Long Game 15: ...The Shards Themselves...

[Elbereth she/her]

For what it's worth, I thought it was hilarious. Well done.

[STINK he/him]

DISLCAIMER: THIS FROM THE OTHER LG15 GAME WHERE WYRM DIED D1

 

 

Jack's POV

 

Jack wondered the halls of the spaceship, wandering with no direction in mind, but just simply wandering. He thought it horrible how someone had already died! Even if apparently he was still alive in the computer, though he had never heard of that before! He hadn’t heard of a lot of stuff actually.

 

BOY, THIS IS PAUL.

 

Jack stumbled to the side, had he just heard someone? Was he like Leyton, someone who had a great being from another universe in his head? Surely that couldn’t be. He was only Jack, and Jack’s head was his alone.

 

NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THINKING, BUT ACTION!

 

There it was again! Could it really be? He had to see for himself.

 

Hello? Anyone there?

 

OF COURSE THERE IS. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER VOICES IN YOUR HEAD?

 

What is your name, O great one? I am Jack, your humble servant. Are you like Leyton?

 

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE LEYTON. THE MORTAL KNOWN AS LEYTON MANAGED TO BOND TO HIS FRAGMENT, SOMETHING NO MORTAL HAS MANAGED TO DO BEFORE OR WILL.

 

But what is your name? And why do people even think of you as great?

 

MY NAME IS PAUL, AS I HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU. NOW I NEED YOU TO GO TO THE AUTOPSY ROOM, THERE IS SOMETHING OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THERE.

 

What is it?

 

YOU DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS OF ME!

 

Jack felt a blinding pain in his head almost instantly after he heard that. What is this? Was this from Paul? This isn’t going to get me to go to the Autopsy Room.

 

YOU KNOW I CAN HEAR EVERYTHING GOING THROUGH THAT TINY BRAIN OF YOURS. NOW DO NOT MAKE ME TAKE PHYSICAL CONTROL. YOU WILL NOT ENJOY THAT EXPERIENCE.

 

Jack whimpered. The headache stopped as if to allow him permission to continue on down the halls which no longer looked as fascinating. It was almost as if the world had shifted, and unlike someone from Nalthis, everything got duller the closer it was to Jack. He made his decision, and slowly approached the autopsy room, where he heard what sounded like singing.

 

Do I really have to go in there?

 

MY PATIENCE IS RUNNING THIN NOW, SO EITHER GO IN THERE OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL OR YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN A PAIN NO MORTAL HAS EXPERIENCED BEFORE

 

Jack waited until he couldn’t hear anymore singing, and then he waited a bit more. It wasn’t like he had nothing to do after all, he did have a powerful being in his head.

 

​Kipper and Alvom will also be posting their stuff, and then we have some collaborative stuff coming after that, so please don't post for a while so that it's all together.

Edited November 2, 2015 by IrulelikeSTINK

[Seonid he/him]

Still interested in the spec doc

[Amanuensis he/him]

In all the Cosmere, First of the Dawn was a rarity. Her parents were what the Eelakins referred to as the Ones Above, though the residents of other worlds might know them as Terris people. They had been sent on a mission to the Islands while her mother was pregnant, and instantly they fell in love with the vibrant environment and culture of the world. When she was born they chose to use the world’s traditional naming conventions, much to her disdain. Often she was ridiculed for it by her fellow Terrisboys and Terrisgirls, making her heart bitter, but her skin tough.

 

She became a hateful person. Especially of her kin, and by extension, all Scadrians. Who could really blame her for joining the Traitors, when offered the opportunity? Wurum Heron was not only a Scadrian, but a noble too. The kind that used to enslave her ancestors. Not that she cared about them, but she would use any excuse she could to justify killing one of them.

 

Having accepted her fate of being friendless forever, First had found herself some duraluminminds at a young age and never stopped filling them… until today.

 

Behind her walked Wynde Wilson, utterly enthralled. Earlier she approached her while tapping all of the spiritual connection she had, making them instant best friends. So long as she continued to tap them Wynde would follow First’s every command.

