In reply to Jaxxon Zalvedes (msg # 210):

"Not a problem." She looked over at Jaxxon and smiled.

Blake can go with either vehicle, both are windy & speedy.  As for names, hmmm, maybe some computer research with Stanley ...  He takes time to orient the inertial locators, checks out the area geography & packs for small battle.

"I'll come to the bar if you like, Ken," said Linus. "Familiar territory, if you know what I mean."

Olly begins the maintenance routine.  At 16 hours tha'ts 2 - 3 days give or take.

In reply to Oliver Oliphant Oksasaellllozae (msg # 214):

"So what am I supposed to do to help you?"

Ken shakes his head. "I don't know about the naval side of things but our army and marines are the equal of any polity around here.  The Hegemony has only a handful of backward worlds and could be crushed quickly.  It's probably pressure from the surrounding enemies that keeps us from ending the threat out of hand."  He frowns.  "Leaving these kind of things to fester always results in more trouble later."

As the trip shapes up Ken checks the maps and local regulations.  "Bring the bike Stanley.  Linus or Blake can ride with you certainly.  As for names, I don't have a thought either way.  In the Marines the tank crews named their vehicles."

In reply to Oliver Oliphant Oksasaellllozae (msg # 214):

In her effort to learn about the ship, Neva decided to stay on board and help Ollie do some of the maintenance...even if he has her do all the yucky parts.

Stanley pours himself another cup of tea, the dance of honey sticks and serving pots a mesmerizing dance in his many hands. "The Zhodani would object, and they have more stars than we have ships. Our politicians are too reactive, and our systems remember their roots as rebellions. It would take a charismatic leader indeed to turn us expansionist."



Stanley had packed the 'Cycle's small cargo box with carefully considered selections from the ship's stores during the trip. Now he displayed equal deliberation in re-checking the materials, noting his choices on the ship's systems. Then he pulled out his paper manuals and connected his hand-comp and HUD to the 'Cycle's comm gear and other systems, with the painstaking deliberation of someone following arcane rites he understands not at all.

During the trip to their destination, he muses over names for both vehicles aloud over the comms. "The Air/Raft should perhaps be named for one of Empress Victoria's warriors? The 'Cycle is too small a craft to be named after an individual. Perhaps I shall call it the Arrowdrac. What do you think of this name?" It is not entirely clear who he is talking to, or if he is just talking to keep his nerves calms during his first time behind the wheel.

Ken nods in agreement this time to Stanley.  "Oh, I don't think we should be expansionist.  Our size is about right and expansion is fraught with peril.  No... I think we should squash an enemy before he can attack us."

They finished up breakfast at 0900.

There was still lots of work to do on ship, a couple days by Ollie's reckoning. It sounded like he'd have help in that regard, with Thomas and Neva offering to assist.

Those who were going to search for the artefact were free to do so now or wait until later.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 219):

"So skipper, you want me to come with you or stay on the ship? I can't do much to help here."

Ken nodded to Jaxxon. "You're a good hand in a fight.  Come along with us Jaxxon." He called over to the crew.  "Let's go then all who are headed to the bar and the artifact." Ken went down to the cargo bay and climbed aboard the air raft.  He has his cloth armor under his ship suit and has a blade with a pistol concealed in the air raft.

Stanley scoffs. "So we squash them and then what? Shall we begin erecting puppet dictatorships atop our rotting battlefields, or leave the planets to fend for themselves once we deprive them of basic infrastructure? We are the League of Free Suns. We need to look like we are liberating planets from tyrants.

"Now, you want to talk expansionism, now would be a good time to look at the systems Trailing from Price. All those individual star nations, sandwiched between Imperial and Zhodhani interests, without a fleet of their own. These rumors of war really prime the pump for diplomatic overtures. Especially with a fleet like ours."

---

Arrowdrac can roughly triple the speed of the Air/Raft when both are max'd out, making Stanley an excellent escort.

Ken shrugs again.  "If we move to crush an enemy then we have a responsibility to see that they are set back on the path of freedom and prosperity.  Certainly we would not make things worse." He frowns. "It's always a difficult proposition when one goes to war."  Ken considers Stanley's suggestion about the other planets.  "I'd guess that those planets either want to remain independent or political maneuverings keep them as a neutral zone.  But certainly the protection of League membership could save them much bloodshed."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 224):

Deciding to add to the political debate, Mariel said, "pretty much all of the Jungleblut subsector used to be part of the Dominion of Alntzer, a Zhodani client state, until 300 years ago. Then, the majority of Worlds broke away during a civil war. The Worlds with majority Vlazghumecta population became independent, the Solomani and Vilani settled worlds banded together to form the Free Suns. Desaekhe conquered its neighbors to form the Hegemony while the rest stay non-alinged.

"And I think Stanley was dragging on the Free Suns Navy? Well, I hate to say there's some truth to that, the fleet arm was under the Free Suns Scout service until recently meaning there's a lack of tradition, history and experience there. But we've had Imperial help, and unlike the Zhodani clients we're not flying whatever crap our patron wants to give or sell us, e build our own ships. And no one has accused the Scouts of being bad star sailors so its not like we're novices to space."

