Topic: A Captain's Regrets

Hochi Banto

Date: 2012-11-15 02:33 EST
The early Monday morning sun was shining down on Arcadian lands as it normally did. The rays broke through the low hanging palms and shined on Aja and Hochi putting up pens together. The pair worked well together, one would hold the rail and the other would weld it into place.

Aja was banging out some of the pipe ends and saw Hochi spacing out at the bay. She kept working a little bit longer before speaking.

"As pretty as da scenery is, Hoch...Da blue doesn't always hold da answers." she banged on the pipe a little more and saw him turn to look at her curious. She would let him think about that for a little while and continued working.

His mom was a bit amazing to him. How she would know what his thoughts were, or when to leave him alone with them, he didn't know. But there were a lot of times he was glad she was that way.

Aja didn't say another word for a while, she kept working waiting for Hochi to be ready to talk on his own. It occurred to her as she worked that Tanner had always allowed her to work through things in her head, he'd remain close by though.

She was no different than him in the way she dealt with Hochi. She knew, pushing would do very little to help, in fact it could get him to shut down which would prevent her being able to help him in any decent way. It would've been like that for her had Tanner been any different. She hated when people got all pushy to know what she was thinking. She'd tell them when she wanted, not a second before. If ever sometimes. Some of those thoughts in her head were dark memories best never spoken aloud to those that would never understand for they had never stood in her shoes. They knew little about suffering at the hands of others. That was something that her and Hochi understood all too well.

Hochi came over slowly and picked up the hammer, Aja stepped back and grabbed a bottle of water, letting Hochi bang on the pipe, flattening out the end while getting his irritation out. After a drink, her water bottle went to the side, she replaced it with the sander and got to work on the end he just finished as he started on the other side. She glanced over at him, at the expression of his face, she suspected it wouldn't be too much longer before he had something to say.

Hochi sighed as he let the hammer rest against his leg he knew this conversation was going to happen. He glanced back toward the water then to Aja, "It feels really nice to be back, I know I keep saying that, but it really does" he smiled quickly before he set the hammer on the bench.

"I don't mind hearin it, and a good days work with family can never be praised enough." Aja said in between hammer strikes.

"It helps clear the mind I think, too much adventuring can...sometimes...cloud it." Hochi said pausing "I missed the docks, I've seen hundreds of others,, but this one is my favorite." Smiling as he looked around his childhood playground.

"Aye. I've seen mah fair share a da realm. Nothin quite compares ta home." She gave Hochi a smile. "And da people dat make it such."

"Yeah' There are quite a few people that know the name of Bird.."

"Dat be so?" Aja seemed amused, with an undercurrent of slight concern. "Friendly ports?" asked idly.

He nodded, "A few of them were not the friendliest of places" Hochi grabbed the hammer and another pipe beforing hammering flat the end of the pipe. "A few of the people were of the unsavory types, but now they just know there are two dangerous Birds out there."

"Birds of prey as it were." she smirked a little. "Aye. Dey be right about dat. I keep JiJi busy in Ballentine with Ajay. Not dat I don't believe those two couldn't hold dere own in a battle, but it be best not ta find out. Aye?" Aja sighed. Of the family, Ajay was best suited as a King and JiJi" Well, she had too much a tendency to panic first for Aja's comfort level to allow the twin anywhere near a battle scene on purpose.

"I would rather not find out if they could or couldn't handle a battle. It is always best to not get involved in one if you can." Hochi had learned the hard way that there are people out there that just can't handle the intensity of a battle.

"Secret's safe wiff me, Kid." She smiled at her son getting the impression that he worried about the other family members finding that out..."Don't rat me out either, eh?" Aja had that same thought herself.

"I won't rat you out, its our secret' he smiled brightly

"Good." Aja grinned and turned the pipe. "Much as I love yer Uncle and Aunt. Dey have skills best used right where they are." no sense lying to her son. "JiJi fancies herself a brawler, but I do not believe dat is enough fer what she would encounter out dere." Aja waved a hand toward the open ocean. "She'd be dead "fore she even knew what hit her." The expression was one of deep contemplation now. "You and me. We're special, Kiddo." Aja went on sanding the pipe smooth for the welds to come.

He nodded knowing all too well that dangers of the ocean, and those that traversed it. He smiled happily hearing her, "Damn straight we are special, we have gone out there and come back, more or less the same." He whacked the pipe a few times flattening it "Did you like my new ship, pretty big isn't it?" He beams proudly as he slams the hammer down onto the pipe.

"Aye, it is at dat." she was remaining silent for the more about going out and coming back the same comment he made. There was more to that statement than he was telling her right now. "She requires some modifications ta fit da new motor in, one powerful enough ta propel it. But it's a damn fine ship, Hochi." she paused in her sanding to answer his question giving him a smile and then taking up her work again. "If it's alright with ya, I'll be addin some special modifications ta her. Ones I believe yer gonna find most useful fer when yer ready ta go back out again." her own ship had undergone such modifications and she had been grateful for them.

"Modifications huh' What sort of modifications?"

"Aye." Aja nodded as she kept sanding. "Added some new defensive modes ta da Breeze." she knocked the sand block against the pipe to clear the shavings off. "One, defects most magic attacks from mages on nearby vessels. Another slows cannon shots allowing any on board mage a chance to fling them off inta da sea."

"I like the sound of those, right now all I have are cannons, and people who are well versed in hand to hand combat." He paused, "I'm going to be the scourge of slavers soon." smirks, but there was a twinge of worry in his voice.

"Who says ya ain't now?" she gave him a smile before getting serious again. "We'll train yer crew up on da new weapons. And if yer amiable ta it, new fightin skills. Oh! And explosives!" she suddenly grinned big remembering that one, then got back to the conversation. "Some new hand ta hand skills and long range sniper rifles."

"I would be up for the new fighting skills and training, I can get a few of the men who came to Rhydin to do the training, most jumped ship at previous harbors. I kind of just picked up a rag tag crew along the way when needed." Smiles, "you know me too well, I love explosives! The more the merrier" laughs

"We'll train "em in Arcadia. RhyDin is alright fer a test run on some of da skills, but I think trainin is best handled round home. No need havin a new crew distracted with RhyDin City antics." said to Hochi as she knocked off more metal shavings. "Ya and me will go out ta da demo island later dis week. I'll show ya some of mah latest ideas."

"I will have to call the remaining crew back into Arcadia, seems like their fun is now over." Chuckles, "What Rhydin antics are you talking about' smiles knowing all too well the antics one can get into in this town. "Demo Island, uhh yeah of course we are going out there!"

"Good ta let "em have a break." Aja said about the first part, then looked up at the question. "RhyDin City has many distractions. Da latest seems ta involve zombies." she shrugged slightly, she would tell Hochi of her own encounters with those later, it would be off the subject for now. "Don't know how dey came ta be, but I don't think a rookie crew would be equipped ta handle dem jist yet." she again knocked the metal shavings off her sanding block and brushed off the pipe. She thought a moment about what else would be needed to update his crew. She had already cornered Hochi's on board cook and had sent him to train with her own, who was now a successful diner owner in town. "And what of yer healer on board, is he up to date on the latest advances?"

He shook his head, "We used to have one..." sighs still shaking his head, "She was lost..." Hochi took a deep breath. "We haven't had one in the past three months."

"Have ta fix dat." Aja said as she inspected the pipe. "We'll talk ta Parker. He'll find a good one."

"Yeah...that sounds like a good idea, anyone he recommends is going to be the best there is." He sat down leaning against one of the posts looking out at the water.

