization. I do not know if the malfunctioning unit recognizes Dean's authority."

Reilly - perhaps wisely - stays out of this particular conversation, instead folding her arms against the seat in front of her and turning her eyes out toward the waterfront - a stormy swath of grey and white growing larger beneath a canopy of heavy clouds. Her lips press into a thin line.

Newt looks up at Reilly, scowling slightly and then returns his attention to Diri, "Ah. Ok..." He doesn't sound that enthused.

Before long, the bus finishes weaving its way through the maze of streets on the way to the harbor district. Quite a bit of reconstruction appears to be underway, where the Nall apparently unleashed their wrath before abandoning the city. Several buildings are at least half or totally crumbled. Streets are torn up, forcing uncomfortable detours. But, eventually, the hoverbus squeaks to a stop beside a pier that leads to a single charter yacht, about sixty feet long, painted green with brown stripes with an elevated pilot house and a covered passenger cabin. "That will be our boat," Porter notes.

Leucohyle's smooth brow furrows at the variety of conversations going on, and it's rather clear she's not sure which to worry about more. But the harbor comes into view, and she cranes her neck towards the window again. "Oh," she pipes. "Th-that's a pleasant looking vessel..."

The Opodian has remained silent for the most part during the trip. As the announcment comes over that they are nearing their destination, Narai stands up in his seat to look out the window. "That is what we will be taking, hmm?" He says, "Should be interesting."

"Well, if he does decide to do away with him, which, really, makes no difference to me one way or another, let me know." Li offers. "I would love to runs some tests on Phyrrian technology. Applying it to cybernetics would seriously advance the use of neural junctions of prostetics. Though most of my own schematics are based after Phyrrian technology. At least, from what I've been able to observe. Remarkable building techniques. Not so great with organ prostetics, but limb, optical, and audio augmantations are splendid." While he could certainly be able to continue about talks of his craft, he stops when he sees the boat. "I'll hope this will be shorter than a three hour tour."

Newt says, looking at the vessel, "At least it's green."

DS-3633 says, "I am not familiar with the history of this planet. Is it important to our current mission?" As it says this, it stands, walking toward the front of the bus to disembark.

Though Reilly does not appear reassured by the thought of sailing a pleasure cruise toward the epicenter of a recently-closed rift in the middle of an autumn squall, she keeps her negativity to herself, simply hardening her brow beneath the brim of her hat and double-checking her equipment. "One o' th' old Kamir 'omeworlds," she informs DS, rising when the vehicle stops, and moving out only after the rest of the Minervans do. "Kamm Sho'ob."

"Li," Leu chides, albeit very mildly, in the manner of someone who has caught their significant other drinking milk right out of the carton. "That's, that's brilliant, but a bit -morbid-, dear." She rises, making another round of checks to her equipment and her robot entourage, before turning to the Timonae. "Sh-shall we, sally forth and explore this er, site of scientific phenomena?"

Dirionis rises and hefts his duffle over his shoulder as he eyes the weather. He doesn't have his normal confident look about him, staring out over the weather. "...Yeah. Green. Just pretend it's a amusement ride." His hood is thrown back over his head as he exits the bus, muttering something under his breath in the storm

"It is?" Li asks, looking rather innocent. "Human, Phyrrian, Zangali, whathaveyou. Experimentation and testing requires various kinds of subjects." he states holding up his hand before she can interfect. "Gave all their bodies to science, I assure you." he clarifies, before getting to his feet. "Still working on that creating synthetic skin." he mutters as an aside. "Well, we should get this started."

Porter tucks the PDA into a waterproofed folio, then follows the group off the hoverbus. He looks back at the street, just in case some stray hovercab did follow them, and then starts ambling toward the waiting boat. Lightning flashes in the distance, briefly illuminating the hull of the boat to show its name: Opodi's Perfection. The lighting almost fades fast enough for no one to notice the weather-beaten planks or the cracks in the windows of the pilot house. Seconds later, thunder rumbles.

DS-3633 heads towards the boat. It still doesn't seem to be affected by the rain. Maybe it'll rust later, but it is fine now.

