This logfile is imported from aitelogs2 and may contain errors or wrong timestamps.
#RuinsOfRakhana – September 24, 2016
After five hours of hard work the antenna is finally ready. Placed atop the ship for maximum range, power cables run down the side and into the engine room which is accessible through the door in the cargo hold. Other wires run down to a laptop, placed on a crate just outside the cargo ramp. From there the antenna can be configured and used. The time has passed quite calmly, and the stranded Eclipse mercenaries have been quite
friendly, Jake especially thrilled to meet some new people. Some of the details of what happened to them has been shared over a meal of grilled giant insect meat over the fire. For over eight months they have been stuck here. Originally a crew of 20, now reduced to just 3. It is quite clear they didn't have much hope of getting off the planet before meeting Redrock. Jake has just now finished telling them this, while munching on a
large insect leg. Mahmoud has shown Redrock the crew quarters, where Namira, and any others in need of rest have been placed in the relative comfort of the ship bunks. The third member of the Eclipse crew has not yet made themselves known. The sun has already disappered beyond the mesa walls, and it will set soon. The sky is a striking mix of purple and orange, a few small dots of clouds drifting along high above.
Renala has kept her word, and disregarded Jason's advice. She was getting that antenna going, even if it meant she would pass out at this makeshift desk. Some of the other Redrock members might have been inclined to believe her, as there were definitely nights where she has fallen asleep over her desk during her setting up the office's systems back home. The asari hasn't eaten with the others, as she felt she was on the cusp
of a breakthrough when dinner was announced. She takes a deep content sigh as she admires the results of her work and she starts tapping on the terminal. She patches it into the Redrock team's channel and begins speaking into the comms. "Antenna test," she says. "Do you copy?" Renala sound awfully tired, should the message reach the others, having gone from carrying a heavy load to working inceassantly on repairs.
Jason spent the first couple hours getting all of their gear and such situated inside of the ship while Jessica slept before swapping out with her for a short nap. The long trip and the heat has obviously taken a lot out of him, and only rejoined the others from his nap when food was announced. He's currently sitting atop a crate in his undersuit and boots, Revenant propped against the side of his crate. He's eagerly shoving bits
of insect leg into his mouth, a large departure from his stance on the bug food just a few days ago on board the hanar ship. "Well, Jake. With any luck, I'm gonna say we'll be off this planet inside of a week." he offers with a tired smile. "See, I've got a fiance back home that's just about as fierce as they come. The moment we didn't show up when we're expected, she was already chartering a ship out this way." His gaze
moves upwards towards the sky as his smirk grows and he gestures to the stars with an insect leg, "Wouldn't surprise me one bit if she was already up there shouting and threatening someone to find us right this very moment." As his omni-tool chirps with Renala's message, he glances down and activates the interface, an uncontrollable short burst of laughter escaping him. "Like I said. Best damn engineer in the entire
Korio has been something of a thorn in Renala's side, offering to help her every so often when it was clear that there would be little for him to do now that they've arrived at camp. Once he got the hint that she wasn't in need of any help, he remained around the fire, silently waiting for orders. He has listened as the Eclipse mercenaries and Jason have spoken, but has mostly kept out of it. As Jason comments on Renala's success, a
smile crosses his lips. "Considering her dedication, that comes as no surprise. It was merely a question of 'when'." he says.
Jason speaks into his omni-tool as he glances at the others around the fire. "We copy, Renala. Antenna seems to be working at least this far out. Let's hope the others can hear it, too."
Jessica awakens from her nap as the sound of Renala's voice chirps over her omni-tool. She makes her way out of the ship, suppressing a yawn as she slowly limps towards the fire. "Is working...?" she asks, her voice scratchy from the harsh, dry air of the rebreather she has been wearing for days now.
Renala continues tapping on it, setting the wattage to the upper bounds this antenna was rated for. "I'll record an emergency broadcast," she says, using her suit comms, "but I suggest you prepare for unwanted attention. Everyone with working comms equipment could hear it. Maybe even Kell's people." Even her warning comes with a slight eagerness that pushes through the fatigue in her voice. "Also, could someone bring me
something to eat?" she asks. "I'm starving." Maybe she'll get home before the missed calls start piling up.
Jake grins, gesturing with the bug leg at Jason. "Freakin' awesome! That's... mgnh... what I'm talking about! Can't believe we might... mnam... actually be leaving this dustball!" he says between chews.
Korio looks towards the new arrival with a nod. "It appears to be the case." he says to Jessica as he gives his seat up to her. "I will bring her some food." he offers to Jason and the others as he moves to collect another bug leg, looking to Jake tentatively as if awaiting approval to take more food.
Mahmoud glances at Jessica as she walks out of the ship but doesn't respond, returning his attention to the not effortless art of filling his canteen with only one arm.
Jason sighs loudly. "You and me both, Jake. You and me both. But that means we need to make sure we get this place secured. Can't get ahead of ourselves here. If she thinks there's even the slightest chance that someone might intercept our message, then we need to be ready to defend ourselves."