"Hoch?" Aja started slowly, "Not ta go all pushy ma on ya..." she leaned against the saw horses, she'd go ahead with her question although she likely knew the answer already, given what bits of information he'd already related to her. "Did ya bite off more dan ya could chew out dere "fore ya had da good sense ta come home?"

He watches the waves coming into the harbor, glancing up at the seagulls. "Something like that..." he took a deep breath "I landed at this Island, I knew they weren't the best of people. I was almost sure that they were slavers but I wasn't completely sure. So we docked and what not and took a look around, before you know it my entire crew...was captured." He sighed still staring at the water.

Aja listened as he spoke and tugged her gloves off, they got tossed on the workbench, as she grabbed a couple new water bottles from the coolers quietly as Hochi related his tale. Coming over to him, one water bottle was given to him as she took a seat next to him.

"And I take it ya couldn't get dem all back?" she guessed not looking at him, but staring off at the water like he was.

He nodded pausing "Yeah...I lost a lot of people, very good people." He takes the water bottle unscrewing it taking a drink. "Almost was caught myself...was on the ship for a few weeks." He closed his eyes tightly remembering the dark cargo hold. The hundreds of other people chained below deck. The terrible conditions, the waiting, and the silence, the parading about on a dock in front of a buyer. "I was almost bought...I had to start a big fight so they wouldn't want me..." sighs looking at the ground between his legs going silent.

Aja's hand reached over to come to rest on his shoulder as he spoke.

He takes a deep breath, "I was terrified, I hadn't been that terrified since I was a little kid when those men took me away from you...." closes his eyes tightly. That hand that had merely rested on his shoulder went around and she pulled him in a little. He was never going to be too old for her to comfort.

"Loss. We know it well." she said quietly. "We shall always feel it...no matter how much time goes by. As we will with da fear."

"When I finally managed to get a rebellion organised to take the ship. I went back to the Island to see if any of my crew were there...I lost 10...because of me..." he moves in closer to her, "I brought them there...I had lost crew...but never lost any to a slaver...sent them to a life worse than death..." lowers his head remembering his own time enslaved as a child. Being fed just enough to keep you alive, the whippings, the pain. "I tried to find them but I couldn't I had to leave the Island very fast but those slavers are still on that Island.? Takes a very long drink of water.

LadyAjaBird

Date: 2012-11-18 01:31 EST
Aja's brain went into high gear then, knowing what he meant about leaving them behind. She thought for what seemed like a very long moment before asking. "Where was this?" she was already starting to formulate a rescue plan in her head, granted she was short on information, but luckily for Hochi's remaining crew and any on the island, her own recent jaunt had prepared her for a instant rescue scenario.

Shrugs "I don't remember where..." doesn't look up at her unwilling to divulge that information just yet.

"Ya best remember." she said, Captain mode kickin in. "Dey may not be dead yet, but dey will be if we waste anymore time puttin a rescue plan in motion." she moved to look at her son. "Now isn't the time to reflect the regrets. Ya kick arse first, feel guilt later."

"I might have some charts in my quarters on the ship." Takes a deep breath before responding towards his mothers last comment, "Isn't that the family motto?" he tried to smile then, but seeing her expression, he knew she wasn't joking.

"Which?" she asked getting up and nudging him to join her, she didn't even think of the work site it would be there once they returned. This situation was the more pressing matter. "Da kick arse first, feel guilt later?"

Aja had asked, but moved quickly to making a phone. Before Hochi could respond, she was already on her cell to someone Hochi had likely heard mentioned once a long time ago.

"Dalton, we may have a brewin situation requirin some immediate action, ya in?" she went quiet as she listened, her and Hochi moving back to the cart that had taken them to the work site. "Good, once I got a better idea where, we'll move." again she listened. "Nah, mah son. His crew. Got inta a scrape...did what he could but he needs a little help fixin it now." she gave Hochi a thumbs up before she drove them away from the site. "Excellent. I'll bring an extra supply ship so we don't waste time......Yeah a bit. Thanks, Dal. See ya soon." she hung up and tucked that phone back into her pocket. "We got some back up. I got another vessel all loaded fer such things. Yer gonna captain dat since yers will be docked fer modifications." half a "mom tone" slipped into that Captain mode. She couldn't help it, Hochi made her want to protect him from any more, but this was also going to be a lesson in how to shove personal stuff down until you had real time to deal with it. It would be a hard one for him to learn.

Aja glanced over at him before she shifted those coppers back to the road. If he were anyone else, she would've screamed about how long they had waited before mentioning that people had been left behind. Aja couldn't bring herself to yell about that. One lesson would have to do for now. She suspected he'd pick up on the time passage one all on his own. It would be the second in hard lessons he would learn about what it meant to be Captain.

He took a deep breath listening to on the phone, "I'm going to bring a few of my crew, they are going to want to get some sort of revenge..." Hochi sighed pulling out his own phone calling Martin. "Martin gather whoever wants to come on a rescue mission." There is a moment of silence, "Yes I know we have already tried...but this time we won't fail trust me. Trust me, just get whoever wants to try to help, if they don't leave "em." He looked to his mother taking a deep breath before standing up. "Lets get this over with' he said with enthusiasm to cover to fear that was slowly filling him up inside.

Aja looked over at her son, the false bravado, the mentions of revenge. This would also have to be a lesson in what it really meant to be brave. Someone once called her a hero, as much as she understood the label given, it was never one of her ambitions.

"Being captain doesn't mean yer never afraid, Hochi. It means you do what you have to do in spite of it." She told him as she dialed the yards. "Load the Breeze. Immediate departure on a rescue mission." she told whoever was on the other end. "Not a drill." she hung up and put her foot down on the pedal, making them go faster. This hadn't been in her plans for the week, but you did what you had to do for family. Arcadia was protected the best it could be. She had faith in the guards and the other people she had been putting in places of responsibility, they would have to do without her for a day.

Hochi stayed silent for now, she hoped he wasn't over thinking things but he probably was. There were times where the two of them were so similar in how they reacted, that As they reached the yards, she contacted Serena at Dal's camp.

"Rena, I need ya with Dal. I'm gonna need one of yer spiffy bubble wards."

"I noticed people moving. What's happened?" her friend seemed concerned.

"Explanation to follow. We need to move now." Aja said quickly still in motion, Hochi following behind her. "I'll see you soon."

"You got it." Serena had answered, Aja hung up then as they pulled into the yards. The activity level was up to ten as the Breeze was being readied for immediate departure.

"Ricks!" Aja yelled as she parked the cart and jumped out of it. "Get Shadowrunner warmed up. Hochi's taking it."

"On it!" He shouted back, then gave instructions to the men. Aja motioned for Hochi to join her, once close enough she gave the orders. "You. Gather whatever men yer bringing, grab a ready bag and let's get going." she moved for the office then. "And get me those charts, ASAP!" she disappeared into the office then, leaving Hochi to do as she had asked.



~Hochi~ Hochi went straight to the Odyssey, and straight into his quarters as he grabbed a few charts. He opened the weapons locker he kept in there and glanced over the array of firearms, blades, and other assortment of weaponry. He quickly grabbed a few handguns and plenty of ammunition a few short blades and knives. He knew that he would need them.

"Sir, I was able to get a few of the crew back, most decided to skip this mission after what happened last time." Martin said from just outside the door a rifle slung across his shoulder, and his broadsword strapped across his back. "we have seven in total, hopefully we have couple more comin??"

Hochi nodded as he grabbed his emergency bag and turned around, "Yeah, gonna have two ships and a space freighter. We will have plenty of help, we just have to leave now, the Odyssey will sit this one out." He walked passed Martin and gave a nod to the other 5 men he stood there a moment looking them over. Each one had been apart of his crew since the start, they were the most loyal people Hochi new besides family members.

