Josef watches the flight into the asteroids with a mixture of awe and comfort. The fighters that are escorting them are obviously not hostile, and they know the path well, so the trip is without difficulty.

Once Deangelo has set the craft down in the cavernous hangar, he let's the crew take shore leave while he sets about negotiating trade deals. He looks for buyers in this order: fruits/nuts, fish, pharmaceuticals, and lastly, shark skins.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 22):

There is interest inall of the above...Merchant rolls please. 1 each...

Given the higher rolls on fruits and fish, I guess another ship has come by recently with food stuffs :)

Merchant 18, Charisma 3
15:25, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 9 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,1,5.  Merchant roll, sell shark skins.
15:25, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,1,3.  Merchant Roll, sell pharmaceuticals.
15:25, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 15 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,6,5.  Merchant Roll, sell fish.
15:24, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 15 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,5,6.  Merchant Roll, sell fruits, nuts, etc.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 24):

You find the following offers, per dTon:
Sharkskins: $36 k
Pharmaceuticals: $132 k
Frozen Fruit: $3,960
Frozen Fish: $22 k

The general market looks like:
System: 1440

Trade Good available           Price, $ thousand/dTon     tons/dTon    dTons available Price Modifiers  Ideal Target Planet type

Fruits/Nuts/Vegetables         $2.64                     5             1             +2               In, Ex, Na
Special Minerals               $750                      8            20              0                In
Pharmaceuticals                $120                      6             1              0               In
Fish                           $22                       8             0             +2               In, Ex, Na
Textiles/Treated Skins         $33                       4             0             +2               In
Protective suits               $520                      2             1             +4               Ex
Grav Units/Parts               $160                      4            10              0               Ni
Heavy Metals                   $14,000                  25           200             -3
Industrial Metals              $60                      25         1,000             -2

In = Industrial          Ag = Agricultural             Po = Poor
Na = Non Agricultural    Ni = Non-Industrial           Ri = Rich
Ex = Extreme (Extreme worlds are any worlds where Suits and artificial atmospheres are required)
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:08, Thu 13 June 2019.

Selling off all his cargo, Josef transfers the credits to the ship's fund before looking at the markets. Everything on the market is either something that he just delivered, or out of his price range, so he doesn't see anything to purchase.

While not the most profitable, Josef checks in with the shippers to see if there is a cargo that he can deliver to either Aquitane, or the Labyrian research station at 1340.

In reply to Fate (msg # 25):

Your sales come to $2.30368 M Solars, with the crew requesting to keep some of the frozen fruit for their own supplies.

Heavy and Industrial metals always seems to sell well on Aegir, feeding the local industries. Aquitane has less manufacturing but still some, and has similar needs, and produces considerable foodstuffs. The Labrysian research station on 1340 has very little in the was of foods and, like 1440, could be considered an extreme world.

Unfrozen space: 0/26.5
Freezer space: 0.7/20 dTons
Current Funds: $9,479,500
Date: 06 Feb 2176

Reviewing the cargo available, Josef decides that a return run to Aquitane would be his best choice. Before making any purchases, he gives a $20000 bonus to each crew member for their successful first voyage.

He decides to first pursue the Grav Units, buying as many as he can purchase. After that, he'll fill the rest of his hold with industrial metals, even storing them in cold storage.


Unfrozen space: 0/26.5
Freezer space: 0.7/20 dTons
Current Funds: $9,479,500 - $80,000 (bonus) = $9,399,500
Date: 06 Feb 2176


10:38, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,4,3.  Merchant, Grav
10:38, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,3,6.  Merchant, Industrial Metals.
Units.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:43, Thu 13 June 2019.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 28):

Despite your negotiating skills, you were unable to secure a better price for the goods. You purchase 10 dTon of Grav Units for $1.6 mill, and 35.5 dTon of Industrial metals for 2.13 mill.

