In reply to Aaron Lancaster (msg # 76):

"You have become understandably confused Aaron. Zhe two zhings are not related in zhe way zhat you zhink."

"Varca is suggesting we go to Tech World. Zhis is not a bad idea except for the need to make a two parsec jump."

"In zhis case I am saying that my presence actually improves our chances of success which support Varca's suggestion. However obnoxiously it was presented."

"On zhe ozher hand zhe Professor has also made a good suggestion. Zhe Aslan held world is more safely reached and it would serve to allow us to file this ship as legal salvidge. We could create a legal registry there that will explain the money we will make on our mission and, one day in zhe future perhaps, lead someone hounding our trail to believe we are backed by interests within the Hierate.

"So it is a good idea also but far more politely introduced."

"You see?"

"On zhe subject of my ego I have made no claims I am no capable of supporting."

"..and yes, I have been to zhis Tech World. Theodore and myself have combined over five decades of starfaring. We have visited dozens, if not hundreds, of worlds and as Star Captains and nobility with far more access than any scout. Born in zhe dirt or ozherwise."

"Hey, hey! Don't fight. We need to work together." Ingrid says. "Look, I can keep the J-Drive working, don't worry about that. We won't get stuck, we can go anywhere we want to. So if that's why you don't want to go to Tech-World, it's not really an obstacle. And I've got some repair tools, Teddy."

"I don't like the idea of going to Aslan space to get the ship fixed. They are our enemies… I can't shake the idea that the less they know about us, the better."

"Zhis is a point well made and stated without rancor."

"Perhaps zhe rest of you have opinions as well?"

"Can we agree we are deciding between zhe two? Tech World or Tyokh?"

  Zhouth had lapsed into silence as the uproar reverberated throughout the bridge, watching and listening to the back and forth, and stealing the occasional glance at his datapad. Then Cyrus asked after other opinions and he heaved a heavy sigh. "Well, I hate to be the cause of more shouting, but I think we've got a few other things to think about with this."

  "First is that we can't avoid being seen by the Aslan if we go to Tech-World. The trade route runs right through there and it's mostly Ahroay’if military ships doing the escort work between there and Tyokh, so they're going to know pretty quickly no matter which way we go." He paused for another quick glance down at his datapad. "Unless maybe we want to do a lot of deep space jumping coreward and hope we find somewhere that can do the work before the jump drive blows up in our faces?" He shook his head, all but immediately dismissing that idea.

  "Second is that we're going to be seen by a lot of people, and they're going to know that there's a Harrier out there doing piratey things, because Princess's Orders are to pilfer but not kill." He hooked a thumb in the presumed direction of Asim. "That's what the whole farmhouse lesson was about, remember. So we can't do 'No witnesses!' and had better be able to put on a show of being some other Harrier, honest, and here are the records to prove it!"

  He looked sidelong at the Vespexers in expectation of another eruption - this time possibly a hot one. "Third is that the Aslan aren't our enemies."

  Hands waving side-to-side in a plea to be heard out, he continued, "I know, I know. Varca and Rejji call them enemies, but they aren't our enemies, and won't be until we do something to make them that way. I don't think we should, not just because they have a lot more ships than we do, but if this is all supposed to be about putting Humpty Drinax together again then someone has to talk the Aslan into playing nice with the new kingdom when that happens." He kneaded the air with his fingers, then held out a hand in a here-you-go gesture. "And I've been around a naval base long enough to hear all about how that works: if we aren't nice enough with the Aslan to be the ones doing the treaty-making, we're the ones being handed over as part of the reparations, or as a goodwill gesture, or whatever other political dressing-up they decide to do. And, well, I'm okay with one of those options, but I really don't like the other one."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Sat 14 Sept 2019.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 80):



     Varca has his his left fist raised--finger pointing to the overhead--mouth open, ready to respond...

     When suddenly his face assumes a thoughtful grimace, and he lowers his raised hand.

     "Register the ship...out of an Aslan port..." Varca says in a thoughtful tone, "Bloody Contagion, that is a damned sneaky idea..."

     Varca silently stares into the distance for a few seconds, then shakes his head in the negative.

     "No, nope.  It's a really, really sneaky idea--it really is.  But I just don't think it's worth the risk to let that much information about the ship get into any Aslan database.  Right now, all the information they have about the Harrier-class is two hundred years old."

    "I truly believe it's important to keep the Aslan behind the knowledge curve.  And that's my primary reason for not wanting to go to Tyokh.  Not just because I hate them--and I do hate them, I hate them for what they did to my world and my ancestors--but I also respect my enemies."

