Posted by Lieutenant Helena Laursen (Helm/Nagivation Officer) in Half Way to Black Jack

Posted by Captain Marceau Renault (Commanding Officer) in Half Way to Black Jack

Posted by Lieutenant Helena Laursen (Helm/Nagivation Officer) in Half Way to Black Jack
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Helena spent a couple hours down in the launch bay going over both of the shuttle pods. Pre-flight checks and even managed to grab an engineer to help her and check a couple of issues that had shown up during her checks. They got everything ironed out and then she took the first pod out for a flight test. That included a lap and then taking the pod down through the atmosphere landing and back up. Then the same for the second pod.

Back in the launch bay, Helena opened the hatch and walked over to the comm unit and pressed the button. =O=Captain Renault to the launch bay.=O=

Lt Laursen, pilot

It took a moment, and then there was a reply =O=I’m on my way.=C= Marceau headed down to the launchbay, a data PaDD in hand, his expression asking why he was needed… And clearly worried something was wrong. “The shuttles are okay?” He asked, looking to Helena.

~ Captain Renault

Helena nodded, “Shuttle Pod 1 is fine. But Shuttle Pod 2 is…I don’t know. The engines and structure and systems all checked out, but when I took her out I keep hearing a squeaking or something. And you are, well quite frankly, the most observant passenger I’ve ever had. I can’t get up from the pilot seat to go look for it, so I was hoping you’d go with me and see if you can find where it’s coming from. She flew fine, but while we are still docked…” Helena really hoped she was pulling this off because Marceau always knew when she was bluffing. She really wanted to surprise him, but the way she didn’t quite meet his gaze straight on would give her away.

Lt Laursen

Marceau looked at the pod like it might eat him alive. “Squeaky? What if…” He looked up at her and took a breath. Her gaze flicked away from his, not meeting him straight on. It was the same thing she did when she had a hand of crap and was trying to bluff her way to the pot. Marceau grinned and shook his head, “Okay, what’s really going on here…? Is this some kind of ‘new captain’ prank?”

~ Marceau

Helena huffed, like she did every time he caught her out. “Just get in the shuttle, Marceau. It’s a new captain thing, but not a prank. I promise. Just…a surprise.” Helena moved behind him, set her hands to his shoulders and steered him over to the shuttle. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with either pod. I promise. No squeaks, nothing. Come on, get in.”

Helena

Marceau gently put the breaks on, using his feet to try and keep from moving forward. “Wait, non, Helena,” He protested, a note of anxiety in his voice, looking at the shuttle still like it might suddenly explode. “You said it’s squeaky! Remember the last time we crashed?”

~ Marceau

Helena sighed frustrated at herself. She handled this all wrong. She stopped and moved around him, holding his hand and squeezing. “Every night, Marceau. I can’t forget.” That had been worse than hell. “Look we’ll take the other pod.” She pointed at it. “You can’t say anything though. Don’t tell the captain I lied about a maintenance problem. I heard he’s a real slave driver.” Then she grinned and winked at him.

Helena

Marceau seemed to relax and smiled, squeezing her hand back. “Me, too. I was scared for you.” He nodded, a little nervously, to the other pod. “Okay.” Then he chuckled, “Is that what they say about me?” He winked back. “Don’t worry. You’re covered.”

~ Marceau

“I was scared for you too. But we survived.” That had been almost died number 1. It had been a close thing, by hours. Helena did a sort of skip twirl as she pulled him along. “I have no idea. We haven’t been on board long enough, but I will let you know, and stalwartly defend your honor.”

Marceau smiled, letting her pull him toward the other shuttle. He sat in the seat and buckled himself in. The crash had been a close call, and closer for Helena than Marceau. He was surprised she made it all.

She closed the hatch after they were both in. “I know how you feel about surprises, but I promise you’ll like this one.” She sat down at the controls and buckled in. =^=Shuttle Pod 1 to Sojourner. Ready to depart.=^=

=^=pod 1 stand by for release=^= the lights and warning bells flashed and sounded in the bay and then the doors opened beneath them. The mag lock arm extended lowering them out beneath the ship and then the pod floated and bobbed feely for a moment before the mag releases. Then the thrusters engaged and Helena moved the shuttle out in front of the Sojourner, giving Marceau a head on look as they banked around Beta station.

=^=Sojourner Pod 1 requesting permission to dock.=^=

A familiar voice came over the comm =^=Permission granted at port 21. You’re almost late.=^=

Helena laughed, =^=Yeah, well, I have a horrible poker face.=^= Guffaws of laughter came back before the channel was closed. Helena slid the pod into the docking port and powered down as the mag locks engaged and a docking rube attached and pressurized to the roof hatch. The sound of it opening caused a rush of air and then dive faces peered down at them with HUGE grins: Kenson, Gerard, Flenza, Billy and Akela. Kenson grinned, “You didn’t think you’d get a ship and we not find out did you Marceau?”

Helena

Marceau knew by the voices who it was, but he smiled excitedly all the same when he actually SAW them. He was clearly as nervous of a flier as ever as he fumbled to undo his buckles. “Of course I didn’t. I just didn’t expect to see you all in person,” he commented. “I thought Akela was on Jupiter station, and Gerard, the Luna colony.” He looked between the five of them, “Is everyone here?”

~ Marceau

Akela shook her head, “No just us. Everyone else is still out on assignment.” They all moved out of the way so Marceau and Helena could climb out. Flenza lead the way to a small conference room. The table was filled with food and drink and the chairs were actually comfortable. “A celebration feast in honor of the first Blackjack to make Captain!” Billy said making a flourish as he pressed the door control. Then Gerard, who had a voice that carried easily across a parade ground, “Captain On Deck!” All six of them snapped to perfect attention and saluted Marceau.

Helena

Marceau climbed out before Helena. He smiled bashfully and shook his head, “It’s too much, really.” He blushed a little as they all snapped to attention and grinned, “No need for such formality, at ease.” He was never going to be one of those overly formal Captains, especially not off duty with old friends. “Has Helena told you? She will be serving as my helmsman.”

~ Marceau