Bankor

Goats could be a handful under the best of conditions. Under the current conditions? More hands would probably be helpful. Besides, Galen always enjoyed his visits with Cole.

"Hello? Doctor?"

The hatch at the top of the ramp opened, revealing Cole, who ran a hand through his hair before waving Galen aboard, “welcome to The Triage, the finest light medical freighter in the galaxy.”

"When you suggested you had plans, I didn't realize how far along you were." he grinned. "Can I have a tour?"

“Of course,” Cole sounded proud, almost happy, “Specialist Devaroo was in charge, the work just flew by.” At the top of the ramp were three doors, Cole led Galen through the door on their right, entering the common room which served as mess hall, meeting room, and recreation for the vessel. A Xexto was sitting at the table with his feet up, flipping a casual salute as the pair entered.

“This is my pilot, Traest, or just Trusty.”

"Nice to meet you." Galen gave a wave. "How many crew do you have, Doc?"

“Two, Trusty here and,” he glanced at the pilot, “where’s Core?”

“Charging,” the Xexto answered, as if that explained everything. Cole nodded, then indicated with his head towards the front of the ship. Along the corridor they passed a closed door, “Trusty’s bunk, technically Core’s too, I suppose.” Poking his head into the cockpit, “morning Core, just showing a friend around.”

An R3 astromech booped non-commitally.

"That's all?" he looked around. "I suppose you need the room for patients. And, goats."

“All things in good time,” he chided, running a hand through his hair and leading the way back through the common room, past a ladder set into the wall to access the overhead turret, to where the corridor again ended in three doors. “Ahead is the engine room, best we stay out of that one,” turning right once more, “the Medbay is just through here.” He led Galen along a short corridor, “storage,” he explained, pointing to a door as they passed it, finally entering Cole’s pride and joy.

Everything was secondhand, but it was clean and in good condition. The room was sterile white and steel, a diagnostic bed dominating the room. A kolto tank stood in an alcove, filled with the life-saving fluid. Cabinets and benches lined the curved wall, there was a microscope and centrifuge and various other lab equipment. Another door led off on the opposite side.

The hunter gave a low whistle. "Very nice. I hope you don't see me in here too often, though."

"An epic waste of money, really. I expect to spend far more time in makeshift clinics and rubble-strewn streets than here." He ran a hand through his hair and pushed his spectacles up his nose, "that door leads to my quarters, as well as back to the common room." With a gesture of his head, he took Galen back to the corridor, crossing to the left side door this time.

It opened onto the main cargo hold, in the corner of which a pen had been set up with a day lamp over it. The smell of hay and goats filled the air, but it wasn't pungent.

"Ah, there they are!" he grinned. "Have they given you any trouble?"

Galen moved up to the pen for a closer look.

Hearing Galen approach, the goats capered over to the edge of the low fence Cole had set up. There was a thick layer of fresh hay on the floor, a trough three-quarters full of water, and a bucket of oats and vegetables that the pair had knocked over and eaten the majority of. "I'll have to separate them soon," Cole said.

He began to pet each of them, nodding. "That would probably be best."

Cole leaned against the wall, watching Galen pet the goats, they were both trying to chew on his fingers, bleating softly. "Jo couldn't remember if it was their cheese or their hair that was valuable. I don't suppose you know?"

"I'm not sure, let me think..."


- - -
[D11, LM, The Triage] How are the goats?, What does Galen know about Girathan Goats?, Xenology, Hunter 2: 2eA+1eP+2eB 2 successes, 4 advantage

“It’s not important,” Cole pushed off the wall and moved closer. He gently scratched at the base of Piper’s horn buds, the nanny’s horns coming in more slowly than the billy’s. “Famed or no, fresh goat’s cheese might still be welcome.”

"Anything fresh is nice to have." Galen nodded.

“It’s rare enough during space travel.” He mused a while, “I’ve been thinking I could donate the kids—Pepper and Piper’s kids—to needy worlds. It’s not like there’ll be a lot of them each year, but,” Cole half-shrugged.

"Anything could help." he nodded. "Of course, your medical aid will be needed more. Is there more equipment you need?"

"Need? not so much," Piper toppled over with a small thump as her lean into Cole's scratching finally overbalanced her. "There's always more equipment that could potentially be useful. Bio-scanner, blood scanner, bio-atmospheric containment. That sort of thing."

"What about vehicles? For when you're planetside?"

"Might be an idea. We walked a lot, working with the Peacekeeping Division. The locals provided trucks when there was no landing site close. But if it's just going to be me," he trailed off, considering. He wasn't keen on operating a vehicle.

"Something to think about." Galen continued to play with the goats. "I've been thinking of getting a speeder bike, myself."

Cole pulled a bit of a wry face, "I, uh, don't feel entirely confident handling those things."

"I didn't either, but I had to learn." he shrugged. "You need to get pretty far into the wild for proper hunting on most worlds."