With a burst of light and exotic particles, Profit Margin transitions out of Jump and back into normal space.

According to the Bridge chronometers, the Jump has taken precisely seven days, to the minute.  Astronomical data confirms they are in the Rangent system.  There is a world nearby, which fits the description of Rangent itself, and it appears to be at exactly the right distance, with a margin of error of 0.1%.

All in all, it looks like as perfect a Jump as it's possible to achieve.

There is, of course, nothing much in the way of comms traffic.  But Rangent's starport isn't much better than a field that's had the trees cleared.  There's just a handful of transponder codes and an automated nav beacon pulsing out a repetitive locator tone for the landing field.

The one difference between Rangent and any number of backwater worlds in the Imperium is that Rangent isn't in the Imperium.  Which means that just about anybody could be here.  Luckily the system doesn't have much to attract them.

Ash is staring at his displays when the countdown timer reaches the estimated transition point.  Out of a fit of superstitious habit he finds himself holding his breath as he waits for the transition.   Luckily, he doesn't have to hold it very long in this particular case.  Sometimes, he has had to hyperventilate in response to nearly passing out from poorly calculated jump plot.

As the sensor data starts to stream in for both navigational and spatial diagnostics, a slight smile creeps onto the face of the Profit Margin's navigator.  While he tries to remain professional and his fingers continue to dance on the console, Ash does allow himself some personal satisfaction in his performance.  Of course, he expects no less from himself given his experience and training (which is fairly extensive), but the ex-IN and ex-IISS navigator is still very human.  So, he can't help but admire his handiwork just a little.

Given the automated nature of the nav beacon, Ash merely logs the Margin's own transponder ID and manifest information into the return packet for the starport recorder to log.  Of course, he keeps the comm lines open and monitored.  But, honestly, he doesn't expect anything to be directed their way.  Well, nothing good - just beyond the frontier borders of the Imperium almost anything (usually bad) could be present.

He dutifully announces their arrival into j-space after the initial diagnostics finish and first sensor readings begin to stream in.  And it becomes far less probably that have either misjumped or will be decomposing into component atoms in the very near future.  "Ladies and Gentleman, we have transitioned into the Rangent star system.  Local time is..." Ash starts his standard arrival spiel, which eventually covers estimated transit times to planetfall, departure schedules, and possible local interest areas for any passengers.  Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, the latter section is incredibly short.  Though Rangent as a water world does have some interesting kelp formations, if you are into those types of things.

“Good job Ash,” Jago acknowledges the navigator’s work with a satisfied nod.

The captain is not his usual, ever smiling self-right now, too much tension and animosity during the trip which he’d spent mostly in the confines of his cabin. He’ll be pleased when he can of load the deep freeze passengers, though he still hasn’t figured out how he’s actually going to do that. Hopefully circumstances will provide some sort of solution.

OOC
Sorry for the delay everybody.
.

Saskia reports in, even though she knows jago can check the readouts any time he wants.  An old habit from her Navy days when Deck officers might be too busy watching tactical screens to spend time going through status displays.

"Everything looks good back here, Bridge.  Jump cycle is complete and I'm running a residual tachyon purge now.  Power plant is stable and EPS grid is operating at full capacity.  M drive is online."

Tylen is at his post when Margin exits jump space, and automatically starts scanning for other vessels within range.  While he doesn't expect there to be any real risk, one has to be prepared - especially in difficult times like these.

Subconsciously he listens to the arrival reports and status reports as they come across the crew channel but has little to add to those.

Although a thought has crossed his mind during the jump "Jago?  Do you intend to allow all five low passengers to disembark at the same time?"  he asks, half wondering whether releasing Othati-Fenn into the custody of the bounty hunters had always been part of the captain's plan.

Ash starts feeding planetary data to the crew, even as the ship swings onto a course which will carry it to what is laughingly described as a starport...