 

The plan was simple: use her to aid in their coup against the Captain and execute the rest of the loyal Scadrians, then guilt her into taking her own life for having Scadrian blood in her, too. As for what would happen to the rest of the crew, First didn’t care. That was up to the others.

 

First checked her watch. She was cutting the meeting time close so she hastened her pace. “Hurry!” she yelled to Wynde, not bothering to look back. A short jog later, the two women turned a corner and found a couple of the traitors waiting outside the morgue. Jack and Officer Mordero, to be specific. A second later and the door swung open, Winnie the Pooh standing on the other side. Excited - and perhaps a tad bit psychotic - he welcomed them in.

Edited November 2, 2015 by Adavantos

[Guest]

THREE HOURS EARLIER

 

 

Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood,

Where Cristopher Robin plays,

You’ll find the enchanted neighborhood,

Of Cristopher’s childhood days.

 

But not anymore, thought Winnie. Ever since Wurum Heron Industries came to town, the Hundred Acre forest has been nothing but a smoking pit of rubble.

 

He slowed his pace, reaching the door to the lab. His pad buzzed. “Yes, Captain?” The shrill tones of Captain Wurum Heron sounded in his ears. “I want that autopsy done fast, Pooh. We need to know what’s going on as soon as we possibly can, and that means as fast as you possibly can. So cut, rip, do whatever you need to do, but do it fast. I don’t give a crap about Arandar, he’ll be a better machine than he was a human being. So skip the sentimentalities and get to work.”

 

Gods above, I hate that man, Winnie the Pooh thought. “Yes, Captain. Right away, sir.” He pawed his pad off, dismissing an alarm notification for this exact time at the same moment. Next alarm, 2 hours, 40 minutes,  the screen announced. Hmm, should be plenty of time, Winnie thought.

 

He pushed open the door to the lab, a little too hard. It clanged against the metal wall, and Winnie cringed a bit. He turned on the lights. Why do they always seem so bright around the dead? Probably just psychological. He walked over to the body, pulling a tray of freshly sterilized tools behind him. Normally, Pooh would put on one of his custom-fitted lab coats, but on this particular day, he was not especially worried about that. Should be ample time to take a tumble in the ship’s biggest washing machine later. He set up his pad on the counter next to the gurney, and set it to record. Next he turned to Araris. Pooh checked the preliminaries before opening up the body, then began dictating. “Opening autopsy report for Crewman Arandar, period. Winnie the Pooh, myself, Ship Taxidermist slash Coroner, reporting directly to Captain Wurum Heron. The subject was found dead in the Mess Hall by Captain Wurum heron. The Captain reported the death as a homicide to the Lawman of the ship. After the Lawman made appropriate crime-scene investigations, Arandar’s remains were brought to the Ship Lab to be autopsied and stuffed for the Captain’s personal collection. Autopsy beginning now.”

 

 

A donkey named Eeyore is his friend.

And Kanga, and little Roo.

There’s Rabbit and Piglet

And there’s Owl too.

But most of all Winnie the Pooh!

 

Winnie could never keep the voices quiet when he was autopsying a victim. Even with his own physical voice constantly narrating, he couldn’t stop the inner roar. *snip* My friends, dead beside me, all of them. *snip* What could I do but stuff them? They wouldn’t have wanted any less. Who would want to be just buried, when they could be a beautiful trophy for someone else to admire? *slice* And I get cast out for doing them a favor. Everyone thought that they were dead, and I was desecrating the bodies, but THEY WEREN’T DEAD. They are ALIVE! ALIVE!

 

A scalpel clattered to the floor. Winnie’s hands were shaking. “Note to editor, colon, delete the last period. Dropped a tool on the floor, period. End note period. The subject shows no signs of brain injuries, spinal injuries, or injuries to the extremities period. The main cause of death appears to be from a massive hole comma three standard inches in diameter comma drilled directly through the subject’s heart period. Complete pulverization would have caused death within thirty seconds period. Based on this injury the rest of the session will be considered extraneous to the cause of death and Stuffing will now commence period.” This is possibly the strangest thing I’ve seen in all my years of being a coroner. On the other hand, this giant hole will make it easier to stuff him.

