Landing Pad - Beaumonde

Karel and Shin are by a bench on the landing pad, waiting for the ship and people to arrive.

Connie makes her way over from the train, talking to Jean as she does. "...so, anyway, as far as I can tell, legally, they can't do this."

Shin stands to one side seeming quite at home on the pad. He is relaxed and at ease as he speaks with a man on a bench to one side near the Belleview exit from the pad. He watches the ships arriving and the people moving about.

Not that there are that /many/ ships arriving. Although... there is, just on the edge of hearing, the distant rumble of something reentering atmosphere.

The man on the bench, Karel, stands when he sees Connie, and says to Shin. "Looks like she's here. Now all we've gotta wait for is that ship..."

Jean snorts at Connie. "When has legality mattered to them? Besides, and I can hardly believe I am saying this, why should it be illegal for anyone to take a trade contract? If they are working for the same terms as you are, then what is the issue?"

Connie nods to Shin and Karel, turns to Jean. "They aren't, that's the point. There's a distinction between the independent traders like us, who have the trade office as a market place for our services, and the likes of Falcon Lines, FederalExpress and so on, who do business directly with big companies. We're /supposed/ to be protected from them /by/ the trade office."

Shin smiles slightly as he leads the way over to the ladies. "I answered some of those same questions a little bit ago Connie." He looks from one to the other and smiles slightly. "This is Karel. I brought him along as another face."

West disembarks from the IAV Yorktown.

West has arrived.

Karel nods to Shin. "We've met before." He moves is attention to Connie, then. "Nice to see you, Captain. Just here to help out, show a little support, or help negotiate if you want me."

West steps off the ramp of the Yorktown, accompanied by 6 marines, two abreast, wearing standard uniforms with weapons slung. At the base of the ramp, he stops and in a hushed tone, informs the squad leader of his orders.

Jean nods to Karel, but offers nothing in greeting. Seems she's gone thoughtful from the conversation and predicament.

Pascale disembarks from the IMV Nightingale.

Pascale has arrived.

The spot that is the incoming vessel grows larger, its roar increasing as retro-rockets fire to slow its approach to the pad.

Connie runs a hand through her hair, looking up. "Here we go." A wry chuckle, and green eyes drift to the arrival of the Marines. "Interesting."

Karel's eyes flick to the marines, and there's a quick moment of recognition when he sees West. Then he looks back at the others. "So, what's the game plan, Captain?"

A grav MULE, marked with Trade Commission insignia, appears from the direction of Bellerive Avenue: it's laden with various crates, and a crew of two, one driving, the other riding ... literally... shotgun, a weapon of that ilk across his knees.

"Everyone mind you manners." Shin smiles slightly and looks over at the marines himself. "We have an audience. Shows on."

Sounds like a good time for Pascale to appear, with the world's most annoying yo yo flashing its lights and screeching siren sounds as she rolls it up and down the string. She stops in the doorway of the Nightingale, to look around cautiously - just in case danger be near.

Marines take to the field, positioned strategicly in pairs with weapons now at port arms. West, still remaining by the assault ship's gangway, finds his eyes sweeping the field, stopping on the touch of flame that is the mouthpiece for the striking independants. Whether or not she sees him, he frowns slightly, not particularly pleased at her presence.

Jean smiles sweetly at Shin, but still reaches back under her coat to unsnap her pistol. "It seems that just because the letter of the law is on your side, Connie, it does not mean that those who are charged with enforcing it have any interest in it."

Karel's hand slips down towards his right pocket, which hides his pistol. He doesn't move to draw it yet, but keeps a wary eye on the marines as he waits for directions from Connie.

Connie just smiles a touch. "I'm not disposed to prejudge." On twin pillars of flame, the IMV Achilles, resplendent in Falcon Lines black, red and silver, settles on the pad in about the only space big enough for it (now the Yorktown's busy occupying one). Connie looks between the MULE and the Yorktown, and plots an intercept course, slim legs carrying her that way.

