"I think the Marquis and I could be persuaded to hire you on a more steady basis. Is your ship available, or is it owned by others and mortgaged?"

Oberlindes nods to the question, "I could be persuaded to join as a patron, you have done us a great service!"

Joonan hated being around the nobility, it reminded him too much of his upbriging, but part of him couldn’t slouch or act non-chalantly when in their presence. Joonan stood on the fringes of the room, standing casually with his hands behind his back. This ensured that his manicured hands didn’t get tempted to touch objects of value, and also served to shift the focus to the others, while he himself tried to hide in plain sight. He had to admit that having two noble sponsors would prove very beneficial to the group in general, so he stayed quiet, observing their hosts.

In reply to Count Trayler (msg # 744):

"The March Harrier is currently controlled by a Trust out of Jewel. Master Theodore Bickle would know more of the specifics on that." said as he rallied his skills from his days as an arbiter at Riesk as part of the court of the Count of Celepina and his family in the Barony of Hunoz ;as problematic as  they often were.

Seeing the ISS officer reminded him of another option. "The good lieutenant mentioned there was ship of unique capabilities that has been languishing away in a space dock. from the description my Engineer and my XO has given me makes me think that my crew  could make possible use it it whatever task you gentlemen could have in mind."

"If the Count and the Marquis want that particular ship for research or exploration or trade, it can be arranged I believe. You can arrange the March Harrier be sent back to it's owners?"

In reply to Lt. Arthur McMickles (msg # 748):

Alyx takes his cue to launch into the presentation on the benefits of the crew taking the fight to the traitors selling Meson weaponry to the Corsairs. Glory to the Count and the Marquis (and to the crew) and security for the Imperium. The presentation is multimedia and full of visualizations of stealth raids and the consequences of failure to act!

16:43, Today: Alyx Karoll rolled 13 using 2d6+5 ((2,6)).

"and you must decrypt the bauble's code, for it might contain plans to steal morrre secret weapons of the Empirrrre...", Gvoudzon sneaks at the end of the presentation, rubbing his hands with glee.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:04, Fri 23 Sept 2022.

"Yes we can, and Theodore Bickle will do it", says Gvoudzon proudly. "We'll do anything to serve the Glorious Empire", he insist. "And appearing as traders while we have a secret mission sounds like a... plan.", he concludes, the words eluding him for once.

"I can arrange that, they can find a new crew on their own." he grinned and pulled out his hand computer to work on making arrangements for the March Harrier.

"They already translated the bauble code Gvou, you forgot already? That's how we found out about the Meson gun not being destroyed, but stolen!"

New ship posted in the threads? Who did that?

Hunter-trader mk2:
https://docs.google.com/spread...XGs/edit?usp=sharing


This message was last edited by the player at 18:15, Thu 06 Oct 2022.

Do we need to meet the mortgage while we're on a sanctioned mission for the Imperium (even if in a deniable capacity as we'll be operating beyond the borders)?

You'll need to pay upkeep, fuel, life support, they'll have to figure out salaries Everything is negotiable!

In reply to Nerull (msg # 755):

Frederik Vicouna negociates... he's a broker. In case the players doesn't read this, Alyx negociates : he's so smart he can do anything :)

In reply to Gvoudzon (msg # 756):

I think Frederick quit, so Alyx it is.

In reply to Nerull (msg # 757):

Alyx will spend some time working the local bureaucracy to identify who actually has the power and can influence the "official decisions".

15:14, Today: Alyx Karoll rolled 13 using 2d6+4 ((4,5)).

Then he'll lay out his cost benefit analysis for the Imperium, through whatever subterfuges it needs in order to cover the "unofficial" nature of the mission. He'll also promote himself to Purser from Steward, with commensurate raise and add in raises for everyone on the crew.

15:17, Today: Alyx Karoll rolled 8 using 2d6+4 ((3,1)).

