Desuko's reaction to being made temporary cook, in some ways, so much reflected Akraya's initial eager enthusiasm for her first couple weeks that despite the situation Sophie almost laughed. Instead she smiled while Akraya convinced her to sit down and Daxia assured her she needn't start right away. "We're okay for now, but thank you." She said, nodding to confirm what Daxia had told her. "You'll be given time to familiarize yourself with the kitchen before you're expected to prepare so many meals." She added.
Then once Sylen and Kellen returned with the former confirming their escort task was done, Sophie cuddled up to Jessan and got back down to business. "So you're saying you could erase or transfer the credits out of their accounts so long as you can get to one of their personal computers?" She mused. "There are several places to target for that. Their private residence on Earth, one of their vacation homes on a couple of the human colony worlds, or aboard one of their private vessels they use to travel the known worlds in style." She explained. "Each of them have their own difficulties reaching though." Sophie said thoughtfully.
The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
"We could always use my shuttle, either as a distraction or as a main attack vector," Pedras offered. "It's not as good as the Firestorm, but it can still move quite nimbly if it has to."
"Stealth would be better," Akraya opined. "A full-on assault would only make them shore up their defences. We need a way to get Jessan inside for some legitimate reason, then distract them so he can disappear into the ship or residence."
"Like a display team," Desuko suggested. "We-"
"Desuko, you're not putting yourself at risk," Akraya cut in. "The whole point of you being here is to-"
"Keep me safe, I know, and I agree - but we could see if Sekk can prepare a military display team, have Jessan act as their agent, be there for the performance, and somehow contrive to sneak off."
"Could be challenging with just Jessan on the ground," Pedras pointed out. "We'd need to send in several people to act as his assistants, and hope they didn't spot that there's one fewer person present when Jessan makes his move."
"Stealth would be better," Akraya opined. "A full-on assault would only make them shore up their defences. We need a way to get Jessan inside for some legitimate reason, then distract them so he can disappear into the ship or residence."
"Like a display team," Desuko suggested. "We-"
"Desuko, you're not putting yourself at risk," Akraya cut in. "The whole point of you being here is to-"
"Keep me safe, I know, and I agree - but we could see if Sekk can prepare a military display team, have Jessan act as their agent, be there for the performance, and somehow contrive to sneak off."
"Could be challenging with just Jessan on the ground," Pedras pointed out. "We'd need to send in several people to act as his assistants, and hope they didn't spot that there's one fewer person present when Jessan makes his move."
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
"Yeah, if I can access their accounts directly, I can move the credits in a matter of minutes. But, we can't involve the team directly. The Theirrins are much too dangerous for that." Jessan was thinking very rapidly. The idea had merit as a distraction, but he couldn't have anything to do with it if he was going to sneak off. "I can't be involved directly either. If I'm part of the crowd it'll be much easier to slip away once the show starts. If there's some place near to one of their residences where the show could go on, that would be great." He knew the display would keep everyone entertained for awhile.
*************************
Kellen listened to Desuko and Akraya, and then Jessan. "He's right. If the team can put on a public show then a small team can slip out while it's going on and break into the house." He glanced at Sophie then. "Would they have changed their security after you took off? Can you tell us anything about it?"
*************************
Kellen listened to Desuko and Akraya, and then Jessan. "He's right. If the team can put on a public show then a small team can slip out while it's going on and break into the house." He glanced at Sophie then. "Would they have changed their security after you took off? Can you tell us anything about it?"
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
Sophie carefully listened to each crewmember speak and thought of the problem with the display team being involved in a break-in just as Jessan had said it. Besides the issue of getting every single Ariesse on the team on with the plan without a sellout or an innocently spoken comment that tipped off the whole scheme if the Theirrins found out the display team was involved there would be a lot of blood and feathers spilt by the end of the day.
She liked the idea a public showing, however, especially since Ariesse Display Teams were becoming something of a fad across the known worlds now and her greedy parents would likely jump at the chance to see a few shows and 'take' one of their own personal teams once Ariesse displays were plentiful and commonplace. "If Sekk can be very discreet, or maybe a more distant relative of your family that doesn't share such close links with you could arrange for a Display Team to perform at the Grand London Sporting Stadium as soon as possible, and make sure that the Theirrins get premium invitations to view the display privately I can almost guarantee they'll attend. It could even be Desuko's team. They'll be totally safe surrounded by security and my parents won't want to cause public trouble since the display will likely be on interstellar TV."
