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Destination: Unknown.

Posted by StarMasterFor group 0
StarMaster
GM, 796 posts
Tue 30 May 2017
at 19:13
  • msg #1

Destination: Unknown

The ship is 4 days into its trip through J-space. Everything is routine on board. Everyone's going about their business, though some don't have much to do except train and study, though that can get boring real fast.

It's 0559 when the schrack hits the fan. Well, kind of.

Where are you and what are you doing when it does?


The alarm klaxons suddenly go off! While this is the sound that all spacefarers dread, it's also one that most have never heard: it's the Misjump warning! If you were awake, you felt the ship drop out of J-space.

Sure, it was used in training sims, but, somehow, it's different when it actually happens on a ship.

A moment later, the ship's lights go out and the ship loses its artificial gravity.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:46, Wed 31 May 2017.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 352 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Wed 31 May 2017
at 07:06
  • msg #2

Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 1):

Depends on watches for Sam. If she was on watch would have been on the bridge, otherwise in her bunk, sleeping.
Walter Zeller
player, 398 posts
Merchant/Noble
Thu 1 Jun 2017
at 00:27
  • msg #3

Destination: Unknown

With his watch just about to come on, Sir Walter finished his paperwork in his cabin, making sure that it was ready for the custom inspectors before they got to their destination. Feeling the sudden lurch as the ship came out of jump, he quickly donned his vacc suit and headed to the bridge.

What's going on Samantha? Feels like we just came out of jump. he said as he checked the drives to make sure they were alright.

20:25, Today: Walter Zeller rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,3.  Check drives to make sure they are okay.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 312 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 1 Jun 2017
at 03:08
  • msg #4

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 3):

Vonon had spent most of his shift - as he had every shift since the ship entered jumpspace - down in Drone Control working on learning the skill of Drone Operation. He had, actually, just shut down and secured the controls, prior to heading up to the Bridge to log off shift, when the ship lurches and alarms - some kind of Jump Engine Alert, if he remembered correctly - start going off.

Still seated when the lights go out, Vonon reaches for the button to open a comm-channel to the Bridge,

"What the frack just happened?" he asks, as he starts to feel himself floating in his chair.

With the power out, there is no reply.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:39, Thu 01 June 2017.
Gregory Jones
player, 38 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Thu 1 Jun 2017
at 03:24
  • msg #5

Destination: Unknown

Jones had been up for about half an hour now, in preparation for his shift at 0600. He was heading for the bridge when the alarm went off, and then the ship went dark, and gravity cut out.

"That's not good," he commented to himself as he floated off the deck. Power was out, probably auto-shutdown when they dropped out of J-space.

That's what the alarm signaled--a premature termination of Jump-space. He didn't think it was a misjump; people didn't usually survive a misjump, though, when they did, they were usually nowhere near where they wanted to be.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 237 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Thu 1 Jun 2017
at 03:37
  • msg #6

Destination: Unknown

zzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Two seconds after the alarm began, Pablo was up with gun in hand, since it'd been under his pillow. A second later he was floating off his bunk, but reflexively, his non-gun hand darted out to grab the edge of the bunk.

He'd only been asleep for a few hours, but the alarm was loud enough to wake the dead!

"Oh, crap. Misjump. Mama said there'd be days like this. Don't know if it's good or bad that we aren't already dead."

He listened then. If the hull had been penetrated, the sound of air escaping would carry through the bulkheads. No hull breech. Still, putting on his vacc-suit was advisable. He pushed off from the wall to carry him to the rack where his vacc-suit hung.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 276 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Thu 1 Jun 2017
at 06:21
  • msg #7

Destination: Unknown

Sharik had been asleep.  Fast asleep.  It had been a good dream.  With unicorns, grav racing, and confetti.  Lots of confetti.  And Darrel's hunky co-star from that vid a decade ago.  Meow...

Which meant that the sudden shock from the blaring alarm was compounded by her arousal from deep, satisfied REM at the time.  Her eyes darted open, forcing focus and comprehension, but with the power out there was nothing to transition to except for the intermittent flashing lights.  Still, she had had enough training to know that she was in free fall, which meant a couple of things - the least of which was that the inertial compensators had failed.

Slowly and deliberately, the diminutive dilettante reached out with both hands in opposite directions to slow her pronating body and steady her position.  Once she'd disentangled herself from her bed sheets, Shar moved to put on her vacc suit and her personal electronics.  As the dataglove and p-comm established their local connections and ran through a set of quick diagnostics, the auburn-haired navigator took stock of the situation.

The power outage was extremely troubling, but did explain the lack of gravity, potentially.  The alarm meant emergency power.  Though, any emergency lights on the ship would likely not last for that long, a few hours at most.  There should be enough fuel for a few weeks of normal operation still, even if the initiation of the jump had siphoned most of their tanks.  If the power plant were still on line (which didn't appear to be the case).

But, any misjump usually spelled disaster.  It was a miracle that their atoms weren't strewn over several parsecs of n-Space, which was the usual outcome of the hydrogen bubble around the ship rupturing in j-Space and leaking n-Matter which naturally returned to n-Space on its own.  On the other hand, if they were in the middle of nowhere (literally) - in the space between stars, then instant disintegration and scattering might be preferable to freezing to death as temperatures equilibrated with the outside at just above four Kelvin.  The prospect of their precious heat energy bleeding away to the surrounding Deep Black was not appetizing at all.  Entropy was a bitch.

With the diagnostics check on her dataglove done and the light glow of standby illuminating her helmet's HUD, Sharik pushed off of her cabin wall towards the door to her quarters.  She popped the dusty latch to engage the manual mechanism to open the door.  The crank screw required a bit of time, but thankfully it still worked.  Poking her head through the doorway, she turned on her helmet lights and gave the darkened hallway a once-over.

She assumed those in engineering were trying to get the power plant online again.  But once that was done, the computer would need to be next - whatever state it might be in.  Both of them.  Along with the sneak circuits and avionics.  So, Sharik figured that she'd be needed on the bridge.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 353 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 1 Jun 2017
at 07:40
  • msg #8

Destination: Unknown

As usual Sam was having trouble staying focussed on watch. Her mind wandered as she scanned the readouts for anything out of the ordinary, but she kept bringing it back to staying focussed. Years of this sort of duty didn't make it easier, you just learned how to cope.

When she felt the ship beginning to drop out of jump she was surprised - apart from basic, and a few refreshers since, she hadn't ever experienced this for real, and part of her brain thought - this must be another sim.

When the lights went out, and Gravity failed, she quickly strapped herself into her seat and tried the control panels. She tried to pull up first and foremost damage control, to see what, if any, issues there were immediately to deal with on the ship. Secondarily she tried to pull up an immediate nav update - to see if they were about to drift into a gas giant, or something equally inconvenient.

When Walter came in she was glad to see he was suited up, it meant she didn't have to waste time bothering as he could keep on working if things got serious and she needed to, though she did sub consciously pat the emergency soft suit in the bum bag she wore most of the time

"Confirming that Walter, but it defintely felt like it" she gave him a quick smile "Still, I am sure shenanighans will now commence..." she said, and turned back to the control panel

ooc
Is all power off? or just lights and Gravity?

08:35, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 9 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,4.  Strapping self in Zero G 0 Dex +1. Forgot +1 on roller

08:34, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,6.  Pulling up Damage Control. Not sure what this would be Int is +1 - is this Sensors (+1) or Computers (0) -

08:35, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,6.  Checking for outside hazards. Again Not sure what this would be Int is +1 - is this Sensors (+1) or Computers (0)
Again, potentially 12 (computers) or 13 (sensors)
Darrel Cromwell
player, 720 posts
Noble (Count)
Retired actor
Thu 1 Jun 2017
at 14:25
  • msg #9

Destination: Unknown

After his late-night shift, though on a ship such classifications were rather moot, he'd finished up some paperwork... funny how it was still called that when almost no one used paper any more... before going to bed, but quickly realized he was going to have trouble sleeping. Instead of continuing to fight it, he got up again, did a bit of studying but found his mind wasn't focused enough to retain anything.

Lately, he'd been feeling the actor bug again, which is probably what prompted him to watch his old vid, "The Ghostring of Spinstorme", a moderately successful sequel to his earlier hit, "The Ghost Moon of Spinstorme".

He wasn't really watching it for entertainment value, although he still found it reasonably entertaining; he just had a hard time realizing that it was him on the screen. The show had really been carried by Xavier Manse, who played the villain Dr. Dharkayne. Anyway, he was reviewing its technical merits, making notes on how it could have been improved, with the vague possibility of a remake (he'd play the dread doctor this time!), when it happened.

The end credits were rolling, and he was contemplating watching it again when he realized he still wasn't sleepy.

"OOOOOGA! OOOOOOGA! OOOOOOGA!" the alarm klaxons suddenly blared out.

"Damn! Misjump! So much for restarting my acting career!" he swore as the ship dropped out of J-space, the lights and then the gravity went out.

"Wait! If I can hear the damn alarm, that must mean I'm not dead, the ship hasn't been destroyed, and maybe, just maybe, there's something we can do about it!"

Although he thought it was a futile gesture, he began pulling on his vacc-suit by the flashlight function of his comm.
StarMaster
GM, 800 posts
Thu 1 Jun 2017
at 16:26
  • msg #10

Destination: Unknown

When the lights and gravity went out, it was just the obvious signs that all power had gone out. However, emergency power systems kicked in within about 3 seconds.

Almost as quickly as emergency power came on (re-booting sensors), the proximity alarm sounded!


By the time Walter reached the bridge, Sam had already run a systems check.

The Jump log showed a premature departure from J-space due to a gravitic anomaly in the flight path. The ship's default programming automatically shut down the reactor to conserve fuel, since it might still be needed to make another jump.

Emergency power is good for about a week.

There's no damage to the ship.

External sensors are indicating a nearby dwarf planet, but the visuals aren't registering it.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 498 posts
Aslan outcast
Thu 1 Jun 2017
at 19:02
  • msg #11

Destination: Unknown

Having just went to sleep a few hours ago Khea needed some minutes to realize that the alarm indicated something bad and that there was supposed to be gravity and light. When the realization hit her she immediately scrambled to grab her communicator and computer and to float to the door while still in her underwear, dressing in zero G and complete dark takes too much time after all, and to go as quickly as possible to the engine room.

Using her computer display to shine a little light and hoping that her natural night vision will warn her when she is about to hit a bulkhead she just screamed into the communicator "WHAT HAPPENED?" but didn't even bother to wait for a reply.

When the emergency power kicked in and the returning gravity dumped her on the floor she was just outside the ships locker trying to find a way to open the door without power, a problem luckily solved now so she continued to the engine room.

Only when she was outside it she realized that wearing a vacc suit (or anything besides underwear) would be quite helpful in this situation. But as time was running she had to do with whatever readout about the atmospheric conditions of the engine rooms were available to make sure she wouldn't meet her end due to a hull breach or ball of burning plasma when entering in order to check the machines and to find out what happened.

OOC: Kheaiftouaw rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,5.  Checking Power and Jump Drive status (Edu + Skill).

The emergency power did turn gravity back on? If not ignore that part in my post.
Walter Zeller
player, 399 posts
Merchant/Noble
Thu 1 Jun 2017
at 20:26
  • msg #12

Destination: Unknown

Sir Walter moved to the shipboard communications panel to update the crew.

+++Attention crew, the good thing is we are still alive, the bad, we came out of jump way too early. There does not seem to be any damage to the drives and we still have some jump fuel. We are on emergency power for the time being so plan on manual operation for the doors and such. All hands to your battle stations.+++ he said.

"Sharik, please run a check to figure out where we ended up at and the best way out. Gregory, run a sensors sweep. Computer says there was a dwarf planet that caused us to come out of jump, need you to find it since we can not see it on visual.
Samantha, prepare for emergency maneuvering." Walter said as he waited for Darrell to come to the bridge in order to take over.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 313 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 2 Jun 2017
at 03:32
  • msg #13

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 12):

After a time that seemed longer than it probably was, some lights and gravity came back on, and Vonon settled back into his chair at the drone control console. He sat silent for moment, listening to the ship.

Only about half the lights were on, but he could see that. But as he listened, he realized he was hearing something a little disconcerting - quiet.

Normally the ship was abuzz with minor sounds - the whirring of ventilator fans, 60-cycle hums from lights, the steady thrum of the engines, even structural creaking as the ship moved.

Now, all he could hear was the whirring of a few ventilator fans and the bussing of a couple of light. Main power was obviously off-line, or much more of the ship's electronics would be active and making slight ultrasonic noise.

Then the intercom clicked open and Walter announced the ship had dropped from j-space and he wanted everyone to battle stations.

"Can he do that?" Vonon said out loud, to himself, as he looked over the drone controls, "I thought Sam was Bridge Officer this Watch. Oh, well - ah!"

Just as he had recently trained himself to do, Vonon switched drone master control over to bridge control. Then he relocked the board, here, and headed for the manual hatch out of Remote Ops, into the Secondary Cargo Bay. Opening the manual hatch, then crossing the secondary cargo bay, Vonon approached the iris-valve door out to the central companionway with caution, not sure if the automatics were working at emergency power levels - but the door opened when he reached out to touch it.

*...Boarding Armor or E-Suit...Boarding Armor or E-Suit...* Vonon considered as he walked, *...my stateroom's on the way to the Bridge...but there's a locker with E-Suits just down the hall from here, on this deck...Boarding Armor or E-Suit...Boarding Armor is a little bulky for the confines of a bridge station...that settles it...Boarding Armor it is...it was never really a question...*

Heading aft down the companionway, Vonon stopped at the corner where both the lift doors and the manual hatch into the landing bay were located. Again, not sure that it was working under emergency power, Vonon pressed the lift call button, and was relieved when the lift responded. He wasn't looking forward to going out into the landing bay to climb the ladder up to Engineering.

When the lift opens, he enters and pushes the button for the Main Deck.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 354 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 2 Jun 2017
at 07:19
  • msg #14

Destination: Unknown

Sam ignored Walters protocol breach - technically she was in charge until the end of shift hand over, but unless he started doing stupid things it wasn't worth arguing now - they had bigger things to worry about.

Calling up the Sensors, she started them on a sweep pattern, focussing on the apparent dwarf planet, leaving them to run, she then returned her console to the piloting station, and began pre flight checks, checking all was in working order

ooc

Start sensor sweep 08:18, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,4.  Sensors 1 Int 1.

Pre flight
08:19, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 8 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 2,3.  Pre flight Pilot 2 Int 1.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 499 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 7 Jun 2017
at 21:48
  • msg #15

Destination: Unknown

Once the first rush of adrenalin has passed and she has confirmed that the machines are not about to blow up Khea takes stock and especially checks the fuel status. Cassandra is two parsecs away from Outpost so the Long Shot should have enough fuel for a one parsec jump left.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 314 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Wed 7 Jun 2017
at 23:15
  • msg #16

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 15):
OOC: If I've read the posts correctly - Sam is sitting at the Pilot Station, Sir Walter dropped into the Navigator Station, Darrel is at the Captain Station - and, I think, Sharik sat at the Comm Station. Everyone else is just standing at somebody's shoulder. So...


Vonon clomps onto the Bridge wearing his Boarding Armor spacesuit - the helmet open and folded back. Although Vonon had added a little 'Vargr Graffiti' to this suit, it still looked like a standard Imperial suit. Now has more artwork and 'bits-and-pieces' added to it, and looks much more - Vargr.

"What the frack happened?" he asks, as he heads for the Sensor Station (position 4, on the Map - unless that's where Sharik is sitting?), and plops into the chair (which automatically adjusts to his greater bulk).

Vonon opens a pair of comm-channels; accessing each weapon turret.

"Pablo? Kaengarr? We're at Battle Stations, you two strapped in and ready? I'll power up your sensor feeds on acknowledgement. Weapon charging will wait for Captain's Authorization."
StarMaster
GM, 801 posts
Thu 8 Jun 2017
at 04:49
  • msg #17

Destination: Unknown

The initial alarm and confusion quickly passes, and everyone gets the systems to spit out data.

Khea determines that there is enough fuel for a 1-parsec Jump, so the ship can continue on its course. There is also enough extra fuel for about a week of normal operations.

Sam is able to get the sensors to make sense of the anomalous readings. The ship dropped out of J-space due to a large gravitic field, registering as a Dwarf Planet. If it had been any smaller, it probably wouldn't have affected the ship.

As it is, the source of this gravity field was intersecting the Long Shot's course, so presumably it is a rogue planet.

Except... she can't find it on visual sensors. Finally, she focuses on the point of origin for the gravity... and finds... a pyramid.

With optical range finder, it's 250 meters across on its base, and 160 meters high. Although the surface has been made to look like stone, optical spectography indicates that it's a heavy metal... 170.

Why it is generating such a high gravity field is unknown. It'll take about a day to get there on emergency power with the gravity drive.

Sam's pre-flight check is a no-go: without the main reactor up and running, there's not enough power for a jump.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 355 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 8 Jun 2017
at 09:35
  • msg #18

Destination: Unknown

Sam pulls the Pyramid up on to the screen and says to Vonun "Thats what happened, V. Though not exactly sure what that is. Can you get the sensors locked onto it and start scanning it - might be worth checking out. Its what caused us to drop out of the jump." Swivelling in her chair she says "Darrell, main power is still offline so no jump capability yet." She swivels back to her console and continues trying to get flight systems back up and running

ooc
should have been clearer - Sam was wanting to pre-flight for insystem maneovering - can we do any of that?
StarMaster
GM, 802 posts
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 02:48
  • msg #19

Destination: Unknown

[OOC: Actually, I think I realized that's what Sam meant, and then I forgot to mention it.]


Yes, all systems are go for sublight maneuvering, using the gravitic drive with emergency power.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 315 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 03:03
  • msg #20

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 18):

"What is that? Is that a mountain?" Vonon asks, squinting up at the main monitor, "No, it's too regular. Gotta be a ship. Anybody know if the Zho's are building Pyramid Ships, these days? Kheaiftouaw, one of yours, perhaps?"

Vonon turns his attention to the Sensor Station he's sitting at, and links into the feed Sam's already established. Then he begins a variety of scans to see what he can find out about the object.

However, the very first thing he does is determine if he can establish a stable weapon lock on the thing, that he can send to the targeting systems in the turrets. Then he'll start analyzing the object.



OOC: 22:58, Today: Vonon Ronkunu rolled 12 using 2d6((4,6)) +2 (INT or EDU +1, Sensors +1, unknown equipment bonus) to establish weapons lock on pyramid.
22:55, Today: Vonon Ronkunu rolled 8 using 2d6((5,1)) +2 (INT or EDU +1, Sensors +1, unknown equipment bonus) for general scan of the pyramid.
StarMaster
GM, 803 posts
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 03:20
  • msg #21

Destination: Unknown

The weapons have a number of ways to get a lock on a target: radar, visual, IR... or, in this case, gravity. The weapons can target the center of the gravity well, and even use radar and visual. Radar is a bit tricky because the angles of the pyramid don't reflect the radar waves back correctly. IR isn't possible because there is no heat signature to the pyramid.


While it seems highly likely that the pyramid is generating an artificial gravity field, the technology makes it indistinguishable from a planetary gravity.

On the other hand, it's possible that there is a significant amount of collapsite, neutronium or white dwarf matter within the pyramid that would be causing the gravity.

The sensors aren't able to penetrate the other hull, nor can they give any reason why.
Darrel Cromwell
player, 721 posts
Noble (Count)
Retired actor
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 03:26
  • msg #22

Destination: Unknown

"I was about to say, 'let's go check it out'," Darrel spoke up then, "but I have to keep reminding myself that this isn't one of my holovids."

"If I read the sensors correctly, we are just at the edge of the jump limit, so we shouldn't have any trouble getting back on course. One hour either way and we would have missed it completely."

"I'm seriously tempted to go check it out anyway. We have the resources at the moment, with only a bit of reserve, but if we exceed that, it could doom us."

"So, I'm putting it out there for the rest of the crew: do you want to investigate, or resume our course?"
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 316 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 06:02
  • msg #23

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Darrel Cromwell (msg # 22):

Vonon shifts the gravity-targeting data to the weapon turrets, so that Pablo and Kaengarr can get a look at what we're facing, and keep the lasers pointed at it (though not powered up, yet). He takes note of Darrel's question with the back of his mind, as he focuses on the data coming in.


OOC:
Okay, only getting surface data, so, get a reading on the exact strength of the G-Field. "Gravity of a Dwarf Planet" - well, Mars has a 0.3 G local gravity, and it's a full blown (small) Planet. So what're we talking, 0.15G, 0.25G?

Also, space is not empty. Scan the surface of the object for debris deposits - layered dust, micro-meteorite impacts, metal fragments from other ships that have crashed against it, etc.

Try to get decent RADAR and LIDAR scans of each of the 5 sides (4 triangles and 1 square base) of the pyramid to create a surface map. You said it "looked like stone" but was detecting as metallic Element 179, but does that mean that it just has a rough, stone-like finish all over, or does it have a pattern of lines, mimicking stone blocks?

Vonon may have to ask Sam to maneuver the ship in order to get better angles for these RADAR and LIDAR shots.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 356 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 07:40
  • msg #24

Destination: Unknown

Sam spoke, up as she continued her checks "Maneoverings on line so we can go take a closer look if we like. And I think we should - if only to get more information to tag this on Astrogation maps. if this pulled us out of Jump, it could do the same to another ship - and with worse results."
StarMaster
GM, 804 posts
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 20:22
  • msg #25

Destination: Unknown

Although you are in the darkness of space and there is no nearby star to provide sunlight, it is not utter darkness--the stars still shine.

The pyramid is tumbling slowly through space, kind of an irregular catty-cornered pattern. It is only when you bounce a laser off of it do you get detailed information. It looks like it's made of stone, but the laser reflection spectography said it was metal. A laser surface scan indicates that the metal is smooth... there are no seams, there is no roughness to the surface. It appears to be a discoloration of the metal that gives that look. Clearly, though, the metal was intentionally made to look like stone.

There is no dust, no scratches, no impact craters...


The gravity field is about .24 standard Gees.


It's velocity is about 30,000mph. That, and the tumble, will make it difficult to dock with.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 238 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 20:50
  • msg #26

Destination: Unknown

"I've been pretty useless aboard the Long Shot," Pablo spoke up, "so if there's something there I can shoot, then I'm all for it."

"Admittedly, there's a small chance of a misjump under normal circumstances, but every time we jump, there's a chance that we'll all die. So, I figure we're all living on borrowed time anyway."

"By all means, let's check it out."
Gregory Jones
player, 39 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 20:53
  • msg #27

Destination: Unknown

"Wherever you go, Count, I step on the mines first," Jones added.

That situation had evolved somewhat, at least, Gregory felt like it had, but it certainly hadn't been formalized. The Count hadn't released him from service, nor had he offered him an actual crew position or share in the ship.

He almost got the impression that the Count was waiting for him to leave... or perhaps get killed, so that he wouldn't have to make a decision.
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 53 posts
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 21:12
  • msg #28

Destination: Unknown

This situation was a bit unusual for Valeska. She was used to a different way of operation. When you signed onto a ship, you were essentially leaving all decisions up to the captain. He always had the final say. So, Valeska was surprised then that the Count had asked the crew's opinion.

But while it was unusual--this 'all for one, one for all' approach, she appreciated it.

"I'm in," she said. "The pyramid shape is a regular geometric solid, so it could be some sort of alien ship. The gravity field it's generating could be some advanced technology."

She'd merely voiced what she felt everyone was thinking.
Kaengarr Ruzokh
player, 438 posts
Gvegh Vargr
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 21:15
  • msg #29

Destination: Unknown

"Yeah, what Pablo said," came Kaengarr's response.

"I'm used to long waiting periods before intense action. And since the Count wouldn't let me shoot anyone on Outpost, I consider that my 'long period of waiting', so I'm ready for that intense action now."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 500 posts
Aslan outcast
Fri 9 Jun 2017
at 22:38
  • msg #30

Destination: Unknown

Having come up from the engine room after squeezing into a vacc suit and getting briefed on the situation Khea hovers around the sensor station to constantly get a gimps of the object while offering "advise"

"Make sure to record everything you see. The data alone would be worth millions .... And do a full gravimetric scan .... And make sure to remove any location information from the scans, we can sell that separately.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 317 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 10 Jun 2017
at 04:15
  • msg #31

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 30):

"I am..." Vonon mumbles in response to Khea, as he works the sensors, "... I know ... I am ... I am removing any - wait, what?" Vonon glances up at Khea,

"What do you want me to do, erase the Universe from the scans? We do that to the recordings! Later, not now."

Vonon looks around Khea, "Captain, I've bounced the entire electromagnetic spectrum at that thing - and a few things besides - at all sensor frequencies and it remains an inert, unresponsive lump. Time to decide if we escalate."
Aimee Lavaud
player, 11 posts
Sat 10 Jun 2017
at 18:37
  • msg #32

Destination: Unknown

"Count me in!" Aimee says excitedly. "This beats working in a space lab seven ways to Sunday!"

"If I settle in to work at the lab, this might be my last chance for adventure!"

Then she listens to Khea and Vonon's discussion.

"Actually, the easiest way is to just dual record the data, but turn off the GPS on one of them," she suggests. "When you are looking at the scans, there's a row of touch-button toggle switches along the top that let you control the various aspects of the scan. Usually the far right one is the GPS switch."

"The computer is feeding the sensor data to all consoles, which everyone seems to be watching, so just pick one as your no-GPS station and shut it off while you hit record."
Walter Zeller
player, 400 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sat 10 Jun 2017
at 23:47
  • msg #33

Destination: Unknown

Sir Walter listened to the conversations, not use to being part of an expedition to an unknown object.

"Well, I do not have much to offer in the aspect of science or exploration but it would be a good idea to get things organized before we step foot on it. Armor, weapons, jobs, etc, would be a good idea since we do not know what to expect nor if we will be able to communicate with each other while we are on it." he said.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 318 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 11 Jun 2017
at 00:40
  • msg #34

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 33):

Vonon stares wide-eyed at the sensor station as Aimee makes her suggestion.

"Well frack me..." he finally says, "I'm military sensor trained, and they never taught me that trick. No wonder civilian courts are so choked up, if you can futz with the sensors like that."

Vonon begins to slowly, and carefully, set up the sensor recording scheme suggested by Aimee, as Walter suggests visiting the object.

"Well, that's what I was just saying, Sir Walter - that object is probably deader than that ancient Terran actress, uh, Lassie, I think her name was."

"But, since sensors aren't telling us much, I don't think jumping out onto it should be our next step. We need to find out if it'll react to either a comm signal, or, well, a laser shot."

Vonon looked around, "From what little the sensors are telling me, our laser cannon aren't even going to leave a warm spot on that material. I think. But we might wake something up. Same for beaming a comm signal at it. It's not responding to being scanned, but it might acknowledge a signal or comm-laser."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 501 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 11 Jun 2017
at 12:37
  • msg #35

Destination: Unknown

"We should also pre-calculate the jump coordinates. ... Just in case.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 277 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Mon 12 Jun 2017
at 08:07
  • msg #36

Destination: Unknown

Sharik listened with one ear on the conversations swirling around them.  The diminutive navigator continued her work on figuring out where the Long Shot had actually dropped out of j-Space.

While it was possible that it was merely in the space between their source and destination, there were documented misjumps placing the ship more than thirty-five parsecs off-course.  Which could actually have placed them anywhere in the sector (and well outside of the subsector that they had started in).  That was one of the reasons that she was only listening with one ear.

The talk of fuzzing the positional readings was likely irrelevant at this moment.  They were already unintentionally fuzzed.  Hell, if they couldn't figure out where they were, any discovery that they might make might also be lost to time and space as any jump calculations from an unknown position would be virtually impossible (in the sense that without known initial positioning, reentering j-Space virtually guaranteed another misjump - and the next time they'd probably not be as lucky as they'd been this time.  Next time, they might find their atoms reentering n-Space strewn across more than one system).

That actually didn't phase Shar that much though, she felt confident that she could eventually figure out where they were.  Eventually.  The auburn-haired socialite would have freely admitted that it might take a while to figure things out though.  Such were the vagaries of not having a necessary ready point of reference immediately available ...


[OOC:  First and foremost trying to figure out where the Long Shot actually is.

  01:00, Today: Sharik Kaagira rolled 12 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 1,6.  Astrogation/IntCheck: Where in Known Space are we?

No difficulty modifiers factored in, only the GM knows how easy/hard this is supposed to be.  Sharik will take more time to figure things out based on star chart readings (she has her personal Intellect and Expert Navigation programs at her disposal).]
Kheaiftouaw
player, 502 posts
Aslan outcast
Fri 16 Jun 2017
at 19:10
  • msg #37

Destination: Unknown

Khea leaves the bridge and waddles back into the engine room in the ill fitting emergency vacc suit she had hastily done to turn on main power. One week should be enough to explore this object or at least get a good enough fix on their location to come back later. Still she reduced power levels just in case.
Satisfied she climbs back to the upper deck while humming a tune from her homeworld and goes back to her cabin to exchange her current vacc suit with the properly fitting aslan one she bought and to collect an exploration kit which she deposites in the main airlock so that the others dont forget essential equipment.
The toolkits from the ship locker, just so that they can be quickly retrieved when needed, all the different scanners stored there, a tranq gun and the remaining ammo and a few mousebots just in case they need something to scout ahead.
She herself takes her computer and one of her guns with 3 magazines in case there is trouble.
OOC: 20:52, Today: Kheaiftouaw rolled 12 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,6.  Turn on power Edu + skill
StarMaster
GM, 805 posts
Sat 17 Jun 2017
at 00:07
  • msg #38

Destination: Unknown

Sharik starts out by locating any pulsars she can identify, and then comparing them with known pulsars, and finally overlaying the star patterns in the computer with what's out there. Thus, she has no problem determining the ship's location... it's about halfway between Outpost and Duncinae, about where it should be under the circumstances. It didn't seem like it was a misjump, in the strictest sense of that term, and it turns out that it wasn't.

Based on the remaining fuel, there's no problem with laying in a resumed course for Duncinae.

At Vonon's suggestion, a tight-beam comm signal and then a laser-comm signal is directed at the pyramid. There is no response, and the pyramid continues to be inactive.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:52, Wed 12 July 2017.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 319 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 17 Jun 2017
at 00:45
  • msg #39

Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 38):

Vonon repeats the results of trying to get the pyramid to respond to a communication attempt - zilch.

"Okay, now, maybe this the Patrolman in me speaking up, but..." Vonon turns in his seat a little to look back at everyone, "Before we try to go stomping across the surface of that thing, I would suggest we try to get the ship in a hover, just abouve the surface, then drop The Boys down, for a recon, and let them find out what happens when somebody sets foot on that surface."
Sharik Kaagira
player, 278 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Tue 20 Jun 2017
at 01:33
  • msg #40

Destination: Unknown

Sharik's brow furrowed for a moment as the initial sensor readings came back and the initial positional estimates began to iterate through the various higher-order refinement algorithms.  The estimates were troubling, not in the actual position, but in what they might imply.

"Good news, bad news." the auburn-haired navigator of the Long Shot noted off-hand to the others on the bridge.  Shar started with, "The Good News™, we are not far off-course ... if at all."  She paused for a moment to and pointed to a spot midway between the source and destination of the ship.

"Bad News™..." she noted rather deadpan, "I have no idea how we fell out of j-Space.  We didn't have a rupture in hydrogen containment bubble or in the lanthenum matrix.  All I can think of is that thing..." and she jerked a thumb towards the sensor readings for the pyramid, "had a large enough effect on the local gravity well to act as a true space-time anomaly and an effective barrier in j-Space.  A one in a million chance of us plowing into it through the vagaries of our particular vectoring and positioning along this route.  I guess..."  To be honest, she didn't sound completely convinced about that last statement.  Probably too many suppositions and coincidences for her taste.

Sharik paused again, as if in additional contemplation, then slowly posited, "If it was large enough - gravitationally speaking - to disrupt local space-time...."  She pursed her burgundy lips and whistled slightly for effect; shaking her head slightly, she let the statement hang there.  Shar made little move to join the boarding party; though possibly interested in just what the thing might be made of and contained, the diminutive socialite actually looked a touch wary (if not scared).  That level of local disruption could be down right hazardous.

"Yeah, absolutely." she tacked onto her Vargr friend's idea, agreeing wholeheartedly, "...we should send one or more drones down first to take samples and look around."  There were plenty of more 'expendable' remotes available than people on this ship.  At least, that seemed to be her current stance; it made perfect sense to her.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 358 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 22 Jun 2017
at 17:27
  • msg #41

Destination: Unknown

Sam looked at the rotating Pyramid And pursed her lips "I could probably get  us into a hover over it, but it'll be tricky. But where do we want to hover - over the base, or one of
 the sides? when we've decided that - where abouts on that side?"

She looked at Sharik "Sharik, Can you work out if the point of the top is pointing at anything - in system or elsewhere?"
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 320 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 23 Jun 2017
at 05:14
  • msg #42

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 41):

"No, it's kinda tumbling top-over-bottom, in a wobbly kind of way, Sam." Vonon chimes in from the Sensor Station, "I don't think the pyramid top is pointed in any one direction, though I suppose it might be scribing a circle around some limited volume of space. I'll set the sensors to monitor that, but it really looks like a totally random tumble, to me."

"As for where to drop the drones," Vonon adds, "If you feel you can get us there, I'd recommend smack in the middle of the square base. I don't think it will matter to the drones - that pyramid is generating a gravity well of around a quarter-G - that'll hold anything down on it's hull, regardless of what face it's on. As long as they don't do a lot of jumping around, the drones should be good to scout around."
Darrel Cromwell
player, 722 posts
Noble (Count)
Retired actor
Sat 24 Jun 2017
at 02:01
  • msg #43

Destination: Unknown

The crew was doing what needed to be done, without him interfering. He really had little to contribute. It was a technical investigation process, something outside of his skill set.

All he had to draw on was the holovids he'd made. It wasn't as bad as it sounded, since smarter people than he had written the scripts. While they had tried to keep it as realistic as possible, there was a certain amount of fiction that was expected.

"Khea," he called on the comm. "I've been thinking... yeah, I know how dangerous that is... but, I'm pretty sure that this pyramid is some kind of ship. It seems like something happened to their gravity drive, which is what is causing the localized gravity field. No big deal about that, except that there is no way our gravity drives could ever produce that effect."

"I suppose it could just be some sort of wonky trap. There was something like that in The Pirates of the Black Nebula that I made."

"Anyway, am I off-base with that? Can you extrapolate any sort of mechanism or power source that could generate that sort of gravity field?"
Kheaiftouaw
player, 503 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 25 Jun 2017
at 23:38
  • msg #44

Destination: Unknown

CountDarrels request stopped Khea cold. She was no scientist and "extrapolating" basically means guessing. But of course she couldn't say so. So she gnashes her teeth and thrums on the bulkhead with her claws while trying to come up with a more professional sounding version for "I do not know"

"If it were a drive I would expect the centre of gravity to be on the outside of the pyramid. Otherwise you would not move at all.
Considering how far we are from the next planet we can rule out any fusion power generation or anything that depends on fuel. Maybe the gravity is not a drive but a power plant.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 359 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 29 Jun 2017
at 07:30
  • msg #45

Destination: Unknown

"Okay Vonun" Sam said "Can you see if its a regular tumble, so I can try and predict its location for us to intercept?"
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 239 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Thu 29 Jun 2017
at 20:54
  • msg #46

Destination: Unknown

"Okay, Kaengarr and I are suiting up for an EVA action-aboard," he reported.

"Okay, Kaengarr, rock-paper-scissors-Spock to see who steps out first!" he challenges his partner-in-crime.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 321 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 30 Jun 2017
at 07:40
  • msg #47

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Pablo Esteban Ryzov (msg # 46):

"Uh ... um ..." Vonon turns back to the sensor station and adjusts a few settings, then gives the computer a few short instructions.

"Ah ... it's ... well ... it is tumbling ..." Vonon says, then quickly sends the most recent feeds to Sharik, "Uh, Shar'r, you were always better at Math than me, can you get anything to plot an approach from this?"



OOC: by "better at Math" I mean better with the Navigation skill ^_^
This message was last edited by the player at 07:41, Fri 30 June 2017.
Walter Zeller
player, 401 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 30 Jun 2017
at 16:01
  • msg #48

Destination: Unknown

Sir Walter watched as the others got ready. "Mind if I tag along. I have some experience with Zero G, and can help as a medic. Hopefully not but you never know.
Kaengarr Ruzokh
player, 439 posts
Gvegh Vargr
Wed 5 Jul 2017
at 14:31
  • msg #49

Destination: Unknown

"Don't matter to me," Kaengarr replied to Walter, "but who's going to patch you up if you get hurt, hey?"

"So, what's the plan? Touch the ship down on the underside, and then we exit through the back of the ship? Or do you want to hover the ship and we jump?"

He wasn't directing the comment to anyone in particular, but figured Pablo, Vonon or the Count might have an opinion. His own preference was for a touch-down, but he also understood the dangers of that.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 322 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 6 Jul 2017
at 02:58
  • msg #50

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kaengarr Ruzokh (msg # 49):

"The Great and Powerful Pilot will amaze us all by avoiding that tumbling objects efforts to smack the ship like a cricket ball..." Vonon answered "placing us in a hover a few meters above the base of the object, where we will then drop a handful of our mining drones down to search for anomalies like venting gasses, gravitic displacement, magnetic fluctuations, or even micro-fractures that might indicate door seals - anything that might be a way to get through that neutronium hull."

"Or, at least, I thought that was the plan. You guys want to drop down and follow the drones while they search?"
Samantha Kilgore
player, 361 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 6 Jul 2017
at 07:33
  • msg #51

Destination: Unknown

"The great and powerful pilot does not appreciate wise cracks at this time" Sam muttered, as she tried to plot the course. Speaking up she added "I would suggest drones first, then the guys jump after. Drones are more expendable than people, generally. Though it does depend on the person..."

ooc

Assuming there may be some modifiers based on rolls by others, but heres these just in case

08:31, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 12 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 4,5.  Plotting approach. Int 1 Pilot 2.

08:31, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 9 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 1,5.  Piloting in Pilot 2 Dex 1

StarMaster
GM, 807 posts
Thu 6 Jul 2017
at 18:09
  • msg #52

Destination: Unknown

As it turns out, the irregular tumbling of the pyramid only looked irregular due to the unusual shape. Once the computer analyzes the tumble, it is able to determine the pattern. The only way to land the ship on it, or even match the tumble, is to put the ship into a flight path that matches the tumble pattern.

It's probably better for Samantha to do the piloting manually, rather than the computer, because, although there does not appear to be any reason for the tumble to suddenly change, the computer piloting program might not be able to react fast enough to adjust.

Fortunately, the erratic flight path that the ship has to fly doesn't have any point of reference other than the pyramid, so no one is apt to get sick. Nor is the twists and turns so radical that the inertial compensators can't handle it.

Sam is able to slowly match the ship's path to the tumble while maintaining a safe distance, and then, once matched, just as slowly edge the ship in closer.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 362 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 7 Jul 2017
at 07:15
  • msg #53

Destination: Unknown

Sam maneovered the Long SHot in, and set it to hover, and sat back keeping an eye on the readouts.

"You know, before we start clambering all over this, maybe we should try hailing it, there might be someone on board. And they might not be happy if we start crawling all over their ship..."

ooc
I did a quick check on the thread, but don't think anyone tried hailing? Or did I miss it?
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 323 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 7 Jul 2017
at 11:28
  • msg #54

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 53):

OOC: You missed it. We tried regular radio, microwave comm, and modulated laser beams - and that was after we'd bounced every single one of our various scanners and sensors off the thing.

It remained unresponsive.

The only thing we didn't do was actually shoot at it; our sensors say we can't scratch it.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 504 posts
Aslan outcast
Fri 7 Jul 2017
at 23:34
  • msg #55

Destination: Unknown

"How could anything be alive on that thing after it has floted through dark space for who knows how long."

Actually, can you calculate that? Based on its current vector where did it come from and how long it has been floating?

Anyway before we drop down onto it we have to find anything worth investigating first. Is there a hatch somewhere? And we best drop some of the drones onto it first to see what happens.
StarMaster
GM, 808 posts
Sat 8 Jul 2017
at 02:37
  • msg #56

Destination: Unknown

Once the Long Shot is in position about 3 meters off of the base, Sam can put it in 'hover' mode as the gravity is strong enough to hold the ship.


Vonon can now deploy the drones.
Gregory Jones
player, 40 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Sat 8 Jul 2017
at 02:52
  • msg #57

Destination: Unknown

"Unless the builders of this pyramid are far more advanced than us," Jones offers, "there has to be a way to get into it. There aren't any seams along the corners, so I'm guessing there's a bonded hatch. Probably operates via magnetics. Won't know until the drones land and run their sensors."

He was of a mixed mind whether it was worth investigating, or if it should be given a wide berth.

While he thought it was strange that they just happened to 'fly by' as it was passing through their flight path, but realized that the so-called 'flight path' was fairly wide. Other ships might have just missed the pyramid.

And it had to be a ship of some kind.

"Until we know what it is, we have no way of determining where it came from," he told the others. "If it's a ship, it could have been on this tumbling course for anywhere from a day to a year, maybe even longer. It's the short end of that time span that has me worried."
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 324 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 8 Jul 2017
at 05:55
  • msg #58

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Gregory Jones (msg # 57):

Vonon takes a deep, calming breath as he calls up a command board for the mining drones.

"Okay. I can do this. Just like in the tutorials..."

Vonon activates 10 of the mining drones. The first thing he does is download to all of them the properties of the pyramids hullmetal - which the Crew has been calling Neutronium - that the Longshots sensors have collected. Then he programs them to search for anything but that material.

Then he instructs them to follow the standard prospecting/search parameters for finding minable materials. He expands those parameters to include searching for gas out-venting, as well as all the standard atmospheric-type gasses (or their frozen forms). The drones are to report any magnetic, electrical or gravitic anomalies they encounter, which will be mapped by the ship-board computer. And finally, if the little drones determine a greater than ten-percent need, they are authorized to perform geological soundings.
StarMaster
GM, 809 posts
Wed 19 Jul 2017
at 16:02
  • msg #59

Destination: Unknown

The drones are dropped onto the pyramid's base and immediately spread out in a standard geological mapping pattern. It doesn't take long for them to cover the entire base because there is nothing detectable... no surface variations down to the molecular level, no penetration of the hull...

But, they do detect a powerful though narrow magnetic field, which, after mapping, appears as a large rectangle in the middle of the base. It is obviously some sort of magnetic 'seam', though the nature of it is still a mystery.

The lead drone, so designated only because it was the first one to pick up the magnetic field, deploys its magnetic probe in an attempt to attract the detected 'ore'. Almost immediately, the seam starts to open. It's as if the metal just melts apart.

Once started, though, the seam keeps going! The drone doesn't have to completely trace the seam the whole way around.

The other drones detect an increase in the magnetic field, though.

It isn't until the entire seam is exposed that the center section of metal suddenly... disappears!

Fortunately, none of the drones are in the center area, so they don't fall into the pyramid's interior.

