[TWI] Twilight, The Final Frontier: Twipires IN SPACE!!!!

Captain Jean Luc Picard
Captain Picard settled back in his chair, eager to be away from the bonds of Earth's government bureaucracy and free to roam the vast reaches of interstellar space. No longer did Picard derive any pleasure whatsoever from revisiting Starfleet Headquarters. Increasingly, Starfleet was being turned to military pursuit and 'pacification', rather then diplomacy and exploration, that he felt to be the most important aspects of the agency. And the newly instated President of the United Federation of Planets, having replaced Admiral Jonathan Archer recently, showed no inclination of stalling this alarming trend. Quite the opposite, actually, if anything he seemed content to encourage allowing Starfleet to become an arm of the Landsraad.
Since the Dominion War, a conflict which had lasted for four long and bloody years, Starfleet had continually suffered massive losses, and come to develop dedicated military vessels, in preparation for a large Borg incursion or even invasion, and the effective military might of Starfleet increased dramatically as the damaged or destroyed older model ships were replaced by this newer generation of more defined warships, even though the actual number of starships even decreased.

Captain James Tiberius Kirk
The Enterprise is being fitted for upgrades, and the crew is taking leave. Meaning that, for the next twenty four earth hours, you have nothing to do but sit in the Starfleet headquarters and kill time.
At the moment, you are doing it by playing chess with Spock. As always, he plays a slow, defensive game, every move mapped out in advance, while you are more impulsive and aggressive, trying to force him to react to you. It's not working this time, and you're looking at loosing your queen, when abruptly the officers mess goes silent. With a suddenness bordering on uncanny, everyone in the room stops what they are doing in perfect synchrony and gets to their feet in order to break into spontaneous, genuine applause.
The reason is quickly apparent. Out of the corridor strides an iron figure dressed in a gold, fur-lined flight suit and a turtleneck, with a helmet tucked under one arm. A cigarette is resting between his lips, and he is wearing reflective aviator sunglasses.
The applause intensifies as he stops and raises his hand, clearly a little embarrassed at all the attention. A legend in Starfleet, Ace was offered the chance to pilot a brand-new kind of spacecraft, one that can cross dimensions, and so rarely returns to the base. Despite all this, he's modest while still being totally self-confident, and does not like the attention he receives from the other pilots. He'd rather spend time with his friends then attend lavish parties and be piled high with recognition.
"Hey there Kirk." He says in a faint British accent, flicking a salute and pulling up a chair. "Would have come to see you sooner, only I just got back. Bobba Fett shot me in the back off Malichor Seven. I'm just here to hand him in." He pauses a moment, then his hand snakes out to the chessboard and moves your bishop two squares to the left. "Checkmate." he says to Spock, then looks back at you.
"So, how've you been?"

Han Solo
VISTAS is a Saturn-line Gas Giant, surrounded by dozens of small moons and a system of rings composed of icy debris floating on a river-like torrent that sparkles relentlessly as it refracts the light of the suns in all directions. A large, run-down looking space station resting at the inner edge of the planetary rings. The space station resembles three wagon wheels stacked on top of one another, which a large central hub, and each of the spokes leading to an airlock.
It had been built centuries ago by Sir Roger de Tourneville, and had been intended to be a gothic influenced cathedral, but the project had failed, and the station stripped and abandoned. It had since been used by the Federations smugglers and black marketeers as a place to sell there wares, as it was on the very edge of the coalitions space, and too out of the way to be policed. Just the same, the occasional fragment of religious imagery remains, the odd statue or image of pious suffering.
The station can accommodate four dozen ships, and about half that number are currently docked there, with some of the larger ships tethered by lines rather than attached directly to the airlocks. As much as you hate to admit it, the Millennium Falcon is pretty much average for size and appearance of the ships, and is docked on the “space” side of lowest level of the station (away from the planetary rings) in case you need to make a quick getaway.
The Hub is a massive, chaotic swap meet, the size of a small town, and full to bursting with all flavors of intelligent life. It seems that anything can be had here, for the right price. Illegal arms, small vehicles, livestock, replicants, even slaves are being bought, sold and auctioned by the crowd, as well as less immediately practical but incomprehensibly valuable items. Borg implants. Melange. And more. Refugees will barter everything they own to get one way or the other. Some of them will kill you for a crust of bread. It made anywhere else seem positively civilized in comparison. Most of the individuals clustered here are humans, though not exclusively. The slavers are predominately Trandoshans, and you think you spot Bossk, the famous Trandoshan bounty Hunter dressed in a white tuxedo chatting up a pair of blue-skinned Twi'lek sisters.
A Ferengi, backed by a pair of Jawas in brown robes, is haggling with a red-skinned Dosi who looks ready to turn violent. And that's just the start of it.
A renegade Bene Gesserit Revered Mother dressed in full dress regalia has a stall to herself, where she offers to use the sisterhoods unique capabilities for anyone with he credits to afford them. A Yautja hunter simply leans against a wall and lets it's fearsome reputation do the advertising for it, if anyone wanted anyone killed all they had to do was sell it the hunt. And there are other, stranger sights mixed here and there.
But you're not interested in any of this, tempting though it might be. You're looking for Lando. He mentioned a proposition that could make you both very rich if you worked it properly.

Shevek
The Alliance of Worlds has recently made offers to welcome you back into the fold, and remove the embargo that has been placed on you for generations now. It's a generous offer. Too generous, but then, it's to be expected. It's a fact that they don't like you in the middle of their space, defiantly independent. At the very least, you're a bad example. At the worst, a rallying point.
And so they have began making offers. Autonomy towards self-definition within the system. Accorded all the rights of any other Alliance world, including protection from hostile civilizations. And all the other comforts of high culture.
And all they want is to formalize an arrangement already in place, and give you all sorts of advantages for doing it. A meeting was held, and every opinion carefully considered, but so far you are far from reaching anything like a unanimous solution. However, negotiation seems the best bet for now. You and a few of your colleagues are to be picked up by a federation vessel where the conditions will be discussed. You're already looking forward to it.

Serenity
PROSPERO CITY is larger, shinier, cleaner and more cosmopolitan than most of Serenity's stops. Everything looks new... so new, in fact, that much of the city still seems under construction. That which is complete is in the process of renovation, as the city is constantly rebuilt and torn down on the ongoing search for the never achievable perfection. It will never be good enough, but as long as it remains a work in progress it keeps the economy flowing, which does wonders for industry.
Small zeppelins fly between the spires rising from the sprawl of buildings below, and everything is so orderly and bright that there's no question the Alliance had a hand in building the place.
You are here for two reasons. One, is that Inara has a client here. Normally that would be enough to make Mal pointedly look for an excuse to miss the stop in a manner that could almost be associated with jealousy, except he had no such excuse despite pointedly not looking through all available frequencies for one.
Second up, they had an opportunity to take work of their own.

Junior
You and Andrew "Ender" Wiggin have been brought aside by a high ranking officer who seems to have no connection whatsoever to Starfleet, or indeed any aspect of the Coalition whatsoever, yet has the clout to have you both arrested and detained without any trial or contact whatsoever. In the few moments you meet him he identifies himself as Eisenhorn, but says little else.
But he is distinctive, to say the least. The most obvious physical attribute of the man is his crude augmentic assist system, which can be seen projecting from the back of his head and encasing his lower limbs. Clean-shaven, he has shaved his head as well in order to avoid interfering with the augmetic system. Furthermore, he has scars on the side of his face that deadened his nerves, limiting his facial expressions and movement, setting him with a perpetual frown. The grim appearance is heightened by a sober suit of dark greys and blacks under long blue, high-collared coat, that bulges with a chest-rig for his sidearm, holstered under his left shoulder. When he walks he leans on a cane that rattles with every step.
He takes the two of you to a dark room, then sits behind the table, and leans on it, tapping his hands together and waiting for you to speak, eyes hooded in shadow.

Flash Gordan
Newly entering Starfleet, you have been chosen to captain a new, experimental Ship that has been given the slightly ominous name the 'Event Horizon'. Despite having a science major, you don't understand much of the basic physics of it, but it's primary point of interest is a new power-source allowing therefore undreamed amounts of energy and thus allowing you to reach speeds undreamed of. The ship will be capable of traveling light years in moments, and the process involves some sort of transition to a tachyonic state.
Essentially, in layman's terms, you use a rotating magnetic field to focus a narrow beam of gravitons; these in turn fold space-time consistent with Weyl tensor dynamics until the space-time curvature becomes infinitely large and you have a singularity. It's unspeakably dangerous, and the risks are great, but the possible rewards are such that they would render humanity the only major power in the universe.
For all that, it's not comforting. Quite the opposite, it's ominous to look at, you can't help but think, as you discern the hard angles of a man-made craft. The scale of the vessel is almost unbelievable, a vast labyrinth of steel.

