Mission Day:  67

ECEI:          7?
Morale:        7?
Supplies:     68%



It is several weeks later that the Sharshana arrives at the Iruku system, having routed through (and patrolled) both Nouakchat and Taman along the way. Neither proved to be particularly exciting - a scout base and a tiny claim-holding outpost don't offer too many opportunities - and what commercial traffic has to stop in either system is almost entirely bound for elsewhere.

That doesn't mean that the Sharshana was idle: systems that are sparsely populated and see very little traffic are out of both the public and official eye. Between the two weeks spent on station, the Sharshana has some crates of contraband and a few arrests to show for its trouble, along with several warnings and fines issued. The take might not seem significant in the grand scheme of things, but the message will nevertheless be clear: the navy is here, and it's watching.

The prisoners from Beaxon, along with reports relevant to the case, were handed off at Nouakchat, effectively ending the Sharshana's role in the matter... for now. It's very likely that there will be debriefings and perhaps even some of you called to formally testify once the patrol mission ends.

Taman also saw one ugly incident in which a group of off-duty crewmembers - after one or two (or three or four) too many got into a furious brawl in the colony's bar; a couple of the locals were seriously injured and a fire somehow broke out in the fracas; this did not make a good impression on either the populace or the local noble, and the recently-vacated brig ended up with several new occupants who remain there still.

The promise of Iruku (discipline problems notwithstanding) doesn't seem to be much greater: a small world, only slightly more hospitable than a rockball, that is mostly notable for the fact that it provides the jump link to points spinward from Gulf-Central-Formative. The startown is larger, at least, even if it doesn't have much to offer; the highport promises to be the highlight, such as it is; that commercial link has made it the subject of a good deal of investment which, unlike what you witnessed at Beaxon, is known to be money well spent.

Of course, no plan survives contact with the enemy, and no routine patrol survives contact with the unexpected. As the Sharshana emerges from jump, the standard protocol of sensor sweeps and security checklists are enlivened by the distress call coming through on the comms...



Given the time that has passed, I need a Leadership roll from Thenroy to see how well the ship's crew is performing.

Department heads should do the same, since some might be performing better than others.

We don't have a sensors officer, but whomever is overseeing that aspect of bridge operations at the time of arrival can make an Electronics (Sensors) check to give you a better picture of what's happening as you arrive.

If anyone wants to have further pursued the legal and/or other issues during the voyage, you can do so (with appropriate narrative and a relevant roll) and it will be factored in even if it's not likely to matter at this exact moment!


Side-scenes (or elaborating on the outline above) that occurred during the transit are perfectly okay to have too!

This message was last edited by the GM at 10:56, Mon 01 Feb 2021.

As customary the Baron gives a ship-wide address right before the cruiser exits jumpspace to get the crew back on track. He tried his best to run a tight ship even when they were the only ship in existence in their own little reality bubble but the Baron knew that ships exiting jumps were particularly vulnerable, their crews lulled into weeks of complacency from the vast emptiness of a jump bubble.

"Crew of the Sharshana, prepare to exit jump space. So far we have had an exemplary patrol. We have passed high command's tests with flying colors. We were able to cripple the backbone of a planetary revolt that threatened an Imperial starport. We have projected the might of the Imperium into the vast oblivion that is space but know that it is not enough. Now is not the time to grow complacent because we have faced nothing more than sensor buoys and ill-equipped yokels. We are not on this patrol because high command decided to pay us for a leisurely cruise. We are here to fight pirates and rebels, to counteract the machinations of the enemies of the Imperium who would love nothing more than to catch a heavy cruiser with its crew asleep at the controls. Every system, every jump must be treated as if we are entering the front lines because make no mistake our enemies are out there, even if we cannot see them.

When you are off duty, rest and recover because we need your focus and attention from start to end of your shift. It isn't just the Imperium that requires this. Or I for that matter. Think of your fellow crew members, your friends and family back home. Everyone needs you to come back safe and sound and for that you must be ready to act or react in a split seconds time because, in the grand scheme of things, we are always a split second away from total oblivion. You must take care to continue to shine the light of the Imperium deep into the heart of the void, to ensure that the monsters that lurk among us and prey on the weak and vulnerable find no quarter in this sector of the Universe.

Ready main shift for emergence into realspace. Carry on."

OOC:
11:25, Today: Baron Thenroy Reziilka rolled 12 using 2d6+4.  leadership/soc.

This message was last edited by the player at 18:11, Mon 01 Feb 2021.

In reply to Baron Thenroy Reziilka (msg # 2):

Maybe she's beginning to be used to the style of the Baron, or may be it's the routine of the patrol, but the Lt Tsetsegma really appreciate the evocative imagery of the captain's speech. She does not applaud, but tries to establish eye contact and convey her enthusiasm.

also... Iita tries to lead : Iita Tsetsegma rolled 7 using 2d6+1 ((3,3)).

Hrolf nods approvingly at the captain's speech.  He's not one himself for long speeches having been brought up in the stoic tradition of the Sword Worlds but the sentiment and words were well said.  He turned back to focus on his controls and the sensor crew stationed nearby.  "Ready for transition back to main space Sir."


18:29, Today: Hrolf Standarsson rolled 7 using 2d6+3.  Piloting.
18:29, Today: Hrolf Standarsson rolled 7 using 2d6.  Sensors.

From : Engineering department, ISS Sharshana
Subject : !! LvL 2 Incident Alert

Dear users,

The Engineering dep. is informing all involved personnel that, due to the refurbished condition if the ship, we are currently experiencing a high level of incidents. We are aware that those incidents are impacting the use of :
- IT stations
- data storage - which could go as far as data loss of ship's records
- sensors ; involving intel and telemetry,
- medical equipment and/or data
(list non exclusive)
... with repeated faults.

The Engineering department is working with manifest haste as I'm writing this - to reestablish the usual level of quality of service in the shortest delay. In the meantime, please accept our apologies.

We thank you for your understanding and patience.

Relevant follow-up information shall be communicated in a couple of hours.

Lt Chief Engeener Iita Tsetsegma - Engineering Department, ISS Sharshana
"Project the might of the Imperium into the vast oblivion that is space, but know that it is not enough" (Baron T. Reziilka)

Although Jacqueline admires Captain Thenroy, his speech makes her a bit nervous; she'd enjoy a nice quiet cruise. She has been taking every opportunity to go down to the planetary surfaces when she can, as is her habit, but she seems rather subdued (even more so than usual) since Beaxon. She transmits her data to Hrolf and supervises the return to realspace, tapping out calculations on her tablets.

Since "This instance of 'unreliable' is hitting the Sharshana worse than usual", Iita starts a sub-routine checks of the crew roll-call, looking for people born or having spent more than 180 days on Beaxon...
This message was last edited by the player at 11:42, Tue 16 Feb 2021.

Mission Day:  67

ECEI:          7
Morale:        8  (Gunnery 9, Crew 9)
Supplies:     68%

Crew functions experiencing -2 DM.


If the ship is experiencing more than its usual share of system trouble, the crew appears to be taking it in good humor.  She's feeling cranky today.



It seems that you've arrived in the middle of another situation, this even more urgent (if smaller-scale) than the last: a far trader, the Zeglaashshish according to its transponder codes, is under fire from a larger vessel, a mercenary cruiser without any discernible transponder signal.

Or at least the heavily-damaged trader was under fire. Your arrival has apparently prompted a change of plans on the part of the latter; they're already coming about and making a break for it... on a vector that keeps the trader between you and them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:22, Tue 16 Feb 2021.

