Traveller: Life in the Marches - A ship of our own

Fourier

"Good evening passengers, this is the captain of your Liner, the 'Swordward Bound' speaking. We will be exiting from jump space in approximately five minutes.

All passengers wishing to continue on to the Sword Worlds please remain on board. Any wishing to travel deeper into the Bowman Arm, please disembark at Flammarion high port. Several amenities are aboard the high port, such as restaurants, bars, sports arenas, you name it.

Flammarion itself is owned by the Flammarion mining corporation. Descent to the surface requires clearance papers. See the corporation's kiosk for more information."

A small set of shudders wash over the ship as it exits jump space. Flammarion and the high port are clearly visible from the windows on the left side of the liner.

Nestor (OOC: OldGoat) can tell that Flammarion itself, a dull brown world, is barely terraformed with the corporate standard single ocean and one big continent, atmosphere probably not that breathable.

The ship docks with the highport's underside. Two huge space stations are attached to the main high port via docking tethers. One bears the mark of the Imperial navy and the other the mark of the Scout Service.



Everybody had received the same instructions via the same channels. An offer of employment from the Imperial Scout Service. The message had said to meet Jansen Cas on the second floor of the Scout station.

The docking clamps connect and the air lock into the high port is open.

There are at least a few thousand visitors at the moment. On entry to the space station, two bars are visible, a 'Star Bowl (TM)' hotel and a 'FIGHTING CHANCE' gaming area. A steakhouse across the main square, 'Gutty's ribs' seems to be popular.

OOC: To start with, go where ever you want. A restaurant, a bar, etc.

OldGoat

Nestor heads for a bite to eat in Guttys.
"If the navy are in dock then I'm staying away from the bars, too early to be getting into fights with drunk sailors. Time for food before the meeting."

gozunda

sKeith wrote: »

Sign up thread.

Apologies - how's that work?

Necro

gozunda wrote: »

Apologies - how's that work?

OOC: Without detracting too much from the game itself, if you're interested in playing you should read the thread via the link sKeith provided. Or you can PM the DM/OP here, Fourier and he'll be able to answer any queries you have.

Any questions should be directed to thread linked as well as this one is for the players

OldGoat

OOC: I may be hallucinating slightly as I adjust to the space station gravity and oxygen rich atmosphere.

Baggly

Dhinor decides to hit the bar. Hard.

'No point being in the Navy if you can't get drunk and then into fights while on shore leave'.

conor222

Alex gets a bite to eat, got to fuel up

Mollyb60

Verne stretches his long frame as he disembarks. It's nice to have a bit of space. His nostrils pick up the smell of meat and he heads over to the steakhouse for a fat juicy rare steak, mouth watering in anticipation.

Banjo

Evan waits until he's sure a few other passengers have disembarked. He's always had a terrible fear of being first off the boat, of being abandoned, though he's never been exactly sure why. It's silly really.

Once his feet hit the reassuring thud of of the space-station deck, he does what any self respecting traveller in a new star port does. He goes looking for a extrality-protected, almost duty free Toblerone and then the TAS facilities.

Necro

Bakleth steps off the ship and stretches his four legs. It's not easy being confined on a ship for his kind. He trots in the direction of the nearest Veggie bar. He doesn't want any 'incidents' so soon with those infernal meat eaters.

Even being in their presence is enraging sometimes, but he's learned to control it a little.

He enters the Veggie shop.

'Greetings humie - what is on the menu for a friendly K'Kree?'

Baggly

Dhinor hiccups loudly, while staring stupidly at his almost empty glass of Whiskey. Not his first glass, he giggles to himself in his mind.

'Hic' he says.

OldGoat

Nestor, while giving a food order to the waitress takes the time to engage in some station chitchat and gossip.
"I'm new to the station, anything of note happening lately, apart from the navy ship I mean?"
I listen to the waitress prattle on, hoping to pick some nuggets of news and I watch the other patrons of the foodhall with idle curiosity.

