Not enough money left for an additional ship's boat, and I think I'm tight on space.

For scientist, I would have 4 senior scientist (staterooms) and 4 junior scientists (bunkroom), covering the four disciplines with each having additional scientific skills.

The four ship crew and I would serve as security team when they go down to a planet for further research.

Do I have to provide gear/equipment for the scientists?

How many people can fit in the ship's boat?

Can you update the money? I believe it is at $60,246,000 -$57,200,00 = $3,046,000

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 47):

The gear is in the laboratories, and can be considered in the cost. You will have to return to Aegir for the survey module, and if you wish to recruit human scientists, otherwise Labrysian Scientists can be recruited. They require some sulphur in their atmosphere, so some sudividing would be desirable.

Current small craft:
AK Modular Raft, 3 M Solars, 6 dTons
This is a cheaper version of the raft, with batteries that permit basic take-off and landing for small craft with a maximum space for cargo. The batteries mean reduced maintenance costs for the life of the craft, but make them unsuitable as life boats or interstellar transports, and their sensors are not spacecraft quality despite being 1/3 of their cost. But they are cheaper.
(2G/Move 2411, dDr:10, dHP:15, dTons of Cargo space: 4, Range in air: 16,000 miles)

This has life support for 2. You might be able to get a 2nd hand version of one of the following (2nd Hand is half price, but -1 HT, as they are older. These have fusion reactors, so no range limitations. Prices below are trade in prices for second hand, guides only. Subject to a merchant roll.)

AK Modular APC, 1.8 M Solars, 6 dTons
The same size as the small fighters, this is actually a small spacecraft with life support for 5, a sickbay and heavy armour. Capable of supporting small insertions for long periods of time, it has limited cargo space.
(2.02G/Move:1607, dDR:49, dHP:22, dTons of Cargo Space: 0.6, ASig: -2, SM:+4, Air Speed 3214 mph),
Weapons:1x Gatling Laser

AK Modular Speeder, 1.25 M Solars, 6 dTons
This is more of an enclosed Air raft to be used in the 6 dTon flattened sphere bays as an auxiliary cargo boat with life support for the two crew. The new one has a patented mini-fusion reactor.
(2G/Move 1270, dDr:12, dHP:16, dTons of Cargo space: 3.5)

AK Modular Miniminer, 2.3 M Solars, 6 dTons
Designed based on the AK APC for mining asteroids, this small spacecraft with life support for 2, has heavy armour for resisting rocks, and a Gatling laser for the smaller rocks. It has increased cargo space of 1.4 dTons, but smaller engines. At the front are robotic mining arms used for gathering items. It can collect 1.2 tons/day, but this needs to be refined to achieve trade densities. Unrefined product has a density of 25 t/dTon and is 75% waste.
Trade Items able to be collected by Miniminers: Industrial Metals, Radioactives, Light Metals
(1.19G/Move:1270 empty, dDR:50, dHP:22, dTons of Cargo Space: 1.4, ASig: -2, SM:+4, Air Speed 2541 mph),
Weapons:1x Gatling Laser

If you carry folk standing in a cargo bay with breathers, you can probably fit about 30 per dTon of space. But very uncomfortable...

Unfrozen space: 3.5 dTons
Freezer space: 0/10 dTons
Current Funds: $3,046 M including loan.
Date: 21 Feb 2176
Dirac

Assuming the AK Modular Speeder can transition from space to planet side and back, Josef will add one of those to the ship. He'll also have eight chairs installed in part of the cargo bay of the Speeder to ferry scientists and supplies to and from a planet.

With the changes on his ship decided on, Josef will check with the Labrysian government to determine what other survey craft they have dispatched, and if they know the path(s) they took.

Having that information, they'll head over to Aegir to add a Survey Module and hire up to eight scientists. He had thought about hiring some Labrysian ones, but the different atmospheric requirements was more than he could handle on his tiny ship.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 49):

The speeder works just fine for planetary transitions, but unlike the APC, is neither armed nor with a sickbay, and only has life support for 2. The APC has the most life support...

You sell your raft and move to Aegir to finish the upgrades.

Vessels have been dispatched to 1622, but found it very risky with their lower quality survey modules, so many have traveled throughout the known Terrans worlds to check for their suitability to be settled.

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
Survey Module (Astronomy Cartography, Geology(Orbital)),
4x Laboratories (Geology, Biology, Physics, Biochemistry),
1x Workshops, 1x Sickbays

Scientists to work the various areas can be employed for $800 + ($400 x Skill level), so for a minimum skilled scientist (Skill 12) $5600 per month, or $6400 with skill 14. Higher skilled scientists have reputations that significantly increase their costs.

Unfrozen space: 3.5 dTons
Freezer space: 0/10 dTons
Current Funds: $4,546 M including loan, but new modular vehicle not purchased.
Date: 21 Mar 2176
Aegir
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:17, Fri 28 June 2019.

