"Byrne to all crew - jumping on my mark. 3... 2...1..."
About 50 kilometers out from Shasta Orbital, a sharp flash rippled across the nebulae, resulting in an intense explosion of white and purple. The Coronado jumphole was ready to let go her grasp of the massive vessel navigating the void. With a pulse from the jumphole, the Ingenuus pierced the nebulae.
"Shasta control, the is the Ingenuus. We are on approach and will be ready for mooring within the hour." "Copy that Ingenuus. Welcome to Shasta station. We have you on scanner, and have activated mooring point 3. Pope Skarsi Wyrdmake welcomes you and the Ingenuus Research Group."
Engaging the Ingenuus cruise engines, the external core pulsated with a small flash of green, pushing them into a faster acceleration. As they turned starboard towards Shasta, the lift doors opened near the back end of the bridge. Walking out carrying a glass and a still smoldering pipe, a man strolled forward and promptly sat and one of the chairs surrounding the nav-table. Giving a nod to his XO Byrne, Finn McCool looked around still in awe of the magnificent creation he and the various others in the IRG were now calling home. Leaning forward, he activated one of the private frequencies used for communicating with the various directors and scientists. Leaning forward, her began reviewing the logs from the jump as well as the readings from the power core.
With a few kilometers of Shasta, the automatic tractor beams from mooring point 3 engaged and started the process of guiding the Ingenuus towards the station's south wing. Majority of the crew now boarding the shuttles to take them to Shasta more public space, Finn boarded his own shuttle towards the center of the station, where the conference was to be held. Looking down at the massive biodome, and the docking chamber protruding from it's side, the shuttle slowly made it's approach as the giant hanger doors moved open. Landing shortly, Finn gathered his belongings and walked down the ramp extended from the shuttle.
Awaiting him was a man in the customary robes of the Discordian Popes. "Welcome to Shasta! A pleasure to receive you. If you will follow me, I will lead you to the auditorium where the summit is held."
Guiding Finn towards the large doors leading to the dome, he glanced over just in time to see Mrs. Winterton crash into a worker's bench. About to speak up, Rachel glanced at Finn and give a quick hand motion and look that signaled him to let it go. Smiling, Finn waited for Rachel to gather herself and join him and the Pope.
Arriving in the dome, the view was spectacular. Lush gardens, with gushing waterfalls surrounded them. Exotic animals and birds filtering in and out of sight, the continued onwards down the path towards the chambers. Looking up and behind him, Finn caught a magnificent view: The Ingenuus in her glory, stationed not far outside the gigantic transparent wedges...
Turning back, another man in robes stood in front of them some ways up the path. Recognizing the figure, Finn couldn't but smile again as he saw Pope Wyrdmake making conversation with another delegate.
"Skarsi! It's been too long lad. Always a pleasure t' see an old friend, along with your beautiful gardens. I trust you have been well?"
Parkes was reviewing the list of attendees when a name he hadn't seen in a long while came up. Dankien Moebus; a remaining Omicroner, one who chose to stay in Sirius when others left, was not a man to be forgotten, even if had made himself difficult to find.
Parkes motioned at Demesa, "One of your old colleagues is here. Could you try and find him for me? I want to see the master of trade, if he will let me."
He didn't mention a name and he didn't need to. Demesa knew who she was to look for. She started walking towards the hangars once more would keep a lookout for Moebus. Her goal was to invite him for a private conversation with Parkes.
Almost no-one noticed her leave Parkes unguarded.
"Templar, do you have painkillers?" Parkes inquired, whilst making a rather grave face, "I think my back is seizing up."
As the guests and hosts gathered beneath the dome's windowed dome, the shadow cast over the station by the massive Ingenuus covered the single star completely. Servants were about to increase the biodome's artificial light power when suddenly the luminosity started to increase. People watched around themselves as all colors in the garden started to acquire yellow tones in increasing magnitude. The less fortunate, those who had seen nuclear warfare in action in the past, feared the worst. Instead, those who had experienced encounters with the so called "Nomads" trembled when they realized the blinding light came from a ship even larger than the Ingeenus, which was approaching quickly to the station with a peculiar and powerful golden glow which seemed to have it's source around the engine. The glow started to fade as the ship slowed down and initiated mooring maneuvers just next to the other Zoner warship. The lights dimmed and the colors returned, and an acolyte dressed in white entered the dome and approached Skarsi.
Excuse me master... The Persephone is here... The Doctor has arrived.
Demesa easily found Moebus room number is 1408. So she took the opportunity to contact him directly.
Moebus: "Oh really, some other Omicroners are attending the meeting? (pause) That's an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Yes, we could meet for sure, let's say in 30 minutes in my room. Is that ok?"