WORLD DETAILS

NAME:               Rangent
HEX LOCATION:       Spimward Marches 1411
UWP:                E67A612-7
PBG:                503
TRADE CODES:        Non-industrial, Water World
BASES:              None
ALLEGIANCE:         Non-aligned
STELLAR DETAILS:    Primary Star: M4 V   Mass: 0.36

SATELLITE DETAILS:  Number: 3
                    Satellite 1: UWP:Y331300-6, Orbit: 8
                    Satellite 2: UWP:H100520-6, Orbit: 10
                    Satellite 3: UWP:Y440000-0, Orbit: 30

SIZE RELATED DETAILS
Basic World Type:  Planet - molten core.
Diameter:  10,080 km   Density: 0.98   World Mass: 0.413     World Gravity: 0.735
Orbit Period:    54.448 Std Days       Distance: 0.2 AU      Eccentricity: 0.15
Rotation Period: 18.8 Std Hours        Axial Tilt: 41°       Seismic Stress Factor: 0.0

ATMOSPHERIC RELATED DETAILS
Composition: Standard oxygen-nitrogen mix, with disease taint
Surface Pressure: 0.95           Mean Temp: -27.153°C      Native Life: Yes
Terraforming - Atmospheric: No   Albedo: No                Greenhouse Effect: No
Weather Control: No

HYDROSPHERE RELATED DETAILS
Composition: Tainted liquid water beneath an ice sheet
Hydrographic Percentage: 100%      Tectonic Plates: 12
Terraforming - Hydrographic: No    Terrain: No

POPULATION RELATED DETAILS
Total World Population: 5,000,000
Starports and Spaceports: E/E/Y/E/E/E/E/E/H/H
Primary Cities: 10                 Orbital Cities: No

Social Outlook:
    Progressiveness:  Conservative, Advancing
    Aggressiveness:   Competitive, Neutral
    Extensiveness:    Discordant, Xenophobic

Unusual Local Customs: Entire population, male and female, uses cosmetics.
                       Marriage always arranged by parents.
                       Marriage take place only at night.

GOVERNMENT RELATED DETAILS
Representative Authority: Company/Corporation, several councils.
Division of Authority:    3-way division - Executive, legislative, judicial

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

Legal Profile: 2-00544              High Common Tech Level: 7
    Overall Law Level: 2            Low Common TL:          3
    Weapons law Level: 0            Energy TL:              7
    Trade law level:   0            Computer/Robotics TL:   6
    Criminal Law:      5            Communications TL:      8
    Civil Law:         4            Medical TL:             5
    Personal Freedom:  4            Environment TL:         8
                                    Land Transport TL:      6
                                    Water Transport TL:     6
                                    Air Transport TL:       7
                                    Space Transport TL:     7
                                    Personal Military TL:   7
                                    Heavy Military TL:      6
                                    Novelty Tech Level:     8

RESOURCES AND GOODS
Resources:
    Natural:        Minerals, Agricultural
    Processed:      Non-Metals, Processed Foods
    Manufactured:   Durables
    Information:    Documents

---

Rangent and its three moons huddle close to a red sun, trying to gather whatever heat they can from it.  The planet itself glitters brightly in the sullen light - the brightness of endless plains of ice reflecting most of the sun's meagre radiation back into space.

The computer reports transit time to the surface as 239 minutes...

Shui, as always, is active, active, active as they come out of the jump.  Instructions sent to passengers.  Checks on the Low Berth (again).  Questions from passengers, now answered.  All manner of snacks and drinks prepared for both passengers and crew, to specifications noted by familiarity.  Making certain the children aren't where they shouldn't be.  Checking in with the crew.

It's a busy time for a steward, but she's used to it, wearing two hats aboard the ship (as more than one crew member does).

Checking her notes, she sends her usual update to the crew.

++  Please note the system information.  While the people of this world are not classed as aggressive in general, they are noted to have a more xenophobic society.  ++  Shui dislikes painting with broad strokes - they're rarely correct - but better safe than sorry, here.  ++ Zero standard weapons prohibitions, but heavy, man-portable weapons and larger are against the laws.  ++  Yasmine will be pleased; none of her weapons (of which Shui is familiar, she admits) fall into that catagory.

Thinning her lips, she consider Marita Doyle.  She'll be considerably less pleased.  Somewhere along the line, communications have been compromised; this isn't the sort of place Shui would want to bring up rambunctious children.

The 'disease taint' requires further research, as well.

Calling up a search on the subject, Shui heads for Marita's quarters.  Arriving, she pings the door.  "Ms. Doyle?  Are you busy?"