Disembarking from the hoverbus, Narai stands in the rain for a moment - taking it in. He has been on Comorro far too long, or at least not planetside to experience these sorts of things. The Opodian follows the others towards the boat, shakes his head at the name of the boat... Typical Opodian name.

"Oh, I I do not doubt your commitment to the proper advancement, dear," Leu pipes reasonably in reply as they walk towards the boat. "And if the poor misguided fellow were to volunteer for Science, that would be fine, but but he doesn't even have the sense to know where to to sit on a bus. I don't think he'd be able to make an educated decision as to the disposal of his components." As the lightning flashes and the thunder rumbles, she looks up. "...well," she murmurs. "That's unnecessarily ominous."

Reilly and one of the security ops are unloading equipment from the luggage compartment when the thunderbolt claps overhead, and the both of them cringe at once, waiting for the roar of the angry sky to follow. When it passes, the two of them exchange glances, but nothing is said - the male of the pair simply slams the hatch shut. /"Concentrate on the job,"/ she calls out when she catches wind of people still discussing Vince. "We don't need t' be theorizin' about some crazy rustbucket when we're starin' a storm an' a rift right in th' bleedin' maw."

Porter tucks the waterproofed folio under his arm as he walks over the creaking gangplank onto the boat, which is already bobbing energetically in the churning surf of the harbor as the storm continues to worsen. He pushes open the door of the passenger cabin - it's not exactly secure. It sort of flaps back and forth on its hinges. A ladder leads up to the pilot house, which is surrounded on three sides by planking and windows that are badly smudged and cracked, but otherwise mostly intact. "I want to say I've seen worse," the captain says, running a hand through his rain-slicked hair before he looks back at the crew. "But I can't really say that about any other ship I've seen *above* water."

Reilly and one of the security ops are unloading equipment from the luggage compartment when the thunderbolt claps overhead, and the both of them cringe at once, waiting for the roar of the angry sky to follow. When it passes, the two of them exchange glances, but nothing is said - the male of the pair simply slams the hatch shut. /"Concentrate on the job,"/ she calls out when she catches wind of people still discussing Vince. "We don't need t' be theorizin' about some crazy rustbucket when we're starin' a storm an' a rift right in th' bleedin' maw."

The Opodian gets onto the boat behind the group. Sighing, he finds something safe to grab hold of. "Perhaps, good sir, now is a good time to say that this Opodian does not like large bodies of water." Narai says, hanging onto whatever he can for dear life. The boat hasn't even departed yet and the bear-like creature is getting nervous, he can only imagine how he will be once they are on the water in the storm. "But, I shall see this through to the end."

Leucohyle steps onto the gangplank. Then steps back. Then steps on. "Oh... oh bother," she murmurs, and manages to overcome the small-animal portion of her hindbrain that's telling her to go hide under something enough to board the ship. "...ohmyword I I just... I want to -fix-... the door, and the er. Oh that needs to be repaired." As she's meandering around the ship, she fastens her own life jacket, as well as a couple of donut-shaped buoyancy enhancers for Theta and Omicron. Clasping the other life jacket in her hands, she casts around for her counterpart.

Newt scowls at the gangplank, not quite getting on it yet. "So... how likely is this to sink?"

"The ship isn't going to fall apart if you fix that door." Li replies, eyeing the ship at first, extending his arm out for his gaunlet to scan vessel. "Don't detect any major weakness in the hull. Not taking on water." While he might sound a bit apprehensive, he straps on that life vest as well. "Call me Ishmail, then I suppose." he says, setpping onto the ship.

With a tool satchel slung over one shoulder and her mechanical pack on her back, Reilly moves with a quickness down the pier and toward the seacraft, squinting into the falling rain and seaspray. "You look 'alf a toad in that suit o' yours, lad," she tells Newt as she moves past him to board the yacht, only a pace or three behind the scientists. "I'm sure you'll be right as th' rain pissin' out th' bleedin' clouds. 'up-two."