Necro

Bakleth devours his 15th plate of processed vegetables and snorts. It's not the same as the sustenance on Kirur, his homeworld... but he ain't ever going back there so this will have to do.

He leaves the Veggie bar, rolls his eyes in disdain at the the pub across the street. They probably sell meat in there, but he's thirsty and in need of some pumpkin ale. He trots in and tries to ignore the mass of disgusting meat eaters dining on carcasses of majestic animals.

'Barkeep, a Pumpkin Ale for me please.'

He looks across and sees a humie draining a whiskey.

'And a drink for the humie too.'

He plops himself down beside the Whiskey drinker.

'Greetings humie, I saw you on the ship. What brings you to this place?'

OOC: (Out of Character for the new players) This is what my character looks like for reference

conor222

having finished two bowls of what passes for stew here, Alex heads towards the nearest bar. You never know when you'll get your next chance to sit down and have a drink in this line of work so might as well enjoy it while its here.
He sits at the edge of the busy bar, back to the corner with a view of the door and orders a glass of whatevers local and chaser.

Banjo

Evan wanders around the concourse, eating toblerone and wishing he had remembered to look up what TAS stood for, because he's damned if he can find the office.

Baggly

Necrominus wrote: »

Bakleth devours his 15th plate of processed vegetables and snorts. It's not the same as the sustenance on Kirur, his homeworld... but he ain't ever going back there so this will have to do.

He leaves the Veggie bar, rolls his eyes in disdain at the the pub across the street. They probably sell meat in there, but he's thirsty and in need of some pumpkin ale. He trots in and tries to ignore the mass of disgusting meat eaters dining on carcasses of majestic animals.

'Barkeep, a Pumpkin Ale for me please.'

He looks across and sees a humie draining a whiskey.

'And a drink for the humie too.'

He plops himself down beside the Whiskey drinker.

'Greetings humie, I saw you on the ship. What brings you to this place?'

'Gshrubbin shecndkddj blerp'

Dhinor keels over and vomits out his last whiskey.

Mollyb60

Licking his lips with pleasure, Verne finishes up his steak and leaves the steakhouse. Looking with disdain at the bar and gambling den he shakes out his mane and heads off to find this Jansen Cas.

conor222

Alex knocks back the chaser, tastes like crap but what can you expect. He shoulders his backpack and heads to the scout station to meet his contact.

Baggly

Dhinor takes out a 'Sober Me Up (TM)' pill and throws it down his gullet.

He turns towards Bakleth.

'Whats that orange stuff you are drinking, friend?'

Necro

Bakleth sips on his drink.

'Pumpkin Ale, my friend. No added conservatives or.... meat products. I'm a K'Kree, I'm sure you understand.'

Bakleth turns and regards the other humie, although he turns up his nose at the smell of stew coming from him.

'And good day to you sir!'

Banjo

While he's savouring the smooth flavour of the chocolate and the satisfying crunch of the almonds, marveling at it's crocodile-like longevity and refusal to evolve despite how far mankind had come in the last few millennia, Evan notices a man watching him from across the concourse. He turns his back on this voyeur, watching him approach in the reflection of the bar's front window. When the stranger is within a few feet of him, Evan spins, flicking a chunk of toblerone into the man's mouth. The triangular form gives the chocolate fantastic rotational strength, width and aerodynamism, it strikes the back of his mouth hard, damaging the strangers facial nerve while also blocking his throat. The stranger's face becomes oddly serene as a result of the nerve trauma even as his windpipe closes, unable to dislodge the melting, delicious gunk. Evan puts an arm around him and helps him onto a nearby bench lying him down. Despite his inability to emote, the fear in his eyes is haunting. Evan whispers soothing words into the man's ear to see him on his way, then deftly steals his wallet and heads to the bar. Guess he's going to be needing a drink after all.

OldGoat

Banjo wrote: »

Evan spins, flicking a chunk of toblerone into the man's mouth. The triangular form gives the chocolate fantastic rotational strength, width and aerodynamism...

