Third Watch [Esteem Crew]

[kyliegrasan]

Her alarm clock went off. Reluctantly, Kylie opened her eyes. She didn't have a good night's sleep ever since she came aboard the Esteem. What was night or day anyway out here in the black? It made no difference. People on the Esteem were always busy. People walked down the corridor without stop, and the announcements on the intercom were almost continuously. "Sergeant Blahblahblah report here. Lieutenant Yadieyadah report there." For a cruiser the size of the Esteem, the walls sure were thin.

Kylie threw her blanket off and pushed the alarm clock off. As she set on the edge of her bed, she felt her head get all light, and waited for it to pass. It was then she noticed her stuffed bunny had fallen to the ground. She picked it up, and put it on her pillow. She then stood up, and pulled her blanket over the stuffed bunny, as if it was tucked in neatly. Kylie straightened out her white sleeping T-shirt and then turned on the light and picked up her bra, her uniform and ID card. While passing the mirror, Kylie couldn't help herself to make a funny face.

She then walked out of her room, and into the hallway, and made her way toward the showers. Captain Conrad Garrett may have been righteous and tough, but he didn't take the Esteem crew's god-given right to walk around in their underwear in the dormitories. A couple of male crewmembers couldn't help themselves to have a look at Kylie's behind as she passed them, but she didn't notice. And even if she did, she was still too tired to care.

Kylie walked into the showers and lockerroom, and made her way toward her locker. Using her ID card, she opened it and put her uniform along with her bra in it. She then took a towel and wrapped it carefully around her, and then cautiously removed her panties and T-shirt. Kylie liked her privacy, unlike most of the other crewmembers, both male and female. The lockerroom was mixed, but at least the showers weren't. And Kylie had no desire of showing the other crewmembers herself in the way nature intended.

Kylie found herself a showercabin, and washed herself up quickly. She then dried herself up, and wrapped the towel around her again. Once again carefully, she put on her underwear and her uniform. She then put her hair in a ponytail, and put on her dogtags before she put on her bonnet. Unlike other females aboard the Esteem, Kylie never used too much make-up. She liked her freckles, and saw no need to cover them up.

Kylie closed her locker and walked out the lockerroom. She still had ten minutes to spare to get to the bridge, so there was no need to hurry. After passing a couple of friendly faces, Kylie made her way toward the bridge, and got ready to commence her shift.

Third watch. Also known as night watch. But as said before, that didn't mean too much out in the black. Kylie had forgotten to look at the roster, so she had no idea who would be joining her today. During third watch, the bridge would only be manned by a skeleton crew, while the rest was asleep, or at least trying to be.

Kylie took her place at the right side of the helm, and put her hands on her back. She then stared out in front of her, into the black.

It was going to be a long night for her, if she wouldn't have someone to talk to.

[darkreaction3]

It had been a few days since Tom had seen Amara, the only person aboard the ship he could come close to calling a friend. The issue with the ship, the Atlas, that they had been trying to track had been all but forgotten in the recent overhaul aboard the Esteem. They had a new captain, name of Conrad, and Tom wasn't sure what to make of him yet. Sure seemed a sight more responsible than their old captain, but he hadn't made up his mind whether or not he liked the change. Time would tell.

This evening he was restless. He was sober, but tired. However, his restlessness proved too great for him to attempt sleep. His uniform, which he was actually wearing for once, was crisp and his facial hair was trimmed and tame. He actually looked the part he played on this ship, that of an Alliance officer.

He had roamed the ship for a bit, by way of stretching his legs, then had come to the mess hall. It was all but deserted at this hour, so he roamed on past to the bridge. He wasn't on any of the watches, but he was curious to see who was up there.

A woman was at the helm, back to him, staring out into space. He recognized her as one of the new crew, the one he'd been intending to take to see Captain Olsen before all the confusion began. Then Garrett had taken over, and he had never brought Grasan to meet him. He frowned at this lapse in his memory; usually he was pretty good at keeping up with new crew and ensuring they felt comfortable on the ship.