Anticipating the Captain will demand to engage the fastest speed to catch up the Merc cruiser, Iita quickly checks the M-Drive maximum thrust, and then more than that maximum without sacrificing security, hoping not to blunder in her first real combat-encounter as a CE.

But then she felt her training kick in...

Iita Tsetsegma rolled 9 using 2d6+1.  M-drive engineering.

She gives a quick call to the pilot Standarsson : "remember the Greyhound effect when you step on the accelerator! (BC2M -Bridge Commands To Motors- interface GRYH-14 Y00 means the thrust power surge from 10 to 105% lasts 14.3 seconds instead of avg 38 sec)"

This message was last edited by the player at 12:46, Thu 25 Feb 2021.

Jacqueline gasped. She hadn't actually expected to run in to any hostile ships out here, nothing worse than a few smugglers. She hurried contacted the trading vessel. "Unknown trading vessel, this is INS Sharshana. State your situation."

The Baron slams his fist onto the arm of his chair. His voice was even toned but the thrill of catching a pirate was clearly visible in his eyes.

"Send a broadcast on all channels. Tell the attacking ship they are to power down their weapons and engines immediately to explain their situation and submit to an inspection. Failure to comply will be viewed as evidence of guilt of piracy and we will open fire with lethal intent.

Sensors, if they start powering up their jump drive give a green signal to gunnery. Target their engines if you can but if the ship is destroyed so be it. I would rather this filth be spread across the stars than escape to prey upon Imperium citizens in some other sector of space."

Hrolf takes in the situation as well as the shortest likely path to get to the Jump point for the attacker.  "Request permission to intercept Captain," he calls out.  "The Chief Engineer has verified that the drives are ready for 105% boost.  We can surprise them."

OOC: Good call Iita!

The Sharshana lunges forward with a ferocity that briefly threatens to overtake the internal systems' ability to cope with it, malfunctioning as they are; light, unsecured objects go tumbling here and there across the ship, but fortunately nothing more untoward than that occurs.

Two problems immediately become apparent: first, the mercenary cruiser is accelerating away with all of the power that its M-drive can muster, and whoever is at its helm is doing their best to keep the crippled merchant in the way of the Sharshana's big guns, and they're not far short of the 100-diameter jump limit. On top of that their response isn't particularly compliant, either - the only thing that you get back is a threat to launch their ordnance at the merchant (what's left of it) if the Sharshana opens fire.

Hrolf may be able to outmaneuver them enough to give a clear shot regardless, but it's a risky option: any direct-fire weapon capable of damaging (let alone destroying) the mercenary cruiser would certainly obliterate the damaged merchant ship.

And damaged it is, which represents the second problem: both sensors and a distressed response from its bridge make it clear that the Zeglaashshish is in severe trouble even without any further pounding: main power, drives, and most systems are out; there are fires aboard, and internal damage has trapped the two crew members inside the bridge; they have no idea whether the other three are still alive, or trapped elsewhere. And the vector that it's on has it hurtling toward the planet...

If the thought of losing a merchant ship weighed on Thenroy's mind, he didn't show it or hesitate in the slightest. He nodded for the comms officer to reply to the pirate cruise.

"The Imperial Navy does not negotiate with pirates or terrorists. Power down your weapons and engines and surrender and you will only be charged with piracy. If you continue to attack the Zeglaashshish then I will deploy our full weapons compliment to avenge their deaths. Even if you do flee we have your ship's information and you will be hunted down as pirates and murderers for the rest of your lives. You have 10 seconds to comply."

"Course coming through now." Jacqueline transmits a possible intercept course to Hrolf. She then picks up one of her tablets (although they and her notes have been rather scattered by the sudden lurch forward) and begins to work on possible courses for rescue shuttles for the damaged merchant. She flinches a little at the captain's threats to the mercenaries; in other context they might be inspiring, but she's really worried about the merchant crew. "They're not talking much."

Astrogation : for plotting the courses of starships
This definition irrupts from the depths of Iita's memory, as she tries to find a solution to the dilemma... She immediately calls the astrogation team :
"Guys, since it's not the time to calculate our next jump, we need your help with the merchant ship... the vector that it is on has it hurtling toward the planet : it would be helpful for the Marine small crafts if you calculated interception course and all, without loosing the rescuers, please. Can you do that? You're angels, thank you"

+2 for specialists, -2 DM for the crew : Iita Tsetsegma rolled 6 using 2d6.  astrogation on ship and small craft

However, they couldn't help.

It is unclear what effect the threats are having, as the mercenary cruiser's crew is disciplined enough to maintain comms silence except when someone is making a statement, and then it is a clipped, matter-of-fact one as might be expected of a paramilitary operation.

Apparently they have nothing to say - but they are still heading for the jump limit with all of the thrust their ship can muster.

They haven't fired on the trader yet, though. That's a good thing; judging by the sensor data, one more solid hit might be enough to break it up. The comm connection to its bridge is holding up, though how long that will last on shaky emergency power is anyone's guess.

On the subject of breaking things up, the Sharshana's maneuvers have outpaced those of the mercenary cruiser, giving it a clear line of fire if overkill is the order of the day. Even if it isn't, a missile barrage won't have to arc nearly as much from here.

Thenroy turns to the gunnery station and signals them to open fiire.

"They are noncompliant. Open fire. Target their J-Drive and power systems if they present themselves but if they are obliterated then so be it. We gave them ample opportunity to surrender and they are actively threatening the lives of Imperial merchants."

"Thinking the same thing, ma'am" Jacqueline says quietly on the comm to Iita. She finishes her last few calculations and transmits the courses, making a mental note to speak to the assistant astrogator about his less than stellar effort. "Done. I hope it serves, Lieutenant"

Why would a bunch of mercenaries be here anyways? Privateers?

Jacqueline says a quiet prayer as the ship moves to open fire. She has not been in real ship to ship combat before, and is very nervous.

03:41, Today: Jacqueline Yune rolled 3 using 1d6.  Second astrogation dice.
03:40, Today: Jacqueline Yune rolled 9 using 1d6+4.  Astrogation.
I accidentally rolled only one die the first time.

As the Sharshana closes the distance, the gunnery team achieves a solid sensor lock-on and unleashes a four-bay volley at the fleeing mercenary ship: nearly a hundred standard warheads streak through space toward it. Point-defense and jamming might thin out their numbers somewhat, but it would be utterly implausible to think that they could all be taken down. And another volley - potentially a much larger one - could easily follow it up.

It isn't clear whether their representative on the comms is incredibly brave or incredibly good at acting, but they sound quite firm as they issue (or rather re-issue) their demand: call off the attack or they will fire on the merchant ship.

Telemetry indicates that the mercenary ship has four triple-beam turrets, two sandcaster/missile turrets, and two dedicated missile turrets. Easily enough to finish off the merchant ship if they unload on it...

Alpha Volley: two turns to impact. (96 missiles remaining.)

The Sharshana will also achieve firing distance for its (non-spinal) beam weapons in about that time, assuming that it can keep a clear line of fire.

OOC: The Mercenary Cruiser has 8 turrets?  Okay, scans say only 4 turrets, max, can launch missiles--that means salvos of as little as 4 to as much as 12 missiles.  Heck, if we assign only half of the Sharshana's direct energy weapons to Point Defense, shooting down any missiles fired at that Trader, it's gonna be pretty safe.



[Aboard INS Sharshana, Secondary Bridge, Traffic Control Station]

     Ishakhi had been scrambling to get a rescue operation rolling, ever since the Mercenary Cruiser had been detected attacking the Trader.  And, just as the Sharshana opens fire with it's first missile salvo at the fleeing cruiser...

