Ledo

You do some finagling to get the 7 tons of Wyltz goods sold before you jump to Asteltine.   The refrigerated crates of yogurt and eggs get loaded aboard.  Neither of these items cryo well.  But they should make the two jumps you'll need to make fine.

The contracts you're carrying, both the ones from Wyltz and this new 'milk run', contain similar clauses about delivery:  you need to take the goods to brokers at the Bowman starport.  The brokers will sample for freshness, and then you will deliver them to a site run by a belter co-op further on in the Bowman system.  The co-op will take possession and issue a letter of receipt.  Funds are then wired into your account.

This arrangement is because of the pirating going on.  The seller assumes the risk for transport. But that's built into the price.

The broker at the Bowman starport will provide the drop off coordinates after testing.

As you leave Iderati, you notice several ships following your vector.  This feels a little more natural than what happened at Wyltz:  Iderati tends to release ships for jump points in groups instead of one at a time.  Iderati does assign coordinates to jump from.  So two or three ships going the same way as you isn't odd in and of itself.  Though one seems to follow you just a little too long.

But it amounts to nothing. It drops off when you're about forty minutes out from your jump point.  There's a Iderati security cruiser not far away and no one shows up as you hit jump space.

Asteline is almost a cake walk.  You luck into a bump up on the gas giant refuel queue:  a ship ahead of you develops engine problems and has to limp to port.  You get shoehorned in and manage to refuel half a day ahead of schedule.

Maybe it's just your nerves, but once again, something kind of odd happens when you head for jump coordinates.  This time it isn't a ghosting on your sensors.  When you pull out of the gas giant's atmo, a ship that had been in queue suddenly veers off and seems to be heading out to jump coordinates about the same time as you.  The ship has the call name Silly Boy.  You remember it seeing it in the queue list, and it was a few slots after your original slot.  So unless it got bumped too, it shouldn't have refueled yet.  It also is heading out from a trajectory that makes it seem like it had never gone into the gas giant's atmo.

But the Silly doesn't follow you.  It doesn't even head out in the same course.  And there aren't any blips behind you.

A quick look up shows Silly being some kind of private yacht.  It looks a little rough to be a yacht, but then again if it's being used by some rich game hunter or a prospector, a yacht can get pretty dinged up.

The registry for ownership is showing as owned by a corporation out of Collace.  Twin Stars Research.

---

General

The passengers continue on as they did before.  Ulie becomes even more of a ghost.  She now only comes out for the communal meal.  Calliope says she's bringing her a breakfast bar in the morning and that the producer is doing some kind of business related stuff.

Calliope continues to practice in the brig.  She asks if anyone wouldn't mind playing handball with her once every couple of days.  "I need to get some exercise in if I can."

Handball in the hold isn't uncommon.  A lot of crews will do it.  Most containers are sturdy enough to use for the game.

Maybell has the garden looking awesome.  The woman has a green thumb.  She chats with anyone who drops by.  The Sister is actually a pretty skilled conversationalist.  She seems to have a good sense of how long people are willing to talk, understands quickly what subjects the other party has no interest in talking about, and can read the mood.  Best of all she is a good listener.  She makes you feel like she's actually trying to understand what is being said, only interrupting to ask questions to clarify a point she might not get, and not making assumptions about what is being said.  She manages to save a dying basil plant and at least one meal includes a pasta dish that's spiced up with fresh basil and real garlic.

The frozen people are still frozen.  No issues.  The androids remain off.

---

During the jump to Bowman, Fritz asks Tepha...if they made a movie out of your life, who would you want to play you?

---

Nero

Obviously you can't update your channel during a jump.  All you can do is look over the last downloads the system took in before Tia slide into hyperspace.

The Bugga Boys hold a concert to raise money for victims of the whole flood on Wyltz thing.  They manage to ratchet up a nice, tidy sum but more so their subscriber count goes through the roof.

There's news about Ansley's trial.  She's going to be arraigned as part of the wackos.  The Paws announce their disbanding to absolutely no one's surprise.

The last comments you have on your channel are mostly the same ol' same ol'.  That weirdo who was making death threats piped up.  Have anyone you love?  Say goodbye to them.  I'll find you sooner or later

The guy's delusional.

The last comment that you downloaded before you got shut off the net reads

You should do an expose on corruption in the entertainment industry.  Since you're acquainted with that kind of thing now.  Everyone loves a good scandal.  And wouldn't it get you ratings?

While they are refueling Ledo starts creating a data folder to hold drive signatures and sensor scans. Maybe it was just paranoia but he began to think about things tactically. If someone wanted to track them and they knew they were a J-2 ship they could deploy ships to surrounding systems and they could report in when he showed up and which way he was headed.

He began cross referencing data known with data on the duchess as he figured she was the only one with the resources to create a sensor net that large.

Tepha giggles a little at Fritz's question.

"The only one I would trust to play me is Elyssa Cayne. Glamorous, talented, she's won what, three? Four Best Actress awards? Plus the best body money can buy. I heard it is actually a full-body transplant so she will look like that forever. That's the dream though, to look young and beautiful forever. If I had enough money I would do it in a heartbeat. I'm kind of hoping we can land a big score and land the millions needed to make it happen."

After several days of moping around Nero was finally getting back into the swing of things. He had even recorded a couple of videos but they had quickly gone pathetic as he had veered towards talking about Ansley. He was done with that. That last message though triggered a spark inside of him and he picked up the recording camera as he lay on the bunk.

