"Oh you bought those media cards... you should hold on to those," Minka says.

She waits until she has everyone's attention before going on.  "Cultural things... media is what we do here, I know this.  Value goes up when it's more exotic.  Deseret is pretty close to Poseidon.  Whatever comes out of Poseidon, they've seen here.  You want to wait until we get some distance.  When something is a hundred light years out, it starts becoming really special.  Banana theory of value."

Minka does that.  She has a habit of throwing out a little verbal bait, then waiting until she starts getting "Well?" looks.

"Banana theory.  When bananas are cut from a tree they start to ripen.  Ripening can slow down with special environments but you won't get more than a few weeks whatever you do.  A few weeks on a fast freighter and you might get to a hundred light years.  At that range, a banana is an exotic thing.  Very valuable.  Of course you have to sell it right away then.  But if a planet is fifty or more light years from bananas, they don't get them often and they're special.  We did a show about fruit traders once."

Almost absently, she queries the computer.

"They don't grow bananas here.  They make... hmmm... special weapons for the military.  Well, that must bring in some good money, then.  It's.... Jamana group.  Very high end things.  That's interesting."

"Well that is bananas."

He replies with a laugh.

"I was mostly planning to sell to repay our departing investors money. On the other hand he just left without asking for his money back so we could call it a parting gift.

Sadly enough we don't have anything left to invest. Though maybe we could look to transport some stuff to the home ship."

"That could be interesting," Minka says.  "I wonder what the Crossers think of it."

** ** ** ** **

They do a check of the news:  One story is spreading galaxy wide.  The Commonwealth Navy is looking for a small passenger ship that left Telemond shortly after an accident that took the life of Rose Batek, a widely popular ex-Governor, leader and activist who was trying to sway the Governors into accepting some form of democratic representation.  One or more persons aboard, who were long time associates of Rose Batek, are now considered "persons of interest" and are wanted for questioning.

The segment closes noting that bounty agencies are being alerted.  The Commonwealth's law enforcement and extradition abilities on many frontier worlds is limited, and bounty agencies make their living retrieving fugitives in this cases.  They're looking for a Prinia class ship, a small, older courier/fast transport type.

** ** ** ** ** **

The ship parks, and Minka retreats to her work station to poke around on the computer, looking for whatever is interesting.  Lilana decides to stretch her legs and do some initial exploring.   But, she's not expecting much.  Pire-e-Vela is a rich, quirky, and relatively distant and unknown place, and that is always a good theme for a quick, easy, popular documentary.

Charles dones his leather jacket makes sure the drone is ready to go and leaves the ship with Lilana.

"So how many people are we looking for? And pay is the same you offered us? I can take a look around to see if we got some decent recruits and send em your way.

I'll aslo be looking to see if i can get that cargo space filled up en route. If i want to get you footage i really need a cinematography course and an extra drone or two."

ooc: Maybe we need a notes thread for our group? Its easier to find stuff like the payment. Whats in our cargo and quest notes maybe? Especially as i see the other group hopping to all sort of threads.

"I'm not sure this is the best place to hire," Lilana says as they begin to explore Pire-e-Vela.  "It's... well, I probably can't match the salaries people find here.  Probably.  We'll see."

It's a wealthy place and unusual in a few more respects.  Pire-e-Vela is built in the broad rift between mountain ranges, which are visible in both directions.  It's not the most conventient place on Deseret, where most of the cities are on seacoasts to take advantage of transport.  But it does give Pire-e-Vela a very different look.

Lilana tries to look up information on the city's background which might explain some of the anomalies.

"It's not a mining center, no unusual resources... why does someone establish a colony site here... just for the heck of it?  Pretty mountains.... hey look at this, it even has a zoo."

Zoos are not unusual things.  They are fairly common, though the top rated zoos tend to be in metropolitan areas with lots of people, enough paying visitors to support it.  According to the computer entry, the Pire-e-Vela zoo is one of the four zoos on the planet with an A or better rating.

"Not just local life... which is mostly simple," Lilana observes. "Significant off world life and Earth life in recreated habitats.  This place has a lot of money coming in.  What do you think of looking into a zoo?"

