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+--- Thread: Voiding the Warranty: A Rick Tiltman Story (/showthread.php?tid=208815)
Voiding the Warranty: A Rick Tiltman Story - Vulkhard Muller - 08-05-2025
Voiding the Warranty
Chapter 1: Getting a vessel
Rick walked down the stairs, it had been months since he came up with this plan. This wasn’t a Congressional project, this was something of his own and he had to keep it quiet lest other Junker families might get antsy. He hastened his pace making his way down to the lowermost secluded bay of Newport Station.
For hundreds of years ALG had monopolized the Toxic Waste markets. While such a market might have seemed off putting to some Junkers Rick saw use in the junk, it’s how he had made it as far as it had.
A Kusarian Woman stood in the bay, with a vessel barely visible in the nebula behind her looking somewhat nervous.
“Took you long enough, you know The Guild would have me mining Uranium until I’m sterile if they found out I was here”
“I told you I’d be here, you’ll be fine, here's your credits.”
He lifted his arm and flicked the screen on his watch and half a million credits were transferred to the woman who proceeded to quickly leave the bay.
He approached the glass, he could finally test his experiment, the first trick was getting out of the Crow Nebula with this ship alive.
For hundreds of years ALG had monopolized the Toxic Waste markets. While such a market might have seemed off putting to some Junkers Rick saw use in the junk, it’s how he had made it as far as it had.
A Kusarian Woman stood in the bay, with a vessel barely visible in the nebula behind her looking somewhat nervous.
“Took you long enough, you know The Guild would have me mining Uranium until I’m sterile if they found out I was here”
“I told you I’d be here, you’ll be fine, here's your credits.”
He lifted his arm and flicked the screen on his watch and half a million credits were transferred to the woman who proceeded to quickly leave the bay.
He approached the glass, he could finally test his experiment, the first trick was getting out of the Crow Nebula with this ship alive.
RE: Voiding the warranty - Vulkhard Muller - 09-14-2025
Voiding the Warranty
Chapter 2: Too close for comfort
"Warning Radiation Damage Detected"
Rick yawned, an alarm sound he had heard hundreds of times before, once he was on edge when he heard it now? Not the least bit concerned...mostly.
As he made his way through the West Leeds Smog Cloud the T-382-T "Kamome" Kusari Mining Ship sensors seemed less keen on the acidic nature of the cloud. He hopes this would work like he expected but there was no guarantee. To his knowledge something like this had never, officially at least, ever been attempted. To make matters worse he was no scientist, he had no proof he wouldn't end up dead in this cloud.
"Objective Reached"
Rick pulled himself up and climbed small ladder leading to the Scrubber Control Room. He walked down the length of the room double checking the fuel cannisters. They were secure and all seals locked. Last thing he wanted to do end up breathing this shit in.
He took a deep breath and walked over to the control panel and began powering up the Helium Scrubbers. A loud hum could be heard as the ships core began powering the systems.
3....
2....
1....
2....
1....
He flipped the switch and for a moment everything was fine that's when he smelled it, before he could turn around he saw it brown smog was filling the upper reaches room.
"Shiii!!!!"
He dove for the shaft back to the cockpit as alarms started blaring:
WARNING:
VOLATILE GAS LEAKS DETECTED
VOLATILE GAS LEAKS DETECTED
WARNING:
SCRUBBING SYSTEM FAILURE DETECTED INITIATING FAILSAFE PROCEDURES
SCRUBBING SYSTEM FAILURE DETECTED INITIATING FAILSAFE PROCEDURES
WARNING:
INTERNAL ATMOSPHERIC CONTAMINATION DETECTED, INITIATING EMERGENCY VENTALATION PROCEDURES
INTERNAL ATMOSPHERIC CONTAMINATION DETECTED, INITIATING EMERGENCY VENTALATION PROCEDURES
Rick slid down the ladder slamming a red button on the way down sealing an small internal airlock. he ran over to the comms array coughing:
"SOS this is Junker Congress Vessel E.P.A. Halifax Freeport I have a severe hull breach and have Smog filling my ship! Need Immediate assistance!!"
He gagged as the internal life support systems began failing and the smog began permeating the small room
Just before going unconscious he slipped the emergency rebreather on hitting repeat on the previous transmission before fading into unconsciousness.
RE: Voiding the warranty - Vulkhard Muller - 10-28-2025
Voiding the Warranty
Chapter 3: Bit Close for Comfort
Rick woke up more than a month later in an ICU wing on Halifax Freeport. He groaned and blinked his eyes he looked around getting his bearings. He tensed, unsure where he was until he saw the familiar Med Force Enterprises banner on the wall. Letting out a loud gasp as he suddenly felt the pain for a months worth of muscle atrophy.
Oh Mr.Tiltman! You are finally awake!
The last thing he remembered was emergency alerts, and then nothing.
Honestly, it is a miracle, thankfully you got your rebreather on or you might have needed major reconstructive surgery. The chemical burns were bad enough over 8-% of your body. What do you remember?
Rick grunted as he adjusted himself in the bed sucking in through his teeth from the stinging as his skin twisted previously chemical burns and his lack of movement for...however long he was out.
I remember, hearing the ships emergency alerts going off...and smog filling the cabin...a slight burning and then its all black.
The nurse nods
That checks out, common side effect of the human body going into shock. You will want to take it easy for the next week or so, you probably won't be at 100% for quite a while.
As he leaned back on the hospital bed his mind began to wander. He wondered what went wrong, he didn't have the knowhow nor the contacts to get that information. To make matters worse he burned almost all of his savings on this madcap experiment. He couldn't spend the rest of his days laying in this damned bed he needed to get back to work and he knew where he wanted to go. Getting there might be tricky.
Hey Doc,
Yes sir?
Can you send a call out for the .:j:.Ellis.Island to come give me a lift, should be in the area usually running Refugees from Eerie out this way. It is one of my vessels, has a full medical staff on board so they'll be able to take care of me from here.
Absolutely, I'll have the Communication Room send the message while I prepare the discharge paperwork. In the meantime if there is anything you need at all just ask.
Oh Mr.Tiltman! You are finally awake!
The last thing he remembered was emergency alerts, and then nothing.
Honestly, it is a miracle, thankfully you got your rebreather on or you might have needed major reconstructive surgery. The chemical burns were bad enough over 8-% of your body. What do you remember?
Rick grunted as he adjusted himself in the bed sucking in through his teeth from the stinging as his skin twisted previously chemical burns and his lack of movement for...however long he was out.
I remember, hearing the ships emergency alerts going off...and smog filling the cabin...a slight burning and then its all black.
The nurse nods
That checks out, common side effect of the human body going into shock. You will want to take it easy for the next week or so, you probably won't be at 100% for quite a while.
As he leaned back on the hospital bed his mind began to wander. He wondered what went wrong, he didn't have the knowhow nor the contacts to get that information. To make matters worse he burned almost all of his savings on this madcap experiment. He couldn't spend the rest of his days laying in this damned bed he needed to get back to work and he knew where he wanted to go. Getting there might be tricky.
Hey Doc,
Yes sir?
Can you send a call out for the .:j:.Ellis.Island to come give me a lift, should be in the area usually running Refugees from Eerie out this way. It is one of my vessels, has a full medical staff on board so they'll be able to take care of me from here.
Absolutely, I'll have the Communication Room send the message while I prepare the discharge paperwork. In the meantime if there is anything you need at all just ask.