Coming up beside her, he mirrored her position and clasped his hands behind his back, staring out. "Grasan. How are you holding up?" Straight and to the point. Tom wasn't one to mince words.

[kyliegrasan]

Kylie stopped staring into the black as she heard the doors to the bridge open. It was Tom, the man who gave her a hearty welcome when she first came aboard. Kylie gave him a smile as he pulled up beside her.

"Grasan. How are you holding up?"

"Hi Tom!" Kylie said. "Please, call me Kylie though."

Kylie figured since she could call him Tom, the least she could do was allow Tom to call her Kylie. That, and she thought calling someone by her or his last name was so unpersonal. She was of the thought that a small group like the officers should learn eachother's first names. Especially if they were going to be working together.

"And I'm fine Tom, thank you for asking." Kylie replied. "Been doing a lot better since I first came aboard. Thanks again for the hearty welcome by the way!"

Kylie was glad someone she knew had come to join her. Although she had no trouble with getting to know people. She had been doing fine so far with the other officers, playing cards in the officer's lounge, or having drinks and talking in the bar.

It didn't take too slow for Kylie to get the respect of some of the other officers, and a few of the enlisted as well. After she was aboard for a week, they asked her to join in a game of cards, hoping they could make her lose some money. Little did they know that a nice girl like Kylie could play one mean hand of cards. Something that came after years of playing cards for fun with her brother Rade. Strangely enough, instead of the others holding a grudge toward her, they started respecting her, even though she took all of their money.

Kylie had been doing good with the other officers and the enlisted, but she wondered what Tom's deal was. When everyone else was having a good time, he'd just sit about in the officer's lounge, or sometimes she'd seen him with his arms and head on the table in the mess hall. The only one he seemed to be in contact with was Lieutenant-Commander Shai. Kylie wasn't one to stick her nose into other people's business, she just thought it was a shame that a nice man like Tom kept to himself like that.

Then, another announcement went through the bridge. This time about a mechanic having to check a pipe on lower deck 2.

"Grr. Don't you wish they'd just stop doing that? I've been losing sleep because of those announcements ever since I came aboard!" Kylie said. "How about you, Tom?"

[darkreaction3]

At her request, he simply nodded. "Kylie it is." He had never been too close with anyone on the ship, but he had always taken to calling anyone he could by their first name. It was more casual that way, and despite appearances Tom was not a rigid man. "I expect you've met the captain? I apologize for not being able to introduce you as I said I would, but you probably understand why. Olsen being replaced and all." A private relief to Tom.

The man was not one to fraternize much, so the card games common to the rest of the officers was something he was not familiar with. He was, however, making an effort to put himself out there more. If he was to ever beat his addiction, he needed hobbies and some kind of support system.

He had not realized that Kylie had been watching him. Most of the other officers had come to avoid him and it was well-known, although not spoken of, that he had a problem. Amara was the only person that helped to ground him when he felt like he was floating away into nothingness.

The announcement broke the comfortable silence, but Tom wasn't bothered by it like Kylie was. He shrugged. "I've been here a long time. I guess I don't even really hear it anymore." Turning to look at her, he cocked his head. A smile would have been in order here, if his lips would only remember how to curve that way. "I'm sure you'll get used to it soon enough."

It was strange that Kylie was the only one here; she couldn't be the only one on duty, even at this hour. His brow furrowed as he glanced around the decidedly empty bridge. "They can't have put you up here alone?"

[kyliegrasan]

"Well I hope I get used to it." Kylie replied. "It's a big ship but the walls down at the dormitories are like paper!"

Kylie shrugged. She forgot to look at the roster, so she had no idea who would be joining her. She thought Tom would, but apparently he wasn't on duty. Kylie figured he couldn't sleep so he was just roaming around.

"I have no idea." Kylie said. "I forgot to take a look at the roster before commencing my shift. Guess for now it's just me and the enlisted."

