Previously: Menagerie: Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive and Duck
The screen flashed, went blank, star charts flashed onto the screen and then the stars returned as the Iron Hide II came out of the jump. Everyone on the bridge reached for something to hold onto; recovery from a fast jump was always disorienting. One by one each individual started looking at the others. Then smiles and then laughter.
Moe was high-fiving everyone from Liishi to Tariq. Tariq gave a well done nod to Moe and a “see what we did” nod to Liishi. The com crackled to life.
“Did we do it,” Hobbs com-distorted voice asked?
“Tell the Captain, not to do that anytime soon,” Bilabo shouted!
“Shut up! Your precious engine is fine,” Hobbs shouted at Bilabo, “Captain I’m returning to the bridge.”
“Meet us in the galley,” Tariq responded.
“Will do,” Hobbs said then the com went silent.
“I’m hungry,” Tariq said to Moe and Liishi, “Let’s go get some food.”
“Sounds good,” Moe and Lisshi said at the same time. Smiles broke out on both their faces as they filed out of the bridge to the galley.
****
A cramped space was normally how any of the crew would describe the galley, now with the entire crew plus passengers in the galley cramped wasn’t adequate. In the center of the galley was a table with enough seats for six, all of which were filled. Tariq sat at one end of the table, with Moe and Hobbs on either side of the table next to him. W.B. was sitting next to Hobbs and Liishi was sitting next to Moe. Bilabo was sitting at the opposite end of the table. The weasels were lurking behind Bilabo in the corners of the galley, however given the over crowded space they looked more like they had been plastered there against the bulkhead by the sheer mass of everyone else.
The table was loaded down with quick and ready food. Lots of plastic containers filled with food that in any other situation wouldn’t be called food unless you were desperate or in a war zone. Despite the look and nature of the food, everyone had a plate and was chowing down with gusto.
“Alright, now that everyone has gotten some food in us, time for a status update,” Tariq began.
The weasels immediately perked up and leaned in closer to the table. Bilabo, slid his chair closer to W.B.
“What happened,” the weasel with the hat asked and sneered at the same time? He had a way of speaking that made everything sound like you did something wrong and that he was trying to sell you something.
Bilabo gave Hobbs, his “see what I was talking about,” look. Hobbs barely looked back at Bilabo. Liishi saw the exchange and made a note to see what that was about.
“When this meeting is over, do you want to do some target shooting,” W.B. quietly asked Hobbs.
“Definitely,” Hobbs said a bit too loudly because Tariq shot him a glance.
“For those not on the bridge, we encountered the Majestic a cargo hauler that had recently been attacked,” Tariq started. “Unfortunately,” Tariq glanced at Hobbs, ”before we could get close Harcon’s ship jumped in.”
“Harcon,” said the weasel?
“Sorry,” Tariq replied, “A Feyeed ship commander apparently on patrol in this sector.”
“The law,” hissed the other weasel.
“He wanted to board us. Since we have a place to be, I ordered the emergency jump,” Tariq continued, “So…”
“This is ship is wanted by the law,” asked and accused the weasel in the hat?
“Probably,” Moe responded.
“What next Captain,” Liishi asked?
“Next is we get back on course and get you to your meeting, early,” Tariq responded.
“What about us,” the hatted weasel blurted out, “won’t we be wanted as part of your crew?”
The other weasel smirked when the hatted weasel said “wanted.”
“No, I will take care of that at the next port we stop in,” Tariq replied, “if there are no other concerns go back to what you were doing.”
Some more food was eaten and then individuals filed out of the galley.
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