     "And in this case I am crediting the Ahroay’if Clan with taking note should a Harrier-class suddenly reappear--even if we innocently claim it as salvage, even if we openly let the shipyards at Tyohk work on repairing the ship--even if we succeed in completely convincing the Ahroay’if that our having this Harrier is completely harmless..."

     "The first time they get any kind of a vague report about a ship that quote 'looked kinda-sorta-maybe-a-little like an old Harrier-class ship' unquote--the Ahroay’if Clan ain't stupid!--they're gonna put two-and-two together, remember us, and come up with a Kill Order to blast anything that looks like us."

     "No.  We need the technology at Tech-World, and I want access to their robotics industry.  We'll register the ship at Tech-World--as recovered salvage, that's a good idea--with Imperial papers.  I trust Imperial privacy laws more than I do Aslan Clan Law--the records of our repairs and upgrades at Tech-World will be safe."

     "Well...safer."

Teddy just listens to everyone speak their mind and then adds, "I'll vote Tech World and the robots. The Privacy laws of the GeDeCo will keep us incognito for a bit, until they sell our info. We need to repair the drives as soon as possible, right after life support and the fuel system. Without the processed fuel, we jump nowhere."

This message was last edited by the player at 12:40, Sun 15 Sept 2019.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 82):

     Varca rolls his red-orbed eyes at Theodore, "You Imperials and your love-hate obsession with wilderness refueling at Gas Giants!  There are other--safer--wilderness refueling options, you know.  Water and water ice come to mind.  All we gotta do for that is sit there and suck it up--or dig it up, if it's ice--no piloting through dangerous environments needed."

     "On another topic--I have a counter-suggestion to our registering the Harrier as a Free Trader.  Truly, there is no more ubiquitous kind of starship than a Free Trader--a Free Trader can be anything.  But, well, c'mon!  Anyone taking a close look at the Harrier is going to see that it has very limited cargo space--just under thirty tons, in fact.  And, if we get some of the work and ship upgrades I'd like to get, done, we'll end up with less than that.  By example, the Beowulf-class Free Trader is the same tonnage as the Harrier, and it has eighty-two tons of cargo space."

     "Anyone looks at that Harrier calling itself a Free Trader, with such a small cargo bay, and they're going to assume we're actually using it for the--y'know--the small package trade.  If you get my meaning."

     "Anyways!  What's a simple merchant 'Free Trader' doing mounting a Particle Beam Barbette?  That's no merchant's defensive weapon--that's a military gunboat weapon!  We're going to have to figure out a way to hide that beamer, if we're gonna call ourselves a harmless trading ship."

     "So instead, I was thinking...what if we register the Harrier as a Deep Space Explorer?  Y'know--a Scoutship.  Being a scoutship can explain everything onboard that Harrier--the small cargo bay, the armor, the advanced sensor suite, it even explains the not-so-light weapons.  As a scoutship we'd often be on our own, off in the wilderness of space, observing unknown species and weird phenomenon, where we may need to defend ourselves with no possibility of aid from a civilized port."

     "Instead of being a Free Trader, we register as an Independent Scout.  How's that sound?"

  "What about a courier? Charter ship for rich types and governments that need to move valuable people and things about. Don't need a big cargo bay, just a really secure one, and being well-armed, well, you have to protect those valuable things, right?" Zhouth extended his arms out to his sides and smiled brightly. "Look around and imagine this place when it's back to being beautiful. Wouldn't that be what rich types wanted to see when they're being ferried about to some important meeting?"

  He let his arms fall. "Common idea in the Extents anyway. Don't see why it wouldn't work out here. When you aren't being chartered, you're free to do other things, all totally legal ones, of course. And when you are being chartered, well, you want to deliver so you keep a good reputation, but if you just happen to get them talking and learn about other interesting things that you aren't being chartered to move about..." The slow, what-can-you-do shrug put on an encore appearance.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:20, Tue 17 Sept 2019.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 84):

     "Ye-esss...That is a really good idea, too." Varca nods in agreement.

"Either would work well."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:53, Tue 17 Sept 2019.

"As long as it includes a designation as a merchant so that we can sell our acquisitions this will work as well as zhe ozher."

   Zhouth appeared rather pleased by the fact that his suggestion was going over well for once!

