[Makes-Eternal-Everlasting]

[/You are sure you want to do this ?/] Came the monotone voice of Madromas in her head. [/Subjecting a non Vedic native to Fijitian drink may be fatal/] the Ancilla was weighing the odds of Jakes survivial. After seeing what her snow leopard was thinking Madromas was having secondary thought patterns.

'Relax; Its just one tavern at the Port on the Captial, what could go wrong ? If he bites, he bites, if not, then he's gonna suffer with the really weak stuff these people make.' the Snow Leopard woman replied. She turned to James, who sat not far away, having finisihed her really weak beer the man brought with him she wondered something aloud. "I wonder how a human could react to Fijitian drink....." It was mostly a thought that could get him hooked sure, but she was really wodering if she could show off her drunken piloting skills as well. Since the group of humans did get a friendship with the Fijitians for aid, weapons, some technology, even some small patrol ships. Each had a translight engine on them as well!

All she had to do was get these humans wanting Fijitian drinks in order to get them to the capital. Once at the port they'd be redirected to the Tavern. It was that simple, not only could she show off her advanced world, but also treat her newfound friends to some really killer drinks. She just hoped her friends wouldn't keel over after trying them.

[James Calmara]

Calmara had always equated advancement and progress with sobber and serious. Which is why, when Makes had suggested that Fitijian had beverages of an alcoholic nature, Calmara had to take her up on the offer of trying them in exchange for some earth drinks. In the name of exploration and cooperation of course.

He had of course opened with a bottle or two of beer, not a particularly strong one either, his tactic was to allow her to get complacent or cocky. Then bring in the harder stuff gradually.

The thought from the Fitijian pilot ran across his own, this Calmara always found odd. He expected it now, but it was still odd. "Well im game to try, hit me with what you got and lets see what happens." He answered vocaly with a grin as swivled on the stool to face Makes.

[Makes-Eternal-Everlasting]

Makes half smiled, though on the face of a snow leopard it was more like a half snarl, showing razor sharp teeth and all. Though she was not mad at any point, just smiling, or attempting to do so. "You really think so ?"

[/I think he has a death wish. You've no idea how a non vedic natic could react to Fijitia food and drink/] Madromas warned.

'Just because we eat our meat raw does not mean this guy can't stomach it' Makes replied.

[/Fine, I'll alert the Healers should we have need of them/] Madromas seemed to withdraw from the Snow Leopard's mind.

Makes' eyes seemed to lose focus when she spoke to Madromas on the mental connection. But when she refocused, she remembered that some of the Vedic Expidition had met Madromas rather briefly when she first arrived several weeks before. Since then her fighter had been repaired and some Fijitian Patrolcraft had been freely given to the Iliad. Now that James wanted to come to Fijitia, from how it sounded, he was game to try, whatever that meant. Makes just needed to sign one of those patrol craft out. Each had a translight engine, and their shields were slated for translight space. "Anyone else you want to take along ? I mean, sure I could take you, but to a Fijitia Port, you'd want a team or similar, maybe. Not like anything bad will happen. Maybe bring along a sidearm. Or if you want I could try and pick up some Fijitia weapons for your arrival." She said thoughtfully. Apparently making plans.

She was not even affected by the humans very weak stuff, pretty much anything short of medical alcohol will give her naught more then slight gas. But that'd be it. Now, Fijitia drink, that could send her on her tail, or flat on her face, whichever came first.

[Aear Charter]

It was obvious to everyone that Aear was full of energy. He'd taken the bandage Fee had wrapped round his head off as soon as he had woken up. Much to everyone's amazement, except Kana's, the wound had seemed to disappear leaving just his scar as it was before. Aear had tried explaining that's just how it worked when he used powerful magic or a lot of mana, but his 35 hour sleep had left him talking quickly and virtually bouncing up and down.

"You guys have meat? And it's raw? And I can eat it? I'm totally coming!" Said Aear practically jumping out at the pair. "If you don't let me come i'll get Chiqui-chin to scream indefinitely. She can do that ya know." He said turning to James.

Aear thought for a moment about the drinking idea. He couldn't get drunk and normally alcohol just tasted bad. Though they didn't know he couldn't get drunk. "I can drink everyone and anyone under the table!" He said with a grin.

