++ Thank you, Conrad,  ++ Shui replies as she slowly sits down at her desk.  ++  I understand.  ++  The quick discussion from the rest of the crew is distressing.  Conrad is quietly fatalistic about the matter.  Jago's tones are tightly controlled.  Yasmine sounds empty, void and cold as the space about them.  All of them are hiding what they feel, and that's hardly a surprise.  Shui clenches her fist for an instant; the motion comes surprisingly easily to her.

Then she pushes herself up.  She can't help the crew of that ship.  But she can try to help hers.

The woman strides quickly from the room, keying a general intercom to the passengers.  ++ This is the steward.  We have safely exited Jumpspace, but I ask you to please remain in your cabins.  There are some local issues that need to be addressed.  The Captain and Crew appreciate your cooperation.  Please let me know if there is anything you require.  ++

She heads for the Galley - there are things she can do in this circumstances that might assist in smoothing over jagged emotions.

Conrad transfers the course information to Jago's board.  Arkadia is about four hours distant.  He reduces the volume on the comms board, and scans the other frequencies for chatter.

The main thing he has trouble understanding is why the other ship was so far out from the main world when it was attacked.  There's nothing out there to attract a trader, and if it was a misJump, then what were their attackers doing way over there waiting for them?

Unless it was an arranged meeting.  Smugglers double crossing each other?

WORLD DETAILS

NAME: Arkadia
HEX LOCATION:      Spinward Marches 1217
UWP:               E446845-6
PBG:               402
TRADE CODES:       None
BASES:             None
ALLEGIANCE:        Third Imperium
STELLAR DETAILS:   Primary Star: M1 V     Mass: 0.48    Luminosity: 0.04

SATELLITE DETAILS: Number: 2
                   Satellite 1: UWP:Y215418-5, Orbit: 10
                   Satellite 2: UWP:GS00300-5, Orbit: 11

SIZE RELATED DETAILS
Basic World Type:  Planet - molten core.
Diameter: 6,560 km     Density: 0.98  World Mass: 0.123    World Gravity: 0.49 G
Orbit Period: 48.168 Std Days         Distance: 0.2 AU     Eccentricity: 0.025
Rotation Period: 31.3 Std Hours       Axial Tilt: 24°      Seismic Stress Factor: 3.3

ATMOSPHERIC RELATED DETAILS
Composition: O₂ - N₂ mix.  Oxygen lower than standard.
Surface Pressure: 0.48             Mean Temp: 0.0°C    Native Life: Yes
Terraforming - Atmospheric: No     Albedo: No          Greenhouse Effect: No
Weather Control: No

HYDROSPHERE RELATED DETAILS
Composition: Liquid H_sO - low oxygen levels.
Hydrographic Percentage: 56           Tectonic Plates: 5
Terraforming - Hydrographic: No       Terrain: No

POPULATION RELATED DETAILS
Total World Population:  400,000,000
Starports and Spaceports: E/Y/E/E/H/H/E/E/E/E
Primary Cities: 10                    Orbital Cities: None

Social Outlook:
    Progressiveness:  Conservative, Stagnant
    Aggressiveness:   Unaggressive, Neutral
    Extensiveness:    Discordant, Friendly

Unusual Local Customs: Although Arkadia has a good public education system, those seeking a career as military officers are typically
                       required to have attended private, fee-paying schools.  Arkadians argue that this ensures a better education for
                       military officers, and that a large proportion of the military are the sons and daughters of the upper classes.

GOVERNMENT RELATED DETAILS
Representative Authority: Representative Democracy
Representative Authority: Ruler
Division of Authority:    No division

LAW RELATED DETAILS                   TECHNOLOGY RELATED DETAILS
Uniformity of Law:     Personal       Technology Profile:

Legal Profile:                        High Common TL:        6
    Overall Law Level: 5              Low Common TL:         3
    Weapons Law Level: 4              Energy TL:             7
    Trade Law Level:   3              Computer/Robotics TL:  6
    Criminal Law:      4              Communicationss TL:    6
    Civil Law:         6              Medical TL:            6
    Personal Freedom:  2              Environment TL:        7
                                      Land Transport TL:     7
                                      Water Transport TL:    7
                                      Air Transport TL:      7
                                      Space Transport TL:    6
                                      Personal Military TL:  7
                                      Heavy Military TL:     7
                                      Novelty Tech Level:    7

RESOURCES AND GOODS
Resources:
    Natural:        Agriculture
    Processed:      Agroproducts, Non-Metals
    Manufactured:   Insignificant
    Information:    Artforms

---

Jago drops Profit Margin onto the field, without the aid of traffic control.  Luckily there don't seem to be any other ships in the air today, and precious few on the ground, for that matter.

