Utterly Mad

Snow returns the smile, but the concern in her eyes is readily evident. "I should hope so, sir. Assuming you'll keep me on as Master, it's still my duty to suggestion some caution when dealing with stooges like the one we're about to meet."

---

The trip to the bridge is rather short - a fast ride in one of the ship's myriad lifts, a quick walk, and you find yourselves outside one of it's half-dozen entrances. Snow inputs a short code into the panel next to the door, and the massive piece of steel that separates the command center from the corridor slides effortlessly upwards.

Stepping through into the bridge proper, you move on to the upper most level of the multi-storied room, overlooking a couple hundred of the bridge crew on the floors beneath you, moving around like so many ants in a hive.

"CAPTAIN ON THE BRIDGE!" the alert rings out through hidden comms, and all activity halts while your crew turns to give a brief salute. To your left are a series of consoles, positioned in a large circle around a giant hololithic tank which currently displays Jupiter station in detail, and to your right is the captain's chair, raised slightly on a platform and overlooking what are obviously rows of command consoles and displays.

Directly in front of you is a massive viewport that spans nearly the whole length of the wall, which would give you an excellent view of the flashing Gates in the distance. Unfortunately, that view is blocked by a rather unpleasant looking individual wearing the grey uniform of the UTA Naval Services. He's short, fat, and decidedly ugly - this is not helped by the series of tech-augments protruding from the back of his skull. If you had to guess, they are likely designed to increase his cognitive abilities, and if he's typical of mid-ranking UTA bureaucrats, he probably needs them.

"Captain!" he trills, giving Mark what could only be described as a morbid grin, and rubbing his hands together in a nervous, obsequious manner, "It is sooo good to *finally* meet you."

From the back of the party, Snow mutters something under her breath. You don't need to hear it to know it wasn't a complimentary statement.

"It's rather exciting to be aboard such a fine ship, and in the company of such..." there is a distinct pause as he searches for a word, "....unique individuals."

Without waiting for a reply, he motions over a youthful, mildly embarrassed looking man wearing a similar uniform, and snatches a set of data slates from his hands. "I have the Warrant here," he waves one of the slates, "and the transfer papers prepared for you here - there is no need to worry about reading either of them over - I'm assured that it's all merely legal mutterings that are beyond the understanding of men like us anyway!"

Giving the slates a quick glance, he hands one of them over to Mark, hugging the other to his body as though it may try to escape him. Most of it is indeed probably standard boilerplate, detailing nothing of importance. At the bottom is a short paragraph followed by several signatory lines.

I, Mark Hansen, make declaration of acceptance of the Captaincy of the ship known as the Iliad, having inherited the rights of Warrant from my father, former Captain David Hansen.

I agree to serve in the best interests of the UTA, and to place the values of United Humanity above that of my own.

In signing this form, I also agree to submit to any Conditions attached in the Warrant, be it at it's time of origin, included at the Declarations of my predecessors, or added at the time of my Declaration, as detailed in the Warrant itself and unless . I understand that failing to comply with the Conditions as detailed in the Warrant will result in prosecution and due punishment as accorded in section 3 of the Warrant of Liberty.

__________________
Mark Hansen, Captain

__________________
Junior Adjunct Toomes, Facilitator and Condition Negotiator

In signing this, the witnesses attest that Captain Mark Hansen has made this agreement of his own free will, and in full understanding of the Conditions of the Warrant.

__________________
Witness

__________________
Witness

The UTA officer, Toomes according to the paperwork, hands Mark an electropen. "As I say, it's all very standard, nothing more. Signatures please, and we'll be done here."