Mission Day:  21

ECEI:          6
Morale:        7
Supplies:    66%


So far, so uneventful.

Relatively speaking, that is.

Sestos was a backwater system, and Mtensc is no different. If anything, it's even more of a backwater, with a tiny 'port town' population and not much else to recommend it. Nevertheless, the system acts as a strategic Jump-2 link between three different subsectors, giving it greater importance than its minimal population and nigh-nonexistent industry would imply.

It's important for another reason right now: it's the site of your scheduled rendezvous with the supply vessel INS Shuuursima Ki, a naval logistics ship. The bad news is that your last jump cut it a bit close and the Sharshana lingered in jump space more than half a day longer than average. The good news - if you can call it that - is that there is no immediate, annoyed hail from the supply ship calling you out for the slight mismatch in schedule.

Actually, there's no hail from the Shuuursima Ki at all, though the first-glance sensor readouts of the system, port, and traffic don't indicate anything unusual.

Maybe the Shuuursima Ki is also running a bit late?

[Command Bridge, INS Sharshana.  Sestos Star System.]

     Ishakhi had been getting his unit ready for the UNREP--Underway Replenishment--activities a full 26 hours before the announced drop from Jump Space.

     At the predicted time, Ishakhi is on the Command Bridge, supervising the two techs manning the sensor stations assigned to Near Space Traffic Control.  When data from the passive sensors assigned to Traffic Control start displaying data, just a few moments after the transition back into "normal" space, Ishakhi looks it over, and frowns.

     Ishakhi taps the comm-dot behind his right ear,

     "Traffic Control to Main Bridge.  Our passive sensors are reporting no traffic within our range.  Repeat, no space traffic within view of our short range passive sensors.  Requesting permission to go to full active sensors for Near Space Traffic Control.  To You."


OOC: "Shuuursima Ki"?  Two "S"s, three "U"s, and a silent "Q"!!  Now that's a f**ked-up Vilani name, if I ever heard one!  Which...y'know...nobody has ever heard the Vilani language, so...
This message was last edited by the player at 06:08, Mon 31 Aug 2020.

Hrolf looked back at the captain. "We have no hails from our unrep ship.  Request permission to go active sir to pulse the transponders."

At her station and surrounded by her papers and tablets, Jacqueline looked worried as she watched the Sharshana leave jump space. There was trouble caused by the time spent in jump space, and it was quite possible someone could blame the astrogator. But she'd done her job correctly... she picked up one of her tablets and began scrolling through her calculations, nervously double-checking them. Yes, she'd done her job correctly. So where was the supply ship? "It's conceivable the supply ship had issue with their jump" she said softly.

Mammady has a sudden thought and moves toward the comms station. "Let me check whether the issue is with our own comms systems". he says.

11:29, Today: Mammady Kaouthrak rolled 5 using 2d6.  Electronics (Comms) check. Oops

The Baron-Captain gave the nod to Kimpasherki.

"Permission granted. Let's see what's out there and see if anyone scatters before the might of the Imperium."

In reply to Baron Thenroy Reziilka (msg # 6):

     Back in the Command Bridge, Ishakhi nods in satisfaction after hearing the Captains' order.  Ishakhi take a short step forward, closer to his two Techs, then leans down between them,

     "Alright, Gentles, we are go for Active Sensors." Ishakhi says in a quiet, even tone,

     "Go ahead and fire up everything under our control.  Light up anything out there, within five-hundred kilometers, that has relative motion on it!  All the way down to the tiniest grain of dust!  I want vectors on everything out there--where it's coming from, where it's going to--even what it had for lunch!  Get me everything."

     "Now, please, Gentles," Ishakhi orders firmly, as he straightens back up, "Quickly and Professionally, if you please."

