(no subject)

[housepartyprotocol]

Who: Tony Stark & OPEN
Broadcast: None
Action: SS Starstruck
When: Now

[Remember your ship mechanic? The one who showed up, complained a little, talked a big game, and them retreated to the engine room for two weeks? Well he's back. Back and full of science.]

Whoever's been leaving food by the door, just know that you deserve a raise.

Comments

[housepartyprotocol]

You know, I am feeling better. Little out of the loop, though. What did I miss? Where are we right now?

[resnipstance]

At the moment? We're on a fairly large space station called the Starlight. ... It's about the size of a small city.

On the downside... we have no money.

[housepartyprotocol]

We docked? Huh. That explains a lot... but not why we don't have any money. What happened to our great and powerful bankers in the sky?

[resnipstance]

Short version? Bureaucracy.

The long version is that the Atroma tasked us with transporting some cargo to our next destination. When we docked here at the Starlight, the authorities informed us that our ships are all carrying unauthorized cargo, and our accounts are all frozen until further notice pending investigation.

I don't suppose you were in the habit of withdrawing cash from your account before we left Arslae...?

[housepartyprotocol]

Wow, and all this time I laughed at people who stuffed the mattress. Nope, in that case I'm as broke as you.

So, what do we know about the "unauthorized cargo". That feels made up.

[resnipstance]

They're... gumballs.

[She sounds puzzled and a little annoyed.]

... I don't get it either.

[housepartyprotocol]

[Groans.]

You know, a few years ago I wouldn't have thought it was possible for me to be this annoeyed at space.

[resnipstance]

Hey. Look on the bright side! We don't have to worry about food? I spent almost all my credits in Arslae stocking up.

I thought we'd be travelling in space for another two months again, like we were before Arslae. I didn't want to be stuck with protein cubes for two months, so we have enough real food to last the whole crew that long, at least. I mean-- it's all non-perishable stuff, but... better than protein cubes!

[housepartyprotocol]

Yeah, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the Space Spam.

[grinning at her]

So it's you who's been keeping me more or less alive. I say less, because some of those meals were cubes.

[resnipstance]

Nope. Don't look at me. The last time I tried to cook I nearly burned the kitchen down.

[housepartyprotocol]

Okay, yeah, not you then.

So is it me, or are there more people here than there were before?

[resnipstance]

They're overcrowding the ships. Don't ask me why. I'm just grateful we're at a station and not, you know, still adrift in space. Then it'd be a problem.