OOC:
#Made with triangular almonds,
From triangular trees,
And triangular honey,
From triangular bees.

And oh, Mr Confectioner please,
Give me Toblerone a feckin' gun!"#

Fourier

OOC: Now that everybody has had a bit of time to get used to this, I'm going to start responding twice a day.

conor222 wrote: »

Alex knocks back the chaser, tastes like crap but what can you expect. He shoulders his backpack and heads to the scout station to meet his contact.

Mollyb60 wrote: »

Licking his lips with pleasure, Verne finishes up his steak and leaves the steakhouse. Looking with disdain at the bar and gambling den he shakes out his mane and heads off to find this Jansen Cas.

Verne and Alex arrive in front of the entry to the Scout Base. The base bears the insignia of the Scouts:



The only floor visible from the entrance is the first. Staff rush about the place, constantly on calls, uploading data or running simulations on their workstations. A large alert rings throughout the floor, an Xboat has arrived in the system carrying new data on planet positions to update the local archives.

The secretary, a near Terran human distinguished only by a slightly too stocky frame, notices the two of them.

"Anything I can help you with?"

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Bakleth turns and regards the other humie, although he turns up his nose at the smell of stew coming from him.

'And good day to you sir!'

Bakleth notices people in the station staring at him, a K'Kree is an unusual sight this far from the Two Thousand worlds.

A hiver in the distance spots Bakleth and ambulates his way over via that strange dance they do.



It starts flailing its arms wildly, at times walloping its back with enough force to break a human arm, the thud makes Bakleth wince. The translation device attached around the hiver's primary arm gets to work on turning the gestures into conventional language.

"Hello there, I'm Steven, I can't help but notice you are literally clinically insane. Can I be of assistance?"

Fourier

Banjo wrote: »

Evan wanders around the concourse, eating toblerone and wishing he had remembered to look up what TAS stood for, because he's damned if he can find the office.

Evan doesn't find a TAS office on this station. Looking at the amount of people coming through and their social class, he guesses there isn't enough cash to support one.

Fourier

Pter wrote: »

Dhinor takes out a 'Sober Me Up (TM)' pill and throws it down his gullet.

He turns towards Bakleth.

'Whats that orange stuff you are drinking, friend?'

After Bakleth leaves, a man in impressive power armour sits down next to Dhinor. A star marine, that much is obvious, the kind who are fired toward enemy ships in small drill pods to perform boarding operations. You have to be two things to be a star marine, almost unerringly brave and a survivor of some of the roughest training in the navy.

"You used to be in the Navy friend? You're hitting that drink like one of us"

Fourier

Banjo wrote: »

Evan whispers soothing words into the man's ear to see him on his way, then deftly steals his wallet and heads to the bar. Guess he's going to be needing a drink after all.

OOC: Up to you if this actually happened. The attempt alone would require a difficult aiming roll.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

Bakleth notices people in the station staring at him, a K'Kree is an unusual sight this far from the Two Thousand worlds.

A hiver in the distance spots Bakleth and ambulates his way over via that strange dance they do.



It starts flailing its arms wildly, at times walloping its back with enough force to break a human arm, the thud makes Bakleth wince. The translation device attached around the hiver's primary arm gets to work on turning the gestures into conventional language.

"Hello there, I'm Steven, I can't help but notice you are literally clinically insane. Can I be of assistance?"

Bakleth turns and frowns in typical K'Kree fashion at the hiver.

'Insane? That's what they said, yes. I happen to think I'm relatively normal... for a K'Kree without any family, partners or even children that is. What sort of assistance can you provide me anyways?'

Fourier

Banjo wrote: »

While he's savouring the smooth flavour of the chocolate and the satisfying crunch of the almonds, marveling at it's crocodile-like longevity and refusal to evolve despite how far mankind had come in the last few millennia, Evan notices a man watching him from across the concourse. He turns his back on this voyeur, watching him approach in the reflection of the bar's front window. When the stranger is within a few feet of him, Evan spins, flicking a chunk of toblerone...