Richard B. Riddick
FORT LIBERTY is a small, tight looking walled city built up against the side of a low mountain. Filled with sharp-edged, institutional-looking buildings, the place is certainly exactly what it was, a place far from anywhere to dump the Alliance's unwanted. It's hardly the worst prison he's been thrown into, ironic name or not, but it’s still much more “civilized” that most places where he'd choose to live.
All in all, it has the feel of an industrial complex that sprang up to service a military outpost, that itself was created to house the state of the art facility to keep men like you from interfering with the rest of the universe, which is exactly what it was.
Giant mounted cannons, with barrels more then ten meters long, dot the wall that protects the city. Each cannon is manned by a uniformed soldier. They train on the ship (Clear Air Turbulence, the call it) that holds you as it comes to land, and an entire squadron level their weapons at you as you are taken from the holding chair and forced out. They are taking no chances with you.
You're pushed onto the airstrip with two dozen weapons trained on you, ready to open fire at the slightest twitch.
Jack Crow is a notorious celebrity and one-time pirate, a tough man who does not hesitate to kill or do what he has to in order to survive, but has been somewhat romanticized and is now seen as a dashing rogue rather then a cut-throat and murderer. He seems to regard his reputation as a missed blessing, and wears an old set of personnel power armor that should have been decommissioned. It's sleeker then the modern style, and fits him well, almost like a second skin, but he is nothing if not menacing.

John Stalvarn
You are assigned as the military arm in the upcoming experimental spaceship. You get no say in the matter. There is no evidence of long term habitation, just gleaming steel that has never known a human touch before now. Depersonalized lockers. Fold-down bunks, chairs and tables currently stowed for docking. A modular galley. These are to be your quarters while the ship explores the reaches of space. The men have already secured the quarters from flight status. Bunks have been folded down, each alcove personalized with photographs and pin-ups.
Outside there are more interesting rooms. A high tech operating room, full of modular equipment. Vertical tanks line the walls, each large enough to hold a human being, and gravity couches are in display.
You and your men stand before the gravity couches, almost nude, no room for modesty in Rasczak's Roughnecks, or the Mobile Infantry Sardaukar.
Lt. Rasczak (who the platoon is named after) moves around the cabin, checking the crew's radiation badges, and health read-outs. At last satisfied, he lets you all in, and you get changed back into your uniforms.

Paul Atredis
Duke Leto has been given the lucrative fief of the Jungle moon of Pandora. In terms of infrastructure or habitation it is a blip, the atmosphere is breathable but unpleasant, and it has little in the way of industrialization. Furthermore, the natives are hostile and refuse all attempts at negotiation and peaceful resolution, leading to them being forcibly pacified. However, it is the primary source of the Alliances Dilithium (referred to as Unobtanium by some engineers in a tongue and cheek manner) deposits, which allow the manufacture of warp drives. Without it, no faster then light speed travel, and as such it is one of the most valuable resources in existence.
The CHOAM corporation, the major underpinning of the Alliance's economy, whose shares and directorships determine production and allocation of resources, as well as, by extension House's income and financial leverage, have given it to you.
However, to balance this the president of the Alliance has given the Harkonnens desert planet Arrakis, the only known source of the spice Melange. The motives are obvious, keep the most powerful houses in competition to encourage production and keep them from threatening him.

Hober Mallow
A vast field of stars, stretching further then the mind can comprehend. The gas giant Neptune slowly spins into view. Brilliant and blue and cold against the void.
A black silhouette stands out against the planet, tiny against Neptune's scale, but soon drifts closer, revealing the Far Star.
You sit on the command deck, feeling very satisfied as you make your way to Earth. A luckily-discovered route through the Rifts of Ursuul IV has allowed you to do business with the Romulan Empire (off the books, of course), making you more then a year of normal work. And yet it's only a side-project while you focus on your real goal, despite the not-inconsiderable wealth it is making you. You are coming close to uncovering the key to wealth and power beyond your wildest dreams: the Haarlock Warrant, and with it, the ability to claim several uninhabited planets, and requisition huge numbers of Sardaukar to your cause, not to mention the full support of the Landsraad, of course, boundless wealth, effectively establishing you as as an independent Great House. Even that would be enough for most people, but your plan goes deeper still. If all goes as planned, you should be able to destabilize the CHOAM corporation, and effectively force the Alliance to return to free trade, rather then the socialist based society of the moment.

Outlaw Star
You've been doing simple jobs around Sol system for six months now, and you have to face up to it. You're not making enough to break even, and barely to cover base subsistence, while you plummet deeper and deeper into debt.
This solar system has been good to you, none of your many enemies can touch you here, except the most deadly of all, the banks. Particularly the Sector Bank 001 of San Francisco. When lesser banks found the houses they supported would not meet their debts, they opened their veins. When this bank found it out, new lords appeared as if from nowhere, all of whom were much more willing to find the money.
And you don't have the credits to even attempt to pay your debts.

Ratchett and Clank
You're trying to understand an ancient Technomite artifact you recently uncovered, by translating the how-to guide, but it's proving to be a long and arduous process, and it doesn't tell you enough of what you need to know. What it does tell is maddeningly infuriating. If not for the obscene ammount of money you are being paid to understand it, you'd have given up in frustration long ago.
It's a giant ring composed of a superconductive mineral called 'naqahdah', that's theoretical as far as you can tell, as there is no way to create it in a stable way to keep it from falling apart instantly. It has nine points, or 'chevrons', spaced equally around the circumference which serve a purpose you have yet to uncover. On the inner ring are 39 unique glyphs which you have no idea how to translate, but you suspect is the key to understanding the thing.

Cowboy Bebop Crew
Work has been slow, until you happened to find the first lead in weeks. Outside a club (The Old Pink Dog Bar) in Han Dold City a figure you recognize as a known frequent fratinizer with the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate. Nadreck the Palainian.
He himself is extremely valuable, given the chaos he's caused, however if you can also get his known associates you are looking at the sort of payoff you usually only see in your dreams.

Junior

Junior walks forward and places his hands on the table and looks at Eisenhorn in the eyes, if those are visible, and speaks. "Okay dude, we came here after you threatened us so pray tell, just what do you want?"


Rachet and Clank
Grey:Clank
Orange:Rachet

Clank looks at Rachet with half lidded eyes that are basically screaming I told you so. Rachet I told you that we shouldn't have taken this job, I can see you buying the plans for a Blargian jet pack from a shady dealer. At least you can read Blargian but you have no idea how to read this.Rachet looks over the guide he was trying to figure out to give Clank a look of annoyance. Clank, I get that your a little T.Oed right now but listen if I figure this out with the amount of mone we'll get paid who know what I could invent. I'm sure it will be no less bizzare than your last three inventions What do you mean? What I mean is that Nuclear powered Rocket sleds, Anti-Matter Bathroom Buddy's, and Electroshock Undergarments are not something that ordinary inventors would create. For the last time Clank it's not electroshock undergarmets it's "Stunderwear" and they were a huge seller on Umbris. Now will you stop complaining and try reading this this. Clank sighs and takes the guide from Rachet to try his hand and Deciphering the artifact.

Outlaw Star
Jim is hurriedly clacking away on the computer at their base: Starwind and Hawking Enterprises. Located in the back-alley of a rundown district in a town in Southern California, they live in a relatively nice location with plenty of room to store their parts.
"Gene, this isn't a time for your beauty sleep. Wake up and help me look for jobs!" he yells at his idiot partner lying in a cot on the second floor of the warehouse. "I like the effort you put into skipping breakfast to save money, but we're still in the red! So wake up! Ugh, you're hopeless..."
He sighs as Gene merely rolls over in the cot. Jim was going to have to work alone today again while Gene waits for the "Big Job" that's been coming... for about 3 months now. He doesn't settle for the smaller jobs that would be enough to go to paying off the debt or launching out of this system. So Jim picks up his tools and drives off to the next job.
Melfina has been working well as a waitress, but she's really only bringing in enough money for food and sometimes some leftover food from her job. Aisha has been trying to work in construction, but her pride as a "Great Ctarl-ctarl" has caused her to lose many of her jobs after the first pay check. Suzuka is the only one bringing in constant money as a detective/assassin in the city, but she's only bringing in enough to pay for the parking fees on the Outlaw Star.
This leaves Rent, Water, Electricity, and other such things in Gene and Jim's hands. With Gene not working, they've had to do without Electricity for a while and even Jim's meager earnings aren't getting them anywhere. So debt has been going unpaid and the interest keeps piling up.
Gene finally wakes up at around 1 in the afternoon, his usual time. He stretches and lays back again. He'd just play some video games while he waited for the big call.

Kirk
Kirk looks up at Ace; his mentor and friend. Ace was a particularly close friend to Kirk because he'd helped him pick himself up from the ashes he'd been left in by the massacre at Tarsus IV. Ace, who'd managed to get the food there earlier than expected, had been the one to help a shell-shocked young Kirk discover the wonders of the universe and truly put the desire to travel in him. He'd helped him get into the academy, and from there, Kirk had prospered. He really did owe everything to this man.

What a guy.