(moving to "Room 1408" discussion to avoid unnecessary posts in the current discussion)
While checking on the station radar room, Skarsi's helm commlink buzzes, and he replaces his helm to answer it. "Yes?". It was one of the templars near reception. "We have two unknown contacts, wearing full armor. They seem to be with the Solar Runners representative." Skarsi considers what to do. "I'm on my way."
Returning to reception, he see the two armored men with Mister Wolf. He signals for the templars to stand easy and approaches the Runners. "Mr Wolf, Kallisti. I am Pope Skarsi Wyrdmake. Welcome to Baffin. I must ask your companions to remove their helms, for security reasons." Skarsi signals for a templar to bring over their weapons. "You may, however, carry your weapons as long as they are kept visible. We respect a person's right to security."
The templar returns their weapons to them. "Excuse me please, i have to go greet a good friend."
Skarsi leaves the runners and goes to greet Finn.
"Skarsi! It's been too long lad. Always a pleasure t' see an old friend, along with your beautiful gardens. I trust you have been well?"
"Finn, you old dog. Did you bring that big floating rustbucket with you? She's a fair imitation, but nothing on the original." Skarsi says with a straight face, before both men burst into laughter inviting strange looks from some of those nearby. " I kid, i kid. Its good to see you brother," Skarsi says as he gives Finn a hug, "How have things been?. The IRG is doing well i hope. The Ingenuus is always welcome in Baffin." Skarsi turns to the woman standing beside Finn. "Now who is this lovely lady?" Skarsi grins cheekily.
Nodding slightly to the greeting, seeming perhaps a little relieved that she was not ignored. "Hey there, the name is Rachel Winterton. I designed half of that rustbucket out there. I've been working with McCool for quite a while now. Can't say he's much of a boss though. Thank heavens. Instead he's running around all the time, ranting about power systems, the next second he's asking why we didn't pack some extra whiskey aboard."
Nudging McCools shoulder with a slight smirk.
Extending her hand. "Nice to meet you. He sure has friends everywhere. Makes me feel like an antisocial almost." Crossing her arms with a fake-pout.
The Templar returned with painkillers from the bar. A short walk indeed. It provided the relief that Parkes required.
A few minutes after there was a buzzing from the communicator that Parkes had placed on the table. Demesa had found Moebus, and invited him to a private room to have some talks.
The doors of the dome open and an old man in ceremonial Discordian robes stands next to a young man with glasses who wore a flower shirt, bermudas and a hat. The young man took a pipe out of his pocket and put some herbs in it.Hey Doctor, do you have that golden lighter yet?.Dr. Mojo searches his pockets and gives the lighter to Gypsie, who quickly starts puffing.Want some Doctor?.The old man scried the room looking for familiar faces. He recognized some, but preferred to walk some steps and sit on a bench.No thanks Gypsie, I'm getting old, I can only take it in the solitude of my chambers these days. Go find Tobias for me ok? I'll wait here.
It was a curved security room. One side contained a very large screen spanning the entire curved wall. It was showing the different parts of Shasta's interior. Two men were standing in front the large screen their faces partially illuminated by the amount of light. One was an old man, large spectacles.... lab coat. Another was a middle aged man, bald head... military fatigues... a rifle slung around his shoulder. Behind them was the control panel, who was being managed by a single templar.
"Alright, pull up camera two....", motions the bald man to the person managing the control panels. The main screen focused on the main reception were everyone was gathering.
"You think everythin'll be alright?... Professor Carlisle?"
"It should be... Unless the Gauls "plan" to crash in... which would be an audacious move.", Professor Carlisle says with a slight smirk on his face.
He clasps his hands,"Although I wish they would... hehe... Such a lovely gathering wouldn't be fun at alll... After all, Bannon, isn't there suppose to be balance in the world?"
"Can't give you my opinion on that, Professor. I ain't one of you philo-mumbo jumbo types.."
"We'll see, Bannon.... We'll see.", he says as leaves the room.
Bannon's face turns into a slight frown. Why did I even take this job??
The main screen reverts back into it's original form, splitting into the different smaller screens showing the other parts of the station.
The Templar that was assigned to Tobias Parkes and Claire Demesa, was down the hallway from room 1408 when he got a message on his screen. He transmitted back the location of Parkes and Demesa, along with the information that Dankien Moebus was having a personal conference with Parkes and would be preoccupied for a while longer. The Templar would advise them when Parkes left the room and would direct him towards Dr Mojo in the atrium where the main Zoner conference was being held.
Down the hallway in front of room 1408 Demesa kept an eye on all things, especially the armour of the Templar. She wondered how many hits it could take in the same spot before it formed a fatal weakness.