It lands on the floor out on the promenade of the station. Luckily the floors are incredibly hygienic.

Banjo

Evan checks his pockets. He can't find any pride. He stoops to pick up the errant chunk, realising that he hadn't compensated for the drag of the thicker base edge. He nibbles it off, laughing. "Fool me once, shame on you, Toblerone!"

Fourier

OldGoat wrote: »

"I'm new to the station, anything of note happening lately, apart from the navy ship I mean?"
I listen to the waitress prattle on, hoping to pick some nuggets of news and I watch the other patrons of the foodhall with idle curiosity.

"Not really Sir, little tends to happen here on Flammarion, except mining and more mining.

I'd head deeper into the Arm systems if you want some excitement"

OldGoat

Learning nothing of interest in the eaters Nestor heads off to the scout station to meet up with Janson Cas and to listen to his offer. Lord knows she could do with the money after paying off the lawyer after that little run in with the authorities.

Baggly

Fourier wrote: »

After Bakleth leaves, a man in impressive power armour sits down next to Dhinor. A star marine, that much is obvious, the kind who are fired toward enemy ships in small drill pods to perform boarding operations. You have to be two things to be a star marine, almost unerringly brave and a survivor of some of the roughest training in the navy.

"You used to be in the Navy friend? You're hitting that drink like one of us"

"Indeed i did. Glory be the days. Used to fly the stars. These days, the only jobs i can get is hand to hand fighting for money. Satisfying, if not fulfilling, as jobs go.

What has you here friend? Are you coming or going or is there something exciting underway? Something perhaps an old Navy vet can get involved in?"

Mollyb60

Fourier wrote: »

Verne and Alex arrive in front of the entry to the Scout Base. The base bears the insignia of the Scouts:


The only floor visible from the entrance is the first. Staff rush about the place, constantly on calls, uploading data or running simulations on their workstations. A large alert rings throughout the floor, an Xboat has arrived in the system carrying new data on planet positions to update the local archives.

The secretary, a near Terran human distinguished only by a slightly too stocky frame, notices the two of them.

"Anything I can help you with?"

Verne quickly checks out Alex and then steps forward, 'Verne Nielson reporting for duty sir. Please inform Jansen Cas.'

conor222

Alex sizes up this Verne Nielson standing beside him, turns to the scout and says "Im here to meet Jasen Cas as well"

Mollyb60

conor222 wrote: »

Alex sizes up this Verne Nielson standing beside him, turns to the scout and says "Im here to meet Jasen Cas as well"

'Oh! Apologies soldier, I didn't realise you were here for the mission too.' He sticks out his paw, 'Verne Nielson, pleased to meet you.'

[OOC: Verne is an Aslan soldier



(Thanks to deviant art for the pic!)

Baggly

Dhinor realises his shore leave was quickly running out! Perhaps he had partaken of one too many whiskeys and sober pills, but something was niggling at the back of his mind.....something he was supposed to do....or....maybe someone he was supposed to meet! 'Of course, the scout station.....and what was the contacts name.....Cansen Jas??.....best be making my leave and moving on quickly' Dhinor thought to himsefl.

Dhinor made his excuses to the star marine and made his was to the second floor of the scout station.

conor222

Alex shakes Vernes hand
"Any idea what this "mission" is?"

Banjo

Having nibbled the toblerone into a near-perfect uniformity, Evan spins again.... but his quarry is gone.
"you win this round!"
He quietly applauds, getting quite a lot of chocolate on his hands which he promptly cleans away with a series of scrapes and licks. With no TAS office in evidence, and with no drink earned he makes his way to the scout base, tossing that name around in his head. Jansen Cas. Aces Janns. Saje Canns. Snac Jeans? What was he hiding...

Fourier

The others arrive as the secretary makes a phone call in response to Verne's query.

"....can you confirm five contracts? One Aslan?......No Sir, no K'Kree....of course"

"Mr Cas can see you presently, you have a window of 0.1 rotations for the meeting*. He states a party of six, so you will not be permitted to disembark until a K'Kree arrives.

