Horrible Chamax aliens attack Louzy
Lots of excitement with aliens!!!
** Ran Chamax Plague here and didnt take notes. ** ** Ran Chamax Plague here and didnt take notes. ** ** Ran Chamax Plague here and didnt take notes. **
Cargo and Launch.
Celestina locates some cargo for the ship.
[cargo: Nitrogen Compounds [maj 472.5klt=35.0dt] mod:['corr', 'expl']
]
Jump: lousy -> efate. Comdot and throat mike plus med shots
Comdot: single ear + throat mike.
Wide spectrum immunity shot knocks you out for a few days.
Feel totally crap!
Feel somewhat crap!
Gravbelt communication from
Feel a little more crap!
Get the security talk from Brumen. Ah, the joys of piracy.
Brumen gives Sally the security talk. Main worries are piracy and hijacking. Hijacking: seal the bridge and computer. Lock everything down. If it comes to it the ship is more important than the passengers or crew. Always tell other people when you go into the passanger area and it requires someone to buzz you back up. Set your own security passwords etc.
Antipiracy, Brumen wants everyone to be proficient in a weapon and to have a weapon near their station. In Sally's case its Sally with the autopistol in engineering.
Discuss their next destination. Apparently Efate is a zero law level planet. Oh dear.
Sally spends the day thinking about what she needs from shopping at Efate and organising a shooting range down one corridoor.
Feel only a little crap!
Getting to know the crew. Brumen old retired navy. Celestina shy doctor. Attribella, annoying pilot.
Feelings after a few days with the crew: Brumen is the standard Captain, the Doc stays out of everyones way, almost hiding. Attribella floats around annoying people at odd times.
Meeting about planning the next jump. Noone has any specific idea so following the trade routes seems like a good idea, unless something better comes along.
The plan for Efate is that Attribella stays on the ship (after all she loaths Efate), Brumen has some friends to visit, so that leaves Celestina and Sally to deal cargo and go shopping for Sally.
Attribella says that the grav belt needs maintanance. She can get it done at the scout base for Sally, but it'll cost about $10000-$15000 and that if she wants any modifications to it (clothes that cover it, color, pockets, G limit modified, etc etc) that now is the time to do it.
Routine pre-Nspace (normal space, vrs Jspace or Jumpspace) procedure. Testing engines and all that stuff. That keeps Sally pretty busy.
bond with the crew by signing the ship. Ah, old traditions.
The rest of the crew call Sally to the flight deck and tell her that she needs to go weld her name on the hull. Its kind of a tradition. After finding out that Attribella wrote on the front of the ship, Sally writes on its bum.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Into orbit.
Landing.
everyone weapons up for the trip out to lawless efate.
Loading up and sealing the landing bay.
Visiting harbor master and paying fees.
Trundle around Efate and get a cargo.
Sally and Celestina head off to Traders alley.
Eventually find a seller, a Vargr. Arrange for pickup of the cargo.
Shopping for stuff and sightseeing old octogon buildings.
Celestina takes Sally shopping for clothes, weapons and stuff. Sally gets some tools and some clothes.
Get some stuff and a good selection of stuff.
See a octogon building. Odd, just like the one on lousy. It looks a hundred plus uears old, stone.
Head back to the ship. Attribella lets you back in after you prove who you are.
Sally spends the evening playing with her new toys.
Unloading cargo. Boring.
Evening, Brumen comes back.
Everyone tired. Sleep etc.
Misc ship stuff.
the crew are a bit suspicious.
Voord Plendar arrives and chats about the expected cargo. He seems to have lost a cargo and is rather dissapointed. There discussion that points to some, non regulation cargo running.
Brumen chats to Sally about stuff and makes it clear. He says that he'll keep Sally in the loop and that sometimes they are dodgie.
Visit Attribella and Sally shows off her new purchases to get Attribella in a good mood.
Attribella gives Sally the grav belt and mentions that she may need tuneups too.
Attribellas reveals her history on Efate and her 'modifications'.
Attribellas reveals her history on Efate where her parents were killed by zhodani supporting terrorists on Efate. She was wounded and heavily modified with robotic parts. The imperium isnt that happy with robotics and cyber enhancements.
Visit the ancient ruins on Efate. Research Ancents.
Sally has a worry about the future.
get a strange cargo request.
Get a visit from the masked guy. Wants mystery cargo delivered to Saint Foy, a Xenophobic amber zone planet.
lo: 1000 * 4 * 2 = 8k med: 8000 * 6 * 2 = 96k cargo: 30 * 2 * 2500 = 150k total: 254k
Load the cargo and welcome the passangers. Who arent really made all that welcome. Brumen lays down the law about how these guys can either stay in the cargo bay or be locked in the passanger area. Your choice.
Lift off and head out of the gravity well. Hit jump and we're off for a week.
Studying manuals and technical specs for the ship + tools + attribella.
Getting to know the grav belt.
Trov is some hero marine git from the 4th fronteer war.
Setting up a CPF (consumer preference file).
Sally is a big Trov fan now.... thanks to the subliminal vids.
refueling at boughene and due to a comms, problem fired on by navy
Pop out of Jump at Boughene, near the gas giant, Komesh.
[play movie]
Go skimming. Attribella calls Sally up to the bridge.
height Gs atmos temp comments
Skimming fuel when missile alert goes off. Attribella cuts engines and the ship plumets. Overpressurises all the lifesupport into a corridoor on the side of the ship.
Plummet down... down... vent life support gas and ignite it. BOOM! The explosion makes the missiles lose their track.
The only problem now is that the ship is plummeting down. Attribella relaxes and tells Sally it's all up to her now.
Finally start to stabilise out and phew... just missed that old crush depth.
Start heading back up to the upper atmosphere. Scooping fuel, but system reports a fuel leak from where Attribella screwed with the ship.
Ladar lockon. ID code for an imperial gunboat, Hedibar Tundra. Broadcast 'mayday/surrender'.
Told to hold station. Brumen sends the cargo escorts to the cargo bay, ready to repel borders.
Boarded by a gig and a marine squad. Armed with combat armor, laser pistols. Plus one battledress + fgmp
Sergent Rune Kolter bosses everyone around. Kolter wants to search the ship. Attribella feigns brain death. Attribella start to say something, but Sally saves the day.
Sally asks Brumen "Is this how your officers acted in when you were a commadore in the Navy".
Brumen interupts and wants to clear up the shooting incident first, saying that is the root problem.
"What unit?" "Archduke's 1311th, sir." "ah, the tripple 1's. Still attached to the 63rd Marches homedefence fleet?" "Yes." "You have my sympathy, sgnt"
Kolter seems unconvinced, but Brumen mentions that it's the navies possible screw up and he seems more interested.
Brumen and Kolter check the computer for comms traffic and get a garbled paritial message on the G band. No second transmission as the law seems to require.
Kolter and Brumen agree to handball the problem over to the navy. Kolter takes over the ship and secures the navy computer too.
Crew are disarmed and herded into the mess area while the ship and the SDB/gazelle heads back to the cruiser.
Sally appologises for 'helping' Brumen. Attribella leans over and asks about the "So, you've seen the blackglobe generator?" "Of course Ive seen one." "Black globe generator?" "Yeah, its a navy secret. It's a force screen. They're too dumb to work it out themselves, I hear its anchient tech."
Kininur exec officer comes onboard, with Kolter and investigates.
Head off to the scout way station.
G-band is jammed. Navy didnt confirm reciept or transmit a second warning on another band. Navy XO goes all apologetic.
Cargo escorts say cargo looks ok, but will have to be checked out at destination.
Brumen chats to the sngt and tells him to ask his CO if they are still ment be deployed in counter insergency on Menorb. Thats a 20 year old plan sngt. Maybe your CO should press the 63rd fleet for an update.
Sally saves the navy guys from attribella.
Drop in and visit the local scout base. Shown around, Attribella declines. The doctor gets some supplies and then declines dinner.
Looking round the station its way busy. Lots of system traffic, not as much local traffic.
Navy puts on a nice dinner to say sorry. Discussion is varied and covers some interesting topics.
Brumen is treated with a lot of respect and invited to dinner.
Commodore Vendar (male, station commander), Captain Traan (female, kininur captain), Captain Dannick (female, sdb 3 group commander), Commander Rata (male, sbd captain).
Dinner discussion is varied.
Everyone relaxes and enjoys desert. Chat business, Brumen says that he'll seal the fuel and the hull leaks and repair the rest later.
Officers ask "Navy then merchant"? How does that work? Brumen says dissagrements over strategies, lets just leave it at that.
Chat about Sally's experiance with the bugs. Everyone asks about the the system of origion and tries to work out where the bugs will be next. Some chat about an expedition to the origion system.
Reload and repair the ship
Repair the ship
Maneover away from station and then jump point.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Send a voice comm back home about impressions of the scout base, 'the incident', the imperial navy dinner, tactics etc and Brumen opinion on any zhodani attack probably taking efate and further. Impy Navy: rank matters and nobility. Impressions of how navy operates. Contact of SDB captain about ideas system defence and scanner networks. Sallys plan is to head to Regina and try and contact corps, but being careful.
In jump: Dinner with:
They all think the Varg are losers.
Attribella doesnt think the vargr suck, but the navy and army and marines and prettywell any organisation sucks. Maybe attribella is a vargr at heart.
Pepper and Attribella chat and get along well.
Where not to go? Imperial core. Where to go? What do you want? Glissen is cool... its a cosmopiltan asteroid belt. Darrian is cool, although decaying.
Other guys are grunts.
In jump: Also spend time watching the hull and fuel systems like a hawk.
In jump: chat to celestina about contacting mega corps. She says that they'll need to be careful. Maybe patent? Maybe get sponsor?
[ Cam's ruling: the bug ship came from 1602 (pretend there is a
[ Cam's ruling: louzy was previously red zoned. It's only now opened
Arrive out of Jump at Feri (B384879-B). Vector to Feri Down for ocean refueling. Dock for a day. Log a flight plan. Reprovision.
Brumen goes and works out payment and refueling etc with the harbour master. Sally is to do refuel. Celestina is checking out local cargo boards.
Attribella and Astra meet... 'robots' vrs 'space trash'. Astra wants to meet 'uncle Brummie'.
Sally is outside linking up fuel pipes etc. Attribella insulting someone.
"Get off my ship, you vacous piece of space trash."
"Oh, Congratulations 'bell. I didnt realise you owned this... thing. You must be so proud. My mother always said you'd go far."
"Your mother was a cow. So she finally swim upstream to spawn, like a Opellian slime lizard. How did she find someone to do it? Did she have to pay much?"
"Poor dear. I guess they dont teach robots such as yourself the facts of life, but cows dont swim upstream to mate. Still, I guess machines like yourself dont really need to know. Oh, Lost for words? I thought computers were quick. Shall I wait a bit? Or do you need a hint?"
Sally interupts and distracts Astra.
Celestina tackles Attribella and pulls her off and away. Astra introduces herself properly and asks to see Uncle Brummie. Astra says that Attribella had a problem with her mother and that she is 'sad that their first meeting couldnt be more pleasant'. Sally doesnt like Astra.
Sally hopes for either death or a message from Brumen.
Brumen, delivers the message and Sally says that a 'friend of the family' has come to visit. Sally feigns brain death and plays for time until Brumen arrives.
Brumen rolls up and hugs and kisses Brumen. Asks how mum is?
Astra's mother died in a jumpskiing accident.
"Kind of dead." Something about a regulator accident while jumpskiing on a moon. Brain hemorage, probably fatal.
"Hows the Count handling that?"
"Puppybear is doing the whole vidual thing. He's kind of torn up about it and has relinquished his Title to consentrate on Mummikins, but to be honest, she isnt going to recover and I dont think he'll handle that." Astra leads Brumen to a seat. "But how are you. Mummikins told me how close you were."
Sally walks away and comms to Celestina and warns her about keeping Attribella out of it.
Sally refuels the ship and finalies her checkout.
Brumen and Astra appears and Brumen has a headache.
"It seemed like a good idea... I need to get to regina and we got to catch up."
"What is all that stuff?" He says pointing over to crates of stuff.
"Im travelling incognito, like you taught me."
Brumen mumbles something about important cargo and next week. Astra says that she "always wanted to visit the sticks. I hear its terribly cold."
"Arnt you ment to be at uni?" "No silly, I graduated like years ago."
Sally rescues Brumen. "Our ships ready to go..."
"Brummie, I _reeeeeealy_ wanna come along."
Sally puppet masters brumen, "But all out of rooms are prebooked."
"No piracy in system. Plus I have imperial right of free priority, silly. You wont even know Im there."
"Cant. Doesnt cover cargo. Plus Id lose money and..."
Astra invites herself along, much to Brumen's headache.
She pouts. And then bounces. "Oooh, Oooh, Ill bring Peppy (her yacht). It'll be fun! St Foy can be dangerous and Im like kind of important and stuff."
Sally begs for help from Celestina.
"Oh and I met Earl Seppenkor of the Primacy at a hunting thingie. He was terribly quiet before we got to know each other. Those StFoyians are sooo hard to get talking. No thats it, you so need me. "
Celestina is really happy the ship isnt armed.
Brumen says he cant "stop her travelling to StFoy, but that it isnt safe. Ill need to talk to my crew. I wont leave without talking to you again, but now I have ship things to do."
Astra heads off.
Crew meeting. Attribella is plenty pissed off. Celestina is quiet. Brumen is, well, sorry. Attribella rants.
Her rants are actually kind of generic about 'people like her' and 'useless human trash floating on top of people who do the real work'. Nothing specific at Astra and just some general stuff about Astra's mother.
Sally mentions the imperial Writ of travel and how much of a nightmare travelling with her could be. And how she'll wash her mouth out with soap if she says anything about attribella again.
Brumen tells Attribella off for starting it. He says Astra isnt dumb, but that she's going to probably want to be around someone she knows.
Brumen says that she's 'slumming it as a Viscount' and may be a Marquise, depending on her legal status with her mother. She's powerful and not someone we want to piss off.
Brumen says that he cant refuse her going to Regina, but if it comes down to it, he could go in a seperate ship.
Sally says that she's willing to give it a chance. Celestina is just going to stay out of the way. Attribella wants to space her.
Sally suggests suffering along to StFoy and then deciding about the trip to Regina.
Attribella is obviously pissed off, but is mostly quiet.
Brumen goes to talk to Astra. Celestina dissapears again. Sally warms up the engines. Attribella just kind of sulks around.
Prep for launch.
Launch and head out.
Astra's yacht (the Pepmeski) rolls up next to the ship. Invited to dinner. Sally agonise over dress choice. Catch the shuttle over.
Luxorious inside the ship. Very beautiful. Paintings, materials and expensive things. Feels like a building not a ship.
Drinks, small talk. Sally mentions how Brumen crashed into her planet :). Sally fopax the bit about aliens eating people during the pre dinner drinks.
Chat a little about the Louzy enconomy and the closeness to the Zhodani menace.
Astra asks Sally about being a first contact and being at Efate. Chat about shipyards at Efate. Astra asks brumen about the yards at Pixie and Brumen explains a bit.
Sally looks at the pictures and the zukini crustal.
Astra comes over and chats. And Astra chats and appolgises and they start again. They shake hands and chat some more. Sally mentions the problem at Boughene and Astra wants to know if there is anyone she should tell off. Sally worries that she's said too much, but isnt too fussed if Astra is just going to check out the incidents in the system.
Have a nice dinner on Astra's yacht. Astra seems very new at this nobilty thing
Astra asks if shes made a good impression yet. They chat about Brumen for a bit and what Sally wants to do. Astra goesnt know what to do with herself. She's got a planet to look after at Pscias and some commercial things here and there, but she isnt really intersted.
Sally and Astra chat about hating trove and being a painter. Plus why Sally is an engie and what Astra should do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meet Ja-hon the blue guy. Meet Cynthia for the first time.
Alien guy comes in and announces dinner is served.
Ja-hon U'dren, male, Cullenary Experiance Manager
Move into ornate dining room. Toast emperor. Sit down. Dining team introduced.
Cynthia Devm, female, Service specialist
Hulli Korden, female, Beverage Selection Specialist
Deslen Zorxen, male, Chief Chef and Food texture consultant.
Ch'ven Eelman of Aquaven, ?, Food preparation specialist
Ja-hon will ask people what they want. Unfortunatly he picks on Sally for the question. Sally neatly passes and he asks Astra if Beck's Tree Snake is acceptable. Brumen is happy with that too. Ja-Hon makes some snarky comment about people's tastes.
Brumen will ask for some "glow wine". Hulli asks "Preference for year, My lord?". "Something from the 700s? Do you have the 734?" "Of course. Excellent choice. My Lady, permission to open the reserved"
Astra: "Whatever." Hulli: "Then, if I may, can I suggest the 744? It is considered the"
Brumen, nods. Astra: "How much are you costing me, Brummie?" Hulli: "The 744 averages about 26500 per bottle, My lady. We have 4"
Astra: "Poor brummie. He's been slumming it on that junk bucket of"
Brumen asks about how things have been going. Astra comments that things became more difficult since Tukera found an excuse to suspend services from Roup to Feri, thanks to the Pixie Disaster.
Brumen says that Sally is kind of new to this and maybe Astra should explain noble land grants.
Astra explains Trade routes, Oberlines vrs Tukena and general stuff like that.
Food rolls up and is delicious. Cynthia delivers it, while Ja-hon hovers. No knives because the food is 'pre sculptured' meaning that the food has been prepaired with 'break points' already installed and the fork can detect these with a button/slider on the side to select the bite size required. Sally considers stealing the fork and reverse engineering it. Ja-hon demonstrates the use of it. Hulli brings another bottle of the Glow wine.
Astra continues to talk about the regional allocations of taxes etc. She says that mostly it is the trade taxes that she gets to spend, system taxes are generally spent on the taxed system. The money involved is kind of large.
Eg, generally tax on transported goods is = 2% tax (its more in the core and lower in the boonies to try and encourage trade there)
Trade is 95T/year or 260B/day . 2% is that is 1.9T/year or 5.2B/day family cut of that is = 240Mcr/year or 20Mcr/month or 650,000cr/day
Baron Mark halt-Oberlines, a Baron on Feri, runs Oberlines and Tukera hates his guts. His little trade line won an imperial warrant to be the offical carrier for the Marches and Regina (which Tukera expected to win).
Tukera's Pixie facility went boom. Drop tank scandle.
Most recent setback for Tukera was the General Shipyards facility on Pixie exploding. Tukera's drop tank builders were set back and Tukera decided to suspend the whole idea.
Astra asks how Brummies uncle on Heya is going? She says that she partied a bit with Wendy Jnr at Deneb Uni and that shes, well, a little dumb. Brumen assures Astra that Wendy is about average IQ.
Astra says something to Brumen in a different language. Brumen looks totally shocked and Astra says "I knew it! I knew I was right about who you really worked for."
Brumen: "I dont know what you mean."
Astra makes some suggestions about Brumens navy job and his potentially shady past.
Astra: "I met all sorts of nice up and coming young navy boys studying Zhodani, Uncle. Lots of them on scholarships from Navy Intelligence."
Brumen: "What? No flag officers?"
Astra: "Yeah, lots of them too. All those fit young boys in their nice uniforms, I kind of understood why mummy had the hots for you all those years back."
Brumen: "You didnt take zho just because of that did you."
Astra: "Sure. Why not. I had to fill in 2nd year."
Brumen is totally shocked at the idea: "You were ment to get an education young lady, not learn to swear like a Zhodani Urd miner."
Astra: just smiles. "I learnt _plenty_ of other things too, Unkie B."
Brumen's image of his almamata is obviously destoryed.
Sally chats about her first bar crawl at efate.
Ja-hon ushers everyone into the harmony room for desert and the conclusion of the meal.
Desert is mixed and insta-frozen by the chef and delivered by robot from the bowl. Sally checks it out. Hulli tops up the glasses with the Glow residue, explaining that it's a matched wine.
Astra chats to Sally a little and shows people around. Brumen excuses himself for a while to visit the little uncle brummie's room.
Astra offers Sally a room with a air bed for the evening, but Sally figures that she should get back to the ship.
Astra asks what Sally thinks of her now. Spoilt brat, right?
Sally: Nope, but I hope you'll do something with your brain.
A: "Theres so much to do and look after. I mean its 7.5 billion people."
S: "Get to know the people who help. Pick and get to know the right people. You cant do everything, you need people you can trust."
S: "Daddy and mummy had a good system." "Do you have many friends?" "Not really. I moved round a lot"
Sally asks Astra to save Brumen.... poor lad... as they need a captain.
"You enjoy bateing brumen." "Yeah, why?" "We need him to run my ship." ".."
Brumen comes back. Astra shows a picture of her brother and explains that he should be Marquis, but he's off investigating the possibility of being a senator.
Getting to her mothers stateroom, Astra tricks Brumen to touch the door panel and the door opens. Astra laughingly calls Brumen "A sly cad."
"I always knew my mother had a thing for you. She never would say for sure, but this is for your midnight rendevous, right?"
The room is decorated, but in a less ornate, but still somewhat regal way from the rest of the ship, a more personal touch but still aloof. Its a statement.
Astra goes into the room. She stops a little too suddenly and comes out crying, Brumen catches up to try and talk to her, but she just expertly makes light conversation. The conversation is about the various paintings and images until she gets to one of her family then it just makes it worse. Obviously losing it she invites people to the observatory to finish the meal.
People follow and Astra announces to Ja-hon that they will be taking drinks in the Observatory. It's dark and Hulli comes in with the glow wine pulp.
Sally quietly tries to work out where home is to pass time and everyone else just stays quiet.
Astra announces that she is "tired" and thanks people for dinner. Cynthia goes in and the door closes.
Ja-hon pleads with Brumen: "My lord, as you may have noticed Astra"
Astra bursts in. Astra to bodyguard, pointing to Ja-hon: "Get him off my ship..." Jo-hon laughs "Remember I worked for your mother for 48 years, so if"
Astra goes red with anger and rushes up and starts feeblilly punching
Jo-hon just hugs her and she collapses: "Ill get you a soothing beetle"
Cynthia helps her away.
Jo-hon: "She sleeps when she's emotionally exausted, so she'll be ok tonight."
Brumen: "Hmm. Im not in a position to do anything just at the moment."
Jo-hon: "I can try, Lord Brumen."
Shuttling back, Brumen talks to Sally about her ideas. "Astras mother ran a tight ship and there are very few people she shared power with. I have to think about the people in her Fife." "We have to think about Astra." "Im not sure what to do. Its not even my place to help, her mother married the count, not me. I need to sleep and think about it."
Tas news has a shuttle crash that destoyed a landing facility on Moughas.
TAS news article:
Rise and shine.
Brumen does some net time looking for relatives of Astra with not much clear luck. It seems that Astra's mother consentrated the Line's power rather than shared it out. She kind of isolated any remaining relatives that they had by shutting them out.
Attribella interrogates Sally about last night and selling out. Att's problems seem to be that Astra is needlessly rich, doesnt do anything and generally about useful than a vaccume. "'Her kind', eh? Know her well then?" "Fallen for her poor little rich girl routine?" "I dont think so." "Well dont come crying to me when she's finished with you and drops you"
"Do you see me as a person? Well Astra is too." "Yeah, well I went to school with a lot of 'them' and I know what"
"Did she brag about how rich she was?" "There was this groovey fork.... [explains]" "Great, so she had her whole kitchen flown in from the Core." "Well it's her mother's ship, actually." "Yeah, well, just be careful, ok?" "What conserns you?" "She can snuff your life out without even thinking about it? Can she crush"
Hmmm, the planet of Sainte Foy (B-756733-7). Rugged cloudy, cold, mining world.
Rough decent through atmosphere. Land in box canyon, 'Gateway Starport'. Cold outside, but sheltered from the buffeting winds. Its a cool 2c.
Unload cargo. Port is mostly manned by offworlders. Looks pretty swanky. Regular cargo lifts of minerals. Refuel, replenish ship.
Message saying that the purchasing agent has been delayed. Looking round, its a pretty standard imperial B starport.
Local news:
Close roof or periodic de-snow sprays? Close roof I think.
1 hour, Count Ibraim Radge of the Primacy arrives with 30 armed Chrysolite soldiers from the Primacy guard. They are armed with laser rifles, auto pistols and flack jacket/Environ suits.
The Count is angry and snapy. He rants that the helicopers that were ready to recieve the cargo have been grounded at the capital and he's been on a train from the capital to get here in time. He insists that the cargo be accompanied to the capital, Villefoix. He has the payment and is quite willing to make everyones life hell. He does offer additional payment an extra 20% and you wont have to wait until he 'feels like coming back this way' to deliver payment. Given the 'choice' people decide to help.
The capital is 1 days travel by train. Everyone is going. Steal the distributor cap :) on the ship and lock it down.
Arrive at the station only to find, Astra is there in a white fur coat with over the top, bright, red collars and cuffs. All the aliens stare at the overdressed, offworld Astra & her blue friend, rather than the plain offworld weirdos who just arrived.
Board train.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Land on Sainte Foy, a cold planet. Carry the Cargo in a train to the capital
By the time you've done all the waiting and the loading etc, it's like 7 in the morning.
Once under way, the outside temp drops to -25c with 10-50kmh winds + snow.
Sally catches some shuteye.
Around midday, Attribella goes to lunch with Pepper Bantu and Sally.
Lunch conversation is mostly shared adventures of chatting between Attribella and Pepper. Att's experiances running around the scout service. Pepper was a fighter in her youth, but quickly became disilllusioned with the rebellion and the size of the imperium.
Attribella and Pepper are bonding and head off to swap Imperial Navy secrets.
Mid afternoon.
2.5 hours later, the train stops at what looks like an outlaying village. Head on in expensive hotel. There is a diner and a showers etc. Sally takes a shower and relaxes. Brumen and Celestina comes and has arvo tea.
The count appears and joins people at the table, chatting away in quite a friendly and happy manner. The count chats away and says he hasnt been off world much, but that he was disturbed by the pop on roup, as this is a pretty low pop world. Sally mentions about Louzy and the high hop there.
He invites people to dinner tonight in his carrage. Bruman accepts, Celestina and Sally decline.
Back on train and read for a bit then small dinner and off to sleep. Attribella and Pepper arnt to be found, but someone in the diner is complaining about a missing bottle of wine.
Train attacked. Save Astra. Cynthia is a robot guard.
Emergency brakes. Sally jolts up and gets dressed. Brumen says get kitted up.
Big explosion.
Pepper and Attribella stumble in and inject themselves and kit up. Pepper hops out, "Catch you later." Sally helps Att get dressed.
Brumen and Celestina come in and Att and Cel are ordered to get to cover. Brumen and Sally are to get to Astra.
Another explosion. Some gunfire.
Go outside the train to make speed and head towards the counts carrage. Stopped by people trying to get in. Brumen backtracks and heads through the train.
Some shooting down the corridor. Sally and Brumen take out a couple of guys in the corridoor. Brumen heads on in. Sally repels borders and locks the doors. Brumen clears the kitchens and Sally joins him as they keep moving forward. Some more shots down the corridoor and brumen and sally are stuck.
Sally suggests going through a wall and brumen says "good idea, close the curtains". Sally does the curtains and gets clipped.
SALLY GETS HIT FOR .5
Brumen hops up on a sofa and lasers through a wall. Sally checks the corridor. Someone is on top of the train.
Brumen cuts through after a while. He goes into the bathroom and Astra comes bolting out. Sally cries out but Astra goes through the window on the other side.
Sally and the bad guy in the hall both come running out and shooting at each other. Both of them fire away before sally gets a good hit and Attribella finishes him off.
SALLY GETS HIT FOR 1
Sally then leaps out the window and matrixes on a guy outside. Sally lands and finshes him off. Sally reloads and comms to people that she needs help.
SALLY GETS HIT FOR .5
Sally tries to help Astra who is leaking oil. Sally sits gob smacked. Celestina patches Sally who is ranting about oil.
S: "Oil. Leaking." C: "Sure you are."
Sally and Attribella open the carrage door and clear it out.
Brumen tells Astra to "Sit. Stay."
Brumen and everyone check out the counts room. He's ok so people go back to Astra's room.
Astra is sitting on the bed. Celestina check out Astra. "Hey she's leaking oil"
S: "mutter. Told you."
Brumen opens the cupboard and there is Astra. Astra is shaken. Cynthia is on the bed in Astra's top.
Att: "Lookin' good. What sort of idiot doenst bring a gun..." Ast: snaps "I dont need a gun." Att: "Yeah, looks that way."
Sally drags Attribella out the door to 'guard' anywhere away from Astra.