He smirks up at him, "Wonderful, Ace. Crossed over to an alternate dimension where everyone was evil. Met Mirror Spock-Spock, never grow a goatee. It'll look horrible on you."

Solo
Han Solo was, to put it mildly, suspicious. Lando was a friend, sure, and he'd trust him with his life...but his schemes? No way, half the time they tended to end really horribly and caused his debt to become even worse. Still, he needed the money, and, frankly, this one might actually work out for the better.

He smirks as he passes all the various things for sale and people; this was life. Free, untamed, and utterly chaotic. If there were fewer bounty hunters, he might actually want to stay here a few days.

Kirk
"Right. Maybe I should visit there next, skipper." He replies, smirking right back. It's his job, afterall. He's also the only one allowed to call you nicknames. "Same sort of thing here, saved the universe a few time, ended a whole lot of dictatorships, turned down thousands of marriage proposals, and got my highlights done." He replies.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you. See, I need a favor." Seeing your reaction, he nods and shrugs good naturedly. "I know you're up for it. See, I found this.” He tosses you a holopad. “When you get a chance, take a look. It's a stable wormhole in the Benzite system. Romulans, I know. Fett had it, I think he might be working for them. Up for it, Skipper?”

Solo
Chewie growls, and at two meters in height this was not something to take lightly, and gestures over at a table, where Lando is in the process of hustling several aliens with a Khansas City Shuffle. Seeing you he ends it quickly and waves you over.
"Han, you old pirate! You look good!" He says loudly clenching you in a close hug, smiling widely. “How have you been?”

Junior
Eishorn's expression does not change. "I want a great many things. But you can't give me any of them." He taps his hand to his cane, and clumsily twitches his lip.
"Civilization, paradise, all that is only possible thanks to comfort. Keeping people happy. Our system is far from perfect. Despite our much lauded beliefs and policies to other races, humans are naturally jingoistic. Ultimately, we are a galactic power, and we will not remain that way by appeasing other races."
He taps the tip of his cane against the ground once more. "Which brings me to the two of you. Humanity is working on a breeding program, as is known. The navigators are required to breed in the family, but it goes deeper then that. You are both valuable to us for your genetic material, and you abilities. A civilization must make the best use of it's assets. We wish to utilize you."

Clank, Ratchett
You can't determine much more then you friend. It has no common root in any of the languages programmed into you. You've built something of a cypher, but at thhe current rate, you estimate it will take you aproximately six hundred star-years to translate it into anything meaningful.
You need more data, to make a case of translating.
Unfortunately taking it apart isn't working much better. You don't understand the principles it's based on even a little. About the only thing you can think of doing is switch it on and see if it works.

Outlaw Star
Your generator has been switched off, and is producing about as much energy as you can expect to get walking over a carpet in static. You're not going to be playing video games at the moment. Or switching on lights, or doing much of anything at all.
All that's left is waiting for the phone call.

Outlaw Star
Gene throws the game down to the ground in frustration.
"STUPID SPACE INVADERS! Man, I need a drink," he murmurs as he gets off the couch. He checks his supply and sees that he's out of all of his liquor.
"Already out? Really?" he sighs as he looks at the clock. "8:42? Suzuka and Melfina should be getting back soon. I gotta make it look like I'm looking for a job so they don't yell at me again. Psh, who needs a job when the next big thing is right around the corner?"
He heads out the door, grabbing his jacket and slinging it over his shoulder.

-Twenty Minutes Later-

Jim arrives home to see Melfina cooking dinner for the group.
"Hey Melfina. Gene not home yet?" he asks her, setting his tools down and placing his earnings in their jar.
"Not yet, Jim. Dinner will be ready shortly," she answers, setting the plates out around the table as the pot boils.
"Dang. He better not be out drinking again. Doesn't he know where that money comes from?!" Jim says under his breath, frustration building up in his fist. Jim takes off his coat and walks to the table.
The door is violently thrust open as Aisha enters the area with Suzuka directly behind her.
"Is dinner ready yet?" Aisha asks, hurrying to the table. She's been proving very vividly that she could eat someone out of house and home since she started bunking with the crew. Her food intake alone is what is preventing them from paying off the interest on their debts.
"In a minute, Aisha. I have to let the pot sit for another minute," Melfina responds, finishing up the table and preparing to move the meat pot.
"Thank you for cooking for us, Melfina. If you weren't here, I don't know what we'd do," Suzuka chuckles, sitting down at her seat after depositing her share of the money in the jar. She has her own personal stash of 20-30 thousand, but she doesn't let anyone in the group know this.
"It's the least I can do for all that you all have done for me," Melfina says, putting the pot in the middle of the table. The group proceeds to devour the contents (mostly Aisha).

-Meanwhile at the Pub-
Gene uses the last of the money he's been holding on to to purchase another glass of beer. He talks to the bartender about nothing for a while until he, or rather the lack of beer remaining, decides to ask around for rumors about big jobs or bounties. His usual routine.

Junior

"So , what your asking is for us to become sperm donors? Did you really need the whole cloak and dagger shtick for that old man? Unless there's more to it.

Rachet and Clank
Clank:grey
Ratchet:orange
Aphelion:red

Clank gives his furry friend his analysis. Okay then, lets get on that, APHELION. The duo's sentient hyper advanced ship flies to them at Ratchet's call. Aphelion we need to find a database in order to try and figure out this artifact. Clank thinks the symbols on it might be a cipher. Can you try and locate any. I can try, locating nearby planets now....
While this is happening Clank simply tries switching on the thing

Spike and Faye

Spike scratched himself awkwardly as he approached the bar with Faye on his arm. Destroying half of a small outpost town on a backwater world for a 500k bounty was not am economically sound move for the crew. As such Spike was forced to play this job a little more subtly than he'd prefer. That meant going into the bar as a former Syndicate Enforcer and his date and not a bounty hunter.

Faye smirked slightly as they pushed their way into the bar. She was revelling in this job. Not only did she get some use out of her rarely used dress but she got to watch Spike squirm as they got the bounty. The "couple" entered the bar and surveyed the patron before making their next move.

Cowboy Bebop
The Old Pink Dog Bar has a reputation to maintain. They usually drew the line at outright murder, but otherwise stepping in there was effectively putting you fate in the hands of others. Finding a criminal here was a matter of throwing a brick. However, actually doing anything about the criminal was another matter entirely.
It caters to humans, and that's it. If you don't like it, too bad, because they don't make enough to cater to other races biology. What some find to be a refreshing drink, others find to be a deadly poison. No synthehol here, it was all the genuine article.
A disembodied arm flops behind the bar, seemingly of it's own accord, then you pause. You recognize that man by the bar. Captain Gene Star.
Nadreck, however, is nowhere to be seen. Maybe he's gone out the back.

Outlaw Star
Silence. You'd gone to the only place you could find that actually sold alcohol rather then that synthetic stuff that was taking over the market. Said bar happens to be the exact same one that Spike and Faye just chose to investigate. In this sort of place, that sort of attention can be very dangerous.
“Who wants to know?” The man behind the bar asks, as he hands you a bottle of chinan’ton’nickx.

Junior
“Your genetic material may be valuable to us. But you yourselves have the potential to be far more so.” Eishorn replies. “We are beginning what we call a brain race. The future of the galaxy will be shaped by those with the most power, in whatever form it takes. I intend for it to be humanity, rather then allow us to become a marginalized race at the mercy of others. Therefore, we need any advantage we can get.”
He looks at you levelly. "You are a potential advantage."

Ratchett and Clank
A breathrough. The symbols used to compose addresses are actually pictorial representations of star constellations, however they are stretched throughout the galaxy at all angles. At last tyou activate it, and there is an explosion of light. When you look up, you realize you are looking at a stable wormhole.
Your jaw hits the ground. Instantaneous transportation could rise or sink galatic civilizations. And if you could figure out how to replicate this, you could control it. The possibilities are almost too much to comprehend.

Kirk
"Always up for something new, Ace." Kirk chuckles as he looks at Spock, nodding his head. A new adventure. Braving the frontier and discovering what was really out there; it was what Kirk lived for. "Know where it leads? Hate to get my ship stranded in the delta quadrant or worse, out beyond known space."

Solo
"Poorer, angrier, and hoping your plan is actually going to help get at least a few debters off my back."

Spike and Faye

"Damnit Gene." Spike curses as he watches Gene go about his business, the man meant well but he was one of the few people out there more destructive than Spike when it came to a fight. If things got even a little hairy it will go bad fast.

Faye notices Spike's distress and sits him down at the bar. "Get a drink and find our marks. I'll take care of Starwind."

Spike nods as he orders himself some whisky and looks over the bar goers for anyone too drunk to put up much of a fight and/or with an incredibly large bounty on their heads. When he fails that he takes his drink in one go and wanders outside.

Faye makes her way over to Gene and sneaks up behind him. "Hey there Captain. Slumming it a little bit are we?"

