"So I respond by asking the guy whether he’s spoken to the fossil as of late, and he actually had the gall to say they spoke just last week. So I tell him, ‘If that’s true, who the fuck did we bury five months ago?’ Dude gawks as me like I'm the one that killed him."
A group consisting of a pair of security officers and one engineer erupted in a mix of laughs and disgruntled sighs.
"What was the guy's plan? Hope you weren’t close?”
"I'm not even the sole shareholder. My brother owns half of it, go test his patience with this crap!"
"Dipshits probably not even a manager."
Lux reached over and plucked a hair off her irate friend’s over-sized jacket.
"Venues always looking for talent by the way, feel free to disseminate."
Off the top of her head Lux couldn't think of anyone that would qualify. She tossed Tristler's half carton of smokes up and down in one hand as she tried to recall who'd been with her at the last karaoke joint.
“Pffft. Unless one of you is holding out on us, I doubt anyone with that kind of talent would be in the LCF.”
With departure roughly twenty minutes away, Lux and two close colleagues had convened to kill time. Well, the other two were killing time, Lux got stuck with security screening after losing a round rock paper scissors. It was as the three socialized that Lux happened to spot a figure she didn't recognize exiting the station. Only to be stopped by Flannery.
Speaking of, running into Flannery again had been a pleasant surprise. To her understanding the woman had recently entered her notice period. A product of her engagement from what she’d heard. As to why it was a surprise, personnel entering their notice period typically avoided field service outright or took jobs inside Upper Luridia where visits were far less likely. And with Flan's resume no one would have complained or thought any less of her for it. It had been the first thing Lux asked her mentor's younger sister.
Apparently some higher ups in the Council of Trade and Commerce, the council responsible for overseeing the LCF, requested her by name when it was determined multiple convoys with sensitive regional and political implications were on the horizon. Not unlike her own reason for being here. But after hearing the abridged version of the manifest from Cade earlier, this convoy fit certainly that description. And while Flannery couldn't explicitly state how much she'd been offered; it would have taken a considerable amount to justify a job of this caliber so close to dismissal.
Lux watched the younger sister as she set the new arrival free in favor of berating the overdue CC. Convoy Commander Heenan by the looks of it. They could do worse, which meant they could also do better. Suspicious that someone so uptight would show up this close to departure though. Whatever the reason he didn't look upset or show any hints of urgency as he strode across the grounds toward the command Crusader, tongue lashing from Flannery notwithstanding.
"I think well manage with those two in charge."
[Evan Browder, 20, Security Division]
"Sure about that Ev, Heenan’s not exactly the sympathetic type. Might rile up the civilian's hell bent on causing delays."
[Tesra Eaves, 25, Engineering Division]
"Assuming we even encounter any, you really think they'll venture outside the safety of the city."
"I think it entirely possible that they’d resort to such measures."
The three shifted their attention to the sudden arrival, all of them scanning their respective databases for a name to match the face in front of them. Sensing the confusion, the girl offered a proper introduction.
“Esma Villard, Communications Officer for Crusader C248. And this is my first-time joining the field so I find it unlikely any of you will have made my acquaintance."
[Esma Villard, 19, Communications Division]
The self-proclaimed new girl had a long brunette curtain of hair that fell past her shoulders, acting like a backdrop for the profile of her fair face. A pair of inquisitive emerald green eyes staring back at them from said face. Build wise she was a little taller than Lux but more slender, evident from her upright posture. But despite a willingness to cut into a conversation full of people she wasn't acquainted with, didn't seem to exude the energy of a confident person. Her movements being decisive but not very graceful, almost like she was cautious of her every move. Another glance at her eyes offered reassurances however, for they exhibited a steadiness even as they clashed with Lux’s own sky-blues.
When had that happened? Evan had been the one she'd responded to and yet their gazes had locked at some point. It didn't feel like a challenge per se, more like she was being asked a silent question. The other two present also noticed this but chose against drawing attention to it. Instead Evan opted to carry on the impromptu conversation.
"Care to elaborate on your theory rookie?"
There was no hint of sarcasm or ridicule in Evan’s request to the new CO. She was sincere in her intentions on the subject.
"My basis for civilians involving themselves directly isn’t substantial enough to warrant a theory I’m afraid. But it’s safer to assume that there will always be people desperate enough to partake in foolish endeavors for the purpose of maintaining a life trajectory they’re familiar with. I find it hard to believe raiding parties won’t take advantage of that. If they can convince civilians to ride along, take matters into their own hands so to speak, then they’ve got themselves deterrents for the use of deadly force."
