OOG: The other thread was getting long, and this seemed to be a good point to start anew :-)

IG:

"I think we're ready to go," Joxe said to Brent from her bridge chair, next to his. Wanderer, new and improved with her updated drives, new computer and everything else electronic, a refurbished interior, and even new hull paint, sat in a docking bay while the air was pumped out preparatory to departure.

Brent was amazed when the ship's new controls were powered up for the first time, for the bridge deck was a featureless, smoothly curved grey sphere when everything was offline. The bridge chairs were smaller than others he'd seen, so as to offer as much visibility as possible. When the displays were active, it appeared as if the bridge crew was floating in space. The controls could be arranged to the crew's liking, as could the displays.

All of the cargo had been offloaded, and the cargo bay had been reconfigured as additional passenger quarters, allowing the trader to carry fifty people on the return trip. They'd be packed to the deckhead, but it was a single week's trip thanks to Wanderer's four-parsec range. A single 20dt container was loaded with refined lanthanum, and extra rations and life support supplies were included for the return trip.

Radshir comes up on the main traffic channel. "Wanderer, you're cleared to depart. The only traffic is the fighters; they are a hundred kilometers outsystem, and they will stay clear of your departure route."

Brent took a deep breath as Joxe spoke up. He looked to her and smiled. "Considering what they have done to improve your ship. It's almost impossible to believe how improved she is yet still the same. This must be very satisfying to you." He reached out to give her and a squeeze. "Now let's see how she performs when it counts."

Still a little bit unsure of the new controls, Brent slowly brought up the full interface around them. Taking care he activated the coms. "Ready to depart control. Wanderer outbound to the jump point. Two souls on board." With a glance over at Joxe Brent took the Wanderer out of the dock and onto the minimum time course to the jump point.

"She's our ship, husband," Joxe said with a grin, "and she's wonderful."

The jump point was a hundred diameters from the asteroid, which meant the ship arrived in ten minutes even at the leisurely lope of a quarter-gee acceleration. "Jump field aligned," Joxe reported. "We are ready for jump, Captain."

Brent laughed and smiled broadly. He couldn't help but experiment with the controls and ship performance even in the short journey to the jump point. Once they arrived he checked over calculations in the navigational computer. "All calculations look good, we have a green board, engaging jump drive." Brent disabled the virtual cover over the control and engaged the jump drive.

Brent noted that the ship dimmed the interior lights in the ancient tradition just before the drive engaged. The hyperspace translation was smoother than before, and the drive's telemetry was within normal ranges.

"Oh, that was nice," Joxe said. "I've never flown a jump this long, so I really, really hope that the plot is good. We have current system data, so that helps." She waved her hand. "Oh, I know that distance doesn't work the same way in hyperspace, but I still can't help but think in those terms."

"That was nice. I could get spoiled working with this high Imperial technology. I hope the plot matches the capability of the drives as well." Brent shrugged. "I will leave the theory behind jump technology to the scientists. Frankly, I think they are using a combination of guessing, luck and approximation to manage jump drives. Look how they cannot explain how a missed jump can go so far."

Joxe nodded. "And remember, the shipyard can build six-parsec drives, too. We didn't get one because of the mass and fuel requirements. Even in the Imperium, those drives were limited to passenger ships and couriers." She grinned. "I'm sure you've disparaged the memories of many a hyperspace physicist, but you are right. There were research facilities that were pushing the six-parsec limits, since the drives can obviously travel really huge distances. It would be nice to go there deliberately, though." She studied her displays for a moment. "Well, it appears to be holding together. Shall we find something to eat?"

Brent shook his head. "I think you would have to speak with one of the Ancients to get anywhere with hyperdrive theory. But I guess it is as good a place as any for the theoreticians to perch." He glanced at his displays as well. "It looks like we are riding nicely. A bit of dinner would be good while the food is still fresh. The hydroponic technology alone will be a big help back home."

The main display shows their destination as Tala Research Station One (see Messages #604-617 in the Game 2 thread) with an estimated emergence time of 165.3 hours.

Joxe steps into the common area and opens the fridge. "We still have some of that cobb salad I made for dinner yesterday. There's also salmon I can cook. Or, we can try the new autochef."

Brent followed Joxe into the common area. "I think salmon and the salad would be delicious. Let's wait to try out the auto chef later when our fresh food is gone."

