The Ship Graveyard

As soon as Space was reached, this was one of the wonders that had been discovered. The wreckage of thousands upon thousands of ships, spread across a tremendous section of space. The haunting remnants of a battle long lost to time. Despite the best efforts of pirates and scavengers, little to no viable technology was ever discovered or taken from these ships. Just skeletal remains of scattered armada's. It is in this area where few dare to tread, typically because it is infested with pirates and mercenaries alike. However, the risk can be worth the reward. There are traders who are freelance, away from any and all jurisdiction. And if you can find them, it can be a good chance to strike a bargain of a lifetime. If you're willing to chance the mercenaries and pirates looking for some easy pickings.

February 29th, 2295
A wormhole opens in the system, nearby this graveyard of ships and a lone Tizard class Destroyer emerges from the vortex. Bearing Imperial marking, the ship was sent here on a mission to investigate the hulks that the pathfinder program had picked up on. Anomalies readings were detected here as well time to time by the probe, but could never pinpoint what the source was. Because of this, the destroyer was not in the standard Exploration layout. Instead, it was in its normal Battle Layout with modules bolstering point defense and shields, as well as a few to increase carrying capacity in case anything of worth was found here. The commanding officer in charge of the ship was Knight Commander Hilan, a seasoned Ska'Vari with multiple missions like this one having been assigned to him. Well, while he had never actually explored a ship graveyard, command had felt he was the best they could send currently who had sufficient experience. The first order from him was, "Load missile tubes 5-20 with Angular Probes and launch on a wide spread. I want an officer tracking each probe manually and watch out for any other star nations that might be here." With that said, the crew sprung to action and began carrying out his orders. Soon 15 reconnaissance probes were launched into the debris of ships on a wide spread to gather information..

It didn't take long for one of the probes to get a reaction, but it wasn't quite what one would expect. Rather abruptly one of the probes is halted in its movement as if it were grabbed by something. All the probe catches in sight is a mass of what looks like scrap metal it gets pulled into something, and all readings of the probe are cut off. A couple seconds after the probe gets pulled there's a signal, a request of communications. Awaiting permission to be patched through. Not forcing itself or trying to by any means. Just an attempt at communication by someone. Presumably, whatever grabbed the probe.

The ship crew seem to freeze before continuing. Hilan doesn't hesitate and says, "Comms, accept the incoming hail but monitor for any..unwanted software." The comms officer quickly acknowledges his orders and sets to opening the channel while also monitoring it for any sneak attempts to download something into the ship's mainframe. Hilan says on the channel, "This is Knight Commander Hilan, to whom am I speaking to?"

Once the comms open, it seems just that. Comms. There's nothing sneaky that tries to get downloaded into the ship. All it is is voice, there's no video feed to follow it or anything of the sort. A somewhat higher pitched, upbeat and rather energetic females voice sounding out "Ahhh, you've fallen right into our trap, Hilan!" But laughter quickly follows the statement "No, no. Just kidding. Don't shoot. Sorry about the probe though, we just don't wanna die or anything. My uh... 'name' is Firefly. Sadly, I don't have any awesome title like Knight Commander. Pretty jealous of that, not gonna lie. But me and my group might have some merchandise you'd be interested in." The voice says, there's the sound of something shifting as the voice sounds just slightly more distant "Would you like to set something up? I'd be happy to make a trade, pretty rare we get the likes of you out to these parts"

Hilan paused before sighing. He looked around the ship for a second at his trusted officers before saying, "We currently have no money to valuables to trade, as well as your ship and origin are not on record. What is the Star Nation of your Origin?"

The voice lets out a small sigh. "Please. What does it matter what my Origin is? That's more of a second date kind of question to a girl like me" Amusement coloring the communication lines. "You're telling me there's not a single valuable thing on that ship? That's so dumb though. If you wanna make a trade I can give you my card when you feel like you've actually got something yeah? Me and my merry band of misfits would love to give you a run for your money" She says, dragging out the word money. "But keep it small yeah? I'm more of the private type. I'm sure you understand."

Hilan says, "Happy to, but the problem I'm having right now is that we have little to offer you. You see, I figure that you must have your own jump gate hidden in this system, or your ship somehow has a way to jump through keyholes without requiring the assistance of a gate. Either way, you'd surely have more than whatever the Imperial Knights could offer you as of current and my superiors would grill me alive if i traded any technology or weapons to a stranger."

"Ahhh, how restricting trying to work with you. I thought Knight Commander would be a pretty high rank but you're still pretty down there huh?" She sounds a little disappointed but amused at the same time "I'd love to hear the ranks above you then with a title like that though. Well, I've got another proposition for you, Hilan. It's not very often we get a ship like that here... How about this, if you let me on board and give me just... Oh, I dunno. Say five, ten minutes? Just let me look around, I won't download anything or try any funny business. I just wanna see what you got. After all, how will we know if you don't have anything to offer if I don't even know what you've got?"

There's the sound of things shifting again and a soft clatter before Firefly speaks again, a small pause "I mean, to be fair you said it yourself. You might not have anything to offer us. But if you let me do this then we might have something to offer you. Really, you can't lose either way. We could be great pals you know?" Her voice never once losing it's upbeat, energetic tone. "And if you're disappointed with us you never have to see us again, promise"

(Hi)
Not far from your position, a wormhole opens and a ship of unknown origin comes out. It is relatively small for an average ship, but its peculiar size, shape and speed suggests that it is a warship of some sort, possibly a Destroyer. The architecture of the ship matches no known records, showing you that it is likely a ship of an undiscovered Star Nation. It appears not to have taken notice of you but almost immediately after exiting, the ship begins pinging out signals like it is searching for something.

