February 16-18, 3124 - The Gang's all Here
 
 

On the 16th, San, Krau, Rath, Dr. Watson, and Aline go out for lunch and a drive to Brias Rane, under the guise of continuing their search for "The Butchers", as Catlyn and Gaiden have become known as. On the way, they discuss their options for the mission.  Krau has Aline give a detailed account of what Catlyn and Gaiden have been up to, including their involvement with Karl's gang.  Gaiden gives instructions to Aline/San to tell Catlyn and Gaiden to get themselves brain-taped, but the meeting does not happen as planned, as we will see later.  Rath and Krau are proceeding with plans to infiltrate Sen Tower, and work towards the mission goal.  San is asked to provide a distraction of some sort. (This happens, but not as expected.)

After the meeting, Krau goes to the Bertranite Church to meet with Darman Su, one of the Chosen Ones, in a meeting that Sovine had arranged.  Krau and Rath meet with Darman in a church conference room.  He asks Krau about the Mak Shah mission to Ys, and of the Terek Protectorate.  He asks for the name of the Protector for Terek who authorized the mission, and Krau hastily makes something up.  Darman also asks about the "incident" with the Sphere, and says that it is a matter that should be studied by Thes Te Fa at Sen Tower, and he gives Krau a contact name there, with orders to go as soon as possible to Sen Tower with the data crystals.    After this, Krau meets with Sovine, and pretty much lets Sovine know that he is not a pilgrim, and has been sent to deal with problems regarding the Shield of Te Fa / The Iron Bar, etc.  Sovine shares his fears about the intents of the Ghourxans, and generally believes that Krau is on the "good" side of things.  He offers a name of a Kem-Sel Provider, John Loehr, to Krau. John works at Sen Tower and would be willing to help if Sovine's name is used.

Once the sun sets in Lordship, Gaiden and Catlyn are on the move again.  They make their nightly trip to the motel where San and the others are staying, and attempt once again to avoid the police lookouts who are staking out the building.  This time their luck runs out however, and they are spotted.  The two agents leave their car and approach Gaiden and Catlyn, ordering them to step out.  A gun battle erupts.  Gaiden draws and fires with two pistols but misses, but Catlyn takes down the first one with a clean shot through the head with her blaster.  The second ducks for cover, and Gaiden advances, while Catlyn moves to flank.  The remaining agent radios ahead for backup, and then darts out to take a shot at Gaiden.  In a stroke of bad luck, the cop's gun jams, so he makes a break for it.  Gaiden has switched weapons to a shotgun, and is in pursuit, but Catlyn has the better shot, and drops the second agent clean.  They search the body and vehicle, taking IDs, handcuffs, weapons, and a wireless laptop computer.

The two then jump in the grav vehicle, with Catlyn at the wheel.  Unaccustomed to flying, she barely averts disaster as the vehicle spins out of control, but is able to regain it just before they hit the ground.  After leveling off, they fly a short distance to an underground entrance, where they make their way to Karl's hideout.

San and the others hear the gun battle, and immediately figure out what is happening.  In an attempt to continue their cover, San calls the police to report the incident.  When they arrive, Gaiden and Catlyn are gone, but a thorough investigation ensues. San, Aline, and the Doctor are taken downtown for questioning.  As they are grilled, field reports come in with evidence of Gaiden's and Catlyn's DNA found in San's room.  Unable to explain it to the satisfaction of the authorities, they are thrown in the local holding facility.   San realizes that time is not on their side, so after confirming they are not being closely observed, he orders Aline to repeat her jailbreak performance on Ys.  Soon Aline is free of her cell, and she makes quick work of the locks on the Doctor and Sans doors as well.  San then directs her to bend/remove the bars of the outside window, and the three sprint across the jail's outside yard, breach an outer fence, and make a break for a local parking lot.

Aline helps break into the car, and San hotwires it using tools found in the car by the Doctor.  Soon they are off, as alarms blare at the prison.  San remembers Gaiden's account of Chico, and how he helped them find Karl.  Using his streetwise sense, he locates the correct part of town, and then the infamous store itself.  The unlikely group enters, and is met with a mixture of curiosity, amusement, and perhaps some trepedation.  San bargains the vehicle in exchange for Chico's help, and Chico also notices the news reports of their escape, adding credibility to their story.  He decides it is best to get them out of there ASAP, so one of his thugs gives them a ride to a tunnel entrance.  After scrounging a light source, they head through the tunnels, following Chico's directions.  They soon trip some sort of security alarm and are ambushed by Karl's forces.   San says they are with Gaiden, and this earns them a ticket to the hideout.

In the meanwhile, Rath and Krau have been driven by one of Sovine's men to Sen Tower.  Rath directs the driver to drop him off outside of the base, where he makes a stealthy approach to the complex.  Krau goes the rest of the way, and is dropped off at a huge glass dome, covering a very deep sink-hole in the ground.  Krau asks to see John Loehr, and he is summoned.  John takes Krau to a maintenance hangar inside the dome, and Krau and he work out a plan to get Krau into the data center, so he can get information.  Using a cover story about needing to make copies of a crystal, Krau is escorted through the center to a private terminal.  Krau is able to hack into the database, and does a quick upload of encrypted conversations from meson transmissions at the base.  He then leaves, and exits the facility.  He and Rath meet up next, and Rath radios San for pick up.

San asks Karl to send someone to pick up Rath, and Karl sends Manuel, who arrives in an ATV.  The three of them head back to Lordship using off-road routes, stopping briefly at the site of a large meteor impact crater, where Krau manages to scrounge electronic parts from a monitoring station.  A few hours later, Rath and Krau arrive at Karls hideout, the group once again reunited.  Catlyn and members of Karl's gang begin working on decrypting the data Krau returned with..

[ 2 points awarded ]

Player Notes

Add notes to this log

February 18-20, 3124 - Terror Incognito

After reading the series of decoded messages, the group works out a plan to leave Akhamin as soon as possible.  Rath checks the local starship arrivals, and discovers that a vessel they recognize is in port; The Lady Tiger.  (See "Non-Aligned Forces" in the previous mission logs).  Karl, still convinced the group will be aiding his forces in defeating the Bertranites, offers to provide facial alteration and disguises to the team.  While the rest of the group goes with Karl for disguises, Rath heads to meet Valik, the Protector of Lordship, in a bold plan to bluff their way into getting the Critical Axe back.

Karl drives the group in two vehicles to a wooded area outside Lordship, where they arrive at a place known as The Wood Lodge.  There, they meet Chymer, a reclusive, eccentric plastic surgeon, and his "house-mate", Justin.  Chymer looks over the group with his unsettling smile, and promises great new looks for everyone.  Karl works out a deal with Chymer to make alterations to Krau, San, Gaiden, Catlyn and the Doctor in exchange for the brain-taping chair that Karl has locked up in storage.  The deal is reached, and Krau goes into surgery first.  Gaiden gets curious, and decides to peek in the window during the operation.  Krau is in a weakened condition still, and immediately begins to "code", causing Chymer to send for his friend Justin to assist.  Gaiden, seeing the situation, runs back in a panic to tell the Doctor, who reacts immediately  By the time the doctor bursts in to the O.R. however, Krau has bounced back, showing no signs of any problem.   The embarassed Doctor comes back and chastises Gaiden for crying wolf, to which Gaiden simply laughs.