     Ishakhi then brings up his tablet, makes a few selections, then reaches up and, again, taps the comm-dot behind his right ear,

^{COMM START >>>} "Traffic Control One to Hanger Operations Crews.  You are now cleared to begin preparations for UNREP.  Repeating.  Hangar Operations Crews are cleared to begin preparing for UNREP operations.  Traffic Control One, out." ^{<<< COMM END}

Hrolf shook his head slowly and replied to Jacqueline. "Let's hope they are just lying doggo somewhere behind an asteroid playing a bit of a war game with us."

When the order was given to go active Hrolf readied himself at the control in case they flushed something out that required chasing.

The Sharshana's sensor systems go live, bringing in a stream of new data for the computers and crew to analyze, and while most of this relates to the local astrography, a few ships do appear more clearly on the monitors.

There are a couple of system defense boats, one X-boat, and two small freighters in the general area; another small freighter and a mercenary cruiser are detected somewhat further away but still within Mtensc's limit. One of then nearby freighters makes a small but noticeable course adjustment a few moments after the sensors go active, though this appears to be merely to avoid a too-close approach to the cruiser on its way to the jump limit.

It doesn't take too long for a hail to come in from the downport, welcoming the ship and making a routine inquiry as to its needs and intentions.

The X-boat sends a friendly 'salute' by comm, as do the system defense boats. So does the further tramp freighter that's just making its descent to the planet - apparently its captain is retired navy!

There's nothing overtly suspicious in any of this... but there's also no immediate sign of the supply ship. If it's hiding somewhere then you'll have to work the sensors and analyze the telemetry for a while or simply go looking, unless the downport or one of the other ships happens to have information. Conducting inspections, either as a pretext or an aside is, of course, always an option.

These approaches may also involve character and/or CEI checks, of course!
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:31, Thu 03 Sept 2020.

In reply to Gvoellaekh (msg # 9):

OOC:  A Question.  The first post, up there, does imply, but does not clearly state that we have hailed the Shuuursima Ki, upon our arrival in-system.  So, to be clear, have we called out to the Shuuursima Ki, or have we not?  Maybe she's running silent?  Hiding, for some reason, and without her active sensors, doesn't know we're even here, yet?
     Let's crank up the Power on this Pig, and give the Shuuursima Ki a system-wide Shout Out!  ^_^

With passive and trying to stay out of sight you may not have (unless you'd actually spotted it), but you'd certainly be doing so now with sensors going full active and both them and your transponder all but screaming your presence. It would be very unusual for a naval vessel not to respond with an IFF signal even if it's otherwise running silent.

Reziilka frowns when the report comes back that the Shuuursima Ki isn't waiting for them. He rubs the traces of stubble that had started to grow since his morning shave.

"The command report clearly said that we would be met here by the supply ship. Sensors, keep sweeping. Look for anything that might have missed our arrival but expand the sweep to also look for residual debris that might indicate a fight. Unlikely we'll detect something but it is worth a scan."

He put in a series of requests to the system defense boats and local government.

"This is Captain Reziilka of the INS Sharshana. We were supposed to rendezvous with a naval supply ship in system. Has there been any records of a ship called the Shuuursima Ki? Has there been any recent signs of battle or pirate activity?"

Perhaps their pirate hunting would start a bit early. Reziilka was not one to let a pirate bloody the nose of the Imperium without swift and brutal reprisal.

"I don't think the Captain will be at all amused if that's what the supply ship did" Jacqueline said quietly to Hrolf. But what else could have happened to it?

The replies come fairly quickly from the patrol boats and traffic control: there certainly hasn't been any battle here for a long time, and no confirmed pirate attacks in the while either, although there was was one suspicious incident in the outer system a week ago. Apparently there was an attempted intercept of one ship by another, but the reporting ship jumped out to avoid contact and what was presumed to be the intercepting ship jumped out soon after that.

The reporting ship was a detached-duty scout, but it isn't clear where they jumped to, and there hasn't been enough time for word to come back from wherever that might be. No meaningful details on the intercepting vessel, although the Shuuursima Ki probably wouldn't have behaved like that. The logs and sensor traces are transmitted for analysis. If nothing else, intel will appreciate the extra data points.