Sophie sat down at the table, ensuring that Jessan stayed close to her. She found herself instinctively wanting his comforting and protective presence close. She picked some cold snacks from the table and thought about what Kellen had asked her. "Obviously my old security codes won't work anymore, though I still kept them in the Firestorm's databanks. They use a recursive algorithm to make their passcodes and undoubtably its been modified by now but it should still give Jessan something to work from. "But I memorized the residence's layout, furniture placement, guard numbers and rotations in the last few months I was there just in case I needed to get out fast." It wasn't easy to think back to those days.
A seventeen year old girl who had been taught two very different ways of living and preparing to make a choice that would determine her adult existence forever, even while running smuggling and piracy jobs at weekends between attending further private education. Sophie got a datapadd and started making a crude sketch of the mansion layout between bites of snack. "I think Pedras' shuttle might be a possible way in if we make it look like a legitimate delivery. My parents are always purchasing rare and expensive things so a Prakeshi shuttle arriving to deliver some Prakeshi cultural artifact won't be seen as abnormal." She explained as she worked.
She liked the idea a public showing, however, especially since Ariesse Display Teams were becoming something of a fad across the known worlds now and her greedy parents would likely jump at the chance to see a few shows and 'take' one of their own personal teams once Ariesse displays were plentiful and commonplace. "If Sekk can be very discreet, or maybe a more distant relative of your family that doesn't share such close links with you could arrange for a Display Team to perform at the Grand London Sporting Stadium as soon as possible, and make sure that the Theirrins get premium invitations to view the display privately I can almost guarantee they'll attend. It could even be Desuko's team. They'll be totally safe surrounded by security and my parents won't want to cause public trouble since the display will likely be on interstellar TV."
Sophie sat down at the table, ensuring that Jessan stayed close to her. She found herself instinctively wanting his comforting and protective presence close. She picked some cold snacks from the table and thought about what Kellen had asked her. "Obviously my old security codes won't work anymore, though I still kept them in the Firestorm's databanks. They use a recursive algorithm to make their passcodes and undoubtably its been modified by now but it should still give Jessan something to work from. "But I memorized the residence's layout, furniture placement, guard numbers and rotations in the last few months I was there just in case I needed to get out fast." It wasn't easy to think back to those days.
A seventeen year old girl who had been taught two very different ways of living and preparing to make a choice that would determine her adult existence forever, even while running smuggling and piracy jobs at weekends between attending further private education. Sophie got a datapadd and started making a crude sketch of the mansion layout between bites of snack. "I think Pedras' shuttle might be a possible way in if we make it look like a legitimate delivery. My parents are always purchasing rare and expensive things so a Prakeshi shuttle arriving to deliver some Prakeshi cultural artifact won't be seen as abnormal." She explained as she worked.
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
Jessan paid close attention while Sophie detailed the layout of the mansion they would be breaking into. Recursive algorithms he could deal with. Then he could get into the accounts and move the credits out before the guards figured out what was going on. At least he could hide the hack long enough for them to get back out of there. Then the Theirrins would be creditless and couldn't do a damn thing about it. Such is what they deserved when they tried to take his Sophie away from him.
"I think I can get by those algorithms. I have experience with them. We'll have to move fast so we can get in and out before they notice anything off."
He put an arm around Sophie when she sat with him. He could tell she was still pretty spooked with this discover, but there was nothing they could do except what they were doing, which was retaliating. The Theirrins should have just left her alone and things would have been fine.
******************
Kellen also paid close attention to the layout of the mansion. He needed to know what was where so he could provide adequate backup while Jessan hacked the computer. "You leave backup to me and Daxia. We can slow them down if need be. Hopefully it will be a quick in and out before anyone is the wiser."
*******************
T'Sarrina reached out to put an arm around Sophie's other side, as she and Sylen were sitting close to her. She was very uneasy at Sophie being discovered, which likely meant she had also been discovered. Still, she was going to support whatever it took to get those people off their backs. Taking away their primary means of power, their huge supply of credits, should do just that. Then they wouldn't be able to pay even a single mercenary to try to get back at them.
She kept a tentacle twined with Sylen's as well. She was so grateful that she had found him and that he had taken her deception in stride. He made her feel so safe that even this setback wasn't as scary as it could have been.
