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Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars.

Posted by GM SteamRollerFor group 0
GM SteamRoller
GM, 173 posts
Gearhead
Machinesmith
Sat 12 Sep 2020
at 16:41
  • msg #67

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

When everyone is done with their shopping and heads back to the ship, you find a lot of busy activity going on around the ship.

Petras greets you when you arrive.

"Good news! Dr. Solar and I were discussing our projects," he begins. "I was as impressed with his freeze ray as he was with my ship! After a bit of conversation, we talked about the science behind our inventions."

"It turns out that our sciences are intertwined! And complementary, as well. I've already been making a few adjustments. With Solar's freeze ray science applied to the ether propeller, we can cut our travel time in half! I should only take us 30 days to reach Mars."

"I still have to work out the mathematics for the new velocity, since Mars won't be in the same relative position if we travel faster, but it should still be within a day or two of my estimate."

Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 386 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Sun 13 Sep 2020
at 02:06
  • msg #68

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

Grimsby replies "Excellent!The sooner I am able to resume my duties on Mars the better --and I daresay the rest of the party will find exploring Mars more exciting than sitting about on the ship."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:07, Sun 13 Sept 2020.
Aubrey St. Claire
player, 51 posts
Eccentric Inventor
Antecdents unknown
Sun 13 Sep 2020
at 03:01
  • msg #69

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

"That is good news, indeed!" Aubrey says.

"I've never fancied myself going to sea for months at a time. I think 60 days in space would have been worse!"

"Is there anything I... we can do to help?"

Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett
player, 207 posts
Navy Commander (Ret)
Wandering Explorer
Sun 13 Sep 2020
at 05:39
  • msg #70

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 68):

     "That is good news, Petras!" Joseph adds, "From our discussion before I left the ship, I was assuming a trip of two months!  A long time, yes, but not so long that I felt we needed to stock the ship with the truly long-lasting supplies which sailors, everywhere, like to tell horror stories about!  No hardtack and Jerky!"

     "I made a fine deal with a Chandler I've bought from in the past, and have arranged for a couple of tons of foodstuffs to be delivered.  Flour, salt, and sugar, of course, as well as some beans and lentils.  Root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beets and such.  I felt that I could skip choosing any salted or salt-packed foods, for a trip of two months duration, and instead stocked up on dried and smoked meats, sausages, and--this being British Gibraltar--I even got a dozen pounds of kippered fish."

     "And, while I usually buy supplies for wilderness expeditions--which do tend to be both compact and of long duration--as we shall be comfortably aboard a ship the entire time, I also chose to buy several varieties of tinned foods from England and France--including tinned milk!  This shall be a new experience, for me.  In the past, the expeditions I was part of either did without milk, or we brought along a goat."

     "There are some relatively fresh items, as well--fruits, mainly--which we shall have to consume in the first week-or-so.  After that, I got a couple of barrels of apples, some Italian lemons--oh!  And it's harvest time for dates and figs in Morocco!  So I got plenty of those."

     "I believe I got enough coffee and tea--I got a dozen pounds each of Robusta coffee beans from Morocco, as well as Assam Black Tea from India, and, of course, Earl Grey Tea."

     "And my friend gave me a really great price on all of it!  Just, uh, just sixty Pounds!"

Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 387 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Mon 14 Sep 2020
at 02:05
  • msg #71

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 70):


Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 388 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Tue 15 Sep 2020
at 02:29
  • msg #72

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

Grimsby looked Joseph quizzically and remarked, "60 pounds? I have never had occasion to buy provisions in Gibraltar, but that seems extraordinarily low. Either Gibraltar is extremely cheap, or you have an extremely good friend."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Tue 15 Sept 2020.
Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett
player, 208 posts
Navy Commander (Ret)
Wandering Explorer
Tue 15 Sep 2020
at 03:59
  • msg #73

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 72):

     Joseph makes a waving-off gesture with his left hand'

     "Oh, yeah, me and Savvy go way back..." Joseph responds, jovially,

     "Saveriu, that is.  His name is Saveriu." Joseph adds, then looks away, not meeting Grimsby's eye, "He's...uh...he's Corsican.  He runs a little Chandlery, down by the docks, where he sells stuff his brother brings in--a variety of things for sailors, fishermen, and...uh...well, he also sells to folks just looking for a good deal."

     "Savvy can offer such low prices because...um...well, you see, his brother is a...ship captain...who sails around the Mediterranean going after...uh...looking for...deals...for all kinds of...stuff...he always manages to come back with...lots of ship's stores.  Y'know--ropes, sails, patching tar, the occasional load of fuel coal, provisions--that kinda stuff.  Sometimes he even trades for stuff from around the world."

