Video 001 | Week 78, Thursday

[sfoils]

[ The speaker looks positively average: brown hair, brown eyes, pale skin. His voice is composed despite the message. ] I am Commander Wedge Antilles of Rogue Squadron. [ He shifts closer into view, wincing in pain. But as quickly as it comes, it goes. He settles his expression back into neutrality. ] I've crash landed here and I'd appreciate help fishing out my snubfighter. Or at least getting my cargo and astromech out of it.

I don't have much in the way of payment, but there's three bottles of my world's best whiskey in there. [ And Kettch, Wedge remembers absentmindedly. ] Oh, and some food rations. [ Wryly. ] Unless you like cardboard, I wouldn't recommend them.

Antilles out. [ And the transmission ends. ]

Comments

Video:

[pepperspray]

Speaking frankly, the snubfighter itself is payment if you're willing to let people study its technology.

[A slender redhaired woman in the sort of clothes that say 'business wear' no matter what galaxy you're in is on the other end, eyeing Wedge with mild surmise and the sort of air of general competence that's similar to that of... well, a lot of the women of his acquaintance, really.]

A water landing's both good and bad. Did you get a sense of how deep it's down there? I haven't had to deal with this sort of recovery on Verdana, but back home my company has had the odd test demonstation go awry before.

( Video )

[sfoils]

[ The picture of competence given by Pepper helps Wedge out. ] Deal. I grew up in shipyards and I've been piloting X-wings for over a decade. I can tell you all about it.

Can't say my sense is accurate, but... [ Too busy trying not to die, and all. ] ...deep enough that the s-foils weren't sticking out of the water despite sinking side-first. The whole thing is 12.5 meters long, and the wings are about the same length.

If you can link to the astromech that's sunk with it, he'll give you more accurate numbers.

Video Forever:

[pepperspray]

You should be able to pull some depth charts from the local library without too much difficulty. If not, the local fishermen could be worth contacting -- they're also likely to be the people that will have the equipment needed for salvage.

[Pepper seems pleased at getting practical answers, even if her expression blanks for a moment at 'astromech' before being supplied with belated memories of Commander Skywalker's robot. She makes a note on a scratchpad, although the angle of the screen obscures what she's writing from clear view.]

I will warn that there are a few locals who are suspicious of outsiders -- there have been a few incidents over the past year, even aside from the whole notion of unkillable visitors from other realities... and I probably should check just how much you've been brought up to speed before dropping sentences like that.

( Video )

[sfoils]

Are those depth charts in datacards?

Don't worry, I'm used to dealing with people who are suspicious of me. [ His dry humor never makes strangers laugh. Still, it helps to joke to keep frustration at bay. Wes is right about that. ]

Unkillable visitors. From other realities. [ Wedge's enunciation should give away that no, he hasn't been brought up to speed. If speed is what we're talking about, he's the speed of sound to a hyperdrive's faster-than-light travel at the moment. ]

[pepperspray]

Ah. [Definitely not up to speed. Pepper is once again reminded of the thought of putting together a user manual for new arrivals... and once again finds herself focusing on the here and now instead.] Well, in that case I'll leave the primer on local data storage to someone else and see what I can do about the more existential questions.

[This raises another question, and she leans forward to peer at him through the video pickup.]

I happen to have a small cafe and bar, if you'd prefer your existential crises to be accompanied by alcohol.

[sfoils]

Alcohol sounds great right about now, [ Wedge winces. ] but I should get this injury looked at first.

I'll definitely take you up on that offer, though. You just made the grave mistake of offering liquor to a Corellian.

[pepperspray]

[Injury? The sigh Pepper vents at hearing about this is a sigh that has been sighed a thousand times before. It is a sigh with nuance.] I suppose I should be glad that you're at least sensible enough to eventually mention you need medical attention, instead of my having to trip over you after you've passed out.

[This is not, by her tone, an example drawn purely at random.]

But come by once you've been cleared and I'll take my chances with my inventory. You're looking for a place called Callahan's, off the centre of town on Market Street.

[sfoils]

What if I told you that crashing and injuring myself are mild in my line of work? [ Pause. Rhetorical. ] You'd still sigh.

Callahan's off the centre of town. Market Street. [ A nod. ] Got it.