After a few moments appraising the ship's condition, Porter takes Dirionis aside and politely explains to the merc that he would just as soon not put Diri in the unpleasant position of having everyone's lives in his hands. "You have enough to worry about, keeping eyes peeled for trouble from strange Phyrrians and potential predators. Stay in the cabin." The captain looks up the ladder to the pilot house and says, "I'll handle this."

Newt ponders things a moment longer and then grabs his vest, "Yeah, well, gonna take onna these vests anyway." and then -carefully- gets on the gangplank and the boat. "Could've we just taken a shuttle there?"

DS-3633 has stepped onto the boat and it didn't buckle under the 600 pounds of solid metal. It glances around, taking in the surroundings. "This does not appear to be the safest way to travel. However, if this vessel sinks, this unit will likely be preserved long enough for the Phyrrian Enclave to track my location and recover me."

"I'll be down in engines. By your leave, sir," Reilly informs the Colonel when she appears on deck, handing out life vests to whomever will take one. The storm does not look likely to lessen; in fact, just the opposite. "Comm tuned t' Minerva channels if you need me." A salute is sketched off, then she drives back through the rain to descend below decks, where she can attend to her stated task.

Porter nods to Reilly before turning to DS-3633 and saying, "Get the rest of the crew into the cabin, unless someone wants to assist Reilly down below. It'll be a little while before we reach the incident location, but when we get there, I'll need the observer bots rolled out so they can do their work."

Leucohyle paces around a little bit, instinctively assessing the boat and murmuring a list of things she will need to repair said vessel, when a chime sounds from the autoinjector under the sleeve of her jacket. Well, that took care of the pacing. She pads carefully over to Li, and prepares to follow him into the cabin. With a shaky, rain-wet nod to Porter, she pipes, "Yessir!"

Lilihierax runs a hand over his sopping wet face, whipping his hair back behind his head. "It would be marvelous if we could get undway." he states to no one in particular. The matter of engines are brought up, and while that does better than sitting around puttering about while waiting to get out there, he pats Leu on shoulder and prepares to go down below. "Ping me on my datajack if you need me."

Maina fidgets a little in the rainstorm, herself, looking actually a little happy to be in the rain, but concerned for the others. She prepares to follow the others onto the boat and into the cabin.

DS-3633 nods to Porter. The rain is beading on its metal skin, dripping down. As Lilihierax heads below, DS heads for the cabin. Turning to Leucohyle, "We shall prepare the observer robots." It enters the cabin and begins heating itself to dry the rain water from its outer layer.

Hearing Porter order everyone into the cabin, Narai jumps up and scurries past everyone. "Let me know when we get there, please! I can't look at the water!" He says, squeezing himself past Porter to get into the cabin.

Porter clambers up into the pilot house, setting his folio on the console as he begins to peruse the controls. Lightning flashes and thunder grumbles in the storm-lashed darkness. He switches on his commlink and opens a direct channel to DS-3633. "I get the basic gist of some of these controls, but I don't read Opodian sigils well at all. I need Narai up here to translate. And get Newt to free the moorings so we can get moving. Thanks."

"All, all right," Leu pipes to Li, heading to the cabin and shaking off slightly as she gets out of the rain. Scooting a little closer to the heat-emitting Phyrrian, she murmurs, "My, that's convenient." She rolls her sleeve away from her wrist holoprojector. "All, all right, DS, I'll need the the closest coordinates to the rift phenomena as as we can get, and we'll set the mapping radius out from that epicentre..."

Reilly clambers down the service ladder and takes up her station, her grunted distaste with her present sopping state echoing through the low spaces and punctuated by the squish of waterlogged boots. The yacht awakens; lights flick on from deck to deck, and underfoot the hydrogen fuel cell whirrs and rumbles like a giant's song. A single holographic screen queues up on the main terminal. A cartoon Opodian appears in its bottom righthand corner. "It looks like you're powering up the ship. Would you like help?"

"Oh god/dammit,"/ Reilly groans.

Newt seems to be wholly immune to any water falling from the sky. If it it hits him it quickly scurries down his form to the floor and then runs off however it can. "Uhhh... Moorings?"