{Cracklord: First I want to say...wow. You've managed to throw a bajillion different sci-fi settings together and somehow make it stick, and also somehow fit in a whole bunch of references to other sci-fi settings. The ones I noticed are Starship Troopers, John Steakley's 'Armor', the Culture series (Clear Air Turbulence) and the freaking Lensman series (what with Nadreck the Palonian: quite possibly the most scary and dangerous meek and self-effacing coward I've ever seen in ficiton)

Anyways, well done.}

Shevek

There was once a wall.

This wall, around the Spaceport of the city of Abbenay, once was held by many to be a prison wall, locking the world of Annares away from the rest of the universe. Others saw it as a wall locking the universe in, leaving Annares outside, free.

But in recent years, the wall was torn down. New ships from other worlds, traders and private explorers and rogues were allowed to land. Some grumbled about the propertarians and how it would all lead to war and enslavement, the end of the Promise.

But things have to change. Shevek thinks to himself. We have to move forward, or the Revolution will cease. And the people who come here...they do not fit into their birth societies. They are renegades, anarchists in their own way, you could say.

Shevek turned to his fellow syndics. Some, along with him, represented the Syndicate of Initiative, while others came to represent the Glassblowers Syndicate, the Defense Organisation, the local Holum-weavers Cooperative, the Student's Federation, the A.I. Research Group, and the many other voluntary organizations that expressed an interest in attending this meeting.

"What you should remember..." He begins to say carefully. "Is that these representatives of the Alliance, they will try to buy us. Don't hold any malice towards them: they probably won't be able to help themselves. They've lived in a universe where either you own or are owned, rule or are ruled over. It's the only way they know how to interact with people. But perhaps we can set them straight on that manner."

He grins sheepishly. "They'll probably also assume that we have the power to dictate changes to the people of Annares, rather than simply being mandated Delegates of the Syndicates we represent. Don't be surprised if they treat you like rulers, but still, I would recommend wariness."

Shevek
They've all been through this, and go through the motions, not really listening. Indeed, you think you can sense a faint degree of contempt in them, directed towards the ambassador who should be arriving shortly.
Which is troubling, in it's own way.

Solo
"Well, I can fix that." He replies, sitting down. "House Harkonnen was just given Arrakis to run. Politics as usual, let them run it into the ground then give it to somebody else. Who cares, right?" He lets off a cocky smile. "'Cept I know a few of the middle-men who work for the family. A few owe me favors, the others can be bought off. I'm talking Melange, brother. I'm talking more money then you can believe. All I need is a lunatic to move it, and I thought you might be up for it."

Kirk
"No idea at all, Skipper." He replies. "But knowing you, you'll get out of anything you get dropped into." He gets to his feet. "Well, I better get off. Got a hearing in a minute. Smoke me a kipper. I'll be back for breakfast."
"What a guy." Says Spock, mirroring everyone in the 'This Time Round' bar with his tones of complete adoration, then shakes away the uncharacteristic emotional reaction and his face becomes impassive again.

Outlaw Star
Gene looks at Faye right before he was about to give his name to the bartender.
"Yeah, just trying to find that big break so I can get our business out of the red.
You know, that dress really fits you. On a date or something?" he asks, finishing off his drink. A drunk, a lech, a hot-blooded mess, a pilot, and an arrogant son of a b*tch. All of these describe Gene well, but the best way to describe him right now is ignorant. The jacket covering his scars and tattoos is probably the only thing keeping him from being recognized.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard

"Captain's Log, Stardate 8636.29. The Sovereign-Enterprise has just left the planet Argon 6, having dropped off Counsellor Troi for a conference on Tellarite developmental psychology. Wesley Crusher has also requested planet leave, as Argon 6 has an outstanding preparatory program for the Starfleet entrance exams. Our temporary counsellor, Lieutenant Bridge Carson is being escorted to my ready room even as I speak, along with one of Chief Engineer LaForge's old friends, Commander Kat Manx. I have asked Lieutenant Commander Data to formally greet them; I feel that such an encounter will only enhance his ability to comprehend emotion. And Engineering has just finished an extremely important and essential task for me, one that I needed to supervise with a very close eye..."

The Captain stands up from his comfortable chair, and makes his way to the teleporter. And for the first time in several days, speaks.

"Tea. Earl Grey. Hot."

He takes a sip, lets his shoulders down, and relaxes.

Preem Palver

He departs the Bellerophon in Prospero City, having finished a tour in the Outer Colonies. The First Speaker slaps his highly unfashionable brown suit, adjusts his tie, and begins his search for another ship to sail on. It didn't matter where said ship was going, either; a random walk down the Galaxy would help him get a pulse for what was going on far more than any guided tour.

Shevek

Shevek pauses as he gains a sense of the mood in the air.

"There is a disquiet here." He asks Hashar, the Syndic from the Physics Federation, and a colleague he is friendly with. "What is wrong, Ammar?"

Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Commander Riker enters the bridge, making his way over to you, and salutes. He only does that when he wants to speak freely, knows you won’t like it, and wants to show you’re in charge. “I’ll be clear. I wish to complain about the replacements. I know they are legally human…” His tone makes it clear that the distinction annoys him, “but this is a sensitive mission, and I don’t like having untried crew members in charge of major roles while we are performing it. Particularly ones who are members of species not part of the Alliance and who themselves are not members of Starfleet.”
He stops his tirade. It’s a fair complaint, in it’s way, but he recognizes it’s out of line and not what you need to hear at the moment.

Lieutenant Commander Worf, Commander Anubis Cruger, Kat Manx, Bridge Carson
The two of you have been placed in charge of familiarizing the new arrivals with the ship, showing them the ropes, introducing them to the other officers and otherwise ensuring they fit comfortably in.

Shevek
"Most of us do not expect the Alliance to play fair. They want to own everything, to name everything, to write their names on everything. I do not anticipate them allowing us to continue as we have." He guestures at the rest of the group. "And it would seem I am not alone."

Edward Cullen
The bridge was a huge sweeping arc which apexed in a massive curving viewscreen dominating the entire area. The floor he stood on arced downward as well, creating two levels. In the middle sat a huge chair, position at the wall separating the bridge's upper and lower sections. Droids worked at humming stations lining the entire back of the place.
He sat on the chair, tapping his figertips as he watched the depths of space. Hard, yet regal, it kept whoever sat in it alert and ready for whatever was coming, but also reminded him of the station he possessed. And did the same to any whom looked at him.
Space. Endless stars, tiny pinpricks of light in the endless blackness, dark as his own soul. Or maybe he was the blackness, maybe it was all an extension of him, and the void that crushed against the worlds within, slowly smothering them all was he. He inclined his head beneath his hood slightly, lips quirking a little. He liked that idea.
Then he shook his head. "Steady. If it can't be expressed in figures, it is not science; it is opinion.” He reminds himself, sitting up and paying attention again.
A sleek, silver droid, like an insect with a head like a curved blade turned, it's eyes glowing crimson ominously, then sensing no commands in Edward's voice it returned to what it was doing before, ensuring that the ship remained on course.

Junior

He sighs as he ruffles his crimson red hair. "Well at least your telling us upfront that we're being somewhat used instead of being sneaky about it. I've got a few reservations though. What your talking about sounds like what U.R.T.V's are. A race of bio weapons. Believe me it seems like a good idea at first, and then everything goes to hell and then your like 'Man what kinda drugs was I takin that day?'. As you can see I do appreciate what your trying to do but the means seem a little off. No offense or anything."

Ratchet and Clank
Rachet:Orange
Clank:Grey
Aphelion:Red

"Whoa! Clank what is this?" he asks clearly bewildered. "It appears to be a stable wormhole capable of teleportation anywhere in the galaxy, possible further." his robotic compation replies. "It appears to be similar to Lombax technology." the feminine voice of Aphelion interjects. "You mean like the Dimensionator was?" "Do not believe so. The Dimensionator was a device that allowed travel thought the infinite dimensions. As your know the continued use of it cause a time-space singularity. However this device seem to have travel to only this dimension allowing us only to travel though space. Though I'm not sure if it is dangerous." "Well there's only one way to find out. Lets port to the nearest planet." "Wait, Ratchet!" Clank is to late to stop his impulsive friend as Ratchet activate the device to take them to the nearest planet.

Junior
"Noted." He replies softly, and slightly dismissively, now that you think about it, "However, that is not my concern. My concern is promoting harmony within the vast organizations that govern the Federation, and ensuring that any rivalries and discord are dealt with and kept to a minimum. That is now your job as well."

Ratchet and Clank
The Stargates only link to other Stargates, and cannot take you anywhere. You have a feeling of white light for a moment, of weightlessness, then of falling, then...
You fall onto another world. The trees are alien, the color too cyan to be anything you've seen before. You're in the middle of a small meadow among the towering trees. The fern-like 'grass' is beaten down around the portal you just stepped through, ringed by a metal border exactly like the one you just stepped through. However, the portal closed behind you, and you have no idea how to get it open again.
The place smells wrong. Earth, plants, the nearby forest, none of it smells like it should.

