Gauis is intrigued that most of the Terran's are married, that is an interesting thing that he is sure is to encourage happier relationships in far distant places, he wonders how well it works.

He greets them, makes sure everyone is settled and teamed up with their various training partners before he moved to the command deck to set off back along his previous path to Girri and whatever lay in wait.

His ship was not a combat vessel by any stretch and the aim was to get there with little to no conflict.

In reply to Gaius Sattius (msg # 4):

The crew settle into their accommodation quicker than they settle into the new ship. It is nice, though the accommodations are cramped by Vilani standards, with 10 bunk beds and 10 small cabins, and some of the passengers, such as the Koons, Paynes and Smirnovs all electing to spend most of the trip in the Low Berths. It is just as well, as there would not be enough accommodation for all of them.

The Navigator asks you for the route. Not needing jump tapes, or even charted systems, you have the opportunity to chart some new systems on the way back.

20 Desktops, 10 Printers, 50 Laptops, 100 Palmtops
50 dTons of supplies. (0.15 dTons per week)
Ships Cash Remaining: $68,000
Planet: Alizarin (Fueled)
Date: 24 May 2175

[OOC: How familiar are you with the map?
https://travellermap.com/?opti...ale=64&milieu=IW
In the top right hand corner is a box with three lines: Options. By selecting it, you should turn experiments on (you may need to scroll down for it)
Once that is done, select the clock, and you can change the Era. The first, and earliest, is 'The Interstellar Wars'. This is the era we are in. From there, select the star systems you wish to chart, and off we go!]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:24, Wed 29 May 2019.

Gaius outlines his route to the Navigator, it is a bit of a fight with himself as it seems safest to just follow the route he is familiar with and for which he knows all of the controlable obstacles but it is only through reminding himself that there is a reason the Vilani have not made advances for years...and this is a manifestation of that.

Forcing himself out of his comfort zone he deliberately picks as many stars that were not yet travelled to in an attempt to push himself and in the end he is simply left feeling uncomfortable and not sure if he had made the right choice. He is fairly certain all of his men are having this feeling at some point during this trip, in this ship.

[OOC: I'm working on it, I've had it on IW since we first discussed it once I figured out the experiment thing but there are a lot of stars, lol, so I get lost sometimes but I have the search bar working now so it's a bit easier and I copied the route I got from Cyril to use as a base so here is what I've figured..depending on what we find and if I have enough fuel:

Faith - 2831
2731
2528*
2526*
2725*
2724 - Leikung, Explored by Cyril
2523*
2422*
2421 - Explored by Cyril, single star system with 4 Gas Giants and 2 planetoids, and a total of 5 moons. None of the planets have either atmosphere or water bodies.  NO READY FUEL SOURCE
2321 - Explored by Cyril
Arsha
Seru
Girii

Get's five new star systems explored from what I can tell]

In reply to Gaius Sattius (msg # 6):

After consultation with the navigator, the following route is proposed.

Alizarin
3230 (Mapped)
3031 (Mapped)
Faith (Mapped)
2731 (Mapped)
2729 (Mapped)
2528
2526
2725
2924  Leikung! Cyril incorrectly recorded that at one point.
2724 (Mapped)
2523
2422
2421 (Mapped)
2321 (Mapped)
Arsha
Seru
Girii

Each normal star system will take just 7 days in hyperspace plus an hour or so to refill the tank and 12 hours to refine it, plus travel time to the source to refuel, so 14 hours total refueling time, for a total of 7 dyas and 14 hours minimum for mapped systems. For each new system, it normally takes 17 days to chart it and map it, but I am going with 30 days in your case as the survey gear is entirely new, and you are learning how to use it. Even so, this trip would take approximately 35 weeks, during which time you would consume 5.25 dTons of supplies. Given you have 50, I don't think supplies will be an issue for you.

The other thing to factor in is skill. Since Survey Modules are new systems for the Vilani, it will take a while to learn how to use them. With teachers, the four operators should gain approximately 4 skill points during this run, making it well worth it.

[OOC: That is fine. I am using this as sort of a shakedown trip. Your crew will be getting used to their new vessel, while they have some guys who can train them.
You will find they can advise you of some things. Some notes:

2831 have actually been mapped by Cryil. Some of the jumps are 3 parsec, and Gas Giants in themselves are always a ready fuel source.

Please note link to a message in this game

is where I TRY to keep up to date with known and circulated exploration. Best source...]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:12, Thu 30 May 2019.

Gaius approves the route and gets them under way. The length if the trip was such that he figured his crew could learn a lot. Those not already assigned to learn the new tech were assigned a tea her from among the staff AK had provided to learn something or improve their skill in a field. Even if it was from one of thier own squad, everything from ship weapons to Navigation. If they were taking that much time, and getting paid for it, Gaius wanted his crew to be much improved as the survey team was doing most of the heavy lifting.

