Open Brave New World

[Dirtydan]

I'd like for this to he an open platform for communal story telling and world development. Their are no formal rules for this aside from abiding by the sites ToS. Feel to drop in and drop of the roleplay at anytime. Credit for this formating idea goes out to @Gangsta Moll

 

Hisses! The landing gear of the medium size vessel would unfold giving it a stable foundation. The exit hatch would slowly lower to the ground onto a foreign blue grass. A large man would walk down his laser rifle and ready emitting a loud crackling sound as the mechanism heats up. The man is wearing lose fitting black military pants a tight fitting flexible black shirt composed of nano-fibers due it's lightweight and study defenses his combat boots tied tightly to his leg. His light blue eyes scanning the surroundings for hostile life, safe, he'd lower his gun and run his hand across his jar head style hair cut before he would begin to bark out order to the gunts. This man was Hendrick the lead security op for this expedition, he was in charge of assuring the safety of all non-combatents on the vessel. He would stroll calmly down the ramp as his mean would run past him weapons raised to secure the perimeter. Once his men cleared the area he'd give the all clear for the rest of the ships inhabitants to come out and see where their new home would be for the  foreseeable future.

[Gangsta Moll Deactivated]

(Bad Penny: stowaway, street thief)

Penny nurses her bruises: hidden in the ventilation shaft, no seat or cushioning protected her during the rough descent and hard landing. And the usual chill is dissipated, a hissing heat rises through the shaft.

The ship had seemed so tempting: so easy to slip past the guards while everyone was distracted by the departure ceremony: she only meant to glean what rich pickings presented themselves, then quit and run. Fuck the army for boarding so early.

Still, it's been easy - no-one seems to account fir the food and drink, they are all so fucking studious: apart from the grim-faced grunts, if course - what do they need them fior, anyway, what are they expecting here?

It's growing too hot: time to exit the shafts before being roasted. But where to hide, now the ship is abuzz with movement and activity? On top of the night hatch door is high out if sight: she slides the vent open, dangles one leg, seeking blindly for the top of the big hatch. Stretches, down further, briefly puzzled:

"Oh FUCK! Ouch!"

A heavy fall, a painful thud, and she lands sprawling on top of the landing ramp as startled army grunts raise their weapons at the slight, scruffy, girl in shorts and baseball cap.

[Cute_Bro]

Wilson quickly bounds out of the landing pod once given the all clear. He dons a much more loose fitting attire, khaki pants and a bomber jacket accompanied by mountaineering boots, ready to explore this new, exciting world! He knew that eventually his years as a scout would pay off somewhere along the line! The instant the recruting process had began, he wasted no time on signing up, and once accepted, he made sure everything was in check, compass was still calibrated, along with plenty of paper and ink for map-making. He also made sure to pack extra non-perishables and water, just in case it would be needed down the line. He headed over to Hendrick, maps and compass and some water already in hand and speaking rather rapidly, the energy making his pace quick.

"Ah! We have finally arrived Captain! Would you like me to begin exploring in any cardinal direction?! I have the honest opinion that heading North is always the best idea, however I will follow your orders! Maybe some water? Or would you like to accompany and establish a perimeter around the area and make an initial map of the sector to make sure we have covered enough space for all amenities? I believe a solid..."

He's interrupted by the sudden crash right in front of him at the landing ramp, the body of a girl he had not seen before sprawled out. "...Captain? Did you hire someone to fix the ventilation perhaps?"