Everyone pulls out of surgery with no major complications.  San is no longer an albino, but he is a bit darker-skinned then perhaps he had bargained for.  Krau looks quite different, but still somehow.. sickly.  Gaiden has facial changes, and is now missing his tatoo.  Catlyn comes out looking even hotter than before, still reminiscent of Janice Tarrant, but with different color hair, eyes, and accentuated curvature.  The Doctor has a bit of a facelift and some grey taken out, shaves off his mustache, and changes his wardrobe.  Aline has to suffice with simple wardrobe changes, glasses, and (temporary) hair color, as she is unable, obviously, to participate in the real surgery.

Back in Lordship, Rath meets with Valik, and uses the Clear Flourite Crystal given to him by Krau for use in impersonating a Bertranite VIP.  When it is confiscated during his visit to the office, he mentions that Valik will be upset, and asks that he be summoned.  When Valik shows up, he is indeed flustered by the object's presence, and ushers Rath into his office.  Rath begins to leverage the crystal to his advantage, suggesting that he and his team are on a personal mission from Vikor Bahat. (Holy Gate and leader of the Bertranite Church).  Rath demands that his ship be released, and be repaired.  He also says that Darman Su is not in the loop, and that these discussions should be kept discrete.

Valik's reaction when he sees the crystal is to say "You are not who you said you were, then", to which Rath agrees.  Valik asks what his real name is, and Rath makes something up, adding that he is from the Kem Sel, or Workers Union.  Valik says that he will help Rath, but wants to perform "The Signification" prior to agreeing.  He holds the crystal and says he will come tomorrow, and if all is as he says, will offer his full cooperation.  Rath agrees, but mentions that he is very busy, and may call instead.

A plan to escape the Akhamin system is forged.  Arrangements are made with the Crew of the Lady Tiger for transport of the team to Gaea, and in the process, Krau lets it be known that they are in fact the same people who had helped the Lady Tiger crew back on Vember.   Captain Crispin reacts positively to this added detail, and agrees to take the group.  Arrangements are made to rendezvous on the Akhamin moon Firax, where the group has stashed lots of "good stuff".    Part two of the plan involves the chartering of a shuttle for several days, and Krau manages to find someone to do the job.  He is told that the group are amatuer astronomers who want to go up and "see stuff".  The flight plan calls for the pilot to take them to Sha'La Vak, a distant city on the other side of Akhamin, before going to orbit.  The newly disguised group passes easily through security checkpoints for the sub-orbital portion of the flight.   Rath, meanwhile takes a gravline flight to Sha'La Vak.

The group meets up later in the evening at a diner in the city.  Rath checks to see if they are being followed, and spots someone lurking behind them when they exit the building.  Rath and Gaiden sneak around to flank, while San leads the group forward as bait.  Gaiden manages to catch the man from behind in an alley, and Aline holds him while he is cuffed to a pole.  The group goes ahead while Rath interrogates the man, finding out only that the man was sent to follow Rath.  The scene begins to attract attention, so Rath is forced to flee, rejoining the group as they board the shuttle.  The captain of the shuttle for some strange reason takes a liking to Rath that clouds his judgement about taking on an unannounced passenger, and he is allowed to board without presenting full identification.  The captain takes the shuttle up, where it breaks orbit without incident.  After they are out of orbit, Aline is once again employed as a grapple, holding the surprised captain when he comes out to join the charter "party" going on.  The surprised man does not struggle, and he is subsequently tranquilized using supplies from the shuttle's medical kit by the Doctor.

San assumes control of the helm and pilots the ship to Firax, where they meet with the Lady Tiger.  Most of the crew is transferred, and Rath and San go the extra 1/2 mile over to the stash, and retrieve their stash.  The cargo is loaded onto the ship, and an irritated Captain Crispin warns the group that they did not declare this cargo beforehand, and that she does not like surprises.

The Lady Tiger dusts off from Firax, and in short order is at the 100-diameter limit.   Then the stars dissapear, and Akhamin is but an (unpleasant) memory...

[ 1 point awarded ]

Player Notes

Add notes to this log

February 20-28, 3124 - Free Traders

The group settles in to routines as the Lady Tiger flies through jump space.  The crew is for the most part confined to the upper passenger deck, except when on an assignment.  A notable exception is Dr. Watson, who is allowed to stay on the lower deck witht the crew, and who seems to hit it off famously with Captain Crispin. Krau is permitted to help out in engineering when Watkins is working there, and finds the place to be a bit behind on maintenance, but more or less intact. Gaiden and Rath are assigned various duties, and for Rath this includes extermination of "Crits", small vacuum-resistant bugs that often inhabit the cargo holds and other tight spaces of ships.   San meanwhile, takes up converstation with the First Officer, Lesneuski, who seems to be attracted to him.  Lesneuski talks with San for a while, and in general seems to have difficulty keeping anything secret.  She tells San that the crew was originally retained by Tukera Lines to run charters between Terek and Lamarck, but since the Shurinshar Aspect Disaster on Bastil, and the war, Tukera lines has had trouble, and was forced to drop them.  Unable to make a living in the sparse jump area of Sol Subsector, Crispin took the crew to Albadawi subsector to run the Mains there.  Times have apparently been hard though and they are perhaps behind on ship payments.   San and Lesneuski plan a "date" of sorts for the evening, but before that time Lesneuski says she needs to visit the Doctor.  When she returns, she is upset and not interested in socializing.

San is curious, and goes to visit the Doctor, playing the tactic of pertending to know more than he does.  The ruse works, and the Doctor lets it slip that Lesneuski is pregnant.   As if to reinforce the point, San overhears a heated argument between the captain and Lesneuski, revolving around the difficulties imposed by the development.  (It is later learned that Lesneuski plans to leave the crew, and that the Captain is actively looking for new crew members.)

In the cargo hold, Rath begins his hunt for the elusive Crits.  He is unsuccessful at finding his quarry, but along the way spots a box with a strange X-inside-a-circle symbol on it.  He has a mental block for some reason regarding this, and it doesn't immediately click with him.  On the following day, the Captain sends San down to the cargo hold to assist Rath, since initial results were dissapointing.  San recognizes the box as having the Bertranite symbol on it, which immediately sets of alarm bells with most of the group.  Rath and Krau are particularly concerned that it may have something to do with the developments on Akhamin before they left, and they manage to convince the Captain to let them peek inside the box.

