In reply to Referee (msg #8):
OOC: Ah, I recall that we mentioned it, but I don't remember what was said. Red dwarfs are dim but red giants tend to be bright, we can see them from many parsecs away, but I'm not sure of their exact life cycle. It's possible that they might dim down to IR before they collapse to White dwarfs. Who cares? It's just a game, don't let my nitpicking the chrome worry you. :)

Forward Upper Engineering workstation

Jim casually scanned the power boards while absently petting Mr. Jinx and waiting to see who would win the jump pool.  The transition was so smooth he was caught off guard when Espiaux's visibly dim sun appeared on a scanning exterior video feed.

Mr. Jinx sprang from Jim's lap in annoyance when his human failed to continue petting him.  Arising from his chair, Jim stretched and then looked down at the feline.

Smiling, he removed a dark tubular object from a jumper suit pocket, holding it by a protrusion.  Pointing the object, that looked a lot like a weapon, at Mr. Jinx, he said, "Oh, want to play now?".

Then he swung his arm back and pitched the object calling out, "Fetch!".

The smooth, dark tree limb clattered to the floor several meters from the unimpressed cat - who pointedly ignored it and wandered away from Engineering.

Jim scowled, retrieved his stick and when back to monitoring the console, briefly checking over Stern and Prisa's work.

OOC: Yellow location text at top of post worked well in another game - figure Doc would normally bounce between Bridge and Engineering when not required in the infirmary.  *And couldn't let the Firefly reference go by!

Bridge - Astrogation Console

Jack can't help but smile as the readouts confirm they did indeed exit jump space. He opens a ship-wide internal comm channel.

"Attention crew and passengers. Thank you all for an excellent maiden jump. Gypsy Moth is now in Espiaux system. We will begin in-bound acceleration shortly. Engineering, please prepare for n-space maneuvering operations."

He turns in his acceleration chair. "Thank you, Mr. Lafleur, I agree." He turns again, hands flying across the virtual console, eyes bright in the neon glow of the display. "Danica, confirming coordinates and vectors for Largen Station. On your mark I will send a tight-beam comm to Largen confirming our arrival and approach vector."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:34, Mon 20 June 2011.

Bridge - Pilot's Console/Workstation

"Excellent job." Danica intones quietly to Jack, as they find themselves suddenly in N-space.  The transition to N-space had almost been too easy.  But never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Dani merely begins her scan of the sensory sweeps as they come online.  As the data registers the all-clear, she instinctively and unconsciously checks the moorings on her chair's harness, tugging at the various five points.

Danica nods again to Jack and welcomes the information and new data stream.  "Thank you, Mr. Keveloh." she states rather formally, though that was more likely for show.  And partly attributable to her being 'in the Zone'.  "Let Largen Port Authority know that we will be coming in on..." and she pushes the estimated course onto the tactical screen.  Dani and Jack had worked out a number of reasonable approach vectors based on potential arrival positions, times and orientations.  She merely matched the incoming sensor data with the appropriate calculations.  " vector oh-nine-seven.  That should place us closest to the elliptic and give us the optimal transit time."

After establishing the route, Dani flips on the crew-wide comm channel, "Thanks for the green light, Engineering, I'm going to push us to maximum acceleration."  Nino's information on the m-Drive status is welcome, even if it is redundant with the various state displays that are present in the background of her console presentation.  "Gunners, keep your eyes peeled, stay frosty." she notes matter-of-factly still on the crew-wide channel, "Sensors show only us - but, I trust you more than them."  Enough of her past experiences on the battlefield and the Deep Black had informed that statement.

Then she starts the Gypsy Moth on its way, a graceful curving arc that carries them inexorably onwards towards the Boxes.  Carefully, but insistently, Dani pushes the ship towards its maximum acceleration.  She smiles slightly at the ease and seeming effortlessness that this action seems to require.  Like a precision luxury sports car on a European highway, the Moth seems to speed along without much of the noticeable tell-tale signs that undeniably high-speeds are being attained.  Without blurring scenery whizzing by, it is difficult for Danica to gauge how fast they are really going.  Dani doesn't try to hide the fact that her grin can't be contained.  Hell, the speed addiction is undeniably a perk of the job.