Tag: James Calmara, Makes-Eternal-Everlasting

[Makes-Eternal-Everlasting]

It was Aear's voice that woke up the Snow Leopard's mental system. She whacked her own head [/OK, fine, Frequency blocking enabled. he can't hear your talking to me now/] Madromas grumbled. [/Or do you want me on the holopad on the table/] At that idea Makes reached her hand over and touched the holopad in the center of the table allowing Madromas to transfer over and a nine and a half inch tall full 3d hologram of Madromas appeared. + BETTER ? + Her voice was heard by those at the table.

"Much" Makes replied, she had forgotten that the Meowtians had a mental link of some form and could easily listen in unless the minds in question were shielded.

She turned to Aear "Yes, we have meat and my worlds where I am from, fresh, or cooked, or aged, take your pick." She said, slightly unhappy that her mental chatting with Madromas had been detected and easily overheard.

She turned to Jake, waiting on his thought of visiting the Captial world of Fijitian Space, deep within the Core of the galaxy, heck surrounding the Galaxy Core was Fijitian Space. Each planet protected extensively and carefully watched. The capital, Fijitia Prime, was a massive cityplanet with a massive massive port. And like all ports, it had many taverns.

Makes then saw the reaction Jake had to Madromas sudden arrival. A smile once more on the Snow Leopards face as she said, "Calmara, Madromas. Madromas, Calmara." She then explained, "My Ancilla. Very advanced AI. More advanced then your computer systems." She did not mention the fact that she shared her head and sometimes her body with Madromas, it was.... fun at times.

[James Calmara]

Listening to what Makes had to say and taking the warnings on board, always a wise thing when heading into the unknown. "Sounds like an interesting time ahead one or two are just coming. Also I came prepared, may not be a mission but still the unknown." Calmara patted at a spot on his upper torso jusy next to his left arm pit. Underneath was a shoulder holster that held a pistol, just in case.  

He let out a chuckle along with an eye role as Aear bounded up as high and exuberant as ever, things just got ten times more interesting. The engineer couldn't help but let out a scorn filled laugh at the 'drink anyone under the table' line. "If I had a nickel for everytime I heard that line I be h3ll of a lot richer." He shot out, then realised they would have no idea what a 'nickel' was so attempted an explanation. "A nickel is name of a coin for the value of five cents, 100 cents make 1 dollar which is the base for our monetary system. Anyway my point is, claims are nothing without proof. I'm gonna hold you to that."  

The engineers mind back tracked a little. "Hang on, whats this about raw meat?"  

His attention was caught and held by the AIs image appearing on the display.  "Now isnt that a sight to see!" The engineer exclamed a huge grin on his face, any advanced piece of tech would hold his interest, he always got a kick out of seeing new things in action. This was no execption. He did glance up at Makes at her last remark, then to Aear for a moment, then back to Madromas. What was it with advanced societies and the need to point out their superiority every five minutes. This was gonna get interesting once the drink started flowing.

TAG Makes-Eternal-Everlasting; Aear Charter

[Aear Charter]

Aear wandered around and around Madromas looking her up and down, analyzing her with his eyes. Like James he had a thing for machines, the more advanced the better. "This one is good, really good. Might even be more powerful then Kimi." He muttered to himself. "Can I take a look inside sometime?

"Decimalised currency based on metals... Makes sense I guess." Said Aear in response to Jame's comment. "We just use mana cartridges; 75 types with 15 qualities each." Aear didn't much like the number system but that's how things were.

"What's wrong with raw meat?" Asked Aear. "You know you loose something when you cook it?" It was true the nutrition wasn't the same but it was easier to digest. "Though saying that your people probably hunt for your meat. Can you synth any?"

Tag: Makes-Eternal-Everlasting, James Calmara

[James Calmara]

Nodding but with a slightly puzzled look as the Meowtan explained how their exchange sysyem worked. "So each of the 75 manna cartridges has 15 different levels?" The engineer asked as he slipped into explorer mode with ease. "Hey I might end up stranded on 'meowtopia', stranger things have happened, having a rough idea of how things work would be useful in that situation." Calmara followed up with a shrug and a grin, starting to relax some what.  

He sighed when the next question came in, he considered the way it was asked as well as Aears body language in asking, "No we dont have synth technology at least not widly available, and we don't really hunt anymore. Most of our meat comes from animals kept on farms,  places where the species we eat are bred, rasied, fattened up and the slaughtered. Unfortunately we haven't quite got to a point where we can keep out all the stuff that tends to make us get sick and die. So we cook just to be sure." Calmara explained in very rough terms the system for obtaining food back on earth. Thinking about it made him aware of just how cruel the process actualy was, humans had a lot to learn still that was for sure. He changed subjects or tried to at least. "So are we gonna sit around yacking or are we gonna get some drinkin done?!"  

