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22:23, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:00.

Posted by Traveller RefereeFor group 0
Traveller Referee
GM, 915 posts
In space nobody can hear
you swearing at me.
Sun 25 May 2014
at 13:32
  • msg #1

Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:00

The morning after the dinner party finds the two ships still in orbit close to each other.  Rangent gleams as the sunlight reflects from layers of ice and snow.  It's a lot nicer from up here than from down there.

Ore Hound's crew have returned to their ship, with plans to depart for Tremous Dex and then on to 871-438, in pursuit of a rumoured lanthanum strike.  Profit Margin's own departure, for Phlume, back in Imperial territory will have to wait for some time, until the ship has had a chance to visit one of the system's three gas giants to refuel.

It should be safe enough - with no local space traffic, the giants have had no visitors since the original survey was made...

Crew side is fairly busy, as preparations are made to leave Rangent behind them.

The passenger side of the ship is also busy.  Eneris sits with a steaming mug of coffee next to him as he plays backgammon against the ship's computer.  Corlan and Keryn are sharing a terminal, as they find out more about the Northstar and Leenitakot ringworlds.  The latter is almost disappointing - just bare metal, with no soil or atmosphere, and incomplete walls.  If not for the fact that it's the second largest artificial structure in known space, it would have little to attract tourists...
Shui Tiesi
player, 1429 posts
Quiet doctor,
helpful Steward.
Mon 26 May 2014
at 11:44
  • msg #2

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:00

There's food laid out for crew and passengers - the former near the consoles, but not on them, the latter in the lounge.  Some leftovers, though Shui sent the vast majority back across with the Ore Hound's crew, and also the little sandwiches everyone seems to like so much.  Each crewmember's favourite drink - of the non-alcoholic sort - sits next to them, ready to be imbibed, and she has a variety of teas to supplement the coffee for the passengers.  Plus, Shui has finished the general cleaning - mopping parts of the ship, dusting, SanniĀ™-wiping the viewscreens.  Now, Shui sits in the lounge, ready to leap to work should anything be required, but otherwise dozing.

It was a late night.
Tylen Orgesh
player, 949 posts
Darrian--Former Scout
Age: 34
Wed 28 May 2014
at 05:21
  • msg #3

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:00

Tylen grabs a few of the small sandwiches for breakfast and grins at Shui as he gets his coffee, before he disappears into his turret control.  However, he leaves the door open so he can see what is going on in the bridge.

Once there, he runs through the basic system checks that show his weaponry is working properly and then starts to fiddle with the comms systems.  He starts by checking across the spectrum for unusual or interesting signals, and then progresses to working on a  small set of computer programs that will do the job for him.

There is some intent to check for communication from the planet, particularly anything that sounds like it might relate to  the bunch they just had a run in with.  However, it is just as much to keep himself amused and occupied while awaiting departure.
Traveller Referee
GM, 919 posts
In space nobody can hear
you swearing at me.
Sat 31 May 2014
at 22:44
  • msg #4

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:00

Information flows from Engineering to the Bridge as the power systems and thrusters come online, ready to send the ship  wherever Jago wills.

In Tylen's station the targeting scan displays a clear view of Rangent, and the computer is selecting city domes, moving vehicles and other surface features as potential targets for death from above.  Currently there is still plenty of radio chatter from the surface, including a lot of jokes about what the locals are calling, "the Big Splat".  Yas' gunnery panel has no such view of the distant ground, but there is a nice display of the stars, and the exposed belly of Ore Hound a short distance off.

The comms array lights up to indicate an incoming message from the mining ship...

In the lounge, Shui dozes.
Saskia Blake
player, 500 posts
I'm going to need a
much bigger hammer.
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 00:40
  • msg #5

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:00

"Jago." Saskia calls in from her station in Engineering, where she can hear the heartbeat of the ship, which always feels better than sitting at her Bridge station, where all she can hear is the people around her, "All power and drive systems are nominal.  Fuel pumps and purification are on standby, ready to go as soon as you need them."

A moment's pause, and then, "Tank levels are on your number five display, as usual."

She shoves one of the small sandwiches into her mouth, whole.

This isn't bad, she thinks, we should have more dinner parties, if it means we get fancy leftovers for breakfast.
Jago Lanza
player, 588 posts
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 00:43
  • msg #6

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:00


With a sigh, Jago shuts down his data pad and pushes it to the back of his desk next to the 'thing' in it's stainless steel tray.

"We can't afford episodes like this to often," he tells it as he gets to his feet, "or I'll end up with a bigger mortgage than I started with."

The Captain grabs a coffee as he passes the machine and sets it down next to the one Shui had thoughtfully provided. As he sinks into his chair on the bridge he gets buisy on the crew intercom channel. "Good morning everybody. Ash, a course to skim that gas giant if you would please. Thank you Saski, one step ahead of me as always"

Actually a quick scan of the instruments has already told him what he needs to know but he likes to have it confirmed verbally. The instruments also informs him of an incoming signal he should respond to, "Good morning Ore Hound, this is Jago, no one to hung over I trust."

Shui Tiesi
player, 1431 posts
Quiet doctor,
helpful Steward.
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 12:50
  • msg #7

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:00

A sleepy smile for Tylen in return as he passes through, and Shui goes back to nodding in her chair.  The sounds of the ship blend together into a silent, slightly dissonant melody, and she lets herself drift for a time before jerking awake.

"Silly groat -" she begins before cutting off and glancing about in confusion.

No groat.

