In reply to LCDR Hawthorne Doyle (msg # 22):

"We know nothing of this particular region of space. It does not officially exist in Vilani records as anything except a region of Dissidents outside of Vilani Law. The best we have found is a single Administrator sent to stop illegal activities at Ceti Command."

In reply to Intelligence Official (msg # 23):

The intelligence official sighs.

"So you are heading to 3030, and after that unknown. I hope nothing nasty happens after you have moved on from there."

He then departs.

Resupplying takes until 30 May 2172, since you have to hunt your own food, but the process of doing so leaves the men in high spirits.

The trip to 3230 is equally uneventful, and you are able to refuel without hindrance. The directions to the small craft given by the Dastavka are good, and you can quickly see that the craft have not been disturbed.

It is the 15 June 2172 by the time you exit hyperspace in 3030. Scanners initially indicate nothing that would suggest life, and only one of the 5 moons of the three gas giants has any atmosphere, but no surface water.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:44, Mon 10 Dec 2018.

Well, it's not unusual that we find nothing here.. more likely that we'll find something in the Charmeer system though, so lets head there and be careful about it

In reply to LCDR Hawthorne Doyle (msg # 25):

The Charmeer system is not unknown to you, as it is where the Jaques Cartier was destroyed, and the crew marooned there. With 4 gas giants and 1 planet in its own belt, along with its moon, the planet was home to a small number of dissidents that fled with the survivors. What has happened in the months since then is anybodies guess.

But you will soon know. After scanning as best you can (the Hardrada class lack long range survey sensors which are usually considered exploratory equipment), you refuel and prepare to jump. Arriving on the 22 June 2172, you find the system deserted...for now. Estimates of when the patrols went through indicate that an outbound patrol is due within the next few days.

OOC: is there any info on 'Union'?

In reply to LCDR Hawthorne Doyle (msg # 27):

Bare minimum, 4 Gas Giants with a total of 10 objects in orbit, the largest of which is a large planet with a hostile hostile and atmosphere but no population is indicated.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:50, Wed 12 Dec 2018.

OOC: Which is the least populated populated system in the ceti sector?

In reply to LCDR Hawthorne Doyle (msg # 29):

Lol, officially only Orgill, Beta Port and Ceti Command have any population. You Know Clameer had a small breakaway group, but other than that, nothing is KNOWN...

Well, lol as you want :) I just don't really know the environment fvery well, there's a lot of implicit knowledge that the character would know but I don't.

Ultimlately the goal at the moment would to be find fringe colonies and ooutposts that are 'on the rim' and then start endeavours to cause dissent

In reply to LCDR Hawthorne Doyle (msg # 31):

The dissidents can offer you the following advice. Goran, one of the Dissidents from Clameer, would be with you, and is probably the best informed dissident you know. He has personal motives for being with you...he does want to help out some family members on Beta Port. But he only knows a couple of dissident/pirate captains (The Vilani call them pirates, he calls them dissidents). He is also interested in getting any valuables left on Clameer, but most of that stuff left was large industrial equipment he could not transport on the Gashidda...

The furthest outposts that would be best to start with as they will not be known by the Vilani, whose charts you are currently using. Anonymity is their defence, so you will will have to find them the old fashioned way. Faith and Nova Pacifica are likely candidates, but 2939 or any other habitable planet should be checked since Terran computers first appeared and made jumps possible (if risky) without jump tapes.

Doyle heeded the advice he had and then assured the man that retrieving equipment would be much more possible, and less risky when the Vilani fleets were occupied with other things. A number of fires starting up across the sector would at least force them to spread their forces a little, and keep all attention on that front.

"Let's set course for Faith, we will head out to some of the further out sectors, but it certainly does not hurt to see what we are working with on the way he said emphatically before taking his seat.

In reply to LCDR Hawthorne Doyle (msg # 33):

"Sir, we will need to jump to an intermediate system from here, as Clameer is 3 systems from Faith. Which system should be the intermediate one?"

3031 will be fine he said.

In reply to LCDR Hawthorne Doyle (msg # 35):

Jumping through 3031 is wonderfully boring. You refuel at the only small planet that has water, though little life to speak of, if any, and jump through to Faith by the 1st of July.

Hidden amoung the 4 gas Giants are two small planets, one of which seems able to support life. With 60% of the surface covered by water and a thin atmosphere, it could be hiding some life, but finding it could be another matter.

In reply to Fate (msg # 36):

As you approach the planet, sensors indicate that it has considerable plant life, and some primitive animal life. Goran, the dissident with you from Clameer directs you to try a dissident signal, as usual. You are surprised when you get a response, as sensors had not indicated any advanced life or civilization.

Doyle frowned and made note to keep record of the dissident signal.

"So, sensors picked up nothing? Down on the surface? Is there something in the atmosphere blocking scans? he asked his sensor crew before turning to Goran.

"What are they doing here? Hiding? he asked while brushing his chin with a curious hand.