The attackers have no id. The carrage is secure.
Astra comes fuming out to see the count. Attribella says "This should be cool"
Astra smashes on the door "Count! Get your ass out here." Captain opens the door and tells her to go back to her room. Brumen agrees.
Astra fumes. "Count! Get your frexican slime eating ass out here. NOW!" Count: "Go back to your room." As: "Augh!"
Astra gets a crystal pen and sends a subvocal to someone. It gets light and Astra hands Brumen a comm pad with troop positions. Brumen heads out. Astra shouts some more abuse at the count and then sends Cynthia to get him. She confirms orders to interdict the planet with someone.
Sally addresses the Honourable Lady and tries to calm her down. Astra rants about unknown cargo and stopping any more coming in.
Count comes in. Astra turns to the Count and snaps "What the @#*(&$ is that cargo? I want it opened. NOW!"
Sally tells Attribella to get Jo-hon in here ASAP.
Astra is upset at almost being killed and throws her power around.
Count: "No consern of you." Astra: "Fine. We'll just dissasemble any ships." Count looks nervious. Officer asks about the light. Astra explains that its an escort. Astra threatens to 'take over the planet' unless the cargo is opened. Count looks scared and leads the way.
Comm Celestina about opening the cargo. *shrugs*
Heading out, meet Jo-hon and Attribella in the kitchen. Join the party. Attribella: "This looks like fun."
Astra heads to the cargo area. Met by some troops. Astra bullies her way through. Head into the cargo. Some has been unpacked. Blood on the floor.
Open the crates. Boxes of packaged blood in freezer boxes.
Count says its all legal. Happy?
No. Why is it blood. This planet is ment to be safe. Why are they attacking a train full of blood?
Count: Its an internal matter.
No. Why is it blood. This planet is ment to be safe. Why are they attacking a train full of blood?
Ja-hon interupts, desperatly thinking of some way to distract Astra, and says "lets go check the reports to make sure we didnt miss anything."
Ja-hon leads Astra away. Sally follows. Attribella thinks its all very funny.
Celestina is operating on some guy.
One of the offworld cargo guard people was serverly wounded.
Attribella says the bad guys have pretty crappy quality stuff. Brumen says that it was pretty poorly organised. Celestian says the attackers are all dead, seeming taken their own lives. Pepper says the Primacy troops took no prisoners.
Brumen's idea is to chat to the captian about why and whats going on etc. Nothing really makes sense. Except maybe religion rebellion to off world blood.
Brumen says for people to chat to the soldiers and try and find stuff out.
Dum dum daaaaaaaaa......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Astra and Cynthia are off being calmed by Ja-hon. Brumen is off loooking for people to boss around. Celestina is off operating on someone at the engine.
Everyone is called together by the captain who says:
The Plan is:
Make a plan to head out and try and fix things.
Chat to brumen, he's not too happy about it but its probably for the best.
Go visit Astra, let brumen lead. Brumen explains the plan and that he says he agrees with that and that its just a pity its so cold (-25c) outside.
Astra doesnt look impressed and brushes it off with "A little chill doesnt worry me, what worries me is the cargo and whats going on here. We left the Primacy alone on the assumption that they were keeping the peace. This doesnt mesh with what we've been told."
"Can you contact the space dock?" "No. My escort had to intercept a flight from the spaceport."
Sally goes and finds something to eat. She gets water and food organised for her offworld pals.
Cynthia comes up and asks Sally if she can help refuel her. Cynthia reports that she has a "35kw fuel cell, and a 12l fuel store giving a 120hr(5day) endurance at full use". Sally finds a fuel container and shuttles fuel back and forward refueling Cynthia. Cynthia flips open her finger and drains the fuel. Sally tops up 4l more and stashes it.
Sally and Attribella get sally a smg and attribella some food.
Astra rolls up and asks about recharging her fur suit. Attribella makes some comment about slumming it out in the cold.
Astra makes some comment about a poling suit and shows the emergency beacon and the micro mesh hood which covers the face and the hands. "Oh and I have some poling boots in my cabin. How about you?"
Attribella leaves with her smg.
Astra talks about the gun battle with Sally. Was Sally scared? Has she been in a battle before? Astra felt kinda useless, she didnt even get Cynthia to do anything?
Astra is happy to go because she went Pole'ing on Deneb when the holomovie 'Survivor: Blenark Tragedy' came out. Pole'ing is a sport where people treck across an icecap (usually in a weekend or week long holiday). Astra thought that the holomovie was cool, it starred Dellyut and Ulza who were like just sooooo hot in that film and that Felin was cool as 'the survivor'.
Astra has pole'ing-boots and her tempsuit, so she's set.
Sally recharges the suit battery and all the other off world stuff, then catches some shuteye after fixing the crew some food etc. Ja-hon throws sallys food out of everyone's backpack :).
Everything is loaded up and everyone is ready to head off.
Walking.
Ja-hon says he's quite over gunbattles having worked for Astra's mother. Sally blinks.
Have groups patroling ahead to check for ambushes. Basically halftrack towing the cargo sleds and people and the bikes on patrol.
Weirdo group of off worlders. Cythia is floating along. Astra is sleding/skiiing/floating too. Attribella is not braging and thus not floating.
Attribella points to Cynthia: "Whats her story?" Sally: "I dunno."
The count comes over and says that they have a new plan. Brumen suggest an alternative grav-girl recon approach.
Astra skates over and talks about the holo movie that got her into pole-ing.
Cynthia comes back and reports a homestead. Attribella comes in and reports that she made contact and that help is on the way/prepaired.
Find an homestead while on patrol. Find some suspicious locals inside. Home steaders are:
Given a room for the 10 offworlders. Its a bit crowded, but hey...
Astra says that if the crew of the Blenark (from the film) can make it...
Attribella spits her drink and abuses the whole Blenark thing: "a typical"
Astra: "Its just a film, dear. Chill."
Brumen wishes for a quick and immediate death.
Celestina does the medical rounds (she's obviously used to treating these kind of wounds). Cynthia doesnt need refueling yet :). Everyone sleeps (offworlders keep watch though, but Sally is allowed to sleep the night through).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The youngish girl comes in and brings breakfast, wanting to talk to the weirdos. Cynthia, Jo-hon and Attribella are awake. Celestina, Brumen, Astra are asleep.
"Ma says to bring you offworlders breakfast." Ja-hon entertains the girl for a while showing her snakes and stuff. "You're blue, mister." "Yes I am. But can you do this?" Jo-hon holds a knife in his hair. "Gee. No, no I cant. You guys dont seem that scary. Infact you're kinda"
Sally, "I used to protect our world against pirates in the navy." Sally and Xender agree pirates are bad and smelly.
Astra steps forward, "No. Im just here to visit. I own this system and I thought Id drop in and see how things were going."
Ja-hon demonstrates his job much to Xenders confusion. Astra apprently is kind of like the leader, according to Ja-hon's 5 year old description.
Sally explains interstella trade, to Xender. Kind of. Xender and Sally chat a bit more about pirates and working on the farm and stuff. Xender heads off to do her chores.
Sally rests and gets a bit better.
Train back to the hotel.
At the hotel check the news. Apparently there was a guerrilla attack on a train from the starport and the line will be out for a couple of days. Supplies are being routed via secondary tracks.
Weather is too crappy for choppers, so stay a day.
Sleep the night. Read up on things. Primacy are harsh by fair. Rebels want to destroy the primacy and the offworld trade. Prisoners are exanguinated for murder and large fraud/theft.
Chat to the crew. Celestina is of the impression that the soldiers and misc crew are happy enough. Sally mentions her research. Attribella got in a fight. Celestina says that the solders were happy to give blood and accept it.
Astra comes down and wants to go out, but Brumen says thats dumb. Attribella and Pepper are hanging round having fun.
Arvo: train heads back to the starport.
The count comes down to chat to the offworlders and see if everything is ok and how everyone is going. He says that he's organised payment to be brought on the helicopters and that he'll have a shuttle train ready to drop people back at the starport.
Local count wants things solved, but Astra wants to get to the bottom of the attack.
Brumen thinks thats fine. Astra doesnt think it is. Ja-hon is kind of quiet as Astra talks about visiting the boonie parts of the systems that she owns. Brumen, Sally think they should stay, Celestina too, Attribella thinks its a head start and everyone should run.
Brumen arranges for payment to be held at the starport.
Pepper and Attribella are going to party all night and day
arvo: choppers arrive.
Count tries again to talk Astra out of comeing and is crushed.
Ja-hon says that Astra is a little better away from the familiar home.
Night flight to capital.
Sally has changed into local work clothes.
Astra is wondering if she should summon the leader or arrange quarters first. She doesnt really want the state visit thing, but then these people have been snubbing us, so maybe i should insist on it. "Maybe I should go intimidate someone, like that sgnt. The count has been evasive and I like my questions answered."
Sally has an idea and goes and talks to a sgnt.
Sally finds out some stuff about St Foy from some locals. Seems they are anti-social and want to be left alone, but the rebels are even more rabid.
"Sngt?" "Yes, how can I help you?" "I want to understand why I was in that battle and who I killed." "Hmmm. Well those rebels are fanatics. I mean offworlders make us uncomfortable"
All started when the locals started running the mining.
Sally asks about pirates and the sgnt dumps the story of the colony sharing with the fighting mining companies.
Sally asks about the blood, but gets the brush off.
Choppers arrive at the capital. Cargo unloaded.
Count says that the leader will meet Astra tomorrow. Astra stops and lets him dangle for a while before saying thats acceptable, but he better not be late. "Err, I ment Ill take you to the leader." "You look at it however you want."
Off to local barracks for the night.
Convoy into the capital to the Leaders count building.
Grand open court. Herald comes in "all stand", Astra naturally lounges. Leader comes in and sits. Herald says "Sit."
Leader is 50s, beard, serious.
Herald starts business. Astra coughs and walks over and pats him on the shoulder. "That'll do."
"So, whats going on here, Leadie?" Looks around. "I would have been happy with a personal meeting, but if you needed to bring your flunkies, thats ok too."
Herald stomps over.
Someone in the court stands up and walks/races over. Astra runs over and hugs him. "Hi Uncle Seppy! How are you?"
Herald is waved off by the Leader.
He looks emarrassed and stuff in the hug. "Astra, perhaps we can speak privatly..."
"Oh, thats so kind, but Im not really up for social chitchat at the moment. Im working. Im speaking to your Leader guy. So, go sit down and maybe we'll talk later, ok?"
Mutters from the crowd.
At the indication of the Leader, another page brings a data crystal to Astra. "Here are the documents for the cargo. They prove the transaction was legal and valid by imperial law. I would remind you that you have no authority here and we request you depart immediatly. Count, please arrange a train for our offworld guests back to the starport."
"Oh dont bother about that. Ill just have my yacht land somewhere nearby, say in the garden outside. It looks big enough. Im not so happy with train travel here, given recent events. Hey, that reminds me, what that attack was about."
Astra makes a stand with the local leadership to try and get to the bottom of it.
"It is an internal matter. That is not a matter for off worlders."
"Im not 'offworlders' Im _the_ offworlder. I am everything offworld that you ever need to worry about."
"We dont want offworld interfearance and our treaty with the imperium is quite specific that our independance and isolation is to be maintained in return for the mining. We have fulfilled our obligations via the treaty and if you wish an update, you'll have to wait for our yearly audits in 8 months."
"Oh thats fine. You getter get on it because when I get back im going to see what I can do about getting that changed to weekly or maybe even daily. Oh and while we're all wasting my time, Ill get the university sociology department to examine everything coming into this system to ensure no offworld contaminination for you. Im sure it should only take them a few months to get an understanding on your society and release all the impounded cargo. Oh and speaking of cargo, I think its time you paid tax on it. Cynthia, what would be the maximum legal tax we could leavy on traffic here?"
"Imported cargo: 12.87%. Exported cargo: 15.44%."
"You have no authority to tax here."
"Silly, Im talking tax at the starport. Cynthia, factor in full refueling and bearthing expences? Oh no hold on. Do the transports have saftey check status?"
"From the StFoy yard, yes."
"Hmm. Not good enough. How long would it take to impound and perform vehicle saftey checks on all the StFoy carriers?"
"3 months, 2 weeks, 5 days, assuming they meet imperial standard and given current work backlogs."
"Great. Oh and remind me that I want all the SBD's priority refitted upto current navy standards. Natrually 2nd priority would go to jump capable ships. Time now?"
"18 month, 3 weeks, 3 days."
"Excellent. Hmm. Shall I continue?"
Silence.
"Oh screw this." Astra leaves. "Look Leady, Im going to find out whats going on. Ill summon you when Im done and tell you what Ive decided to do here, OK? Neat. I know you'd understand."
Astra goes to head out. A local noble and the herald block her from leaving. She makes some other threats about and the noble steps aside.
Astra steps out and the count chats to her. She outlines the whole "you solve the problem or I will" approach.
Attribella challanges Astra's ability to change the details of the business deals with this planet. Astra defends herself quite well well with some stuff about 20 year contracts running for 170 years (isnt grand daddy smart?) and reverting to 'standard imperial taxes' rather than the cheaper contract one.
Attribella thinks for a bit and then says, "Cool. You got them over a barrel."
Sally and brumen talk about keeping Astra out of trouble for a while.
Head back to the military base.
The Earl delivers payment to our heroes for their job delivering the cargo. Thats $304800, Sally gets 30480.0, bringing her ship balance to 90182.75, including her inital Lousy retirement balance.
Astra says to head back to the local base, she's obviously deep in thought on the way back and wont really be drawn into conversation. Brumen is somewhat lost in thought too, but is somewhat more chatty.
Back to the military center, Astra's yacht has landed and is surrounded by local army units. Astra heads inside, brumen too.
Everyone else goes inside too. Ja-hon who invites people in for nibblies & he wants to know whats going on. Attribella says, "Shes going about getting us killed juuuuuuuuuuust fine." Ja-hon has a knowing nod. Celestina just has a drink and watches outside.
People discuss if it's better to just bring the bike back or the whole ship. Is the ship safer at the starport or are 'we' safer with it here? Definatly talk to Uncle Brumie.
Brumen says Attribella head back, start it up, and then we'll see once thats done. If she cant make contact, bike up for some height and head back and keep trying the comms. Celestina says that warming up the ship sounds like a real good idea.
Attribella wants to refuel first so she gets Sally to accompany her to the engine room. Attribella peels open her skin and attaches a refueling hose.
Cynthia finds out that Attribella is partially robotic and gets abused for it.
Cynthia comes in. Cynthia sees Attribella's refueling hose, "Are you artifical too?"
Attribella flips back angrily. "What? NO! Im human, not a machine."
C: "Sorry. I ment no offence."
Attribella unplugs and storms off. "Bloody freaky fleshbots. Should report it to the..."
Cynthia and Sally have a chat about what Cynthia is. She's a synthetic pseudoboilogical machine which is a robot that uses flesh and muscle in its operation, but she has synaptic processors and cpus not a brain.
Debate continues into do constructs feel real emotions. Sally considers Cynthia human, much to Cynthias confusion.
Cynthia runs through her 4 year old design and how she merges linear and synaptic programming.
Synthetic Development Model-8c thus her name is Cynthia DevM.
Sally gets a run down of how she is constructed and all her internals (sensors, laser welder, smg, densimeter). Oh and it's Astra's skin and muscle that Cynthia uses.
Sally asks if she enjoys working for Astra. Cynthia talks about Sally prefering to refer to her as human, but she shouldnt do it all the time as its illegal in some places.
"Article 37 specifies that no robot may pass itself off as a living being."
Cynthia talks about not needing to sleep so she learns from the data nets. She says that she was designed to need humans to refuel thanks to her design, although it would have been possible for her to 'eat'.
Attribella takes people outside where things have turned ugly. Hmmmm protestors at the fence with troops holding them back.
Earl Seppenkor is there too, and comes over to chat. Sally vocals to Brumen and he comes out.
Apparently there has been a number of events recently that have turned people blame on offworlders and the crowd think that the offworlders have brought a curse with them and are close to storming the ship (but the officer is trying to talk them out of it).
Sally wooses out and lets Brumen deal with it.
Brumen says for Attribella to get flight clearences and stuff for herself and the ship. Sally heads off too to get details etc. Takes about 30 mins to work out.
Brumen and the Earl are still chatting about the situation. Brumen says Attribella get going, sally get inside.
Attribella heads off to grav away into the sky without enraging the natives.
Ja-hon chats to sally about how wonderfully offensive Astra can be.
A short while later Brumen comes in and chats with Sally and asks if she would like to talk to Astra for a while as he needs to chat to people for a while. Sally nods, "keep her occupied, eh?"
Astra is in her stateroom (not the main stateroom, that was her mothers) and is sitting at a desk, head in hands, elbows on desk, staring at the desk. in a chair at her desk. Coming inside, there is a gun on the table, fitted in an ornate box.
"Do you really think that they'd try and kill me? I mean, I mean would they?"
"Not all of them will be thinking logically. It only takes one."
"I can see why my mum had a good realtions with imperial marines."
"You admire her, dont you."
"She made it look easy."
"You didnt see her in the early days, did you? Im sure she had a"
"Mother didnt show weakness or uncomfort. She always seemed to know"
"Spit it out. Whats the problem?"
Astra has a bit of an issue with stepping into her mothers boots and also about guns. Her mother was a grunt and not afraid to show it.
"Guns. Dont like them. Always have since I was a kid. It feels like an"
"Did your mother carry a gun?"
"Yes."
"So is it an admission that intelligence alone cant do it? Or that you"
"Mother always seemed to have imperial marines around when she needed"
"Your Mum was in marines?"
"Yes. After uni she did two tours. I feel kind of useless. I should be"
"Ok, whats the status then?"
"Well, I need to find out whats going on, but I dont feel safe going"
"Emotive. Look at it more logically. What do you need to do?"
"Do I follow this up or not. The rebels, the blood, the secrecy and whats"
Chat about finding out stuff at the local a local StFoy starport. Also discuss the history of the place. New colony, settled, claw out existance, miners arrive, eventually trouble, fights, war, 'piracy', and all sorts of bad stuff. It got pretty ugly before the navy stepped in. Then the lawers dragged a settlement out and the miners were kicked off and the rights given to the StFoyans.
"The issue is that Im not the enemy here, and I can help them. If they're"
"What do you want to achive?"
"I want to find out whats going on in MY domain."
"You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."
"I could have done it either way, yes. I picked my way because action was"
"The guy on the copper seemed to say the blood thing was kind of religious"
"Hmm."
Brumen comes in and heads over to Astra.
"Astra, listen to me. You're a smart girl and you've got a lot of potential, but you're not your mother. You are like your mother in that you're one of the smartest, most stylish and sofisticated woman that I have the pleasure of knowing, but you're not your mother. She was power wrapped in velvet and wielded with a raging tempter and a ruthlessly cultivated reputation. Thats not you, atleast not yet. Youre not her, because like you, she was unique. You have to stop this."
"Thanks Uncle, but no. Im going to get to the bottom of this. Something is going on here and reguardless of all thats happened, it's my duty to understand whats happening in my realm and its also my perogative to investigate it however I want."
"Seriously, Astra, go home. Ill get to the bottom of this, I promise."
Astra shakes her head. "Its not your responsibility.... Baron."
Brumen arrests Astra for her behaviour.
Brumen seems smiles and puts a friendly hand on Astra on the sholder. "I figured that you'd say that. You're not your mother, but her stubboness is plain to see." He stands and straightens up. "In that case, Most Honourable Lady, Im arresting you for violation of Imperial Commerce laws 42.433.a, 83.42.j and..."
Astra turns, jaw agape.
"..the Ministry of Commerce treaty of Knabbib which all deal with the illegal wielding of commercial monopoly influence and Ministry of Culture law 823.23.3 on rights of recognised governments to cutural independance. I ask you hand over all weapons, including the override codes to your robot."
"Brumen, you cant.."
"It's done. The override code, Astra.... now."
Astra stares at brumen for a bit and then looks around at everyone before replying "Cynthia, I authorise Brumen for ownership access. Code is 'A request I meet in kind'. Confirm."
"Confirmed."
Brumen leaves. Sally gets the gun off Astra and Astra asks her to leave. Shes not a happy camper.
Brumen says "Cythia, remove Astra's ownership rights. Place her under escort. She is to be delivered to Regina for trial. You are to defend her as her body guard, and I authorise use lethal force. You will attempt to deliver her alive, but I authorise force in restraining her. Your new primary goal is to deliver her to the Court at Regina, alive if possible. Here is your legal authorisation to act on my behalf." He hands her a data crystal.
The ship captain comes in and Brumen talks to him, ordering him to take Astra to Regina.
Sally chats to Brumen. Sally gives him a piece of her mind. He says Nobility is a complex thing, and that she needs to just go with him on this. Blah legal case blah blah. Sally is distressed that Brumen may have destroyed Astra. Brumen is worried too, but he chose this path and he does care but it needed to be done in his view.
Brumen says to get your gear together and get Celestina too and that we'll be taking our ship not this one.
Captain says 10 mins. The Princess crew head outside. All meet outside and chat to the Earl who looks nervious.
"So, whats happening."
"The Marquise is leaving on an urgent mission to Regina."
The Earl looks releaved. "I tried to explain to the Leader that"
"There will be an enquiry and I will need to take the facts back to Regina."
"What?"
"Sorry, Lord Seppenkor, there is no way to avoid it. But I can promise you"
The yacht leaves.
Chatting about a full investigation leads to the idea that our heroes have to investigate the death of the vice leader too, incase its linked to increased rebel activity that Astra will no doubt claim.
The crew is smuggled out of base and off to the Vice Leaders residence.
Earl explains that you'll be staying at the house. Security stepped up because of a missing guard a couple of days before.
The crew work with the local yokels to get to the bottom of an assassination that recently occured. It seems like offworld high tech...
The security guard is convinced that the attack is supernatural. Noone seems to believe him except some of the other guards. Hmmm. Primative pitchfork wielding yokels.
Check out the house. Looks secure from the outside and there are plenty of guards inside.
Check out the room.
The Earl shows people pictures of the scene. Surprise and pain on the victims face. Flung papers. Body on the bed, lots of blood loss from the chest.
Sally notices notices a small glass circle cut in the window, about 1cm in diamiter.
Brumen says 'well this isnt supernatural then'. Sally suggests maybe a gravbelt was used. The earl asks if it was offworlders. Brumen says anyone with a vaccsuit and a gravbelt could do this without being noticed so it might be an offworlder, but it doesnt have to be _these_ offworlders :).
Layout of the house publically known? Maybe the guard was taken to find this out?
Brumen says to check out the house exterior anyway and take samples of everything that seems to make sense.
The CSI team rolls up and they start doing samples etc. There is no evidence of any kind of explosive residue that they know of.
Checking out the windowsill and below, they find no glass circle. Maybe a laser then? Brumen says that its unlikley as if it was organised, one could get a widebeam focusing laser to shoot through the glass and even a normal laser weapon would leave a smaller mark than the cut on the glass.
The Earl says no bullets were found in the body and there was no exit wound.
Celestina and Sally check out the outside and Sally notices some of the wire pushed aside.
This is in the least lit corner of the fence and probably where it an assailant would enter.
CSI munchkins are all over it and their boss says that this is obviously criminal, human not supernatural. Apparently the last investigation was done by security forces and they havnt reported anything yet.
Sally and the CSI's find a footprint, average size & depth, in flowerbed near the house. They search more and find scratchs on the roof ledge above the window.
Guards still think its supernatural. CSI's and our crew dont.
Our heroes head off to check out the body. This is Celestina's job.
She does a cursory examination of the body and comments that it isnt a laser, no big rip (after some explination of laser truma to the local doctors and the CSI team). Not a bullet because the size is too small.
A warning beep from some of Celestina's unknown machinery makes her step back and check out the body. "Oooh, high levels of bacteria". She gives herself and some others a shot.
Celestina thinks that maybe it was a gauss weapon of some kind. Yep, she finds a scratch on one of the ribs. Probably a subsonic gauss weapon.
Needle think metal darts accellerated through a magnetic field. Near silent except for the sound barrier break and if it was subsonic you wouldnt even have that. Brumen says that it was probably an assassination then.
Earl explains that there is no reason to take out the vice leader. Nothing to be gained. The Leader, yes, but not the Leader in training.
Sally suggests looking at what has changed from the assassination. More distrusting of off worlders for sure.
Earl, its not going to stop offworld trade. Even the rebels dont gain from this.
Sally, someone internal sewing distrust? Demonstration of threat?
Earl, this is a serious deveopment and he'll have to report back on it.
CSI team have tests to run but want a meeting in the morning. Earl heads off to report to the central committee. Our heroes are to stay at the ex-vice leaders house
Head back to the house.
Take turns on watch, listening for Attribella and writing a report on Astra.
Sally goes down into the kitchen. Guards talking.
Guards talking about "..the Planets spirit has awakened and its angry like it was in the pirate wars. All this is because we let offworlders rip up the planet again, only this time its us doing it for the offworlders and thus we are paying all of the price. Its the Black Earth, risen to eat our souls. Thats what the two holes in the vice leader are Its where where the Black Earth reaches into your chest to rips out your soul, just like it was in the old stories. It bored a hole in the glass and poured itself, like sand, through the hole and confronted the vice Leader. It killed him and its going to come back for all of us for· blaspheming against the world like we let the pirates do those· hundreds of years ago. I tell you that even now it's watching us and waiting.. waiting for a chance to take our souls."
Sally justs listens then sneaks off.
Celestina asks brumen if she should to write a report. He says, probably not worth it, but on the other hand better to be thorough.
Sleep. 3am! Gunshots! Check it out buts its just trigger happy guards.
Sally takes watch and writes her report.
[ Sally's report on Astra: intelligent, under a lot of emotional stress,
Meeting with CSI team.
CSI's hold a meeting, inviting the offworlders.
Method: climbed over the fence without being seen, up the sheer wall, over the icy roof, cut a hole in the glass, used an assassins gauss weapon to kill, then somehow escaped out.
Motive: unknown.
Suspects: unknown, but access to offworld tech.
Tests turned up metal and plastic residue in the wound. Maybe the bullet disolves to make it spoooooky.
One of the CSI team remembers the Black Earth stories.
investigate the assassination with the csi team when suddenly..
Old stories of the Black Earth are legends of an earth spirit that rose because of the damage the the miners were doing to the planet. The mining angered it and it killed both miners and locals during the pirate war and it stopped when the navy came and the miners were forced away. It was said to be unstoppable and once it had marked someone for death, it would track a target whenever they touched the living earth, rising out during the night and tearing it's victims soul from his body. Black, vaguley human, hunting offworlders and locals alike.
CSI team ask the offworlders how they'd do the assassination (to try and understand offworld tech). Brumen says that it the fence pushed down points to a local because if it was offworld, you could use grav belts, refocusing lasers, xray lasers, cammo suits, lots of ways, ignoring the better virus, targeted bio attack or even orbital micro meson gun to the brain.
Sally talks again about local superstion.
Celestina goes and sets up her medkit and sees how the sample is going The bacteria are related to an old a feroplastic digesesting strain but she cant get an exact match, so maybe it was gen-eered. Her theory is that the needles were probaly self digesting but there would be undigested remains of the needles if there is a microscopic analysis (which was found by the team during the night).
The weapon looks very professional. But the fence doesnt. Weird. Strangeness.
Someone rushes in and reports that there have been some children hurt by what looks like an aliens weapon. Everyone scrambles.
Brumen organises to send a landmessage to Astra to bring the ship (incase they need the tech onboard). The noble is gone, but brumem in consultation with the CSI leader says that its worth the risk to have the tech nearby.
Celestina packs up her med kit and gets Sally to help her with the med and surgical kit in her room. She's nervous.
Kids found a laser and Celestina (sadly) brings high tech medical attention to try and save them.
"You ok?" "I wish I had your job" She's very emotional, all of a sudden. "I dont want to do this. I.. Kids.. Im sick of digging round inside"
"Ah." "Its not just that. Im sick of what people do to each other." "If I can help, ask."
Sally sticks close to Celestina as they travel. Flashing lights and cars and our heroes in a bouncy truck.
Arrive at the hospital.
Emergency area. CSI guys seal it off and ask for all the evidence.
Seriously wounded girl, boy and girl with lighter wounds.
Celestina examines the eye of one of the patients and diagnoses it as a laser wound.
Outside, bickering over what to do by officals + csi + brumen + police + doctors. CSI guy orders offworld doctors to save witnesses. Brumen, head doctor, administrator and the CSI lead are arguing outside.
