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20:43, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Aslan at the estate.

Posted by NerullFor group 0
Yuri Argonov
player, 89 posts
Agent at Large
UPP: 6C7B57
Wed 9 Jun 2021
at 14:46
  • msg #33

Aslan at the estate

Once he got the ping from Beto, telling him the ship was on the way, he commed her back.

BEGIN COMMS->>>"Everything's okay. It wasn't the art I was looking for. These are nice people; you didn't need to send bodyguards with me. Though, I did appreciate the company. Saved me from talking to myself the whole trip."

"Oh! So, you're inbound? Damn. Couldn't wait for us to get back to the starport, huh? Well, we are most of the crew!"

"This is a big estate. Well, sure, it's out in the middle of nowhere, but that just means you don't have pesky neighbors wanting to borrow a cup of sugar... or your shotgun. Ha-ha. Lots of forest in the surrounding area. Didn't see any place to land when I was coming in, but the courtyard is big enough to handle the ship. Just make sure you avoid his prize rose garden!"

"Alright. See you in about ten. Yuri out."<<<-END COMMS


He winked at his host when he made the comment about the rose garden, which drew a laugh from him, so he didn't think there really were any prize roses out there.
Carmichael
player, 61 posts
Wed 9 Jun 2021
at 15:10
  • msg #34

Aslan at the estate

He really wasn't the 'strong silent' type... it was just that he didn't usually have much to say. He wasn't one of those people that just talked to hear themselves talk. Or to fill an awkward silence... mostly cause it was never awkward for him. Silence was nice. Silence was his friend.

All this time of silence on his part, he'd been sizing up the other people in the room, particularly the Aslan. Unlike a lot of the people on Nora'a, he had nothing against Aslan. If you respected a person's strengths, then you compensated for their short-comings as needed. In a way, it was like caring for the elderly and the invalids.

He discounted Anzha as being any use in a fight, but her abilities just might give them an edge if it got that close. Bannacor was still a complete unknown to him, but he was pretty sure Yuri could hold his own. That left him and Oscar to carry the weight. As for the host and his people... it looked like the others would go whichever way the host went. So, that meant it was about why a fight broke out. If it was a personality clash, it could go either way. If it was because they thought Yuri and company wanted the reward--was there even a reward for turning in Aslan?--then they'd side with the Aslan. That would not be a good outcome no matter who won.

So, he and Oscar had done their best to 'look' bodyguard-ish.

When Yuri used the comm, Carmichael went over to the front door and looked out a window. He heard the sprinklers go off, so somebody had been paying attention.

A minute later, that same somebody came running up to the front door, opened it and rushed out, gesturing wildly at the sprinklers and going through the motions of pulling his hair out. He came back in a minute later, grabbed an umbrella from somewhere, and rushed out again, going from one sprinkler to the next.

Carmichael had to admit it was a good show.

Someone else had produced umbrellas for the Aslan and for Yuri and company. He supposed it wasn't unreasonable for the estate to have a dozen or so umbrellas in inventory for the people for when the situation called for it, however seldom that might be. Given the size of the estate, he should have expected a certain amount of... 'overkill' for stocking the place.

He suddenly made the connection: the estate owners were helping the Aslan because they probably had a lucrative trade deal with the Aslan worlds. Not only was that the source of their wealth, but it explained why the Aslan trusted them.
Beto Arark
player, 118 posts
ex-commander, ex-reporter
66 years old
Thu 10 Jun 2021
at 20:08
  • msg #35

Aslan at the estate

In reply to Yuri Argonov (msg # 33):

Beto was confused. Why had a former agent like Yuri forgot the code? How could his sentences be decrypted? "you didn't need to send bodyguards with me. Though, I did appreciate the company. Saved me" - did he mean that the guards were useful? And what about the mention of "a cup of sugar" - was the ship suppose to drop... white powder? The drugs?

Well Yuri's general tone was one of satisfaction, so...

Better be sure : Khor'ruhn was sent to the loading bay airlock, ready for trouble.

Beto was at her position with the secondary communications desk . Well, comms be their defense, then. She recorded a message for to the local and planetary military forces, and also the naval base, telling them the ship had been hijacked by Aslan fugitives, and the updated position of the ship. The alarm message was programmed to be sent in 10 minutes, unless Beto or Barris countermanded it. (there was a countdown and a discreet reminder 20 seconds before the sending time).