Pascale stops playing with the annoying toy, rolling it back inside the cargo bay of the Gale before talking excitedly into her comm link. That done, she hits the button to raise the ramp and gets a chair to peer through the smudged window, to watch the goings-on.

Pascale speaks into her communicator, "Dad. Hey Dad. I think they're gonna have a showdown gunfight out here! Looks like something from an old movie."

Moving smoothly Shin takes a position on Connies right side. He watches the arriving hover MULE for a moment and shakes his head. He moves to keep pace with Connie with smoothe easy strides. "Let's see what West is made of shall we?" He smiles slightly. "Someone is going to end up unhappy today any way it goes."

West speaks into his comlink, quiet and without excitement. Lines crease his brow, making his concern evident, but still he watches.

Karel follows Connie. His right hand never straying far from the gun in his pocket, he keeps an eye on the Marines, in case they should decide to intervene. Out of the corner of his mouth, he adds to Shin, "Just make sure it isn't us."

A hurrying couple emerge from the train station, a tall blonde woman in a smart suit, accompanied by a man in jeans and a t-shirt, a video camera hanging from one hand.

Connie can still plot an intercept in her head, clearly, leading her small group to arrive at the foot of the Achilles' lowered ramp just before the MULE does, forcing it, in the nicest possible way, to slow down and stop. Cheerfully, "Afternoon."

Pascale presses her nose to that little, grimy window. It's hard to see anything. Correction: She left the ramp down, just closed the cargo bay inner doors. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to see anything.

Keeping position Shin follows to the bottom of the ramp and covers Connies right side. He bows politely and keeps position both hands clasped in front of him. He seems relaxed and at ease, also in no paticular hurry to move. "Greetings."

Corporal Watson, stationed near the train station radios across the field. West, obviously the intended recipient of the message, does not bother to transmit a reply. Instead, he backs up a few steps up the Yorktown's ramp to afford a better view of the party.

Jean keeps her own hands in view, one gripping her little black bag nice and tight. She offers no greeting, or even a smile, but rather a cold indifference.

"Yer in the way," grates the MULE crewmember with the shotgun. While the driver looks like one of the trade office's regular loaders, he looks suspiciously like local hired muscle. Behind Connie's group, several of the Achilles' overall-clad cargo handlers are waiting, as well as a bearded man in what appears to be the black, red and silver of Falcon Lines officer's uniform, carrying it in a way that practically screams ex-Navy. The latter raises his voice: "I have my instructions, /Miss/ Saint. And I'd prefer to avoid any unpleasantness."

Movement again with the Marines. Watson's partner, Lance Corporal Zhu, steps towards the trackside boarding area, removing a single folded sheet of paper from his uniform's breast pocket. Watson gives him a final nod and then moves towards the platform as well.

Karel turns an eye towards the Lance Corporal, noting the paper. Under his breath, he says to Connie, "It looks like they're about to try and pull legality. Want me to handle it? I was trained in the law."

Sheridan arrives from Supersonic Train - Beaumonde.

Sheridan has arrived.

We appear to have a good old-fashioned standoff. The Falcon Lines vessel, the IMV Achilles, is docked, its ramp down, and occupied by several cargo hands and an officer of obvious ex-Military bearing in the company's black, red and silver. At the foot of the ramp, there's Connie, Karel, Shin and Jean, standing between them and a grav MULE in Trade Commission colours, laden with crates and crewed by two men, one in the process of dismounting, shotgun in hand. West is on the Yorktown's ramp, watching, while half a dozen Marines in pairs are grouped around the field, a pair by the train station. And, about halfway to the Achilles from the train station - a tall blonde woman in a suit and a man carrying a camera, evidently hurrying towards the freighter.