In fact, the Shuuursima Ki hasn't put in any appearances as far as the system authorities are aware. After a few minutes of back-and-forth between people at the downport and between them and the Sharshana, it's confirmed that the Shuuursima Ki was scheduled to arrive a couple of days ago; the port surmises that it's probably just running late on its route.

The downport would struggle to resupply a cruiser on its own but its recreational services are available for leave if the Sharshana intends to wait, and in the meantime a robust presence conducting inspections would calm any nerves over the outsystem incident. If the captain would be willing to send a delegation to meet with the local authorities regarding the aquifer situation, well, that would be appreciated too...



We'll need a CEI check for the sensor sweep and confirming/analyzing the details provided by the starport.

Jacqueline's post makes her the most relevant officer for this task: 2d6 - 1.

Brilliant strategies from others may be able to assist that, but from this point on CEI assist attempts will be judged by formal naval standards...

This message was last edited by the GM at 22:55, Sat 05 Sept 2020.

Hrolf nodded to Jacqueline and returned her whisper.  "There are a lot of politics going on around our voyage.  It could be some faction at HQ or in the nobility messing with us to make us look bad.  It would be like that buoy that was sabotaged during our trials.  They could have the Shuuursima hide from us as an 'exercise' which has no upside as we are assumed to be able to find a simple logistics ship.  If we fail we look bad and will have trouble continuing the mission.  Or maybe they were deliberately delayed to slow us down and force our hand?  Or... misjumps do occasionally happen..." Hrolf let that thought trail off.

As the reports continued to roll in Hrolf speaks up.  "If the Shuuursima is exercising us by hiding or if they suffered some kind of causality we should use the small craft to aid our sensor sweep.  It would also aid us in conducting inspections and showing the flag sir."

Jacqueline began working on her console to execute the sweep. "We'll see what's out there, sir" she said evenly. Calm and efficient, that's what I want to project. If only I felt that way They'd been ordered to rendezvous with the supply ship, so there was no option but to wait for it. Hopefully, it would turn up sooner rather than later.

00:55, Today: Jacqueline Yune rolled 10 using 2d6-1.  Sensors.

[oups, wanted to post this in the OOC thread] :/



Well, I like learning things about the universe through playing :) How does one know that a ship has jumped?
Does it leave traces?
Can a ship simulate jumping, but in fact staying and hiding? :)
Can one analyze the jump traces and guess where the ship went, like in the Elite videogame? :)



an interesting choice for our captain... diplomacy or patrol? Diplomacy might prevent conflict and reduce future patrol needs... ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:59, Tue 08 Sept 2020.

The thought of sabotage was ever present on the mind of the Baron-Captain. As much as he seemed the zealot of the might of the Imperium as a noble he understood and respected the power games that were played under the scenes. Everyone thought they could do it better and stabbing a rival in the back ultimately would strengthen the Imperium. He wasn't aware of any rivals with that kind of influence but the problem with power is that there was always someone rising up wanting to claim it.

Sub-Lieutenant Standarsson, put together a sweep with the small craft. If this is a test I don't want to waste any time. We will run a patrol of the system and see if this is just another exercise.

In the meantime I expect the data of this potential pirate activity to be analyzed. If the pirates did cut and run I want to know what systems were their next jump. We might not catch them now but if they're heading to our patrol route we might be able to track them down later on.

If all else fails we will continue on without a resupply and log that the Shuuursima Ki failed to rendezvous and I will have command arrange another resupply during our patrol."

From his toneReziilka seemed more irritated than anything else. It was clear that he did not suspect that the supply ship had been captured or destroyed. It likely was just another test or a display of incompetence by the other crew. It is possible it was just an accident but that was why you held your crew to higher than expected standards so there was that buffer in case something did go wrong.