"Ah, I am the silly groat."  Standing, she stretches.  "Work to do."  There's always something, even if it's mopping out part of the ship, cleaning toilets, or checking the chemical levels in the various sanitary areas.

It's not always a glamorous job, but it's always necessary.
Ash Tescali
player, 448 posts
Traveling through J-space
isn't like dusting crops
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 05:53
  • msg #8

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:00

Ash is sitting at his console, strapped in and sipping black (Shui-provided) coffee as he pecks away quietly at one of his various displays with just one hand.

"Already on it, boss." the lanky navigator of the Profit Margin notes to Jago's order for a route.  Within a couple of seconds three routes appear on the tactical display giving different trajectories to the assigned gas giant.  Each has it's own merits depending on approach and desired skimming angles and patterns.  All are elegantly arrayed and post a number of statistics including ETAs, curvatures and fuel efficiency and skimming efficiency gradients.

He takes another long draught from his mug.  "Pick one..." Ash then prompts the Captain.
Traveller Referee
GM, 921 posts
In space nobody can hear
you swearing at me.
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 08:12
  • msg #9

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:05

"Morning Jago.  I just called to thank you, and your people, for the dinner.  We all enjoyed ourselves." Jockram sounds cheerful enough, "We're all well, and I'm happy to report that my crew are no less capable of work than usual.  We'll be moving out soon, going straight for a Jump to Tremous Dex, and glad to get away from Rangent."

"Talking of crew, can you ask your Security Chief to stop waving that turret about?  She's making my boys nervous."
  The laugh at the end shows that he doesn't mean it seriously.

Ash transfers the courses to Jago's panel.  There isn't a lot to choose between them, since  the Navigator has rejected all of the less efficient options.

Shui starts to move about, searching for things to do...

Tylen and Yas are in their respective fire control stations, running diagnostics prior to moving out, and listening to the local news. 

Saskia relaxes in Engineering  Everything seems to be running smoothly.  For some reason her contacts with the Aslan drift through her mind...
Tylen Orgesh
player, 950 posts
Darrian--Former Scout
Age: 34
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 20:20
  • msg #10

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:05

With a chuckle, Tylen sits back in  his seat and plays back the news extract, concerning 'men collecting insurance payments'  across the ship's intercoms.  "I thought you might find that amusing, folks." he adds by way of commentary.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:01, Sat 07 June 2014.
Jago Lanza
player, 589 posts
Fri 6 Jun 2014
at 09:17
  • msg #11

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:05


Jago chuckles and knowing that Yasmin can probably hear Jockram's remarks, if her turret door is open, Jago calls over his shoulder to check, "You hear that Yasmin?"

"You made dinner was a pleasure for all of us Captain, thank you for coming," he goes on with a more serious tone. "We'll be shipping out ourselves in a few minuets. Good luck with your prospecting, I hope that works out for you.  .  .  Till next time then."

Yasmine Crow
player, 1116 posts
Gunner and ex marine
''Fire at Will!''
Sat 7 Jun 2014
at 05:35
  • msg #12

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:05

"Didn't hear a thing, boss, did you want me to shot something?"

Yas chuckles, shaking her head.  Then she sighs.  "At least I can still make boys nervous after a fashion."

A pause.  "Did I say that out loud?  Must be old age, still."

"Take care out there, and next time dinner's on your ship!"
she says over a comm channel to Ore Hound.  "It'll be cosy."
Tylen Orgesh
player, 951 posts
Darrian--Former Scout
Age: 34
Sat 7 Jun 2014
at 07:42
  • msg #13

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:05

Tylen grins to himself as he imagines Yasmin - in her slinky, sprayed on, dress -  squeezing herself in a space suit for dinner aboard a cramped and cosy mining ship.
Traveller Referee
GM, 922 posts
In space nobody can hear
you swearing at me.
Sat 7 Jun 2014
at 16:53
  • msg #14

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:10

From the planetary radio messages, rebroadcast by Tylen, and faint and distorted though they are, it does seem as if, for the moment at least, the local thugs might not have what it takes to bully the rest of the populace into submission.  How long it will last remains to be seen.

But for now the thugs are finding that life isn't so easy, as people band together to drive them away.  Really speaking, they're probably only a small percentage of the population, so the rest should really be able to take control.  Profit Margin's attack on their gang's base of operations may have given them the encouragement to try.

Off Profit Margin's port bow, Ore Hound fires a four second burst of her close manoeuvre thrusters and starts to move off, HEPlaR drives cutting in as she reaches a safe distance.  After which she accelerates away at a steady 2G, climbing away from the planet, towards the 100 diameter safe Jump limit. 

"Thanks Jago, Yas.  Best of luck, Profit Margin.  Hope to see you around."
Ash Tescali
player, 449 posts
Traveling through J-space
isn't like dusting crops
Sun 8 Jun 2014
at 05:56
  • msg #15

Re: Profit Margin - Rangent/Vilis (0601) Date: 288-1107 08:05

Ash chuckles lightly as the planet-side messages play in the background on the common crew channel.  "Power to the people." he mutters under his breath, tapping away busily on his various console displays.

"Roger that, Ore Hound." the lanky navigator responds as the prospecting ship pulls away, wishing them, "Lucky strikes and safe travels."  Within a couple of seconds, there is a component vector plot of the other ship's projected route to the 100 diameter Jump transfer limit appears on the screen with the system plot.  There is also a blinking countdown timer showing 239.073 minutes.

As for themselves, the three proposed projected transit times and routes to the closest gas giant continue to update on the same tactical view.  They are constantly adjusting based on the current vector path of the Profit Margin.
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