The group is concerned with leaving DNA footprints behind, so they take the precaution of depressurizing the cargo bay and opening the container while in Vacc Suits.  The bottom of the cargo container is carefully opened in an attempt not to break the seals.  The method works, and the inside is probed using a rigged-up camera stalk created by Krau.  In the box, the camera spots a sizeable cache of Brain Tapes, similar to those seen in Karl's storage locker on Akhamin.  Also in the container is a small manilla envelope.  This is removed and given to Gaiden to inspect, and he decides a replacement can easily be forged if it were to be opened.   The package is opened, and out falls a data crystal.

Krau takes an initial look using the stolen police laptop from Akhamin.  It is encoded with a strange encryption, and Catlyn is called in for further analysis.  She quickly discovers the code to be Eristicon related.  Using her Brauletter decoding tools, she is able to defeat the lock.  On the crystal is a single video message, from Ben Jivii on Akhamin, to someone named Orson Kilger on Gaea:
 

2.21.3124

Orson,
I am sending you these tapes for use in your experiments.  I do not expect the Bertranites
will miss them; the Jump-Drive on The Holy Shield has developed problems at Weipu and they must make room for additional equipment on the Crucible for transferring the Sphere. This is an unexpected development; if the carrier ship is incapacitated, we may be able to take control of The Sphere sooner than expected. I plan to board the ship today. The Hasataa Wine has already been loaded aboard.  I have chosen not to convert any of the biologicals yet; we cannot afford to tip our hand until we reach Weipu.  Continue as planned.

Jivii

There is debate on what to do with the cargo, but it is eventually decided to put everything back in place as-is.  The box is resealed with it's original contents unaltered.   Also during jump, the Captain approaches the group about joining the crew. She is looking for someone to replace Lesneuski however and cannot take on the whole crew.  Rath discusses terms for chartering the ship to Oudh, and the Captain says it is way off the planned route, but offers that she could take the group there at the current high-passage rate (10k/person = 70kCR), or if they were willing to commit to a charter expedition of at least 3 weeks, she would charge them 30K a week, 60K up-front.   The group discusses, and agrees to the latter arangement.  Krau also approaches the captain about investment in the ship in return for exclusive/priority access to the vessel when needed. The Captain replies that she will consider it and decide after leaving Gaea.

On the 27th, the Lady Tiger emerges from Jump in the Gaea system.  The ship has entered at the mainworld, since it is not equipped to refine fuel at the methane gas giant.  The ship is hailed and boarded by the Gaean authorities.  The inspection team consists of Bwaps, a newt-like race known for their (over zealous) attention to detail and keen administration skills.  As expected, the Bwaps immediately find two problems.  The first problem is the lack of proper seals on the cargo containers.  This apparently requires an on-site inspection by the receiver.  The group tries to wheel their way around this, but is unable to avoid an unwelcome visit by Orson Kilger.  The second problem is that the Captain is apparently found by a Skip Tracer, who has her ship on a list of behind-payment vessels.  Upon docking, the Captain has to go out and pay the Skip Tracer an unspecified but presumably high amount of money, and hope that he applies some of it to the ship payment.

A short time later Orson Kilger personally arrives to inspect and receive his cargo. He is a short, balding middle-aged man, unpresuming and out of shape.  He is met by a welcoming comitteee consisting of the Captain, and a highly-suspicious Rath, who is listening over the airwaves on a covert RF receiver for telltale signs of interference that is known to be Eristicon induced.   The group's fears/suspicions are confirmed almost immediately, as Rath's earpiece begins to buzz as Kilger approaches.  He quietly inquires about the cargo, and is shown the box.  Satisified, he signs for it and departs; the box is later off-loaded by cargo handlers under the watchful eye of the group.

San uses his well-honed merchant skills to scare up cargo for the flight to Oudh.  After locating some mundane cargoes, he comes in contact with some very shady elements of the Ministry of Energy, who need a cargo shipped, no-questions-asked, for 50K.  San runs it by the Captain, with warnings about the dubious nature of the sender, cargo, and probably receiver.  The Captain seems fairly desparate for money though, and agrees to take it on.  Arrangements are made to pick the cargo up somewhere beyond orbit.  The Captain also announces that a new navigator trainee, Bartholomeu Dias, will be joining the crew.
 

[ no points awarded ]

Player Notes

Add notes to this log

March 1-10, 3124 - Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

On the way out of the Gaea system, the Lady Tiger rendezvous with a small scout ship, and picks up the mysterious (and radioactive) cargo they are to deliver to Oudh.  New trainee Bartholomeu Dias navigates, as Lesnueski watches over him.  After picking up the "No No Box" containing Lanthium and other contraband items, the ship heads out to the 100-D limit, and jumps for Oudh.   The trip is uneventful, with most members of the crew training in various skills, and helping the Captain with duties on the ship.   In a follow-up discussion between the Captain Crispin and Krau, Crispin indicates she would be receptive to investment in her ship as Krau had proposed, although exact terms are not discussed.

The ship emerges from jump in the mainworld slot of Oudh on the 6th.  The group waits to hear about the rendezvous to transfer the radioactive item to the receiving party.   After a while, San is called to the bridge by the captain.  She shows him her dilemma; there are two vessels claiming to be the receiving contact, both using the agreed-upon transponder code.  Rath mulls the tactical situation, and Krau makes an intuitive guess.  The two agree that the most likely "real" contact is the first ship that transponded.  San instructs the bewildered captain to signal the first ship, and inform them of the second.  She does so, and the ship is understandably upset about the development.  The contact instructs the Lady Tiger to head to the rendezvous at best speed, where a hasty cargo transfer ensues.

While the cargo is being transferred however, the second ship closes on their position.  As the two ships separate, the second ship begins firing on the first ship and on the Lady Tiger.  Rath and Gaiden take gunner positions, and San offers piloting advice to the captain.  Krau goes down to engineering to assist Watkins, (and in the process discovers that Watkins is not a very experienced engineer.)  A fierce short-range battle ensues, as the Lady Tiger tries to escape for the safety of the mainworld.  Luckily, the bulk of the attacking vessels weapons are trained on the first ship and not the Tiger, but the ship does sustain damage to one of the computers.  Krau jumps in to repair it as Watkins seems to be a bit clueless on the procedure.

The Lady Tiger manages to escape relatively unscathed, and makes for the Oudh downport.  The contraband cargo is once again stashed in deep space, and the ship lands at the Oudh downport.  The captain and crew begin the task of refueling, reprovisioning, and securing new cargo, while the group begins a shopping trip to the local semi-legitimate weapons shop in the seedy part of the Oudh downport.  San, Rath, and Gaiden head out through the city on foot, but are surprised when they turn the corner into a pack of hungry Lizards, scavenging through the garbage on the street.  Rath takes out his pistol and begins firing, as the others retreat for safety.  The lizards are lightning fast however, and although they are quickly dispatched, one manages to take a rather mean bite out of Gaiden's leg.  Bleeding profusely, he is taken to the local hospital, where a concerned Dr. Watson meets the group.   San and Rath stay at the hospital until they are convinced that Rath will be OK.   They then go out and rent a Blarco-mobile, and head back to the gun shop, where Uncle Rath buys toys for everybody.