315-1402 0755 - Egg System - Tala Research Station One

The jump drive's clock reaches zero, and Wanderer transitions smoothly into normal space once again. The week in jump had been uneventful, and Joxe took full advantage of the absolute privacy with Brent. They also found time to perform some maintenance checks and train more on the new controls.

"We're within fifty klicks of the target emergence point," Joxe says with a grin. "That's pretty good for a four-parsec jump." The comm panel pings as the station sends a laser communication asking for identification. "Woah, that didn't take long at all."

Brent smiles as he sees the readout on the jump. "It's very easy with the new controls and interface to get it just right. Still, practice makes perfect."

When the hail comes through Brent turns on the transponder. "I think they are keeping a sharp eye out on emergences so that they can control the impact of the new technologies. My people are all pretty independent types; you had to be to survive the crash. I doubt if there's going to be any monopolies attempted on the technology. Let's go ahead and dock once we have clearance."

Brent will bring up the communications laser. "This is Wanderer with a mixed cargo of technology."

Wanderer docks at the station without incident. The couple are greeted by Gareth, Veronica, Naimh, Malcolm, Melina, and Trudy, who have all been working to refurbish the Imperial scouts' jump drives. Trudy leads everyone to the dining area, where they sit down to breakfast.

"So," Trudy says after everyone is seated with their plates, "what have you been up to these days?"

Brent pauses for a second and then speaks up. "We have found an undisturbed Imperial level shipyard that is all ready to go. It actually belongs to one of the people here with us. We want to work out an arrangement to put the shipyard to use and still respect the ownership rights. There is a 5000 ton ship ready to go that is perfectly suited to perform uplift and humanitarian missions. We need the technical and people skills from the folks here at Egg to man up all of the hulls. I think it is time to start working on a larger framework to pool our resources and intelligence. Joxe and I still plan on exploring the main."

Joxe links her handcomp into the station's commnet and brings up some videos on the table's holo display. Everyone oohs-and-ahs over the imagery and specifications Edak provided about the ship and the facilities.

"Let's take this to the leadership," Trudy says at length. "We will need to officially recognize Radshir Adair as the facility's owner, if for no other reason than the station probably won't cooperate with us otherwise. At the same time, we must assure that none of this falls into the wrong hands. That ship could wipe us out all by itself." She looks to Brent for his response.

Brent nodded to Trudy. "Even though it is very lightly armed for its size, the technological difference alone will make it a potential threat to the entire system. One thing we've been working on is building small system defense boats to station in each of the Allied systems. If nothing else they will work well to train spacefaring crews and maintenance personnel. I think we could really make a difference in the subsector as long as we can ensure that we don't have new fights on her hands."

315-1402 1430 - Egg System - Tala Research Station One

Over the next six hours, the Tala Station group holds a meeting with the Egg System leadership regarding the Gorky facility. Given that responses take up to ten light-minutes to reach their recipients, it's a slow and frustrating process. The Egg natives take it in stride, but the outworlders have to throttle their frustration with the glacial conversational pace. In practice, each respondent gives a brief speech, which the other sides have to digest and then respond with their answers.

By dinner time, the meeting has reached the following resolutions:

1. Wanderer will remain under Brent and Joxe's personal control. The ship is registered in the Egg System, and must abide by the relevant commercial and criminal codes that every other merchant vessel and Egg citizen does. The agreement to not suborn the ship still stands, as well.

2. Brent and Joxe will be paid to transport personnel for Egg. (Brent can specify his terms here, including how many trips he's willing to make.)

3. Trudy will oversee the operation to rotate personnel through Gorky. The government assigns an ambassador and their staff to the shipyard, who will represent the Egg System government.

4. Other ambassadors will be assigned to Execute and any other friendly systems, as needed. Malcolm and the others will transport personnel and supplies to and from Execute using the repaired scouts.

5. (Anything else Brent wishes to bring up.)

Brent will mention the need for joint defense. There might be some need to subsidize the defense of critical planets that are unable to defend themselves at the present time.

The government agrees with Brent's statement, and they will instruct the ambassadors they send out to consider this situation.

Trudy looks around the table. "Anyone else?" Joxe and the others shake their heads. "In that case, we stand adjourned. My people will refuel Wanderer so she can depart when the passengers are ready. That should take us three days, if that's acceptable."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:33, Sat 10 Feb.

Brent will nod in agreement. "That sounds like a reasonable plan. We will be elbow to elbow for a few weeks so everyone enjoy the open space while you can." He looked over at Joxe. "We should stock up on air filters to keep the odor fresh." Brent said this last with a smile.