"Religious nuts believe their gods send them somewhere and thats reason enough to do it for them. Besides nothing wrong with a little paradise world. But im all up for some R%R if there is no real work to be done. Lets hit the zoo."

Jackson spoke up "Whatever they believe they seemed to gotten the money from somewhere,hell, there may be a story in that. In any case a trip to the zoo sounds like fun."

It's an indulgence none of these characters have had for quite a while.  A pleasant day out, a trip to one of Pire-e-Vela's outstanding public amenities.  If it was in a more tourist oriented city, it might be a better known attraction, but from what they've seen so far, Pire-e-Vela does not have much of a tourist industry.  As wealthy as it is, the regular thinking here seems to be that it's better not to have them coming in.

There are certainly hints here that the people enjoy a little bit of distance.

But the zoo seems ordinary enough.  Well funded, professionally designed.  It's in four quarters.  One quarter features the life of Deseret.  As far as is known, living things on Deseret haven't evolved as far as earth life has.  Simpler, more basic forms.  But that doesn't mean they are less interesting.

Then there is the Earth Life quarter, and the Life of the Hundred Worlds quarter, and finally, the Temporary Exhibit Quarter.

Today the Temporary Exhibit Quarter is housing: "Moving Specimens: How Live Animals of All Kinds are Transported Across the Hundred Worlds."  Of all the quarters, it seems to be the one with the fewest people going in, because it's primarily "educational" and doesn't feature as many animals.  But near the entrance something catches your eye... it seems to be depiction of a version of "cold sleep" pod, and the display with it says, in big day glow green letters, "Learn How Hibernation Pods Work!"


************************

Meanwhile, back at the ship... Minka, who might have wanted to visit the zoo but had sooo much work to catch up on, sorts through the applicants who have responded to her bosses offer.

No... no... no... oh certainly not, doesn't even speak English... ummm... hmmm....

Might even be a bit over-qualified, though.  But on the other hand, Mr. Nelson, judging by his resume, is not the kind to turn and run because he's afraid that Lilana Najarian's current pursuits might irritate one or more organized crime figures.

But on the third hand, Minka does not realize that many people cap off very dangerous careers with quiet, undemanding second careers.

Quickly and diligently Minka sends off a response, explaining how this being a small operation, just a few people and a small ship devoted to making documentaries, it might be a small and quiet job for someone like him, and of course with a small ship and crew he could not be "only" security, he'd hace to wear a few hats.  But if all of this fits, he can come in for an interview.

Charles nudges Lillana and then gravitates to the hibernation pod. That was interesting indeed and he tried to soak in all the info about it most interesting in finding out what happens if they are unpowered with a guest inside.

"Pire-e Vela", muttered Abe to himself, stepping off the short-haul shuttle from Highport. Stretching his neck from side to side, enough that his spine cracked in a satisfying manner, he shouldered his battered kit bag and scanned his surrounds. Over one shoulder, slightly behind, hovered a small drone that perhaps garnered more attention, though it moved only enough to remain there when he walked.

What might have brought a starship like this Nellie Bly to a sleepy backwater city, he had speculated whilst he scanned over what little information was available on the nets, ultimately filing the question for this morning's conversation.

He moved confidently through the conservatively-dressed crowd once he had left the pad, his own utility fatigues perhaps notable among the well-dwellers but not uncommon. His confidence was part age, part service and part simply having travelled They were clean and pressed, eminently presentable even with the personal protection beneath. If local customs permitted he worn a pistol openly on his belt, but his naval-issue cutlass and body armour were stowed neatly in the heavy kit bag together with spare clothes and tools of one kind or another.

It wasn't a far walk from the pad to the berth where the starship had touched down, though he felt it - the press of the planet's gravity and the heat, neither oppressive but present. He had sent a message ahead to this Minka letting her know he planned to come well-wards, to explore whether he suited the Nellie Bly and whether she suited him. He had put himself forward for a redshirt role, true enough, but hopefully his follow-on message had explained well enough that he was a licensed pilot and qualified in maintaining the ship's systems - software, electronic or mechanical - depending on where their need was. Besides, God knew, of whatever passed as God here since his own beliefs were more founded in rationalism and science, he had spent enough time on intrasystem runs in Deseret and it was time to move on.