The next day, Gaiden is released to Watson's care, and they head back to the ship along with medical supplies bought by the Doctor.  Planning begins on a scheme to make GVrakh, the Vargr guide, pay for his indiscretions.  (see "Doctors Without Orders")  Krau and Catlyn quickly track down the Vargr, finding his home address via hacks into the Oudh information network.  Rath then begins a series of stakeouts, using the perrenial Blarco rental grav vehicle.  Sitting outside of Gvrakhs apartment, Rath observes his comings and goings for several nights.  Other plans are put in place. Krau and San secure an abandoned warehouse.  Catlyn works on setting her laptop up for transferring funds through the Oudh financial system.  Gaiden finds batteries and fishooks.

On the third night, they put the move on.  As GVrakh heads home alone at his usual late hour, Rath comes from behind, and sticks him with a tranq syringe provided by the Doctor.  He collapses immediately, and they drag him to the car.  There is a bit of a scare as several Servants of the Greatmothers, lizard robots owned by Oudh's ruling class, pass by.  They do not stop however and the group is able to relocate to the warehouse.   While GVrakh is out, Rath goes back to GVrakh's apartment to search it.  He finds and takes several boxes of expensive robotic parts, and a very nice entertainment system.

Rath returns as GVrakh is waking up, where he is met by a smiling Krau.  Disoriented and frightened, he promises to cooperate, to which Krau smilingly replies with his best Radiers-of-the-Lost-Ark-Bad-Guy  "Yes, I'm sure you will..."  Krau demands the 50KCR that was stolen from him, and when GVrakh resists, he shows GVrakh his reflection, where a laser sighting dot appears squarely between his eyes.  GVrakh says he needs to contact someone by computer, and conveniently enough, Catlyn is nearby with a secure network link.  GVrakh, with gun off-camera, contacts his friend and makes up a story for why he needs 50K Credits.  The money is transferred out by Catlyn almost as soon as it enters GVrakh's account.    Krau is satisfied and departs, leaving the others to press him for more.  Eventually he coughs up the location of a stash box in his apartment, which Rath cautiously retrieves.  It contains 100KCR and some gems.  With no more to say, the group leaves GVrakh in the warehouse.  Gaiden is the last to exit, but before he emerges from the building, a loud BANG is heard..

The next day the Lady Tiger has new cargo, with help from San.  Six ATV vehicle prototypes have been brought onboard for the trip to Dingir.  The ship lifts off and heads to the 100D limit.
 

[ 2 points awarded ]

Player Notes

Add notes to this log

March 11-April 6, 3124 - An Offer You Can't Refuse

Discussing the news regarding Max Riven, the group rethinks the plan to jump to Dingir.  An alternate scheme of using the group's hacking skills to either forge a ship purchase order, or hack into the Oudh banking system to steal funds is hatched.  They instruct Captain Crispin to turn the ship around and head back to Oudh.  The ship redocks at the highport, and Catlyn is sent out to the internet cafe to try to find out about ships Oudh may have ordered from Dingir.  They discover that the government has ordered several vessels through a Dingir dealer specializing in Military starcraft.  The dealer is a company called Lone Moon Transport, and is run by a man named David Remmington.   They find that Oudh has ordered a Kuru Class Patrol Frigate, and several System Defense Boats recently.  These ships are not to the group's liking however and they proceed to the plan of trying to skim money out of the Oudh banking system.

San creates a penny-rounding program to collect small amounts from a large number of accounts, and Catlyn attempts to install it into the Oudh network.  Something goes wrong in the process, and she is fairly certain she has tripped internal security alarms in the network.  The group makes a hasty retreat to the Lady Tiger, and instructs the captain to undock and head for jump immediately.  The ship passes outgoing customs inspection without incident, and is allowed to leave.  Soon the group is in jump for an intermediate point on the way to Dingir.  The ship arrives in deep space seven days later, and rejumps for Dingir.

During Jump, Krau is alarmed to discover the ship's engineer, banging on pipes in engineering.  He expresses concern to the Captain, but she is not immediately worried.  Krau persists, and eventually makes his way into engineering to find Watkins, trying to fix a leak he induced in a pipe.  He asks for Krau's help in welding the pipe, which Krau expertly completes.  Krau makes a mental note to try to get Watkins away from the engineering room ASAP, and even discusses schemes to tranq him with Watson.

Also during Jump, San talks with the Captain and makes her an official offer to join with the group.  The terms include retaining the Captain title, but combining as crew of a new ship, and being part of the group's plans in general.  She would have a stake in the proceeds from trading, and Watkins would be allowed as crew, but not chief engineer.  Crispin says she would consider the offer.

On day eight of jump, a worried Crispin calls San up to the bridge for a consultation.  The ship is overdue for jump emergence.  San reviews the navigation data and discovers that the Jump drives are running with too much power and creating an unusually large jump field.  The variance is not critical however and it is agreed that the best course of action is to leave things alone.  At the end of day 8, the ship emerges from Jump, out of the target slot but well within the Dingir system.  The no-no box is hidden, and the ship eventually makes it to the highport and docks.

Research begins on finding ship dealers and vessels for sale.  A large number of unsuitable ships, including scores of Beowulf, Sulieman, and Empress Marava class vessels are rejected.   There are several promising leads that San is able to dig up.  The first one is a Mercinary group called Trimmbel's Defenders, run by a man named Jef Trimmbel.  He reportedly has a Broadsword Class Mercinary Cruiser for sale.  Rath arranges to meet one of Trimmbel's crew to discuss this.  The meeting takes place at a Dingir Highport bar, and the terms seem to be fairly straightforward.  Rath likes the vessel, but the 800-ton size carries problems with it, such as unwanted publicity when entering a system, additional crew requirements, and a steep price tag.

The second lead followed is Lone Moon Transport, the company used by the Oudh Government.  Krau discovers during his research that this company has a large portion of the hydrogen transport business between Dingir and the Gas Giants in the system, but also deals in other goods, including Starship sales.  The company is located on a planet called Calavu, in slot 4 of the Dingir system.  This world is wholly owned by Lone Moon, and also serves as home to Remmington, who is known to be a local Tycoon of sorts in Dingir.  Admittance to the world is restricted to employees and customers of Lone Moon, so the group works to resurrect an old cover story. Catlyn, aided by Gaiden, work to create a new, updated version of the Bedrock Mining Company. (see "The Bedrock Mining Company")  with a more impressive size and profile.  The 50 million credits given by Max is transferred into a local account under that name.  Using these credentials and even more forgery and hackery, the group is able to secure a credit line from a local Dingir bank for 180 MCR. San's merchant contacts are able to get him a ticket to Calavu based on the new cover.