"I think I can get by those algorithms. I have experience with them. We'll have to move fast so we can get in and out before they notice anything off."
He put an arm around Sophie when she sat with him. He could tell she was still pretty spooked with this discover, but there was nothing they could do except what they were doing, which was retaliating. The Theirrins should have just left her alone and things would have been fine.
******************
Kellen also paid close attention to the layout of the mansion. He needed to know what was where so he could provide adequate backup while Jessan hacked the computer. "You leave backup to me and Daxia. We can slow them down if need be. Hopefully it will be a quick in and out before anyone is the wiser."
*******************
T'Sarrina reached out to put an arm around Sophie's other side, as she and Sylen were sitting close to her. She was very uneasy at Sophie being discovered, which likely meant she had also been discovered. Still, she was going to support whatever it took to get those people off their backs. Taking away their primary means of power, their huge supply of credits, should do just that. Then they wouldn't be able to pay even a single mercenary to try to get back at them.
She kept a tentacle twined with Sylen's as well. She was so grateful that she had found him and that he had taken her deception in stride. He made her feel so safe that even this setback wasn't as scary as it could have been.
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
Desuko nodded at the captain's suggestion; she had to admit, a public display would be better. She glanced at Akraya, certain her sister would still be upset with the idea of her putting herself even at minimal risk.
"Actually, having Desuko's team give a public display gives Firestorm a good reason to be in the area, if the Theirrins spot us," Pedras noted before Akraya could comment. "We're just delivering Desuko to meet up with them on Earth."
"And waiting to pick up Akraya, who'll be on the display team with me," Desuko suggested. "Otherwise, there's no reason for you not to leave immediately."
"Could be risky," Akraya opined. "If I'm with you, it implicates your team, because I've got no plausible deniability when it comes to knowledge of the assault. We can't risk having anyone from Black Steel at the display. If it comes to it, we can say we've offered you a lift back home afterwards."
"Besides, there may be call for aerial backup," Pedras pointed out.
"Actually, having Desuko's team give a public display gives Firestorm a good reason to be in the area, if the Theirrins spot us," Pedras noted before Akraya could comment. "We're just delivering Desuko to meet up with them on Earth."
"And waiting to pick up Akraya, who'll be on the display team with me," Desuko suggested. "Otherwise, there's no reason for you not to leave immediately."
"Could be risky," Akraya opined. "If I'm with you, it implicates your team, because I've got no plausible deniability when it comes to knowledge of the assault. We can't risk having anyone from Black Steel at the display. If it comes to it, we can say we've offered you a lift back home afterwards."
"Besides, there may be call for aerial backup," Pedras pointed out.
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
"Good idea." Sophie agreed. "Our reason for being in London at the time is to deliver Desuko to the display team. Black Steel-we can't be at the event but that's okay. The stadium will be heavily guarded and the event will be televised so cameras will be everywhere. The Display Team won't be in any danger." She assured them. The stadium owners couldn't afford to let anything happen during one of their events so she knew it would be heavily guarded and policed while off-worlders were using it.
"The Firestorm will have to be parked at the nearby spaceport, officially waiting to pick Desuko up and take her home. Your father can easily draw up a fake document making it look like we've taken it on as an official job for your family." Sophie glanced over at Akraya and Desuko as she spoke. "Undoubtedly the Firestorm will be watched both by port security and by the Theirrins but I'm confident we can find a way to bypass that. Maybe arranging with the port security to smuggle us out whilst making it look entirely different. Or we could arrive on Earth via Pedras' shuttle independently."
She found herself favouring the idea of having the 'break-in team' depart the Firestorm whilst still flying through the Sol system with a cloaking device added so nobody would realise not everyone was aboard the Firestorm when it landed. "Then while the Display is being performed, we arrive at the Theirrin Residence pretending to be Prakeshi couriers bringing some artifact or something to the Residence. This might involve some talk on the part of Pedras since he's the only Prakeshi we actually have but he should be able to talk them in to letting us land on the shuttlepad in the front garden."
She pointed it out on the data-padd. "That gets us onto the grounds at least. If we wear courier disguises Pedras can claim he hired human workers. With any luck we'll be able to bluff our way into the mansion, dispose of the guard or two that'll be accompanying us and get to one of the computer terminals so Jessan can do his work." Then Sophie paused to see if anyone else had any input, questions or wanted to point out flaws in her rough outline of the plan they were developing.