"What drives a teen popstar into acts of terrorism? The Pansy Paws, a popular teen sensation driven into bombing an underwater dome and potentially drowning millions? What can drive someone at the heights of fame and fortune into throwing it all away? You asked for it, you're getting it. This is Nero diving into the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry. Get ready as I'll be pumping out videos going over what the hell happened at Wyltz and more! Don't forget to like and subscribe and turn on notifications so you can be the first to hear what I'm going to say."

It was short and sweet but it let his viewers know he was alive and it felt good to be producing content again.

Ledo

Hmmm.

I see Ledo's To Do as two separate rolls.

The log is definitely do-able.  But in order to set it up and organize it properly give me a Electronics-Sensors/Edu check.

The Duchess check would involve cross checking against available records.  Admin/Soc Standing on that one.

---

Tepha

Fritz seems to consider that.  Hmmm.  In doing a comparison of facial profiles and body types, she is an 87.4% match for yours body wise.  Though your hair colors are different and facial comparison shows a 62.4% variation.  But her role in My Eyes Are Up Here Senator was definitely a woman who has your spirit.

I guess I don't get it.  Comparing Ms. Calliope to Countess Gressa von Olik, I come up with a much greater disparity between the two women, almost into the ninety percents in facial comparisons.  Also the Countess has about 25 pounds on Ms. Calliope.

I guess I just don't understand the world of acting.

---

General

Tia comes out of jump after six and a half days standard time.  As the ship reorients into actual space, a blare comes out on the sensors.

There are three ships two clicks away.  It appears two of the ships are attacking the third.

Ledo realizes he is not very well tasked to creating computer databases but lucky for him he has a top notch engineer he can order around to do it for him.



15:47, Today: Gary 'Rig' Rigan rolled 9 using 2d6+2.  electronics/edu.
15:46, Today: Ledo Typhin rolled 8 using 2d6-2.  admin/soc.

Tepha laughed at Fritz' comment. It was odd to find that her education in the arts would someday help her discuss matters with a growing AI.

"It's not just about physical similarities. We don't just have visual senses, do we. There is also voice and speech patterns to consider as well as the ability to convey emotions across the holo. I would rather an actress who isn't an exact match but can deliver a moving performance over an identical match that cannot remember their lines or delivers them robotically. Besides they can adjust her appearance drastically in post-production anyway."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 21:45, Sat 02 Jan 2021.

When they reverted into a firefight Ledo quickly hit the comms to alert the crew and passengers.

"This is the Captain. Combat stations. All passengers please head to your rooms immediately and strap in for sudden manuvers."

As the crew filed in he began issuing orders."

"Silver, warm up the ion cannon. Tepha get us a read on what is going on. Who is attacking who? If these are pirates let's see if there is a reward for their destruction or capture."

He considered things and then sent a private message to BB.

"Feel like taking a swing with our turret again?"

Tepha sets down before the sensors...

How about a Sensors/Int roll please?

At first blush, it is two ships in a fight with a third one.  The third one is holding it's own though.  It seems to be a larger ship, maybe an overhauled Fat Trader.  Those have been out of commission a while.

The radio signals are scrambled together.  It takes a moment to try to unscramble them...

Tepha tries to work things out but it is slow going.

OOC:
15:54, Mon 28 Dec 2020: Tepha Pezal rolled 5 using 2d6+1.  int/sensors.

In reply to Tepha Pezal (msg # 10):

Tepha, at best you can tell, the two attacking ships are pirates.  But what the third one is you can't tell.  Their signals are too jammed up into the others.

Ledo, you bring Tia on course for intercept...

There are two pirates.  For now, let's call them A and B.  Ship 3 is the victim ship

It appears Ship A has been attacking from long range, herding Ship 3 towards B.  B seems to be trying to close for a boarding action.

You are actually closer to B and Ship 3 than you are to A.  You don't think they've pinged you yet.  But they will once you start to close.

Let me know how you want to approach and if there are any questions.  Thanks.

Silver waited for Ledo to give her a target and then she aligned the ion cannon barb for a shot, hoping to disable the pirate ship.

OOC: 11 to hit for 50 ion damage
11:14, Today: Silver rolled 11 using 2d6+2.  dex/gunnery for ion barbette.
11:15, Today: Silver rolled 5 using 2d6.  ion damage x10.

In reply to Silver (msg # 12):

Silver, your shots slap A along the thruster side.  A's power levels begin to fluctuate.

Tepha, you can pick up signals coming from B to A.  B is telling A to withdraw.

3 seems to be firing up its engines.  Looks like they are going to try to make a run for it.

Roll an init dice for the next round and post your actions/rolls please.

With his keen mind, Ledo catches the pirates by surprise, coming at them in an angle that keeps the prey ship between him and the aggressive pirate boarding ship.

OOC: Okay so I rolled a lot before figuring out how to actually do this properly...

Ledo - Naval tactics: 10 = +2 to initiative from the effect (10-8=2)
10:35, Today: Ledo Typhin rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  tactics (naval).

For the tia I rolled a 16 intiative:
10:36, Today: Captain rolled 16 using 2d6+4.  tia init: 2d6+ 1pilot + 2 effect +1 thrust.

So I am guessing I am going first.


Ledo keeps them on their trajectory and moves them closer to their target ship.

OOC: I don't know what range band we're in but he will spend their 1 point of thrust to move closer to to their target.

Silver tries to line up her shot but with Ledo's maneuvering it is a little tricky.

OOC: If they are in medium range this is a miss. If I get the +1 for short range then it is a hit for another 50 ion damage.