Andrew was impressed with his Alyx's presentation and made a point to not insert himself into it. During second part of the briefing he would do his best to promote Alyx's effort. Using his experience in the court of Celepina to help explain to the Nobles in the group could increase the prestige and status in the region in a discreet and cost efficient manner. In the language of the nobles he would phase it in terms of them doing this as a service to the Imperium.


18:39, Today: Andrew Steward Copeland rolled 13 using 2d6+3.  Diplomacy.

In reply to Andrew Steward Copeland (msg # 759):

"Looks good to me. You have anything else to convince us?"

Sorry, still distracted a bit, worried about Melanoma on my back, Hopefully benign.

"Just test us.", growled Gvoudon "'Though we already, single-handedly, captured a pirate ship and crew without any casualties, so you may already consider the test successful."

Most melanomia are benign or you'll just have earned a new scar ! :)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:24, Thu 10 Nov 2022.

In reply to Gvoudzon (msg # 761):

That's what I figured, can't be too careful though. It was itching like hell and I scratched too hard and capped it.

"Hmm, good point. I'll back you. Want to strike out on your own and earn us money, I want 7%. Or do you wish to explore for me? Or go after Mammoth? I have a lead on some Ancient sites if that would interest you."

Andrew was surprised to see the Marquis of Aramisat the meeting. He will nod politely and bow to him "It has been a long time, a little over 16 years. You require more proof of our capabilities? More than our abilities to uncover the acts of treachery committed by employees of Ling and Sternmetal on our own initiative? "

He will pause and smile. "Me and crew found discovered the acts of Treason commuted by employees using the resources of your family's company. Long ago I served in the Court of Celepina as an arbitrator. You may remember back then I pursued justice to fully extent of imperial law. In the imperial Scout Service's security branch I enacted the will of the imperium beyond it's borders. Would you like me and my crew to do the same on your behalf?"   

In reply to Andrew Steward Copeland (msg # 763):

"I will give you a Credit stick to pay all expenses for the ship for the first year, You should be stable enough after that to cover those expenses. I need 5% of the profits to offset the expenses for me and ultimately give me profit. You can work out pay in the contract as you will be employees, you will be payed as well. Anything else?"

In reply to Marc hault-Oberlindes, Baron Feri, (msg # 764):

Andrew his nod thoughtfully to the proposal and turn to Alyx "Well Chief Purser, will that work with the business plan?"

In reply to Andrew Steward Copeland (msg # 765):

"Talk it over and give me your answer by Wednsday. Here is my card to my personal coms, keep it if you decide to join the company as, . . . mechanics shall we say."

In reply to Marc hault-Oberlindes, Baron Feri, (msg # 766):

Fastened on the front of the brooch are four gems in a line along
its longer axis. The largest is zircon, cut with many facets. The
two smaller stones flanking it are also zircon. The oval stone
is polished obsidian. None of the gems is of any great value.
Inlaid under the topmost of the small zircons is a sheet of some
greenish material, which fluoresces under ultraviolet light. At
the back is a clasp for pinning the brooch to clothing and a small
loop for attachment to a chain. Very careful examination will
reveal two small compartments within the brooch. One is opened
by twisting the clasp counter-clockwise to reveal a shallow
depression that could carry a small slip of paper or microfilm.
The other is opened by squeezing the silver framework while
holding down the chain loop end and is a deeply drilled hole.
Gvoudzon knows of the shallow depression; the deep hole is
unknown but could be discovered by experiment with a Very
Difficult Intelligence check. Check once per 15 minutes of
experimentation.

These compartments are diversions and serve no actual
purpose. A radiation counter will register slight radioactivity
emanating from a small area of the metal framework; this is
also a misdirection.

The back of the brooch is polished smooth. Neatly stamped on
the surface is the number 86 and no other identifying marks.
The brooch exhibits fine workmanship and is worth perhaps Cr.
2,500 as a piece of jewellery.