Tag Makes-Eternal-Everlasting; Aear Charter

[Makes-Eternal-Everlasting]

"How you knew where we are going I'll never know" Makes said softly.

She smiled and nodded at James reaction; "Yes, that is exactly where we are going, the Yaking District of Fijitia Prime... Madromas, do we have our transport ?"

+ Yes: Patrol Clawcraft Three Seven Nine Omega Alpha Zero Six Nine has been slated and cleared for take off once we are aboard. + The Ancilla replied, keeping a careful eye on Aear as he circled her. Wanting to see her insides, this could be trouble. Since her insides were actually her Snow Lepards braincase.

Makes smiled, "Good, Gentle...... men. Our ride is ready." She reached over and laid a hand on t he AI panel that projected Madromas. the Ancilla completly disappeared from sight as she transfered over to Makes-Eternal. The familar feeling of ice cold murcury filled her mind for a heartbeat before it faded.

It was time to go get a drink.

[James Calmara]

The human engineer grinned then laughed nervously at Makes response, the best example of how a meaning to one people was completely different to another right there, and pointed out what he actually meant. "Well that is good to know, but 'yacking' is a human expresion for talking endlessly, specifically when there's things to do or places to see. I had no idea that was a place name on your world, talk about one in a million."

Calmara nodded appreciatively as madronas called up their transport information. Thats was one thing he wanted to see, a fully developed out if all the advanced tech he'd enountered, an earth designed and built personal AI, such an invaluable resource and practicaly another member of the family. "Why thank you very much miss." He directed at the AI just before 'she' disapaered again. He glanced sideways at the furball expecting a remark of some sort.

But the icing on the cake was a trip in a fitijian spacecraft, now this would be something. Calmara stood with a grin plastered on his face at the prospect and fellin line with the pair as they made for the craft.

Tag Makes-Eternal-Everlasting; Aear Charter

[Aear Charter]

"Yes, but the lower types and levels usually aren't worth anything since people can just make them at home. Also the value varies a bit based on where you are. They always seem to be worth a lot more on the jump stations then they do back home on Ueda." Said Aear in response to James' question about the currency. He had Cyleo release one of his cartridges from storage and held it up for James to take. It looked just like a shotgun shell and it was only the warmth it gave off that told them it was packed full of energy. "This one's a type 15," explained Aear "Cyleo prefers this type for some reason, though he can load a type 50 in cannon form."

"Farming animals to be slaughtered...?" said Aear quietly, he wasn't disgusted so much but it was still a cultural shock. "My people tried to avoid hunting animals altogether so hearing that is quite a shock. Protein helps genereate more mana but we focused on things like eggs and nuts... We only really started eating meat once we were able to synth it." Explained Aear "I guess that's where our cultures differ." he added returning to what he hoped was his normal demeanor.

Tag: Makes-Eternal-Everlasting, James Calmara

[Makes-Eternal-Everlasting]

Makes smiled, she then stood up. sure she towered over James, and also Aear, but it was natural given what she was, a snow leopard. But that did not matter, what mattered was, these two were hungry and they'd taken thte bait. She snickered, towards Aear she said "We do not syn our meats. We have planets slated for hunting grounds" There was nothing like going on a hunt in coming of age. All Fijitians did it when they turned 14 solars!

Makes then lead the way to the landing bay area of the base. There were four Fijitian Patrol Clawcraft docked in four predesigned sockets for charging. Given partly as gifts to the vedic expidition as long as the Fijitians were part of their exploring and weapons and whatnot could be traded, the feline natives of the galaxy could provide means of transport. Since only so few planets had a working stargate, otherwise known as the Ring Relics.

Makes went to a slate green shaded of the four patrol clawcraft and lightly stepped onto the rear loading ramp and made for the front as she did so she placed a hand on the hologrpahic panel on the ramp controls, both opening the ramp fully to allow her fellow drinkers aboard and to transfer Madromas over. Ancillas, 4th generation or newer, could easily fly the craft on their own. In this case, Madromas now inhabited the Patrol Clawcraft.