     "Rescue Flight, you are Go for Launch!" Ishakhi comms to the 4 launches he's gotten ready, "Launch--launch--launch!"

     As dozens of missiles fly away from Sharshana, four launches--the Marine launch, leading three general utility Launches--fly off the Navy Cruiser, headed for the disabled trader.

     "Flight Control to Rescue Flight." Ishakhi sends to all the launches, "Orders are to proceed to trader Zeglaashshish at best speed.  Once there you will attempt to board and assist the crew in damage control operations.  However, if your damage assessment is that Zeglaashshish is too damaged for safety, you will evacuate the crew.  Repeat.  I am authorizing you to remove the crew from that trader, if you feel she's unstable.  Forcibly, if required!  To You."

     Ishakhi switches to the Marine comm channel,

     "Flight Control to Marine Commander. Zeglaashshish reports two crew trapped on the trader's bridge, cut-off by fire.  Requesting you direct a couple of your armored Marines to try--if possible--and get through to them and effect rescue.  Three other crew are reported aboard, but location unknown.  Request you task your Marines for Search and Rescue.  Let the Navy personnel do the heavy lifting on damage control.  To You."

"We do not negotiate with traitors to the Empire. Power down or be destroyed."

He raises his hand, signaling gunnery to prepare another salvo and begin routing power to their energy turrets. Hopefully the mercenaries would crack when they see just how much power is about to be routed their way but if not perhaps they could shoot down any missiles the mercenaries fire.

The beam turrets were going to be the problem. Beam turrets were notoriously easy to fire by their nature, even at range. If they decided to take the merchant cruiser down with them there would be little the Sharshanna could do but pick up the pieces. However Thenroy was more determined than ever to take these pirates down. Anyone willing to blow up civilians out of spite were far too dangerous to let go. It would be a small sacrifice in the greater scope of the Empire for the merchants to die in order to remove scum like these pirates from preying on more Imperial citizens. One merchant trader was a small price to pay to protect dozens, perhaps hundreds, that this ship might prey upon in the future.

In reply to Baron Thenroy Reziilka (msg # 22):

"By all the Galaxies", Iita reflected glumly. The captain was so willing to attack the mercenaries and take prisoners, that he was ready to sacrifice, not only a handful of civilians, but also now his own Marines and Kimpasherki's boats... Whether the mercs would understand that it meant "I don't care for collaterals" was a soulless poker gamble by the captain.

Well, she could always give a rational explanation for what she was about to do... The job of an engineer is to reduce damage, is it not?

Lt Tsetsegmaa orders the dispersion of sandcasters screens to protect the departing launches. If the Shasharna is roughly between the cruiser and the merchant ship, she orders that ship to be shielded from beams too.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:58, Fri 19 Mar 2021.

"Couldn't we self-destruct the missile volley and then pursue the mercenaries until they were out of beam range of the merchant ship?" Jacqueline suggests nervously. She doesn't want to draw the captain's ire, and she is soft-spoken, as usual. "Then we could disable the enemy at leisure, maybe capture them and figure out what they were up to."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:31, Fri 19 Mar 2021.

With a massive salvo incoming - easily enough to erase the mercenary cruiser in its entirety - and more likely to follow at the behest of an implacable captain, there were only two possible outs for the vessel:

Surrender, hoping that the attack would (and could) be called off in time, and that they wouldn't be spaced on the spot for their trouble.

Attempt an emergency jump, despite the compressed time frame and the fact that they were still within the 100-D limit.


Several things were reported in rapid succession by the sensor operators and the small craft pilots: the mercenary cruiser was swerving hard in an attempt to make itself a difficult target for any last-moment beam fire, several missiles had just been launched and were rushing toward the stricken merchant - or perhaps toward the small craft that were moving to assist - and its jump drives were swelling with power at a dangerous rate.

A rate enough enough that, in absence of anything else, they'd probably make the jump before the Sharshana's missiles arrived, albeit only barely. The odds of emerging from a jump like that in one piece weren't good. The odds of emerging from the situation in one piece if they didn't make one had clearly been calculated as... worse.

In reply to Gvoellaekh (msg # 25):

     Watching the traffic control displays, Ishakhi didn't like what he was seeing,

     "Flight Control to Rescue Flight.  Missiles inbound to you!  Initiate evasive maneuvers!  Repeat!  Initiate evasive!  Missiles inbound!"

     ~~ Where the frack are our defenses?  Where's the ECM against those missiles? ~~ Ishakhi thinks to himself, trying to come up with some way to help his smallcraft.

     Then he remembers something from his fighter pilot days,

     ~~ Oh, the Captain is going to hate this... ~~

     Ishakhi touches the shoulder of one of the two techs seated before him,

     "Jackson!  Quick now, override control of Radar Three!  Narrow the emitter aperture as small as you can get it, then max out the signal power.  Point it towards those missiles aimed at the merchant ship and our launches.  Keep the beam on those missiles!  Burn out Radar Threes emitter, if you have to!  Just use our stronger radar beam to wash over the targeting sensors on those missiles.  Blind them!"

Thenroy was already in agreement with Kimpasherki even if the two didn't know it.

"Begin electronic countermeasures, full spread, against the incoming salvo. Leave the Sharshanna open if you have to just disable those missiles.

Fire control, weapons free with energy weapons. I want that cruiser disabled or dead."

Jacqueline does what she can to help the ship maneuver, whispering a quiet prayer; she is not at all used to the stresses of combat.

The Sharshana's fusion batteries flared as Hrolf's maneuvers brought the ship clear of the crippled merchant and gunnery had a solid lock on the target. The mercenary cruiser erupted in a scattered flare far brighter than even the cruiser's prodigious firepower would warrant; the shots must have struck just as power and fuel were being channeled into its jump drive.

There would be no survivors. There would be precious little wreckage to sift through either, and what little fragments that entailed were rapidly dissipating along the ship's trajectory. A few may even have been lost to the aborted jump bubble.


The merchant ship continued to drift at speed toward the planet, but with the field now clear - the missiles had quickly been rendered inert by the Sharshana's jamming efforts, as expected - the small craft were on course to intercept it. Boarding wouldn't be difficult, as EVA operations went. The task of getting everyone out, on the other hand...

The boarding party soon reported that they'd entered the vessel. They hadn't needed to cut their way in; the mercenary cruiser's weapons had already taken care of that. The still-sealed areas would take a little more doing. Decompression would put out any fires, but if the survivors weren't suited up...

One team was heading for the bridge, the two occupants there were still conscious, talking, and - most importantly - in emergency vacc suits. The status of the others remained uncertain.

Thenroy couldn't even try to suppress the grin on his face when the mercenary cruiser flared out of existence. Sure Intelligence would be upset about not having prisoners to interrogate and politicians loved to put pirates on trial but at the end of the day a swift death in cold vaccuum was the best thing for the enemies of the Imperium. No expensive trials, no having to waste any further resources on housing and feeding the scum. It was like the slate had been wiped a little cleaner.

He hit the comms to address the crew.

"Exemplary performance everyone. It is unfortunate the pirates did not surrender but the survivors of the merchant vessel will be rescued and we have sent a powerful message to the enemies of the Imperium. For our first real engagement things could not have gone better. Well done. Your performance will definitely be the highlight of my report."

Thenroy leaned backwards, steepling his fingers as he watched the super heated metals that were once pirates glow and fade like thousands of stars burning bright and then winking out, one by one.

"Time for the forensics..." reflected Iita.

She put the recordings of the voice of the merc's ship "correspondent" through the computers, to identify the accents and the speech patterns. Maybe she could identify his home planet.

Selecting the best pictures of the cruiser, she had her team try to estimate the jump capability of the cruiser. Of course the pirates modified it. That is what made it unique and recognizable.