There were plenty of people around on the bridge, but all of them were enlisted men and women, or petty officers, and they were all too busy looking at their screens, and most of them wore headphones as well. And apart from the ticking on keyboards or the eventual whisper, the bridge was pretty much quiet.

Kylie looked at the helm, which was still unmanned. Kylie hoped Aaron wasn't on duty tonight. If he was late, the captain would have his ass... again.

Kylie wasn't one to judge people, but the way Aaron acted had annoyed a great lot of people, both officers and enlisted. Seemed he just did as he pleased because his father was a general and his grandfather an MP. The captain could discipline him all he wanted, but throwing him off the Esteem wasn't an option.

"I hope lieutenant Legran isn't supposed to be on duty." Kylie said. "For his sake. Captain sees him lollygaggin' one more time or missing out on one more shift and he'll be peeling potatoes for the rest of his service time.

[amara]

"No he won't," Amara said sourly as she approached Tom and Kylie, her way of walking always graceful but at the moment it was executed with a sort of agitated grace. She wasn't happy.

"I would have been here on time," She said as a short explanation, "but our captain seems to be a little disorganized with scheduling. I just found out I was supposed to be on duty this hour."

She got straight to business as she held her hand out to Kylie to shake. "Sergeant Shai. We are working together tonight." She turned to Tom now, and if she hadn't been so agitated, or on duty, she may have smiled at seeing him. But business was business. "Hello, Tom. I see you're enjoying your break."

It was a teasing jab instead of an authoritative hint to leave. It was funny to her; she thought she was a workaholic! And yet here Tom was, assisting the new girl on her post. What a gentleman. He could be down in his bunk, or in the mess hall, or down on level two playing poker with his fellow shipmates. He did want to improve his social situation, didn't he? Meh, Amara didn't blame him for going. They were a bunch of pigs.

But really, many things were preferable than hanging out with a newbie. She could think of a few, anyway. She didn't particularly jump for joy at the prospect of joining her on watch. It would feel too much like she was training her.

Kylie wouldn't know that, though. She wouldn't know anything more than what she had to know.

[aaronpark]

Aaron looked at his watch angrily. How does the captain expect someone to be prepared for third watch with only five minutes notice? He finished putting on his clean uniform and speedily rushed down the hall (as quietly as he could). He had already been in enough trouble already for the id badge fiasco on his first day. He didn't even see the need for there to be a pilot on these behemoths, let alone the best pilot being assigned to night guard. He was a few minutes late when he saw that most of the other third watchers were there. Legran was tired, he thought he would only have one shift today so he had planned on sleeping during the third watch. He now also had to work a double shift into the second watch. The captain needed to be better at organization. Does he want the best pilot out there to be tired when he's at the helm.

Aaron walked into the room, "Hi everybody, happy to see me?" He could see on their faces that they weren't and that was his fault. He let the father's-a-decorated-general card slip out too early and now he was forced to use it from time to time. I'm actually an awesome guy if they just got to know me Maybe it was his fault slightly. He did skip shifts, take ungranted shore leave, bring women of ill repute on board and he gambled with the enlisted and he often cheated but they couldn't prove that part.

He noticed Grasan was at the helm, he wasn't going to say anything so as not to look like a complete tool so he just looked around the room at the unhappy faces. Why is it the people on the same watch as me are always so annoyed?

[kyliegrasan]

"Sergeant Shai. We are working together tonight."

Politely Kylie shook Amara's hand. It was ice cold, just like the look Amara had in her eyes. It scared Kylie a bit, though that didn't keep her from smiling at Amara.

"Nice to meet you, sergeant." Kylie said. "First Lieutenant Kylandra Grasan. But you can call me Kylie."

"Darn!" Kylie thought as she just became aware that she actually outranked Amara. "I thought she was an officer! I need to study up on my ranks and stripes!"

The loose atmosphere had pretty much died down in the Esteem after the arrival of Conrad Garrett. Calling an officer by his or her name was now mostly limited to after hours, when off duty, and definately not in the presence of the captain. But at a time like this, no one would care or one would be too tired to care.

"Hi everybody, happy to see me?"

