The Western Frontier: An Episodic, Schizotech Sci-Fi RP (Started)

[Katherine Kerensky]

Mechty Dorfloum stepped out from behind the shipping crate in the small, privately owned warehouse off the main concourse. It seemed that the smugglers had done well in getting the living cargo onto the station without notice from the authorities, and just as well for them, with the price of the service.
Herded by a few black-smocked workers, Mechty drifted out of a back door along with the human refuse who had shared the container, ignoring the adjustment official who had been brought in to make sure the new residents would blend in, and shuffled off towards the nearby thoroughfare, pausing only to query a nearby resident in a grating, mechanical voice as to the whereabouts of the so-called "Red Giant Café". Satisfied with the stuttered directions, the brightly-armoured enigma slid out of the side passage and down the busy corridor, carelessly nudging a child aside, face-first into a wall.
Mechty had a purpose, and no gutter urchins would get in the way. Although, it could hardly hurt to report the corrupt official for a few more credits. And maybe sell out the company who handled the illicit transportation.
A thought suddenly occured to Mechty. Why in the bloody Verge did I not just book a regular transport? No matter, the here and now was the important thing.

 

[Derek_the_Dodo]

Spoiler: OOC

Sorry to stick a great big ugly OOC post right at the start of the RP but I thought since it was such early days and there hasn't been many posts at all yet I thought I would ask if it's still possible to join?

 

[370999]

"I need a bath"

He grimaced at the memories of the unpleasantness of the trip here, the stench of some of a few thousand permeating his skin. He wrinkled his nose and then purposefully walked through the station.

It would be best to find money first so I can find some way of eating tonight

Moving his hand back he touched his great-sword, as if to remind himself that there was still a lot of coin for someone of his skill. He surveyed his surroundings and then paused, there was a cafe deep in the background. A small smile briefly flickered across his lips, he know that there was work to be had here.

Red giant Cafe? Should be easy to find someone here to get some easy work as a body guard with and then build up enough cash to go back home

Vane strode forward, oblivious to all the eyes that followed this heron-like being, the lights on his robes flickering on and off like the blinking of blue eyes.

 

[Kuroneko Aisha]

Onboard the transport ship Aurora, it was rather quiet, with the two crewmembers, Ray'skel and Kinraye busy preparing for their landing at Tanra Station. They were about a half-hour from landing and they were hoping to be on time for their meeting. Within the hull of the Aurora though, one more unofficial crewmember was hard at work fixing the Heating and Cooling unit within the Engine Room. The humming of the engine dampened the sounds of wrenches and welding torches, as well as the occasional shout of frustration.

Precis growled a little bit as she glared at the open panel for the H/C unit. It had been a complete mess when she had started on it, but thanks to some rewiring and hard work, she had managed to get it running more than efficiently. What had her glaring, was the fact that it had taken the last of her spare wire coating to fix it, and she hoped that it would be worth it. Grumbling, she said. "Let's hope those two appreciate the air that is coming through now. Sheesh, when I got on this ship it was a complete mess, but now I think it's in a pretty good state. Let's just hope it stays that way." Nodding her head, she looked around for her wrench and blinked. "Huh? Where did it go?" Now that the H/C unit was fixed, her new task was to find her wrench!

 

[TheBlueShotgun0]

Shoren exited the customs office and looked at the Blackheart ad he held for what must have been the hundredth time. He wore a black leather jacket, which served the duel purpose of concealing his revolver and looking very stylish. His shotgun and sword he wore openly, both strapped to his back. The ad said that anyone wishing to be recruited should report to the Red Giant Cafe on Tanra Station. The only problem was that Shoren hadn't even known that this space station existed until a week ago, and he certainly didn't know where the Red Giant was.

As Shoren walked through the streets of the massive construct, he caught a glimpse of a person wearing an environment suit run a child bystander into a wall. No matter wear you go, you always run into someone who thinks they're better than everyone else. he thought as he jogged over to the boy and helped him up. "You all right, kid?"