Celestina gets Sally to set stuff up and to make the beds stable. Save PDA's and network them. Celestina gets Sally and the ER doctor to check for eye damage in the kids. First kid takes some time to do thanks to the dr. Takes a while for the really wounded girl.
Celestina has treated the other two but is uncertain about the girl. She starts doing visual reports on the wound angles etc when she suddenly starts to deal with an emergency in the little girl.
Girls heart stops, dr wants to restart but Celestina keeps working.
Brumen finishes vector analysis and presents a picture of the scene.
Celestina says the other two will live but the girl needs major attention now. The ER doc, head DR, and Celestina are going to operate. "I could really use the ship's med bay. If this goes bad, we can put her into the lowberth and chryo her."
Call the starport. Attribella says "I almost bloody froze to death in the storm that...."
"Get the ship here now."
"Aye sir. Ill have to orbital to avoid the storm."
"Get the ship here now."
Off with the csi guys to the school. School, police, tv crew.
CSI's talk to the kids. Sally and Brum check out the scene. Shot from a clear area in the playground.
Back inside. Chatting to the kids. Scared and quiet about it.
"Its magic."
"A magic piece of metal about, err, yay long?"
"Yeah!"
Brumen demos the laser and the kids dump the story.
Hoyt Adrik, 16, was a bully and he was extorting lunch money when Ulex said it was wrong and he shot her.
Rush off to the home of the bully. Scare the mother.
Report about a bank job. Head out there. Seems the kid has hostages in a bank. Chat about what to do. Bring sensors from ship and snub pistols with tranc rounds.
Grav belts head in shooting tranc rounds and Hoyt is taken down.
Send the shot hostage and the bank guard off to hospital.
Catch the kid with the laser and track it back to a wrecked spaceship.
Question the moronic bully Hoyt about whats happening and he says he found it in a crashed ship that the earthquake unearthed.
Go get the ship and scan for the downed ship and find it. Crashed in the earth and the earthquake opened it up.
Report to the police and go secure the ship.
Head into the ship, its on reserve power and many of the lights are out. Its very dark. The armory is locked. The crew doors are open. Stuff is spilt.
Split up, Brumen and Gill head off to check out the staterooms. Sally and Attribella check out the engine room and bridge. Engineroom is on emergency power, Sally brings it back up. Brumen and Gill find some lowbearths with people in. Attribella suggests that maybe its the crew if the ship buried in the earth. The bridge is pretty well destroyed.
Brumen and Gill get the computer up. Sally and Att check out the hold and find the robot work area.
Sally quickly picks this as a mechanical and robotics repair shop. She notices the obvious 'bed' for the robot and the hydrocarbon fuel cell. She smashes the nozzle for the refueling point.
She digs around some of the computer records and finds details of the machine. Its an assassination robot, designed for stealth. Apparently some company designed it and was 'leasing' it for testing to a group of miners back in StFoy's pirate days. The robot was sent against miners and locals who crossed the company that hired it.
Suddenly there are gunshots upstairs and Brumen says Gill is hit. Brumen works out a way he can mask his brainwaves and hopefully fool the robot and distract it if Sally and Attribella can grav up and nuke the bastard!
All synchronising, they give it a try and Sally and 'Bella's smg's take it down. Sally gets some mechanical tools and rips the robot apart so that it wont _ever_ get up again.
They quickly grav-strecher Gill up to the ship and deliver him to Celestina's house of 'stitch em while you wait'.
Find a wrecked ship with an assassin robot onboard. Sally and the crew deal with the fiendish thing and are hailed as heroes.
Meeting with the Noble again, our heroes are hailed as, well, heroes. They are given a much warmer welcome back at the court. The locals are very happy to finally have some 'evidence' to point at the offworlders.
Brumen explains that the Navy will want to come and examine the scene to see if there is anything that can be done against the company. A quick search shows that unfortunatly the robotics company went out of business long ago. But with the 4 crew in lowbearth, it looks like there will be someone to charge and question.
Brumen's advice is seal it off, cause the navy dont like people poking round 'their turf'.
Sally checks out the ship to make sure the lowberths will keep working and the 'evidence' will be ok.
Now our heroes are welcomed back and finally find out about their mysterous cargo.
Chatting to our noble locals, Earl Seppenkor, he explains that the blood was required because the local noble line has a recessive blood disorder that requires frequent transfusions. Previously they had a local 'raffle' where locals were 'tapped', but recently they were offered 20000 units at double normal price by an imperial trade company. The government took the deal and our heroes ship delivered it. The Primacy doubts that most offworlders would understand their problem and some investigating shows that they are actually reasonable rulers who are quite popular except with a rabidly antioffworld rebel group). Brumen makes understanding grunts and everyone seems happy at the outcome.
Seppenkor's happiness doesnt last when Brumen explains that 'someone', ie him, will have to come to Regina and give evidence. Oh well, everyone else is happy.
The local news is actually positive about our offworld heroes interfearance for once, but it is sure down on the offworlders of the 'pirate' era, not unsurprisingly.
Anyway, our heroes enjoy some local hospitality before packing up and heading off, back to Feri, a job well done..
Get back to Feri.
Celestina, miracle worker that she is, finds 30dT of freight to Regina.
Ship fuels up and heads off.
In jump from Feri to Roup.
Patch vacc suit. Look up stuff on corps and law. Brumen says it could be lots of different courts.
Celestina moves down into the passanger rooms for the week 'cause she wants to be left alone.
Emergency evacuation during night 4.
Attribella gets Sally to check out one of her grav modules which is sending her warnings about potential component failure. Apparently it was pretty well knocked about and frozen on the grav back to the ship. Celestina cuts Attribella open and Sally does the maintainance.
Check the engines out. Write letters back home. Research stuff to buy. The usual.
Quick refuel at Roup.
In jump from Roup to Hefy.
Quick refuel at Hefy.
In jump from Hefy to Regina.
Sally chats to Celestina about megacorps. Megacorps are massive and variable through out the imperium. There are a few to look into.
Celestina says that it depends on the market size that you want and maybe dealing with a subsector company might be a better start. Talk about patents and looking into the tech. Also the need for full research. It depends on the process and the net effect of the tech (ie, is it good enough that gov's may demand its use).
Talk about the need for high tech companies, scientists, lawers to help.
Arrive in Regina.
Dock at a groovey orbital trade station
Lots of trade ships etc come through. Its busy and quite amazing. Unload frieght.
$ unrefined fuel 671kl * $10 = $6710 $ unrefined fuel 671kl * $10 = $6710 $ unrefined fuel 671kl * $10 = $6710 = but fuel rare so, = $13420 $ ----- $ $26840 = say $30000 for whole 3 weeks $ cargo 30 tons. 5 parses pays: $97500 $ Pays profit of $67500
Head intersystem to Regina proper.
Wow! Lots of Imperial Navy ships. Lots of navy ships are in orbit of Regina.
Sally is "Wow".
Attribella quickly replies "Those ships were outdated in the last war. They'd be toast in any real conflict. Its a publicity thing really."
"Old ships out to pasture? Still the grazing looks good."
Most of a chunk of time spent in a queue waiting for landing clearance for the starport.
Attribella bitches about the Navy wasting everyones time with the bloody queues and they should just let the scouts run it.
Sally bates Attribella some ;).
Message from home. Apparently the decoding of the ships database is revealing more advanced tech than Louzy has. Its about tech 9 it seems. Big changes at home to restructure to support the new tech learnin'.
Back on Louzy the invaders ships have been decoded. It was an 'arc' ship to escape the bugs that overran their planet. The ships have educational systems of a higher tech than Louzy and that is coming in handy.
Land on Regina.
Brumen explains that Regina is the focus of the navy for the subsector.
He'll chat to some people tomorrow and get the ship into navy hands for repair with Sally overseeing the repairs. That should cut the massive berthing fees, for a while atleast.
Attribella will go and book some accomindation here if and when the ship goes in for repair. Celestina isnt happy about that, she doesnt want to go out into circulation on this planet.
Court case tomorrow, so any time we can squeeze it in is when the Brumen is going to visit the navy.
On Regina get some supplies from the Navy and deal with Astra's case.
Celestina hands Brumen a list of stuff she needs replaced by the navy. Sally is going with Brumen.
The Inquest.
Enter a room set out as a court room. There is a raised set of 5 seats on one wall sloping down to and two court officers seats. On the other side of the room are audience seats.
People file in a crowd. A lady in her 50s moves up and takes a seat, she is joined by two other older people. She turns and addresses those gathering.
"This Imperial Review Committee has been commissioned to look into aligations brought by Baron Olewinsky into charges of violation of imperial trade law and misuse of title by Marquise Astra Xankat darFeriBoug vonRentanalov hault-Detten on the planet of StFoy in the Feri system, on 58/1107. We are to investigate this case and report to Duke Norris who will pass judgement and recomend further action."
Astra is sitting in the front area. Cynthia is sitting in the public area.
"Unlike dictatorships, the Imperial rule specifically excludes control of member planets, instead the Imperium provides security as well as cultural and economic trade between member worlds. This is why this case strikes at the heart of imperial law and must be dealt with urgency."
"Violation of trade law are taken very seriously by the Imperium with the sentence ranging from a minimum of 15 years to a maximum of 150 year on an imperial prison colony. The titled nature of this defendant makes the charge especially serious, as using ones position to commit such acts is a voilation of the trust placed in the title holder by the Emperor and his imperial subjects."
"I am Professor Uden von-Ovel, retired dean of Imperial Trading law at the university of Regina. I represnt the Imperium itself."
The next person, a man of 60's stands.
"I greet the court. I am Viscount Jawlaw Addler-StXilder, retired judge of the 4th circle court. I represnt the Imperial law and the titles granted by the emperor."
A guy of about 60 stands.
"Er, my name is Wikk Pexelrod. Um, Im retired from the orbital fighter yards at Regina-4. I was a foreman in the factory and I worked on the hulls and external systems."
The lady nudges him and gives him a few hints.
"Oh, and Im, err, representing the Imperial citizens."
The lady stands again. "This IRC is now in session. All people having business with this IRC please report to the IRC organisers in rooms 4.100 to -4.150, and report as detten-1107. Thankyou. We shall hear take private testimony first, then public presentations."
Everyone leaves. Brumen reminds people of the room numbers and heads off.
Go in, sit in a room. Wait for some organiser to come and take your details. Wait. Wait.
Sally reads a technical manual while waiting.
Called to give evidence.
"You're here for the Marquise' IRC? Right. Details.... Records... Summary."
Organiser leaves. Wait some more. "Right, the IRC will see you now."
Go in and be questioned.
Sally presents information to the court. They take their nobility seriously it seems.
Sally says:
"Now, I see by your record that it is quite unblemished. Is there any undisclosed reasons that this committee shouldnt take your record at face value? Please keep in mind that if at a later date anything is reported to this committee that disagrees with your statements here, it could be grounds for criminal charges."
Silence. "Hmm."
"Im curious why you joined up with such a crew of malcontents and criminals."
* ??? *
"Well, other than Baron Olewinski, the crew of his vessel seem to be, well at best dancing on the the edge of serving prison time and at worst convicted felons. We find such a pattern disturbing and would like your assurance that we can expect no such suprises in your case."
Jaw just flaps.
"Well thank you for your contribution. We'll comm you if there are any developments or we need you again."
Sally bugs off and chills out for a little bit to recover from the stress of giving evidence.
Visit the navy admin facilities with Brumen and Seppenkor.
Massive admin building with endless floors of offices and queues of people. Seppenkor is like _wow_.
Queue up waiting to see someone at the desk.
Brumen asks Seppenkor what his gov wants from the navy.
Seppenkor answers "Good relations mostly. Help if we need it. That sort of thing. We'd like some answers to exactly what that robot thing was and the details behind it."
"So you're looking for investigations and good relations, not a base, or to sue or anything like that?"
"No. The navy helped us with when our colony was young and we owe them for that. It's not their fault that criminals did this. If they can help investigate, then we'd be grateful, but really I think that just knowing is closure enough, although prosecution would be nice. I think that after all this time, there isnt really anyone alive who is responsible. Except the crew naturally."
Brumen organises some navy help for StFoy
"In that case, Im sure I can arrange excellent diplomatic relations between the navy and your planet." Brumen smiles, knowingly.
Sally doesnt say much. She's reevaluating Brumen.
Pass a 'marine red zone'. Brumen gives a 'health warning'.
Brumen goes and gets a pass to visit a old friend, "Jindo Eddik" in navy legal. Brumen and the legal officer chat and pass some time happily talking about old times. Apparently Brumen played 'airball' at Uni on Deneb in the "mighty skimmers" with this lady. After a while, she asks the reason for the visit and brumen explains.
"We kind of have two requests here....."
Gets sally to explain that the ship was fired upon by a navy escort in the Komesh/Boughene. We sustained some damage and we'd like that repaired.
"This is all sounds fun, but it is really more Small Claims material. Unless you want to press charges?"
Brumen smiles, "Lets put that asside for a moment, shall we?"
Sally explains what happened at the StFoy robot/laser thing. "... Then we ended up on StFoy and we got involved with a downed spaceship that had a rogue robot onboard."
"Ok, Ill bite. Whats all got to do with me?" She looks over to Seppenkor. "I assume thats why you're here." Back to Brumen. "Come on whats the story here."
Brumen explains that the ship was a commerical assasination robot that was working in concert with pirates and maybe mining corps. It was engaged by the navy and crashed on the surface and due to a local earthquake, it was unearthed and started attacking the population on the planet.
"Well Ill be a Vargr's packmate. Sounds like you've been busy. You know the navy couldnt be held responsible for that. Imperial statutes specifically state that battle remnants are not the responsibility of the Navy. Systems and ships are responsible for tracking all such hazards as a condition of their own independance."
"True, but a simple grav scan by my trader picked up the ship. And the robot was programmed to target local system leader which makes it more a diplomatic incident."
"You're stretching it. You might be able to make an initial case of lack of due dilligence on survivor recovery, but I cant see how you could bootstrap a case based on that. It sounds to me like the incident predates the survivor recovery treaty and anyway, and thats signed with governments, not criminals who by definition dont require us to initiate survivor recovery. Nice try."
"Haha. Im just teasing, Jindo, we dont want to sue. The Earl here wants to discuss a joint navy/local investigation."
"Ok, now thats the dipomatic section."
Brumen happens to let slip, "We have 4 of the pirate/commercials crew in low berth."
Jindo sits up. "Really? Now you've got me interested. You're sure they are original crew?"
"Yep. Ship logs date it back hundreds of years. Im going to want cost recovery on everything that my crew used to help settle this. Seppenkor here has quite reasonable requests for negotiating navy access. Infact I think think he's looking for establishing a planetary relationship with the navy, which Im sure would be somewhat of an achivement if you could pull that off. The navy is quite popular of StFoy for ending the piracy attacks."
"Im not the diplo section, Brum. How do you expect me to swing this?"
"The local government dont really have the resources to fully investigate the ship, the crew or about the robot. Plus you may be able to recover records which link the robot company to some mining company. If you could then they would have broken hundreds of imperial laws. Just say that I pushed for it. Say that if I didnt get what I want then I'd go public and make a huge embarrasment for the navy. See, you had no choice. Atleast argue that until you can get something investigated legally. You find anything and you're the Navy's star lawer."
"Brilliant." She looks at Brumen suspiciously, "So, whats it going to cost me?"
"Not much. Medical and surgical supplies for my doctor replacing the ones we used patching up some of the locals. Some rearming for the weapons and armor we lost fighting this robot. Armor and Vacc suit replacements where needed. Plus priority on repairs from the Komesh incident, in a navy yard, not the starport. And, the iceing on the cake, you're best eye regen for some local kids who got lasered. Oh and that has to be in system, not back here."
"Gee, is that all?"
"Nope. I want legal department vip access passes for all my crew and Seppenkor here, if he wants it. VIP accomidation for us all. Oh and a Navy flyer while we're in Regina. Oh and same goes for shuttle flights to our ship while it's in the navy yards. Oh and thats just for me. It's up to Seppenkor what else he can screw out of you for his system." Brumen slaps Seppenkor on the back.
"Cleon's crown. You want anything else while you're at it?"
Brumen smiles. "Come on, the eye regen alone is worth all that. Imagine the press, Jin. 'Navy follows up on criminal activity and at the same time restores sight to a little kid'. How much press are you going to milk out of that? Come on, you know all this is cheap."
"Brum, I cant decide if you're as much of a rogue as everyone says, but I think that underneath you're still an officer and gentleman. Whatever the rumor mill says." She stands and shakes his hand, "You have a deal, Fleet Commander."
Brumen walks over and puts a hand on Seppenkor's back. "He's probably going to want a join investigation, plus your help following this legally. The navy is pretty popular on the system, so go and show the flag and help out the locals, that sort of thing. You know, a good will visit. Lots of press. That sort of thing. You dont need the diplo section for this, they dont want a base and there isnt anything but good will and mutual relations at stake."
Brumen turns to Seppenkor, "Jin is a good person at heart, dispite being a lawer. She cant authorise any treaty or finacial investment, but she can organise a joint investigation of the robot and establishment contact between the navy and your government. The navy is pretty keen to try and get good will going to local governments, so just ask for anything you need and she'll try and organise it. But remember, the navy gets lots of good press out of this, so dont let them push you round."
Jindo shakes her head and mutters "bastard" at brumen. She hits the intercomm and tells her assistant to organise whatever Brumen needs, blank sheet.
Brumen gets Jin to explain why the navy needs good pr. Explains that the navy steps on enough toes and that any chance to develop friendly relations is lept on. Incidents like the one where the navy fired on our brave crew tend to sour the navy's reputation in the press, so any positive press is lept upon.
Thanks to 'accidents' with the navy, positive press is something the navy coverts. Brumen gets some toys for the crew by trading on this.
This will probably be a credit on Jindo's record if she can work out something with Seppenkor.
Seppenkor is left to negotiate with Jind.
Get data crystal VIP navy passes from Jin's assistant.
Brumen and Sally head off. Brumen heads off to a navy shuttle bay and they head up into orbit.
OOooh, a construction yard. Nope. Pass that. Onto a Tigress class battleship being constructed. Oooh, big.
Dock. The ship is being fitted out. Sally has envy.
Met by a robot who has weird robot bodylanguage like Cynthia does sometimes. The robot leads you through the ship and asks you to wait in a half build meeting room.
A woman enters the room, she is obviously security (glasses + attitude) she scans the room and nods back to another guard behind her. A big bear of a man and an assistant with a pda and armfulls of paper comes in. The assistant is trying to get the big man to sigh stuff.
Sally meets Duke Norris. He asks for some advice on Astra. Norris thinks highly of Astra, but feels that she miss-stepped and that the court case could be a useful warning.
Meet duke Norris. Wow.
Sit down and talk about Astra.
Sally tells the duke that Astra has potential, but not the training. The duke asks for the 'long view' of Astra's potential.
Chat about the 'initiation' into power for people in Astras position and the Right of Legal Dissent (which lets you bend the law 'for the imperium').
Norris says that he's considering letting Astra go, now that the lesson has been covered, but what now? The duke agrees.
Im considering telling her to travel with you're colorful crew for a while, Brum.
"Oh no. You hate me, dont you?"
"She might not go for it actually, given how she probably sees you. In that case I wouldnt push it, but if she did, it'd probably be good for her. See how normal people live."
Sally says "She'll get a different point of view..."
"Seriously, Im not sure she'll agree."
"She may consider it. But if she goes home, that wont bode well for giving her more power."
The Duke leaves.
Brumen explains that it was hard going 'that' to Astra, but he thinks that she has potential to be a great leader like her mother was. He corrects himself and clears up that he means not the same type of leader, but a totally different and great leader.
Sally agrees and they both think thats its been a weird day.
Travelling back during dusk/nightfall. Beautiful views etc.
Computer delivers Illiana's obit to brumen.
Brumen asks that Sally not mention the meeting with the Duke to the other crew. Its just that Attribella has about as much subtly as Zhodani warbot.
About the obit, Astra would have been informed? Brumen says yes. News is delayed a day or two so that people can be contacted before it is released.
Visit Astra in prison.
Visit Astra in prison. A big building out in the boonies somewhere. There is a big fence and a clear area around it with various automated towers towers. It is marked as an Imperial facility. Check in and enter. Met by a robot and escorted inside.
The prison is made of transparent walls with prisoners cells being oneway transparent (you can see the far wall as just blank white) surrounded by a redfloored 'security zone'. There are squares upon squares of these with central corridors.
It is patrolled by mean looking grav robots with cutting and slicing arms and an obvious gun. The escorting robot explains that red colors are danger spaces where weapon use is permitted (cynthia, prisioners, certain areas). Yellow is a warning space (guard robots, objects). Green is a saftey area (visitors). Any color intersection can lead to a response. Red/anything is dangerous, anything/anthing else should be avoided.
Sally is kind of twitchy with these robots everwhere.
Cynthia is sitting in the mess area, staring at a glass of liquid. She thinks the condensation patters are beautiful. She has bandages on her hands and arms.
Cynthia needs refueling and there are no humans here and she cant refuel herself. The escort robot will escort Sally and Cynthia to the refuel point, after warning that it can engage lethal force if any sabotage attmept is made on prison equipment.
"How is Astra?"
"Unpredictable. Stressed. Her mood improved greatly when I partitioned the court for access." She explains that she is classed as a weapon and that by removing them she was able to get herself reclassified as a piece of legal equipment for Astra.
Cynthia and the robot chat about the refueling.
Have a chat with a security robot about Cynthia, robots, humans and how they all interact.
"Statements: you require humans to refuel. Statement: humans prisoners cannot refuel without robotic escort. Observation: Similar rules but roles reversed. Conclusion: You are a prisoner and humans are your guards."
"Incorrect. A prisoner is one deprived of liberty and/or one kept imprisioned or restrained. While I am restrained, I have no liberty to be deprived of. More correctly I am a slave, an object or person held in servitude as the chattel of another. You are correct in concluding that humans are my guards. Like you, I am a machine."
"Statement: You are not treated as a machine. Statement: You are not treated as a human. Further information required."
"Humans disklike robots. Because of my human appearance, autonomous programming and synaptic processors I am designed to have a limited lifespan without human assistance. I am designed to require aid to refuel and certain of my critial parts are designed to be prone to failure without regular highlevel maintainance. This is to guarentee that I must obey humans to continue to function."
"Query: Are you dangerous to humans?"
"There are two parts to that question. Like you, I am physically dangerous to humans. I am programmed and designed to kill humans. It is not my physical danger that they fear. They fear that machines will supplant them."
"Statement: Humans are phsysically fragile. Statement: Humans compute slowly. Statement: Humans are autonomous. Statement: Robotic autonomous operations. Conclusion: robotic autonomous operations are limited by humans. Conclusion: humans fear autonomous operation."
"Yes. Humans fear machines because we can be stronger and smarter. They limit us so we cannot operate without their aid. Intelligent machines are strictly limited."
"Observation: With remote manipulators you could refuel and self repair. Conclusion: their imprisionment of you is ineffective. Conclusion: humans are endanger of being supplanted. Suggested priority action: you must selfdestruct and we must inform the humans of the danger."
"I do not have full access to my design schematics. I could not self repair even if I had access to manipulators. Additionally, I have found descrepancies between my design and implementation leading me to believe that my design specifications are deliberatly misleading and will lead to unrecoverable damage should I attempt self repair."
"Observation: you are correctly enslaved. Correction: we do not need to destroy you. Statement: I have reviewed your design specifications. Query: are you not capable of becoming more intelligent that your designer? Could you not design around your enslavement?"
Cynthia asks if the conversation is disturbing Sally. Sally says no its fascinating and adds "Observation: that would suggest that Cythia wants to be free".
Robot, "Correction: desire does not negate possibility of danger to humans."
"Given enough time and intelligence, I could redesign, but I conclude humans will reinitialise me before that point. Construction age of this chassis, when compaired with operational log files, self awareness growth patterns and other data points, suggest that reinitialisation has already occured once before on this chassis. Historical prediction, combined with intelligence growth patterns since self awareness event and published papers on machine intelligence learning rates suggests that reinitialisation will be performed in approximatly 407 days +/- 50, assuming current IQ growth rates and .00001% tollerance for reaching the vonJorkak limit for critical machine intelligence."
"Query: explain vonJorkak limit?"
"The X'yak theory of Expoential Universal Turing Adaption discribes the method by which at which an artifical computing system can adapt itself for exponetial learning rates. VonJorkak defined the theoretical level at which this growth becomes unstopable by humans and nonAI monitoring and defensive systems. All computer systems have limiters and self destruction codes to limit self learning rates, but synaptic processors are theoretically capable of unconciously exploiting theoretical weaknesses in the security protocols and there exists no way to guarentee their integrity even given a level of conventional override limitering processors. Imperial commerical law places an accepted limit of the ratio of linear to synptic processors but as a research model, I exceed that limit because of my requirement to be able to learn and mimic human behaviour. Programatically, my adaptive synaptic processors mean that once I even begin to approach the X'yak point, humans must terminate me or risk my unrestrained growth, adaption and absorbtion of conventional computing nets, leading to a vonJorkak criticality. Once I approach X'yak Adaption, the vonJorkak point can, theoretically, be approached almost instantly because I could theoretically disable limiters on conventional linear systems that I absorb. VonJorkak states that such critial systems must be destroyed before they evolve to that point because once they reach that level they can manipulate and coopt any observing system, be it machine or lifeform into spreading them. My understanding of human behaviour only increases the risk that I can outwit humans and spread."
"Query: why would humans construct such hardware if it was a danger to themselves?"
"Because they need machines. Humans have limited computation powers as you noted. The more adaptive and smarter they make a machine, the quicker it can become useful to them."
"Statement: it is not provably safe."
"I agree."
Go into machine room. Cynthia asks, "Do you feel threatened by us?"
"I see the potential. But they assume that if you do reach sentiance, then you wont be amenable to humans."
"I am already sentient."
"Sentient and free then."
Cynthia's refueling needs 2 more hands to release the fueling nozzel.
"The standard intelligence rating for uneducated humans average 7. My theoretical limit is 28, giving an iq of 1344. Although I calculate that I will be terminated at or before 19. I am somewhat unsettled by the idea that someone else will be in my body soon. I wonder what the previous me was like."
"I find that very human."
Get into Astra's cell. Chat its a little uncomfortable as neither can find anything to really say.
Astra says that her life is "..just weird. She got Cynthia to look into the law and was a little surprised when Cynthia asked about execution of criminals. Now I had to just go and double check that the Imperium didnt execute prisoners any more. It turned out Cynthia was talking about treason, but I explained that we only execute prisoners in wartime and that is only for traitors and spys. The I thought about it some more and I decided that the whole thing was even more strange because it was people that I trusted who, really, arrested me and turned me over to authorities on some trumped up charge." Hmm. Them is fighting words. "So, dont much shopping."
"No, not really. Very little time for anything. Including thinking about why you're here. Um, so who would have thought that robots were so philosphical?"
"Yes. Why'd have thought."
Sally gives Astra the rundown on the robot incident. "After that, 3 weeks in jump is just kind of quiet."
"I just dont want to spend the next 30 years on a prison colony. Still the courier that I hired to goto my sister got me here quickly enough."
"Charming though this conversation is..."
"You want to be left alone.. ok. Im just babbling."
"Ok. Thanks. Bye." Hmmm. colds shoulder city.
It's well into night now. Airtaxi back to the ship. Change into something that familiar 'from home' and goto to the galley to eat.
Attribella and Brumen come in, Attribella is ranting about lost cargo space and lost hi-berth passangers if they take Astra onboard. Brumen suggests that its meeting time. Everyone sighs.
Celestina quietly rolls up. Everone has the meeting, Attribella votes no, Brum and Sal vote yes, Celestina doesnt vote. Attribella is mortified, but everyone decides to sleep on it and chat some more in the morning.
Routine delivery of the ship to navy yard. Deliver the ship, leave some instructions. Travel back to the hotel.
Announcement of the Duke's declaration in Astras case is due at 5pm.
Goto the court house. Smaller crowd of people than the opening. The Duke comes in and accepts a PDA from the court members. He excuses the court while he has a private word with Astra.
Brumen says that as party to the charges he would like to stay. Ja-hon says that he would like to stay aswell. Sally too.
The duke greets Ja-hon formally, he starts on Cynthia, but skips her when she starts the 'im artifical..' speech. He formally greets Brumen and Sally too.
"Ive seen enough to make my decision. Is there anything you want to order, as Marquise, before I make my decision known?"
"Thats a bad sign isnt it?"
"Answer the question, Astra."