* OOC: Flammarion rotates much quicker than Earth, this is about 50 minutes.

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Bakleth turns and frowns in typical K'Kree fashion at the hiver.

'Insane? That's what they said, yes. I happen to think I'm relatively normal... for a K'Kree without any family, partners or even children that is. What sort of assistance can you provide me anyways?'

"You are not normal. Fact. However no judgment is intended.

I can provide you assistance in getting to where ever you are going. A meeting with the Scouts correct? I have hacked your datapad, no need to thank me."

OOC: Necro, a bit of context: http://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Hiver-K%27kree_War. Up to you how your character feels about it.

Necro

Bakleth snarls.

'Typical Hiver. Take the sneaky way out and hack my datapad rather than ask me. As it happens, I DO have a meeting. I bid you good day.'

Bakleth stomps off in the direction of the meeting place.

Fourier

The secretary sees Bakleth arrive.

"Ah the K'Kree is here. Well then you may all enter."

The group are led up to the second floor to a large office with a blue chrome desk at which is seated a man of Sword Worlds extraction (OOC: People in the Sword Worlds are descended from Scandinavian colonists).

"Well all of you are here, wonderful. Even the K'Kree, first time I have seen one of your people in the flesh.

Let me be brief and to the point. A vessel of moderate cost was abandoned by a team of ours about four parsecs from here on the world of Walston. This vessel was on loan to said crew. Part of an initiative to use non-Scout crews to gather data passively for us as they earn their living, detached-duty we call it. The ship had been damaged and alterations made to the operating system, most likely so that we could no longer observe the vessel. I suspect that the ship was damaged during some kind of illegal operation.

The job is simple, retrieve the vessel and become its new crew. We will provide a generous one-year detached duty contract upon completion and 1000 credits each. Agreeable?"

Baggly

Dhinor asks for more money.

Fourier

Pter wrote: »

Dhinor asks for more money.

Jansen Cas looks toward him, relatively expressionless and speaks calmly.

"The ship alone is not enough? What figure are you seeking?"

Baggly

Fourier wrote: »

Jansen Cas looks toward him, relatively expressionless and speaks calmly.

"The ship alone is not enough? What figure are you seeking?"

"Let us be frank, you are giving us the ship for no return. The data we will give you, as well as the peril we will face is worth more than 1000. The fact the ship is lost in the first place is testiment to this.

But it's not just cash I want. You can equip us for this mission. Good equipment. New equipment. I'll take a decent firearm and melee weapon from you, and on that basis and that alone you have yourself a navy trained pilot"

Necro

Bakleth shrugs.

'As long as the cat stays away from me I'll go. Money, or credits have no meaning to me. Although... this may be dangerous. I presume we will be adequately equipped to travel?'

Fourier

But it's not cash I want. You can equip us for this mission. Good equipment. New equipment. I'll take a decent firearm and melee weapon from you, and on that basis and that alone you have yourself a navy trained pilot"

Jansen pauses and considers Dhinor's argument.

"A fair position."

He brings up a display on his computer and seems to do some sort of cost analysis judging by the labels on the plots. (Evan and Dhinor can both tell it is an attempt to see if the equipment will be paid for by the data within six months).

"Alright then, you will be given standard scout equipment. A weapon each and a hazardous environment survival kit, in addition a static blade for Mr Pira."


OOC: A static blade is sword coated in a powerful electromagnetic field that disintegrates surface molecules on contact allowing for a deeper cut.

Baggly

"lads, I need to find something to disintegrate"

Dhinor says as he chuckles to himself.

Baggly

" I accept that offer. What's next?"

Banjo

Evan munches on some toblerone. He's not sponsored by them or anything, it's just he's not sure if he can take it on board a flight with all those pointy edges, and he is *not* leaving one chunk behind.
"Shoo gosh a man *scuse me* ahem, you got a manual for that ship? OS, electronics, avionics, schematics -Might be handy to know how it's supposed to work if they've made changes. "