Bridge - Astrogation Console

"Copy vector oh-nine-seven."

Jack's hands dart easily across the virtual displays. "Largen Station Two, this is the vessel Gypsy Moth on approach from Alsace, ship's time zero seven twenty two hours, currently estimating arrival time at 97.6 hours on vector oh-nine-seven. Gypsy Moth out."

He opens the ship-wide comm link. "Attention all crew. We've announced ourselves and we're screaming through the black at 3Gs... no sense in staying on passive systems. All sensors active now, if you haven't already done so. The first one of you to spot FRPC Express gets a glass of wine, my treat."

Jack heats up the active sensor arrays and waits for the pings to start returning. He hopes to have a decent picture of the local traffic by the time they should be hearing back from Largen.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:20, Mon 20 June 2011.

Forward Upper Engineering workstation

"You're on!" comms back the Doc, fumbling his primitive training device back in a pocket (i.e. the 'fetch' stick).

Calling up the Sensor subsystem, he focuses on the Radar hoping to catch the first matchup, even if just the silhouette, of the Express...

OOC: Hey a roll op! :)
16:13, Today: Dr. Jim D. Jones rolled 9 using 2d6+4. Sensors +1,+1 I/E,+2 active radar.

Sure, sensors don't require a roll to use... but with a 'competition', figure the roll could be used by the Ref... (p.s. - I find the offical '1-6 hours' to analyze a bit silly, not to mention 'using' a sensor readout should be a skill, IMHO.)

Bear in mind, from the house rule thread, we might all lose if the ship is outside active range!

In reply to Dr. Jim D. Jones (msg #14):

Thera grinned. "D'ya think they'll be upset if I get a lock on them?"

OOC: Of course she's joking, if Thera's gunnery sensors actually located the Express, she wouldn't pursue and lock, that would be most discourteous.

00:44, Today: Thera Santorini rolled 13 using 2d6+2. Gunnery sensors.

In reply to Thera Santorini (msg #15):

Danica gracefully aims the ship at the boxes, nearly flawlessly placing the Moth on course with a single twist of the wrist.  The ship smoothly accelerates to 3G thrust.

Nearly two hours later, Box 2 acknowledges Gypsy Moth inbound.  The male voice doing the transmitting sounds intrigued at the planned transit time of only four days, but confirms an arrival time of 1415 EST (Espiaux Standard Time) on Day 002-5742.

Roughly four hours after Gypsy Moth exited jump space, Thera wins the bet.  Although Express herself never graces the ship's scope, Thera is the first to spot the distortion created by her jump flash.  Express exits jump considerably astern of Gypsy Moth and will not come anywhere close to the Moth during tansit unless Gypsy Moth turns or slows dramatically.

All sensors remain blank for the rest of the day and into Day 365.  On 365, Dagala asks what the ship's policy will be towards celebrating the New Year.  Lafleur indicates the guards would appreciate anything the crew wants to arrange, but that they won't be able to partake of alcohol.

Forward Upper Engineering workstation

In response to Thera's resounding win, "What?  That's not ... er, damn.".  Followed by some mumbling about paw prints obscuring his screen.

Doc hangs out in engineering as the voyage progresses, checking on systems and keeping available in case some thing gives.  The 3G push of a brand new ship is making him a bit nervous as they pull further away from the Express and head deeper in-system.

Lafleur's attitude towards discipline starts to grate as well, after over a week with such security discipline... He, for one, would be celebrating Day 1 right.

In reply to Referee (msg #16):

As a ship's steward, Thera will assist with any New Year celebrations the crew think are appropriate.