"The Firestorm will have to be parked at the nearby spaceport, officially waiting to pick Desuko up and take her home. Your father can easily draw up a fake document making it look like we've taken it on as an official job for your family." Sophie glanced over at Akraya and Desuko as she spoke. "Undoubtedly the Firestorm will be watched both by port security and by the Theirrins but I'm confident we can find a way to bypass that. Maybe arranging with the port security to smuggle us out whilst making it look entirely different. Or we could arrive on Earth via Pedras' shuttle independently."
She found herself favouring the idea of having the 'break-in team' depart the Firestorm whilst still flying through the Sol system with a cloaking device added so nobody would realise not everyone was aboard the Firestorm when it landed. "Then while the Display is being performed, we arrive at the Theirrin Residence pretending to be Prakeshi couriers bringing some artifact or something to the Residence. This might involve some talk on the part of Pedras since he's the only Prakeshi we actually have but he should be able to talk them in to letting us land on the shuttlepad in the front garden."
She pointed it out on the data-padd. "That gets us onto the grounds at least. If we wear courier disguises Pedras can claim he hired human workers. With any luck we'll be able to bluff our way into the mansion, dispose of the guard or two that'll be accompanying us and get to one of the computer terminals so Jessan can do his work." Then Sophie paused to see if anyone else had any input, questions or wanted to point out flaws in her rough outline of the plan they were developing.
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
"Separating prior to landing would be less of a logistical challenge," Pedras opined. "Prakeshi courier companies are known to take on non-Prakeshi staff regularly, so that's not a big problem. We'll possibly be asked to provide evidence of the transfer, but I may have something that can help with that - a device we picked up when returning the Ariesse Crown.
"As far as I can tell, it's a log buoy from a Prakeshi Worldship; there was one on each of the Worldships known to have been launched. All but one of the vessels were found, and their log buoys are accounted for. The last, however... is still out there, somewhere.
"We can use the buoy I found to provide the Theirrins' guards with tangible proof, if it's needed." It galled him to risk losing the device, but the captain, and Black Steel, came first. "Before we do that, I'd like to get its data copied into our computer, in a partitioned section - it'll take time to get the rest of the plan set up, anyway."
"As far as I can tell, it's a log buoy from a Prakeshi Worldship; there was one on each of the Worldships known to have been launched. All but one of the vessels were found, and their log buoys are accounted for. The last, however... is still out there, somewhere.
"We can use the buoy I found to provide the Theirrins' guards with tangible proof, if it's needed." It galled him to risk losing the device, but the captain, and Black Steel, came first. "Before we do that, I'd like to get its data copied into our computer, in a partitioned section - it'll take time to get the rest of the plan set up, anyway."
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
"Your plan sounds better than mine. If we can bluff our way inside then it'll be much easier to do what we need to do and get out with minimal casualties." Jessan really liked the idea of flying down in Pedras' shuttle, then just getting into the mansion would be the problem. "As for that device, maybe we can get it back. But having a backup of its contents would be a good idea just in case we can't."
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
Akraya blinked. She knew very little of the Prakeshi as a species, and much less of their culture, but it sounded like he was about to offer his civilisation's one chance at finding their lost Worldship, whatever that meant. Hopefully the crew would be able to get the device back, but there was no guarantee of that.
"I wouldn't mind taking a look, Pedras," she offered. "Jessan will be busy preparing for the infiltration, and Desuko needs to be the one organising the display; I should have plenty of time to get the data copied for you."
***
Desuko knew exactly what the Worldships were, and what they meant to Prakeshi civilisation, having kept in regular contact with Pedras' niece Dastara.
The Prakeshi were descended from an ancient, technologically-advanced race, but following a mass exodus in asteroids hollowed out to act as generation ships a few millennia ago, much of their technical know-how vanished. The exact reasons for the exodus had never been established, though many theories existed.
Following contact with Earth exploration vessels, the Prakeshi were only now starting to learn about the vessels of their ancient ancestors - a task made much harder by the fact that the technology was beginning to break down.
Over the years, a total of seven asteroid vessels had been found. Two held no survivors, and one had joined a neighbouring interstellar empire (though they were happy to allow their Prakeshi cousins to retrieve their now-stripped vessel, for a healthy fee), but the rest joined forces on the new colony planet. The seven vessels had all been placed in orbit of the colony world, a testament to the ancient indomitable forebears who had given them life.
