Chapter 4A: Traitors in our midst

Hank tries to figure out how far ahead he will see the recording with Ryan in it.

The future and the visions are annoyingly vague. Hanks learns that it always relate to actions and events, not abstract facts. Moreover, only the most important or significant information is conveyed by the technique. Because of this, the visions seem to have a mind of their own. Crucial details slip through and he can't control the exact question, just its general direction.

He feels that this vision are about his actions more than 1 minute into the future, but within his 1 day precognition capabilities.

Hank bursts through the door with Erin in tow. "I think he's on the shuttle! We need to clear the shuttle right now!

"Rowan: If we don't find him, we'll need you and your sword to make sure he isn't there.

"Corbin: We need to make sure he can't sabotage the shuttle. Can we completely shut it down? Make sure nothing can be overloaded?"

Assuming the shuttle's locker is still operational, Corbin and Gabe can cover everyone as they quickly arm up. There are six of us, so we should be able to systematically ensure the shuttle is cleared, even if he is invisible. Well, five, as Corbin will need to be focused on making sure the shuttle can't explode.

GM edit: Not enough time for that last paragraph.

If Slaine doesn't notice anything they will go help Hank.

As Hank burst through the door with Erin in tow, his urgency palpable, the gravity of the situation became painfully clear. "I think he's on the shuttle! We need to clear the shuttle right now!" he exclaimed, his voice ringing with urgency as he sought to avert disaster.

Meanwhile, Slaine remained in the generators room, focused on the task at hand, oblivious to the unfolding chaos outside. Their mind raced with possibilities as they searched for Alfredo or any obvious sign of his whereabouts, unaware of the imminent danger lurking just beyond the door.

"Corbin, we need to make sure he can't sabotage the shuttle. Can we completely shut it down? Make sure nothing can be overloaded?" Hank's voice echoed in the tense silence, his words laden with urgency as he sought a solution to the impending crisis.

But before any action could be taken, realization struck Hank like a bolt of lightning. An explosion was imminent, and there was no time to change course. The shuttle bay's force fields would fail, leading to rapid decompression and catastrophic consequences for anyone caught in its path.With a surge of adrenaline, Hank's instincts kicked into overdrive. He glanced around frantically, his eyes falling on Corbin, clad in his armored vaccsuit. He is always wearing it, even if uncomfortable and unnecessary. Erin even jokes that he sleeps in it.

But Erin, Jil, and himself are exposed now, vulnerable in their more comfortable attire and secure clothing.

Without a moment's hesitation, Hank made a split-second decision.

There are only three options I see for those of us exposed:
1) Get back to the corridor.
2) Get into the room with Slaine.
3) Get into the fuel shuttle.

He will grab both Erin and Jil (I assume they are next to him) and run to whichever is closer with them and hope we can close the door in time.

He has no idea where Gabe is, but he can only worry about himself and those with him now. 😕

Trade Era 1235, Day 137

Shuttle’s bay, Celestial Voyager, Draco system.
Jil took her place on the floor of the shuttle bay, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for the signal to spring their trap.

The minutes stretched on, each one feeling like an eternity as the shuttle bay remained eerily silent. But Jil refused to let doubt creep in. She trusted her crewmates implicitly, knowing that they were all in this together.

Finally, Hank's voice crackled over the communication system, initiating contact with Ryan Carter. Jil's heart raced as she listened to the exchange, her senses on high alert as they waited for their target to take the bait.

When Ryan finally appeared, Jil's pulse quickened with a mixture of adrenaline and apprehension. As he approached her, concern etched on his face, she fought to maintain her composure, knowing that the success of their mission hinged on her ability to play her part convincingly.

But just as they were on the cusp of victory, disaster struck. Ryan vanished into thin air, leaving behind nothing but confusion and disbelief in his wake.

"Shut those doors", Corbin calls, to Hank and Erin. Then, Corbin's strong grip closed around her arm, pulling her towards the bulkhead with a firm urgency. With their backs pressed against the wall, Jil felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins as she focused on the scene playing out in the shuttle bay beyond. Her eyes scanned the room with a heightened sense of awareness, searching for any sign of Alfredo. Together, they stood shoulder to shoulder, their backs against the bulkhead as they watched and waited, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

But it was Hank that sprung into action, not them. He entered the bay running and reached for her. Jil was propelled forward with surprising force. Her senses were overwhelmed with a whirlwind of motion as Hank pulled her along, Erin following closely behind. Their hurried footsteps echoed loudly against the metal flooring as they raced towards the generator room, the urgency in Hank's voice ringing in her ears. He called out to Corbin, instructing him to suit up in his armored vaccsuit.

As they reached the safety of the generator room, she took a moment to catch her breath, her chest heaving with exertion. Amidst the chaos, Slaine was already there, looking for Ryan. Before either of them could make sense of Hank's actions, a deafening explosion rocked the room, the force of it blowing the door wide open. The shuttle bay was a mess. The passenger shuttle was gone, the force fields broken and both Corbin and the refueling shuttle sucked into the void.

The sudden decompression sent a shockwave through the generator room, threatening to engulf them in its wake. With a sense of urgency bordering on desperation, Jil braced herself against the onslaught, her hands gripping onto anything within reach for stability. In the chaos that ensued, Jil's mind raced with a single thought: survival. With every fiber of her being, she clung to the hope that they would emerge from this ordeal unscathed.