Kylie laughed, and then smiled at Aaron. Somehow she was expecting this, so surprised she was not.

He didn't say anything as he walked over to the helm, but Kylie could see that he was tired.

"Probably already worked a shift, poor guy..." Kylie thought.

She had nothing against Aaron, or against anyone for that matter. It was in her nature to get acquainted to everyone and treat everyone with the equal amount of respect.

Yet she couldn't help but to avoid Aaron after he had pulled off a couple of stunts and got into trouble already. Seeing him sneaking in a prostitute late at night pretty much sealed the deal. Aaron was the type of guy that could get her into trouble, and that she could not afford. Working as an officer was pretty much the safest way Kylie could do her time aboard the Esteem and if she would get into trouble, captain Garrett would probably demote her ass and transfer her to the marines, since they were the ones in need of replenishing all the time.

But here on the bridge, there was little Aaron could do to mess up. Especially with everyone else around. Unless he had been drinking and he was standing behind the helm intoxicated, but it didn't look like he was.

"Hi Aaron." Kylie said. "So how have you been sleeping here?"

Considering the way the others gave him a silence, the least she could was talk to Aaron. Kylie hated it when people stayed left out.

[amara]

OOC: Haha! I have no idea how the british naval ranks go. I think Amara was supposed to be a Lieutenant, but this is more fun. She's less over-powering this way. xD iFail.
--------------

Amara shook Kylie's hand briefly and then let it go. She was a little surprised that she was of higher rank and still maintained a bubbly personality. It did not show on her face, but Amara almost admired that--it showed that while she looked like another bouncy little female, she had a strength in her that only came through when needed. More Alliance should be like that.

Personally, Amara had lost her sense of giddiness a long, long time ago. She used to work alone. She used to slaughter men, women, and sometimes children for a living. And she was still so, so young in the grand scheme of things. Not even thirty yet---though almost.

The Uprising had changed everything for Amara. Before it had happened, she was secure in her place in the 'Verse. An assassin. Justice served on a cold, well-deserved platter. Never ask questions, just follow orders. Read the file, find the target, and hit them. It had been an easy life. She never felt attached, but she felt important. Like she was on the top of the world. Nobody knew more about the intricacies of the government than she did--for, all she knew, she was it's dark underbelly. She had even had her fingerprints removed in the name of her job.

The Uprising had proved her wrong.

It wasn't so much that the Alliance had been the cause of the Reavers, but more that the Alliance had hidden and chosen to do nothing about them that Amara had had a problem with. And then, the biggest problem of all: she had never known. She wasn't as big and important as she thought she had been. The government she'd been fighting for for so long hadn't even bothered to tell her about the only creatures that she feared in the black. The creatures who had chased her down on more than one occasion--they were almost like her kin, now that she came to think about it. Both of them monsters, both of them created by the Alliance.

Amara had almost left her government completely at that juncture. Her faith in it was lost, her passion for carrying out their dirty work didn't feel so elating anymore. Now all she could see was blood on her hands; bloody hands that left no prints behind. She was no one. It wouldn't be hard to run away.

But she didn't have anywhere to go. What would she do? Feel bad for the border-scum and then choose to live with them? That only worked out in fairy tales. Life on the border would drive Amara Shai insane. She did not like to be caged, but she liked being cut loose without any purpose or direction even less. So here she was, on an Alliance cruiser. A happy medium. A better of two evils. Still fight for what she believed in (a better world), but not be at the front of the line. Taking a lower rank so she wouldn't be responsible for any more deaths. All Amara wants is to catch the bad guy and make him do his time. Killing the bad guy no longer feels like an option.

And then there was Aaron.

As he approached, Amara couldn't help but cross her arms over her chest and glare at him. He was nothing but a daddy's boy. Every time the captain came down on him, he would pull out the daddy-card, and everything would be okay. Amara wondered if the man had ever had to work for anything in his life. If he'd ever had to make a sacrifice or pay for his sins. Amara had forced herself to pay for her own sins, for she was a highly religious woman--but Aaron didn't seem to hold any interest in penance. Take and give nothing back. He was scum as far as she was concerned.