10:29, Today: Silver rolled 7 using 2d6+2.  dex/gunnery for ion barbette.
10:33, Today: Silver rolled 5 using 2d6.  ion damage x10.

Rig keeps a careful eye on the powerplant. With both weapon systems engaged the reactor is running at near full capacity.

OOC: Power usage has been designed so that both weapons + M-drive + basic ship functions = 87 so there is a liiiitle power to spare.

Tepha attempts to cut through the noise and get a sensor lock on their target ship.

OOC: Success! If you allow this to have happened during their "surprise round" then with a boon Silver's shot could probably hit if they don't shake the sensor lock...
10:48, Today: Tepha Pezal rolled 11 using 2d6+1.  sensor lock.

Seeing that the ion cannon had did a number on their target, BB swings the turret around and rakes the other pirate ship with beam fire hoping to scare them off.

OOC: 9 to hit at medium range. 2 damage
10:51, Today: BB Nova rolled 9 using 2d6+6.  double beam laser turret @ Ship B.
10:52, Today: BB Nova rolled 2 using 1d6+1.  beam turret damage.

In reply to BB Nova (msg # 18):

I'll give you the sensor lock but you would be medium range at the moment even with the 1 thrust.

A takes another round of ion, moving too slow in reaction to the surprise attack to be able to dodge fast enough.

Going from what's coming in, it looks like they do have some hardened systems, Fritz informs you Tepha and Ledo.  But it doesn't appear to be related to engineering.  I think you've overloaded their nav lines.

In other words, they can't steer.

BB, you rake the side of the other pirate.  It fires back a single shot, but that seems more designed to make Tia give it some room.

It starts to head out.

B was hit by BB (say that four times fast), and is disengaging.

A seems to be frozen at the moment.

3 is also starting to move off

Ledo continues trying to close the gap. Their fuel tanks were pretty dry after that last jump otherwise he would pour on the afterburners.

OOC: Using 1 thrust to continue to close the gap. That should bring them to short range

Even as the pirate ship was going dark Silver continued pumping ion cannon shots into it with the goal of completely frying the pirate ship's electronics.

OOC: 70 more ion damage, if it even matters anymore...
15:04, Today: Silver rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  ion cannon.
15:04, Today: Silver rolled 7 using 2d6.  ion damage x10.

With one pirate ship fried and the other bugging out Tepha scanned comm frequencies again hoping the jamming had been shut off. Her first goal was to get in contact with the "victim" ship to find out what was happening and to formally offer assistance.

"Fritz, if you can cross reference the information about this ships with local bounties or warrants. Let's see if there is a reward for their capture. If not, record local comms and see if we can't get a retroactive reward for pre-emptively eliminating a pirate.

BB smiled to herself as she saw the other ship turning tail. She snapped off a few more shots but at this point wasn't trying to hit. Just a couple wide beams to make sure the pirates were focused entirely on fleeing.

'A' still has life support.  But it's otherwise dead now after your latest pummeling Silver.

'B' takes the hint.  They suddenly do a hard burn, jetting off as fast as possible.

Searching local nets now Tepha.  Target ship is identified as The Red Princess.  Not a local registry.  No outstanding warrants.  Trying to backtrace its registry details.

The ship that just took off B that is is the Plasmatic Spifull. I don't think I got that wrong either.  What's a 'spifull'?  Several outstanding warrants on it.

Ship we're closing on is Down Bitch.  Again, pretty sure I got that right.  It's listed as stolen.  Several warrants.

Oh.  Red Princess is powering up to take off.

They are indeed ignoring any calls you make Tepha.  As Ledo swings the Tia over their head on course to bear down on Down Bitch, Red Princess fires it's engines and starts to go for hard burn.

You know, when I come up with these names, I never think ahead to how they'll look in sentence.

Down Bitch's bounties include a 50K for information leading to it's repossession, 75K for turning over it's current crew, and one special 125K bounty for the capture-alive-of one 'Wilo Stoffings'.

Ledo begins maneuvering for a docking procedure and hits the comms for the crew.

"Everyone gear up. There is a sizeable bounty on this ship if we can get the crew to surrender. Everyone suit up for a boarding operation."

With that Rig, Silver, and Ledo began suiting up into their boarding armor. It had worked out so far well enough so he commed BB again.

"Feel like earning a cool grand? This ship we took down is full of pirates and there there is a sizable bounty. If you can use it, we have a boarding vacc suit with your name on it..."

BB considered the offer and thought about the credits that might be falling into her lap. There was no way Ledo was doing this all for chump change and not knowing what was on the other side meant there was considerable danger involved.

"Cut me in at an even split. 20% of the bounty."

"What about 10%? Without talking to the others this is likely coming out of my share anyway."

BB drummed her fingers on the turret controls and considered it. It wouldn't do her very well if the captain and his crew went off and got killed chasing some bounty and it would mean a bit of excitement after a week of transit.

"Done. Let me get my gear together and let me know where to meet."

"I am granting you crew access to the ship. We will suit up in the medical bay."

Down Bitch is as rough as any ship stolen and converted for pirate work ever gets.  The hull is gouged and nicked, the shielding barely thick enough to be livable in places.  Most of the outer wiring is patchwork at best.  Only the guns and scanning dishes are kept in good shape.  The call lettering has been whitewashed and repainted so many times, it looks like layers of graffiti in some torn down tenament.


To think that Tia once must have looked the same.

Their mainframe is completely offline.  No taking control of it.  It's a corpse.  Fritz sounds oddly cheerful.  Life support and internal power are still online.  Looks like they have a secondary system that's hardcased.  Ion shots aren't going to penetrate it.  And can't hack into it from here.  It's internally sealed.  You would have to interface me directly into one of the system's ports for me to take it over.