What can now be seen is some sort of hangar bay. And you are looking down at the top of a scout ship.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 325 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Wed 19 Jul 2017
at 23:44
  • msg #60

Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 59):

OOC: A "Scout Ship"? Y'mean, like, the classic flying-wedge of the IISS, a Suleiman-class?
StarMaster
GM, 810 posts
Thu 20 Jul 2017
at 00:23
  • msg #61

Destination: Unknown

The very same. It even looks like an IISS ship.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 505 posts
Aslan outcast
Thu 20 Jul 2017
at 22:37
  • msg #62

Destination: Unknown

"What do you mean there is a imperial ship in there? Is this some sort of military base? Considering that we have not been shot down yet I guess not. So what do the laws say about salvage in deep space?

Anyway I suggest we go over and take a look at the ship and maybe steer it out of that thing. Its logs can hopefully tell us more.
At least we know how that ship works, compared to the pyramid."
Sharik Kaagira
player, 279 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Fri 21 Jul 2017
at 01:18
  • msg #63

Destination: Unknown

Sharik watched the screen with rather rapt attention, craning her neck around the station console to get a slightly better view.  The peeling open of the skin was pretty cool.  But, when the internal chamber revealed itself, there was a sharp intake of breath and her eyes narrowed at what was seemingly contained within.  It took her a few moments to process what looked to be an IISS Type S scout ship contained within.

It wasn't what she expected to see inside.  Hell, she didn't know what to expect, but it definitely wasn't an Imperial ship.  "This isn't like any Impy base that I have ever seen..." Sharik answered to Khea's query.  And the Longshot's navigator had had stints in two different Imperial Services to boot.

"Two things, Vo." the diminutive navigator mused aloud, "Can we get a sensor sweep of that - to verify what it is?  And not a projection of some sort?"  Admittedly, Shar actually hoped that it wasn't what it was, as that could open a whole can of worms.  "And," she added after another momentary pause, "What are the ident markings on it?  Can we see anything that might help us identify the thing?"  Anything from IISS markings to a name could give information on the last scout to use the thing and well as a berthing and operational dates.

"I can help with sensor analysis, if you like..." the auburn-haired ex-operative offered, though she was well aware that her vargr friend was more than competent in that regard.  Still, it was a chance to get up close and personal with imaging and raw data.  So, there was little downside to her in making the offer.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 326 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 21 Jul 2017
at 05:38
  • msg #64

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 63):

"Huh?" Vonon responds intelligently to Sharik, "Oh, right, that's me!"

Vonon turns all available sensors towards the opening in the vessel - he makes scans of the Scout Ship, as well as scans of everything and anything he can detect within the ship bay.  He even tries to perform a deep scan into the strange vessel.


OOC:
Vonon Ronkunu rolled a 9 for a Sensors (INT) skill check ((roll 1 + roll 6 + Sensors 1 + INT 1 = 9
Walter Zeller
player, 402 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 21 Jul 2017
at 23:35
  • msg #65

Destination: Unknown

Using the data collected from Vonon, Sir Walter looked through the ships database for information on the Scout vessel to see if there was anything known about it.

search database 9
Samantha Kilgore
player, 363 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Sat 22 Jul 2017
at 11:37
  • msg #66

Destination: Unknown

Sam turned to Sharik "Youre assuming the Scout is here by choice. It might have been captured."

She let that sink in before swinging back round to her console and began to set up a computer routine that would automatically take the Long Shot on an evasive maneouvre sequence away from the pyramid as defined by sensor info, and towards the jump limit. She would pilot if able, this was a fall back in case she was unavailable.

ooc
Not sure what rolls that would involve, but guessing Pilot (to come up with evasion plan) and Computers to program it in.

12:08, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 12 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 6,3.  Evasion Plan Pilot 2 Int 1.

12:08, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,1.  Programming evasion plan in Int 1 COmputers 0.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:29, Mon 24 July 2017.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 506 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 23 Jul 2017
at 22:35
  • msg #67

Destination: Unknown

Khea paces up and down the airlock like an uspecified caged animal until after nearly a minute she can't keep calm any more and storms out of the airlock towards the bridge, only stopping to slam her hand onto the next communication console. "What is that status? Did anything else happen? This got to be a trap." and then continuing to the bridge without waiting for an answer.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 364 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 25 Jul 2017
at 07:03
  • msg #68

Destination: Unknown

Sam didn't look up from her console, but asked Vonun "I assume your scanning for life signs as well. Could be someone on the Scout, or this ship. Or Some Thing."
StarMaster
GM, 811 posts
Tue 25 Jul 2017
at 21:30
  • msg #69

Destination: Unknown

Walter finds some information in the database on the Suleiman-Class/Type S IISS Elusive, ID# S-446-50508... it was commissioned in 945, retired into the Reserve Fleet in 1100, most recently on loan to Serge Baklanov, currently 3 weeks overdue.


Vonon had been scanning for life forms, but nothing registered from within the ship... until the hatch opened. At first, Vonon only detected a faint life sign, not even sure if it was real or possibly just a sensor echo because of the material of the ship. All of a sudden, he got a strong positive reading... from the Scout ship.


Samantha has no problem putting together an escape plot now that the sensors identified the tumble as not as random as it appeared. An evasive course is a whole 'nother problem, at least initially, as it has to get away quick while avoiding getting clipped by the spinning pyramid. Plus, without knowing where the pyramid's weapons might be deployed, it's a bit of a crap shoot. The best she can do is plot the course that keeps the ship along one of the edges.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 327 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 27 Jul 2017
at 03:28
  • msg #70

Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 69):

"People, I got life signs on the scout." Vonon says, focusing a few more sensors on the imperial craft, "Power levels are low, but steady. That's an active craft, over there, even if it's not take-off ready."

Vonon turns to look back at the rest of the Crew, "Initial scans registering a life form - I think it's just one being - within parameters for Human-type. I'm refining the scans, but ... maybe we should hail whoever is over there?"

Vonon turns back to the sensor board as a thought crosses his mind, and he checks the drone telemetry. Finding the data he wants, he records it to the main database.
Serge Baklanov
player, 1 post
Thu 27 Jul 2017
at 10:30
  • msg #71

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 70):

RADIO TRANSMISSION
"This is IISS "Elusive", Signal GK! I repeat, this is IISS "Elusive", Signal GK! Over"
TRANSMISSION ENDS
This message was last edited by the player at 10:53, Thu 27 July 2017.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 507 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 29 Jul 2017
at 20:08
  • msg #72

Destination: Unknown

"I tell you this is a trap" Khea repeats panting when she finally managed to arrive at the bridge in her ungainly vacc suit.

She walks over the Vonons station and leans on the back of his chair to recover and also to look over his shoulder at the screen.
When she recovered a bit she start scratching her forehead, hard enough to have some fur all out, and returns to a calmer, more calculating voice. "And if it is not they would own the salvage rights?. Looking expectingly at Vonon she adds "Could we take this ship out if we have to?"
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 328 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 30 Jul 2017
at 00:09
  • msg #73

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 72):

"Take it out? While it's just sitting there? Sure." Vonon answers Khea, pointing at the sensor board in front of him, "I activate this circuit, send targeting data to the turrets, unlock the weapon power feeds, then order Pablo and Kaengarr to open fire. We dump enough laser energy onto that thing to melt it to slag - although, at the moment, only the ventral turret has a direct line of fire. We'd need to re-orient the ship to allow both turrets to fire."

"But, why? That's an Imperial Scout over there. My scan of the transponder confirms that. And even though we just got a radio transmission, that ship is still running in low-power standby mode. It's no threat to us, right now."

"As for any salvage claim that crew over there may have, well, I'm more up on Asteroid Claims Law than Free Space Salvage, but I believe there are similarities. Uh...if I remember correctly, because there is an active crew aboard the Scout, we can't claim it as salvage unless the crew aboard it declares an emergency and that they can no longer control the vessel."

"I'm pretty sure the salvage rules for the big pyramid are similar; those guys found it first, but if they are unable to maintain control sufficient to exploit the find, they lose their claim.  So, if the Scout Ship is dead and unrepairable, we're golden. If the Scout is damaged, but repairable, we might be able to make a deal with them. But if that Scout is fully functional, we got nothing."

"Now, he just sent a Signal GK, so we might have some options."

Vonon looks away from Khea, leaning in his chair to look around her at Darrel, "But I'm just the Sensor Op, not the Comm Tech, so it's not my job to respond to their hail...Captain."
Gregory Jones
player, 41 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Mon 31 Jul 2017
at 02:06
  • msg #74

Destination: Unknown

Jones glances at the Count for a moment, only to realize that the Count was looking at him. The Count raised an eyebrow of enquiry.

"Okay, okay, I get the message," Jones says as he slips into a chair in front of one of the consoles.

He was the most skilled at comms among the crew, but he never liked taking center stage.

He activated the radio comm.

"IISS Elusive, this is the IFT Long Shot. It looks like you found the only parking garage in half a parsec. What kind of assistance do you require?"

He was pretty sure that the occupant (single life sign) of the Scout ship was probably picking up the transponder code of the Long Shot, so there was no point in lying... on several levels.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 329 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Mon 31 Jul 2017
at 03:02
  • msg #75

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Gregory Jones (msg # 74):

With making contact with the scout being handled, Vonon turned back to the sensor board and started sending commands to the mining drones to continue their...prospecting...along the outer hull of the pyramid. Mostly, he just expanded their search area, while instructing them to keep searching for the same things.

*...who knows, they might find more hatches...or the ejection points for the alien space-crappers...*

Vonon chuckles to himself, as he sends the command.
Serge Baklanov
player, 2 posts
Mon 31 Jul 2017
at 09:57
  • msg #76

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Gregory Jones (msg # 74):

> "IISS Elusive, this is the IFT Long Shot. It looks like you found the only parking
> garage in half a parsec. What kind of assistance do you require?"

RADIO TRANSMISSION
- Nice to see you, Long Shot. I suppose, this Pyramid's gravity caused me to misjump, then it pulled my ship inside, and that's all - I could not take off to escape. I hope you don't mind to pick up a hitch-hiker along the road? Over.
TRANSMISSION ENDS
This message was last edited by the player at 07:53, Wed 02 Aug 2017.
Gregory Jones
player, 42 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Wed 2 Aug 2017
at 15:29
  • msg #77

Destination: Unknown

Jones looks around at the others, to see if they have any input, before going back to his comm duties.

"Copy that, Elusive," Jones replies.

"Is there some sort of magnetic or gravity field holding your ship in place, or can your grav drive get out, now that we've opened the hatch?"

He turns to Vonon.

"Have you scanned the ship? Is there anything wrong with it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:57, Fri 04 Aug 2017.
Darrel Cromwell
player, 723 posts
Noble (Count)
Retired actor
Wed 2 Aug 2017
at 15:54
  • msg #78

Destination: Unknown

"You may be right, Khea... it could be a trap, but the fact that it's tumbling erratically kind of puts the lie to that," Darrel says.

He'd been pondering all the information being presented, but was struggling to separate what he thought would be a 'reasonable' plot for a holovid and what was realistic. He realized that a malfunctioning gravity drive would explain why the ship and the gravity field was suddenly in one of the star lanes.

He was a bit relieved to discover that they weren't the first to be affected by the gravity. Otherwise, it might have meant that they'd been targeted by it.

"It's possible that the means of opening the hatch is different from the inside, so even the Scout's advanced sensor suite might not have been able to determine it."

"We just got lucky with our drones. By the way, good job, Vonon."
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 330 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 3 Aug 2017
at 04:19
  • msg #79

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Darrel Cromwell (msg # 78):

"Well, I haven't detected any significant damage to the scout." Vonon responds to Jones, "But like I said before, that ship appears to be running at minimal power. I think he's shut down just about every system to conserve power. So, unless he's running some really good sensor masking tech over there, that ship is going to need several minutes to power up and get ready for flight."

"The scanners are still trying to get readings from deeper in the big ship - heck, I'm still getting echoes about just how big that landing bay is. That fracking neutronium-or-whatever hull is scattering the beams all over the place."

In response to Darrel's praise, Vonon says, "Thanks, Captain. Standard procedure to send in a drone before you bust in on the perps. I just sent a bunch of the little buggers. Oh, and I sent them new programming to continue to search the surface of the pyramid for further anomalies - especially any more of those magnetic signatures, like the one at this ship hatch. Might find more entrances."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 365 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 3 Aug 2017
at 07:40
  • msg #80

Destination: Unknown

Finishing up her escape plot, Sam called up the sensor readouts on her console and tried to make sense of them.

She tried to determine if there was any obvious weaponry on the pyramid, and if so where it was located, as well as trying to work out if there were any other lifesigns.

"Jones, see if the Scout has any info on this pyramid he can share with us"

ooc
I'm assuming that because Sam can call up other Positions on her console she can interact with them without interfering with who eelse is using them?

08:39, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,2.  Weaponry or lifesigns on pyramid. Sensors 1. Int 1.
Serge Baklanov
player, 3 posts
Thu 3 Aug 2017
at 10:33
  • msg #81

Destination: Unknown

RADIO TRANSMISSION
- And it seems that lanthanum grid on the ship's surface has been damaged. But wait a sec... Now, as the bay is opened again, I will try to take off once more. Over.
TRANSMISSION ENDS
This message was last edited by the player at 11:14, Thu 03 Aug 2017.
StarMaster
GM, 812 posts
Thu 3 Aug 2017
at 16:16
  • msg #82

Destination: Unknown

The drones detect smaller areas of the pyramid ship that have similar magnetic fields. Most are small, but one is man-sized. The smaller ones are probably weapons ports or access hatches, maybe a mix of both; it's hard to say. The drones' magnetic pulse only opens the man-sized one, so that's probably an airlock.


Since the Scout ship had its reactor completely powered down... i.e. inactive and inert... it'll take about an hour to power it back up. That's a safety precaution. It can be scrambled on in about 5 minutes.

However, Serge can lift off from the pyramid ship's docking bay using his auxiliary batteries. He's only got about 6 hours of engine thrust off of the batteries, though.

Also, remember, there's a much larger ship parked directly overhead of the docking bay. There's not enough clearance for him to get clear of the pyramid ship unless the Long Shot moves.


Sam can easily display any of the ship's systems on her console, either halved, quartered or tabbed. Unless someone locks out that particular system from the command or primary console, she has just as much control over it as the other operator.

She still can't get any readings on weaponry, neither through the docking bay nor the airlock when the drones get it open.


It seems reasonable that the pyramid ship's flat square side is probably the base, but that's assuming the builders constructed it either on a planetary surface or with the intent of landing. However, if they were really alien and built the ship in space, the 'base' could actually be the leading edge.

There is no indication yet of which is the case.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 331 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 4 Aug 2017
at 04:06
  • msg #83

Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 82):

OOC:
I think we've done enough scans to ask - is the "bay door" big enough to admit the Longshot? (don't know if we'd want to, but I wanna know if we have the option), And second, is the bay, itself, large enough to hold both the Longshot and the Scout?


"Bongo!" Vonon calls out, "Update from the drones - they've located several ports, or maybe hatch covers, along the hull that have the same or similar magnetic signature as the bay opening, over there. And...they have found what looks like a personnel airlock. It's located..." Vonon leans in closer to read the location.

OOC: StarMaster? Where is the hatch to the garbage disposal - uh, I mean, the Airlock?
Serge Baklanov
player, 4 posts
Fri 4 Aug 2017
at 10:02
  • msg #84

Destination: Unknown

RADIO TRANSMISSION
- Long Shot, this is Elusive. How did you open bay door? Whould that remain open if you move aside to give me clearence to take off? I'm powering ship in safe mode, that will take about an hour. Over.
TRANSMISSION ENDS
StarMaster
GM, 813 posts
Fri 4 Aug 2017
at 19:55
  • msg #85

Destination: Unknown

The docking bay that holds the Scout ship is barely large enough to hold the Scout ship. He's got about a meter of clearance to either side, and maybe 2 meters front and back, so there is no room for the Long Shot.

The open hatch has a slight lip... roughly 2cm, so it's even a tighter exit.
Gregory Jones
player, 43 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Fri 4 Aug 2017
at 20:03
  • msg #86

Destination: Unknown

...COMM TRANSMISSION TO IISS ELUSIVE...
"We deployed a few mining drones that were able to sense the magnetic seals on the docking bay hatch and then disengaged them," Jones replies. "Don't know how long they'll last."

"But we'll have the drones standing by as we back off to let you exit. Signal us when you're ready."

"Meanwhile, do you have any information about the pyramid ship? Our sensors can't penetrate the hull, which we think is neutronium."
...END TRANSMISSION...
Kheaiftouaw
player, 508 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 5 Aug 2017
at 19:56
  • msg #87

Destination: Unknown

While Gregory sends his transmission to the Elusive Khea cant stop glaring at him and as soon as he closes the channel she blurts out "Should we really give out such information freely? Even if by law we would have the claim instead of him we wouldn't be able to defend it against a large clan. Even the information about this structure would be worth less if he was able to leave with it.

Are we certain that he cant jump away?
Gregory Jones
player, 44 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Sat 5 Aug 2017
at 20:17
  • msg #88

Destination: Unknown

At first, Jones is a bit startled at Khea's protest, but then he just shrugs his shoulders and smiles.

"Of course we aren't sure," he replies. "We aren't sure he's a real person, we aren't sure he's in a real Scout ship, we aren't sure there's a giant metal pyramid floating in space in its own planetary gravity well... hell, we aren't even sure we aren't dreaming or hallucinating this whole thing. Or, at least one of us is."

"Am I in your dream, or are  you in mine?"

"If he's an alien in disguise and the Scout ship is an alien ship disguised to look like a damaged Scout ship, then he could still jump despite the appearance of the damaged lanthanum grid."

"If you've got any better ideas, I'm ready to listen."
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 332 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 6 Aug 2017
at 01:41
  • msg #89

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Gregory Jones (msg # 88):

"Nuke 'em from orbit!" Vonon calls out, "It's the only way to be sure!"

Vonon looks back over his shoulder with a grin, "I heard that in a holovid, once. Always wanted to say it."

"Anyway...Captain...you want we should just move aside for the Elusive? The Longshot's too big for that bay, but maybe we could get a docking seal around that airlock the drones found? Oh, hey, Mister Jones! That fella on the Elusive may have run scans while inside, but ask that fella if he ever got out and tried to leave the bay?"

"And...if we're gonna assume possible security issues with this distressed spacer, I suggest we have him come alongside and dock his ship at the airlock at the stern of Deck One - that way Pablo can keep him covered by the dorsal turret."

"If we decide to try and dock with the airlock, I recommend we make the attempt using the hatch in the old Jump Pod control room, down in Engineering. I think that that hatch will allow us better, easier access."

"Otherwise, the only way we are getting into that beast is by flying our ship's boat down into that bay. Oh, wait, why am I suddenly thinking there may be a problem with that option?"
Samantha Kilgore
player, 366 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 7 Aug 2017
at 07:37
  • msg #90

Destination: Unknown

Sam looked up "I'm not sure we would fit even if we wanted to, but what I'm more concerned about is that he said this thing pulled him in. We're assuming he might jump, but we might want to check we can still get away from it. Is there any sign on senors of any sort of beam on us holding us in place, Vonun? If not I can back us away so we can keep maximum guns on both ships as we do so."

ooc
Have I understood right Starmaster? - The Longshot won't fit at all, or did you mean both ships wouldn't fit at once?
Serge Baklanov
player, 5 posts
Mon 7 Aug 2017
at 08:37
  • msg #91

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Gregory Jones (msg # 86):

> Meanwhile, do you have any information about the pyramid ship?

RADIO TRANSMISSION
- Very little... None, actually. The walls are impervious to my sensors. I couldn't even find any doors or hatches out of the hangar bay. I'm not even sure it is a hangar bay, as it didn't seem to have any of the usual equipment for dealing with a ship. It is more like a cargo bay. What else... Gravity is normal here, about 1.1 G. Over.
TRANSMISSION ENDS
Walter Zeller
player, 403 posts
Merchant/Noble
Mon 7 Aug 2017
at 13:26
  • msg #92

Destination: Unknown

"Well, at this point, the pyramid is a navigation hazard and I think the laws are a bit different but I don't remember the exact details." Sir Walter said.

"We have two options. Serge could EVA over to us and we head off to report it to the authorities, or we go over and check it out ourselves. What do we want to do?
Darrel Cromwell
player, 724 posts
Noble (Count)
Retired actor
Mon 7 Aug 2017
at 20:39
  • msg #93

Destination: Unknown

"Given that this isn't one of my holovids, not even one of the less successful ones," the count replies, "I still think we should investigate it. I don't like leaving a job undone, and I do like solving mysteries."

"We probably have a key, in the form of magnetic resonance, which Serge didn't have, so I think it's at least worth an effort."

"My two credits are this: the ship experienced a malfunction. I can't make any sense out of it any other way."

"What that means is that there's a chance the whole thing could go ka-boom as we explore it. It might be on a countdown of some sort, but I'm thinking more along the lines of a slow build-up to some critical condition."

"Let's get Serge out of there, piggyback his ship on us, and meet the fellow face-to-face. Then we can resume this discussion."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 509 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 8 Aug 2017
at 22:36
  • msg #94

Destination: Unknown

Khea throws her arms in the air"Fine. You all seem determined to share with this person. But if we can't have exclusive rights to this pyramid then at least we take everything we can safely find with us."
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 333 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Wed 9 Aug 2017
at 06:27
  • msg #95

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 94):

Vonon turned a puzzled expression Khea's way,

"What? Didn't you hear ... oh, yeah. Imperial Standard isn't your primary language; you must have misunderstood what that guy said."

Vonon points up at the image of the Scout Ship, still sitting down in the bay, up on the main viewscreen, "That pilot said his ship's lanthanum grid is damaged - he can't jump. He's stranded here. He also said he had been trapped inside the bay - he couldn't get out. He was double stranded."

Vonon drops the finger he'd been pointing at the screen with, and taps the sensor console he's sitting at, "And his admission to both conditions is recorded for use in Court, if needed." he grins at Khea.

"That massive derelict belongs to us - Longshot Interstellar Venture Group, Discombobulated. If he wants to help us with the work, we can make an arrangement. But otherwise, he can dock to one of our airlocks, lay back, and deadhead along with us til we reach the next port - all in accordance with Imperial Distressed Spacer laws."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 367 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 10 Aug 2017
at 07:32
  • msg #96

Destination: Unknown

Sam piped up - "I think first priority is helping the distressed spacer, second is investigating the pyramid, and third is salvage rights. If hes not docked could we tow his ship out - do we have anything we could do that with? Rescuing a Scout ship is bound to earn us some brownie points with the Scouts, which is usually a useful card to have handy."
Sharik Kaagira
player, 280 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Thu 10 Aug 2017
at 21:25
  • msg #97

Destination: Unknown

Sharik was going to speak up about the priorities of the crew, to append to what her Vargr friend was saying, but then Samantha beat her to the punch.  She nodded to what the Long Shot's pilot had noted so eloquently.  Their duty was first to the aid another in trouble in the far reaches of the Deep Black.  Spacers didn't have anything, if they didn't have each other.

And being an inactive IISS member, Shar could speak from some personal experience on the matter IISS service psychology.  While scouts were trained to be as self-sufficient and independent as possible, there was a certain level of loyalty and esprit de corps amongst them as well, being an Imperial service.  Not even looking up from the sensor readings that she was viewing while peaking over Vo's shoulder, the diminutive IISS ex-courier gave Sam a 'tell it, sister' thumbs-up as acknowledgement of her statements.

Her brow furrowed as she watched the various forms of spectrum data dance before her eyes.  She'd seen plenty of things in her time, but this was new...


[OOC:  Is there anything that she can contribute to analyzing the sensor sweep?

  14:23, Today: Sharik Kaagira rolled 9 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 5,1.  Sensor/Int Check: Sensors/1, +2 Int, (+1 Expert, as applicable).

Either a '9' or a '10' depending on the difficulty of the roll...]
Kheaiftouaw
player, 510 posts
Aslan outcast
Fri 11 Aug 2017
at 22:46
  • msg #98

Destination: Unknown

Khea snaps back at Vonon
Even if an arbitrator decides that we own the claim, he still will know the location of thy pyramid and will tell his clan or even sell it. And we can't fight off a clan or company if they decide to challenge our claim.


Ah, what am I doing? I am starting so sound like a male.
StarMaster
GM, 814 posts
Sat 12 Aug 2017
at 00:00
  • msg #99

Destination: Unknown

Sharik can't really contribute to the sensor scans because there's either nothing to scan, or else it's obvious. The sensors can't penetrate the hull of the pyramid, and they confirm the status of the Scout ship--the lanthanum grid has been 'damaged'... actually, the reading indicates that about a square meter of it is missing. The missing section is on the underside of the ship, so no visual is possible.

Neutrinos can still pass through the ship, but they are being distorted, which is why you think the hull is neutronium. That's at least 3 tech levels above what you have access to.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 334 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 12 Aug 2017
at 00:13
  • msg #100

Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 99):

OOC: 3 Tech Levels ... so, then its probable that we might have a clue about "neutronium" as a theoretical concept, but no practical experience; we can make some "educated guesses", but just don't know ^_^
StarMaster
GM, 815 posts
Sat 12 Aug 2017
at 00:26
  • msg #101

Destination: Unknown

As with a lot of science fiction writing, you get a creative, imaginative author who comes up with a fictional concept, and then scientists start figuring out how to make them a reality. Once you had the idea of a neutron star, figuring out what it was made out of was the next logical step.

Actually, there are several different types of neutronium; it was a convenient name for a couple of different concepts.

First you have to find neutronium, then you have to extract it (from the neutron star), and then you have to figure out how to work it. All three things generally require greater manipulation of gravity than what is currently known... like the planet-sized gravity field of the pyramid. Overcoming it is easy; generating it is 'impossible'.
StarMaster
GM, 816 posts
Sun 13 Aug 2017
at 19:46
  • msg #102

Destination: Unknown

Sam has no problem piloting the Long Shot up to a sufficient distance that there's room for the Scout ship to exit the pyramid, then slide sideways so that it can be docked atop the Long Shot.

Vonon directs 4 of the drones to maneuver up to the top of ship and fasten the Scout ship in place.

Unfortunately, there is no ventral hatch on the Scout ship, so it can't line up and dock with the dorsal hatch of the Long Shot. That means Serge will have to go EVA in his vacc-suit in order to board the Long Shot.

It's pretty much a short, routine EVA, so no roll is going to be necessary. Serge is directed to the starboard airlock aft that leads to the former control room of the Jump Shuttle.

Someone will meet you there--namely Pablo and Kaengarr.

The Vargrr Kaengarr's attitude seems to be one of 'go ahead--give a reason to shoot you', while Pablo's attitude seems to be that he doesn't need a reason.
Serge Baklanov
player, 6 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 15 Aug 2017
at 08:06
  • msg #103

Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 102):

- Good morning, gentlemen, - Serge greeted meeting party with Vulcan salute. Jumpiness emanated from Pablo and Kaengarr, so Serge moved slowly and held hands visible.
- Can I speak with captain, after I fill cargo manifest?
This message was last edited by the player at 08:07, Tue 15 Aug 2017.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 281 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Wed 16 Aug 2017
at 19:16
  • msg #104

Destination: Unknown

"The Captain is listening, ..." came the dulcet tones of the Longshot's navigator over the ship's PA system routed through her p-comm earbud.   There is an obvious pause as Sharik reviewed whatever she could pull up on IISS scout Serge Baklanov - the last known recipient of the Type S Elusive -  from the library files and to see if any pictures matched the visage of the man on the sensors.  She stared at the augmented reality overlay in her shades next to the interior sensor images in the airlock.

It took some gumption to not introduce yourself and instead demand an immediate audience on a foreign ship that was responsible for rescuing you.  But the IISS was never that big on protocol, Sharik could attest to that first hand.  Hell, the diminutive socialite might well have responded the same way as Serge under similar circumstances.  Still, she glossed over that, "Permission to come aboard, ... ah,  Mr. Baklanov."

She muted the PA link for a moment and glanced around the bridge.  "Who wants to be 'Captain'" Shar prompted the assembled as a half-joke - Darrel was the usual suspect and the name on the registration.  Plus, he seemed to relish the role sometimes amongst the herd of cats that was this crew, "We probably need to head down to the lounge; wouldn't due to pow-wow here on the bridge."  Another tap on her p-comm opened the crew channel. ++Escort our guest to the lounge.++ Shar let Kaer and Pablo know.

With her console already locked, she tapped Vo on the shoulder and made ready to see Serge in person potentially.  "Staying or going?" Sharik asked as she straightened the pleats and collar on her jacket.  Her glance with the raised eyebrow eventually extended the question to everyone on the bridge and not just her vargr friend.
Darrel Cromwell
player, 725 posts
Noble (Count)
Retired actor
Wed 16 Aug 2017
at 23:08
  • msg #105

Destination: Unknown

"I suppose I'm not technically the captain, but I did play one in a holo-vid," the Count said with an attempt at a joke.

"I tend to be the spokesperson for our ship, so that also qualifies. Besides, I don't see any reason to deceive him. It's not like he's an alien wearing human skin, right?"

"Okay, so I'll go meet him in the lounge. Everyone shouldn't go, though. I'll take Walter and... Sharik. That's not a slight, Khea and Vonon, but you both can be rather intimidating. Of course, that probably doesn't hold true if he's really a Scout."

Darrel heads off the bridge to the lounge.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 335 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 17 Aug 2017
at 05:59
  • msg #106

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Darrel Cromwell (msg # 105):

"Nah, interrogation was never my thing." Vonon responds, "Well, unless you count kicking in a doorpanel, shoving my pistol in some perps face and growling 'who the frack is running this operation?' at 'em."

Vonon sighs and grins - a far-away look on his face.

"Ah...good times...good times..."

"Anyway, somebody's gotta keep an eye on the kids..." Vonon points to the drone controls, "Never know what they might find next. I think they found some more port covers; maybe weapons ports, maybe garbage ports, I dunno. I'm kinda hoping they might locate a sensor port, or something like. Maybe we could set up an interface to any onboard systems, if we found a way to transmit past the hull." Vonon shrugs in his space armor, "Hope springs eternal..."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 368 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 17 Aug 2017
at 07:40
  • msg #107

Destination: Unknown

Sam acknowledged Darrel with a slight nod.

She turned to Vonun "Can you get the drones to go inside the open part of the ship and have a nose around? Even if their sensors aren't great we could see stuff better possibly?"

Apart from that Sam, concentrated on keeping them in a steady location to the Pyramid, and also now the Scout ship, whilst scanning the sensor data to see if she can pick up anything else of interest about either ship

ooc

08:39, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,4.  Checking Sensors data on both ships for any new info Int +1 Sensors +1.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 511 posts
Aslan outcast
Thu 17 Aug 2017
at 21:59
  • msg #108

Destination: Unknown

Khea doubtfully looks at Count. After all the possibility that this was not a real humanity was there. But they made it very clear that they don't intend to kill the newcomer, so it is a risk she has to take.

Going back to her previous place of standing right behind Vonon and look over his shoulders she watches him controlling the droids.
"Can you bounce the signal from one droid to the next to form a chain? That would allow us to get them inside while still maintaining a link.

We should probably also get a copy of the sensor logs from the scout ship.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 336 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 18 Aug 2017
at 02:37
  • msg #109

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 108):

"I've still got the one drone sitting on the edge of the bay door, emitting the magnetic signal to keep the bay door open, but I'll send a pair of drones down into the bay, now that Elusive is out of there." Vonon responded,

"The relay chain is a good idea Khea - and if we find a way deeper into that ship I'll probably do that. But right now, that landing bay isn't much larger than the open hatch, so there aren't any comm-shadowed areas. Or, at least, what few spots there are, are tiny bits of the outer corners, inside the bay."

"But we definitely should have the drones search inside that bay. The scout pilot didn't detect the magnetic fluctuations we did, so he didn't find any doors. We know what range of magnetic frequencies to search for, so we might find doors he didn't." Vonon issues orders to two drones to return to the bay, enter it, and search it - that puts three drones staying at the open bay, and three others continuing to search the outer hull of the pyramid.

"Actually, if the design logic for that boat bay is anything like the Imperial model, the drones should find lots of doors, hatch covers and sealed ports - hiding all kinds of things."
Serge Baklanov
player, 7 posts
Marine/Scout
Fri 18 Aug 2017
at 14:57
  • msg #110

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 104):

> Permission to come aboard, ... ah,  Mr. Baklanov.

- Thank you, Ma'am, - Serge removed helmet now.

While being escorted to the lounge, Serge with a jove-like serenity ignored gimlet gazes of those two grunts behind him.
In the lounge, Serge made himself comfortable and waited till "captain" and "officers" arrived.

- Serge Baklanov, - he introduced himself. - Marine corporal from Garrison, in retirement. And... Scout.
- You probably have many questions. Well, the short part of my story: I was assigned by IISS to find out that gravity anomaly. I did not find anything; instead, the ship was attacked by Ihateisho. Hroal Gaarkal. Damned Aslans! I repelled the attack but my ship was badly damaged; I had to abandon her at Traineer. IISS assigned me to bring back the "Elusive". I returned with supplies, found the ship, repaired it, and was on the way to Grendal, then my previous mission found me - this Pyramid. Unable to jump, I powered down the ship and put myself into coldsleep. Then you appeared.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:16, Fri 18 Aug 2017.
Darrel Cromwell
player, 726 posts
Noble (Count)
Retired actor
Fri 18 Aug 2017
at 16:01
  • msg #111

Destination: Unknown

"Greetings, Serge Baklanov, and welcome aboard the Long Shot. I am Count Darrel Cromwell, acting captain," Darrel said to Serge when he reached the lounge.

"We pretty much deduced most of your story, Serge. My concern is how your lanthanum grid got damaged. Other than that, your ship seems space worthy."

"We were knocked out of jump, too, from the gravity anomaly."

"Is there anything you can tell us about that pyramid?"
StarMaster
GM, 817 posts
Fri 18 Aug 2017
at 16:35
  • msg #112

Destination: Unknown

With memory storage not being an issue any more, most data files have extensive depth to all entries. Sharik calls up the IISS data on the Elusive and on Serge. There isn't just a picture, but several, including vids, as well as DNA profile.

Since nothing about his 'retired' assignment was classified, it's all in the file. It matches exactly what Serge said... up to his encounter with the gravitic anomaly.


The drones keep working like busy little bees, finding numerous 'hatches' on the surface. They aren't able to open any of them, however. It's like they get a 'busy' signal when they try the frequency.

They find 4 rather large ones on the base at the corners.

Once they enter the bay, they also detect several dozen 'hatches' on the walls and floor of the bay. These respond to the pulse of the drones, though. With each one, a device seems to grow out of the spot (rather than a hatch open). About half of them are recognizable--water, power, fuel, sprayer, scanner, maintenance.... the function of the others are unknown.

One, however, turns out to be an airlock/hatch. It does open, providing access to the interior.
Serge Baklanov
player, 8 posts
Marine/Scout
Fri 18 Aug 2017
at 20:12
  • msg #113

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Darrel Cromwell (msg # 111):

> My concern is how your lanthanum grid got damaged.

- Most probably, structural damage after combat caused fast deterioration; field repairs were not sufficient; misjump added critical amount of stress.

> Is there anything you can tell us about that pyramid?

- Apart from what I already said, only one: I don't like it.
- But IISS knew something is here before they sent me, so that means it has been here for at least some time. That brings us to my assignment: what amount of help can I... I mean, can IISS - represented by me, expect from you? The very least I need to get to civilization, so I could inform IISS, where their ship is stranded... again, - Serge chuckled. - They gonna discharge me for that, that's for sure.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 337 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 19 Aug 2017
at 01:55
  • msg #114

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 113):

OOC:


"A-ha! Just as I suspected...yup, power couplings...waste intakes...water replenishment...fuel line..." Vonon suddenly straightens up in his seat, "fuel line - hydrogen?!!"

Vonon has the drone that just activated the fuel dispensing unit do a double check for the presence of hydrogen. He is so focused on that action, he ignores the second drones attempt to get his attention by flashing a picture of what is obviously an airlock on a secondary screen.


OOC: I suppose it's a good thing somebody is watching over his shoulder, huh?


Kheaiftouaw
player, 512 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 19 Aug 2017
at 22:34
  • msg #115

Destination: Unknown

"Hey, stop that" Khea shouts and unintentionally digs her claws into Vonos shoulder out of anxiety. "They could use antimatter or something worse as fuel. Do not mess with that unless you can scan it."

Leaning over to Vonon she whispers into his ear "Also keep this to yourself. I do not want our guest to know that there is another way leave besides with us."
Pointing at the screen of the 3rd drone next to the airlock she adds "This looks interesting. Do you think you can get a drone through that? But I guess we would lose contact when it closes to cycle."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 22:35, Sat 19 Aug 2017.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 338 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 20 Aug 2017
at 01:05
  • msg #116

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 115):

"I am scanning it! I'm not going to have the drone activate the fuel pump with no ship set to receive. I've got the drone scanning for traces around the nozzle..."

Vonon then gestures around the Bridge, "There's nobody here but us - of course, I suppose our voices might carry down the hallway...through that wide-open entryway into the Bridge. I swear I'm gonna weld a damn blast door in there, one of these days..."

"Any way, what seems interesting...?" Vonon looks at the sub-screen Khea is indicating, "Oh. Wow. Lookee there. Um, in answer to your question, I'm not sure, but probably not. The wall panel that covered that airlock was a neutronium panel...I think. All the neutronium we've seen so far has had that pebbly surface, which that airlock door doesn't seem to have - but that doesn't mean the airlock door metal isn't neutronium. However, if the door is just some alloy similar to our hullmetal, it might allow comm-signals through."

"We could always try to rig up some kind of work-around - maybe an antenna outside, and one inside, connected by a micro-wire small enough to let the door seal, without being cut. Or maybe a transducer stuck to either side of the door."

"Course, another option would be to send one drone into the airlock and let it cycle through. Even if we lose contact, I'll only program the drone to cycle the lock, open the inner door, take a bunch of scans, then come back out and give us a data dump."

"Which reminds me..." Vonon turns in his seat and looks around Khea, towards the pilots station.

"Hey, Sam! You're monitoring these sensor feeds, right? What do you make of the energy signatures the drones found at each of the four corners of the square base of this ship? I'm thinking either really big weapon turrets, or covers for really big sensors, or something to do with propulsion - covered thruster pods, maybe. What do you think?"
Samantha Kilgore
player, 370 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 22 Aug 2017
at 08:50
  • msg #117

Destination: Unknown

Sam had been looking at the sensor feeds, but from a different thread.

"Say what Vonun? I was thinking along different lines." She looked back at the screen. "Could be any of those, but I would go for engines myself. But what I was pondering, if the drones are getting, sort of engaged tones, does that mean only one opening can be open at a time? That seems odd - because if those are engine ports, how would that work? Or weapon ports - that would be tactically a bit restricting, to say the least. I'm thinking theres got to be some sort of overide, or the frequency needs to vary a bit to open more than one. Can we try that with the drones - see if we can get another one open?

Sam also started trying to work out a firing sequence for the pyramid thrusters. Assuming the 4 large hatches were engines, what would need to be fired to stablise it so it wasn't rolling
Aimee Lavaud
player, 12 posts
Tue 22 Aug 2017
at 13:58
  • msg #118

Destination: Unknown

"I don't think you've got that right," Aimee speaks up. She was still the newest crewmember, and figured the others knew what they were doing. Until now.

"The only things you've been able to open from the outside are those things that someone on the outside would need to open. Gun ports, if this ship even needs them, would be controlled from the inside."

"Besides, think about how it lands. It probably doesn't land point down, though I wouldn't put it past them. In that case, some of the upper ports would have to be... no, wouldn't have to be, but probably would be... landing pads. Distribute the weight and provide support, rather than the ship having to balance on the point... though I suppose gyros could accomplish that."

"On the other hand, if the ship lands on the base... how would anyone access this... landing bay or cargo bay or whatever it is? The fact that there was nothing else in there is curious. Now, it is possible that the ship was designed only to dock at a station of some sort. I'm picturing a giant cube that could handle six pyramid ships in orbit, or five on the ground. In that case, the cargo bay would line up with the equivalent bay on the station."

"However, if it can land on the ground, then those four corner ports are probably landing pads. Equal distribution of the weight on those four points, keeping the base off the ground so that the cargo bay could be accessed."

"Well, anyway, that would be my guess. Either one of us could be right, or none of us. They could have some function that's so alien to us we'd never even think of it, or understand it when we were told."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 371 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Wed 23 Aug 2017
at 07:49
  • msg #119

Destination: Unknown

Sam looked at Aimee"Good point. But its still worth trying to vary the frequency I think Might be able to over-ride teh controls."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 513 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 23 Aug 2017
at 20:50
  • msg #120

Destination: Unknown

"We also just could look at the fuel intake and how the corridor is oriented to see which direction is downward."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:51, Wed 23 Aug 2017.
Darrel Cromwell
player, 727 posts
Noble (Count)
Retired actor
Wed 23 Aug 2017
at 21:00
  • msg #121

Destination: Unknown

"We're taking you and your ship back to civilization," Darrel said to Serge.

"What else would you like us to do?"

"I have every intention of further investigating this alien vessel. I'm not sure if we can get it out of the space lane, but we'll certainly try."
Serge Baklanov
player, 9 posts
Marine/Scout
Thu 24 Aug 2017
at 07:40
  • msg #122

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Darrel Cromwell (msg # 121):

> What else would you like us to do?

- Thank you, captain. I owe you a favor, - Serge saluted.
- About that Pyramid... If you will find a way to enter it and are going to send a boarding party, I volunteer to participate.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 339 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 25 Aug 2017
at 06:12
  • msg #123

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 122):

LONGSHOT BRIDGE:

Vonon listens to the ladies suggestions,

"All reasonable sounding, but first I'm gonna check and see if we can get hydrogen fuel off this big hunk of spinning space junk, and then I'm gonna have a drone try and get that airlock to let us into the thing."

"With Pilot's permission, of course." Vonon adds, as his Vargr sense of Pack Order kicks in ... and he remembers that the Bridge Recorders are still running...

"Oh, yeah!" Vonon exclaims, then reaches for the intercom panel...


LONGSHOT REC ROOM:

*click*
[Bridge to Captain. The drones have found a second airlock, sir - this one inside the boat bay that scout was trapped in. Oh, and maybe even a source of hydrogen fuel. We're still investigating it. We'll keep you apprised, sir. Tactical, out.]
*click*
Walter Zeller
player, 404 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 25 Aug 2017
at 19:41
  • msg #124

Destination: Unknown

Sir Walter listened to the group as they made plans to assault the pyramid. "Serge? Would it be alright if I took a look at your jump drive to get some of the repairs going while the rest of you check out the strange vessel?"
Serge Baklanov
player, 10 posts
Marine/Scout
Sat 26 Aug 2017
at 21:08
  • msg #125

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 124):

> Would it be alright if I took a look at your jump drive

- Of course. Here is the key.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 514 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 27 Aug 2017
at 22:32
  • msg #126

Destination: Unknown

Just as Vonon finishes his transmission Khea slaps his shoulder "What did I say about the fuel?"
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 340 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Mon 28 Aug 2017
at 00:11
  • msg #127

Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 126):

"Wha-a-a-a-t?" Vonon objects to the slap, "He's the Captain! I'm supposed to tell him! Besides, what're the odds that there's any significant amount of fuel, over there? This ship is a hulk; dead in space! If it had any fuel it would be moving! 'Course, there is the whole massive gravity field thing - how's that getting power? But still..."
StarMaster
GM, 818 posts
Mon 28 Aug 2017
at 00:28
  • msg #128

Destination: Unknown

Vonon already had one of the drones open the interior airlock... that's how he knew it was an airlock. The problem with the drone going into the airlock and trying to open the inner door is that it would have to close the outer door, which probably means Vonon would lose contact with it.