 

[Dirtydan]

Hearing the thud Hendrick would quickly raising his rifle to aim down at the women the crackling sound intensified ready to fire. A loud crack would ring out as the energy from the rifle would dissipate out the side, before he lowering it. Hendrick would begin to walk towards her as his gunts would encircle her. "No Wilson I did not" his voice deep and hoarse as he spoke her grab the young women by the arm and wrench her to her feet. "What do we have here? A little cabin rat who's bit off more then she can chew." He would chuckle before turning to his men waving them back to their work. "Now I didn't expect to have any complications soon. We don't even have a brig set up yet." He would pause in thought before he would release her from his grip. "We might as well put you to work we need the extra hands, but you'll be with me understood"

"As for you Wilson you know how important you job is head north look for potable water well need a source to refill our supplies. It would also be beneficial to secure a base near the water for convince" his instructions were clear and direct. "I'm going to send one of my own woth you in case you run into any trouble." Almost in cue two individuals would appear by his side. An older women her long black hair  pulled back into a tight pony tail her eyes soft motherly brown in a similar git up to his. "Her name is Natalie she's been loyal to this expedition for years you won't find a better sniper on the planet." A similar gruff looking man dirty blond hair cut in the same style warm friendly blue eyes and light facial hair. "This is Theo, trained survilist and close quarters fighter he's still green so you'll have to show him the the ropes. Take your pick Wilson." Hendrick look the younge man up and down he took a risk for accepting but he saw promise in his skills.

 

[Gangsta Moll Deactivated]

"For fuck's sake!"

Penny grumbled at the big soldier. He could have killed her! Talk about trigger-happy! She brushed herself down: dust from the shaft cascading down coated her, smeared on her face. And her quick cocky anger gave way just as fast to a sudden trembling as she realised how close she had come to sudden death. This was not what she signed up for! Well, in truth she hadn't signed up at all, more sort of blundered into it. Instinct told her to run, to bolt for freedom, but it wasn't as if there was anywhere to run away too. Where were they, anyway? I mean she knew they were going to space but this wasn't Earth or Mars or anywhere she had seen on the streams.

And this big trigger-happy oaf: how dare he call her a cabin-rat! What was a cabin-rat anyway? Work didn't sound good: not what she'd signed up ... oh forget it. She'd slip away soonest, anyway.

Edited January 3, 2023 by Gangsta Moll

[Cute_Bro]

The scout gasps at the sudden realization of who was in front of him on the ground and what she was doing here. "A stowaway! I didn't expect someone to hop onto a ship to leave their home for this place...how daring of you Miss!" He nodded in shock and respect, before quickly snapping back at attention at the orders given to him by Hendrick. "Yes Captain Hendrick! Water! Of course! I'll be sure to double...no-triple check that the water is safe for our consumption! You can count on me!" With a curt nod and a bow he then listened on as he was shown his two potential traveling partners, both with their own skills.

They both were seemingly ready for this expedition, already geared up for exploration. However, as much as it would be a great learning experience for Theo, he felt that he may need someone loyal for the start of this expedition. Also, who knows who or what they may find also trying to drink from the same water source they had to drink from. So his choice had to go to Natalie. "I think I'll take Natalie along Captain. I feel like her skills and loyalty will be useful for a mission this critical!" It was also because of the motherly gaze, but the captain didn't have to know that specific detail.

[Dirtydan]

(Hendrick) 

Hendrick was a hard man, who believed strongly in his convictions and would seldom sway from them. He would look the women over slowly reading her darting eyes as she was so prepared to make a run for it. Hendrick knew her type or at least he thought he did, and he would break her one way or another. "You won't get a chance to run I can assure you that, and if you do I promise you won't find the wilderness anymore forgiving then I am. You will be by my side until I believe you trust worthy." He reach back into a small satchel on his hip and pull out a hard metallic collar before tossing it to her. "Put it on" he'd command in a deep booming voice. "Or try your luck in the wild, just this once I will not stop you" his eyes narrowed as he watched her intently this was her chance, what would she choose.

[Dirtydan]

(Natalie)

A warm smile would curl across her full soft pink lips before she would speak in a warm gently tone. "Alright, before head out have you got everthing need, food, water, a bed roll?" She asking raising an eyebrow to the young man before her. She would walk across the hard metal ramp with a silent grace the was difficult to describe. "You know we can't come back until we've found what Capt. Hendrick has asked for do you understand." She would walk next to him ruffling his already messy hair. "We don't have time to waist lead the way" she'd smile warmly shouldering her long rifle. 