"Daphne, land the ship in the courtyard as told. Don't you feel the space is bloody narrow for a ship our size? Do not hesitate to destroy turrets and dovecotes to position the ship in a ready-to-scramble state. Feel no pity towards the flowers.", said the woman who often wore dresses with printed floral motifs.
Countess Daphne Arslan
player, 79 posts
Ex-Navy diplomat aristo
Pilot of the Old Lady
Thu 10 Jun 2021
at 20:13
  • msg #36

Aslan at the estate

Daphne nodded to Beto. Her voice came a little huskily, after the looong monologue on the radio.

"With pleasure. I think Traffic Control gave up on us a while ago, or so I hope. Ahem! Well, see that awful parterre? Right there, the extremely pretentious one, faux Louis XXXVI? That's our LZ. Watch me burn those tulips in three, two, one..."



21:12, Today: Countess Daphne Arslan rolled 9 using 2d6+3.  Pilot roll.

Nerull
GM, 161 posts
God of Death
Fri 11 Jun 2021
at 11:23
  • msg #37

Aslan at the estate

In reply to Countess Daphne Arslan (msg # 36):

A nice soft landing, and the tulips didn't even get burnt!
Countess Daphne Arslan
player, 80 posts
Ex-Navy diplomat aristo
Pilot of the Old Lady
Fri 11 Jun 2021
at 11:49
  • msg #38

Aslan at the estate

Daphne looked at the readings, released the control column and looked at Beto.

"Too much time in the Diplo Corps, I suppose. I'm too nice for my own good," she shrugged.
Baris Dahl
player, 57 posts
Fri 11 Jun 2021
at 14:53
  • msg #39

Aslan at the estate

"Solid flying, Countess", observed Baris from the command console, where he was monitoring several stations and the local comm traffic, "Give the word, we need to move hastefully, not simply speedily"
Bannacor
player, 25 posts
Fri 11 Jun 2021
at 14:58
  • msg #40

Aslan at the estate

Bannacor picks up Aslan luggage to carry to the Little Old Lady  he says to the Aslan and heads quickly for the airlock door!
This message was last edited by the player at 14:58, Fri 11 June 2021.
Carmichael
player, 62 posts
Fri 11 Jun 2021
at 16:09
  • msg #41

Aslan at the estate

Carmichael opens the door first to make sure the coast really is clear.

He gestures to Anzha and Bannacor to go first, then lets Yuri lead the Aslan out, making sure there's two people under each umbrella. Otherwise, any overhead observers might get a different count from those that came and those that are leaving.

He couldn't help wondering how Beto knew that there would be five Aslan? Isn't that why she sent four other people with Yuri?
Yuri Argonov
player, 90 posts
Agent at Large
UPP: 6C7B57
Fri 11 Jun 2021
at 16:20
  • msg #42

Aslan at the estate

Yuri went out huddled under an umbrella with one of the Aslan. They didn't have to run, but hustling made sense because of the sprinklers... kind of like dashing through the rain to get indoors.

Once they were all inside the ship's cargo bay, he addressed the Aslan again.

"As you no doubt noticed, we don't have a very big ship, plus we have several other paying passengers. Even they are doubled up... mostly, so I hope these accommodations are suitable for you."
Countess Daphne Arslan
player, 81 posts
Ex-Navy diplomat aristo
Pilot of the Old Lady
Sat 12 Jun 2021
at 12:01
  • msg #43

Aslan at the estate

For a moment, Baris' words transported Daphne to two decades before, the bridge of an Imperial vessel, the smell of recycled air and the background noise of clipped military tones...

"Aye-aye," she replied, snapping out of it, with a rueful smile. "Ready for take-off as soon as our new cargo is properly stowed."
Nicodemus Trask
player, 20 posts
Sat 12 Jun 2021
at 15:12
  • msg #44

Aslan at the estate

Nicodemus approached Yuri and the Aslan as they came aboard. With a curt nod, he activated the translator module on his laptop. The canned greeting was not what Nic  had expected, but it fit what little he knew of the Aslan. The instructions from his research still swirled around in his head. The text was still visible on the laptop's screen, reading it is vital that the Aslan are not greeted by any specific medical personnel, they may assume that person to be the owner of medical services and any Aslan that perform these services, themselves, could take it as a challenge.
In clipped, obviously machine generated Aslan, the laptop gave its message to the passengers. "Welcome, honored guests. The medical facilities aboard this vessel will be made available for private use upon request. Medical personnel aboard are honor bound to maintain the confidentiality of all medical proceedings. Please inform any crew member of your wish to utilize any of these services."
After the laptop fell silent, Nicodemus nodded once, shut the laptop, and returned to the med bay.
Nerull
GM, 162 posts
God of Death
Sat 12 Jun 2021
at 15:17
  • msg #45