As the second drone approaches and examines the 'fuel dispenser', it can't confirm that the 'nozzle' would dispense hydrogen fuel. The drone can confirm that there's no trace of hydrogen present, but it also sees that there is no opening in the end of the nozzle.


Meanwhile, Walter goes to inspect the Scout ship. He can see just from observing the outside that a section of the lanthanum grid is missing. It looks like it has been removed as opposed to having been damaged in some way.

There's enough spare lanthanum in a ship's locker to make patches but not nearly enough to replace all that is missing.
Walter Zeller
player, 405 posts
Merchant/Noble
Mon 28 Aug 2017
at 01:24
  • msg #129

Destination: Unknown

Seeing the missing section of the lanthanum grid, Walter took a closer look to see how it was removed. Something does not look right here, Serge would be rather hard pressed to remove an entire section by himself. he thought, looking at the connections on the hull.

Went with Engineering (Jump)/Int for the check. If it is EDU, then add 1 more to the roll.
21:23, Today: Walter Zeller rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,3.  Inspect grid.
StarMaster
GM, 819 posts
Mon 28 Aug 2017
at 02:21
  • msg #130

Destination: Unknown

Clearly the Scout ship couldn't have gotten here without its grid intact, which means one of two things: either it got here already in the hold of the pyramid, or else the grid was removed once it was in the hold.

Walter can tell that the section of grid was removed methodically and precisely, yet there's no indication that the job was left unfinished.
Serge Baklanov
player, 11 posts
Marine/Scout
Mon 28 Aug 2017
at 08:57
  • msg #131

Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 130):

As soon as Serge learns about the grid was removed, he will check current coordinates and date, and will compare it with the coordinates and date in the logs of Elusive at the moment right after misjump.

OOC:
I did not attempt to jump after misjump but before I got into Pyramid? Could you make a chronology of events after Elusive initiated its last jump?
This message was last edited by the player at 08:59, Mon 28 Aug 2017.
Walter Zeller
player, 406 posts
Merchant/Noble
Mon 28 Aug 2017
at 11:57
  • msg #132

Destination: Unknown

+++Walter to :ongShot, move the vessel farther away from the Pyramid! It appears to have surgically removed the grid from the scout. Not sure if it is something in the bay or some kind of drone that did it but lets not find out the hard way.   Suggest checking our drones to make sure they have not been compromised and bring them back.+++
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 341 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Mon 28 Aug 2017
at 15:21
  • msg #133

Re: Destination: Unknown

Walter Zeller:
+++Walter to LongShot, move the vessel farther away from the Pyramid! It appears to have surgically removed the grid from the scout. Not sure if it is something in the bay or some kind of drone that did it but lets not find out the hard way.   Suggest checking our drones to make sure they have not been compromised and bring them back.+++


Vonon's eyes are wide, as he looks around the Bridge,

"Uh, you want I should answer the man, or would you rather, Sam?"

"I think we're safe, myself. We're not in physical contact with the pyramid and, hopefully, we'll see any drone or armature come out of the bay, before it reaches us. We're safe, here. I think."

"As for our drones, well, they have been in contact with the pyramid. It's possible they could be compromised. Safer to leave them over there, for now, I think."
Sharik Kaagira
player, 282 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Mon 28 Aug 2017
at 17:07
  • msg #134

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Sharik." the diminutive navigator of the Longshot introduced herself to Serge, offering a perfunctory hand in introduction as they walked.  There was a crooked smile on her face as Baklanov talked of being 'discharged' - you could take the Marine out of the Service, but the service never left the marine.  "You never 'leave' the IISS, Serge..." Shar noted with a slight shake of the head, "You may get deactivated, but like the mob, you never get out..."  It was pretty simple.  The auburn-haired ex-Scout flashed her own ident tags that she still wore around her neck before tucking them back under the collar of her coveralls.

Sharik listened to the chatter over the crew line, her brow furrowed slightly.  She was more worried about Walter than the drones - as Vo had noted: they could leave the latter on the alien hulk indefinitely, but Walter less so.  Still, they'd already let Serge on.  So, whatever (if anything) was contaminated, quarantine protocols were already potentially compromised.  Anything no caught in the standard airlock decontamination and re-pressurization procedures wasn't going to be caught by them at this point.

++I don't like it.++  Shar typed quickly into her dataglove adding her two credits, ++Our own grid integrity hasn't been compromised, has it?++  Could that have been what forced both ships out of jump?  The physical mechanics boggled the mind; let alone the technical implications of such precision.

"Serge," she asked casually, "Our own EVA and drone inspection shows that your jump grid damage seems to be something a little more targeted than an 'accident'..."  She outlined the technical aspects of a 'surgical removal of a specific portion of the lanthenum matrix in the hull' and with a raised eyebrow directed his way, prompted her fellow Scout to elaborate on anything that might now be affecting all of their chances of getting home in one piece.  Something in the sequencing didn't make sense and she simply hoped that the stranded man had overlooked something.  Getting both ships home without more lanthenum was going to be a significant issue.  Even her basic engineering training told her that without the hydrogen bubble integrity maintained by an intact jump grid j-Space couldn't be traversed (without spreading your atoms all over j-Space - which then bled them back into n-Space).  And there was no way in Hell that they could traverse n-Space back to civilization in any meaningful timeframe.  Sharik agreed flatly with Serge, "It may be necessary to leave the Elusive behind ..." Potentially even permanently if they needed to cannibalize anything critical; more was at stake than Serge's career at this point.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 372 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 29 Aug 2017
at 07:27
  • msg #135

Re: Destination: Unknown

To Vonun she said "I think your right, but you know doing what people want sometimes stops them being distracted, and it doesn't affect us in any significant way moving back out"

Sam manoevres the Longshot back about 50 metres and triggered comms "Roger that Walter, complying. Keep yourself clear of teh Pyramid as well."

She continued to Vonun "I suggests continuing with the Drones, they are expendable after all"

As she spoke she set up a feed from the open bay to her console on permanent feed so she could see anything emerge
StarMaster
GM, 820 posts
Tue 29 Aug 2017
at 16:08
  • msg #136

Re: Destination: Unknown

The Scout ship was 'parked' atop the Long Shot now, fastened to it piggyback style.

Nothing emerges from the interior of the pyramid.
Gregory Jones
player, 45 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Tue 29 Aug 2017
at 16:18
  • msg #137

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Here's a thought," Jones said. "You may have all noticed that there's no lanthanum grid on the outside of the pyramid, and I don't believe the drones have detected one."

"So, if the ship has one, it either has to be under the hull plating or part of it. Since our sensors can't penetrate the hull, we can't confirm this one way or the other."

"But... can the jump grid function through the neutronium? My gut feeling is that it can't. Which means one of two things: either this pyramid can't travel through jump-space on its own, or else it has a translight drive that isn't based on jump travel."

He let that sink in for a moment before he continued.

"Either of those options would offer a reason for them to remove part of the lanthanum grid... they were examining it, trying to determine what its function was."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 515 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 29 Aug 2017
at 22:11
  • msg #138

Re: Destination: Unknown

That would mean that there is still an intelligence active on board the pyramid. Either a computer or life forms, maybe hold in stasis until needed."
Khea looks over all feeds from the drones. "Have the drones detected anything that could remove the grid? And lets not forget the third possibility that this ship and its pilot are not what they pretend to be."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 373 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Wed 30 Aug 2017
at 08:32
  • msg #139

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Theres a lot we don't know about this thing. In fact we don't know anything much for sure. So lets assume its dangerous until we find out otherwise."

Noting Shariks comms she ask Khea "Can you confirm our J Drive is still operational, please?"

ooc
Vo seems to think the Pilots in charge when Captains not about. I think I have asked this before but did we ever finalise the chain of command? If so can smoemone remind me where it is or could we get it as a sticky someplace?
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 342 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Wed 30 Aug 2017
at 09:04
  • msg #140

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 139):

OOC: Not exactly accurate...for various reasons we all agreed Darrel would make the best Faceman/Captain for the Group/Ship. This next I'm not sure about, but I think Walter is the XO because of his Legal/Administrative/Trading Skills. I may be wrong about that.

However, lacking the presence of either the Captain or XO (whoever they may be) on the Bridge, Vonon is treating whoever is sitting in the Pilot's Seat - thus "The Pilot" - as being the Officer In Charge ... on the Bridge.

In the current situation, the person sitting in the Pilot's Seat also just happens to be the Senior Pilot - and, I think, Sam is also the Second Officer, after Walter. Or is it the other way around, and Sam is First Officer and Walter is Second Officer?

Either way, on the Bridge, whoever is sitting either in the Command Chair (the ST "Conn") or the Pilots Seat (in stated order of precedence) is "in charge" on the Bridge.

All I know for sure is that as Tactical Officer and soon to be Drone Operator-Apparent, Vonon is, like 5th or 6th in the Chain of Command - after the Cook...which I think is Kaengarr ^_^

PS - it's kinda late, I'll post what Vonon programs the drones to do, when I get up. Later, Taters!
Kheaiftouaw
player, 516 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 30 Aug 2017
at 11:06
  • msg #141

Re: Destination: Unknown

Being pulled back into the reality to being a ships engineer instead of a treasure hunter Khea marches off the bridge towards the engine room but just as she leaves she stops and leans back in to tell Vonon "Have one drone circle our ship to see if anything attached to the hull. When our scanners cant penetrate the pyramid we might also not be able to detect any drones made from the same material.".

With that she hurries to the engine room to not only run a diagnostic on the J-Drive, but also to check the logs fir any unusual activety like fuel levels decreasing too fast or any disturbances on the outer hull.

Today: Kheaiftouaw rolled 6 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,2.  Jump drive diagnostic Edu+1 Eng skill +1.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 343 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 31 Aug 2017
at 04:16
  • msg #142

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 141):

"Okay," Vonon says, "the drones down in that assumed boat bay have managed to locate and semi-activate a number of devices that appear to conform to the function of equipment we would expect to find in a fully equipped boat bay - so yes, Samantha, there may be the capability, in that bay, to remove the entire lanthanum grid from a vessel, just like Walter says happened to the scoutship. Maybe those devices can extend beyond the boat bay, I don't know, but the Longshot is way too big to fit down in the bay."

"One drone is sitting at the edge of the surface hatch into the boat bay - it is generating the magnetic signal that made the hatch...well...fade away. I'm keeping that drone where it is until we're finished, here.  Two other drones continue to explore the outer surface; I'm going to leave them on task, as well."

"The three remaining drones in the boat bay, I'll send to the airlock. I'll send one inside, while the other two wait outside. I'll program the one to go into the airlock, close the outer door, then try to open the inner door - and hope that the simple act of trying to open the door will begin the airlock cycle system. If the airlock cycles and the inner door opens - and assuming we have lost contact with the drone - the drone will be programmed to just sit there and take environmental readings, including audio and video. After two minutes it will close the inner door, and try to leave the airlock, coming out to give us a data dump of what it recorded."

"If the outer airlock door does not open after three minutes, the two drones still outside will try to open the door from the outside."

"Meanwhile, I'll activate Diefenbaker and have it begin an external diagnosis of the Longshot's lanthanum grid. Diefenbaker is a Repair Drone, rather than a Mining Drone, and it has had no direct contact with the pyramid."

"That sound good to everyone?" Vonon asks his companions on the Bridge.


OOC:
Vonon Ronkunu rolled 9 for a Drone Operation Skill check using 2d6(6,2) +0(Drone Op) +1(INT) to activate Diefenbaker the repair Drone and have it begin a simple external diagnosis of the Longshot's lanthanum grid.

Vonon Ronkunu rolled 12 for a Drone Operation Skill check using 2d6(6,5) +0(Drone Op) +1(INT) to program a Mining Drone to enter the airlock, cycle it, then take environmental readings for 2 minutes, then cycle the airlock, come out and send data dump to Drone Control.

Vonon Ronkunu rolled 8 for a Drone Operation Skill check using using 2d6(6,1) +0(Drone Op) +1(INT) to program remaining 2 Mining drones to wait 3 minutes after airlock closes, then, if airlock has not opened, attempt to open it using previously recorded magnetic signal.

Walter Zeller
player, 407 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sun 3 Sep 2017
at 02:52
  • msg #143

Re: Destination: Unknown

Vonon Ronkunu:
In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 139):

OOC: Not exactly accurate...for various reasons we all agreed Darrel would make the best Faceman/Captain for the Group/Ship. This next I'm not sure about, but I think Walter is the XO because of his Legal/Administrative/Trading Skills. I may be wrong about that.

However, lacking the presence of either the Captain or XO (whoever they may be) on the Bridge, Vonon is treating whoever is sitting in the Pilot's Seat - thus "The Pilot" - as being the Officer In Charge ... on the Bridge.

In the current situation, the person sitting in the Pilot's Seat also just happens to be the Senior Pilot - and, I think, Sam is also the Second Officer, after Walter. Or is it the other way around, and Sam is First Officer and Walter is Second Officer?

Either way, on the Bridge, whoever is sitting either in the Command Chair (the ST "Conn") or the Pilots Seat (in stated order of precedence) is "in charge" on the Bridge.

All I know for sure is that as Tactical Officer and soon to be Drone Operator-Apparent, Vonon is, like 5th or 6th in the Chain of Command - after the Cook...which I think is Kaengarr ^_^

PS - it's kinda late, I'll post what Vonon programs the drones to do, when I get up. Later, Taters!


OOC:I had to dig it out a bit but I think we are working on a chart that was created in Msg 116 that was modified in 119 (OOC2). I am not sure if we had agreed on the organizational chart as I have not noticed any posts after that point (Jan 2016). I had the chart with Samantha as the XO (Ship operations) and Walter as the Admin officer (Trade). In a later Post, Darrell was thinking of me being the XO (Msg 118). I am not sure if we had made an agreement on what we were going to do and since Darrell (The player) has not posted since January of this year, it might be time for a new Captain. (Starting to wish there was a search function to help keep track of the posts as it seems the organization chart discussion was on three boards.) 
Samantha Kilgore
player, 375 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 4 Sep 2017
at 08:14
  • msg #144

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam nodded at Vonun "What you said, and we'll hold off anything else until we get a report on the Longshot"

returned discussion to OOC - should have posted it there to start with tbh
Serge Baklanov
player, 12 posts
Marine/Scout
Mon 4 Sep 2017
at 09:04
  • msg #145

Re: Destination: Unknown

> You may get deactivated, but like the mob, you never get out...


OOC:
If you are "retired scout" then yes, but what if you are ejected from the carrier due to generation process? :)

IC:
- Oh, another fellow Scout, I presume, - Serge shook offered hand and smiled heartily. - Of course, who else would find me in this strange place. By the way, may be you can brief me on the mission of Longshot?

> It may be necessary to leave the Elusive behind ...

- Well... Do you think the Elusive was contaminated by some sort of nano-disassemblers? I hope it is too fantastic assumption.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 285 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Fri 8 Sep 2017
at 20:03
  • msg #146

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik simply smiled as she walked with Sergei and he mused about being ejected.  The man was allowed his illusions.  As was she, as far as the diminutive dilettante was aware no matter your physical, mental, or social status you never truly got discharged from the IISS; the Scout Service was both egalitarian and authoritarian like that.  You were simply placed on 'inactive' status pending reactivation at any time.  And while, it was likely true that the probability of reactivation depended heavily on factors such as your physical, mental, and social status at discharge and reactivation time.  Shar suspected that only death exempted an inactive IISS member from getting the call (and she was aware of at least one occasion where that wasn't even enough, potentially).

Her auburn-colored ponytail bobbed slightly as she shrugged in response to her fellow's scouts query about abandoning his ship.  "Contamination is definitely a question, of course." Sharik conceded, "But I am simply stating that we don't carry any spare lanthanum to repair the grid on the Elusive.  Unless we can recover the material that has been taken, your ship is stuck without an intact jump grid."  The navigator of the Longshot gave Baklanov a sidelong glance, "You aren't seriously entertaining a jump attempt with a damaged L-grid..."  It was almost guaranteed to be suicide (assuming you could even enter j-space), a misjump was almost a certainty with a distorted hydrogen bubble around a ship.  A recipe for disaster.

But, in some senses, it wasn't her call.  If it had been, they wouldn't be having this conversation.
Serge Baklanov
player, 13 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 12 Sep 2017
at 06:44
  • msg #147

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 146):

Serge took data wafer from his pocket.
- I have logs copied here. Lets look at them once more.

Analysis of the Elusive logs revealed that:
***
Elusive didn't actually misjump... the route it was taking put it on the same course as the gravitic anomaly, which Serge was supposed to be investigating anyway.

He didn't know the source, and wasn't aware exactly where it was, since it wasn't a planet.

So when his path intersected the gravity source (the pyramid ship), he was knocked out of jumpspace.

That's when his sensors registered the pyramid. That was 1 month ago.

Since he was supposed to investigating it anyway, he surveyed the pyramid for a few days without getting any response or intel. He finally decided to land on it and check it out up close.

That's when the bay door opened up and pulled the Elusive inside. Once inside, it closed up again, trapping Serge inside. He tried to open the bay door again, but couldn't. He also couldn't get any further inside the pyramid. If there were any doors or hatches inside, he couldn't find them.

Serge probably waited for a few days before finally deciding that in order to conserve his supplies, he'd go into suspended animation in a cold-sleep chamber. He set the device to revive him in 30 days to see if anything had changed. If anyone had found him, they could have revived him sooner.

It was apparently during those 30 days when the section of the lanthanum grid was removed from the Elusive.
***

- Okay, my guess is that Pyramid has some automated algorithm, so when Elusive got inside, Pyramid considered it as a salvageble wreck and started mining required resources - namely lanthanum. We can check this guess if we put Elusive again into the bay and watch what will happen.
Walter Zeller
player, 413 posts
Merchant/Noble
Mon 18 Sep 2017
at 01:47
  • msg #148

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sir Walter maneuvered back to the Longshotafter inspecting the scout ship. Making his way to the airlock, he pondered what caused the grid section to be removed from the vessel. None if it made any sense to him but science was not his strong suit other than what was needed to know about drives. "Guess we will have to have that pyramid checked before we go anywhere since we know little about it." he thought as the lock finished cycling.

Heading back to his room to remove the vacc suit, he then stopped by Darrel's cabin to update the Captain of his findings from the inspection. Entering the cabin, Walter found Darrell slumped over his desk, a trickle of blood dripping from his nose.

+++Medical Emergency in the Captains cabin, Dr. Lavaud. I repeat, Medical Emergency in the Captains cabin, this is not a drill.+++ erupted over the ships intercom as Sir Walter did a quick check to see if there was a pulse in Darrell's body.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 521 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 20 Sep 2017
at 20:52
  • msg #149

Re: Destination: Unknown

Hearing the broadcast Khea hurries to the cabin as fast as the bulky vacc suit allows half expecting the scout to have a hand in this.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 345 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 21 Sep 2017
at 03:47
  • msg #150

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 149):

Having only just finished the basic self-instruction course for drone operation, Vonon's focus on putting together the commands for exploring the interior of the airlock is so intense he barely reacts to Sir Walter's urgent call for aid...although he does mumble something as he sets the drone programming,

"Gee ... hope the dear Count didn't finish off the last of the good champagne ... then shoot himself in a depressed snit ..."

The still-space armored Vargr suddenly stiffens in his seat and sheepishly looks over his shoulder at those still on the Bridge.

"Urrr ... I didn't, actually, just say that out loud ... did I?"
Samantha Kilgore
player, 380 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Sun 24 Sep 2017
at 14:39
  • msg #151

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam sat bolt upright at Walters message. She wasn't going to assume anything, but just to be sure she commed Pablo "Pablo, find and detain the Scout, until we know whats going on. And Pablo" she paused slightly "Do it gently, this may be a coincidence. We're just hedging for now"

She then commed Walter "Walter, update ASAP please"

She turned to those on the bridge and opened a comm channel so all but the scout could hear her "This may be unrelated to the Scout or the Pyramid, but I am going to assume it isn't until we know more. I suggest we recall the drones and back off until we know more. Anyone disagree?"
Aimee Lavaud
player, 13 posts
Sat 30 Sep 2017
at 14:28
  • msg #152

Re: Destination: Unknown

Aimee had been in the Rec Room with most of the others, continuing to run discrete medical scans on Serge. The results were all positive--he was in good health.

Then Walter's comm alerted her to a problem with the Count.

She hurriedly excused herself and rushed down the hall to the Captain's Quarters.

Once more, she ran her medical scanner over the Count. All his vital signs were normal albeit a bit reduced due to his unconscious state... pulse, respiration, heartbeat... no wounds... no signs of trauma, disease, or poison.

It wasn't until she ran an EEG that something showed.

"There's some sort of problem with his brain activity. Alpha waves are hyperactive... beta waves severely reduced... theta waves are flatlined! Omega waves are steady... but they shouldn't be. I can't find any cause for it, though. No sign of seizures, no aneurysm. I don't detect any poison in his system."

"I need to move him to Medical."
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 240 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Sat 30 Sep 2017
at 14:34
  • msg #153

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Relax, Sam," Pablo answers Samantha's call.

"Serge is sitting here with me, Kaengarr, Valeska and Jones in the Rec Room. Been here the whole time. He hasn't left once, not even to visit the Little Captain's room. I think Aimee said he was slightly dehydrated."

"Whatever happened to the Count, Serge didn't do it."
StarMaster
GM, 825 posts
Sat 30 Sep 2017
at 14:40
  • msg #154

Re: Destination: Unknown

Status update:

Sharik, Samantha, and Vonon are still on the bridge.

Walter, Aimee, Khea and the Count are in the Captain's cabin.

Pablo, Kaengarr, Valeska and Jones are in the Rec Room with Serge.


With Walter and Khea's help, Aimee moves the Count to the medical bay.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 346 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 1 Oct 2017
at 03:37
  • msg #155

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 151):

"Yes. I disagree." Vonon replies to Sam, then scrunches up his muzzle, "A disagreal? Disagreement? Anyway, I don't want to bring those drones back aboard until we can be sure they aren't, somehow, contaminated by that ship. A lot of what we've seen in that so-called ship bay - solid walls suddenly turning into hatches, tools and ship connections just flowing out of solid walls and floors - all that could be explained by nanite material manipulation. And by now those drones could be crawling with nanodrones."

Vonon gives a heavy shrug in his armored suit, "Might be a moot point, since we let that scoutship dock with us - and it's probably crawling with nanos, as well. But still..."
Walter Zeller
player, 414 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sun 1 Oct 2017
at 03:59
  • msg #156

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++Samantha, a bit busy. Will update when I have more info. Out+++ Sir Walter said over the intercom.

Checking out the Count as best as he could, when Aimee arrived, Walter stepped out of the way and let the Doctor do her job. At the command to move the Count to Medical, with Khea taking most of the weight, at best he was able to help keep the feet from dragging down the hallway.  Once the group arrived in the medical bay with Darrel, he helped Dr. Lavaud move him onto the examination table.

With that task done, he stepped over to the intercom, and made a call, +++Valeska, please come to Medical and assist Dr Lavaud. Samantha and Vonon, please meet me in the conference room.+++ he said.

"Doc, we have somethings that need to be worked out with the Count incapacitated, let me know if you need anything and an update to his status when you can.  Care to join me in the meeting Khea?" he asked Kheaiftouaw.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 347 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 1 Oct 2017
at 07:32
  • msg #157

Re: Destination: Unknown

Walter Zeller:
+++Samantha and Vonon, please meet me in the conference room.+++ Walter said.


Vonon looks back and forth from Sam to Sharik and back.

"Right, so...which room is the 'conference room' this week? The Rec Room where the scout-guy we just rescued is, or do you think he means the Mess Hall? Actually, I could go for a cup of Vilani Khaff, right about now. I hope he means the Mess - it's both closer to the Bridge and has snacks."

"Hey, wait! Can you leave the pilot station, Sam? Have we been station keeping over this five-sided piece of...rock...long enough that the autopilot can handle it, now?"
Sharik Kaagira
player, 290 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Mon 2 Oct 2017
at 23:20
  • msg #158

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik, having returned from escorting Serge into the waiting arms of Pablo and Kaer, plopped down into the navigator's chair (which, of course, doubled as the co-pilot's console).  She pulled on her five point harness over her tailored vacc suit and cinched the straps nice and snug over her light frame.

Unlocking her session and pulling up the secondary piloting controls on a display along side her navigational and sensor data feeds, the diminutive dilettante noted in response to Vonon's query, "Yeah, I got this.  You guys won't be that far away..."  Her fingers continued to danced over the dynamic holographically-configured displays as she watched the main viewports and tactical screens above.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 349 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Mon 2 Oct 2017
at 23:50
  • msg #159

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 158):

"Excellent. Oh! Wait! I've been looking for an excuse to try this out..." Vonon turns back to the Sensor Station cum Tactical Board and calls up a program. Opening the program, he makes a few changes, closes it, then makes a melodramatic swipe at his holographic display - as if pushing something over towards Sharik.

On Sharik's board, a big, shiny red button appears off to the side. The button is labelled "Oh Crap!" and it is slowly blinking a dull red.

"That's my version of a program we used in The Patrol, called Overwatch. I just automated it." Vonon explains, as he gets up from his console, "Right now the ventral turret is live and running hot. It's getting realtime feeds from all the sensors we have pointed at the - well, ship, for lack of a better word - we're hovering over. If anything moves down there - anything not carrying one of our drones transponders, that is - the turret will automatically lock onto it, then ask for permission to fire."

Vonon give ones of his silly dog-grins, "That big red button there will flash really fast and really bright. You press that button, when it's flashing fast, and all three ventral lasers will fire full power beams at whatever was moving until it either stops moving or you press the button to order a cease fire or the guns meltdown."

"Please don't melt down my guns." Vonon says, heading out.

But he pauses before fully leaving the Bridge,

"Oh, if you press the button now, while its pulsing slowly, the system will ask you to designate a target. And, yeah, I haven't finished building the interface for that, yet, so you can't designate a target - you just get caught in a logic loop. So, don't press the button unless it's flashing rapidly, 'kay?"
Sharik Kaagira
player, 291 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Tue 3 Oct 2017
at 00:53
  • msg #160

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik gave her vargr friend a quick 'thumbs-up', raising her right hand above her head for a moment.  And though her face was turned away from him and watching the various displays and screens, he could pretty much see the smile that was obviously crossing her lips.  "By the way, Vo." she noted rather deadpan, "I think that you have a typo on the button..."

"Shouldn't it read: 'Frak it!'" the cosmopolitan socialite asked casually, the flat intonation never leaving her voice.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 522 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 3 Oct 2017
at 01:51
  • msg #161

Re: Destination: Unknown

Khea has followed Walther into the meeting but she is hardly listening to whats going on. Instead she mumbles several technical terms during the meeting while she tries to figure out what is happening here.

"First the missing grid and now missing brain waves. Something is taking us apart and it is now on the ship. We have to put distance between us and the pyramid and  need to run every scan possible on the Long Shot. Maybe we can also fill the ship with gas and track distortions in it? And in any case no one should wander around alone.

And vacc suits. Everyine should wear a vacc suit." she adds while putting on her helmet to seal the suit she is still wearing.
Serge Baklanov
player, 15 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 3 Oct 2017
at 07:22
  • msg #162

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 158):

quote:
Sharik, having returned from escorting Serge into the waiting arms of Pablo and Kaer


Serge will not allow to touch him.
Kaengarr Ruzokh
player, 440 posts
Gvegh Vargr
Tue 3 Oct 2017
at 13:52
  • msg #163

Re: Destination: Unknown

Pablo and Kaengarr had met Serge at the airlock when he came aboard, and 'escorted' him to the Rec Room. It's the only place on the ship that Serge had been yet.

"Don't sweat it, Serge," the Vargr says to the scout. "Sounds like you had the same problems with that alien ship as we're having... only, you didn't have anyone else to blame."

"They're just being paranoid that you might be a shape-changer, even though there's never been any evidence found that such a creature might exist."

"With the Count suddenly affected by something equally unknown, they are worried that you are doing something to him. Maybe not intentionally, but since you were on the alien ship for no one knows how long, maybe it did something to you."

"Personally, I don't think so. I'm not even sure I think the Count was specifically targeted by whatever it is that's affecting him. He's a rather unique individual."

"Just to be on the safe side, though, can you remember anything from when you were in the alien ship that might have been some sort of mental... stress? Headaches, sleepiness? It's possible that something over there was trying to contact you mentally. Yeah, like psionics. After all, it could be a Zhodani ship."

"If it is, it's not like anything I've ever heard of before."
Gregory Jones
player, 46 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Tue 3 Oct 2017
at 14:17
  • msg #164

Re: Destination: Unknown

Jones listened to Aimee's explanation of what was happening to the Count. It was frustrating for him, as well as annoying. As the Count's bodyguard, he was perfectly capable of defending him against physical attacks, but even he was aware that there were methods undetectable... DNA-targeted poisons, diseases, even psionic attacks.

Some killed, but not all of them. Most took time to do that. It was the 'instant kill' method of assassins that he was good at stopping. Bullets, lasers, explosives... one way or another, they required a 'personal touch'. Those he could deal with.

"If he's stable, Doctor," Jones said to Aimee, "I can stay and watch him while you go talk to Walter."

As he understood it, nothing was physically wrong with the Count... just, his brain had shut down. If he didn't wake up soon, Aimee would have to put him on life support, since he couldn't eat or drink in his current state.
Serge Baklanov
player, 16 posts
Marine/Scout
Wed 4 Oct 2017
at 06:15
  • msg #165

Re: Destination: Unknown

Kaengarr Ruzokh:
"They're just being paranoid that you might be a shape-changer"


- Well, that's okay, I suppose - deep space often affects minds, - Serge chuckled.
- I am sure the Pyramid is not Zhodani ship - obviously its tech level is much higher. And if I was psionically tampered then I obviously would not remember that unless another psionic tests me. But this is "Russell's teapot" - neither your team can prove I was conditioned, nor I can prove the contrary. But I see no sense in it - too much gunpowder to target a single person on a single small freighter, unless your count is a really top kick, which I doubt. If I was a pirate - that makes no sense: the Pyramid costs probably several million times more than this ship. If I was an assassin - too much luck and cost in such approach. If I was a spy who wants to infiltrate human society - unreasonably complicated method, too.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:19, Wed 04 Oct 2017.
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 54 posts
Wed 4 Oct 2017
at 13:08
  • msg #166

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Those are all good points," Valeska responded. She'd been one of those people with nothing to do that had met with Serge in the Rec Room.

"Of course, if it's truly an alien ship, then it might be impossible to say how an alien thinks."

"You are also right that it isn't a Zhodani ship... at least, none that I've ever heard of. But it could always be a prototype. There have been a few individuals over the centuries that have had the resources to construct their own private ship with their own unique design. The pyramid shape does suggest that. Or alien thinking."

"It does occur to me, though, that maybe something on the Pyramid is trying to establish contact with the Count, possibly psionically, and the Count's mind is either not compatible or it wasn't prepared. The method might also be using broadcast alpha waves or something similar. Again, though... incompatible."

"On the other hand, maybe this alien ship is trying to take over his mind, and he's resisting, and it's that which has rendered him unconscious."

"Another factor to consider: the ship does not appear to use a lanthanum grid. If it does, it's underneath the outer coating or shell. That's not something we can do."

"If it doesn't use lanthanum, then that might explain why it removed some from your Scout ship, Serge--it wanted to know what it was and what it was used for."

"On the other hand, without a lanthanum grid, that presents us with some interesting possibilities: 1) it is not capable of jump travel, which means it has been traveling through normal space for a very long time... possibly a generation ship or possibly fully automated."

"2) It has another method of FTL travel. The intense gravity field suggests it might be using a gravity drive."

"3) It is capable of jump travel, but uses a completely different method of doing so, one that does not require a lanthanum grid, which puts us back to why it removed part of the grid."

As a fellow scout, she understood all too well the dilemma in which Serge had been placed. It's not so much that she took him at face value as that she empathized with him. Nothing he'd said or done was inconsistent with his story, and that would have been nearly impossible it it wasn't true.

They were also supposed to be keeping an eye out for... anomalies, unusual events. This Pyramid ship certainly qualified on that count.
Walter Zeller
player, 416 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 4 Oct 2017
at 20:23
  • msg #167

Re: Destination: Unknown

[Wardroom}

Once the others arrived at the wardroom, Walter addressed them. "Alright, we have a serious problem. For some reason Count Cromwell has been struck down and is unable to command the ship. Dr. Lavaud is not sure what the cause is but is has messed up his mind and for the time being, he is unconscious."  he said.

"Doc states that it does not seem to have been a heart attack, seizure or any poison that she has found in his system, just his brain activity. For that reason I have called you here. We have been adventuring for a while and are in a bit of a bind. We do not know what that pyramid is capable of and are not sure if it is causing Darrell to be knocked out. We have been operating as sort of a loose collective but in this case, while I mostly dealt with the operations side, I will have to step over to command until Count Cromwell is given a clean bill of health from the Doctor." Walter said.

"With that in mind, Vonon, I want you to be the XO. Take a boarding party over to the object and check it out. See if you can find out what is going on. For all we know, it could prevent us from leaving. Don't take the whole crew but enough that you can safely investigate it. I will stay here with the others to monitor the situation and act as back up if something goes wrong. Questions?" he asked the assembled.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 350 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 5 Oct 2017
at 04:19
  • msg #168

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 167):

"Uh...no, sir." Vonon responds, "No questions. I, uh, have a boarding team already assembled and in place, ready to go as soon as I issue the order. I will do so A.S.A.P."
Serge Baklanov
player, 17 posts
Marine/Scout
Thu 5 Oct 2017
at 06:15
  • msg #169

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 167):

OOC:
I am a bit confused - where is the meeting with Walter speaking and where is Serge?
Samantha Kilgore
player, 382 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 5 Oct 2017
at 07:52
  • msg #170

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam sat at her console, and rubbed her temples, as she heard Walter call for a meeting.

She didn't get up but stayed staring at her console after a while she said "Frak it"

Firing up the maneouver drive she began piloting the Long shot and the Scout ship away from the Pyramid. She took the ship away some distance, but maneouvered in such a way as to keep the sensors on target so the feed was constant

On Comms she said "Vonun, what the maximum range for control of the drones?"

ooc

08:41, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 12 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 6,3.  Pilot 2. int or Dex 1.

Sorry for delay in posting - was out of town a few days, with the normal posting rate didn't think it would matter too much! ; )
StarMaster
GM, 826 posts
Thu 5 Oct 2017
at 14:28
  • msg #171

Re: Destination: Unknown

Serge is in the Rec Room (#13) with Valeska, Pablo and Kaengarr at the moment.


Walter called a meeting of the crew in the 'Wardroom'--what's listed on the map as Mess (#8).

At the moment, only Walter, Vonon, Aimee and Khea are there.

Sharik and Samantha are still on the bridge.

Jones and the unconscious Count are in the Medical Bay (#11).
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 351 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 6 Oct 2017
at 01:16
  • msg #172

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 171):

OOC: Not exactly sure about control range on the drones, Sam, but they were designed to be let loose on an asteroid to go out prospecting while the mothership sat and waited for a drone to find something; also designed to be controlled through several meters of rocky asteroid material while mining. So, at a guess, maybe 5 miles, or 9-10 kilometers? Given the nature of this beast's hull material, I'd say add keep them in line of sight, as well.
I've got the books buried, somewhere. I'll look it up and append this OOC. Or I'll crack open another Angry Orchard and watch football with StarMaster. Could go either way...
Samantha Kilgore
player, 383 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 6 Oct 2017
at 07:15
  • msg #173

Re: Destination: Unknown

Over open comms Sam says "Guys, Ive pulled us back on the hunch that the pyramid may be affecting Darrell. Doesn't really change anything, but it might help him, and give us more room to react"
StarMaster
GM, 827 posts
Fri 6 Oct 2017
at 22:38
  • msg #174

Re: Destination: Unknown

Remember, light travels at 186,000mph, and so do radio waves. Standard communication protocols with the drones are via radio, particularly since in an asteroid belt, there'd be no atmospheric interference. The back-up/alternate means of controlling the drones is via a laser beam.

In either case, there's little to no attenuation, so distance is nearly unlimited, on the scale you are currently dealing with.

The only issue is the time lag. At 186,000 miles, you've got a two-second time lag with receiving a signal from the drones and sending a response. The real problem is your response time, which isn't likely to be under 2 seconds. If the drones need to be given a command more quickly than that, then about 93,000 miles is necessary.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 523 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 14 Oct 2017
at 00:32
  • msg #175

Re: Destination: Unknown

Resigned and gnashing her teeth Khea addresses the others in the makeshift conference room "We have run every scan we can and found nothing. So we can only guess that the pyramid is somehow responsible for Counts condition instead of something which came on board recently, and that he will recover when we jump away, or we go into the pyramid to see if we can find out what it is doing to him and at the same time grab everything that looks advanced and valuable. That could be very profitable but also very dangerous.
And then there is of course the possibility that the pyramid has nothing to do with Counts condition and it is simply a coincidence that thus happens now.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 352 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 15 Oct 2017
at 04:35
  • msg #176

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 175):

Putting words to action, Vonon steps out of the Wardroom and hurries across the Bridge to the sensor station he's been using as a Tactical Board.

First he cancels the auto-targeting program he'd left running, then he brings up the drone controls. Going over his command sequence one last time, he sets the drones down in the boat bay to action.

Two drones enter the open airlock, while a third remains outside, near the place where the magnetic signal had initially opened the outer airlock door.

Inside the airlock, one of the drones attempts to initiate the airlock cycle while the other simply waits.

Once the one trying to open the inner door succeeds, that drone will remain inside the airlock, while the other will begin scanning and - if it is possible to do so - move 1 meter outside of the airlock, into the interior.

The drone that went beyond the airlock will halt and activate every scanner it has and record for 60 seconds - it will also transmit these readings to the drone inside the airlock.

The drone inside the airlock will record the data its being fed, and will also try to transmit it out into the boat bay to the drone waiting on the outside of the airlock.

If the inner airlock door closes after the third drone exits the airlock, the drone left inside the airlock will wait 60 seconds, then start trying to open the inner door again. It will keep trying to open the door until it does, or another 60 seconds passes. At that time, the drone will try to open the outer door and exit the airlock.

The first drone, waiting out in the boat bay, will record any signal it receives, as well as retransmitting up to the ship. If the other two drones do not come out after 3 minutes, the drone will begin trying to open the outer door of the airlock.

Samantha Kilgore
player, 384 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 16 Oct 2017
at 07:30
  • msg #177

Re: Destination: Unknown

[Bridge]

Sam watches Vonun as he comes in and says "All good? I'm gonna keep moving back - it doesn't affect our drone control, and it might help the Count"

Based on Starmasters Info, Sam will continue to reverse the ship away to see if the distance makes any difference to Darrells condition, aiming to get to about 10 K in the next 30 seconds or so, and continue at that speed for a while

"Med bay - any changes in the Darrells condition?"


ooc
I think it would help us keep track of who was where if we add a tag as above. I think I mentioned this before ooc

This message was last edited by the player at 07:30, Mon 16 Oct 2017.
Serge Baklanov
player, 18 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 17 Oct 2017
at 08:32
  • msg #178

Re: Destination: Unknown

Meanwhile, Serge helps himself with drinks and snacks.
- I didnt eat for a month, after all, - explained he to Valeska, Pablo and Kaengarr.
Aimee Lavaud
player, 14 posts
Tue 17 Oct 2017
at 15:49
  • msg #179

Re: Destination: Unknown

[WARDROOM]

"It's not 100% certain that the pyramid ship is causing Darrel's condition, but I'm pretty sure of it," Aimee responded to Khea.

"I'm just not sure why it's affecting him and no one else. The only thing that I can determine that sets him apart from the rest of us is that he's the captain. That would tend to indicate the pyramid is either trying to control him or to communicate with him. Or, possibly, just get information from him... about us, our ship."

"I have no way of knowing which."
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 241 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Tue 17 Oct 2017
at 15:59
  • msg #180

Re: Destination: Unknown

[-REC ROOM-]

"You were in coldsleep, Serge," Pablo kids the Scout. "You didn't need to eat during that month."

"But, if you are saying you are hungry, I'm sure we can rustle up some grub for you."

"Better make it quick, though. We might be venturing over to pyramid ship soon. I'm guessing that you'd like to go along..."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:29, Sat 21 Oct 2017.
Serge Baklanov
player, 19 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 24 Oct 2017
at 08:40
  • msg #181

Re: Destination: Unknown

[-REC ROOM-]

In reply to Pablo Esteban Ryzov (msg # 180):

> We might be venturing over to pyramid ship soon. I'm guessing that you'd like to go along.

- Good. Who else is going in? I have some gear, but also may be your ship's locker might contain something useful for me. You don't have combat armour on board, do you?
This message was last edited by the player at 08:48, Tue 24 Oct 2017.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 524 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 24 Oct 2017
at 19:49
  • msg #182

Re: Destination: Unknown

"We can't leave the new guy alone on the ship. He definitely has to come with us. Preferably taking point so that any defence mechanism gets him first.
And that doctor might come in handy.
And with a groan she adds
"And I guess you need me in case there is a door which can't be opened.
Speaking of this, can we slave one of the drones to a hand computer to take it with us in case we need the signal again?"
Walter Zeller
player, 417 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 25 Oct 2017
at 00:06
  • msg #183

Re: Destination: Unknown

[Wardroom]

Walter nodded in agreement but paused. "I leave that up  to you XO as to who you want to take with you to the Pyramid. I will be up at the bridge monitoring things." he said before departing to the bridge.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 353 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 27 Oct 2017
at 03:03
  • msg #184

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 183):

[BRIDGE]

As Walter walks into the Bridge, at a station forward-starboard side, Vonon turns in his seat and waves.

"Hey, Sir Walter." Vonon says, "I'm just sending the drones inside the pyramid, now. Hopefully we'll know what's on the inside of the airlock in a couple minutes. With any luck, we could be going inside, ourselves, within half an hour."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 385 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 27 Oct 2017
at 07:40
  • msg #185

Re: Destination: Unknown

[BRIDGE]
Sam looked at Vonun "Possibly a bit longer than a 1/2 hour, though distance doesn't seem to be affecting Darrell at all yet."

ooc
V - Sam is still moving us away from the Pyramid
This message was last edited by the player at 07:41, Fri 27 Oct 2017.
Walter Zeller
player, 418 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 27 Oct 2017
at 18:54
  • msg #186

Re: Destination: Unknown

[Bridge]
Sir Walter nodded in agreement. "Just to be on the safe side, if they are not already, please warm up the weapons in case we need them. " he said, taking a look at the Pyramid.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 292 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Fri 27 Oct 2017
at 19:58
  • msg #187

Re: Destination: Unknown

With Vonon busy prepping for the away team and commanding his drones, Sharik responded to Walter's weapon request.  Her eyes darted towards the ship's system status and power consumption metrics.  "Done, Cap'n." the diminutive navigator noted, her fingers dancing along her console as she tapped on various cascading displays, "No targeting solution plotted yet, though.  Don't want to be seen as the aggressor..."  Well, that and though she could probably eyeball a decent solution (beam and missile trajectories were easier than starship routes), it wasn't necessarily her forte.