Hrolf nodded to the captain in acknowledgement of the order.  "Aye, aye Captain, I will work out a plan."  While not the most senior officer aboard by any means but granted authority by the captain Hrolf thought for a moment.  "Lt Yune, you have the touch for sensor data along with navigational expertise.  As part of the investigation can you pull up the sensor data we have from Mtensc Control on the suspicious ships and run it through the processing algorithms?  There may be data on the flight paths or other activities that we can glean that might help with our larger sweep or at least provide later information on where ever the targets of interest may have Jumped."

He turned back to his navigational display and motioned to Jacqueline.  "As well Lt Yune, perhaps you might provide some advice on the navigational complexities of a proper sensor sweep with the small craft.  Let me contact Lt Kimpasherki and see how he wants to proceed.  We can act as the hammer to his anvil so to speak on a sweep." 

Keying the comm Hrolf addressed Lt. Kimpasherki's specific comm device. "Lt Kimpasherki, I've been ordered by the captain to coordinate with you to work up a small craft.  Can you come to the bridge?  I have Lt Yune standing by as well to aid in the navigational plotting needed."

The Sharshana and its small craft sweep around Mtensc in formation, holding to it with such precision that the locals might well be forgiven for thinking that it was an parade or vid piece rather than a sensor operation!

What all of the data ultimately confirms for you is that the Shuuursima Ki is definitely not hiding anywhere near Mtensc, and probably not anywhere else in the system. Nor is there any sort of debris that would indicate the loss of a significant vessel.

All of this points to one conclusion: the Shuuursima Ki is late. Not yet worryingly late - getting a few days behind schedule does happen, sometimes even for good reasons - but it leaves you, for the moment, without a supply ship to rendezvous with!

Even if it wasn't intentional, you put on a good show at Mtensc. That will count toward mission visibility as long as nothing happens to spoil the impression!

"Of course, I'll do all I can" Jacqueline said to Hrolf when he asked for advice on how best to navigate the small craft for the sensor sweep. She took her tablets and moved to assist in the sensor sweep. When that was completed, she worked on analyzing the data on the suspicious ships, although she looked over at the Captain nervously once or twice; she wasn't at all certain she could find the information he was looking for.

Hrolf kept his eyes on the instruments as Jacqueline and the others worked busily.  After a long search he turned to the captain.  "Sir, it looks like the Shuuursima Ki is definitely late.  Shall we make course for the mainworld and do what resupply we can in the meantime?"

Captain Reziilka's mood grows darker as more and more evidence points towards incompetence as opposed to entanglement with enemies of the Imperium. They had a schedule to keep and he was not keen on suffering delays before their mission had even started!

"Sub Lieutenant Standarsson, lay in a course for the planet. We will put into orbit and take on whatever supplies they have on hand. I will meet with the local leaders as before to see if there is any additional information they can provide about threats in the local area."

His voice was harsh, practically barking out the commands as he rattled them off.

"Lieutenant Kimpasherki, we will likely need the utility craft for use in bringing up supplies from the planet. They won't have sufficient supplies in the port but we will take them from wherever we can within reason.

Lieutenant Tsetsegma, adjust your repairs accordingly. Put together a priority list of supplies. We need to know what is critical that we are missing versus standard regulations. No need to raise an alarm if we haven't been issued our allotment of bayonets but if there are reactor parts we need raise the alarm. If you can consider looking at alternative sources for the parts. Perhaps a part is also used in local industry and could be acquired there. Lieutenant Kaouthrak will assist the Chief Engineer in salvage and re-prioritization. Inventory the ship and identify what we can salvage internally and from where and still maintain combat readiness. If we have to pull back ups and redundancies to repair primary systems then so be it."

He paused and his tone lightened up a bit as he issued his final order.

"Sublieutenant Yune, I will be informing High Command of the Shuuursima Ki's failure to report. I will be requesting another supply ship be sent so review our route and inform me where and when I should make the request for supplies. I do not wish to delay the start of our patrol and would rather wait in the systems we have been dispatched to protect.

Commander Gvoellaekh, if anything of note happens I will be in my office. The bridge is yours."

With the orders given and command issued, Reziilka stood up, straightened his jacket and stormed off towards his quarters to get the Admiralty on the line.