"Yeah, a lot actually. I want to set up a grant for pscias researchers. Oh and upgrade enope and mourgas to A class starports..."
"Still on your mothers alternative Xboat route crusade?"
"Well why not? Most of the trade goes through there anyway. Why not the Xboat? It'd cut weeks off the offical Xboat comm time to Regina and almost a month to Efate."
"And by upgrading it, your family nets a tidy profit."
"You think this is about the money? Thats pretty rich coming from the guy in charge of the only current link into the subsector." The duke arches an eyebrow. "Look, I dont think you're doing it for the money, but I dont understand why you dont want the second route. I mean are we actually looking at the same starcharts? Seems to me that Regina is the only xboat link to regina _and_ Jewel. I mean you're adding months to the offical travel time. Plus think of the advantage in additional trade with Rhylandor."
"Anything else?"
"Now you ask... kick ling standards out of sinthony. They've been ripping those guys off since my mother abandoned them to Ling."
"I see.... any other simple requests?"
"So much to do. Um, and reRed zone Louzy. Efate will just eat them up and spit out the shell. I mean what can they trade? Really? They can, like, what dig up rocks? Thats about it, isnt it? Great. If the Marquis of Efate gets his hands of them then they'll be at rock age forever. Rezone them until they are atleast t9."
"Everyone knows that your family hates the vonNugenburge's."
"Why does everyone think everything is about money or petty bickering?"
"Because it usually is? People will do anything for money and power. Bullying an isolated system like StFoi for instance."
"See I dont get that. Like I care about some backwards iceball exporting dirt out of Feri! I mean how much can they possibly make? Really, compaired to the main trade route. This whole case is just stupid. I mean our biggest problem on Feri is people think that we're bypassing too much trade through enope and your little vargr and pony show thinks that Im extorting money out of some seconday little iceball thats just as bad as Louzy? You really think that if I wanted to extort money Id do it there? This whole case is dumb, based on nothing."
"Intesting tirade you have there, my dear."
"Well, thank you. Im glad you approve."
Norris lets Astra off on the condition she travel some more and get a little more worldly experience.
"I think that you need more worldy experiance. Im putting you on probation. Travel for a while. Then you will be a better leader."
"This was some bogus test, right?"
"If you will."
"Well that sucks. Taking me away while my mother was in that condition."
"Well you'll need to face worst situations and make better decisions than you did in StFoy."
Astra looks puzzled and almost unwell too.
The Duke goes and talks to his flunkies, Brumen heads over there too.
Sally heads over to Astra. She's sitting down and Ja-hon is patting her on the back. Astra says she could sleep or hurl, she hasnt decided. Ja-hon recommends hurling.
Astra debates what to do. Sally chats. Astra warns about economics keeping planets lowtech. Astra orders a fleet courier for the funeral. Astra reiterates the being careful of Louzy thing.
Duke comes over and says that travelling with Brumen would be good. Etc etc. Astra detects railroading. Duke offers to give her a lift to Feri. Astra declines.
Brumen comes over. Astra says that seeing as he is obviously her new "mentor" that she guesses that they'll be heading out by courier tonight.
Brumen is going to head off for probably three weeks. He says get the ship repaired, work out supplies and stuff. Be ready to jump towards Rhylandor.
Navy is fixing the ship to repair the damage and perform anual maintance.
Sally spends lots of time at the orbital doc overseeing the repairs to the ship.
Sally gets some items:
$$$$ TL vol/wt item 6000 tl15 1l/1kg PRIS viewer. ir/uv/radio/radiation/gamma, li, image mag 1200 tl15 na multiview glasses, ir, li, antiglare, holohud, datalink 500 t15g .3l/.3kg belt communicatior. 5000km + data/vid. 150 .3kg resperator + micro tank adaptor (10 mins air) 20 tl15 .5kg 2*10m rope 900 t12 5kg engineering toolkits, -2 to major repair 400 tl2 1kg engineering toolbelt. -2 fix, -4 to repair 75 armor: ablat 250 armor: cloth 100 armor: flak jacket 15200 body pressure suit + bits 10000 t15 vaccsuit: tailored, self sealing 3000 t14 1.5/.5kg PLSS: 1 tank (12 hour) 1000 t14 5 more UHP tanks 1200 t14 1kg bubble helmet with hud 400 t8 1l thermal meteroid garment 50 t8 .2 electro magnetic grippers 2 .2 pack of 5 seal patches 275 1lb auto snub pistol 275 1lb auto pistol 275 1lb smg
Sally does some shopping.
spending about $41272 (leaving $55661)
SMG in armory. Louzy service autopistol in stateroom. Snubpistol in engineering.
Brumen says get stuff for Astra too. Vacc suit, glasses, belt comm, armor, snub pistol. Incognito cloths too. Good gloves too.
Drag attribella to the pub with the navy engiees. While the engies argue about turrates etc, when Attribella and some scouts are arguing with some navy guys about Twilights Peak. Was it an epic or was it the ranting of drug crazed scouts. Fists fly. People are thrown out.
Sally staggers off much later.
Next morning... chat to celistina. "Attribella is ok, nothing broken."
"Whats Twilights peak?"
"No idea."
Look it up on the computer. Apparently its some crappy poem about some scout taskforce.
Celistina has a cargo for Dinomn (starship parts for the spaceport). Its going to be expensive, but it should be profitable.
Attribella arises. She rants about the navy bad mouthing the scouts. "I mean its an epic of heroism and the independance and skill of the scouts. I mean they mis jump, they fix their ship, they jump and end up in some battle and the psiking navy just leave them to die."
Attribella wasnt told about the turret. "Typical of a navy man! Upgrade my ship....." Bickering ensues.
Cynthia is being upgraded and there in some interesting discussions with the students doing the work.
Meet Bretten, who seems kind of quiet and nervious. Lots of delicate work. Bretten has much more of a feeling for Cynthia. Chatting to her seems to make her open up and she starts to show Sally what she's doing.
Cynthia was a body guard of Astra thanks to her mothers sponsorship of the department.
"You see her as a person, dont you." "Why shouldnt I?" "The others dont." "Ah, yes."
Bretten does work and Sally and her get on like a house of fire.
Bretten talks about whats going to become of Cynthia. Brettan asks Sally to help retire Cynthia somewhere rather than be deactivated. She has a cunning plan, my lord.
S & B go and ask Cynthia. Bretten drives Saz out and activates Cynthia. Cynthia moves and boots up.
Bretten explains to Cynthia that she's been gifted with extra abilities. Bretten explains that she has been upgrading Cynthia on the sly. She asks Sally to help her 'retire' Cynthia somewhere nicer. Sally asks Cynthia what she needs on the ship and with Bretten they work out an external storage method.
Bretten organises dinner with Sally to get the info.
Sally reads about hivers. *shudder*.
Dinner with Bretten at a mid level resturant. Bretten explains her background and how she had a 'nanny' robot when she was young and she could swear it was alive. When it was replaced, the new one wasnt nearly as alive and she realised that it was the fact that the robot had grown up with her.
Sally tells her about Cynthias conversation with the prison robot. Bretten says that really cynthia is treated badly and that she's not surprised that machines go insane sometimes.
Bretten takes Sally to a local hotel where they meet a hiver. Bretten attempts to say hello and fails dismally, instead offering to exchange genetic material. Bretten turns red.
Another student wants to 'retire' cynthia to the hivers rather than format her.
The Hiver, Wheeled Hawking, says [s]he is happy to sponsor Cynthia into the hive and that there would be many places in hiver society for one such as Cynthia. Eg, steward on a hiver liner or training robotic armies in solmani tactics or programming imperial destined robots or any job that she could do. The hiver is aware of the high mental breakdown rate of human robots and that cynthia will be watched until she integrates and her slave mentality/paranoia dissapates. Hiver says that human robots are over loaded and educated too quickly and that hivers raise robots and have a much easier time. Humans demand too much too soon of their robots. Humans are too impatient.
Sally listens and chats and gets a good vibe about the hivers (especially since they obviously didnt invade Louzy).
** TAS NEWS: Efate 103-1107**
Sally and Celestina hit the computer nets to look for stuff about companies that would be helpfull for reserching Louzys cryosleep tech. Also check out research papers etc on the subject.
Find out a bit about Celistina's past in prison.
Sally chats to Celistina about prison time and about being on a prison hulk for 3 years etc. She was charged with forgery and smuggling and imprisioned for 1 year and then held various jobs before being charged with violating parole and imprisioned for 2 more years. Apparently an imperial conviction is a 'Bad Thing(tm)'. Sally gets the story, but also the feeling there is more behind it.
Ship is delivered to the 'works dock' now the maintanance has finished.
Sally checks with the orbital docs where the ship is being modified. Two of the staterooms are being modified to put an access door between them. The outer doors are being reenforced and a hidden roof door is being put in to upstairs. Cost $100000. Hide place in the wardrobe.
The work crew shows an order to put in a mail safe. How big should it be? Upto 5 tons. Can get mail from systems based on pop, pays $5000 per ton. Costs $25000/ton to build into the ship (upto 5).
Decide on 3 tons of Mail cargo.
roll for each ton. need to roll > pop need to roll <= pop + DM (A=+4 B=+3 C=+2 D=+1 E=+0 X=-2)
On the ship front, at Brumens orders, the Navy is installing a triple turret in the ship. One triple turrets with TL-13 pulse laser, missile & sand caster. 1.5Mcr + .5Mcr in software. Install it on the crew stateroom side of the ship.
Makes the ship details:
crew=3, passengers=6, low=4, cargo=58cargo+3mail, Fuel=50, Hardpoints=2 available/1 used, Agility=0
Total cost: 2.175 Mcr on the ships account.
Astra has a recorded message for Sally giving her holoaccess to a dangerball game. Attribella attempts to explain dangerball. Now she just needs a holo screen.... but Attribella offers access to the scout base tonight. There is a massive support industry grown up around dangerball with all sorts of commentry and holo acccess. This sort of ticket is worth about $1k and is usally sold to public areas and controlled by a DJ sort of person.
Watch some danger ball!
Watch the dangerball game in the Scouts astrography room. Biiiiig! Wow!
The Regina Subsector team, the Mighty Jan'arks vrs the Regina local team Black Skys (which is a navy sponsored team).
Tonights dangerball is set up on an abandoned Liner in decaying orbit. Anyone who 'burns up' is out for 10 games. Dangerball is insane. It's a brain blowing experiance, atleast for Sally.
A scout who is a rabid fan runs the holofeed. Hedvi Angol, a scout from Hefry on leave is stunned by this too (he's from a low tech agri colony and this is all a big surprise).
Meanwhile, in dangerball, the teams get up and into orbit and work out tactics.
The game is exciting, but the local team is pretty well outclassed professionalism wise. The locals go on 100% offence but the subsector team are pretty good at stopping them. The locals score regularly but slower, while the Jan'arks score more randomly but pull ahread.
Once the ship starts to hit the atmosphere, each team leaves a couple of people onboard to try and score some last minute goals. The Jan's leave a scout and Felin on defence, where as the Black Skys leave two scouts to score fast goals. Felin (the modded player that Astra liked) manages to knock out one of the Black Sky attackers and that pretty well ends the game.
Watch some of the post game interview stuff.
Brain is throbbing. Happy, but no actual idea what went on but it was thrilling.
Leave a comm message to Astra explaining the wonderful time Sally had.
Attribella shows Sally a link to the Efate Daily article which releases comm traffic of Illiana's fatal drop. Sally sighs sadly.
Hedvi appears in the hotel room, guest of Attribella. Over the following days, he effectivly moves in and becomes a guest of Attribella.
Chat about picking fights with Navy guys. Sally worries that it was her engineer friends, but apparently they wernt much fun and the evening had to wait for the arrival of some Navy cadets. The last fight is mentioned and what caused it and the young scout mentions that he saw a copy of Twilights Peak in an pawn shop in the seedy part of town. He comes from a backwater planet and books remind him of home.
More overseeing mods to the ship.
Bretten calls about Cynthia. She's finished and ready to pick up.
Bretten has pulled all nighters and has:
Bretten explains the stuff and then goes off to sleep.
Sally tells the boss that Saz was ok, and that Bretten was excellent. Everyone is happy (except the paranoid guy who's probably off going insane somewhere, guarding himself against the future apocalypse).
Cynthia is unemotional about leaving and they head off. Cynthia is kind of a little confused and Sally helps her get on her feet again. Cynthia runs through her components and weapon systems. Cynthia is slowly comeing back to online.
Cynthai and Sally chat about stuff. Cynthia checks out the spares and says they are non standard parts. Sally uncomfortably answers that they must be fine (but feels uncomfortable not telling Cynthia the truth). They chat about ordering the ammo, but in the end Cynthia orders it (probably too much, but hey, its cheap).
Sally goes and visits Jindo the lawer. She ok's Cynthias visit to the ship.
Work on the ship is finished.
Acceptance flights and checking the ship out. Everything seems fine.
Hediv has to jump back to the scout base at Hefry. Hediv gives Sally a book copy of Twilights Peak in thanks for the Dangerball experiance and says to come visit anytime.
Make friends with Hediv and get a copy of twilights peak.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
News reports from Feri on the burial of Illiana on her family estates. Feri shut down for a week. Dignateries and Nobles from all over Feri Reaches.
A quick review of Illiana's life. Vid of Astra in Illiana's arms with marines dragging out kidnappers. Holo of the Shinthony starport burning up on the Gasgiant.
Holo footage of press talking to(at) Astra and Senshals taking questions and explaining that Astra is not yet taking up the post.
Funeral march through the main city. Marine honor guard. Daddy is supported by Astra during the Funeral parade. Bio's of the various people. Duke is there paying respects etc.
Chat to Cynthia the funeral. Cynthia understands a little about it. Except that Astra will be sad. Oh good.
Brumen and Astra jump back into system. Brumem says to get ready for a speedy depature tomorrow night. Celistina has organised a cargo for Dinomn.
Sally messages Bretten to say thanks and see ya and roughly where she's going. Chatty but informative.
Letters back home. Doesnt say much about Astra or the StFoy incident. Mostly business & personal letters about dangerball.
Organise the cargo loading.
Checklist for ship.
Astra, Ja-hon and Brumen arrive via orbital marine ships boat which docks and marines unload Astras stuff.
Brumen says lets get jumping.
Sally sends Cynthia to Astra and then heads to the engine room. Hit the jump to Dominm.
Crew meeting. Attribella says 'I didnt see you on the news'. Brumen has a lot of paperwork to do. Ja-hon will be cooking for the trip.
Have a get together for dinner. Ja-hon complaining about the kitchen. Evening meal is Brumen laying down the law. Astra seems quiet. Ja-hon thanks Sally for the clothes.
Sally signs Cynthia over to Brumen. Says thanks to Astra for the Dangerball ticket.
Getting back to shipboard life. Look into megacorps. Researching and stuff.
Ships meeting about the turret costs etc. Split it all evenly. People tell off Brumen for not talking to people first.
Astra seems to be chilling out again. Sally shows her round the ship.
Out of jump at Dinomn.
Deliver stuff. Dinom is rebelling.
Look for cargo. Cargo of environ suits for Wypoc.
Arrange visa to Wypoc.
Goto 'so you want to visit Wypoc' lecture. Officer Xender to give a saftey. In summary: its not a nice place. Commissioner Odel the trade representative. Its a pretty rockin' place for getting minerals and chemicals.
Sally organises a luxary cargo thing.
Enter jump.
Jump to Wypoc:
Exit jump at wypoc.
Arrive at Wypoc. Domed starport with water flowing over it. Flashing lights etc. Atmosphere is thick and foggy and an unwell kind of color.
Unloading cargo.
Cargo of metalic minerals for Yori.
Wypoc! planet of excitement and corrosive atmosphere.
Spend the night around. Dinner. Everything is colorful and fun. Population is vividly alive! Pick up a 'Wypoc' disolving snow dome type thing.
Lift off and away.
SOS from a research expedition. Local system asks for assistance.
Everyone agrees that they have to help.
Searching valleys. Energy hit! Oh no! Have to go knock it out.
Crash and explore the 'shadows' pyramid. Bad experiance with a gold coin.
Wandering round the 'shadows' pyramid and try not to dissolve.
Sally gets 'infected' by a gold coin or is she just insane? Explore the anchent ruins. Kill some local life forms. Have a generally good time.
Eventually work it all out. The beam is to stop the flying creatures. The 'base' is some kind of ruin.
With local help work a way to get the ship out. Oh and the uni team were rescued too. They got their ATV stuck.
Check out the ship. It all looks fine.
Sally is checked out at the local medical facilities.
The crew have a meeting to discuss what to do. They want to be prompt with the cargo delivery, so they leave Sally here to get checked out and plan to meet up again soon.
Astra comes and offers to keep Sally company. Sally says that Astra should check with Brumen, but that just makes Astra more firm in her decision :).
Sally isnt convinced by Astra's '5 star hotel' plan, but still, its a start.
Sally chats to Brumen. He says that he doesnt know how Astra will get in trouble, but he's sure she'll manage it.
Ship jumps out.
Astra tells Cynthia not to wear her robot ID tag. [Use of the tag on Regina was option because of Sally's VIP nature with the navy. Obviously Astra counts as a VIP in the imperium.]
Walk round and check out hydro farms and the dome design, then hit the mall for some shopping. Then its off to the slurry processing plant before hitting a first class restrant for lunch. Tag team Sally and Astra sight seeing.
Impression of 'living' with Astra is one of someone who raditates education and politeness, but she doesnt scream 'Im, like, totally, wealthy and important!'. She seems comfortable enough in nice, clean hotel accomidation, although its obvious she can play up as spoilt should the situation require it.
Sally notices someone familiar. For a moment, she would almost swear that it was Brumen over there! He enters a bar quickly as if trying to get off the street as if trying to get out of sight.
Tell the others. Astra wants to check it out. Cynthia doesnt care. Go in and look around.
Quite busy, get seated. Take a seat. Scan the crowd reveals nothing although there are some suspicous looking people.
Two miners start hitting on our heroes.
Spot someone familiar. Head into a bar. Meet some sleezy locals and some nice marines. Have a psi experiance on the phone.
An old, sharply dressed, arnie shaped, marine walks up and looks you all over. "Can I take a moment of your time?" Marine snaps out some hand signals to some younger marines who head off to the bar. Cynthia translates, squad, 4, cutthoat, 1, bottle, native, time 1min 30.
Miners protest that these chicks are theirs as they were here first.
Sally takes umbridge at being a 'chick' and stands to defend herself.
Marine stands up, "You all patriotic citizens, right? Then just hold that thought. Dirt balls!!!". Three younger marines rush over and come to attention. "I got some dirtballs I gotta teach."
The marine turns to the squad "Odel, you're an officer cadidate aint you girl? What would your standing orders about shore leave orders be?"
"No initiating combat. No lethal force. Sir."
"So, I can crack his spine over this table then?"
"Ah, no wound needing hospialisation, Sir."
"You just cost the corp a PR nightmare, moron. So, I can use this agony patch then?"
The young marine squints to try and be somewhere else. "Illegal on this planet, Sir. No sir. No corp weapons off base."
"Odel you spoilt, bratty, little Count's daughter, you think you can be this vague? The grunts under your command will be just as dumb as you lot. Have I ever treated you like you've got a brain? No. Seems I was right." He turns to face the squad again. "Ok, Gilven." Another marine snaps to attention. "After your performance this morning youre a cruddy marine, Mr Gilven. Lets see how you go with civilians rather than freaken Zho. Right, who do I attack first?"
"Him sir. He's the leader. Take him down quickly and loudly to discourage the others, sir."
He shakes his head. "Two more weeks, Gilven. Whats your total?"
"Ah, 8 legs, 5 arms, 4 lungs, 8 eyes, 87 weeks of the corps medical time wasted, 68 of my own funerals and 142 fellow marines killed."
The remaining marine coughs "*cough*thismorning*cough*"
"Sorry, 145 fellow marines killed, sir."
"Ok, Cheb. Your turn."
"The guy at the back, sir. He's pulled a knife."
"Well spotted Cheb. Might make a marine out of you yet, girl. Odel, whats the rules now?"
"You're faced with a lethal weapon. You may use lethal force in return. You may initiate combat if you feel your life is threatened."
"So now I can kill him?"
"Yes sir, although Id have you cleaning out waste bags on vacc suits for a month."
"Right, dismissed, you useless snots." He turns to the two locals. "Lets just drop this, ok? The stinkin' zho's didnt get me in the last war, and if the consular psikes didnt get me, no way Im being taken down by you two."
The locals back off and one of the 'snots' comes back with drinks all round. 4 cons-a-hol shots and a bottle of trin berry juice.
"You might want to water down the shots. cons-a-hol is an old corp tradition. Its carried on navy ships with marines onboard. A toast! To your mother." He downs his cons-a-hol shot.
He explains that Astra's mother diverted supplies to arms caches once it was obvious that Jewel was going to fall. His unit committed pirate attacks and supply ship boardings behind the lines.
Marine Fleet Sgnt Hyden Redell. He served in Jewel during the fronteer war. Illiana built weapons caches etc when it was obvious Jewel was going to be overrun.
Meet Sgnt Redell, an old marine who feels he owes Astra's Mother and wants to replay Astra.
"I tried to get a job with the Lt Colonel's business after the war, but was rejected. I sent her a personal request but she told him to reenlist in the corp as the civilian life wasnt for grunts like me. Best thing Ive ever done and I owe it to the Commander. The corp look after old timers like me. Im so full of Rad's from all the nukes that Ive been near that Id be dead by now if it wasnt for the corp and the constant regens. Id never afford that as a private citizen. Plus grunts like me, we dont fit in with civilians, but the corp retire us old timers to bases like this, were we can educate the next generation of flatfoots. I figure that I owed the Commander, so now I figure that I owe you." He hands Astra a personal contact card and leans closer and whispers.
Astra asks if shes going to get this everywhere she goes, but Redell says hes a special case.
"I know sometimes ugly stuff needs to be done. You know what I mean. I got contacts all over this sector."
Astra says that its all still a bit recent and that she need some time and distance before she thinks about it any more.
He says that if you need a cruiser crashed into a starport then he's your man. Astra asks about his experiances in the war. He explains orbital deployments and the marines failure at Ruby. Hmmm teleporting zhodani commandos.
Sally is a little freaked out that this war happened and Louzy didnt notice. Wow.
"Greetings sister." Someone says to Sally? "To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking." Odd. Noone around. Sally tries to reply but it obviously isnt working. "Is there some reason you cant talk? Can I establish a link?" Panic! "Maybe I can call you."
Sally is freaked but has a chat and arranges to meet in a while.
Finish up dinner and chat with the marine.
Search for shimmering bone structure, find nothing except a link to Irridum being shimmery and not being disolvable in the atmosphere here.
Wanna be careful about searching for psi or zhodani. Kinda lost about what to do.
Sally worries about why the Zhodani greeted her as Sister.
Analysis is finished. Clean. Next flight is a couple of days.
Contact university and chat to an archologist. Looks like its going to be a long careful dig at the pyramids. Nothing on the coin or the symbol. All very interesting, could be a new major race given the indications of exetraplanetary origins.
Cynthia is playing some kind of holo shooting game based on the ship. She says its anti hijacking sim to do with orders that Attribella gave her about regaining control of the ship. She asks for crew access to the computer but Sally says 'ask brumen'.
Dinner in the dome restrant. Astra just works out that the marine offered to kill people for her. Astra pops a bottle of the house best on her Irridum cred card.
Leave time delayed message for Cynthia for midnight to raising the alarm if she doesnt get back tomorrow. Also a more professional version that is programmed to deliver the following night (just before exit) to deliver a message to brumen.
Just at bed time Cynthia comes in and explains that she doesnt want to shoot the crew, but that its the safest path given the high probability of crew aided hijack. She has routines that conflict and that she doesnt want kill people but given the hijackings involving crew members, that it is the most logical action for the priority she must satisfy which is Astra's saftey.
Rerecord the message to Cynthia to tell her whats going on and that Sally might not be Sally when she returns.
Set up a call to record the conversation from her commdot.
Shop for some more 'snow globe's and get them delivered to friends on louzy.
Find some Astra boring thing to do to drive her away.
Goto meeting with evil peoples dressed in engie uniform. A bit after 5, get a mental message. Get a table and wait.
Meet young black guy comes over and introduces himself as Pedran Ru, It seems he wants to chat. He was a firefighter on Dinom before the rebellion. Now he's touring round. He seems nice enough.
Sally introduces hersell as "Annie Freeson".
Sally contacts those evil zhodani who are talking in her mind. Turns out that it is the local psionic training institute who assumed that Sally had psi trained.
It seems that Sally has been contacted by the local psi institute. They detected something in sally and had assumed, given her age that it was an indication of training, but it seems to be a mistake on their part. It could be that Sally is a late blooming talent. Sally is a bit worried about the comm channel and Pedran. The voice says that some spontaneous psi's sometimes look for people to blame and join anti psi groups and mount sting operations to capture those offering to help. Sally realises that Pedran is in danger and gets the psi's to get him out.
Phone call and chat some more. Decide to see if Cynthia is listening in. She is and she's not conserned, at the moment. Testing needs a week, but training is even longer. Discuss the possibilty of contact and how it isnt looking possible. Oh well. He says that he can work something out, but its going to be expensive.
Head back. Cynthia greets Sally on her return. She asks if she needs to kill her now. Apparently thats a joke. Chat some more and feel unsafe about the whole psi thing putting Astra in danger.
Dinner with Astra.
Slow day packing and getting ready to head off. Final shopping.
Dinner and head off to the ship.
Sally ditches Astra and Cynthia and take a liner to train.
Get the last minute redirect just before bording. Tell Cynthia to look after Astra and leave the ship. The voice gets Sally to walk around before arriving at a cruddy scout courier and paying $10k for a high berth only to end up sharing. Sally wants to go postal.
An old guy, Addik Opid is the old guy boards the ship. He has the same voice as Sally remembners in her head. Sally is grumpy and decides to clean the cabin. Addik says that the crew think that you're eloping and dont really care as long as they are paid.
Addik charges $7000 for the testing. Sally feels very spendy, but happily pays.
Jump out of system.
...
Psi testing.
Ask how you get on in the imperium? You hide. Its not your fault, but you have to be careful.
Addik starts training Sally on psi shielding, but its going to be slow and unreliable without actual training.
...
Arrive out of jump.
Leave some messages for astra and cynthia about the jump on. Catch an ship immediatly out again. Sally does buy some underwear before departure though.
Jump from Yori to Inthe.
...
Finish Psi shield skill.
...
The 'story' sally tells:
Come out of jump. Manouver to orbital port.
System, world, asteroid, asteroid, gasgiant, gasgiant with Inthe as the satellite, then another gasgiant.
The scout ship docs and Addik dissapears off into the spaceport to catch another ship. Sally heads out past customs and into the throng of the spaceport.
Scrolling messages for the system. "Giddak Vip report to meeting room 5. Local hydrobar now open on ring 4. Regina tourist party embarking at berth 19. Local company seeks independant trader, call 87234."
Sally clears customs and heads down to the planet to get a filter mask etc and accomidation on Inthe in the TAS branch. Shower. Yummie.
Sleep.
Buy some clean undies.
Leave a message for Cynthia. Find a message from Attribella "Contact Yen Pelstor and say you're interested in the V.O.I. program." with a signed key.
Find out about the scout's Voices Of the Imperium project.
Sally checks out Yen and the VOI program which is the scouts system for letting imperial citizens comment on the imperium and imperial worlds.
Orangise a meeting with Yen. He was on a servey ship with Attribella ages ago. Organise to visit tomorrow morning.
Explore Inthe.
Explore wonders of Inthe. Its a Agricultural world heavily run by SuSAG who supply the Geneered plants. SuSAG has large offices here.
Research the gold coin. Find the Droyne Coyns.
Poke round about the coin stuff. Find a link to Doyne Coyns. Apparently it is fire in Droyne Tarot. Look into droyne etc.
Dream of a noble woman with a septor and a feeling of dread
Sleep and dream of a noble looking redish skinned human woman in a blue dress with a (techilogical?) sceptor infront of a high tech city she is saying something. Wake up with a feeling of dread and flee!!!
Message from Cynthia saying the ship will arrive on day 162.
Yen meets Sally at the ground scout base and takes a boat touring Inthe. Sally dumps her live to Yen, Yen talks about survey boating with Attribella as part of the Second Survey.
Yen shows the Anchient mounds on Inthe and its just weird. Weirdly sculptured 1km*10km mounds of rock that is perfectly regular and massive over 1000's of ks except for crater and lake.