Pascale is in the cargo bay of the Nightingale, doors shut, watching through the tiny window. She takes out a small device - the spy cam her dad gave her for Christmas, and holds it up to the window - she'll record this. Maybe she'll sell it to the news and become rich. She turns on her datapad to get the uplink set.

A number of passengers filter out of the train onto the platform, gradually making their way off to their ultimate destinations. Some linger as they notice the unusual activity on the landing pad, leaning in to whisper to companions or milling closer to the standoff in typical spectator eagerness. One of the last to depart the train would be Sheridan, seemingly content to allow the crowd to push and jostle its way past before making her own way free from its confines. Once on the platform, she looks about with a mildly expectant expression.

Connie grins at Karel, cheerfully. "You too? How useful." Evidently she's enjoying this far too much, as she studies the Achilles' officer for a second or two, before turning back to the driver of the MULE. "Are these trade office contract goods?" The bonded crates are a bit of a giveaway, actually.

AS if on cue, the pair of marines nearest the train car scan the debarking passengers until, with a nudge, the corporal points to another red haired woman. Nodding in agreement, Lance Corporal Zhu approaches the young lady, and in a clear voice says, "Sheridan Hawthorne? You are bound by law. Please place your hands above your head and hold your ground."

Shin watches the man dismount from the Mule closely keeping a close eye on him. Leaving the talking to Connie he keeps an eye on the general body language of the most dominant players at the moment. All this is unshown in his straight face or relaxed stance.

Pascale throws the cargo bay doors back open. She can't hear anything this way! If they start shooting, she'll just wet her pants, then hide. Sure. She hooks the magnetic spy cam to the outside of the ship, turns it to face the standoff, then tries to refigure what's happening, not that she had settled on a scenario beyond "lots of guns".

Sheridan blinks. Naturally. This isn't, after all, remotely what she was expecting when she boarded the train from Port Hale. On the other hand, she's no fool - she's up against two armed Alliance marines, it would seem, and there are several others visible on the landing pad. Thus, the young woman raises her hands as bidden, linking them at the fingers loosely and placing them at the back of her head as she arches a brow to Lance Corporal Zhu and smiles faintly. "Certainly, Sir. Mind giving me some inkling as to what this is about?" she inquires, her tone calm and unfailingly polite.

Karel doesn't notice someone being arrested. He sees that there's a guy with a gun. Shiny!

West's eyes no longer register on the scene by the mule, instead focused on the arrest. His comlink comes to his lips and no sooner than he finishes speaking, do the remaning Marines begin their way back to the Yorktown, weapons still at port arms. Given the dispersal of the teams, it will take a few moments for them to meet at the Yorktown's ramp.

"All the details will be presented aboard the ship, Miss", says Zhu, placing the binders upon her wrists and securing both hands behind her back. "This is a formality, Captain West will explain", says Watson, leveling his weapon at the ready, though keeping the barrel several degrees over the horizon.

"Uh..." MULE-driver blinks a little, rubs at his chin. "Well,.. yeah." His colleague, now on the ground, glares at Connie from a not-inconsiderable 6'4" or so. "Yer in the way, Miss."

"So I am." Connie looks past him, to where the cameraman's shouldering his camera, zooming in on the action, then back at the Falcon's purser. "I believe the Achilles' is proposing to break the agreements I and my fellow captains sign when we receive trade accreditation." Green eyes fix him. "Is this true?"

"Of course," Sheridan replies, offering up no resistance whatsoever as her hands are bound behind her. Strangely, the young woman is actually smiling as she stands there with the marines, her eyes gleaming with amusement at the overall situation. "Shall we, then? I'd hate to keep the good Captain waiting."

Pascale curses in chinese, about underfed babies and mangey dogs, because her camera can't keep up with all the rapid movement. In fact, her own eyes can't keep up with it all.

Shin sill remains still with his hands clasped loosely in front of him. The face is inscrutable as he turns his full gaze and attention the the man with the shotgun that is looking Connie over. He is neither threatening or aggressive in his actions.

