Re: The Island
In reply to Thomas Walker (msg # 198):
With Mari's and Oskar's help, tea was found and dinner served.
The Far Trader continued through Jumpspace, and they found it wasn't a particularly well-equipped ship. Indeed, it had been a regular commercial ship, pressed into service as a smuggling vessel. There were a few standard smuggler tricks, like variable IFF. Armaments included a couple auto-pistols and revolvers; the rest of the arms locker had been distributed to those defending the camp.
A week later, they emerged from Jumpspace not far from the World of Alntzar. It was a blue-green planet, and the scopes showed plenty of space traffic.
After an exchange of signals, the ship was intercepted by a Free Suns armed cutter and escorted to the starport. There, the ship was impounded (it was originally stolen, after all) and the crew transferred to the planetary surface.
Within a short period, they were contacted by Lorain and asked to meet her at the Institute for Systems Study...