Spike

Annoyed that his mark doesn't seem to even be in the bar Spike heads out back looking for him.

***

Faye

"Say that if you want to see Spike squirm a bit." Faye says with a smile taking a seat beside the Captain of the rival vessel. The Outlaw Star and the Bebop had crossed paths on a couple contracts and it almost always ended in lots of property damage and both crews further in debt. Faye lights a smoke and sighs.

"So you're not here on a bounty head?"

***

SPD Rangers

Doggie stands at attention besides his Klingon counterpart as the other SPD Rangers are transported onto the ship. He nods his head into a polite nod as their atoms are reconstituted by transporters. "Bridge, Kat it's been a long time."

"It's only been three hundred and fifty seven days since you were transferred from the Earth branch to Flagship security detail. With your Anubian sense of time that is quite an insignificant span of time Commander Kruger." Bridge says starting to ramble on with insignificant factoids.

"It was a bit of a surprise that I'd be chosen as the temporary Counsellor at the same time as you and Kat get full time job on the Enterprise. I thought the Federation wanted us all benched after the Reef Side incident. Time Travel is expressly forbidden even in the pursuit of alienizers." Bridge continues to ramble on as Doggie ignores him. Instead the alien turns his attention to Kat.

"Engineering. Aren't Warp engines a few steps backwards from morphing tech?" He asks his feline friend.

"On most ships but the specs on the Enterprise are unique. With a few years to work on the navigational tech we might be able to eliminate the need for the Spice. That's much more impressive than power suits to punch in a Regelian's face." Kat says with a slight smile.

"Of course." Doggie nods skeptically. "This is Lt. Commander Worf, Worf this is Counsellor Bridge Carson and Specialist Kat Manx."

Kirk
"Don't worry Spock. Everyone says that." Kirk doesn't bother fighting the smile on his face at Spock's reaction. He passes Spock the holopad Ace had tossed to him. "Well then, Spock, what do you think of our new mission?"

Solo
"Wait. Wait-Lando? Have you been smoking anything lately? Drugs are one thing. Weapons are another. Spice, though? That's big. Really big. The whole godd*** empire, every bounty hunter in the universe, and everyone from the Postmaster General to the Borg Queen will be hunting me! Though....for the right price, the Falcon could handle it."

Captain Picard

"Commander, I understand your concerns. But Counsellor Carson comes highly recommended by Counsellor Troi. And Specialist Manx is only here to visit Commander LaForge; she is not going to be replacing anybody, Commander. I only granted the request because he hasn't seen her since he lost his VISOR. In a very real sense, this is the first time he has seen her."

Picard sips his tea, and skimms through a PADD.

"We have a mission briefing at 1300 hours, Commander. I trust that a Counsellor will be able to be able to act with tact and dignity."

((Does what Picard says contradict what Manx says about her job? Yes. That's a subplot point.))

Hober Mallow

He finishes his cigarette, flicking the stub into the disposal bin with a cool satisfaction. He absently flicks a control rod or two, reducing his speed and opening hails.

"This is Trader Hober Mallow of the Far Star, requesting permission to land."

Yes, he had a plan to finally open the barriers to trade in this section of space. He didn't care about what political system they were under, or how their economy as a whole was structured. Just as long as he got his 15% commission and sales were good, Hober Mallow was a pleased man.

Han Solo
"Still trying to extort me after all these years, pirate? That makes me sad. I'm the first one you come running to where there is signs of trouble. Don't worry so much. Sure, people will notice. It probably gets weighed every half hour to make sure not so much as a grain goes missing. That's what I'd do. But just because they know it's gone doesn't mean they know who took it, does it? Hell, you're the last place anyone would check, and the guys I know aren't likely to talk. They'd be putting themselves in the line of fire as well."
Seeing Chewie's incredulous look,

Kirk
Spock seems even more flustered, somehow. "I mean, obviously he is admirable and worthy of praise in that he has achieved so much in a short period of time, and is an excellent role-model in that he tirelessly sets an example worthy of emulation, however I would prefer to express my praise in a less haphazard manner."
He then looks at the Holo-pad, mostly to change the subject you suspect. "Fascinating" He says, pointed eyebrow arching. "It would seem that the energy readings are far bellow the projected scale to maintain such a rip, and yet it is expanding at a steady rate. Logically, that would mean either some unknown party is assisting this transition, or the energy is taking some form Commander Rimmer's scanner is not capable of detecting. Perhaps if we were to observe it ourselves we could determine more, but the data is insufficient to form any precise conclusion."

Spike
The Bouncer tries to stop you, but a broken wrist takes care of that. You walk into what is, in better times, something of a brothel. The Palainian is sitting on a couch, arms folded neatly in his lap, staring levelly at you. "I have no intention of resisting if you insist on being violent about this. I abhor violence. At least on a personal level. Not that you have much chance of actually removing me from this building, given the disposition of those in the room downstairs." He pauses. "But if you'll indulge my curiosity, what are you here in regards to? Sedition, passing secrets to the Federations enemies, terrorism, or something else? I find it hard to defend myself when I don't know my situation."

Picard
Ricard seems mollified, if not entirely satisfied, by your answer. He trusts your judgement, and as long as you are aware of the potential for friction and have considered it he is willing to leave the rest in your hands. "Very well, captain." He says, relaxing the stiffness a little.
"I'll take over the helm, in that case."

SPD Rangers
Your conversation continues, as Worf begins to take charge of the tour, not really participating. He starts with the upper-levels, the holo-decks, the officers quarters and the monitoring rooms. He then you takes you down to the engine rooms and to meet the crew. Finally he takes you up to the bridge.

Hober Mallow
"Authentication?" A pleasant female voice replies over the communications. "Please provide details, the purpose of your visit and the duration of your stay." Increasingly, Space Travel was being monitored. In such a controlled economy some smuggling was inevitable, but nonetheless it caused friction and supply problems when it got out of hand.

Spike

"I'm not really sure." Spike shrugs surprised that he was recognized as a Bounty Hunter so quickly.

"To be honest I rarely read the charges section of the bounty files. I just know you're worth half a million credits if I drag your *** back to San Francisco." His hand lowers to into his jacket for the handgun slung under his shoulder.

***

SPD

Bridge looks over Worf. "I heard Klingons were surly but I always assumed it was a racial stereotype not actually grounded in reality."

"Don't mind Worf. He takes his duty very seriously, he's rather big on Klingon honour. Makes him a bit grouchy at times but he's a good man." Doggie says with a respectful nod to his fellow officer.

They step onto the Bridge and salute the command personnel (Bridge is a bit slow about it only following suit a few seconds after Kat and Doggie do).

Spike
"Is that so. Well, if this is only a business transaction, I have no problem whatsoever offering you compensation for leaving me here." He replies. It's hard to credit, but he seems quite serious about avoiding violence at all costs. He's not armed, he doesn't have the presence or the appearance of a fighter, and indeed it's difficult to imagine what someone so meek and unassuming looking could do to be worth that amount of money.

Shevek

"Then let's be on our guard." Shevek says.

"And let us not give them an excuse they can use to justify their desire to seize things, right?"

He looks out at the descending spaceship in the distance.

"And let's enjoy the spaceflight while we can: it's a very pleasurable experience, spaceflight!"

Gene
"Nah, we've set up shop here for regular business. We haven't gotten any, mind you, since people tend to avoid searching for violent answers to problems, at least at my caliber," he sighs, leaning back. "I haven't had a good job in forever and I'd love the chance to get out of this dump. Jim wants to start up a long-standing business so funds can come regularly, but I just can't stand it. Once you've tasted space, you can't go back, you know?"
He checks his wallet to make sure he's broke. Yup, not even enough for a single cigarette, let alone another shot of anything.

Jim and Suzuka
After dinner, Jim set off in the car with Suzuka opting to go with. Gene never seemed to notice when Jim bugged his jacket, so he was really easily tracked.
"Dammit Gene, if I find you in trouble again I'm going to kill you!" he growls, his grip on the wheel of the car tightening. Suzuka merely looks forward, the air around her seeming still.
The car dashes for the bar.

Spike

"Sorry I like to keep my business legal. On your feet." Spike says drawing his gun and pointing it at the strange man. While he is curious as to why this man is so wanted he can't afford to question it here and now.

***

Faye

Faye smiles and orders another shot for Gene and herself. As the drinks come she takes them for a second and subtly drops a pill into one before sliding it over to Gene. Assuming Gene drinks it and isn't on anything else it should knock him out for a couple hours and give him the Mother of all hangovers when he comes to. "Bottoms up Cowboy."

Kirk
Kirk chuckles at the flustered response Spock gave, before nodding his head, "Interesting, Mr.Spock. In that case, it seems only prudent that we begin an investigation, and hope that Trelane or some other would-be god intervenes. First, we need to find Bones and Scotty, then get the rest of the crew on the ship."

Solo
"Jabba's only one step from sending Fett after me, and frankly, that man is bad enough when there ISN'T money in it for him." He leans back; normally, he'd outright avoid this question, but...."Who exactly ARE your suppliers?"