 

Winnie prepped Arandar for the stuffing, having to break the breastbone in the process. This was the hardest part, having to scoop out all those nasy organs and guts. Winnie was fine with it though, as that planned trip to the washing machine was still in the back of his mind. *shlorp* The last of the guts came free, and Winnie brought the big hose up to the hole in Arandar’s chest.

 

Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh,

Chubby, little cubby all stuffed with fluff.

But now Arandar will be stuffed with fluff, haha. The most macabre moments were the ones that made Winnie laugh the most, and he never failed to repeat this portion of the song when he began stuffing a subject. Twenty minutes later, the stuffing was complete. “Stuffing is comple--” Winnie’s pad began to flash. Five minutes to next event. “--te period. End session.” Perfect. Plenty of time to clean up before the party starts. He tidied up, humming to himself. Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh...my song is still great. Best song ever. A knock came at the door. Two minutes early. They can wait. Two minutes later, the alarm went off. Winnie walked to the door and flung it open. *CLANG* He shuddered, for the second time. “Come in, come in,” he said to the four inside, clapping his paws together. The one named Jack recoiled a bit at seeing Winnie’s gore-matted fur. “And welcome to the party. Let’s begin.”

[STINK he/him]

Outside the Autopsy Room

 

The area outside the entrance to the Autopsy Room was more active than ever before. There were all kinds of individuals there, with some more unique than others. One such individual was Jack, someone who fancied himself as an explorer, but had mostly explored how deep a packet of ‘Shard Snacks’ could actually be. He was currently muttering to himself while sitting on the floor, though no-one was exactly sure why, and certainly didn’t intend to ask. Everyone had their own quirks after all, and compared to others, some muttering wasn’t that much to worry about. He was the closest to the door.

 

There was also a pair of individuals would look normal to any passing observers, but if one was to look closely they would see that the smaller one was being very careful to keep an exact distance between them and the taller one. They were Wynde Wilson and First of the Dawn, respectively. First would occasionally check behind her, as if she was unused to the presence of others, while Wilson looked emboldened, as if nothing could touch her and everything was fine, which couldn’t be farther than the truth. They too were on their way to the Autopsy Room.

 

The most peculiar one of all though, was the one at the very end of the corridor making large strides towards the door. His shirt was tight, as if to show off the bulging muscles underneath it, and his head was shaved. He wore sunglasses, as if he was outside instead of on a spaceship and hurried towards the Autopsy Room. His name was Cor Mordero and he held the title of ‘Petty Officer’. He was the first to speak.

 

“Um Guys, are we gonna move it or what, like I got things to do later on and I can’t miss the next episode of ‘Who wants to be a Shardholder!’”

 

Jack looked up in confusion, his awareness of what was going on returning to him from wherever it was before Mordero spoke.

 

“What’s going on? I don’t even know why I’m here.”

 

Cor Mordero suddenly started giggling, similar to a 14 year old girl from Nalthis.

 

“ Silly! It’s obvious! We’re here to like, kill people and stuff. How could you not know?”

 

Jack sprung up from the floor.

 

“What? We’re actually gonna do that? I thought we were here to collect something! That’s what I was told.”

 

First was slowly approaching, Wilson behind her but wasn’t close enough yet to join in the conversation, while Mordero knocked on the door to the Autopsy Room, walking with purpose and determination.

 

“Of course we’re here! Where else could we be? All the cool people wanna get rid of Captain! I can’t wait to show all my friends this! They’re gonna be all like ‘Wow!’ or maybe even ‘I wish I could be there!’ and I’m gonna get so many likes on SurgeSocial!”

 

“You actually go on SurgeSocial? I heard it was rubbish though.”