The trio fell silent. Not because the idea scared them, but because they weren’t expecting such an informed response from someone who’d be stepping on a Crusader for the first time in a matter of minutes.
"Someone drank their coffee this morning!"
Evan playfully elbowed Esma, Tesra offering a small clap for such a well-worded explanation. For her part Lux reflected on the fact she’d arrived at a similar scenario back in the locker room, with the influence of Cade that is. Those two would get along. Enough to annoy Cade at least, ever insistent on avoiding connections.
"Try and save some of those juices for later though, shaping up to be a long day.”
Evan readjusted the strap of her rifle over her bulky jacket before turning away and heading up the cargo bay ramp. Tesra offered her own words of advice prior to leaving, her assigned Crusader being further up the line.
“Don’t hesitate to run to the bathroom one last time! Onboard options aren’t desirable!”
Esma nodded after the two women and returned her attention to Lux.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
"I was told I’d need to be checked for contraband before boarding."
"Why? You rolling dirty?"
Lux couldn't keep the smirk from her face, especially when the brunette seemed to mull her jest over seriously.
"Not in the slightest, don't have much on me aside from the necessities.”
Lux continued playing the skeptic, making Esma feel the need to explain herself.
“I was told traveling light would be best."
“Heard that one before.”
Lux motioned for Esma to step forward and hold her arms out to the side, she proceeded to pat the rookie down with the practiced scrutiny of any routine boarding check. Back to front, up to down, etc. To no surprise she came up clean.
“Dig the uniform combination by the way, not bad for a first timer.”
“Oh. That’s...reassuring, I suppose.”
The sun-kissed blonde looked quite sharp herself, sporting a cropped bisque colored jacket that was rolled up at the sleeves. Underneath a black compression shirt highlighted her impressive physique and continued down to a pair of light brown tactical pants and black boots.
“Feel free to give some of our less savvy crew members tips. They’ll love it, trust me.”
“Noted. I look forward to working together Lux Ayfer.”
So she’d deduced which security officer she was, not bad. Not a herculean feat by any means, but proof she’d familiarized herself with the manifest. That alone would have left her with a fifty-fifty chance of guessing correctly. Most likely she’d overheard Tess calling Ev’s name when she approached. Regardless, it was nice knowing she might have someone else to bother about manifest details in the future. For days when Cade was grumpier than normal.
“Likewise.”
Shooing her onboard, Lux counted up the number of crew present and accounted for. Satisfied everyone had reported, she flashed the waiting station staff a thumbs up before heading up the cargo ramp herself. The staff member lifted the ramp and walked it forward, sliding it back underneath the rear of the Crusader. He followed up by using a pole to pull the cargo bay’s shutter door down and closed each of the slide bolt latches. The finishing touch being a set of four heavy-duty locks that only the pilot of each Crusader held a copy of the key for.
Station staff cleared the grounds and after a few baton signals from each of the dock agents a confirmation whistle rang out announcing that the convoy was ready to depart. Each of the Communication Officers promptly set their watches.
At 0831 hours, a four Crusader convoy transporting Cinnabark departs Station Rouad along route 37. The destination, Station Belveer. Located in the Commonwealth’s youngest city-state of New Kantler.
*
Crusaders as they are known today, first came to fruition during the latter half of the First Crusade as a potential solution for the transport of both troops and ordinance across an impossibly long war front. Debates still rage among historians over which of the three warring nations were first to bring the land cruisers into fruition. The creator's heritage, much like themselves, lost to the madness of war. What is known however, is that these cruisers were never intended to be used as war machines. This much was confirmed by the lack of armaments and shielding found in copies of the original designs.
According to a theory put forth by renowned historian and engineer Eu-Leon Basel, the creator of the original designs likely attributed the onset of war with a lack of proper communication between nations steeped in their respective cultures. To combat this divide they created vehicles capable of connecting these isolated worlds, encouraging the exchange of goods and ideas on a larger scale. “A more connected world would be a more understanding one,” or so the saying goes.
Unfortunately for Basel, this theory would slowly fall out of favor in large part due to the timing in which the designs first gained prominence. If the creator's goal had in fact been peace and unity between nations, why unveil plans for the machine during a period when they would undoubtedly be repurposed into a means for extending the reach of war. In other words, they’d come along too soon. Or perhaps not soon enough.