Bridge - Pilot's Console/Workstation

Danica had to suppress another smile as Thera was the first to spot the Express.  Dani had excused herself from the running, the prize wasn't anything that she was going to partake of in any case.  She, of course, kept an eye on the sensor feeds - detecting their former escort ship only a split second after Thera did.  Her vigilance was both part of her job as pilot as well as one of her hobbies.  "Good eye, T." she noted calmly and quietly over the comm line to Thera's turret.

In the distant past (at least is seemed that way to Dani now), it turned out that Major Moreau was quite good at sifting through all of the dross, all of the white noise and signal minutae; she had an almost instinctual feel for sensor analysis - at least, that is what her instructors had told her.  And on the battlefield and the urban jungle, that instinct had served her and her unit well more than once.  Her path to becoming a Major in the FRA, while she owed a great debt to Lady Luck, was also contingent on her well-honed skills with detection and surveillance equipment.

As the crew settles in for the trip to the Boxes, Dani spends much of her awake time on the bridge reading and monitoring the ship's status and its surroundings.  She settles into a personal regimen which has her near the pilot's console most of the time.  She still works out daily in the early and makes it a point of fencing with Hayden when possible.  Danica is more than willing to talk meditation with Dagala given the chance; but mostly she can be found on the bridge.

As for any New Year's celebration, she leaves that to Jack, who is the budding oenologist; and Hayden and Thera who are the crew's hospitality experts.  She does offer to be designated driver, of course.  In fact, she rather insists on it.

[OOC: 00:29, Today: Danica Moreau rolled 12 using 2d6+5. Sensor Check - detect Express.]

When Thera claimed first bead on Express Jack tagged it in the sensor systems and set an auto-tracking routine for the little Pathfinder ship. He then sent a tight-beam comm letting Express know that they'd accelerated to their destination.

"Good work, Santorini."

~

He stayed on the bridge longer than his shift required, pestering Danica with contingency routes and vector outcomes until the tight-lipped pilot quietly suggested he knock off for the evening. Taking the hint, he showered and hung about the crew lounge with the proffered prize until Thera wandered through.

"I've opened this bottle to let it breath a bit, but this is the first glass," he said as he poured Thera her prize. "Alsacian, from the northern hemisphere highlands. They say the spicy flavor comes from the soil but my old man says it comes from the greenwood casks. I'm inclined to believe my father." He poured himself a glass as well, clinking Thera's with a smile on his face.

"Again, good work." After they had finished he excused himself, leaving the bottle with Thera. "If you see Hayden would you ask him to get in touch with me? I have an idea or two for Holiday but I want to see what he has up his sleeve. Cheers."

Hayden intended to celebrate New Years as he had always done - drinking and feasting from sun up to sundown (or the spaceborne equivalent).  He started the afternoon before, boiling the meat with water in a large stockpot – a key step for the next morning’s dish.  Pleased that the luxury provisions they had purchased had everything needed, he stuck a case of sparkling water in the fridge and a case of vodka in the freezer.

When news reached him that Jack wanted to talk turkey about holiday, Hayden clamped down the stockpot and pressure-vented lid on the stove using a spacer’s clamp (loss of gravity + boiling water = bad) he kept in his steward toolkit, before heading up to the bridge.

”I’m preparing a traditional Georgian feast for tomorrow.   The celebration will start at 06:00, typically you eat and drink to a bit before noon, perhaps a nap, and then dinner will be at 18:00 onward.  Most don’t require a lunch,” Hayden said.  Or sober up until the 3rd he thought, but didn’t add.

In reply to Hayden Marks (msg #21):

Thera enjoyed her single glass of wine with Jack and savoured the flavour, but then she placed the bottle in a bucket in the crew lounge for the others to taste. She eyed Heyden's preparations with mixed feelings. She was as willing to party as anyone, but she also had a keen sense of duty - especially to a group that promised to take her away from her former life. She kept in mind that they were in real space, and the last thing a ship needs when the alarms go off is a crosseyed gunner. Eat and be merry, sure, but drink? Not on her watch - and she figured she was on permanent call until they reached the station.

