Love the idea but relocating plus a writing project on the side means this is the only game I've got time for... perhaps like Hayden, later in the year...

In reply to Jacques Keveloh (msg # 640):

Thanks all for the feedback.  Let's let the TCS idea percolate for a bit.  I'll bring it up again in mid-November or so and we'll see how folks feel about it then.

Sounds good Ref!

OT - for anyone who's seen the 2009 Star Trek movie, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTfBH-XFdSc ;)

[I've enjoyed quite a number of those Honest Trailer clips.]

J.J. Abrams can keep the Trek reboot - I'm waiting for Ender's Game myself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UNWLgY-wuo

PS: I contend she's playing the jealousy/hard-to-get card.  ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:17, Thu 26 Sept 2013.

I think the Honest Trailer clip nailed it - but then I still like the original series best (campy salt & pepper effects included)!

Enders game sounds interesting - I remember reading some of the novels a long time ago.

[Hah - Harrison Ford is in that one - how ironic.  Almost met him once to discuss a recycling project (he was interested in fence posts for his Wyoming ranch).]

Yeah, Jim would definitely think Dayani was playing, but he wouldn't admit it. ;)

BTW, Doc.  You might have gotten your bars mixed up, IC.  We are in the BBC right now, I believe.  Dayani invited Jack to the Flat Tail, I believe...

Oh, and both trailers were quite good - for different reasons.

I loved Ender's Game for what it was (whatever OSC's politics and the personality might be) - though the movie looks like it might take some serious liberties (as is likely necessary as parts of the book may not translate well to the big screen).

As for the Star Trek reboot...  It wasn't bad.  It wasn't good (though it was flashy), but it wasn't bad.  The second one was okay, as well; predictable, but enough shout outs to the old serious/universe to make it fairly entertaining.  Again, it was visually quite nice.

Oops, yeah, screwed that up - thanks!

I enjoyed the movies for what they were - though the lens flares were hard to watch ;)

Speaking of movies - caught Gravity this weekend... its not for everyone, but if you enjoyed the likes of Contact, 2001/2010, or Solaris, its right up your alley.

Highly recommend the 3D version - it was excellent in this film (wish I had a close by IMAX).  Very few technical nits, the acting was excellent, and the 'sets' were spectacular. ;)

Agreed, just saw it in 3D IMAX last night - stunning. Cuaron is a master and he had all his best collaborators with him on this one.

It's amazing to me how fragile yet how resilient our current space tech is.

I definitely want to see this!  Of course the closest IMAX is Udvar Hazy which is shutdown.  Grrr....

In reply to Dr. Jim D. Jones (msg # 647):

Top on my list of movies to go see in the near future as well.  Will definitely try to catch it on IMAX

In reply to Referee (msg # 650):

Unfortunately didn't catch it on IMAX, but saw Gravity yesterday and really enjoyed it.

In reply to Referee (msg # 651):

I finally managed to get home and I saw it in 2D since my mom can't handle 3D.  We also saw Captain Phillips, so.. yeah... TL-8 Space Pirates might be my next Traveller game.  :)

Hayden uses his lifeline to call John Fredrickson and discuss risk pricing for commercial shipping.  :)

In reply to Hayden Marks (msg # 653):

Nice reference!

Try 3-5 times legitimate rates.

You could also argue that, because he's taking the whole ship off her planned route, even though he only needs 40tons + 4 mid psg, that Mario should pay full charter rates plus a risk incentive.  Either way, Cr200,000 - Cr275,000 for the trip would be a reasonable ballpark, with up to Cr350,000 if you want to bargain hard or think he's desperate/short other options.

Unless of course you want to show solidarity with the poor, downtrodden working-class wildcatters... ;)

Their cargo must be pretty valuable if a quarter mil is preferable to paying tax on it...

In reply to Thera Santorini (msg # 655):

It's not the cargo they're worried about, it's the operation.  Every gram of ore they produce is at risk of being taxed if they're found out.

Ah, that's a different matter.

In reply to Referee (msg # 656):

Which suggests to me that just as important as getting supplies in to the site surreptitiously, so might be getting the metals out to a market.  At least an initial amount which would allow them improve their logistics situation.

The last thing these guys probably want is a major corp or the Halowon government getting wind of this.  A foreign ship and crew are probably highly attractive, since they have to be worried about being double-crossed at some point.  A local tramp could easily work some back room deal once they know the location of the mine.  "Hey, major Halowon Corp - I'll let you where a great belt-strike is if you get me 2% of the output for the rest of my life.  All you have to do is go in and deal with some pesky miners."  or "Hey, give me tax relief for 20 years Halowon IRS and I'll tell you about some MAJOR tax evaders."

Or for the particularly viscous tramp crew, just kill them all yourself (vacuum is a dangerous place) and make a claim in your name.

Since we are not Halowon citizens, we wouldn't be able to make a claim on the strike, any information we wished to deal in with a Halowon corporation would have a lower level of trust and increased suspicion (at best), there's considerable risk that the Halowon government would throw us under the bus if we went to them (FRE agitators corrupt upright belting community), etc.

Maybe they haven't hit pay dirt yet, but there's potential for this to be more than a supply run.  Much more.

From an intel reporting perspective, the chance to establish ties with a dissident group of a rival government should be very attractive.  At the very least substantial insight into how these belters operate, communicate, and avoid detection by government interests, may be gleaned during the mission.  Dissidents are ripe for recruitment and nothing beats reliable HUMINT.  Once we are out of Halowon space, we pass the information we learn from this mission back to the FRE intelligence apparatus and let them handle the approach.

Who knows what they are pulling out of that mine, but from my POV, the intelligence and recruitment opportunity is pure gold.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Wed 23 Oct 2013.

So far my PC will likely not be in favor of this 'opportunity'...

- We are on a specific mission which this would appear to do nothing for
- There is a risk of not completing the mission for what Doc, given his background, will perceive as merely a capitalist opportunity
- The guy seems an rank amateur - playing in a field that could be worth lots of credits and clout to officials (for the op - and in terms of impounding a starship) - more risk!

I am all in favor of it - Doc only gets one 'vote', so he'll just have to grumble (and say 'I told you so!'). ;)

As an aside, I recall that the Moth is not registered with the Free Republic - so how does this man know they are 'freeks'? *(IC I would not bring this up, since its not in character for Jim and they did come from Espiaux, though I'm not sure that would be public info).

In reply to Dr. Jim D. Jones (msg # 659):

Sorry guys, wiped, update tomorrow

Hayden I think you've nailed it as far as the backstory and needs of Mario's camp are and it's enticing. As a player I'm ready for it especially because I feel the simmering of a civil (or not so civil) war in the news threads and reading between the lines of Mario's statements. But as a character Jacques would push to stay on track for Consul despite the possible intelligence gains to be made by making the run.

Then again, what's a week?

Oh, decisions, decisions...

In reply to Jacques Keveloh (msg # 661):

All, just got back from one trip, depart on another tomorrow.  Update probably Thursday.  Thanks for your patience!

No problem - Have a safe trip!

Sounded like a one-way trip, what with the 'one week off schedule' and 'single jump' - but, he did say 'relief crew'?

Regardless, nothing wrong with pricing as a round trip charter and its good 'cover'! :D