Regardless of its origin the first Crusaders were far from a finished product. The first iteration, dubbed the Class 1 Crusader, possessed a fatal flaw relating to its experimental aeriform engine. For whenever cruisers passed a certain threshold of operating speed and output, the engine and by association the Crusader itself became prone to momentary ignition. The ignition of the aeriform engine’s working fluid resulting in a powerful detonation. Upon learning of this fatal defect rather than limit the usage and overall output of Crusaders, commanders boiled the detonation conditions down to a science and used them as bombs to create openings in enemy lines or take out artillery positions. A brutal tactic that remained prevalent for the remainder of the First Crusade.
This class of Crusader remained in widespread use all the way through the peace period and minor exodus. But as the likelihood of a Second Crusade loomed on the horizon, the surviving nations began to explore creating a second iteration capable of surpassing the first. In an unusual move, engineers and scientists from the two most dominant nations reportedly collaborated on a new class of Crusader that moved away from the use of the aeriform engine design. The results were reportedly catastrophic, although no clear insights regarding the supposed collaboration were ever made official.
Both nations actually went on to deny rumors they’d worked together at all and claimed the reports of a failed Crusader class were obvious propaganda attempts to belittle their nation’s engineering acumen. It should be noted that reports of espionage were also rampant at the time, only bringing these rumors further into question.
Whether or not the collaboration was true, one or both nations did at least attempt a new class of Crusader at one point or another. As although many years had passed, a copy of the next known Crusader class, orchestrated by engineer Rams Morden, was found in his home after his passing.
Specifically the blueprints for a reworked version of the original aeriform engine, titled "Class 3 Crusader Engine." This implied a Class 2 Crusader had been designed and possibly tested at some point in the years since the first, yet no such schematic or designs for this second class of Crusader have ever been found.
This third class of Crusader would later be introduced during the midst of the Second Crusade as a far more efficient iteration of the first that notably didn't explode when pushed beyond a certain threshold. All thanks to a series of safety adjustments made by Morden to the engine.
Following the end of Second Crusade and the consequent major exodus, the Class 3 Crusader was repurposed to meet the transportation needs of goods and resources. To this day serving as the backbone of the Luridian Convoy Federation some sixty-four years later.
While there is no known Class 4 Crusader in the works, many changes have been made to the Class 3 to better accommodate its new purpose as a delivery agent. For example; while the threat of boarding remains, a lack of impending artillery fire meant a move away from the application of heavy armor and mounted gun turrets. Their removal significantly reducing the operating weight of Crusaders, making them far more efficient and less prone to engine strain. The welcome change also allowed for more overall square footage onboard, giving way to further innovations. Some of them being the following.
The aeriform engine responsible for running these mechanical beasts was allotted enough space to justify its own room for the safer housing of components. The previously mentioned drop in operating weight coincided with an increase in each Crusaders dimensional weight and therefore potential profit margins. And finally, engineers looked for ways to improve the maneuverability and safety of onboard personnel. Bringing us to the modern layout of a Class 3 Crusader.
The modern Crusader consists of two levels, the lower of which accommodating the cargo bay and engine room respectively. A T-shaped corridor connecting the two with either side of the T branching off to a pair of open-air platforms. These platforms connect the lower and upper levels by way of metal stairs, with the only other method for reaching the upper level being a ladder way large enough for a single person to pass through at a time. Positioned in the corridor forming the base of the T, just beyond the cargo bay.
However, neither staircase leads to the entirety of the upper level. Both instead leading to the front deck which is strategically separate from the back deck. The reason being the back deck is the only way to gain entry into the bridge of the Crusader. And the only way of reaching the back deck? The aforementioned single person ladder.
In other words, enemy combatants who've succeeded in boarding still have limited means of taking the bridge, while also providing security personnel with viable choke points to fall back to. Should the bridge fall there are still methods for retaining some form of control over the Crusader, at least until an attempt at regaining control can be organized and carried out. This method of retaining control is based on an understanding that the crew still holds the engine room, which can only be locked and unlocked from the inside. This method is considered risky, and whether it's utilized comes down to a judgement call from the acting Convoy Commander or if necessary senior engineer onboard.
In terms of general safety both upper and lower levels are equipped with multiple tethering points, coupled with railing serve to improve stability and lessen the chances of being ejected from a moving Crusader.
For more information regarding the makeup and operational procedures of a modern Crusader, please consult the LCF's Class 3 Crusader Manuel located in the bridge.