Ken laughed as well.  "From what we know of the ship that we explored on Qarant teh technical types may be able to make some guesses as to what type of power, electronic and mechanical connections we might want to prepare for when we reach the ship.  It may not be perfect but it could be close.  Otherwise we can use medical equipment that might help if that plague is still active." He grinned; "Guns and ammo are always helpful."

Main problem here is that the ship was so ancient, it was literally coming apart.  That probably means we need to be self sufficient.  As for the base itself, it would have to be sealed and in stasis for us to use anything.  Anything we use would have to be decontaminated, or we risk carrying the plague back.

Ken nodded.  "Good point Blake.  It most likely will be that we'll find a lifeless hulk either ravaged by plague or time or both.  The risk of plague is particularly worrisome."  He turned to Lorain.  "Do you think Talia could find something out about the plague and what precautions we might take?"

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 31):

"The Inquisitor should have all manner of exploration gear. Probably not Hostile Environment Vacc Suits, as we believe the Sky Raiders were minor humans and did not breathe a caustic or acid atmosphere.

"Otherwise, tools geared towards Sky Raider standards would be very helpful! Not just Imperial standards. I'll get on that.

"We don't know what configuration the ship will be in. We'll start by using the Inquisitor as a base, then set up a portable base if we can pressurise a compartment or area inside the Sky Raider ship. We have supplies for six months total."

In reply to Prof. Lorain Messandi (msg # 38):

Neva shook her head.  "If we have it for six months, we need to extend it to 8.  Something might happen and some of our supplies get ruined. Shall we split up to go get supplies?  Order them online and just have them delivered?"

"I'll attend to the food part of the supplies, if you like," offered Linus.

In reply to Neva Alexovna Morozova (msg # 39):

Lorrain smiled. "6 months in addition to the standard 6 months supplies carried by the starship itself. I don't think we could fit any more supplies in there before we can't work effectively. It needs to be balanced with personnel and equipment. We only have so much space to work with, and work in!

"Once we have a permanent base camp set up we have hydroponic equipment and food synthesisers to allow for indefinite supply. Plus we will be joined by the Queen Vic which can make supply runs.

"If we run into pirates or Kalamaru's thugs the Inquisitor still maintains the offensive and defensive weapons systems of a Broadsword, on which it is based."

Blake blinks at the prof's description of their ship.  The Inq is a glorified lander, a big drop ship, not an SDB.  Blake looks up this ship's specs - any weapons onboard ??  Or do we have to stick a rocket launcher out the airlock doors ?? Neva, got any rocket launchers ??

Neva thought about it a moment.

"Let's see.  Nope...not at that safe house.  Maybe at....Nope.  Not there either.  Ohh...wait...I had one..oops.  I used that to get away.  Umm.  Sorry.  I seem to be freshly out of those.  Doesn't mean we couldn't obtain one I suppose."

Hmmm.  Ollie, any chance you 'upgrade' our M-drive, say to a racing yacht's specs ??  We could out-race almost everyone, except that missile with our name on it.  We would then need some fuel scoops with an auxiliary fuel tank too.  You can see the gleam in Blake's eyes as he dreams about the resulting thoroughbred 'racer' he has in mind.

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 44):

The ship, a standard Type A2 Free Trader of the Empress Marava class, already possessed fuel scoops. It lacked a fuel purifier and Jump governor, standard military or Scout equipment. The purifier would obviously purify the fuel while the lack of a governor would mean that the same amount of liquid hydrogen fuel would consumed regardless if the ship performed a Jump 1 or 2, which could be wasteful.

Upgrading the M-drive from 1G to 2G would probably take months, and cost millions of credits, as the entire drive assembly would need to be removed and upgraded to a larger module. Otherwise, improvements would only be very incremental.

Blake checked the stats on the ship. The Inquisitor was a civilian transport version of the Broadsword, a "mercenary cruiser". It couldn't land in normal atmospheres but carried 2 cutters for landings. Like many civilian ships out on the frontier it still possessed offensive and defensive weapons, in this case, 8 mixed triple turrets. As it was not a true military vessel it lacked an armoured hull and screens.

Blake rolls his eyes, not in this lifetime.  The Inq has it, it can take more damage, always nice.  We have any gunners here ??

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 46):

Hanno, the Scout friend of Dr. Messandi, answered, "I am an expert Gunner. But I don't want to stay on the ship, you understand, but explore the Sky Raider wreck."

In reply to Hanno Sakawa (msg # 47):

"I am a qualified gunner. So is Jaxxon."

Ken thought for a bit.  "The advanced base is a good idea."  He thought back to his own shipboard training.  "We'll want to bring a portable air lock or two and bulkhead repair equipment in case we need to refurbish a dead section of the hulk.  A small power generation and air re-circulation unit would be helpful as well so we could exist away from the ship semi-independently."

On the subject of gunnery.  "I'd expect the ship will come crewed to man the weapons as well as the cutters.  A Broadsword carries a pretty good sized crew if I recall.  The League uses some of them as assault landers and troop ships."

"Already got the advanced base stuff on my list," interjected Ollie gruffly.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 49):

"Yes, the expedition will be equipped with all of that, or so I believe. Gear will be on loan from the Free Suns Scout service. There will also be some Scouts on hand for technical assistance and as an official presence," replied Lorrain.

Fellow Scouts !!

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 52):

Lorrain replied, "not Imperial scouts. Local Scouts from the Free Suns, although Imperial trained. Imperial Scouts this close to the Zhodani border during a time of war would be very risky. You weren't an Imperial Scout, were you? If so, we're just not going to tell anyone."

Blake decides its best not to answer that question from the prof.

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 54):

She looked at Blake sideways. "Uh-huh..."

Neva tried to hide her smile when Blake didn't respond to which group of Scouts he had been with.  She quickly turned to look in the opposite direction as a precaution and studiously studied whatever she found.

Well, lets just hope the Zho's find someone else more to their mind-reading liking ... than me.  Blake's thoughts.

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 57):

"Anything else? The Inquisitor leaves in two weeks. We will travel to Saulente/Inverness. We think the Sky Raider craft is somewhere in parsec or 3229, which is 2 parsec away. While we're in the Saulente system we'll make some final observations and sensor readings, which we feel will have a 98% accuracy based on the data we have. After we refuel at Saulente's gas giant we will drop a buoy with a coded message containing our findings. After that, we Jump to 3229 in deep space, rendez-vous with the Sky Raider mothership in deep space and set up a base.

"I really want your crew to travel with us on the Inquisitor.

"If there's no other questions, let's get ready!"

As they finish their preparations Ken sees to the provision of extra communicators, cloth body armor for all and a good supply of extra ammunition and weapons for everyone.  He stocks up on a case of grenades (smoke, HE and CS) to use if needed as well as breaching charges.  Combo masks and respirators in case the atmosphere is tainted in the hulk and vacc suits for anyone that might lack them.