Starports on Arkadia are somewhat basic.  The one that Jago selects for his landing is five kilometres from the capital, the most important port on the planet.  It consists of a concrete field, surrounded by a mesh fence, and a single office building which serves as the port authority and customs house.  The only entrance to the field runs alongside that building (unless you count the holes in the fence.

There are animals eating the weeds on the field, and sleet is falling steadily from the clouds which make the sky almost as dark as night.  The thin air ruffles the woolly coats of the grazing creatures, a cold wind.

Welcome to a spring afternoon on Arkadia.

It gets better... to refuel, the ship will have to hop across to the far side of the field, and drink seawater to get the deuterium out of it.  Either that, or head for the system's gas giants at some point.

Backwater planets... gotta love 'em.

Conrad looks at the readout on his panel, and sends it across for Jago to see.   Seems like the air is breathable, though a bit like being at very high altitude, and the temperature is currently a balmy -1°C.

"Jago, I'd suggest that y'all stay outta Saskia's way.  I don't 'spect she'll be likin' the fuel situation much." Conrad says, running his gaze down the display.  "Anyhow, we got enough juice to make it out to the nearest gas ball, an' I reckon we'll do better scoopin' there than in the ocean.  Sides which, if we've got any passengers aboard, a gas scoop can be excitin' for 'em."

Then his attention is captured by the animals outside, "Groats!  Well now, them fella's'll live just 'bout anywheres, won't they?  Good eatin' too."

Shui slowly walks onto the bridge to get a better look at the outside.  She alternates between that and the holo-screen hanging over her dataglove, and smothers a faint sigh of disappointment.  Apparantly the Medical Tech-level is insufficient for her restock the small amount of supplies that have been used.

Perhaps at the next port.

"Groats?"  The doctor leans to look out at the animals.  "Interesting.  I was not aware that was their name."  She looks toward Conrad over her shoulder.  "I, too, will take your advice and not mention fuel to Ms. Blake."  Something flickers on the holodisplay, and she glances down.  "Apparantly the weapon laws are fairly loose, here," the doctor states dubiously.  "Automatic weapons prohibited.  Nothing more."

She dislikes this situation, where every man and woman may be carrying a firearm.  It's true that such planets usually have social constraints on violence for that very reason, but if someone with anti-social tendancies happens to have an issue with people....

"Did we...receive any information about the ship in distress?" she asks quietly a moment later.

"Reminds me of home.  Those things out there looks a lot like the politicans back home," Yas says as she comes up and looks out the window, having finished her post-landing checks and secured her weapon console.

"No autos?  Bummer, I guess old Sievie Wonder stays home again then, and The Riddler too.  Just me, Boom Boom, Major Overkill and Surprise then, as usual," she then sighs and shrugs, hearing Sushi questioning the laxness of the gun laws.

Then she turns more serious and waits for an answer to the doctor's question regarding the other ship.

"Nope.  Least they ain't volunteered nuthin'.  I can call 'em up an' see if'n I can get some more from em.  Need to see if'n they's got any nav updates anyways."

Conrad makes a few adjustments to the comm, "This here's Profit Margin callin' Wakelin Field Control.  Jus' wond'rin' if'n y'all has any L.N.U.s I can grab off'f your system."  He takes his finger off the transmit key, "Now we jus' see if'n anyone's home.  If'n I don't get me an answer, I'll try agin in a minute."

“How far is that gas giant Conrad, do you recon it is why the ‘Never Say Die’ was so far out?”

“If a bandit or raider has set up shop in this system, the gas giant would be a good spot to hang out and as we are going to need fuel in any case, it would be a shame to pass up an opportunity to try out the new weapons and sensors the navy have supplied.”