10 dTon of Grav Units
35.5 dTon of Industrial metals

Unfrozen space: 26.5/26.5
Freezer space: 19.7/20 dTons
Current Funds: $5,669,500
Date: 06 Feb 2176

Josef settles up accounts at the starport, paying his berthing fees, buying refined fuel for his ship, and making sure the cargo is secured in the hold. Once the books are in order and the crew has had some down time in the port, Josef is ready to head out again. With the crew reassembled and the ship ready, they take off, headed for Aquitane.

Unfrozen space: 26.5/26.5
Freezer space: 19.7/20 dTons
Current Funds: $5,669,500 - $20,000 (port fees) - $14,000 (refined fuel) = $5,635,500
Date: 06 Feb 2176

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 30):

[OOC: I include unrefined fuel in the $20,000 starport fees, plus $4000 berthing fee, $500 admin fee and waste removal fee, as well as taxes on all of the above. I had actually already taken it out with the purchases...but I can leave if for you to do next time if you prefer.]

Aquitaine is a large world with a dense Atmosphere. First settled by an Israeli generation vessel, it was recently discovered in the Labrysian civil war when a Labrysian Government vessel attacked them. Since then, many Labrysian rebels, as the faction which sided with Terrans became known as have visited and done much to restore some reasonable relations between the two races.

It is a very fertile planet with growing industry and a mixed population. 70% of the planets surface is covered by oceans.

Unfrozen space: 26.5/26.5
Freezer space: 19.4/20 dTons
Current Funds: $5,669,500
Date: 14 Feb 2176

09:29, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 15 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,6,4.  Mechanic (Jump Drive), Caroline, Skill 16.
09:29, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,2,6.  Navigation (Hyperspace), Jessica Skill 16.
09:28, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 15 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,6,5.  Pilot (HPS) Deangelo Skill 16.
09:28, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 5 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,3,1.  Navigation Space, Jessica, Skill 16.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 32):

The crew is becoming familiar with the ship now, and the jump routines in particular. They seem to be able to navigate their way around the sphere with ease, and as long as there are no mitigating factors, can be assumed to be able to operate the jump sequence without rolling, since they can take all the time they need.

The Spring Solstice makes the jump to Aquitane without incidence, and once they touch down in Aquitane, Josef will go about selling his cargo, and looking for new loads. He will also start putting feelers out for loads beyond the ones listed in the starport registry.


12:03, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,6,5.  Merchant Industrial Metals Selling.
12:03, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 9 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,1,5.  Merchant, Grav Units Selling.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 34):

I will get onto the pricing tonight, but a streetwise roll will help to find irregular items.

In reply to Fate (msg # 35):

The local market is reasonable, though not super strong. The offer 75k per dTon of Industrial metals, or $2.6625 Mil and $192k per dTon of Grav units or $1.92 mil.

Josef sells off the goods he had picked up, and then looks around for outbound cargoes. He also checks with a few friends who might have better deals that he could pick up.


Unfrozen space: 0/26.5
Freezer space: 0/20 dTons
Current Funds: $5,669,500 + $2,662,500 (metals) + $1,920,000 (grav) = $10,251,000



10:21, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,1,3.  Streetwise (IQ 15-5 = 10).

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 37):

You find 19 dTon of fresh produce that must be Frozen to be delivered to Dirac (1401), for $19,000. There are also up to 26.5 dTons of grains (not requiring freezing) that should be the same location for $21,200.

Away from the market, a Labrysian asks if you can deliver 5 dTons to Dirac for $40,000, no questions asked, and preferably not inspected. He will pay 10% now and the rest on delivery.

Unfrozen space: 0/26.5
Freezer space: 0/20 dTons
Current Funds: $10,251,000
Date: 14 Feb 2176
Aquitaine

With not much choice, Josef takes the grain and produce, filling up his hold. This leaves no room for the other cargo that he had inquired about.

Once the good have been delivered and stored properly, the crew head out to Dirac.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 39):

The goods are loaded, and the small vessel readied to set out. The trip to the research colony on the moon of the inner gas giant at Dirac is somewhat of a sight to behold. Landing on the moon, the sight of the Gas Giant rising and crossing the sky at right angles to the sun is very unusual.