He smiled at the minor blasphemy of his inner monologue as he reaching the bay where the starship rested, then depressed the worn button on the comm-unit, "Ahoy the Nellie Bly. Permission to come aboard"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:20, Sat 02 May 2020.

Exploring the "Moving Specimens" exhibit.. it's the quiet part of the zoo, lots of science, fewer animals, fewer people.

Moving animals, it turns out, is a very specialized business.  Small animals are frequently taken in the passenger areas of transports; sometimes in specially designed facilities aboard ships, or sometimes in staterooms that have been temporarily rebuilt for it.  There are a handful of ships that are entirely devoted to this work, and spend all their time moving animals around.  Not just for zoos, of course. The bulk of animal moving is for agriculture, to establish herds.  But the most interesting work is for zoos.

They are drawn to the section about hibernation pods.  After all, they play a key role in the mystery Lilana is looking into.  Some animals travel by hibernation pod, just like people, and for the similar reasons.  It can be expensive, difficult, and even dangerous (for animals and handlers) to move certain animals long distances in cages.

Animal hibernation pods are more elaborate than those designed for humans.  These have to accommodate a range of different body sizes, shapes, and metabolisms.  They animal pods are described as more expensive and more versatile than human pods, but...

"These pods receive the same scrutiny and tracking by agencies, so users can be sure that the technology is current, and the maintenance record is spotless.  The Commonwealth Association of Zoos and Aquariums oversees this.  Like all hibernation pods, detailed records attesting to their usage, maintenance and inspection records are kept in most Sector Archives."

Sector Archives is something most characters would at least be aware of, and certainly, any character with an Admin or Bureaucracy skill.  Information travels at the speed of light within systems, but at the speed of starships between systems.  What is "know" can vary, sector to sector, even across a sector.  So, all of the major sectors and some frontier sectors have a Sector Archive- a computer database where all sorts of records of legal, maintenance, financial, and other critical data is gathered.  This information is continuously updated as vessels with courier contracts travel around the Hundred Worlds.  That way, when someone needs the data, it is only as far as the Sector Archive, and one does not have to send a request halfway across the Commonwealth and wait months for a reply.

And according to this, the records of hibernation pods, who used them, when, where, and who inspected and serviced them, are considered important enough to be archived.  And why not?  They are highly advanced technological wonders, and people entrust their lives to them, counting on their working absolutely perfectly.


*** *** *** ***

Meanwhile...

Minka is surprised that the Job Applicant has responded so quickly, and actually arrived at the ship, presently parked at the Pire-e-Vela Aerospace Terminal.  A good sign, perhaps- motivation!

Minka quickly contacts Lilana, still at the zoo, who tells her assistant to "handle it" until she gets back.   So Minka invites Abe in.

Minka looks small, somewhat jittery and perky like a chipmunk.  But she has an air of efficiency, of someone who juggles twenty tasks at once and manages them all.  On the other hand, she looks very young, like she could still be an intern.  Less than half Abe's age.

She politely invites Abe into the ships lounge/dining room/conference room.

"Well I suppose the job description and the sight of the Nellie Bly didn't scare you off," she says.  "Are you really looking to be the security officer for a ship like this?"

Stowing his duffel and personal drone carefully before he sat opposite the young woman, Abe considered her question carefully. His manner was like that, deliberate. It was part of his training, to evaluate a situation and then move swiftly and with prejudice should it be required, but that second half wasn't something to share for now: his interrogated looking like she might jump half out of her skin.

He folded his hands carefully, his forearms resting on the table that sat between them where it looked like the crew might dine together. He knew how he presented, scarred and craggy, with the grey at his temples not hidden by the short cut he still preferred: it was said that a marine never really left the service, that they retained too much of their ways about them.

Deliberately, he smiled. Perhaps it was even reassuring.

He considered her question, telegraphed his interest in the ship by glancing around the mess, though he had taken much of the pertinent information in, "A ship like this, Miss Minka? Your Nellie Bly seems well maintained and solid, and I'm familiar with her class. Served on one close to thirty years ago, up the Main Line towards Midway, when I was a Major commanding the third battalion of the 401st..." and he paused to snort lightly, eyes flicking to the ship's structure "Could have even been her..."

