Monday 19 February 2018

We're off to see the scientist, the wonderful scientist of Tobia

After assembling all ships and crew on the space station it's time to work out what to focus on next, namely whether to get the scientist for Lady Yemar, or get Goff to start fixing the station properly.

Both Goff (on The World) and the scientist (on Tobia) are a  long way away. Consideration is given to getting Goff first to get repairs at the station moving, but in light of Lady Yemar's failing health it is decided to get the scientist first.

Trip to Theev
The party head to Theev with the Far Scout and the three Harriers in their fleet. Dai Kinnear is left in charge of the space station with instructions to push on with whatever repairs can be made. The trading ship is set up to fly between Salif and Homestead (to coreward) and Number One (rimward).

The trip, via Salif, Number One (where stories had to be told), Noricum and then the fuel dump, is uneventful.

On Theev
Arriving in Theev the Harriers are sent for full repairs (MCr37 worth) to bring them up to 'as new' condition. Full maintenance on the original Harrier is included in that price, as is berthing for however long it takes to repair them.

Messages are left for Lomarr Fisk (for transponders) and Devon (for new identities). Heading down to the planet the party books into the second best hotel in Blacksands. The next morning after breakfast Lomarr calls Lady Nitrane and invites her to lunch at the same place as last time; the rooftop restaurant on the best hotel in town. Devon soon after contacts Unter to arrange a meeting that night.

At lunch, Lomarr is waiting for Lady Nitrane and her 'bodyguard' Unter. He is as ever a gracious host and Lady Nitrane an excellent companion. As they arrange the next date Lady Nitrane mentions that there will in the near future be a need for a transponder.

Meeting with Devon that night the party arrives at a place bar that appears to have been booked just for Devon's meeting. Devon is there with a companion, and small talk is followed soon after by the main purpose of the meeting. The party tell him that they need identities as they want to go to Tobia. Devon knows just the man, a specialist in that field called Kagni Vasiir. In addition, he suggests meeting with Nosetter Hali, a specialist in clandestine activities. Meetings are arranged to see both of these people the next morning.

New identities
Arriving at the very fancy and up-market skyscraper in which Kagni has his offices the party are immediately ushered into a large conference suite where they are made comfortable. Moments later Kagni arrives, dressed immaculately in fine suit, and asks what the party need.

He is clearly aware of who the party are and what they want as he has a number of possible identities for each person in the party, including crew members. Each person is asked to select an identity and then temporary cosmetic changes are made, if required, to make them look as much as possible like the intended identity.

Following this, costumes are provided as well as a memory card that has a full back history for the party to memorise. Access to the ship's computers is requested to create a false trip log and cctv footage of the passengers. All told this costs MCr1.5.

Spy Master
Later that day the party go to see Nosetter, the specialist in clandestine activities. After some questioning it becomes apparent that there is too much that is unknown at this distance from Tobia. Nosetter suggests that an operative of his could accompany the party on their ship to advise them once they reach Tobia.

Harrier Shakedown
Next day Krssh approaches the group with questions about what he should do with the Harriers, and how long he should wait for the party. The suggestion is that the repairs to the ships won't be proven until they have a combat. Slaid is very careful to say that he expects that three ships go in, and three (the same three) come out.

Following the shakedown the Harriers are to report in to the Station, then proceed to Paal where they will wait for the party.

Second Dates
The lunch with Lomar Fisk proceeded as planned, with a transponder delivered to the Far Scout's hangar for installation within the hour.

At the same time Captain Slaid was meeting Admiral Darokyn from whom he had received a request to meet at the Rose Pavilion. The admiral just seemed to want to catch up, say thank you for the early return (in good shape) of the salvager, and to enquire politely as to the party's plans.

Reluctant to give too much away Slaid admitted that there was a trip to Tobia on the cards, and that the new identities were for that. He also admitted that the two additional Harriers, that the admiral knew about, were recently found - but again no specifics were given. Finally, Slaid offered to show Darokyn around a Harrier the next morning.

Two Admirals Breakfast
The next morning Darokyn is welcomed aboard the original Harrier. Overnight the most advanced of the food preparation units was brought aboard and very nice kaf and sweetmeats were served as the admiral took in the impressive sights of the Harrier.

Lady Nitrane, who had not met the admiral the day before, was particularly keen to introduce the idea of him providing men to help repair the space station. Captain Slaid reluctantly agree but in the end Darokyn was given the information. With the information about the Harriers being recently found, and the need for repairs to functions like life support, biosphere, construction and manufacturing facilities, it was obvious that Admiral Darokyn put it together quickly and surmised that the party have found a space station somewhere.

Leaving on good terms, the party prepared to leave later that day for Palindrome with their new identities, the far scout sporting a new paint job and a  new transponder.

END

(Did I forget anything?)

Friday 2 February 2018

Trading Log for the Drinax to Torpol route

This is the log of the trading ship <NAME> travelling between Drinax and Torpol.