In reply to LCDR Hawthorne Doyle (msg # 38):

"If they are dissidents, I think you can be certain they will be hiding. From Vilani patrols, if nothing else. Often underground, from experience. Be glad sensors are far from perfect...as for what they are doing here, you probably need to ask them that." he says with a smile.

Alright, well if they're simply hiding out, there seems to be little reason to spend time digging them out and seeing what they're up to. Lets get a little closer see if we can identify any ships, but if nothing is detected, we can conitnue on Hawthone said before pausing a moment and then adding

Can we get a communique to them? Let them know who we are, and the classification of our ship, and let them know we're friendly but might be back in the near future


OOC: I just assume tha tif they're holding up and not really equipped out with any kind of ship that can cause trouble, or a vilani population to influence then there's no tmuch point in dealing with them at the moment. It might just be good as a supply/hideout temporarily

In reply to LCDR Hawthorne Doyle (msg # 40):

Communications are readily established. They inform you a Vilani patrol passed through the sector just days ago, and that they have no ships in anticipation of the patrol, which regularly passes through very 2 months.

However, when you identify yourself, they request you send doctors to assist in making vaccines, a process started on Clameer about a year ago and stopped by Vilani attacks. Goran can confirm this...

Well, I'm not one to turn down a request for aid. he smiled and then opened a comm link to the ship's infirmary.

"We have had a request for medical aid, draw up a list of supplies and personnel that are not essential and we'll head down to offer help. If needs be they can stay in the colony until we come back, but if we can help and then be gone quickly all the better he said and then nodded to  the pilot for them to approach the planet and enter atmosphere.


OOC: I presume we have at least one?
We can send down a shuttle with some staff, or land if you have an area ready he offered.

In reply to LCDR Hawthorne Doyle (msg # 42):

"We have a small secure location, but it is not big enough to hide your ship. A shuttle would be welcome..."

They send you co-ordinates of a landing site. It does not take you long to get a team of medics, with a couple of security personal, ready for insertion. On arrival, they inform you that the population is very small, but that they are trying to grow a vaccine. It might take a week to get the process up and running reliably.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:35, Fri 18 Jan 2019.

In reply to Fate (msg # 43):

A couple of days later, the doctors planetside confirm that several of the diseases are indeed of Terran origin. Measles, Chickenpox and Influenze are all identified, and Black plague is suspected as well. They are informed that Black plague was released on rebel regions on Ceti Command, and measles and influenza are to be found on Beta Port and outlying areas of Orgill.

They do not have much else they can tell you though. Patrols are regular, and with recent ship losses, they have all available ships on regular patrols, with two escorted freighters traveling deeper into Vilani space to connect to the main freight lines.

In reply to Fate (msg # 44):

By the time the doctors are happy with things, it is the 20th of July. Over two weeks have passed, and you have been able to identify the base and map the planet as well as send teams hunting to renew your supplies. The local fauna is very nutritious, though with many large herbivorous insects, it is unlikely to become a great export. Berries and fruits may do better, with large melons in abundance.

Learning from the locals that a friendly vessel regarded by the Vilani as a pirate will be stopping by, you are not surprised when the hyperspace bubble opens near the planet, and a Hero class freighter drops out of it. They are cautious, but neither of you wants a conflict, so they soon stand down. Coming through regularly to pick up produced goods and deliver supplies, the small vessel moves quickly in to the planet and alights at a large cavern clearly expanded especially for this purpose. Naturally, their attitude towards you improves when the see the lovely crop of vaccinations you have prepared, and they quickly set about loading them to get them to where they are needed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:50, Tue 22 Jan 2019.

In reply to Fate (msg # 45):

Doyle sought to meet with the Freighter crew, to ask about any other dissidents, and the governmental and Military command structure in the region. He is very diplomatic.

[Private to GM: Rolled a 5 for Diplomacy, 11 under skill before modifications. Note I have created a Complete character sheet, using excess points to give him Vilani language to match his other skills.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:22, Wed 23 Jan 2019.

In reply to LCDR Hawthorne Doyle (msg # 46):

His diplomacy paid dividends: They informed him about a small hidden community on Nova Pacifica, and how to contact them, as well as how to contact dissidents on Beta Port, once they managed to stealthily get into the system. Unfortunately, the freighter used legitimate codes for a Hero to get there, so they could not help with stealth.

However, they were able to help regarding the local politics. Commodore Eleni Managudeli, the commander of the region based at Ceti Command, is still trying to get the region recognized as a Vilani governance. That means that at the moment, it is not. Rather, Vilani high command see's his work as more of a police work to keep local dissidents under control rather than worlds to be ruled. The Vilani border ends Nunashi or Lishu, as far as the Ziru Sirka is concerned, and as such, his 'military' is limited to what his family can purchase. Recent immunizations produced by the survivors of the Jaques Cartier have created a groundswell of folk who would like to defect to independence, but they lack the forces to deal with the patrols. Despite losses, there are rumors is purchasing a new and larger warship, perhaps a cruiser, to ensure loyalty and stop ship losses.