So she would do what she knew best, and cold-shoulder him until he went away. Lt. Grasan could fawn over him all she wanted--Amara would show him no pity.

Since she was busy talking to Aaron, Amara approached Tom and muttered, "So how have you been sleeping?" She knew of his struggles and, for once, actually cared about how they affected him. Thomas was a good man; a good officer. Ever since the Atlas incident, they'd taken to talking more. Whether about the ship in question or not, they spent more time at dinner talking than eating sometimes. It was, most likely, a new experience for both of them.

[aaronpark]

Aaron turned to Kylie, slightly surprised that another officer would speak to him. He hadn't been able to have a conversation in several days and that conversation consisted of the captain yelling at him.

"Actually I haven't been," I had 1st and 2nd watch yesterday, 1st watch already today and now I have a 1st watch again after this. I believe I've only slept for three hours in the last couple days," Aaron laughed so as not to seem like he was complaining. He never really needed much sleep but this was pushing it. "How about you," Aaron asked, "Anything new in your life?"

Aaron knew that he had to start shaping up or else even his father's influence wouldn't get him out of trouble. He could always use the fact that his grandfather was in parliament but he didn't want to alienate himself further. This was the reason for not missing any shifts in the last few days.

[kyliegrasan]

"How about you," Aaron asked, "Anything new in your life?"

Kylie shook her head. There wasn't much one could do when locked up in a big tin can like the Esteem.

"Nope." Kylie answered. "Same old, same old. Get up, shower, work and hanging out with the enlisted mostly after hours, playing cards in the crew quarters or having a drink in the bar."

Kylie hoped she'd be allowed to get off the ship anytime soon and go planetside the next time the Esteem docked somewhere. She figured it would be nice to breathe some actual air for a change instead of recycled CO₂.

"Yup." Kylie continued. "I've seen pretty much every inch of this ship by now. Can't wait to get some solid ground beneath my feet. Hope I can leave the ship next time we dock. How about you?"

[OOC: I'm gonna wait for Christina to reply to Amara with Tom. Afterwards, one of us should sound the alarm in a thread so we can get the Reaver attack going ]

[darkreaction3]

ooc: Ugh, sorry. I suck. plus, I still haven't figured out what rank Tom should be seeing as he was stripped of his rank as a Captain. *really bad with ranks*


His frown became slightly more pronounced. The officers on duty were late? Not like the usually tight-run ship to have late officers on watch. "Ah, well. I'll hang around here until you have company." It wasn't as if he had something better to do. At the mention of Aaron, Tom snorted. He did not know Aaron personally, had never met the man, but his reputation preceded him. Legran was not well-liked in the circles Tom usually got his news from.

Before he could speak, a familiar voice responded to Kylie's comment. "No he won't." Tom turned quickly, nodding at Amara. His eyes sparked life for once, probably the only sign that he was pleased to see her since he didn't smile. "Amara," he greeted her. He was about to comment on her looking a little agitated when she explained herself unprompted. Shrugging, he glanced at Kylie. "Things will fall into place when the new captain is all settled in, I'm sure. Scheduling included." He winked at Amara to try and ease her bad mood.

When Amara introduced herself to Kylie, Tom was struck at the realization that this young girl outranked his friend. It was something he easily forgot; Amara carried herself with the grace and authority of someone in charge. Then she teased him about his break and he inclined his head. "You know me," he said in an amused voice. "I just love this job. Can't stay away from it." Not really true. He was just restless, especially of late.

At that moment, a man Tom did not know entered. He glanced at him with narrowed eyes, sizing him up. "Hi everybody, happy to see me?" Wright could see that most were not, though Kylie only seemed amused. Amara was most definitely not happy to see the man Tom now realized was Legran, and he turned towards her as she approached. She asked him how he'd been sleeping, and a slight shrug preceded his words. "Not so good. Haven't had much help in that." The corners of his lips curved up slightly, the ghost of a smile. "Been ten days." There was a trace of hopeful pride in his tone, though it was bedded down by his cynical caution.

