In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 908):

They are from Van, and it was taken without a fight. They confirm that the Gashidda claimed to be a patrol and boarded, as they did with you, but with very different results, since the Van was not expecting pirates.

Van powers up as you try to approach, but it lacks speed and is too close to the Gas Giant which it was using to hide it's presence to get to a jump point, so you are able to board it, since it lacks weapons.

The vessel is intact, though the cargo and the twelve passengers are held in the Vans Low Berths, along with the rest of the crew. They were capture just three days ago.

27 July 2182, Gakir, Supplies: 1200 person-days worth, consume 100/week, Cargo Space: 1+3+2(L)-4(Medical) -1.3(supplies)= 0.7 dTons, current crew: 5+Gloria+6(in Liner), $764,503,300
TSA Vessel, Crew 6, Supplies: 4300 person days worth, consume 50/week.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:47, Mon 31 May 2021.

We bring it back under our control and remove any passengers who were not paying the low berth cost. We insert pirates in those berths.
We do a careful search of VAN and the Gashidda. Did we find any of the original crew? We also go through everything we took from the pirates in some detail.
Once we are satisfied, we continue our trip to Sukun.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 910):

On inspection, the remaining two crew were the only ones in the Low berths who were not paying passengers, though five were paying for Standard accommodation.

Overall, you find all of the Vans original crew, relieved that you have rescued them!

The pirates wear Nanweave vacc suits with space helmets. They carried fine Close Assault weapons (Shotgun skill) with underbarrel 40mm grenade launchers (Grenade Launcher skill), and used Fine Magnum Pistols as side arms. In all, you find

CAW with U/B GL     x4
CAW                 x6
Heavy pistols, 10mm x15

Clips of 10 rounds, 18.5mm Shotgun Rounds
Regular     -  20
HEMP        -  10
Prism Smoke -  10

Clips of 5 rounds, 40mm Grenades
Prism Smoke  - 20
Paralysis Gas- 10
Nerve Gas    -  3
HEC          - 30
HEMP         - 15
EMP          - 10
Tangler      -  5

Clips of 20 rounds, 10mm Heavy Pistol
HEMP         - 30
Regular      - 60
Hollow Point - 60

You also find about $1 million in valuables, some of which belonged to your crew and passengers on the Van. Records indicate this was not the first vessel they captured, though it will take some time to go through all the records.

But time you will have in hyperspace as you head back to Sukun. You make sure the TSA have their best guys on the Gashidda on the trip back, arriving back at Sukun by the 5th of August. Your arrival causes a stir with the Gashidda in tow...Several warships move to meet with you. Naturally they will have questions...

05 Aug 2182, Sukun, Supplies: 1000 person-days worth, consume 100/week, Cargo Space: 1+3+2(L)-4(Medical) -1.3(supplies)= 0.7 dTons, current crew: 5+Gloria+6(in Liner), $764,503,300
TSA Vessel, Crew 6, Supplies: 4250 person days worth, consume 50/week.

And we of course have all the answers... obviously this was a captured Gashidda. One from the local area? We sopeak with the 2 crew from the Gashidda to see what they can tell us. All the quality weapons ar interesting, not typical at all for normal pirates. Looks more like issued military gear with every identically equipped. Given what we have been told, we wonder if this is another Dingir operation.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 912):

Before they get to you, the Gashidda uses beam communications to communicate with you privately.

"These guys were capturing crew and selling them and weapons on Nushmi, where they seem based. Do you want us the change the records to indicate they were operating out of the base on Dirramu, the support base for Kidashi, where the vessel was originally from?

To find out who is really behind this, we would need to run the blockade at Nushmi, but Kidashi controls that space tightly."

No, let's let the news get out that Nushimii is also being used to prey upon the Kimashargur. Kidashis doesn't care ad may support it.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 914):

"Right. So we will make backups of the data before they get here, Likely they will want their patrol craft back..."

What do you do with the weapons and other stuff found?

05 Aug 2182, Sukun, Supplies: 1000 person-days worth, consume 100/week, Cargo Space: 1+3+2(L)-4(Medical) -1.3(supplies)= 0.7 dTons, current crew: 5+Gloria+6(in Liner), $764,503,300
TSA Vessel, Crew 6, Supplies: 4250 person days worth, consume 50/week.