Jean just listens. The coldly aloof and unassuming doctor slant meat shield.

Karel moves forward to stand beside Connie. "This operation is illegal, as per sections 24-33 of the Alliance code. All cargo from the trade office that is loaded onto the Falcon is illegal contraband, and charges will be pressed against all individual's involved in this operation unless it is halted now."

Satisfied with the bindings, Zhu draws his V-S Sonic and with his off hand, takes the doctor's arm and gently urges her towards the sleek silver assault ship. Wary of the knot of people gathered at the base of the Achillies, his path diverts slightly to intercept one of the other pair of men also making their way back towards the ship.

Jean arches a brow at Karel, appreciation leaking through her demeanor. "On my word, Shin, I believe you have chosen us a winner," she chuckles very softly.

Karel adds, "Oh, and we'll throw in a charge for attempted illegal operation while bearing a firearm if you don't drop that shotgun."

Pascale drops the spy cam, accidentally, curses again, bends to pick it up and sees Sheridan, in shackles, being led by armed men. She stands again and calls out, "Captain Hawthorne!"

Connie gives Karel an appreciative nod, as the Achilles' purser glares at her, growls, "You're a disgrace, Saint. Hiding behind convenient legal bull and using the independent traders to promote your own cause, get your face all over the Cortex and try and get everyone to forget that you're nothing but a gorram /traitor/."

Sheridan walks alongside the Lance Corporal, calm as you please. Having her hands behind her is a bit awkward, to be certain, but it doesn't seem to trouble the young redhead overmuch. Her gaze flickers over toward the Nightingale as her name is called, noting the little girl there. "It's all right, Pas," she calls. "Nothing to worry over, hmm?" A glance is cast toward Connie and the others as well, though nothing is said. Perhaps luck will come into play, and her escorts will get her aboard the Yorktown and out of sight before she's noticed in such a predicament by her friends.

West smiles to himself as the operation seemingly procedes peacefully. Still, the annoyance at the OTHER issue is apparent, and finally motivates the Naval Officer to move. He breathes deeply and begins to stride towards the ISD people with a frown not hidden.

Now /this/ is good TV. The cameraman's got the angry ex-Navy officer in his sights, and for now the tall blonde reporter, CortexLive-branded mike in hand, is content to just watch.

Turning his gaze slowly to the purser Shin stares at the man a moment. "You tread on shakey ground citizen. Please consider your words carefully." He face is closed and the brown eyes hard and cold.

"No," Pascale calls back. "It's not allowed." She charges down the ramp of the Gale, datapad and little camera still in hand. "She said she wouldn't." The child hesitates as she hits pavement, then continues toward Sheridan and her captors.

Sheridan tenses as the youngling starts stalking toward them, her demeanor shifting swiftly from calm and smiling to firm and commanding rather smoothly. "Pascale." The tone is crisp, what one might almost expect to hear from a parent when a child is out of line. "Back to your ship. I doubt your father would be pleased at hearing you were interfering with Alliance business. Go on, now." Obviously, she wants to keep the little girl clear of this mess.

Noting the motion from the corner of his eye, Zhu swings the V-S around in a graceful arc, stopping with the weapon aimed dead at the youngster. It is only the firm voice of his prisoner that gives him pause enough to think, holding his position in nervous confusion.

Connie watches the Achilles' officer - this close, there's a visible name tag: Lt. Pearson. "Believe what you want. But the fact remains you're breaking the law, /Mister/ Pearson." Behind her, with Shin and Karel at least paying attention to Pearson, the looming heavy from the MULE gives... evident serious thought to the application of the butt of his shotgun to the back of Connie's head, thought that's forestalled by the activity behind him and the approach of West.

The blonde reporter turns at the voices of Sheridan and Pascale, though her colleague remains focussed on Connie's little group.