He didn't need to explain that he meant he'd been sober for ten days. She was the only person who really knew of his problems, though most of the officers who'd been on the Esteem for more than a couple months had their guesses. He'd grown a lot closer to Amara than he had anyone else in a long time, and considered her at the very least a confidante if not a friend. It was strange, but inevitable, that he would eventually form a bond with someone. He was not as heartless as he sometimes wished he could be.

[amara]

Amara didn't do as most would do at Thomas' declaration of sobriety; she didn't cheer, or pat him on the back, or smile and hug him. Amara didn't smile at all, in fact. However, her reaction was one that could be understood by her companion as a good thing; the two were very stoic adults whose slightest movements could hold a thousand meanings.

In response to Tom's ten-day sobriety streak, Amara blinked and uncrossed her arms, putting them on her hips instead. "I'm impressed," she said honestly and evenly. She wanted to add that if he ever needed any help, or someone to talk to, that she would be there for him. To be truthful, Amara was very excited to hear that he'd made it an entire ten days; she didn't think he'd have that sort of will power. She wanted to help him in this achievement--but for certain, she shouldn't say too much for fear of exposing his addiction to the nearby Kylie and Aaron. Also, she knew she wouldn't need to verbalize that sentiment--if Tom didn't already know this, he wasn't as perceptive as Amara pegged him to be.

But there was another side of this coin that a woman like Amara wouldn't ignore. There was the knowledge that he wouldn't stay away forever, not as long as he had his supply. It would only take one small thing to send her colleague over the edge. He was surely going through withdrawal; at the first sign of trouble, he was sure to revert back to his comfort zone. Lock up. Get high. Amara had faith in Tom but she did not have faith that he would make it another ten days without reverting. And even so, what about the next ten days? And the ten after that?

All of those complicated thoughts and more were represented by a subtle shift of her weight from her right foot to the left.

Aaron's voice was annoying her, breaking her concentration on the small aside she was having with Thomas. He thought he was so grand, having a father and grandfather in the high-ups, cleaning up every mess he made. It made Amara sick. Aaron was just a lazy fool who couldn't do anything for himself in her eyes. He thought he was special. 'Ha. He's nothing more than a blip in the universe.'

He would never get kicked off this ship. He could slaughter all of his bunkmates, and he wouldn't get kicked off. What a scam.

Suddenly, the ship shook and sirens blared all over the ship, causing Amara to flinch slightly and cover her ears. Once she was used to the sound, she removed her hands from her head and looked around, alert and ready for action. Something was wrong; people all over the place were scattering about, getting to their stations.

"WHAT'S--GOING--ON?" She yelled to Tom over the blaring alarms, too impatient to see if the captain would come over the loudspeaker. Clearly there was a crisis--couldn't they shut off the alarms already? She looked up as if she could project these thoughts to some omniscient power above her head.

They'd probably just hit a chunk of space rubbish. That happened from time to time. Though it didn't happen often on large, Alliance cruisers....

----------
OOC: So..I started the reaver attack. WOO.

[kyliegrasan]

Kylie stumbled to her feet. The Esteem had definately hit something. Or something had hit the behemoth. It was when the alarms and sirens started ringing that Kylie knew something was definately up.

"WHAT'S--GOING--ON?" Kylie heard Amara yelling throughout the whining sounds of the horn which was place in the middle of the bridge on the ceiling.

"Report!" Kylie yelled to the petty officers and midshipmen below her, who were sitting at their monitors, trying to assess the situation.

"Multiple contacts, dead ahead ma'am!" A midshipman yelled from his station.

"We've taken damage on the starboard bow ma'am!" A corporal yelled from behind the board that had a drawing of the Esteem, with lights to indicate the damage on compartiments.

"Great! Now what do I do?" Kylie thought in herself, without showing the petty officers she had to think things through. Rule nr. one in the Alliance book of officers: the captain and his officers ALWAYS know what to do.