Working on pulling up deck plans.  This is an old Savant model cruiser.  They stopped making these 104 years ago.  Looks like it's been patched up with parts from a Far Trader.

Three points of entry.  There's the main air lock.  A secondary air lock topside.  And the cargo doors around back.  None of the locks are responding.  You'll have to trip them manually from the outside.

Ledo maneuvers around for the main airlock and sets the controls over to docking allowing for minute movement and control of his own ship. No point in taking the other ship alive if he's going to crash his own ship in the process.

Working on getting maps uploaded.  Should have some more by tomorrow

There's not effort to interfere with the docking Ledo.  They're at least smart enough to realize they'll need to fight you hallway to hallway.

Once you're inside, look for ports to their internal system, Fritz says. If you lock in one of your hand coms to it, I can slip in that way.

The docking hall locks around the main airlock.  Seal is complete.  It looks like beyond the air lock door, there's a small chamber used for suiting up.  No one appears to be inside it at the moment.  More than likely, they'll wait for someone to walk out into the hallway and then open fire.

The three boarders enter the other ship while Rig covers the airlock and Tepha keeps an eye on sensors and comms.

Assuming that the jamming signal has been shut off she will open communications with the local space authority or navy, whichever appropriate, to relay what situation.

"Control, this is the Tiamat's Fligth informing you about a piracy encounter with ships Down Bitch and Red Princess. These two known pirates were attacking Plasmatic Spifull. We have successfully disabled the Down Bitch and driven away the Red Princess. Right now we are attempting to secure the Bitch and move its crew to our brig before towing the stolen ship back to port. Let us know if you can provide any additional assistance and prepare a port tug as the electronics on the Down Bitch are fried."

As part of this she will also send their sensor data and relevant licenses/permits for weaponry to make sure that Bowman is on their side when they finally bring their prize in.

Ledo, BB, and Silver enter the airlock, locked and loaded. They did their best to find cover as they finally opened up the inner airlock. None of them stuck their heads out at first though. Instead Ledo activated his external speakers, set to maximum volume to try and talk the other crew down.

"Pirates of the Down Bitch, this doesn't have to end in bloodshed. Your ship has been disabled and local authority has been notified. Your buddies have abandoned you so this can go one of three ways.

The first is you start shooting, we shoot back and kill you all and take the ship.

The second is you start shooting and drive us back and we just drag you back to port and it becomes a race between our towing speed and when your life support finally gives out.

The third way is you lay down your arms and surrender and ride back to port in our brig.

You played the game and lost. Cut your losses before things go any further."

OOC:
13:04, Today: Ledo Typhin rolled 7 using 2d6-2.  persuade check (+1 SOC, -3 untrained).

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 31):

Just as a note:  The Red Princess was the victim ship and is the one running away without saying thank you.  The Plasmatic Spifull was the other pirate.  I'm assuming Tepha reported it correctly.

Ledo's attempts to be reasonable meet with utter silence.  Doesn't it always?

The air lock pops open.  Silver, BB, and Ledo:  as the three of you start to enter into the changing room, you hear a gunshot.  It isn't close.  It sounds like it came from the aft of the ship and fairly far away.

After that, everything is quiet.

As you come into the changing room, you can see a left to the other decks ahead.  There's also a hall going to your left and right Uploaded Deck 1 Map to Maps

Fritz pops up a deck 1 schematic onto your helmet displays.

This is the standard deck floor plan.  Do not know if they have altered anything.  Working on pulling the second deck plans.  If you can plug me into a port, I should be able to get a better picture.

You don't see a port anywhere around.

Silver and BB look at one another and then nod before they both glance into the corridor. If they don't get shot they'll proceed forward with Ledo directing them towards the bridge.

With the map overlay Ledo does some quick analysis to determine the likely chokepoints that the enemy crew will be defending and whether there were any less obvious paths to reach their objective to circumnavigate the points.


16:00, Today: Ledo Typhin rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  military tactics

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 34):

The corridor is empty.  Doesn't seem to be anybody around the lift, at least no one visible.

From what you can tell Ledo, the lift ahead is probably the hottest zone.  There are a few other points where you think ambush could be likely due to hidey holes and nooks and crannies. Marked on map in yellow.  But otherwise, this deck seems fairly straightforward.  The bridge is on this floor Marked with a B on map.

Everything else here seems to be crew quarters, state rooms, and a medbay.  The hold and engineering are below.  If you guys do not want to take the lift down, you can access it by a ladder on the bridge.

Ledo plots them a path the long way through the ship around the choke points leading up to the bridge. His hope was they could get the enemy out of position by the time they actually engaged.

OOC: I'm a little confused by the map as to what is passable corridor but I think I get it. It looks like we can avoid the lift room and go all the way around the outer edge of the ship to reach the bridge by going all the way south, looping back and hitting the south door to the bridge.

If I'm getting that wrong then the goal is to avoid the ambush junctions and reach the bridge.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 36):

Yeah, it's not the best map.  I'll hunt around for better ones next time.  Sorry about that.

We should be able to wrap things up fairly quickly though

As you pass through one intersection, you begin to see the enemy may already be out of position.

At the intersection a woman lays on the ground dead.  Someone put a gun against her head and blew open the other side.

As you get towards the bridge you find two more bodies.  One has his throat cut open.  The other one is laying in the bridge doorway: the auto-door keeps trying to slide close, bounces off the dead guy's arm, and opens back up.