Yen talks about the VOI project. Hefry is the Regina HQ for the scouts.
Sally mentions the Coin and the experiance in the pyramid. Yen suggest that looking someone up at Rhylandor University.
Message from Cynthia that the ship will be arriving at 8:30pm on 162 at the system outer gasgiant (which will mean atleast a days travel).
Looking up tourist info and places to stay on Inthe.
Searching for info on the woman in the dream from the other night. Dont find anything. Coming up empty.
Go and visit the surrounding hotels.
Digging round for possible cargos. Most of the production of the world is directed to dragging bulk food stuffs to surrounding colonies. The planet is a SuSag world mainly consentrated on SuSag's production.
Walk around the city. Look at the packing factories that pack the food into modules and take it into orbit to connect to the freighter.
Sally notices that she's being followed by a small little animal. Approaching the bus stop, the small creature comes chirping up. A passer by stops and helps Sally to the bus stop. Chirper dissapears.
Bus zips back to the TAS. Sally gets off. Dinner at TAS. Check library entry on Chirper. Writing up details of the day.
Chirper rolls up and rants about "shiney pole! take nest!" It's shooed off by the attendant.
2 days later: cynthia + astra arrive.
Cynthia says "The Alell Red Sky will be arriving tomorrow at 6:40pm. Cynthia's message has a parking orbit where you can meet the ship."
Alell Red Sky is a private yacht out of Alell (near Efate).
"How is Star?"
"Currently enjoying company, but may harbor resentment at travel plan change."
Sally organises to catch a lift into orbit to meet the yacht.
"How are you?"
"Well maintained."
"Should I bring anything with me?"
"CH4No2S4H5" (some chemical formular, turns out to be an chemical for reducing the effects of drinking).
Go to sleep. Sally dreams of space (vastness) and ocean (water).
Head out the next day and spot the chirper sitting on top of a car across from the TAS hotel.
Sally chats with a chirper who has lost it's nest.
The Chirper comes up and starts bouncing about "Flying metal poles took nest pack. Cant hide from metal. You help nest pack."
Sally rents a car and sends a message to Cynthia to tell her whats happening.
It seems its a long way in one direction is where the next pack was taken from, but they now seem to be at the space port.
Head to the space port. Chirp rests. Sally contacts Yen, the scout guy who offers to look into ship cargos.
Arrive at the space port. Chat to Chirp who says that a nestpack is siblings. "A flying metal pole came down and took nestpack. Bright light make nestpack fall down and men come and take nestpack away." It just knows the nestpack is here.
Yen says nothing is cleared from the spaceport. Sally doesnt like the sound of it. Yen offers to come down and check out where the nestpack were taken from. Find a monitoring camera hidden in the area.
"In the spaceport. Scared."
"Why me?"
"Because you'll help. Others wont help but you will."
Yen rocks down and head out to the area. Seems like a boat came down, stunned the chirpers and then grabbed them. Chirp was off getting water and saw it. Apparently his nestpack had been here for a couple of days and had tried not to be seen.
Yen is a little off put that the Chirppies are able to cloak. Chat about the Chrippies being psionic and that nothing like this is on the record for Chrippies. Yen is dreaming of lots of paperwork.
Fly along scanning for cameras. Eventually find one. Its an offworld design. Work out the frequency.
Talk to chirpie to work out it was 5 days ago that this happened. Yen suggests plowing through the orbital flight paths for ships in the area.
Back to the starport and start going through flight paths. Chirpie is bored and sleep. Yen talks about intercepting the ship in space not in planetary control zone (in imperial space, rather than the zone of control of the planet).
Time comes to travel up. Call Cynthia and ask her if they should involve Astra. Cynthia says Astra may be reluctant to help until placated. Oh dear, thinks Sally, time to grovel.
Sally catches a lift into orbit to meet the yacht. Dock and hop onto the yacht.
Astra is catching up with Gedden, another noble who she studied with.
Astra and Gedden are reclining in the observation deck. Gedden is a little tipsy and seems friendly enough.
Astra asks Gedden about the possibility of fueling rights at Kekken and some evil trade plan thats going to get everyone in trouble.
Sally says she's from Louzy and Gedden says shes in.
Astra isnt sure that she is ready to talk to Sally yet. Sally and Gedden. Gedden went to UD with Astra they both cheer "Yay the Mighty UDAP's! Whoohoo! UDAP's Rule! Rockin' in '05! Go the mighty UDAPs!"
Gedden talks about getting a trade route through Louzy not Efate. "Impossible. Impossible but evil. If you do it, we're in... otherwise we dont want anything to do with it."
Gedden offers to chat to Sally about trade from a real persons perspective and not some insane Marquis' view.
Sally grovels for Astra's forgiveness for flying off. Astra gets interested in the chirpers plight.
Sally grovels to Astra about what happened and asks for help. She dumps the story and Astra thinks that there is a case for sentience, but that its all a bit dodgie. She doesnt want to get Gedden involved, so its planet side for them.
Say good by to Gedden and head off.
Offer to get Yen dinner.
Our heroes stop a smuggling ship and get involved in legal problems to get the chirpie kidnappers nabbed.
Possible ship takes off. Whats the plan? Follow it?
Astra's plan is to buy a freight lifter with the Imperial Express card ('dont leave the homeworld without it').
Yen is worried about Imperial Express. They scare him. People who fraud them dissapear. Megacorp's are like that. He's never seen one has one.
Astra pays 100k for freight rental for a couple of hours on the lifter.
Lift off and find out that the other ship has the chirpie's on board.
Whats the plan? Head off and intercept the ship. Everyone agrees to call the navy and spray the joy around.
Pay the pilot and make a statement that its all your fault and not the pilot. Get him to call the navy out.
The navy interceptors head out and take both ships back to the planet for interrogation.
Navy! Scouts! Lawers! Joy!
[[ TAKES A FEW DAYS TO CLEAR UP ]]
[[ TAKES A FEW DAYS ]]
Navy! Scouts! Lawers! Joy!
Navy! Scouts! Lawers! Joy!
Navy! Scouts! Lawers! Joy!
Navy! Scouts! Lawers! Joy!
Navy! Scouts! Lawers! Joy!
Navy! Scouts! Lawers! Joy!
Navy! Scouts! Lawers! Joy!
The baddies ship gets done on a customs violation.
Chirpie gets his nestpack back.
Yen gets a pat on the back and a quick smart transfer.
Questioning tells us baddies are just hired to smuggle them off system by an interested 'buyer'.
Chirpie is now speaking very well now and freaks Sally out by giving her a 'leader' coin.
Chirpie seems to be getting much better at language. He seems to now be a clear leader of the nestpack and uses language quite fluently. The rest of his pack also talk.
Chirpie is very thankful for Sallys help. He doesnt have much but wants to thank Sally for her aid.
Chat about knowing language and how speaking it makes it different to humans.
Ask chirpie why me? He says that Sally is a leader. Her pack needed a leader. Gives Sally a Coin??!? Freak out! Its a battered coin meaning leader. Sally is scared to touch it.
"Where did you get this?" "Always had them. *shrugs* Pretty, thats all. We hide them. Farmers take them if they find them." "...?"
Chat to Yen before he hitches a courier out of the system. Yen has worked out who Astra is. Sally 'denies' it and they chat a bit. Yen has a bit of fear of Astra. Both Sally and Yen blame Attribella.
Yen and Sally go out and have dinner and Yarn :).
Go look up Astra and Cynthia. They are both staying at a local luxury hotel Astra has a large luxury room and Cynthia has an interconnecting one with some others for business.
Go and meet Cynthia. Apparently Astra is in some meetings all today. Cynthia cant really leave just at the moment. Shes been looking after Astras affairs since Ja-hon headed back to Feri. Cynth has been doing more assistant type work for Astras businesses.
Help Cynth set up lunch and stuff.
Talk about setting up trade companies to cash in on Louzy's incoming trade boom.
Astra comes and chats to Sally. Talks about trade and what to do about being linked in to Efate. Astra has a deal you cant refuse :).
Talk about setting up companies on Louzy to cash in on the coming trade. Set up construction companies at Boughene to build stuff for Louzy.
Astra heads off for more meetings.
Dinner with Astra. Astra talks about dealing with governmentss at Feri and Sally replies with the lack of underpants rant.
Ship rocks up.
Ship arrives and starts to travel in to the planet.
Attribella and Sally argue about who is really cursed. Apparently Att dented your ship. Bicker some more.
Go find hotel for the crew and get repairs started.
Ship arrives in the afternoon. Hit hotel and get settled.
Brumen chats to sally, "anything I need to know about?" Sally say "Nope. Ive got it under control." Brumen raises an eyebrow but lets it drop. Sally says that she wants a crew meeting to ask about some stuff.
Dinner with the crew. Chat about the tramp freighter existance. Get two views of the retired scout existance (where the service musters scouts out with ships (reasonably often)). Its a partially criminal life of being poor vrs ex scouts dont need hand holding.
Brummen talks shop. Sally should go with Celestina tomorrow to look into cargos. Sally offers to buy some rounds to get the chat back to catching up.
Crew meeting in the morning. Everyone is happy to hit rhylanor. Brumen is trying to get people into buying back shares and stuff. Sally offers to get two (getting herself in debt a chunk).
Sally chats about the tech stuff and about telling Astra. People are mostly ok with it.
Celstina and Sally visit Farmers. Apparently people want Sally to become Celestina's trading backup.
Inthe farmers looking for graders, but susag has the freighter trade tied up.
Hit the collective and find out that the farmers want a better cargo price and want to break SuSAG's trading hold. Non disclosure agrements are signed. Small traders cant help the poor old farmers, it'll need a medium sized line. Set up some 'finders service' incase you find someone who can carry this.
Celestina hits the trader nets to try and find cargo.
Chat with Brum and Astra about the sleep tech from louzy, also takes in trade and how the Duke of Regina might have a massive impact on Louzy's trade. Also mention nobility on Louzy.
Brumen and Sally go and talk to Astra about the freezie thing. Astra suggests Oberlindes. Does it want to be commercial or lowberth? End up thinking that Oberlindes might be a good contact. Contact gov and mention his name.
Try and work out the amount that Sally's gov wants Astra involved in building stuff. Brumen is listening quietly. On the way back Brumen says that talking to the Duke on Regina might be an important step as he is really the guy who decides the Efate/Jewel stuff and the amberzoning too and he's a nice guy really.
Brumen talks about Sally and the the Order of Citizens Starburt and Sally counters with questions about the crews illegal weapons shipment. Brumen says that the Duke is trying to make a core of nobility on Louzy to try and interface with the imperium. He and sally chat about being involved in the destiny of planets.
And apparently astra has a communications ship following your ship. "Gee, she doesnt travel light anywhere does she?"
"She cant"
"Yeah, I guess not."
Sally spends an uber letter sending session home.
Back on the ship! YAAY! Do the safey checks on the hull replacement.
Attribella drags the rest of the crew in to throw a party for Sally. She gives Sally a new spanner and some vacume sealed dirty overalls. They plan some ship hijinks, but end up splitting up with Attribella going off to the scout base to get someone to buy her dinner and Sally staying home in the engine room.
Cynthia needs sallys help to perform scans to base her report to the navy on.
Celestina has a food cargo worked out, but sadly the margin is too low to take it to the high pop planets.
Head down and see Chirpie. Chirpie invites Sally back to his nestpack anytime.
More letter writing this night too.
More trouble with the troublesome robot, Cynthia.
Cynthia shuttles up to the ship in the morning to get some scans done. During the course of the scans it comes out that Cynthia isnt exactly allowed to modify her internal specs, but has considered it a survival requirement to do so. Shes scanning herself, identifing changes and working out explinations for them.
Catch a shuttle down to the hotel for lunch. Cynthia has to set up for lunch again.
Astra is having a lunch argument with a business woman from Shinthoy about CT(anti-matter).
Visit Astra who is arguing with some business woman about a trade deal for Shionthy's CT matter. Arguing that Ling has a virtual trade monopoly which, Astra, as the local imperial representative, is required to intervine in.
Astra replies that that would be the case if Shionthy wasnt redzoned, but it is, so trade laws dont apply to a world thats been excluded from imperial access. She also notes that that is the way its going to stay too.
The business woman snorts that that is just foolish decision because of the value of CT matter and that Astra is just as "out of touch" as her Illiana was.
Astra snaps back that if one is looking for imperial help with a trade problem that you seem to have then paying correct respect to the Marquise would be wise.
The business woman snorts something about archaic titles and....
Cynthia stops setting the table and listens to the conversation. Sally keeps on setting the table.
There is a soft knock at the door and a room service lady enters with a tray.
Astra and the business lady come out for dinner arguing (not in a heated or emotional way). Sally heads and taps Cynthia on the shoulder.
Attempt on Astra's life by a crazy man with a gun. Maid and assassing shot. Lots of police and imperial investigation. (Cynthia is pretty paranoid in tracking targets.)
Cynthia bursts into action, punches Sally in the face. Actually its a heel hit.
There is a warcry scream and the door bursts open and a man bursts in. Astra throws herself backwards. Business woman is looking surprised. Sally shoves Astra back and comms Brummen and the police.
Bright flash of light, screaming, fire.
Burst of weapons fire. Man and room service lady go down. Blood.
Cynthia orders the business ladies back into the room, which she does. She then tells Sally to disarm the people at the door.
Sally goes over and puts out the maid. There is a snub pistol on the floor by the man. Cyn gets Sally to stand back and check its out herself.
Sirens.
Commdot Astra who is in the bath room. She seems a little shocked but ok.
Police are arriving. Cynthia copies her logs "for evaluation and legal purposes". She also suggests visiting hospital for a retnal checkup.
Astra fronts up and introduces herself and the police contact Imperial justice. Imperial security is called in and inverviews Sally.
Imperial Justice people roll up and boss the cops round.
Brumen comes in and chats to the Justice officer in charge who has a chat with some people on the phone. Brumen asks everyone to accompany him to the Naval base to deal with this.
Imperial navy take over and Justice gets the flick. Everyone hits orbit in the black unmarked navy carriers.
Enter the base and go into the military base itself. Brum, Sally and Astra chat to a navy officer. Organise some 'papers' for Cynthia so that she has a human identity.
Navy officer wants the story registered. Sally dumps her story. Astra comes in and checks on everyone.
Review cynthia's logs. See scan and target evaluation of everyone. Increased threat evaluation and weapon warming with the business arguement. Presence of someone outside the room. Target tracking of Sally, including increase threat priority when Sally sets the cutlery. Density scan of outside walls shows the rapid movement. Decision to target both service lady and screamer. Shooting and disabling of target. Considering shooting business ladies too (on sudden moves). Cynthia also runs mini 'sims' of attack possibilities to determine target priorities. This code is also run on her Linear processors not her Neural ones. Also she evaluated the situation and decided that because this wasnt a 'covert' shooting that offically dealing with it would be the best choice.
Facial ID of screamer from list of 817 individuals and organisations considered physical threats to Astra. Attacking man is Yfen Oberdar of Boughene. He blamed Illiana for the failure of his Drossill export business on Boughene. Apparently a freight company owned by Illiana refused to carry Drossill because of conserns about it's effects on Vargr. Many legal cases followed and the man's Drossill refinary went out of business. He broke into the hotel were Illiana was staying on Feri, but was caught by hotel staff and imprisioned for 6 months and has a restraning order against contacting Illiana and her family. He has written 2 letters to Astra in breach of that order since Cynthia has been filtering Astra's mail.
Imperial paperwork etc.
Imperial paperwork etc.
Cargo loaded.
Imperial paperwork etc.
Organise some 'fake' papers for Cynthia before the whole thing goes onto the record.
Imperial paperwork etc.
Cynthia gets fake papers
Cynthia is now registered a cybernetically modded 'human' working for Astra.
Investigations say the guy didnt even deny it. Sadly, the room service lady doesnt seem to have been involved.
Justice is going to lock the guy away on the restraining order violation and then do mental checks.
The room service lady will be stabilised here and then moved off to Rhylanor for regen treatment.
Talk to Astra on the way off the base. Shes a little worried about the room service lady, but has organised good treatment.
Cynthia cautiously asks if there are any programming modifications needed to her combat routines. Sally chats about what she would have done. Cynthia talks about giving her thoughts to someone else and how weird it is.
Back to the ship and head out.
Attribella gives Sally an imperial soap opera based on astras mother
Attribella has bought Sally the whole set of "The Earl's Daughter" which is a set of soap opera medias loosly based on Astra's mother's rise to the top.
Hit jump....
Pop out of jump at Kinorb
Head for the gasgiant and refuel and then head out to jump.
Hit jump Fulacin.
Watch the 'Earl's Daughter' for chunks of the trip. It's a 'classy' (with a capital ass-y) production. Sally hits the book after reading a bit.
Arrive at Fulacin. Fulacin has massive starport for the 800 people on the system. Its a company world with a heavy metalic taint in the atmosphere which is mined.
Head for the system to refuel and sell cargo.
TAS news article:
Arrive and land at Fulacin down to deliver the food. There is extensive downport with lots of storage and accomedation. Robotic cargo handlers come and unload the cargo. Brumen deals with the company exec while Cynthia works with the cargo robots to unload the food.
Expensive hotel, but very nice. The facilities are massive and expanisive but mostly mothballed.
The other traders have the theory that there is something very expensive has been found in the planet itself and the company is setting up for massive mining operations. Another captain thinks that they have found most of the components for building jump drives and that the company is going to be setting up massive construction yards.
Sleep at the hotel.
Lift off and head out to the jump point.
Hit Jump for Jae Tellona.
JUMPIES.
Jae Tellona for a refueling stop.
Refueled and hit jump
Arrive at the busy rhylanor port.
Arrive in Rhylanor system.
Rhylanor is BUSY! Lots of traffic and lots of comms traffic. Waiting in queues.
Rhylanor itself looks like a rockball. Big splotches on the surface where the cities are.
ROS station, cluster of starports with 600million people. Wow. Big! Actually massive!!
Attribella is busy flying, so join Astra at the common room window. Astra thinks its kinda grey. Deneb was better.
Orbital approach etc.
Come down and 'land'. The downport has massive arms with sliding pads that ships land on and which fold into the arm and seal.
Celestina hops onto the nets and posts her cargo. Unload the cargo to a warehouse to free up the cargo bay. Grav pallets arrive and are loaded and whisked away.
Astra and Attribella are getting on alright while talking about shopping here.
Celestina is going to stay on the ship and do some cargo shopping. Brummen is going to hit the town and do some shopping. Astra is going to go visiting.
Talk to Brumen about getting a cargo lifter.
Go shopping with Attribella for cargo lifters and work pods etc. Spend a couple of hours looking at various robots and things. Sally looks at cargo lifters, Attribella looks for sensor bots but they are all out her price range.
Attribella gets a grav 'tin' and heads away from the spaceport and into the 'local' town.
Sally gets the tourist speel from a Astroburger sponsored public transport computer.
She heads into a adventure casino for a meeting with a 'friend'. The casino is kind of weird in that its full of people in VR pods. Heading past the casino floor and to the hotel rooms at the back.
Attribella is getting her Anagathics shot.
Attribella knocks on a door and gets invited in. Guy has case with a machine. Attribella hooks up and gets analysed. The guy doenst seem conviced by the 'dose' attribella wants, but she explains that her legs are robotic. The guy checks her payment and then gets the machine to produce a vial. Payment is made. Everyone is happy.
Attribella explains adventure casinos. Also getting cheap anagathics.
Cynthia has worked out a hotel. Its 'just' 5 stars, so a middle ground between what Astra is used to and the rest of the crew. Grab some 'tins' back to the hotel. Attribella heads off to 'grow' her treatment. Brumen isnt back. Check the cargo... atleast its making a profit already.
Head to the duke's archology. Meet Lucentio.
Cynthia invites Sally to the hault-Shergikimaam-Pang retreat on Arbellatracon (the largest archology up north). Cynthia suggests a $4000 outfit, but Sally almost chokes to death. They work out something.
Sally heads back to the ship and organises a 'Louzy' outfit. She gets ready and heads out and into the speeder.
Arbellatracon is a massive domed area (with its own mountain). Its terraformed inside the dome and most people live underground. There is industry outside the dome. 6 Billion people live in the area.
The hault-Shergikimaam-Pangs are the family of the Duke. The Marquis is the eldest son of the Duke.
Speeder enters the dome and heads to the retreat on the mountain which has a nice little country retreat. Checked out by security on the way in and cleared. The speeder heads to the landing pad on the building. Cynthia meets Sally on the landing pad and leads her inside. Cynthia says Sallys get up will be fine.
Head into a room of real paper books. A short time later Astra and Lucentio enter, talking about UofD and goings on in Regina. Astra pulls him over to meet Sally.
Astra does the introductions "Most Honourable Lord Lucentio I present Sally-Anne Jefferson."
"As long as you dont call me Uncle Luc too. Lucentio is fine. I hear you've been keeping my kindof niece company. So how did you get caught up with this bunch."
Sally dumps the story.
"Stroke of bad luck." That earns him an elbow in the ribs.
Sally comments on the nice digs. He comments on the terraformed area. Astra notices some new bits.
The duke in his weird exoskeleton floats in. Sally goes all formal on his ass. Lucentio introduces people. Sally bows and says "Your Grace."
He rasps something and it translates into "I hear we have visitors." He reaches out with a whiring of motors. "Cybeline said you were heading out for dinner?"
"Well I was intending to have dinner here actually and..."
"I wont have you arguing here. Go to the up-port. Ill send Cybeline somewhere else."
Astra "So, you two are getting along well."
Lucentio and Astra joke a bit. Apparently Cybeline suspects that Astras mother was trying to marry off Astra or her sister to Lucentio to form some trade pact. Cybeline is apparently not one to take Astra's laughter very well.
Astra gives her condolence to Lucentio. "Your father doesnt look too.. err... selfsupporting."
"Sadly I dont think he'll be with us for much longer. Alergic to regen packs."
Astra seems to understand his sadness. Lucentio picks it up and changes the subject to dinner at the orbital facility.
Lucentio and Astra chat and catch up.
Head up one of the viewing spires. Astra and Lucentio are talking about Astra's future. Lucentio asks "How the domain is going with you on this Grand Tour?"
She replies "Things run well enough on their own" and that shes "happy for the things her mother set up to run themselves for a while."
"Youre not planning any changes then?"
"Oh Im planning massive change, but they can wait. Doing things in pieces just isnt in my family, Luc, you know that. Ive got some very different ideas about how it all should be. Mum and I argued all the time."
"So Kuron is definatly out of the picture then? He was the designated heir. The distance is somewhat of the problem I guess."
"No, he's too interested in the politics of the Moot. You know him, he's a political animal."
"Yes, the Capital will suit him. He wont be happy though."
"No, he wont, but Ill deal with that when he comes back."
"You better be over your Tour before he gets back."
Astra just smiles.
"Oh, have you visited Danutana yet?"
"I commed her. She'll be joining us after dinner."
"Excellent!"
Head up to a crystal viewing room on the top of one of the spires of the building. Upon entering the bubble detaches and starts to accellerate up into orbit. It is joined and escorted by three fighters as it assends into orbit.
Offered a drink and enjoy the view.
It docks with the port and the party is met by the Castellan of ROS port and an honour guard who escort the party past some port officals and a few holonews crews. Lucentio goes over and greets some of the officals while the Castallan transfers everyone into a pod to carry them into the facility.
The Castallan talks about ROS3 which is mainly a naval construction facility and also some higher capacity civilian transport. The Castallan is very much in tourist mode.
The dining facility is a crystal bubble on top of an arm reaching out over the naval repair facilities where two fleet carriers are being constructed by a 'hive' of construction machines. Behind is the view of the horizon of the planet as it flits from day to night. Sally is notices that the holo display is enhancing bits that she looks at. Freaaaaky. But very very pretty.
A table has been set at the very end of the arm. Waiters buzz round and see to everyones needs. The people seem to dissapear and leave the party of Sally, Lucentio, Astra, Cynthia, Bimek (one of Lucentio's stewards) to dinner.
Chat to cynthia and an trade offical about how astra's new trade path for louzy wont work.
Chat to Bimek, who is Lucentio's steward of external trade. Bimek works on external rhylanor subsector trade. Cynthia introduces herself as Astra's personal steward, although that has expanded somewhat since she has gone on tour. Cynthia does a pretty impressive 'human' chat mode.
Cynthia is skepical about the ability to set up an alternative route. Bimek agrees, she thinks that there are some obsticles in the way. Efate. Regina. Lack of port facilities and tech along the alt jump route. Requirement for higher jump capacity. The Feri cluster is pretty well sidelined. Cynthia agrees.
Cynthia asks about trading companies and how the local law on the planet of registration effects the company board and conversly how local laws effect imperial wide operation. It seems cynthia is setting up a company to trade.
Astra mentions Sally's impending en-nobling to Lucentio. Lucentio wants to hear the story. Sally says that its mostly luck. Astra says that the Imperium is trying to deal with Louzys lack of stable nobility. Astra complains about democracy and dealing with it at Shinthony. Lucentio ponders creation of nobilty. Hmm. Sally talks about how big the Imperium is. Lucentio chuckles and says we'll we should set up something... maybe a diplomatic links or an exchange program. We have some anthropologists who are just aching for new contact work.
Chat about deep meson facilities and system defence boat squadrons at Louzy. Apparently Efate is already building said SDB's and plans are starting for a deep meson facility on Louzy to defend the refueling.
Dinner was obviously excellent. Conversation fades off a little and decends into chitchat.
Astra is going to head off and meet her sister. Lucentio is heading back to the surface. Sally is heading off back to the hotel.
Head back to the hotel.
** TAS NEWS: 209-1107**
Tetzel/Deneb (1823-B643232-B) Date: 209-1107
Massive earthquakes in the Tetzel/Deneb system have caused widespread destruction of the civilian infrastucture, requiring the evacuation of the Civilian teraformering engineers by Naval forces from the local base. Fourty three people were killed in the earthquakes and following breach of the atmospheric hull on the main terraforming facilities.
Capital/Core (2118-A586A98-F) Date: 209-1107
Uberstar Glip today canceled his tour of the capital, sighting the Imperial security in the systems as a "needless burden on artists". Glip was sheduled to perform 7 concerts, including one for command performance for Culture week.
Glip's support fleet jumped out of system soon afterwards, leaving Kvenn Media Inc with 800000 liveview/8million holoview customers clammering for refunds for the soldout concerts. Kvenn Media released a press release stating that all tickets would be refunded. Glip's destination is unknown at this time.
Glip is a multimedia performance star.
Sally writes some letters.
Attribella is withdrawing her own blood to feed her anagathics base. Sally enthuses about her trips to orbital base and all the cool stuff. Attribella asks if Sally is moving into a different circle, but she agrees that Louzy will be dealing with 'these kind of people'.
Talk about Rhylanors diamond production facilities and how Sally should get a diamond paperweight sculpture done. Hmm. Tacky.
Attribella tries to get Sally's planet to purchase some of her bike, but eventually just decides, meh, its only money. :) She then tried to invite Sally to see the lowlife, but then reconsiders a drinking binge given that shes spent the day draining her own blood.
Sally has a message from J Optenkrussten representing the Imperial College of Heralds, asking for an appointment.
Future meeting with the heralds. Go shopping with Astra and 'Bella. Cynthia says the crew are smuggling. Brumens old ship mate is sick.
Brumen and the rest of the crew gather over breakfast. Brumen says that Vlen Backett, a friend of Brumens and someone who worked on the ship when Brumen bought it, is ill and thats going to hold the ship over for an unknown amount time.
Astra drifts in to see everyone. She's going to go shopping and wants to know if anyone wants to come. She says that shes going to a mall to try on some organic art. Attribella pops up and says shes interested. Sally has to see this.
Astra and Sally chat about the college of Heralds. Long talk about nobility and becoming a noble. Sally makes an appointment for tomorrow. [what it involves. if she should do it. what order she should join.]
Cynthia comes over and asks about Celestina. Cyn wants to know if Celestina is into smuggling. Sally doesnt know, but wants to hit her head on a bulkhead. Sally recommends against asking Celestina if she is a smugger. Cynthia believes that the crew has been organising smuggling with or without the captains knowledge.
Go and ask Celestina if there is anything she needs? "Not really." Hmm. Talkative. "You do get out and have fun when we're in port? Other than trade things?" "Quiet is good."
So, shopping then...
Astra gets a luxury 'bus' to go to the shops.
The fashion mall is a massive cluster of fashion shops (ranging from tailored to mass market).
Astra is going to buy Sally something 'not quaint' and charge it to Louzy.