When she spoke her voice echoed slightly within her massive gullet. + Engines activated; System shakedown complete. Artifical gravity engaged; System Ready. + Madromas then cut the PA system within the clawcraft and activated a radio stream, //This is Patrol Clawcraft three-seven-nine-Omega-Alpha-zero-six-nine awaiting tackoff clearance.// There was a reason the hangar was built on a cliff. The hangar practially opened straight down. Which was how the Patrol Clawcraft were launched. They were literally dropped from the hangar of any craft.

+ CLEARANCE GRANTED + Came the reply. As soon as the group was in and seated, the rear ramp sealed and the hangar floor dropped away allowing Madromas to drop and fly out of the hangar and then head for space.

[James Calmara]

1819
Dock Area
Fitiian Space

A concentrated look glazed the engineers face while he bobed his head as he took in what Aear had to say. He peered at the 'container', the heat it kicked off was unusual for something so small an indication of the energy it contained. It made sense to have an exchange based around energy, something infinitely more useful. "Can be the hardest part of meeting new people, have to wrap your head around how they do things. An occupational hazard you might say." He agreed with the Meowtain as they both followed Makes out into the hanger area.  

Calmara gave a low short whistle, along with a grin as a sign of his admiration and like of the look of the Fitijian craft. These people knew how to design a spacecraft thats for sure.   Following around to the rear of craft he waited for the ramp to open fully and then made his way inside. The craft was clearly built with utility in mind, if the spacious aft cabin and large rear ramp was anything to go by. It was however resoanbly comfortable and everything seemed to have its place. He took a seat anr buckled himself in, shortly after the preflight communications were done, he was glad he had done so. The craft droped straight down before speading off. "Okay I think I left my stomach back up there. Hell that was a rush though, I thought fast ropeing from a moving puddle jumper thirty feet from the ground was something to beat. That just blew it out of the sky." Calmara exclamed with a huge grin stuck on his face.    

Tag Makes-Eternal-Everlasting; Aear Charter

[Makes-Eternal-Everlasting]

Makes smiled, the sudden drop was the reason it was called a Clawcraft dropship in many respects. It was the only way to launch the patrol clawcraft at any rate. "You are going to want to see this" Makes said, she brought up a hologram screen, it showed the stars ahead.

+ Activating Translight drive + Came Madromas monotone voice.

Out in space, and on the screen where James and Aera could see, there fore appeared to be nothing, then the tiniest pin prick of light before it exploded like a blue ringed black hole. Madromas flew towards it.

"Before you ask, our shields are rated for Translight, a fastere then light type of travel." Makes explained, she herself could not explain of how fast Translight travel worked. All she knew was that it was pretty much a five minute trip in all. "Think of it as stepping through a energy wall that keeps out the sound and weather, like my quarters deck barrier" Makes own deck had a unique grid pattern of white crosspoints that floated in the air sixteen centimeters apart like a grid pattern that allowed people and items they were carrying to pass through, but weather and unwanted items to stay out. "Only in this case, this ship will go through it since Madromas activated the drive."

[Aear Charter]

The idea of whole worlds devoted to hunting struck at Aear harder then he would like, he'd hunted before, it was how he survived in the wilderness, and he wasn't one to completely disregard it out of principle. Most Meowtians however would simply refuse to eat any meat that wasn't produced artificially, even to a cost to their health. Protein was the best thing for generating mana afterall.

"There's no hunting whatsoever in the empire." Said Aear as he climbed into the dropship. He quite liked the design, it seemed to have everything it might need and it was all nicely organized and yet there was plenty of space on such a small craft. "Meowtian society goes by the 'all life is sacred' rule. I do like this ship, I'm quite impressed you managed to get so much into a craft so small. Still I think my Kimihara might outshine this one but I suppose there is a difference between a heavy cruiser and a corvette."

Aear let out a loud "Whoo!" as the dropship fell away from its hangar. He was starting to miss flying, there just wasn't any call for it and he wasn't one for wasting that much mana on something like that. "Just like a full reverse barrage!" He said happily.

"That seems quite a bit safer then Chima-space." mused Aear at Hayama's explanation of translight. "Do you know how the navigation works? Do you travel through normal space time and have to plot around heavenly bodies? Or are you utilizing another dimension as well and can just sail through them so to speak?" Aear asked of the snow leopard and Madromas. How things worked always got him going, it was a thirst for knowledge that he never seemed able to quench.