Still, since Samantha was at the controls and pushing her own route, Sharik simply kept an eye on both the internal and external sensor feeds.  She'd already slaved the tactical wireframes overlay onto the main bridge display with both distance and proximity feeds as well as all of the normal timers and galactic positioning overlays that were normally there.  The light from the displays both on her console and on the main screen illuminated her face in a rainbow shower of colors.

It looked sort of like Christmas.  And Shar loved Christmas.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 525 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 31 Oct 2017
at 19:55
  • msg #188

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I would also stay away from the pyramid with our ship. Too bad that we do not have grav harness. Maybe a drone can tow us to the pyramid slowly. We should have a suitable cable for that somewhere"
Samantha Kilgore
player, 387 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 6 Nov 2017
at 09:28
  • msg #189

Re: Destination: Unknown

AS they got to about 10,000 miles out Sam slowed the ship and brought it to a halt.

"Distance is fairly arbitrary, but I feel safer this far out." she said to no-one in particular

"Med bay - has the distance affected the Counts condition at all?"
Aimee Lavaud
player, 15 posts
Mon 6 Nov 2017
at 15:52
  • msg #190

Re: Destination: Unknown

Although she was in the ward room with the others, Aimee had the monitors in sickbay relaying the Count's status to her comm.

"No, it's still the same," she answered. "We seem to be out of range of the alpha wave projections, though. Whatever they did to him, it seems to be permanent. Or, at least, it will take awhile to wear off."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 388 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 10 Nov 2017
at 12:26
  • msg #191

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Ok" Sam replied, "We'll hold here for now" and started working on the sensor data to see if she can wwork out what is going on
StarMaster
GM, 829 posts
Fri 10 Nov 2017
at 19:40
  • msg #192

Re: Destination: Unknown

The drones have been executing Vonon's program even while the ship was moving away. Alpha Drone waited out in the hangar bay. Beta Drone and Charlie Drone entered the airlock. With a little effort, they were able to get the inner airlock door to cycle. It meant that there was no air on the other side.

As expected, there is a corridor on the other side of the airlock that seems to circle the hangar bay. At least, the drone can see it goes down to the corner and turns. There are a number of obvious doors along both sides of the corridor. They all seem to have markings on them... some strange script, possibly, but maybe just symbols.
Walter Zeller
player, 419 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 10 Nov 2017
at 23:13
  • msg #193

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Any idea as to the language on the doors?" Walter asked the others as the video feed came across the screen.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 356 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 11 Nov 2017
at 01:13
  • msg #194

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 193):

OOC: is this a live feed, transmitted through the outer door of the airlock, or is this the recorded video, sent up after the two drones come back outside?
StarMaster
GM, 830 posts
Sat 11 Nov 2017
at 02:50
  • msg #195

Re: Destination: Unknown

It's a live feed.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 526 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 12 Nov 2017
at 00:04
  • msg #196

Re: Destination: Unknown

Just to make sure Khea looks at the video feed in the unlikely event that the symbols would be Aslan script. And while already the plugs in her personal computer into the system to record everything the drones send without telling the others. Also just to make sure.
Aimee Lavaud
player, 16 posts
Sun 12 Nov 2017
at 00:20
  • msg #197

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I do not recognize those symbols," Aimee said. "I doubt if it is a script. Most symbols we use are unconnected to any of our scripts."

"They are designed to be easily and readily recognizable, such as nuclear, recyclable, biohazard and poison."
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 357 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 12 Nov 2017
at 00:30
  • msg #198

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 196):

"Well, the drones are in, so the airlock works." Vonon reports, "I was expecting a receiving room kinda set-up - given the size of this ship - but the airlock just opens into a passageway. No air detected. Internal gravity seems consistent with the grav field being generated on the hull of the vessel, and inside the boat bay. No lights."

"Gimme a second on temperature readings...with the airlock wide open right behind the drones, and the passageway being in vacuum to start, their temp sensors are acting kind of wonky. Plus, now that the drones are inside the outer hull, maybe we can get better power usage readings."


Samantha Kilgore
player, 389 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 13 Nov 2017
at 08:41
  • msg #199

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam looks at the symbols to see if any of them appear to be repeated "Don't mean anything to me. Maybe we could try using the computer to search of matches?"
StarMaster
GM, 831 posts
Mon 13 Nov 2017
at 20:37
  • msg #200

Re: Destination: Unknown

The interior of the ship is all black metal. Along the inner wall--the one that the airlock is in, there are seven clearly defined evenly spaced doors. Along the outer wall facing this inner wall, there are six evenly spaced doors, but spaced a bit farther apart than the inner wall.

Continuing around counter-clockwise, all the inner walls have 7 doors.

The next outer wall has 6 doors, the third outer wall only has 5 doors, and the final outer wall only has 3 doors.

The symbols on the doors are in a day-glo neon green.

[OOC: The symbols are displayed under Game Map 1.]
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 358 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Tue 14 Nov 2017
at 00:57
  • msg #201

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 200):

OOC: Hey Man! I'm on Prescribed Drugs! Don't confuse me with numbers! ^_^
So, just to be sure - is the airlock door one of the 7, or is it a separate, 8th door on that wall? And if it is one of the 7, what symbol would it be showing, were it to be closed? ^_~
StarMaster
GM, 832 posts
Tue 14 Nov 2017
at 02:33
  • msg #202

Re: Destination: Unknown

The airlock is one of the seven doors on that section of the inner wall. It is the central door.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 359 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Tue 14 Nov 2017
at 07:19
  • msg #203

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 202):

"Alright, well, look there..." Vonon points at the screen scrolling the symbols, "Small hexagon inside a hexagon is an airlock. Or maybe an entrance or exit. Passage to a different zone?"

"Alright, so the drones have gathered what info they can - they're only mining drones, after all. Next step is to go over there, in person." Vonon says, "And, of course, we all want to go, so the question becomes, who actually goes, and who has to stay here?"

"Sir Walter, you've assumed command while the Count is incapacitated, and made me X-O. Under military protocols one of us would have to stay here, aboard the Longshot. But we're not a military ship, so that's your call. Neither of us actually need stay aboard."

"To analyze any tech we find over there we're going to need crew with those skills - that's most likely to be Sharik and Khea, probably even Sam, for navigation and flight tech. But then, who has pilot watch for the Longshot?"

"Myself, Pablo and Kaengarr are not only security, but all three of us have training in boarding actions - that is, we don't easily get confused running around in dark hallways while being shot at. And we know several different ways to get though closed doors. But we also need some security to remain here, too. Who stays?"

"And then there is the Doctor. It's always good to have a Doctor on an exploration, but she may be needed here, if the Count's condition changes. I'd also suggest Valeska, perhaps, stay aboard and monitor things in engineering."

Vonon pauses in thought for a moment before continuing,

"Alright, Captain, Sir, how's this sound for an explorer team - you as Team Leader, unless you feel strongly that you should remain here, aboard. Myself and Pablo as security and muscle. Sharik, Khea and Sam as salvage techs. And we'll take that scout, Serge, because I want us to go back to the pyramid in his ship, not with the Longshot."

"If the Doctor feels she can do no more for the Count, then she can also come along, and I'd be happy to have her. I believe Kaengarr is qualified as a pilot, so we'll ask him to stand the pilot watch, here. He'll probably be very pissed to miss going over to the pyramid, but we need him here. Valeska will stand watch in engineering, and Mister Jones will be in overall charge."

"Does that meet with your approval, Sir Walter?"
Samantha Kilgore
player, 390 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 14 Nov 2017
at 08:17
  • msg #204

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam looked up at Vonun "I agree we need to go over there, but I think theres more we can do with the drones first. Like Open some doors and see whats behind them, and work out if any of them are warnings. I'd much rather a drone gets fried to work out that one of these signs is a danger sign, than one of us. Theres only a limited number of symbols so we should open at least one of each with a drone to see if we can figure out what they mean."

ooc
Starmaster Any chance you could draw us the wall layouts, please? I am full of cold and my brain is failing to understand how these work.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:18, Tue 14 Nov 2017.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 527 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 14 Nov 2017
at 23:38
  • msg #205

Re: Destination: Unknown

"If there are any defense mechanisms in there they would have reacted to the drones by now. Unless it is only triggered by biological signals. Or if there is some advanced computer program controlling the interior systems. So send in the scout first.

At least its unlikely that we meet anything living in there. If the builders of that thing could function without air there wouldn't be airlocks.

And Vonon, before we go send one drone through that door with the same symbols as the airlock one to test your theory. Also, make sure that you can control the drones while we are over there.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:42, Tue 14 Nov 2017.
StarMaster
GM, 833 posts
Wed 15 Nov 2017
at 00:28
  • msg #206

Re: Destination: Unknown

The pyramid is constructed on a square base, and the cargo bay is square and centered in the base. So the corridor goes around that square, forming its own square.

On the outer walls, the symbols are from right to left.

On the inner walls, the symbols are left to right.


                  OUTER WALL #4
     __D_____________D_______D___________D__
    |                                       |
    D     __D___D___D___D___D___D___D__     |
 O  |    |         INNER WALL #4       |    |  O
 U  |    D   I                    I    D    |  U
 T  D    |   N                    N    |    D  T
 E  |    D   N                    N    D    |  E
 R  |    |   E                    E    |    |  R
    |    D   R                    R    D    D
 W  D    |                             |    |  W
 A  |    A   W                    W    D    |  A
 L  |    |   A                    A    |    D  L
 L  D    D   L                    L    D    |  L
    |    |   L                    L    |    |
 #  |    D                             D    D  #
 1  D    |   #1                   #3   |    |  3
.   |    D         INNER WALL #2       D    |
.   |    |__D___D___D___D___D___D___D__|    D
    D                                       |
    |__D________D______________D_________D__|
                 OUTER WALL #2

              D = DOOR   A = AIRLOCK

Walter Zeller
player, 420 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 15 Nov 2017
at 02:59
  • msg #207

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Vonon, you will be surprised how many traditions carry over from the Navy to the Merchants. In the past, many Merchants ended up in the Navy during times of war since they have a rather unique skill set. Most merchants try to do with as little crew as possible to cut down the cost and therefore highly skilled. The Navy can ill afford to get them to that skill level since they are always needing replacements for battle losses." Sir Walter said.

For the time being, I will stay here. Unless there is a need to purchase cargo or negotiate a trade deal, my skills are rather limited in exploring and I have already had more than my fair share of excitement with this merry band. I concur with Doc Lavaud staying here to keep an eye on the Count and Valeska keeping an eye on the drives.  I would suggest that Gregory stay so he can deal with the guns or whatever else is needed.You have twelve hours to check things out once you land. After that, well, don't make me have to decide, get back here or signal that you need more time.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 391 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Wed 15 Nov 2017
at 08:38
  • msg #208

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam replies to Khea "I wasn't so much thinking of defences as possibly just thigns that are toxic or dangerous to us but not to the builders."

ooc

aah * sound of penny droppings* Thanks Starmaster
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 55 posts
Sun 19 Nov 2017
at 22:30
  • msg #209

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I suppose that's a valid point," Valeska agrees with Sam, "but we don't yet know that we can open any other doors."

"While it seems a safe bet that the same signal will open the other airlock, if that's what it is, we don't know that. Airlocks don't normally close on their own unless there's an active facility on the other side."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 528 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 21 Nov 2017
at 00:24
  • msg #210

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Whatever toxic materials they have over there, unless it can eat through vacc suits it won't matter."
She pauses for a moment.
"Unless its also highly radioactive"
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 360 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Tue 21 Nov 2017
at 05:56
  • msg #211

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 210):

[BRIDGE]

"Well, if you're sure you want to stay here, Sir Walter, that's how it shall be. Just wanted to give you the option. Everyone else, gear up and meet at the airlock the scout ship is docked at." Vonon says, then added, "And I'll bring a hand held drone controller, and we'll take a pair of drones with us to scout ahead, when we're inside there, okay?"


A minute or so later...

[CREW LOUNGE]
The door to the lounge opens and a Vargr walks in. It's wearing an armored spacesuit - the kind that Marines call a "Boarding Suit" - but it's not wearing the helmet, so you can see the Vargr's fur is reddish-brown, almost Auburn colored, with a touch of graying near the tip of the muzzle.

The spacesuit's color was probably originally black, but bits of graphitti and blobs of paint, as well as sharp blades and points of metal have been added in random patterns. Despite this garish decoration, Serge can easily tell that the spacesuit is of Imperial manufacture, of a style that is often sold to frontier militia units.

Upon entering the room, the Vargr, takes a quick look around, spots Serge, and heads towards him.

"Greetings." the Vargr says in a growly voice, "I am told your name is Serge. Welcome aboard the Independent StarShip Longshot, Imperial Scout Serge Baklanov. I am Vonon Ronkunu, recently made First Officer of this vessel, due to exigent circumstances."

The tone and depth of his voice, as well as his body language lead Serge to assume that Vonon is a male. And, while his voice has a growling quality to it, his Imperial Anglic is good and well practiced.

"It is the wish of our Acting Captain to make an exploration of the strange vessel that had held you captive, before we leave this area of space. However, we believe the hulk may still present danger to vessels that get too close, so we've backed the Longshot away and intend to keep her there. So we want to ask you to pilot our exploration team back to the pyramid aboard your scoutship. Your ship has already spent significant time in the presence of the pyramid - if there is a chance of any kind of contamination, it will have already happened."

"In exchange for your assistance in this manner, we will allow you to accompany our exploration team, and you will receive a Crewman's Share of any and all profits made from this discovery."

Vonon raises a hand in a halting gesture, before Serge can make any objection.

"Scout Baklanov, before you object to what you perceive as my insinuation that we are making a superior claim upon the derelict pyramid ship over your own, let me reassure you..."

"We are."

"Let me remind you that your own vessel is incapable of interstellar flight, at the moment. Our engineer has assessed the damage to your jump grid, and a former scout on our crew has told us just how much lanthanum is usually carried for repairs on ships of that sort. You do not have sufficient stores to repair your ship. You may, indeed lay claim to this derelict, but you are unable to register that claim anywhere."

"Longshot, however, can reach a nearby starport, where we can file a claim. The problem is, unless we want to kill you - and I assure you, Scout Baklanov, we do not - then when salvage crews return here they will either find you and your claim beacon - which predates ours - or they will just find your beacon. Either way, the court proceeding could last years."

"So the fair thing is to cut you in for an equal share, wouldn't you agree? You have the real property, and we have the means to exploit it. So, do we have a deal, Imperial Scout Serge Baklanov?"

Vonon holds out his hand to Serge.
Serge Baklanov
player, 20 posts
Marine/Scout
Fri 24 Nov 2017
at 15:59
  • msg #212

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 211):

[CREW LOUNGE]

Serge listened to armoured Vargr warily - although the only sign of this was that usually amiable and joky Scout suddenly became concentrated and especially calm, yet his face was inexpressive.

quote:
So, do we have a deal, Imperial Scout Serge Baklanov?


- Yes we do, - Serge shaked offered hand.
- I was not going to put my hands on this scrap of alien metal anyway, my duty is to report this to IISS and let the office to sort things out. I lack such skill of monetizing which you demonstrated, - Scout "laughed in his beard", - but I will support your attempt to earn some bucks on this situation.

- Okay, I am ready to board the Pyramid and I agree with plan. One question though: if you have better suits than my vaccsuit (TL14) on board, it would make sense to equip me with it.
Walter Zeller
player, 421 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 24 Nov 2017
at 21:01
  • msg #213

Re: Destination: Unknown

[Bridge]

"Good luck checking the thing out Vonon. Remember, twelve hours from the time you enter until you are out or letting me know that you need more time. Captain has the con." Sir Walter said to Samantha so she could join the others.

Flipping a few switches and adjusting the seat for his use, Walter looked over the sensors to make sure he knew what was out there. Tapping a few buttons, he called up the computers library to see what information the legal section had for derelict vessels in the Drexilthar sector so he could make sure any paperwork was correct.

16:00, Today: Walter Zeller rolled 7 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 3,1.  Admin for legal referance +EDU.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 392 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Sat 25 Nov 2017
at 12:20
  • msg #214

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam nodded at Walter "Captain has the con" she said and got up from her console. She moved to her room to pick up some kit, before heading to eh airlock to the scout. Triggering her personal comms she said "Sam here, waiting for you guys at the airlock"
Kheaiftouaw
player, 529 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 25 Nov 2017
at 23:31
  • msg #215

Re: Destination: Unknown

Khea has already stowed everything she things she might need over there in the airlock. Weapons, all scanners they have and her computer and toolkits. She also brings several canisters of reserve oxygen so that she does not need to rely on the scout ships reserves to fill her suit up just incase it got infected by something...
Although currently her main concern was if she was able to get one of their drones to carry all this stuff.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 361 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 26 Nov 2017
at 03:25
  • msg #216

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 212):

Serge:
Okay, I am ready to board the Pyramid and I agree with plan. One question though: if you have better suits than my vaccsuit (TL14) on board, it would make sense to equip me with it.


Vonon frowns in thought - in that peculiar grimace that folks with muzzles rather than faces use.

"Well, we don't have anything like that in ship's stores, no." Vonon responds, "I believe that a couple of the crew, who hail from deeper in the Imperium than myself, may possess such equipment, but it is their personal property."

Vonon cocks his head to the left and squints at Serge,

"Scout Baklanov, you do know where in space you are, don't you? You are in The Reavers Deep - this isn't the Imperial Frontier, this is beyond the Imperial Frontier! This is a treatied No Sophonts Land between the Imperium, the Confederation and the Hierate. Most of the local Star-States out here are lucky to even reach Tech-13, never mind export it."

"But if you're saying you're tired of that suit you have, there, I'm sure that Pablo, here..." Vonon gestures at the Human male who'd been 'keeping him company'

"Pablo would be happy to make you an offer for it." Vonon turns to Pablo, "What's the tech on that Carrellian Assembly-built suit your wearing, Pablo? Tech-11, Tech-12?"
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 242 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Sun 26 Nov 2017
at 22:48
  • msg #217

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Not sure what you are referencing, Vonon, but the Assembly is fairly high tech," Pablo replies. "Certainly not Imperial Core, as I've been led to believe, but this suit was made by Oberman Industries. It's equivalent to TL14."

"Anyway, Serge, we're all running around in comparable gear. I don't think we have anything better than what you've got. You'd have to upgrade to an Expedition Suit. Don't think we have one of those on board."
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 362 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Mon 27 Nov 2017
at 01:25
  • msg #218

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Pablo Esteban Ryzov (msg # 217):

[CREW LOUNGE]

Vonon rolls his eyes up towards the overhead, and shakes both fists,

"Sheesh! What, am I the Orphan Puppy around here? The only one wearing tech-12 gear from home?"

Vonon drops his gaze and gives one of his open-mouthed smiles, "Actually, the Space Patrol in Cassandra's Belt buys the best Imperial Navy surplus we can get. They'd just upgraded to tech-13, when I retired, so they let me keep my service suit. Pretty nice deal, I thought - Imperial Tech for free *sigh* Well, maybe if we ever get into Princedom of Caledonia space I might be able to upgrade to one of theirs; I hear Tech-13 is their mainstream, now. If they even make suits for Vargr."

"Well, Serge, looks like you're stuck with your old suit. Right, then. Pablo, bring Serge down to the airlock where his ship is - everyone is gathering there. I need to go grab my helmet, then I have to run down to Drone Control to grab a handheld controller. I'll join up with everyone ASAP."

OOC: Vonon pauses a moment, just in case Serge or Pablo want to say anything...

Vonon turns back towards the doorway, but diverts over to the nearby wall mount comm-panel.

COMMS>>>"Vonon to Bridge. Sir Walter, I've just negotiated a deal with Imperial Scout Officer Serge Baklanov. In return for personally assisting us with exploration and exploitation of the derelict, as well as making the use of his scoutship available to the effort, he agrees to a common profit sharing plan of equal shares across the board between all of us and himself."

COMMS>>>"I thought you might want to get a contract to that effect prepared and signed with him, before we leave the Longshot. I've still got a few things to deal with before leaving, so you've got, maybe, ten or fifteen minutes. Heh-heh."


OOC:
Hey, Serge! I know of a few different ways to pronounce that name - which one you using?
Serge = "surge" (obviously Anglicized)
Serge = "ser-gay" or "seer-gay"
Serge = "ser-g'ee" or "seer-g'ee"


Serge Baklanov
player, 21 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 28 Nov 2017
at 09:05
  • msg #219

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 218):

When boarding party assembled and got aboard on Elusive, Serge returned to his habitual seat in the cockpit, and started take-off sequences.
- Okay, ladies and gentlemen, take your seats according to your tickets, and get ready for a ride, - said Serge via intercom to his new teammates. - No foods nor drinks will be served during flight - sorry about that - but you can help yourself: there is a coffee machine in the common room. Temperature over the board is about ten Kelvins.
- Longshot, this is Elusive, - Serge switched to radio, - we are ready to undock and waiting green light from you.

If everything is OK, Serge moves Elusive into the Pyramid according to plan.

quote:
OOC:
Hey, Serge! I know of a few different ways to pronounce that name - which one you using?


In a French manner, like "serg[ent]" in French, but stress on the first syllable. Like Serr-zh. Anglicized "surge" is OK too.
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 56 posts
Tue 28 Nov 2017
at 16:31
  • msg #220

Re: Destination: Unknown

"The conversations have been recorded," Valeska reminded Vonon as he headed for the Scout ship, "so a written contract isn't really necessary."

When Serge asked for clearance to depart, Valeska looked at Walter for confirmation, and then replied.

"All systems green here, too. You're good to go. Take her out on your mark," she said to Serge over the radio.
Walter Zeller
player, 422 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 29 Nov 2017
at 02:53
  • msg #221

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Elusive, you are cleared." Sir Walter said over the radio, as he scanned the sensors for any sign from the pyramid.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 393 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Wed 29 Nov 2017
at 08:37
  • msg #222

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam adjusted her vacc suit as she sat down on the Scout, placing a black grip bag by her side, as she waited, Her vacc suit had a belt over the top of it to which was attached her customary cutlass, and a holstered pistol, as well as s tun stick she had grabbbed from the ships locker.

She tried to catch Vonuns ear "Its your game, but while we're heading over, we should try and use the drones to check out some of the doors, and check for any toxic-ness. And to be clear, if we DON'T do that, your going in first..." she said, with a slight smile
Sharik Kaagira
player, 293 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Thu 30 Nov 2017
at 01:21
  • msg #223

Re: Destination: Unknown

Not having heard anything to the contrary, Sharik locked her station and stood as she'd been tapped initially for the away team by her vargr friend.  She was already in her tailored vacc suit; her time in the Imperial Services had already ingrained the protocol in her.  Sudden decompression while on the bridge (or pretty much anywhere on the ship) was simply bad ju-ju.  The Deep Black was just that unforgiving.

The diminutive ex-corporate operative turned socialite needed to better arm herself, however.  So, she stopped by the ship's locker where her personal weapons were secured.  While, Shar often carried a customized stunner on her person while shipboard, going on an expedition meant that she'd carry something a bit more lethal as well.  Her laser pistol as well as a couple of spare cartridges were strapped to her belt as well as a utility knife and her own variant on the standard scavenger salvage tool, the wrecker.

While this mission might not officially be a scavenging one, Sharik had discovered early in her IISS career that the general multi-tool that was ubiquitous in the wrecking and salvage business was actually quite handy in many shipboard situations (despite its destructive sounding name), even the building and constructive ones.  Made to her own personal specifications, the cunning curved and shaped piece of metal had a number of edges and slots that were strategically placed for doing a lot of different mechanical jobs associated with space-born engineering tasks.

After checking the balance of the multi-tool out for a moment and savoring the familiar weight in her hand, Sharik slotted the long piece of high-tensile metal alloy into its leather sheathe strapped to her thigh.  With her gloves and helmet securely fastened in place, she made her way to the Elusive and the rest of the team to await departure for the mysterious pyramid.  The auburn-haired ex-scout rolled her shoulders as she waited, releasing some of the tension and smiled inwardly at the excited, anticipatory state that she found herself in.
StarMaster
GM, 834 posts
Sat 9 Dec 2017
at 22:21
  • msg #224

Re: Destination: Unknown

The Scout ship lifts off of the Long Shot and flies back to the pyramid ship. Against his better judgment, Serge lands the Scout ship in the hangar bay of the pyramid.

There's still no reaction from the pyramid ship.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 243 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Mon 11 Dec 2017
at 18:39
  • msg #225

Re: Destination: Unknown

"So, Vonon, you want to control the drones from here inside the Scout ship?" Pablo asked before they exited the ship. "Or are you a more hands-on controller... want to get into the thick of it with the drones?"
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 363 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Wed 13 Dec 2017
at 04:54
  • msg #226

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Pablo Esteban Ryzov (msg # 225):

"Yeah, I'll use the hand-held and take control once we're all out at the airlock into the pyramid." Vonon replies, "So, everyone ready?"
Samantha Kilgore
player, 394 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Wed 13 Dec 2017
at 09:14
  • msg #227

Re: Destination: Unknown

Once the Scout docks, Sam puts on her vacc suit helmet, and tests everythings green one more time, before triggering comms "After you Vonun" she says motioning to the airlock with a slight chuckle.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 530 posts
Aslan outcast
Thu 14 Dec 2017
at 23:21
  • msg #228

Re: Destination: Unknown

When the gravity of the pyramid kicks in Khea slings her toolkit around one of the drones and closes her vacc suit. She then turns to the others to see who is daring enough to leave the ship first (hoping that it will be the only one standing between her and a free scout ship).
Serge Baklanov
player, 22 posts
Marine/Scout
Fri 15 Dec 2017
at 11:17
  • msg #229

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 228):

While everybody was ganging up, Serge picked up his equipment from the locker near airlock.
 - ACR... Ammo... Breaching charge... Plastic... - Scout went through the list.
 - Hmm - high explosive or stun?.. - Serge asked himself. - I guess I'll take all of them, - decided he finally, grabbing backpack.
 - Too bad I have no EMP charges, - declared Serge to the boarding party. - I concider automated security as the most probable threat out there.


When airlock released air and outer hatch was opened to the unknown, scout looked out from the aperture and then looked back on Vonon.
- This can be dangerous - you go first, - sneered Serge.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 364 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Mon 18 Dec 2017
at 03:58
  • msg #230

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 229):

Vonon finished attaching the handheld Drone Controller to the empty weapon cradle on the left forearm of his boarding suit, and looked up at Serge, again revealing the white-painted caricature of a Vargr skull-face on his helmet.

"I usually do." Vonon responds, his growly voice now having an electronic buzz added to it, "Right. Pablo and I will go from here to the alien airlock, as a test to see if the pyramid reacts to our presence in the boat bay."

"Once we get there, we will wait outside the airlock while the rest of you walk over to join us. Khea, did you bring a hand-held welder? I'd like you to try to spot-weld the airlock doors open. But, just in case we can't weld this metal, do you have anything like spikes or wedges or even nails that we might try to jam the doors open with?"
Sharik Kaagira
player, 294 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Thu 21 Dec 2017
at 20:17
  • msg #231

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik had watched all of the banter with quiet bemusement, an eyebrow raised at the unabashed bravado (or was that cowardice) expressed.  Humorous definitely, given Sergey's obvious preparations.  She sidled up next to Vonon, just off his left shoulder, the translucent articulated coif that covered her head and the clear faceplate of her high-tech vacc suit allowed her slight, crooked smile to be on display for everyone.

"Once more into the breach, dear friend." the lithe socialite intoned in a slightly cultured, but definitely affected, accent.  It was an old quotation (supposedly) from an even older time predating (also, supposedly) the first Rule of Man (a well-established fact).  But it seemed appropriate.  The diminutive navigator winked at the vargr officer, they'd been through a number of adventures together before.  This was just another one (and hopefully not their last).

She patted her friend on the shoulder and then gave Pablo the thumbs up as she manned the airlock controls.  In theory, there was little to do with all of the automation.  But, if something happened that was unexpected.  There might be plenty to do.  So, Sharik took a deep breath and waited for Vonon to give her the 'go' signal.
Walter Zeller
player, 423 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 22 Dec 2017
at 02:12
  • msg #232

Re: Destination: Unknown

[Bridge]
Walter watched as the scout ship approached the strange object. Once it entered, he flipped a switch. "Computer, set time on my mark, "Mark". Page me in 11 hours time." he said, standing up to stretch his legs.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 531 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 24 Dec 2017
at 23:00
  • msg #233

Re: Destination: Unknown

Vonons request came as quite a surprise to Khea as she was more prepared to open things instead of keeping them open. Fortunately she packed her entire kit so welding wasn't a problem. If that failed she could likely find something on the scout to take aoart and wedge into the door, unless it turned out to be some weird liquid or growing metal without any space to wedge anything in.
So with her blowtorch in one hand she showed Vonon her closed fist, the Aslan sign that everything is ok and steps in line for the exit (at the very back)
StarMaster
GM, 836 posts
Sat 6 Jan 2018
at 21:43
  • msg #234

Re: Destination: Unknown

As everyone climbs out of the Scout ship, Vonon has the drones begin opening some of the doors in the corridor.

It doesn't go as quickly or as smoothly as expected because even though you now know that some sort of magnetic pulse will unlock/open them, there is a different frequency for each door, and there are a lot of variations. Fortunately, the drones can go through them without tiring.

The first door to the left of the airlock finally pops open, and the drone transmits the image it sees. It looks like a weapons locker, holding three weapons... a sidearm, a longarm and a heavy weapon. Only... they don't look like any weapons anyone has ever seen before.

It's obvious, though, that they all have the same basic design, just the scale is different. The base and barrel are all continuous, and triangular in shape... more like a tetrahedron with the barrel elongated. It looked like they had four handles... one sticking out of each side. They appeared to be energy weapons.


The next door is opened by a second drone. At first appearance, it looks like there are two vacc suits hanging inside, but a slightly closer look reveals that they are strangely shaped. Certainly a standard human couldn't wear them... at least not in any way that you can figure out just from looking at them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:52, Sat 06 Jan 2018.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 244 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Sat 6 Jan 2018
at 21:50
  • msg #235

Re: Destination: Unknown

Pablo was the first one to step out of the Scout ship. He was almost daring the Enemy to start something!

Unfortunately, the ship was dead. No, that wasn't strictly true. It was... on stand-by? Not active, but it still had power.

"Pablo to Walter. You reading us through the relay?"

Once he got a reply from Walter, he took a minute to walk around the whole bay. Serge had probably already done that, but it never hurt to have a second opinion. He had a different perspective than the scout did, so he might notice something that Serge hadn't.

Once he got back around to where he'd started, he stepped into and then through the airlock, making a mental note that it didn't appear these aliens could exist in the vacuum of space.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 533 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 9 Jan 2018
at 23:53
  • msg #236

Re: Destination: Unknown

When Khea sees the drone feed from the weapons locker she gets so exited to barely keep her tail under control

"Take all those weapons. They might be more valuable than the scout ship. Just dont try to fire them. And the suits too. Who knows out of what material they are.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 395 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Wed 10 Jan 2018
at 10:26
  • msg #237

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam smiled at Khea "You are of course assuming that the owner isn't aboard - I suggest we hold fire on the um Salvage, until we're sure about that."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 534 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 10 Jan 2018
at 23:30
  • msg #238

Re: Destination: Unknown

Trying not to look a Samantha so that she not see the obvious signs of insult Khea instead walks towards the now open hatch. If they were concerned about us taking things they should have left the grid on the scout alone. And as long as no one appears to claim posession I assume that this ship is empty.
Walter Zeller
player, 425 posts
Merchant/Noble
Thu 11 Jan 2018
at 03:39
  • msg #239

Re: Destination: Unknown

"+++Relay is working Pablo, I hear you fine.+++" Sir Walter said.
Serge Baklanov
player, 23 posts
Marine/Scout
Thu 18 Jan 2018
at 14:45
  • msg #240

Re: Destination: Unknown

Serge stays close to Vonon as back up, and guarding for threat vigilantly.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 396 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 18 Jan 2018
at 20:07
  • msg #241

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam shrugged at Kheas comment "Your call. But if they do turn up, and your carting their gear off, their response is likely to be more... negative. If we confirm its empty, and then cart off their gear - no problem. And it looks like we have time."

Sam slotted in behind Pablo, her kit bag in one hand and an Auto Pistol in the other.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 365 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 20 Jan 2018
at 05:55
  • msg #242

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 241):

Vonon ponders the two doors that have been opened and the contents of the small chambers behind them.

"Shar'r," Vonon says, using his nickname for Sharik (Shar'r = Small Blade in Vargr Dialect Vonon speaks),

"You have your personal computer, right? Course you do. Fool question." Vonon says, "Well, add this to the database of alien symbols we're building. We already think that 'Hexagon with smaller, solid hexagon inside' is the symbol for 'airlock'. Now this door immediately to the left had a symbol that was 'Hexagon with solid top and bottom, empty horizontal bar through middle with squiggles' which means either 'weapons locker' or 'tool locker', whichever those devices turn out to be."

"Next in line to the left of that door is marked with a 'hollow hexagon, border at eight o'clock position replaced with single dot' which appears to be the symbol for 'space suit or environment suit locker'; could also mean 'cleaning or recharge station'."

"There's one more door to our left, on this wall, on this side of the airlock. Let's try and open it and see what's behind it. Then we can start opening the doors on the opposite wall, behind us. I'd like to stay in this corridor, for right now, and leave going around any corners until we've found out what is behind all thirteen of these doors, right here."

"Sound like a plan?"
Samantha Kilgore
player, 397 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Sat 20 Jan 2018
at 11:53
  • msg #243

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam nodded at Vonun "Sound Plan. Pablo if you take watch one way, I'll keep an eye on the other whilst these guys figure out which symbols mean "Highly irradiated area - Run like fun!"" She grinned at Vonun and then moved past the leaders to take up watch down the corridor, her bag at her feet.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 535 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 20 Jan 2018
at 21:35
  • msg #244

Re: Destination: Unknown

If they are so barbaric as to not announce their present and possession then they should not expect others to honor them

Turning back to watching the video feed on her computer she unmutes her communicator Can someone analyze what gas the tanks of those suits are filled with?
StarMaster
GM, 837 posts
Sat 20 Jan 2018
at 23:43
  • msg #245

Re: Destination: Unknown

At Vonon's direction, the drone moves down to the last door on the left, on the left hand wall. Again, it takes a few moments for it to cycle through the many magnetic frequencies before it comes upon the right one that opens the door.

The door swings open, and what the drone transmits is hard to grasp for a moment. There's a 'floating' tetrahedron in there. It's about 1.5 meters on a side. After a bit of staring at it, you realize that it's probably some sort of robot, as it has a metal tentacle extending out of all four surfaces. All four tentacles extend down to the floor, supporting the tetrahedron and making it look like it's floating.

There also appear to be a sensor, possibly a photo-sensor, at every point on every side.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 366 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 21 Jan 2018
at 02:31
  • msg #246

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 245):

"O-kay. Third potential obstacle." Vonon says, "Inactive robot...for the moment. It hasn't reacted to the door opening or the presence of our drone, yet. So, do we expose ourselves to it and hope it remains inactive, or do I have the drone close the door?"
Kheaiftouaw
player, 536 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 21 Jan 2018
at 19:27
  • msg #247

Re: Destination: Unknown

Switching to Vonons feed Khea stares at the robot standing before the drone.
Ohhhh, this robot is really valuable. But before we tamper with anything that could be potentialls dangerous I would say to keep exploring for other items we could simply take.
Serge Baklanov
player, 24 posts
Marine/Scout
Mon 22 Jan 2018
at 14:48
  • msg #248

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 247):

> But before we tamper with anything that could be potentialls dangerous I would say to
> keep exploring for other items we could simply take.

- I agree, - Serge put a word in. - Let's make an overall picture and then deal whith every segment in detail.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 245 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Tue 23 Jan 2018
at 01:42
  • msg #249

Re: Destination: Unknown

"If we aren't going to try and take the weird robot," Pablo said, "then close the door. If it detects us and thinks we're the enemy, I'm quite sure it can get out of its little storage cabinet all on its own."

"If it can't, then we're better off."
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 367 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Tue 23 Jan 2018
at 01:56
  • msg #250

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Pablo Esteban Ryzov (msg # 249):

Nodding, Vonon inputs the command into the drone handheld unit to order the closing of the door into the robot chamber. Once the door is closed, Vonon speaks up.

"Okay, so, the doors we've checked - airlock then weapon/tool locker then suit locker then robot locker. Now, more-or-less directly across the passageway from the robot locker is a door with a symbol that is almost identical to the symbol on the door to the robot locker - only, where the robot door has a single triangle pointing down on the right side, this other door has a single triangle pointing down on the left side."

"Is that an indication of similarity, I wonder? Maybe we'll find a robot behind this door, also, but a robot of different functionality."

"Okay, if everyone is ready, I'll have the drone open that next door..."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 398 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 23 Jan 2018
at 08:07
  • msg #251

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam looked back at Vonun and nodded, then turned back to keeping watch down the corridor.
StarMaster
GM, 838 posts
Fri 26 Jan 2018
at 23:18
  • msg #252

Re: Destination: Unknown

The drone is able to close the door with the robot without it activating.

It then opens the next door, and the image it transmits is a room full of electronics. There are racks and banks of equipment and circuitry. None of it is immediately recognizable, although it appears to be transistor- and integrated circuit-based, rather than vacuum tubes.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 537 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 3 Feb 2018
at 01:18
  • msg #253

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Zoom in on that" Khea shouts in the communicator while trying to get a good look at one of the circuit boards.
"This is the first time we can get a good look on their technology. Can you scan those parts? Or are they reflecting like the hull?
She holds her computer directly in front of her helmet to get a better look for a few second before putting it away.
"Have the drone wait there, I am coming over.".
Khea takes her toolkits, both for mechanics and electronics and sprints, as well as her vacc suit allows her to, over to the storeroom where she examines the circuits to at least recognize if they use a known type of technology and what they might be for.

OOC: heaiftouaw rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,2.  Figuring out Alien tech. Edu 1 Engineer 1
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 368 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 3 Feb 2018
at 02:15
  • msg #254

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 253):

"Interesting..." Vonon says, considering the contents of the two chambers, "The symbols on the doors are identical, just reversed left-to-right from each other. Behind one door is a robot, behind the other is a room of electronic-filled cabinets."

"First impressions, people, what are the differences? I see one room having 'mobile' electronics versus the other room having 'non-mobile' electronics. Anyone have any other observations?"
Kheaiftouaw
player, 538 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 3 Feb 2018
at 17:01
  • msg #255

Re: Destination: Unknown

"They could be spare parts for robots, so basically their insides."
StarMaster
GM, 839 posts
Sun 4 Feb 2018
at 17:59
  • msg #256

Re: Destination: Unknown

Oddly, the room between the center sliding rack and the walls seem a bit too narrow for anyone to actually go into the room to work on the circuits, which probably explains why the rack slides out.

Khea has a bit of difficulty in figuring out what the circuits do, until she first realizes that there is a built in redundant circuit to it, and secondly, realizes that the components aren't all made by the same manufacturer. She can't help wondering if the inconsistent coloring and coding is intentional, or perhaps these aliens don't see color the way she and the Humans do.

As far as she can tell, this whole room is full of shields circuitry. The redundant circuitry seems to echo redundant shielding, and each of the four 'racks' handles a separate external shield, but there is two special functions--transferring one shield control to another side, and a rotating shield system.

The technology is strange, but not inconsistent with function. There is signs of the boards having been repaired several times.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 399 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 6 Feb 2018
at 08:36
  • msg #257

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam glanced over her shoulder back at the others "I dunno what it means, guys, I'm leaving the figuring out to you. I'm just on overwatch. All good your end Pablo?"
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 246 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Wed 7 Feb 2018
at 06:35
  • msg #258

Re: Destination: Unknown

Pablo was doing his best to keep an eye out in all four directions... six, if you count ceiling and floor. There was some small consolation in that the drone would probably trip any security system before he did.

"So far, so good, Sam," Pablo replied. He knew the video image transmitted by the drone was just as good as seeing it himself, or so they claimed, but there was something about seeing it in person. He couldn't quite explain it, but the drone only saw what was there, not what might be there. Maybe it had something to do with flat-screen imaging compared to 3D binocular vision.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 540 posts
Aslan outcast
Mon 12 Feb 2018
at 23:03
  • msg #259

Re: Destination: Unknown

Going through several boards and stacking them on the floor Khea radios
Looks like whoever owned this ship were scavangers. The scout was probably not the first ship they stole from.
So keep an eye out for items that look like they do no belong. We are likely dealing with the items from several alien civilizations.
StarMaster
GM, 841 posts
Tue 13 Feb 2018
at 04:16
  • msg #260

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Okay, then... let's try the next door," Pablo says, backing up as Vonon directs the drone to the next door.

"Do any of those things look like they've been damaged... say, by intense gravity? Remember, we're sitting in a massive gravity well that this ship is apparently generating. Admittedly it's only one-gee, but maybe that's the leftover?"
Serge Baklanov
player, 25 posts
Marine/Scout
Wed 14 Feb 2018
at 08:43
  • msg #261

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 260):

OOC:
May be we just request Gamemaster that we carefully open all the doors one by one, at least in one corridor segment? Otherwise we will be opening one door per month :)
StarMaster
GM, 842 posts
Wed 14 Feb 2018
at 17:45
  • msg #262

Re: Destination: Unknown

OOC: That was always going to happen, once you established a procedure, which you now have.


The drone opens the next door along the outer side of the hallway. Except for a few odd items in the room, it has the appearance of some sort of living quarters. Two of these items have the appearance of triangular-shaped trashcans. They are two interlocking three-sided open-ended pyramids, one inverted from the other. In this way, the open one isn't trying to balance on one of its points, but is braced by the other one.

Although more artistic than practical, the odd part is that they are padded on the inside.

There is no bed nor any chairs in the room, but there are an odd series of bars hanging from the ceiling and protruding from the two side walls.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 400 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 16 Feb 2018
at 08:40
  • msg #263

Re: Destination: Unknown

Following the information about the bars in the living quarters, Sam starts checking out the corridor more carefully to see if there is anything similar along it - eg suggesting they may be used for movement
StarMaster
GM, 843 posts
Fri 16 Feb 2018
at 18:29
  • msg #264

Re: Destination: Unknown

No, the corridor doesn't have any similar bars in it, nor did the cargo/docking bay.

The next three doors open to identical rooms... or nearly so. There are minor differences, such as things place in a slightly different location. In the last one, it has layout that is the mirror image of the first one.

There's one more door at the end, in the same wall.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 296 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Sat 17 Feb 2018
at 01:19
  • msg #265

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik had remained fairly quiet while following the order that Vonon had given to continue to record their sortie.  She kept her positioning quite carefully near (but not too near) both Vonon and Pablo while not getting underfoot.  She seemed most familiar with the two - and all three of them must have had some level of CBQ training as a matter of course.  Her movements near Pablo were actually very practiced; apparently, they had actually worked in close quarters tactical situations before with each other.

Recordings were easy enough given her abundance of portable electronics; the HUD projected on the chromomorphic lenses of her mirrorshades also tied into the sensor grid on her tailored vacc suit.  Naturally, like both her customized p-comm and wearable computer the sensor grid had a visual sensor feed for real time monitoring.  As such, the triangulation, spatial compensation, and image compositing integration software to process the multiple feeds into a single holographic stream had been perfected a long, long time ago.  The diminutive ex-operative had kept pretty quiet as a matter of course.  Her training in observation and recording generally was served best by not narrating or interrupting the input data stream with her voice.  Much Shar might like the sound of her voice, since she was closest to the microphones on her electronics it never behooved her to speak much.