 

“Don’t you insult SurgeSocial! Just cause you’re not cool like me doesn't mean you have to insult it! You’re like, so mean to me and I only just met you!”

 

Jack looked confused at this, unable to process exactly what was going on for what seemed like eternity, but was actually a minute. In that minute, while Jack drooled, First got ever closer to the Autopsy Room and Mordero seemed to be attempting to bulge his muscles even more, as if they weren’t already big enough.

 

The door finally creaked open, and Winnie said “And welcome to the party. Let’s begin.”

[Guest]

He’s Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh

Willy, nilly, silly, old bear

Old? Yeah. But still strong enough to kill Captain Wurum Heron six ways from Sunday, thought Winnie. All of them gathered around the table. “I defer to you, Officer Mordero.” Mordero stepped up.

“I’ve been waiting all day for this! It was so boring! There was like nothing new going on or anything, and no-one was doing anything, so I was like, why don’t we just kill Wyrm now, and it was a really good plan, so go me! Anyway, we’re gonna need to kill Wyrm and like, maybe take over the ship?”

I love how he’s so clueless, yet falls into my plans exactly. All I want is the bloody death of Wurum Heron. My home and friends WILL be avenged.

Winnie stepped up to the intercom. “Captain, can you come down here please? There’s something you need to see.”

“What?”

“I...can’t really describe it...you really need to see it.”

“Fine, I’ll be there shortly,” the Captain bit out.

 

Officer Mordero let out the breath he had been holding with a gasp, his face all red. “So first, should we discuss the latest episode of ‘Feruchemy Fashion’? No? Okay then, so if we get the small one to like, actually stop Wyrm from getting away, otherwise this whole thing is pointless, ummm, I guess First and Pooh can hold him down! That should make it easier for Jack,right? I dunno, why are you all looking at me? I’m not actually gonna do anything you know?”

“...Like...okay,” said Winnie.

“Wynde,” said First. At hearing the Terriswoman speak her name, she perked up, eyes glistening eagerly. “Stand out of sight in the corner closest to the door. If the Captain tries to escape, get in his way.” Happy to help, Wynde smiled widely and nodded before walking off.

 

Again, a knock at the door, and Winnie opened it to reveal the Captain, in all his uniformed glory. Winnie rushed him over to the table, where Arandar was still gazing up with sightless eyes. “I really think you need to see this,” Winnie gasped.”

“WHAT?!” The Captain yelled impatiently. “I’m busy.”

“GET HIM NOW,” yelled Mordero. “NOW NOW NOW GO!”

Jack stumbled towards the Captain, and made a half-hearted attempt at tackling him. The Captain broke the chokehold.

Captain Wurum Heron was not one to give up without a fight. He ran toward the door, pumping his legs harder with every step. The Captain made it almost all the way to the door, but then something moved in the shadows.

Wynde had slammed the door shut and was now standing in front of it, arms crossed with a stoic expression on her face. If her hate were a tangible force it would be radiating off of her, hot and bright. The Captain couldn’t help but freeze when he saw her, as if the hate had rooted him to the floor. “Wynde? You too?” he asked her, but she didn’t bother to answer. Just offered him a devilish grin and pointed for him to look behind him.

 

The Captain, unsurprisingly, had thought about how he would die. Drowning, a common fear, had once plagued him. Space had cured that particular fear. Once he had feared snakes, again, a common fear. His strongest fear, though, was dying to a mutiny. Ever since he had been given control of this ship, and had it impressed upon him time and time again that this was an important, important, mission, he had been petrified of mutiny. The spiking of Crewman Arandar had only served to deepen this fear. Perhaps, at its root, this fear of mutiny was in fact a fear of failure. Hmm, yes, failure. I like that. Our strong, strong Captain. One who has virtually desolated his homeworld. Afraid of failing. But this is a subject for the history books to ponder. For never in his wildest dreams, his deepest fears, his most hilarious drunken moments, had he considered that his last sight might be of a giant, yellow, furry belly covered in gore sailing through the air towards him. Yet, as he turned, that is exactly what he saw. Then everything went black.