“First things first though, Shui, disembark the passengers please, you may have to organise transport for them. Conrad, see what system information is available, and find out what you can about recent flights, in and out. I’m going to see if I can find a bier for this cargo, and pick up any rumours while I’m ashore, Yasmin, would you Boom Boom, the Major and Surprise come with me please,”

“Tylen, your on security, and as this place is about as secure as a not very secure place, extra vigilance.”

“Keep your eyes and ears open people, any little thing might be useful, and remember that if this guy is a permanent resident here, he probably has his own people on the ground, looking for likely targets so, don’t let on that we are anything other than a simple trader, just passing through, OK”

“Once we are done we’ll compare notes and decide what, if anything, we can do.”

Jago thumbs the intercom to the engine room, “Saski, there’s no fuel here and we’ll be dipping the gas giant as soon as the passengers and cargo are unloaded, is there anything you need while I ashore?”

"Wakelin Field Port Authority, Leila Hayes speaking.  We can send the information you need as soon as you're linked into the system, Profit Margin.  Be aware, please, that if you're planning on scooping fuel, we currently have a problem with illegal interception of shipping in the system.  We have requested Imperial assistance, and until such time as it arrives, we cannot recommend travelling to either of the two giants.

"Arkadia has facilities for syphoning sea water, located here at Wakelin Field."  It's almost like a standard meet'n'greet speech, except that the young woman sounds very tired.

"Is there anything else we can help you with today?"

Saskia sighs, and acknowledges Jago's words, "Got it Jago.  Scooping it is."  She toggles the intercom off.

Then she snags the system data from the main displays and takes a quick peek for herself on the repeater screen.  Cold, thin air, dim sun.  "Well, that's just typical.  I'm never going to sell those swimsuit samples, if we keep coming to places like this.."  She considers the shut down procedures, then decides against them, since they'll be leaving soon anyway.  Instead she just cuts things down to standby.

The Jump Drive catches her eye, "Don't you look at me like that!  It was Jago's idea to come here.  Yes, I know you don't like frelling scooped fuel, but you should give him a hard time about it, not me."

"Maybe I should leave Surprise at home so we could have a double date," Yasmince cracks as a joke and chuckles.  "Sure thing, boss.  Let me just put on my shades and some sunscreen, this place sure needs that," she continues and turns to wander into her cabin to prepare herself for another trip out on a lovely resort-like planet.  He sure knows to pick them, Captain Jago Lanza.

"And they won't let me bring any autos.  Forget the nukes then.  Pfft," she is heard mumbling to herself as she wanders off.  Behind all these smart-arse comments she tries to bury any conscious thoughts about what happened with Never Say Die.

"Why, yes, Ma'am, there was one more thing." Conrad replies to the woman, smiling briefly before allowing his expression to become more serious, "On the way down here we picked up a distress call from a ship called, Never Say Die.  Now I know that she got into trouble a fair way out, an' we only caught part of the message.  I was wond'rin' if'n y'all had any more details, jus' in case we can be of assistance?"

Meanwhile his fingers are dancing over the controls, running some basic calculations through.  He transfers the resultant data to Jago.

Shui gives Yasmine a commiserating smile, though obviously she is of the other camp.  Her personal preferences do not reduce her empathy for another's exasperation.  "I suppose you will merely 'have to do', Ms. Crowe."  It could be sarcastic, coming from anyone else, but from Shui it is merely a trifle ironic.

"Thank you, Mr. Dietz," she replies to the pilot with some relief, eager (and worried) to hear news regarding the other ship.  It is almost certain to be bad news, but one needs closure on these things.  One needs to hear the truth, so that one can grieve for lives lost.

Regrettably, she has duties, as Jago reminds her.  "Of course, Captain Lanza."  A quick nod to that worthy, and she turns to go.  But the Doctor pauses to touch the pilot on the shoulder.  "Mr. Dietz - if you could send me the results of your query?  I would be most appreciative."  Then she's gone, headed for the passenger cabins and their no-doubt eager contents.  Her fingers already dance across the holo-keys of her dataglove, calling up information on local transport companies, searching for the most economical and most reliable choices.

There is a rustling sound, and the woman is distracted for a while.  It seems the port's records are kept on paper.  Finally she looks up.  "Here we are, I have a memo about it.  The call first came in about six hours ago, but the coordinates they gave place the attack some seven hours earlier.  The ship had been in to Desallo, uh... that's one of the other landing fields, a little over a week ago."