Krau and San head out on an interplanetary shuttle to Calavu.  The world is in astronomical opposition with Dingir, so a trip that would otherwise only take a few hours ends up taking several days.  On April 4th however, they arrive.  To their surprise, they are greeted by none other than Remmington himself.  He escorts them through the spaceport, past commanding views of the large crater and slowly melting lake below.  In the distance huge Terraforming towers can be seen, spewing out carbon dioxide extracted from the soil.  Several Gormelites are seen below, working to reshape huge rock formations with fusion cutters.  Remmington is cordial to the visitors but seems annoyed by the Gorms.

Krau and San are  ushered to Remmington's office, which is set into the topmost level of the crater wall, with impressive views.  They settle into comfy chairs, while Remmington takes a seat behind a desk, that has peculiar holes in it.  He begins to ask questions about Bedrock Mining, and about the companies current and future needs for a ship.  San does his best to create answers on the fly, making up employee headcounts, office locations, and projected future company fleets.  Remmington appears to take it all in without argument, but finally interjects that he enjoys fine things, and for example the chairs they are sitting in cost 17,000 credits.  The off-topic statement concerns both San and Krau, and they consider getting out of the chairs; Remmington asks if they have any idea why they cost so much, and San correctly guesses "Because they have scanners in them.."

Remmington smiles and congratulates San for being so astute, and adds that they are DNA scanners.  He then projects a data file of San Holo, and asks San if he has been out in the sun lately.   Remmington clearly says he does not like being deceived, but he adds that the forgery was masterful, and that very few would have caught it.  He tells San and Krau that he believes information is the most powerful weapon, and that his biggest pursuit is mastery over it.  Information is Power.  He wants to know how DKI employees that have only been employed a year could amass 50MCR, speculating that it was probably embezzled.  San and Krau offer no real excuses or apologies, and wait to see where Remmington will go now.

As he is talking Remmington is fiddling with a device on his desk, and soon a cloud of smoke pours from it.  San winces, assuming he is about to be gassed, and even warns that Remmington "Doesn't want to know what I know".  But the gas collects into a sphere above the desk, graviticly contained by emitters on the desk and ceiling.  The ball floats over, engulfing Remmington's head.  He inhales, and then closes his eyes.  The ball returns to the spot over the desk, and Remmington exhales a glowing trail of smoke.  He offers some to Krau and San, who politely but quickly decline.  He shrugs, and continues to talk.

Remmington appears to consider their fates, but returns to the observation of how well done the forgery is.  He is impressed that the group has secured a 180MCR credit line, and wants to know who in the group is responsible for the work.  He also shows off pictures of the group entering and leaving the Lady Tiger at the Highport.  San gives vague answers but admits the group has these skills.   Remmington says he has a business proposition for the group.  It is as follows:

Remmington wants the group to go back to Dingir, and infiltrate a group known as the Naasirka Society.  The group is a Timer Club; a group of people who voluntarily freeze themselves in low birth, to be awoken years later.  They are to bring back a member named Adkhar Riisha, who is currently in suspension at the facility.  Remmington would also look favorably on the group if a woman named Vina Shuul is brought as well.  He does not offer much in the way of explanation as to why he wants these people, and says he is flexible regarding how it is done, providing they are brought to him and there is no trail pointing to him.  Remmington also adds that he is forbidden to travel to Dingir, as he has fallen into bad terms with the Mercantile Guild, which has great influence with the Dingir government.

In exchange for doing this task, Remmington offers the group a Puller-Class Assault Rider , (a 300-Ton vessel) at a steep discount.  Looking into their bank account, he offers it to them for 51MCR, pretty much the available funds the group has.  He says it belongs to some people he dislikes, and he would be more than happy to take it off their hands.  San protests that this amount would leave the group with no funds, and asks for a million CR to spare or so.  Remmington shrugs, and says if the job is done well, he will not quibble over a "few million credits".  The deal is agreed to, and Remmington says they are free to go.  He adds that although there is little he can do to stop them from trying to flee and break the deal, he would not advise making enemies with him.  He also says that he will be holding up the Lady Tiger from leaving as a kind of insurance policy.

Krau and San return to Dingir and meet with the group, giving the details of the deal.  Research begins on the Naasirka Society, and the building they are reportedly  in, which is a 50-story skyscraper in downtown Simarin.   They visit the building, and check out the lobby.  It is a typical high-rise office building, with many trading, investment, and financial firms.  The Mercantile Guild occupies several floors, as does a number of other prominent megacorps.  There is no Naasirka Society listing in the directory however.   Further research finds that the building is owned by the Naasirka company, an old Vilani-based firm that does advanced software and robotics.  The building or antecedents have sat on this site for over 800 years.  They also find that older plans to the site show sub-basements that are not on the current record, and that the building has a special easment from the government that prevents underground construction or passages near it.

[ 1 point awarded ]

Player Notes

Add notes to this log

April 7-10, 3124 - Hackfest

GM Note:  Due to a book keeping error on my part, the dates I gave during the game session were incorrect.  I mistakenly thought we were at March 10, when in fact we were starting on April 7.  This normally would be a non-issue except for the timing of Byler's Birthday celebration, which already occurred on March 14.  Since events have already transpired based on the idea of the holiday/parade happening on the next game day, I am just going to tweak reality a bit and say that April 11 is a Dingir local holiday, Enterprise Day.  This should keep everything consistent.  Sorry for the mixup,  -N.

On the morning of the 7th, Catlyn is pressed into service, and begins hacking into the systems for Naasirka Corporation, and for Loremes Property Management, the firm handling security for the office towers where the Naasirka Society is located.  She is able to implant records indicating that Rath  is a new hire at Loremes, and she is also able to obtain names of people working at Naasirka. Krau makes a plan to penetrate the Naasirka corporation posing as a travelling field engineer who is away on assignment who looks something like himself, and he has Gaiden forge an appropriate ID.

The next day, Krau sets off to the Naasirka building, and finds his way to the appropriate floor.  As he presents himself as the field engineer, a startled and somewhat skeptical receptionist says she "cannot believe how different you look", and calls several others to come take a look.  Several people express disbelief, despite Krau giving stories about failed plastic surgery.  A manager type who seems to be oblivious to Krau's appearance calls him into a staff meeting in a half hour, telling him he has time to grab coffee.  Krau uses this as an excuse to go back downstairs and leave, aborting the plan.

Rath has better success in the evening and is able to pull off the "new hire" infiltration at Loremes, where he is assigned the (night shift) job of guarding an office building on the other side of town.   When he returns in the morning, the rest of the group is already at work on a new plan to try to splice into the data network for the Naasirka Society building.  Catlyn is once again called upon to hack into a new system, this time it is the city services network, where public utilities schedule work orders.  She has mixed success and is able to put in a request for work to be done at an access point near the towers, but she cannot implant anyone from the group as employees there.  The group soon comes up with a plan to distract the assigned work crew and allow Catlyn and Krau to sneak into the access hole to install the needed network tranceiver.