In reply to Gaius Sattius (msg # 8):

It is nearly Christmas before you have finished mapping to system 2422. This is the first really habitable world you have come across, and is in a prime trade location. The Smirnovs are awoken and they suggest you keep this planets location and details a company secret until a colony can be started here.

2528 Single Star, 3 Gas Giants, 4 Moons,
   9,000 m dia, Water world Dense Atmosphere, lacking Oxygen

2526 Single Star, 2 Gas Giants, 3 Moons,
   Largest 1,000 m dia rock, none with atmosphere or water

2725 Single Star, 3 Gas Giants, 1 Planet, 6 Moons,
   6,000 m dia, Hydrocarbon air and oceans (80% of surface), standard pressure

2523 Binary System, 3 Gas Giants, 4 Moons,
   5,000 m dia, Thin atm, high carbon Monoxide and Dioxide levels, 10% surface is water.
   Very few plants

2422 Single Star, 4 Gas Giants, 4 Moons,
   5,000 m dia, Thin atm but breathable, water world.

20 Desktops, 10 Printers, 50 Laptops, 100 Palmtops
47.75 dTons of supplies. (0.15 dTons per week)
Ships Cash Remaining: $68,000
Planet: 2422 (Fueled)
Date: 20 Dec 2175

Gaius agreed with their advice, leaving that in their hands, he remembers that the Vilani had been offering to buy data of scanned systems so he asks them to recommend which star systems he should sell them to avoid giving away this star system.

He wanted to make as much money as possible but also wanted to earn as much favor as possible from his new employer.

Once they had figured that out he headed on his way towards Giri.

In reply to Gaius Sattius (msg # 10):

Arriving at Girii, you sell to them Vilani the following star sytems:

2528, 2526, 2725, 2523

You also disembark your passengers, much to the delight of the local governor, who immediately sits down with them to discuss how to best put them to work. You can't help but notice the growing number of unusual Vilani warships in the system, some of which seem to sport some battle damage.

Your passengers direct you to try to find the Dastavka as soon as you can...

[OOC: I have been a little slack in that thread, and expect to post tonight to catch them up somewhat.]

20 Desktops, 10 Printers, 50 Laptops, 100 Palmtops
47.00 dTons of supplies. (0.15 dTons per week)
Ships Cash Remaining: $68,000
Planet: Girii (Fueled)
Date: 24 Jan 2176

Unusual Vilani warships? What is unusual about them? Modified with Terran tech?

Gaius takes a moment to find out who the ships belong to, and more importantly, who has been attacking them. He also spends some time making sure the Terrans are settled before he heads off in search of the Dastavka

<orange>OOC: How much do I get from selling the system maps to them? Also, does that go to ship cash I'm presuming or goes to the people setting up the Terran office to give them starting funds?

In reply to Gaius Sattius (msg # 12):

There are some older Vilani warship designs with more beams than current designs.

The ships belong to the Girii Government, and have been attacked as 'pirates' by the Governor of Lemrukiri, who had several Kargash destroyed as a result.

The payments go to those setting up the company fund, who in turn use them to pay your wages for three months. The ex-SDU men spend it pretty quickly though...

Information as to the where-abouts of the Dastavka are sketchy, they were last known to be at Tralp on 14 Aug 2175.

10 Laptops, 50 Palmtops
47.00 dTons of supplies. (0.15 dTons per week)
Ships Cash Remaining: $68,000
Planet: Girii (Fueled)
Date: 25 Jan 2176

OOC: I get the 21k and some change per month right?

And I'll look at the map tonight and set up a route to try and find the Dastavka...its going to take a while.

Gaius, remembering his ship was basically a trader, decided to spend some time seeing if there was any cargo or passengers that needed to be transported in the direction he was going. If he was going that way he might as well make some money doing it.

In reply to Gaius Sattius (msg # 14):

[OOC: You get $23,520 per month, as agreed. Dastavka was last seen heading out from Tralp. But you know they will be back to Girii some time.]

You find no shortage of folk going to Tralp.  Likewise for trade, it takes you only a week to find freight to fill your holds, leaving you just 20 days to make the delivery. The 77 dTons worth, at $800/dTon, is worth $61,600, but the 20 low berths will only pay $400 per berth ($8000 total), and reluctantly at that as Vilani are not used to low berths. Berthing and Administration Fees apply of $4,500 per port for your vessel.

Overall, total trip profit would be $61,600+$8000-2 x $4500 = $60,600.