Returning his attention to the ship's pilot, his blue eyes focused on her once more, "From what the ad said, you're drifting down the Main Line, no regular trade routes and as the ship's mistress tells you. Not looking for trouble, not into anything shady. It's a lifestyle I'm not unfamiliar with"

He pulled out a bulky sleeve of folded papers from beneath his fatigues, placing them on the table in front of him, "Pilot's License from Yennenga. Electronics from Kuripan. Mechanics from Carbuncle. Re-upped my weapon permits and driver's license here on Deseret, but only because there ain't much to do here"

"A ship like this?", he echoed her from earlier, "Perhaps you had better tell me about her, and her needs? See if there's a slot I can fill, since it strikes me that you shouldn't need an abundance of security. Just enough to keep you safe"

Charles takes in the information and looks at lianna.

"Thats interesting. Did we have enough information in those pictures to see if we can get a hit if we hit the database for those pods? And is that a smart move or we got to do that a little more covert?"

Jackson nods. "I've worked with sector archives when I was working for the authority. I could possible help with that."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:19, Mon 04 May 2020.

"So noted," Lilana says.  "There should be a sector archive at St. Brendan.  It's a Sector capital, even though it's not much of a sector, it ought to have something.  Lyonesse would be better but its in the wrong direction.  The important thing is the find our Crosser contact with the information."


Lilana then suggests they return to the ship, they have a new prospect that at the moment, Minka is trying to interview.

*** *** *** *** ***

And meanwhile, back at the ship...

He brought a duffel bag to an interview???  Minka is surprised, but says nothing about it.  It does seem a little odd to her, but then... she's learned that the people who seek out these kinds of jobs are often a little odd.  Some would accuse Minka of being a little odd herself.

"We do travel around a lot. Lilana looks for interesting stories.  She makes documentaries about them, and sells them to media companies.  People like to see things that are strange and far away.  But she's run across something that might make the wrong kind of people unhappy.  Maybe.  We have no idea yet.  But I can't tell you about it, it's not something Lilana wants to get out.  Yet.

"It's a small ship, but a good ship.  It's me, and Lilana, and Otto Shen who is our technician.  Jackson is our engineer and pilot, and Charles is our field assistant.  If you were able to help out with technical things that could be good, there aren't many of us so we all take on multiple roles.  And.. we have some cargo space.  Not much. Jackson and Charles are running a trade thing as we go along."

"So first want to see the crosser and then hit St Brendan?"

He querries as he has the drone shoot some footage as they head for the exit.

"You should teach me how to shoot footage properly you know. Might actually benefit us both.

So whats the prospect? Didn't expect someone to show up his fast. I dont think the engine is cold yet."

Listening to the petite woman's explanation of both the ship's owner and her mission, the long-retired colonel nodded thoughtfully. He knew there were folks who would purchase such investigative content, pay well depending on the packaging and the specifics. Such information brokerage was something he had dabbled at, surveying fringe systems, though he had found that particular period of his life unsatisfying except financially.

Certainly, now, he might offer some talents on the investigative side too and that intrigued him a little.

Then she threw in the bait.

He stiffened slightly in his seat, never-forgotten habits of threat assessment and situational focus coming to the fore. Regardless, he forced a smile and let her finish, shivered slightly and then nodded, "It sounds like you need a Security Chief, whether you know it or not..."

"And honestly, that tempts me", he continued, his interest clearly perked as he leant forward, "You might not want that listed on the Nellie Bly's' manifest, not until the who and the why is clearer. If, for whatever reason, either of us comes to the conclusion that I'm not the right person to bring about then I would be happy to consider a short-term contract to consult on your security needs"

His eyes flickered to the papers he had neatly placed in front of him, "But ... I know enough to take off-watch in several areas, increase your redundancy on top of supporting Mister Shen, chauffering the Captain around and circumspectly poking under rocks for you"

He held off commenting on the trade opportunity, though it made things interesting. He would see what she had to say about the rest before he through his chips in there

"We have to pass St Brendan along the way," Lilana says.  "So we'll try a short stop there, whatever we can find.  Maybe if we have to follow up we'll do it later."

It wouldn't do well to have eager but inexperienced Minka handling things with a new recruit too long, so they cut the zoo visit short - after taking some notes about hibernation pods, how they work, who makes them, and other things - and return to the ship.