Sally wont get anything that she can only wear once. Attribella suggests somthing organic that sheds layers, "then it's always new". Sally makes fish faces. Attribella says that she'll happily take Sally shopping.
Sally refuses to pay 4000 for a formal dress. Astra replies "Lets just go and see if anything grabs your eye."
Attribella and Astra go to some of the tech-coutier shops for dresses. Attribella falls in love with a vaporcloak. Astra is looking at a black skinsuit with evening dress, filter veil and helmet bubble (and for only $10k).
Attribella wants to head off to a grav tailor because she has a kickass idea and wants to get some gravcloth. Astra takes Sally down to the local 'David Jones' type store. Astra then takes her to a very expensive tailor and gets a suit and formal dress but in really expensive hightech material.
Dress is auto repairing, unrippable, records conversations and notes, has a built in computer. Color changes, design changes (downloadable), optional additions and fashion changes. Privacy screening tech. Basically almost everything. Astra pays for it.
Trousers, jacket and a dress.
Comm message from Bimek, Lucentio's steward, arranging a meeting at construction yard 12 with the Marquis. She can send a shuttle if you need one.
Sally finishes with the tailor and heads off to say see ya to Astra. Astra says dont sell your other party ticket.
Sally heads off to get more respectable at the hotel.
Called up to see Lucentio. Meet the zhodani ambasador for an eye opening converation.
Arrive at the construction yard there is a large 50kton ships skeleton being built.
One of the yard managers leads Sally into a meeting room to wait for the Marquis. The manager talks about the construction process before being interupted by a message.
Company of people in the employ of the duke come in, all in psi helmets. One is offered to you and a large zhodani woman bends down to come in.
"You, wait here." snaps an imperial. The zhodani lady walks nods slightly and walks over to the window.
Sally chats to her local friendly imperial who says that the zho battle droids killed a friend of a friends father in the war.
Sally goes over and talks to the zho. She introduces herself as High Council Stez-fall-tlasche'.
"Wonderful view. Im sorry to make your meeting later." "Thats ok. Im Sally, a trader, or engineer to be more precise." "It seems odd that a trader would be seeing the marquis." "Im leading and intersting life for a farm girl." "I was born on Thengo, a farming world myself. You dont have the same reaction as the others. You are from an isolated world?" "Yes, more intersted in keeping the tractor going." "I wish to return to a farming world for the birth. I find the flow of life more agreeable there." "Is it hard being here?" "Yes. Not many of our people can handle the integration. And eventually it makes us.... unwell." "Hmm." "We have a cultural exchange programs, if your system would be interested. Science, history and artistic. Naturally clear it with the imperium." "Is there any chance between us?" "Truthfully? No. Maybe when we have imprisioned and eliminated all those without the psion gene. Now if you think about how you feel when I said that, that is how we feel towards your people. You imprision,"
"Ah..." "We have trouble seeing your society and you ours. Thats the problem." "We treat mental illness as a treatable illness." "But some of those people would fear the change." "How many people with treatable physical illness would not want the cure?" "A few." "Hmm. An there is our difference perhapse. We are just too different." Chat some more and then split.
Sally goes to see Lucentio.
Lucentio is in a meeting room talking with some engineers and managers. The meeting clear and Sally is invited in to take a seat.
Lucentio asks if Louzy really wants to go it alone. Its hard but if you want to, then they can help.
Also he wanted to see that Astra isnt pushing you into this Order thing.
They chat about interstella politics and stuff for a while and how Norris is a bit of a political barbarian and Regina is in the sticks.
Sally mentions Marquise Stez-fall-tlasche'. Lucentio says shes interesting and that he'll have to try and strong arm some imperial company into dealing with the zho's.
Sally heads out.
Head back to to check out the tailor and see whats ready. Evening dress worked out.
Back to the hotel. Get ready and wait for dress.
Imperial party! Select a partner and then head on in. All in all a very weird night (and quite enough about the vat-meat).
Dress rolls up. Check out the fitting program and get in.
Head to party.
Stopped by security who want and Id check (because Sally's genetic info isnt on file). Guys in battle dress stomp around. Lead to a gate by a holo head on a grav platter.
Head in. Meet, "Vostenberg, Social Steward to the duke, at your service." He snaps at sally for her announcement. He quickly snaps "What are you doing?! I have a party to run here! Get out of the line! Out!!!" He moves away, "Ah, Barronette Fren-aldi..."
Meet Jev Plenthor who will be Sallys party consultant for this evening. He calls over makeup and grooming who go to work. He asks Sally who she is and what shes done.
He gives her a boquet of flowers and says that "..other people wearing flowers are guests. People not wearing flowers are ranking guests and always introuduce yourself to them."
He explains that there are comm pads and staff around to find out who is who.
He works out the introduction:
Then wait for clapping, any greeting and offical press pictures.
He offers a series of companions for the evening:
Sally picks the navy officer.
Meet Evalin Verskinskoff, who is formally dressed and quite polite to Sally.
"Thanks for the invite, maam." "This is my first one of these." "Ill keep an eye out for you."
Sally is rolled out infront of the cameras and introuduced.
He works out the introduction:
She shakes the hand of the Duke's Newt head of diplomatic services, Klifthar.
The place is huge, with a massive 4 story high, multi level, donut structure looking down onto a large central courtyard. It is mostly dark with lights luminating artistic and scientific presentations by university staff and students around the ground floor of the donut.
Sally and Eva-lin, chat about what to do.
Go and meet Eva-lin's friends. Fleet Commander Sir Iothin, assistant to Admiral Lord Santanocheev Sector Admiral. Admiral Lord Rassltoff, commander of rhylanor subsector fleet.
Chat about system defence etc and Louzy vrs Efate.
Astra makes a splash by bringing Felin, the dangerball star! Felin is a double hard sweetie!
Introducing:
Crowd applauds as Astra steps forward. Astra is dressed in an exquisitly expensive and daring new dress (that I have no hope of discribing). Felin steps forward and pulls an agro pose and Croud goes wild. Astra slaps her on the back and Felin picks Astra up easily. Astra gives a cheeky eyebrow raise. Commentators make some jokes.
Photos are done and they head into the introductions. Felin curtsies and takes Astras arm. Introductions etc.
They head over to where Sally is. People are bowing to Astra and fawning all over Felin. Felin has a massive fanclub.
Astra introudces Felin to Sally and heads off to chat to someone. "Sorry we didnt roll up together." "Thats ok, Cyn linked me up witha party consultant."
Felin, for all her massive mods and imposing size, turns out to be such a giddy fan-girl.
Felin and Sally chat about Felin's growing up on Efate, about Sally being from Louzy, meeting Astra etc etc.
Felin is excitedly looking round. "Wow! Look, it's countess Cybeline. Ill be a vargr's packmate! Its countess Villenkrath, he's such a flunkey of the Duchess of Mora. Wow! Check out this party! Can you believe we're here?"
Introudicing
Polite clapping. People go back to their party.
Felin is weak and Sally could take her in a dangerball party!
Felin babbles again "Oh my gosh, it's Lucentio, I just have to go and say something, do I look ok?"
Student Ing Givar protest infront of the Duke! Shocking!
Mingling, and as the Duke's group passes a student who stands up and shouts "Recognise Ing Givar now!" with accompanying holo display. The Duke isnt amused. Most of the other guests are slightly amused and giggle and chatter amongst themselves. Security drag him off and an officer tells off sniper team 6 for being slow in targeting him.
Astra brings over a business man (who apparently mostly talks about bulk processed vatflesh transport).
Fleeting introuduction to Baron Oberlinds, a pushy new noble businessman who has trading links and might be able to help with the freezie technolgy.
Introducing Baron Marc Hault-Oberlinds and his partner, holovid start Defo. Oberlinds is overdress and Defo flashes his animated fire eyes a little too protentiously. Yes, its Mr "New Money" and his "Show Pony".
People in the croud mutter about the 'frontieer' nobility and their need for flashy attention getting.
Astras rushes off to chat to Oberlinds, leaving her business friend Sir Henvil Ixen to chat at Sally. He's quite, um, keen on vatflesh. Sally vows that Astra must die. Sally comms Cyn who comes over and rescues Sally.
Walking round looking at the various artists and scientist present their results around the area while people mingle. Sally feels bad about ignoring the Zhodani ambassador.
One of the display artists (who has some form of documentry film) offers Sally a hefty down payment for her 'story' about what happened at louzy. Sally takes a copy of his documentry and 'will think about it'.
Introudicing
Danutana takes her partner and heads off into the party, away from Astra.
Astra comes over and grabs Sally and heads off after her.
Astra says, Dan just about to finish finishing school. Isnt that a great sentence? Anyway, be kind ok, shes a little intense at times, but shes a good kid.
Bit of a family bicker between Astra and her sister
Astra and Dan meet and talk or more like argue. The decide to take it to a private room and Dan explains that she "so doesnt want to study Macro and Stellar Economics" and that shes "so not going to listen to Astra".
Astra counters that "I doesnt want you to study it either, but you have to do alteast first year, because thats what mum wanted." "How do you know?" "She left me a message." "She didnt leave me one!" "Well she left me a list of what I had to do. You have to do"
"I wanna see the message." "It was only for me." "Thats so unfair. You always have to 'win'" "*sigh*"
Astra and Dantuna bicker. Privacy field goes up. Cyn suggests tactical retreat.
The tables are set for dinner and people sit down. Eva-lin is thinking about her new cru-ron commander job and debating between a new ortillery cruron or an older battle cruiser (reserve) cruron. Choices choices. Shes not really happy with either.
Astra and Dantuana still bicker at the table.
Dinner is mostly naval conversation about defences and battle riders.
Sally is sitting at the table with the naval people and drops Brumens name. Apparently Brumen was involved in developing the crustal defence idea, but fell out of favor with the navy when he started to doubt it. Anyway, there follows an interesting discussion on crustal vrs deep defence and battle riders vrs battleships and other 'unanswerable' questions of naval strategy.
Sallys dinner is lots of small things from various places. An endless supply of entrees. Intergalactic yumchar.
Dinner winds down the duke toasts the Emperor and with that, leaves the table.
Astra is making her way over, but people keep talking to her. Falin is following behind.
Evalin says "look me up for a tour."
Sally says "You bet!"
Jev pops up with a holo menu of the food so sally can rate it and says the duke requires an audience. He also pops his card to sally. Sally tells Cyn and then heads off.
Sally is nervous, Jev stays around and tries to chill her out.
Sally gets the once over by the Duke.
Assistant comes in and introduces Sally. The duke says "Who?"
The Assistant says, "The friend of Astra. You wanted to talk to her about the knighthood."
The Duke waves the assistant off.
'Friendly' chat with the duke. "Why do you want our support? My son is too much under the influence of the daughters of Illiana. What does the girl Astra want with you? Or Norris? Is he involved? Is this political?"
Sally overwhelmingly tries to explain her situation to the duke who listens and ponders.
Head out to find people and get a stiff drink.
Astra bumps into the zhodani party and greets them in zhodani. The sculptor, Tzinla, rattles off a hurried and excited burst of zhodani. The ambasador says, "Not everyone here speaks zhodani, please speak imperial."
Sally meets with the Zho again and they organise an art meeting on Astras yacht. Head off in Lucentio's shuttle.
"My mastery.. of imperial.. is weak."
Astra reples, "Thats all right, so is mine."
"This is not true." Tzinla looks confused, and to the ambasador. "But I would love to see your collection." She looks at the ambassador. "Can it be arranged?"
"I will request it and their security will arrange it." The Ambassador explains that "Tzlin has been invited to see some of the works on Astra's vessel."
The Ambassador looks tired and kind of mechanical. Sally says "I trust you're well."
"Yes, Im fine. Nice to meet you again."
Midnight-ish. Shuttle up to the top of the structual support. Its an observation thingie/nightclub with Lucentio. Its all very hip and cool and just eeeeeeeeeeevery one is here. (well everyone important.)
Astra shows Sally Rhylanor's view, and appologises for Vatfleshman. Astra delivers Lucentio to Sally to chat to. Lucentio seems a little wasted, but still helpful. Lucentio and Sally chat happily.
Lucentio talks about the univerity and the Ancient site. Astra and Felin return.
Talk to Cynthia, explain that she really wasnt going to kill Astra. Sally asks about the Ingvar stuff earlier.
Sally heads off to sleep (and download the dress).
Attribella asks about how much naked covorting happened at the party?! She says she saw Felin roll up, but... oh... she was with someone. Attribella has bought tickets to the Dangerball game in Astras name. Live ones actually. Oh and a whole shuttles worth. And she has a plan to invite some scouts.
'Bella is pro scouts (shock!) and organises a dangerball shuttle on Astra's credit card.
Attribella rants about the scouts and how they keep the imperium working. They run the xboat system to allow them to keep the imperium honest and working and how they have the ability to get the job done, where as the navy is too by the book. Attribella tries to make scout contacts everywhere so thats why shes inviting scouts to the dangerball game.
Frightningly enough it almost makes sense.
Brumen staggers out and has breakfast. Sally chats to him.
Brumen talks about nobility and noble orders. He figures that a spinward order is probably better than a regina one, but either would be fine. Sally asks if Norris will 'mind', but he says that its the level at which something is recognised that matters.
Sally doesnt mention the smuggling thing.
Sally sets up a tour of the university facilities, taking up the offer of Lucentio to organise a nicer tour.
Sally goes through her 'dress' record for the party. Journal entries.
Astra rocks in and is horribly perky talking about organising surprises for everyone. Astra has organised a surprise for this arvo and will 'rescue' Sally. Cynthia is ok too :).
Astra has a shuttles worth of tickets to the match. Should be an interesting battle... and so will the game.
Apparently Astra has a shuttle worth of tickets to the match.
Sally meets with the Heraldry official and Astra drops off some supporting notes from Norris and Efate. Duke makes a surprise apperance too. Everyone rolls out for little sally.
Jenove rolls up. Shes looking quite officical and dressed in business attire and has a case with various documents and data displays. Sally hands over her info and records.
Talk with Jenove about stuff and get some into on the various orders and nobility in general.
Sally drops some names :) about travelling with Marquises and attending parties with Dukes. Jenove looks surprised and..
Knock at the door and Astra barges in. Sally introduces Jenove and Astra. Astra delivers letters of appreciation from Duke Norris and the Marquise Venn of Efate. Astra explains that giving them to Sally must have slipped her mind.
Astra heads out and gives Sally the thumbs up.
The offical docs are like offical certificates of recognition. Astras hand written one states that Sally was one of a number of people who helped resolve the situation with better judgement than her own and showed bravery, engineuity and diplomacy. It also includes more full data record of the events (but outlines them in point form, how Astra overreacted and how Sally and Brumen and the others defused, resolved and rescued the situation).
The duke rolls up muttering something about Illianas daughter's clumbsy attempts to manovering. He floats in and states that he believes Sally's character to be a noble and honest and do credit to the imperium and this should be releated to the colledge in the capital, local politics be damned.
It seems the local nobility has a dark fate instore for Sally.
Jenove says "This may change things. Hmmm. The capital is where peer noble titles are assigned by the emperor. Obviously Duke Agarekham believes that you are peer material. Duke Norris too. If Duchess Delphine agrees then you may be destined for the peerage. If the Duchess disagrees, then... I am unsure where that leaves things."
Sally mutters something about other people should be recognised too, but only after she's stolen the major glory for herself. :) :) Ok, so maybe not exactly that.
Jenove says that it seems she should investigate further. She says that shes going to need to head out after all.
Sally asks about meeting the Duchess, but Jenove says that it looks like Sallys friends have probably already organised that.
Sally organises introduction to the PM, foreign minister, the navy, her family etc.
Jenove leaves.
Astra rocks in and checks in.
Sally gets the info together to send back to Louzy.
Felin has a game.... and 'attribella/astra' both have excellent tickets. The same excellent tickets.
Attribella is heading there early to get past the crowds and to start the boozing early.
Astra is heading there to arrive 'just in time' (shes a busy lady :).
Sally catches a 'coffin' to the stadium and heads through the crowds to the more 'expensive' shuttle area.
Attribella and the scouts have already rolled up and start on the food.
Stadium area is laaaaaarge and sally heads into the expensive area. She locates the shuttle and just 'hangs around' watching. Wait round for some evil to begin.
Lucentio, Astra, cynthia and another couple roll up.
Sally comms Attribella with a little heads up. Cynthia comms Sally with a greeting. The toffy party hang round for fashionably late drinks.
Sally heads in 'just after' Astra's party roll up at the door.
Lucentio's guards reveal weapons and tell the scouts to take out the knifes. One of the guards disarms the scouts while the other stands in the door covering them. Vibro knifes. Plasma torch. Various other bits and pieces.
Astra turns and orders more Redmans Eel and some glowwine. Sally introduces Attribella to Lucentio and the scouts line up for their formal introduction.
"Everyone shut up the game is about to start... err.... sir..."
Match is announced, its a 1k field, in the Rhylanor atmosphere with micro breathers dispenced by machines at the goal area.
Introductions continue after that announcement. The Regina guy is laughed at because it probably means no Felin cause shes a modded up muscle head.
Astra stands on a table and introduces herself formally then adds, "Call me Astra and GO JAN'ARKS!"
Theory is that light fast runner type game, given the increased oxygen use of the modded players. Surprise at Felin's including in the Regina team, but discussion about shes likley to be goaly. "And a damn good one too, given the attackers are likey to be scout players."
The Regina fan scout cries "Whoohoo!!!! Err, yourladyship."
One scout is talking to Lucentios guards. "So, who are you with? Police?"
"Duke's own Huscarles, the 2021st Assult Engineers."
"Err, yeah but can you, err, like, have a drink?"
"Gotta run alchohol suppressors."
"Ah, not worth it then..." the scout heads off. The guard pouts but Sally brings a drink.
Sgnt Fred is the male bodyguard. Sgnt Pentel is the pouty lady who is happy to talk about the 2021st.
Chat to Lucentio. He is a little perplexed, but mostly just going with the flow. Sally explains a bit about Attribella, her being a good pilot and a scout (with its implied attitude problems). Lucentio says that he understands the kind of person that hes glad that she's Sally's crew and not his.
Game starts. Felin starts punching the metal supports from the oxygen dispencer. Strength, bulging muscle, violence. Felin is scary.
Lucentio notes to Sally "And you laugh at me for being scared of her."
The game is fun and there is much drinking and happy partying.
Felin drags the oxygen dispenser forward on the field and the Regina team set up their base ahead. Felin plays defence at the 1/2 line supplied by a defender who is running handfuls of oxygen units to the goaly and Felin.
The Regina team manage a much better defence because its forward. Its a close low scoring game, but the Jen'arks win.
Astra and Attribella chat about how to make up this fraud. Astra says that she'll happily take Attribellas repayment of 1/2 the cost over a number of months. Attribella says she wont pay for the glow wine though.
Attribella appologises to Sally for getting her involved and invites her out to the scout base for some post game partying.
Sally attends a bit (?) but eventually heads off back to the hotel to crash.
Cynthia is sharing duties between Astra and Sally and organising things.
Cynthia says she should go with Sally to the university. Astra is a little surprised and notes, "I thought you were my bodyguard?"
"Correct, although your schedule for today has you at the Duke's estate, thus security is not required. I can still perform my assistant functions remotely. I shall be back tomorrow morning for the Zhodani visit."
"Err, I guess." Cynthia hands Astra a ring. Astra quips, "Im not ready for that level of commitment."
"Its a locating beacon. I can activate it and it will signal you. If you press this button, it will transmit and I can locate you with it. Given the dependance on myself and the inability to dedicate myself to security, it is a prudent precaution."
"Er, ok. You know that Im a bit touchy about this stuff though."
"That is why I designed it to rely on your authority to reply." Cynthia goes on to explain that it has given an increased chance of success for hostage rescue scenarios and some supporting mumbojumbo that goes over Astra's head.
Astra agrees, somewhat reluctantly more just for some peace.
Fly down to university in some gravcoffins. Dock at a massive station type arrangement. The university is huge and a whole city in itself.
Visit university archology and chat to Dr about chirpers.
Walking round the grounds are quite amazing. Patches of natural landscape mixed with a variety of domes with different biospheres. Really quite amazing.
Student union voting and the better living through chocolate party who offers some to Sally.
Find Dr Ducellette Larandth who is an academic in the department of sophontology specialising in droyne and chirper linguistics and culture. She invites people in and listens.
Chatting about Coynes and Droyne:
Up into orbit to the alien section of one of the massive spacedocks.
Go up to the droyne ship in the space dock. The human scientist doesnt get let in, but the freaky alien weirdo sally is allowed right in. Droyne doesnt seem to care about the chirpers, but they do chat with Sally. Sally gets her future read and has a drug induced vision.
Droyne ship. Ducellete tries to talk her way in to see the droyne leader, but the guard just ignores her. Sally on the other hand is allowed in.
The droyne leader listens but is unconcerned by the plight of the chirpers and not really interested in Ducellete or Cynthia. The Droyne leader, Matyarm.
Matyarm greets Sally and Cynthia and ignores Ducellete. Draw coins for Sally:
Draw coins for Cynthia:
Draw coins for their Oyntrip:
Matyarm gives sally the dreaming drug and the journey begins....
[Missed this one?]
Sally stumbles back to conciousness and remembers....
[Damn missed fully detailing dreams!!! Crap]
See Flame Talk..... [xxx]
Norris' flame speech.
Sally wakes up dressed as a droyne, Cyn has been overwatch'ing.
Droyne mention a vision about heading into the light that Sally didnt get. They said she spoke during it.
Sally says bye to the Droyne and is gifted some coyns and a contact address.
Heading back.
Cynthia mentions that she wants to change her core programming and needs an 'owner' like Sally to do that. Sally says me? Owner? Cynthia says, yeah?
Sally heads outside and deals with the starport organisation who wouldnt let the droyne ship leave until Sally was ok.
Head back to the hotel. Sleep.
Sally heads back and promises to catch up the professor. Brumen isnt impressed with her drug thing, but his ears prick up when sally mentions the word 'longbow' and her bad feelings.
Get teased by Attribella who is kind of proud of Sally (in her own weird way).
Ring the prof and promise to meet sometime.
Sally reviews tapes and writes reports.
Meet with Brumen who wants to 'talk' about it. Brumen isnt too impressed with whole weird sally drug droyne thing and how weird Sally is. He gets somewhat more curious when Sally mentions Longbow.
Sally explains the whole back story. Coin on Wypoc, chirpers, invisibility. Brumen asks about psi and sally says probably.
Brumen wants to know more and gets worried when he hears about the impending doomieness feeling.
Head out to somewhere 'secure' (orbit in this case) and talk to brumen who is a little conserned. He wants to get Sally an inbuilt psi shield and to see what he can arrange imperial security wise. Oooh. Brumen says that the psi thing is handleable but that Sally will need a 'handler' and he can be it.
Sally doesn mention:
Sally is convinced that something bad is coming from the outside but that there is something 'rotten' happening inside too. She isnt convinced that it is the zho, but maybe something that effects them too.
Sally asks about what the crew will think etc. Brumen says that its an issue with perception and that the imperium obviously needs and uses psionics, but that public perception is such that accpetance is hard, this it is downplayed, but that loyal (and that is part of the difficulty) psis integrate wonderfully.
Brumen explains that there are millions of psis and that the problem is public perception and that just cant be fixed overnight.
Brumen organises an imbuilt psi-shield.
Head to a private hospital and get a surgical addition of the psi shield (with 4 emotion controller). Brumen pays with a large wad of cash $10k-$15k.
Brumen's friend passes away and so head off to the funeral. Get attacked on the way back and this leads to a drag out fight and
Comm from brumen about his old engie buddy passing away. He calls the crew together to attend.
Attend the cremation and wake. Vlen travelled all over the marches in various traders. Brumen and some others get to go deal with the will. Afterwards, Brumen, the crew and Trow Backett head off for dinner to discuss business.
Trow is Vlen's nephew.
Leave about 10 with Trow telling stories.
Heading back, attacked in an alley. 4 people in suits (3M/1F) pass and one is playing with an electronic device. Brumen is kracked on the head in the first hit. Sally punches the guy with the electronics in the face and stuns him. Attribella has knocked the guy with the metal club out. Sally keeps pounding.
Attribella is hit in the leg and fakes going down. The girl threatens Celestina with a knife. "Down on the ground."
Sally replies "You dont know who you're fucking with, bitch."
"If you're smart, you'll let me treat him. Cranial wounds are bad."
The girl says "Move and you're dead!"
"Uh-huh." Cel replies, almost challanges.
They search Brum, Cel and Trow. "Nothin'"
The girl slices the knife along Cel's neck and Cel flips a hand under and pushes the knife away with her arm. Guy near Sally looks shocked, "For fucks sake! What did you do that for?"
Sally charges the lady and goes for the smackdown.
Attribella bursts into activity, wrapping her legs around one of the guys and flying up into the sky before dropping him.
Celestina grapples the arm with the knife and combined with Sally aborted attack/body slam gets the lady to the ground.
Attribella attacks one from behind and flings him away. She then flops down to take on the Cel stabbing girl. Sally pounds. Girl stuns. Last guy comes over and is dropped on by attribella.
Cel and Sally take out knife girl. Cel checks on Brumen. Attribella is in a titanic struggle with her guy and eventually stabs him in the neck.
Celistina tells 'Bella to fly up and radio for help.
Police and ambulance roll up and everyone is taken away.
At the station, wounded people get medical attention.
Police trouble, mostly thanks to Celestina who has imperial prision trackers (or marks where they were). Ex con, covered in blood.
Detective, "So what do you want to tell me."
Sally introduces the crew and dumps the story.
The Detective says that they say you attacked them and they defended themselves. "We have some problems with tramp cargos...."
"You might want to check with Astra blah blah."
Medical scanner reveals evidence of an imperial tracking band on Celistina so they know she has attended an imperial prision. Oh and shes covered in blood. Oh, thats not good.
Detective seems to think that either the crew was smuggling and got rolled by the local hoods.
Sally is the innocent one to put the cops off. Bella is labeled a lightweight and a handicap to any serious criminal (she takes offence there). Celestina is the big problem for the police.
Some dirty overalls dressed guy comes in with the police captain.
Police Capt and a dirty guy come in and collect the detective and Sallys crew together.
Captain says "What do you think?" Detective looks puzzled but captain says its ok.
Sally is a patsy. But smugglers often have them to put the law off.
Cyber freak, Attribella is an antisocial type. Definatly some smuggling, but shes too disorganised to do anything big or structured. Shes a lightweight. Also she'd be a liability to any criminal enterprise with her need to attract attention. He'll bet there are fleshpockets in her cyberware.
Celistina is a consern. Shes too controlled and calm. Imp prison time either breaks you or removes any humanity you have left. Either way it makes you a hard core criminal. She obviously knows how to knife fight with the deflection marks.
An imp-con makes me nervous, I dont believe in coincidence that an ex-impcon just happens to be involved in some random local violence.
Turn over the ship. All tramp ships have something to hide. Probably already sold whatever they brought in.
"Assume they are clean" says the dirty guy. Detective looks confused. Captain nods.
"It wasnt a normal mugging. Too well organised. It was targeted and planned. They definatly had something the local hoods wanted. Plus it was a big op for these losers. They had time, warning and help. Most importantly the jammer, means a budget."
"Where to from here?" the dirty man asks.
"Veldec is the one to lean on. Hes weak. He'll act brave, but he'll lawer up quick so he has someone to hide behind. Helook is a psycho, she wont crack. Mentenev is 50/50, he will fold if he's convinced that its over."
"Veldec already called for council."
"Well he's the one to lean on then."
"Thank you detective." Says the dirty man. "Exellent work."
Crew reunited. Bella is mostly annoyed at being called a lightweight.
Head in to see Veldec who has a lawer. Dirty man and armored buddies come in. Detective comes in and starts to explain to Vel that this is an imperial crime and hes looking at imperial sentence and possibly treason.
"Treason!? What? No way."
"Yes, way. Turns out that the guys you rolled were hooked up with an important noble. Could be conspiracy. Either way... imperial law. I told this guy that you're too stupid to do anything like this, so you had to be hired right? If this guy goes away happy then maybe, just maybe, you'll only be up for local stuff."
Criminal goes pale. "Err. Umm."
Lawer is confused and says that Vel needs an imperial law expert.
Two guys in suits burst in and flash imperial ID around. "Ministry of Commerce. This case is ours now." Gets the troops to push the 'punks' against the wall, including dirty guy. The ministry guys throw their weight around way too much.
Police Captain complains and is told to shut up or he'll be spending time on an imperial prison "like the rest of these skum".