[Gangsta Moll Deactivated]

Penny's eyes go wide, round as saucers when he hands her the collar. A collar! An actual honest to god collar - like a slave collar or ... or something from ... she's worn a collar, for that ... for those men who swing that way but ... at least she got paid for it. "Paid and laid" she smirks silently.

But this guy is serious: deadly serious.

She should have gone with the young one but he's already gone all doe-eyed over the order woman and anyway with that chirpy attitude he'll probably be dead by tomorrow. Pity, he's cute..

She wants to fling the collar right back at the big bully but his eyes tell her not to. Do she clips it, round her neck ... like a slave ... and then does a graceful silly pirouette, like fashion model:

"Does it suit me?"

[Cute_Bro]

What kind of question was that? He was ready, of course he was ready! He had no issue in confirming it though, but...for some reason this woman seemed to be...more tender towards him. He wasn't quite sure how to feel about that. On one hand he didn't want to be babied, he had come here for a reason! On the other hand though...felt kind of nice. The result of this clash of emotions was a less chipper, more stutering reply as the scout tried to compose himself. "O-Of course! Everything is ready! I know full well this may take us days...o-or weeks. I'm fine with that, and I have prepared, don't you worry Miss Natalie!" 

...Wait why did he call her 'Miss'? He's in charge here dammit! Shaking his head to snap himself back to the task at hand he quickly leads the way, but yet another slight shock blocks his determination, and that was the words of the stowaway as she put on...a collar? Why did the captain give her a collar? It was a bit concerning for Wilson that the man at the helm was either a slaver, or some sort of dominating figure...but that would be questions he'd have to answer later on. For now, he had some water to search for! So once again, hoping that the magnetic field worked like Earth's did, he saw where the compass pointed to North, and followed that route, keeping an eye out for any water source he could find along the way.

[DoctoroMindbender]

Spoiler

Mission Specialist Kayla Raines bounds down the lowered cargo ramp. A red headed woman, looking with wide hips and chest, and a bit of plumpness around the face that one might call pleasant but which emphasized her relative youth. She is wearing a light weight survival suit, the integrated helmet lowered, exposing her head and face to the environment. It may not be needed in this environment, but the integrated equipment would prove useful when something inevitably went wrong. Specialist Raines was not a pessimist, but she was an engineer, which made her more familiar with Murphy's Law then a lot of the gung-ho adventurer types who had signed up for this mission. Behind her, a small wheeled cargo hauler loaded with several crates of scientific equipment, slaved to the integrated control link in her suit.

"Just like the boys, to go play and leave me with all the heavy lifting." She joked. While her main job was to oversee the robotic probes designed to help the scouting and scientific teams, by default it also put in her charge of the more mundane automation that made such a colonization effort possible. Her joking stop though, when she watched the scene unfold. A stow-away. I guess if you're looking to live out a Robert Louis Stevenson adventure, why not? Then the guns come out, the male posturing - and a control collar. For fuck's sake, Kayla thought. She had signed up for a peaceful scientific mission, not some boys going to play Rambo out in the uncharted sector. The Captain and his goon might be tin soldiers, but she was a civie and was having none of their bullshit today.  She approached the unexpected arrival, speaking in a soft non-threatening tone "Hey, I'm Kayla. You alright?"

Edited January 4, 2023 by DoctoroMindbender

[Dirtydan]

(Hendrick) 