Gene
Being drunk as he is he doesn't notice her slip in the pill.
"Thanks for the drink," he says, taking it and downing it in one gulp. He looks at the glass afterwards.
"I just hope that I can leave this place soon. You know, outside of work you guys are pretty cool. Maybe we can work together on some-" he starts, but falls asleep before he can finish. From the blinking light on his left shoulder under the collar you can tell he's being tracked, most likely by Jim.

Hober Mallow

"Transmitting information; stand by."

Oh, bureaucracy. Can't live with it, or without it. The form was simple enough, though. Purpose: business. Duration: 3 days. And then his various certifications and licenses. Easy enough.

Jean-Luc Picard

The captain leaves his ready room after he finishes his tea; the SPD are already there.

"It's a pleasure to have all of you on board. And there's no need to salute, any of you. So long as you are diligent in your work, and perform admirably, I have little use for formal salutes."

He shakes hands with each of them, nodding as he does so.

"We have a briefing on Conference Room E in twenty minutes. Commander Riker, my Number One can escort you there. I need to talk to Mister Worf myself."

Hober Mallow
"One moment." The voice says, withdrawing to check each of the answers individually. Then it came back on. "Enjoy your stay. Please inform this office if your situation changes for any reason." And that was that. Anyone else would be expected to detail what they were transporting, and go through an inspection or two.
You weren't even questioned. It comes with the influence you have accumulated, being above suspicion.

Jean-Luc Picard
Worf straightens his shoulders and remains on the bridge, clasping his hands behind his back. "Yes, captain?" He asks in his deep voice, lowering his eyes half an inch.

Spike
"Very well then." He gets to his feet, raises his hands, and allows you to direct him out towards the bar. You expect him to be bluffing and suddenly to break into a tun or twist and wrestle you for the gun, and yet he does nothing of the sort. He honestly intends to let you put him in custody without so much as a raised word, let alone a struggle. And yet he's so calm about it. It all seems vaguely unreal.

Kirk
Spock puts down the Holopad. "Sir, the ship still requires twelve earth hours maintenance before it will be functional again. It is highly illogical to get them all together now." Having said that, he begins replacing the pieces on his chessboard.

Solo
Lando pauses a minute, then shrugs. "Names are dangerous in the scoundrel line of work, Han." He says. "But I suppose you need to know. A few managers of the platforms, and a few more of the refiners. Nobody important enough to be a threat, but powerful enough to be greedy."

Jim and Suzuka
You get to the bar. Gene is inside somewhere. He might be in trouble, this is a dangerous place to be Gene, and his signal hasn't moved in quite a while.

SPD
Commander Riker shows you to the conference room, gets you seats, and makes sure you're comfortable, then sits down and waits patiently, staring frankly at you both as though trying to read the contents of your soul through sheer observation.

Kirk
Kirk smiles, "Fine, Mr.Spock." He proceeds to set up the board, still grinning. If he knew Bones and Scotty, and he'd like to think he did, they were drinking rather heavily at the moment. He always did enjoy Bones when he was drunk, the things he would say...

Solo
"Okay. I'm in. Where am I running it to?"

Picard

"Mister Worf. My orders were for Lieutenant Commander Data to escort them here. Is something wrong with the Commander?"

His tone is firm, but it is not a rebuke. He is seeking information only at this point.

Hober Mallow

"Excellent. Computer!"

The Far Star's AI engages, and Mallow begins to lay out his itinerary. Starting with the most important engagement.

"Confirm my appointment with the New San Francisco Companion's Home; I don't want to be late. And while paying goes against my principles, I don't have the time to seduce anyone here. Busy, busy, busy. All work and no play makes Hober a dull dull boy."

John Stalvern
John Stalvern was a space marine, he had been for fourteen years, and he knew in his gut that there would be demons on this flight. He was a survivor of the Mars incident, where teleportation experiments conducted by the UAC corporation had opened a portal to hell, unleashing Demons throughout the base who killed everyone save him. He fought his way through their unholy numbers throughout the complex, clearing a path into hell itself where he wrought his vengeance upon the demons and managed to kill their strongest warrior, the Cyber-Demon, as well as the Spider-Mastermind, leader of the demonic hoarde. For his bravery and l33t skillz, he was decorated with medals, and then promptly shipped off to this experimental vessel as protection for the eggheads. And then he had a feeling, the same feeling he had before the Mars incident occured, so he sent numerous warnings to Colonol Joson, all of which were ignored. Now here he was with his fellow space marines, all ignorant to the horrors that would surely come. Tus he decided that he would take a little extra when getting into uniform, putting on his green battle armor, and bringing along a shotgun, a pistol, and an MP3 player filled with awesome rock songs, most of which were unliscensed covers of metal. He was so ready for the demons, so ready he was shouting BRING IT ON, inside his head.

Junior

He sighs at the man silence and finally relents. "Fine, fine, you win old timer. So what to you need from me? A hair sample and my unwavering loyalty or something like that?"

Ratchet and Clank

The three of them counting Aphelion land at their destination with confusion. Ratchet is the first to speak his confusion aloud, "Wha- where are we." Clank answers his confused feline-like friend, "It would seem that this teleportation device is linked to others in a tunnel-like fabrication. However the pathway back seems to have closed." "Well no use crying over spilled milk. Aphelion I need the stats on this planet and the current galaxy, and which quadrant." Thier ship immediatly responds, "Affirmative. I shall proceed with the data readout when I am finished. Try not to cause any problems while I do so."

SPD

Doggie raises an eyebrow as he looks over Riker. He's been on the ship as a minor security officer for some time now and knew the command staff well this from Riker did not bode well. "Is something wrong, Sir?"

***

Spike and Faye

"Maybe next time sweetheart." Faye says blowing the unconscious man a kiss. Spike leads their target into the main hall at gun point. Faye sighs with relief and draws her own sidearm waiting for anyone else in the bar to make a move.

"Anyone moves and we'll take your bounty in too. No one wants that so keep your **** in the seats and we'll be on our way." Faye says waving her weapon around the room.

Serenity
It’s a sunny day in the bustling bazaar of Eavesdown Docks as Mal, Zoe, and
Jayne work their way through the crowd. Given the fashions are more disposed to flowing robes and loose fabrics, they look extremely out of place. The guns they had at their hips only increased this sense of being out of place. The crew were not accustomed to civilization, and the idea of not having to be ready to defend themselves at a moment's notice. It’s a particularly busy day and all three of them are periodically jostled by passersby.

"Three hours! Three hours we wait in his parlor and for what?" Mal was grumbling, thumbs in his denim jeans, faded brown eyes narrowed. "So he can say no. If that's all he wanted to say, why did he make us come all this way? Y’know, Warrick Harrow used to be my very favorite lord with a sash."

"He has his own reasons not to want to take stolen goods. He's under investigation by the Federation, and it's going to look worse that he met you." Zoe replies. Sometimes she felt it was her job to keep Mal calm and sane by reminding him.

"Excuses. A man gives his word, he shouldn't back out of it." Mal replies. "Still, don't matter none. We'll unload it somewhere else instead."

Jim and Suzuka
"So Gene's in here, huh? Crappy place to spend the night," Jim says, getting out of the car. Suzuka gets out and follows behind him up to the door.
"Wait, Jim. If Gene's really in trouble, I should go first. Stay close behind me," she says, going up to the door. She uses her (seemingly) wooden sword as a cane and opens the door slowly, looking inside. Jim stands behind her, his gun ready at his side.

Kirk
The two of you wile time away playing another few games. You manage to beat him once, but unless Spock has a lapse in concentration he's almost unbeatable, so you lose the next two games. And then, just like that, the bar closes. The two of you part ways, Spock has a meeting he wants to take care of, and you go to dinner to catch-up with Gaila, an old Orion girlfriend who you haven't seen in just under a decade.
You have a pleasant evening, then return to the headquarters for your orders.

Solo
"That's the catch. If we try to offload it right away, they'll pick us up for sure. We'll have to hang onto it once we lift it, least until the grip on the market lets down." Seeing your expression, he shrugs. "Man, if it was easy, everyone would do it. Do you want to be rich, or not?"

Junior
"Hardly. Your DNA can wait. As a matter of course, I will put you both to work. Ender shall remain here. I have a few theoretical solutions only he can solve. And you shall come with me to the outer reaches."

SPD
Riker shakes his head. "Nothing's the matter." He replies, shaking himself out of it. And indeed, he's stopped eyeing them speculatively and occasionally grunting. Doesn't seem he's going to answer the question, but just the same it can't be anything too important.

Serenity
The job in question is a new tecnology. Sometimes innovation means 'stealing anothers secret before they have a chance to use it', and in this case said secret is a new and revolutionary way to create artificial intelligence's. Their is money in it, of course, but it's only a theoretical process, so nobody is is supposed to know about it until it's past testing.

Picard
"I requested Data allow me to take it on, sir." Worf replies in his deep, gravely voice. "I was curious about the replacements, and wanted to see them for myself to take the measure of them."
He pauses, suddenly worried he has offended you with his presumption.