  "No reason a courier can't do merchant work or whatever else when it isn't under contract to deliver something! We could pick up random bits and pieces for sale or for shipping to wherever we're heading next, or drop them off from the last place. No need to fuss over details, right? And if someone wants to charter the courier to do survey work, that's fine too. We could even be working for someone who doesn't know it when it's convenient that we are!"

"Perhaps a little smuggling as well, except drugs, I draw the line at drugs! How long is the trip down to Drinax in the shuttle?"

  Zhouth tilted his head to one side, curious about Theodore's proclamation. "You mean the melts-your-brain stuff, or are you drawing the line really wide?"

  He straightened and held one hand up, clenched into a fist save for the raised index finger, as he exclaimed with mock-ferocity, "Headache remedies are things of dire evil that contaminate the purity of the body, our sacred temple!"

  And then he was back to being relaxedly curious again. "You know there are places like that, right? You surely wouldn't mind smuggling them in the relief they so desperately need thanks to all their bellowing pontiffs?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:40, Tue 17 Sept 2019.

"Mind altering drugs, unless they are prescribed for a reason by a real doctor, are evil. A headache powder is nothing, though I don't even use them. I keep my body clean! My body is a temple, and that is how I feel."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Tue 17 Sept 2019.

  What could only be described as a sly, mischievous look came over Zhouth in response to that, and he was clearly suppressing the urge to giggle as he declared, "You need to visit Ksunekso some day. I think it would alter your mind even without you taking anything!

  Regaining his composure, he conceded, "As long as you don't insist on using cargo crates of pharmaceuticals for target practice, we should be okay."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:47, Tue 17 Sept 2019.

"I have no problem with pharmaceuticals, I have a problem with illegal drugs."

  "Okay," Zhouth replied slowly. "How about we use the Ksunekso standard of illegal rather than the Imperium one though?"

"Hmmm, you'll have to tell me what it is, I don't know what that is, but we can probably do that."

  "Oh, Theodore, you're far too innocent for this piracy thing! Give me a moment..." Zhouth called up some information on his comm, transferred it to a datapad, and passed that over to Theodore for the latter's unsettling perusal. "We dealt with them back at Vanejen sometimes, so maybe their legal is also the Imperium's legal when you look at it the right way?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:58, Tue 17 Sept 2019.

Teddy scans it and nods agreement, "I'll just be in the 20%, that's all.

  Zhouth grinned again. "That's fine with me, and don't worry. We won't try to make you defile your temple with any blasphemous incense, as long as you aren't casting judgements at what other people burn in theirs!"

Teddy shakes paws with Zhouth!

Viridian had no great desire to visit the Floating Palace, and so remained behind on the ship with Aaron.

The two set about doing a detailed assessment of all the damage and upgrades that the ship needed, even attempting to fix as many of them as they were capable... which wasn't much.

Viridian tried to determine the correct sequence that would be needed. He was a bit surprised that no tools of any kind had been left behind, though he kind of understood that. Anything from Drinax could be a giveaway as to the ship's "owner", while old low-tech tools would be next to useless... and would have also raised questions as to where they'd come from.

He couldn't help wondering who was the paranoid person who'd thought that: the King? Princess Rao? Or some tech who'd been in charge? Did he know why he stripped the ship?

The fewer people that knew about the ship, the better! Or so Viridian believed. He was only mildly aware of the politics and backstabbing that went on back on Theev, but he was sure it happened on the Floating Palace.

By remaining behind with Aaron, that gave the crew two faces that the Drinaxians didn't know anything about. Except Rao.

"Nobody bothered telling us how long we should wait," he commented to Aaron after the first 24 hours had gone by.

"A day and a half to get there, the same to get back. A day to do what they were going to do? I wasn't really clear on what they wanted to do. Zhouth wanted to visit the Scholar's Tower. I think Varca wanted to go down to the planet to scavenge stuff."

"I think they just wanted to see the King... get his official "approval", rather than just take Princess Rao's word for it."

"Let's see... we have enough fuel for a Jump-1... and three weeks of power. So, okay, we can wait a week. After that, we'll have to jump back to Asim to refuel. We may have to leave some sort of signal or sign behind to let them know we'll be back."

"Oh, gods! A week with you!" Aaron moaned. "I suppose it could be worse... a week with Varca!"

"He's a strange one. But, then again, if I lived down on Drinax, I'd be a mess, too."

"So, okay, that's 52 million credits you owe me," he finished after tallying the score of the marathon gin rummy game they'd been playing... off and on... for the last three days. They were only imaginary credits, though, so it really didn't mean anything... other than Viridian was a lousy card-player.