*** *** *** ***

In the ship's lounge, everyone meets.  Lilana feels its best for the whole crew to be in on this.  Small ship crews have to live and work together for extended periods of time, and it can be dangerous to set up "toxic" crew relations.  Best to make sure everyone gets along.

Introductions go around, and Abe gets a standard employment contract.  The truth is, he knows with his background he could probably do better.  Maybe work on one of the big passenger ships, the ones built like giant resort hotels in space.  But... there are reasons why one might seek out a little ship, too.

Charles nods and follows Lilana back making sure to get some more footage but mostly just for practice purposes. Trying more to go for composition instead of images for personal use. He really was going to need a little swarm to get better images and experiment more. Well it meant he had something to waste his first paycheck on. En route back he has his drone find a cinematography course to follow. Back at the ship he greets the new recruit with a solid handshake and a big grin.

"Charles Delorean also known as the Viper. Zero-G tech and wanna be camera guy. Welcome on board."

Jackson replied to Lilana. "St Brendan is still bit the beaten path so any information there may bit dated but I will do what I can when we get there."

Back on the ship he regarded the new crewman. For some reason this man reminded him of certain people he met while in the scouts, the type of people who wore combat armor and wielded heavy weapons. While the man before had so such equipment,he seem to project the same aura of confidence that those amoured juggernauts from his past had.

"Greetings" ,Jackson said as he reached to shake the man's hand, "The name is Jackson Taylor. I am handling the engineering as well as the piloting. Anything you could add to the mix would be appreciated."   

Content with the contract offered, for now, Abe is professionally warm and friendly when the other crewmembers make their introductions.

"Well met", he offered simply, shaking the hand of those who offered theirs firmly but not overbearingly, "Abe Nelson."

"As I was explaining to Miss Minka", he continued one he had met everyone, "I hope I can ease the shifts of a few folks aboard. Licensed pilot and chauffeur, void-born and certified to maintain the ship's software systems, electronics and everything else bar the main propulsion"

With a wan smile, he finished, "Served my time in Midway, too, so thinking I might help keep everyone out of trouble. Should the need arise"

"Midway?  Well if you were comfortable there you'll go anywhere, I'll bet," Lilana says.

Midway is past the end of the Main Line, which stops at Zinderneuf.  Midway is... well the exact location is classified, and it and everything beyond is war zone.  The Commonwealth, on the very strong suggestion of various alien allies, permits no settlement in that region.  Anyone who's been there has been there on military business, everyone knows that.

Things are signed, and Abe becomes part of the crew.  He's given his tour of the ship, and assigned a room.  The ship had a bigger crew in its military days, now, everyone can have their own stateroom, which are large and comfortable.

The ship takes on necessities:  food, fuel, and parts.  They prepare to depart for St. Brendan.

Settling into his duties and his quarters, Abe quickly stowed the contents of his duffel neatly, with everything in a proper place according to decades of habit. He had nothing to collect from Highport, drifting in truth from role to role whilst he had been stuck in Deseret. Nothing to collect and no ties to sever, bar ensuring his licenses were in order and his accounts closed, both of which he handled from the mil-spec computer he had brought aboard. Whilst he handled those he left his door open, both an invitation for the crew to seek him out should they wish and an acknowledgement that privacy on such a small ship was unlikely. Not that he required any.

Before they left for St Brendan, he sought out the crew - one by one. He wanted to see what the action on the trade pool was, whether anything urgent in terms of repairs could be avoided with the right preventative maintenance, and a little more about the trouble they were in. His drone followed him everywhere unobtrusively

Once all pre flight stuff is done and Abe approaches him he shrugs. He was going over the seals of his combat armor in the ships workshop and his drone was zooming around making images about it according.

"The trade thing is quite simple. We got a big container and we bought us a load of entertainment discs wich our budget allowed. Hope to sell itat a good rate. If you got some cash to spare there is some room left but our money is tied up till the sale."

"Perhaps a thousand credits", admitted Abe, watching the other work on their combat armour. He nodded in a satisifed manner at the attention given the seals, before stopping himself was a gentle snort.

"Everything else is tied up right now"