"Scotty, is an intrasystem jump drive what I think it is?"
"Didn't think Orbital would be interested in that kind of tech, lad."
A large spark springs out from the unit Scotty is working on. He ripped out one of the cables, and placed it on the floor.
"They're typically on the smaller side because they use less power, lad. Though they're dependant on a secondary vessel providing it with Rift-Jumping data, usually over wireless transmissions. If it doesn't have that, I imagine the drive randomly relocates itself a few hundred meters away when used. They aren't that powerful."
Scotty pulls one end out of the other cable and prepares to attach it in the correct spot.
"Why, lad? Is that what this thing is?"
Scotty nods upwards at the direction of the gigantic whirring device he's sitting next to. With one power conduit remaining, he gets to work installing the last circuit. After a moment or two, Scotty prepares to attach the last end of the cable to it's port.
"Scotty, hold tight, I have something dangerously close to a plan buzzing around the ol' brain box."
The door gets shut. Seabourne is seen looking intently off to the side. Thinking that the goose finally caught up to them, Scotty fumbles to get the last cable into it's position. Once positioned, he rotates the cable to lock it into place. The escape pod fires up and startles Scotty. He didn't engage the sequence and wondered what could have set it off. Any thoughts Scotty had about who, what, when, how and why didn't matter. As the bolts shifted into position inside the door and the escape pod's announcer starts counting down. An emergency bypass button starts to flash, for those who are in need to go as soon as possible, however to Scotty, it looked like Seabourne had other ideas. No matter what Scotty said or did, it didn't look like Seabourne could hear him. The thickness of the pod itself was part of it's safety rating, but the downside is that it prevents those outside from hearing anyone inside them. Putting each arm through the seat belts, Scotty secures himself in his chair and watches as Seabourne moves out of frame. The door's window was magnified, mainly used to look at starships from far away when in use. Since the distance here was a few meters, taking one step would make you disappear. Closing his eyes, and praying to live through this, Scotty hears the release of the clamps and the hissing of pistons. Accepting the fact this is happening, and there's no way for Seabourne to join him, the bypass button is hit with a fist and the pod is launched into the Ice Fields of the Cortez System. A few seconds later, lights start to brighten as the intra-system jump drive powers up. The view of the Orlando and Puddle Jumper slowly shrinks until the flash of light changes the scene to ice crystals.
"Godspeed, Seabourne. You crazy bastard..."
Now in a comfy chair, held in place by safety belts, our exhausted Starflier falls asleep...
![[Image: PVArGCT.png]](https://i.imgur.com/PVArGCT.png)