Rumours of an eighth ship, from old folk tales and half-forgotten, twisted stories, were plentiful, but no sign had ever been found. If Pedras was correct, this could lead them to the lost colony ship - and he was giving that up, for the sake of the captain? Of course, if they got a backup of the data - and if anyone could do that, Akraya could - it wasn't such a big loss, but still, this was an astounding thing for Pedras to offer up.
***
Pedras nodded at Akraya's offer. "I'll get the buoy as soon as we're done here," he promised. "It has a micro-seam that will need opening, before you can access the internal controls; let me know if you need any help with the translator once you're in."
"I wouldn't mind taking a look, Pedras," she offered. "Jessan will be busy preparing for the infiltration, and Desuko needs to be the one organising the display; I should have plenty of time to get the data copied for you."
***
Desuko knew exactly what the Worldships were, and what they meant to Prakeshi civilisation, having kept in regular contact with Pedras' niece Dastara.
The Prakeshi were descended from an ancient, technologically-advanced race, but following a mass exodus in asteroids hollowed out to act as generation ships a few millennia ago, much of their technical know-how vanished. The exact reasons for the exodus had never been established, though many theories existed.
Following contact with Earth exploration vessels, the Prakeshi were only now starting to learn about the vessels of their ancient ancestors - a task made much harder by the fact that the technology was beginning to break down.
Over the years, a total of seven asteroid vessels had been found. Two held no survivors, and one had joined a neighbouring interstellar empire (though they were happy to allow their Prakeshi cousins to retrieve their now-stripped vessel, for a healthy fee), but the rest joined forces on the new colony planet. The seven vessels had all been placed in orbit of the colony world, a testament to the ancient indomitable forebears who had given them life.
Rumours of an eighth ship, from old folk tales and half-forgotten, twisted stories, were plentiful, but no sign had ever been found. If Pedras was correct, this could lead them to the lost colony ship - and he was giving that up, for the sake of the captain? Of course, if they got a backup of the data - and if anyone could do that, Akraya could - it wasn't such a big loss, but still, this was an astounding thing for Pedras to offer up.
***
Pedras nodded at Akraya's offer. "I'll get the buoy as soon as we're done here," he promised. "It has a micro-seam that will need opening, before you can access the internal controls; let me know if you need any help with the translator once you're in."
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
Sophie's jaw dropped in complete surprise when Pedras offered up the last undiscovered log buoy of the Prakeshi asteroid ships. If he'd indeed picked it up whilst getting the Crown then he must have gotten it off the Starwolf vessel. It was a priceless find and could very well lead the Prakeshi to the almost mythical eighth ship of their ancestors and he was offering it to help protect her. "You can't be serious!"
Those were the first words that came out of her mouth when the surprise faded enough for her to close her mouth and start speaking. By then he'd already suggested that they copy the contents onto a partitioned segment of the Firestorm's computer so the data wouldn't be lost even if the buoy was. That was more acceptable but Sophie wanted more than one backup copy. "Well... so long as there is a backup copy successfully stored on our computer, a second copy in one of our shuttles' computer, and if possible a third copy on a suitable memory device even if it means I purchase one on the way to Earth." She declared firmly.
"And thank you Pedras, I really mean it. But I can't end up being the reason your people never find the eighth asteroid ship." She told him, aware of the Prakeshi and their history from the extensive education her parents had insisted she go through while growing up.
Those were the first words that came out of her mouth when the surprise faded enough for her to close her mouth and start speaking. By then he'd already suggested that they copy the contents onto a partitioned segment of the Firestorm's computer so the data wouldn't be lost even if the buoy was. That was more acceptable but Sophie wanted more than one backup copy. "Well... so long as there is a backup copy successfully stored on our computer, a second copy in one of our shuttles' computer, and if possible a third copy on a suitable memory device even if it means I purchase one on the way to Earth." She declared firmly.
"And thank you Pedras, I really mean it. But I can't end up being the reason your people never find the eighth asteroid ship." She told him, aware of the Prakeshi and their history from the extensive education her parents had insisted she go through while growing up.
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
Jessan nodded when Sophie asked for at least three copies of Pedras' beacon. That way at least one copy had a chance of surviving even if one or the other was corrupted or lost. "We'll still try to retrieve it before we leave. It's an artifact of great importance to your people." He was astonished at the generosity of the gift and he was determined that Pedras wasn't going to lose it if he could help it. It wouldn't take long to do what he needed to do.