"Yes sir. Thank you, sir." the boy said gratefully. He clearly had a red mark on his forehead that probably hurt a lot, but Shoren decided not to say anything.

"Say, do you know where the Red Giant Cafe is, by any chance?" Shoren asked. He was honestly rather sick of aimlessly wandering the streets.

"Yes, sir." the boy said. "Just walk that way and make a left. Walk some more 'til you reach the 4-way intersection, and you'll see it. It's got a big neon sign."

"Alright, thanks." Shoren said. He took out his credit chit and, before the boy could protest, transferred 5 credits to his chit. "Go get yourself a pastry or somethin'."

The boy took out his own chit and his eyes immediately widened. "Wow. Thanks mister." But Shoren was already gone, mixed in with the crowd, heading in the direction that the boy had pointed.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Throughout the flight, Kristina mainly kept to her quarters, compiling her notes on the Blood Skulls, cross referencing them with a journal she carried. On a few of the pages, were filled with a series of photographs, each one with their name underneath, and a large red X to show that they were dead. These people, were part of the bandits that killed her hunting community almost ten years ago to the day. There was at least a half dozen more to end, before her quest was complete. She hoped that working for this Blackheart company, would help her find the rest.

When the all clear for a complete docking procedure was given over the intercom, she quickly packed up her things, holstering the crossbow she treasured most of all on her back. After placing the journal in an inside coat pocket, she made for the exit, not forgetting to grab a leather pouch from the nearby table. For Kristina, it was her second time at Tanra Station; the first time being when she just started out as a bounty hunter, and tracked her first target, Enrico Montoya to the station. She made a few friends here, one of them being someone, who she hoped to get some easy credits off of.

Wondering through the docking area, Kristina could see that it was a hive of activity. Various mercenary group were stationed throughout, hoping that someone who give them a contract. A few of the men, obviously drunk judging from the stench they gave off tried to come on to her; but she quickly dissuaded them, by intimidating them with one of her wrist blades. She made her way to a jewellery store, which was being manned by a stall, skinny gentlemen smoking a pipe that was lead out amongst a few chairs. He quickly noticed her presence, and gave a big smile. The gentleman soon sat up.

"Hey, Miss Jecht, long time no see. What you doing back on Tanra station?"

"And a hello to you to Rodrigo. As for my business here, I've been recruited to join this bounty hunter group called Blackheart."

"Ah, they is popular people, a well respected group of bounty hunters. Heard their recent mission went south badly, and have been looking for new people since. So, I take it you got something, for lil' old Papa Roach?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. Tell me, what do you make of these..." Kristina then pulled out the small leather bag, and poured out its contents. It was a handful of small gemstones, which were clear, but had orangish red centre. Rodrigo's bold blue eyes lit up at the sight, just like a kid at Christmas.

"My god, those are Vermilion sky diamonds. Where did you get such pretty gems?" Rodrigo asked as he examined one of the precious stones in great detail, still awe struck by the find.

"I recovered them from a recent job, figured you know the right price."
"Of course I do. But why get rid of them, they would make you a pretty necklace."
"You know I'm not a jewellery person Rodrigo. Just tell me how much you'll pay to have these."
"Settle down man. I'll pay, 1500 Credits for these. But, keep one for yourself, good luck charm." Rodrigo then brought the card reader out, it had certainly seen better days, but Kristina decided not to mention it.

"Okay then, if you insist." As she took one of the gems, placing it back into her coat. "Tell me, you ever hear of the Red Star Cafe? It's where I have to meet my employer." Kristina then put her chit through the reader.

"Yeah, I know. Walk that away for a few minutes, and take a left. Keep walking till you come to a 4-way intersection, and you'll soon see it, big red neon sign and all." After been given the direction, Kristina soon became one with the crowd, following the information.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

Ray'skel's idea of "preparation" when it came to bringing in the Aurora for a landing was to take a long, "much-needed and well-deserved" nap in his cot. His room was quiet, the only sound was the dampened hum of the engines at work, and all was still in his living quarters. The stillness, however, did not last as there was movement in the tassels that hung in front of the high wall vent above the cot. A light, silent breeze was coming from the air duct, slowly cooling the cozy room. Ray began to stir in his light slumber, then quickly sat up as the shift in temperature awoke him. He sat at the edge of the cot, boots firmly planted on the floor, and looked over at the thermostat with its needle pointing to the far end of 'Cool'. Begrudgingly, he stood and stretched, then walked over to turn the thermostat's dial to a more comfortable setting.