Trudy's technicians set about readying Wanderer for the return trip to Gorky. Under Joxe's direction, the old trader was converted into a passenger carrier. Edak's remotes had thoroughly cleaned the ship  after her refit, but there was now not a speck of dusk left anywhere. The arriving engineers oohed-and-ahhed over the new equipment, and Brent could recite his ship's tour spiel in his sleep.

Three days later, Wanderer boosted away from Tala Station for the jump point with sixty-two people aboard under a contract from the Egg government which included maintenance services and Cr100,000 for this trip. An optional clause offered the same payment for additional trips, if Brent and Joxe wanted to make them.

After they have entered jump space Brent turned to Joxe in the privacy of their state room with a serious look on his face. "Do you want to run a ferry service for a while or head off down the main to see what we can find? I am of the opinion that we should stretch our legs."

Joxe sat cross-legged on their bed, her hair loose and covering her nude body. "As much as Aunt Trudy would like to hold onto us, I think we should resupply at Gorky, and leave the rest to more capable folk." She waved her hand toward the aft end of the ship. "I'm reasonably sure that the Egg government will work out a decent arrangement with Radshir and her shipyard, and they have that big ship to start with." She smiled. "All we need is one of those new autodocs, and we can turn the other room into the nursery."

Brent brushed Joxe's hair back in an affectionate gesture. "I've never been one for government or bureaucracy. Best to stick to space, flying and our life together. They can move more people than Gorky can handle in one go anyway. Wandering the stars will be more exciting than acting as a crowded bus driver." He nodded and started to think. "A top-of-the-line autodoc would be a good idea given where we are going. We are headed for…" Brent suddenly paled as Joxe's words hit home. He took her hands and squeezed. "A nursery? Are you… Are you… Pregnant?"

"Oh, yes, Spacer. You've knocked up this poor trader girl." Joxe pouted. "What will I do now? I don't even know how to make drinks in a spacer bar."

Brent looked flabbergasted. He stared at Joxe for a moment and then wrapped her in a ferocious hug. "I thought… I thought…" Brent mumbled as he held her. He pulled back a little and smiled and kissed her. "Regardless, I cannot imagine being happier that I am right now to share a new life with you." Brent laughed a bit hysterically and kissed her again. "You'll never need to worry about hustling for a living! We are in this new adventure together." He asked. "How far along are you? How long have you known?"

319-1402 1005 - Aboard Wanderer enroute to Gorky

Joxe blushed. "I didn't even think about my implant. Even though I was in stasis, it still expired. I remembered yesterday when one of the engineers was talking about renewing her implant. So, I went to the station's infirmary. They run a pregnancy test before replacing the implant." She shrugged. "Oops."

Brent hugged Joxe and gave a laugh. "I suppose I should have asked or had my own implant. Anyway as they say, no one is just a little bit pregnant." He held her for a while stroking her hair. "How do we want to mix our adventuring and exploring with your pregnancy? I hate to be the overprotective father but it is something of concern. The star port may be the best place to have the baby but I'm not sure how we want to raise him or her."

Joxe smiles. "The traditional way spacers had children was to live on a suitable planet until the child was born. That doesn't apply anymore, of course. And, we have the capability now to make long jumps if we need to get back home in a hurry. We can convert the upper deck to a larger space for us and the children, especially now that we have the personnel modules in the cargo bay. We can keep a couple of them."

Brent considered Joxe's explanation. He frowned a bit as he thought through the implications. "That makes good sense when the children are little. We will want to have a larger community for them to be a part of when they get older. I guess that is what we are striving to do right now; pull back the darkness and open up a peaceful spacefaring community." Brent thought a bit more. "I hadn't thought about the personnel modules but that makes good sense. We will want to have a little more room to move around while still preserving the cargo deck for more hazardous shipments."

"We've seen that some people have survived, but we are apparently one of the few who've managed to get back into space. That is both good and bad, as we are always in danger of having the ship confiscated by the locals. We know that Keipes is a threat, so I'd like to stay away from that part of the main until Egg's scouts and navy is up and running. We can go rimward if you'd like."

https://travellermap.com/?p=22.437!-72.649!6.85

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:20, Sun 17 Mar.

Brent nodded his head with a solemn look. "I agree with you." He brought up the local star map and displayed it holographically for the two of them to consider. "I say we had rim ward down the main. We can skip Donegal but the next three worlds in a row could have relic survivors given the favorable biosphere."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:57, Sun 17 Mar.