I'll go ahead and get the APC, if it can make planetary transitions, and hire 8 skilled (14) scientists.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 51):

It takes time to find skilled men and women and a suitable APC, but you do find one, and it is about the end of the month before you are ready to depart.

Solstice 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
Survey Module (Astronomy Cartography, Geology(Orbital)),
4x Laboratories (Geology, Biology, Physics, Biochemistry),
1x Workshop, 1x Sickbay

AK Modular APC, 1.8 M Solars, 6 dTons
(2.02G/Move:1607, dDR:49, dHP:22, dTons of Cargo Space: 0.6, ASig: -2, SM:+4, Air Speed 3214 mph, HT: 9),
Weapons:1x Gatling Laser, Life Support 5, Sickbay

Unfrozen space: 0/3.5 dTons
Freezer space: 0/10 dTons
Current Funds: $1,115 M
Wages $131,200 per month, Wages just paid
Date: 28 Mar 2176
Aegir

Looking at the game map, there are several unexplored systems upwards of Aegir and Labrysian. Are these truly unexplored, or just not updated.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 53):

Probably the only unexplored system in the Capella region is 0938. Coreward (Upward, marking on the map edges) is largely explored. Rimward (Downward) of Dirac (1401, in the Aldebaran System (You may need to change the period to the Golden Age to see the names) is completely unexplored. The Abel Tasman set out to explore Thalassa in 2174...since that timeline is still dated at Apr 2175, I can't say for sure how far they get by the time they reach the same time period as yourself.

While the recruiting of the scientists, and the refitting of the Solstice was happening, Josef had been researching possible routes of explorations. Settling on Aldebaran 1401 (Darsei) as their first stop, he'll then proceed as follows for the initial phase of the investigation: 1401 -> 1202 -> 1303 -> 1304 -> 1404 -> 1204

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 55):

Ok. Now there are a couple of ways we can do this.

Fastest way: You give me a route and a set of conditions, and I post results until either the end of the route or a planet that meets the conditions. Conditions may be: Planet that is habitable, planet with life or where supplies can be gathered, something dangerous (Will always stop for that or if a roll is needed), etc.

Slower way: I just go one system at a time.

Preferences?

Slower way

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 57):

Ok. I will post this assuming you purchase supplies, but with a freezer, purchasing fresh fruit and vegetables is also an option. We can purchase them retrospectively, but please let me know what you are getting in that regard.

Dirac (1401) is the main colony of the Labrysian Free colonies, and the seat of their power. From there, distant charts sufficient for an initial jump are given, and you jump to 1202.

System 1202 is a single star world with 2 Gas Giants and a planet in the 'goldilocks' zone. It lives up to its reputation. 6,000 miles in diameter, it is teeming with life, though you do not find anything intelligent.

Full system map will take 10 days, and a full planetary map an additional 2 days. If you take 14 days, you can also use the APC to conduct a biological survey of two small regions as well as chart your net system, if you want. A security person can go with them to hunt for supplies...

Unfrozen space: 0/3.5 dTons
Freezer space: -/10 dTons
Current Funds: $1,115 M
Wages $131,200 per month, Wages just paid
Date: 13 Apr 2176
1202

Josef takes Dr. Litt (Geology), Caleb (Biology), and Dr. Philip (Biochemistry), along with Jessica and himself down to the planet to get samples and do research while the rest of the crew complete the planetary and system survey from orbit.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 59):

Navigator and Pilot are two who will be needed to assist with the orbital survey. Kenny would be the other suggestion, as cargo master may be busy handling live specimens, and gunner may be useful to capture dead ones.

Also, while the surveys are being done, what are your intentions?

Even after the first day, you can see large herds of heavy creatures, a bit like a cross between a Rhino and a Bison, with much smaller groups of large predators that resemble carnivorous elephants. There are also large flocks of birds with 4m wingspans that seem to eat some of the numerous berries that can be found high up in the tree-tops, with what look like 6m wingspan bats hunting them. In the water, too and numerous fish of many sizes.

Kenny will go in place of Jessica, and while the scientists are doing their surveys and research, Josef and Kenny will go out and try to document some of the wildlife, maybe capture (dead or alive) a member of the different species found to evaluate them for purposes of nourishment, transportation, and other uses that colonists might avail of them.

They'll go with their biosuits on, until a air survey can determine the hazardnous of the atmosphere.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 61):

You wisely all don biosuits until test indicate that the air is quite safe to breath. Collecting specimens, the biologists and biochemists are soon busy analyzing the sample you bring back. It would seem that the herbivores are in fact quite safe to eat, though large and bad tempered, not so safe to hunt! However, there are other smaller herivores, some in quite large numbers, that are safe to hunt and breed, and not flying or burrowing, but rather resemble oversized meercats that are safe to keep. They are quite timid, but you manage to entice some to be friendly. As long as the flying predators, which seem to love eating them, are kept at bay.

