I think that this is a good time to check out how clear the airspace is around the Morningstar. We can use the Body Snatcher's sensors to scan the area. If it's all clear or at least clear enough, we can move both the Morningstar and the Body Snatcher at the same time, and get to a more secure location.

I really need Luis to fly this thing and Bello to come as representative. Mellish as backup, he's rested. The rest of y'all can bounce back to the Morningstar, Davis has a new prisoner to handle.

Gatac

Punkey wrote:

I think that this is a good time to check out how clear the airspace is around the Morningstar. We can use the Body Snatcher's sensors to scan the area. If it's all clear or at least clear enough, we can move both the Morningstar and the Body Snatcher at the same time, and get to a more secure location.

The main problem with this plan goes like this:

Imperial Sensors Tech: "Hey, check out those two ships in the no-fly zone."

Other Imp. Sensors Tech: "That one's all right, it's cleared 'cause it's bounty hunters. THAT one, however, is the one we've been looking for."

IST: "Whaddya think, shoot it down?"

OIST: "Hell yeah!"

Thus, the Body Snatcher scans to make sure the coast is clear before we take off, like I said. Do a circuit of the area under the cover of looking for a fugitive.

Let's hold off on moving the Morningstar until we've created enough chaos to let it slip through.

Which reminds me, maybe we can ask Bello where the Imperial Traffic Control on this planet is. We do still have some explosives, right?

Gatac

I think we can do it a little more artfully than just blowing it up. Let's see what resources our new friends have first.

Ah, crap, forgot to mention I wanted Arketta on the Body Snatcher, too. Will edit momentarily.

Okay, so the plan is, we fly a little search grid, Arketta helps us with the lingo so we don't sound like idiots when we're queried by traffic control. We set down occasionally, taking a few minutes to scan random points for our "prey". Along the way, we pick up the resistance members on those "scanning" stops, as directed by Bello. Then, we find a nice secluded spot to park the Body Snatcher, the sled fetches us with (hopefully rested) replacements, we rotate and fly back to the Morningstar for strategizing and rest.

Gatac

Davis is going to take advantage of some of that downtime to talk with Hugh about the grenade incident.

I'm cool with the plan. What do we do to avoid traffic control realizing that the voices on the radio aren't the same ones as earlier? It's possible they'll realize, given that the Body Snatcher's been around here a bit.

I thought about that, but we need to interrogate Dunamis and his friend quickly. I'm hoping we don't have to deal with it; if they do ask, we'll just say that we switched shifts and the guy they talked to previously is sleeping now.

Gatac

Okay. How do you want me to test it? Power down and then back up really quick?

That's really the only way TO test it. And even if, say, Dunamis and Rand fell down an elevator shaft onto some bullets and they DIDN'T give you the right code, there's always the possibility of Toughbooking your way through the code.

I don't think Traffic Control cares enough about what the ships' captains sound like. They are preoccupied with transponders and flight times and coordinates.

Aikoro has 3 spaceports. They would currently be on high alert and monitoring traffic. The orbital Gate station would likewise be on alert, and Rand mentioned a Needleship. The closest spaceport is the one south of Gran's Hope.

Well, the biggest problem I see is the Needleship. Unless we can get that away from the gate, we're not flying out of here.

Gatac

I have a few free-floating ideas on how to deal with that.

"Rog, grab the cat!"

Disarming the bomb with care.

Aw, I thought it was something interesting, like a Backseat-Driver-B-Gone. Still could be, I suppose.

What with the required bad guy jackassery out of the way, who's going back to the Morningstar on the warsled, who's staying in the Body Snatcher and going to look for Bello's resistance leaders, and who's stealing the warsled while noone's looking and peeling out into the wilderness?

*jumps the broken bridge in the Warsled*

YEEEHAAW!

Okay, I think I set out my wishlist for Body Snatcher crew (Arketta, Luis, Mellish, Bello and Hugh) before. Everybody else should get on the sled and back to the Morningstar.

Gatac

I'd like to take the Khiraba armor back to Morningstar with Max.