Episode 7 - The Lesser of Two evils (I was going to to with Chinese Takeaway but thought that might be a bit on the nose).
After the effective destruction of Ascension there is a pause. The Party splits with Angelus and his Son heading parting ways temporarily while the rest of the crew, with a very unhappy Thatch, head to Ceres for repairs.
Thatch is unhappy because the Good doctor,without telling anyone, decided to take himself a sample of the blue glowy stuff that they just nuked an Asteroid to get rid of onboard their ship in a thermos. After being talked down from throwing both Said thermos AND The doctor out the airlock he moves quarters to as far away from the medlab as possible.
As repairs are underway at Ceres they are visited by none other than Anderson Dawes both congratulating them on their "service to the belt" and digging for more information. The crew give him short shrift. They do a few jobs to pass the time and to keep the ship running but the doctor soon realises he is out of his depth when every containment vessel he puts around the protomolecule is breached leading to more and more layers being added in a weird anti- russian doll kind of way. He eventually admits to the group he's out of his deptha nd if they don't get it off they'll lose the ship.
Unbeknownst to the others, feeling some of his old loyalty, Thatch sent an anonymous report of what happened on L423 Beta, that there was more protomolecule, that Protogen was involved and the disperal system found to the UN Navy. He encrypts it with a UN cypher that was at least current when he last served that might help it stand out amongst the many prank messages they must receive. He pointedly does NOT mention that a sample was kept.
While this is going on Angelus has travelled to Tycho station and met with the fabled Fred Johnson. Fred casually lets slip in conversation that he has a sample of the protomolecule and Angelus does likewise. Fred offers to take the protomolecule and store it.
A long and detailed conversation followed but the outcome was:
⦁ Victor and Angelus wanted to give the sample to Fred in exchange for services and payment
⦁ Reuben wanted to give it to Mars
⦁ Thatch originally wanted to burn it in the Sun until, upon hearing Johnson already had a sample and that Jim Holden had given it him, changed to give it to Fred on the basis he already has some.
⦁ Ziang Didn't give a fuck.
⦁ Joe was probably off fucking up another torpedo or something
In the end the sample was given to Fred in exchange for a full refit of the Promethion, new ID's for everyone, several transpoder codes to use, a full set of PDC rounds and free repairs, a shed load of torpedoes and a promise of future work. Drummer, acting on Fred's behalf, agreed to everything with Angelus having responsibility for the groups future conduct.
Several weeks later (and several months after L423 Beta was nuked) The Refit is complete and the first of the promised work comes up. Drummer asks the group to head to Tranquility 5, a well known Asteroid resort for the Wealthy to meet with one of their agents (Miguel) that has sent a distress signal saying there has been an incident, he has 20 survivors on board his small pinnace (Freebird) with air being rationed and batteries fading fast. His drive is shot.
The crew quickly get the ship ready, taking on board emergency supplies and netting to help stow anyone they can't find a crash couch for. On the way they get a briefing on the place. Officially it's a posh resort for business deals to be completed, unofficially it's gambling, slave trade and people trafficking.
The crew do a heavy burn to get there as fast as possible and quickly dock with the Pinnance as soon as they arrive. AS teh survivors are bought over for the Doc to check on Ziang recognises a large Asian man called Tito accompanied by a very pale Asian Female called Sensi from his previous dealings in the old countries shadier elements. Ziang takes them aside when they board the ship. They tell him they were there to sell information to a Hugo Lazlo, our good doctors missing brother! (
Overly Dramatic Prairiedog!)
Hugo was buying the schematics to the Martian half of the Callisto Shipyards. Once the transaction was complete Hugo left the base advising Tito he should do the same, Tito ignored him and went to the casino instead. Two hours later something hit the Asteroid so hard it shattered it, only being in the Casino near the docks saved Tito's life.
While Ziang is learning this Angelus,who is watching the scanners from the pilots chair, spots three Martian Pattern Pinnaces coming towards the docked ships. He sends out the alert and Thatch rushes up while the doctor and Joe get everyone fastened in. The Pinnaces ignore any attempts to Hail them so as soon as the last person is off they cut the Pinnace loose and Angelus burns away trying to outrun the Pinnaces but hampered by Gravity and the survivors not yet being fully strapped in. Thatch then says "Wait. We're in a Fucking Frigate. Why are we running away from three barely armed Pinnaces again?" At That Angelus flips the ship to face them....
To be continued in Rotation 6!