Did we ever decide on what the 'alien artifact' was? If not, it could be something that she was wearing, and is therefore still wearing.

The money and shares are all registered electronically across multiple platforms. Even if the planet had been destroyed, that data might still be available somewhere else. As it was, there was a land city that wasn't affected, plus there were satellites. So that information was preserved. Once you are in-system, you can claim it.

Ok good to know.

Gonna be away for 7 days from Sunday - might be able to post, but not sure, so just giving you the heads up that I may be quiet for a week.

Who is the captain and would I have gleaned this from what little I've heard of this motley crye of arguing?

In reply to Evelyn Darque (msg # 697):

That is a tiny bit complicated.

First, despite the Longshot being an old warship, we are not running a military vessel, so we aren't using a rigid military ranking system.

We're a civilian ship, so we can be more "sloppy" about who's in charge of what.

The current structure, as I last understood it, is that Sir Walter is listed as "Captain" of the ship for all legal realities.  He handles the Admin elements of running/commanding the ship.  He's also one of the ship's Traders--along with Khea (I think), and Vonon who wants to learn to be a Trader--Sir Walter is "The Boss" and he signs the invoices.

Sir Walter then made Vonon the XO because he had a background in ship security and space combat--he spent his entire career in a planetary Space Patrol.  He's wasn't, exactly, Military, more like Paramilitary; like a Coast Guard.  He was a hopped-up Space Cop.  And, at the time, he had the highest Tactics skill level, so when the ship gets involved in security or combat situations, "Captain" Walter defers command to "XO" Vonon.  Plus, as an ex-Cop, Vonon knows how to fill out paperwork...

That help point you at the person you need to talk to?

Hmmm yeah I think so.

Good summary there Vonon.

This game has been running for 4+ years now. Kheaiftouaw, Sharik, Samantha, Vonon and I are from when the game started.

In the original incarnation, Count Cromwell was the Captain and Walter was XO/Admin except in combat where Vonon stepped in.  He has no problem telling you that first and foremost, he is a paper pusher. With no combat skills other than using a rapier (and poorly at best), he has no intentions of going exploring in strange places unless he has to, and with 7 terms under his belt, he is long on the tooth. While he has been on two missions with the group, he is not comfortable in combat.

Walter is happy when he sells cargo and gets more goods for the next stop. That is where he gets his adrenaline rush. There is maybe a handful of Brokers in the subsector are at his level.

With most of the crew pilots and everyone their jobs real well, Walter takes the controls mostly to keep his certification up to date.

Well Eveys paying her savings to the boss for a safe place to work in discretion.

Hello, everyone. I'm new here and I'll be playing Inderpal 'Indy' Kumar, former diplomat.

Welcome aboard. I think we are about finished with this chapter and will get set up for the next one shortly.

Any suggestions for connections with a former diplomat and X-boat courier?

Connections are normally figured out by your Careers.

List whatever careers and timeframes you're willing for the rest of us to see.

First term: Diplomat
Second and Third Term: Courier

Just so you know, you can have as many Contacts as you want, but you only get benefits from two of them.

The actual benefits aren't dependent on the Contact, though.

Valeska's 3 terms were: Scholar, Scout, and Agent, so she could have encountered Indy during any of them.

In reply to Valeska Brandenberg (msg # 707):

Another Carillian?  I thought you guys hung out with Solomani?

Anyway...

Walter is from Planet Outpost, Vonon is from Cassandra's Belt--both are Imperial Client States.  You could easily have been a junior Diplomat who was part of a Carellian Union mission to either planet.

X-Boat System is tight with the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service--thus you could have met any of the three (?) Scouts in our group during that time.  Sharik, Serge, and Sam (I think Sam is a Scout.  You're a Scout, aren't ya, Sam?).

X-Boat pilot also applies to Walter & Vonon, too.  Vonon was Space Patrol in Cassandra's Belt, and Walter is/was an Aristo from Outpost, so he was probably in Gov't Service at some point (I'm guessing, here) and there is only the one settlement on Outpost, so you could have met either of us while you were on R&R in either system.

Similar thinking, Sharik is also some kind of Aristo, so you could have met her during your Diplomat days.  Khea is an Aslan Trader, you could have met her as either a Diplomat or as an X-Boat Courier.

Sam was Space Patrol as well (not a Scout) , so potential for connections there

She's from Tharill. I definitely agree that Walter & Vonon would have encountered each other on Outpost and she would have met Sharik as an Aristo (at Soc 10, she is basically gentry).

In reply to Inderpal Kumar (msg # 710):

Well, not Vonon, no.  Vonon had spent his entire life in Cassandra's Belt--which is a separate star system from that of Outpost--and hadn't travelled to the stars until, well, now, after he's retired from The Patrol.

But the route from Imperial Space to Outpost runs through Cassandra's Belt, that's why I say you could have met either of us in either of your careers, or even both!  You could have first met the one of us when you were a junior Diplomat, and then again when you were an X-Boat Courier, passing through the system a couple times a year.

Now, it's been a while since I made a Mongoose Traveller character, and I think I recall that a character can only have 2 Associations with party members that gives them both benefits--and I'm also pretty sure that both Walter & Vonon have met that condition--so this consideration is solely for your benefit.  Again, if I remember correctly...um...actually, I don't remember crap!  What are the benefits you'll get from an association with any of us?

Other than that one or two of us won't just shoot you at first sight? ^_^

Benefit of association with a character, from memory, is usually an extra skill level in something relevant to the story of how you met

Actually I have been connected to three of the players here (Darrell, Kheaiftouaw and Kaengarr). Might want to go with a younger crew member since you have three terms.

@ Samantha: What about your character?

Hi Indy!  Welcome to the game; I am looking forward to RPing with you!

With respect to connections, in the past, Starmaster has stuck to the two connections give skills rule, but has allowed people to make as many connections (without additional skills) as they like.

And with respect to specifically connecting to Sharik, I/she would love to!  Her last three terms were all as a Nobility/Dilettante.  She's dabbled in grav bike racing for a bit during that time, but primary spent a fair portion of her 'Grand Tour' time doing 'odd jobs' (she was a corporate spook in a past life, and still has some of those connections), doing random acts of kindness (and potentially getting into various trouble/hi-jinks), and partying (what's the point of being a dilettante, if you don't get your Carouse skill up and partake of luxurious baths?).

Shar has a TAS membership, also; so, if you have one as well and have been travelling in the subsector at all, it is totally possible (or should I say, highly likely) that they were would have bumped into each other.

Sharik was also a Scout (a ... *ahem* while ago, i.e. six terms ago) in the Exploration Branch.  But, once IISS, always IISS.  And since even inactive duty roster scouts can use some IISS resources (included jumping a ride on courier and X-boat routes if space is available and such.  So, we can come up with any number of reasons that Shar might have hopped a ride (the long stretches on any X-boat route can be lonely; so, company is often welcome, even if the quarters are cramped) and also concoct any amount of trouble for them to get into (anything from repelling pirates to communications conspiracies via mysterious, transported encrypted messages to just extended, evening talks about philosophy and the nature of the universe).  Assuming that was Indy is inclined.  Whatever floats your (x-)Boat.

Yes, as many contacts as you really want to deal with, but only two of them give you a benefit, which is one skill or rank.

This was a way to avoid the trope 'you are all in the starport bar when...'

And don't forget your Campaign Skills Package (see thread of the same name).

Who would those be?

*raises her hand enthusiastically*  Oh, oh, choose me!  I am young (at heart)!  ;)