Baris considered the recommendation thoughtfully, "Repairs first, I prefer neither a repeat of that alarm nor a lack of alarm when there is an imminent danger. But once they are done, then a three-day shore leave sounds a solid plan. If there are crew who cannot help with repairs, they should take it first so we can retain a skeleton crew at all times..."

He trailed off, speaking more quietly, "It may be I will need some recovery time, for I'm thinking that taking the Rejuvium is less of a luxury and more a necessity"

Whilst Beto considered her response, he swiftly entered the parameters for Gladys to aid Yuri and Carmichael with their information gathering on the world and its potential Gladys is an Intellect with Brokerage 1, so planning on using her to speed up sifting through information so they have potentially wider coverage

Beto readied to suggest they took Rejuvium at the same time, both cared for by Nicodemus; but then she realized that if things went wrong, it would be a bad idea to have the top 2 "executives" down...
It was also wise for the captain to try Rejuvium where he could be transported to a local hospital in case of emergency, instead of taking the drug during jump time.
She would have to wait to get to Iryao for taking Rejuvium herself.

Beto nodded to the captain, then moved boxes around on her pad, which she presented him. It looked like this :

Nora'a stage : 96 hours

group 0 : Nicodemus and Baris - stay on med-bay all time
(what happens in the OLH stays in the OLH...)

1st - 48 hours :
Group 1 : Daphne, Anzha, Yuri, Beto
sensors repairs + ship maintenance; then off duty
Group 2 : Bannacor, Carmichael, Khor Ruhn, Oscar
50% off duty 50% looking for mail, passengers, cargo

2nd - 48 hours :
Group 1 off duty
Group 2 75% off duty; 25% loading mail, passengers, cargo


"Something like that", she frowned. "Did Nicodemus tell you how long he'd have to watch you? We could stay here as long as needed. We could then move to lowport to pay less berthing rights"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Thu 01 Apr 2021.

"Your schedules look fine", affirmed Baris, "But let's wait for the crew to confirm which repairs are needed, and how long. We might skip down to the low port sooner rather than later, depending on cargo and passenger options"

"Aye-aye," said Daphne, unstrapping and getting up from the pilot's seat. She rolled her shoulders, a bit stiff from oversitting. Shore leave sounded just fine.

"I'm not very good with sensors, sorry. Back in the Navy my commanding officer decided I was more suited for Comms - sexist pig said something like, 'you have a nice voice, cutie, better stick to radio'. Anyway. I guess I'll go take care of general maintenance then?"

She turned to leave, then remembered something, turned around again and patted the butt of the Gauss gun at her hip.

"Anyone knows if this thing is legal on Nora'a, or should I leave it in my cabin before I go on shore leave?"

"According to the Traveller's Guide, it should be legal as long as it isn't concealed," Yuri responds to Daphne.

"However, the terminology is a bit iffy. 'Concealable'. Not 'Concealed'. So, I'm not sure if your weapon would fall under the former, even if you don't conceal it. The fact that you CAN might make it illegal."

"The planet is under a single government rule, so the laws should apply everywhere. But, there again, 'Law 52, paragraph 6, subparagraph 4, clause 9, subclause 3' might state 'except when hunting in the Skarval Preserve', for all I know. Laws can get tricky. There might be exceptions for certain occupations, or for certain towns, or even for certain churches!"

"I read once that on the planet Montver, the law said you HAD to carry a gun to church because of the threat of local 'savages'. Their term, not mine."

He turned back to the console and put the sensors and comms on standby before getting up.

"I think Anzha has already fixed the sensor glitch," he again says to Daphne. "We should double check it anyway. I, for one, would like to know just what the problem was and how she fixed it!"

In reply to Yuri Argonov (msg # 9):

Code was corrupted.

"All crew, suspend what you're doing and meet in 5 in the lounge, please.", Beto called on the intercom.

Five minutes later, the crew was sitting in the lounge. Five had taken place at the round table with Beto and Captain Dahl, three sat at the square table.

Beto wore her uniform and began pacing the floor.

"News and discussion, folks.

News first. Baris... Captain Dahl is going to try a treatment to cure the sequels of the wounds and exhaustion he suffered as a war hero - yet the Navy never followed up nor cared.
He promoted me to acting-captain in the interim, but still... if he gives you orders here and there, obey him."

The old lady did not try to hide her affection and concerns about Baris Dahl's health. There was more than met the eye between Beto and her commanding officer, 20 years her junior.

"Lady Arslan is acting 1st Officer, Bannacor acting 2nd Officer, and if we have to establish a watch - which looks unnecessary in a class-A starport like this..." - Beto checked her pad - "Dr Trask shall stand the fourth watch - he knows spacecrafts, engineering and led a hospital team... If he's not available, Yuri, you shall stand this watch."