Maina remains a decent distance from the head-emitting Phyrrian, mostly so that the others can use the heat. She's not particularly wet, herself, at the moment. She fidgets a bit, glancing to Leu, waiting to see if she can help.

DS-3633 turns to Narai, "Narai, Colonal Porter requires your assistance above, reading the controls. This unit apologizes for the inconvenience." It looks toward the green suited Newt and says, "Moorings: any device used to hold secure an object by means of cables, anchors, or lines. I believe the colonel is referring to the ropes that secure the vessel to the docks." At the same time, it is typing on its datapad, calculating the coordinates for Leu.

"Board is green," comes Reilly's voice over the general comms. "Ninety-two percent an' steady. At your command, Colonel Porter."

"Finally." Li states with the tone of a man who just wants to be left the hell alone for one damn minute. Climbing down the stairwell, he reaches into the inside of his jacket to draw out a flask; one which top is unscrewed while cerulean eyes take in terminal. "Joy." he states succintly, tipping the flask back for a pull. Instead, unless Reilly decides to take a hammer to the terminal, he busy himself with a check of the fuel lines. The idea of drowning in an angry sea is bad enough, but a burning ship, -then- drowning sounds a bit worse. So kneeling down, he waves his gaunlet over the section of hoses that lead from the fuel cell to actual engine mounts. "Aniquated peice of....bloody stars...is this tinfoil?"

Newt ohs, "Got it." and so he heads off for the moorings. He approaches one, examines it, makes a move for it, stops, frowns, ponders a second and then starts for it again, proceeding to try and unmoor the boat.

"Acknowledged," Porter replies over the comms to Reilly. "I think...this?...button will start the engines." He presses the red plastic mushroom, which causes a loud foghorn to wail. Nope. Not the engines. He turns to yell over his shoulder, possibly futile in the thrashing storm, "Really need the translator up here!"

Leucohyle busily pulls up a blank, three-dimensional cube on her wrist holo, her eyes going slightly out of focus as she interfaces directly with the device. Slowly, the cube starts to fill in with gridlines. "Base imaging grid set," she recites. "Ready for coordinates." As she's rummaging around in her belt holsters, this time retrieving a small spool of some sort of line, the foghorn goes off, and she drops it. The boat, of course, continues its pitching and yawing, resulting in the little clone having to follow the rolling spool around the cabin. "Oh -bother-. Could, someone, er. Miss-Maina, are you able to interact with this... oh stars will you get back here already you impertinent piece of rigging..."

Maina nearly jumps at the foghorn, blinking in surprise. She then blinks over at Leu having trouble, giving a slightly amused giggle. She reaches out and the spool is in her hand rather than the floor. She walks over to Leu to offer it back, "Here... glad I could help for once." She fidgets a bit with her free hand, still ill at ease, perhaps more so now that she's inside the boat rather than outside.

Reilly glances to the Timonae and his indignation and then to the source of it, wincing. "Well, at least it isn't duck tape," she remarks, before scowling between the translation readouts marching down her optical implants' HUD and the console she's working at. Cocking her head, she subvocalizes into her comm's mouthpiece. "Sir, sensors are green, but th' storm's causin' a lot of interference. Dr. Li an' I'll do our best t' 'ave them shipshape, but you may want extra eyes on th' water."

The Opodian nods and leaves the cabin and ehads towards Porter. "My apologizes, I should have remained here. How can I be of assistance, sir?" He asks to Porter, waiting for instructions, or waiting to see what Porter needs him to do.

DS-3633 presses a few more times on its PDA and a blue circle appears on Leu's holographic cube. "This is the closest approximation I am able to calculate based on the data provided through video and images released through the news.

"Need your help reading the labels on this console," the captain replies, pointing at random instruments and buttons built into the console. "We've established the big red button is the foghorn. I need the starter." For the moment, he leaves Reilly's comment unaddressed.

Newt returns to where everyone else is gathered, "Hey. Someone gimmie a hand? Getting these ropes off is being dumb."