There are two others dead in the bridge.  They are both sitting in chairs.  Your first thought is that they shot each other from where they were sitting.  The way they are slumped, the wounds to their faces (they were both shot in the face from a distance), the blood spray...it all just looks like that.

The ship's computer is still ionized.  But you see a console that is still reading power and seems to be functioning.  It must be a node that Fritz is looking for.

The console seems to be a comm system.  It's locked at the moment.  The screen on it is frozen on a text messge:

DO IT OR I WILL

Silver and BB are silent in surprise. Ledo pushes the shock to the side and focuses on giving orders. He ensures that every body they pass is disarmed and checked to verify they are indeed dead before moving towards the bridge.

Once there he has Silver and BB secure the room while he plugs Fritz into the terminal to figure out just what is going on with the ship and comms back to Rig and Tepha

"Rig, something weird is happening here. Everyone so far is already dead. Tepha keep sensors locked on their reactor in case they're planning to scuttle the ship. Rig, make sure that airlock is sealed until we figure out what is going on."

Fritz's voice comes in over your helmet coms.

Hmm. They got some interesting barriers.  But nothing I can't...handle...just a moment...got it.  I'm in.

Huh.  This sealed system is termed a 'dead man's switch'.

From what I'm seeing, it triggered if the ship became disabled.  It's not a bobby trap or anything.  Instead it took a snap shot of the ship's logs and beamed them to that other ship.  The Plasmatic Spifull.  After that, the system fried out the onboard computer and life support.  Doesn't blow the ship up though.

After that, it beams out a message to all internal comm units.  Basically all the crew got the same message.

After a moment, a man's husky baritone starts to ooze through everyone's comms.

"Okay folks.  Fun time's over.  You're dead now.  You can either take yourself out of the game. Or you can wait until I find you.  And you know what'll happen then, right?"

Silver, you know the voice. You recognize it from the first intake of breath to the last syllable uttered.

Siri. It's Siri.  This ship must have been part of a fleet he's running.

I can't remember if Tepha or the fellas would recognize his voice.  Please assume they do if you think they would.  Thanks.

Fritz continues.  Well.  Wasn't that cheerful?  I can see bits and pieces of the log copy that got beamed out.  You want me to try to download and piece it together?

Ledo starts to nod but then catches himself remembering Fritz isn't right beside him.

"Do what you can, safely. Whoever this is sounds like a right bastard. Forcing the crew to off themselves like this."

"It's Siri. Why is it always fucking Siri?"

The name triggered the memory of the group of pirates that they had encountered on the asteroid base of horrors and he frowned. This would be the second ship that they had taken from Siri's fleet. How many more encounters could they have before Siri decided to hunt them down with whatever composed his armada.

"Alright listen up. Silver and BB, you two go secure the ship. Rig and I will begin the process of setting up a tow line so we can drag this ship into port."

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 40):

There isn't much except bodies.  There are four more in the hold and one more in engineering BB and Silver.  All the same MO.  Suicide.

There isn't much in the way of personal belongings either.  Each crew member had two changes of jumpsuits, a toothbrush, and a cup.  The food stores are just low grade plant protein cereals.  Even the coffee is the cheap synthetic crap.

Fritz pings your comm Ledo.  You note that he isn't pinging anyone else.

I got a partial decode on the ship log they beamed out.  I think you want to read this Captain Ledo.

He scrolls up some comm mail on your helmet screen.

OK. Deposit cleared.  But that just gets you a meet and greet. What coordinates

Beaming now.  Projecting target will exit jump within four parsecs.  Once we pass off funds, you will need to head there directly.

U don't want any of them as slaves?

WTF?  No slaves.  Blow the ship apart.

That will be extra.  We can discuss when we hook up.  Out

Ledo shakes his head as he relays it to the rest of the crew (and BB).

"This was definitely an ambush, not a random act of piracy. Let's secure the ship and prepare it for tow. BB, you're on guard duty. Silver, you can help Rig and I with the tow."

Ledo will check the bodies for any kind of IDs and begin collecting firearms. If nothing else they would have enough weaponry to create a makeshift armory.

The IDs show that the guy you really wanted to collect wasn't present.  He either jumped ship somehow or he wasn't actually present.

The tow line gets attached and start to pull Down Bitch along.  Thankfully, you don't have far to go.  A naval cruiser intercepts.

Tiamat's Flight, this is the ICI Solemnity.  What is your situation?

Obviously the captain of the Solemnity wants to know why you're towing a ship.

<Orange>Just need to know what you do and don't tell the navy here.

Also, I will need to check the book about what weapons your picked up.  Your point on stocking the armory if valid.  You also picked up basic kitchen supplies (though who would want to eat that stuff if you don't have to)

The Solemnity can issue a letter of bounty that you can redeem at the starport, and they'll take the Down Bitch off your hands.

Depending on what you tell them of couse.</I></Blue>

Ledo considered his options and dismissed most of them. IF this ship was in better condition and IF it hadn't been involved with Siri and IF the Imperials hadn't arrived in a timely manner and IF they weren't obligated to a group of connected passengers to have a speedy flight he might consider claiming the ship as salvage but given their situation it made a lot more sense to come clean and just take the bounty money and let the Imperials deal with the logistics.

"ICI Solemnity this is the captain of the Tiamat's Flight. Situation is green. We came out of a jump to find two pirate ships attacking a third transport. We moved in to assist and disabled one pirate ship and drove off the other.

According to our records this ship has an active bounty on it. If you will issue us a letter of bounty we can turn the ship over to your crew for investigation and processing.