"Point 2: you do remember we searched the ship for smuggler's caches. It was our first combined team effort, and everybody was fantastic. We found 100,000 credits, which are now in the ships funds, and a bag of pills, some of those happening to be functional drugs.

The captain, the doctor and myself decided to share the hoard of drugs with anyone in need, or who will need it when we fight close-combat. For example, if one of us looses a limb or an organ, there's a drug which might regenerate it. Quite useful.

We respect medical confidentiality, so if you think you need a drug, now or later, you shall take an appointment with doctor Trask. [Private Message him]

I'll now read the list. We have 3-5 pills of each. For obvious reasons, since most are highly illegal in many places and may be used to harm, we officialy ignore their existence aboard. You are not allowed to take notes or record this list in any way - I'll delete it on my pad when I'm finished reading. Just remember the few that may be useful to you. Okay?"

Beto went on to read the list in Notice: Drugs (group 3).

"Oh, right. If many people want the same drug and there's no health priority, investors in this ship have first pick. I let you figure the reason. Also, if there's still drug that we don't need - why is there so many drugs about psionics? There's no psionics aboard and the Zhodanis are 20 jumps away - and since we don't want to get caught with it, we'll either dump it or someone will take the risk to sell it, knowing that "the company will disavow any knowledge of your actions"

"Now on to the third and last subject. As you know, our next stage is Iryao, now in the Aslan Hierate. We're trying inter-state trading because it's complicated, so there's less competition, so there's more money to make.

Of course, there are that many issues, the first being the Aslans may refuse to allow us to trade, and we might come back empty. It's a completely different culture. Also, we don't know the reputation the previous crew, aka the thieves and drug smugglers, gave to the ship, when it was still named "Roarl-Ooargl"... and so on. It is almost certain for example, that the customs will inspect all the mail we may transport, looking for coded message to the Florian (human) underworld. So be irreproachable and make your bed, right?

Therefore...

The next jump week, we shall all learn the basics of Aslan language, and with it the fundamentals of their culture. Those who know the language already - I do not - will teach it to the others. When we reach Iryao - a dictatorship - I want everyone of us to be able to distinguish between "you're under arrest" and "you're welcome in this building" in Aslan, and understand the differences between "I will kill you" and "My sister likes you", and the importance of the order in which those sentences are uttered!", Beto joked.

She took her breath and continued : "Sorry for those of you who wanted to train in Gunnery. This week is going to be Aslan Grammar Week. And we'll dive into the Hierate with people who don't know the loose end of a cannon. That's life.

Meanwhile...

When the sensor repair is finished here, you are off-duty on Nora'a for the next 72 hours. Carry the ship's badge with you at all time, there's a locator in it and we want to locate your body if you are MIA.

Since you are all invested in the success of this endeavor, I know that every single person here will do his and her best to :
- look for passengers and freight to transport;
- obtain any profitable contract or mission
- discuss with other ship's crews to obtain tips about dealing with Iryao and the Hierate
- get any relevant information for our occupation

If you need suggestions on what to do, and how to employ your talents, just ask me! ;)

As it happens, it's mid-morning in Nora'a's Standard Time. We'll share our day's achievements tonight at dinner, 2100 at the TAS hotel. Tonight is the ship's fund treat!

Any questions?" She asked while seating at last.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:00, Tue 06 Apr 2021.

Daphne almost clapped in delight. Smuggler caches! Drugs! Drug money! That trip had it all.

"By the void, never a dull moment!" she laughed "This alone is more fun than a few year's worth of embassies. Well, I trust we can stay out of trouble as long as we don't run into whoever those drugs and stashes of cash belong to - ok, used to belong to. As of me, I think I might go do some meet and greet with the local authorities, just to keep my hand in with diplomatic matters."

With a smile and a nod to the others, she got up and walked unhurriedly off-ship and towards whatever level, sector or part of the Highport looked more official and upscale, strolling around in her flashy chromed suit. She was hoping it wouldn't be difficult to spot - the Feskal crowds would wear thin, and she'd expect to see more Barnai in their finery, as well as non-Florian diplomats and businessmen.

Whenever she found the local government offices, she'd drop by reception and give whoever greeted her a smile so casual and elegant it didn't look rehearsed.

"Good day, could you kindly announce the Countess Arslan, here to see the local world-administrator of the Florian League for Nora'a? Oh, nothing official, his or her excellency needs not worry, it is just a personal courtesy visit," she said airily, proppin a fist against a hip and smiling again.

---

13:35, Today: Countess Daphne Arslan rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Diplomat to get an audience with the Nora'a admins.

"Greetings Countess, may I be of service to you?" the man asked you as he came in to greet you. He did not fawn over you though.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:49, Sat 03 Apr 2021.

Daphne was wearing her professionally enchanting smile.

