RAC IC for The Warrant

All right, folks, we got Apollo, big nasty threat that he is! Well done. Top notch.

Now how about we do something about that missing ship and crew whose captain's grave is probably somewhere out in space missing vital organs?

I mean, we can spare three ships to Venus, but one of our own is missing and we're like, nahhh, that's fine.

Sending a great message, HQ.

[...] I still don't feel like he's gone.

TEXT; ELYSIAN
[1] Hey

TEXT; CASTOR
[1] How are you doing, cap?
[2] Fine is not an acceptable answer.

TEXT; LEA
[1] So, Apollo capture
[2] You doing ok? Didn't Ren shoot that-

TEXT; JUDE
[1] 30 suits you
[2] Have you decided what you want?
[3] Otherwise this is going to be a continuously delayed present.

[TO] "Raggity Taggity"
[FROM] "Kirby"

[1/1] OMG OUR CHILD IS WALKING AND WOBBLING ABOUT YOU NEED TO COME SEE THIS RIGHT NOW DAD

[TO] "Captain Lineface Fantastic"
[FROM] "Kirby"

[1/1] The kitten is walking around and getting its idea of balance if you feel like coming to have a look? Thank you for letting me keep him again.

B52.

I can't give any excuses about this morning. They're tacky, unfair, and without meaning to, I've dragged all of you into my personal business. And I don't know if there are enough ways to express how sorry I am about that. I don't think there's anything that I could do, as your captain, to make up for risking your safety.

Last month, my father walked back into my life after a decade and a half. His name is Samuel Drake. He's ex-Europa ISSP, not only because he abused his position, his privilege, and his gun, but because I was the one who put him in jail and cost him his badge and reputation. Back then, I was Markus Drake. But I didn't think that after all this time looking over my shoulder, expecting him to be there, he would leave me bleeding in a stairwell.

I'm telling you this because right now, I owe you transparency. Now I have to tell you that because you're my crew, because you mean everything something to me, that there's a chance you might be in danger. He would hurt you to get to me. It's how he was then; it's how he still is now.

I know that none of you asked or signed up for this. Never, not ever would I willingly risk your safety for anything, and I'll fight to my last fucking breath to keep you from paying for my mistakes. For a couple days, I'm going to ask that you don't bring anyone on board who you don't run by me first. We might not even be docked for much longer, but we can't take any chances.

Whatever happens, between my father and whatever else is out there, I'm still your captain. They'll have to go through me first.

[CAPTAINS]

You know, most of the time, being a captain is a challenging but rewarding experience. Making decisions, guiding missions, protecting your crew, delegating, these are all wonderful parts of being a captain and remind me why I love this job.

And then there are times when I am reminded that becoming a captain is among the many reasons why I never had children. If anyone would like to join me for a drink, or just unload some of the burden of the wondrous joys of captaincy...

While we're still grounded, does anyone have any suggestions for things to do on Ganymede that are quiet, calm activities? I'm not looking for bars or the beach, just something off-ship, maybe try to get some vitamin D. Which is a good reminder for everyone who has spent too much time on their ships: please try to either take supplements or spend a day outside, so you can get some actual sun on your skin.

I don't think we've ever been grounded this long on Ganymede without a job lined up, honestly. I hope everyone is staying out of trouble.

[CASTOR]

See, I'm going to go out and do something instead of hovering. Did you sleep any better last night?

[SAWYER]

I haven't checked in with you lately, honey, and I feel like I haven't seen you at all since Castor got discharged. Did you ever sort things out with your [...] beau? friend? engineer?

[JUDE]

How's your hand?

[MEDICS]

Has anyone heard if there's any news about Mara, yet?

Um, so I kind of went a little crazy on the stress baking thing if anyone wants to grab something? I made banana bread, carrot cake, apple carrot cupcakes, brownies, pumpkin cupcakes (these are gluten free!), chocolate mint cupcakes, red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, cranberry nut bread, and I'm just finishing off some pies and some no bake slices.

Can deliver to the hospital! And don't worry, Captain, apart from some of the flour and a couple of cans of apples, all of this came out of my own pocket.

B52.

wasn't looking forward to the first thing that i said to you all in a week being what just got splashed all over the network, but there it is. what happened on pluto is real, and i don't expect anyone to process that easily. knowing and keeping it from you guys wasn't my decision. HQ's orders.

i'm not going to sugarcoat it: there's a good chance at least some of them aren't happy with us. we've put some of them away. us killjoys have taken out their friends and partners. i won't tell you that there isn't a target on our backs, because there could be. i won't tell you the outlook is anything better than bleak.

what i need you all to know is that more than ever, we have to look out for each other. the RAC was never a safe place to begin with; you all learned that eventually through bruises, scars and broken bones. i have a list of all escaped prisoners if you need to flag me about someone important. so far, at least three of them were ours. i'll [......] ireland, might need you to comb through the rest of the list for me with killian. he has all our past reports.

as for what happened last week, [.............] there's a long history behind that that i can't tell you in full right now, [.....] but i will when the time is right. until then, if anyone gives you trouble or you feel unsafe for even a second, let me or someone know. i don't care when, or why, or how. wake me up in the middle of the night if you have to. i'm here and i'm not going anywhere.

HECTOR.

[......] i was probably fucking incoherent when you last came by. sorry.

* he's being discharged from ICU as of this post, but he'll be back on board in a few days!

[TO] "Castor"
[FROM] "Kirby"

[1/1] My ex lost an eye during the bounty. I'm in a taxi. I don't know whether I should request time off or not yet. Sorry.

[TO] kstracke@rac.net
[FROM] kcopeland@rac.net

Hi. How's my leave looking?