Joxe nods. "I agree. We can stop by Egg to refuel on the way back, and to deliver anyone who needs to return. After that, we can resupply and go."

Brent looked at the map further. "We can go down the main as far as Montezuma and then jump over to Lira and run up that main before jumping back toward Egg."

"I like that idea," Joxe replies. "Would we take anyone else with us, or we two go on our own?"

Brent thinks for a moment and then shrugged. "We could bring another long or we could rely on a couple of high-end AI robots like Edak to help out. Actually if we have modular robot brains then we could pair them with remotely piloted or small vehicles that we can carry. I think at the very least we need a higher end, armed air raft for exploring."

Joxe grins. "I never thought I'd have a shipyard at my beck and call." Her smile fades and she looks down, patting her still-flat abdomen. "Of course, I never thought I'd be in this situation at all. Everything and everyone I once knew is gone." She sniffs and begins to cry.

Brent pulled Joxe into his arms and stroked her hair and back soothingly. "You have friends and now family here in the future. We have a bright future ahead of us as we make our own little family and portion of the universe. All those you left behind will be in our memories and all that we do will be dedicated to them."

Joxe cries and sniffles for a few minutes, and then she finally lifts her head. "I love you, Brent. I know that you're right, but I will always miss what once was."

Brent gives her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I love you too Joxe. I'm sorry that you lost all of your friends and family but I am so fortunate to have you on the past in my life." His hand rested on her stomach. "Not only that but you are carrying our new life and family. I cannot imagine being so lucky as to conceiving a child with you"

"Just wait until you have to change diapers," Joxe laughs. "I have new friends, and a new family."

328-1402 1200- Gorky System - ARG Shipyard

All of the humans aboard the ARG facility are sitting at lunch together in a dining room that overlooks the logistics ship's berth. Wanderer is in a nearby bay, being provisioned to Brent and Joxe's specifications. Edak sits with her new boss, who is giggling with Eleni over something.

Kevin Eason, who is being trained as the logistics ship's captain, with his wife Emii as his executive officer, looks across the table at Brent and Joxe. "Where will you two go when you leave here?"

Brent glanced over at Joxe and then replied. "We are thinking of heading down the main to the rim ward all the way to Montezuma. We want to stay away from Kiepes for now. We will focus on the worlds that are at least minimally habitable without much technology. We will be looking for survivors and infrastructure. With just the two of us even with robotic help our surveys will be necessarily minimal."

Kevin taps a command into the table's inset panel, and a holographic map comes to life over the table. "That's a long way from help. Not that I'm trying to discourage you, given that we really need to know what else might be waiting for us." Kevin chews his lip as he thinks. "You have fifty-four tons' cargo capacity, two turret-sized hardpoints, three light weapons auxiliary hardpoints that most people don't know about in the Beowulf's design specifications, plus living space and life support for up to ten people. I don't think we can spare anyone to accompany you," he smiles at Joxe, "not that I think you're considering it right now. I ask that you consider setting a deadline to communicate with us. If we don't hear from you, we will go looking along your last known travel route."

Emii nods. "You could take nav buoys, encoded and stealthed, of course, to give us updates on your mission."

"Which leads to my next question. What do you want to take with you?"

Brent nodded as Kevin spoke. "We figured that there wasn't anyone to spare for our mission. We hope to enlist a couple of artificial intelligences like Edak to help fill in the spaces and remotely operate equipment where it might be dangerous for any of us human or artificial to go. We might take a living quarters module with us along with plenty of remotes and spare parts and of course an upgrade and backup to our auto doc. The idea of taking buoys to communicate along the trail is a good one."

Kevin manipulates a virtual keyboard as Brent speaks. "The AIs we can send out will be more like the ship herself, capable but not sentient. Do you want any additional weapons, armor, or vehicles?"

"We have the laser turret and a missile launcher with a five-shot magazine," Joxe puts in. "These are all Imperial top-of-the-line, and brand new, not a couple of centuries old."

"What do you want in the small hardpoints," Kevin asks.

"Do we want to set the turrets up as triples? That might help a bit. As for the small hard points I would suggest a mix of lasers and fusion weapons that don't require ammunition. Still though it would be nice to have at least one grenade launcher." Brent considered. "Even largely but not completely autonomous AI will be very helpful in accomplishing routine or dangerous tasks."

(See the notes for turret weapons).