Most all of it should be on our ships ... but anything obviously belonging to the Gashidda is on it. all data duplicates are on other ships (multiple copies).

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 916):

Accessing the computers took some time and was done in hyperspace, but cleaning out the armoury and valuables was done prior to hyperspace. Fortunately, TSA have their own ways to backup all the hard drives, and leave with it without detection when they hand the ship back.

You were able to interrogate the captured pirates on Van, before refreezing them. There is no evidence they are from Kidasi nor Dingir, but then, you cannot find any evidence of any support. They explain the similar weapons be saying they captured a shipment of arms.

Once in Sukun, the patrol craft move in quickly to take bake the Gashidda. I presume you hand it back to them?

05 Aug 2182, Sukun, Supplies: 1000 person-days worth, consume 100/week, Cargo Space: 1+3+2(L)-4(Medical) -1.3(supplies)= 0.7 dTons, current crew: 5+Gloria+6(in Liner), $764,503,300
TSA Vessel, Crew 6, Supplies: 4250 person days worth, consume 50/week.

Absolutely if they are going to bake it ;-)

No issues, we didn't expect to keep it. hopefully we have made a few friends.
We look to land at our factory.  We gather all the documents and such to present for the new mail run; get Bjorn's dad and take the converted fighter back to town, where we get a hold of Bjorn and tell him where we are.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 918):

Bjorn knew...he was on duty at the time, though not in the craft that took possession of the Gashidda. But he is not comfortable flying the shuttle.

The first question the patrol has is what has happened to the crew. Of course, they are most interested in the original crew, but lacking that, the pirates are also interesting... given the situation, you are politely asked to land at the Military starport for a debrief.

You are still in orbit, by the way. It was obviously anticipated that you would, as usual, want to land at your private starport. You guess they probably have a customs squad headed there now in case you decide to ignore their 'polite request' and land there anyway. You are not under arrest, but you have just arrived in the system with a stolen warship, and they doubtless feel the need to confirm your story.

05 Aug 2182, Sukun, Supplies: 1000 person-days worth, consume 100/week, Cargo Space: 1+3+2(L)-4(Medical) -1.3(supplies)= 0.7 dTons, current crew: 5+Gloria+6(in Liner), $764,503,300
TSA Vessel, Crew 6, Supplies: 4250 person days worth, consume 50/week.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:46, Wed 02 June 2021.

We are in no position to fight them, and would like to stay on the good side of the government here, so we land at the designated star port.
Imake it clear that I am the leader ofthis group and am engaged in commerce. I'd like to get this mail run set up, which requires we meet with higher level governemt types.

Oh, and we cn start thawing out some of those they wish to interogate.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:01, Wed 02 June 2021.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 920):

That will work out well. They are not hostile, but just verifying your claims. The fact that you have deal with 2 pirates on this trip only enhances things, and they are encouraged to allow you to take up the mail run, as you have demonstrated the ability to defend yourselves. The repaired damage on the TSA craft and the Giriian documents the TSA crew have support that, and you are offered the mail run, including Shinarra, for $50,000 plus route docking rights, similar to the deal offered by Girii.

Thawing out the pirates, they are taken away for interrogation which you expect to be far from pleasant. You and the ships are then released, but you have 48 hours to leave the military starport. The TSA craft, Van and Liner head back to your Starport for mechanical checkout, but you know that will fill the starport, so you can stay here for a day. Bjorn lets you know he will finish his shift in very soon...

06 Aug 2182, Sukun, Supplies: 1000 person-days worth, consume 100/week, Cargo Space: 1+3+2(L)-4(Medical) -1.3(supplies)= 0.7 dTons, current crew: 5+Gloria+6(in Liner), $764,503,300
TSA Vessel, Crew 6, Supplies: 4250 person days worth, consume 50/week.

OK, so we will hold and he can come pick up his father.
We will hold here for 12 hours or so, before heading back.
I am sure that one or both will be pulled into the hangers for the check out, then it will be a shuffle game to get ships in and out of the star port hangers.