San is sent out on a shopping expedition to buy tools, electronics parts, clipboards, helmets, and uniforms, and Rath is able to scrounge up some material which he gives to Gaiden to forge a rudimentary city service patch for the uniforms.   Rath, Catlyn, Gaiden, and Krau then head out to the work site, where they meet up with two workers, an older lazy guy fiddling with ventilation equipment, and his younger apprentice, down in the hole.  Rath confronts the older guy and tells him that they should not be there, that this is "our job".  The man gets upset with Rath, and soon he has the man and his assistant distracted.  Gaiden tips over some cleaning solution to add to the distraction, which causes more upset when people begin to smell the flammable solvent.    While this is going on, Catlyn and Krau attempt to sneak down into the hole.  Catlyn slips in the process however, knocking over a large portable fence into the hole, and attracting the attention of the crew.   The foreman begins to yell at Rath and tells him that his department will have to pay for this, etc.  Rath orders Catlyn and Krau to "go down and pick that stuff up", and takes the foreman into his truck to call HQ.  Meanwhile, Catlyn and Krau make another attempt to enter, this time without incident.

They go down deep into the access hole, where the air is very bad.  It has an immediate effect on Krau and he is unable to do much besides attempt to leave.  Catlyn fights the urge to pass out and manages to install the tap.  The two exit the hole, Rath notices and immediately begins the reversal story, rereading his records and saying "Oh, wait a second, I see... My mistake. sorry." or something to that effect.  The group leaves the disgruntled workers to their task and goes back to the hotel to check the link, which appears to work properly.  They discover a great deal of network traffic coming into the building from outside, including lots of research requests to libraries and historical archives. The requests are coming from various "apartments" inside the building.  Krau hypothesizes that it could be recently awakened sleepers, learning about society.  They also pick up on various fire and security sensor readings that are being transmitted back to Loremes, giving them a solid indication that Loremes also handles security for the Naasirka Society.

Later hackery reveals that Loremes has an "Elite Client Services" division, which handles security for a who's-who of top companies, including Naasirka.  A plan is hatched to try to implant someone as a member of this division, but it is immediately discovered that this will be a very difficult thing to hack/forge.  Catlyn is able to hack Loremes security enough to get names of people in the ECS division, and to also bump up the access capability on Rath's keycard so he can snoop.  They soon find an office belonging to someone in the ECS division, but entry into the office will require specialized lockpicking equipment, akin to what was used on the Vember mission.

San researches probable locations to find such equipment, and soon San and Gaiden are off on another shopping trip to Vegantown, the Vegan immigrant district of Simarin Downport.  This is a run-down and rather unorthodox section of town, featuring a variety of building shapes and colors, packed close together.  Vegan script covers most signs, and Vegans can be seen in numbers, quietly milling about on dimly lit streets.  Down a particularly filthy side street populated by shops selling Smoking Powder, San locates a small store.  The Vegan shopkeeper greets the pair with an expressionless gaze.  San begins to ask about the lockpick, while Gaiden shops around.  The store carries an unclassifiable set of merchandise, ranging from fresh fruit, to drugs, to laser weapons.  Gaiden eventually finds some small pen-shaped stunners that attract his interest, and San gets a good price for five of them.  San pays for the stunners and lock pick, and they leave the store.

Walking back down through the garbage-filled street, they are accosted by a street beggar, who asks for money, and then for "poppers".   San and Gaiden repeatedly try to shake him off, until at last Gaiden's patience wears thin, and he pushes the beggar into a trash heap.  As the two walk away, the old man calls out to them:
 

    "You ain't gonna find that ship of yours, you know that don't you?"

San stops dead in his tracks, turning a shade closer to his former color.  The two about-face and go back to talk with the beggar.  The conversation with the man, who they later learn is named Reginauld, goes something like this:
 

G:  What ship !?
R:  You know. That old man's ship. You know. You know the one. Cmon. The ship.
G:  What old man? What ship?
R:  That old man and his wife. You know the ship, man.. The ship.  It's gone, you can stop lookin for it.
S:  I think I know what he means.. What do you mean "It's gone" ?
R:  Gone.  Boom..  (laughs).  Hey you guys got any poppers?
G:  Sure, we'll get you some poppers.  How do you know about the ship?
R:  Ain't supposed to say.. Foundation Code a Conduct.  The Code.  Kick my ass out over the damn code.

(At some point San and Gaiden go back to the shop and buy "poppers", small marble-like balls.  They get a few
 good ones and some cheap ones.  Returning, they start doling them out to Reginauld, who smokes them in a primitive tin can apparatus, each ball emitting a sharp -pop- as it is ignited, producing a cloud of smoke.)

S: So you were kicked out of the Foundation?
R: Damn Celine that bag o bones did it.
G: Why?
R: You know, givin out the lotto numbers an stuff like that really gets em uppity. Hell I was just foolin around you
S: So the Foundation won't let you talk abou the ship?
R: Ain't supposed to.  But then again, they break it all the time, call up Reginauld to find you guys.  That aint
   supposed to happen neither.
S: So did the Foundation have a message for us.
R: Sure did. Says you guys are leavin yourselfs a powerful Future Wake.  Got ta avoid that Future Wake, you know.
   They'll be finding you soon, soon as you get closer in.  Watchin the Wake.
S: So did he say what we should do?
R: You got to Ran-dom-mize.  Can't see through that too easy.  Can't tell what you doing then.
G: They can't track us if we Randomize?
R: They follow act and deed. Act and Deed. No intentions, no wake.  Hey, you boys like Fried Grazakaa?
S: (tyring to hide alarm) I don't know.. why?
R: Well you's about to have one, that little critters out of his cage you know.  He done figured it out finally and
   is playin with the stove!  (Laughs)  Imagine that, little furball.
G: OK, thanks.
S: So did Tyrone talk to you?
R: (laughs) O yeah. Tyrone.  He said Reginauld, go find those boys and I said I ain't findin nobody they can
   find me.  And here you is. (laughs again.)
G: Did he say anything else?
R: Just what I told you, you know.  I told him if it was so damn important why didn't he come on out and do it hisself.
S: So look out for the Future wake... and the ship is "gone" ?
R: (laughs), yeah and do you know the funniest part?
S: (worried) no, what?
R: Theres another ship out there at Akahmin, just like that old ship.  What are the chances of that?  One blows up,
   there be another one right out there in that old asteroid belt.  (Laughs insanely.)
S: Yeah, what are the chances..
 

Rath gets some quick sleep and heads out to work.  Catlyn later meets him on the grounds of the Loremes facility, and Rath sneaks her into the building and up to the office where the Elite Client Services employee works.  Catlyn uses the lockpick to enter the office, and soon they are able to hack into the computer and find the password that goes with the ID.  Catlyn leaves with this info, taking it back to the hotel, where she continues to hack deeper into Loremes with the new codes.  Using this access Krau is able to find the floorplan of the building, and they also forge new ECS identifications for Rath and Gaiden..
 

[ 1 point awarded ]

Player Notes

Add notes to this log

April 11-13, 3124 - Won't You Take Me to... VeganTown?