One item to note is that it appears to be part of a group working with a pirate who goes by the nickname Siri and the whole crew killed themselves once captured under his orders.

I don't mean to tell you how to do your jobs but it might be worth noting that this pirate is now preying across multiple systems as we encountered other ships of his Jone and including this one and one that was destroyed that puts him at commanding at least four ships, all armed for piracy. The fact that he can also demand absolute loyalty in the face of capture is also quite impressive. If he isn't a priority I hope this bumps him up a few positions on the wanted lists.

We're transmitting sensor and audio logs as well. We have not conducted any salvage beyond securing various small arms as part of the boarding process."

Ledo slipped in that last line just to cover their bases. If the Imperials were being absolute sticklers they might demand the guns they recovered as evidence however he hoped they would be focused on the ship and the deaths of the crew rather than worry about where a few handguns and rifles disappeared to.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 44):

Just to give you some flexibility, you have 2K in credits you can spend on guns, ammo, or hand to hand weapons.  Everything has to come out of the Core rulebook.  These guys aren't using A list equipment

The captain meets you at the airlock Ledo, his team scouring the ship before taking it over.  "Alright.  Glad to meet someone who's not willing to look the other way out here.

"I've had copies of the bounty letter sent to both your mainframe and the Bowman highport.  if anyone gives you guff about authenticity, the command post at the highport will back you.

"I'll also have the bodies ID'd and if there's any additional bounties that come up I'll send them along."  He considers a moment and then adds, "You probably want to finish up whatever business you have in Bowman quick and get out.  It's not for broadcast but Siri's fleet has been taking over the other outfits in this sector.  We're going to have to do something about him.  Soon.  You catch the drift?"

He shakes your hand.  "You probably don't want to get caught up in that.  Anyway.  I've said too much.  Take it easy Captain."

Add any questions you like.  Moving us on.

---

Bowman high port looks like a centipede.  It's long and lean, with a lot of little docking stations hanging off along the sides.  Port Com directs you to slip O41.

As soon as you pressurize and open the airlock, Tia is dinged with all kinds of messages.  The brokers whose goods you still have to deliver want to get inspectors on board ASAP.  None of them are at all subtle.  They want to give you the stamp, get you refueled, and off dock as soon as possible.  As you recall, after you receive a proof of inspection, Tia still has to deliver the goods to their final destination in the system for payment.

There are also the goods you picked up outside the original manifest.  Some of these brokers may be willing to purchase from you.  They all sound a bit desperate.

When you roll for the sale price on the dairy you picked up, you can add 2 to the result.

OOC: I'll handle sales via OOC as per standard

Assuming the naval captain isn't rushed Ledo will try to chat him up and give out his comm frequency after revealing that he was a retired Naval captain himself.

"If Siri is making moves in this sector I would appreciate anything you would care to pass along. It turns out I've been a bit of a thorn in his side several times now and Siri doesn't seem the sort to let that slip. Any kind of heads up would be appreciated."

---

Once in port Ledo will get refueled and his cargo offloaded as quickly as possible. There was now another reason to get through their route as quickly as possible. Given the situation at Bowman he wasn't likely to pick up any new cargo besides mail bound for Noctocol. Instead any leftover space in his cargo hold was put over towarsds their inflatable fuel tank. After a J2 jump their tank was too empty to use their combat thrusters. Those trusters were a powerful advantage in combat and even being able to use them for a little bit could mean getting the drop or making an escape.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 46):

The Captain gives you searching glance Ledo then shrugs.  "Sure.  If I can.  We gotta lotta little frieghters zipping in and around because of the damn food shortage.  The belter colonies are really getting antsy.  I have a lot of blips on my radar.  But if something comes up and we can, we will.  Just watch your rimward."

---

The inspections, refuel, and the usual refits will take about five hours.

The bounty is being offered by the bank that had the last loan out on the Down Bitch.  Or as it was called at the time, the Small Timer.

Ledo going over to the bank branch for the bounty?  Or do you want to handle via intercom?  Also, anyone going off ship for the few hour break?

Ledo puts a hold on shore leave given their close encounter with Siri. If possible he would prefer to handle things as quickly over the comms as possible.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 48):

The Bank isn't thrilled that the Down Bitch isn't in port.  But the naval letter isn't something they can ignore.  They agree to a partial payment upfront with the rest deposited when their ship actually hits port.

They send you a letter of credit to document the arrangement.  10K in credits hits the ship account at the same time.

The brokers send you inspection reports and coordinates.  You need to drop off the goods at two locations:

A co-op called WesRim at the center of the Bowman belt.  It's basically a minature starport that serves as a clearing house for the local belter communities.

The second stop is at the far end of the belt.  It's a company site for Resting Enterprises.  They own a set a of mines on some ore rich rocks at the fraying end of the belt.

Logistically, it makes more sense to hit WesRim first and then head out to Resting.  You can jump as soon as you clear the Resting end of the belt.  If you hit WesRim last, you would have to haul across the belt to get to a clear jumping off point.

Ledo has loaded up the ship with expensive refined fuel specifically to shave time and get them as far away from Bowman as possible so he sets up the various brokerages and arranges to hit the WesRim co-op first before proceeding to Resting and then making the jump to the ice moon of Nirton for the Black Sun filming.

Navigating asteroid belts is always a nightmare.

If this belt was owned exclusively by a big corporate, then things would be easier.  It's not uncommon in those set ups that the corporation would stabalize some of the larger rocks, forming a sort of steady corridor to aid in navagation.