In reply to Thera Santorini (msg #22):

In engineering, Lance comments to Dr. Jones on the subject of New Year's, "Isn't there a saying like all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and Jill a rich widow, Doc?"

Engineering

"Indeed there is Mr. Charpentier," Jim replies with a smile, absently petting Mr. Jinx.

"Though there's also the saying that Space is a harsh mistress who forgives us not a single transgression."

To which Mr. Jinx meows and once more wanders away.

Sniffing the wafting aroma of Hayden's preparations, which have managed to beat the ship's filters, he adds, "But rest assured, our Mr. Marks and Ms. Santorini have no plans to let Holiday pass by unnoticed.  From the smell of things Mr. Marks has already begun filling the prescription."

OOC: crude humor warning!

Thera Santorini:

As a ship's steward, Thera will assist with any New Year celebrations the crew think are appropriate.

The mustering area should provide a suitable place for Doc to erect the dancing pole...

In reply to Dr. Jim D. Jones (msg #24):

OOC: Not crude at all, IMO, dancing is an art. In fact Thera requested a pole during the ship fitments stage and the Ref didn't say there wasn't one, so ATM I'm assuming there is something suitable already in the lounge areas for Thera to do a daily workout of her dance routines. IIRC, I may even have RPed her using it in a passing comment.

In reply to Thera Santorini (msg #25):

The pole can be easily stowed when not in use, but, yes, since Thera asked for one, there is a pole in the lounge.  I may even consider bonuses to attract high passage given the "in flight entertainment" as long as it is tasteful, considering the values and mores of the passengers.

Hayden was up early the next morning, for final preparations before breakfast.  The table he set looked very much like this:



With plenty of vodka, voda, and Turkish coffee to help jumpstart the celebrations.  As various crew and passangers made their way in, Hayden took up the post of the Tamada.  With vodka in hand, he spoke:

”It’s tradition to toast and drink when khash is served, so let’s me start with a traditional Georgian toast:

Listen friends!
I could buy a goat…
But this I do not want!
I want so much a boat!
But this I cannot buy…
So dear friends, let us drink!
That our desires will be in synch,
with all our opportunties!
And now your glasses.. clink!”
This message was last edited by the player at 07:24, Tue 05 July 2011.

Danica partook of Turkish coffee and picking at much of the fruit in the early morning as she sought to help Hayden set up the table.  She did the first toast with Hayden and the others.  Saying with particular emphasis on "Desires and Opportunities." as she raised her glass of voda, which she slammmed.  With a wink to Mr. Marks and a thumbs up, she moved on to the Turkish coffee.

With a closed and very full large tankard of coffee (yes, she knew it was sacrilege according to Hayden to house the strong brew as such - but the needs of the bridge outweighed proper imbibing etiquette at this point), Dani sequestered herself on the bridge keeping one eye on the monitors and one eye on the festivities.  Alone on bridge duty, Danica made sure that she kept tabs on the security contingent and La Fleur, as well.  She did allow herself to sip the coffee and enjoy both the taste and aroma.  She smiled to herself, Hayden knew how to prepare a feast and he definitely knew how to make a good strong brew...

In reply to Danica Moreau (msg #28):

Having helped Hayden with the galley preparations, Thera settled to helping the passengers, replenishing, clearing away, whilst being prepared to drop everything and run if an emergency arose. She monitored which of La Fleur's people called in, to ensure everyone got a fair share. If he put any of them on hold duty for the duration, she would make sure there was a decent party meal available when they were relieved. She hated when bosses did that.

Jim was a little late arriving, showing up with his own glass, already filled from some personal stash, just in time to raise it in toast with the others...

Moments after he arrived, the ship was flooded with traditional Georgian tunes - which the doctor had spent some time researching and setting up to be piped thru the ship's PA system, hence his delay.

Catching Hayden's eye, he raises his glass again in silent salute ...