Martin stood next to him, he wasn't the tallest of men, he was a few inches shorter than Hochi. He had been with Hochi since the start of their adventures In that time, Hochi had learned to lean on the man in times of uncertainty. They had met when Hochi was away at school, in Androthea and quickly became friends.

He walked down the gangplank and onto the docks his men followed quickly as they headed toward the Shadowrunner.

Jonathan spoke up then. Jonathan was a tall, terribly thin young man, who couldn't gain a pound no matter what chef cooked. He was someone that Hochi had met in one of the first ports he had sailed to. He could see the man needed a purpose, a focus. More of a life than being a street beggar where he could wind up dying unknown and uncared for. Hochi saw something in the man that he recognized, a spark of fire in those blue eyes, intelligence that hadn't been given credit due to the dire circumstances Jonathan found himself in.

"Captain, do you know how many of us are still on that island?" he brushed some of his sandy blond hair out of those eyes, that darted around at the activity level a touch nervously.

Hochi sighed, "No not at the present time, but we can only hope." He smiled back at Jonathan as they moved through a small crowd gathered on the docks. He could feel the eyes of his crew on his back. "I know we will this time, we aren't going in undermanned this time." He smiled brightly, "We have a the best of the best coming along this time. There is no way we can fail this time." He patted Jonathan and Martin on the back, 'don't worry I know what I am doing." Hochi flashed them all a confident smile. "I need Martin and Tobey to do is to unload the howitzer from the Odyssey, bring it to the Shadowrunner, same docks just about ten down. Use a car to tow it there. We are going to need it." Martin and Tobey nodded as they handed their equipment to other members of the crew before the headed off.

"Sir...whats the...plan?" The ever sheepish Chef spoke up as Tobey and Martin jogged ahead of the group. Chef was a short man with long brown hair and brown eyes, he rarely spoke whenever he did everyone would quiet down just to hear what he had to say.

Hochi turned toward Chef and smiled, "Still working on the plan, don't worry I will fill you all in before we jump into any action this time." Hochi nodded his stomach tightened, he really had no clue how to go about this rescue mission. He had been wracking his brain for any and all ideas, and his mother, as good as she was, hadn't been forthcoming on what she had in her head for a plan. Hochi took a deep breath when he knew no one was looking, there she was, The Shadowrunner, with a small crew of people working on getting her all ready to cast off.

"She is a beaut' where are you going to put Ms. Piggy?" Jonathan said a grin on his face as he thought about the giant howitzer, that Hochi had modified himself to being able to fire on a ship.

"Right up there near the bow, forward gun, has the most clearance to fire long distance, you better be ready. You're the best shot we have, I need you to be on your A game." His voice was a low serious tone.

"I'm ready boss, don't have to worry about me." Jonathan said as the three reached the gang plank of Shadowrunner.

"Get moved in, get the bow ready for Ms. Piggy' as Hochi said this, a jeep with the green howitzer towed behind it drove past them. Jonathan and chef ran on board tossed their gear by the door going to the crew quarters as they moved to get the ship ready to hold Ms. Piggy. Hochi stood there staring at the boat and the men and women getting it ready. His stomach was twisting and turning, "Come on Hochi, get your shit together. You can do this, don't think about before, don't think about Aja, just focus on getting this done." Hochi took a deep breath as he walked up the gangplank and entered into his quarters he tossed his gear down. His mind was racing, he was terrified just being back on a boat about to leave.

~Aja~ Back at the yards office, Aja went past Amy, her phone in hand, looking to see where Padriq might be at that moment. "Amy, I'm gonna be out of the office the rest of today."

"Ok." Amy had been the secretary at the yards now long enough to know that something was happening and that all calls to the boss were going to be returned the next day. She watched the boss disappear up the stairs heading to her office.

Aja looked at her phone as she headed down the hall to her office. She sighed when Padriq's location beacon showed him in Ballentine. There was going to be little time and she didn't want to go ten rounds with JiJi, Ajay or Padriq about what was going on. A message would have to suffice in this situation. One she would send once she had departed Arcadian shores.

She sighed heavily as she thought of his reaction to the current situation, battling with Padriq was never fun. She knew he worried and she knew it was because he loved her, but she also had a job to do. Balancing the two sides rarely came out right. So, she made the only choice that would work for now and hopefully the other part would end up ok. She grabbed the ready bag she kept in her office, then headed back out the door and down the office steps.

"Amy, ya got the office." she said as she went by. "See you tomorrow." Aja disappeared out the door before the young woman could actually respond.

Aja went out to the docks and tossed her bag aboard the Breeze easily, a crew member picked it up and squirreled it away in her quarters. "Move yer arse on dat riggin!" she shouted up at her men, she looked at a group of men that were standing still. "Let's go, whut' Are ya new" Move." she glanced around the dock at the crews. "Oi! Let's get goin, dis ain't no Sunday cruise. Move yer arses or yer hides will be scrapin barnacles fer a month of Tuesdays!"

She gave her orders to men as they passed by her. Once the ships were loaded. She looked them over from the top of the gangplank on the Breeze.

"Men, the mission is simple. We go take back what doesn't belong to them. Fer those not on da last mission. It goes like this." she looked everyone over as she spoke. "We'll be meetin da Screamin Knave. He'll have a lovely miss with him named Serena...and if any of ya scurvy dogs step one pinky toe over da line with her, I'll have yer bits cut off "fore ya can finish da cheesy line in yer head. She's gonna deploy a bubble ward over da camp, we'll be firin tranqs inta da camp. Ya all got yer masks...I'd advise ya spray dem on jist as Miss Serena casts da ward." she paused looking over the group of men, "Captain's Face" in full effect. "Once dey fall, we go in. Separate da hostages from da captors...bring "em ta da ships...and no messin around. Ya move yer arses like da dogs of Hades be on yer six. Toss da captors inta da cages. Lock "em and haul arse back ta da ships. At dat point da Captains will give ya each yer orders about which targets ta take."

"And what are we doin?" Someone asked from the crowd.

"We're blowin "em ta hell." she answered simply. "any questions?" she looked around and nodded. "Move!" she came down the gangplank amid the mass of men moving to take their places aboard their ships and met with Hochi on the dock. "We'll go over the plan via coms en route. Aye??

Hochi nodded and moved to go up the gangplank of the Shadowrunner to acquaint himself with the vessel before they left port.


Hochi Banto

Date: 2012-11-18 01:50 EST
Hochi took his position at the helm of the Shadowrunner — several things running through his mind at one time. He traced his fingers along the worn wood of the Shadowrunner. After his last adventures out at sea, he had developed a small fear of returning back to the vast unknown that was the ocean. So many things could and had gone wrong. And he blamed himself for those events. Had he not been so blindly led by his anger, by his need to take out people that represented the worst of his past, he may not be in this situation now. His green eyes stared at the grain of the wood, lost in terrified thought.

Hochi remembered feeling like this back then. When the men came for him, before his newly found family stepped in and saved the day like storybook heroes. Ones that he never felt he deserved fully. What made him any better or worse than anyone else who had been where he had been" Was it mere luck" Was it fate"

A part of him feared that Aja would bop him on his green haired head for thinking like that. Not that he honestly believed she would. Not with everything that he had come to know over the years with her.

In all the times he'd seen his mother in action, he'd never once seen fear cross her face. She didn't appear to want to run from anything. When she and the others put their lives on the line for him, they didn't look scared. It was a place he didn't feel he could ever get to. He wondered if he could ever be truly like her. All he wanted to do was run, go back to Arcadia and never leave it again.