Still, the presence of living quarters and the room that might have been an alien exercise room prompted her to agree with Pablo.  "This area looks lived in." the youthful-appearing socialite agreed quietly, "All too familiar in function and yet the venue and circumstances are disturbingly exotic..."  Her voice trailed off as she contemplated the potential reasons that the anomalous gravity well would be so targetted in its manifestation.  With trappings that were too recognizable in function for coincidence, but missing areas that needed to present, Sharik urged the others to press on.  "If there is an armoury and living quarters, could this be a control room of some sort?  Either engineering or a bridge?" she mused aloud, "It's either that or a gym..."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:19, Sat 17 Feb 2018.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 541 posts
Aslan outcast
Mon 19 Feb 2018
at 23:05
  • msg #266

Re: Destination: Unknown

While the others were busy with chasing ghosts and admiring furniture Khea switched from trying to figure out the spare parts to ransacking the place, carrying as much of them as her bulky vacc suit allowed it back to the ship and then gets the guns they found a few rooms before and also stows them.
"Call me when you find something interesting. But in the meantime I seem to be the only one concerned about profiting from this find."
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 247 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Tue 20 Feb 2018
at 17:01
  • msg #267

Re: Destination: Unknown

"We all want more money," Pablo responded, "but our first priority is being able to get out of here. To do that, we need to make sure there's no gravity pulse that will kill our jump efforts."

He moves down the corridor to the next door that the drone is going to open.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 401 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Wed 21 Feb 2018
at 08:20
  • msg #268

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam looked at Khea and laughed slightly "Thats coz your taking the short view. I think our plan is to check this ship out thoroughly and then take everything. Not grab what we can carry now and scoot."

Sam keep s moving forward on overwatch mode.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 373 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 22 Feb 2018
at 08:51
  • msg #269

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 268):

"Yup, that's pretty much the plan, alright." Vonon nods agreement with Sam, "With the exception of a couple tons of metals that Sir Walter got, the cargo holds on the Longshot are looking pretty empty. I think..."

"Anyway, yeah. Once we've finished looking into every nook and cranny aboard this overly gravitic lump, we stuff everything that isn't nailed down aboard the Longshot - I'm afraid that's probably going to include stripping your scoutship, too, Serge - and when we have the last valuable circuit board and drop of fuel, we'll float away for a couple of days, then finish the jump to Duncinae."

"That's The Plan, anyway."
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 248 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Thu 22 Feb 2018
at 09:28
  • msg #270

Re: Destination: Unknown

"There's a plan in there somewhere," Pablo concurs, "but remember, the Scout ship isn't Serge's... it belongs to the Scout Service. I thought we were hauling it back for him... them."

"We mount it on the Long Shot dorsally, just like we did with that ship we rescued."
StarMaster
GM, 844 posts
Thu 22 Feb 2018
at 19:53
  • msg #271

Re: Destination: Unknown

Opening the doors isn't quite automatic for the drone; it has to go through a lot of frequencies before it finds the right one, since, apparently, the magnetic frequencies aren't close to each other. It finally gets the right combination, and the end door opens. It's more electronics, but other than a certain strangeness to the layout (such as components on the floor and ceiling, as well as the walls and the center rack), it all appears to be a huge computer. Or maybe dozens of connected smaller computers.


While this is going on, Walter is monitoring from the bridge. He doesn't really know what he and the remaining crew could possible do to help if something goes wrong. He's pretty sure the Long Shot's weapons would barely dent the hull of the pyramid ship.

And then the alarm klaxon's sound! It's the proximity sensors! Another ship has suddenly appeared out of nowhere, about 10,000 meters off the starboard bow.

The sensors register a jump-space exit.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:21, Mon 26 Feb 2018.
Walter Zeller
player, 428 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 23 Feb 2018
at 00:50
  • msg #272

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++Inbound craft gang, identity unknown!+++ Walter hollered over the relay to the other crew members as he started scanning the intruder.

<<<Gregory, Valeska, get to the turrets and await orders>>> he added over the intercom.

19:49, Today: Walter Zeller rolled 5 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 3,3.  Sensors (-1 after mods due to untrained, 8+).
StarMaster
GM, 845 posts
Fri 23 Feb 2018
at 01:42
  • msg #273

Re: Destination: Unknown

Walter has no problem reading the sensor scans, particularly the visual ones. The ship is clearly a 200-ton Free Trader.

As is normal, it isn't under power when it drops out of j-space, but it still has the vector it had when it entered j-space.

It's not actually on a collision course; the sensors merely reacted to its proximity before they could determine its vector.

In another second or two, the sensors pick up the ship's transponder. It's the Starshine out of Drexilthar, owner/captain of record is Morgan Randolph.
Walter Zeller
player, 429 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sat 24 Feb 2018
at 02:49
  • msg #274

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++It appears to be a Free trader that just jumped in. Will update+++ Walter said over the relay as he flipped a switch to open one of the hailing frequencies.

+++Captain Walter Zeller of the Longshot to Free trader Starshine, beware of the navigation hazard in the sector, it already seems to have damaged a scout recently.+++ he added.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 542 posts
Aslan outcast
Mon 26 Feb 2018
at 00:51
  • msg #275

Re: Destination: Unknown

"And thats why you take the items immediately instead of waiting. You never know what happens next.
Brayln Adone
player, 2 posts
Reporter at Large,
Dakaar Herald
Tue 27 Feb 2018
at 04:54
  • msg #276

Re: Destination: Unknown

The klaxons aboard the Starlight woke Brayln just in time for the sudden lurch from J-Space and loss of gravity to throw him from his bed. In a panic, he rushed for the emergency vacc suit in his quarters. "Captain! What happened?" He called into the vacc suit's comm as he snapped the helmet on.
Brayln Adone
player, 3 posts
Reporter at Large,
Dakaar Herald
Tue 27 Feb 2018
at 05:01
  • msg #277

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Brayln Adone (msg # 276):

Since he was serving watches on the bridge, he had the ship's comms channels patched through his vacc suit's communicator. He heard

quote:
+++Captain Walter Zeller of the Longshot to Free trader Starshine, beware of the navigation hazard in the sector, it already seems to have damaged a scout recently.+++


+++Free Trader Starshine to Longshot. Understood.+++

Immediately, he toggled back to the crew channel. Captain, I've got some experience patching systems together, I'm on my way to the engine room.

When Brayln gets there, if Verner Rask or Morgan Randolph are already there, he will assist them. Otherwise, he will use Mechanic to check what systems he can. Priority to restoring gravity/life support and flight control.

14:01, Today: Brayln Adone rolled 9 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,6.  Mechanic roll to assess damage from misjump.
Morgan Randolph
player, 4 posts
Merchant Captain
Free Trader Starshine
Tue 27 Feb 2018
at 18:59
  • msg #278

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Blast this creaking heap of Vargr dung!" Morgan exclaimed as the misjump klaxon's shouted.  He didn't blame Verner; he'd done every thing he could to get the engines over the neglect that Ralmithane had put them through.  But Verner was new at being an engineer.  Really, he was doing a smashing job for somebody who previously didn't know what a jump engine was.  Maybe now that they had a steward and could take on paying passengers, they'd be able to get far enough ahead on the mortgage payments that they could afford to put in at a shipyard for some serious maintenance.  Assuming they survived this little disaster.  Acknowledging Brayln over the ship's comms, he replied, "I don't know what happened, but I'm on my way tot he bridge to find out.  You and Verner take a look at the J-Drive and see how screwed we are."  Hopefully it wouldn't be damaged beyond repair, whatever malfunction dropped them out of J-Space.

When he got to the bridge and examined the comm log, he was surprised.  "Walter, you old dog, I'd ask how you're doing, but clearly we're both having a really shitty day.  As you've been here longer, any idea what the hell that thing is and why it's putting out enough gravity to capture a moon?"
Walter Zeller
player, 430 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 27 Feb 2018
at 20:36
  • msg #279

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++Things could be far worse but for the time being, this space is getting crowded with 4 vessels and none of us are sitting at a starport.+++ Walter said.

+++I have no idea what it is but I can say that if it is a merchant vessel, I have never seen it before. There is a crew aboard the unknown craft and are in the process of checking it out on a busted up Type S that is not jumping out of here except as cargo. If you have any scientists with you, you might want to send them over to help.+++ he added.
Brayln Adone
player, 4 posts
Reporter at Large,
Dakaar Herald
Wed 28 Feb 2018
at 00:42
  • msg #280

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Morgan Randolph (msg # 278):

Ahhh.... Sure! Whatever Verner needs! Brayln rounded the corner and entered the engine room. Something tells me that wild-looking engineer isn't familiar with any maintenance that isn't percussive. he thought.

OOC: My mechanic roll is above. As I read the rules, it's good for diagnosis and jury rig repairs. Is there any way I can use that to assist Verner, giving him a positive DM to his repair roll?
Serge Baklanov
player, 26 posts
Marine/Scout
Wed 28 Feb 2018
at 10:19
  • msg #281

Re: Destination: Unknown

Walter Zeller:
+++It appears to be a Free trader that just jumped in. Will update+++


- This reminds me of a fishing net, - said Serge phlegmatically. -  When it became full, a fisherman will come.
Morgan Randolph
player, 5 posts
Merchant Captain
Free Trader Starshine
Wed 28 Feb 2018
at 14:36
  • msg #282

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++ My old friend, my crew is so far from scientists it isn't funny.  I've got a low-tech warrior as my engineer and a journalist as my comms officer and steward, while I pull pilot and navigator duties, +++ Morgan explained to his fellow captain.  +++ This is my second misjump in less than a year thanks to Raxilthar Ralmithane.  That lazy son of a Vargr-Aslan mating had been faking his maintenance logs for almost the entire time he was my engineer.  Whatever you do, don't hire him for anything other than raw material for your fuel processors.  Even then, he'd probably cause your ship to misjump. +++

However, from the sounds of it, the misjump was caused by an uncharted anomaly, not the state of the engines, so maybe they were okay.  Getting on the internal comms, he contacted engineering, "How's it looking down there?  From my conversation with our neighbors, we seem to have been dumped out of J-Space by the gravatic anomaly in this region, not by a drive failure.  Did the unexpected cascade damage anything?"  If the engines where fine, then they only had to worry about getting enough fuel to jump out of here.  (And the tiny little need of their being an actual system within a parsec.)
Walter Zeller
player, 431 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 28 Feb 2018
at 15:48
  • msg #283

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++Morgan, it gets even better.+++ Walter said as he took a deep breath. +++I am Acting Captain of this vessel as the Captain some how got his brains scrambled and is sitting in the med-bay with the Doc. Most of the crew is checking out the alien craft to see what is going on so we can see about getting out of here safely. I will keep that in mind about Raxilthar but we got a top notch grease monkey here.+++
This message was last edited by the player at 16:28, Wed 07 Mar 2018.
Brayln Adone
player, 5 posts
Reporter at Large,
Dakaar Herald
Thu 1 Mar 2018
at 04:38
  • msg #284

Re: Destination: Unknown

Captain, it seems I beat Verner here. I'll run what diagnostics I can while I wait for him. Did they say this misjump was a gravitational thing? That's got to mean we're near a planet or something, right? Have we tried a signal GK?

OOC: To move things forward, shall we assume that my success on the Mechanic roll is enough to restore emergency function to everything but the J-Drive until someone with Engineer can look at it?
Samantha Kilgore
player, 403 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 1 Mar 2018
at 14:35
  • msg #285

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam smiled as Kheas comment "True, but if things get that SNAFU'd, then you'd be dumping it anyway so you can run faster."

She keyed Comms to Walter "Is the ship hostile, do we need to return to the Longshot?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:46, Fri 02 Mar 2018.
Morgan Randolph
player, 6 posts
Merchant Captain
Free Trader Starshine
Thu 1 Mar 2018
at 19:17
  • msg #286

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Or something describes it nicely.  We've got a gravatic anomaly large enough to be a planetary gravity well being generated by some sort of huge pyramidal structure/ship/Ancients'-knows-what thing out there that seems to be catching starships like satzleflies on honeypaper.  Whether that's intentional or just an accidental by-product of whatever it is remains to be seen," Morgan informed Brayln over comms.  Hitting the button for shipwide announcement as he also turned off the misjump klaxon, he then said, "Verner, you may have been unaware that that very loud noise that has been sounding throughout the ship is the warning that the ship has misjumped.  In such a situation, the ship's engineer is expected to report to his duty station in engineering to begin assessing damage to the drives and power plant.  It would be greatly appreciated if you would head there now and help Brayln--who has even less clue than you do about fixing stardrives--with that task."
Brayln Adone
player, 6 posts
Reporter at Large,
Dakaar Herald
Thu 1 Mar 2018
at 23:09
  • msg #287

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Morgan Randolph (msg # 286):

Ancients!? Captain, make sure you record the sensor data on that thing, especially visuals! An ancients artifact drifting through space and causing misjumps? That's the kind of news article that brings down the net server it's hosted on!"

And of course, I'm stuck here in engineering! Well the faster we get the sorted, the faster I can get up to the bridge and get some high quality holos.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 543 posts
Aslan outcast
Fri 2 Mar 2018
at 00:44
  • msg #288

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Thats why you stow it away as soon as possible, so you can run with it if it comes to that.".
Back in the Scout Khea drops her loot in a convenient place and starts browsing ship schematics for far traders on her computer.
"Stupid men's work". Khea switches to a private channel to Vonon. "Could we outfight a far trader? The space is getting crowded out there and the more people leave the less will the data we pull from this ship be worth."
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 374 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 2 Mar 2018
at 04:56
  • msg #289

Re: Destination: Unknown

Kheaiftouaw:
"Could we outfight a far trader? The space is getting crowded out there and the more people leave the less will the data we pull from this ship be worth."


As everyone is using suit-comms, the fact that Khea is in the Scoutship is no hindrance to conversation, so Vonon responds with,

"Us? No, we just have side arms *snicker* We pose no threat to a starship *snicker* But, uh, that's probably not what you meant. Well, maybe Serge's scoutship could fire it's dorsal turret -- Hey, Serge, does your ship even have a dorsal turret?"

"But if you mean 'can the Longshot handle a far trader?' then the answer is 'Oh Hell yeah'!"

"Even reorganized for mining, as she is, we still have six fairly decent, civilian-grade beam laser cannons.  If we still had the original missile launchers installed, a fight between Longshot and a far trader would last about sixty seconds. As it is, it might take us one-hundred twenty seconds using just our lasers. And, unless they've made some interesting modifications to their far trader, Longshot's armor can probably go paw-to-paw with that thing for an hour-or-so."

"So ... either way, we're safe. Why, you thinking of going Pirate and shooting first? That old trader is no threat to us..." Vonon catches sight of Pablo making hand gestures at him.

"Oh.  Right ... unless she's a Pirate, herself, and has a hundred armed combatants ready for boarding actions. *heh* Then we're really, really screwed."
Morgan Randolph
player, 7 posts
Merchant Captain
Free Trader Starshine
Sat 3 Mar 2018
at 11:47
  • msg #290

Re: Destination: Unknown

News stories!  They were potentially stranded for the rest of what would be their tragically cut short lifes in the middle of the void and he had to worry about crew that was more interested in documenting what did it to them than how they were going to get out of there.  "Where did I go wrong?" Morgan asked himself.  "How did I end up with a crew of non-spacers?"  ~By being cheap, obviously.  You could have hired on fully qualified and experienced crew at Drexilthar--there were plenty of spacers looking for berths--but with their increased skills came increased demands for salary.  You didn't want to pay that high.  You convinced yourself that these guys were skilled enough to do the job.  So stop bellyaching, trust your instincts, and let them do their jobs.  And do your own while your at it.~

Setting aside his thoughts of doom, Morgan set the computer to analyzing the sensor output to calculate from known spectral data exactly where in the blasted void they had been dumped.  He couldn't even begin to calculate a jump out of there without a fix on their current position.  While Walter may have already done those calculations, and he would be sure and exchange both his calculations and his conclusions with Walter, in a situation like this he wasn't about to engage the J-Drive without doing the work himself.  (At least as well as he could.  Not replacing the ship's navigator when Liala quit after their last misjump had been another way he'd cut back on overhead trying to keep up with the mortgage payments.  She'd taught him a lot, but as a navigator, he was just as much a "skilled enough to do the job" compromise as the rest of the crew.)

Walter had said there was a scout ship that wasn't going anywhere except as salvage in their holds.  Maybe it had enough fuel in its tanks to let them jump out of there, because he didn't think they were going to be able skim a gas giant to refuel like they did after the last misjump.  While the computer worked on calculating their position, he turned to the sensor logs to see if they were floating in true interstellar void or they were actually in a system and just not close enough to any or its natural bodies to immediately realize that.  (Far enough out in a system and even the local star just looks like an extra bright star, especially if it's not particularly bright in absolute magnitude in the first place.)
Kheaiftouaw
player, 544 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 3 Mar 2018
at 22:35
  • msg #291

Re: Destination: Unknown

Clenching her teeth as she has ti explain the obvious to another male again "Hssss....
The danger they represent is not that they attack us know, but that they report back to their clans. And they will have the ressources to drive us off and deny aby further access.
Also any information or items we recover from this will be worth less if we do not hold the monopoly on it

Khea drops her computer on the floor and leans back against the wall in frustration.
"But we have to act fast. We are obviously sitting directly sitting on a common jump route. The longer the gravity stays on the more ships will arrive and some might be more than trader."
Brayln Adone
player, 7 posts
Reporter at Large,
Dakaar Herald
Sun 4 Mar 2018
at 02:09
  • msg #292

Re: Destination: Unknown

Captain, I've done all I can here. Until Verner gets here, there's not much more I can do. Do you need any help up on the bridge?
StarMaster
GM, 846 posts
Wed 7 Mar 2018
at 14:57
  • msg #293

Re: Destination: Unknown

The pyramid ship isn't really 'huge', but it is 'ship-sized'. It's big enough to swallow a Scout ship, but then Scout ships aren't really that big to begin with.

Morgan has no problem getting data from the sensors. When a ship is in j-space, its fusion reactor is functioning all the time, as it is what keeps the lanthanum grid/jump drive functioning for the whole time, not to mention the artificial gravity and life support.

It is during this time that it uses up most of its fuel. It's not a 'burst of fuel' consumption at the beginning that drains the tanks.

So, once he determines the current location, which is about halfway between the two points of his jump, he realizes that he still has sufficient fuel to jump again to finish his initial trip. Essentially, the ship is capable of a 1/2-Jump still. It's never been impossible to do; it's just been pointless. Why jump only halfway to your destination, where there's no chance of refueling,  nor any chance of rescue (because your emergency beacon would take years to reach the nearest base)?

Thus, the free trader still has slightly over half its fuel remaining.


Furthermore, the free trader DID NOT misjump, though most people would consider it as such simply because it isn't normal. No, the free trader's j-space transit was still in a geometric line from its point of origin to its destination. Somewhere along that line, there was a 'gravitic anomaly'. This anomaly is generating the gravity well of a small planet. That much gravity 'intrudes' into j-space, and disrupted the j-space bubble that the free trader was in. This is the same reason a ship has to be 100-diameters out from a gravity source/planet in order to jump.

After reading the sensors, Morgan now realizes that his ship did not misjump again. It was an external force that caused the premature ejection from j-space.

The whole point of the space lanes is that these are known routes between two star systems where there are no intervening stars/planets. That's not to say there can't be a rogue planet now and then, but these can usually be detected, and, in any case, such is their transitory nature that they are only in the 'space lane' for a very short time, so it's extremely unlikely to run across one unintentionally.

All this flashes through Morgan's mind as he looks at his sensor and processes the data they give. It's not an unlikely inference that this other ship may have experienced the same problem.

While the pyramid ship is drifting, it's not under power, so its motion is slow. On its current vector, it would take two months or so for it to drift out of the space lane.

Also, the pyramid ship is tumbling irregularly through space, one corner over another. It's a slow tumble, and the larger ship is keeping station over the pyramid ship's base. While this 'appears' to be some tricky piloting, in reality, it only required getting into position and then putting the ship on autopilot to maintain that position.
Serge Baklanov
player, 27 posts
Marine/Scout
Mon 12 Mar 2018
at 10:37
  • msg #294

Re: Destination: Unknown

Vonon Ronkunu:
- Hey, Serge, does your ship even have a dorsal turret?"


- Rephrasing an old joke: my ship does not have a turret, but in case of emergency, it will return fire, - said Serge.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 249 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Fri 16 Mar 2018
at 19:03
  • msg #295

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Unless this new ship uses magic, we're still talking about two weeks before we can see anything like what you suggest, Khea," Pablo replies.

"And that's not counting the bureaucratic inertia that's likely to keep a ship from being dispatched right away, or even the negotiating time between the ship's captain and his clan. He might be altruistic, but self-enlightenment is more likely his motivation. You don't become a free trader out of altruism."

"And we're so far off the beaten path that it's most likely here for the same reason we are, though possibly the same reason Serge is. Remember, he was being sent this way to investigate the gravitational anomaly. And he found it!"

He's already looked down the right hand passage that seems to circumnavigate the central docking bay. It was empty, of course. But he dutifully checks again to see if their noise or activity has woken the dead... or anything else.

"In any case, let's keep going. If the other three passages are like this one, and apparently they are, we've got a lot more doors to open."

"It looks like the inner wall has utility compartments, while the outer wall has the more functional compartments. This time, let's try the outer ones first. Vonon, send the drone to the first door."
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 375 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 17 Mar 2018
at 00:52
  • msg #296

Re: Destination: Unknown

Pablo Esteban Ryzov:
"In any case, let's keep going. If the other three passages are like this one, and apparently they are, we've got a lot more doors to open."

"It looks like the inner wall has utility compartments, while the outer wall has the more functional compartments. This time, let's try the outer ones first. Vonon, send the drone to the first door."


Vonon takes a quick look over the data,

"Oh, yeah ... I hadn't noticed that pattern." Vonon responds to Pablo, "Yeah, okay, let's confirm that, then..."

Vonon sends the drone to the door indicated by Pablo, and instructs it to begin scanning for the magnetic frequency that will open it...
Verner Rask
player, 2 posts
Sat 17 Mar 2018
at 16:48
  • msg #297

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't get your loincloth in an uproar," Verner finally gets on the comm to Morgan as he enters engineering. "I was having a beautiful dream until this damn misjump screwed it up. And let me remind you... I didn't cause the first misjump, and I didn't cause this one either!"

"If I understand this high-tech thingamajig you call a jump drive, it can misjump from one of three reasons: bad fuel, bad astrogation, or bad equipment. Don't know nothing about the astrogation part, and the bad fuel could have been sabotaged, couldn't it've? But, when's the last time you had the J-drive overhauled? Is it second hand?"

While he talks, you hear some banging going on.

"Everything looks hunky-dory down here. I'm getting green lights on everything... wait a minute. That ain't right. The spindizzy... the precessing autogyro... is showing a wobble. Hmmmm. If I understand that right, that can only be caused by an intense gravity field. Usually a sun or mega-planet. Wait! We were in J-space, right?"

"Well, there you go! It wasn't a misjump per se; you got too close to a planet and the gravity well burst the jump bubble!"

"See? It wasn't my fault after all!"
Brayln Adone
player, 8 posts
Reporter at Large,
Dakaar Herald
Tue 20 Mar 2018
at 05:43
  • msg #298

Re: Destination: Unknown

OK Captain. It looks like Verner and I have things under control. Should we check with the other two ships here about the wreck? Have they gone aboard? Are there Ancients on there!?
Samantha Kilgore
player, 405 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 20 Mar 2018
at 08:13
  • msg #299

Re: Destination: Unknown

Noting Kheas swift exit, Sam says nothing but raises an eyebrow.

"Well spotted Pablo, I hadn't twigged that either" she says over comms. She stays with the onboard explorers still in overwatch mode.
Morgan Randolph
player, 8 posts
Merchant Captain
Free Trader Starshine
Wed 21 Mar 2018
at 10:06
  • msg #300

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Brayln Adone (msg # 298):

"There's apparently some group investigating the pyramid, but I highly doubt that this is the first time in recorded history that there are actually any Ancients present with an Ancient artifact, if it even is an Ancient artifact as opposed to just some unknown alien tech."  Clearly Brayln leaned towards sensationalist journalism, in Morgan's opinion.  "From the sounds of it, we're stuck were we are for now.  We could probably eventually thrust out beyond the gravity well it's putting out far enough to resume jump, but if it's much quicker to just get the gravity shut off, that would be better, since it's clearly a hazard sitting on a jump lane the way it is."

Then Morgan's survival instinct kicked in and he had a horrible thought.  "Now that I think about it, this could be exactly what it is intended to do, pull ships out of jumpspace, like a snare on a game trail.  Some unknown attack craft could then show up and collect themselves a whole bunch of trapped ships.  Maybe even take all the crews as slaves ... or worse."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 545 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 21 Mar 2018
at 23:16
  • msg #301

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Its like talking to a Khir
Fine, if you intend to let everyone know about that ship then at least make sure that we get the the most valuable pieces of salvage before even more ships arrive
StarMaster
GM, 847 posts
Thu 22 Mar 2018
at 03:23
  • msg #302

Re: Destination: Unknown

Vonon and the drone finally get the next door open, which is the first door on the left wall when they go around the corner. It's clearly a bit farther from the corner than the outer doors in the other wall. In fact, now that you look, there are only half as many doors in this wall. However, there are just as many doors on this inner wall than on the wall you entered through.

The image that the drone transmits is another sophisticated electronics room, with some sort of apparatus in the center which, though odd shaped, seems like it might serve the same function as a chair.

You can also see some sort of goo and stuff in this chair. It's kind of unclear what it is or was.

Some of you first recognize the controls in the room as weapons control, though it isn't clear what the weapons are. However, it's consistent with some kind of beam weapon, and some kind of missile weapon. But there seem to be controls for at least two other types of weapon.

It isn't until the drone flies into the room that you get a better idea of the chair. It appears to be the squashed remains of an organic being... that may have had the same appearance as the robot.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 406 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 22 Mar 2018
at 08:44
  • msg #303

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam glances in the room and drawls "Looks like we're not the only sophonts having a bad day"

She carries on into overwatch mode and then says "Can we do a scan of those remains, and then use the analysis of the chemicals or something to see if theres any other places where those chemicals exist on this ship? Might let us know where potential live ones would be at least?"
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 57 posts
Thu 22 Mar 2018
at 17:37
  • msg #304

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Shall we invite these new folks to join us or the investigating team?" Valeska said to Walter.

"After all, we're now all in this together. Someone over there may have an insight into this alien ship that we don't."
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 250 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Thu 22 Mar 2018
at 17:48
  • msg #305

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Oh, yuck!" Pablo says when he sees the remains. "Is that what happens when you suddenly get hit by 20 gravities? Or would it have to be more than that?"

"Yep, that's the controls for a beam laser. I can tell by the display. Doesn't mean I can operate it. Wait! Look at these screens here! You can see that other ship! Let's see what happens when I do this... A-ha! Just what I thought!"

"Based on the angle, I'd say this screen is fed by a video cam on one of the corners. At a guess, all four corners have that same capability, and that includes the beam laser that it controls. That means, I think, that the weapons are housed in the corners of the pyramid."

He points to the left-hand wall to indicate what he means.

"Interesting concept. If the ship turns its base to the enemy, it has all four weapons bays that it can bring to bear on them, while at the same time interposing the bulk of the ship between the enemy and the bridge... which, I assume, is near the apex of the pyramid."

"However, unless the corners can pop out some, it means they can't bring the lasers to bear on anything in front of them."

"Ship, robots... all built to imitate their own shape."
StarMaster
GM, 849 posts
Thu 22 Mar 2018
at 17:58
  • msg #306

Re: Destination: Unknown

The drones have the capability of scanning anything they find, so that is being done automatically, though, in the drones' case, they are usually looking for valuable ores.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 409 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Wed 28 Mar 2018
at 18:41
  • msg #307

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam nodded as Pablo spoke "So we probably want to head up" She said, pointing with her finger for emphasis. "Which means finding lifts or stairs of some sort"
Kheaiftouaw
player, 546 posts
Aslan outcast
Mon 2 Apr 2018
at 21:16
  • msg #308

Re: Destination: Unknown

"So, now that we know what happened to the original crew can you finally start to gather all the items you find? Even those remains might be worth something.
Morgan Randolph
player, 9 posts
Merchant Captain
Free Trader Starshine
Thu 5 Apr 2018
at 02:13
  • msg #309

Re: Destination: Unknown

Figuring it would be easier to discuss their situation if both crews could all gather face to face Morgan signaled to Walter's ship a desire to engage in docking maneuvers.  They could mate up airlocks and then they'd be able to get together and converse freely to try and brainstorm ideas on how to handle this situation.  Walter had mentioned their was a team already investigating the pyramid, so maybe they'd already found something that would solve everything and make them all fabulously rich in the process.  (Or at least not blow them all to component subatomic particles.)
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 58 posts
Sun 8 Apr 2018
at 17:38
  • msg #310

Re: Destination: Unknown

Not sure what was delaying Walter, Valeska decided to prompt some reaction from him by taking the initiative. She activated the communicator.

"Long Shot to Starshine. It'll be a lot easier for the two of you to have a drink together for old times' sake if you go ahead and dock with us."

"We can work out any problems a lot easier that way, too."
StarMaster
GM, 850 posts
Sun 8 Apr 2018
at 18:47
  • msg #311

Re: Destination: Unknown

It's easier and quicker to go around and check all the doors along the inner wall because there seems to be more reason to them. The four corners all house a robot and there is a door on each side. Next to the robot is a locker than holds two vacc/suits designed for a pyramid shaped creature. Next to the locker is either a weapons locker or a fresher. The center door is either an airlock (on opposite sides) or a storage locker. The storage locker holds tools and devices, as well as bottles of water and what is probably some sort of food packets.

Along the outer wall is where things get interesting. After the weapons control room, there was a center door that leads to... engineering! Even though the layout is strange and the instruments are even stranger, there's just something about engineering that's just unmistakable.

The odd feature immediately noticeable is that these aliens didn't use gauges or digital displays. Instead, they use sequential strings of LEDs (or whatever their equivalent is). Some run horizontal, some run vertical. Some are a single color; some are variable colors. Presumably, the direction and color has something to do with the function.

There are two chairs in the room, one facing each of the side walls. In one of them is another squashed alien.
Walter Zeller
player, 433 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 10 Apr 2018
at 17:07
  • msg #312

Re: Destination: Unknown

Coming out of the fresher, Walter flicked the water off of his hands.

"What was that? They want to dock?" he asked as he headed to the communications panel.

+++Long Shot to Starshine. Hold that thought until we know that the object is not going to harm us. We would be an easy target if we are docked.+++  Walter said.
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 59 posts
Tue 10 Apr 2018
at 19:31
  • msg #313

Re: Destination: Unknown

She'd been monitoring the communications relay from the away team via the drones.

"I don't think there's much chance of that," Valeska cut in to Walter. "The gravity well that forced us out of j-space seems to have squashed all the little B.E.M.s. Don't leave your friend hanging."

"Besides, if there's still something there that can attack us, the distance between the two ships isn't going to matter."

She did some quick calculations.

"The gravity was greater when we dropped out, and has been decreasing incrementally this whole time, but it seems to have leveled off. I'm still picking up a fluctuation, though. By extrapolating it back, I think it was close to 10 gravities originally. Enough to squash a bug regardless of any chair. That seems to be consistent with what the away team has found."

"On a down note, it may be starting to increase again, as if it's in some kind of cycle. They either need to find the source and shut it down, or get their sorry asses out of there!"
Morgan Randolph
player, 10 posts
Merchant Captain
Free Trader Starshine
Wed 11 Apr 2018
at 19:10
  • msg #314

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++Starshine to Longshot.  Acknowledged.+++  Randolph was frustrated with ship-to-ship communications, but he understood his old friend's point.  Switching to intraship, he called down to the bridge.  "Since nothing's wrong down there, you two might as well come on up and see this thing first hand."
Walter Zeller
player, 434 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 11 Apr 2018
at 20:33
  • msg #315

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++Longshot to Away team, be advised that the gravity appears to be powering up again. Since you seem to be in engineering from what you describe, Kheaiftouaw, it looks like its your job to kill it if you can. If not, everyone get out of there.+++ Walter said over the mic.
Serge Baklanov
player, 28 posts
Marine/Scout
Fri 13 Apr 2018
at 06:31
  • msg #316

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 315):

- Away Team to Longshot. How much time do we have before bailing out?
Serge squated a couple of times in order to check if he already can feel that gravity changed.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:33, Fri 13 Apr 2018.
StarMaster
GM, 851 posts
Fri 13 Apr 2018
at 16:37
  • msg #317

Re: Destination: Unknown

At the moment, the increase in gravity is still in the micro-gravity range, so Serge probably only weighs 5 grams more than he did when he came aboard... far too little for him to discern a difference.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 547 posts
Aslan outcast
Fri 13 Apr 2018
at 23:45
  • msg #318

Re: Destination: Unknown

Disabling an unknown machine which managed to kill its original owner who knew what it does?
As much as it pains me, this sounds more like something a demolition expert might achieve. Do we have any explosives nearby just in case?

And while I am working would you kindly load everything you can carry on the scout? Maybe even risk taking one of the robots after everything else is loaded. Those would be worth a fortune.

Khea grabs her toolkits from the drone and hurries to where engineering is supposed to be to see if she can figure out which machine is which for starters and where the off button for the power supply is.

OOC:Kheaiftouaw rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,4.  Finding alien off button.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 410 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Sat 14 Apr 2018
at 14:29
  • msg #319

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam triggered comms "Valeska, Based on your readings, can you extrapolate how long we have before the gravity is going to be a problem for us on here, for us getting back to the ship, and the ships bugging out? Any thoughts on what might happen if we're in system when it triggers?"

Switching to those on ship "Much as it pains me, I thin we need to do as Khea suggested and start clearing this out. That said, I think i might make a bee line for the bridge, the off button may be up there. Can I take one of the drones for that?"
Serge Baklanov
player, 29 posts
Marine/Scout
Mon 16 Apr 2018
at 08:20
  • msg #320

Re: Destination: Unknown

Kheaiftouaw:
<Royalred>
As much as it pains me, this sounds more like something a demolition expert might achieve. Do we have any explosives nearby just in case?


- Just in case, we have some, - said Serge, pulling out a piece of plastic explosive and a breaching charge.
- Depends on what exactly do you want to destroy. This (Serge shows breaching charge) will take out a door, so I think a computer will be damaged beyond repair. This (Serge shows plastic) is enough to blow up a car. If you need to destroy a whole section, though, bigger demolition pack will be required.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 251 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Mon 16 Apr 2018
at 16:32
  • msg #321

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I've got some explosive charges on me, too," Pablo offers. "Never leave home without them."

"Of course, this is better on the inside than on the outside, but finding a weak spot helps."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 548 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 17 Apr 2018
at 09:59
  • msg #322

Re: Destination: Unknown

Preferably we should destroy the main power line or fuel pump, if this ship even has those things and only if we cant deactivate the otherwise.
Blowing up the entire engineering would be the last resort and only when we are far away from the ship.
After a pause during which she grabs a ultrasonic probe from her toolkit Khea adds in a resigned voice.
Or we grab everything we can and let the ones we sell the location to worry about the gravity. Unless if course the rising gravity results in a jump drive activation. And the higher the gravity the more ships will be pulled out of jumpspace here.
StarMaster
GM, 852 posts
Fri 20 Apr 2018
at 01:22
  • msg #323

Re: Destination: Unknown

The drone has continued to move around the hallway on Vonon's program, opening all the doors. You find a couple more bodies, a galley/mess and a sensor suite, plus 5 more quarters, but no bridge.

It takes a bit more searching before the drone finds the door in the ceiling. There are handholds that would let one of these aliens climb up the wall to reach the ceiling, indicating they probably move around like spiders.

There are actually four such doors, one on each side of the pyramid ship.

Climbing up to the bridge, you realize that the bridge is also engineering. Each of the four walls of the bridge have a central display screen and numerous controls to either side of it. There are four command/acceleration chairs in the room, one facing each screen.

Each chair has a dead alien in it.
Serge Baklanov
player, 30 posts
Marine/Scout
Fri 20 Apr 2018
at 09:50
  • msg #324

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 323):

- I do not like this, - said Serge. - I doubt we can figure out how to switch gravity here within safe time. I think Khea offers the best course of action: take all we can and get far away of this thing before it releases next gravity surge. We should take into account that gravity surge might be a part of the Pyramid drive system so there is a chance that the Pyramid will jump away.

Serge approaches to one of the dead aliens, so that camera on his helmet got a good view of the alien.
- Longshot, are you recording all what I see?

Serge does not touch anything but checks if aliens have some sort of cloth or gadgets on them.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:51, Fri 20 Apr 2018.
Walter Zeller
player, 435 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sat 21 Apr 2018
at 00:52
  • msg #325

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++Yes we are. Your call on how you want to handle it Vonon.+++ came over the transmitter from Walter.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 411 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 23 Apr 2018
at 09:56
  • msg #326

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam quickly looked around the 4 stations, trying to figure out if there was any difference between them - different symbols, or controls etc, as well as looking for anything small enough to pocket.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 549 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 25 Apr 2018
at 22:54
  • msg #327

Re: Destination: Unknown

"We can still try to blow up the engines and hope that the gravity shots down. Or have one of the drones push random buttons.

Either way, don't forget to take the corpses with you and to put them into a low berth. I am sure some researcher will pay a lot for them"

Khea pauses as she suddenly has a revelation while going through all their options.

"Has anyone seen the missing lanthenum matrix from the scout? Maybe some automated repair program scavenged it to repair the malfunctioning gravity."
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 252 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Thu 26 Apr 2018
at 00:39
  • msg #328

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I ain't seen it," Pablo replies, "but then I'm not a Scout so I wouldn't know what a lanthanum grid was if it jumped out and bit me."

"I suspect it was being analyzed in one of the labs we passed... or maybe just engineering. The outside of this alien ship doesn't have a lanth grid, does it? So, maybe they didn't understand what ours was for."

"We didn't find any cargo space... yet. Based on the layout, if there is a storage space, it has to be under the lower deck; there's simply no room for it above that."
Verner Rask
player, 3 posts
Thu 26 Apr 2018
at 00:50
  • msg #329

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Okay," Verner replies to Morgan. "I'll leave everything on stand-by in case we need to bug out."

He heads up to the bridge.
StarMaster
GM, 853 posts
Thu 26 Apr 2018
at 01:11
  • msg #330

Re: Destination: Unknown

The aliens don't appear to wear clothes of any sort, but Serge does spot jewelry on a couple of their arms. He quickly realizes, though, that they aren't decorative jewelry but some sort of electronic devices... perhaps some kind of communicator, or maybe an interface device with the ship's controls, since two of the bodies have more than one device.


As far as Sam can tell, all four stations are identical in configuration, but there are different images on the various screens. She recognizes what looks like a sensor station, and Khea can see that one is engineering as it has several images that were in engineering.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 412 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 26 Apr 2018
at 07:32
  • msg #331

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam inspects the sensor screen and tries to see if she can make head or tail of it.

ooc
The aliens are squashed, but does it look like they are in tact - ie could we try and pick one up? If not - ideas for how to carry one off appreciated - anyone got a container?

08:31, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,5.  Figure out alien sensors.

StarMaster
GM, 854 posts
Thu 26 Apr 2018
at 15:00
  • msg #332

Re: Destination: Unknown

One of the things Sam can do is compare the Long Shot's sensor readouts with the alien one to see if there is a correlation... which there is. At least, across maybe 50% of them. That's not to say she can get an accurate translation, but if the Long Shot's cosmic ray sensor is showing 8 roentgens and the alien ship is showing 3 'marbles' then she has a correlation.

The alien ship clearly still has power. Most mechanical and electronic systems can withstand high gravity not so much because they are designed to do so but just because of the nature of construction. High gravity can distort things, like cause the center of an unreinforced metal bench to sag, but the metal itself isn't going to distort, and, generally, welds and bolts and such aren't going to fail unless stressed in a different direction. Only shoddy craftsmanship is likely to fail, and most ships are built with factory/robotic assembly systems, which are at least good quality.

The ship's internal gravity is set at .97-Gees.

With Serge's estimations, Sam is able to find the gravitometer on the ship, since its movement will coincide with the gravity.

She also finds the sensor readout that's showing the other two ships. At first, she thinks there's no picture (video/light sensor) but then she realizes that there is a distorted (to her senses) image, indicating that perhaps the aliens see in a different spectrum.



The aliens do not appear to have an internal skeletal system; they have an exoskeleton... not quite a carapace. That's what collapsed under the high gravity, cracking in some places, and probably crushing all the internal organs. The carapace is not made of chitin, but something a bit more flexible, so an alien body can be picked up without too much trouble.
Serge Baklanov
player, 31 posts
Marine/Scout
Fri 27 Apr 2018
at 07:58
  • msg #333

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 332):

Serge walked back to the ship, returned with some sort of plastic bag, placed alien inside (how heavy is it?), brought alien back on ship and put it into low berth.

UPD: Also Serge keeps ship ready for emergency take-off.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:45, Sat 28 Apr 2018.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 413 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 27 Apr 2018
at 12:17
  • msg #334

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam turns to Khea.

"Based on what I just did, we could try and work out what bit of the ship is generating the Gravity field. If Valeska can give us the strength of the generated field, and its growth rate, we can look for a correlation with that on the engineering screen - that might help us locate the systems we need to shut down or disable. I can try and use the sensors to see if that helps, but I think using the engineering console would work better."

ooc
I have had a look, and may have missed it but I don't think Valeska pinpointed the source of the field being generated is that right?


13:17, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,6.  Sensors roll. If it helps


Kheaiftouaw
player, 550 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 29 Apr 2018
at 22:18
  • msg #335

Re: Destination: Unknown

"So we are blindly pressing buttons on an alien ship that killed its crew?"

"Still, the reward is probably worth the risk.
As I see it we can either try to find whatever is generating the gravity or try to cut the power, assuming that those systems are not one in the same.
And there is always the risk that cutting the power will cause critical systems to fail. Normally I would expect that there are redundant systems in place to prevent this, but the aliens were killed by their own ship so I won't bet on that."
Walter Zeller
player, 436 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sun 29 Apr 2018
at 23:56
  • msg #336

Re: Destination: Unknown

Using the two vessels, Walter tried to triangulate the sensors to be able to locate the source.

+++Here is the sensor feed. I can not make heads or tails of it but one of you might.+++ he said as he feed the raw data to the others.

"Any idea?" he asked to Gregory
19:53, Today: Walter Zeller rolled 2 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 1,2.  Sensors no skill -3 + EDU.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:00, Mon 30 Apr 2018.
Gregory Jones
player, 47 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Mon 30 Apr 2018
at 00:28
  • msg #337

Re: Destination: Unknown

"The autopilot is doing its best to hold position with the tumbling pyramid ship," Jones answered, "but it's not doing it well enough to get pinpoint precision on the triangulation. Of course, it'll get more accurate as the gravity increases."

"But, as near as I can tell from these readings, it's up near the point. Since there's no lanthanum grid on that ship, they must be using some other method of generating the jump field. My guess is that it's a gravity sink. It's probably some variation on that, since we've never been able to get it to work."