"Been more'n a year since I've had to adjust this damned thing," Ray thought aloud. "Looks like Kin finally found the schematic for that air unit. 'Bout damn time, if you ask me."

Already up and about and seeing no sense in going back to sleep, Ray grabbed his rancher's hat, placed it atop his head, then headed for the mess hall. There was already a pot of coffee that had been brewed just an hour before and was now just simmering. Ray grabbed the biggest mug he could find and prepared himself a cup in his usual fashion: boiling hot, strong as a bull, black as tar and just as bitter with a rather liberal splashing of whiskey. He took a large gulp, sighing as it warmed his gut, and began heading for the bridge, content as a cow in clover.

When Ray arrived and stepped through the opening to the bridge, he saw Kin in the pilot's chair and Tanra Station through the windshield. After taking another large gulp from his mug, he said to Kin as he admired the space station, "How long did it take ya to get that air conditionin' unit goin'? I was only out for 'bout an hour."

 

[Malyc]

Kinraye was relaxing at the helm of the Aurora, keeping an eye out for any ships that might wander into her docking pattern. Hopefully this will be the break we've been looking for. She thought, wondering if the Blackhearts were really all they were rumored to be. Be nice to actually work for a decent sized company for once, give us a chance to cash in big.

Letting the auto-pilot do most of the work, Kin was free to take a good look at Tanra Station, as well as determine the location of the Red Giant Cafe from their docking pad. Well that's convenient. They've got us setting down about a half-mile away

The H/C controls for the cockpit had been shut down since the unit had went out last year, so Kin wasn't aware of the cold air now available to make the room a bit more comfortable. At least, not until Ray came in.

"How long did it take ya to get that air conditionin' unit goin'? I was only out for 'bout an hour."

"Hmm?" Kin responded, still not fully catching what he was saying. "You know as well as I do that I never leave the cockpit when we're getting ready to dock. You say the H/C is up again?" She hit a few buttons on the console, activating the fan as well as the temperature controls, and almost instantly felt cool air flowing from the vents underneath the control panel.

"That's odd... Maybe it finally worked itself out."

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

Meine was sitting on the ground, in a rather secluded part of the tanra station. She could see a few combat drones at the end of the street, but they were more interested in the passerbys than her.

She had her right eye turned off, since she had no need for it, but she still kept a watchful ear on her surroundings. There was no one trying to sneak up on her. Maybe she had finally made a reputation for herself. No, probably not. It was likelier that the combat drones kept the thieves away.

She leaned back against the wall, but her large sword made it hard for her to get comfortable. It may not be a large sword to others, but she was a small woman and had to use both of her hands while wielding it.

She opened the brown bag she had in front of her and took out a chocolate cupcake, which she slowly began eating. It was hard for to get a hold of really good pastries, but this one would have to do for the moment.

The reason she had come to Tanra station was to find work and she had heard about the blackhearts recruiting, which is where she planned on going first, but it was doubtful that they would want her. She had a few years of experience, but was still young.

Finishing her cupcake and licking her fingers of the last crumbs, she got up on her feet and brushed her hands on her torn pants. She might be mistaken for a beggar or urchin if she didn't get new clothes soon. It wasn't something she prioritized or wanted to spend credits on, but it might be hard for her to get taken seriously by others if she continued tearing her clothes without repairing them.

She spit on the ground, checked that her cloaking was working by holding her hand in front of her and watching it disappear. The guardians of the space station wouldn't like it if she walked around like that, so she quickly turned it off again, but adjusted her hearing to better suit the more active areas and turned on her right eye. The right eye's normal vision sucked and she may as well have been blind on that eye, which she actually didn't have anyway, but the cybernetic eyepiece did have two good functions which no normal eye could provide.

