| Ghost Ship Hotel |
| Summary: | Wade visits Cidra to discuss the creepy Raiders, conversation moves to the recovered ship and sleeping arrangements are made. |
| Date: | 12 Feb 2042 AE |
| Related Logs: | TBD |
| Players: |
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| CAG's Office |
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| Though it's not much bigger than the average ship supply closet, the office of the commander of Cerberus' air group has as much luxury as one can hope for aboard a battlestar: privacy. It is dominated by a blocky gray metal desk straight out of standard Navy supply with an equally standard-issue rolling chair behind it. A few other chairs are shoved against one wall, for those who drop by for whatever business they have with the CAG. The surface of the desk is covered by a computer and stacks of files and octagonal papers covering whatever bit of aerial bureaucracy she's mussing with that day. A few heavy books on air mechanics - mostly devoted to Raptors - occupy the shelves. |
| The room is largely devoid of decoration, save one item hanging on a hook on the shelf direct above her desk: a set of prayer beads, well-worn olive wood and strung with a single, crudely-carved owl charm. |
| Post-Holocaust Day: #351 |
Cidra showered after the latest attack but she took little time to do much else. She's in her office now, sorting through casualty reports, repair logs, the paper remnants of the last few days of sausage making. Frown on her face, cigarette between her lips. Her hatch is slightly ajar.
Wade did take a shower as well, and made a small visit to Sickbay, just to run a checkup. Green light was given to him, so he doesn't have to be grounded or anything like that. However, there is something that is troubling Wade quite a bit and he makes his way into the CAG's office to discuss matters with Cidra. Well, he doesn't step /inside/ he stands at the door, knocks and waits there.
Cidra's cloudy blue eyes tick up at Wade. "Ah. Drips." She doesn't sound displeased to see him. "Come in, please." Her office is still far more bare than it was before the fires swept Deck 10 during the attack over Tauron. Her old books, papers files, and even the heavy old owl carving that was situated above her deck gone. Her prayer beads hang in place of the latter now, with the little owl charm that's strung on them hanging down just over her head. It doesn't quite have the ominously watching quality of the larger carving, but it'll do.
Wade nods to the woman and steps inside, offering a salute to her "Major" As he approaches her desk, he looks around the room, taking all the details in. Now, he clears his throat and nods "I apologize if this is a bad moment. There is something that has been bugging me since Hosedown's accident and after today, I find the need to see you, to discuss this matter." He looks around the office for another moment and pays special attention to the prayer beads "These Raiders, they started appearing after we got that ship aboard Cerberus." He nods again and adds "I wouldn't be surprised if you tell me that someone has brought this concern to you before, but… They appear out of nowhere, everywhere we go…they are clearly aware of our coordinates every time we reach a new spot. This ship…." He takes a deep breath "Is this ship being scanned for trackers? On all frequencies? Maybe the ships own distress beacon, all ships have one."
Cidra acknowledges the salute and sits. "Clearly aware?" The observation is repeated. "Do you think thus? All these encounters have begun with a pair of Raiders jumping in like scouts, *followed* by others in the swarm. If they had a firm bead on our position, why pursue us thus, giving us this warning? Why, further more, not come in on us with basestars, in proper strength?" A quick drag is taken. "This all speaks to me more akin of hunting than tracking. But beyond that your reasoning is sound. It occurred to the chief engineer, actually. He has been all over that ship since after the first attack for tracking devices, and found no trace of them. The technology aboard that item is dead, and there is no sign he can find that it has been tampered with by other forces."
Wade nods to Cidra "Well, agreed that their methods are…well…odd. Like you said, two scouts and then the rest of the pack. But these are the same kind of Raiders, the ones with the marks" he rubs his fingers over his chin "I don't know, they are" Beat "different." He nods at the fact that the ChEng thought about this "Good, good. So everything dead you say?" He takes a deep breath and shakes his head "I don't mean to present crazy theories but, I don't know…it's like they are following us, always the same type of Raider, always within the first 24 hours of the jump…more or less."