"A gravity sink creates a hole in the gravity field of the universe and then the ship falls through it. That's the theory any way."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 414 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 30 Apr 2018
at 07:42
  • msg #338

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam looked at Khea "we're not blind. Partially sighted, at least" She called up the sensor display "Look I can work out that that " she pointed "is the gravity - perhaps we can work out what is generating by comparison as well. Then we blindly press buttons. Its probably worth having an explosive off switch ready just in case, but if we can do this without damaging the ship - even better."

Going into her jacket pocket she pulled out some goggles "And these might help us see better" she added and put them on. She looked at the sensor screen and adjusted the settings on the goggles to IR and Light intensifying to see if she can more clearly make out any of the alien readouts
This message was last edited by the player at 07:43, Mon 30 Apr 2018.
Walter Zeller
player, 437 posts
Merchant/Noble
Mon 30 Apr 2018
at 09:36
  • msg #339

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++Longshot to away team, it looks like the source is up near the point. We might be able to narrow it down as the gravity increases but that depends on its rate.  Gregory thinks it might be some kind of Gravity Sink, whatever that is.+++ Walter transmitted to the team.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 551 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 1 May 2018
at 22:00
  • msg #340

Re: Destination: Unknown

You forget that the aliens who knew how to control the ship failed to turn the gravity off, so a few button presses won't do it. Unless the aliens were completely surprised by the effect. Maybe a prototype?

And I fully agree that we need to create our own off switch. Have the drones search for a way to the point. Maybe also from the outside. There has to be a maintenance access somewhere.
If we do not find one we have to trust that the Longshot can destroy the point when needed, but I am not sure we have the firepower for that.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 253 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Thu 3 May 2018
at 18:48
  • msg #341

Re: Destination: Unknown

He was starting to get a headache from all the comm-traffic palavering going on!

"If we eliminate that these aliens did this on purpose... some sort of mass suicide for unknown reason, which is probably most of the way these aliens think anyway, then it was an accident," Pablo adds to the chatter.

"Now it's a question of whether the problem was purely an accident or caused by some agency. So, just one of the aliens could have been suicidal... or a sacrificial assassin... or a martyr for the 'save the space monkeys' protestors... Or, it was sabotage by the Droogs from Planet 9."

"Or, and this is the one I'm putting my money on... it was an external stimulus. They encountered something unexpected that they weren't prepared for. It wreaked havoc with their gravity drive and wound up squashing them. Maybe there was an emergency shut-off, but it kicked in too late to save them."

"Sure, sure... I know what you're thinking... I'm building a mountain out of vole-hill. But rather than just keep floundering around in the dark, I'm tossing out ideas that can be tested. Maybe one of them is right. If, for instance, as Jones said, it's a gravity drive, then maybe the increasing gravity means that someone's got their lead foot on the accelerator! Maybe the gravity is increasing locally because no one's put the ship into gear yet!"

"Yeah, it's not the way we think, but, oh, let me take a wild-ass guess... these are ALIENS!"

"Ha-ha-ha... I kind of like the idea that the gearshift is stuck in 1st gear while the engine is revving up to a million RPMs! So, find the engine and shut the damn thing off!"
StarMaster
GM, 856 posts
Wed 9 May 2018
at 19:40
  • msg #342

Re: Destination: Unknown

The drone continues following its program, searching for 'secret' doors and then attempting to open them. It doesn't know what an 'access panel' is, so it's not looking for those, but it finds one anyway. Actually, it finds 8 on the bridge. These are, naturally, under the displays... two on each side. The one to the right is always circuitry and components behind it--a true access panel.

The left one appears to be a storage unit. All four have something stored in them.


The drone then continues on to examine the ceiling. It finds 4 access panels there as well. Circuitry and components and something not recognizable are in the spots behind the panel.

As soon as the one panel drops open, Sam gets a splitting headache.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 415 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 10 May 2018
at 07:40
  • msg #343

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam clutched her head and pointed "Can we shut that thing, now please?" She looked around for somewhere to sit down and eased herself down.

That must be source of what affected Darrell - I felt something similar on the ship when Darrel was taken ill - but not as strong.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 254 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Thu 10 May 2018
at 15:40
  • msg #344

Re: Destination: Unknown

As near as Pablo can tell, the drones haven't been programmed to close any doors, just open them. So, he heads over to the ceiling panel that Sam indicates and pushes it closed.

"Are you okay?" he asks her, glancing suspiciously up at the now-closed panel.

"What was that? Is that the thing that affected the Count?"

He points his gun up at it. "Should I kill it?"
StarMaster
GM, 857 posts
Thu 10 May 2018
at 15:52
  • msg #345

Re: Destination: Unknown

Not quite surprisingly, the panel closes far more easily than it did opening. Presumably, the magnetic seal automatically re-engages when it is closed.

Whatever was affecting Sam seems to go away once the panel is closed.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 416 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 11 May 2018
at 07:20
  • msg #346

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam shakes her head as the panel closes, looking at Pablo she say "NO!" quite sharply.

She gets to her feet a little groggily and then laughs slightly "I'm not sure its alive to kill to be honest." She straightens up a bit, obviously trying to gather her composure

"I am not sure what that was, but I had it when Darrel was injured, but it hasn't happened or been happening since. Shutting the panel has stopped it. And I don't think we should damage anything yet. That " she pointed at the panel " may well be the doohickey that turns off the grav system for all we know. I'm okay - for some reason it hasn't affected me as badly as Darrell. But lets keep that panel shut for now okay?"

She looks up at it inspecting it for any obvious markings that might show up elsewhere on the ship.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 552 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 12 May 2018
at 22:48
  • msg #347

Re: Destination: Unknown

Having listened in on this whole incident over the comm system Khea chimes in
For all we know that could be their version of an entertainment system. That in turn would mean what affectet Darrel was some kind of communication attempt? But it is strange that only some are affected by it.

Once someone sets up the charges in here I will come up and have a look at it. But it would be good to know what kind of radiation is coming out of that panel.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 255 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Sat 19 May 2018
at 16:30
  • msg #348

Re: Destination: Unknown

With one crisis averted, Pablo goes over to the storage compartments and begins examining the contents. The smaller aliens probably had no difficulty getting at the contents, but Pablo had to bend over, so he began pulling the containers out.

None of them appeared to be on wheels, but they slid out easily enough. One actually popped open as soon as it cleared the storage area. It appeared to be full of vacc-suits.

"Wow. Hey, guys! Look at this!"

One of the containers he pulled out appeared to be a cold sleep unit. It didn't look like any kind he'd ever seen before, but the top was clear and it had a row of electronic displays along the top... or at least where the head of the body that lay within was.

"Is she alive?" he asked, looking around at the others that were more qualified to decide that.
StarMaster
GM, 859 posts
Sat 19 May 2018
at 16:51
  • msg #349

Re: Destination: Unknown

When the ceiling panels were dropped open by the drone, Khea got a good glimpse of the equipment up there. One of the items affected Sam, and was quickly closed up again.

Another one was clearly a sensor suite. A third one appeared to have something to do with life support. The fourth one wasn't immediately recognizable but Khea was able to work out that this was the control end of the gravity drive! Apparently, the technology of these aliens was some sort of gravity well that the ship then fell into. Even as it fell, the well was pushed out ahead.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 297 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Sun 20 May 2018
at 22:12
  • msg #350

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik had been quiet pretty much the entire time that the crew has been on board.  She wasn't inactive or inattentive, simply extremely focused and quiet.  And given the fact that the thin ex-operative-turned-socialite had been actively recording the session the entire time, you could be sure that everything the rest of the crew had said and done was being saved for posterity.  Likely, it also explained why Shar has been pretty much a fly on the wall; a desire to be the observer and not the observed.

However, Samantha's reveal that there was some sort of connection between her and the control systems (and it involves Darrel as well) does elicit a response from Sharik.  Her helmet turned sharply and the camera focused alternately between the panels in question that give their pilot headaches and the pilot herself.  However, if the cosmopolitan socialite had any real qualms or questions she kept them to herself for the time being.

When Pablo called everyone's attention to the apparatus that appears to house the hibernating alien, Shar gravitated towards the cryotube.  She recorded the initial state of the mechanisms and the flashing monitors.  With Dr. Lavaud still onboard the Longshot, she like most of the rest of the away team have very little formal medical training beyond the basics.  Though Shar is aware that Vonon has an actual basic field medic rating.  Still, looking at the dancing array of lights, the diminutive socialite couldn't seem to help herself and gave an opinion on their function, "Seems like those monitors are registering nominal statuses ... unless green is this culture's warning color..."  Her tone was deadpan enough that it was difficult to tell how serious Shar was being.

This was all previously undiscovered alien technology after all.

"Do we dare to open it?  Or try to take it with us?" she prompted the rest of the away team (and Walter, since he was still on the line ... potentially).  The alternative was to simply put it back where Pablo had found it.


[OOC:  Just in case...

  14:59, Today: Sharik Kaagira rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,2.  Life Sciences/Int check: JoAT/3 + Int.
  15:00, Today: Sharik Kaagira rolled 10 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 2,5.  Medic/Int check: Medic/0 + Int + Expert/1.
  15:01, Today: Sharik Kaagira rolled 9 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 4,1.  Sensors/Int check:  Sensors/1 + Int + Expert/1.

No difficulty modifiers were applied (this is definitely alien tech) ...]
StarMaster
GM, 860 posts
Mon 21 May 2018
at 00:00
  • msg #351

Re: Destination: Unknown

The person in the cryotube was not an alien. She looked perfectly human. That was strange.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 256 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Mon 21 May 2018
at 00:08
  • msg #352

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Now, why would these aliens have a human in a coldsleep chamber?" Pablo asked.

"We'd have a hard time getting that unit out of here in a hurry. If you can't shut off the gravity surge, it could kill her! I think we should get her out in a hurry!"

"Damn. She doesn't have a vacc-suit on!"

He'd been moving around so well in his vacc-suit he'd nearly forgotten he'd had it on!
Serge Baklanov
player, 32 posts
Marine/Scout
Mon 21 May 2018
at 05:29
  • msg #353

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Pablo Esteban Ryzov (msg # 352):

2GM:
Is that coldsleep chamber vacuum-sealed?
Is our current environment pressurised?
StarMaster
GM, 861 posts
Tue 22 May 2018
at 05:11
  • msg #354

Re: Destination: Unknown

Yes, the coldsleep chamber is vacuum-sealed, and no, the environment you are in isn't pressurized.

The presence of alien vacc-suits does indicate that the area probably was and can be pressurized, but it isn't now.
Serge Baklanov
player, 33 posts
Marine/Scout
Wed 23 May 2018
at 13:42
  • msg #355

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 354):

2GM:
Can we move it to scout ship?
Kheaiftouaw
player, 553 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 23 May 2018
at 18:03
  • msg #356

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Stowaways and prisoners don't have salvage rights, right?

Now this control panel looks like it has something to do with the gravity. So if you think there is nothing else to do we can start pressing buttons."
StarMaster
GM, 862 posts
Thu 24 May 2018
at 20:17
  • msg #357

Re: Destination: Unknown

Yes, the cryotube can be moved to the Scout, with only a little bit of difficulty getting down one level.
Serge Baklanov
player, 34 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 29 May 2018
at 06:51
  • msg #358

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 357):

- Pablo, lend me a hand with that tube, - Serge prepared coldtube to transport to the Scout ship.
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 257 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Tue 29 May 2018
at 17:35
  • msg #359

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Sure, not a problem, Serge," Pablo says as he helps Serge wrangle the cryotube down to the lower level and out to the shuttle.

Before he disappears from sight, though, he calls back up to Khea.

"You're our engineer. Your call if you think you can push buttons better than some random clown like me!"
Kheaiftouaw
player, 554 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 29 May 2018
at 17:44
  • msg #360

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Im coming up. Just someone place the charges and stand by with the trigger if something goes wrong"

While pushing a button without knowing what it does is something even the most high born scion of a clan leader should be able to do its better to be safe than sorry. After all the button might have a strange shape.
Serge Baklanov
player, 35 posts
Marine/Scout
Wed 30 May 2018
at 10:17
  • msg #361

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 360):

After Serge moved cryotubes on Scout, he returned to Khea and placed charges where she wanted them.
- Everybody, make clear out of this area, - Serge marked blast areas in HUD visible to all in the team.
- Now, we are ready for some fun, - said he to Khea.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:21, Wed 30 May 2018.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 555 posts
Aslan outcast
Thu 31 May 2018
at 20:07
  • msg #362

Re: Destination: Unknown

As Khea presses the first button she mutters "This is a bad idea"
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 258 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Mon 4 Jun 2018
at 13:51
  • msg #363

Re: Destination: Unknown

"What's the worse that could happen?" he asked as he rejoined Khea.

"Even a strange race like these things is going to have a certain number of safeguards. We already know it's active, so, what? You push the 'go really fast' button?"

"I doubt if you can activate the 'self-destruct' function randomly, despite what they show in all those silly holovids. Hell, this race may not even have the concept of self-destruct."
StarMaster
GM, 863 posts
Mon 4 Jun 2018
at 14:08
  • msg #364

Re: Destination: Unknown

While Khea plays with the gravity drive unit controls, Vonon has taken the drones back to the just outside the Scout. If they had to abandon the alien ship in a hurry, the drones weren't as fast as the people.

Meanwhile, Sam and Sharik are studying the cryotube. Even though the symbols on it are strange, the function seems to be rather straight-forward.

Sam is able to pick up thoughts from the person in the cryotube... not conscious thoughts, and not quite a dream state, but some nebulous intermediate state... laced with a bit of fear and trepidation.

There's an occasional 'flash' of an underwater dome... and thought about Sarrad. Over half of the underwater domes on Sarrad all failed simultaneously 3 years ago. It was speculated at the time that some kind of seismic activity may be caused a feedback resonance in the dome material.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 556 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 6 Jun 2018
at 22:11
  • msg #365

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Whats the worst thing that could happen?" Khea had to try hard not to punch the button out of the panel as she heard that. "We are fiddling around with a gravity device we know nothing about on a ship whos crew was apparently killed by said gravity device. What do you think could happen?"
StarMaster
GM, 864 posts
Thu 7 Jun 2018
at 01:33
  • msg #366

Re: Destination: Unknown

Pablo may have been right because as Khea presses the button, the gravity indicator starts going down.

It keeps going down until there is no gravity on the ship.
Serge Baklanov
player, 36 posts
Marine/Scout
Thu 7 Jun 2018
at 13:12
  • msg #367

Re: Destination: Unknown

- I like zero-g, - said Serge from under the ceiling, slowly levitating above Khea. - It is like a fish in the water. But please inform me when you release the button, so I got time to prepare.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 418 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 7 Jun 2018
at 19:06
  • msg #368

Re: Destination: Unknown

"We need to get her out!" Sam said excitedly.

"Not sure she can survive in this tube much longer, now that it's been removed from the alien ship. Besides, I think she's from Sarrad. She might know something about what happened."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 557 posts
Aslan outcast
Thu 7 Jun 2018
at 22:47
  • msg #369

Re: Destination: Unknown

"No no no no" Khea flays around to find something to hold on while not releasing the button she just pressed.

"Ok. We didn't explode. That is progress. When everyone is ready I will release the button. Depending on how those aliens thought the gravity will go on again or nothing might happen. Roar when you are ready.

And check on the scout ship first, not that it started to float away and will come crashing down.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 419 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 14 Jun 2018
at 07:17
  • msg #370

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam commed the Scout "Are you still attached? Also can you let us know if the gravity build up has stopped?" Sam holds on to the tube, and tries to brace herself against something, like a door frame, or wall fitting to stop moving too much
Serge Baklanov
player, 37 posts
Marine/Scout
Thu 14 Jun 2018
at 12:24
  • msg #371

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 370):

Serge checks condition of the Scout Ship, then returns to Khea.
StarMaster
GM, 865 posts
Thu 14 Jun 2018
at 13:00
  • msg #372

Re: Destination: Unknown

The Scout ship isn't held in any manner. It's only in place from its own landing gear pads.

Also, there's no gravity increase. In fact, there's no gravity at all. After a minute or so, it doesn't start up again either.


While the design of cryotube (or whatever it is) is alien, the basic function seems to be built around practicality.

The big green button appears to be the emergency revival button, and she hits that with the palm of her hand.

Lights on the panel begin flashing, a bar graph lights up and the indicator slowly starts to rise. When it reaches the top, there's a hissing/whooshing sound as air rushes in or out or both, and then the top releases and starts to rise.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 299 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Fri 15 Jun 2018
at 00:08
  • msg #373

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik's head tilted slightly at Sam's sudden enthusiasm for the potential survivor of Sarrad.  Even as she started to rise off the ground slightly due to the lack of gravity, the diminutive socialite still had her helmet on and her helmet speakers crackled lightly, "What is your interest in Sarrad?"  Her tone was one of rather idle curiosity (as she knew almost nothing about the disappearance there - though well read, the public blurb on the colony was nearly non-existent, likely by design) and Shar kept her attention focused on the cryotube and make sense of the alien script there.  She had a smattering of languages from all across the Imperium (and working on a frontier vacation spot had exposed her to more than most.

She pointed to the large-ish green button and offered helpfully, "That would most likely be the revival initiation button."  Conspicuously, Sharik made no move to push the button herself, however.  "There are a lot of complications that can occur with long duration cold sleep..." the cosmopolitan ex-operative knew just enough to be paranoid, "Would it be prudent to have Dr. Lavaud present, just in case?"  The readings seemed nominal for the moment; so, Sharik didn't feel compelled to release the woman out of purely idle curiosity.

Pushing off from a nearby wall, she drifted over to tube to ensure that both she and it were secured reasonably before informing Khea that she was ready for the Aslani engineer to continue her gravity-control button-pushing experiments.  She braced herself between one wall and the side railing on the cryotube; and while not the strongest sophont in the galaxy, in microgravity, she felt confident that helping to direct the tube for minimal (or no possible) droppage was entirely doable.  Sharik motioned to Sam to ensure that the Longshot's pilot was both ready and avaiable to brace the complex apparatus that they were shepherding.
Evelyn Darque
player, 5 posts
Fri 15 Jun 2018
at 02:11
  • msg #374

Re: Destination: Unknown

The old forgotten song. Played on a cheap device. At least until the beeping indicated it was out of power. "Worthless this is why I don't buy from that Prick ▓▓▓▓ he always ▓▓▓▓ me ▓▓▓▓ . Evelyn turned from the sink. "What did you say sir?" she asked politely. "Are you ▓▓▓▓ing me. you know I don't tolerate that you little ▓▓▓▓ just like your mo▓▓▓▓ . I should have let ▓▓▓▓ kill you. " he leaned in stroking her cheek. " Instead you're being taken to the bottom into the ▓▓▓▓ of the ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ and it'll be less gentle. hehehe" he snickered in her ear as their house exploded and something gripped her leg pulling her down as water filled her lungs she struggled against the darkness

Evelyn thrashed weakly as she was awoken inside the metal coffin. Her body panicked believing it was drowning . She struggled feebly unable to fight back still only half conscious trying to gasp for air.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 02:17, Fri 15 June 2018.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 300 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Mon 18 Jun 2018
at 05:13
  • msg #375

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik shook her head and muttered under her breath with a slight sigh, "Probably would have been better to, at least, wait for the gravity to come back on..."  But the button had been pushed.  And the occupant was waking up apparently.  She tried to signal their Aslani engineer over the common crew channel, "++Khea, hold for a moment.  The cryotube is opening - and the occupant is awake, but disoriented...++"  Which, of course, meant that altering the gravity right at that moment might not be ideal.

The diminutive socialite shook her head partly in bemusement at the situation and partly in disbelief at the random absurdity of it all.  But then her reverie was broken by necessity, Shar tried to pry open the top of the cryotube clamshell to get to the young woman inside.  With the gravity off, even her weak thrashing could have some rather strange and dire consequences.  Besides, she wasn't too sure about standard waking procedures from cold sleep, but the woman did seem to be in distress - which didn't strike her as completely normal.

She pushed her gloved hand closer to the chest of the weakly-thrashing young lady.  "It's okay," she soothed, her voice made slightly tinny by her helmet speakers, "You are just waking up from a long cold sleep and are likely disoriented.  Just focus on my voice."  She tried to keep her tone even and calm, no matter how worried she might be, "Try to breathe normally.  There is likely some nausea and muscle atrophy and fatigue.  Just try to relax..."  Even if that was easier said than done.  "There may also be some light sensitivity," the auburn-haired ex-operative warned, "So, you may want to keep your eyes closed for a bit.  Just follow my voice..."  It was just a suggestion, but one with some basis.  She tried to remember all of the procedures when waking from cold watch those many years ago.  It wasn't the most pleasant of memories (in fact, Shar pretty much hated her single stint on cold watch with the IN) - but it was fully applicable here.

With little training, and even less medical gear.  The steadying hand and voice was the bulk of what Sharik could offer the young lady at this moment.  Hopefully, it would be enough...
This message was last edited by the player at 05:15, Mon 18 June 2018.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 420 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 18 Jun 2018
at 07:59
  • msg #376

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam continued to brace the cryo tube, so Sharik could concentrate on getting the occupant out.

On private Comms to Sharik she said "Once shes out are you happy to take her aboard, or do you want help? If youre okay alone, I'll continue on here"
Evelyn Darque
player, 6 posts
Mon 18 Jun 2018
at 14:49
  • msg #377

Re: Destination: Unknown

Evelyn tried to force herself to be calm as she heard voices. They were muddy and and muffled. But she couldn't be drowning. She kept her eyes closed slowly breathing despite her racing heart. She didn't know where she was but she knew she'd get answers if she was patient.

She tried to speak but her throat was raspy. And painful so she stayed quiet and tried to gather her thoughts. She wasn't at home in bed that was sure and certain.
StarMaster
GM, 866 posts
Mon 18 Jun 2018
at 18:05
  • msg #378

Re: Destination: Unknown

Khea has completely shut off the gravity. Presumably, if she pushes the button again, it will come back up, but she has no way of knowing if the gravity fluctuation would resume.
Serge Baklanov
player, 38 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 19 Jun 2018
at 13:28
  • msg #379

Re: Destination: Unknown

- So, let's proceed with exploration of the Pyramid, - Serge addressed to Vonon.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 558 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 19 Jun 2018
at 21:41
  • msg #380

Re: Destination: Unknown

"You opened the cold berth? Do you know the death rate of those things?"
Whatever, that is not my concern. The gravity is off and I prefer it to keep it that way. I assume this affects the outside of the ship, too? That way no more ships will be pulled from jumpspace and the ships is ours.

Can someone check if the robot we found is floating, too? If yes we might want to risk to salvage it now.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 301 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Fri 22 Jun 2018
at 06:34
  • msg #381

Re: Destination: Unknown

Though her Aslani shipmate could hardly see it, Shar simply shrugged when admonished about the opened cryotube.  It wasn't her fault that the awakening sequence had been kicked off.  She didn't press the green button.  And hell, for that matter, it was quite possible that moving the tube had triggered some other pre-programmed sequence or protocol.  It was all water under the bridge anyways.

With one hand resting upon the arm of Evelyn, Sharik prompted Sam, "We are going to need to get her something more appropriate to wear."  The scout ship had to have something in it.  "If you can find the ship's locker," the diminutive ex-scout noted, "there should be a spare vacc suit in it."  Assuming, of course, that Serge hadn't had to co-opt it recently for some other purpose.  Or the mysterious lanthenum thieves weren't also vacc suit thieves as well.

She turned her attention back to the open cryotube and the awakening woman within, "Hang on." she soothed, "Rest for a moment and recover your strength while we look for a suit for you."  With a light smile on her face, visible through the face shield of her own tailored vacc suit, Shar introduced herself, "I'm Sharik..."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 421 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 22 Jun 2018
at 07:18
  • msg #382

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam reached into the bum bag she had over her suit and pulled out an Emergency Soft Suit "This should do for now, yeah?" she handed it off to Sharik.
Evelyn Darque
player, 7 posts
Fri 22 Jun 2018
at 13:18
  • msg #383

Re: Destination: Unknown

Evelyn was around a group of strangers apparently and her head felt like her memories and thoughts had been put in a mixer and filled with alcohol and milk . She wanted to throw up but forced herself to not. Though she doubted there was anything in her stomach to throw up. "Ev... Evelyn...Dupont.... maintenance." she answered as she tried to relax and let her mind settle into place.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 302 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Fri 22 Jun 2018
at 20:40
  • msg #384

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik gave the Longshot's pilot a thumbs-up and a wink, acknowledging that the emergency suit was perfect for the given situation.  The lithe ex-operative hooked a foot on one of the holds off the tube to brace herself, while she kept her other hand on Eveyln.  "Pleased to meet you, Ms. Dupont." Shar noted easily and evenly, "Let's get you into an emergency suit.  The gravity is off."  Though the cosmopoliton socialite didn't say how or why that might be.

"Go easy." she coached, "Here.  Let me help you up..."  Moving her hand to behind the young woman's neck, Sharik moved to help Evelyn rise.  Disorientation after cold sleep was common.  So, was disorientation in zero-g.  Having both conditions simultaneously only convoluted things and made them worse potentially.

Sharik motioned to Sam to come in closer and help get Evelyn suited up.  Getting the young lady back to the Longshot would probably be the next step; the woman was in no shape to go exploring.  Hell, she probably didn't even know where she was - hence the "maintenance" moniker.
StarMaster
GM, 867 posts
Fri 22 Jun 2018
at 21:55
  • msg #385

Re: Destination: Unknown

Each of the corners had a robot storage compartment. All four of them are resting on the floor now.


You've now searched the whole ship. Now that you know what to look for, you find the missing lanthanum in a compartment in one of the rooms... that looks like it's a lab of some sort. Unfortunately, the lanthanum is in no condition to be put back on the Scout ship. It was apparently just pulled off and lumped together.


Since there's no reason for the other ship's crew to stay on their ship at the moment, they make their way over to the Long Shot.

Walter, Valeska and Kaengarr greet the newcomers: Morgan Randolph, Brayln Adone, and Verner Rask.
Evelyn Darque
player, 8 posts
Fri 22 Jun 2018
at 22:08
  • msg #386

Re: Destination: Unknown

With help she got changed into an outfit. "Where am I? Everything is jumbled. " she said her voice hoarse .  She began looking around her surroundings slowly. Something had happened. She was pretty sure she didn't crawl into that tin can for some beauty sleep. Come to think of it. Why had she been in there. If there had been some big disaster she thought she'd have welcomed it with open arms. Of course she wasn't going to say "Hi I'm Evelyn I suffer from depression and occasionally suicidal impulses." especially not to strangers.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 422 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 26 Jun 2018
at 07:03
  • msg #387

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam helps Sharik get Evelyn on board the Long shot, "Youre on board the Long Shot. We'll get you to the med bay so you can get checked out. We'll take things from there, hmmm?" she says trying to keep her voice calm and re-assuring.

ooc
We got anyone whose still active whose a better Medic than Sam (Medic 0 Edu +0)? Pablo? walter?
Walter Zeller
player, 438 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 26 Jun 2018
at 09:55
  • msg #388

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Get her to sickbay so the Doc can take a look." Walter said as the group came aboard. "Get freshened up and then lets see about getting out of here."

OOC:I might have missed the memo but I think Dr. Lavaud is still aboard with the Count.
StarMaster
GM, 868 posts
Tue 26 Jun 2018
at 15:24
  • msg #389

Re: Destination: Unknown

The Count has Medic-1 and Vonon has Medic-1. Other than that, your resident medic is Dr. Aimee Lavaud (Medic-5).

She and Jones have mostly been keeping an eye on the Count, but his status is unchanged, so she can see Evelyn.

Other than being a bit dehydrated and having some foggy memory from the drug that was used on her, Evelyn is surprisingly fine. Her disorientation will fade as she processes her new environment.
Evelyn Darque
player, 9 posts
Thu 28 Jun 2018
at 20:00
  • msg #390

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Long Shot... Ok... yeah. Sorry this a lot to process. I'm alive. right." she was processing her situation. Apparently she had been rescued. She'd have to deal with that later
 Right now she'd just follow their lead until she could figure out what came next. She'd have to start a new life if she still had her savings. Though if the cities were destroyed she might be broke. Well shit... Well she'd cross that bridge when she came to it.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 559 posts
Aslan outcast
Thu 28 Jun 2018
at 22:56
  • msg #391

Re: Destination: Unknown

Khea only snarls when the newcomer was lead past her towards the med bay, which had a unintended comical side as at the time she was grabbing the handrail next to her rather tightly to not float away.
When she was gone Khea addressed the rest of the crew via comm

"Does anyone know the Evelyn clan? Big? Wealthy?
Thats probably too much to hope for. Still, the low berth alone might be worth a fortune. Its certainly more advanced that what we have on the ship considering how easily she woke up. The next time we pass a planet with a biosphere we need to grab some wildlife for testing.

I am more concerned about the lanthanum. The ship and everything on it appears to be dead but something must have stripped it from the scout or instructed the robots to do so.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 303 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Sun 1 Jul 2018
at 18:53
  • msg #392

Re: Destination: Unknown

Escorting Evelyn back to the Longshot, Sharik marvelled at the situation and the Universe at large.  In her experience, she never needed to do much more than react in many cases.  Situations always seemed to get inordinately complex all by themselves.  Some scientists had theories on the matter - calling it quantum-driven sub-primal noetic concordance or some such - and the slight-framed asian woman had read some papers on the topic at one point.  The current situation reeked of the phenomenon.  What were the chances that the four ships were here - in the middle of nowhere - purely by coincidence?  Only Infi really know.

Sharik was plenty good at compartmentalizing.  But, sometimes, things had to bleed together.  It was not only natural, but necessary.  Cross-pollination of ideas and concepts was required sometimes.  And the situation at hand, had plenty of cross-compartment bleed.

Which made Shar a touch (more) cautious than normal.  Moving between the alien ship and back to the Longshot, the auburn-haired ex-operative tried to catch a glimpse of the other ship that Walter had mentioned had arrived.  It was more than yet another complication or a simple coincidence, this was starting to get into statistical impossiblity range.  So, more information was always better than less.

"++I suspect++" the diminutive operative noted off-hand on the common crew channel, attempting to subtly correct her Aslani companion, "++that Evelyn is of the clan Dupont.++"  She continued her brainstorming on the topic of wealth, "++And if her stated station is any indication, she's unlikely to be high in the hierarchy.++"  Maintenance was generally not much higher than Sanitation.  Though, the hope that the Dupont's owned the ship still existed.  It seemed unlikely given the alien crew.  And did have the added complication that the ship could still be claimed by that family, potentially.  But, a finders fee might be involved...  Sharik smiled slightly to no one in particular.  Complicated - all by itself.

"++Kaagira and Kilgore, requesting permission to come aboard, Captain.++" Sharik intoned on the crew comms as they hit the airlock.  It was rather perfunctory, given the situation and the knowledge that Walter was well-appraised of the situation.  "++Is Dr. Lavaud able to meet us at that 'lock?++" she half-requested and half-required, again knowing that Aimee was probably already aware of the incoming patient, as well.

Sharik watched the ship's doctor work her medical magic.  The cosmopolitan socialite watched Lavaud ply her trade, hoping to pick up a few pointers as to what Shar could have done better.  But, really, she could only marvel at practiced hand that the good doctor acted with; Sharik was sure that she was missing many of the nuances that only came from an expert familiarity the spoke of years of experience.  Satisfied that Evelyn was in good hands, she simply put a reassuring hand on the recovering woman's shoulder.  "Take your time, Evelyn." she gave as comforting a smile as possible, "You're in good hands here with Dr. Lavaud, the Longshot's medical officer."

Then the ship's navigator tapped her earbud to activate it, addressing Walter over the crew channel, "++Cap'n, do you want me with you?  On the bridge?  Or back with the away team.++"  Sharik was more than willing to do any of those options, but with the additional salvage ship and crew now present, the equation of allocating the Longshot's limited personnel had likely shifted.  She sighed slightly bemused; complicated - all by itself.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 423 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 2 Jul 2018
at 08:17
  • msg #393

Re: Destination: Unknown

After helping Evelyn to the docs, Sam excused herself and headed up to the Bridge.

AS Walter spoke, she said to him "Before we think about leaving, we should really lay claim to that sip somehow, so if anyone else gets drawn here, they know its ours. Maybe a Nav beacon as a warning and claim to other ships?"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:17, Mon 02 July 2018.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 560 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 3 Jul 2018
at 20:35
  • msg #394

Re: Destination: Unknown

Letting out a long growl and looking longingly at the bulkhead where Khea suspects the pyramid ship is (but probably isn't)
"How are we supposed to lay claim to something is space? We have no way of enforcing that claim.
The best we can do is to rig the scout ship to send a claim out and leave it here, without grid we can't really take it with us anyway. But nothing would prevent anyone from entering and salvaging the ship while we are gone. We can only hope that without gravity no one else is pulled to this location.

And as far as I understand from all beings who know about this location we currently have the biggest guns which I think we should use. But I defer to the men in this matter of course.
Evelyn Darque
player, 10 posts
Tue 3 Jul 2018
at 20:47
  • msg #395

Re: Destination: Unknown

Evelyn took a seat in the medical bay as the doctor examined her she went along with their exam answering questions while thinking about her circumstances. Who was she? No she knew her name and her history but she had Finally been freed from her past. Her dad was dead, she didn't have a job anymore. She was a leaf on the wind. Or more accurately a bubble in the ocean. Adrift. She could reinvent herself. Be whoever she wanted. A brash hothead, a seductive femmd fatale, a quirky gearhead. All sorts of masks she could hide behind.
Walter Zeller
player, 439 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 4 Jul 2018
at 03:54
  • msg #396

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Well, Kheaiftouaw lets start with the dimensions of the cargo bay and see if we can squeeze the scout ship in there. Since Serge had transmitted Signal GK, we have to do our best to bring it back to where it can be repaired to have any salvage rights. If we can fit it in there, it will be easier to transport than trying to strap it to the hull. If we have to carry it that way, we need to drain its tanks into ours to help lighten the external stress." Sir Walter said, checking the fuel gauges to see how much jump fuel was left.

Thinking a bit, he scratched his chin "We may have to unload some of the cargo into the pyramid but that will serve as proof of our claim, more so since we own the cargo. We could also see about rigging up a signal beacon to help warn other vessels until it can be hauled away." Walter said as he pulled up a salvage agreement for Serge.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 424 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 9 Jul 2018
at 08:26
  • msg #397

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam nodded at Walters idea "That will show our claim. But not enforce it. Maybe we want to consider some enforcement options, too. I think thats more your area Pablo?"
Kheaiftouaw
player, 561 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 10 Jul 2018
at 22:44
  • msg #398

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Its not the dimensions of the cargo hold but the size of the cargo doors that you should be worried about. They are made for cargo containers, not ships.
And straping it to the outside without proper clamps is very risky. Maybe we can temporarily weld it to the ship, but that will take time and the jump will be very complicated.

Still it would be nice to take it with us. Even damaged its worth a fortune. Or we can use it and the pilot as a reason to start negotiations with the imperium clan...
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 259 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Wed 11 Jul 2018
at 23:11
  • msg #399

Re: Destination: Unknown

"The cargo bay isn't nearly big enough to hold the Scout ship, even if we cut open the hull to cram it in," Pablo says. "We've already got the clamps for carrying it piggyback. Remember, that's what we did out in the asteroid belt."

"That was makeshift, but Vonon has been getting the drones to improve them... I hope."

"So, what? You want me to booby-trap the pyramid? You want them to be lethal or just discouraging?"

"That overloaded gravity well has been shut off. It's not going to come back on without someone tampering with it."

"You making any progress with the stiff?"
Aimee Lavaud
NPC, 17 posts
Wed 11 Jul 2018
at 23:22
  • msg #400

Re: Destination: Unknown

"You seem to be no worse for wear, Eveylyn," Aimee says to her.

"You've been in cold sleep... suspended animation... for about three years, as near as I can tell."

"Do you remember anything? How you got into the chamber? How you wound up on the pyramid ship?"

She made a note in the medical logs that this alien cold sleep chamber should be studied as it seemed to be safer than the ones in common use in the Imperium.
Evelyn Darque
player, 11 posts
Wed 11 Jul 2018
at 23:37
  • msg #401

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I am... was a maintenance worker on Manaan one of our underwater domed cities on Sarrad, I was working in air circulation. I've worked in a few departments this was my latest one. There are... were 31 domes of around 100,000 people each.

I survived by being in one of the underwater vehicle bays doing maintenance on air filtration couldn't have pilots and techs suffocating. I heard about some sort of systematic collapse or attack from the info feeds.

The domes were thought to be safe from collapse, so none of them should have failed, let alone all of them at once. It's not like they were grouped together. Whatever happened was calculated perfectly for maximum damage.

I had several days worth of oxygen in the vehicle bay, so i wasn't in any immediate danger as long as rescue came.

The last thing I remember was starting to lose consciousness, though I can't remember why it's cloudy... Just before everything went black, I felt a strange-looking robot moving around me... over me... it has a triangular body and tentacles extending out of it. And then darkness and nightmares and here I am.I Don't remember climbing into a metal coffin. I was just there" she explained trying to remember as much as she could.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:38, Wed 11 July 2018.
Gregory Jones
player, 48 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Thu 12 Jul 2018
at 01:12
  • msg #402

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Hello," said the other person in the medical bay. He didn't appear to be a patient, though there was another person in one of the other beds.

"My name is Jones. Does this look like the robot?" He holds up his comm unit and shows the picture transmitted from the pyramid ship.

"Wow," he says when she identifies it.

"That's the first clue we've had about those dome collapses! No one's been able to explain it till now. It was thought that some energy effect must have been propagated through the water to all domes simultaneously. Just no one had an idea how that could happen."

"It's starting to look that these aliens are the cause of it. I'm at a loss for any motivation."

"Makes me wonder what else they might have done."

He'd have to have a word with Sam. Was Evelyn legit?
Walter Zeller
player, 441 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 13 Jul 2018
at 01:27
  • msg #403

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Very well, lets get it docked to the hull and recalculate our jump fuel to see how much cargo we will need to dump in order to safely get out of here and back to Outpost. Samantha, please add in a 10% margin of error just in case to be on the safe side. Sharik, please calculate a course back to Outpost. And Serge, please get with Vonon and Kheaiftouaw to make sure your vessel is securely attached to the . " Walter said.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 562 posts
Aslan outcast
Fri 13 Jul 2018
at 23:35
  • msg #404

Re: Destination: Unknown

While Khea walks back to the airlock and seals her suit she opens her comm.
"Are you sure Outpost is a good idea after the problems we had? The last thing we need is someone with command over several ships and a grudge to steal this find"
Walter Zeller
player, 442 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sat 14 Jul 2018
at 01:52
  • msg #405

Re: Destination: Unknown

"It is the best that this area has to offer that we can quickly reach and the authorities will be better able to handle it than we can." Walter said. "I am not sure if putting some distance from this thing will help the Count but medically speaking, it would have the best services available for him. I would leave that to the Doctor but I think he requires more than the med bay can provide."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 425 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Sun 15 Jul 2018
at 18:26
  • msg #406

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam picked up on Kheas point "Is leaving the Count, unable to act, in the hands of someone who dislikes him a good idea even? It wouldn't be hard to arrange an accident with the med care."
Walter Zeller
player, 443 posts
Merchant/Noble
Mon 16 Jul 2018
at 02:17
  • msg #407

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Like I said, I will have to defer to Doc Lavaud's opinion." Walter said.  "If there is a better place to take him, I am all for it but for the time being, we have a damaged Imperial scout ship to return and a strange alien craft to report to the authorities. While Cassandra has a good starport, Outpost is the closest naval base. Since we are not trading, we can avoid her by staying in the military section of the base if they will allow us. Now I am not military so I will defer to you Vonon, but with what has occurred, would they be interested?" he asked.
StarMaster
GM, 872 posts
Mon 16 Jul 2018
at 18:02
  • msg #408

Re: Destination: Unknown

As Jones talks with Evelyn, the Count suddenly lets out a groan, and sits up!

"That's the last time I go out partying before a shoot!" he mutters as he puts his hands to his head.

His eyes come into focus and he looks around. "Where the hell am I? Who the hell are you?"

He doesn't look as confused as he does annoyed.

"Is this another one of your jokes, Reggie?" he asks and looks around.

"Trying to make me think I'm on a starship instead of the sound stage. Wait! Is this the set of the new Captain Tallant vid! Have you gotten me a guest appearance in it? A paying appearance?"

"Damn it, Reggie! Where are you? You can come out now. And where are my clothes?"
Sharik Kaagira
player, 307 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Mon 16 Jul 2018
at 22:25
  • msg #409

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik paused at the doorway of the medical bay to listen to Aimee and Evelyn converse.  She nodded curtly to Walter's orders as they were broadcast over the crew channel, subvocalizing a click of the tongue in acknowledgement as well as a tap to her dataglove when send a simple text over the common crew channel, "++On it.++"  A few seconds later, Sharik had the core cranking on a couple of different preliminary astrogation calculations.  She'd learned her lesson previously, the Longshot's destination was never perfectly defined until right before they reached the jump point.  So, she started to prepare plots using both Outpost and Dulcinae as defined endpoints, given their position effectively equidistant between the two, it wasn't advantageous fuel-wise to select either one.

As the female navigator tapped away, she glanced over in the direction of the patient and doctor.  Evelyn was a bit of a conundrum, but one that wasn't going to be solved at this juncture.  So, the auburn-haired socialite simply shrugged noncommittally to the assertions and explanations being given about what newly-thawed woman had seen, heard, and claimed about her circumstances.  There was no reason to believe that the young woman was lying to them at this point.  And, overall, Dupont seemed quite resilient.  Shar was unlikely to have taken the loss of three years with that type of composure.  If she proved useful, there was always a place on a diverse crew like theirs for such a person.  If not useful, then at the next stop, she could always disembark.

The Count was a different matter.  When Darrel started to spout off quasi-incoherently about being on set and the butt of a practical joke, she pursed her lips and texted once more to the rest of the crew, "++Captain, to the medbay, please.++"  She opened a channel directly to Walter, leaving a slightly more detailed message, "++Cromwell awake.  Rambling.  Possibly non compus mentus.++"

A sidelong glance at Gregory had her take a step forward with her hands, held up before her in an open placating gesture.  "M'Lord," she intoned easily, letting both her training as an operative and a minor nobility take over, "I am glad to see you awake.  You drifted off during your annual physical."  She motioned to Aimee to come closer, "Dr. Lavaud, if you please.  You may continue, with the Count's examination."  She hoped that sedation wouldn't be necessary; but Sharik knew that she didn't always get what she wanted.

"Reggie has stepped away for a moment to answer the call of nature.  I will retrieve your clothes momentarily, Count Cromwell." Sharik soothed, gesturing discreetly, for Jones to cover the door.  Hopefully, he'd be able to make sure that Count didn't simply up and leave.  A slightly bemused smile crossed the diminutive asian's lips and she shook her head slightly at the vagaries of Ifni, reminded of the old adage once more, Things just get complicated all by themselves...
Kheaiftouaw
player, 563 posts
Aslan outcast
Mon 16 Jul 2018
at 22:39
  • msg #410

Re: Destination: Unknown

As Khea is in the airlock, wanting to go outside to check on possible ways to attach the scout ship she radios while the airlock is sealed.
"Simply report the finding of the ship? We should keep that to ourself, at least to people who have the means to get here and the firepower to claim it"
Walter Zeller
player, 445 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 02:04
  • msg #411

Re: Destination: Unknown

[Bridge]
++Sharik? Can you repeat that?++ Walter typed back. With the private information confirming what had occured, he typed on the crew channel ++On my way++ before turning over the bridge to Samantha.