Jim doesn't partake of the Supra, however, though he praises it and assists with serving, asking Thera to pack away a tray for him for the next day.  His Holiday tradition includes eating only black eyed peas, which he had inconspicuously purloined from the ship's galley the previous day - for luck he says - and consuming copious quantities of alcohol, of course.

He proceeds to share colorful stories and crude jokes - many starting with some variant of "What does a blonde Svetlana ..."

Marks appreciated the good doctor's selection of music.  The group was only two songs in when the first bottle of vodka had been squeezed dry.  By the fifth song, Hayden had trouble fullfiling his Tamada duties, his words were slured so badly.

As the day's festivities moved into the evening, Hayden sobered up enough to lay out another feast, with more voda, water, and now red wine.  A suckling pig graced the table, as did adjarian khatapuri, and platters of khingali.  And of course, gozinaki was traditional for new years.








This message was last edited by the player at 11:50, Fri 08 July 2011.

Jack was truly impressed by Hayden's Holiday feast. The man had thought of everything. He laughed out loud as the Doc's musical selections filled the ship with bright, festive sound.

He joined in a few rounds, grinning at Doc's lewd jokes and making sure the crew was getting enough to eat (they were) and keeping track of who was getting sauced and who was merely sipping.

He wandered through the bridge, more to say Holiday to Dani than to check on anything; he knew she had the ship well under control and she liked the meditative nature of a quiet bridge. After looking in on Lafleur and his troops (Thera had beat him to it so it was really just courtesy call) Jack retired to the sauna for a little quiet time, putting the steam chamber in zero-G and sipping a light white wine from an icy cold vacuum thermos.

Feeling invigorated and hungry, a freshly showered and dressed Jack reappeared in the lounge ("in evening wear!" Doc chortled) just as Hayden was setting out the pig. Jack whistled. "Hell, man - there are five-star resorts on Alsace that can't compete with this!"

Jack poured the red wine for everyone and enjoyed a small glass himself. Doc was still at it and all faces were flushed and smiling. The ship was humming and her first jump was unbelievably smooth. He smiled and started a joke of his own, an old one about an Alsacian farmer's daughter.

It was a damn good way to start the new year.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:02, Wed 13 July 2011.

The stillness of space.  Danica Moreau loved it; she savored every moment that it could afford her.  Festive occasions often made her contemplative.  The Deep Black meant a fantasy (or perhaps merely the illusion) of freedom.  The stillness brought some clarity and some starkness to all of the decisions that had led up to this point.  Part of Dani was always second-guessing herself, but those qualms never made it to the surface - they sat like butterflies in her stomach.  She was, what she was.  And even if Danica could never quite figure out what that exactly was - there was not place to go but forward.

In many ways, that is exactly what the New Year meant.  The possibilities as they moved forward.  You might look back, but you could never go back...

Dani sat on the bridge, the lights relatively low, though hardly dark.  The contrast on the displays reflected off of her face and mirrorshades.  She kept an eye on the security detail, noting their comings and goings (and Thera's as well) and another eye on the passenger lounge.  The music was playing lightly in the background and she drank her coffee slowly savoring it.  Quashing butterflies.  Filling the Void.

And, of course, she kept yet another eye on the displays and alarms for the ship.  Dani was not about to let anyone sneak up on them.

She chatted idly, if briefly, with Jack when he came by and occupied herself with diagnostics and busy work to keep her concentration primed.  Still, she took her time, not rushing through anything - letting the stillness work its magic on her.

Another glance at the internal cameras and a faint smile crossed her lips, the crew (and especially Hayden) appeared to be having a good time.  And rightfully so, then needed the break.  The rush off of Alsace has been a bit nerve-wracking.  The Gypsy Moth had performed admirably, but there was always a tense moment at any new task, given the newness of the ship.  Undoubtedly, there was another frenzy of business activity, due them in the Boxes.  So, now was the perfect time to let them celebrate.

She feathered the controls gently, letting the Gypsy Moth shimmy slightly in vast stillness of space.