Month 1

  • Drinax Out
    • Flew out to Torpol with rest of fleet
  • Torpol In
    • Lord Wrax encountered flying to Torpol
  • Torpol Port
    • While in port a liner was escorted into port by police after it had been attacked
  • Torpol Out
    • HOSTILE (Aslan ihateisho scout - challenged us to duel - fought him off with some injuries). Need better ship. (REPAIR BILL 3MCr)
  • Drinax In
    • Ship noted on parallel path into Drinax that had damage. Asked - Aslan raiders in Pourne
  • Drinax Port
    • Rachando put us in touch with someone selling driods who was passing through. Bought an Autodoc as ship has no medical facilities. (COST 0.8MCr)

Month 2

  • Drinax Out
    • One of Lord Wrax's ships had collided with an orbital facility as Far Trader on way to 100d. 
  • Torpol In
    • Freighter tried to make contact. Suspicious. Ignored. Possible trap
  • Torpol Port
    • A ship had to leave in a hurry. Apparently a psionic on board or something.
  • Torpol Out
    • Torpol SDB followed us. Not sure if escort for our safety or theirs.
  • Drinax In
    • Princess Rao's ship incoming at same time.
  • Drinax Port
    • Some duel between Kasiyl ended up with a dead diplomat and a woulded Kasiyl. 

Month 3

  • Drinax Out
    • Unusual SDB activity. Lord Wrax up to something?
  • Torpol In
    • Encountered some cargo that had been jettisoned. Hold full, so left it alone.
  • Torpol Port
    • There's an alien zoo at the starport. Lots of interest.
  • Torpol Out
    • Nothing to report
  • Drinax In
    • Was given priority landing over another freighter. He wasn't happy.
  • Drinax Port
    • Some shennanigans with crew of freighter. Authorities put it down for us. Freighter crew imprisoned. That zoo has come here now.

Month 4

  • Drinax Out
    • Mercenary Transport noted landing on surface. Some activity in response. Don't know what happened.
  • Torpol In
    • Provost Falx on SDB to meet us (odd). Insisted on coming aboard to say hello. Sociable chap. Seemed worried about something though.
  • Torpol Port
    • Sent some cargo back. Some mixup with loading. Wrong cargo loaded. Sorted out in the end.
  • Torpol Out
    • Seemed like another ship followed us to the 100d. No contact but suspicious.
  • Drinax In
    • That ship from Torpol seen incoming to Drinax. Hmm. Didn't land.
  • Drinax Port
    • Autodoc a success and persuaded by Rachando to take on a Servitor to look after the crew better. Got gambling add on to pass the time (COST 0.2MCr)

Month 5

  • Drinax Out
    • Lord Wrax personally escorted us to the 100d jump point. Worried.
  • Torpol In
    • Star Guard ship encountered. Why in Torpol?
  • Torpol Port
    • Saw a ship with the Black Signal. Enemy of Theev. Couldn't do anything about it.
  • Torpol Out
    • Another ship followed us. Need another ship for protection.
  • Drinax In
    • Had collision with large Freighter. Jumped in at same moment. Lord Wrax came aboard to see damage and read logs. Seemed disappointed that we had no illegals on board. Some damage.
  • Drinax Port
    • Repairs were done in timely manner. No delay leaving but could not stay on ship in port. (REPAIRS 1MCr) Befriended a lost child who was wandering around the accomodation areas. Parents eventually found.

Month 6

  • Drinax Out
    • Nothing to report
  • Torpol In
    • Encounted Imperium Liner doing the sightseeing trip. On way to Thebus I think
  • Torpol Port
    • A ship that had misjumped arrived in port. Crew shaken but OK. Drives need to be replaced. Jumped from Florian League! Had some interesting cargo that we missed out on. 
  • Torpol Out
    • Picked up a cargo pod on sensors a little further out. Had some kind of camouflage on it. Picked it up out of interest. Contained Illegal cybernetics. Figured Rachando could use them.
  • Drinax In
    • Lots of SDBs around. Rachando contacted us immediately. Cargo was trap. Jettisoned and destroyed before SDB could get to us.
  • Drinax Port
    • Lord Wrax personally instpected ship. Incandescant when logs (which we'd tweaked) and cargo bay showed nothing illegal.

Month 7

  • Drinax Out
    • Lord Wrax prevented us from leaving but Princess Rao interceded to let us go.
  • Torpol In
    • Nothing to report
  • Torpol Port
    • Imperial ship landed at port. Crew bullying people everywhere. Provost Falx seen drinking more heavily that usual. 
  • Torpol Out
    • Saw one of Peter Vallis' ships coming in as we left.
  • Drinax In
    • Saw a different Peter Vallis ship leaving at speed (jumped early)
  • Drinax Port
    • Imperial partrol in port. Officers and marines strutting around. King Oleb turned purple. Explains why Vallis' ship was leaving in a hurry

Month 8

  • Drinax Out
    • Nothing to report
  • Torpol In
    • Caught a problem with the astrogation computer. Calcualated jump manually. 
  • Torpol Port
    • Got astrogation software and computer replaced. Saboutage? (COST 0.4MCr)
  • Torpol Out
    • HOSTILE Blockade runner attacked. Jumped early but got away with it. Damage quite bad.
  • Drinax In
    • Arrived in system to find Lord Wrax on a SDB. Insisted on coming on board to see logs and damage. How did he know?
  • Drinax Port
    • Repairs cost 5MCr. Liner arrived with half a dozen escorts. Important VIPs?