[Medical]
Making his way to the medical bay, Walter was deep in thought, if the Count was possibly non compus mentus, then the group would have to cash out his share of the Longshot. Might be time to start over from scratch since some of the crew had been talking about leaving.

Entering the Medical Bay, he spoke, looking over Darrell. "Glad to see that you are back with us Count Cromwell. Feeling better?" Walter asked.
Darrel Cromwell
player, 728 posts
Noble (Count)
Retired actor
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 03:48
  • msg #412

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Feel just fine. Never felt better. I was just in for a check-up," Darrel replies. "Studio always insists on that before the start of a new picture. They're afraid I might die before the picture is completed, in which case they stand to lose a lot of money. Either the picture doesn't get completed or they have to start over or--perish forbid! They have to CGI me in for the rest of it. And we know how well that works! Nobody can do me better than I can do me!"

"Is this really a ship? Are we shooting on location? Reggie was trying to surprise me for my birthday, wasn't he?"

"So where are shooting? The Cess Pits of Molta? The Silver Mountains of Ravanna? Oh, I know! The Rainbow Caves of Castillon! I always wanted to go there."

"Have I seen the script yet? I don't remember reading a new one. I don't want to play an old man again. Not even if he's a nasty villain. Leading man... that's what I want."
Serge Baklanov
player, 39 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 05:47
  • msg #413

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 403):

quote:
And Serge, please get with Vonon and Kheaiftouaw to make sure your vessel is securely attached


- Aye aye, sir, - reported Serge.
After all needed procedures were checked, Serge hailed Longshot:
- Bridge, this is Serge, "Elusive" is safely attached and ready for jump. Confirm RTB, over.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 426 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 07:21
  • msg #414

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam raised an eyebrow at Sharik's post, and said "I have the comm" as Walter left, bit otherwise seemed to carry on at her console unperturbed
Kheaiftouaw
player, 564 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 18 Jul 2018
at 21:30
  • msg #415

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Count is awake again? At least some good news then.

Attaching the ship will take a few hours. So get comfortable and start counting our salvage.
Speaking of which, have we taken those robots on board? They are worth a lot, but having one of them decide to run amok during the jump will be very bad unless we have enough firepower to take it out.
Walter Zeller
player, 446 posts
Merchant/Noble
Thu 19 Jul 2018
at 01:21
  • msg #416

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I am Doctor Sir Walter Zeller, Acting Captain of the Longshot.  We met years ago." he said, recollecting when they first ran into each other. "Currently we are in deep space after coming out of jump prematurely. You are in the med bay and there is no script. Sorry, your agent is not here, nor your personal assistant." Walter said.  "Is there anyone that we should contact to let them know where you are?"
Darrel Cromwell
player, 729 posts
Noble (Count)
Retired actor
Fri 20 Jul 2018
at 18:18
  • msg #417

Re: Destination: Unknown

"This isn't my yacht!?" the Count responds to Walter. "What ship is this? Is this the studio's ship? Why did I ever agree to go on it? And without my agent or assistant! This is unacceptable!"

"Sir Walter? Oh, yes, I remember you. You're a doctor now? Jolly good show!"

"Was I injured? I feel fine... a little tired, maybe. What do you mean, there's no script? What am I doing here then? Oh, wait... I get it. The script's being written en route. Was there a plot? Did I approve it? Whatever. I need to talk the writer. I've got a few ideas he needs to put into the script."

"Contact? Well, I am a Count. Surely someone in the nobility should be told where I'm at. And just where is that? Why would they need to be informed?"
Evelyn Darque
player, 13 posts
Fri 20 Jul 2018
at 18:26
  • msg #418

Re: Destination: Unknown

Evelyn observed her surroundings quietly three years had passed. She had been in that coffin for three years... Ok well time to review facts. Her father was definitely dead thank the Deep One for that. She didn't have a girlfriend so nobody missed her. Huh her pet Sheeri probably starved to death that was sad. She wondered if her bosses survived. There was a few technicalities she had to work out. Also had to check her accounts see if she accrued any interest. And then... She didn't know what would come next. Trying to live unnoticed , surviving day to day with no ambition was her life. Was it time to change?
StarMaster
GM, 876 posts
Fri 20 Jul 2018
at 18:30
  • msg #419

Re: Destination: Unknown

Yes, the four alien robots have been loaded into the cargo bay of the Longshot, and two of the alien bodies have been put in coldsleep/storage.

The Scout ship is attached dorsally to the Longshot.

There's just enough fuel to make a jump-1, but you'll only have a few hours of standard power after that. You'll then be running on back-up power until you refuel.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 565 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 22 Jul 2018
at 17:18
  • msg #420

Re: Destination: Unknown

After attaching the scout to the hull Khea returns to the airlock and finally gets out of her sweaty vacc suit.

<Over Comm while in the airlock> "The ship is secured so you can start to make calculation for the jump. And better be thorough with it, with the extra mass we do not have much fuel both for the jump and for the generator.

How are the injured holding up, Count and the one you pulled out of cold storage?"
Aimee Lavaud
NPC, 18 posts
Sun 22 Jul 2018
at 21:11
  • msg #421

Re: Destination: Unknown

Finding a secure area, Aimee replies on her comm to Khea.

"The Count is doing fine physically, but he seems to have lost the last ten years of his memory. He thinks he's still a successful actor."

"Our stray puppy doesn't seem to be any the worse for wear... or spending three years in cryo. Not sure how she's dealing with survivor's guilt. I don't see any signs that she's suffering from PTSD even though so many of her colleagues died that day."

"Maybe being abducted by aliens is superseding everything else."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 566 posts
Aslan outcast
Mon 23 Jul 2018
at 22:34
  • msg #422

Re: Destination: Unknown

Having to pause for a moment to calculate how long 3 years are in Aslan years Khea replies.
"That long ago? That certainly invalidates any claim on salvage we found here, doesn't it?

And too bad about Count. Is there anything the scientist can do for him? Getting adequate and uninterrupted care on Outpost might be tricky if we even manage to get there

Walter Zeller
player, 447 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 24 Jul 2018
at 00:53
  • msg #423

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Sorry Count Cromwell, I am not a Medical Doctor. Doctor of Galactic Economics, specializing in trade. This is the Longshot, a converted system defense boat. Sorry to say that it was not designed for comfort but there is some fine cuisine in the galley, although, I would suggest no alcohol for the time being." Walter said

"I was asking so that you can be properly cared for when we get to Outpost. Doc Lauvad has a better idea as to what happened to you. If you will excuse me, I have to make sure that everything is in order before we head out of here."  he said with a bow before departing to the bridge.
Walter Zeller
player, 448 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 24 Jul 2018
at 02:16
  • msg #424

Re: Destination: Unknown

[Bridge}
"+++All hands, make any last minute preparations for jump.+++" Walter said over the intercom. "Pilot, ship is yours. Jump when you are ready."
Sharik Kaagira
player, 309 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Tue 24 Jul 2018
at 07:41
  • msg #425

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik noted apologetically over the crew channel, "++Helm, it will be a few more minutes before all of the astrogation calculations are finalized.++"  The calculations were delicate and precise - and usually took over an hour to complete.  Time which was usually spent getting to the 100D limit.  But here, there was no gravity well - which meant that the navigation portion of the jump was the rate limiting-step.  But, that time would be well spent.  Without taking into account the required high-level of precision on both the relative positions and vectoring of both the departing location and desired destination, it was almost a guarantee of a misjump.

Tagging along, the Longshot's navigator followed the Captain to bridge, prompting en route, "Captain, are you sure that Outpost is the best destination, at this point?"  She knew that Walter had family there, but it didn't make as much sense to backtrack, especially now that the Count was not comatose.  Elgin was still at Outpost and she seemed to have a really long memory.  "Also, we did promise, Dr. Lavaud that we would deliver her to Dulcinae..." the diminutive operative reminded Zeller and his contract with the good doctor.  Perhaps both she and Cromwell would disembark there...
Samantha Kilgore
player, 427 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 24 Jul 2018
at 07:55
  • msg #426

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam started prepping the ship for the jump.
Walter Zeller
player, 449 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 25 Jul 2018
at 01:31
  • msg #427

Re: Destination: Unknown

"The alien vessel is a military matter and whatever happen to the Count is something they will want to investigate. Who better to brief them than the Doc and for the time being, she is going to be the Count's personal physician until whatever happened to him can be fixed. Continue to Outpost as ordered." Walter said to Sharik as they walked to the bridge.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 310 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Wed 25 Jul 2018
at 06:28
  • msg #428

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik simply nodded to Walter as they entered the bridge proper.  "Aye, aye, Captain." she intoned simply.  The diminutive socialite wasn't going to argue the logic, especially in front of the rest of the crew.

The Longshot's astrogator sat down in the co-pilot's seat and unlocked her session on the dynamic display.  The status of the multi-variate jump calculations continued to stream down one side of the screen, overlaying a multi-lobed shape that continued to undulate and change color as the calculations progressed.  She hummed a rather complex two-part fugue as she watched the numbers churn.

After another half-hour or so, the calculations were complete and Sharik pushed the results from the main core to the jump-drive controller.  "Jump vectors locked and loaded, Captain." she announced over the crew channel.  Her part done, Sharik cinched the five-point harness on her chair one notch tighter, tucked her gloves and helmet into the stowage compartment along side her console, and leaned back to enjoy the transition to j-Space.


[OOC:  One jump calculation to Outpost, coming right up!

  23:24, Today: Sharik Kaagira rolled 17 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 5,6.  Astrogation/Edu Check: Jump calc to Outpost (Astrogation/2, +1 Edu, +1 Expert, +4 Easy, -2 J-2).]
Kheaiftouaw
player, 567 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 25 Jul 2018
at 23:48
  • msg #429

Re: Destination: Unknown

When Khea hears the jump preparation have started she hurries back to her cabin to put on her armored vest, just in case the engines decided to blow under that much stress like the last time.
While pulling over the vest she pushes the wall communicate with her free hand
"The military? We really have to discuss whom to entrust with the location of that ship during the jump before making rash decisions".

Not waiting for an reply she leaves for the engine room to get the drive ready for a jump making sure to triple check everything even when this takes a few hours.

OOC: Performing Jump
01:47, Today: Kheaiftouaw rolled 10 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 5,1.  Performing Jump. +1 Engineering, +2 Routine, +1 taking longer.

StarMaster
GM, 877 posts
Sat 11 Aug 2018
at 03:41
  • msg #430

Re: Destination: Unknown

The Count, Lavaud, Jones and Kaengarr are all going on the other ship, which will take Lavaud to Dulcinae.

The Longshot is taking Serge's Scout ship, the salvage from the alien ship, and Evelyn Darque to Outpost.

You've got a week in transit now, which passes without incident.

You arrive at the 100-diameter limit of Outpost.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 568 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 12 Aug 2018
at 22:47
  • msg #431

Re: Destination: Unknown

Visibly relieved when the Longshot leaves jumpspace and appears to be exactly where it intended to go Khea goes to the bridge to discuss the options.

"You are better experts with humaniti clans. How should we handle this. Contact the Imperium clan right away and announce that we rescued one of their own or should we keep quite and do this quietly as to not embarrass them? Or should we wait with that until we sell all the salvage and location of the alien ship so that they do not become competitors?
Samantha Kilgore
player, 428 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 13 Aug 2018
at 07:36
  • msg #432

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam looked at Khea "I think rescuing the Scout is something we can be open about - its good PR for us with the Imperium and generally if people know we did that. Regarding the space ship, then I think thats a bit more of a back room deal."
Walter Zeller
player, 450 posts
Merchant/Noble
Mon 13 Aug 2018
at 12:37
  • msg #433

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Lets keep the alien ship quiet for the moment." Walter said. "Get in touch with the naval base and let them know that we are transporting a damaged scout vessel and request to dock at the base. If they ask, let them know that that due to the unusual nature of the damage that occurred, the local dockyard might not be able to repair it and they are welcome to send a team to look it over. The damage was not caused by weapon fire nor a mechanical failure. That should get their attentiuon." he added.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 569 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 14 Aug 2018
at 18:36
  • msg #434

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Good.

But what about the sensor logs on the scout? It will have information about the unknown ship. We can try to wipe them but that will likely make the Imperium suspicious"
Walter Zeller
player, 451 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 14 Aug 2018
at 18:44
  • msg #435

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Let me rephrase that. No one else in this system needs to know. The Navy will shortly find out when they look at the damage. Walter said.
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 60 posts
Wed 15 Aug 2018
at 03:27
  • msg #436

Re: Destination: Unknown

"We should be more concerned about our passenger," Valeska spoke up.

"How about it, Evelyn? What do you want to do? I don't suppose there's any reason for you to return to your world. You are welcome to join our crew."

She gave a stern look at Walter in case he had other ideas.
Evelyn Darque
player, 15 posts
Wed 15 Aug 2018
at 03:34
  • msg #437

Re: Destination: Unknown

Evelyn looked up from her thoughts. "Oh.. I suppose I don't have anything else. I don't have family. I was the one doing shifts noone else wanted to do simply so I could be alone. I never had any friends. I don't know if my funds still exist given the destruction. But I think I have no past... not anymore. " she paused. "If you need someone to fix things and stay out of the way. I can do that." she answered quietly. She hadn't really talked to anybody in years with the exception of waking up and trying to remember what happened to her. Even at work she was more do her job and avoid people. So it was awkward.
Walter Zeller
player, 452 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 15 Aug 2018
at 13:01
  • msg #438

Re: Destination: Unknown

"That is up to you Ms. Darque if you wish to sign on. With the Count indisposed, some of the crew have decided to resign and their positions will need to be filled. " Walter said.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 571 posts
Aslan outcast
Thu 16 Aug 2018
at 18:24
  • msg #439

Re: Destination: Unknown

Khea sniffs the air around Evelyn but says nothing although she certainly looks displeased.

"Still I think we should at least try to erase all positioning information from that ship. With all other data still intact they will quickly realize why we deleted that information and might open up negotiations.

Unless they insist that the data is rightfully theirs. In that case we need a good escape plan.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 311 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Sat 18 Aug 2018
at 07:56
  • msg #440

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik nursed a large travel mug of black coffee; one that was meant to dispel some of the aftereffects of the previous night.  With Kaengarr's help, the diminutive socialite had organized a party during the week; it gave her a welcome break from the various studying that she was doing as she tried to brush up on her technical manuals.  The ship was exotic and complicated enough - and she wanted to know more.  Especially, as they would need to continue to maintain it.  But, given the ton of luxuries that the Count had originally commissioned for the ship (and now the lack of Cromwell's presence), Shar had broken into a few of the bottles of vintage wine and partaken of more than a few of the more perishable consumables - distributing them amongst the remaining crew to help foster the festivities she had planned.  While her mechanical skills might need some work, Sharik knew how to plan a party; she seemed to have plenty of experience with it.

She'd sat in her navigator's seat during the transition from j-Space, her shades protecting her from the bright flash which was common during the return to n-Space when the fluctuating bubble of hydrogen collapsed at their destination, depositing the Longshot near Outpost.  The ship's navigator hummed a light tune as she waited for the sensor diagnostics to run and for them to come back online so that she might be able to verify their position and plot a reasonable intercept course to the station.

"Not sure that we can really mess with our transponder too much..." Sharik warned the Aslani female when the topic of data erasure came up, "altering its recorder data could be construed as an Imperial crime."  Beside the fact that is was quite difficult to actually hack the ship's black box(es) - even if they knew where all of them were (which Sharik wasn't completely convinced that was true).

"And Serge had been tasked to with investigating the thing as an official IISS mission." she mused aloud, reminding those gathered that they hadn't been the only party to arrive at the strange vessel.  Which to her mind meant that someone else already knew a fair bit concerning the object.  Plus, Morgan and the other scout ship now (presumably) at Dulcinae had the same coordinates registered.

She shrugged though, agreeing implicitly that the alien vessel probably didn't need to be mentioned in polite, casual company if it could be helped.  More random treasure seekers were not likely to be helpful to the salvage situation.

As for Evelyn, joining the crew, Shar smiled genially.  The woman seemed amiable and helpful enough.  Perhaps a bit reserved, but then who wouldn't be after losing three years and waking up in an entirely different place.  All told, Ms. Dupont seemed quite resilient.  Honestly, after a week she already seemed to be part of the crew.  The Longshot didn't really lend itself to being a passenger ferry with all of the staterooms together and none really segregated from the others - working passage (at best) seemed most common (not surprising given its original incarnation as a system defense boat).  She raised her mug, acknowledging to offer to make Evelyn 'official' crew, chiming in with a simple, "Here, here."
Evelyn Darque
player, 17 posts
Sun 19 Aug 2018
at 00:33
  • msg #441

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I have nothing else and a job is a job. Just don't expect much in the way of socializing. I prefer to do my job keep my head down and be even more forgettable than the forty third rivet in a hallway." she answered calmly looking around. An Job offer? It was strange to her. To be welcomed somewhere. It was an uncomfortable itchy feeling meaning she was noticed and she disliked that.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 572 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 19 Aug 2018
at 22:30
  • msg #442

Re: Destination: Unknown

Being far less welcoming than Sharik Khea ignored the apparently new crewmate completely and stayed on the topic of selling the location of the alien ship for as much MCred as possible.

"We should have destroyed the other ships before leaving for Outpost.
So what now. When we give back the scout they will know the location of the ship and the information we have will be worthless. But if we don't give it back it is an insult and we can't negotiate with them in the first place.

GRRRRR. We are so close to being rich and that scout ship is ruining everything. We should have left it there.

Evelyn Darque
player, 18 posts
Sun 19 Aug 2018
at 22:38
  • msg #443

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I guess you can't just simulate realistic damages that it might have suffered and Target key systems to destroy any valuable data on it essentially giving them the body of the ship but not the mind?" she asked the seemingly angry individual hoping the idea might be useful.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 430 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 20 Aug 2018
at 07:34
  • msg #444

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam looked at Khea and Evelyn "I think shooting the ship up is a bad idea. But what would be the potential side effects of removing the grid? Could it have shorted systems including the databanks? Thats something to consider. But I think far better to negotiate without damaging the Scout before we hand it over. If they insist we can't refuse to give it back, but we can still negotiate a recovery cost."
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 61 posts
Mon 20 Aug 2018
at 18:18
  • msg #445

Re: Destination: Unknown




"I guess it's time to include the rest of you in on our real mission," Valeska says as the festivities continued.

"The Count was directed to... look for things. There have been a number of strange occurrences in this sub-sector that made no sense individually, and perhaps even less when taken together... other than the strangeness of them."

"The Count was... asked to keep an eye out for anything along these lines, but he was to keep to his normal activity as much as possible. Being the Count, though, that didn't really amount to much."

"This alien ship, by itself, probably qualifies as something but the presence of Evelyn on that ship is the first indication we've had that one of these events may have been caused by the aliens."

"Because of the nature of that event, of which the mechanism is still unknown, it isn't that much of a leap to think that these aliens might be responsible for the other events as well."

"Keep in mind that they are alien. Their anatomy and ship design are completely foreign to us, which probably also means that their way of thinking is just as foreign. We can't really say what their motivation is or what their long-term goal is."

"For all we know, we might just be little more than insects to them... some sort of space parasite that they feel needs to be eradicated. If would seem, at the very least, that they have no regard for human life... or Aslan or Vargr."

"Now... that being said, we are talking about a higher authority than the IISS... higher than the Imperial Navy. Without knowing who these aliens are, where they are from or what they want, letting the Navy know that these incidents are connected... well, that's a recipe for disaster. You'd have captains shooting indiscriminately at everything they thought was remotely suspicious... other ships, planets, whatever."

"And that's not to mention the panic that would occur among the citizens."

"So, in that light, we can purge the data we want from Serge's Scout ship. It should be easy enough to claim it was the aliens that did it. After all, there's no rational reason for them to have removed only a section of the grid."

"As it is, the Scout Service will keep the discovery of this new species under wraps for a long, long time."

She sat back then and let the full impact of her words register on the crew. She really had no control over what they would do. It's not like she was an intelligence agent or anything. She'd just been in the right place at the right time. Or was that 'the wrong place at the wrong time'?
Serge Baklanov
player, 42 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 21 Aug 2018
at 05:48
  • msg #446

Re: Destination: Unknown

Serge was quietly sipping a big hot cup of coffee, sitting in the chair in the background, keeping a poker face while team was discussing if they should destroy the Scout ship or erase its data.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 431 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 21 Aug 2018
at 07:19
  • msg #447

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam looked at Valeska, and raised an eyebrow"And how do you know all this? And who was the Count directed by, exactly? because thats who we need to report to I guess?"
Walter Zeller
player, 454 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 21 Aug 2018
at 10:46
  • msg #448

Re: Destination: Unknown

Walter frowned at the new revelation of what the group was really doing. "This is news to me as I did not know that we were doing this for any person or agency. I concur with you Samantha, we do need to get with the Count's handler to finish this mission. If there is some other place that this information needs to go to, now is the time so we can get fueled up and out of here." he said, looking towards Ms. Brandenberg.

"However, I disagree about scrubbing the data on the scout ship. It will help them show how Serge's interaction with the ship occurred, along with its path of travel." he added.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 573 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 21 Aug 2018
at 18:29
  • msg #449

Re: Destination: Unknown

Khea slams the pad she is holding onto the table and starts shouting?
"WHAT?
We are sitting on the finding of the century and now we can't even profit from it?

When we sell it the imperium clan will hunt us down and if we give it to them they insist it was out of duty.
This can't be happening.

Turning to Walter she becomes more pleading than angry
"Don't tell me you intend to go along with it and simply turn everything we have over to them"
Walter Zeller
player, 455 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 22 Aug 2018
at 10:23
  • msg #450

Re: Destination: Unknown

Walter shook his head. "I wish I could give you a good answer there Kheaiftouaw. I have no idea what the Count got us involved in but if turning it over to the Imperials helps us rather than being shipped off to a prison planet or getting tossed out an airlock with no suit, I am all for it." Walter said.

"Think in the long term. Some times taking a loss now helps get rid of unprofitable goods in order to get a better cargo for later. In this case, we have a scout ship strapped to our hull, its pilot riding with us and we are out of fuel. We have to report it to the authorities unless you also want to tack on kidnapping and grand theft of an Imperial vessel to any other misdeeds we may or may have not done. "
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 376 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 23 Aug 2018
at 05:16
  • msg #451

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 450):

Vonon - wearing one of the noxious-green shipsuits he bought for the Longshot - walks into the Bridge through the wide-open doorway and saunters over to the station he's been using.  A big sandwich in one hand and a mug of hot kaff in the other, he drops into his seat and spins around to face the group - taking a bite from the sandwich.  He raises the mug towards his muzzle, but halts in mid-motion, looking back at the group over, the rim of the mug.

"What?" Vonon asks in his slightly growly voice, "You're all looking at me like I'm a ghost!  I just went to get a snack, I've only been gone a couple of minutes.  What'd I miss?"
Sharik Kaagira
player, 313 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Thu 23 Aug 2018
at 17:33
  • msg #452

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik shrugged slightly, then smiled playfully and (quasi-)reassured her Vargr friend rather nonchalantly, "Not much, Vo."  The diminutive operative took sip from her travel mug of coffee and paused for a moment before summarizing, "We were discussing the vagaries and nuances of Imperial salvage law and claims.  With a brief interlude pertaining to Ms. Dupont's status."  She'd give him a more detailed run down later.  Likely over some Sylean brandy - a fair few Sylean brandies; it was probably the only way she could fully summarize the proceedings.

She glanced around the room from her seated position at the navigator's console and as her gaze passed Evelyn she winked conspiratorially before she continued, "Oh, and Valeska was just informing us that the Count had contract us out as ... uh..." she shot a glance at Brandenberg letting her know that she had some serious 'splaining to do, "subsector-hopping troubleshooters for some exotic unexplained phenomena."

The light from the scrolling data and sensor feeds on her console display played off of her face as she looked to others to fill in additional information.
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 62 posts
Fri 24 Aug 2018
at 22:43
  • msg #453

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I didn't say that," Valeska replied. "There's no contract involved. Falko just asked the Count to keep an eye out for anything... unusual."

"All we really need to report to him is Evelyn's story, since that was one of the events that didn't make sense. It's still not an absolute that these aliens had anything to do with it, but obviously they were there."

"The Imperium is going to be interested in this alien species... so far unknown species... unless they've encountered them before."

"I didn't see any significantly advanced technology that the Imperium would want to squash. Xenobiologists will want to study the alien bodies, and the scientists will want to study the technology just because it's different."

"We just need to set a reasonable claim value. If we're out for money that badly, THEN we put it up for auction to the highest bidder... and take our chances."

"So, what do you think of filing a claim for... 20MCr?"
Kheaiftouaw
player, 574 posts
Aslan outcast
Fri 24 Aug 2018
at 23:45
  • msg #454

Re: Destination: Unknown

Khea finally calms down a bit and sits on an empty chair. While trying to smooth down her chin fur as to look less freaked out she says into the round.
Okay, how about trying to sell it to the imperium first. We give them the story and maybe a sample from what we salvaged and if they want the rest they have to pay. If they are not interested then we are save to go public with it."
Leaning back as the plan forms in her head she continuous: "As long as we make it look like its easier to pay us than to kill us to keep this information from spreading it might work.
With a laugh she adds "We could always bluff and threaten to take it to the Hierate if they don't buy it.

Still, we should test the robots and the guns we recovered. Not on the ship or on the planet of course. Maybe on an asteroid while we pretend to prospect it? After all this ship has mining drones so it would be plausible.

Speaking of which, what is our cover story for why we are back so soon in case someone asks?"
Walter Zeller
player, 456 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sat 25 Aug 2018
at 00:03
  • msg #455

Re: Destination: Unknown

Walter looked at Valeska and thought for a moment. "Ask for 25 Mcr. and settle for 20 Mcr." he said. "...and we do not keep anything for ourselves" he added.

"I know some of you would like to play with the new found toys, but it would be better to turn it over to them. With our luck, we would find the one item that scrambled the Count's brain and all of us will be in a heap of trouble."
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 377 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 25 Aug 2018
at 14:05
  • msg #456

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik Kaagira:
Sharik shrugged slightly, then smiled playfully and (quasi-)reassured her Vargr friend rather nonchalantly, "Not much, Vo."  The diminutive operative took sip from her travel mug of coffee and paused for a moment before summarizing, "We were discussing the vagaries and nuances of Imperial salvage law and claims.  With a brief interlude pertaining to Ms. Dupont's status."


"Well I know all that!" Vonon responds, taking a bite from his sandwich and talking as he eats, "I was there during all of it.  And all the stupid arguing--that's why I snuck off to get a snack."

Vonon swallows his food and takes a sip of kaff,

"I mean," he continues, "I get Sir Walter not knowing--he's one of those, uh, what'cha call'em?--Suit Lawyers; contracts and stuff.  No offense, Sir Walter.  And everyone else, maybe, isn't that familiar with Space Law, but I was a Patrolman and you, Sharr--and you, too, Serge!--are Scouts.  Both of you should know, as I do, that the answer to everyone's concerns, here, lies with the Scout Service.  We just get in touch with them, and everything will be handled.  Rewards, letters of thanks, legal claims, everything."

"But Sir Walter is correct about one thing...Khea." Vonon says, looking towards the Aslan, "Whatever authorities we end up having to deal with, we will have to turn over all samples, recordings and files--including all those scans you took of the stuff we removed from the alien ship.  Y'know, the technical scans you took while we were in jump space these last few days; the ones you thought nobody saw you taking?"

Vonon, with a grin on his muzzle, raises his hand holding the sandwich--as if to ward off any comment from Khea, "However!  Before you go all Border Wars on me--I'm only talking about the equipment and original files.  Nobody needs to say anything about copies of those files remaining in your possession--after all, the Imperium is a Free Market society."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 575 posts
Aslan outcast
Mon 27 Aug 2018
at 23:05
  • msg #457

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Males and money. If you let them handle everything you get at best half of what it is really worth."
Shifting to Walter she continues
"Thats especially true if we do not know what we are handing over so we need to test the robots and the gun. Preferably also the vacc suit, before contacting them"
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 378 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Tue 28 Aug 2018
at 03:00
  • msg #458

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 457):

Vonon wolfs down the remainder of his sandwich, then wipes his muzzle with a kerchief.

"Moot point, Khea.  We probably won't have the time." Vonon says, folding the kerchief and replacing it in a pocket of the lime-green jumpsuit he's wearing, "We're already in the Outpost System--if you remember, Planet Outpost is a moon circling a gas giant in the outer system.  And since I know how good an Astrogator Sharik is, I'm sure we dropped out of J-Space not that far from our destination.  Add in the Imperial Navy Base they're building, and there is a good chance we'll be spotted and challenged by either Orbital Control or a Navy Patrol Boat any tic, now."

Vonon looks over to Sharik, and then to Serge, and back to Sharik, "Okay Scouts, one of you cough it up!  I've always suspected you Scout-types had some way of contacting whatever presence the I-I-S-S had in a system, even when there wasn't supposed to be a Scout presence in the system!  I lost count of the number of times we'd haul some rock-hopper into the tank, back at Cassandra's Belt, only to have someone show up a day later in full Imperial Interstellar Scout Service uniform to get them out."

"So c'mon--is it a signal?  A code?  A local comm-number?  Some lawyer on retainer?  What?  Tell us how to contact the local Scout Service element on Outpost, please."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 432 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 28 Aug 2018
at 07:39
  • msg #459

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I think us handing over the alien tech is the best move. We're not really able to exploit it, but hopefully we can learn some things from it which we can sell, as well as the cost of the information on its location as well. But is 20 MCR enough? The Imperium is rich, I'd start higher just for the heck of it. And they can only say no. Ask for 40."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:39, Tue 28 Aug 2018.
Serge Baklanov
player, 43 posts
Marine/Scout
Wed 29 Aug 2018
at 13:00
  • msg #460

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 458):

- Well, I do not have direct contact in the Outpost system, but most certainly there are scouts' representatives on the military base, although I think that about such matter any contact would direct us to Scout base in Drexilthar and/or would send a report there and wait their answer, which actually we can do ourselves.
- And since I still have some old obligations, I will have to send a report to IISS about the discovery. Of course, I intend to aline it with you - "you" means crew of Longshot - so that we could use it at best result - and "we" also means crew of Longshot, if you confirm my accession to the team and equal share.
- And also, though I am not sure it will help but just for mentioning, I am acquainted with a scientist Camilo Gonzalez de Silva, who specialize in ancient alien civilizations and he also lives at Drexilthar. Although this scientist is of some... eccentric nature.
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 63 posts
Wed 29 Aug 2018
at 17:41
  • msg #461

Re: Destination: Unknown

"You make a good point, Khea," Val adds. "We don't really know what we have, so it's hard to place a true value on it."

"For example, the spacesuit. Is it just a standard vacc/suit made for an alien form? Or might it have hidden abilities that we can't see from the outside?"

"Or the alien tech. Somehow, it was able to generate the gravity field of a small star... or large planet. Snips of data from the Core indicate that the Imperium can do that, but it's not commonplace or common knowledge."

"Anyway, it may work differently with the Aslan, but you get way too much variation among us Humans to say it'll work the same every time."

"And we don't have to give anything to Falko except a report. If he has any authority or connections, he can get it from whoever we give it to. So, we sell it first, then report to him. He probably isn't here on Outpost anyway. He was on Grendal."

"Does your scientist pal, Serge, have any money? Is he like a billionaire recluse or something? Or were you thinking he might be contact for someone who does have money? Or maybe he can gives us a value on the alien body."

"The question, really, is: do we sell it as one lump find? Or do we split it up into lots? A single buyer is going to pay less just because they won't know what they are buying either. Four or five smaller buyers, however, might be more inclined to speculate, or at least see more potential in his own field."

"With Outpost being such a mercantile hub, and having a Naval Base, there's probably a good chance that there's a scout or two here at all times... getting supplies, keeping an eye on things. You know--doing those things that Scouts do."

"Well, we can kick this around six ways to Sunday. In the end, it's up to our new Fearless Leader, Walter, to decide. So, boss, what's it going to be?"
Walter Zeller
player, 457 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 29 Aug 2018
at 21:52
  • msg #462

Re: Destination: Unknown

"We will do what I said in the first place." Walter said as he flipped the radio to the system control frequency.  "+++Naval Base Outpost, this is Longshot. We are transporting a damaged ISS vessel and request a vector to your location.+++" he said as muted his microphone.

"For the time being, just play it cool and listen to what they say when they survey the scouts damage, along with what we found. It might give us an idea as to what it is worth. We don't want to short ourselves, but on the other hand, if we get too greedy, we might have an extended visit on an Imperial Prison system as a guest of the state...understand?" he asked the crew.
Serge Baklanov
player, 44 posts
Marine/Scout
Wed 29 Aug 2018
at 22:31
  • msg #463

Re: Destination: Unknown

Valeska Brandenberg:

"Does your scientist pal, Serge, have any money? Is he like a billionaire recluse or something? Or were you thinking he might be contact for someone who does have money? Or maybe he can gives us a value on the alien body."


- I think he is not a billionaire, though he certainly does have support. May be he can persuade right people to give a right price.

- About the money and how much should we haggle... IISS or Navy are not very quick about large sums of cash, but some other forms of compensation might be easier to bargain. For example, a ship. A ship might cost more than 200 millions but it will be much easier to bargain than 20 millions in cash.
Evelyn Darque
player, 21 posts
Wed 29 Aug 2018
at 22:38
  • msg #464

Re: Destination: Unknown

Well now that the other crewmember who had been getting anxious was calmed down she carefully moved away from the conversation letting them make plans. Those didn't affect her. Buy or sell, deal or don't. Her job would be keeping things running and hopefully not getting anyone killed. She didn't make decisions she just went with the flow. She began looking for anything to fix.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 576 posts
Aslan outcast
Thu 30 Aug 2018
at 16:41
  • msg #465

Re: Destination: Unknown

"No, wait" Khea tries to stop Walter from broadcasting but is to late.
We still haven't decided what to do about the sensor logs. When we give them the scout they will have everything and they have enough ships to secure it before we can even find another buyer.

Befor she could say anything else the others interrupted her and she fell silent. She totally forgot that Serge is if the Imperium clan. With that and the promises Count made there was no way out of it.

"Fine, they get everything for whatever they feel like paying us. But if they want the guns and the robots we will overcharge them. We can also put a price tag on us not selling our logs to others like the Hierate and to make public that there is an unknown alien species running around and abducting people
Samantha Kilgore
player, 433 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 31 Aug 2018
at 07:14
  • msg #466

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam sighed "I think Kheas right, you may have just blown our bargaining leverage there Walter. But its done. I suggest we get to downloading those logs, and making whatever other records we want to keep now."
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 379 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 31 Aug 2018
at 09:16
  • msg #467

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 466):

Vonon raises a hand as if to be noticed, "Sir Walter--ah--that is, Captain, if I might make a suggestion?  As you've already told the Navy that we have a rescued Scout aboard, perhaps you might add to the message that you are requesting a representative of the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service to be present when we arrive?"

"I'm telling you, we'll have better luck dealing with the Scouts rather than the Navy--even ignoring the crazy Baroness running the Base."
Sharik Kaagira
player, 314 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Sat 8 Sep 2018
at 00:23
  • msg #468

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik leaned back in her chair, seemingly lost in thought for a moment.  But when she spoke up, it was obvious that she'd been listening.  "We can definitely make sure that the IISS is informed," the diminutive ex-scout glanced at her vargr friend and then her fellow service member for a moment before continuing, "One never really leaves the service."  Which was true, since all 'retired' scouts were action simply marked as 'inactive duty'.  Of course, Serge was actually on an active mission; so, he'd have to debrief and report anyways.

And the IISS was unlikely to standby while the IN impounded one of their ship.  "Seems to me," Shar ventured with another glance in Baklanov's direction, "that we are obligated by our service allegiance to report in."  She paused pointedly to ensure that the others had plenty of time and space to tell how what to edit from her report, if they wished.

She motioned for Serge to approach her console as she made ready to contact the local Scout office - the boom on her microphone was directional in order to minimize background noise which would make it easier for her to ensure that the line was both private and secure enough.  Even if there wasn't an official Scout base at Outpost, the IISS surely would have some official representation - every frontier and border system did.  Especially, one with such a contest Imperial presence.  She opened a comm line link and keyed in her IISS ident code, tapping her thin, manicured fingers on the console glass idly for the moment as she waited for the secure connection to be established.
Walter Zeller
player, 458 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sat 8 Sep 2018
at 00:39
  • msg #469

Re: Destination: Unknown

Walter listened to the scouts talk back and forth. "Good point Vonon." he said as he keyed the microphone. "+++Longshot to Naval base outpost. If you can, please rustle up someone senior from the IISS to come with you so we can take care of the salvage paperwork...unless you want to pay the bill for them.+++" he added
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 380 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 8 Sep 2018
at 04:26
  • msg #470

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 469):

Once Vonon is sure Sir Walter has closed the comm-channel, he adds "Actually, Sir Walter, I'm pretty sure the Scouts are going to give us a Stranded Scout Reward, not Salvage, for Serge and his ship.  He was on an active scout patrol, after all.  Oh, I mean, we'll get a reward for bringing back both Serge and his ship!  I'm just saying I think the semantics are going to be different--we 'rescued' a stranded scout and his ship, we didn't 'salvage' him and it, you see?"
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 64 posts
Sat 8 Sep 2018
at 17:04
  • msg #471

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Not to put too fine of a point on it," Valeska added, "but... if we'd been able to repair the Scout ship so that Serge could have flown it home, then it could be said that we rescued it. I'm not up on space salvage laws myself, but from what little I know, if we have to tow it back to a base, I think that counts as salvage. Probably a percentage of the value, allowing for depreciation, but that should be more than the scrap value someone might get. After all, it's an old ship, and while the systems may not be that old, there are still newer versions available. It's like a 20-year-old car--it still runs well, but... it's 20 years old."

"Of course, you reach a point where 'old' becomes 'classic' and therefore collectible, which makes 'old' original systems more valuable... to a collector."

"The only starship I've heard reach that status, however, is a Safari ship. Restored, of course."

"Since Scout ships are never 'retired', it's generally illegal to own one. Though... I did hear of an Admiral Farthington who had a custom Scout ship. I suppose, if he'd been a scout and was himself retired, the Scout Service could have 'permanently' lent him one. Isn't that the way it works?"
Sharik Kaagira
player, 315 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Sat 8 Sep 2018
at 18:04
  • msg #472

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik shrugged and then simply confirmed Valeska's conjecture about IISS resources, "Type S's, like their personnel are subject to recall."  Some more than others, of course.  Admiral's would like have some political pull and therefore their allocations might be at the bottom of the recall list.

The diminutive socialite did also note off-hand, "And Serge's ship can maneuver just fine.  It can likely jump as well, though with its jump grid compromised, any j-Space transition is likely to be ... uh ... unnecessarily dangerous."  As in potentially premature collapse of the protective hydrogen bubble leading to random partial ejection of the contained matter within back to n-Space. It was perhaps simply semantics - or another fine point on a fine point, "We were simply doing a courtesy to him.  Why take the chance?  The Deep Black is hazardous enough without willful neglect."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 577 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 9 Sep 2018
at 18:40
  • msg #473

Re: Destination: Unknown

"The ship was stranded, so it was salvage.
But considering what else we have to sell we shouldn't press this issue too hard while not being seen as complete pushovers.

Getting nervous Khea then adds
"How should we handle my, ehm, the Aslan issue. The Hierate and and the Imperium are two hunters ready to strike. My presence might help us convince them to pay us to be quiet, least the Hierate learns what was found. Or it might drive them to use other means to keep this information out of their claws.
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 65 posts
Sun 9 Sep 2018
at 20:49
  • msg #474

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Hmmmm... interesting point, Khea," Valeska comments.

"Is the Hierate likely to get upset if the Imperium doesn't inform them of this find? I'm not expecting it to be all that secret. And what if you give them a copy of the data we've acquired? Is that something you can barter for credits? Is the Hierate likely to confront the Imperium about not sharing the data?"

"For that matter, what if we inform the Imperium that we've also given the data to the Hierate? Might that diffuse the situation?"
Kheaiftouaw
player, 578 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 9 Sep 2018
at 21:27
  • msg #475

Re: Destination: Unknown

Khea stares at Valeska baffled, then bursts out into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
Only after a moment she manages to answer while wiping a tear from her face.
"You have a very strange idea of the relations between the Imperium and the Hierate. Those two are enemies and it is clear that the peace between them is unlikely to hold. For that the trading clans are too weak and the Ihatei too eager to conquer the rich planets counterspinward.

So telling them that we gave the Hirate the information will not make us any friends. But it could drive up the price I guess.
The Imperium will not inform the Hierate and I hope they will pay well that we don't either."

Giving a glance to the others in the room, especially the ones connected to the scout service
"Lets hope they are honorable enough to settle this matter with credits and not claws"

Here Khea hesitates for a moment
"As for actually selling it in the Hierate, I am against it. I have no interest going back there and besides even reaching the Hierate will take months. We are much better of selling our silence here than to go back to the Hierate and navigate the clan politics to find a buyer.

We won't earn much anyway. By the time we reach the Hierate the Imperium will have secured the ship anyway, so the information will be mostly useless to them. And even if we can make them believe that the ship is still there I am pretty sure having a Hierate fleet one jump away from a imperial outpost will create a lot of trouble, even if it is technically neutral territory.

Samantha Kilgore
player, 434 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Mon 10 Sep 2018
at 07:07
  • msg #476

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Selling silence is going to be moot, given that there was another ship at the site, and they will likely be hopping off and selling information. Unless we also sell that information to the Imperium."
Sharik Kaagira
player, 316 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Wed 12 Sep 2018
at 20:20
  • msg #477

Re: Destination: Unknown

"They're right." Sharik agreed with Khea and Sam, "This information has a definite useful half-life."  With the obvious implication that the price of the information would depreciate proportionate to that exponential decay.  Which also meant that since the die was cast - that they need to push the current play (of Imperial Navy coupled to the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service) as far as possible.  "So," the diminutive navigator prompted, "we work the IN angle for what its worth" she trusted in Walter's negotiating skills and experience, "with a shaker of IISS as bargaining..."

"And then we need to get the Hell out of Dodge..." Shar muttered with a conspiratorial glance at Vonon and then the rest of the crew.  In her previous life as a corporate operative, the best fixers were good at their niche and didn't over-extend.  When you got too greedy, you often got really dead.  Really fast.

Her thin fingers began to punch away at a console display for a moment as she kicked off a number of preliminary calculations for various destinations they might target.  While the final coordinates and velocities were unknown, she couldn't make any definitive route calculations; but some of the heavy lifting and iterations could be started.  And any time shaved off now could be life-saving later on.  She even kicked off a number of contingency calculations dealing with more open scenarios where they couldn't make the standard one-hundred diameter limit jump point off the elliptical, &c. - 'cause she found the additional interweaving complexities for the equations were still a finite and quasi-managable system (if a bit messy in a fun way) and all told a touch comforting.  Plus, you just never knew when those calculation results might come in handy...
Kheaiftouaw
player, 579 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 15 Sep 2018
at 22:47
  • msg #478

Re: Destination: Unknown

Khea lets out a sigh and falls back to lean against the bulkhead.