 

Jack trembled as he approached the Captain, who was waking up. Jack knew that it was now or never, one of the biggest moments of his life.

“UNNNNHHH, I think he ripped some of my stuffing,” Winnie moaned, on the floor.

“Seriously, like it’s not that big of a deal. Just stab him already so we can go home,” Mordero snitched.

Jack jumped, again forgetting that there were other people, and went forward at a steady pace. He plunged the knife into the Captains neck, slowly took the knife out, and did it again, quicker than before. He ended up stabbing the Captain 5 times before he dropped the knife, and slowly sat down. Contemplating what he was going to do next in life.

And now it’s all over, mused Winnie. We hand over the Ship to Enefel Integrated Intelligence Systems, and we go back to Scadrial as the renegade heroes who broke the back of Big Corporate. And I’ve avenged my friends. For the first time in my life...I feel empty, without a purpose.

 

“So, like, what do we do now? I’m gonna go tell all my friends about this, it was so fun!” asked Officer Mordero.

“I haven’t got much to do now, I guess”

“Wynde and I are going to go slaughter the rest of the Scadrians. Anyone wanna help?” added First.

Winnie spoke up. “I’m about to punch in an extended tumble on my favorite washing machine. If one of you would come by in a couple hours and help me get into the dryer, that would be great. I’ll be really soggy, probably too heavy to get out on my own.”

Jack hesitantly raised his hand, torn between the two options. “Uh, how about I do both?”

 

Special thanks to IrulelikeSTINK and Alvom for helping me with this RP, especially the last several paragraphs, which were done by all of us. Make sure to shower them with upvotes. Also, thanks to Wyrm for putting up with us breaking his game and letting us do all of our shenanigans in his beautiful doc.

 

Edit: In case it was unclear, Wilson is there because Alvom controlled her vote with his Feruchemist powers.

 

“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?”

--A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Edited November 2, 2015 by Guest

[Zed]

May I please join as Osmann? I really have no idea for a backstory...

[DeathClutch19 he/him]

As a Loyal Hemalurgist I thought I was gonna be super cool only to find out I had no powers just like all of you D:

[Clanky he/him]

Seems like a lot of players with no roles. I was also without a role but I was almost expecting this game to be close to role madness. Anyways congratulations Traitors I think this has to be a record for quickest SE ever. I had completely forgotten about the lynch the captain win condition.

[Alvron]

On 11/2/2015 at 11:11 AM, Mailliw73 said:

That's why you don't claim Hemalurgist to anyone but the HI. 

Edit:

Oh, and I'm signing up with Captain Alv. He took the ship (almost)bloodlessly and did it ingeniously. I'd like to join your crew, if you'll have me.

 

On 11/2/2015 at 11:16 AM, little wilson said:

I think I have to as well. After all, I did say this during sign ups:

And then he signed up as death. So.....Take me, Alv.

Welcome to my crew Maill and Wilson.  Glad to have you on board.

On 11/2/2015 at 2:31 PM, Clanky said:

Seems like a lot of players with no roles. I was also without a role but I was almost expecting this game to be close to role madness. Anyways congratulations Traitors I think this has to be a record for quickest SE ever. I had completely forgotten about the lynch the captain win condition.

A Long Game that finishes before a single Night turn.  Had to be done at some stage.

For what it's worth, my plan with the HI was something I had thought of before the game had started.  There was a lot more to it but I removed those parts.  No point in making it too easy for the loyalists.   Sadly with the changes Wyrm has made it won't work next time.

Also, sorry Wyrm for ending your game so quickly.  Normally I wouldn't have done it but it was too good an opportunity to pass up.

Edit:  Was there any Kandra?  I had a suspicion that if Wyrm was going to leave out a role it would be the Kandra.