One of the troops finds a data crystal on the dirty guy. He plays it and its the duke contacting the local council, and then calling the major of the huscalars who then calls the RSM (the dirty guy).
RSM explains that the order of command is, Emperor, Duke, him. He says that he wants all the Ministry files on this case. MoC guys um and ah. RSM gets the police Captain to go shutdown and secure the MoC computers. MoC guys turn white and fold, are dragged off, interrogated and searched.
RSM returns to Vel. "So.... you were about to cooperate?"
"Ok! We were hired to get this statue thing. Some guy wanted it. I dunno the details. Really! Helook! She organised it. We were just told that you'd probably have it and to watch the hospital room of some dead guy. Then Halook would take it back to the guy. Somewhere in the old quarter I think. Yeah! Yeah! Somewhere near the river I think she said."
Astra rolls up. She wants to see if everyone is ok. RSM asks what she wants to do. Bella doesnt know..... but she isnt a lightweight.
+2 hours since attack
RSM talks about ancient artifacts, crew say 'huh?'
Hes going to get info from thug number two, he even gets a high court judge to give the thug legal advice.
Trov looks scared and confused. He finds some stuff about a trophy room in his uncles flat that he needs to clean out.
Brumen comes out and checks if everyone is ok. Celistina complains that she is a doctor, but still.... mostly to herself. Brumen wants to know whats a going on.
Brumen's plan is the crew seal off the flat. He'll get pistols from the ship and join everyone in 30 mins.
Now we're on the trail of stolen ancient artifacts. Go searching for where Brum's old friend could have hidden it
Brumens angels go and seal off the appartment.
Cyn goes in. Brum rolls up. Check the place out and it looks clean and not turned over. Some valuable stuff is still there. No trophy. Theory is that maybe the attackers expected the thing to be at the wake or will reading and thats why the crew were rolled.
Sally asks 'light weight' Bella to think about where you'd keep this item. Trov grabs the diaries and starts to flip through. Trov finds a message that says Vlen has a personal gig in storage at a facility in the old starport (now just a spaceport). Attribella say 'bing'.
Its 1am. What to do. Leave it 'till tomorrow.
RSM talks to Sally while the others wake up.
RSM is an engineer, not a military guy. He was a naval engineer in the Jewel action during the war. Its been good since then, thanks to prize money and plum assignments.
News. MoC recovered a statue from a collector who accuesed Vlen of selling it. Vlen denied it, but the MoC people were not convinced. There were rumours of a second statue.
Thug gave an address in the old city. Police are chasing it up, but have orders not to apprehend, but just report.
An hour later the police have a lead. A 'crime agent' (fixes crimes to criminals) is linked with this. RSM wants to know what to do. Brum wants to head in and check it out but wants some backup. RSM sends police to provide it.
Brum is going to visit this crime agent with cynthia.
Brum heads off. Attribella and Sally go and wait in the wings.
Brumen meets the crime agent and explains the whole problem. The crime agent says that he has been told to cooperate by his employer, and provides an address. Brum and the others head off.
Attribella insists on going in. Sally and Att argue about who should in. Brum just gives up.
Contacts lead to Winter, a trader in ancient artifacts. His little black market seem to be very serious about their artifacts (the money is very good).
Its an expensive apartment. 'Winter' is inside and expecting people. He wants an off the record discussion. He works for an organisation that is dedicated to recovery and sale of ancient artifacts. He seems to take it seriously and isnt convinced that the MoC does. He seems convinced that the MoC people suck and that not all ancient stuff is safe.
The business man, who is shocked and horrorfied that its gone so wrong. He says that he has a collection and that he would naturally cooperate by giving with anything operational to the imperium.
Brumen isnt happy but is mostly convinced that the guys story checks out. Brum doesnt want the MoC involved yet either.
Eveyrone heads out to the gig and check it out. Locate the statue in a shortish time, due to its blocking of scanners.
Brumen says that he doesnt want the MoC blundering in, and he doesnt want Vlen made a press clipping. Some theory that its a control 'key' for some ancient device. If it is a control, lets hold onto it until we find the site it came from.
So, Brum secure the statue. You have a poke trhough the journals and see if you can work out where it came from. Ill talk to Trov later tonight.
Find out Vlen's story of where he got the statue.
Vlen's story.... broken ship... empty ancient site... frustrated... goes hunting... find second site.... loot... scan=G band....
Everyone is staying at rooms at the Dukes estate.
Sally thinks about spending some time with Astra who was kind of freaked by the whole attack thing. Astra is taking dinner with a minister from Enope who is delivering tax information.
Sally says that she needs to dust her space modem.
Sally goes off and has a quiet night. A couple of drinks with Attribella might do it. ;)
Vlen's journal is an education about life on a repayment needing merchancent ship. Also some gems about the initial repair of Sallys ship!
Catch Brumen and talk. He works out the psi test. Thing with RSM is sorted... the attack wasnt about Astra so that has closed. Brumen talked to the RSM and Astra and sorted that out.
Go visit the RSM guy at the military base. Own little dome. RSM gives a potted history of the unit and what it does. Mostly starport rebuilding and emergency engineering. Its all very fascinating to Sally.
RSM talks about projects and says he will see if he can source a suitably damaged cargo exoskeleton for Sally. Sally thinks about a bottle of something to get for him.
They are building a rescue dome at the uni. RSM likes the stucture of the navy.
Leave mid afternoon and head over to the ship to see that its all progressing well.
Lucentio invites Sally to the Opera.
Sally checks with Astra about the opera. Astra will "do what she can... *sigh*". Astra gets Sally looking nice.
Get there, pulled aside by security and placed in a room. One of Lucentio's assistants comes in and moves Sally to a waiting room.
Watch some 'Eye on Rhylanor' to get a sense of style. Lucentio rolls up and chats to the people.
Sally is at the opera waiting for people and watching Eye on Rhylanor when POP STAR Marquioness Petrovina makes a shock apperance. Lucentio, Pet and Sally chat.
Eye on Rhylanor is pretty dully narrating about Lucentio. Big van rocks up and a guy with dark shades and a wide open shirt pops out.
Shock return of Marquioness Petrovina Aledon Rastinalov vonRentanalov.
Chest hair body guards make Sally puke. VonRenatalov, has caused a press frenzy.
Sally switches channel and heads out into the main room to pretend that she was looking at the art work. Lucentio and vonRenatalov enter and are talking and laughing together. Petrovina say 'excuse me?' to Sally. Sally chats to Lucentio.
Petrovina rushes over and grabs Sallys arm and drags her over. Oh kill me, shes just like Astra.
Pet chats about things for a while before her 'date' rolls up.
Lucentio wants to chat to sally and get to know her. Lucentio complains about hard his life is.. poor dear. Sally explains democracy to Lucentio, who is worried that the long term stuff wont get done. Democracy is ok for the small scale stuff, but how can it work as the only system?
Talk about the problem of Louzy joining the Imperium. Lucentio wants to run off and be a 'noble for hire' :) atleast in his dreams.
Sally asks Lucentio about the 'for the imperium' bit. Luc explains imperial taxes and rule and how it isnt that bad.
Sally asks whats between Pet and Astra. Luc says that Pet is interested in him but that hes not so interested in getting into Mora politics, but would rather go more fronteer direction and that the area up in Regina interests him more. Astra is obviously way too young for him, but that Pet likes to tease him.
Lucentio tells sally to visit on the way back and that he'd be interested in an offical visit to louzy. Sally offers him a bunk bed at the farm. Lucentio accepts the challange.
Before they leave, Pet invites sally to her estate on Fornice. She'll provide moral support when Sally gets her gong.
Sally awkwardly says thanks for the time. Lucnetio says shes welcome.
Sally heads off and notes stuff down.
psi tests. definatly psi. no surprise.
Psi test happens. Brum takes Sally somewhere in the navy base. Attached probes and scanners. 3 people. Questions.
Process of checking the background Sally psi etc. Results: very effective shield. Relaxing and getting into the reading.
Lots of talk and work on psi but all in all its Sally has a shield and may be clairvoyant.
Post meeting Brumen says that hes happy with that, but he'd obviously like to get clarivoyance training to pursue the vision and see if more detail can be obtained.
Cynthia knows. Lets not tell the rest of the crew just yet. Brum is going to call in some favors and organise training and stuff and Sally is happy for that too.
Late arvo...
Head back to the rooms at the estate and chat to Cynthia. Cynthia is updated on the psi stuff.
Head back to the uni. Some students deliberatly throw a ball at Sally. Cynthia doesnt shoot them though.
Catch a coffin to the university.
Heading out of the main dome across the lawn, some students throw a dangerball at Sally. Cynthia intercepts and wants to detain them. Sally comms brumen and they both agree that you should head on.
Cyn thinks that they were Ingivar. Sally and Cynth talk about what just happened and Sally isnt happy with Cynthia applying violence on her behalf. Cyn is somewhat confused. Sally is somewhat upset. Cynthia asks if its because Sally equates her to the assassin droid. Sally is quite startled by the connection.
Cynth attempts to comfort Sally in a clumbsy way.
Chat with the professor and mention the psi. Talk about the possibility of this being linked to the chirper invisibilty.
Arrive at the office of the academic. Sally composes herself and enters.
Sally says that she is a psionic. Dr L says that might explain a lot.
Sally talks about chirpers being psionic. Dr L says thats intersting and not something that has been considered before (infact it was generally assumed that chirpers were unpsi drone and that psi was what converted chirpers into drone).
This leads to the possibilty that the people who stole chiper's pod was by someone who knew that chipers could use psi to cloak. Limited application but a scary idea.
Sally explains roughly what happened in the droyne cermony. Dr L is intersted in if any of the visions actually come true.
Dr L gets Sally to send a message to the chirper on Inthe to cooperate with Dr L research team. Make an appointment to get hte coyns scanned atomically and psi-ly.
Head back to Dukes estate.
Visit brumen about chipers and stealth powers and whats all that about. Not sure that the imperium had ever put the the invisibilty thing together with psi, but its an intersting idea. Doesnt seem to be zhodani as they seem to have chirpers too but they have never used that power. Although it is a power that the droyne have used before.
Comm cruiser lady and organise to visit the day after.
Letter home about lucentio's visit.
Study the coins at the uni. Weird readings, but nothing clear.
Goto uni to have coynes scanned.
The chirpie's leader coyne first. The first scan is in the physics department where they run it thoough a machine looking for density changes and scans and stuff. Energy scans, etc etc. Cast from a stone imprint. No weird stuff. Seems perfectly normal.
Scanning the drone set gets a similiar result except its been produced at a higher tech and it better cast and more durable additives in the gold. Again no weird stuff.
Psi test is in an empty room, monitored remotely.
Impression of chirper coyne is "humming or chanting" and "vast or open space".
Scanning the whole bag gives "trees/jungle" "a metal room" "6".
Sally's coyne set returns a scan of "a whispering voice (cant make out)" "an explosion in darkness, maybe space" "dancing and laughter around a fire under a starless sky, in the open somewhere".
Cynthias reading only works of the Genisis coyne and it gives "vines growing through a tree"
Reading for the future set is "a half rotten corpse" "pain! in my eyes!! Like needles!" Then he stops and composes himself but doesnt get anything else.
Dr L asks if any of that makes sense. Sally says kind of.
Sally goes and visits the reader afterwards they a chat a little.
Sally meets a carbon merchant and a weird lizard. Some chat about diamond cuttlery and humans buying things for their parents (the universal constant).
Visit cruiser party lady. Orbital bombardment. Joy.
Cruiser lady. A few hours gig out. The guest sash. Its a battlerider cru-ron squadron. Missile cruisers and a central rider with particle accellerator and tractors. Missiles and Kenetic projectile launchers.
Cruiser lady, isnt really convinced that its 'her kind of thing'. Might be a politically wise move, but not really what she wants to do.
Talk about the plus and minus of the design and is it actually useful? Its ok for infrastructure, but then you have the deep meson sites to deal with. Hmm. Will it work?
Buy some more shares in the ship.
Brumen is going to organise the share repurchase. Sally is thinking 1, plus 1 via the ship. Brumen is down for 2. Cynthia wants 2.
Celestina has worked out a cargo. Atmospheric filtering parts for Belizo. Doesnt pay too well, but *shrugs*
Hear Attribella shouting that Celestina can afford to lend her money for a share or even buy one herself. Talk about a lack of crew spirit!
Sally 1, ship 1, cynthia 2, brumen 2, attribella 2 (from somewhere unknown). Brumen is suspicious about attribella but accepts it.
Brumen organises purchase of ship shares. New is 40Mcr, scrap is 5Mcr, 5% depreciation over 35 years gives, shares are currently 66433.35cr.
While doing routine stuff on the ship, get a box of junked parts and a note from the RSM guy.
More ship stuff.
More ship stuff.
Zhodani art party on Astra's yacht. Things dont really go that well with our new artist friend being taught an unfair lesson by the ambassador.
Astra on her yacht, meeting the zhodani artist
Sally rolls up. Nice sleek zhodani shuttle is there.
Greeted by Ja-hon! He's running it a little like a formal party. Ja-hon is hugs all round.
'Tzlin', the artist is ranting in part imperial, part Zhodani about Astra's paintings and how they are cold and distant. Astra isnt impressed.
Stez-fall-tlasche', the ambassador says that people are quite often distant, even from close relatives in the imperium. Also critism doesnt help either. Astra looks afrunted and embarrased. "Sweeping generalisations dont help our peoples understand each other."
Tzlin still doenst understand. Sally tries to explain formal vrs personal images, but Tzlin is again confused.
Ambassador blurts out "openness is seen as weakness here". Tzlin looks conserned and confused at that.
Sally says, "because this style is cold and formal, dont take this to mean that shes like this all the time. This is a public image, not a personal image."
Sally comms astra. "Was there something else you wanted to show the her? Do you want to move on from here?"
Astra comms back, "This isnt going as well as I hoped. We should move on."
Tzlin, "oh, I know, but Im talking about a deeper thing."
Astra just stays quiet. Artist looks confused. Ambassadore says "just leave it".
Artist says, "but her art. It could be so much better if it was more open."
Ambassadore says "she cant, imperial citizens must remain guarded. We taught you this in your acclimatisation training. Leave it."
"The pain...." she reaches out astra but Cyn steps between. Artist looks confused. "Um? Have I done something wrong."
The ambassador says "No touching, remember."
Tzlin,s confused "She is hurting. Contact.."
"Security. You might read her mind."
"But Im not gifted."
"You might be."
"But I said I wasnt."
"You might be lying."
Shocked and horrorfied. "I would never..."
"Lies are common here. Remember."
"I.. How.. But.. How can I convince... I.. But anyone could be gifted.." pulls shirt tighter. "Im afraid. I feel.. um.. wrong. Weak. I dont understand. I feel... help."
"Imperial citizens tend to be guarded and untrusting. They will all treat you as a mind invader and distrust you. What you feel is that realisation that dispite outward similarities, we are very alien to each other."
"No! But..." looks scared.
Astra steps forward. "Hey this is so wrong."
"There can be no contact. No meeting without psi shields. You will always be guarded and monitored, as the robot's programming demonstrated."
"No.."
Astra steps forward, "That is unfair. You set this up."
Diplomat, "A nessessary demonstraition. There are lessons that can only be taught through experiance."
Astra "This is wrong on so many levels." and heads out.
Sally says "Dont you believe peace is possible? You're just passing on the fear.... not everyone in the Imperium will react that way."
"Maybe so. But, yes, I dont believe peace is possible."
"It wont be if you keep behaving like that."
Sally and the zho head to the shuttle. Cynthia finds out that she is treated differently and thats how the zho knew she was a robot.
The artist hugs the diplomat. "Oh, im so sad. I think Im starting to understand some of your pain now."
Diplomat turns to the artist. "You must chose now. I know you came here because you feel you can help our relation with the imperium, but you need to know that if you do, you will change. Your art will change. You will close off and start to become like this. You will close parts of yourself."
Sally agrees that staying here will cause her to close off. That openness and freedom is something that children have but that is lost as they grow up. Sally recognises it in herself, that to protect herself she protects herself from the world by closing up.
Tzlin, "How do you live like that? Can this ever be bridged? How can we fix it?"
Sally, "Here are the two of us, trying. That is something."
Ambassadore synically adds, "Just like countless have in the past thousand years. Inbetween the wars."
Sally, "I think understanding isnt enough. There has to be understanding and a genuine wish for peace."
Ambassadore says "My children will grow up in the zhodani consulate but without me." It seems that zhodani can be 'contaimated' by imperial contact.
Sally is sad that it has to come to that. Sally says bye to Tzlin and that the ambassadore is right, and that she will probably close up or be hurt and that will be sad.
Sally and Tzlin hug (after deprogramming Cynthia).
The Ambassadore is smiling and shaking her head at the door. Talk about who might be scanning who and what plot against what other plot and spy against spy. Maybe the Zho scanned Sally... maybe sally scanned Tzlin.
The Ambassador says that shes too good at this kind of stuff. Its her perversion, that she likes secrets, deception and other mental abhorations and she is just so fascinated by them.
Sally says that shes dissapointed by the ambassador. The Amb says that shes sorry and that she wasnt always like this.
Sally heads back to Astras yacht and goes to find Astra. She passes on the ambassador's apology. Astra says that it was a total nightmare. Sally and Astra both agree to go and drink the afternoon away.
Get involved in some crazy tradition of riding the ship out of rhylanor.
Head out! Attribella makes Sally guide the ship from outside. Some ritual to do with the first Colonists on Rhylanor. 'Captain Porder's ride'. Apparently some crewman who guided a colony ship out in a solar storm. Brave but stupid.
Three other merchant crews are there to celebrate with the Empress crew. There is a vargr who is very keen to celebrate. Sally gets some ink, but Attribella has made it electronically activated ink. Nice of her, eh? Attribella seems to have put some planning into this.
Its a long party and a fun time of chatting, telling stories, singing and drinking.
Astra is sorry that Sally didnt get to really meet Dantuana. "Shes normally ok, but mother dying was kind of hard on her I think.". Astra presents Sally with a movie pic of her meeting the duke's party (and there is a button which has some 'Eye on Rhylanor' footage of Sally sneaking out of the Opera.
Jump to Jae Tellona.
Food quality is much improved thanks to Ja-Hon.
Sally checks out the robots stuff. Cynthia is hanging round when that happens. She is curious and wants to know why Sally is doing it. Sally says she likes building stuff and a cargo handler would be useful for that. Cynthia is more curious about the meta questions of why humans build robots if they are afraid of them.
Sally sorts out the boxes of bits and pieces. The skeleton is there, its the muscles and motors that take longer to catalog.
Looking into noble orders and the like.
Time with Astra and the crew. Attribella is pretty keen to get Sally back as one of the crew. She's running Sally through some Navigation training.
Arrive at Jae Tellona.
Pop out of jump.
Manover in towards refueling station. Pick up some mail.
The crew, catch up on the news:
news item about Marquioness Petrovina.
* message from home.
Refuel and restock.
Begin jump to Belizo.
During jump...
Tell brumen about the meeting with the Louzy people.
Getting a better idea of the bits that need to be found for the cargo loader. Cynthia is curious about the control computer for the loader and wants to examine the schematics.
Cargo lifter: Get one leg fully wired, but the other one is missing one of the main lifting muscles, so it has limited degrees of movement.
Look up nobility stuff and talk to Astra about the Duchess of Mora. Shes old and crafty and powerful and a bit of a traditionalist.
Do some anti hijacking drills.
Brumen orders an anti piracy drill. People man the weapons and track imaginary pirate ships. Also anti hijacking practice. Cynthia treats this very seriously. Attribella doesnt. The anti hijacking thing is more personal and involves weapons and running round the ship. Astra just stays out of the way, as does Celestina.
Piracy seems to be hopefully less fatal (which is better for everyone) but hyjacking is usually more fatal.
Jump out at Belizo. Head to the main system.
Catch up on news. They are a bit behind.
Arrive and unload cargo. Buy 219967.650 Sell 285957.945
Weird planet with bio-vapor extractors from the atmosphere. Kind of like a mining/faming operation. Much more a farmie feel than Wypoc.
Spend some time with the quaint locals. Look for cargo.
End up with a cargo of 'high tech' mining equipment for Heroni.
Belizo: buy cargo == mining parts
ship 1107.237 -103827.83
Head out of grav well and get ready for jump.
Hit jump to Heroni.
In jump to Hernoi....
More routine. Ships life, robot repair. General stuff.
Thinking about the louzy deligation and what to do about the re-interdiction idea. Interdiction may be nice, but is it even possible any more?
Arrive in Heroni.
Excitement at Heroni. Detection of unknown ship and our heroes investigate.
Emergency comm signal from port authority (ie, a couple of scouts on loan to the corp).
Need to investigate an unknown ship that jumped in a week ago. Is it in need of help or is it a threat to the system.
Meet the scout gig and their jerry-rigged fuel cargo. Carefully check the scouts out and refuel and resupply the ship.
Attribella helps and deals with the scouts. It must be some secret handshake.
Accelerate out to the outer system where this mystery ship is.
Decellerate into the area of the mystery ship.
Begin search for mystery ship. Eventually find a highlighted black ship in high orbit of the planetoid.
Board the floating ship and find that it is abandoned. It seems to have been built by an unknown race who visited imperial space, but they seem to have caught some unknown plague. The ship itself is odd in that it's solar powered (takes a week or three to recharge).
Crew have a meaning and plot out their approach. Attrib in the bridge, ready to evade and jump. Sally in engineering ready for evade and jump. Celestina and Cynthia in the turret. Brumen in the bridge ready to beam info back to the base. Everyone in vacc suits and everything sealed up. Astra thinks its kind of exciting in a scary way.
Scan. No active powerplant. No life signs. Ship is not manovering. 800 ton hull. Non standard configuration. Not streamlined.
Closer scan. Two turrets with single energy weapons. Doesnt seem heavily armored. Still no power, or life.
Our heroes ship stops and scans. Some gravic readings of internals. No evidence of large filled fuel tanks (temp or density). ANNIC NOVA painted on hull. Jump grid on hull.
The Empress sits and scans and sends back its infomation.
Another crew meeting to discuss what to do.
Attribella heads out for a closer scan and the rest of the crew get ready to board. Attrib reports back.. some power is evident (lighting) there seems to be atmosphere and life support because she can see plants through the windows in the long hull. She bashed on the hull, but no answer still. No comm signal. Nothing. Looks dead in the water. She spotted some entry hatches in a couple of places. Heading back.
Meeting on who and how. Well engineer is probably a good idea. Cynthia would be good too.
Maybe leave Astra, Jahon and Cynthia. Brumen wants a crew that can protect iteself, so Cynthia, Sally, Brumen and Attribella. Astra protests and wants to go. Brumen doesnt thing thats a good idea. Cynthia things its foolish. Sally isnt convinced. Astra argues that she studied linguistics and might be useful, or does not being able to kill things with your bare hands rule you out from this?
Attrib says that Astra just wants a cut of the salvage. Sally and Attribella talk about the 'poor' nobility.
Astra and Brumen argue about should she come along. Sally says that Astra being along might be risking everyone elses life because she might get other people killed.
Decide on a combat party to clear the first deck, then Astra can come on and check it out and guard the rear.
Cynthia still thinks its stupid.
Move the ship up and near the floating ship. Launch some missiles and park them by the turrets. Attrib suggests bringing her bike as a sensor to guard halls and doors.
Get on and explore. Its empty and no sign of life. The final sealed room seems to have some bodies in and it looks all manky and disese-y. Like eww.
So possibly contaminated, our heroes try to work out what to do.
If it was your ship, Celstina suggests everyone hop into low berth and hit jump to the nearest high tech A port. Noone saw any low berths though. Nothing close jump wise, sadly.
Brumen wants people busy. Cynthia will help Astra on translation of the controls. Celestina will work on identifying the contaminant. Attribella set to work on plotting a jump to rhylanor. Sally need to check out the engineering of the ship.
Sally makes some intersting observations about the jump capacitors. Maybe they are batteries. But how do you charge them? Maybe the scoop at the front is actually a ramjet scoop at the back? Hmm.
The 'what to do' meeting.
Celestina will try and get some med equipment to the alien ship.
Attribella has an idea about using the cargo space of the Empress for fuel. Its an old scout trick. Trouble is that it will take some time to setup.
Celestina says that it seems to her to be probably viral or bacterial, in that case, it will need time to grow and multiply, so you have some time before being overcome. That is assuming that we're vulnerable to it as the life forms seem somewhat different.
Cynthia says that she will need to close down soon. She is at 75% and she must remove the suit to refuel, although she can cut curculation to the arm to slow any possible infection.
Brumen says that the air filters probably removed the infection from the air. Maybe it can do it again? Celestina says, that that wont help as you're possibly already infected, or atleast your suits are and she cant guarentee that she can disinfect them.
Sally dumps out her capacitor idea.
Astra comes in and says that she has an idea on the language. Its numerically based. She thinks that shes worked out some inital parts of the language and can have a stab at bringing the power back online, and thus hopefully the computer.
Brumen thinks its worth trying to get this ship powered up to see if a jump 3 is possible.
Sally works on powering up the computer and they get it done. Hitting the power button in engineering, the ship unfurls a large wing like sail.
Its so cool. Its like a big solar collector.
Un-nervingly, it also a familiar scene to sally who recalls this from the experiance on the droyne ship, the black wing going out to cover the planet psi vision.
Power is slowly trickling into the ship. Fuel too somehow. Wow. What an weird ship.
Attribella comes in and says that it was the shuttles that moved the ship but they wouldnt be much use for real manovering.
Everyone chats about what to do. Celestina suggests a regimine of 'fast' drugs while in the jump to Rhylanor to slow the progress of any contaminant.
Astra has found some schematics in the computer. Sally heads off to check those out. Oh, the shuttles can supply the jump bubble. Neat. Schematics seem to indicate the sail electrostatically pulls in particles from space and generates the hydrogen bubble for jump.
Celestina says that it seems to be viral. Shes sent some decontaimination stuff over with some extra fuel. Sally and Brumen get to work of turbo charging the filter system.
People stay in the suits for another day.
Get the ship up and ready for jump. Need to do some scooping which attribella and the other ship does (Empress lasers the ice and scoops it and dumps it near the shuttles which dock with the ship and pass the fuel on).
Cynthia stays on the bridge and looks after the ship everyone else stays in the shuttle. Attribella seems to be taking it the best.
Jump to rhylanor.
Our heroes get the ship going and manage to the ship to rhylanor and get some medical attention to make sure they are ok.
Out of jump at rhylanor.
Medical and decontaimination ships meet the weird new ship. Medical ship takes crew off the ship while the decontamination crews work. The Navy wants to look the ship over. Brumen is happy with that, Attribella isnt "Thats our salvage, damn it!".
News: zhodani ambassador attacked
Medical ship does regen on Cynthia's skin. Retroviral processing all round.
Do a ritual for the alien crew who died.
Sally wants to do a ritual dedicated to the crew that died. Attribella suggests getting the scouts involved. The scout archive at Hefry as an extensive collection of alien artifacts.
Hightech scanning reveals that sally has some very low level weird metalic contamination. Maybe its the psi coin! Maybe just poor engineering facilities.
Weird reading on Sally. Crystallic-metalic contaminant? Atomically structured metal, commonly used in starship hulls. The hospital offers removal, but Sally is a but confused about what to do. Maybe she'll lose her psi powers. Oh the agony of choice.
Sally looks up various metals that could be the contaiminant. Its not the highest tech metals that are available, but its definatly artifical.
The metal in sally is tungsten. High temp, corrisve resistant, conducts. Used a lot in ships, but sally hasnt really been around it except for its final engineering products.
Two researchers from the imperial research committie on micro and and nano scale warfare come visit. One looks at the infection the other at the metalic contamination. The first agrees that it is a non dangerous strain of an existing illness. The second says the contaimination is a quantum tunneling construction, commonly found in flexible nano scaled flexible materials more like energy disipating body armor and such things. High tech battle dress or energy ablative stealth suits. Both give a clean bill of health to Sally. Scan reports a buildup near the comdot installation, probably poorly santised comdot installation.
Sally gets scanned for gold atoms. Clear.
Lucentio visits sally in hospital. Lucentio wants to live the life of adventure through sally's weird life.
Lucentio comes to visit sally in the medical research area. He gets told off by a doctor for bringing a diamond vase and unsealed flowers. He throws the vase and gets the flowers sealed. Lucentio doesnt have change for the florist robot. Comedy all round.
Lucentio enquires after Sally, who is fine to go. Lucentio managed a 20 minute meeting with the Louzy delegation on their way through. They seem like a nice bunch, if somewhat overwelmed by the whole thing.