Trade Era 1235, Day 137

Celestial Voyager, Draco system.
As the dust settled and the smoke cleared from the aftermath of their encounter with Ryan and his astonishing teleportations, the crew of the Celestial Voyager gathered in a makeshift command center to review the footage captured during the chaotic events. Hank, Jil, Corbin and Slaine stood tense and expectant, their eyes fixed on the holographic display as it flickered to life, revealing the momentous events that had unfolded just hours before.

Amidst the tension-filled atmosphere, the door to the room slid open with a soft hiss, admitting the graceful figure of Captain Valeria Zaytsev. With a measured pace, Valeria approached the holographic display. Her usually vibrant eyes, filled with determination and resolve, were now clouded with sorrow as she watched the events unfold before her. Every flicker of the holographic images seemed to weigh heavily upon her shoulders, each moment of chaos and destruction a painful reminder of the fragility of life in the unforgiving expanse of space.

"Captain," Jil began, her voice steady despite the underlying tension in the room. "We've captured footage of our encounter with Ryan Carter. It... it's unlike anything we've ever seen before. He was able to evade us effortlessly, slipping through our grasp with uncanny ease."

Despite her efforts to maintain her composure, tears welled in Valeria's eyes, betraying the depth of her emotions as she grappled with the pain of their loss. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides, a silent testament to the anguish that gnawed at her soul as she struggled to come to terms with the cruel hand fate had dealt them.

"We must track down Ryan Carter" - Valeria said.

As Captain Valeria's resolute words hung in the air, Erin's expression hardened into a steely mask of determination. Her eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, fueled by a primal instinct for vengeance that simmered just beneath the surface. With a resolute grip on her weapon, she stepped forward, her voice tinged with a quiet but unmistakable resolve.

"I'm ready for it," Erin declared, her tone firm and unwavering. "Ryan Carter needs to pay for what he's done. He can't just disappear into the void and leave us to pick up the pieces."

Beside her, Slaine nodded in understanding, their expression thoughtful as they considered the implications of Erin's words. "Perhaps the ITC could offer a bounty for his capture," they suggested "It could incentivize others to aid in our pursuit and increase our chances of success.""Can you check with the local authorities about that bounty, Special Agent Rowan?" - Valeria asked Slaine. - "I can give you some local contacts, it's not my first time here. Chief Inspector Marcus Trent and Judge Ramirez are old friends and could help us in this time of need. I also know of a reporter, called Olivia Winters, she works for the Interstellar Broadcast Network and would probably love to interview you. Corbin, do you prefer to help in the hunt or with repairs? In the meantime, I wanna talk with Hank in private, I have a proposition for you. Let's go to my office."

Damage assessment. Corbin heads to engineering to begin pulling reports on the extent of the damage. An exploding shuttle has the potential to cause tons of unseen damage to the ship, on top of the obvious hole in the ship.

Hank goes to offer some thoughts in the first part of the conversation, but thinks better of it and simply watches and listens.

At Valeria's last comment, Hank briefly has a surprised look on his face, but quickly suppresses it. Once she indicates, Hank follows her into her office.

As Corbin rushed to the engineering section, his mind raced with the weight of responsibility. He knew that an exploding shuttle could wreak havoc on the Celestial Voyager, causing not only visible damage but also unseen consequences that could jeopardize the entire ship.

Upon reaching the engineering console, Corbin immediately began pulling up reports on the extent of the damage. His fingers flew across the controls, accessing critical systems and scanning for any signs of compromise. As Corbin delved deeper into the system diagnostics, additional alarms blared, indicating disruptions to vital systems throughout the ship. The explosion had triggered a chain reaction, causing power fluctuations, ruptured conduits, and compromised integrity seals.

With a sinking feeling in his chest, Corbin realized the true extent of the damage. The explosion had not only created a gaping hole in the shuttle bay but also compromised the ship's overall stability. Without immediate intervention, the Celestial Voyager faced the very real possibility of catastrophic failure in combat or unforeseen situations.

Damage Report

Total: 41,000 credits

As Corbin pondered the daunting expense of repairing the Celestial Voyager, a bold idea began to take shape in his mind. He considered the possibility of selling and dismantling some of the ship's fittings to offset the cost of the necessary repairs.

With determination in his eyes, Corbin set out to assess the value of the ship's fittings and equipment. He meticulously cataloged each item, evaluating its condition and potential resale value.



It was a drastic measure, but one that might be necessary to ensure the Celestial Voyager's continued operation. However, Corbin knew he couldn't make such a decision unilaterally. He needed authorization from Captain Valeria before taking any action that would impact the ship's integrity or functionality. And from Gabe, if he was alive.

Hank has no ability to hide the surprise in his face. "Real-- Yes. Yes, I would be honored to perform that role! I know I cannot match Gabe's knowledge or experience, but I will give you all I have."

Hank pauses for a couple moments, then says, "Before you fully commit to this decision, I need to reveal something to you first." He takes a deep breath and continues, "I am a Precog. I have Precognition psychic abilities. I was trained at university in the basics of handling it and for the longest time it was just subtle and minor. All I could do was very occasionally get a sense for something in the immediate future or see a hint of an immediately possibility. Mostly, I just ignored it. But very recently I have started being able to 'see' a little more farther out, and I have start to be able to 'feel' when something bad is about to happen to me. I am still very new to all of this, but it is there.

"That is why I acted so oddly in the shuttle bay. I 'saw' something bad was going to happen. I couldn't stop it; I didn't have enough warning. But I was able to at least save Jil and warn Corbin. I did put Erin at risk, though, because I didn't realize time was so short at first.

"So, as you can see, it is a fickle ability. But it is there and if I am going to take this position, I feel you need to know about it. I do ask that you keep it in your confidence, however, regardless of any decision you make."