Aran Ashkashkur is a high-level employee of the
megacorporation Tukera Lines; he is the Aramis subsector head
of the Vemene, Tukera’s covert security agency. As such, he has
tremendous authority and plans to use it to make himself rich.
Ashkashkur’s chance comes when the Imperial Navy contracts
with Akerut, a Tukera subsidiary, to carry a pair of naval meson
guns and the computers used to control them from the Navy’s
base at Inthe to its base at Aramis. He arranges for the ship
carrying the cargo, a Hercules class transport called the Titan,
to pass through Zila on its way to Aramis; he also arranges for a
Vemene agent to be on board as chief engineer, using the name
Jelika Chan. On arrival at Zila, Chan declares the Titan’s jump
drives unsafe for further service (having previously sabotaged
them). The cargo is moved into an Akerut warehouse unti1
another ship can be found to take it to Aramis.

Meanwhile, Ashkashkur goes as planned; the man has been
busy on Zila. He has purchased a large quantity of electronic
parts from a local company and packaged them in crates that
are close duplicates of the crates carrying the meson guns.
Forging the exterior documentation and security seals is easy
for someone of Ashkashkur’s talents; it is only necessary that
they merely be able to pass a casual examination by warehouse
and ship crews. Then he has placed these crates inside slightly
larger crates marked as farming implements and addressed
to Ozarr on Lablon (later changed to Jesedipere for security
reasons, explained later), which he then consigns to Akerut for
shipment. When the meson guns arrive on Zila, Ashkashkur
breaks into the warehouse (an easy job for the head of the
Vemene) and, using a load lifter, switches the covering crates
from the dummy meson guns to the real ones.

The next day, another Hercules class transport, the Mammoth,
arrives on Zila and is detailed to carry the meson guns.
Ashkashkur arranges to have the Mammoth’s chief engineer
waylaid and severely injured by Vemene thugs. A replacement
is needed and the only qualified engineer available is Jelika
Chan of the now grounded Titan. Her new assignment is to
sabotage the Mammoth’s manoeuvre drive upon entry into the
atmosphere of Aramis, causing the ship to crash (Chan is no
fanatic – there is plenty of time for the crew to escape in the
ship’s pinnace). All goes as planned; the Mammoth is almost
totally destroyed by the combination of re-entry heat, impact
with the ground and exposure to Aramis’ corrosive atmosphere.
Even careful analysis of the wreckage fails to show that the
supposed remains of the meson guns are Ashkashkur’s
electronic junk. Thus, no theft is ever suspected.

By the time of the crash, another Akerut freighter is well on its
way to Jesedipere with a cargo of ‘farm implements’. Ashkashkur
was contracted to sell the meson guns to a Vargr corsair band,
the Kforuzeng, for MCr500 in cash. The Kforuzeng, however,
will take some time to raise the money (they are also spending
heavily to construct a ship, called the Ozarr, to mount one of
the weapons) and the guns will have to wait for some time in a
warehouse on Jesedipere before delivery.

Ashkashkur plans to get the cash and depart immediately. In
his personal starship for the Imperial core and a life of extreme
luxury under a new name.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:39, Sat 03 Dec 2022.

In reply to Nerull (msg # 767):

That is a lot of OOC exposition, but hey it's a kind of debriefing on "what was going on". :)

Most of this info has no reason to be in the message in the brooch, so let's assume it was a message sent from Junidy, from a high-level employee of the megacorporation Tukera Lines (who uses a codename) to the Kforuzeng corsairs.

Could it be summarized in one sentence? :)

Does it say something along the lines of "we have the goods, prepare the money?"

or is it a step further : "we understand you have to gather the money. The goods will have to wait for some time in a warehouse on Jesedipere before delivery."?

or, more securely : "The goods will have to wait for some time near the border" (because why would they tell the Vargr, the Corsairs might just raid and take the guns and never pay), and then we investigate on Tekura Lines and guess the guns must be in a warehouse on Jesedipere ?