As the metal collar would clip into place around her neck it would begin to admit a soft humming noise. Hendrick would then pull out a small bracelet from the same pouch and clip around his own wrist. The electronic sounds between the two begin to harmonize then both would go silent. "It is suiting for a criminal." Hendrick would snide to her remark. "This device affords me with a few useful features I'd like to show you. First" he'd pull hand back as if he was a forcing a dog to heel, thin almost in perceptible strand of red energy would pull her towards the bracelet. "In case you get any ideas. Second" he raise hand as if to look at watch on his wrist a small topographical map would appear with a small red pulsing bead that appeared to be at her location. "In case you try to run. A lot of people are relying on the information we can gain from this excursion. I'm not going let some cabin-rat put this mission in jeopardy. Do you copy?" He asked his tone sharp, and decisive. After he finished with his showing he would glance over to their robotics specialist Kayla. "She is plenty fine, this collar is for all our safety. She had the option to leave, she made this choice" Hendricks eyes would sharpen as he inspected the specialist. Hendrick knew the choice didn't matter it was death or servitude to the cause. "I recommend you go about your business Kayla and keep your nose out of mine. I've been briefed I know you've got important tasks to attend to as do I which I am sure you are aware." He would scowl coldly at the women.

[Dirtydan]

(Natalie)

Natalie would giggle at the young man's response to him he was cute, boyish almost. She would follow the young man's lead about 15ft back enough to keep her eyes on him, but far enough that if something happened the two wouldn't both be caught. Her head always on a swivels as to keep abreast of any hostile targets that may be approaching them. She would then call out "Penny for your thoughts. I know you saw the same thing I did. How does that make you feel" he tone wasn't judgmental simple curious. She would speed getting a little close so they wouldn't have to speak to loud to have conversation. "If you don't want to speak about to one of his grunts at least tell me about why you decided to join up with this expedition?" He should turn her head so her right ear was closer to him it seemed as if she was giving him his good ear. 

[Gangsta Moll Deactivated]

Penny senses the tension between the team: the overbearing military evidently don't rule the roost as much as they think - this Kayla woman obviously has some authority. And where there is tension, there is weakness, and weakness can be exploited.

The tug of the virtual leash is genuinely shocking - her hand goes involuntarily to the collar at her neck - but she spots her opening, exploits it without hesitation. Holding her breath, making choking noises, letting her face redden and her eyes bulge, she clutches at the collar, tearing at it as if it strangles her: letting her eyes go wide, vacant, as she stares into the gaze of the woman. Then she turns, stares at the soldier with a look of searing hate, makes a strangulated noise:

"aarrgghh ... choking ..."

and turns back to the concerned woman, forcing tears from her eyes, pleading in choking sobs:

"h ... help ... help me..."

[DoctoroMindbender]

Mission Specialist Raines fingers dance over the control panel on her arm. She can't override the command signal, at least not quickly, but she can jam it. Even in the far future, radio is still the best means of short range, non-line-of-sight transmissions. The specialized radio equipment in her suit, driven by it's AI agent, pulses signals faster then a human could operate, until it finally finds the correct frequency. The collar doesn't release, but the choking stops, the control system jammed temporarily. That being done, it was now time to confront the Captain. She didn't have authority, not really. The dual chain of command is needlessly complicated, but such is the nature of the bureaucracies that make these joint private/government exploration missions possible. At the end of the day though, she was just a Mission Specialist. However, without Kayla nobody's equipment worked, a fact of which the Captain was already painfully aware. "And" Raines asks "Since when is violating human rights one of your duties? I know the police back home love that little toy of yours, but you're a soldier, not a cop, and pain compliance devices are banned under the Europa Conventions. We here for a mission of peaceful exploration, not armed occupation."

Edited January 4, 2023 by DoctoroMindbender

[Dirtydan]

(Hendrick)

The man would watch as the show women when she would begin to put on very convincing display. It may very well fool some but not him he knew how these collars inside and out he'd simple take a few steps closer to the women and grab thr collar his rough callused gingers would easily slide in the space between the collar and her neck. "Nice try cabin rat, but this collar doesn't need so tight to strangle you just tight enough to keep you from weaseling your head out" he would scoff as he pulled his fingers out of the collar. Hendrick would take another step back and shift his gaze to the area around the pod. The people their working to set out small tents and structures heavy metal boxes brought and set near the vessel. Hendricks men would would begin the process of setting up a fenced perimeter around them. Hendrick may not be 'in charge' but he and his people where the only ones who were allowed to bring weapons. He was would ensure the safety of these people no matter how much it made those around him despise him it was his job after all. 