The next day San begins asking Reggie more questions, concerning previous visions, and inquiring about any new ones.  Reggie is now comparatively sober and in a foul mood because of it; the Doctor carefully monitoring his progress down.  The group soon learns however that Reggie's ability to "see" does not extend into the future.  This is an ability he supposedly once had, but the Foundation gave him a "haircut".  Subsequent inspection of his scalp reveals telltale signs of brain surgery.   Reggie says that he can typically "see" visions relating to what people want, have, or lost, but only when high.  This sends San and Gaiden scurrying back to Vegantown for another purchase of poppers, the illegal version of Vegan Smoking Powder preferred by Reggie.

Once again they enter the small general store run by the stoic Vegan shopkeeper.  While San negotiates Popper prices, Gaiden's curiousity leads him to the far end of the store, where he begins perusing various weapons for sale.  This sets off a shopping spree, where he ends up buying a Gyroc pistol and various ammo to go with it, among other things.  The shopkeeper throws in some Vegan Moon Fruit as a gift for loyal patronage, and the two head out back to the hotel with their booty.

Rath meanwhile is at work, pulling a day shift at Loremes, guarding a building on the other side of town.

Reg is given a refresher dose of poppers, per the Doctors guidelines so as to slowly reduce the overall dosage for him over time.  He is then questioned at length on various topics.   The group learns, among other things:

The Fin M'Coul class ship is called the Annibell Lee, and it is not in an asteroid field on Akhamin, it is floating amongst other metal objects, presumably other ships.  Subsequent research on the Annibel Lee finds that this was in fact a Fin M'Coul class vessel, decommissioned in 3018 at Sebasta and sold for scrap after developing a Fusion Plant leak.

Certain events are too far away for Reg to see properly; inquiries on Max and events/people back on Terek for instance seem to be beyond him.

David Remmington apparently is nearby, (ie, in orbit or closer), and has found the secret box with the Lanthium.

The two Vilani sleepers at the Naasirka Society have id numbers, which Reg supplies. He also supplies a third number/name, Ama Gamish, as someone who is also "interesting".  Later research/hacking into the Naasirka Records finds that this is an 8-year-old Girl.

Remmington is preparing to "kill some folks" once the group finishes the mission. They are aboard a ship; the group surmises these are probably the current owners of the Puller-class Assault ship.

 

While in the room, a call comes in.  It is Remmington.  He is checking in, and wants to know how things are proceeding.  San tells him that things are going OK.  Remmington asks if they need anything.  San initially says no, but is later encouraged by others to ask for assistance with getting off the planet.  Remmington says that he will arrange it.    Plans are put in place to hack in a special repeater in the Naasirka data link that will enable the group to block transmissions to Loremes.  Also, the group discusses what to do with Reg.  It is decided to cut him loose, and he is given a modest supply of poppers, and sent on his way.

That night, Rath pulls his second shift.  On the next day, San and Catlyn sneak into the sewer system, and install the new repeater.  The operation goes flawlessly, and they now have full control over all data going both ways to the Naasirka building.    It is configured to block alarm/problem events originating from the Naasirka building.

Rath comes home and rests, and catches up on whats going on.  After seeing Gaiden's new toys, he decides to take a visit to Vegantown himself.  Remmington leaves X-Mail, with an address of a building in the Port District.   San heads over and checks it out.  It is a small office building connected to a shuttle hangar, staffed by an older man.  After getting reassurances from San that he is the person who should be here, the man lets San into the Hangar, where a 20-ton Gig is waiting.  The vessel has basic stealth coatings and will seat ten with additional space for several tons of cargo.  It is practically new, with many seats still in plastic wrap.  San fires up the computers and does some basic checkout/training, and then heads back to the hotel.

Rath visits Vegantown, and orders a pair Neural Gloves.  The shopkeeper tells him they will need to come from an associate and will be in the next day.  Rath works the night shift, and then in the early morning goes back to Vegantown, picking up the gloves.  Then he and Gaiden report for work at the Naasirka Society building, after stashing some weapons in spots outside of the building for possible future use.  Once inside, they are given orientation and issued quarters.  Gaiden makes friends with some of the staff, participating in recreational activities in the employee area.  Information is gathered about the three work shifts, and which seems to be the weakest.  Messages are transmitted back to the rest of the group by sending internal x-mail, which is intercepted at the repeater as it is logged back at Loreemes.  They are both issued guard duty for various points in the complex, and witness a private function taking place where club members gather and dine.  Gaiden checks out the Library, where many works on history, economics, recent events, and also more ancient Vilani texts are found.  They also get a tour of the Cryo center, and the support room, where a backup Fusion Reactor sits in standby mode, in the event of a power failure.

The group converges on a plan whereby the power will be cut to the complex, followed by a real or faked reactor failure, leading to a reactor overload.  The resulting emergency will theoretically force security to begin thawing out people.  San rents a large grav-truck from the Little Red Truck Company.  When everything is in place, Catlyn hacks in and cuts the power to the facility, and then tries to follow up by hacking into the reactor's system, only to find the reactor has been disconnected from the network due to the power failure.  Security is scurrying because of the blackout and Gaiden and Rath are essentially ignored/told to stay out of the way as they search for the cause.   Realizing the problem with hacking the Reactor, the group decides to power back on, and then send notice of the event to Loremes as if the repeater had not blocked the message.

There is frantic dicusssion back at mission control in the hotel on what to do next.  The group is worried that they need to act soon or security may uncover elements of their infiltration.  It is decided to reverse the order of the events, to overload the Reactor and then kill the power.  Everything is arranged to happen again in ten minutes...

[ 1 point awarded ]

Player Notes

Add notes to this log

April 14-19, 3124 - Flawless Execution

Within ten minutes, Krau and Catlyn initiate the next crisis in the Naasirka building, first faking a Reactor overload, and then later, actually causing one.  The additional problems cause the already busy security force in the building to step up activity to a near panic level, and a decision is reached to begin thawing out the sleepers. Rath and Gaiden play along with the events, Rath using the events as an excuse to get down to the Cryo room and pretend to be assigned to one of the Vilani sleepers.  Gaiden gets in line for weapons handouts from the weapons locker, and is initially refused.  Later as things get more desperate however, he is allowed a laser pistol.  Later he and Rath meet up in the cryo center as the sleepers unthaw.

The security team has ordered a series of special busses to be brought in to remove the sleepers, and has also called in a special hazmat team to enter the (now sealed) reactor room to try to defuse the situation.  The director of security barks orders to people but does not challenge the presence of Rath or Gaiden as guards in the cryo center; he still seems to be proceeding under the "external threat" assumption.  Once the sleepers can be transferred, Rath and Gaiden are ordered take their assigned sleepers to the elevator, and then, unexpectedly,  up to the rooftop garage on the 43rd floor.  Apparently, the more important sleepers are to be flown out in special grav vehicles.