Bowman doesn't have that.  But they do have a WOFFR.  'Watch Out For Floating Rocks' or WOFFR is a series of tracking stations set up on different asteroids that track the position of all the rocks around it and beam it out as a nav beacon.

The Bowman WOFFR is so streamline there's no problem picking it up Tepha.

Mainframe has a course laid to WesRim based on last WOFFR download Captain Ledo.

No alerts and seems to be a decent level of traffic to the co-op.

So one make me two sensor/int checks please.  Thanks

---

You finally got a decent signal Nero.  And things are not good.

Your hits have gone to the double digits.  The comments pretty much fall along the lines of

Didja go black buddy boy?

Maybe he's sleeping?

Hiding cos he knows I'll find him

Miss U

You also get an incoming from your Dad.  He wants you to confirm that you'll be at Grandma's birthday in seven weeks time.

---

"Excuse me..."

After the third time, you're pretty sure they're talking to you Silver.

Looking back it's that actress.  Calliope Quans.  She looks a little panicked.

"I'm sorry. But something's wrong with Ulie!"

She points at their room.  Peeking in, you can see the business type who's been keeping to herself rolfing in the john.  And it looks like she's throwing up some blood.

Military grade sensors are a hell of a thing. Used to pinpointing incoming projectiles and missiles traveling at fractions of the speed of light, monitoring (relativel) slow moving and large asteroids was like finding a dropped contact lens with a 10,000 lumen flood light.


13:30, Today: Tepha Pezal rolled 8 using 2d6+01.  int/sensor #2.
13:30, Today: Tepha Pezal rolled 12 using 2d6+01.  int/sensor #1.

Nero finally had something to post that wasn't just him ranting and raving about "the deep state" using media and entertainment to control the masses.

This time he was in a firefight. It had taken some careful exploration but when Ledo had granted BB access to the ship's systems to let her blast the other ship, Ledo had also accidentally granted Nero access to as he had guessed BB's passwords and stuff ages ago.

This let him pull up the external sensor and camera feeds from their brief fight with the pirates and he had spent their entire time into Bowman editing and creating visuals before putting his own commentary on top.

He had recreated the fight via simple open source 3d models but the highlight was the camera footage from BB's armor showing how the pirates had killed themselves rather than be captured.

He hadn't bothered with a lot of the boring stuff and had cut out most of the audio so he could talk over it without any distractions. No reason to put anyone's name in there, for example. Who cared what the Tia's crewmates were called when he could be narrating the action, pointing out the blood on the wall or the holes the pirates had put into their own temples.

While the space fight had been set to action adventure music the interior of the pirate ship had been set to creepy horror music.

All that remained was to put a title to the clip that would really tie the whole thing artistically together: PIRATE DEATH CULT (LEAKED FOOTAGE)

Sure he had made up a lot of the narration, making it seem that these pirates were actually some kind of religious zealots waging a holy war. It didn't matter that it was all bullshit he made up so long as it was captivating and entertaining. The truth was relative, right?

Silver didn't exactly have a "bedside manner" so seeing this she shrugged and just commented.

"Alright, time to get you to the medical doc."

It wasn't a question but a command. If Ullie had become infected with some disease the crew needed to get on it ASAP before they were all vomiting up blood.

In reply to Tepha Pezal (msg # 52):

Maybe you pump your fists in the air Tepha.  Maybe you don't.  But you find a route that through the beacons to WesRim that shaves three hours off the planned flight time.

WesRim is pretty much as podunk as had been described.  It's more a truckstop than a port.  But it is humming with activity.  There's a line for docking rights.

However, notice you are delivering food stuffs gets you bumped to the front of the line.  A few of the other ships curse.  But once they find out you have food, they move right out of the way.

It seems the food shortage is really bad here.

The co-ops quarter master hustles her team to get your crates unloaded.  There is also very tight security surrounding your ship.  The co-op seems to be expecting trouble.

The quarter master brings you a receipt showing delivery.  "Anything we need ta know?"

---

Craaaaap! That shit 4 real?

Damn! They got more holes in them than String Theory!

You will soon look like them

This is some f'd up shit bro.  U OK?

It's only been a few hours since you uploaded the content Nero.  But the comments are already filling up.  You're also back in the triple digit site visit count.  And shoud soon hit four digits.

---

The auto doc finishes poking Ulie and delivers a simple diagnosis.

Auto Doc says she's been poisoned Silver.  It's non-lethal.  But she's going to be incapacitated for a few days.

Analysis indicates it was introduced through her digestive tract.  She ate something spiked with a synthetic.

Calliope seems confused.  "Huh?  Well I don't know everything she ate.  I had breakfast with her.  We ate the same thing."

Did you drink the same thing?

Calliope blinks.  "Well.  I don't drink coffee..."

So you tell me.  Who among the crew had coffee this morning?

The crew basically lived on coffee. Everyone else, including Nero and BB, had drank at least a cup. Only Tepha was spared due to her preferring lighter teas instead.

Silver's eyes went wide as she considered the cup she herself had drank. She hadn't felt anything this morning but how long would a poison take to go through her system?

"Doc start working on an antidote, fast!"

The first one, besides Ulie, to start feeling it is BB.  It starts with a tightness in the gut.  It goes on for a few minutes.  Then the nausea really kicks in.

Ledo and Rig feel it next. It hits Ledo so bad, he almost falls out of his chair.

Silver, you feel slightly flush, but otherwise seem okay.  Nero, you have a raging headache.

The doc spits back a result.

Antitode unavailable.  We would need parkaphin, which isn't in stock. I scanned the Co-op med supplies.  They don't have it either.

