Scorch felt the Glain-Neidr accelerate into Interstellar travel as he walked to the bombing bay. He couldn't help but run the situation through his mind again and again. The death of that ninja couldn't have come at a better time, Scorch thought. Regardless of what that fool Roam said, I'm sure the other captains are feeling shook up about the sudden loss of a ship, especially at the hands of the Valiant. If no one suspected Roam's capacity for betrayal, I'm sure they do now. Scorch paused as two technicians exited the bombing bay, both of whom fell silent as they noticed their captain waiting outside.
"Is she still in there?" Scorch asked aloud.
"She?" one of the technicians asked. "Oh, you mean Ms. Burdon. Yes, she's still making some last-minute adjustments, Captain."
"Good," said Scorch. "As you were, gentlemen."
The technicians remained silent as Scorch walked past them into the bombing bay. The large steel door closing off the bay from the rest of the ship opened as Scorch approached it, not needing an access code from the ship's captain. Scorch stepped into the bay and looked around. He caught site of Sydney's rear as she was waist-deep in a firing tube. As he stepped away from the door, it slowly closed and sealed magnetically.
"How are the adjustments coming along?" Scorch called to Sydney.
Even from across the room, Scorch heard her head hit the inner wall of the tube before she pulled herself out from it. She had some lubricant smudged against her cheeks and chin, but it didn't seem to faze her.
"Well, aside from killing a few brain cells just now, I think I'm finished," Sydney said as she rubbed the back of her head. "What can I do for you, Captain?"
"I'm in need of some adjustments," said Scorch. "But you knew that already, didn't you?"
Sydney nodded. "Yes, Captain. If you kept as close an eye on my recommended maintenance schedule as you do with everything else your ship and crew involves themselves in, you'd see that you're about a week overdue for a check-up." Sydney motioned to Scorch's legs. "Let me guess, your knees finally started to act up?"
"Finally?"
"Of course. Your knees have been making dreadful noises lately; I'm surprised they're just now affecting you, Captain."
Scorch chuckled in spite of himself. "You would notice that, huh?" Scorch cleared his throat. "Next time you notice these things, let me know. You're not of much use to me if you can't do even that."
"Understood," Sydney said, even-toned as ever. "Surely you don't want me to fix you up here."
"Don't be foolish. We'll return to your lab to do the maintenance." Scorch adjusted his shoulders slightly. "As well as another upgrade and CAS rotation."
Sydney nodded and stepped toward and past her captain, grabbing her toolkit on the way out of the bay. "Come on, your legs aren't broken yet," she said.
Scorch paused. "You aren't allowed to be so disrespectful to your Captain, Sydney."
"True, but you aren't allowed to ignore your doctor's orders either, Captain."
"Fine, I get it," said Scorch. "Just don't go too far. I can barely tolerate Destiny at her best. Speaking of..." Scorch stepped to a control panel and connected to the bridge. "Bridge, this is your captain speaking. I assume we're in Interstellar Travel now?"
"Yes, Captain. The entire convoy is flying in the same space, just as the Valiant ordered," said Claud.
"Just as Captain Scorch ordered," Destiny added.
"What's our position in relation to the Valiant?" asked Scorch.
"Starboard side, Captain," said Claud.
Scorch paused for a moment. If we stay here, we're in a bad place should Roam decide we've stolen something as well. Normally, moving to the front of the ship would be a death sentence, but being in Interstellar travel, it's the best place to be since any shots fired would just hit the attacking ship and would make the ship a sitting duck otherwise. Still, Roam will probably throw a tantrum if we break formation... which after the last incident, would only make him look worse.
Scorch grinned and spoke firmly into the intercom. "Destiny, I want you to move the Glain-Neidr to the Valiant's bow and hold the position. Claud, be on your wits regarding incoming transmissions from the Valiant and do what you can to push both sides of our conversation through static channels to the other ships. If Roam says something gauche, I want the entire convoy to hear it. Understood?"
"Yes, Captain," said Claud and Destiny in unison.
"Excellent. Scorch, out." said Scorch before closing off communications. "Now, let's get to those repairs, Sydney."