[Alvron]

Sonder Kessligh signing up. He's one of the many, many, many ship's engineers, and his specific task is to make sure the ship's (non-Hemalurgic) cooling and sewage systems are functioning properly. Whether he's allowed to touch the Hemalurgic systems or not is a separate question

 

Edit: Just wanted to be first post for Wyrm's game like last time

 

Anyway, thanks for the hammer, Traitors This means that the game now starts after my final German exam, due to this magical thing called time-zones. Sure, I have one exam and one paper due after this, but I also have much more breathing room than I did the last time--and I really wanted to play Wyrm's SS13 game. So.

Yay.  Kas is back.  Glad to have you aboard.

 

Now now, be fair. They only actually killed Araris and me. It was actually a rather bloodless coup .

Hey now.  The Captain killed Araris.  The coroner even said that the weapon used (Atium Spike) was in the Captain's possession.  What we did was mob justice.

 

Does this mean that Wilson's death streak is over?

Hmm.  I think it does.  Didn't think about that when I suggested the plan.  Sorry Wilson.  I'll kill you a bunch of times in the next few games to make up for it.

 

 

Cor Mordero is back and thanks to the outstanding success of the last mission he has been promoted to Lieutenant Commander.

[Guest]

The name's Tigger! T-I-double-guh-ER! That spells Tigger!!

I'd be happy to serve with Lieutenant Commander Mordero once again.

The wonderful thing about Tiggers,

Is Tiggers are wonderful things.

Their tops are made out of rubber;

Their bottoms are made out of springs.

They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy fun, fun, fun, fun, fun.

But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one.

So to anyone who thinks it's okay to kill me, uh, no it's not. I'm the only Tigger.

[polkinghornbd he/him]

I still feel like an idiot for not reading the rules well enough to know that the traitors had to lynch the captain.  I thought it was an outnumber-to-win type deal.  Oh well, new captain, right?

[polkinghornbd he/him]

I was the Kandra.  I had no idea who to check first night, though.

 

Edit:  This was probably a really fun game to be an eliminator, though

Edited November 2, 2015 by polkinghornbd

[little wilson she/her]

Hmm.  I think it does.  Didn't think about that when I suggested the plan.  Sorry Wilson.  I'll kill you a bunch of times in the next few games to make up for it.

 

I disagree. The game is still LG15. It's just LG15b. While I may make a new column in the spreadsheet for it, as far as survival count goes, it doesn't change anything for anyone playing, and that's because this new version is still LG15. Not LG16. It's a restart, sort of like QF6. It's not a fully new game.

[Guest]

Isn't it funny how I played a part in breaking both of those games as an Eliminator?

[Alvron]

I disagree. The game is still LG15. It's just LG15b. While I may make a new column in the spreadsheet for it, as far as survival count goes, it doesn't change anything for anyone playing, and that's because this new version is still LG15. Not LG16. It's a restart, sort of like QF6. It's not a fully new game.

Ok.  I can agree with that.  I'll still kill you. You know, just in case.

[little wilson she/her]

Ok.  I can agree with that.  I'll still kill you. You know, just in case.

 

Well, you'll try. Whether you'll succeed is another thing..... I mean, you said you wouldn't let another chance to kill me slip through your fingers, but....you had a chance to kill me. And you decided to kill the GM.

[Alvron]

Well, you'll try. Whether you'll succeed is another thing..... I mean, you said you wouldn't let another chance to kill me slip through your fingers, but....you had a chance to kill me. And you decided to kill the GM.

Even worse.  Since I didn't participate in the vote I don't get to claim his brain.

[Paranoid King he/him]

I had this great back story about how Pork escaped the mutiny by boarding an escape pod and crash landing on a planet of hemalurgists, but then I refreshed the page and lost all my progress. Suffice it to say that Pork is joining this crew, and his first order of business is to do a tune-up of the escape pods

[Haelbarde he/him]

I disagree. The game is still LG15. It's just LG15b. While I may make a new column in the spreadsheet for it, as far as survival count goes, it doesn't change anything for anyone playing, and that's because this new version is still LG15. Not LG16. It's a restart, sort of like QF6. It's not a fully new game.