Picard

"Your desire to do so is admirable, Mister Worf. You are the Chief of Security for this ship, after all, and I can hardly blame you for attempting to do your job. I would only ask that in the future, if I assign Mister Data, and you wish to take another's measure, that you accompany rather than replace him."

He isn't angry. Well, he is a bit annoyed, but he's very, very good at sublimating those feelings. And he knows that Worf did nothing wrong and had no way of knowing.

"We still have a briefing to attend to, Commander. We should not be late."

Hober Mallow
A Companion is a skilled, well-educated and well-respected member of a guild of professional courtesans/entertainers, often accompanying the wealthy and powerful in their position in the social elite. They have considerable ritual and ceremony surrounding their services, which you find somewhat tedious.
Kin Arad is tall, statuesque and dignified as a queen, not a beautiful woman exactly, but she is attractive (which is not the same thing) and eye-catching, with an exotic, sensuous flair and raw confidence that one can't help but be drawn to. Her skin is clear and smooth, and she's apparently rich enough to rejuvac treatment.
"I must say, I was surprised to hear your call." She says, as she enters the penthouse you are staying at, blue eyes meeting yours. "You have quite the reputation, sir Mallow."

Ratchet and Clank
You feel as tiny as ants moving beneath these enormous trees, miniscule in a world devised on a far greater scale then the one you are built on.
As you look around, Ratchett hears a low, guttural roar that sends shivers up his spine. He turns slowly, and does not like what he sees.
It is a black six-limbed panther from Hell, five times the size that common sense would dictate, with an armored head and massive distensible jaws, ten quills around it's neck rippling out to give it a still more menacing appearance.

Spike and Faye
"I suggest you listen to them." The Palainian says softly, in a manner that any diplomat would give their right arms for. "If you co-operate they will most likely ignore you, and nobody will get hurt." His lips twitch, although something as inhuman as him is hard to read reactions on.
"Better to simply let us go our way, and go yours." To your surprise, it does seem to lower the tension in the room, and most of them go back to their drinks, no longer interested.

Picard, SRD
That said, you follow the rest of those involved to the conference room. It was pleasant, spacious (well, it usually was) and paneled with floating viewscreens and control panels.
The conference room is feeling a little stifling. For the first time in a long while it is absolutely full, given the importance of the mission, and the unusual nature of it. Starfleet is generally geared towards exploration, the idea of performing your usual role on humans seems both intriguing and faintly wrong.
The mission is currently being explained in detail, the essentials of the culture, their reasons for defecting and the advantages they will gain by rejoining the Federation.
Annares is a large, habitable moon of the planet Urras on which revolutionaries from that planet settled so that they might realize their dreams of an anarchic utopia. Two centuries later, the revolution has stagnated and hierarchical structures are reemerging.

Jasper the Ethnarch
Jasper steeped up to the bridge of the GCU Grey Area, hands clasped behind his back and shoulders thrown back in an unconsciously aggressive pose.
Jasper is a tall man with a pale skin and a lithe, muscular build, his upper body completely bare to showcase this. He wears white pants with blackstrips, tied with a black sash similar in appearance to karate gi, and black boots. His Omega form adds a metal skirt resembling Samurai armour. His face is carefully blank, totally expressionless, though something in his demeanor hints at disdain.
A mechanical pair of what debatably are called wings spread from his back. These are in fact two thin, jointed arm-shaped pieces of metal ending in sharp metal hands, with foot-long spikes from the elbows and five flat, jointed pieces of metal ending in spikes coming from the wrists.
He stops beside Edward's chair, arms folded across his chest, eyes like molten brass burning with a feral light much out of place on his bland, unassuming features. "Well?" He asks, looking up at the sky as well.
"No results yet. Patience." Edward replied, pausing his contemplations to look at his unstable colleague. Strictly speaking, the two were equal, though in terms of experience, intelligence and ability, although Edward was always careful to make sure that Jasper was well out of earshot when he said that, and besides the ship was smarter then both of them and the major population of any solar system you cared to mention, and quite capable of flying itself.
Just the same, he felt that Jasper should give him more respect and attention then the dismissive attitude he routinely exhibited. He was older then some civilizations, and was strictly speaking the head of their people, although he had little use for office. The man could at least attach an honorific if deference was too much for him.
Jasper snorted, shaking his head so his blond lions mane shook with it. He opens his mouth as if to speak, then turns on his heel and strides back the way he came, leaving Edward alone with his thoughts.
He looked down at her. She was nude, her long legs tangled among the sweat-stained sheets, her hands flung afar as though seeking to stretch apart. Her wide eyes were stretched even wider then normal, so that they dominated over half her face, with the deep, incomparable blue of a Melange addict. Alice was adrift, seeing time in a non-linear fashion, and lost in it. He sits on the bed, takes her head to his lap and strokes it, murmuring softly.

Spike and Faye

The two bounty hunters lead their mark out of the bar at gun point. On their guard for anyone else to try and make some trouble.

Spike sees Gene's friends enter the bar and tries his best to ignore them. If they don't draw the connection between their professional rivals taking in a bounty and their captain passed out on the floor things won't get hairy.

***

SPD

"We're supposed to negotiate there?" Kat asks raising her eyes suspiciously at the presentation of mission objectives.

"I agree with Kat here. The planet is little more than a hideout for those wanted by the Alliance and SPD. I can't see any reason Starfleet would wish to attempt diplomatic relations with it." Doggie says shaking his head.

Junior

"Okay, your the boss old-timer." As he follows the follows the man to wherever he needs to go Junior telepathically contacts his brother Nigredo also known to the public as Gainun Kukai Sr. to his Jr (He can only do this with Nigredo). He asks him to contact Mary and Shelley, his two lieutenants, on board the Durandal and ask them to find anything they can on a guy called Eisenhower. He also warns him that it might be a fake name so nothing might turn up. He tells him to contact him via telepathy if anything turns up and then terminates the link.

Ratchet and Clank

Ratchet reacts to the danger in an instant. The first thing he does is throw a groovitron. This handy little device has irresistible music and disco light that emanate from it's disco ball design. It causes enemies in it's area of effect ( about a 20 foot radius) to start dancing uncontrollably, however the effect only lasts for 16 seconds. Using the little time his has after it's launch Ratchet draws his magma combuster and pulls the trigger. The pistol like weapon then starts baseball sized globes of magma at the panther from hell's open mouth.

Junior
He reaches out teapathically, only for the old man to slap him down. It's a surprise, Junior is more powerful, but lessexperienced and wasn't expecting it, and the old man took advantage of that.
"It's Eisenhorn." He says, correcting your mangling of his name. "And I'm not a matter of public record. If you want to learn about me, you'll have to join my world, as you have agreed to."
Leaving you with that, he comes at last to the end of the corridor. The room ahead is a large dark room, more of a laboratory. No lights were on except for the light blue of monitor screens, the blinking of servers, and super computers surrounding them.
"In a few days, we shall make first contact with a new civilization, more magnitudes of power advanced then we are then can be easily articulated. They are not hostile to us, but they are hostile to our way of life. If they do mannage to spread, the concequences could be considerable, even the end of the Federation. We want you to find this individual."

Ratchet and Clank
His first choice does not work, for the simple reason that the beast does not hear on the same frequency as humanoids. To it, all it hears is a faint buzzing and occasional bursts of white noise. Irritating, but hardly the effect Ratchett had hoped for.
However, the thing was still flesh and blood, and a mouthful of plasma still melted the inside of it's mouth. It lets out a scream, lashing at you in mindless hate with it's front paw as it convulses in agony.

Spike and Faye
His arm innocently brushes James Hawking, drawing his attention as he steps past, in such a manner that can't be ignored but seems entirely innocent, leading to the two groups facing each other squarely. It takes a moment to guess what must have happened, with Gene pobviously drugged and the most wanted man in this sector in Cowboy Bebop's custody.

SPD
Riker sighs and scratches his beard. "It is at the moment, yes. Anarchists and the like live there, everyone equal in mediocrity, and they offer shelter from prosecution to anyone who shows up as long as they behave themselves while they are there. But if we just leave it, it will only get worse. We need to do something, and peaceful solutions are the best. Right Captain?"

Kirk
Kirk strolls in, the grin of a man who has everything he could possibly desire in life at his fingertips and lives for every minute of it. "So, Spock, any orders for us, or should we start investigating now?"

Solo
The answer is immediate, "I'm game. Hell, half the universe wants me for the money I owe it and the other half hates my f***ing guts. I figure, hey, I can only ever remedy one of those."

Solo
Lando laughs. "And then there is me and Chewie, right?" he says, turning and leading you over to the bar. "Here, I'll buy you a drink, partner, and then we can get to work."

Kirk
"Affirmative. We have no requirements but the investigation of said annomoly." Spock replies. "The co-ordinates check out, but the Romulan Empire has refused permission to cross over their borders so we will have to cloak ourselves the entire time." Spock says, walking over to the bridge.
McCoy is waiting in uniform, along witht he resto of the crew, and Chechov is talking about how the Russians invented inventing, and probably breathing as well.