"Their flight plan said they were heading for the closer giant, Genova, to fuel and then Jumping to Garda Vilis."

She considers her words for a moment, then adds, "I suppose they just Jumped across the system.  They couldn't have travelled that far on just their M drive.  Not in a week."

"This is very irregular,  They would have no reason to Jump there.  There's nothing there.  No planets, nothing.  Unfortunately we have no way to reach them in anything less than a week, and the distress call cut off about an hour ago."

"Don't fret it, Sushi, I'm kidding!" Yas calls out before she vanishes out of sight into her cabin.  Once in there she starts to dress for the weather, or lack thereof, and straps on Major Overkill (the BIG revolver) in the hip holster and prepares Boom Boom (her good old scattergun) to be carried along over her arm or slung over the shoulder.  Sadly, no concealed weapons, but hopefulyl Major Overkill will be enough to discourage those not scared of shotgun pellets.

Once everything is in place, from her cloth armour and the reflec under her clothing, and of course her old dagger in her boot (she more or less sleeps and showers with that one - almost), and warm clothing combined with a mask she is all set.

A quick check in the mirror to make sure she looks good as well, or at least as good as she can, and she steps out to wait in the lounge to see if Jago is ready.

Shui assists the passangers in disembarking, giving them whatever assistance they need to get to the airlock, and from there to any vehicles that happen to be waiting for them.  Hopefully she found the best service, but the customers likely don't care about the loss of one credit.  Not at this point, as tired as they probably are from this...odd journey.  She skillfully deflects questions regarding the 'almost-alert' of a short time past, and cautions them to be careful.  The air here is thin, and they need breathers for extended periods outdoors.  Having looked it up, she gives them directions to the nearest facility that would sell such devices.

Above all, she remains friendly, courteous, and even warm.  When she hopes they will consider berths with the Profit Margin again, and that she hopes to have the pleasure of their company again, it is as though she means every word.  Because she does.

Once the passengers are on their way, the doctor sighs and rubs her head.  Without a breather herself, she is a little fatigued.  Though the doctor keeps herself in excellent condition, she also is not used to the thin air, and shuttling back and forth between ship and vehicle, carrying luggage, has been quite taxing.  Slowly walking inside, Shui shuts the door and slides down the wall to sit and slowly breath in the ship's atmosphere.

Finally the dizziness passes, though the headache remains.  Rubbing at her temples, Shui slowly pushes herself to her feet.  Her left finger and thumb clamp down on the muscle just above the webbing between right thumb and forefinger, and she presses down, hard.  Hard to the point of pain, hard to the point of her breath coming a touch faster.  Finally, when her vision starts to blur a touch, Shui lets go and the burning pain subsides to a dull ache.  As she walks toward the low berths, that pain slowly fades...and takes much of her headache with it.

She needs all of her concentration for her next task.

With a thick jumper under his jacket, a communicator in his pocket and a snub hanging on his hip, Jago is ready to face the world, not one he’d been to before, but he’d seen the like.

“Looking good, as always,” he comments to Yasmin as he steps out into the lounge, “we’ll take the air raft, we’ll stop at the trade hall first, then find a bar near the port here, see what the word is on the ‘illegal interception of shipping.’

"Why, thank you, Jago.  Looking good yourself.  It that  a new snub?" Yas replies with her typical grin and then nods in agreement with his "plan".  It sounded simple and effective enough, as all good plans.

"Sounds good to me, why walk when you can float, eh?  Bar hopping sounds like fun too," she chuckled at rested her scattergun up over her right shoulder while holding it in the right hand.  "You do the talking and I'll do the walking, boss."

She consciously was going to carry the shotgun highly visibly to convince anyone even thinking about going after them for the wrong reasons that they were not worth the trouble.  Plus she got to look cool when striking poses with it, like just now.  A girl is a girl, after all, even when she kicks arse and blows off heads with guns.

Jago scrambles into the air raft and tugs the dust cover of the controls.  He starts her up, then reaches across to open the garage door.  Dim red light, and a sizeable helping of sleet, floods into the hangar as the access cover slides aside, leaving the raft free to rise out of Profit Margin on its grav motors.  He thumbs the running lights to on, and puts the headlights on to be safe.

