To brave Yae-Lishe, greetings.
There has not been communication crafted for several nights, which is a cause for deepest regrets. While you most likely do not care regarding this, it is not the behavior of a warrior. Amends cannot be made, save for greater diligence and discipline.
Your absence is deeply felt.
The ship did visit a planet these several nights, the sector capital of Warren, a word meaning the twisting dwelling place of small creatures. It is a place oddly reminiscent of home, though rather than the great fungal trees within which the People dwell above the ground, the surface of this world is itself crafted structures, rising to tremendous heights, even as the myths speak of.
The mission was to deliver a sealed case, recovered from conveyed coordinates deep in space (you have never traveled in the void between worlds, so this may mean little to you), to a buyer at a place of feasting above the stone surface but below the shell surface of the world.
This place of feasting was not unknown; a fine local dish known as chili is served there, of fame even among the law-keepers, and which lends itself to many variations. You would find it highly tasty. On a visit past, such chili was consumed with relish (a pickled side dish), which admixture the locals considered sufficiently novel to express their concerns in a vigorous fashion, which was most enjoyable as well.
In the event, the person to whom the case was to be delivered was found to be dead, and most effectively in the execution (so to speak). This coincided with the arrival of Hegemony troops of the 51st Legion (think of the Tribe of Blue Tattoos, across from the Great Sail, only less jovial). A fine romp was anticipated, but the numbers were such that the shipmates might have taken harm, so the entertainment was perforce canceled.
(Shipmates are as tribemates, but less permanent, perhaps. And less uniform, with no bonds of blood and battle assumed, only gathered over time. Plus, they are weaker, and so the Duty of Protection is thus greater, as much of a burden as this may be.)
The path through the back alleys of the city was traveled with craft and guile, evading the Legion in anticipation of a future encounter. But, in so doing, another acquaintance was encountered.
Aya has been spoken of previously in these comms to you. She is a puissant warrior, who earns a living through directing her bloodlust toward targets that people will give valuables to have defeated with permanence, sending them by design to They Who Judge. It is not something that would bring honor among the People, but she is not of the People and her honor is something of a different flavor, demonstrated to satisfaction.
She has been a companion, even comrade, since the nights of captivity and forced labor, after there was parting from you. There has been no direct conflict with her interests on any particular mission or quest, but were there, who would be the victor remains a tantalizing question. Not that there are any wishes for her harm, for all she is a strange creature, even by the local standards.
In the event of it, she was sent by employers to obtain the container that it was the ship’s mission to deliver. There was every sign that this would in fact lead to the conflict thus far avoided, but an agreement was reached in that Aya had only committed to securing the case, which those of the ship (Kei in particular) had already emptied of its content. Commitments and duty served, all went on their way, though the question of how such a conflict would end remains tantalizing – even how it would begin, for that matter: whom would she target first, the greatest threat or the easiest targets?
(There remains a Duty to not expose the shipmates to certain death in such an instance, no matter the call of They Who Inflame. This leads to greater risk-taking, thus more glory in the Great Joy, but also presents a delicate set of tactical considerations.)
From this locale, concerns were raised that the Legion or others might have the ship under observation. A fine place serving noodles (think of stringplants, but with sauces that cannot be described without their experience) was found, and while sustenance was gathered, the guards upon the ship were distracted by loudly communicated rumors of a “monster” that was attacking civilians (appropriate sound effects were added, to the delight of all). This drew the guards away, allowing the departure.
Drifter, the pilot (more on him in a bit; there has been neglect in conveying to you who these shipmates are), employed a very breathtaking, high-G departure from low atmo. While the ship came under scrutiny by the sky watch and various craft attempted an interception, the ship successfully evaded capture, aided by clever deceits by Kei and Seon.
(They are fragile, but they are crafty.)
This time of communication is completed, and the duties of the ship must be attended to, with challenges of strength and, perhaps, an opportunity to spar. Further will come soon.
You are missed.
Yae