Picard

"Agreed, Number One. The reemergence of various command structures in this anarchist utopia creates a problem for the Annaresans; the possibility that one or another radical group or individual can take control of the people there, or impose a draconian government is quite likely when the people are unused to giving away power. Our purpose is to facilitate the transfer from no leadership to their new leaders, and ensure that the Annaresan people will not be harmed."

Broadly, at least, that was true. His orders were to try to bring the Annaresan people into the Federation; however, Picard would much rather see a successful Annarsan planet than a Federation Annares, if need be.

Hober Mallow

"A reputation? Only good things, I hope."

He waves a hand and invites her into the penthouse. One of the most expensive he could find; business had been good to him recently, and his commission percentage had increased accordingly.

Picard
Riker nods. He wasn't much for anarchism, but if people wanted to live that way then it should be left to them, not be a matter for him to decide. "While we could impose ourselves on them, that would be against the morals that the federation and that Starfleet was built on. We're not gods, and it's not our job to dictate how people live. But we do have to help them up when they need it, and knock them down when they try to hurt other people."

Hober Mallow
"Hardly." She replies, steeping in and allowing her eyes to light up appreciatively. You suspect it's a show for you're benefit more then genuine appeal at the surroundings, but it's gratifying nonetheless, and if it is feigned it's indistinguishable from the real thing.
"Wicked, dangerous things. Apparenly you're quite the force to be reckoned with, Mallow." She continues. "More then anybody can handle. Is it true?"

Kirk
"Bones. Excellent; suprised to see you standing upright, considering the bar I saw. Scotty, happy to see you, be ready to push the ship to it's limits, we've got a mission." Kirk smiles to each of them; loyal men who would, if called upon, lay down their lives before betraying that which they all held dear. He'd trust his life to each and every one of them.

Solo
"A drink to all the b******s who I've avoided so far, and to all the b******s we still need too."

Junior

He crosses his arms and looks at the old man as he says, "What civilization is that, and how can they be hostile to our way of life if they aren't hostile towards us?"

Ratchet and Clank

Ratchet back-flips masterfully to avoid the clawing attack that would have surely ripped him to shreds. As he does so Clank left arm shifts into the nozzle for the geo-laser. He had only used it to cut through rock and other such substances before. This would be his first time testing it on flesh. Clank aims and fires the continues laser at the big cat and Ratchet continues his shooting after landing on his feet.

Junior
"You know of the Borg?" He replies, and leaves that as the terrible implications that come with it to do the talking for him. "One doesn't need to kill to destroy, young man."

Ratchet and Clank
You tear of one of it's six legs, and it screams again, crashing into a tree. More and more shots tear it to pieces.

Kirk
Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Your crew are receptive and well rested, ready to get back to doing what they do best, and exploring the reaches of the universe. You punch in the co-ordinates and set a course. And the ship shoots heavenward into the reaches of forever.

Hober Mallow

"Really?"

He opens the bar, removes a bottle of Four Kingdoms Wine, and pours a glass for each of them.

"They must be mistaken, my dear. I am a Master Trader; through my hands, wealth and profit flow for all parties involved. I've had several Ferengi beg me for apprenticeship. I am highly skilled, but all if I was to die, the Galaxy would still turn, the planets would still orbit, and the Foundation would get by somehow without me."

Hober is arrogant beyond measure, but he knows how to tone it down in the presence of women. Few like boastful men, after all. And he does like women.

Hober Mallow
"Really? I'd never have guessed that you were modest and softly spoken as well." She replies. "I'll bet you are even more dangerous then the rumors say."
She stops the flattery. Over-doing it made them feel patronized, and while it was important to make them feel powerful and in control, it also helped to actually let them take charge of the situation.
And men loved to talk about themselves, their achievements and power, particularly to attentive and attractive women they intended to seduce.

Annares
Abbenay spaceport did not see a lot of use, and the landing pad was scarcely appropriate for the ship. nonetheless, it was appropriate to function, and the ship came to rest lightly on the polished steel.
It was a majestic and moving sight, but it was also vaguely portentous. After the ship came to rest, things would never be the same again.
Shevak and his entorage are invited on. The Federation had insisted the actual negotiations took place on board, in case they needed to be monitored or a higher authority had to be reached. Furthermore, there was the not so subtle aspect of reminding them what they were missing out on. It was, afterall, a very impressive ship.

Spike and Faye

"Would you believe I drugged him to avoid just this situation?" Faye asks Gene's crew akwardly as Spike sighs and runs for the door shoving his mark out first. Faye could try talking them down but he knows all too well that this will end with a fire fight.

***

SPD

"So why am I part of this briefing? As temporary counsellor my job is to help the crew deal with the mental stresses resulting from duty aboard this ship. Isn't it? I don't think I'm allowed in tactical analysis. Hey is that a replicator? We had one on the Dekabase but it never worked right and kept sending in raw milk instead of butter." Bridge starts to ramble on as Doggie cuts him off with a sideways glance.

"Are their any players for leadership that are friendly to the federation?" Doggie asks hoping to shift their focus away from Bridge's quirks. While he could be annoying he was effective both as an officer and a counsellor but most people couldn't look past his problems to see that.

Shevek

Shevek boards the ships, undeniably fascinated. It's sleek technology, clearly built by people with a love for their craft.

Like most Anarchists, Shevek had once assumed that if you removed a person's natural inclination to work and create and substituted profit incentives, they would become lazy and shiftless workers. His visit to Urras, however, had broadened his horizons in that regard: creativity still existed under the profit system.

That didn't mean that the profit motive couldn't impair a person's creative drive though. Far from it.

"How I wish we could build ships like these..." Shevek said to himself quietly.

Annares may have, until recent events, been in isolation, too complacent in it's self-sufficency. But even with this new era of openness towards other societies, and a new revolutionary energy, the truth of the matter was that Annares was a piss-poor planet, arid and scarce in resources: the building of a single grain barge was a notable strain on the planet's economy, and it's defense fleet consisted of the original colonization ships, carefully maintained.

Plenty of Helium for Dirigibles, though.

Shevek sat down on a seat and strapped himself in. Unconsciously, his hand went to the pocket of his holum-fiber jacket, where the results of his scientific accomplishments lay...

Otherwise, his hands were empty, as they'd always been.

Serenity
"We'll figure it out later. Come on, lets go get a drink and not think about how much the repairs are going to cost if Warrick doesn't fork out what he owes us." Mal says with a sigh.
"Best idea I've heard all day." Jayne says, then stops. "You are paying, right?"
"Enjoy the money while it exists. It'll be gone soon."

Junior

Junior sheepishly rubs the back of his head as he replies, "Okay you've made your point. Still though the entire Federation has trouble with the Borg. I mean I know the Durandal is more advanced than most ships but what do you expect me to be do?"

Ratchet and Clank

Feeling that he has weakened the beast enough switches his Fusion Grenade laucher which takes the form of a glove that materialized the grenade in his hand. He then launches three grenades at the beast to try and finish it off.

Jim and Suzuka
Suzuka glares at Faye, her sword ready for action. Jim looks over the situation and, being more trusting, holds his hand in front of Suzuka.
"I know Gene and he was probably drunk when you found him. It would make sense to knock him out before he could cause trouble for all parties in the area," Jim says. Suzuka looks down at him.
"I see your logic, and that does sound like Gene, but what if that wasn't the case?" she asks him, her hand still gripped firmly on her sword.
"Even if they did knock him out because he had a lead on their mark, it would still be pointless to fight about it. We'd just draw attention to ourselves and cause problems for everyone," he answers, not mentioning the fact that with only her as their offensive forces, Spike and Faye could probably overpower the duo. Suzuka puts down her sword.
"Fine. But Outlaws should never trust other Outlaws, Jim. Go, Faye. I won't stop you this time, so hurry out of here before one of the drunkards gets antsy."
The two of them go inside to fetch Gene.

Shevek
Worf, security officer, checks you over to make sure you are not trying to smuggle weapons onboard or anything else that would be found objectionable, then leads you to the conference room where the discussing will take place.
Worf is something of a strange sight to them, most of whom have never seen an alien. When they split from the Federation, the only race humanity had regular contact with was the Vulkans, none of whom had come to Annares (peaceful protest in the name of an ideology that weakened the species on a whole was 'not logical' according to them), and even a half-blooded Klingon is a totally new sight.

Ratchet and Clank
Giant space panther, well done. The tree behind it promptly collapses, knocked over by the force of the explosion.

Junior
“Observation, to begin with.” He replies, repeating himself carefully. “We need more information to defend ourselves. Until we know more, there is nothing we can do.”

Jim and Suzuka
You pull Gene out of the bar, and get him home. Well, there goes your last chance of being able to work something out, here. You're going to ahve to leave the system, and quickly, or find another way to get five hundred thousand credits.