And the big system traffic control data - collected by the Sharshana on every system they went through would at last be useful. The Engineering team would try to determine if this cruiser had been spotted in those systems, near Gas Giants or anywhere, during those last three years. Thus, she might be able to retrace the mercs journeys, and may be have a hint on where it resupplied...

EDIT : reflecting on how to gather every bite of information about the pirates, Iita called Kimpasherki.
"Lieutenant, please tell the marines to bring back the Merchant's ship Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the bridge live recorder (BLR) - they improperly name it black box. It's very important - not as much as their lives, though. Thank you"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:38, Sat 24 Apr 2021.

Jacqueline was glad the situation had ended about as well as it could have, but even so she was a little rattled by the sudden death of the other ship's crew. She nodded at the captain's words, relieved that he seemed satisfied. She begins working on a return trajectory for the smallcraft, adjusted for the movement of both vessels. "Pirates, or mercenaries?" she muses aloud.

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 31):

OOC:  Whoa!  I didn't realize it's been so long since I pulled my head outta my ... well, just say I hadn't realized I'd dropped off the world, for so long.




     "Affirmative, Chief Engineer." Ishakhi responds over comm, "Will instruct boarding teams to recover FDR and BLR from merchantman.  We can always plug the units back in, if we actually manage to salvage that ship.  Over to You."

     Ishakhi switches to the comm-channel being used by the search and rescue personnel of Rescue Flight,

     "Flight Control to Search And Rescue personnel." Ishakhi sends, "Requesting Status Update on location of all survivors aboard trader Zeglaashshish?  Also, anything new on vessel Status?  Can damage to Zeglaashshish be controlled, or is abandoning the Ship required?"

     "Further orders.  Any personnel able to do so safely, requesting best effort to recover ship's Flight Data Recorder and Bridge Live Recorder.  Repeat.  If possible to do so safely, requesting recovery of FDR and BLR.  Flight Control, Over to You."

Hrolf had been silently busy as he maneuvered the Sharshana like with every bit of her drives and maneuvering thrusters to first gain a favorable firing position and then to avoid the sudden field of debris from the exploding mercenary cruiser.  He felt a surge of pride as the refurbished war horse responded to his commands with a blaze of power that thrummed through the solid bones of the ship as if she were eager once again to go into battle.

"I'd think they were pirates or at least mercs down enough on their luck to try a bit of piracy.  The difference between the two is pretty slender out on the Fringe."  Hrolf began to maneuver the Sharshana back toward the rescue operation. "Feed me the rendezvous course if you would Jacqueline."

"Once we have the merchant vessel sorted out move us over that debris field. Perhaps there is some kind of salvage that can be turned over to Intelligence to figure out if this is a localized incident or part of a larger organization."

With that Thenroy leaned back and typed in a request to have some hot tea delivered. With the excitement of battle past he wanted to something to help calm his nerves so he wouldn't snap in irritation at the rest of his crew. Combat always gave him a rush and after that experience it was sometimes hard to deal with the drudgery of paperwork and processes afterwards.

"Right, of course, sir" Jacqueline said, forgetting momentarily in the moment that Hrolf didn't actually outrank her. Still shaken up from the battle, she momentarily picked up the wrong one of her tablets and it took her a little longer than usual to calculate the course and send it to Hrolf.
"Mercenaries could be paid to raid, to cause trouble" she noted quietly. "But I'm probably reading too much in to it."

It's clear from the feeds of the rescue effort that the Zeglaashshish is has been reduced to a shambolic and hazardous mess that is most likely destined for a scrapyard yard rather than for refurbishment, making things much more difficult for the rescue party. And yet...

If you didn't know that this was a very real - and very dangerous - operation, you might just manage to mistake it for a segment from some (poorly lit) action vid. Whatever combination of training, adrenaline, and luck you want to credit, the rescue party manages to locate and secure the crew (who are in various states of distress, but all alive) and recorders without being any the worse for wear beyond a few scuff marks on their vacc suits.

Getting the wrecked merchant under tow takes a little more doing. The damage to its hull makes cable attachment a tricky proposition, but the shuttle crews prevail and it is soon brought under control.

Because that was a really good outcome on the rescue operation rolls!


With only a handful of survivors and the two recorders at hand, Intel is going to have its work cut out for it making sense of this mess. Maybe they can get some of the Zeglaashshish's sensor logs out of the wreck. Getting anything out of the debris field further on... well, you never know.

Iita had watched the operation minute-by-minute, helpless. opens a private channel to Kimparsherki : "I don't know if I must congratulate you or scold you... I appreciate that you recovered the recorders on top of the merchant's souls, but why did your crew waste the time to tow the wreck? There's nothing interesting in the wreck, it's already torn to pieces! Please, next time, your job is to prevent your overzealous rescue team to go beyond what is demanded and take unnecessary deadly risks. Do you have any idea of the weight of the burden you have to carry when you remind yourself, day after day, that you may bear some indirect responsibility in the death of your fellow mates - or subordinates - and the affliction of their families?!".

Iita realized she had raised her voice and was now yelling. She abruptly hung up the call, upset by the Vilani lieutenant and by herself.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:46, Mon 03 May 2021.

The Chief-Engineer assisted the Naval Intelligence Service team.

Each ship has a sensor signature. It evolves with the years, works and upgrades and breakdowns and repairs of the ship, but you don't change your M-Drives every week, and your J-drive even less frequently.

Those signatures were recorded in every system with a good starport control.

To retrace the wanderings of the merc/pirate cruiser, you only had to gather these traffic data on every world in the subsector, feed them to a giant server* with an advanced navigation software, such as the one in the I.N.S. Sharshana - and let it work out the moving needle in a haystack full of moving straws.

(* Artificial Intelligence have been ruled out of the Navy ships. The admiralty prefers "dumb" servers who don't second-guess orders.)

"We really need to solve this computer glitch", Iita reflected for the 200th time. "but when do we reach a real shipyard?".

OOC: I can't find the image with our route

She fed the main computer with the sensors data recovered by the merchant ship, on the brink of its destruction. She hoped that the sensors, though "civilian", may have caught some signature of the pirates' drives.

Iita Tsetsegmaa had lost patience with the Sharshana long-lasting glitches. She felt angry toward the system. She had started to nickname it "the punk", since it couldn't be disciplined. She bemoaned the software aloud :

"Uh uh. I know what you're thinking. "Is she going to reset the software if I freeze for the 565th time ?" Well to tell you the truth in all this excitement I kinda lost track myself. But being this is a reinstall command, the most powerful tool in the world of engineers and it would erase your little stubborn personality, you've gotta ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?".

OOC : may this invoke the She Likes Us aspect of the ship?
It feels like Sharshana is glad to be back out among the stars. Systems are a bit wayward during, but some of the crew will soon swear that they can fix many problems by saying the ship’s name in the right tone. Phrases like ‘Come on, old girl, you don’t need to be so difficult’ can sometimes induce minor problems to just go away. CEI is increased by +1 due to the special relationship the crew have with their battered old ship.

04:33, Today: Iita Tsetsegma rolled 7 using 3d6, dropping the highest dice only with rolls of 2,5,5.  investigate intel roll

The Baron's eyes flicked across the screen as he read through Lt. Tsetsegma's proposal. It was difficult to assess his reaction as his brow was furrowed and all he seemed to do was emit the occasional sigh or grunt. Finally he set it down and took a moment to hold Tsetsegma's gaze. He was scanning her, looking for anything that might have gone unsaid or been exaggerated or embellished in the report. He might have skimmed her proposal but he was studying her with all his attention.