Seriah is sitting on the boulder by the drawbridge, looking out at the ocean of sand below, and the flimsy path across the rock pillars that runs through it. She's taken a bug leg with her and is gnawing in it as she sits in silence, goggles on her forehead and her gaze distant.
Renala is leaning on the crate with the laptop on it, propping her head up with her hand. She's watching the numbers on the screen, as well as the status messages that scroll by. There is a smile on her face. This is not the end of the project, however, but she relishes the satisfaction of a problem well solved nonetheless.
Jake shrugs. "Suppose so... I wouldn't be too worried though. We'll just take the bridgeway back here to the mesa once your friend arrive, and we'll be fine."
Korio takes the food since Jake isn't objecting and heads on his way to deliver it to Renala. As he enters the ship, he clangs a gauntlet against the wall to announce his arrival. "Excellent work, T'Iavay." he says. "Let us hope that the others are able to hear your message and link up with us. It has been far too long without contact from them." he sighs as he approaches the asari, extending the bug-leg towards her, "I would be
Jessica sits back against the crate, propping herself up with her hands as a loud sigh escapes her. She stares distantly into the fire for a few moments before propelling herself forward and grabbing a bit of bug meat without awaiting permission. She looks it over, sniffing at it before taking a big bite. It doesn't matter how it tastes. Right now, it's the most delicious thing in the galaxy. Her stomach roars and grumbles in
Jason gives a shake of his head. "With our luck, I don't want to chance it, Jake. According to that one-..." he nods to Seriah, "...it sounded like Kell was preparing to take a shot at us. That's what prompted us to head out when we did. If that's the case and he gets ahold of our coordinates, the last thing we need is to get hit when we're not prepared. Especially when we're this close to getting home."
Renala is slow to react to Korio's arrival, and she slowly gets to her feet. She looks as tired as she sounds. "I'll send our location out along with the emergency broadcast," she says. "I just need Wolfe's go ahead for that." She sighs. "I sure hope they're alright," she then says. "They'll hear me, but I won't hear them." She takes the piece of food with a smile. "Thank you." Once the human joins them near the antenna she
gestures at it. "It's working," she says. "I'm ready to prepare an emergency broadcast, but like I told the others, it's going to give anyone that has the equipment to pick it up our exact position." She takes a large bite of the piece of food, not caring what it is beyond the fact that it is edible.
Jake gives another shrug, taking a bite out of his food and chewing as he considers this. "I dunno... the bugs are protection enough, usually..." he says, without elaborating, and then says: "In case they're not though, you guys have clips, 'cause..." he glances around briefly. No real point pretending otherwise at this stage... "We're dry."
Korio takes a step back, bowing his head in acknowledgement. "He was already speaking with the others about establishing a perimeter. I believe he's expecting you to go ahead with announcing our location." he says before raising his hand to confirm, speaking into his omni-tool. "T'Iavay is awaiting confirmation. Does she have permission to start the broadcast?" he asks.
Jessica points to Jake with her food. "You see!? I told you we could just kill them and take everything and they could not do anything to stop us!" she says. "But now that we know for sure-..." she trails off, giving Jake a grin before digging into her food once again.
Jason rolls his eyes at Jessica. "She's joking..." he says, wanting to make sure that there's no mixed signals anywhere. Given their conditions, lack of sleep, exhaustion, hunger, the last thing he needed was the Eclipse mercs thinking they wish to do them harm. As Korio's voice comes over comms, Jason nods to himself, "Yeah, get it running, Renala. The sooner you get the message out there, the sooner the others can find us."
Jake blinks. "Yeah, uh... her sense of humor could use some tweaking." He glances at Jessica. "Seriously though, don't do that. I let you guys in, so it'll be my fault if you turn out to be assholes. We're all in the same boat here. Just a shame it's a broken one." he takes another bite of insect meat with a casual shrug.
Jessica sighs and waves Jake off dismissively. "We are not assholes..." she groans, "...You really seem to have some weird obsession with assholes, mmm? Asshole this. Asshole that." She shrugs. "Is fine!" she continues defensively, ".....Just... weird."
Renala nods. "Affirmative," she replies over comms and crouches down before the laptop. She clears her throat and begins recording. "This is Renala T'Iavay with Redrock Agency," she begins, trying her best to hide the fatigue in her voice to little avail. "We are stranded out here and need extraction. We have injured that need medical attention." She pauses for a moment, trying to think of more to say. "Please see the attached
coordinates." And stop. Short and sweet. Renala doesn't bother asking for feedback before she starts the broadcast. She sets it to only transmit it once every ten minutes.
Jason warns Jessica by leaning over and prodding her crate with a boot. "Just don't pay her any attention, Jake. She is an asshole. But she's our asshole, so we put up with her shit. Do what the rest of us do and ignore her."
Jessica frowns as she turns sharply to face Jason. "Hey! I am not-..." she pauses, choosing to face Jake instead. "I am not asshole!" she assures, "Is joke! Was just joke!" She pouts, eyeing Jason over a bite of her bug meat before repeating between chews, "...I am not-...mhhmmm.... asshole!"
Jake shrugs at Jessica's comment, not denying the accusation, and then listens to the exchange between her and Jason while eating more bug meat. More entertainment than he's seen in months.