Meine stumbled back out into the busier street and headed towards the Red Giant Cafe, which she had walked by earlier. When she got there again, she entered the cafe and took a seat by a window.

 

[Kuroneko Aisha]

Onboard the Aurora, Precis continued her search for her missing wrench. As she went over the area of the generator with a sharp eye, she said with a pout. "Where on earth did I put that thing?" She hadn't used it for this fix-up, and it wasn't likely that she had left it behind on one of her many other fixes, so she couldn't think of what could have happened to it. Grumbling to herself as she contemplated this predicament, she said to herself. "I know I brought it with me after fixing their refrigerator..Man, that thing was a job all on its own. After that came the jammed door to the dining area. That one just needed a little bit of grease and a good old chisel to get the rust out. I had it then too. Hmm." She paced around the engine room impatiently. She didn't like not knowing where one of her tools was. It never occurred to her that she had dropped it on the way to the engine room.

 

[TheBlueShotgun0]

Shoren walked into the intersection and immediately saw the cafe. Just as the boy had said, it was marked by a large, red neon sign depicting a vaguely humanoid figure that Shoren guessed was suppose to be the establishment's mascot. Below the "giant", the sign displayed the words "Red Giant Cafe". "Bingo" Shoren mumbled, and entered the cafe.

The place was small but cozy on the inside. Waitresses bustled back and forth between their tables, and Shoren could hear and smell the food cooking in the back. He approached the counter and ordered a basket of fried potato skins. As he waited, he noticed a short brunette girl at one of the window seats. She had a chainsaw sword, which looked a bit disproportionate against her small frame. No average Joe carries a weapon like that. Shoren thought. She must be here for the Blackhearts too. When his order arrived, Shoren payed for it and walked up to the girl. "Hey there. Are you here for the bounty hunters?" he asked kindly.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

With a purse now containing a nicely enriched credit chip under the white cloak, Mechty stepped out of the small law office and resumed the trip to the Red Giant Café. The main corridor was more crowded now than it had been five minutes before. Mechty sighed under the sound-blocking helmet, which was translated into a disturbing buzzing through the voice modulator, drawing a few questioning glances from the people nearby.
Sighing again because of the unwanted attention, Mechty pushed forcefully out onto the center of the passage, turned, and strode in the direction of the recruitment point, brushing aside anyone who would not move out of the way in time. A kid stood in the way. It was the same one from before. It looked like a boy, but Mechty couldn't be sure, and didn't particularly care.
Quickly hooking a foot behind the diminutive kid's knee and pulling it in, the child fell over backwards, out of the way with a small yelp.
The obstacle sufficently dealt with, the journey was resumed, and shortly ended a few meters later with the open door of the destination. There were a few patrons to be seen, but it wasn't as busy as expected. A man, looking the typical "tough guy" look in a black leather coat, seemed to be bugging some brown haired girl over by a window. Mechty decided to ignore them as irrelevant, and took a seat a few tables away, pulling a book out from under the shroud. Now to wait for people heading into the conference room at the back.

 

[Broken Orange]

After several wrong right turns and a stubborn refusal to ask for directions, Lukaas eventually found his way to the Red Giant. It was a decent enough of a café. They can serve a decent amount of patrons. It could almost be a good place to take the family after weekly worship, if you wanted to deal with the crowds.

After being ushered to a table, Lukaas took off his hat & jacket and placed it on the back off his chair, revealing a sawn off shotgun in a shoulder holster. After a brief glance at the menu, he ordered a Bovinon Burger with a glass of milk, likely of the Bovinon variety.

With a while until the meeting in one of the back confrence rooms, Lukaas waited for his meal and got lost in memories of old. His childhood of leisure, job as a ranch hand protecting the cattle, his father's death leaving a huge inheritance for both him and his twin, his near instant departure of his home world to become a hunter...

With the arrival of the meal, killing his train of thought, Lukaas took his gloves off, showing off pairs of hands covered in burn scars, and began to eat while occasionally stealing a peak at the orange tin can in the booth near him.