The crew, his own and ones assigned to him, worked at getting ready to leave. As he watched them silently only every now and then needing to raise his voice to get something done right. He walked along the ship checking riggings, weapons, and lines. He never liked raising his voice at people, he always tried to keep his calm when dealing with people. Hochi moved to help Martin secure Ms. Piggy to the deck as he glanced up seeing Aja onboard the Breeze.

Hochi watched as his mother moved about The Breeze, doing the same or more work than most of her crew, usually the latter. She moved about with precision knowing exactly what to do. She wasnt "just' the captain. She didn't just give orders and stand back. He had seen the same behavior from her at the work sites over the past week. His mother wasn't afraid of getting her hands dirty. She wasn't a dainty 'damsel" and any mentions that she could be were often met with a scoff and cuff to the back of the head of whoever said it within earshot of her.

His Mother had always been like this, never one to slouch at the sign or work, or to ever avoid it. He respected her for that, she wasn't the biggest, or the strongest but he had never seen her show any sign of weakness. Hochi had learned that work ethic from her, they had finished securing the gun to the deck Jonathan immediately took up the gunner seat making sure he had a clear shot from most angles. Hochi turned and double checking tie downs always keeping an eye on his mother as she barked a few more orders here and there. Making sure the peppered in a few warnings to those that wouldn't keep her pace. He was very different, quiet, rarely raising his voice unless necessary at his crew. He stopped and helped one of the crew tie down a cannon making sure it was secure.

Hochi glanced around, now was the time. There was no turning back now, he had to finish what he started. The ship was almost ready, "Listen up, you heard the plan that Aja laid down. I want the engine fired up, we are going to go out a bit in the harbor. Do final checks on everything and wait till the Breeze is ready. I want to make sure all weapons are up to par, I don't want any mistakes on this run. Tobey, up in the crow's nest, lets get this girl out in the harbor 10 minutes ago.? He moved to the helm, his fingers grazed along the worn wood of the wheel, suddenly the engines kicked on and Hochi took control of The Shadowrunner.

((written by Hochi and Aja))

LadyAjaBird

Date: 2012-11-24 18:36 EST
——————————————-Pt 4—The mission plan——————————————

Luckily for Misty, Aja always took a good long look at the yards before they left on any mission. She saw her sassy friend heading towards the office and sprinted down the gangplank to meet up with her.

"Misty!" Aja called out gathering her friends attention. Aja had yet to notice how Misty had arrived in Arcadia. Aja, when she revamped the yards, she kept in mind those friends of hers that had vehicles with aerial abilities and left wide open spaces for them to "park" in. She knew Misty's Furza pretty well, but it had been a while since she'd seen it or been aboard.

"Aja!" Misty giggled as she answered, turning her gawking shuffle into a happy-go-lucky skip. "How are you? This is absolutely amazing!" When she finally skidded to a stop, the Kirn took up the gawking once more, looking around with an awestruck expression.

"Thanks." Aja had forgotten that Misty had likely not been back to Arcadia since she modified the yards and house. "What brings ya by da yards today?" Not that she wanted to rush her friend, she just had the unfortunate timing of catching Aja in go mode.

"I had some free time, and I thought I'd come by " this is just " wow! I haven't been here since the last bachelorette party " when did you do all of this?" Poor Misty. She'd forgotten the drastic temperature shift between Rhy"Din and Arcadia. As she spoke, her voice got muffled for a brief moment when she started shrugging off her hoodie.

"Uhh...it's been a couple months." Aja couldn't remember exactly, she had many projects since then. "Da boys and me decided we needed ta move some stuff around. So..." she motioned to the yards then. 'remodel!" a moment of a proud smile. "Listen, sweetie, ya caught us on a weird moment. We're about ta head out ta go rescue some folks held by .." there was a tiny pause as Aja recalled too late that Misty had recently been through a horrible ordeal a while ago. She would just have to take a chance that Misty had had sufficient time to have healed from that experience. 'slavers."

That last word made her blanche underneath her fur, and the hoodie made a couple popping noises as her claws came out. " " slavers " ?" Misty's voice came out small, but her eyes went flinty hard.

"Aye." Aja confirmed for Misty. She wasn't going to sugar coat it. "Hochi done got himself in over his head a bit before he came home. We're goin ta go fix it best we can now."

Misty's expression went bleak and somber. "What do you need?" Absently, she reached around behind her, where the little laser pistol she habitually wore rested at the small of her back.

"We'll take any sort of help ya wanna give, Mist." Aja said and then hollered to Hochi as she saw him. "HOCHI!" snapping her son's attention over to them, before continued on talking to Misty. "Let's ask Captain Hochi what he thinks."

He jumped as he heard his name he looked around until he saw Aja and Misty. He walked over to them quickly wondering just what she needed, "Yes what is it, hi there Misty how are things going?" he flashed Misty one of those Hochi smiles, but it was gone just as quickly as it appeared.

"She's offerin her assistance if ya want it." Aja motioned to her friend who had an odd expression on her face, one Aja knew. She'd seen it before on others, it was funny. How someone who had been through a similar event could see the damage left behind even years after the event. The tiny flecks of the trauma lingered in the eyes, at least for Aja it did.

"You know what we are doing?" He studied Misty closely, "Only if you are sure, I understand if not."

"We're on fly by the seat of the pants mode here, Mist." Aja said. "I got the start of an idea going, but I'm still sussin out details."

In response, she only smiled. But it wasn't that happy smile she usually wore. This one never seemed to reach her eyes. "But Aja. That's what I do, remember" I fly. And I'm willing to bet that you don't have anyone at all in the sky, do you?" Drawing the weapon, she checked the charge out of reflex. "And, I'm guessing you also forgot that the Fur"za is armed?"

Aja nodded as Misty spoke. Humor to bury the painful memories. It was a coping mechanism Aja could relate to. She had used it herself a time or two.

Hochi smiled, "We could use you, you're best flyer that I know of." He chuckled weakly, "Thank you Misty." he smiled as he glanced toward the Shadowrunner.

With a solemn nod, Misty reholstered her pistol, then tied her hoodie around her waist. Tapping a few things into her wrist-computer, she listened for the answering sounds of vectored thrust engines. "You don't need to thank me. Just give me good forward observation, so I don't aim for the wrong thing."

"Alrighty then. We got air support." Aja grinned a little. "Somethin yer average slaver ain't seen before." and she really couldn't help herself with the next thing she said. "Hope dey be wearin clean underwear. Not dat it's gonna matter once da Furza drops in on der arse."

Hochi laughed hearing Aja, "I like that! Well Imma head back to the Shadowrunner, I have to see that it gets ready properly." He smiled at Misty and Aja as he heads to the Shadowrunner quickly.

Misty nodded, then took off at a run toward the Fur"za. "Don't forget to send me any info you think I might need, you two!" With quite the fearsome look on her face, she scrambled for the hatch.

"Already on it!" Aja turned to grin at her friend. "Will be sending all info we got ...com channel six, Mist!"

Misty nodded from the hatchway to show she'd heard, then made a mad dash through the cargo bay to the main stairwell inside her ship. Memories of crimson leather and sickening pain fled like ghosts through her mind. Loss and anguish faded from her sudden resolve, as she vaulted the back of her flight chair, bringing displays and interface systems up to bear. She couldn't save herself then, or a dear friend. But by the face of the mother that was Aja, she'd damned well sure save someone now. Misty's lip curled in a feral sneer as the Fur"za lifted off. She had the power to do something. Nothing was going to make her sit on the sidelines now ...



Aja hurried back to the Breeze, a new addition to the quick plan mission, but it could wind up being an advantage in the long run. Actually, knowing Misty was going to be their aerial support was good. She had no way of knowing what sort of crew Hochi had run into while he was out. Her son was not exactly forthcoming with details.

