Multi-Dimensional Merchant System

“So, how is this whole thing going to work, Omi?”

Oliver ignored the occasional odd look thrown his way as the pair strolled along the pathway that lead to Bay 7. As interested as he was in the Rach, their culture, and the Ark in particular, all of that was pushed aside in favor of focusing on the job he was there to do. He had no idea how tough Omi really was, but the fact that the diminutive soldier was injured on one of the salvage runs was enough to convince him to take it seriously.

“Well, while the techs are busy whipping up a proper hazard suit for you, you'll be introduced to the team you will be working with. Then there are the pre-flight checks. After that, we start to salvage operation.” Omi answered with a chuckle, a glint of amusement in his remaining eye.

Oliver shook his head slightly even as he smiled at his interesting new friend. “I was kinda hoping for a little more detail than that... Though, I certainly won't turn down the hazard suit. I'm guessing its to protect me against environmental hazards? Like toxic atmospheres and such?”

“Of course! That's what hazard suits are for, after all.” Omi laughed. “That, and they are reinforced to provide a bit of projection- mainly from lasers and projectiles. They don't do much against blunt weapons, unfortunately.”

Omi's hand twitched towards his eye unconsciously at the reminder of his own injury, but he was quick to shake off the moment. “Each salvage shuttle has a team assigned to it: Two pilots, four apprentice techs, sixteen crew, and four guards. The-”

“Wait!” Oliver interrupted with alarm. “You only have four guards protecting twenty-two people!?”

Omi patted the air reassuringly. “It's not that bad, really. Everyone goes armed with laser pistols. The four guards mainly act as spotters, though they are expected to handle problems themselves if its possible.”

Oliver scowled at the flimsy explanation. “You're sending people into a potentially dangerous operation with only four dedicated guards. Even if you rarely encounter problems, it has happened... And sooner or later things will go wrong, Omi. When it does, it won't matter if the others are armed.”

"Why are your people skimping on guards for something so important?” He semi-accused.

Omi sighed sadly even as he lifted a hand apologetically. “Our people only maintain a small security force... And most of those have never actually faced any sort of violence. Combine that with the fact that we won't force anyone to go on these missions...”

Oliver grunted in annoyance. “So, a lack of qualified volunteers. Do your people not realize the severity of the problems they are facing?

Omi shrugged helplessly. “Most are too young to remember anything other than living here on the Ark. Most are willing to do their part to help out here, but asking them to face an unknown world... Honestly, we're lucky we got enough volunteers for four salvage shuttles to operate.”

Oliver gaped dumbly at the statement. Four salvage shuttles, twenty-six people assigned to each one... Barely over a hundred volunteers, out of a population of a couple million. He could understand the lack of people prepared to face such uncertainty and potential danger, but for so few to even volunteer...

After a moment, he composed himself. He was only here to help with security. Anything beyond that was their business, and he damn sure had no intention of getting caught up in trying to fix it.

“Ok, I get it. You work with what you've got, right Omi?”

“Right.” Omi nodded seriously. “Well, anyway... The pilots stay with the ship, ready to pull everyone out if there are problems. The techs and crew have already been briefed on what sort of salvage we are looking for, so you don't really have to worry about that. You, and the rest of the security, are there to keep an eye out for any dangers- wild beats being the most common, though intelligent creatures are also possible.”

He shrugged slightly. “If anything is hostile, you make a quick assessment and act accordingly. If you can handle it, that is for the best. You can also ask the crew to back you up, but... Considering their lack of experience, the amount of help they can offer is limited.”

“And, of course, if it is too dangerous... The security team can make the call and pull everyone out.”

Omi paused for a moment to organize his thoughts. “Ah, we got a bit ahead of ourselves. While we are waiting for your hazard suit, the pilots and techs will be going over the shuttled to make sure they are prepped for the mission- it's not something you have to worry about, but its part of our procedure.”

“Once everything is ready to go, and we arrive at the planet, you and the crew will be on standby while we launch a shuttle with pilots and a single tech on board.”

Oliver turned a curious eye towards Omi at that. A single tech?

Omi chuckled briefly at the look. “The Ark's sensors are damaged, remember?” A look of understanding cross Oliver's face, and Omi nodded. “Exactly. That shuttle will basically skim the planet's atmosphere, allowing the tech to take some readings using the limited sensors on the shuttle.”

“If the atmosphere is deemed toxic, they will immediately return. If it is safe... First, they will inform us of this finding. Then, they will fully enter the atmosphere and begin a thirty minute 'test'... of sorts...”

Oliver nodded along as he considered the approach. “The test is to see if there is an intelligent species present, right? If they are advanced enough to spot the shuttle, they will either try to communicate or attack... Which would also potentially clue you in to their level of hostility.”

Omi nodded slightly. “Of course, there are any number of ways things could go. Perhaps they are hostile, but not very advanced... Or perhaps they are simply waiting to see what we do before they attack... Or, as has been the case most of the time so far, there is not intelligent life present.”

“There is a great deal of uncertainty.” Omi sighed. “But we need the sensors repaired, otherwise we are blind to whatever catastrophe may befall us.”

The pair walked in silence for a moment, Omi clearly weighed down by the magnitude of their struggle and Oliver simply wondering if they could actually make it- While their survival didn't really affect him much, he admitted to himself that he kinda liked the friendly Rach soldier. It would be a shame if Omi died because the rest of his people were too afraid to step up.

“Assuming no attack occurs,” Omi interrupted their mutual musing to continue his explanation. “the shuttle will return to collect its crew. Once all four shuttles are loaded up, they will head to their assigned quadrants and begin the search. At that point, each shuttle and its crew will operate independently- though they are expected to report in regularly, or when they discover a potential salvage site.”

“From there on, it is up to the boots on the ground to get things done. And, hopefully, return safely.”

“Ah, here we are!” Omi exclaimed as a nondescript door came into view, a simple sign beside it that read 'Bay 7'.

“Well, are you ready to meet the crew? And, of course, to see the salvage shuttle?” Omi let out a soft chuckle as Oliver eagerly sped up.

The Ark, from the inside, just looked like a big, but enclosed, city... Finally getting an up-close look at a real alien spaceship? And getting to fly on it?

Damn straight, Oliver was ready to see the shuttle.