10 Laptops, 50 Palmtops
47.00 dTons of supplies. (0.15 dTons per week)
Ships Cash Remaining: $68,000
Planet: Girii (Fueled)
Date: 02 Feb 2176
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:32, Wed 05 June 2019.

Gaius was pleased he'd be able to make a fairly tidy profit rather quickly and not have to worry about scanning to keep paying his men, so he focused on getting to Tralp rather quickly from Girii to Uamkua (1915) and then to Tralp. It would get him there with plenty of time, unless he had something slow him down, and would have minimal interference he hoped.

In reply to Gaius Sattius (msg # 16):

The trip to Tralp goes without a hitch, though you get some interesting comments about the odd vessel design. Nonetheless, it is just over 2 weeks later you unload on Tralp after taking unrefined fuel at a local Gas Giant. Your customers are quite happy.

10 Laptops, 50 Palmtops
46.70 dTons of supplies. (0.15 dTons per week)
Ships Cash Remaining: $128,600
Planet: Tralp (Fueled)
Date: 17 Feb 2176
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:03, Fri 07 June 2019.

Gaius drops his customers off, let's them know he'll be more than happy to help out if he's going in the right direction another time and then starts working on gathering information on the flight of the Dastavka, when she was last here and where she had headed.

He had information he needed to give to Cyril but the way things worked made it a lot trickier to find people, particularly people like Cyril who were cautious with their movements.

In reply to Gaius Sattius (msg # 18):

There are conflicting reports about where the Dastavka went. some say coreward, some say Spinward.

But there is a sizable cargo to go to Marakna. 150 dTon of supplies, but they will accept delivery in 2 trips. They will pay $720,000 to have it transported, and have 150 dTon of hydrocarbons transported back.

Gaius, realizing he didn't want to be traveling around simply hoping to bump into Cyril left a message for him at the port Authority asking for him to either wait or leave a destination for Gaius to meet him at as well as the details and approximate time taken for his current trade trip.

With that done he focused on loading the cargo and delivering it and the return voyage, that way while waiting for Cyril to pass through Tralp again he could at least make money to pay himself and his crew.

In reply to Gaius Sattius (msg # 20):

After feea are paid and fuel covered, you manage to turn over a tidy profit, clearing about $320,000 solars per trip.

You are offered the same for a trip to Zaraashi. These trips are apparently regular routes that are yet to have a trader fill them.

10 Laptops, 50 Palmtops
46.70 dTons of supplies. (0.15 dTons per week)
Ships Cash Remaining: $768,600
Planet: Tralp (Fueled)
Date: 16 Mar 2176
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:35, Thu 13 June 2019.

Gaius was intrigued by the trade route, while it was not the kind of thing he would do he could pass this information off to the business center on Girii and let them fill it and make some money doing it. Although for the moment while he waited for the Dastavka to make an appearance he would continue to fill at least some of the trade routes in the area.

Off to Zaraashi it was, it also helped establish him as a regular trader which meant less questions from the Authorities.

In reply to Fate (msg # 21):

Indeed it does, and it also helps the local get to know him. One more trip, and on your return, you are told that Dastavka has just passed through bound for Girii...

10 Laptops, 50 Palmtops
46.70 dTons of supplies. (0.15 dTons per week)
Ships Cash Remaining: $1,088,600
Planet: Tralp (Fueled)
Date: 30 Mar 2176

Gaius takes just enough time to figure out if he can get a cargo to take to Girii and then he's off in pursuit of the Dastavka He knows that Andrew had said that he was going to be getting instructions that would take him back to Faith and the surrounds he was interested to see what the man had planned for him.

When he arrives at Girii he dispatches his crewman in charge of the trade to inform the AK industries office of the trade routes he had discovered while he went in search of the Dastavka and Cyril.

In reply to Gaius Sattius (msg # 24):

A cargo is found for Girii, and you depart with haste, arriving two weeks later, you hand over the cash you have earned, and the crew are paid. A small slush fund is provided to the ship.

10 Laptops, 50 Palmtops
46.70 dTons of supplies. (0.15 dTons per week)
Ships Cash Remaining: $250,000
Planet: Girii (Fueled)
Date: 14 Apr 2176

Cyril wastes little time in approaching the new ship to meet it's captain.

Gaius opens communications once he is made aware of the Dastavka's presence,"This is Captain Gaius of the Scutum, I have instructions from Andrew Kalishnakov for you, would you like me to bring them aboard for you or do you want to send someone to retrieve them?"

Whatever Cyril requested Gaius complied, making sure all the copies of the instruction were turned over to Cyril and his crew.

Cyril shows up at your ship and is escorted aboard (since even with badges, no one knows me). Captain Sattius?