"You want to take the entire ship offline to track down this fault? A week with the guts open and on display?"

He paused and then with a grim sigh he pressed his thumb on the corner of the screen signaling his approval.

"Begin assigning work crews. Anyone you don't need will be added to a rotation for shore leave. It is about time that the might of the Imperium graces the local ruling class with their presence. Any senior officers not assigned to the work effort will be expected to attend the inevitable dinner and soiree. Dismissed."

For once Baron Thenroy was making an attempt to hide his foul mood. Having to put in for repairs right after a skirmish was going to call into question his report of a flawless victory against the pirate. It would all be explained in the report but anyone would be expected to think he might be distorting events. Even the hint of shade on his accomplishments seemed to drive Thenroy's temper but it seemed he was still feeling the goodwill of the victory as he did not feel inclined to take it out on his staff. In fact it seemed he was actually showing restraint and giving them the benefit of the doubt which was new for them to experience. No bombastic "THE EMPEROR NEEDS YOU" speeches, just quiet reservation that if the senior engineer felt the need to take the ship offline then the ship would go offline.

Jacqueline perked up at the idea of spending a week with the ship being repaired. A week with nothing to do but explore the planet and make her calculations sounded heavenly, although she did have some skill with computers and might be called on to assist with repairs. She looked thoughtful when the Baron mentioned the inevitable soiree and dinner party. "May I speak to you privately later, sir?" she asked quietly.

The Baron nodded but otherwise remained silent.

"Though this is the most populated world this side of the subsec, our crew may be disappointed when it comes to soiree and dinner party", Iita quipped, calling the general information on the screen. "Except drinking and brawling with prospectors".

Iruku wasn't much to visit. The library data had said so, and the reality on the ground proved it right. Oh, there were worse places out there - Iruku itself might be a rockball, but the orbital starport was of good quality, and there was enough traffic through the system to make it an interesting stopover. And if it lacked much in the way of high society, well, that made a visit from a cruiser captain and his senior staff all the more significant, and a few well-reported tours and visits of the planetside facilities (minimal as they were) made a great impression on the populace, coming right as it did on the heels of a very visible display of naval authority!

On top of that, the work on the Sharshana proceeded much more quickly than expected: by the end of day five the last of the faulting systems had been tracked down and replaced or recalibrated, and the resulting cascade of failsafes and emergency reroutes had been put to rest. Perhaps the crew was getting to know the ship and its foibles even better than they realized; perhaps the thought of getting everything back to normal had provided just that little bit of extra motivation. Any which way, it meant that the mission was closer to being 'on time' than expected, even allowing for a couple of days of proper patrol duty (much less exciting than their arrival, although there were plenty of ships to inspect) without having to overstay.

Intel had labored through all of this, focusing more on the records kept at the starport than the records kept in their oft-inaccessible ship systems until the latter were once again working reliably, and the extended stay had allowed the quartermaster to obtain a few minor luxuries from the trade passing through, making for a memorable back in action dinner on day six!

During the patrol days, Iita ordered the engineering team - those freed by the repairs done - to help Intel. "We've got to know the pirate's hideout!", she insisted. "A cruiser is a massive ship, it can't travel undetected!" - and then the carrot: "finding a pirate base will shine much more in your individual Navy files than just boring patrol. This means promotion at the end of your term... and I'm the one grading and commending the best among you."

(it seems the captain's style has bled onto someone) ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:46, Tue 25 May 2021.

Baron Thenroy was leaning heavily on intel. By all accounts it sounded like they had discovered an honest-to-goodness pirate organization that was moving in and setting up shop. Cracking a pirate lair and blasting apart their fleet would be quite the achievement on a first patrol and would really help set the path for his career as well as those underneath him. Baron Thenroy had gotten a taste of commanding a battlecruiser into combat and now he wanted more.

He was ready to authorize any methods necessary to get the location of the pirate lair. Bribes, torture, undercover agents...whatever Intel needed was approved if they could bring him those coordinates.

Iruku is the spinwardest world on the trip (at least, as planned); so this is "half-way", and the rest of the trip will be back to Zeng. Therefore, this is the "half-way party". A local community center has been rented, for the use of the crew only.
Music is loud and a DJ strings the latest hits from Zeng (3 months ago). The Engineers are also projecting stroboscopic lights and vertiginous videos.

Food and light alcoholic beverages abound - but there's a cocktail contest : who can best mix the beverages available on Iruku and those brought in the ship?

In short, drug is forbidden, but all efforts have been made to confuse the senses

There's a "find the pirate base" game - one of the buffet plates hides the pirate base, and people have to bet on the plate number, given a few clues such as ship range, local world politics, etc.

All those who (think they) have a little talent are invited to show it on the stage, and yes there's a price for the winner.

The dress code is "jumpsuit", since the protocol is relaxed, and there were already many occasions .

The party is planned to go all night, across several shifts, so everyone could participate and enjoy.

Once it was started, Iita relaxed and wondered how to accomplish her secondary objectives : push Yune in the arms of Standarsson (since those two had been turning around each other for too long) and a way to "unfreeze" the uptight Kimpasherki - she'd try to make him drink, tell his adventures, dance, exchange compliments on the beauty of their eyes, get drunk, lower his inhibitions, kiss, whatever.

more info

Next to the local community center stands in fact a strip-tease club, also rented;  though no strip-teasers have been requested.
There's an animation late in the night - after the captain's visit. The DJ moves from the center here, where crew-members inebriated enough have the option to jump on the catwalk and show their talent (officially songs and dances...)

What Iita secretly wishes, is that the low lights and private booths will help to form couples...

Jacqueline entered the room a bit nervously. This was about as far from her preferred world of mathematics and solitude as she could get. She took moment to fiddle with some nonexistent trouble with her jumpsuit. Having done so, she made her way over to Iita. "Thank you for organizing the party, ma'am. Very thoughtful of you" she said.

The song reached its chorus, many voices sang in unison;

(queue the music of "Age of Aquarius")

This is the dawning of the Age of Empire
Age of Empire
Empire! Empire!

The music was deafening. Iita put her hand on Jacqueline's shoulders and brought her closer to whisper with a hoarse voice :

"No ma'am! No titles, no ranks! This is Fool's Day and the crew lets off steam after the captain's speech! Think of how we could play pranks on our fellow officers! And take some drink, taste the different cocktails - there's a competition!"

Iita, it seemed, had already started to taste the different cocktails combinations.

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Data crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Empi-ire! Empi-ire!

Jacqueline giggled, a sound few of her crewmates had every heard. "I wouldn't mind a cocktail or two ma- Iita. I don't... I don't do a lot of pranks"

["Half-Way Party", Planet Iruku]

     About a half-hour into the party, Ishakhi walks through the community center doors, into the party that's just starting to ramp up.

     Ishakhi is dressed in the required ship's jumpsuit--in the pale-blue of the Small Craft Operations division--but he's wearing a flight jacket over it.

     The flight jacket is space-black with a dark-red trim, and is cut in a Vilani style--the right-of-center zipper, high collar, and close fit, being indicators.  A variety of colorful patches adorn each sleeve, from shoulder to wrist, and there is an image of a lethal-looking aerospace fighter craft displayed upon the back.  Abouve this image are printed the words "Vampire Squadron" in large letters, with "IFFC-2322 -- 133rd Fleet" in smaller letters beneath that.  Under the image of the fighter are the words "FL-128 Rampart Fighter" and "Death Out Of The Void" printed below that.  A white nametape with "Lt. Kimpasherki" printed in black is located over the right breast, on the front of the jacket, with the word "Dagger" embroidered in bright yellow, below the nametape.