Hilan looks at the new contact but ignores it for the time being with how far it is. He replies to the individual known as firefly, saying, "Alright, come on over. I'll be waiting in docking hanger 1, the hanger on the port side of the ship. Assuming you bring no weapons, I will have no guards or weapons on myself as well." He mutes the mic while waiting for a response, looking at his second in command. He tells him, "Monitor the new contact and prepare to move out in case it is hostile. If it tries to make contact, you have permission to respond and conduct diplomacy."

(Zero)

The bulky Ska'vari that's the second-in-command leans back in his chair as he glances at his superior with the slightest hint of a grin on his face. "Roger-doger, have a safe trip now, y'hear capt'n?"

Hilan says, "I will, its not everyday you get a guest inviting themselves into your own home. Just make sure not to start any wars."

Eventually this ship does spot you on its scanners and begins opening a communication line almost immediately. It also begins to move towards your general area.

Firefly laughs happily "Ah! Hilan! I knew you had it in you! You got it. Don't worry, none of my friends will come with me. They'll just stay on the ship. The door will stay closed and everything. You're welcome to bring some guards with your or a pistol or something if you want though. I mean, either way I'm smack dab in your ship. I'll be right in and out" She says with glee, excitement clear in her voice. "I'll see you in a bit" She says, and she truly means it, that much is clear. Because at that point the probe that vanished reactivates, and they are quite close to the ship already. It wouldn't take them less than a minute to get there. The communications line closing. The ship soon coming into plain-eye view. It seems to be an interesting ship. Very sleek looking although at the same time it is rather inconspicuous. Blending it almost perfectly with the scrap around it. The probe is nowhere in sight, probably somewhere within the ship. But it is turned on. Once the ship comes into plain eye view it turns off again as the ship approaches the docking bay. Perhaps even beating Hilan there itself, and it pulls in smoothly. Landing easily and a door on the bottom opening, a hatch lowering itself as a woman hops down from it, landing to the floor easily as she steps forward, taking a look around but taking a seat as she waits for her escort.

The Ska'vari takes note of the newcomer and gestures to the comms officer. "Comms, send the unknown newcomer this message through the translators: 'Please halt your course. I am Lieutenant Commander Karssin, and we are currently transferring a diplomat. If you wish to open diplomatic channels, the Avilun Kingdom will open up channels as soon as possible.' "

Hilan walks to the hanger, switching off his comm line since they ended it. Firefly's ship was easily allowed into the hanger, though it wasn't pressurized until Hilan got there a minute later. Once pressurized, he walks to to greet Firefly as she got off her dropship.

She smiles happily at him when she sees him and does an odd action, somewhere between a walk and a skip, closing the distance towards him swiftly but halting about five feet in front of him. "Ah! The infamous Hilan! The man of the hour! We meet at last!" She says, doing an overly dramatic curtsey before holding out a hand to him to shake "Yomou Firefly at your service. But please, just Firefly" She says, a wide smile on her lips.

"alright, Welcome miss Firefly." He says back, bowing slightly as she comes up. "Welcome to my ship, not a large or impressive ship in the Imperial Navy, but it is my ship. Please, come this way." He beckons, the door he came through still open. As he said, no guards were present and he had no weapons on hand, with the crew going about much their normal routine. They did stop and stare at her for a few seconds though if they noticed her.

She pulls her hand back when he doesn't shake it and shrugs, following him curiously and looking around at the technology, waving at the people who stop and stare at her. "It's beautiful, honestly. I've been on my hunk of scrap for so long." She says as she examines everything as close as she can without stopping frequently. "How long did it take before the stuffy, higher ups thought you deserved a ship Hilan? It's a bit of a process from what I understand" She asks, conversationally, Putting her hands behind her back and leaning forward a little as she talks, still looking around. While she moves around her ship stays closed. Just sitting where it is

Hilan says, "You are right, the process is long. I had to start as Able rank when I applied to be an officer and experience each and every rank between there and becoming a commissioned officer. As my teacher said, 'You cannot command properly unless you know whats it been like to have been commanded.' But enough of me, what would you like to see in the ship?"

Firefly nods her head "Smart fellow, your teacher. Not that I'd know" She says offhandedly, looking around as they walk. Taking in a fair amount of information just by exploring the ship "Personally I'm most interested in your control room and your engines, but if you'd rather I stay out of the control room that's fine" Looking into the corridors as they walk "Everything else is kind of a luxury, but I wouldn't mind the full tour either. I'm not in any rush" Skipping a little with her steps, keeping her hands held together behind her back.

They soon arrive at engineering. Hilan says as they arrive, "I don't mind giving a full tour. Well, here we are at engineering. This is the heart of the ship, where power is generated and used in all the systems, with the grav-wall drive lining here to almost the end of the ship down there." He points as he says the last bit. All around them were crewmen of various races working hard at their jobs and ensuring the power generator and drive assembly ran smoothly. They also had people on damage control currently that could respond to critical damages across the ship and attempt to work a quick patch to the problem.

The Ship stops its course close enough to where it can be seen simply by looking outside, if your ship had windows. A single mechanized voice was sent in response. "We represent the Coalition of Capitals. We have diplomats, if you wish to meet them."

Karssin responds through the comms, "We are currently hosting a diplomat. We require some time to clear some business up with this current diplomat bfore we can take aboard any others. Please be patient--I will inform the commander of this fleet about your desire to open channels, and commence talks as soon as possible."

He switches on the local comms on the ship with the captain. "Capt'n, a new ship has showed up. They also want to send a diplomat over. I've told them to hold their course and we'll accomidate them as soon as possible. Your orders?"