"Like mother like son" she thought to herself as she got up the gangplank. "Of all the traits he had to pick up, it had to be that one." she sighed internally. There would be time later to correct her mistake of silence, but now, she had things to do.

She took the helm and started the Breeze out of the harbor, she aimed her ship towards the open seas then allowed Rico to take the helm. "We got Misty fer air support." She pointed up for his benefit before adding. "I'm going to speak to Hochi." she said to Rico. "Aye Captain." "Ricks?" she paused near him, her voice being loud enough for Rico to hear. "We protect him at all costs." "Aye, Aye Captain." She gave him a simple nod then went to her quarters.

Aja waited till they were on open water before contacting Hochi's ship. "Hochi." she said as she hit the button for the communications system. Then she leaned on the table, as she looked over the maps he had sent a copy of over as she waited for him to respond.

He was waiting in his quarters, maps sprawled across the table, he looked at the map of the island closely. He heard the com crackle and heard his name. He hit the button on the speaker system, "Hello, you get the maps that I sent you?" He moved a few maps out of his way until he found the overhead map that Jonathan had drawn for him. "What do you think" Their overall defenses on the island are inland, if you check map number....uhhh fifteen."

"Yeah, I'm looking over "em now." she responded. "This was everything you had at the time?"

"Yes mam, I had Jonathan draw them up when we made port in Rhydin."

"So they had three or four vessels" That's not clear here." Aja asked scouring the maps. "I'm looping Misty in on dis." she pushed another button that would reach the Furza. "Mist, we're going over plans now." Aja said as soon as she heard the click of Misty picking up the com. "I asked Hochi if the info we got was everything they had at the time." she kept looking at the map hoping to locate some spots along the shorelines where they could drop the land assault team to start moving in unseen before everything else was launched.

Misty clicked the comms on, but kept her mouth shut for the moment, letting the information trickle through the uplink. She knew she'd be more of an "overwatch' position on this, but heaven help any of those damn slavers should one pop into her sights.

"When we went back they had four in total including my old boat...but I sank that one with cargo and a crane. They should have three rather big vessels that are meant for the overall defense of the harbour." Hochi paused for a moment, giving Aja to think for a moment that they likely wouldn't have the one cargo vessel back up and running yet. It had only been a week. For the Yards, it was nothing, other places weren't as fast with salvage work. Especially when it came to the slave trade. Hochi continued speaking. "Then the docks are where all the cargo ships are docked. Most will be having shipping crates filled with people placed in the holds..." his voice trails off as he remembered those containers. They were big enough to hold about ten to fifteen people

"Still with human cargo aboard or not?" she asked as she flipped to another map, that map showing a rough layout of the vessel in question. If they were going to be clear of innocents, it would likely change the way she ran stuff.

"Yes, the ones at the docks will have human cargo, ones in the harbor no."

"Alright.." Aja thought through potential scenarios. Full assaults, which were automatically dismissed because it risked too many of her crew. Then a plan started to formulate in her head. "I'm getting an idea. Have one of yer men go down to the weapons hold, have him check to make sure a box labeled tranqs made it aboard the Shadow. Should be there, but I didn't have time to check."

He stood up and poked his head out from the Captain's Quarters door. "Hey! Tobey! get down below check to make sure we have tranqs on board." Hochi said as the young man darted down below the decks. Hochi thought about the young lad during the time he was gone.

Tobey smiled brightly his straw colored hair waved in the wind, he was the youngest on board and never complained about the work that he had to do. He was a lot like Hochi, wanted to see the world, didn't want to miss a thing. He was pale though, much paler than someone who spends most of his time on the ocean should be. Hochi had often wondered where the young man had originally hailed from. He had thought perhaps somewhere in the northern realms where they were of a paler skin tone.

"Aye, sir, we have two crates of tranqs on board." Hochi nodded, "get down in the engine room now, help out whoever is down there right now, I want us to get to that island first." Hochi turned away heading back into his quarters. He pushed the button, "Aja, we have two crates onboard, what?s your plan?"

"Same as for the assault on the camp. Bubble ward the ship. Tranq "em, go aboard, wake the captured, get "em da hell of da ship and then sink da ship. Minimal risk to our crews with that." Aja told him and waited then for him to think that through. She knew he was spoiling for a fight, she had seen that on his face as she had watched his crew add the big gun to the Shadow. She had yet to teach him that it wasn't always about weapons when innocent human lives were at stake.

"That sounds like a plan for the ships that have cargo, what about the ships that are for defense" The ones out in the harbor" There are three of those, probably about another ten to twelve docked and loading and unloading people?"

"Misty can run a full scan I think." Aja couldn't remember what sort of abilities the Furza had. "If no hostages aboard, open fire. Show no mercy." That, Aja had no objection to. If they weren't hauling innocent people, then she had no issues with wiping them out with extreme prejudice. "Sound good to ya, Mist?" she asked the com as she used her onboard systems to check for available inventory.

Misty grinned, unseen in her pilot's seat. This Fur"za had a few " extra little tricks. "That's not a problem " I don't think these gashyyk slavers have anything that can block out the sensors I have on here. They're made for space voyages, after all."

"Sounds good Misty, you just need to tell us which boats have innocents, and which don't. Those that have the Shadowrunner will take care of them." Hochi stood up and leaned against the table, "That scan is going to have to come in quick, same with the tranqs, going to have to come in quick and fast."

"Captains, I believe we have a solid rescue plan." Aja stood up confidant in what they just went over. "If they open fire first, we'll adjust as needed." Aja thought for a moment. "The crew have their masks to protect them from the tranq gas, Serena can pop up a bubble ward in no time flat. So we won't need but about five minutes of prep time to launch the tranqs. Everyone shiny to the plan?"

Misty growled over the comm. "Shhhhhhhhiny."

Hochi thought for a second "Crystal, lets finish this."

"Alright then. Com channels open in case we have to adjust on the fly."



]

Hochi Banto

Date: 2012-12-03 21:38 EST
Aja went back up to the bridge, she gave Rico a quick rundown of the plan, who had been listening in on coms as usual, but he knew Aja's recap was more about her looking for holes in the plan. She would leave little to chance now that Hochi and Misty were along.

He had been with her long enough to know, if it came down to a choice, herself or her family, Aja would walk fire for them. She would take the bigger risk, she always did. It both made her the captain the men believed in, and the friend that he had come to admire over the years. For all the pranks, and carefree attitude she put out for the public, he knew that deep down, she would die to protect those she loved.

People had often asked why he continued to follow her after all these years. For him, it was no question, he believed in her. He knew that the jokes, the smile...it hid someone so committed to preserving innocent lives that she would sacrifice herself. Not many people got a view of that person. He smirked a little thinking of how far she went to hide it. But he knew her, he had seen it over and over. It was never anything she said, it was always in the things she did. The recent injuries she had incurred for Warren were a good example of that. He'd bet the palace that no one had been told why she was up on those damn rat lines in the first place. She did it to save Warren and never said another word about it.

Aja's thoughts were much different, she was recalling what Dal had on his ship from their last mission. How long it really did take Serena to make bubble wards. Then she remembered that Dal had a mage that could do the same. She halted. Red Eye Rogan. She slapped a hand to her head. How the hell had she forgotten him' He was a little crazy, but she knew of no other pirate that would love to take part in blowing things up and also be careful enough not to endanger the innocents. Put him side by side with Hochi and bam says the lady...destruction in it's absolute glory.