     A very non-Regulation silver band ear clip with three strands of tiny dark-amber colored beads--matching the color of his eyes--dangles from his left earlobe, while a subtle application of an orange-tone eyeshadow both highlights his amber eyes, as well as compliments his swarthy skin tone.  On his feet are a pair of--again, very non-Regulation--soft, moccasin-like Vilani 'house boots' which, though their reddish-brown color clashes a little with the pale-blue of the jumpsuit legs that are tucked into them, look to be very comfortable.

     Around his waist circles a narrow, dark leather belt with a fine-link steel chain looping down over his left hip, from which dangles the large, sheathed knife with the odd-looking grip--there are four small metal 'rings' on it, which look like the fingers of the hand holding it must be put through them--(extremely non-Regulation) which Ishakhi never seems to go anywhere without, hangs.

     As Ishakhi looks around the chaotic scene, a handful of people, all wearing pale-blue Small Craft Ops jumpsuits, suddenly raise up their glasses towards him and call out "Dagger!"

     Ishakhi smiles and waves to the group, in acknowledgement, then starts towards the bar.  Ishakhi moves through the mass of moving bodies with a lithe, almost dancer-like smoothness.  And, though the move is subtle, about halfway to the bar, Ishakhi makes a change of direction which places him standing at the bar--right next to Iita.

     "My compliments, Chief Engineer," Ishakhi says when he arrives, leaning in and speaking just loud enough to be heard over all the revelry,

     "This is quite some celebration you have organized."

     Ishakhi turns away, slightly, and addresses the server on the other side of the bar,

     "A flute of Meem, please." he requests, then starts to turn back to Iita--only to stop when he notices the puzzled look on the server's face.

     With a heavy sigh, Ishakhi adds, "Fine.  Give me a glass of whatever you have that's brewed, alcoholic, and on-tap.  Thank you.", before returning his attention to his fellow Department Head.

Gvoellaekh's presence at the party was both imposing and staid, the former because it could hardly be helped, and the latter because his duty uniform suited him better than anything informal; he was slightly more relaxed in his mannerisms, at least. There was even a smile or two - something rarely seen when on duty!

"Mister, um, Kimpasherki" Jacqueline said awkwardly. "Nice to see you" She selects one of the cocktails and sips it gently. "It's been a very long time since I've been to a party."

In reply to Jacqueline Yune (msg # 54):

     Ishakhi accepts a glass filled with what he assumes is beer or ale--despite it's muddy-brown color--from the server, and takes a sip before responding to Jacqueline,

     "Please, SubLieutenant," Ishakhi says, surprised at the good, malty flavor of his beverage, "We are Crewmates.  In social circumstances, please, call me Ishakhi.  And, may I call you Jacqueline?"

Iita took a relaxed attitude.

"Oooh Ishaki is right, let's use our first names. What would you think of calling you Jackie, Jacqueline?", she asked with a hint or irony. "By the way, Ishaki - always the ladies' man, eh? - if you are using her social circumstances name, you may as well drop our ranks for tonight and stop the "Chief Engineer this and Chief Engineer that"...", she giggled.

The Chief-Engineer winked at him, and winked at Jacqueline, telegraphing "let's prank him!".

"My my, Ishaki, what an impressive display of patches and indicators", said Iita while caressing those patches... Vampire squadron, Rampart Fighter, "Death Out Of The Void" - I suppose this is the squadron's motto? And tell us about your code name "Dagger"? It's linked to... the knife I presume, or something else under your belt? Is it a family heirloom?"

She considered holding the handle of the knife in a very suggestive way, but thought better against it, as instead of being aroused, the uptight pilot might feel a tradition breach...

Then she would ask questions about the ear clip and tease him...

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 56):

     "Merely acknowledging a fellow Division Head." Ishakhi replies, raising his glass to Iita,

     "As for the rest," Ishakhi sips from his drink, then nods in agreement, "You've pretty much harvested the groats.  My previous assignment was as a Rampart fighter pilot, and a member of Vampire Squadron..."

     Ishakhi's grin slips a little,

     "Until my fighter got shot out from under me." he takes a large draw from his drink, " 'Least I saved the Troop Transport...and got roasted half-to-death..."

     As he says this, his left hand--his free hand--moves to rest on the sheath of his dagger,

     "As for Dagger," Ishakhi says, the grin returning, "That's my Callsign.  The guys in the squadron though it was amusing to call me that, since...y'know...it's actually my name.  My CAG, Commander Lord Emillio Ashford--he took me under his wing."

     "After I got out of medical recovery, he recommended I rotate into a Staff position for a tour-or-two, and then switch over tp Command track--since I couldn't fly fighters, anymore.  This..."

     Ishakhi pats the sheathed dagger,

     "This is actually an award, tied to a Commendation I got for saving those Marines.  Commander Ashford had it forged from a salvaged piece of my Rampart's crystaliron armor,  in a traditional kiikag style.  The award includes a Uniform dispensation, allowing me to carry it at all times--well--unless it would be inappropriate."

     "Like, I wouldn't wear it in bed, for example--unless I was expecting my bedtime to be...strenuous..."

     Ishakhi's grin widens, as he takes another drink.

Iita listened with attention and felt a raising admiration towards Ishakhi; the pilot had really risked his life in the line of duty, been heroic, seriously injured, and yet he remained humble and casual.

The engineer led them to the strip-tease club and freed a private booth of its occupants, and had Ishakhi sit on the couch. She then took Jacqueline back to the counter.

"You have tasted the cocktail #12, the one with the most proportion of local booze as basic component.", Iita said while consulting her pad and asking for the astrogator's appreciations.

"Now, we need more notes for the #7 mix, which contains The Olde Liquor we bought in Beacon. Come on, drink it. Now Jackie, listen : Hrolf, who you meet daily at the Gym, where is he now? I did not see him having a word with you at the party tonight. Stop waiting for him to break the ice. Don't you think we deserve a recreation now, after all those days repairing this piece of junk, stressing, and fearing our repairs would provoke an irremediable or catastrophic damage ? It's been months without romance! Now, our colleague Ishakhi looks like a nice fellow. Let's flirt with him, turn his head between the both of us, have fun as women conquering... the galaxy... and contemplate a one-night-stand without consequences. Tomorrow we'll feel satisfied and rejuvenated!", she smiled.

Iita remembered how frustrated she had felt months ago, when a dialog full of double entendre had aroused her but led to nowhere. She needed a belated sexual relief so badly.
Since the Chief Engineer also knew that - to put it crudely - sleeping with someone from her own department would lead to conflicts and suspicions, Ishakhi it would be. He was less likely to resist to a threesome proposal, and would be less attached to any of the women than if he focused on a single one.

She went back to the booth they shared with the native of Gadzoe, her hands full of "cocktail samples to evaluate". She closed the curtains, put one generous glass in the ex-pilot hand, sat close - her leg touching his - and got her head closer to examine the ear clip, spreading her recently-reapplied perfume under the nose of the war hero.

"Now now, Ishakhi, jewels on a man and makeup... On my homeworld, this would scream 'I'm gay!'. Are you hiding something from us?", she quipped.
"Or have those colored beads also a history?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:28, Sat 19 June 2021.

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 58):



     "Um...so...I'm leaving, already?" Ishakhi asks with mild amusement, when Iita grabs hold of both him and Jacqueline and starts dragging them through the dancing mass of fellow Crewmates--making him raise his glass of--beer?--up to where it won't be spilled.

     "I mean, I only just got here .... I was hoping to have a few more drinks .... maybe hang out with a some people I know ....do some dancing, perhaps .... uhhh .... maybe foment Rebellion .... contemplate the overthrow of the Imperium .... Can you even hear me ....?"