The chief of security accompanies Rath and Gaiden into the elevator, where the three are briefly alone as the elevator makes its way up to the 43rd floor.  The Chief begins to instruct his new hires to look out for intruders in the complex, as his voice trails off, the horrible realisation finally dawning on him as Gaiden fast-draws his laser pistol.  The chief, also combat trained, fast draws his weapon and manages to discharge it, hitting Gaiden squarely just as Gaiden does the same to the chief.  The two fall to the floor, and Rath grabs the chief's weapon and finishes him off.  Gaiden is badly wounded but can still walk, and he and Rath work to hide the body behind the gurney.   The elevator stops on an unrelated floor, and Gaiden shouts at the surprised people who are waiting to ride to get back.  The elevator continues to the 43rd floor garage, where it opens to a pair of waiting guards, and a grav limo waiting beyond.

There is a close call as the guards notice the dead chief in the elevator, but Rath and Gaiden remain cool, and report that he was shot on their way up by intruders.  The story is bought, and one guard rushes to the elevator to check on the chief, while the other nervously escorts the two to the car, looking all around for external threats.  The guard asks if they are staying or going with the sleepers, and Rath and Gaiden reply "going" in an authoritative way.  They enter the vehicle with along with the gurneys. The only other occupant of the vehicle is the driver, who starts off right away when everyone is inside.  Gaiden asks to use the radio, and contacts San and Krau, who are waiting near the Naasirka building with a Grav Truck, expecting them to come out the ground entrance.  A Rendezvous point is arranged.  Instructions are given to the driver to head to the rendezvous point, but the driver questions the order, saying he has explicit instructions to take the sleepers to "The Club".

Gaiden pulls out a pistol and makes a more emphatic demand.  The driver begins to comply, turning back around to head the other way, and then all of a sudden puts the vehicle into a steep dive, throwing Rath and Gaiden around the cockpit.  Rath struggles to gain control of the flight stick, and the driver puts the vehicle into a steep dive.  Gaiden regains his footing and shoots the driver.  The vehicle is in a tight downward spiral, and the two manage to pull it back to level flight, but at a high speed.  The vehicle races into a narrow canyon between buildings, and they try to regain control, but end up hitting the side of a building.  The right side of the car is sheared off as it collides with fire escapes, canopies, and eventually a dumpster below.  Gaiden is knocked out and Rath takes a considerable blow to the head as well.  Barely awake, he extricates himself from the car and pulls Gaiden out.  They have landed in a service alley-way, and have somehow managed to avoid attracting immediate attention.  The sleepers are a bit bruised, but OK.  Rath finds a communicator on the dead driver, and calls San for a pickup.

Minutes later San is overhead, in the Little Red Truck Company grav-car.  Then they are off to the shuttle hangar, as the doctor administers first aid to Rath, Gaiden, and the sleepers.  San parks in front of the small hangar and sleepers and team are transferred to the shuttle.  Soon they are off, and free of orbit without inspection, thanks to the stealth properties of the Gig.  The sleepers have awoken now, and are beginning to talk, Aline translating their older Vilani Dialect.  Adkhar Riisha, the male Vilani, does most of the talking.  He at first wants to know where he is, and who the emporer is, what the date is.  When he learns that his situation is that he is essentially being kidnapped, he implores the group to abandon their plans to sell him to Remmington, and to return him to the Naasirka Society.  He claims that the group is not aware of the significance of what they are doing, and that, if they return him, that he promises they will not be harmed.  He offers little else in the way of explanation or proof on these matters though.

The group listens for signs of a Fusion explosion in the city, but no such announcement ever comes; they conclude that the Naasirka Society must have shut down the reactor in time.  A debate ensues during the next few days of space flight, while the group tries to figure out what to do.  They do not trust Remmington, but do not have enough information about the Naasirka Society.  Krau manages to determine that their shuttle is being tracked via a hidden, scrambled transponder.  Rath is inclined to go back and forget Remmington, others are less sure.  Eventually, they decide to take Reggie's advice, and "Randomize", essentially tossing a coin to determine their course of action.  The random pick proclaims they will go to Remmington, so they continue onward.

Eventually they reach the rendezvous spot, and hailed and then approached by a small, nondescript cargo ship.  The Gig is docked into a shuttle bay, and the group unloads under the watchful eye of guards in armored Vacc Suits.  Remmington himself appears to inspect the prize, and appears to be very happy.  He invites the group to a celebration dinner.  Remmington appears to be very happy and willing to keep his end of the bargain, and announces that he will drop the group off at their ship on the next day.  He asks for information on the ship's captain and registry, and it is decided the name will be The Future Wake, captained by Wace Mindu.  Remmington also mentions that he has found the groups cache of Lanthium, using log info from the Lady Tiger.  He says it was marked for garbage collection by sweepers in Dingir Orbital Control, so it was a good thing he collected it.  He promises to load it on board the new ship.  He also comments on the crystals in the box, which he has apparently made copies of, asking if the group has Brauletter friends.

Remmington is in a good mood and willing to listen to requests for things.  Rath tries to smoothly ask for a Battle Suit, but blunders his approach, leaving Remmington laughing as if it were a joke.  A request by Krau for a machine parts lab is considered, but Remmington says it would take a while.  He offers the group employment with him, working in Dingir.  The group politely says they will consider it and give an answer tomorrow.  They ask Remmington if he could fetch the weapons left in the locker in the starport, and he is willing.  Lastly, they ask him if he could help launder the Lanthium, exchanging it for cash with a little legitimate Lanthium as change.  Remmington agrees.

The next day they have arrived at a small moon orbiting Remmington's planet.  It has a small space port on it, and there is a single 300-ton Puller Class Assault Ship docked there.  The group tells Remmington they are not yet ready to join him, but would like to keep the offer open for later.  Remmington says he cannot promise anything, but if they are back in the Dingir system, to look him up.  He supplies coordinates for the pick-up of the weapons, and then says his goodbyes.  The group is ferried to the space-port, and left.   Inside, the port is completely empty.  Lights are on, systems are running, but there is an eerie lack of life here.  They cautiously approach the airway tube to the ship, where they find two dead guards outside, shot through the head.  Rummaging around, they find Vacc Suits, so San, Krau and Rath don them and head into the ship.   Inside, they find more dead bodies, five in all, with no apparent wounds.  Later examination reveals a deadly toxin in the ship's atmosphere.   In the back of the ship, the bunk rooms are found full of dead bodies, chained to the wall.  They are naked, and emaciated.  Most appear to be Minjini.    San begins to cycle the atmosphere, Krau works to check out engineering, and the others are let aboard.  Rath, Aline, Gaiden, and the Doctor begin the gruesome task of clearing the bodies from the ship, and cleaning up.  Krau finds engineering test equipment on the station, and borrows it to check the engines.

Beyond the carnage, everything else appears to check out as nominal.  After extensive searches and checks on the ship for stowaways, traps, hidden compartments and the like, they lift off, and circle back to where their weapons have been left for them.  The stealth system is tested briefly during the trip.  Then they head out to the 100D limit.  Course is set for Uvaia, and the jump engine is engaged.
 

[ 2 points awarded ]

Player Notes

Add notes to this log