Kevin consults his display. "We can set you up with two eight-centimeter laser slash FGMP turrets and a grenade launcher turret. The lasers aren't for space combat, of course, but they are effective against personnel and light vehicles. The fusion guns use ammo, but they can punch anything except an Imperial battle tank. The turrets can carry ten rounds for the FGMPs and fifty grenades in the grenade launcher, and the lasers are tied into ship's power."

"For the AIs, do you want them to operate in a vehicle, or be robotic?"

Ken nods as weaponry is discussed. "The smaller turrets sound fine. We should have some spare missiles to use as mines. As for the AI's I think robotic would be best."

Kevin and Joxe help Brent to finalize their loadout list.

"It will take us two days to finish the robots, and to complete the loadout," Kevin says. "In the meantime, feel free to walk around and enjoy the facility."

Brent works hard with Joxe and the others to come up with a comprehensive list of equipment and weaponry to outfit the ship. He also works mainly with Joxe to come up with approaches to the different planets on their target list. Lastly though he does take time to walk through the facility and gardens with Joxe alone.

Joxe finds a secluded place in the gardens that was set up to offer some privacy. She takes advantage of it - and Brent - twice.

The provisioning proceeds without issues, and Wanderer is soon ready to fly. The group meets together for breakfast as Brent and Joxe prepare to depart.

Brent greatly enjoys the interlude as well as the technical challenges working with Joxe in the others to provision and ready the ship. As they meet for breakfast Brent outlines their plan to head down the main away from the main threat.

"I think that's a good idea," Kevin says. "We will follow you in a month or so. It will take us a while to work up the crew, and we're slower in jump than you."

"We will be sure to leave the message buoys behind us. Hopefully we can make contact as each of our initial targets should be marginally or better habitable even at a low technology level. I don't expect large, sophisticated populations but we can get the bootstrapping process started sooner than later. Once we can introduce modern medical technology and nutrition as well as physical safety the populations should start to increase rapidly."

The group wraps up a few last details, and then Brent and Joxe are free to depart.

339-1402 0900 - Egg System - Tala Orbit

Wanderer boosts at one gee, making her way toward Tala's hundred-diameters limit. Brent and Joxe had stopped at Tala Station to refuel, deliver messages, and update the powers-that-be on the situation in Gorky. The couple also took on fresh provisions for their journey.

After having so many people aboard, the ship seemed larger with just the two of them. The cargo bay had been modified to allow it to be occupied without wearing vacuum tight gear, giving them more open space than the crew or passenger areas provided. Most of the space was taken up with vehicles and supplies, but there was still room enough to help stave off claustrophobia.

"Here we go," Joxe says from  her station as the ship approaches the jump entrance point for their voyage to Bikar's mapped gas giant, a two-parsec jump. "Two minutes."

Brent nods and looks up from the controls. "Two minute warning to jump, aye. Dimming lights." Brent dims lights and then activates the jobs computer to take them into jump space.

Wanderer transitions smoothly into hyperspace, and the log updates to show their intended destination.

OOG: Brent can choose to refuel on the main world, or at one of the three gas giants in the system. According to the navigation charts, there was a Class D starport on the planet's surface.

Brent will refuel at the middle of the three gas giants and then boost to the planet. That will give them time to scan for activity.

Since a boost-only flight from the gas giant to the planet would take about 18 days, the ship's AI suggests a micro jump to a point where they can survey the planet from a light-second away, and then approach if it's safe. The flight to the surface would then take about ten hours, plus the five days for the micro jump.

Brent nods at the suggestion. "Okay, let's do that. We can also take measurements from the gas giant as well before we commit to jumping in."

346-1402 0750 - Bikar System - Gas Giant Arrival

Wanderer translates back into normal space with nary a bobble. The passive sensors immediately begin gathering data, showing nothing but the system's primary and other natural bodies. Joxe sits back in her seat and sighs audibly. "I think this has been the hardest thing for me to get used to. There's just no one around but us." She shakes her head. "I know that will change, but it's still unnerving."

Brent puts a hand on Joxe's shoulder as the passive readings come back negative. "I can't imagine when all of this was swarming with activity and people. It was all burned down to the roots and worse." His voice is low and sympathetic. "I also cannot imagine how this must make you feel except that I am here for you and we have our family and our lives to make together."

Joxe nods jerkily, and, after a moment, takes a deep breath. "Yes, you're right. We are starting over." She consults her display. "Do we refuel here, or jump to the main world?"