Aslan at the estate

In reply to Nicodemus Trask (msg # 44):

"We speak Anglic for your convenience. Thank you for trying." the obvious older leader of the Aslan says to you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:18, Sat 12 June 2021.
Nicodemus Trask
player, 21 posts
Sat 12 Jun 2021
at 15:28
  • msg #46

Aslan at the estate

Nicodemus points at the laptop, "not my words."
With a grimace, he admits, "My knowledge of Aslani is, regrettably, abysmal. I can only hope the machine adequately expressed the situation without creating an incident. Had a Vargr at one of my previous posts attempt to perform his own appendectomy, it would've been impressive if he hadn't tried to use his teeth."
Nerull
GM, 163 posts
God of Death
Sat 12 Jun 2021
at 15:32
  • msg #47

Aslan at the estate

In reply to Nicodemus Trask (msg # 46):

The Aslan show their teeth in what appears to be a smile or laugh.
Beto Arark
player, 119 posts
ex-commander, ex-reporter
66 years old
Tue 15 Jun 2021
at 15:22
  • msg #48

Aslan at the estate

Beto checked that everyone had gone up the ramp - the Aslan, but most of all the crew. She then checked the airlock was sealed, and called Lady Arslan

"Get us out of here, it should distract the other passengers. Standard trajectory to 100D. I know you like the limelight, but don't make us look suspect!", she smiled.

She then looked for Bannacor and whispered to him "are the Aslan locked in their cabin? From the outside? Are they armed?"
Bannacor
player, 26 posts
Tue 15 Jun 2021
at 15:30
  • msg #49

Aslan at the estate

In reply to Beto Arark (msg # 48):

"No, they are not locked in, and they're always armed with teeth and claws. They have no modern weapons we saw."
Beto Arark
player, 120 posts
ex-commander, ex-reporter
66 years old
Tue 15 Jun 2021
at 20:49
  • msg #50

Aslan at the estate

"Well I would have locked them to prevent them from roaming and be discovered, or some other passenger might discover them. But you're our translator and our steward, so responsible for their behavior. That's how it goes with our crew : everybody is responsible, and the cows are well-guarded", said Beto while postoponing the alarm message, every other hour until the jump.

[To Nerull : please tell if there's a problem until we jump. Beto Arark rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  astrogation.]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:01, Wed 16 June 2021.
Countess Daphne Arslan
player, 82 posts
Ex-Navy diplomat aristo
Pilot of the Old Lady
Tue 15 Jun 2021
at 21:12
  • msg #51

Aslan at the estate

Daphne smiled, fingers running through the controls.

"Aye-aye ma'am"
she said mechanically, as if the was still in the Navy, and pulled the colum towards her. For the first seconds, the lift was so smooth it was barely noticeable, until the background quickly faded from dark blue to black speckled with unblinking stars. Daphne sat back with a satisfied air.

"For a ship her age, the Old Lady handles remarkably well,"
she said, self-effacingly. "She must have been an impressive Young Lady, back in her time. I'm quite pleased to be working with her, truth be told." She flashed a smile at Beto. "Excellent catch, Mrs. Arark."


22:09, Today: Countess Daphne Arslan rolled 14 using 2d6+3.  Piloting.

This message was last edited by the player at 21:13, Tue 15 June 2021.
Baris Dahl
player, 58 posts
Tue 15 Jun 2021
at 22:32
  • msg #52

Aslan at the estate

"Straight and strady, XO", murmurred the Captain, once their extra passengers were aboard, "Once we're in the void, I will make myself known to them, see if my reputation might prise anything out without undermining Mister Bannacor's authority"
Nerull
GM, 164 posts
God of Death
Fri 18 Jun 2021
at 11:41
  • msg #53

Aslan at the estate

In reply to Countess Daphne Arslan (msg # 51):

Daphne takes off without burning the tulips too. Great job! Your course was set by Beto and you spend four hours heading to the jump point!
Baris Dahl
player, 61 posts
Sat 19 Jun 2021
at 13:36
  • msg #54

Aslan at the estate

Once the Hope's course was set for the jump point, the Captain called his crew together. At his station, he was calm and steady, though he worn a slight smile and the continued energy from his rejuvenationn was clear, "Solid work, everyone. You kept your heads and kept to the plan, and from all accounts we avoided any unwanted attention and have opened up what Ms Beto would call, 'an opportunity'."