The cargo is unloaded, and you are paid, approximately $30500 once fuel and other fees are paid. Being a research colony, there is not a lot produced. However, there is some discussion with some of the lead research organizations about some other work.

The Free Labrysian governance is interested in expansion. They are interested in finding new lands, but they lack experience and their technology is limited. They are willing to fund a loan for you yo upgrade your starship, adding s Survey module, if you will seek out new systems for them. They will pay for any habitable system $300,000 if it is inhabitable, or $150,000 if it is not. To qualify, systems must be charted first, them mapped, with a Basic Planetary survey. Full planetary surveys (either Geological and Biological) of inhabitable systems will be paid $1,000,000, or $2,000,000 for both, but are optional. They Labrysians offer a long term loan of $50 million.

A Survey Module needs a crew of 4 and costs $30 million, and can be fitted at Aegir. Upgrading Sensors from level 1 to level 6 (+20 to sensor skill rolls) will cost $23 million, including fusion plant upgrade. Increasing the number of staterooms would also be advisable, and adding a second or third modular craft may not be a bad idea.

Unfrozen space: 0/26.5
Freezer space: 0/20 dTons
Current Funds: $10,246,000
Date: 21 Feb 2176
Aquitaine

While Josef had intended to try and make his money dealing with cargo and supplying the various systems, the offer from the Labrysian government is too tempting to refuse. Going out and exploring new worlds would be profitable based on what the government is offering, but it would also potentially allow him to find unique goods that could be traded, and to make his name known in circles outside of the merchant world.

Agreeing to the terms, Josef decides to refit his ship with a survey module; add 8 staterooms total (removing the bunkroom), of which two of the staterooms are double-sized; upgrading the sensor suite. Once he has the cost, both monetary and space wise, for all of those changes, he'll look at adding a second launch.


Is the Ball-class streamlined? Also, Josef can do some of the engineering work on the redesign on his own (Engineer (Starship) - 17)

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 41):

The changes to sensors and accommodation are taken to the shipyards. The recommend leaving bunkrooms in in case of passengers, as you will need to hire at least 2 more specialists to operate the survey gear, but preferably another 4.

Solstice: 93.9M, 100 dTon Sphere
(2.7G/Move:370, dDR:10, dHP: 30, dTons of Cargo Space: 21.5, SM:+8)
Weapons: 1xPulse, 1xMissile, 1xSandcaster,  Crew:8, Endurance: 24 Weeks,
Life Support:20, Staterooms: 10, Bunkrooms 10, Low Berths: 0, Modular Small Craft: 1

Upgrade Cost: $53.2 Million

Unfrozen space: 0/1.5
Freezer space: 0/20 dTons
Current Funds: $10,246,000 + $50,000,000 loan
Date: 21 Feb 2176
Aquitaine

Josef signs off on the redesign of the ship, and while it is in the docks, he starts recruiting for science staff. He wants four people trained in at least one of geology, biology, physics, and biochemistry.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 43):

Ok, but he lacks Laboratories for any of these. Each Lab costs $1 mill and takes up 2 dTon of spaces, and uses some power.

I thought the Survey module added the required lab space, but if not, add 4 lab spaces.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 45):

Survey module adds the space for astrophysics lab and the appropriate labs for that, so it would cover physics and geology as it pertains to survey from orbit, but the other labs would need to be added separately.

Of course, that also enables them to be used concurrently, so additional scientistc could be embarked. Any change to the ships boat? For modular boats available, please see 'Gear Available' thread.


Solstice: 97.9M, 100 dTon Sphere
(2.34G/Move:370, dDR:10, dHP: 30, dTons of Cargo Space: 13.5, SM:+8)
Weapons: 1xPulse, 1xMissile, 1xSandcaster,  Crew:12, Endurance: 17 Weeks,
Life Support:20, Low Berths: 0, Modular Small Craft: 1

Upgrade Cost: $57.2 Million

Unfrzen space: 3.5 dTons
Freezer space: 0/10 dTons
Current Funds: $60,246,000 including loan
Date: 21 Feb 2176
Dirac