Yas is waiting for him down by the ramp, under the ship, and in shelter.  For now...


Shui is in a room not much bigger than the air raft garage.  This one though is mostly filled with cryobunks, low berths as most call them.  She activates the main control panel, and starts them thawing.  Hopefully nothing will go wrong...



Tylen stands guard duty, but as soon as yas is away from the ramp, he'll be able to shut up shop until the corpsicles are ready to leave, so he'll be able to relax a little once the ramp is raised.  Nothing much to do but think...


Conrad starts working on the best course for a refuel, just in case of trouble, and bearing in mind that the best time to plot an emergency course is before the emergency starts.


Saskia relaxes.  Most of her systems are shut down for the moment.  All seems quiet, and there'll be plenty to do in a little while, flushing out the last of the contamination in the vents.

Tylen makes himself comfortable as possible whilst remaining alert. As he's got boring guard duty (again!) he's not bothered to dress up and is relaxing in his favourite red T-shirt, faded tan fatigue pants and his usual big boots. He keeps one revolver loaded and cocked on the table in front of him whilst he strips and cleans it's partner.

With things fairly quiet, Saskia makes her way out to grab a coffee.  Nobody about really, though she can hear Conrad at work on the Bridge.  She doesn't head through to see him, but takes the coffee back through with her to Engineering.

The EPS display shows a power drain.  Frowning she checks it out, then relaxes as she spots that it's the lowberths.  Shui must be thawing the cheap passengers out.

Sliding the power display to one end of the panel, she starts running a diagnostic on the air filters.

Waiting for the boss to come around with the floaty, Yasmine is busy keeping one particular groat at a distance.  Whether it is her scent, personality or the guns the gunner of Profit Margin has no idea, but the groat refuses to leave no matter what threatening, pleaing, coercing or coaxing is applied.

"Fine, stand there then looking dumb, but you are not coming with me in the raft," Yas finally says with a sigh and stick her tongue out at the groat.  THe critter seems to take this gesture at a sign of her ever growing affection as it moves up closer to nudge her gently with her horns.

"Hey, you horny cretin, not that close!  Where is that old groat!?" she complains and looks around for Jago, as she, surprisingly gently, pushes the groat away with the butt of her shotgun.  Oh, no offence intended," she sneers at the groat who looks a bit sad at her rejection.

Conrad stretches and pushes away from the controls.  He's got a whole set of course plots running now, with several different departure times.  He can do a few more, and keep updating as things go on, so that as soon as Jago wants to go he'll have something close lined up and be able to give him a decent approximation on the transit time.

Good.  Time to stretch his legs perhaps.

Not that he's planning on going outside.  Oh no.  He's seen the weather out there.  One day Hell will freeze over, and it'll still look tropical compared to Arkadia.

The ship seems very quiet today, Now that's odd.  Did everybody 'ceptin' me step out? he thinks, then raises his voice,  "Hey, is anybody home?"

Shui watches the readouts like a hawk.  Slowly the coldsleep containers come online...slowly the vital signs begin to rise.  All of them.  Yellow...then green.  She puts her back against the wall and shudders, raising one hand to brush at her eyes.  It always brings tears to her eyes when they come through safely.  Always.

She hasn't lost one yet, but she will.  She knows she will.  They told her that in training - 'You will lose one.'

With a sigh, she pushes herself away from the wall and moves to the first container.  At that point, Conrad's shout echoes through the ship.  Shui gives the door a bleak smile, still feeling emptied by her sudden rush of relief, and keys her dataglove for the intercom.

Somehow it feels wrong to be calling out loudly in this room.

++ Mr Dietz, I am currently assisting coldsleep passengers during their wakeup.  I most certainly will be here for a bit. ++

And not likely to go anywhere for a bit, afterward.  This always leaves her a little drained.

The voice from the intercom, sounding so close behind him, just about doubles his heart rate.  Not a ghost.  Shui, working to get her passengers ready to leave.  Now that could have been embarrassing, if he'd been killed by the ship's medical officer.  Though really it would have been Yas's fault, since she'd told him the story about the vargr ghost that had nearly killed them all in Jump.

He presses the comm switch, "Hey, Doc, I reckoned y'all had gone off'n left me alone.  Glad to know I'm not the only un had more sense'n to go out there."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:35, Tue 20 June 2006.