     As Iita silently drags Jacqueline and himself outside, and then towards the nearby strip-club, Ishakhi raises an eyebrow in curious contemplation--then decides to just shut up, smile, and allow himself to be...dragged along.


     Ishakhi flops down onto the couch with a casual grace--not even upsetting the beer he's holding--then he looks up at Iita with a grin and another questioning raised eyebrow.  When Iita then grabbed Jacqueline, turned, and headed towards the bar, Ishakhi frowned for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders and took another sip of his beer--Porter!  That's it!  The color might be off, but the beverage definately tasted like a Porter!


     Ishakhi takes the offered drink with his free hand.  With a drink now in each hand, Ishakhi smirks at Iita,

     "Never really thought of myself as a two-fisted drinker, but..."

     With a shrug of his shoulders, Ishakhi raises a glass to each of the pretty women he's with--toasting Jacqueline with the half-empty glass of porter, and Iita with the fresh cocktail--and then sips from the cocktail.


     "No, not hiding anything..." Ishakhi answers, placing both his drinks down on the table, then turning a puzzled look towards Iita,

     "At least--I mean--I'm not trying to hide how happy I am, if that's what your asking.  Why?  Is...is expressing happiness a male taboo, on your homeworld?"


     "This?" Ishakhi asks, bringing his left hand up to gently swipe at the strands of tiny amber beads dangling from his left ear,

     "Well...I have had it for a long time.  I think it highlights my eyes.  But--wait--you said something about a man wearing jewelry and makeup!  Do the men on your homeworld not accessorize their appearance?  Oh.  How...dull...the men of your homeworld must always look..."

"You may, Ishakhi" Jacqueline replied, a touch awkwardly. "One of my friends called me Jackie" she admitted. At least I thought he was my friend. "It was a while ago, though."
She listened to Ishaki's story, seriously impressed. "Most valorous."
Jacqueline took a bigger than normal swallow of her drink as Iita spoke to her at the bar. Her eyes went wide when Iita told her to stop waiting for Hrolf to break the ice. "I, I wasn't- I mean, not that I'd be opposed-was I so obvious?" she responded, flustered. She had always been better with mathematics than people. Had she been more blatant than she thought, or was Iita sensitive to these things?
"I'd be worried about my reputation" Jacqueline whispered shyly, blushing, both at the striptease atmosphere and Iita's suggestion to sleep with Ishaki. "And what my father would say when he finds out"
Having finished her drink, she takes one of cocktail #7 and follows Iita. "Fomenting rebellion? Dashing rebels are very impressive" she manages.

"Why would he know? And maybe he'll be relieved that his little pumpkin has finally blossomed", Iita replied with surprise, while trying not to spill the glasses.

The Engineer wondered if she sounded to Jacqueline as a little demonic temptress driving an innocent soul into carnal sin... Iita couldn't understand some people reluctance to do sex. She herself had lost her virginity with a teammate at age 15 while they were on a computer maintenance shift and bored so much with watching the progress bar crawl that they had to try any activity. Afterwards, she had concluded that it was no big deal, and could focus en her tech skills.


The cultural confusion, and Ishakhi's face made Iita burst into laughter, and she rolled into the couch. Her eyes filled with tears, much however being due to stress and the fatigue of organizing the party. When she stopped laughing, she swept her eyes and put her hairdo back in place.
"Oh Ishakhi, you're so funny, and clever seducer, you know a woman who you make laugh is half-way into your bed, don't you?". She kissed the pilot hero on the cheek. "Jackie, did you get the joke, or is the meaning of "gay" as... basic on your world?"

She then proceeded to explain the other meaning of the adjective, and replied to the question about the fashion of her homeworld.

"Ah Ishakhi, you want me to speak about myself... thanks for your interest", she teased. "Indeed, belter's men on the asteroids of Long Shot - The Narrows Subsector, Corridor 3106 - are dull and never leave their work clothes. That's because they work to survive, to fill the production quotas, pay the taxes and finance the import of essential goods. They don't have time for fantasy, accessories and makeup, nor do the women. That's why I find your Vilani sophistication fascinating... may I borrow your ear piece?", she added while her strong archaic Solomani accent trotted out again.

Wearing the ear clip, the tall woman [1m73/5'8"] went to a pole bar near and began to dance lasciviously to the beat of the muffled music oozing from the party dance near.

[let's see... DEX 8, no perform or carouse or even athletic skills, and a little tipsy, the Chief Engineer "geek dance" faces a -3 malus.
ita Tsetsegma rolled 5 using 2d6-3. At least, she's sincere.]

"How sophisticated do I look, Ishakhi?" she laughed, exhilarated by the exercise. "Will you two leave me to dance alone? Come on, Jackie, join me for the pole dance show!"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:26, Sat 26 June 2021.

Jacqueline finished another drink. "He would find out. And he wouldn't be amused; he expects me to comport myself properly." she replied.

"Um, yes, I got it" she responded awkwardly, trying to play along with the joke but doing it badly. "The men I know dress up a lot, but not jewelry." she added.
"I, I guess I can understand why you joined the navy" Jacqueline said to Iita.
Jacqueline hesitated, then followed Iita up. She admired the taller woman's bravery and she'd had more to drink than she usually did. Still, Jacqueline had never seen pole dancing let alone done it herself and she wasn't brave enough to, so that was out, although a part of her wondered if Hrolf would like it if she did that. Instead, she tried to dance one of her old cheer routines from her high school days, doing a good job despite not having done so in quite a while and being tipsy.

23:21, Today: Jacqueline Yune rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  Dance.

"Yes. When my family - independent Belters have an extended family structure, almost like a clan - thought that I was clever, they discharged me from mining duty, left me to learn by reading, IA teachers and practise, and paid for my Engineering studies. Now I send my salary back to them, trying to get my kin out of debts and indenture, and may be finance one of my nieces' career, who in turn could also provide an income.
Of course, I have found a new family in the Navy and by the geeks of my Department - including this unlikely geek -" she pressed her index on the belly of the Smallcraft 'Ops Commander - "who I have designed a new ship detection method with."
-----------------------
Iita realized that Jackie was a better dancer than herself, and tried to join and sync with the cheer routine - because the more you are, the better. She found that "folk dance" hilarious.

I guess she feels like Jack Black in : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9OfrQnijM4
This message was last edited by the player at 06:08, Sun 27 June 2021.

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 63):

     Ishakhi didn't flinch when Iita removed his ear clip--while he'd had it for a long time, and it was one of his favorites--Ishakhi was confident that it would be safe in Iita's possession.


     "Magnificent!" Ishakhi calls out, raising a toast with his glass of--whatever the cocktail is, that Iita had given him, "The most enticing woman on the stage!"


     Just barely hearing the soft-spoken Astrogators comments, Ishakhi leans closer,

     "The Veddas say that, to respect and honor ones Family and Traditions is an admirable thing, as is consideration of the guidance given by ones parents, when deciding ones actions in later life." Ishakhi quietly quotes to Jacqueline,

     "But to believe that ones Family expects some kind of slavish obedience to any such things, especially when that would interfere with the joyful living of ones own life--that is both unreasonable and unworthy.  So Say The Veddas."

     "Only You can decide how to Be You, Jacqueline.  The ultimate goal in ones Life is simply to Be Happy.  Your Parents are likely very proud of who and what you are, and desire only that you are happy."

     "But if, for some reason that isn't true, then forget their attitude, pay no attention to their expectations of you, and be happy with those around you who are happy that you are happy.  Those who do that are your true Family."