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

A blue haired older man approached her and asked about the bounty hunters. He didn't mention the name of the group though, nor his own name. He may be another one looking for a job, but that meant he was competition until she had been hired. If that was the case.

She turned away from him and looked out the window. It wasn't that clean, but she could still easily see the street outside. Hopefully the leaders of the blackhearts would arrive soon.

"What's it to you?" She asked him in a sharp and pretty unfriendly tone.

It may come back to bite her in the ass, especially if he already was hired by the blackhearts, but meh, that was a problem she would have to deal wit then. He hadn't introduced himself either, so she didn't feel any reason to repay his fake kind tone.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

After following Rodrigo's directions for about five or ten minutes, she couldn't tell exactly, being a crowd makes you lose track of time, Kristina finally stood outside the Red Giant cafe. Despite its apparent age, the establishment still held up well, and attracted a steady flow of customers. Kristina entered the cafe, and saw that several others had entered before her.

First there was a older gentlemen with blue coloured hair, who seemed to be arguing with a teenage girl with brown hair. Finally, there was a..." Kristina stopped and stared at the person wearing some orange environmental armour, and a visor that completely obscured their face, you couldn't even tell what gender it was. Shaking off the slightly disturbed look on her face, Kristina made her way to a table.

Kristina sat down at a booth, and lowered the hood on her coat. She then removed her crossbow, propping it up next to her on the seat. Browsing the menu with some nonchalant interested, she settled on a slice of pie, and a coffee to go with it. Whilst waiting she examined her fellow patrons without them noticing, deciding on whether or not they were friend or foe.

Finally the pie soon arrived, the coffee sat next to it. Kristina then slowly began to eat the pie, whilst leafing through her bounty journal once more. Thus began the wait for the bounty hunter meeting.

 

[TheBlueShotgun0]

Shoren smiled at the girls snarky tone. "Just trying to make friendly conversation." he said as another women with a crossbow walked past him. The girl before him clearly didn't want him around, and Shoren thought she was being rather rude about it. He decided that he would respond by bothering her until she dropped the attitude. Shoren popped a potato skin into his mouth before speaking. "Here's a good ice breaker: where did you get that sword? I don't see many of those around."

 

[Redryhno]

Kier'Ran continued to sit in the conference room, waiting for anyone else to enter. By the increased chatter and foot traffic he heard on his side, there was at least half a dozen people to come into the cafe in the last half hour. Why they hadn't come into the conference room yet he didn't know, since few stations he had been to had this much of an influx in the time frame. He didn't move from his seat, but he did readjust himself in the chair.

He was growing bored of sitting in the darkened room, if the Blackhearts hadn't arrived within the next two hours, he was going to cut his losses and find some kind of work here on the station. Get on the first ship he could and find some nice little planet to settle down on, maybe, preferably one with a low population or pre-industrial age, these floating heaps of slag, sweat, and people irritated him too much. His augmentations were infinitely useful, but were a double-edged blade in cities, breathing recycled air.

 

[370999]

Vane pushed open the door of the Cafe. The place was small, a typical port-side cafe for petty business men. Except this place wasn't, it seemed to be filled with individuals carrying weapons. Vane saw that a some of them had the athletic air of individuals who had danced with blades many times. Very interesting he thought to himself, some of the old blood lust stirring in him, the desire to test his skills.

And then there was that creature that looked like a man but was covered in an orange suit.

Vane's head turned to two individuals who were making a bit of a scene bickering.Some man of means and his concubine? No, that girl was fully versed in the art of death he mused.

And then his head turned to man with scarred hands snacking on a hearty meal. Those scars weren't like Vane's, but he still felt an odd quite sense of kinship with that man, and he did seem to be enjoying a meal.

Vane's stomach grumbled louder then bawling of a hungry biovark from the great ranches of Diomosis.