"So who is doing the talking? If we let one of the scouts here talk the ISS likely expects to get everything for free. At least even more so than they do already with whatever Count has arranged"
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 381 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 16 Sep 2018
at 02:59
  • msg #479

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 478):

"What, with a Business Lawyer as our representative?  I was never worried about that." Vonon says with a confident nod towards Sir Walter, "As a former Law Enforcement Officer, I was just trying to say 'Be Prepared' for this to get into tricky Legalese negotiations that probably only Sir Walter is going to fully understand.  This is the kind of thing that Space Nautical Courts just love to drag out."

"I think we'll be lucky if we get any kind of decent settlement from the Court in our favor in the next three Imperial Standard Years.  And though I expect we'll win, we'll likely be given a structured settlement, paid out as a fractional sum once per year over a couple decades."

"Governmental Bureaucracy--you must be in love with it!" Vonon grinned, almost getting the Human idiomatic expression correct.
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 66 posts
Wed 19 Sep 2018
at 02:44
  • msg #480

Re: Destination: Unknown

"The Count has made no arrangements with anyone," Valeska says. "Besides, he doesn't even remember what he was doing."

"His contact is with the 'Agency', as was mine. We have no idea what agency that is, and the information they want isn't for sale. Hell, it isn't even believable."
StarMaster
GM, 880 posts
Wed 19 Sep 2018
at 03:04
  • msg #481

Re: Destination: Unknown

Although Serge doesn't have the entire list memorized, he has a list of Scouts assigned to various facilities around the quadrant in the Scout Ship's computer. After calling up the information, he finds that there is a Scout liaison assigned to the Naval Base.

After contacting the liaison, Maizy Strom, about his ship and the other information, he is given a vector to another location in the asteroid belt.


Walter is given a vector by the Space Controller, which turns out to be another hangar on the asteroid base.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 580 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 19 Sep 2018
at 07:24
  • msg #482

Re: Destination: Unknown

Getting more nervous as the ship approaches the planet Khea looks back and forth between the sensor screen and the rest of the group before finally speaking up.

"Before we land we need to do something about the scout. I mean the attachment is holding in space, but when we enter a gravity well it will likely break even before we land.
Walter Zeller
player, 459 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 19 Sep 2018
at 13:38
  • msg #483

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I would never call myself a "Business Lawyer" as I have never applied to the Imperial Bar, Vonon." Walter said as the airwaves hummed with the various transmissions. "Since we are carrying a scout vessel, and there just happens to be a representative here, we will take it to them to sort things out. They can decide what to do with it." he added

Turing to the Aslan, he nodded in agreement. "Good point Kheaiftouaw. You and Serge, please unhook it and get it to the scout location. We will follow you there. Since it is Imperial property and we are not, get everything pertaining to the Alien ship aboard the scout in case the Navy wants to pay us a social call." He said as he face turned to a frown as if something was bugging him before flipping on the intercom.

"+++Attention everyone. From this point on, if you are going to involve this ship and crew with anyone that does not directly work aboard this vessel, you will need to let everyone of us know first...not after the fact. The Count made no mention of the arrangement to me, and as far as I know most of the rest of you. This has caused quite a bit of confusion and headaches for us. If you do work for someone else, please let us all know now. You might be sworn to secrecy but it's our lives you are playing with...+++" he said.
Serge Baklanov
player, 45 posts
Marine/Scout
Wed 19 Sep 2018
at 18:05
  • msg #484

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 483):

- So, in short, what is the plan, step by step? We land there and?.. I go to scout representative? Alone? What exactly you think should I tell them?
Walter Zeller
player, 460 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 19 Sep 2018
at 20:09
  • msg #485

Re: Destination: Unknown

"We should be right behind you but here is a copy of the salvage contract just in case*." he said. "One of you that boarded the alien craft might want to ride down with Serge to help sort things out. Please, do not talk about money until we are all in the same room." Walter added.

*See msg 213
This message was last edited by the player at 20:30, Wed 19 Sept 2018.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 317 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Wed 19 Sep 2018
at 20:27
  • msg #486

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik raised her hand, volunteering to accompany Serge.  "Probably should be me to go with him." the diminutive ex-Scout offered with a light smile touching her lips.  "Fellow scout and all..." she noted off-hand as a sort explanation.  Shar also had taken the visual feeds from their exploration of the alien craft.  Not she was just going to hand them over, but a snippet might be needed to verify authenticity.

"No under the table deals." she reiterated, either verify that she didn't have any or that they weren't to make any.  Or both.  Yeah, likely both.

And then the Longshot's navigator nodded to the Captain's request, "No compensation discussions without full representation.  Got it."
Serge Baklanov
player, 46 posts
Marine/Scout
Thu 20 Sep 2018
at 06:52
  • msg #487

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 485):

- Aye aye, sir.
- Let's go, Sharik, - Serge winked to diminutive ex-Scout and headed to the air lock.

Fastening in the cabin of a Scout Ship, Serge had a strange feeling for a moment, as if he is about to part from an old good friend...
In silentness, he undocked from Long Shot and put the ship to approaching vector towards asteroid base.

[a bit later]

- This is Scout Ship "Elusive", ID 0086789, - Serge hailed traffic control. - Requesting docking clearance.

[a bit later]

After landing sequence, Serge booked a visit to the liaison Maizy Strom and made his way to the office in assigned time.
- I feel as if we earned some good rest, - said Serge to Sharik, while they were navigating corridors of the asteroid base.
StarMaster
GM, 881 posts
Thu 27 Sep 2018
at 19:56
  • msg #488

Re: Destination: Unknown

Since the last time the Long Shot was here, there was problem with the ship leaving, so the crew is going to be bit reluctant to land on Outpost.

On the other hand, Maizy had told Serge to take the scout ship to a different asteroid in the belt... NOT land on Outpost.

And since Walter said the Longshot was following, that's the destination you head to.

It only takes 3 hours to get to the designated asteroid.

It isn't until you are 15 minutes out that you get a landing beacon signal.

There are two other Scout ships already on the asteroid, near the landing beacon.

"Welcome to Outpost 7," a voice comes over the radio. "Do you wish to meet in the outpost or would you rather I come to your ship?"
Samantha Kilgore
player, 436 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 28 Sep 2018
at 08:05
  • msg #489

Re: Destination: Unknown

AS the Longshot approached the base, with Sharik missing, Sam pulled up the sensor console and scans the area for anything and everything. In here experience, asteroids might mean pirates, though hopefully the Scout base would discourage that.

ooc


09:05, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,3.  Int +1 Sensors 1.
Walter Zeller
player, 461 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 28 Sep 2018
at 09:19
  • msg #490

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++Meeting at Outpost 7 will be fine+++ Walter said over the radio.

"Prepare for landing. Take her in Samantha." he said.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 581 posts
Aslan outcast
Sat 29 Sep 2018
at 19:43
  • msg #491

Re: Destination: Unknown

Having resumed her constant pacing the only thing Khea has to add is "This is not going to end well."
Serge Baklanov
player, 47 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 2 Oct 2018
at 11:55
  • msg #492

Re: Destination: Unknown

StarMaster:
"Welcome to Outpost 7," a voice comes over the radio. "Do you wish to meet in the outpost or would you rather I come to your ship?"


- Shall we go to office? - Serge asked Sharik before answering to Maizy.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 318 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Thu 4 Oct 2018
at 20:32
  • msg #493

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik nodded curtly to Serge's question concerning Maizy's offer.  "Absolutely." the diminutive ex-Scout quipped rather nonchalantly, adding with a slightly crooked smile, "I'd hate for them to throw us a party and not show up..."  If a debriefing or a negoitiation could ever be called a 'party'.  Still, given her propensities for serious recreation, which had been on ample display in the most recent jaunt into j-Space; it might not be that much of a stretch.

Besides, things were always better face to face.
Serge Baklanov
player, 48 posts
Marine/Scout
Thu 4 Oct 2018
at 20:49
  • msg #494

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 493):

So...

[a bit later]

After landing sequence, Serge booked a visit to the liaison Maizy Strom and made his way to the office in assigned time.
- I feel as if we earned some good rest, - said Serge to Sharik, while they were navigating corridors of the asteroid base.
Samantha Kilgore
player, 437 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 5 Oct 2018
at 08:09
  • msg #495

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam nodded to Walter "Aye, Captain" she said, and plotted the route in to bring the Long Shot into land, as she did so requesting landing permission and a location from Outpost 7 control.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 582 posts
Aslan outcast
Fri 5 Oct 2018
at 19:06
  • msg #496

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Here we go

Oh, before that, how many weapons are appropriate for such an occasion?"
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 382 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 6 Oct 2018
at 07:46
  • msg #497

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 496):

"Two." Vonon responds, sitting casually behind his powered down weapons console,

"One big, impressive looking weapon that you expect them to take from you, 'cuz it makes you look just too damn dangerous.  And a second weapon that's smaller and easier to hide on your person, but still has enough 'oomph!' that you trust it to help you defend yourself.  That weapon you give to them. With a smile.  Because we're talking about Imperial Weapon Sensors, here--you are not getting anything past them.  Just be glad that they can't take your claws away from you, and they won't make you wear soft, plush, claw-proof mittens."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 438 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Sat 6 Oct 2018
at 11:22
  • msg #498

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam laughed quietly at Vonun's suggestion, but didn't look up from the console as she piloted in.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 319 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Sun 7 Oct 2018
at 00:09
  • msg #499

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik simply shrugged when Serge said he need a vacation.  “You’re on inactive duty,” the thin ex-Scout noted cheerfully, “You can do whatever you like!”  Once the debrief was done, of course.  And with his ship in for repairs that meant he was grounded for the duration of the refit, potentially.

She turned to face her fellow scout for a moment, slowing in the hallway a touch.  “If you don’t want to spend the time stuck station-bound,” Shar noted amiably, “I am sure that we can come to some sort of working passage arrangement on the Longshot.  Though it would mean leaving your ship behind,”.  As there was no telling when the Longshot might return to Outpost.  Given the presence of Baroness Elgin, perhaps ‘never’ was a distinct possibility ...   Still, she’d not leave an IISS survivor adrift.  And though Captain Zeller would have to approve any crew contract, Sharik was pretty sure that Walter would be satisfied if a suitable arrangement could be made; Serge had skillz after all.

And, seriously, he’d just be another stray dog in a rag-tag crew comprised of stray dogs.

Turning back to the hallway and meeting ahead, Shar muttered quietly, reminding both Serge and herself, “Wait for the others to arrive before the meeting can officially start...”
Walter Zeller
player, 462 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sun 7 Oct 2018
at 02:31
  • msg #500

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Carry what you want but remember, you will be responsible for them. We are merchants for the time being that just got tied up in something that most of us was not told about. I do not plan on carrying anything." Walter replied to Kheaiftouaw
Kheaiftouaw
player, 583 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 7 Oct 2018
at 22:39
  • msg #501

Re: Destination: Unknown

Taking everything Vonon said completely serious she can't help herself than to roll her eyes and shake her head.
"Men and their rituals.
I bring one weapon they can take and nothing more."
Evelyn Darque
player, 24 posts
Sun 7 Oct 2018
at 22:50
  • msg #502

Re: Destination: Unknown

Deciding to hide away in the guts of the ship rather than dealing with the idea of leaving and socializing she found out the communications hub and dealt with her banking taking her savings and using it as a buy in to the one in charge of keeping things ordered. It wasn't like she had much use for it anyway. All she wanted was a quiet place to work without having to socialize and maybe food to eat and a place to sleep . Down here in the ships guts was as good as any place. Far out of sight of the others.
StarMaster
GM, 882 posts
Mon 8 Oct 2018
at 19:12
  • msg #503

Re: Destination: Unknown

Samantha's efforts on the sensors produce some rather odd results. Outpost 7 is a much smaller asteroid than the one the naval base is on. It's only about 20 miles in diameter.

Off to one side of the two scout ships that are parked/landed on it already, there is a quonset-style space dome anchored to the asteroid's surface. At most, it could hold about 25 people crowded in. Based on the two ships, though, it would seem that there are only two people in it.

Sam also picks up an underground fuel tank... large enough to refuel about 10 scout ships.

Serge lands his scout ship next to the other two, and Walter lands the Longshot nearby.

Getting to the space dome will require EVA, but it is accomplished without incident.

Evelyn, Pablo and Valeska stay behind on the Longshot.

Once inside (after passing through the airlock), you are met by two humans.
Maizy Strom
player, 49 posts
Outpost 7 IISS Scout
Mon 8 Oct 2018
at 19:39
  • msg #504

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Welcome to Outpost 7," the woman says to Serge, who is the first one in. "I'm Maizy Strom. This here is Simon Nurando."

"Not the Taj Mahal you were expecting, is it?" she finished, gesturing around her. "We relocate it from time to time. Security."

"Looks like someone started scavenging the Elusive."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 439 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 9 Oct 2018
at 07:16
  • msg #505

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam shut down the Longshot and looked up at Walter "They seem to have a fairly sizeable fuel tank here - we should see about topping up, amongst all the other business."

She leaned back in her chair and stretched her arms back out before getting ready to head over to the compound. Her most obvious weapon is a cutlass on her belt.

Once inside the dome, Sam takes a quick look around as well as acknowledging the two Scouts with a slight nod, letting Serge talk for now.
Serge Baklanov
player, 49 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 9 Oct 2018
at 07:46
  • msg #506

Re: Destination: Unknown

Maizy Strom:
"Welcome to Outpost 7," the woman says to Serge, who is the first one in. "I'm Maizy Strom. This here is Simon Nurando."


- Greetings! - Serge snaped a salute. - I am Serge, Scout.
Serge looked around, evaluating the place.

Maizy Strom:
"Looks like someone started scavenging the Elusive."


- Emm... What do you mean? - Serge inquired apprehensively.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 584 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 9 Oct 2018
at 21:59
  • msg #507

Re: Destination: Unknown

Khea keeps herself in the background and tries not to draw attention to herself, purposefully keeping Serge and the others between her and Maizy.
Still she nearly spoke up to correct the comment about scavenging the ship but kept silent as to not spill what has happened too soon.
Walter Zeller
player, 464 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 10 Oct 2018
at 00:37
  • msg #508

Re: Destination: Unknown

"More like tore it apart" Walter said, having inspected it when it was first encountered. "Greetings, I am Dr. Sir Walter Zeller, acting captain of the merchant vessel Longshot. This is the crew..." he said as he made introductions of those that were there.

"We were able to bring back the damaged scout craft and thought you might like to take a look at it as the damage is quite peculiar, along with some more unusual incidents that occurred during the encounter. Do you have some place that we could sit down and talk, some place "very" private?" he asked.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 320 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Wed 10 Oct 2018
at 17:43
  • msg #509

Re: Destination: Unknown

The space walk to dome had been uneventful; the diminutive operative seemed quite at home in her tailored vacc suit, moving in the high-tech fabric as though it was a second skin.  Once inside, she didn't remove her gloves or helmet, though she did retract the visor and opened the face plate breaching the seal yet still allowing for quick redeployment.

Sharik smiled amicably and nodded towards Maizy and Simon each in turn as they were introduced.  The inactive duty scout introduced herself using a slightly more formal means of address, "Sharik Kaagira Mepede."  Though she'd left off much of her full name and her official (if inactive) IISS rank; so, it wasn't that formal - even if the Vilani sur-moniker of 'mepede' roughly translated to 'discoverer' or 'scout'.

She nodded curtly (though marveled privately) at the required relocation SOP adopted by Maizy and her cadre, while she visually inspected in the rather cramped and spartan accommodations.  "Prudent." the auburn-haired socialite agreed, figuring that the political situation (either externally or internally - or both) must warrant such action.  She glanced in Walter's direction wondering if he was thinking something similar.

"Those scavengers were both extremely precise and brutally efficient." Sharik noted casually, if a touch enigmatically, tacking onto Walter's own addendum to Ms. Strom's assessment of the Elusive's damaged lanthenum grid, "They either knew or very fortuitously stumbled upon the best way to cause a full-on misjump..."  Though she'd not say any more yet; waiting to see where Walter's request for a secure location led to.
Maizy Strom
player, 50 posts
Outpost 7 IISS Scout
Fri 12 Oct 2018
at 17:05
  • msg #510

Re: Destination: Unknown

Maizy looks around the hut at Walter's comment, frowning slightly.

"We're on an asteroid," she replies. "How much more private do you think it can get?"

"But, by all means, step into my office." She gestures to the table and chairs, though there's clearly not enough chairs for everyone.

"My apologies if there aren't enough chairs for everyone, but in the 12 years this outpost has been operating, there's never been more than four people here at the same time... and that was just for the Saturday night poker game."

It's hard to tell if she's being serious or facetious with that last bit.

"Just remember, you asked for this meeting, not me. So, what can I do for you?"
Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 260 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Fri 12 Oct 2018
at 17:28
  • msg #511

Re: Destination: Unknown

Pablo kept his comm unit open in case anyone from the ship that went to the meeting was broadcasting it, or in case someone called for help. He'd put on his armored vacc suit and carried his weapon slung over one shoulder.

But now he had to deal with the other 'problem' on the ship: Evelyn.

It's not that he distrusted her, but there were things going on that he didn't know about or understand, and he needed to know.

"I haven't had to find any place to hide on this ship since we acquired it," he said to her as he leaned against the door jamb of the compartment she was hiding in.

"I did a few times on the old ship. Seems nobody was really interested in being friends with a marine... except other marines. And we didn't have any more of those on board."

"Turns out I was wrong."

"I can't begin to understand what you've gone through. The headshrinkers like to call it survivor's guilt. Why should you be alive when so many others are dead? I tend to turn it around and look at it from the other side... kind of the 'half empty' or 'half full' perspective. Why should so many of them be dead when you are still alive?"

"We all die sooner or later. It's kind of a cosmic crapshoot whether it's sooner or later."

"The religious folks all try to find some cosmic meaning to it all. I think it's just human nature... a survival tactic--find someone or something to blame so that you can keep it from happening again. It's also easy to say that civilization and society have gotten too complex to make such simple statements, but, guess what? Even the unintelligent animals in the wilderness do it. Survival instinct. So, I guess it's not really human nature after all."

He really didn't know if Evelyn was feeling survivor's guilt or not, but whatever was bothering her, talking about it usually kept it from festering inside. And, sometimes, you just needed someone to listen.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:30, Sat 13 Oct 2018.
Evelyn Darque
player, 26 posts
Fri 12 Oct 2018
at 17:54
  • msg #512

Re: Destination: Unknown

Evelyn was caught off guard by the man's presence in her hidey hole. "Alexander, Margaret, Joshua, Kevin, Vael, Van, Rebekah, Samson. Those were the names of my colleagues. But if you wanted me to count on my fingers how many friends i had you'd have to cut my hands off. Since I escaped my dad's bed into the working world I've put my heart, my soul, my blood, sweat, and tears into my work. I'd take other's shifts and let them keep the pay only keeping pay for my own shifts.

I chose a job in which I never had to talk to anyone. I may remember the names of my colleagues that died but we never talked, never grabbed a drink, never attended the annual engineering party. Work and isolation are all i know. So their deaths while tragic in a worldly sense have no emotional impact on me. right now in the galaxy someone accidentally got sucked out an airlock. Do you feel emotionally connected to the Stranger?


 And i don't have survivor's guilt. I tried to give up and Die. The Aliens forced me into that stasis pod. So the guilt is on their shoulders not mine. I just want to work in silence and be forgotten. No Data Buoy saying "Here Lies Evelyn she died as she lived alone" just someone climbing around in vents one day finding my skeleton that nobody cared enough about to look for."

She didn't know why she felt angry about the man's "counseling" but she did.
Walter Zeller
player, 465 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sat 13 Oct 2018
at 00:40
  • msg #513

Re: Destination: Unknown

Standing in the office, Walter started to talk. "You might want to have a seat then as there is a lot to cover. You will want to record this for your records, how you will classify the report, that is up to you." he said as he placed the standard salvage contract on the table.

Once ready, he started to describe the misjump, their rescue of Serge, the Elusive along with its damaged grid, and the encounter with the alien vessel. The mission in the vessel, he left to those that boarded it.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 585 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 14 Oct 2018
at 15:13
  • msg #514

Re: Destination: Unknown

When Walter starts recounting their strange encounter Khea only whispers to herself
"Here we go"
Samantha Kilgore
player, 440 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Sun 14 Oct 2018
at 18:24
  • msg #515

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam stands behind Walter to one side as he talks. She  doesn't say much but will add in any details about the boarding which don't get mentioned but she thinks is relevant.

Other than that she keeps watch on the scouts and tries to gauge their reactions.
Serge Baklanov
player, 50 posts
Marine/Scout
Mon 15 Oct 2018
at 09:24
  • msg #516

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 513):

Serge listened to Walter's speech, nodding where appropriate. Then Serge added description of what happened inside of the pyramid, and when Serge was speaking, he tracked expression of the Walter's eyes to make sure he is not saying too much.
Maizy Strom
player, 51 posts
Outpost 7 IISS Scout
Mon 22 Oct 2018
at 23:22
  • msg #517

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Quite an interesting story," Maizy comments when Walter is done.

"I understand why you came to us with the Scout Ship. There was no way Serge was ever going to reach a base in his lifetime without the jump grid. So, by interstellar salvage law, you've salvaged the ship and even rescued Serge."

"Oh, sure, we would have sent out a search for him at some point, but there would have been a slim chance of us finding him."

"We have no problem signing your salvage claim. I'm sure you're aware that the Scouts aren't in the habit of employing bureaucrats, so there's no one to protest the payout or challenge the claim."

"Now we come to the rest of the story."

"There's no way the Navy or the Imperial government will pay full value for the ship, the aliens or the information, and you could easily find yourselves stranded on Barapalok. Of course, that depends on who you tried to deal with. Most uphold the law, just bend it quite alot. Some, however, have no problem erasing you completely."

"My opinion, of course. Don't have any evidence to support that."

"What I don't also have... is any kind of value. Standard salvage value for a 400-ton ship I can determine. Aliens... haven't got a clue. Same for the equipment and tech. Those are kind of outside my wheelhouse."

"I can contact the appropriate departments in various corporations and get an estimate. If you want what this is probably worth, though, you're back in the dangerous territory. A department head has a certain amount of leeway in acquiring items. Up to maybe 5 times that amount, he could still take the risk. Above that, he has to get approval from his superiors. At that point, you'll have stirred up a hornet's nest."

"The plan, as I see it, is to get a value, accept your claim and pay you for it, and then pass it up the line for the Scouts to get reimbursed by the government."

"Is that the way you see it?"
Walter Zeller
player, 466 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 23 Oct 2018
at 10:46
  • msg #518

Re: Destination: Unknown

"You are correct." Walter said. "There are too many unknowns to leave this to chance. As it was a navigation hazard, you would be able to deal with it under your organization a lot easier. Since it has an ability to generate its own gravity field disproportionate to its size, roughly that of a dwarf planet, it is a curiosity. The other part of me can see the multiple military applications if it was used as a weapon. Hold on a moment." Walter added as he pulled out his computer. Looking up the prices of vessels of the same size, he did some calculations.

"Lets say 30 million credits for the alien vessel, and another 5 million for the salvage of the Elusive. So 35 million credits total."  Walter said
Samantha Kilgore
player, 441 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Tue 23 Oct 2018
at 12:33
  • msg #519

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam stood back, trying to look like she was a bodyguard of some sort. Her eyes widened slightly when Walter mentioned the sum, but she quickly surpressed that and tried instead to hide a smirk on her face.
Walter Zeller
player, 467 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 23 Oct 2018
at 14:48
  • msg #520

Re: Destination: Unknown

"If it would make the paperwork easier, you could do them as separate transactions." he suggested
Maizy Strom
player, 52 posts
Outpost 7 IISS Scout
Tue 23 Oct 2018
at 16:34
  • msg #521

Re: Destination: Unknown

The Scouts didn't seem to bat an eye at Walter's price.

"Yes, we'd have to do the transactions as two separate entities, mainly because one of them is ours," Maizy replies.

"And it would make for a nice lead-in to the bigger one. Connected, but separate. And it's not like this would pass through the small claims department anyway."

"Not that we're bragging, but we didn't get stationed here because we were being punished or being shuffled off the beaten path, so to speak. While Outpost may seem like an out-of-the-way posting, it's become a significant hub of interstellar traffic and political machinations. The only reason there isn't a full-scale Scout base is because the Navy got here first. Adding a Scout base would be suspicious if not outright threatening, even if we really aren't the spies most people think we are."

"I'm just letting you know that I do have the authority to validate this claim. We'll have to do it aboard one of the ships, though. This little shack doesn't have the comm power to access the net."
Walter Zeller
player, 468 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 23 Oct 2018
at 17:42
  • msg #522

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Having grown up on Outpost, I can see why. I didn't know you had this place. You are welcome to come aboard the Longshot to complete the transaction. Walter said.
Maizy Strom
player, 53 posts
Outpost 7 IISS Scout
Tue 23 Oct 2018
at 19:08
  • msg #523

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Very well then. We'll go to your ship," Maizy replies. "While it is an old converted system defense boat with tender, it has several registered remodels and upgrades, so I'm guessing you have a state of the art comm."

She quickly dons her vacc-suit over her clothes and heads for the door.
Walter Zeller
player, 469 posts
Merchant/Noble
Tue 23 Oct 2018
at 19:36
  • msg #524

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Given the age of the vessel, it is in very good shape. We are still getting used to her and there might be some modifications that might be off the books." Walter said.  "Although, I have a funny feeling that if she could talk, none of us would have a high enough security clearance to listen to her.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 586 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 23 Oct 2018
at 21:26
  • msg #525

Re: Destination: Unknown

Surprised how smoothly this goes Khea continues to keep her mouth shut. But it also makes her suspicious. Either they are giving away the information much below its actual value or the scouts have no intention of paying.
Sharik Kaagira
player, 321 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Wed 24 Oct 2018
at 17:45
  • msg #526

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik presented her video log as evidence for any claims made (that she could help to substantiate, of course); the diminutive operative made it known that a copy of the feed would be available as well for their own use.  Shar kept her answers short and sweet when addressed, aware that this was a debriefing and that there was a lot of ground to cover.  And even though it had probably been two decades since she'd been on active duty, old habits died hard and she fell back into the routine.  While the IISS may not be big on protocol or routine, as an information gathering service - communication and information dissemination were extremely important to them.

She only partially suppressed a smile as Walter got into the negotiations.  Shar'd never seen him work this close up and was quite impressed.  The operative-turned-dilettante had no experience really with such matters; she had no real idea where to start such a delicate discussion.  Well, that wasn't entirely true, she had ideas (lots of them, actually) and a little knowledge on the subject.  But nothing approaching the seasoned broker's level of mastery.  As with most topics, Shar had just enough knowledge regarding it to be dangerous (to herself and others).

So, she kept her mouth shut during most of the proceedings in the latter half of the meeting.

Checking the seals on her gloves and then putting her helmet back on when they decided to adjourn to the Longshot, Sharik triple-checked the diagnostics and suit integrity before joining the others.  She walked towards the back of the group watching the director carefully as they moved towards the airlock.  Maizy obviously had more information on them and their ship, as her remark about the Longshot's history attested to.  Something that she may have to look into later; the woman almost seemed to be expecting the meeting and that trouble the auburn-haired ex-operative more than a little.
Walter Zeller
player, 471 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 24 Oct 2018
at 19:03
  • msg #527

Re: Destination: Unknown

With the business done here, Walter secured his helmet and headed back to the Longshot with the others.
StarMaster
GM, 883 posts
Wed 24 Oct 2018
at 22:34
  • msg #528

Re: Destination: Unknown

Back on the Longshot, a standard salvage claim form was available in the computer, and there was even an IISS supplementary claim form available.

After Walter filled out the form, Maizy counter-signed it for authorization and then transmitted it on her secure comm. It only took an hour for confirmation and then the funds to be transferred to the ship's account.

Maizy paid particular attention to the ship as she boarded, and commented that it was Lucky's old ship.
Walter Zeller
player, 472 posts
Merchant/Noble
Thu 25 Oct 2018
at 01:41
  • msg #529

Re: Destination: Unknown

While waiting for the transaction to be completed, Walter entertained Maizy, digging out some of the fine wine.

The conversation turned to Lucky and the Longshot. "For an ex-military vessel, it is in surprisingly good shape. As the former Captain, Count Cromwell, mentioned "for a 100 year old, jump converted SDB (TL-14), there is still a tremendous amount of military/intelligence grade hardware/upgrades to the ship..." Do you have any idea about them?"  he asked.
Maizy Strom
player, 54 posts
Outpost 7 IISS Scout
Thu 25 Oct 2018
at 02:50
  • msg #530

Re: Destination: Unknown

"I only met Lucky once, and we had some fun on Grendal," Maizy replies.

"She gave me a bit of history on the Longshot... although I don't think it was called that then. And, frankly, I was only half paying attention and thought most of it was a bit farfetched."

"You have to keep in mind that starships are built as long-term investments, whether that investment is commercial or military. In order to withstand the ravages of time and combat, they are built with far more integrity than, say, an automobile."

"As long as a ship undergoes periodic and proper maintenance, it can function for up to a thousand years. Practically, of course, that never happens."

"Generally, a ship that gets retired is done so for other reasons, usually a redesign for a new or different purpose. Sometimes, technology makes such a great leap forward that the old design can't support the new tech... well, usually not without such a tremendous overhaul that it isn't as cost effective as it is to just build a new one."

"The system defense boat is a case in point. It made sense at one point since the boat was never required to leave the system. Defending the system was it's how point for existence. Short-sightedness on the part of the Navy and the government kept them from thinking that an SDB would ever need to be moved to another system. But, that's what happened. So the jump shuttle was invented."

"The Longshot outlived its usefulness as an SDB and was retired to salvage. So, even though it wasn't wanted or needed as an SDB, it still had a hundred years or more of life in its old hull."

"Unlike the Navy, every new owner wasn't trying to reinvent the ship... they just added a tweak or a twist here and there that they could afford and suited their taste."

"If it's got secrets, I wouldn't have a clue what they are. You'd have to ask the previous owners... if any of them are still alive. I've heard that the ship has outlived nearly all of its owners. I don't know if that's a tribute to the ship or a dis on the owners."
Samantha Kilgore
player, 442 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 25 Oct 2018
at 07:20
  • msg #531

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam didn't say much, but continued in her role as body guard. She did try and make a note of the details Maizy was giving about the previous owners of the Longshot and their history, as something to look into at a later date.

ooc
I'm assuming only Maizy came to the Longshot - not the other scout as well?
Walter Zeller
player, 473 posts
Merchant/Noble
Thu 25 Oct 2018
at 09:27
  • msg #532

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Interesting." Walter said. "So this ship has a lot of history. Kind of feels out of place for this sector, almost like an enigma. On the other hand, I do not know too many pirates that would be up to trying to tackle a SDB, even if it is now a merchant vessel. What would be a good source to find out more about her?. Was it mostly based out of Outpost or someplace else? I would not want to have customs come aboard only to find out that there was some things that should not be on here from years ago." he added.
Maizy Strom
player, 55 posts
Outpost 7 IISS Scout
Thu 25 Oct 2018
at 18:14
  • msg #533

Re: Destination: Unknown

Yes, only Maizy came aboard the Longshot.


"I would think any information about the ship's history... owners, refits, alterations... even where it's been... would be in the ship's log," Maizy answers. "If it's not, then it means one of the owners purged the log for whatever reason. Still, starport archives would have that information... any place that the ship has been. The archives might not have all the details--owners and captains will have their little secrets, but they should have most of them."
Sharik Kaagira
player, 322 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Thu 25 Oct 2018
at 21:01
  • msg #534

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik watched and listened to the director for a moment as the contract was finalized.  And though she was a touch surprised by Maizy seeming familiarity with the Longshot, the diminutive ex-operative chided herself that she shouldn't have been surprised.  She smiled and brushed an errant lock of auburn hair to its spot back behind her ear.

With all of the paperwork done, Shar pulled some tumblers and a decanter of Sylean brandy from deep inside of one of the side cupboards of the common area.  "Captain." she prompted Walter, holding up the libation and glassware, "presumably, we need to 'seal this deal'..."  To her, it was more prefunctory to ask for permission.  But the forms needed to be observed.  And she did wait for more than a heartbeat before moving to distribute the hardware (to Maizy and Walter first, of course).

The cosmopolitan socialite started some idly chatter as the round was distributed.  "So, you knew Captain Seven?" Sharik asked casually, "And this ol' girl..." giving the nearest bulkhead a pat, "... when she was called the Widdershins?  How is Lucky?  Do you still keep in touch with her?"  Her head tilted slightly as the auburn-haired ex-operative contemplated for a moment, "The ship was registered as a long range explorer back then ... but not an official IISS registry, right?"  Shar sent her own agent software spiraling outwards looking for more information on the Widdershin, Lucky Seven, and their escapades (times and any references or images) even as she spoke.

She poured herself some brandy and took a sip, savoring the tang of the light blue liquid and is smooth texture.  "What kind of stories did Lucky tell you?" Sharik asked with much more than simply curiosity, "I mean, they couldn't be that wild, right?  No more wild than pyramidal alien ships with gravity drives and precisely extracted portions of lanthenum grids..."  She gave Maizy one of her more friendly, lop-sided smiles (at least that is what she hoped) to see if Strom were willing to talk a little more.  Something should work; either that or more of the brandy...


[OOC:  Hmmmm.  Anything more on the Widdershins and Lucky Seven?  Either on the net - or from Maizy?

  13:55, Today: Sharik Kaagira rolled 10 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 3,3.  Computer/Int Check: Widdershins/Lucky Seven search (Computer/1, +2 Int, +1 Expert).
  13:57, Today: Sharik Kaagira rolled 13 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 5,4.  Carouse/Soc Check: Is Maizy willing? (Carouse/3, +1 Soc).

No difficulties were harmed in the determining of these skill checks (nor were they applied).]
Maizy Strom
player, 56 posts
Outpost 7 IISS Scout
Thu 25 Oct 2018
at 22:41
  • msg #535

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Widdershins? Doesn't ring a bell. Not sure Lucky ever told me the name of her ship. And I never saw it."

"We met in a starport bar. The Shenanigans, I think it was called. I was looking to blow off some steam and decided to get in the face of some Navy people. Didn't think it would escalate into a brawl. It was 7 against 1... until Lucky stepped in. We somehow prevailed... at least long enough to make our escape. We then made the rounds of all the rest of the bars. Took us three days!"

"But, no, after that month, we wound up going our separate ways. I got assigned coreward, and she was hired by a corporation to head out into the black. Last I've seen or heard of her."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 587 posts
Aslan outcast
Fri 26 Oct 2018
at 05:53
  • msg #536

Re: Destination: Unknown

The longer the meeting lasted the more nervous Khea became.
She waited just outside of the room keeping herself distracted by thinking what would go wrong.

If someone of the crew leaves the room she whispers to him "She is distracting you very well, isn't she?
Can you have a look at the sensors to see if someone is trying to sneak up on us?
Walter Zeller
player, 474 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 26 Oct 2018
at 10:29
  • msg #537

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Thank you Sharik." Walter said as he took the offered drink. "To your health." he said to the group as he took a drink, letting the drink wash down his throat.

Listening to the conversation, Walter nodded in agreement. "Sounds like we got our work cut out for us tracking down the travels of this vessel over the last century. I am sure there are some portions that will be had to find out what happened. Hum, at least if we can find some information when it first started to travel, we can find its original configuration and try tracking the changes over time. Something to add someones duties. Well, I hope that it helps the IISS and let us know if you need anything while we are in the area." he said.

With the transaction completed, Walter escorted Maizy to the airlock.
Serge Baklanov
player, 51 posts
Marine/Scout
Fri 26 Oct 2018
at 15:05
  • msg #538

Re: Destination: Unknown

Serge felt relief when Walter took over negotiations, was quite taciturn during the whole conversation, and found an appropriate excuse to leave the room somwhere in the middle of talks.

In the corridor, he run into Khea.

Kheaiftouaw:
"She is distracting you very well, isn't she?
Can you have a look at the sensors to see if someone is trying to sneak up on us?


- Well, why... Sure, I can have a look. But I am sure that Vonon is on guard on the bridge, isn't he? Anyway, I was looking for him. Let's check the bridge.

Serge walks to the bridge with Khea. If there is Vonon or another operator on the bridge, Serge addresses the problem to him. If not - I guess it is ulikely - then Serge initiates quick scan himself.

Anyway, when Serge met Vonon, he asked him:
- By the way, I suppose it is time to assign my position on the ship during "all hands on deck!" time. I guess you are the one who manages roster?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:06, Fri 26 Oct 2018.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 384 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 27 Oct 2018
at 02:39
  • msg #539

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 538):

OOC: Yes, Vonon is standing watch on the bridge.  Even though Vonon is trying to learn how to become a Trader from Sir Walter, it just made more sense for Vonon to remain on the bridge and keep watch, this time.


Serge:
Serge walks to the bridge with Khea. Vonon is there, so Serge addresses the problem of intruders to him.


Vonon is sitting in the command seat, looking at the main viewscreen, idly cycling through various exterior shots of the handful of access hatches and airlocks that lead into the Longshot.

"Yeah, there's a battalion of Zhodani armored marines coming up through the waste tubes, right now! Hurr-hurr-hurr-hurr…" Vonon jokes, "No, Scout Baklanov, our security status is all green."

Serge:
Anyway, when Serge met Vonon, he asked him:
   "By the way, I suppose it is time to assign my position on the ship during "all hands on deck!" time. I guess you are the one who manages roster?"


"Ugh!  Yes...that paperwork is part of my job, as Executive Officer...*sigh*" Vonon growls lightly, rolling his eyes, "So, you're joining the Longshot Crew, then?  You've been separated from active Scout Service?"
Serge Baklanov
player, 52 posts
Marine/Scout
Sat 27 Oct 2018
at 11:55
  • msg #540

Re: Destination: Unknown

Vonon Ronkunu:
"Yeah, there's a battalion of Zhodani armored marines coming up through the waste tubes, right now!


- At last! - shouted Serge. - Where is FGMP on this ship?!

Vonon Ronkunu:
"Ugh!  Yes...that paperwork is part of my job, as Executive Officer...*sigh*" Vonon growls lightly, rolling his eyes, "So, you're joining the Longshot Crew, then?  You've been separated from active Scout Service?"


- Yep. Yep.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 386 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 28 Oct 2018
at 06:12
  • msg #541

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 540):

"Okay, well, obviously you're a spacepilot," Vonon says, sitting back in the command chair, tilting his head back and closing his eyes, "and you can at least run an Astrogation computer without pressing the wrong buttons--but we can't swing an Aslan by the tail around here without hitting somebody with a little skill at piloting or astrogating."

"And, since you're a Scout, I guess it goes without saying that you've got a little skill at staying alive in planetary wildernesses.  So, Serge Baklanov, former Imperial Scout, why don't you tell me what else you can do--other than sweep floors and lift heavy objects?"
Serge Baklanov
player, 53 posts
Marine/Scout
Mon 29 Oct 2018
at 11:03
  • msg #542

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 541):

- Nope, I cannot exactly lift heavy objects due to some spine damage in a mishap... long time ago. Yes, I can handle a ship and astrogation calculations, if neccessary, I even have some basic knowledge in space sciences, although I am not a specialist in all that, yet. But, when I was a marine - a space marine, actually - we had some sort of test - or rather entertainment - during the long shifts: I could fry some potatoes at 1000 km given a proper device available. And if the "potato" is 100 times bigger, then I can handle 100 times bigger distance. So, I think that during some hairy situation I will be best placed in the gun control chair. Also I am well-trained in electronics and comm systems. And explosives, as a hobby.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 390 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 8 Nov 2018
at 08:30
  • msg #543

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 542):

"Well, I don't know if you'd like sitting in the Weapons Control seat, over there..." Vonon points over at the forwardmost console on the starboard side of the Bridge, "It's all lumpy and covered in fur, and it growls like a Vargr when you sit in my lap."

Vonon drops his lower law, exposing his canine teeth in a smile.

"I'm the Ship's Weapons Control Officer.  Pablo mans the dorsal laser turret, and Kaengarr used to man the ventral laser turret--that spot is open.  But, when we first crewed this ship, it was our group policy to place the person most skilled at a job in that position.  So we can have the computer run a comparison of your training record versus mine, and whoever has the greater Weapons, Computer and Tactics abilities can sit Weapons Control, and the other can sit ventral turret."

"As for Comms and Sensors, same thing.  Sharik currently doubles as our Astrogator and our Comms & Sensor Op.  And she's damn good at both.  We can ask her, then do the same computer comparison of skillsets.  But, I've known Sharr a long time--and I mean no insult, Serge, but I really don't think you're as good as she is."

"Hmm.  As I said, our man Pablo is Dorsal Turret Gunner, but he's also 'Shipboard Security' having been a Space Marine, himself.  Admittedly, he's from the Carillian Union, so he has an annoying habit of doing things the Solomani way, but we make allowances.  As a fellow Space Marine, maybe you could join him as Shipboard Security?"

"With Kaengarr gone, we've openings for Ventral Turret Gunner, as well as Ship's Cook.  Oh!  I'm sure she'd deny it, but we could always use an Assistant Engineering Officer to help Kheaiftoo ... Kheaiftao ... I mean, Kheaiftoobad--ah, hell with it, we just call her Khea.  She's the Aslan puttering around in engineering constantly yowling about useless Imperial Technology and how things are done better in the Hierate."

Vonon snorts a laugh, "As if.  Anyways, Serge, that's what we got.  You can hold off till you get your records from The Scouts, and we can run those computer comparisons, or you can go and pick one of those other jobs I mentioned right now, or you can even make one up yourself!  Just run it past me, so I can consult with Sir Walter, and we'll let you know."
StarMaster
GM, 885 posts
Fri 9 Nov 2018
at 19:59
  • msg #544

Re: Destination: Unknown

Maizy goes back to the Scout base.

Time delay of the radio transmission has passed, and the account Walter designated now has the funds transferred into it. While you were doing the negotiations and waiting, an automated system refueled the Longshot.


The sensors show nothing approaching the Scout base, although it's always possible that a ship could be approaching on silent running.
Walter Zeller
player, 477 posts
Merchant/Noble
Fri 9 Nov 2018
at 20:45
  • msg #545

Re: Destination: Unknown

After waving goodbye to Maizy, Walter made sure the airlock had fully cycled and locked down before calling over the speakers. "Vonon, get us off this rock and on the way to Cassandra, we got a load of cargo to get rid of. Last chance for anyone wishing to depart this vessel if you want off here on Outpost. he said.

"For those that are sticking around, there will be an all hands meeting after we enter jump space.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 392 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sat 10 Nov 2018
at 04:16
  • msg #546

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 545):

COMMS>>> "Aye, Sir Walter." Vonon responds over the all-ship intercom, "Starting the launch procedures now.  We should be cycled up and ready to fly by the time everyone gets to the Bridge."
Kheaiftouaw
player, 589 posts
Aslan outcast
Sun 11 Nov 2018
at 23:30
  • msg #547

Re: Destination: Unknown

When Walther leaves the room Khea follows him visibly nervous and nearly pushing him to go faster.
Inside the Longshot she quickly vanishes into engineering to prepare for a jump.
StarMaster
GM, 886 posts
Sun 11 Nov 2018
at 23:54
  • msg #548

Re: Destination: Unknown

It only takes a few minutes to prep the ship for jump, and the asteroid isn't a significant mass to interfere with jump, though taking the ship away from it is still prudent.

The jump is made for Cassandra's Belt.
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