Are we waiting on anything to move to the bar? Or at least the flight over? I'm guessing we're still waiting for other players to chime in their preferences on whether they're coming to the bar?


Stanley offers Mariel a cup of tea as she joins the conversation. "I'm not actually aware of any reason for us to dislike the Hegemony, mind you. I just don't like our capital being so close to that border. We have a nearly circular empire. The capital, and the home fleet, would be most advantageously positioned at its center.

"I find it curious that Imperial also uses this dragging idiom. Tell me, what animal is assumed to be doing this dragging in your culture? Also, please to be noting that it is not League star-sailing which I have dragged through the Syanniltuk Procreative Fluid, for it is as the young lady says. But while a tribe may send its hunters to prey on small game each on their own, it is only when the tribe learns to act in concert that it may defend itself from the arrowdracs. Ha! I tell you, Mariel, if we could but sit the Descarothe Hegemons at the same bar as friend-Jenkins here, we would not need to invade. They would simply surrender!"

Stanley seems very pleased at his joke, the punch line of which he has ruined by laughing at his own brilliance.

In reply to Stanley (msg # 226):

She sipped her own tea.

"I don't know where the term "dragging" came from. It's lost in the mists of history, from the pre-Anglic language known as "English". The Hegemony looks for external enemies, and due to their ties to the Consulate has always seen us as a threat. That's bad enough, but now we suspect they're sending privateers and corsairs into our territory. They are expansionist, and invaded their closest neighbours only back in 1103.

Since 1105 there's been a detente between the Hegemony and the League, but it's a little frayed. There's been some kind of treaty about the border world of Qarant, allowing both the Hegemony and League access, but like all worlds in the Hegemony's sphere it's not very safe at all.

"Their navy is of better quality than their army, we have a lot of respect for it. But their ships are 3rd hand, bought from the Domain of Alintzar (a Zhodani client and the former power in the subsector). I'd still give the edge to the Free Suns due to newer ships and better Imperial training and doctrine."

OOC: I don't think we're waiting for anyone, I just felt like doling out some information on local subsector politics. If you want to take off at 0900 then let's get it on!
This message was last edited by the player at 10:26, Fri 25 Oct 2013.

Blake has air raft 0, so he can drive that.  He stuffs his duffel with the carbine, magazines, belt, canteens - filled, Zippo lighter, survival knife, 1st aid pouch, compass, flashlight, dagger, 1 roll duct tape, inertial locator & pack.  Also lunches, he can help Linus prepare them.  Oh yeah, better take some cash along too ...  Souvenir $$

Linus comes down with a big basket of food.

Jaxxon arrived at the Air/Raft in a parka, sweater and boots over his ship suit. He was carrying one of the shotguns from the ship's armoury.

"Guys, according to the weather report it's going to be cold up there. Below freezing. Also, remember, anything other than shotguns are illegal on this world."

He loaded up the A/R with his gear.

Ken chuckled and nodded in turn at the political discussion.  He'd made his point but in these kind of talks with friends one was never truly done.  And he had too much respect for Stanley's intelligence and alien perspective to not stay heavily involved.  But now it was time for work.

"Ok, 0900, let's go everyone. Blake you drive the raft, Stanley you take your bike.  Everyone bring warm clothing and if you have pistols keep them hidden.  I don't want trouble if we can avoid it."  He headed down to the raft with his gear and climbed aboard.

OOC: We're off!!

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 231):

Stanley's bow, arrows, and and swords are all nicely legal here. He wears several layers and a cloak which will hide his extra limbs. He doesn't wear the cloak on the 'cycle. He'll put it on after they get there.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 231):

At 0900, the fog still hadn't lifted but a cold wind was blowing. Tattered mists scudded across the tarmac and wooded lowlands where Varnov's Landing was located.

Jaxxon helped erect the grav bike's aeroshell and the air/raft's collapsible soft top.

From the ship, Mariel performed radio checks to make sure their comms were working.

"Are you taking the backpack radio set? Otherwise, you'll have to use landline communications. Also, be aware the regulations for grav vehicles restricts them to ground use in city limits."

In reply to Mariel Migaraa (msg # 234):

"I just have the system that is installed in Arrowdrac," replied Stanley, blithely referring to the TL 12 Continental-Range Comm Unit on the military-surplus vehicle which possibly cost more than his entire race earned the previous year. "I'm pretty sure my hand-comp can connect to the comm gear, though. Olliver showed me how to...no, wait, that's my email program....hold on, I know it's here somewhere..."

Note that Stanley is wearing a Solmani helmet which uses his HUD visor to screen two of his eyes, and has some LI/IR googles on his other eyes (more for protection than utility in this case). This, plus the rather utilitarian cut of his custom cloth armor, and some extra-extra wide combat boots to cover his webbed feet, AND the two swords, bow, and quiver full of arrows holstered make for....a very particular image. It is possible that Mirayns think this qualifies as "cool." Other sophonts would probably not use that adjective.