*********************
"Yeah, we'll do what we can to keep the artifact." Kellen wasn't going to let him lose it, not to those people. He could do something to make sure the thing wasn't lost. But making copies was a good idea so they didn't lose the data.
*********************
T'Sarrina was staring in utter astonishment at Pedras when he offered up his artifact to get them inside the Theirrin mansion. Even with three copies, it wouldn't be right if he lost it. She only hoped they could retrieve it or prevent them from getting their hands on it to begin with. "I really appreciate this gift. More than you can imagine." She was very hopeful that moving all their funds would set them back so far that they couldn't recover from it. Then she and Sophie would be safe from them.
*********************
"Yeah, we'll do what we can to keep the artifact." Kellen wasn't going to let him lose it, not to those people. He could do something to make sure the thing wasn't lost. But making copies was a good idea so they didn't lose the data.
*********************
T'Sarrina was staring in utter astonishment at Pedras when he offered up his artifact to get them inside the Theirrin mansion. Even with three copies, it wouldn't be right if he lost it. She only hoped they could retrieve it or prevent them from getting their hands on it to begin with. "I really appreciate this gift. More than you can imagine." She was very hopeful that moving all their funds would set them back so far that they couldn't recover from it. Then she and Sophie would be safe from them.
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
"You are most welcome, Captain, Doctor," Pedras answered, bowing his head to them briefly. He didn't elaborate on his reasoning - that they'd need something to show the Theirrins to prove they were who they said they were, and this was the swiftest method he could think of to obtain something.
He suspected that the Theirrins would first try to get the device's provenance verified, which meant that they'd need to keep it accessible, so it should be reasonably easy to retrieve once Jessan and his team were done.
He suspected that the Theirrins would first try to get the device's provenance verified, which meant that they'd need to keep it accessible, so it should be reasonably easy to retrieve once Jessan and his team were done.
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
Sophie nodded absently. Although there was an element of luck and improvisation to the plan it still had good chances to succeed. The rest of the crew seemed comfortable with it and they'd devised it together so now they had to get it started. "Alright, Akraya, Desuko is it possible for you to be able to talk to your father or at least someone who can arrange for the Display Team to perform at Earth's Main London Stadium next week via encrypted channel?"
She asked, glancing at Pedras since the encrypted channel would be his business. "Or is it better we discreetly fly their ourselves under cloak and make the arrangments?" She sought Jessan's hand and held it gently. "I still have a few old contacts on Earth. I can probably ensure that the owner of the Stadium is willing to have such a performance done there." Sophie smiled wryly. "The profit alone will convince him."
She asked, glancing at Pedras since the encrypted channel would be his business. "Or is it better we discreetly fly their ourselves under cloak and make the arrangments?" She sought Jessan's hand and held it gently. "I still have a few old contacts on Earth. I can probably ensure that the owner of the Stadium is willing to have such a performance done there." Sophie smiled wryly. "The profit alone will convince him."
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
Desuko nodded. "We could organise the display directly via Senator Kayree - she's been looking for a way to cement Alliance-Kaltor relations," she suggested. "She doesn't need to know the details of the plan, just that I had the chance to perform here on Quaylar Four, it was popular, and I think we should follow that up with the full display team on Earth next week."
"The fewer people involved, the better, surely," Akraya opined. "We're already involving Dad-"
"And it would look suspicious if he were to ask the display team to do this," Desuko pointed out. "Far better to come from me directly as a carefully-worded request for a diplomatic overture to Earth. That way, I really am just accepting a ride with Black Steel, and I can't be accused of complicity in anything you do whilst you're there."
Akraya opened her beak, about to respond curtly, but clacked it closed again. Desuko had a point - if Kerrak were to become involved in the legal side of this plan, such a request from him would be more likely to be linked with Black Steel's less-scrupulous activities. She nodded.
"We'll be able to set up a secure link via the spaceport," Pedras suggested.
"The fewer people involved, the better, surely," Akraya opined. "We're already involving Dad-"
"And it would look suspicious if he were to ask the display team to do this," Desuko pointed out. "Far better to come from me directly as a carefully-worded request for a diplomatic overture to Earth. That way, I really am just accepting a ride with Black Steel, and I can't be accused of complicity in anything you do whilst you're there."