Hochi was on the bridge of the Shadowrunner, he double checked the compass, it was his tenth time in the past thirty minutes. He was nervous, he knew with the numbers that they had, that they couldn't fail. The plan was solid, get in tranq, load up and get the hell out. Martin walked onto the bridge, and checked a few of the systems, "all the tranqs are loaded up and ready to go. How far out are we?"

Hochi nodded, "That's good to hear, I want weapons to stay hot till that island is behind us. I would say about two hours, maybe less if we can coax the engines into it." Hochi turned from the compass and looked forward through the windows watching the waves of the ocean. He loved being out in the ocean, it calmed him, but this time his nerves couldn't be calmed.

"You alright Hochi?" Martin looked up from the display.

"I'm fine, just a lot on my mind right now Martin. I'm trying to picture what?s going to happen."

"You can't be doing that, your going to get all wound up before anything happens. You need to clear your head Hochi. We are going to get it done this time."

"Yeah, I know I do. I'm trying to," he took a deep breath, "Get someone down in the engine room to get those things pumping faster, now." Martin nodded before darting off of the bridge. A few minutes later the engines rumbled a bit louder the ship groaned in protest as it gained speed. He watched the skyline, the sooner they got there the better. He hated this wait, the calm before a fight.

He closed his eyes memories flooded into his mind when he and Martin were shanghaied into service of the Welfaal civil war fighting for the future of the Federal Coalition. He was apart of this terrible war for almost six months, in trenches, foxholes. He always hated that wait before a charge, before both sides erupted into a firestorm. The silence always set him on edge, Hochi had learned during the warr, silence was usually followed by something terrible.

"Sir, the engines are running red hot, we can't push them anymore they won't be able to stand the heat for any extended period of time.." Martin said as he stepped back onto the bridge bringing Hochi back to reality.

Hochi shook his head, "Keep them there, it will be fine-"

"But Hochi they are red hot."

"Don't worry about it Martin, trust me." Martin went silent as he looked out the window at the ocean. Martin knew that Hochi knew what he was doing. He trusted the man more than anyone else, he wouldn't be standing on the Shadowrunner if it wasn't for Hochi. They had gotten out of so many sticky situations, no matter how grim it looked somehow Hochi was about to pull one out of his hat.

"We just have to wait...we will be upon that island in less than an hour." Hochi grabbed the ship's intercom, "Alright crew, we are about an hour out of port, I want you all to be at your battle stations. If your one of those going on the docks, gear up and get top side. We are going to be moving fast, and I don't want to be there any longer than we have to." He put the intercom down grabbing a pair of binoculars he scanned the horizon as they waited.

The crew moved to get into battlestations, about 15 people came on board holding rifles, swords, geared up and ready to go. "Martin, we are going to get them all back, if not, we will make those slaver bastards pay." Hochi's mind went to those that were left behind, about 10 crew he had lost the day he was captured. He had tried to go back but couldn't succeed against three warships, and the defenses inland. This time they wouldn't fail, Hochi couldn't fail.



The Fur"za seemed to throw itself into the air with a mighty roar, as Misty headed in the direction Hochi had specified. Misty herself growled under her breath, resisting the urge to dive-bomb the complex with guns blazing at the onset of her arrival. That wouldn't do anyone any good, not even her. As she flew on ahead, the Kirn toggled switches and pressed buttons, calling up the freighter's bank of sensors. While they didn't work quite as well in an atmosphere as they did out in the black, they'd serve for this.

Soon enough, she located the island and began to circle, high overhead, all the while scanning for everything she could think of. Heat sources, power sources, chemical explosives, metal deposits " time ticked away, as she began to build a working three-dimensional topographical map of the island, scanned down to the bedrock, filled with as much data as she could muster. It might take a while to send that over the link, but she had the time while waiting for the others to arrive.



Aja called Red Eye while they were underway, a blessing he was in the area, and just happened to be tracking a slaver ship headed for what they both believed was the same port of call.

"Well, this is good news, Red. Lookin fer a little action taday?"

"Ya have a blond aboard?" he joked bringing a slight smile to her face as she answered him.

"Not dis time, Red, less ya swing da other way." she paused letting him groan and grumble a little. "How abouts we jist blow some stuff up, Aye?"

"Second best thing." he answered, Aja could hear the smile in his voice.

?"Bout how long "fer ya figure dat ship reaches dat port?"

"Next hour "r so." Red came back.

"Good good..."bout da time we be gettin ta dem parts. Keep an eye on "em?"

"They ain't gettin away, Aja. Count on it." Red Eye said solemnly. "Red Eye out."

"Copy dat." she hung up with him then clicked back to the coms between the ships. "Got another invitee ta da party. His name be Red Eye Rogan, he's trackin another ship ta da same port. His ship flies under da black and yellow. Mist, fer yer scanners, he'll likely come up friendly....jist heavily armed." Aja grinned at the com then.

"Sounds good to me as long as he doesn't blow me up before I blow myself up" Hochi chuckled as he switched to the Shadowrunner's intercom. "No one shoots at the heavily armed ship, sails under black and yellow."

"Right. Additional friendly, black and yellow. I'll tag him in the working display." Honestly, Misty welcomed another set of guns on their side. The defenses of the island complex were quite formidable, and Misty didn't relish the thought of being the only bit of surprise support. While it was true that nothing else on the island looked to be geared against aerial attack, there were a few things she could think of down there that an inventive mind could easily improvise. And if she could think of them, so could anyone else.



Dalton Freeman had heard all the plans, he thought on them for a time then when he was standing aboard the deck of Screamin Knave looking out at the water with Serena, the lovely and talented mage friend of Aja's, his thoughts turned to a different type of reflection.

Normally, women did not accompany him on such missions, but after the last, Dalton was all too familiar with how useful Serena was. Because of her part in the mission, none of his crew were put in harms way. While he enjoyed a good fight as much as the next guy, he saw value to the way that Aja and Serena planned missions of mercy like this one.

Also, since meeting Serena, he had found her to be enchanting company to be soothing to his battered soul. She had brought him from the dark place he had lived in, into a place where light once again shined. She had been a frequent visitor to Crystal Cove. He found that he looked forward to her visits.

"Dal," her dulcet voice reached his ears, tugging his attention to her.

"Yes?" he turned a smile her way.

"I wondered where you had gone to just now." she gave him that soul soothing smile and he returned it easily.

"Oh, just thinking, Serena."

"About the mission?"

"About you actually." He returned a little quietly. "How much I've come to value your company."

"Really?" She gave him a warm smile and her hands rested on the side of the vessel, she gave him a sidelong look. "As I have come to value yours."

"Once this is all said and done," Dal started slowly. "I was hoping to ask you to accompany me for an outing."

"An outing?" She smiled at the horizon before turning those enchanting blue eyes to him. "Like a date?"

"Yes." he felt his cheeks go a little warm. "Very much like a date."

"I would love to." she leaned up on her toes and kissed his cheeks before whispering in his ear. "Took you long enough ta ask me, Sailor." she gave him a wink as she turned and went to see to her potions she had brought with her.



((Written by Aja, Misty, and Hochi. Thanks for reading!))

LadyAjaBird

Date: 2012-12-22 05:36 EST
—————-Part 6———————————BATTLE!——————————

He saw the island in the distance, there was a massive forest that covered almost all of the island. Except for the port, which had ten docks each one had a ship there ready to be loaded with slaves. He turned his attention to the harbor which had three sizable ships sitting out waiting for them.

Hochi took lead heading straight for the three ships as they rocked back and forth waiting for their destruction. heading them off from the Knave and the Breeze. Misty dropped the Fur"za down from the atmo enough to make her presence known the laser turret primed and ready. Red Eye's ship also appeared from the other side, surrounding the defensive ships to the port.