Vane sauntered over to the feasting man and spoke using the full multitude of vocal ranges to state his nature. he knew never to disturb a man while eating, even worse a potential master but his hunger was an even great slave driver.
"I am Vane O'Sufi" he spoke in a normal accent subtly taking on the accents of the local individuals around.
"I would like to sell myself to you for short period of time" he continued his voicing start to sound more like some great man of history, full of gravitas
"I can be a solider" his voice rapidly switching to that of brutal warrior, barbaric and fearsome in the implications of a life feed by the skill of the blade
"Even a poet or a lover" his voice switching to that of the high concubine princess of Neocathpon


Vane was so hungry...

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Mechty was enjoying watching the more recent patrons of the Red Giant. A snicker was allowed for the brown-haired girl's responce to mister tough guy, and a slight cringe for his continued attempts at winning her over. It was starting to get hot in the armour, so with the press of a button on the left forearm of the suit, some coolant was circulated. Mechty sunk back into the chair with a slight hiss, and turned to observe the other newcomers. One, a human female with grey hair and a crossbow, was eating a pie and reading from a journal. I'll have to get a look through that little book sometime, Mechty thought. Possibly an interesting person. Not sure about that red coat though. Looked sturdy enough.
And then, to the most recent patron. It seemed to be trying to sell... himself... to another man, who had been busy gobbling up a decently-sized burger. The newcomer seemed a bit desperate, perhaps for company, or a job. It was unimportant which. Mechty withdrew the battered copy of Haggard's Haunters: First Forever into the voluminous folds of the cloak, rose from the chair, and moved to a table a few meters over, further from the guy trying to sell himself. Not sure that is the type to get involved with in this, might try to sell me out for a few extra credits...

 

[JokerboyJordan]

After the docking procedure was complete, Xion took some time to stretch his legs properly for the first time in a while, after being cooped up in the ship for so long. He withdraw his revolver from the holster on the right side of his hip, he began twirling in on his finger before mock pointing it at a nearby lamp post. He saw the robot security squad on the street corner, covertly surveying their surroundings. Xion reminded himself where he was, and that if he took the wrong step, he could end up dead, regardless of how many he could take down with him.

Sighing at the stifling environment, he took one last look at the chamber of his revolver, before snapping it back together and replacing it in it's holster in one fluid motion. He adjusted his katana so that it was clearly visible as it stuck out from beneath his white duster. He had only been to Tanra Station once before, so he knew how strict the security around the place was, but nevertheless he would swiftly cut down any imputent street thugs that tried to heckle him.

After a brief wander around the space station, Xion took out a small bussiness card that had the Blackheart name on it, he turned it over and it read "Red Giant Cafe", along with today's date, and a time that was 30 minutes from now. Not knowing how far away the place would be, he began to make haste towards it regardless, asking a nearby local who, whilst initially intimidated by his sword and red hair, eventually told him of the street name whilst gesturing in the general direction. It was best not to be late for his new employer, even though Xion normally worked freelance, he had come to be in need of money most recently, due to oweing a large amount of credits to a particuarly nasty drug cartel back on Helios Prime.

He came across the street that the old man had told him, and along this street he found the cafe. It wasn't hard, the red neon lights that spelled "RED GIANT" were somewhat glaring.
Xion entered the cafe, and was instantly greeted by the smell of cigarette smoke, a displeasing smell that reminded him of the fires of deforestation back on his homeworld.
The patrons of the cafe were certainly a varied bunch, with a figure encased completely in an orange environmental suit, sat in a chair reading a book. Close to this figure were what he assumed were a bickering couple, before he heard the man's feeble attempt at breaking the ice to the girl. She was what looked like a teenager, although Xion had learnt the hard way not to rely on what he thought a girl's age was. The man meanwhile had an odd shade of blue hair that reminded him of his own mutation, along with what appeared to be a shotgun, and a katana, both being worn on his back.

Pfff, poser. He probably is just as skilled with that sword, as he is at talking to that girl

Ignoring the scene before him for now, he recalled that the card read to meet in the conference room. He asked a nearby waiter where such a room was, and he was directed to the back of the cafe. Xion made his way into the room, where he saw a man with a cybernetic left arm sitting at the large table.

"I take it you are here for the Blackhearts as well?"