Pascale stops dead in her tracks, whether from Sheridan's commanding tone, or the gun pointed right at her. If she's inclined to follow Captain Hawthorne's instructions, she's equally deterred by the barrel of the V-S. Her mouth drops open a little and she says, "It's not allowed. Commander Francis said so." To Zhu, "Um... um... there's kind of a camera there so you shouldn't oppress me. It would look bad for you."

Shin turns his attention back to the heavy with the shotgun and companion. This also lets him see the approach of the Alliance Officer. Nodding once to the man smiles slightly his face closed and inscrutable. "Greetings Commander West."

"Tch." A sharp sound issues from Sheridan's lips, designed at pulling Pascale's attention back from Zhu onto her. "It's fine, Pas. I will handle this. Go, before you get yourself into trouble and your parents need to come talk to these Alliance gentlemen to bail you out." A rather pointed look is cast from the young redheaded Captain to the even younger girl.

Zhu, to his credit, remains in control. Given the presence of pimples, it's a good chance that he's experiencing action for the first time... or at least it's not somthing he's yet at ease with. The weapon is returned to it's ready and Sheridan's arm is given another nudge towards the silver vessel, this time not so gentle. "Enough of this", he says, joining up with the additional pair of men.

"Mister Tung, Captain Saint", says West as he approaches within earshot. A curt nod is given to the Achillies party while the officer evidently analyzes the situation. "What seems to be the issue at hand if I may be of assistance."

Karel also nods to the newly approached Alliance Captain. "Well, Captain. I think the real issue might be over there." He nods to Zhu. "Unless it is standard Alliance procedure to threaten small children with firearms. You might want to see to that."

Ah! Moral support. Pearson draws himself to his full 5'11", tugging at his uniform. "This /woman/," he almost spits, "Is preventing me from going about my business, in the interests of promoting her own agenda." A glare at Connie. "I shall, Captain. And nothing you can say will ever convince me that you're anything but a coward and a traitor to the Alliance and a disgrace to your father's memory."

"Lance Corporal?" The tall blonde has definitely a camera-friendly face, and legs that go all the way up. And an eye for detail, enough to read his rank bars. "Sian Probert, CortexLive. Could you explain what's going on here? Off the record, of course."

"Be careful with your words, monsieur," murmurs Jean in a cultured French accent. "What you believe and what is fact are at odds, and that is not the topic of conversation." As though the gangly doctor even appears to be a threat. We know how deceiving appearances can be.

Pascale's eyes snap back to Captain Hawthorne, and she frowns her confusion, even as they continue on their way. She takes a careful step backward, then another. Pressing her lips together, she glares around at the pad and announces, "The gorram Alliance sucks monkey turds." More rapid steps, now, toward the Nightingale, spy camera and datapad still in tow, probably having recorded a nice shot of "the oppression".

Zhu does not stop, instead manipulating his passive captive the final steps towards the Yorktowns ramp. At the ramps base, Marines Zhan and Franks quicly fall in behind the detention team to close ranks, bringing their weapons up across their chests in attempt to bar the reporter a closer approach to the suspect in custody. Steely eyes peer from beneath kevlar helmets and clenced jaws let it be known there will be no discussion of the topic today..

Shin spins smoothly and steps up the ramp, between Connie and the purser, to strike at Pearson. A double heal palm shot to the chest and chin. "You were warned. You have dishonored my Captain and Ship."

Once Sheridan has seen that Pascale is safely out of harm's way, she moves along entirely without resistance. The firmer hold at her arm does bring about a raising of one brow, but she doesn't comment on it as she moves up the Yorktown's ramp and disappears within the sleek silver vessel.

Sheridan has left.

Sheridan boards the IAV Yorktown.

Pearson backs off a step, but not fast enough that he doesn't wind up sat on his backside staring dazedly up at Shin, mouth working but no sound coming out.

"Mr. Tung..." Connie's voice has that unmistakable snap of someone expecting to be, and used to being, obeyed. "Stand d... uhnnnnn...."