His smile broadened, fully formed for a moment, and then faded, "We've a taut time ahead, and then a throw of the dice when we reach Iryao. We need to juggle our two sets of passengers, the first from knowing the second exist and the second to sweeten to entry into the Hierate"

He focused his attention on Bannacor and Trask, "Question them, carefully, and find out what you can of the situation at our destination. Will they be welcome? Who rules there, and who commands at their Clan Base. Will we need to contend with their navy's attention? Does our ship's past warrant attention, or caution?"

He nodded once, then his eyes swept the rest, "Keep our other passengers uncurious. We've them and cargo to deliver and an entry to plan. Anything else we need to know from either's records... Let's dig a little more"
Yuri Argonov
player, 91 posts
Agent at Large
UPP: 6C7B57
Sat 19 Jun 2021
at 18:42
  • msg #55

Aslan at the estate

Yuri will hobnob with the regular passengers from time to time during the trip, bring up the subject of art if none of them do, and then explain that the odd departure was his fault. He'd heard a rumor that the Bennington estate had an interesting piece of art that he was interested in... if it didn't cost too much. He'd simply mistimed the round trip, and he wasn't going to make it back in time for the scheduled departure time. Well, he and the rest of the crew. Some of them wanted do a bit of sight-seeing, while Grouch had gone along as his bodyguard, though he tried to tell him it wasn't need.

No, he didn't find the art he was looking for. Turned out that it wasn't the Bennington Estate any more. Someone else had bought it. After old man Bennington had died, the entire contents of the estate, including the flowers and the estate itself, had been auctioned off. Maybe if he came back that way, he'd try to look up the auction and see who bought the painting and for how much. That way, he'd know if he could even afford it.

That was his story and he was sticking to it.

In between hobnobbing with the regular passengers, he'd spend a bit of time with the Aslan. There was no reason for the regular passengers to go into the cargo bay, and the Aslan had the run of the cargo bay such as it was, so there really wasn't any reason for them to go into the rest of the ship. He and Bannacor tried to keep it that way by entertaining the Aslan as best they could, asking about themselves, where they were going, what they were going to do... not trying to get any secrets out of them, and Yuri was also learning Aslan. His version of entertainment was screwing up the language now and then, like using the old trope 'you have a big yellow pencil' when he was trying to compliment one of them.

In that way, the week in Jump-space passed quickly enough, hopefully without any incidents.
Nerull
GM, 171 posts
God of Death
Sun 20 Jun 2021
at 11:59
  • msg #56

Aslan at the estate

In reply to Yuri Argonov (msg # 55):

The Aslan were good natured despite their circumstances, they were going home! They talked and joked with Yuri and Bannacor and tried to pass the time. They even told stories! The old man was indeed an ancient warrior and he could tell the tales!
Beto Arark
player, 125 posts
ex-commander, ex-reporter
66 years old
Sat 26 Jun 2021
at 07:52
  • msg #57

Re: Aslan at the estate

Daphne:
Daphne smiled, fingers running through the controls.

"For a ship her age, the Old Lady handles remarkably well,"
she said, self-effacingly. "She must have been an impressive Young Lady, back in her time. I'm quite pleased to be working with her, truth be told." She flashed a smile at Beto. "Excellent catch, Mrs. Arark."


[Took me only 10 days to think of an answer to that! :) ]

Beto mulled this statement in her head. Then she squinted her eyes and said ironically :
"Yes yes, master diplomat Countess Daphne Arslan, I can spot the flattery and the subtle and manipulative double speak in your words. The Old Lady is well, she was impressive when she was young... 'wondering if you really speak about the ship or about its majority stockholder?!"

She grumbled : "Truth is, both the ship and me are old bones past their date of efficacy. Yes, 40 years ago when she was build, I was known as "powerhouse Beto" and the ship bore the latest technology; but we were reunited a few weeks ago after 32 years each on our side, and I doubt the tenants invested in her, not to mention the damage 6 years as an Aslan bandits lair did on her. Me? I should be retiring and live with my daughter, helping her raising my grandchild. I guess Greed brought me here... no I don't guess : Greed - thanks to a Navy pension to tight to mention - catapulted me on this chair, that's for sure".

The old ex-commander bent over to the pilot and whispered : "Truth be told, Lady Arslan, I am also quite pleased to be working with you. I consider you as my other daughter, Gemmie's elder sister."

She came behind the pilot's chair and put her hands on the shoulders of the former fighter pilot : "Daphne, you are gifted, full of qualities and potential. You'll do great things... if the Big Bad Aslan doesn't eat you!".

Beto limped back to her position, did not look back and pretended to focus on the jump calculations.
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