Good news is this doesn't seem to be meant to kill.  It causes some violent spasming of the stomach.  I think Ulie is only vomiting blood because she seems overworked.

Doc is calculating that the poison will pass but effects may linger for a couple of days.

Silver, it seems you and Nero have a tolerance.  Or you didn't get enough in your systems.

The coffee was from supplies we picked up at Bowman starport.  Would recommend tossing it.  We may want to sample any other supplies we picked up there.

The shipments should be fine as long as the brokers tested it and the seals seem to be intact.

Silver and Nero made their saving throws!  So there's Teph, Nero, and Silver at full capacity.

BB, Ledo, and Rig:

-First, they are all three out of action for 12 hours.

After twelve hours you can go one of several ways.

Option 1.  Let nature take it's course.  Make an END/Athletics roll at 10+ every 12 hours until your body purges the poison.  All rolls are at -2 (including the END roll) until you make one roll or until three days have passed.  Whichever comes first

Option 2.  You can try to push your systems with stimulants.  It will let you make checks at a faster rate.  You can decide how fast you want the checks to occur at (every hour, every two hours, etc), but 1) you suffer 1 pt STR damage each roll and 2) if you fail three rolls in a row, you remain at -2 until you check into a hospital for a day.

Option 3.  You can check into the co-op clinic.  That will burn two days, but no rolls needed.

Sorry.

Let me know what option you want to go for.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:15, Wed 27 Jan 2021.

As the only one with keys to the medical supply Ledo is loathe to hand out drugs they might need to keep for emergencies. That being said he definitely uses stimulants to push the drugs through his system and by the end of the day he is on the path of recovery.

Got it in 2. Call it 4 hours for a total of 16 hours sick
14:49, Today: Ledo Typhin rolled 4 using 2d6+1.  push it to the limit (ha!) roll #1
14:49, Today: Ledo Typhin rolled 10 using 2d6+1.  roll #2.
-2 STR

While the crew is laid out sick Tepha carefully plots the course to their next delivery before scanning and purging any potentially infected supplies.

Rig is knocked out for three days although he does improve slightly ahead of the time frame where it would be life threatening, which is always a plus.


14:52, Today: Gary 'Rig' Rigan rolled 10 using 2d6.  recovery roll - 72 hours.

14:52, Today: Gary 'Rig' Rigan rolled 3 using 2d6.  recovery roll - 60 hours.

14:52, Today: Gary 'Rig' Rigan rolled 2 using 2d6.  recovery roll - 48 hours.

14:52, Today: Gary 'Rig' Rigan rolled 6 using 2d6.  recovery roll - 36 hours.

14:52, Today: Gary 'Rig' Rigan rolled 4 using 2d6.  recovery roll - 24 hours.

14:52, Today: Gary 'Rig' Rigan rolled 6 using 2d6.  recovery roll - 12 hours.

BB is knocked out for two days but recovers a full day ahead of Rig.



14:53, Today: BB Nova rolled 13 using 2d6+1.  recovery roll - 48 hours.

14:53, Today: BB Nova rolled 5 using 2d6+1.  recovery roll - 36 hours.

14:53, Today: BB Nova rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  recovery roll - 24 hours.

14:53, Today: BB Nova rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  recovery roll - 12 hours.

Tepha, besides the coffee, they also spiked the spray cheese, the tomato sauce, and-perhaps worst after the coffee-all the boxes of Groat-Os.

Groat-Os!  The groatalicious part of a complete breakfast.  They're GROOOOOOOOAT!

It was like someone targeted the food stuffs that were likely to see the highest rate of consumption.

The co-op has a signal receiver, so you can get all available WOFFR information.

There are three routes to Resting.  Down the middle of the belt, right through the asteroids.  The most direct route at eight hours.

You could peel rimward and exit the belt, then follow it down along it's border.  It would add  some time, so about 12 hours.

You could climb upwards and then follow along the top of the belt, skimming downwards close to Resting.  This seems to be the most popular route used by Resting ships that make it out to the co-op.  It's about an 11 hour trip, but no one knows why the "corpies", as Resting employees are called by the belters, would go this route.  Their ships are good enough they could go right down the middle.

I need to know which path you take and when you leave, relative to when Ledo, BB, and Rig are up and about.  Thanks

Silver, being the only one in command, decides there is strength in numbers and follows the corpie ships. They might be avoiding the asteroid belts for a reason.

She'll also relay back to Bowman port about the spiked supplies.

In reply to Silver (msg # 64):

Bowman Starport shoots back a quick response to you Silver.  Seems a few ships were hit by a similar tactic.  They think it's the pirates, trying to incapacitate crew.

"But the navy has a large number of 'em bottled up trailward side of the belt."

Since Tia would be headed both coreward and spinward, that should put you in the opposite direction.

It also becomes apparent why the corpies head this way:  visibility.  Stray rocks dot the borders of the other sides, giving ambushers several points they could swing out and attack most of the other skim-along routes of the belt.

This one is pretty devoid of such.  Sensors tell the tale why:  there's lots of small debris like someone has been blowing rocks apart.  The corpies made this path clear of those outliers.  You just have to watch your belly.

All hail the corpy highway.

So you are leaving straight out?  BB and Rig will be out of action.  Ledo will be up and about at the tail end of the trip.

Note:  one reason I am asking is because you have perishables and a delivery schedule.
 You can delay for a while, but freezers only get you so far.  Delay too long and you risk getting pay docked.

Tepha pushes foreward. Time to deliver and drop off. They have a schedule to keep after all!