Aja glanced over at the impressive display they all made and would've bet her boots that the crews aboard those vessels just realized that they were monumentally screwed and were now praying to whatever gods they might believe in to have mercy on their souls. As dying men or ones facing death often did.

Serena launched the first bubble wards towards those ships from the deck of the Knave, followed closely by the other mage aboard the Knave doing the same, the shimmer clearly seen by the other three vessels. Serena then turned her attention to the port and launched the massive bubble ward over the village. Dalton lobbed several tranqs into the village, they went effortless through the ward and the gas could be seen spreading in the ward, people falling where they stood as the gas overtook them.

"Fire three slavos of tranqs at the docks when we are just within range!" Hochi shouted through the intercom before spinning the wheel bringing the port side of the ship to bear down at the docks. He looked at Martin, "Get down there and the get the dinghies ready to launch now!" He looked at the docks as they got closer, he then glanced starboard as he saw the lead slaver ship charging toward the Shadowrunner. "All guns fire! Jonathan starboard side! Get Ms. Piggy ready to fire."

"Hochi, all boats are ready to launch!" There is a rumble as the port side guns open fire three times. The Shadowrunner rocks back as the guns are fired. The tranqs went through the wards, explode just above the docks sending the knockout gas flooding over the ships.

"Launch them' three dinghies launch from the rear of the ship and head straight for the docks. Hochi turns the wheel quickly starboard before contacting the engine room. "Get me half speed, heat up the energy cannons on the starboard side."

"Aye sir half speed!"

"Starboard guns were already heating up sir!" Tobey said through the intercom.

He grabbed the com to the other ships, "Aja, Misty, do we know which ships have innocents and which don't' We need that information now."

"Marking non-target ships now " there!" Working the controls, Misty pegged the sensors to transfer display of the most heavily populated and least armed groups, the most likely locations of the slave holds.

Aja heard Hochi's call, but she would let Misty field that one while she went ashore to help with the freeing the hostages.

Back on Hochi's vessel.... The enemy ship was getting closer, "I sure hope this defensive ward will hold." There was a loud thunderous boom from the bow of the Shadowrunner. Even though she was a large ship, she bobbed downward a few feet from the concussive blast of Ms. Piggy.

The large slavery ship which had been bearing down on the Shadowrunner, shuddered as a large explosion tore into the side of it. Suddenly behind the large now on fire slaver ship came another vessel. This one smaller but with a sizeable gun on its bow.

"Alright two of them," Hochi grabbed the ship intercom, "Heat up all cannons, divert some power from the engines, put it into the weapons." He guided the Shadowrunner to move between the two vessels,

"Sir, these cannons ain't like the usual, they got their own power cells and all are lit up like Christmas!" Tobey shouted through the intercom, "We had better be a decent distance between us and our target, Sir, I think the blast is going to be kinda big."

"Oh we will be uhhh plenty far away' Hochi replied trying to sound sure of himself, he had only taken a quick look at the weapon systems while they prepped for leaving, and he knew he heard his mother say something about Ion cannons. But he had never seen them in use before. He grabbed the intercom, his voice blared throughout the ship, "Get ready to fire on my command!" The ship bore down, the slaver ship fired a volley of traditional cannonballs towards the Shadowrunner, the defensive ward bounced them back towards the slaver ship, like ping pong balls. Hochi couldn't help but grin about that, he just hoped the ward would continue to hold off any more incoming attacks.

The giant ship loomed over the Shadowrunner as they came right up along side of the ship. It was at least twice the length and height of Hochi's ship.

"Starboard guns fire!" He yelled, the Shadowrunner shuddered and groaned as every ion cannon on the starboard side opened fire. Ms. Piggy fired two rounds turning the enemy's bridge into a hellstorm of shrapnel and fire. The concussive blasts from the combined explosions of the ion cannons, Ms Piggy and the slavers vessel being blown apart, caused the Shadowrunner to list heavily to port nearly tipping the ship over. Hochi fell to the ground hard and slid into the wall, all he could hear was Tobey's high pitched wailing.

"Son of a bitch!"

Hochi laughed as he scrambled to his feet leaning against the "So, that's an ion cannon...I've gotta get me some of those!" he thought with a grin as he peeked over to see what was left of slaver ship sinking into the harbor, crew that had survived somewhere, fleeing like rats into the water.

~Aboard the Breeze~ A wave rocked the Breeze and Aja glanced back to see what Hochi was doing. "Hoch discovered the ion cannons." she grinned at Rico as she turned back to watch the land teams heading in through the bubble wards.

"So he did." Rico chuckled then. "Hope none of da guys went over."

"Well, lesson da first about ion cannon safety will have been taught. When firing ion cannon, it's best to be farther away than closer." Aja chuckled as she waved on the next team to the shore line. "I'm going ashore." she said tugging her small silver canister out of her pocket. "Ya got da helm." she sprayed the mask over her face then waved her hand. "It's like runnin inta a spiderweb." she said as she moved out of Rico's way.

"Damn effective though."

"Aye." she answered, then headed down the ladder to the small motor raft that waited below for her. "Go." she told the boys. Grabbing a com off her belt, she glanced up at the Fur"za. "Mist, we'll have some passengers ready shortly."

"Ready when you are!" Misty answered. "I've got room, and blankets ready for wounded!"

The raft slipped through bubble ward wall, and everyone debarked while another member moored the raft. They went inland, the teams were already at work, moving the injured and wounded to an area where Misty could land and take them aboard.

The Fur"za circled the island, looking out for any other surprises, while Misty touched the holo-display, sending more information through the comm. "Here. That's about big enough and flat enough to land." A warning chime pinged then, and as she slowed the freighter, she pressed a thumbswitch. Winding trails of exhaust blew out from the wings, and a dozen detonations marked the demise of someone's idea of a sneak attack. "There. That should keep these gy"assh"kyv off of our backs for a moment or two " "

The engines rumbled, scorching the grass beneath the freighter as she landed, the large cargo ramp in the back already dropping down. Hurrying to the cargo bay with a speed few others could muster, she scrambled almost on all fours down the stairs, skidding to a breathless stop at the end of the ramp. "In here! Hurry!"

On shore, Aja paused to survey another team while they were moving anyone not locked up to a cage the previous team had emptied. They moved quickly and carefully with the rescues. The slavers and their cohorts got unceremoniously dumped into the cages, ending up looking like a pile of discarded dolls. Limbs everywhere, many in uncomfortable looking positions. Aja just passed them by, not having sympathy for them. She passed crew members taking the rescued to the others to be assessed by medical teams and then to either the Knave or the spot where Misty would be taking the majority of the severely wounded straight to Riverview.

She found ledgers, complete with contact information and tucked those into her bag. More locations to go to later. The ledgers would contain accurate numbers of how many went through here and to where. More importantly, who brought them in. When she had picked the place clean of information, she made her way back out.

"Almost done, Captain."

"Excellent work, Guys." Aja looked around to the men present. "Let's get everyone loaded up and out of here. Make sure the teams quickly sweep all the buildings. Leave no hostage behind." she started moving to exit. "Cause once this place blows, not even cockroaches will remain."

"Aye Aye, Captain."

Hochi steered the Shadowrunner away from the last ship to let Red eye do what he wished with the remaining ship. That slaver ship had seen what Hochi had done and had already tried to turn and run but Red eye was too quick.

A quick consult with Misty while she was landed prompted Aja to instruct Parker to send one of his healers ashore to join Misty for the trip back. Roberrie, or Rob as Aja had taken to calling him, came ashore and met Misty briefly, niceties would come later, now was get it done time. Rob immediately started seeing to the wounded that were being loaded onto the Fur"za.