I will try and make a date with Bjorn away from the city, before going in to spek with the officals (or is that a done deal? WE can take the $50K and work it from there).  Not clear if the Military just supported our concept or had actually procured the deal for us.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 922):

Yeah, that is pretty much the way it will work. Van, which was nominally undamaged, will be the first through the hanger to be checked out. Then Liner, whose damage was minimal, will spend a short time there as well, before the TSA ship, which was badly damaged, will spend a significant time in the hanger. You can land there once the TSA ship enters the hanger.

The deal was made with the military's support, and that made things very streamlined.

The date with Bjorn goes very well. You looked good in the eyes of the local commanders, and you brought his father back with neigh a on miraculous cure, by Vilani standards. He is more keen than ever to encourage you to open a local hospital, and asks how things are progressing in that department., noting your current cargo manifest indicates Medical Equipment.

The war on Terra is more distant now, and though the threat is ever present it barely rates a mention.

07 Aug 2182, Sukun, Supplies: 1000 person-days worth, consume 100/week, Cargo Space: 1+3+2(L)-4(Medical) -1.3(supplies)= 0.7 dTons, current crew: 5+Gloria+6(in Liner), $764,503,300
TSA Vessel, Crew 6, Supplies: 4250 person days worth, consume 50/week

Is Bjorn asking or the Military Commanders?

Gloria smiles as Bjorn and his Dad hug after months apart.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 924):

Bjorn is asking. This is just after he picked up his dad and took him home, before going out on a date with you.

07 Aug 2182, Sukun, Supplies: 1000 person-days worth, consume 100/week, Cargo Space: 1+3+2(L)-4(Medical) -1.3(supplies)= 0.7 dTons, current crew: 5+Gloria+6(in Liner), $764,503,300
TSA Vessel, Crew 6, Supplies: 4250 person days worth, consume 50/week

OK,... Well I have asked a few Doctors to come teach medicine here at my company campus. It will expand on what is known hereand hopefully improve the medical care. I am not sure how this will be greeted here though.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 926):

"Of all advances, probably medical improvements are those most widely accepted in the Imperium, as they save lives It is hard to argue for tradition when lives are at stake, though there will always be some that do.

So, Gloria, have you ever thought about settling down with anyone?"

07 Aug 2182, Sukun, Supplies: 1000 person-days worth, consume 100/week, Cargo Space: 1+3+2(L)-4(Medical) -1.3(supplies)= 0.7 dTons, current crew: 5+Gloria+6(in Liner), $764,503,300
TSA Vessel, Crew 6, Supplies: 4250 person days worth, consume 50/week

Yes, but it's hard, as I always have this itch to do things. It has crossed mymind often, but I know myself and I would make a very poor stay at home Mom.
She looks at Bjorn  But we are a good match, aren't we?

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 928):

He is a bit taken aback, but understands. Or at least tries to.

"I thought we were a pretty good match too. I mean, I assume you could have played around while you were away, as could I. But you never probed, and neither did I, because I really did not want to know. Does it matter to you?"

I'm not sure. I have always been free to do as I please pretty much, but no, I did not play around while gone. I haave seriously never considered us to be exclusive ... but I guess that I really feel that I like how you treat me and am not interested in anyone else ... sort of odd really, but no complaint from me.  Unless we don't get naked and get it on pretty soon. She gives him her best devilish grin.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 930):

"Yeah, see, it is things like that that make me think I don't want to let you go because some other guy decides to take you off the market, and I never even asked!"

It does not take long for things to get very adult...in fact, probably time for another HT roll!

OK, so we fade to black a few times before makig some food and talking.


13:08, Today: Gloria Flake rolled 7 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,5,1.  Health.   she should be good.


Well Bjorn, I have pretty much been your girl friend since we met, I'll make it official now. How about you?

She is concened about how things would play out if he knew all her background; she rally does like him and enjoys romping with him as well.
She is not sure how he'd deal with her out ranking him and being in the enemies Navy.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 932):

Yes, both of those things are potential issues.

"Yeah, that's a good call. Definitely an item, and let the future look after itself."

[Private to GM: Gloria conceived a baby boy!]