[Gangsta Moll Deactivated]

Penny struggles to hide the smirk of small victory, especially at seeing the soldier's furious face. This woman is one to latch onto, a protector. Cute too.

[Dirtydan]

(Hendrick)

As specialist Rains would work to jam the signal to the collar Hendrick would let out an exasperated sigh. He reach back into his satchel, he'd hoped it wouldn't have come to this so early but he knew if didn't stamp this out quickly, the integrity of his mission would be in jeopardy. "My duty is solely to protect this mission, and need I remind you Rains we are not bound by any conventions Europa and other wise. I'm disappointed you'd be as blind as to fall for this criminals show" he take a stop closer to her as he looked down her nose to the women. "You've got your mission, and I've got mine, at least with the collar she still free to smell." He turn away as he'd pull a revolver from centuries ago from his satchel. Place into holster on his belt with physical locking mechanism attached. "Your techno bullshit may work on those rifles, but you know it won't on this." He stare down at her his cold eyes dead to this. He'd killed before and if her or this cabin rat weren't careful he'd do it again. 

[DoctoroMindbender]

Kayla is not concerned. She is sure the Captain is a hard man, but they both know that they were being recorded, both by their suits and the survey drone flying silently overhead. Besides, shooting her would render billions of solar credits worth of equipment worthless, which would not please whatever government bean-counter holding Hendrick's leash. Even the top dog, is still just a dog. She also does not want to get into a pissing match. That was one of the reasons she had signed onto this mission in the first place, to start a new chance free of the violence, the petty squabbles back home. So, she does the only reasonable, adult thing, and ignores Hendrick's threat, instead turning to the stowaway, asking in a friendly tone "What's your name?"

[Gangsta Moll Deactivated]

For the first time since boarding the ship, Penny is genuinely frightened. The soldier is so determined, so forthright. And the tension between team members seems to crackle in the air.

Her voice falters:

" I'm... my name is Penny. I was just ..."

despite her fear, she realises the truth - that she was trying to steal from the ship - will not go down well. A crafty look creeps back into her eye:

"I was ... looking ... I am ...I just ..I love space and science and..."

she can't think of any further elaborations to her little construct of lies, but tries on a look of wide eyed nerdy girl innocence...

"I just wanted to see the ship but then the soldiers came and I was ..."

the truth - that she hid, furious at being prevented from thieving - seems again unhelpful so she puts on a tearful, frightened little geeky girl look, manages to express a few tears, and sobs:

"and then I was so scared, and I hid and the ship took off and I'm so frightened and where are we anyway?"

She casts a sly glance at the soldier, sees his steely skepticism, feels his eyes see right through her, decides the charade isn't convincing him at all ... and decides to throw her lot in with the ones wielding the greatest force anyway. A bit of flirting might soften his hard heart, if she plays her cards right, and to be honest the months without sex have been frustrating...

Meekly nodding, wiping away a non-existent tear, she musters a sniffling sob:

" it's OK .... I .. I made a mistake ... I will work to do my best to make up for it..."

and in one final theatric gesture she holds her head high, stands as tall as her petite frame permits, and nods her tear-stained frightened regretful sorry face towards the soldier:

" it's OK, I will go with him"

and her sad doe eyes gaze apologetically towards the soldier in a look of such sad frightened innocent girlish sorrow and need that it would melt a heart of stone - she hopes.

Edited January 4, 2023 by Gangsta Moll

[DoctoroMindbender]

Kayla seethes. This isn't right. And that bastard of a Captain knows it. This isn't over. But she also knows that she can't win here, and now. Instead, she will have to bide her time. She doesn't like politics, but one doesn't survive in academia as long as Raines had without learning how to play the,

However, she will not go quietly. Kayla stands, staring the Captain in the eye. "At least have the docs check her out, Hendrick. She's not going to kill us in the middle of the night while we sleep, but she didn't go through quarantine before boarding so whatever diseases she might of brought with her will. Now, some of us have work to do." She pushes past the captain, jostling his shoulder as she does to register her disagreement with his actions. Close on her heels, the heavy cargo loader, weighted down with gear. Her training in combat and tactics was limited to a women's self defense course she took down at the learning annex, but even she knew not to leave her back exposed.