The sound of Red Eye and Hochi lighting up the slaver defensive ships out in the harbor was a background symphony to the activity on the ground. Shouted orders between the team leaders and their men, the sound of the four wheelers hauling the precious cargo to the ships to be seen by the medics and the odd silences in between.

Aja scanned the outer edges of the bubble wards for movement. Anyone that had managed to escape the bubble ward and tranqs were going to wish they hadn't once everyone cleared out and the place was leveled. She turned on her heel, heading towards the back of the camp in double time. She gave her own going over of each building looking to make sure no one lingered, or had been missed. Also, any maps she came across were snatched up and stored to be examined later on. Journals also were taken.

She met back up with the last team as they came out of last building.

"Let's get on out of here." She ordered watching one of her men cradling a small boy in his arms as he moved to the shore boats. He was no older than Hochi had been when she first met him. The sentimental notion of what that symbolized was shoved aside so the job at hand got done. She'd think of it later, when there was time.

((Written with Hochi & Misty))

LadyAjaBird

Date: 2013-01-06 22:02 EST
~and heading back home~

The first stop back was to Crystal Coast. Weston and Dalton organized their men, and got the three hundred not in immediate need of a hospital visit off the ship in a quick and orderly fashion. They'd be seen to by the medical staff in the village there. Aja didn't waste time lingering there, the supply ship she ordered to stay and unload whatever cargo could be immediately used at Crystal Coast. Weston and Dal understood her on the go pace, they'd talk to her later on.

Hochi on the other hand seemed to want to do nothing but linger. Something Aja would hold very little patience with now.

"Captain Hochi. Let's move, we have more seriously wounded that need to be transported to Riverview." she barked from the helm of her ship to him below on the docks. Her son jerked his eyes to her and did as he was told. He moved to take the helm of the Shadowrunner again. She gave a swift nod, and motioned for her own crew to double time it and get moving. She noticed Hochi following her lead and moved to steer the Breeze from it's mooring slip back to the open water and on to Arcadia.

Once underway, she phoned Anya to alert her to the incoming wounded that would be flooding into Riverview within the hour. The phone rang four times before she heard her sister's familiar tone gliding along the line.

"Hello, Doctor Valkonan speaking." Maranya sounded slightly out of breath, but professionally cheerful all the same.

"Anya, it's me.." Aja said into the phone. "I hate ta do dis to ya, but we got about a hundred seriously wounded that we're bringing to Riverview. Misty's bringing the most critical, Parker and Narrin are seeing to the rest now, keeping them stable during transport," she nudged the Breeze to a higher gear, and hip checked Rico to get his attention. He took the helm and she started to move for the decks below and Parker. "but he has said that they will need more in depth medical attention. He's making up charts now."

"Bozhe moi. We should be able to handle that. I need to speak with Parker or Roberrie so we can properly set up for your arrival." There was a significant pause and an intake of breath heard over the line before Maranya spoke again.

"Rob's with Misty aboard da Fur"za. I imagine Parker will link him in." Aja ducked a tray as Narrin went by her.

"How are you and Rico?" A thin thread of deep concern ran through her words, as well as a tone that did not brook being lied to.

"I'm moving below deck now." Aja hurried her pace, moving her hand over the microphone to protect Anya's hearing from the next part. "Parker!" she worked her way around the crew moving between patients helping out and answered Anya. "Me and Ricks are fine. Dis is Hochi's mess. We're jist clean up crew." again, a hand went over the phone, "Parker, damn it!" short on patience as she was, had she been paying attention, she would've noticed five crew members in the immediate area jump from the tone in her voice. She heard a distant reply and moved that way, again listening to Anya.

"Good. You two worry me to the point of gray hairs sometimes." Then other information sunk in. "Hochi" How is my favorite explorer?" That concern and no nonsense tone remained.

"Lucky ta be alive on a couple fronts." Aja said not willing to go through more detail than that right now. "I'll fill ya in a Wednesday. Right now.." she dodged the crew as they moved from one patient to the next. "I'm in get it done mode." she again covered the microphone. "PARKER!"

"I'm right here, Aja. No need to shout." Parker replied coming out from behind a curtain. Aja just gave him a glare.

"Mm. Wednesday. Might be better to fill me in at home, I can't have Bushmills at work, from what I gather about what you're not telling me. And I doubt you want to dish in front of Mami, either. Rosalie will have those cookies you like too."

"At the moment, Mami's the least of mah worries, Sis. I got Parker. I'm gonna put him on. You two can yap medical jargon at each other."

Soft laughter briefly cut the tension. "Da, we can yap to our heart's content. Put Parker on, spasibo. And take care. "Tonio got a fresh shipment of Nixies in, and you're the main one we get those for, after all." Her tone of voice was light, but quickly and smoothly shifted to professional mode once Parker was on the line.

"Aye." Aja said with a nod that she knew Anya couldn't see, but somehow that didn't cross her mind. She handed the phone to Parker and immediately she knew it was the right call. Lots of mentions of crits, hemoglobin, CT scans and other such medical lingo flew from Parker to Anya. He paused once in a while, took some notes, flipped a chart and the process started again. Aja could tell when Roberrie joined the conversation Parker would remain silent longer then.

As Maranya listened to Parker, and made comments about some of the patients, she tapped a message out on the inter-office communication system, alerting the respective departments to the incoming situation.

While Parker spoke to Anya about the most serious cases, Aja helped out where she could staying within the immediate area of Parker and she'd move when he did. When he had gotten through the most critical patients, he handed Aja back the phone.

Aja put the phone to her ear and moved for the upper deck, more to get out of the way and to see how close to home they were now.

"So. Ya and Parker get everything together?" she asked Anya as she moved past the crew and up to the helm again.

"Da, we have everything in order."

"Alright." Aja took a quick look at the shoreline and ascertained their location and approximate time of arrival back in Arcadia. She quickly calculated the unloading process and trip to Riverview. "We'll be rolling in within thirty minutes with the first wave."

"We'll be ready for you," Maranya replied with utter confidence in the capabilities of the staff at Riverview.

"Excellent." Aja said as she moved next to Rico. "We'll see you shortly. Oh...drinks are on me Wednesday night." there was the barest hint of a grin.

"Spasibo. Maybe you might hear Pigoletto too. Though I doubt that I'll drink that much." Soft laughter cut the tension again.

"I'll drink yer share." Aja said and took over the helm. "See ya soon."

"Da, see you soon. Take care, sestra moya." Maranya waited for Aja to end the call before she disconnected on her end.

Aja clipped the phone back to its holder and went above decks again. That's when the pacing started. Rico watched her for a while, he knew that look. It was about the kids. In particular, Hochi. He'd seen her expression before they had even set sail. She was annoyed. But he knew it was at herself. One of her good and bad traits. She would take the responsibility for a crew and its safety, even when it wasn't totally hers to take.

She finally found her way up to the helm and took over. He stood there quietly for a moment. "So. You done kicking yourself yet?" Rico asked.

"No."

"The lad needs time, Aja. Just like we did."

"I know. But in the meantime, what I didn't teach has cost the lives of others."

"Not your fault, Boss."

"It is." she stated calmly. "I am his mom. I'm supposed to teach him the important things. And when it comes to matters of life or death?" She sighed. "Obviously, I didn't do so good."

"Aja, far be it for me to presume to know how to raise a kid...." Rico started. "But I have watched you. You did the best job with that kid. Better than anyone else could. No one else would've gotten what it was he lived through like you did." he patted her shoulder. "That ain't nothing.? Aja just nodded. She didn't have anything else to say yet.

———End——————