In reply to Carrick Teague (msg # 32):

After the first sample or two decomposed quickly, the did utilise airtight containers.

The Jaques Cartier expects to be about another 15 days.

What have we discovered concerning the volatility of the weather during this time? Does it appear that a base could be safely constructed and maintained in the environment?

Have we discovered any traces of alien activity on the planet?

I'd like to spend some time investigating the mountainous regions as well for ore and minerals. Do we have any ground penetrating sensors to get a sense of deeper geological structures? I suppose a similar question can be asked of oceanography.

But all of this is rather detailed and boring for you, I'm sure. The main question is: do we think, at this point, the place looks promising?

In reply to Carrick Teague (msg # 34):

A base could be constructed in many locations, but it would need to be sealed and have lightning rods. The weather is volatile, but not particularly violent.

After a week, your scanners do find something unusual. There do appear to be some traces of an ancient civilization, but it predates the Vilani, and there is nothing other than unusual structure remains left.

After another 14 days, you also find numerous veins of various ores, revealing the planet is still rich in ores. Fpr that reason, it does look like a promising location for a mining colony.

OOC It is not boring filling in details, but I worry that planets with minimal life might be boring for players!

Samantha continues monitoring the crew as well as working on sample taken from the planet. She writes up a report on the planet from a medical stand point.

I assume we investigated the ruins thoroughly. Was there anything discoverable there? For instance, was it suggestive of catastrophe? How about time frame since built? Any indication of species nature (small rooms indicating small sizes, wide doorways, etc...)?

We'll be compiling observation reports each day beyond just data, impressions and such.

In reply to Carrick Teague (msg # 37):

The ruins appear to be the remnants of a colony rather than a native population, possibly similar in size to humans, but you are not sure.

Samantha tries to do some checking around the ruins. She takes pictures and sample from walls and such to see if there where explosions or some other disaster.

In reply to Samantha Fox (msg # 39):

While interesting, there are no walls left to analyse. No cause can be determined from what is left, but there does seem to have been qn environmental dome. Nonetheless, there is no record of this, so it seems to be a new find.

I assume the refueller has completed its survey, as well. Are we all ready to start packing up and finalizing our collections?

In reply to Carrick Teague (msg # 41):

The refueller has completed its survey and you have collected all samples, so you are ready to pack up.

The Jaques Cartier take another 6 days to complete their surveys, before you rejoin them, and they prepare for jumping to the next system: Alizarin.

According to the survey report, Alizarin is a smaller planet, just 4300 miles in diameter, 57% of which is covered by water. The only planet in the system, it is not hit by asteroids anywhere near as often as most planets. Still, very little is known about it.

The jump to hyperspace is uneventful, but it enables the 'away' team to form stronger bonds as they go over the samples with the greater tools available in the ships Labs. The slugs are of particular interest due to their unusual metabolism, even drawing oxygen, but not sustenance, out of rust. It becomes clear that the planet is starting to develop oxygen-producing flora, and within a few thousand years, it may be a hospitable planet. However, you estimate that the planet was almost barren when the ruins were structures.

Given that the next planet is more developed, the Captain is interested in you seeking out new supplies to replenish your stocks. This may also be a suitable site for a new colony, so he wants you to look at that option, when you finally exit hyperspace. Which is anticipated within the next few days...
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:04, Fri 15 Jan 2016.

Cool. Well, it sounds like everyone completed their duties with diligence. When the Captain suggests stock replenishment, what specifically are we looking to replace? Just food and water? Or are we looking to replenish medical supplies, scientific media, and this sort of thing?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:14, Fri 15 Jan 2016.

In reply to Carrick Teague (msg # 43):

Primarily food. You have water purifiers aboard, but refreshing that would be nice too. Anything else would be a welcome bonus, but being very primitive worlds, you would not expect too much.

Right. I was thinking we might be looking for something along the lines of nutrient agar, fibrous materials for bandages, and the like.

In reply to Carrick Teague (msg # 45):

Carrick is given the temporary rank of Second Mate for the mission [Private to Carrick Teague: Spemd point to make it permanent.] to enable him to take command. As you drop from hyperspace, there is just one planet orbiting Alizarin. The Captain informs you he intends to spend a month scanning the skys here as well.

[Private to Fate: Should I retcon my wealth points to put towards rank? Currently I'm tapped.]

Well, we'll repeat the process from before. I'm thinking, this time we'll use the refueller to carry water and/or food stuffs (assuming potable and/or edible), after it's completed it's orbital mapping.

Samantha scans the planet to see what the conditions are as far as the environment and what protections they need. She also scans to see if there are any ruins of any kind.

In reply to Samantha Fox (msg # 48):

There is nothing you can see from orbit. The planet looks pleasantly hospitable, with similar atmosphere and even climate to earth. The small moon gives smaller tides, so the weather is milder, but there is abundant plant life, and probably considerable animal life as well.

[Private to Carrick Teague: You will get points as we go, so you can put them towards rank.]

The refueller starts straight away mapping, but you can see abundant plains where you can land your away ships without any obvious problem, so you set off.

Landing, the vegetation is clear, and it will take a long time to do a full bio-survey of this planet! The animal life seems similar to prehistoric earth, though you have not yet seen any signs of life more intelligent than animals. However, there are some pretty big carnivores...

I will ensure that everyone is appropriately cautious in their protective gear, both in terms of biohazards as well as physical dangers ('Wear some armor, people, even if it's just on your chest.'). I'll be less involved in the scientific survey, this time, and supporting the security personnel. The scientists clearly know what they're doing, so I'll leave them to it.

When working in jungle or forested terrain, or any area where there is regular obscurity, pair-work is stressed, as well as constant radio communication. Any long distance trips away from camp/boats should be coordinated with security.

What a beautiful sight... can't wait to get off this paradise

"I would suggest we set up away from the jungle and on the plains, so we can see anything coming towards us better" she checks the atmosphere to make sure it is breathable but she wears her armor and carries her rifle.

Agreed. But we're going to have to explore it all, eventually. My recommendations are for later locations. You're absolutely right about our first landfall being on the plains, preferably near a water source.

Edit: To that end, since there's so much to sample, I'll be urging a little more superficiality to the sampling process. We're simply going to have too many places to sample.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:32, Fri 15 Jan 2016.

In reply to Carrick Teague (msg # 52):

You easily fond a large open plain with a large river meandering through it to the sea. Scaring away a large herd of beasts with three large horns in their heads, very much like triceratops, you put the boats down in grasses about a foot high.

Samantha checks the atmosphere to see if we need any special breathing devices. If not she will go out side to see what it is like.

In reply to Samantha Fox (msg # 54):

Sensors say absolutely nothing is needed to breathe in the planets atmosphere. When you step outside, it confirms this.

So, we shouldn't be concerned with any pathogens?

In reply to Carrick Teague (msg # 56):

Well, sensors only detect oxygen and toxic gasses. They don't check for biological Hazards...