[Dirtydan]

(Hendrick)

The behemoth of a man would look at the petit women's show wholly unimpressed by the first part. His years of experience told him. knew better to fall for this act of lost and innocent. Though he would let her finish noting the important parts down so he could catch her in lie down the road. When she began to shift her attitude, and show a willingness for the cause he would soften slightly, when she would look up at him he would feel pangs of guilt perhaps he had been to harsh, she was young, naive. Plus she did hold a resemblance to his battle buddy when he served in the war... he missed her. A deep regret would fester before he would quickly stiffel those feelings none of that mattered just the missions success. "You are thin ice Penny, no more mistakes. They have consequences ... for all of us"

 

He would hold his postion as Kayla would shoulder the large man. She could feel the nanites in his shirt harden on impact, giving her a good idea of how his armor function and how she could potentially circumvent it should the need truely arise. He turn to watch before he whistled loudly to her. "The collar, reactivate it. I'll make sure she's checked by medical, and gets the appropriate vaccines. You're right though I doubt this one could kill even if she needed to." It was an order but this time it was less aggressive. It would seem that he would be willing to seed a little ground if that is what mission called for. He needed Kayla, and she needed ... well if not him his men because who knows what this strange new world has in-store for them all.

Hendrick would turn back to Penny his strong hand firmly gripping her shoulder he would guide her would begin to lead her back into the vessel. 

[Cute_Bro]

The young scout at first tried to ignore the comments of the mature sniper, both not to betray another stutter, and more importantly, he didn't want to remember what he saw happening to the stowaway. However, once she got closer and asked a different question, he felt that at that point it would be just rude to not respond. He thought that by answering that question, hopefully she wouldn't press on the first one. "Oh! Well I simply joined because it seemed like my skills would be needed for this mission! A world so large, and undiscovered, it just begs to be mapped out so humans can colonize here! The potential of a new planet for habitation is always something that is dire for us, and I just had to help in any way I can. Besides if you think about-" 

He soon realizes he's rambling on, and quickly cuts short by clearing his throat, and once again tried to swerve the focus, this time from himself to the person travelling with him. "Ahem...well enough about me...I don't believe you've ever told me why you joined? I've never met a sniper before...is there any specific reason as to why you became one? Or why did yo join this expedition?"

[Dirtydan]

(Natalie)

The mature women watch the young man play coy with her first question though that didn't bother her to much she new Hendrick was harsh, perhaps to harsh, but she owed him something dire so she wouldn't protest his actions. She won swivel lightly on her heels changing the rifle from one shoulder to the other. She would reach back and pull her tight pony tail out letting her long almond colored hair fall on her shoulder. She'd reach up and run her free hand through it few time. "Oh how noble you're just trying to help humanity. Though I suppose I should have been more specific, why did you want to be a scout." She'd paste for moment curling her full lips into a smile."Well I've always been a skilled marksman my dad used to take me out to shoot all the time and developed a love for it.i joined this expedition because Hendrick asked me too. He and my daughter used to serve together" he pause and swallow softly once she finished.

[Cute_Bro]

"Oh, I see. So you have always been a marksman, well woman." Wilson answered, his mind going back to the question that was now specified for him. "Why did I want to become a scout? Well, I guess I just liked nature and all of that. I remember as a child I went exploring once and I got lost in the woods. I was running for so long that I eventually lucked my way out back home. Ever since then, I wanted to explore again, but not losing myself, and that is why I joined the boy scouts, and then that eventually took to me joining an expedition scout force, and so on and so forth until I came here!" He smiled, but then he went back on what Natalie said, remembering something. "Wait, your daughter and Captain Hendrick used to serve together? Where is your daughter now? Is she not in the team that came here?"