Episode 6
Dawes requests the crew attend an Earth-Mars Coalition Fleet-Week Christmas Masquerade Ball on the luxury yacht Elysian Dream docked in Ceres. Lu parts ways to offer her services at the under-staffed medical clinic in Rosse Buurt. Nikki and Julie reminisce about life on Earth. NoDot wins a poker tournament by accident. Alfie and Kova foil a terrorist plot lead by Marco Inaros. Mars unofficially declares war on Earth by blowing up a civilian ship, and the crew narrowly escapes being trapped on the Elysian Dream in the resulting chaos.
Starting: Sunday, 2350-12-24 Ending: Sunday, 2350-12-25 That's right, it's the Christmas episode.
2350-12-24 (Sunday)
Summary: Daily summary goes here.
Lu's Departure
Lu discusses her departure with the crew, stating that she has found her purpose, post-desertion of her UNN role as a combat-medic. She plans to offer her services to the under-staffed medical clinic in Rosse Buurt where she had previously borrowed an operating room.
Paid With More Work
Summary: Dawes asks the crew to attend a high stakes poker tournament being held the following evening on the Elysian Dream during the EMC Fleet Week Masquarade. Dawes offers to front the buy-in, and in for the paper UND currency, he will pay the crew the equivalent Belter credits (1,125,000 Cr).
After Nikki, NoDot, and Julie leave to pick up their tailored outfits, he informs Alfie and Kova that members of the Inaros OPA will also be present as staff, and
The Fleet Week Masquarade (FleWM)
Dawes thanks the crew for their help delivering gifts to the orphanage, and offers three tickets to the Fleet-Week Masquarade Ball taking place on none other than Jager Kruna's (the richest person alive) unmatched luxury yacht, the Elysian Dream. Dawes goes on to explain that the tickets are for Nikki, NoDot, and Julie.
Attendees include soldiers, politicians, rich business-folk, and their plus-ones and families. Doors open tomorrow at 18:00.
Dawes informs them that he has entered Nikki and NoDot into a poker tournament with a 5k UND buy in (75k Cr), winner takes all at a 5 person table. Dawes says he will exchange the paper winnings for Cr, without taking a cut. His interest lies in the procurement of physical UN cash. The crew is suspicious of this but Nikki's instincts tell her that Dawes is concerned about pending hyper-inflation of traditional belter currency.
Dawes mentions that no firearms will be permitted on the premises, but indicates that crimes will be taken very seriously due to the nature of the event. He explicitly informs NoDot that the consequences for cheating in the poker tournament will not be worth the risk. NoDot chooses to interpret this as "the consequences for getting caught cheating." Dawes attempts several times to clarify that he really would prefer they don't cheat, but eventually gives up.
Dawes then informs them that he's called ahead to his tailor who will know to give them his usual discount. They can also skip the line so that the outfits are guaranteed to be ready for the ball. Julie take's Nikki and NoDot to pick them up.
The Real Job
When only Alfie and Kova remain, Dawes informs them that they will need to sneak aboard as staff. Due to "increases in security" Belters would no longer be permitted as guests, with little exception.
Dawes has intel that members of Inaros OPA will also be attending the FleWM as well, and he is tasking Alfie and Kova with figuring out why, and to prevent them from doing anything bad.
He tells the pair to head down to get their measurements taken so that their tuxedos can be fitted, and informs them that they will be comped as an apology for not being able to get them proper tickets.
The Tailor
The boutique tailor shop is operated by a sassy gay man named Gim Tunn.
Nikki requests a traditional ball gown, while NoDot requests "the most hentai succubus strappy outfit with sex-mark tattoos" and the tailor protests heavily before they compromise on something that may not get his outfits banned from future FleWMs. Lavender silk with lace accent, backless, with side-slits, and matching glowing gloves. When NoDot requests a cat-ear headband the tailor informs them that one can be purchased at the novelty store down the street. NoDot does not appreciate this.
The discounted prices for the outfits are 75k Cr for Nikki's, and 125k Cr for NoDot's. NoDot incorrectly insists that Dawes said the outfits would be free, and Gim says Dawes was quite clear in his message that he would not be footing the remainder after the discount.
When Kova and Alfie show up, Gim swiftly takes their measurements, and tells everyone to return the following morning to pick up their outfits.
Julie and Nikki's Heart to Heart
Nikki and Julie go shopping for stocking stuffers together.
Julie asks Nikki how the previous day went, and Nikki informs her of her encounter with Star Helix and her near-encounter with Vice Admiral Draven Kennedy, making the realization that the reason he may be in town as a FleWM guest.
Nikki asks Julie the same, and Julie informs her that she had been drilling elements of the heist.
Back on the Terpsichore
The crew returns to the Terpsichore where Alfie asks NoDot for a mysterious favor, and NoDot asks Kova to help move things out of an old apartment unit on Ceres with the intention of giving Hecate's belongings to Mack.
Nikki and Kova festively decorate the Terpsichore common area for Christmas until Kova succumbs to a panic attack over the thought of confronting Marco Inaros at the FleWM and retreats to her quarters.
Alfie asks NoDot to acquire all Hermes Orphanage records for the last 30 years including where each orphan went when they left. NoDot agrees to do it in spite of failing to coax any more information out of Alfie as to the nature of this request.
2350-12-25 (Monday)
Summary: The crew exchanges gifts.
Stocking Stuffers
From Nikki
NoDot: Chocolate Orange. Bedazzled Fidget Spinner.
Alfie: Chocolate Orange. Buncha cigars.
Kova: Chocolate Orange. Hat for Pip.
Mack: Chocolate Orange. Nerf Gun.
Julie: Chocolate Orange. A set of tubes for her animatronic hamster to run around in.
Zuko: Nothing
From Alfie
Alfie started on a hand-knit scarf for Nikki before the other members of the crew showed up around half a year ago, and didn't have time to knit anything for anyone else.
From NoDot
NoDot wrote a personalized song for Hecate based on Hecate's D&D character that she plays in her campaign with her femboy neighbors.
NoDot's Old Apartment
NoDot decides it is time to vacate their old Ceres apartment unit, and enlists the aid of Kova. NoDot thinks that some of Hecate's old supplies might be useful to Mack and his new plant hobby. Kova obliges, and Nikki offers to come along as well.
You'll Shoot Your Eye Out Kid
Alfie takes his sniper rifle in for repairs and upgrades, and has a chat with Jim the weapons dealer.