     "Then, Savvy's brother passes all this stuff on to him, to sell.  See?"

Catherine Harston
player, 183 posts
Proper Young Lady
Tue 15 Sep 2020
at 07:26
  • msg #74

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

"Oh wow!" Catherine exclaimed. "Only thirty days! It's very impressive, Petras."

"I do love apples" she mentioned to Joseph.
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 389 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Wed 16 Sep 2020
at 01:05
  • msg #75

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 73):

Grimsby looks harder at Joseph and says, "Ship's supplies cheap, perhaps,sails and tar and so on, but it is strange that Savvy had so many of the items we need at such a price."
Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett
player, 209 posts
Navy Commander (Ret)
Wandering Explorer
Sat 19 Sep 2020
at 07:25
  • msg #76

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 75):

     "Well, from what little I know about travel between the planets," Joseph responds to Grimsby, "And everything I've heard about air travel from German friends, there isn't all that much difference between them and sailing a ship on the ocean.  As far as day-to-day operations go, at least.  I mean, except for needing to provide air, everything else remains the same--food and water for the crew, parts and supplies to keep the ship running.  As a former naval officer, I can tell you, this is likely very true."

     "So, if you think of it that way, it's not so unusual that a maritime chandler would have everything we need, is it?  And, as I...uh...said before...ah...Savvy's brother...um...sails extensively...around the Mediterranean Sea."

Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 390 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Sun 20 Sep 2020
at 02:37
  • msg #77

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 76):

Grimsby shrugs and says, "I daresay he must sail quite extensively --perhaps without paying, customs?"
Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett
player, 210 posts
Navy Commander (Ret)
Wandering Explorer
Sun 20 Sep 2020
at 09:15
  • msg #78

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 77):

     Joseph turns away, and rubs the back of his neck in an almost embarrassed manner,

     "Yeah, Savvy's always said pretty much that." Joseph allows, "It's sort of a...uh...tradition, around the Mediterranean, he says, to...uh...only pay customs when you have to..."
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 391 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Tue 22 Sep 2020
at 02:53
  • msg #79

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 78):

Grimsby responds, "From what I have heard, Savvy is right about its being an old custom in these parts. I only hope he did not practice it on the British authorities in Gibraltar --we would not like to have our supplies confiscated. However, I doubt anyone here would much care if he violated the laws of Morocco or the Ottoman Empire, what's left of it."
GM SteamRoller
GM, 174 posts
Gearhead
Machinesmith
Thu 24 Sep 2020
at 01:28
  • msg #80

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

The supplies that Joseph purchased begin showing up in short order.

Meanwhile, Petras has hired a carpenter to help him build the stairs he had in mind. The carpenter shows up with a cart full of lumber and soon gets to work on building the stairs.

Once he gets underway with Petras supervision, Petras lets him work alone.
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 392 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Thu 24 Sep 2020
at 02:06
  • msg #81

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

While Grimsby is not expert on all the kinds of supplies Joseph brought, he will do his best to quietly check the ones he can evaluate to ensure they are safe and of good quality.
Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett
player, 211 posts
Navy Commander (Ret)
Wandering Explorer
Thu 24 Sep 2020
at 03:30
  • msg #82

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

In reply to GM SteamRoller (msg # 80):

     "Oh!  Petras!  Have you got a moment?" Joseph calls out, separating himself from Grimsby (before that worthy should think to ask questions of a more...embarrassing...nature).

     "Petras, I have a question about water." Joseph says, catching up to the young inventor, "I've gone around arranging supplies for our trip to Mars, and that includes water supplies.  So I need to ask, did you design your ship with a central water storage tank, or do I need to get our water in sealed barrels?"



OOC: Joseph has dealt with his "friend", Savvy, on the up and up--Joseph is expecting supplies in an "acceptable" condition....however...anything which would be considered "ship's stores"--items used in the maintenance and/or operation of the vessel--will obviously have been "re-packaged".  And as for those commodities, foodstuffs and "luxury" items that Grimsby inspects--all of them will have Customs Stamps....but only about half of those are British Custom Stamps...and none of those are from Gibraltar...
     Oh, and the water will be delivered either by a water tank wagon (if the ship has a dedicated water tank), or in a dozen-or-so barrels (36 Imperial Gallons or 163.7 Liters)...and the price for the water is included in the price Joseph quoted ^_^

Petras Valois
NPC, 19 posts
Lithuanian Inventor
17-yr old Prodigy
Thu 24 Sep 2020
at 04:02
  • msg #83

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

"It will take Ned a few hours to finish the stairs," Petras says to the others. "I offered to help but he said I'd just be in the way. Not that I disagreed with him."