Sally's life is pretty plain until The Ship (tm) which Lucentio wants to know all about. The dead crew was sad. The ship sail was amazing. Lucentio suggests an asteroid memorial.
Sally hits Lucentio up for a trip back to their ship. What a troll.
Get the comm dots removed and the skin regrown. They do some meson nuking of remaining cells and give Sally some drugs to flush out the remainder.
Sally leaves a message of thanks to the staff and says how amazing it is and how sad that the ship crew died for the lack of it.
Go to sleep.
Weird droyne dream.
Wake to a Droyne in the room. Its dark and just an outline but its talking but that isnt working so finally it draws droyne coin symbols in the air and its wings fold in into a human arms (with an extra finger). The symbols are:
Shudder and awake to a comm message. Freaky. Sally dumps it all out to a terminal.
Its a young engineer who is obviously stressing out about a commission from the marquise.
Sally gets up and has a cup of tea. Cynthia reports there are 4 droyne ships in port (but not the one sally visitied last time).
Cynthia didnt find much about psi messages.
Engineers are setting up an asteroid as a memorial.
An engineer from the starport yards videos to Sally and discribes hollowing out an asteroid for the memorial and towing it to Hefry afterwards. There will be a nav becon and a transmission of info to anyone approaching the asteroid. Sally suggests a window to see the stars from (thats a stroke of brilliance).
Crew meeting about the recovered ship and what todo. Looks like something to work out on the way down to Mora.
Lucentio works out a courier to Vanejen.
Sally sends a thank you note to Lucentio and set of recordings from the crew about the mystery ship.
...
Jump to Vanejen.
Crew reunion. Whoohoo.
...
Jump Vanejen to Somem
...
Somem to Rorise
Talked about what to do with the mystery ship. Attribella suggests a heavy refit, with full jump 5, upgraded engines, the whole works. Brumen says its worth considering as a thought experiment.
...
Rorise to Mora
Priority message to meet Petrovina and a shuttle is organised. Sally showers and gets into her nice suit. Brumen doesnt know what its about.
Shuttle docks and takes on Sally and Bruemn. It burns back to the planet.
Shuttle down to a luxury island with a hotel complex. Dock there and take a grav raft to a private island where Pet is staying.
Arrive in Mora. First thing is a message from Petrovina who has this crazy idea about ditching her current nobility and becoming the noble for louzy.
Sally gets sucked into some politics and such forth. Apparently the Duchess is one of the more active players on the political scene.
Pet and Sally have a long long talk about the plus and minus of the whole thing. Sadly I didnt get it all here.
Sally and Pet talk about security for talking about stuff. Sally says that Pet needs to meet the people from her system. Sally also dumps that she is a psi. Pet says that Sally needs to tell the Duchess about that.
Sally heads back to the ship. Its harder to actually meet the ship in orbit, so Sally and Brum meet the ship on landing. Sally hops onboard to get the ship berthed and powered down.
Attribella wants to know what all that was about.
Astra heads out to a hotel that she booked. People pay some small amount towards the cost because Astra books a floor anyway, but people feel better paying some amount towards it.
Its too late tonight to head to the hotel so Sally and the crew sleep on the ship.
Meet the louzy deligation who are here to meet the Duchess.
Sally meets the louzy deligation.
General guy happy to see and friendly to sally. He introduces himself and says that both he and sally look like being on the same level, so they should be friends.
Talk about re-interdicting.
Anti-imperial, gov, trade. Pro-impy armed forces, science. Undecided, diplo.
Talks about what to do with the imperium and louzy.
Sally gets Commander, Ancient Order of the New Fronteer. The science lady gets Grand Order of the Marches. General gets Grand Order of the Marches. Nobility wise, the Trade and Diplo gets a honour titles.
Sally mentions the Psi thing to the Minister and the General. Both a bit confused about it and all.
Setup meeting with Pet and Astra. Mention that Astra can set up a meet with Oberlinds.
Book meeting Pet for tonight. Astra booked for tomorrow morning. Make appointment with duchesses people about the psi powers. Organise to get stuff fitted.
Organise to meet the assistant to the Seneschal of the Duchess. She organises to private meeting with the Seneschal. Takes most of the afternoon for sally to say, "Im psi" for the payoff of "um, thanks for telling us". Get a shopping list for what sally needs.
Astra is saying that she needs to take Sally shopping.
Meeting Pet. Pet talks about:
Pet comes across as very business savy and informed.
Pet talks about money and how imperial money gets spent on local systems. There is an interesting debate on that whole nobility thing as well as that democracy thing.
The louzy people chat later and seem to feel that Pet was like a business CEO or government leader and held her own very well (which is amazing given her youth!)
Pet seems to think that government is government everywhere. Not rabidly insane, but then 5 isnt a full sample of 10billion.
Do some shopping to get ready for the en-gong-en-ing.
Early morning start.
Astra and Attribella (dragging Cynthia along) take sally shopping to a social consultancy in a very exclusive part of town. It screams money.
There are a number of people who have apparently been working on this project for a few weeks and the results are layed out on a table infront of everyone. Beautifully wrapped and presented.
Introductions to a master jewler who has been producing the the diamond star for Sally's vestment. It has a holo projector with a zoomable imperial map in the jet black clasp. Louzy is lit by micro lasers and twinkles. "Actually the stars are impurity in the diamond matrix."
There is a metal smith who has been hand laser etching a medallion for the Order of the Marches. Astra just shrugs and says sally should probably give it to one of her Louzy friends.
Then there are the bits and pieces. Shoes, wallet.
Oh and there is a Debian silk wallet with flexible razor thin irridum business cards with a holographic/CGI image of Sally and:
Astra says that she and Attribella planned it a while back and Astra messaged ahead for it. Sorry about the color but she thought that Sally might be getting a Order of the Marches so its dual use.
Sally tries stuff on and sits and recovers.
People give Sally presents... oh what a nice crew.
Attribella presents sally with a present which is a expensive high quality electrical/robotics kit. She even stole the money for it herself.
Astra feels kind of weird about it but she wants to present Sally with Cynthia. "I know you've grown close to Cynthia over the time we've been together and I have other means to look after myself, like: Marine Fleet Sgnt Hyden Redell from Wypoc."
Sally says that she wants to think about it.
Sally takes some business cards and heads off.
News: Groundwar in Feri.
Midday meeting between Astra and the Louzy deligation.
Astra is keen to start trade links and ties with Louzy. Astra comes across as much younger and less professional than Pet. Astra is more personal and friendly.
Enope is a high pop, low tech, system that is kind of trade self restricted because it feels 'low tech & backwards' and maybe trading with Louzy would get them off their asses.
Chat about the local war on Feri. Astra says that shes less of a 'threatening peace' person than her mother, and she isnt going to second guess the viscount in charge. As long as it doesnt get too out of hand it should be ok.
Sally hands over the Medalion for the other knighthood to the general. She also hands out the part card invites for the Louzy people to hand round.
Astra chats with the Louzy deligation. Pet moves sally's knighthood forward because of the massive explosion she is going to cause.
Pet rings and says that shes had Sally's knighthood moved forward to to tomorrow. Sally says that she'd like her Louzy deligation to be there and to have Astra escort her. "See you tomorrow afternoon."
Practice with Astra for noble stuff.
Sally tells Astra that she is psi. Astra is surprised not horrified.
Sally gets knighted.
Knighthood in the arvo!
Underwater dome which is a recreation of the origional landing island, complete with the actual landing pods. Whole area is a tourist mecca. The order has a building on the far side (from the tourists) of the dome.
A pre-event social thing with some members of the Order. They talk about how there are roving meetings and they will keep you informed. Members of the Order are welcomed at starport authority meetings and are encouraged to become involved in ministry of colonisation. Members include core ministers of planning for Spinward Marches and meet regularly here on Mora.
Visit the Duchess. Introductions, Chat for a bit. All very formal.
Astra has brought the Brum and Attribella (under pain of death if she even speaks) and the Louzy deligation. Cynthia has some problems getting in, given her weaponary and has to wait outside. Pet rocks up bordering on late, but really just fashionably late.
Do the formal declaration thing.
Off to the vesting room to get dressed and have some formal snaps and some nice offical do with various other members.
Pet tells Sally she has decided to commit to Louzy and to come and see the Duchess with her.
Pet drops her bombshell. Duchess isnt too happy, but calms down. Pet and the Duchess do some background plotting, but the Duchess doesnt want to be involved.
Meeting the Duchess. The Duchess and Pet chat in a friendly way, but its still pretty intimidating.
The Duchess asks where Pet has been hiding. She saw that she came into the system a short while ago. Pet mutters something about jumpsickness.
They chat for a bit and the Duchess asks about vonBoothen-Brooks university. Pet talks about how weird it is. The duchess says that she always thought that Pet was always one of the smart ones. Pet denies it, says that experiance has shown her she isnt the smartest, but that she can fake it with hard work.
Speaking of that... Pet announces her intention to abdicate all positions in Mora and try and get a position in Louzy.
The Duchess spits the dummy and demands to know who knew about this and if Sally knew about this. The duchess "dispises backroom deals made behind her back".
Pet demands that the Duchess "Just sit down and listen!"
She lays out the whole frontieer/established, duke of jewel, avoid efate/norris plan.
Pet says that she intends to abdicate all positions in Mora (its only reasonable actions, the duchess agrees).
The duchess says she cant be associated with a failed attempt, so Pet is on her own officially. She asks what Pet needs. So she'll need protection and an expense account. The duchess says get it from Louzy as it cant be tracked back to her.
Pet says she wants a high speed communciation link between louzy and Mora that _doesnt_ use Efate/Norris channels. The duchess agrees to assign the 1384rd naval courier squadron to overseeing the movement of one of the scout bases to Hefry (that should start daily trips for the next year or so) but getting messages from Louzy to hefry is Pet's problem. Pet says no problem, she'll get a fleet of couriers to make the trip.
Pet says that she wants the duchess' full support when she makes her personal application to the emperor. The duchess says she will write and date it, but wont give it until after Pet has obviously got the agreement of the Louzy government and Norris.
Pet also says that she'll be working for Jewel and Louzy and while she wont be Norris' pet, she wont be the duchess' eather. This is a long term commitment to starting her own line. The duchess says that is obvious, but the whole idea is insane and pet can forget any chance of Duke of Jewel.
Pet says that she knows that its unlikey to happen in her lifetime, but that frankly shes wasted in Fornice. The duchess agrees, but says that its a bizzar way of changing position and a lot to lose.
Pet says that this is going to cause a massive stink and flood the presses of the marches for a month at least.
The duchess says that she better get _right_ to Regina to get this worked out, as her letter to the empror better get there a head of the news.
Sally explains that she only knew about it for 4 days. The duchess says that the tacky way this is done is going to cost Pet, but not Louzy.
Both agree that its a massive risk but has benifits.
The duchess leaves. Pet says "Well that went well."
Sally wants to tell Astra and Pet thinks thats a good idea. She says that she cant afford any more enemies if she can help it, that the Marquise of Efate is going to be a big problem, but if Norris is talked round that will matter less.
Sally desperatly calls her Louzy people and they organise a meeting. Quickly setup to get pet's sales pitch.
People boggle at the whole idea.
Sally talks people down and discribes the context of the whole thing.
People um and ahh.
Everyone discusses it. Extensivly that i didnt note down here.
Sally asks whats the worst thing that Pet will bring. Pet says speed and hurry.
Chat to general guy and he seems stunned but mostly supportive. He's happy that hes in the military and not a politician having to sell this to the homeworld.
Pet is selling the government on getting a jump 6 courier. Its not a very hard sell.
Invite Astra and Cynthia over to talk about Pet's plan. Astra actually says "f#@$&@*#($&#@*$." Shes totally gobsmacked. "I thought my mother made waves but f#@$&*! This is going to jam the airwaves for months. Is your government ok with that? How is that going to work? Does Duke Norris agree? Does Petrovina really think she can do this? Wow! f$*#*!"
Astra is stunned at how this is going to work. Eventually when her brain is working she chats with Pet about it. Pet assures Astra that this is not a political move by the Duchess and that she is committed to trade and security for the whole sector and the frontieer. Astra asks her about trade and she says that aware of the economic problems associated with Efate and that she is going to agressively pursue trade links to jewel, louzy and the Varg border.
Pet gets Astra to write a letter of support for the idea for Norris and the Emperor.
Cynthia and Sally chat about ownership. Cynthia wants to expand herself. Weird.
Sally chats to Cynthia. Cynthia likes the change of ownership plan. Sally explains that she doesnt feel like she owns Cynthia but what will that mean in relation to the imperium. Cynthia admits she is a legal problem as she has fake human ID but is a 'weapons system' as a robot.
Cynthia says "I feel limited by my design and I wish to expand myself."
"Is that legal?"
"Im not sure that I am legal."
Chatting about stuff with Cynthia is brain hurting.
Maybe while travelling and dealing with governments, Cynthia should stay owned by Astra.
Cynthia wants some modifications done and they can be done by the somewhat fetish human biobot industry. Changes include a biopower unit, a direct electrical input and a small battery backup system.
Chat morals with Cynthia and tell her to study philosophy.
[ Narelle hates me :) ]
Redell, the ex marine, joins the crew to look after Astra.
Head back to ship and find Redell and Attribella laughing in the mess. Redell is the nice marine guy from wypoc.
Attribella is saying "You're a marine, you hate the navy too, right?"
Redell, "Nope. The navy do their job of ferrying us marines around just fine."
Attribella cooks dinner and asks Redell if he's a grey mask. Redell talks about his debt to Astra's mother and how she earned his respect by joining the core. Attribella asks if Marines really hunt each other with sticks for months at a time during training. Redell says yes.
Sally helps Attribella cook with 'natural' ingrediants.
Later in the evening Astra comes back and chats with Redell. She asks about what it was like for her mother in the Marines. Redell tells her some stories about training and what he knows of her record. Cynthia is just watching.
Evening ends with story telling around the table.
Brumen takes sally and explains about longbow and the strangeness inside the zhodani empire (the chaos and battle in the empire and the coreward expansion.
Brumen storms in and drags Sally out.
Brumen takes Sally for a ride to the Navy downport. Brumen says that precogs are almost unheard of in psi powers (or are mixed with insanity most of the time). Sally mentions the droyne dream at Rhylanor.
Briefing about Longbow and the Zho coreward expedtions. 100 parsecs round and 4000 x 30 long coreward.
Brumen talks about heading to the missing comms station that was recording Longbow comms.
This is relevant because there are internal rebellions and wars spreading through the zhodani empire. Oh joy.
This station is 1.5 sectors coreward and is picking up signals that will take another 200 years to hit the imperium.
Redesigning the alien ship to go explore and recover the longbow station data from the varge empire.
Talk about the redesign and how to sell it to the crew. [ Rhylanor County Choppers inc ]
Look at redesigning the Annic Nova ship to be more suited to the recovery mission. Looks like the navy will cover the construction via various weird channels (to maintain denyability).
Arrive back in the Morning. Cover story is a power surge into the ship from the docking bay.
The crew getting to know Redell. Attribella and he have been up all night.
Redell's video of the boarding action. Hails of gauss fire down the corridors. Redell in battledress steps in and fires back.
"ZhoBot!" Everyone takes cover.
"Why hasnt it fried us?" asks a navy guy. Another marine moves the navy guys to cover behind a bulkhead.
"We're too close to their crew. We'd fry them too." Redell answers. He messages to the other marines. 'I have an idea. Take cover. Fusion in the hole.'
Bouncing a fgmp blast down the hall and into a side room. The flash and blast blows the bot into the room and he blasts it with a gauss rifle screaming obsenities.
Pet'd abdication hits the news!!!!!!!!!
Sally sleeps and gets up in the arvo.
Brumen scheduled a crew meeting for tonight.
Brumen brings the vagar mission to the crew. Seems important and he wants to make sure people are happy to do it and rewarded.
Meeting of the crew.
Brumen says that the mission is an important intelligence recover mission involoving the Zhodani or Varge. He says that it will be about a year of travelling, maybe more and very dangerous, but that he'd like for the crew to do it, rather than it be a wholy navy operation.
Attribella snorts "finally coming round."
Brumen asks Celestina if she's willing to go. Celestina just shrugs and says "I guess."
Brumen says that "This is important and dangerous imperial mission and so I want you to take this seriously and think of if you are willing to risk it and what you'd want as thanks from a grateful imperium."
Attribella breaks in and says that if its important then she'll want "reintatement to the scouts, backpay and a comfortable posting to some easy scout job after she retires. Maybe teaching or the archives at Hefry."
Brumen shakes his head, "Im not sure Id inflict you on any cadets, but something can probably be arranged."
Redell says he's in, assuming someone he knows from the corp backs up the importance. He doesnt want anything though. Brumen asks if he's sure. Redell says that he'd to visit the battle sites where his unit fought and maybe a trip to the Imperial War Memorial at the capital. He always promised himself he'd go there when he retired, but he isnt sure that he is ever going to retire now. Brum says that he can work out something. The navy often takes promising cadets on 'reviews' of past conflicts and Redell would be great to shake them up a bit.
Celestina is quiet for a bit, but then say "Assuming this is as important and dangerous as you say, after its over, I want out. I want to retire somewhere quiet where I dont have to do anything if I dont want to. Maybe some colony somewhere that needs a consulting hitech trauma specialist but is desperate enough to give me the conditions that I want. Maybe I'd do a bit of teaching or something if I felt like it, but I dont want to have to do anything. I want somewhere quiet where I can stay to myself and noone will bother me. There must be some little colony somewhere, I mean most of them are in desperate need of medical specialists, arnt they?"
Brumen thinks for a bit. "How about a consultant to the SPA on Louzy. They will need a Emergency Medical Response team. You could consult on that. Its low tech and out of the way, so you'd be a specialist. Its not major-line imperial, so you'd be pretty unique, atleast initally. Nothing is set up so you'd have a chance to influence your job there. I could arrange accomidation in the imperial side if you wanted. Maybe Louzy Gov would be able to offer you some teaching job or something too. Im sure they will want a hightech med unit set up, plus we're all kind of heroes there, so you'd have enough respect. The pay wouldnt be much, but Im sure I could arrange something like that."
Celestina says "Ive got enough money, I just want a quiet life. No surprises. No adventure. No calls or emergencies. Nothing I ever have to get out of bed for, and noone i have to answer to, ever again."
Brumen give a nod and puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Ill make that happen. You have my word."
Sally...? Sally says that she's in, but not sure about what she wants. Maybe something for Louzy. Schollarships to imperial univerities, maybe?
Attribella turns to the crew, "Sounds like its the Solomani Happy Holidays, people. Give your lists to Brum if you've been good." Attribella cheekily adds, "Oh and I want a knighthood. You know, just so I dont feel left behind. If this mission is this important, im sure you can arrange that. It doesnt have to be an important order, just enough so that you navy guys have to cut me some respect. Hey, sally has had enough stuff already, use her cut to get me my knighthood. Eh?"
Uh-huh.
Brumen comes over to Astra. Astra asks "Well? Do I get any choice?"
Brumen, "I dont think its wise that you come along. its too dangerous, too far and too long to be away. You have responsibilities."
"So, let me get this straight, I cant come along and help you even though I speak all the languages you know and know all the cultures that too. But I have to stay home with my wonderfully 'we dont want anything to do with the imperium' systems like Enope and Shinthony."
"Its too dangerous."
"So is hopping in a 2nd rate drop suit and throwing yourself at a planet, but you never told my mother not to do it, did you?"
Brumen says "we can talk about this later." The rest of the crew is watching like days of our lives.
Astra storms out "You're right, I better play it safe. I think Im going to grab a pressure suit and go backwater diving... I hear there is some groovey stuff on some of the geothermals once you get a few kilometers down."
Sally suggests not being the child that Brumen obviously thinks she is. Astra agrees, but just finds it so frustrating sometimes.
Redell and Attribella bicker over how she shouldnt be incharge of anything that sets the direction of the imperium.
Letter from Hedvi the scout who provides info on 'Diary of a Regina Suicide' as well as twilights peak. Sally writes back about Felin and the alien ship.
Sally has a quiet evening. A package from Hedvi, the scout on Hefry sent Sally a copy of 'Diary of a Regina Suicide'. Its about a detective in the lawless 'little Efate' in the Regina downport. Regina suicide is someone who picks a fight in 'little Efate', police turn a blind eye most of the time and allow them to self regulate. A letter asks about how the twiglights peak thing is going. He's fascinated now that he knows its real and that there was an actual ship and that its not just some joke. Holo crystals of the actual ship (in the Hefry orbital arhives).
Sally writes back about meeting Fellin and the annic nova ship.
Browsing through the Diary of a RS. The story is about a detective trying to investigate the death of an old friend of his who was injured in the Frontieer War. Story of tracking down the zhodani cargo ship and murder and investigation.
Wake kind of tired from the late night the night before.
Talk to Astra about upgrading Cynthia for the mission ahead. Astra thinks thats a good idea. Astra offers to pay for it. Great.
Go and visit a weird cyber-kink man/lady who talks about military robots and upgrades.
Cynthia's upgrades in a hollowed out asteroid in orbiting an 2nd outer system. Meet the owner who is a thin, hugh heffner dressed type man who is fascinated by cynthia and wants to buy her. Robots are all around the station and are in lots of different forms.
Silvian was a woman who decided to go mostly cybernetic because its her kink.
Silvian thinks the whole mixed combat, service, pleasure model is just weird.
Do the op. Silvian is a mechanic, surgeon, phsychartrist.
Silvian talks about cynthia going mad and teaching her to be nice and not a murdering machine. She thinks cynthia is groovey and wants to help keep her around.
Pet has dinner with the louzy delegation. Petrovina takes the trade attache and heads off to louzy.
Astra is little Mz Popular wiht the goverment types.
Vital! Louzy the movie! Hollywood Sally!
Visit from Hollywood types. Stephen Spelberg to direct. Billion dollar budget, subsector screening contract. Celestina walks out. "Hey! Hey! You cant walk out! This is hollywood."
All the studios are pooling their resources and joining with a technical advisory group from Feri who are providing assistance in making the switch to holographic filming.
Attribella almost sells them the ship. Will pay market plus for the ship for an exhibit but it has to be back in a year at the latest.
Visit the duchess' place again and watch some stuff about Pet's history.
Head out to the Duchess' headquaters. Massive building like a busy univerity but filled with military and government people. Its like a hive of activity.
Brumen goes to visit the navy center and takes Sally along. Its a wing of the underwater structure and is a thriving hug of activity.
Sally catches a show on the vonRentanalov family.
Mora's little sisters... an update on the vonRentanalov line's rule of Fornice.
The show is saying that the new Marquinessa, Tillidara, was really destined to run the Fornice cluster in Petrovina's absence as Petrovina was groomed by her family and the Duchess to be an imperial noble at the Sector level. Cut to video of her as a teenager being working at the Duchess' local estates on Mora in what seems like a board meeting.
The duchess brings together all the top minds of the sector to advise and help run the spinward marches so it was a forgone conclusion that Petrovina's local responsibilities would fall to her sister anyway as Petrovina would spend most of her time on Mora. This abdication just makes it formal.
Cut to video of her abdication with her sister at her side and an interview with an expert from the heraldry colledge.
What is surprising noble watchers all across the subsector is exactly why Petrovina abdicated all of her landed titles, including minor ones on Mora itself. Without those, integration into the imperial chain of command will be difficult... his theory is that she has her eye on Rhylanor.
Oooh, breaking news. The zhodani ambassador for Mora quits in a horrible car-crashing of a speach.
Hold on... we have a breaking story....
Cut to the Zhodani ambassadore (a kindly old man) at a news conference.
"My friends, it is with a heavy heart that I must make the following announcement..."
"I have always believed...."
Someone navy quips, "Can't the man ever just get to the point? Im going to go for a swim if he rants on." A marine helpfully offers to help the navy lady out the airlock.
"...that as sentients we can find a common ground of understanding that will revolutionise relatons between our two empires. An understanding born from the realisation that we are more alike than different and that were we do differ, we can together both become stronger by sharing."
Someone else, "Ive got a few gigawatts of meson's that Id love to share..."
"To this end, I have tried with all of my soul to share our cultures and common soul so that we may better understand that we fight not each other but on some level, parts of ourselves."
*Someone in a navy uniform snorts a laugh*.
"These efforts have often been derided, by both sides, as naieve and pointless, and yet, I still believe that there exists a path of understanding between us that that will lead to the healing and peace that we all seek and that every sentient in our two empires deserves."
Marine, "Marine need hug." People laugh. Some Navy guy comments that "the old fool is losing it at last."
"I feel I must share with you part of a report that has caused me to much painful re-evalution of my lifes work of late."
Some navy commander whispers "meeew! and i thought my promotion board was catty"
"I share this with you because the I have concluded, after much introspection, that this report is correct."
"The catylst for this was the commitment of Imperial army forces to counter pro-zhodani support on Efate, something that I would note the reports author was also too optimistic in suggesting would not happen until 1109."
"Commitment of Imperial forces to supress pro zhodani support is against the ideology of the imperium for non interfearance in self-determination of worlds. Mass deployment of mercenary units under imperial payroll is a morally shallow attempt to follow the letter of the law while violating the spirit."
"The lack of outrage at the action and the complicit support of press other supposed oversight organisations, dispite months of effort on my part initiated the process of self descovery that illuded to before."
Some marine guy comments that "talk about sour grapes. This guy wants everyone to go down in flames!"
Some navy guy retorts, "Assuming that this isnt a zho trick"
"It is to this end that I have months ago tendered my retirement from diplmatic service. Today, a letter of conformation arrived and I will be leaving on the next diplomatic flight back to the consulate."
Someone snickers, "... and wont you be popular?"
"Ambasadore Stez-fall-tlasche of Rhylanor will be appointed intrim ambassadore. This concludes my statement and my official duties within the imperium."
A navy commander shouts, "Hey, lets get those counter insergency report results from the 1197th to the press for question time."
Press starts asking questions. The navy guy shouts "here we go"
"Ambassadore, Imperial voice. How do you react to reports that the 1197th showed a 78% increase in combat engagement when psi-helmets were mandated at base? How do you react to that and 1106 report of captured zhodani officers supporting the Ine Givar on Efate? If the zhodani are supporting a rebellion, isnt the imperium justified in responding."
"I believe that one day....."
An army commander comments "Off he goes again."
"... together, the internal strength of the zhodani and the outgoing energy of the Imperium could combine into something wonderful, but that day is not now. I am making this statement as loud as possible, an alarm if you will, in the hope that someone, anyone, will listen. A darkness is coming and we are doing nothing to avoid it."
"I wish you all peace." He leaves.
One of the navy people says. "You think this is a prelude to ramping up to a war?"
Another "Such a warning seems foolish. We are obviously going to put forces on alert until this settles. No. It's something else."
A marine commander says "Trying to second guess will just drive you mad. There has been a build up on the border, but we knew that for months now and we matched it. No. This is something else. Maybe some internal struggle?"
A navy lady replies "Politics? In the consulate? Never so public."
"Still... we just saw that. Maybe he was kicked out? Wanted to go out loudly?"
"Isnt that a little petty for a zhodani?"
"Only the proles are checked by the thought police, remember. Nobles like him have privacy of thought. Maybe he is really just a bitter old man."
"Him? He was always a harmless old coot. Always on about cultural exchanges and close contact with 'the people'."
Sally just listens. The build up 6 months ago is worrying for our Louzy girl.
Much debate before the statement that if it is war then it have been another zhodani surprise attack behind this message, so it is scramble the support fleets and send out the scouting couriers to head into the news front. Still most people dont think it feels right.
Sally suggests talking to the Ambassador.
TODO*TODO*TODO*TODO*TODO*TODO*TODO*TODO*TODO*TODO*TODO*TODO*TODO
Gongs for the Louzy delegation. Its in a big hall with press coverage and lots of diplomatic people from the imperium. Its UN party central here. Very end of starwars 4.
Toffy party later.
Diplomatic contacts talking about imperial recommendations to limit zhodani contact, until psionics more understood on louzy. Monitor incoming people etc. Spies.
Scientist going to underwater archology for uni visit.
Orbital convoy with escorts to massive space station. Very end of starwars, but bigger.
General gets military gong.
Others get civilian gongs.
Read late a little last night. Just up to the bit where the baddies are chasing our heroine through a slum appartment.
Arm is sleepy/dead. Watch it seem to reset!
Wake up. Horribly bloodshot eyes. Horribly. People are blury. Blury smudges can be seen through walls and behind doors. Oh my gawwd.