Akraya opened her beak, about to respond curtly, but clacked it closed again. Desuko had a point - if Kerrak were to become involved in the legal side of this plan, such a request from him would be more likely to be linked with Black Steel's less-scrupulous activities. She nodded.
"We'll be able to set up a secure link via the spaceport," Pedras suggested.
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
"A secure link sounds good." Jessan approved of Pedras' suggestion. If they had to fly under cloak and make the request in person, that would take longer and give the Theirrins more time to try again. He held onto Sophie's hand while she talked with Pedras and Desuko and finalized everything. She seemed to need the contact, and so did he. He had been shaken when she had come close to being abducted, and he wasn't going to give them another chance at her.
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
"All right then, it looks like we've got the basics of the plan worked out." Sophie said, feeling much better now there was a workable plan of action even if it did mean hiding until next week when the Display Team performed in London.
"As Pedras said we'll pose as deliverypeople supposedly delivering a rare Prakeshi artifact the Theirrins ordered. The guards won't want to disturb my family during a show so they'll accept the delivery if it looks genuine. We'll be expected to carry the artifact inside and place it down in one of the rooms to await my parents when they return home. At that point we'll have to slip or subdue the guards, get to their office and let Jessan do his thing. I don't see any reason why we won't be able to grab the artifact again on our way out." She explained.
"For now Daxia you'll need to take us to the most hidden, isolated and secure safehouse location we know of under cloak. Jessan and Akraya can start preparing the three memory backup places while Desuko could contact Senator Kayree. Then we'll have to lay low until we can carry out the plan." She decided.
"As Pedras said we'll pose as deliverypeople supposedly delivering a rare Prakeshi artifact the Theirrins ordered. The guards won't want to disturb my family during a show so they'll accept the delivery if it looks genuine. We'll be expected to carry the artifact inside and place it down in one of the rooms to await my parents when they return home. At that point we'll have to slip or subdue the guards, get to their office and let Jessan do his thing. I don't see any reason why we won't be able to grab the artifact again on our way out." She explained.
"For now Daxia you'll need to take us to the most hidden, isolated and secure safehouse location we know of under cloak. Jessan and Akraya can start preparing the three memory backup places while Desuko could contact Senator Kayree. Then we'll have to lay low until we can carry out the plan." She decided.
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
"Aye, Captain," Akraya nodded, already planning how to store the contents of the buoy securely. She glanced at Pedras, who led the way from the mess hall in the direction of his quarters, where he'd kept the device for safe-keeping. Desuko followed, as she'd need Pedras to help her set up the communications link.
"I think we should keep a fourth copy," she opined as Pedras showed her the micro-fissure she'd need to open. "One in a sealed partition on the ship's computer, one encoded on a portable drive which we'll hide somewhere on board, one in a secure storage unit hear on Quaylar Four, and one on the shuttle."
On the face of it, Pedras couldn't see her logic - if the Theirrins investigated the shuttle, they'd find the extra copy, and know they weren't the only ones with the data. "What's the aim of that last one?"
"It won't be intact, just enough to identify what's in there - the file headers. We'll be able to provide that as proof that the device is intact, and just to make certain, it's the first time it'll be read, so there won't be a record of any previous access."
"Sounds plausible, but we should run the whole set of backups past the captain once you're done, just to make sure we're not missing anything obvious," he suggested.
Akraya walked off with the device, heading for engineering to begin her work. Meanwhile, Pedras took Desuko cautiously out of the ship to a secure communications booth in the spaceport. Carefully avoiding the camera, he listened in as Desuko contacted first the manager of the arena whose details Captain Guerrin had provided, and then Senator Kayree and Sekk, the leader of the display team, to inform them of the opportunity.
Sekk was a little uncertain, having already found himself in trouble because of his actions in Akraya's favour, but since Kayree was in the loop, he agreed to finish organising the display. Within the hour, word came through - the Ariesse display team was to perform at the London Arena next Wednesday.
***
Akraya carefully opened the egg-shaped device, ensuring she didn't singe any electronics, and used the codes Pedras had provided to link it up to the Prakeshi shuttle's computer. A quick dump of all file headers revealed that the device was exactly what it appeared to be - a colony ship log buoy - and that it was intact, and hadn't been accessed since it was deployed.
Then came the tricky part. The device had to show no further access attempts beyond this data dump, so she couldn't simply use the standard copying tools available to most civilians; they'd leave a trace so obvious that even a garchak could read it. Instead, she booted up one of Jessan's toys, designed to scan electromagnetic storage on a molecule by molecule basis, duplicating the information without ever actually telling the file-store that it had ever been accessed.