Everyone's attention's on Pearson - except for our thuggish friend with the shotgun, who takes his chance and whacks Connie with the blunt end from behind. She pitches face forward onto the ramp and doesn't move for a second.

Pascale turns and runs up the ramp of the Gale, slamming her palm against the ramp button to bring it closed. She doesn't care about strike-breakers. Her best friend's mother just got arrested! Bigger problem in PascaleVille.

Karel's hand slides down into a pocket, and comes back up with a knife, made for combat. It's held low, dangerously close to the man with the shotgun. "Now. That was completely unnecessary. Drop the gun. I can kill you with this before you move. Shin, stand down. We don't want to cause any trouble."

Jean is almost immediately in motion, hand slipping back to retrieve her little pistol while stepping protectively over Connie. "Wrong answer, monsieur," she murmurs. A bit louder, to West, she says, "Captain, please do us all a favor and remove this offender from the equation?"

West's eyes widen with a mixture of surprise and anger as the scene goes critical before his eyes. All hopes of a nice, peaceful evening questioning his prisoner have been dashed and visions of paperwork flash before him... mountains of it. The first sign of the impending explosion is a single shout.

"BI ZUI!"

"It would be my pleasure, Captain West, to spend a few minutes with these gentlemen in a cell." Shins voice is calm and even as he speaks: he seems relaxed but there is a tension lying beneath. "Jean, check Connie please. Mr Avize put your weapon away."

Connie? Wise enough to do exactly that, although she /does/ groan, faintly, putting a hand to the back of her head.

Sian moves to stand by her cameraman - savvy enough not to get involved, but she's not going to get him to stop filming till he's ordered to.

Matey-boy with the shotgun brandishes it, threateningly, at bay.

Pearson's mouth works, a splutter of rage. "Captain? I /order/ you to arretht thith..." Oh dear. "/Mithcreant/ for an athault..." He trails off, conscious of the damage Shin's blow has done to his ability to speak clearly...

"West here", says the Naval officer into his comlink. "Summon the local authorities to the landing field at once for a civil disturbance with firearms in progress." He gives a quick glance to the fallen redhead and adds, "Medical personal as well."

A couple of the watching cargo hands on the ramp /smirk/. It might just be that some of them are not fond of Pearson.

Karel lowers his knife to his side, but doesn't put it away. "Captain West, if you would. There's a shotgun right there that is the only firearm in use at this scene. Perhaps arresting it's user might lend a little calm to this situation...?"

Jean's weapon finds its way back into her holster as she kneels beside Connie, her little black doc bag coming open even if she doesn't need it just yet. "Come on, Captain," she mutters. "If the police get her and I am still here, then trouble will ensue." Right. That price on the head thing, even if she doesn't resemble who she really is at the moment.

West speaks in a voice loud enough to be heard by those within the immediate area, but his respons is obviously directed to Karel. "Mister. If I become involved in this to the point of arresting one person here, I will arrest the entire group." He continues pointedly. "This will take WEEKS to resolve. I suggest that everyone here find someplace else to be before I overcome my hesitancy to act in the matter.:"

Connie groans, shifting till she can sit upright, and bringing bloodied fingers away from the back of her head. Green eyes fix, slightly blurrily, on the bloke with the shotgun. The whine of the grav MULE's power plant says his driver is only /too/ keen to get away, and the thug scrambles aboard, cursing Connie in Chinese as he does so.

West's attention turns to Shin now. "I would recommend you all let the crew of this ship handle their cargo and that you see to your captain. Believe me, the sooner I can focus my attention upon your comrade in my brig, the smoother things will go for her. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?"

Karel looks at West. "Very well, Captain." he turns to Jean and Connie. "We're done here. Let's get back to ISD." Then he turns to face the Alliance officer one more time. "Make sure that your crew doesn't violate prisoner rights, or we'll be filing a complaint with Alliance Command."

