E-220: Merchant Freighter Spanial (Docked at Zarg’s World Highport), Cargo Operations
Lia and Oliver continue up the elevator through a pressure door to Cargo Operations.
The room contains a console and orientable acceleration chair, a vacc suit locker, airlock and the elevator.
Built into the ceiling is a large viewing window to the ship’s cargo hold on the level above this room, with shutters that can be opened and closed. Currently they are open and show a vast, empty cylinder about 20m high and 10m in diameter, illuminated by dim red light. At the far end are a pair of large doors, currently closed. Near the doors, a robot cargo arm is dormant in its storage bay. Secured against one wall is a small open-cockpit space utility vehicle. A second purpose-built snug airlock connects the Hold to the Hangar and is exactly large enough for one standard container to pass through (it even has little sprung rollers on the walls to help containers go through.)
Not far from the hold’s interior airlock, a single crate, about the size of two large suitcases, is secured to the deck.
The Cargo Console has a large view screen on it, there are a settings for various views: External doors, Interior Top Down, Robot POV etc. There are a controls for operating the robot arm, the various doors, hold environmental controls and lights, cargo locks and releases and an interface to the ship’s computer. The grav plate around the workstation can be independently controlled, and the chair swung so the Cargo Operator can comfortably look out into the Hold instead of up.
She spreads her arms wide.
“Ta da. Thrilling stuff, I know.”
“This is your domain then, cargo master?”
“Why yes, it certainly is my domain. Pretty empty at the moment but this is where all the action happens. Anything in particular you want to know?”
“A couple things. What’s a ‘people person’ doing working on a merchant freighter shifting crates?”
She laughs.
“I said mostly people. I came onboard originally as a passenger, hiring out cargo space to ship products for clients, so shipping and cargo is something I was familiar with. Also, it’s incredibly useful to have a ‘people person’ running cargo if you have to deal with customs all the time…”
She is looking at him in an amused fashion.
He looks around the cargo hold. “That makes sense.”
A slight head tilt.
“Any other questions?”
“I’m sure we will share many in our journey. But for now, no. What about you?”
“Me? I’m pretty clear on how the Cargo Bay works…”
He gives her the ‘really?’ Look.
“About me, or the situation I’ve put you all in.”
There’s a pause. She seems to be assessing him.
“Ah. Well that’s another thing entirely. How much time do you have?”
“To answer questions or to complete my task?”
“I was thinking about questions but let’s start with that. How long to complete your task?”
“I don’t have anything on before the team event later. I don’t have a time limit for that, either.”
“How long are you planning to stay on the ship?”
“At least until my deal with Karmen is concluded. She only agreed to get me there, she has no obligation to make sure I get back.”
Her eyebrows shoot up.
“You think we would leave you in Separatist Space to fend for yourself?”
She seems genuinely surprised.
“Is that the kind of crew you think we are?”
He shrugs. “Can’t be that bad.”
Oliver then smiles. “One that wants me gone, at least some do.”
She looks at him without speaking for a while.
“Point taken. But it’s not exactly fun having a Vizant get his Legion lackies to escort us back to our ship to grill us, only to then have him bull his way onto the crew…”
She huffs out a sigh and fluffs out her hair.
“Y’know, the more open you are, the more likely the crew is to warm up to you. This is good, clearing the air.”
She returns the smile.
“I have been open. If I’m any more transparent you’ll be able to use me as a window.”
An eyebrow quirk.
“I’ll bear that in mind.”
GM is there anywhere else pertinent on the ship that they should visit?