"They are very specific in their markings, that is true," Cidra says. "But no, Duncan, I think you are correct in thinking along those lines. I have myself, as has Captain Makinen. The fact is there is little evidence to suggest the ship we retrieved is doing *anything* beyond sitting in our starboard hangar. And yet the timing…well, it is extraordinary. The whole matter of that ship is extraordinary." She reaches up, idly plucking her prayer beads off the hook they hang on and fingering them. "And it is like they are following us. Hunting us. There are millions of Raiders. If they wanted to search the far corners of space, they have the people to do it. The question is why have they let us alone so long, and why pursue us now with such vigor? And perhaps that ship is the answer to that in part…"
Wade stays in silence, listening to the woman as she speaks. He sits on the edge of her desk and immediately stands up again "Sorry." Now, he takes a seat on a chair and nods "I agree that finding a ship like that is…simply remarkable and it could really mean an opportunity for us, to find…something. "Yes, but what bother's me most is that they are always the same Raiders. Well, at least all wearing those marks. That's a new, Toast. I never seen anything like that. And they are never followed by Basestars…and it makes me wonder. Should they be? I mean, perhaps we are looking at something a little more different than we first thought, because of the marks. We haven't seen any other regular Raiders, nor basestars…nothing, just these group." He takes another deep breath and leans his back against the chair "Radioactive signals? It's certainly not a difficult thing to have a ghost beacon signal. And who knows, their technology is so old that…" he shrugs at this "I know you said that nothing was found, but I agree with you, there's definitely something with that ship."
Cidra gives her head a slight shake when Wade mentions radioactive signals. "I am told every possible angle has been checked. Engineering is engaged in a full search of the ship right now, but from all reports it is absolutely dead, inside and out. And yet, I do wonder about it." A pause and Cidra says, "Do you meditate, Duncan?"
Wade nods in silence "I specialized in Engines, Aerospace Engineering. I am tempted to take a look but I don't want to step in anyone's toes and make people think I don't want to make people think I don't trust them." He nods to this and looks down for a few seconds, looking back to Cidra again "Meditate?" he thinks for a moment and says "Well, lately I've been finding my mind clouded with different thoughts, so it's hard to get a clear mind but yes, I've done it and sometimes I try to get some time to just..be by myself and, medidate"
"I was never very good at it," Cidra says. "Among the order of Athena I contemplated joining, there are priestesses who spend *months* in meditation. Sitting in a holy place, taking little but water and basic sustenance just…thinking, in silence. I never had the patience." A shrug-like flit of her fingertips. "But it can help center the mind. I intend to spend night, this night, in the ancient ship. Sleep there. They are allowing people into the 'entry' area of it. I am given to wonder what dreams it shall bring. And I…I am drawn to the place, Drips. I admit this. It is closer to the hangar proper than the berths, so I shall be ready if called. I just…I do think there may be a connection, perhaps an important one, but part of me doubts it is as simple as a beacon." A pause. "Would you care to join me?"
Wade smiles a little at Cidra's first words "I think that is the case for a lot of us…" he nods to that, still offering a soft smile "It's a matter of discipline, I think, of…self imposed discipline." he nods to this and then goes silent again, listening to her words "You will sleep in the ship?" Wade asks now, tilting his head to the side a little "I think it has a heavy religious significance, and I think it holds something, I don't what but it has something in particular…" He rubs his fingers over his eyes and then hears her last question "In the ship?" after asking this, he nods in silence, once…nods again a second after and he says "Yes. Yes, I would join you." he takes a deep breath now "Dreams" the word brings a lot of memories to him "We know dreams can bring important messages, I agree"
Cidra smiles slightly at Wade. There's a note of gratitude in it. "You are more blessed than I, Wade Duncan. The gods have never touched my mind in that manner. But I do think there is something…sacred there. I would surround myself with it." She takes a final puff on her near-smoked cigarette, then puts it out. "Is there anything further? If not I should finish going through this mess. And then…barring more contacts, gods forfend, see what dreams may come in that ancient thing."
Wade smiles at Cidra's first comment and he takes a deep breath "I don't know if I should call myself, blessed" offers the man with a little smile "But, I think that dream meant something and it's something we need to pay attention and give importance too." He nods to this and adds "I will gladly join you, Toast" Now, he shakes his head and says "No, that would be all…I wanted to talk to you about this concern, I'm glad you see it as a possibility." He stands up and looks at said mess, paperwork. "I shall be close to where the ship is"
"I shall see you later," Cidra says simply, letting him go at that. She retains her seat, sighing heavy as she goes over the repair logs. This is all taking its tole on the planes even faster than the personnel.