"Is it safe to move her..." Shin watches as Connie sits up. "That cargo becomes contrband the moment it boards that ship Captain West. "You can check the articles." Helping Connie to he feet he looks at the Captain a moment and sighs. "Jean get Connie out of here. I will stay if needbe. As a representative. I still have my captains papers and I was the last in command of the Executor."

West laughs at Karel.

"Captain West?" The clear, well-modulated, broadcast-friendly tones of one of CortexLive's better (as well as better-looking) location reporters: "Sian Probert, CortexLive." The camera's on him, and her quiet, "we're live..." is clearly meant as a friendly heads up to him. "Captain Saint has made the point that the Achilles' has no legal right to this cargo..." This cargo that's making for Bellerive Avenue at a rate of knots.

"Do what you need to do", says West to Karel, starting to move until his name is called. He purses his lips thoughtfully and takes a moment for a brief reply. "Captain Saint is well aware of proper channels to voice her complaint." He makes a point to look across the field before returning his gaze to the reporter. "Apparently, she did not chose to do so and has put herself and her cause at risk by actions that could be construed as vigilantiism. Should we be asked to do so by the local authority, I assure you Federal investigators will be called to sort the matter out."

Pearson's feeling worriedly at his jaw as he stands. Shin, /and/ West, get a filthy look, the latter clearly getting his face, rank and name remembered. "Your superior officer will be hearing of this."

Connie winces, looks round at West, feeling at the back of her head again, frowns, hard, concentrating. "Alliance code.. uh... 513. Labour disputes." A glance at Karel to confirm she's at least in the right volume of the code. "Striking employees or contractors are permitted to picket their place of .. uh.. work... in this case the trade office... and... engage non-striking contractors in reasoned discourse."

"Do you," asks Sian, "Consider her actions vigilantism, Captain?"

Karel nods at Connie, and looks at West. "She's right. Check your regulations. Call all the federal investigators you want. We've done nothing wrong. As this dispute seems to be over...we'll be on our way." He nods for the others to get moving, and leans down to help Connie up.

West smiles politely, telling the reporter in a smooth tone, "Of course not. All I witnessed was reasoned discourse." His turn about his heel and march towards the ship concludes his portion of the ingerview.

Jean is already there to help Connie, though she's more interested in the source of blood. Letting out a near continuous string of muttered invectives, in French of course, she applies herself to cleaning and getting a temp patch on the wound. As quickly as possible, at that. "A shame you had to take a hit like that to prove a point," she offers when she stops to take a breather. "Next time, do not be so polite."

Looking at Connie for a moment Shin eyes the blood. "What do you want me to do Connie. I can stay here if you like and make sure they don't try it again or I can go file a legal complaint myself." Shin looks at Pearson like his is considering ofal.

Connie stands, with Karel's aid, and is off the ramp in time to avoid being taken for a ride up on it - Pearson and his crew are already aboard. "Captain West?" Quietly, and a touch pained. "Thank you." She smiles, wryly, at Jean. "I may not be trying to promote myself, but...." Wincing. "It probably looked good."

Sian has the decency to let her get upright and treated, stepping back and motioning to her cameraman to do the same.

Shin follows, the last off the ramp. "I will see to whatever you like Connie. For the moment I am retaking command of the Executor." Shin smiles and winks. "Do you want to talk to press or head for the shop?" Shin waits patiently at her right side.

Connie winces again, leans on Karel. "Ship." Muttered, "Doesn't matter. He's proved he's prepared to break the trade agreements." She looks up at Sian. "ISD, Port Hale, an hour and a half, and I'll talk to you?" And here come the local law. "Well. Here come the Feds. Shin?" A tired chuckle. "I'll take you up on that offer. Just.. run interference for twenty minutes." She leans on Karel, makes a face at Jean. "Medbay?"

Sian is talking to her cameraman, one eye on the feds, as the rest disperse.