Kylie tried remembering what she had learned at the Academy. This was a textbook situation after all. The Esteem had either hit something, or it was under attack. And with the multiple contacts, it was likely that they were under attack. And despite the fact she was scared out of her mind, Kylie knew that she had to swallow her fear and act accordingly.

Kylie turned to the corporal who was standing by the damage panel first. If there was a hole, they needed to patch it up.

"Send a damage control team to the starboard bow!" Kylie said.

Then a voice from one of the midshipmen sounded from behind her.

"Lieutenant! You need to take a look at this!" The midshipman said.

Kylie walked over to the midshipman's station and looked at the screen. Pictures of ships and their information were displayed, but Kylie didn't know what it meant.

"What am I looking at?" Kylie asked.

"Ma'am, I identified the ships' ID signatures." The midshipman said. "They're all ships that have gone missing, some even up to ten years ago!"

Kylie felt a lump in her throat. She immediately knew what this meant. They had learned about it on the Academy, and this was by far the worst thing that could happen in ones career, or in a lifetime for that matter.

"Oh no... Reavers!" Kylie thought. "Great! This had to happen to me!"

Kylie got even more scared now. Up to a point to which she could faint. Her breathing got heavier and more shallow, and fear filled her mind. But she also knew something had to be done, and it all came up to her. She was the watch officer after all. She knew she couldn't let her fear get the best of her, or the Esteem could lose precious seconds, which could make the difference between a victory or defeat. And defeat by Reavers would mean a gruesome death for everyone on the ship.

Kylie tried to think rationally, and also tried remembering what she had learned on the Academy during the many simulations she had gone through. But instead of a virtual Independent cruiser, they were up against Reavers now.

First thing to do now: declare General Quarters. Secondly, waking the captain. Thirdly... hope the captain could make his way to the bridge fast enough, because Kylie absolutely had no idea how to do battle.

"General Quarters!" Kylie yelled. "Battlestations! Someone wake the captain!"

One of the petty officers ran to the intercom on the bridge, and almost fell doing so.

"Attention all crew, General Quarters! Report to your stations. This is not a drill. Repeat: this is not a drill, we are under attack!"

Kylie had done her share for now. There wasn't much more she could do until the captain arrived. She looked at Aaron, Amara and Tom and tried catching her breath again.

"Lieutenant! They've opened fire!" A midshipman yelled from behind her.

Kylie looked out the window and saw a dozen striped patterns that were growing longer. The Reavers had fired missiles, and they were heading straight for the Esteem.

"Oh fiddlesticks..." Kylie mumbled.

[OOC: Sorry to write so much, but let's just assume Kylie's the leading officer or something. I'll leave the missiles' impact up to someone else. One question though: if Jac's not coming back (and I sincerely hope she will come back), are we going to assume then that Conrad got killed during the attack?]

[aaronpark]

Reavers, why reavers? Aaron was scared but this sudden sensory onslaught of loud noise and flashing lights soon tore him out of it. any feeling of tiredness washed away as he sat down at the controls. He was one of the few people in the verse that had survived when he was on a ship that was boarded. He had been waiting and dreading this day for years.

Aaron looked at the panel and saw the ships, there were enough that the esteem had a chance at loosing. I wish this thing had more maneuverability. He tried to calm himself. In order to avoid attacks his movement would have to be subtle, jerky movement would tear the Esteem to pieces.

Aaron turned to Kylie when the midshipman exclaimed that they had been fired upon. "You might want to hold on to something," he turned back to the panel and continued, "It's about to get bumpy. He looked at the small dots that were the missiles and scanned there 3 dimension coordinates. He knew he couldn't avoid all of them but he could minimize damage.

He nudged the steering so that they dropped and rolled slightly to let one skim near their the starboard side as another barely missed the port side. He looked at the panel and he saw two more missiles, he rolled slightly again and one passed by within a meter of the hull. The other collided but was indirect. Now is the time to prove myself.

ooc: if you do want to kill of Conrad, that missile hit could have done it.