The Opodian nods, looking over the controls for a moment, reading the displays and anything on the controls to determine what does what. "Well..." Narai says, as he pauses. He points to several controls, "This will start the craft." He then points to several other controls, "Speed." And finally to a third control panel, "This will turn the ship. I trust that is all you will need for now?"

"Maza's tits." Li utters hoarsely, going back to the briefcase he's brought with him. While one side packed in hardened foam is a series of scientific anaylsis instruments to help in investigating the area they're currently heading out to, the other side is packed with an engineering kit, or at least enough of a kit to get by. The first thing he does is kneeling down to that particular section of fuel line to give it a proper patchjob, which is basically a form of foam from a pressurized can that clings, seals, and harden upon contact with air. Though it has a slight smell of sulfur. "Stars an garters, what is this? The dark ages?" Oh the flask is staying out today, set on a shelf ledge nearby.

"Th-thankyou, Miss-Maina. That's a a very convenient Phenomena, isn't it?" Leu pipes, mounting the spool onto the rectangular belt case that's currently housing the Observational robots. She repeats this with two other spools, without incident, and turns back to DS. "Th-thank you, DS... All, all right then, let's see..." Her eyes go out of focus again, and numbers start appearing on the corners of the gridlines, the cube shrinking in to encompass the sphere. "I've got it. Retrieval lines are p-prepared, and the er, the er scanning grid is ready for input."

"Maybe," Porter says to Narai. "That might be it. Stay close, though. Sensor displays are probably out of whack for me too. I'll need your eyes." He flicks on his comm again and says, "Reilly, we'll have eyes aplenty. Let's see if my translator is worth what we're paying him." He taps the control that Narai had indicated. The engines splutter to life and the boat starts tugging against the moorings.

Maina smiles and nods to Leu, "Glad to help." Then she backs away from the group, returning to her fidgeting and still looking uncomfortable with the situation.

"I shall keep my eyes on the display, as you wish." Narai says, almost throwing himself on the console so he can literally watch the display. "Translator, huh? I do not believe I am getting paid." The Opodian says, chuckling. "I require no payment. I am here out of curiosity." As he looks at the dispaly, he flicks on another control, "Exterior lights - should help. No? I suspect we are ready to depart."

"Look 'ere, old boy, we're not 'ere t' renovate this ol' banger," Reilly reminds the good doctor, sparing him but a single sidelong look while she jacks her personal tablet into the waiting port, allowing the two devices to handshake. When finished, she is on the ship's local network and a mobile link to the engine room. The 'pad is slipping into her coat's interior pocket and the junker heads back the way she came, clanking up the ladder and onto the storm-tossed deck. Squinting, she ducks into the main cabins, where she begins to open much-needed heating vents.

Porter chuckles at Narai. "I was joking about the pay. You asked to tag along, well, here you are. Everyone pulls their fair share with the Minerva crew." He looks down at the deck where the moorings remain tied. "We're not going anywhere until those are loose. Go help the kid in the space suit. Then come right back." His gaze shifts back to the controls as he starts mumbling to himself: "Kill switch. Acceleration. Brake. Navigation. Sensor." He pauses, looking at the green gridded disc of glass. Darkened. He taps the glass. Nothing. "Definitely going to need those bots."

Leucohyle purses her lips, thoughtfully, and looks between Maina and the case at her belt. "What is... what is the -range- on that-particular-phenomena, and and do you need to be er, within line of sight of the object to er, maneuver it?" She scoots a little bit closer to Maina, but also seems to want to stay as near as she can to DS. When Reilly opens the heating vents, the little clone utters a very grateful, "Ohmywordthankyou. I, I do not do well in-the-cold."

DS-3633 looks out the window at Newt and tilts its head to the side. It walks outside, "If you are experiencing hydrophobia, please return to the cabin. This unit can untie the moorings." It begins on the first one, though the rope snaps pretty easily in its hands.

"Perhaps, but I'll be damned if this dingy doesn't deliever us to Providence and back again." the cyberneticist replies, the wrench in his hand tap-tap-tapping at the metal fuel lines in search of any other possible leaks. It's possible he could stay down there all day, fixing one thing after another. But seeing the engine is somewhat fine, if not extremely dirty shape, he'll leave it as is. And unless anyone else has a need of him above decks, he'll hang out around here, if only to watch the engine's progress as it runs.