Awww.... ;p

[Paranoid King he/him]

The name's Tigger! T-I-double-guh-ER! That spells Tigger!!

I'd be happy to serve with Lieutenant Commander Mordero once again.

The wonderful thing about Tiggers,

Is Tiggers are wonderful things.

[...]

But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one.

So to anyone who thinks it's okay to kill me, uh, no it's not. I'm the only Tigger.

So are you saying that if I kill you, you have no other members of your clan that would take revenge on me? That's good to know.

[Kasimir he/him]

Yay. Kas is back. Glad to have you aboard.

Glad to be back, Sarge.

-

The engine room of a Shardship was oppressively hot, even with the ventilation systems they’d put in. After over ten years serving on different Shardships, Chief Engineer Karsten Arnkell was used to the sometimes-oppressive heat. The roar of the engines and the different systems: cooling, ventilation, electricity generation, on-board the Wolfhound was a comforting background clamour as he studied the various read-outs, making sure that things were progressing well in hand.

Next to him, Ersken Herschel was on the EOT.

First time Herschel was serving as Second Engineer, Karsten thought. Good man, though. He’d worked with Herschel before on the Junker, moving cargo between Scadrial and Nalthis. That had been a good run; smooth travelling. He liked good runs.

“You alright there, Hersch?”

“Yeah, Chief,” Ersken said, bending over the EOT. “Everything looking good. Cap’s taking her out of port.”

Karsten breathed and nodded. “All right,” he said.

The dream still hung over him; for some reason, he couldn’t shake it off his mind.

“Chief?”

“What is it?”

“What happened to Sonder?”

Sonder Kessligh: good kid, pretty enthusiastic, but without much experience at all. Karsten wouldn’t have let him touch any of the Hemalurgic systems on board a Shardship.

Karsten shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine, Hersch. Probably signed up with a different vessel. Heard he went over to Heron Industries.”

Ersken shook his head. “Crazy guy,” he said. “Working for high-profile corps like Heron’s a rusting nightmare. No one signs up to keep the engines protected twenty-four-seven from saboteurs and that sort of thing.”

In the dream, he had. Karsten checked the read-outs once again, and nodded in satisfaction. Lift-off was always a volatile period, and he wasn’t going to feel better until the Shardship had cleared Scadrian planetary airspace.

“Yeah, well,” he said. “Kid made his choice, didn’t he?”

But he’d dreamed of it. Signing on as Chief with that rusting Heron Industries venture to mine ore in that recently-discovered sector. Keeping an eye on his people, because Captain Wurum Heron was a madman who thought that traitors among his engineers meant all of them—Chief included—should be booted out an airlock.

He shook it off. It was just a dream. And Rory Aasheim was a far better Captain than Wurum Heron was. The run between Scadrial and Roshar was always dangerous because Shardships had to be careful to avoid highstorms, but if the Hemalurgic systems were running properly, they had some protection against the storms. Ships’d failed in the face of Rosharian highstorms, though.

Still, for some reason, he felt good about this run.

Sonder was a good kid, decent Junior Engineer. But he was none of Karsten’s concern, now. The Wolfhound and his new men were.

“I guess,” Ersken said.

Karsten clapped him on the shoulder. “Roshar’s always a dangerous run, if things aren’t working just right. Keep a close eye on things, understand? Less thinking about other crew.” He added, for the benefit of the cadets and junior engineers in the engine room, “Nothing to worry overmuch about, though. Wolfhound’s got a good crew, she’s in safe hands. Just do your jobs right.”

Ersken exhaled, glanced about him, and nodded. “Got it.” You could see it: the moment concern faded, replaced by focus.

“Good man,” Karsten said.

Edited November 2, 2015 by Kasimir

[Elbereth she/her]

The Eliminators can be a force of good!

 

EDIT: Also, I think you made a typo with the Kandra. It says they could only find Roles before but wasn't it Alignment?

This was exactly my comment. Wyrm? Can you fix this?