     Ishakhi looks to Jacqueline and catches her shy gaze,

     "So...Be...Happy...Jacqueline.  Everything else is just annoying detail."

     Ishakhi straightens back up, as Iita returns to the couch,


     Said finger immediately encountering rock-hard abs, of course....

     "Delighted to be included in such lofty company, Iita." Ishakhi says, with a wink.

Although physical training was mandatory, The Engineer was a geek who considered it a chore, and she also had been too busy that week to comply.

So the little dance made Iita sweat, and her hair were wet and sticky. She reached to the little fridge in the booth and extracted cold bottles of booze. Negotiating the price  post-bibendem would be complicated, and make a dent into her grant to the family, but the hint of guilt made the sin more enjoyable.

On her way back to the couch, she locked the access to the booth. They wouldn't be disturbed.

Iita laid bottles with droplets before her friends, took a sip of her bottle and exclaimed : "Wow! I had the time of my life there! But I'm sweating, so since we're friends, I hope you won't mind..."

With her eyes modestly lowered, Iita opened her jumpsuit, and pulled off the upper part to her navel. Her #1 seduction issue had always been her skinny frame and little chest - the #2 being her pale complexion - so she had come prepared with a red lace bra, using CosmoBra ^tm tech, providing both stuffing, tightening and pushing up.

Yes, Ishakhi had fallen in a carefully planned ambushed...

Easing herself again on the couch, the spacer avoided her friends' gaze and asked innocently "Now Jackie, I'm intrigued. What kind of father do you have? What is his occupation? And what about your mother?"

Bringing up the shy woman's parents was probably not the best way to have accept to sleep all three together, but Iita was grasping at straws.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:08, Mon 28 June 2021.

Jacqueline finished her cheer routine and returned with Iita to the booth. "That sounds wise" she told Ishaki, her voice quiet. His words made her smile softly, but she added "I... I don't think it would work for me, though."

Jacqueline watched, wide-eyed, as Iita seduced Ishaki. There was a lot Iita seemed to know about how to these things that Jacqueline clearly did not.

Jacqeueline paused suddenly what Iita asked about her father, and took a moment to speak. "My, my father is Sir Aldo Yune" Jacqueline responded, flustered. "He's a Baron. My mother is Sasha Yune... but her relationship with my father is purely financial and political. She takes very little interest in me."

Iita was enthusiastic, "Wow, your father is a baron? Does he rule a planet?"

She commented the mother-baron relationship : "a political marriage, then. I thought this was something from the past. Do you have siblings? Is your older sibling trained to inherit the domain/title/responsibility?"

"We're working hard in Long Shot, but our family ties are strong. Everybody cares about everybody and knows about them. Gossiping is intense, you can imagine.", she laughed. "At least you've got a new family here, people who care! Come on, give me a hug! Hishakhi, give a hug to Jacquie. And don't forget to give me a hug too!"

Iita gave long, warm and tender embraces to her colleagues. She sniffed both bodies' perfume as if they were the subtle emanations of liquor. Her natural body odor was enhanced and transformed by the perfume named Irresistible. At least, that's what the Beaxon saleswoman had said.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:39, Sat 03 July 2021.

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 67):

     "Well Iita," Ishakhi says, returning her warm and tender embrace, "Being a Rock-Hopper certainly goes a long way toward explaining your exuberant free-spiritedness.  Every Rock-Hopper I've ever met would throw a party just for getting access to three cubic meters of open room to stretch in!  Such keen, carefree enjoyment of living is invigorating."

     Ishakhi turns to Jacqueline, but instead of giving her an embrace, he simply reaches out and puts a friendly, comforting hand on her shoulder.

     "Growing up in an Aristocratic family--I can only imagine what that must have been like.  On my world, our society is very Elitist--but with the Vilani cultural mandate for Formality, we treat each other with respect and equality--even towards personal rivals, whose guts we want to spill out all over the pavement."

     Ishakhi shrugs his shoulders and grins,

     "But still...We are our Family, and our Family is Us.  Again...So Say The Veddas.  But that's still no reason not to enjoy your own life!  Life is meant to be enjoyed, Jacqueline, not endured just to maintain your Family Image."

Jacqueline tensed up when Iita hugs her, obviously unused to it. Still, she appreciated it, and hugged back. "Thank you, that's very kind." she said sincerely

"I, um,... I'm the only child" she admitted. "That sounds really nice" she added when Iita talked about her own background. "It... it is good to have the crew around."

She nodded at Ishakhi "Well, I did show up to the party. It's, um, very different from the parties I'm used to. I hope I'm not in the way."

Iita nursed her "Cocktail mix #11" while pondering the Astrogator's answers.

Jackie was obviously conditioned by her education, and the only daughter of a baron would unlikely err away from the path drawn by her class. Also, the Baron would be very unhappy if someone drove her daughter down the path to "depravation".

Iita could label it as "sexual freedom", and Ikhashi may call it "one's way to happiness as written in the Veddas"; however wrong the perspective of the Baron may be, he probably had a long arm and a network of relations who, ultimately, would hamper Iita's advancement (at best. At worst, he would send his retinue to find and execute Ishakhi and herself...)

Talk about a cultural clash...

Iita filled the glasses again and toasted "To our ways of life!"

She drank again and everything became hazy...
This message was last edited by the player at 21:13, Tue 06 July 2021.

In reply to Iita Tsetsegma (msg # 70):

     "Sigage, Jacqueline!" Ishakhi uses the Vilani word for 'foolishness',

     "You're with us!" he continues, reaching out to wrap an arm around each woman, and giving them a quick hug, "And when you are with us, you can't be In The Way--because you're Leading The Way!"

     Ishakhi raises up the glass with what's left of his cocktail, at Iita's toast,

     "To our ways of life!" Ishakhi chimes in, then finished off the cocktail.

     "Ladies, now I'm ready to dance!" Ishakhi declares, as he puts down the now-empty glass,

     "But the only place to do so, here in this club, is up on the stage--where I suspect that it was only your memorable performance, Iita, which prevented the Manager from objecting.  Plus, even though I'm a Fighter Pilot--I'm not that brave!"

     Ishakhi reaches out and grabs the almost empty glass of local beer he'd brought from the party, next door,

     "Besides, I need to return this glass..." he says, draining the last of that drink, as well,

     "So...let's go dance...then see where the night takes us."

Jacqueline nodded, slightly tipsy. "Dancing, I can do that, I think." Hopefully, she wouldn't stumble in to anyone.

Iita giggled when Ishakhi gave them a hug. But her spirit went down when the pilot offered to dance instead of the activity she had planned. She got dressed again. The Vilani wanted to return to the beer draft, so she followed him through the strip club show room, where the stage and the poles were dark and empty; people were still expecting a surprise visit from the Captain-Baron.

The women followed the pilot a few meters through the cold to the local community center. The music was deafening, the DJ having re-recorded Zeng's classic hits with a lot of drums, and AI-assisted composition. This gave the feeling the target to the thumping sounds were, in fact, robots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GTn4HS3i2E (L O U D)

The lyrics resonated in her head, but she couldn't make sense out of what she perceived

It's just a question of time
Before they lay their hands on you
And make you just like the rest
I've got to get to you first
It's just a question of time

Having drank a lot, Iita excused herself to go to the bathroom. In the crowd, she noticed Hrolf Standarsson chatting with the piloting crew (talk about a closed circle!) She modified her trajectory to pass by the burly blond pilot, and shouted in his ear to be heard : "Jackie Yune talks a lot about you. You miss her. She's over there". Then she proceeded to record her appreciation for the cocktail mix competition she didn't care about, check about the party going smoothly, and getting ready to leave early.