This would take a few hours, but after it was completed once, she'd be able to transfer the data quickly between computers and hardware any number of times as fast as she liked. For now, though, she settled in for a long wait, keeping one eye on the progress.
She didn't notice Pedras and Desuko return until her sister clacked her beak right by her ear. "That's the look you always get when you're in the middle of technical stuff," the younger girl commented. "No eyes for anything but the electronics."
"You're the same on a display team," Akraya shot back. "We have to sit and wait, for now, and I have to keep watching in case anything goes wrong, but I'm composing a quick message to Dad to request legal aid, if and when we need it."
"I think we should keep a fourth copy," she opined as Pedras showed her the micro-fissure she'd need to open. "One in a sealed partition on the ship's computer, one encoded on a portable drive which we'll hide somewhere on board, one in a secure storage unit hear on Quaylar Four, and one on the shuttle."
On the face of it, Pedras couldn't see her logic - if the Theirrins investigated the shuttle, they'd find the extra copy, and know they weren't the only ones with the data. "What's the aim of that last one?"
"It won't be intact, just enough to identify what's in there - the file headers. We'll be able to provide that as proof that the device is intact, and just to make certain, it's the first time it'll be read, so there won't be a record of any previous access."
"Sounds plausible, but we should run the whole set of backups past the captain once you're done, just to make sure we're not missing anything obvious," he suggested.
Akraya walked off with the device, heading for engineering to begin her work. Meanwhile, Pedras took Desuko cautiously out of the ship to a secure communications booth in the spaceport. Carefully avoiding the camera, he listened in as Desuko contacted first the manager of the arena whose details Captain Guerrin had provided, and then Senator Kayree and Sekk, the leader of the display team, to inform them of the opportunity.
Sekk was a little uncertain, having already found himself in trouble because of his actions in Akraya's favour, but since Kayree was in the loop, he agreed to finish organising the display. Within the hour, word came through - the Ariesse display team was to perform at the London Arena next Wednesday.
***
Akraya carefully opened the egg-shaped device, ensuring she didn't singe any electronics, and used the codes Pedras had provided to link it up to the Prakeshi shuttle's computer. A quick dump of all file headers revealed that the device was exactly what it appeared to be - a colony ship log buoy - and that it was intact, and hadn't been accessed since it was deployed.
Then came the tricky part. The device had to show no further access attempts beyond this data dump, so she couldn't simply use the standard copying tools available to most civilians; they'd leave a trace so obvious that even a garchak could read it. Instead, she booted up one of Jessan's toys, designed to scan electromagnetic storage on a molecule by molecule basis, duplicating the information without ever actually telling the file-store that it had ever been accessed.
This would take a few hours, but after it was completed once, she'd be able to transfer the data quickly between computers and hardware any number of times as fast as she liked. For now, though, she settled in for a long wait, keeping one eye on the progress.
She didn't notice Pedras and Desuko return until her sister clacked her beak right by her ear. "That's the look you always get when you're in the middle of technical stuff," the younger girl commented. "No eyes for anything but the electronics."
"You're the same on a display team," Akraya shot back. "We have to sit and wait, for now, and I have to keep watching in case anything goes wrong, but I'm composing a quick message to Dad to request legal aid, if and when we need it."
Re: The Black Steel RP. Rated R.
Jessan nodded at Sophie, then he went with Pedras and the others to start getting the copies done. He listened as Akraya suggested making a fourth copy. What she suggested might have merit, they would have to run it by Sophie.
He went with Akraya back to his lab and sat back and observed while she started on the copies. He was impressed at how she grasped the knowledge of using his little toy and he simply leaned back and let her go to it, he would be there if she needed a hand.
Pedras and Desuko came back after arranging the demonstration and he smiled as the two girls bantered. It was typical sibling stuff. He settled in for the wait while his toy copied off the data so they would be able to make other copies from that.
He went with Akraya back to his lab and sat back and observed while she started on the copies. He was impressed at how she grasped the knowledge of using his little toy and he simply leaned back and let her go to it, he would be there if she needed a hand.
Pedras and Desuko came back after arranging the demonstration and he smiled as the two girls bantered. It was typical sibling stuff. He settled in for the wait while his toy copied off the data so they would be able to make other copies from that.