Maina smiles a bit towards Leu as she approaches, getting a little less fidgety. "Oh, um... if I know where it is, I can usually grab it? Or send it away. I keep most of my things stored in a room so that I don't have to carry them on me, but I can just pop them here when I need. It's pretty handy, I think. I don't like carrying things." She gives another little giggle at the clone's gratefulness. "It must be pretty cold... and wet.

"As you wish." Narai says to Porter, leaving his side to go help with get the boat out of port. Coming out towards where the boat is tied, the Opodian looks at it for a moment and shrugs. "How would you like me to help?" He asks, ready to assist.

Newt glares at DS, "I am NOT experiencing anythingphobia. Just the stupid boat keeps pulling on the stupid ropes because the stupid weather keeps moving it and the stupid water is not making it stay still." He looks up at Narai when he speaks, "Stupid ropes don't want to let go."

Reilly manages to cock a sideways grin at the scientist-rifter pair - her first since they touched down on Kamsho. "Can't 'ave you freezin' over, Miss Leu," she kids toward the former, dusting her hands when both feet are on deck again. She blinks. One slow, tense blink that fills two seconds' time instead of one, as one might do if dust fluttered past his lashes, and when her lids open again her entire world is different. As her eyes begin compensating for the low visibility from the cloud cover and heavy rain, Jay moves to assist those prepping the vessel for launch.

"Oh that's just -splendid-," Leu enthuses, popping the case at her belt open and tapping each of the walnut-shaped metallic spheres inside once. With a few twitchy movements, multiple limbs unfold from each sphere and the little arachnoid-bots right themselves. "This is Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta," she 'introduces,' somewhat proudly, gathering them up into her hands and showing them to Maina. "They're g-going to be mapping the, the area. Under the water. I I have the retrieval lines here, that that they can reference for positioning and and climb for convenient-return, but er. If you were capable of transporting them, it it would be significantly-faster?" Reilly gets a significant, wobbly nod as she passes. "Oh -absolutely-, thankyouma'am."

Nodding to Newt, the Opodian understands the issue. "Perhaps we should cut the rope?" He asks, as he produces a knife. He pushes Newt out of the way, leaning over the side of the boat as it is being jerked around in the water. "Cut it? Or should we try something else?" He asks one last time, perhaps expecting Newt to have some sort of super-secret plan he has been holding back.

Maina looks at the little robots curiously, reaching to try and tap one. "They're kind of adorable, aren't they?" She gives a nod, "I generally have to know where I'm sending it, but I think I could help. If nothing else, maybe I could transport myself bit-by-bit until we hit bottom. Then I'll know where they are to bring them back. Would that work?"

DS-3633 nods towards Newt. "Understood. Cutting the rope appears to be the best course of action. Please proceed Narai."

Newt uhms, looking a bit blank now and shrugs, "Cut the rope I /guess/."

Porter unlatches the folio, plies open the flap, then takes out a writing pen and a roll of pale beige adhesive tape. He unspools some tape, tears it off, applies it above one of the controls. He then uses the pen to scribble something on the tape, labeling the control. He repeats this for each part of the console until he is certain he has it all straight.

Covered in water from the rain, the Opodian nods to DS and Newt. No super-secret plan from either of them. He proceeds to cut the rope with his knife. It takes abit of time and strength, with that boat moving and being covered in water. After some effort, the rope snaps and the boat is released. "Excellent!" Narai shouts, hiding the knife again and runs back in to Porter. "The boat is released. Time to depart."

Zeta, the tapped Observational bot, rolls slightly onto its side, revealing an underbelly studded with polycarbonate lenses. It whirs for a moment, recording the image, and then rights itself with a scrabble of tiny jointed limbs. Leu beams a little bit. "Th-thank you. I I do so enjoy making them. They can er, locomote in the water..." She gestures with her free hand, flexing her fingers in a squid-like gesture. "So, so all you would have to do is er... transport them back when we're done."

End of Part One