High tree canopies help with this, and are the most natural protection these creatures have, aside from their vast numbers. Indeed, in the jungles where they may be found, there seem to be several layers. Possibly most concerning are the massive, 45ft long pythons you see...one tries to eat the APC while you are out hunting, but fortunately it is armed, and the scientists manage to kill it!

Josef is quite pleased with what he has found on this planet, and while it may lack a sulfur content in its atmosphere, it is one he believes would be highly suitable for human colonization, even counting in the massive snakes on the planet. He thanks the stars that he had changed his mind and bought the APC and not the speeder, as the speeder would not have fared as well.

Speaking of which, once the snake is dead, Josef sees if anyone knows how to cut the snakeskin to be used for a variety of other items, such as boots, belts, etc. If no one else knows how to, he'll take out a knife and try the best he can. While doing this, he has Caleb determine if the meat is edible.

Letting the scientists finish their surveys, he and Kevin gather what edibles they can to not only restock the ship, but also to provide variety to the crew diet.


19:55, Today: Josef Barenski rolled 17 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,6,6.  Leather working (if needed, DX-4=7).

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 63):

Fortunately for Josef, the Biologist and Biochemist are fascinated by this, and would be delighted in cutting it up, as well as treating it. The leather is rather heavy, due to the massive size of the snake, but there is plenty of it. 1 ton of usable leather can be obtained from the creature, and though the meat is not so edible (it needs to be cooked to boot-leather toughness to sterilize some of the biological hazards within), it does serve as an excellent bait/distraction for other predators in the region.

[OOC: We did not decide what to stock the ship with on departure from Aegir. Should I just go with 2.5 dTon of fish and 7.5 dTon of Fruit, nuts and vegetables, all put into the Freezer?

Just to compare Fresh Produce (25% meat/Fish and 75% Fruit/nuts/vegetables) with Supplies, 10 dTons of both.
                Cost (k)  Weight/dTon Replacement in 'wild' Used per week
Supplies        $120      12          Need to be processed  0.05 dTons
Frozen Produce   $68      5.75        Taken if safe         0.1 dTons

Once we work this out, we can discuss what you gather here. Remember, you did not know what planets you would find when you left Aegir!
]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:57, Sun 30 June 2019.

Given he only has enough salary to last 10 months, he would have started out with 8 months of supplies, planning on being back at the end of that. I don't know what this translates into dTon of space needed, but he would want about a 50/50 mix of frozen produce and dried items to save space.

Whatever space is freed after the two weeks here, he'll take the snakeskin first and then stock fresh supplies from the planet.

While they are working on the surface, he'll have Melania and Leslee determine good sites for a colony to be set up at. These he will mark in his journal for possible use by human settlers.

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 65):

That makes good sense. 8 months is about 35 weeks, so rounding up 4 dTons of fresh produce for about $27 k. You manage for find another 2d6 tons (You can roll) of fresh produce while the others are doing their research. The snakeskin is about 0.2 dTon, and would be classifies loosely as Textiles.

Unfrozen space: 0.2/3.5 dTons Textiles
Freezer space: 3.8/10 dTons (0.1 dTon per week)
Current Funds: $1,087,800
Wages $131,200 per month, Wages just paid
Date: 13 Apr 2176
1202

While the others wrap up the surveys, Josef will gather a lot of fruits, grains, and produce he can find that are unique to the planet, and are edible by humans. He'll collect about .5 dTon of them to take back to Aegir and see what the population there thinks of them.

After all the surveys wrap up, and everything is secured they'll head out to the next system that was in their plans.

We headed out on 28 Mar 1202, correct?

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 67):

You headed out on 18 Mar 2176. You are currently on planet 1202 in the Aldebaran system, a system pretty much unknown to Terra. You are probably the first Terrans in that system. Next system is?

Next system would be 1303

In reply to Josef Barenski (msg # 69):

System 1303 is a binary system with a single gas giant with two moons orbiting outside of three planets in the goldilocks zone, all with a moon. However, the planets are disappointing. The most attractive one is 8,000 miles in diameter, with just 10% surface ice and a very thin, cold atmosphere.


Unfrozen space: 0.2/3.5 dTons Textiles
Freezer space: 3.5/10 dTons (0.1 dTon per week)
Current Funds: $1,087,800
Wages $131,200 per month, Wages just paid
Date: 30 Apr 2176
1303
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:09, Wed 03 July 2019.

Josef will order that all three planets have planetary scans done, and that the system scan also be performed. While these planets may be useless for colonization, he wants to know if there are veins of ore, or native fauna and flora that would make it a more attractive planet.