"Why, thank you for receiving me so promptly. I know this is highly unexpected, but I just so happend to be in this system on a..."

She rolled her eyes dramatically and smiled equivocally, rounding it up with a wink.

"...Completely unofficial and absolutely personal capacity, as part of the crew of the good ship Old Lady's Hope. I was wondering if there was something, or someone, that you needed promptly transported or delivered on the Iryao route, discretion guaranteed. Although you must understand my presence here, and aboard the O.L.H., and in Iryao is, naturally, unofficial in the extreme, and I am just a private citizen for all practical effects..." she said, calculatedly trailing off.

With a tone that indicated the absolute oppostive, wink wink, nudge nudge.

In reply to Countess Daphne Arslan (msg # 14):

"No, we are not having diplomatic relations right now. They are still angry that Nora'a used to be theirs and they want it back." he smiled.

"The Florian League took it from the Glorious Empire but the Aslan look at it as theirs anyway. Going into Aslan space here is dangerous Countess!"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:57, Mon 05 Apr 2021.

Baris scribbled on his compad for a moment, the machine converting his elegant cursive style into a more readable font before he passed it to the Countess


This message was last edited by the player at 11:12, Tue 06 Apr 2021.

In reply to Baris Dahl (msg # 16):

"That would be looked upon favorably I believe."

Daphne took a quick look at Baris' note and nodded minutely.

"That can be a very mutually profitable opportunity, mister Balducci. Let us say, hypotethically, someone of high rank within Imperial aristocracy helped you re-establish unofficial, but effective, backchannels into the Aslan Hierate. Would you - again, hypothetically - be open to negotiate such a deal?"

She gave him her professional smile, encouraging but non-commital.

In reply to Countess Daphne Arslan (msg # 18):

His smile dissolved, "Whatever do you mean? Are you proposing a bribe?"

Daphne tsked her tongue slightly, shaking her head with a faint smile, as if the man had just said something mildly ridiculous.

"Please, mister Balducci. There is no need to be insulting. All I mean here is to find a way to help, even in my off-duty time from the Diplomatic Corps."

In reply to Countess Daphne Arslan (msg # 20):

"Would putting you on salary be enough to garner this favor?" he says hopefully.

Anzha had been quiet, trying to stay inconspicuous despite her height and simply following along, watching and listening.  At this point she became not only curious as to what Balducci had in mind, but she also wanted to be useful to the crew.  So she opened her mind to see if she could literally see what he had in his...

---

She will activate her Read Surface Thoughts talent, costs 2 points within 3 meters, another point out to 12 meters, so do that just in case.

17:00, Today: Anzha rolled 8 using 2d6. Not sure what modifiers, "Average" Difficulty.

In reply to Anzha (msg # 22):

"Please, mister Balducci," the countess said for the second time. Her tone was still velvety, but there was a bit of an edge where the velvet was wearing out, revealing something harder underneath.

"Do I look like I need, or want, to be a salarywoman?" she smiled, as if the were word was a joke to her. "I am offering a favor, in case I can be useful to the cause of preserving galactic peace and smooth trade between empires, and in so doing I was hoping you understood the true value of such favors, which naturally goes beyond - how did you put it? Oh yes, a salary. But naturally, if you would rather deal with... salaried servants, I shall wish you good luck and steal no more of your valuable time."

Her fingernails rapped on the table, once.

In reply to Countess Daphne Arslan (msg # 24):

"Please, I did not mean to offend, just that I don't know what you mean."

Keeping her mind open as long as she can to see if Balducci gives up any more, Anzha then sends to Daphne, relaying what she learned.

---

14:59, Today: Anzha rolled 11 using 2d6. Send Thoughts

Beside the two women, the Captain quirked a single bushy eyebrow. He said nothing, enjoying watching what the young naval midshipswoman had become, and wondering what it was the Anzha had spotted with her intense gaze

In reply to Baris Dahl (msg # 27):

He quietly waits for what she is actually offering. His instincts were just not working well. She wasn't offering a bribe or be bribed and she wasn't interested in the money. She just wanted the fame and recognition?

Daphne nodded almost imperceptibly to Anzha as she whispered the information, and stood there, letting the silence thicken, impassibly studying Balducci's features. Then she smiled suddenly, her warm solar smile.

"No offence taken, mister Balducci. We are both well-versed in the idiosyncrasy of galatic diplomacy - so I think we both know the value of the favor you are asking for, and how no monetary value can be properly attached to it, that it might reflect its true worth? So, if we have that understanding, I shall be happy to perform this favor - as long as you remember you do owe us a similar favor."

She nodded, still smiling, her voice deceptively casual.

"One day, sooner or later, I shall ask for that favor back, and I trust you will deliver, mister Balducci, using whatever clout and power is in your hands. Do we have a deal?"