Alzenai/Jungleblut 0304    B768895-C  S     Rich     League Capitol,  G

Planet: third of twelve in system. Period 378.2 Days, Density 1.01
Standard. Equatorial Diameter: 11,198 kms. Mean Gravity: 8.88G.
Rotational Period 21 Hours, 48 Minutes, 6.52 Seconds. Axial
Inclination 1 degree, 38' 53.5"

Special Features: Free Suns capitol. Imperial Scout Base. Imperial X-Boat nextwork.

020-1108

There were a couple days off.

A couple days after landing, the crew was contacted by Lorrain for a morning appointment.

The group was received by Lorrain in her office in the Archaeology dept. of the Institute of System Studies in Alnezei. It was cramped, full of artifacts, so she met them in a conference room.

"Hello everyone! I have great news. The Institute is willing to pay all of you who signed the contract a finder's fee of Cr200000 for the recovered artefacts. As well, everyone gets a Cr20000 reward for returning the ship.

"It turns out that the ship was hijacked from a Free Suns merchant company, and written off. It's been offered back to the Institute to use for research purposes (and a tax write-off). We need a crew for it.

"Blake, you're being offered the position of pilot.
"Olly, Engineer.
"Linus, Steward and Computer Operator.
"Thomas, Medic and security.
"Mariel, Navigator and Gunner.
"Jaxxon, Gunner.
"Neva and Stanley, Security.

"Ken, I think you would make a good captain for the ship.

"The deal is that you would be allowed to operate the ship as a private commercial venture under lease to you for 3 years, but be available to handle the Institute's offworld transport needs. The ship would remain the property of the Institute. It has a clean registry as the Serendipity."

"If you'd like to do it, then here's contracts. A limited corporation will be set up for liability issues."

"OK, I'm in," said Linus.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 3):

"Me too.  I'm sick of hotels and cheap rooms, it will be nice to have a home for a while." said Walker, with a cup of tea in front of him.

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg # 4):

Neva muttered "a home" and grinned.  "I'm in.  Like Thomas said.  A home is nice and...and it was nice working with all of you.  Can't say that I'm not glad to have some creds again either."

"I've been led astray... in a strange sort of way I enjoyed our trip, and I don't quite feel like retreating back to my bar quite yet."

Linus had spent some of the downtime putting together instructions for his lawyer back home to sell the bar and forward the proceeds c/o the Institute of System Studies. With a job offer in hand, he felt confident to consign the message to the X-boat service.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 6):

"I don't know if you can go back to your bar, especially if that bastard who shot at us had any idea who you are."

Blake wanders about with a smile pasted on his face.  A ship, the stars & hopefully no pugnacious bureaucracy to deal with.  He disappears for a bender with fellow scouts ...  Perhaps one of them will have a Sky Raiders' tale to pass along ...  He is mum about the recent past, made a good merchie trip that paid off.

Feeling very lucky, he buys a copy of Twight's Peak & eventually slumbers off by page 3 ...  A herculean task by any measure.  Right now, both mysteries are equally lost in the past.

"There's that, too. Hence selling up and hiring on here," said Linus. Maybe he just wasn't as ready to retire as he had thought!

Ken looks surprised and gratified by the offer of payment from the Institute.  "That's very generous Lorain, thanks."  As the discussion moves to the subject of the ship he turns silent. "Yea... I'm in as well.  It's...  I'm speechless.  It's a wonderful opportunity." He laughs; "Captain huh?"  He continues ruefully; "I guess there's not much else I'm useful for on a ship besides sitting in the command chair and looking handsome."

As the situation sinks in he shakes his head.  "I'd guess that a lot of this money will go toward setting up a company to run the ship.  Sounds like we've all got some studying to do."