"So, I suggest we go to a restaurant and enjoy a good meal. It will probably be the last we have for awhile."


At Joseph's question, he adds:

"Both, really. The ballast in the bilge is the water storage tank. We don't really need ballast, though, unless we land on water. It can't hurt to have a few barrels on board."
Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett
player, 212 posts
Navy Commander (Ret)
Wandering Explorer
Thu 24 Sep 2020
at 04:48
  • msg #84

Re: Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

Petras Valois:
At Joseph's question, he adds:

"Both, really. The ballast in the bilge is the water storage tank. We don't really need ballast, though, unless we land on water. It can't hurt to have a few barrels on board."

     Joseph opens his mouth to respond, then closes it, with a frown, and thinks about that for a moment.

     "O-o-kay, I can see the logic in that." Joseph responds, "A bit unorthodox for a nautical design, but it could work.  However, did you design your ship to use the water in that bilge-tank as potable water?  Oh, and I just thought of this--since you did think to put a, hopefully potable, water tank on board--does that mean you have running water on board?"
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 393 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Fri 25 Sep 2020
at 02:26
  • msg #85

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 82):

Grimsby finds that the assorted customs stamps confirm his suspicions about "Savvy's" sources.
He takes a quick look around to make sure no British customs agents are lurking nearby and murmurs, "Well, since these goods have made it safely onto our vessel without being seized, we should be safe enough keeping the unless the British suddenly order a surprise inspection. Fortunately, I am not a agent of Her Majesty's Customs, so it is not my personal duty to enforce the tariff laws." He does try to cautiously open a few of the more basic food items and see if they smell or even taste right (if he can break off a few little bites without being noticed).
Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett
player, 213 posts
Navy Commander (Ret)
Wandering Explorer
Sat 26 Sep 2020
at 07:46
  • msg #86

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 85):

OOC: that would be GM's call.  I made this stuff up "in good faith" ^_^
Catherine Harston
player, 184 posts
Proper Young Lady
Mon 28 Sep 2020
at 08:47
  • msg #87

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

"Will we have enough water for bathing?" Catherine asked.
Petras Valois
NPC, 20 posts
Lithuanian Inventor
17-yr old Prodigy
Tue 29 Sep 2020
at 18:36
  • msg #88

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

"The bilge tank is potable water," Petras responds to Joseph.

"One of the reasons I recommend a few barrels is that we can use them first and then use the empty ones to store waste water."

"Part of the bilge is a water filtration system. We can do a reasonable job of purifying water through that."

"I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'running water'. There is hardly room on the ship to deal with a high pressure system. However, we do have a pump and rubber tube lines that go to the kitchen and latrine."

"While I've taken into account washing up, Miss Harston, we shall have to wait and see how much water we consume. We have 8 people on board. While I have a bathtub on board, a bath once a week is probably doable."

"Keep in mind, no one is likely to get dirty or dusty while on board. Daily personal hygiene is necessary, but that can be accommodate with a sponge bath."


Even as young as he was, he clearly had enough sense not to mention recycling the water to the women.
Brie O'Malley
player, 212 posts
Irish
Stunning Beauty
Tue 29 Sep 2020
at 18:43
  • msg #89

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

Brie had kept to herself a lot, shopping for certain herbs and plants and chemicals in the town, not really expecting to find much.

She had spent considerable time with Dr. Solar on the off chance that he was the 'real deal' and actually had any of the things she needed in his wagon.

"This is certainly an adventure, Petras!" she said to the young Lithuanian, feeling he was too young to flirt with, emotionally if not necessarily by age.

"If you are sure that my presence is welcome and that I won't be putting an unnecessary burden on you and the others and the ship, I'd still like to visit Mars!"
Aubrey St. Claire
player, 52 posts
Eccentric Inventor
Antecdents unknown
Tue 29 Sep 2020
at 18:45
  • msg #90

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

"The same goes for me, Petras!" Aubrey chimes in. "I suppose I'm the one that started this adventure, and I'd certainly like to see it through. Nor would I wish to miss a chance to visit the Red Planet."

"But, if you feel my presence would cause some difficulty, I am willing to forego this trip... and catch the next one!"

Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 394 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Wed 30 Sep 2020
at 02:22
  • msg #91

Adventure #2: Gibraltar to Mars

Grimsby remarks, "As far as I am concerned, I would welcome all our present party on this adventure. Given some of the villains we have already met, the more on our side the better.'
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