|
** Post headers have been removed ** SIS "Connection to Oberon GIRD established. notice received, 'The Oberon GRID is read only from outside secured locations.' The good news is that I've established a course to Lison and that our sensor fields haven't picked up any contacts. At this time, adjusting for safe travel it looks like we can make that outer orbit in just over 12 hours." [Freeplay] Bronz, "I would suggest that we approach Lison indirectly. The neighboring planet Mindara has an orbital refueling station that the Solars abandoned some time ago; we might scavenge it for engineering supplies. The planet Leen, currently undergoing colonization, might need some of those scavenged supplies. In either case, our enemy might not scrutinize these two 'forgettable' planets as intensely as they would watch Lison. "On the other hand, we might want to hire some extra hands, and we could probably earn a higher profit on Lison as well. Any thoughts?" Rubiks MK - You sure do have a way of knowing exclusive tid bits of information about systems... I do not think however that the "Kind" pirates are in league with the Externals. They operate on pure greed not dedication to a cause. The Zerg, an External race, did not conquer worlds for profit, but for domination/incorporation of the slave race genus into their midst. Your business-like manners of obscure factoids is impressive none the less or your tactical savy for re-using unwanted material. Another person's papyrus is another person's thesis. If we "hire" another member, though I feel "they" should be screened on a higher plane. A side-noted suggestion, does Leen or this Solar station still have direct access to the Oberon GRID, Mr. Tassadar? Computer Voice (SIS's subprocessor): Sick Bay statis-chamber activated. SIS, "It looks like Shawn has plugged Eric into the Statis chamber. Perhaps he is just 'mostly' dead. In any effect, the med-chamber had him flat lined - starting maintenance programs. The medical facilities on Lison might be able to do something for him." She pauses. "His heart and lung functions are back on-line, and his brain function is on 'stimulus' mode. I lowered the security on the med-control. Any one of the ships crew can cut power to the statis-station in the name of mercy should you decide not to get medical help." Rubiks DK - The good physician should be cared should be a priority especially upon arrival to Lison. His efforts should not be in vain. Tassadar dithers its hands in shock. "I would have thought the pressure in the airlock would have liquefied him! The instant we make port with a qualified medical center, I suggest we revive him. Beyond his status as a friend, I think we have a legal obligation...unless his will contains an explicit 'do not resuscitate' clause. Humans are a very litigious species." [pause] GMs Note: Eric's body was located just 'outside' the airlock, in front of Sick Bay (see transcripts on web site and last thread). His mortal wounds are the result of heavy laser fire - presumably from the boarding party as they entered the Kurtosis from the primary airlock. [Free play] Brox Teneshe had been in the medical suite with Erich's body. Brox had sat quietly for a while, then muttered a prayer under his breath and then returns to the bridge with a solemn look on his face. Brox Teneshe: I hate to seem insensitive, but if we can't save Erich, then we need to send him along quietly rather than try to notify any next of kin, at least for know. His body more or less being found in-tact after he was "supposed" to have died with the rest of us on the Wayfar could raise questions; we don't need to give a bounty hunter or other bored souls any reason to follow our comings and goings. Brox Teneshe: Tass, I've listened to my share of Solar's rant about this and that when we serviced their ships, but I don't remember hearing anything about a orbitng refueling station owned by the Solars out this way. But I'm not an historian and with the Long Silence and all, I could be wrong. Brox Teneshe shrugs and tilts his head a little to the side. Brox Teneshe: Personally I think that station you mentioned is the same one I heard someone say belonged to the Rigunmor Star Consortium. I don't know any more about it than that, but at least that's what I remember hearing; my memory is generally pretty good about Solar achievements in the Verge. I tried to read up on them before I left Sol. Brox Teneshe: The only reason I bring it up, is that if the Rigunmor's did own it, it may be a tricky venture. I mean weren't a lot of the Rigunmors Mechalus. Nothing personal against you Yovas, and I don't know about hacking and such, but it seems like one big booby-trap or a pirate hold-out. Rubiks MK - I have developed limited second sight granted from my khala meditations of the Void. I may be able to remote view the station if my prayers go answered. Brox Teneshe: That being said, I don't have a better idea, if it really is abandoned, then it could be a great place to get some extra parts for the Kurtosis as well. Perhaps a stopover on Leen first might yield more current information about the station or even Grid Access. You know, just try mingling in with society a little down there. Brox Teneshe: You're right Rubik's, we do need to hire some help, but can we really trust someone onboard the ship and "our" secret mission? Yovas, what are your feelings about this? What guidelines do you suggest? Rubiks MK - My second sight and telepathy skills could be of use in this manner. Those of lesser races can be at times easily suggested to reveal information. Brox Teneshe glances over at the weapons status display that just happens to be up on a nearby panel. Brox Teneshe: Oh hey Kevlarn, that was nice shot earlier. I reviewed the firing data on the weapons computer after things quieted down a bit. Well done. Brox Teneshe looks around for the not-so-inconspicuous weren. Brox Teneshe: Demlok, you have any ideas? Leen and the refueling station sound fair to me, but I'm not the one flying this thing. Brox Teneshe sits and turns to a console. Brox Teneshe: Little Sis, can you give me an inventory of the kind of hardware we have in the weapons locker. I'd feel better if we relocated a small hold-out cache to Main Engineering, just in case. Yovas listens to Brox and then says, "Reply. I've personally taken on crew in the past. It has worked both very well, and very poorly. The trick was security levels, which you have noticed that SIS takes very seriously. In the past I tried to be 'too' secretive. The last time I added a very strong clause to the contract about what I called our 'experimental technology.' This worked very well until a group started to work very hard to liberate the plans from us. The bottom line is, that the success of that type of effort depends mostly on the style of the captain and the strength of ship's security." SIS - "Report Running.... current contents of weapons locker is logged as, 2 - Mace +d4 LI/O Personal d6+1s/d4+1w/d6+1w 2 - Saber +d4 LI/O Personal d4w/d4+2w/2d4+1w 1 - Gravmace +d4 LI/O Personal d8+2s/d6+2w/d8+2w 1 - Power Cestus +d4 LI/O Personal d4+2s/d4w/d4+1w 5 - Rifle, laser +d0 En/O 100/400/1000 d6+1w/d6+3w/d4+1m 2 - Sirocco 100 Stutter Rifle +d0 LI/O 20/40/200 d6+3s/d8+3s/d12+3s Armor, 1 battlehawk z-g assult suit, and 5 CF softsuits." A quick visual inspection of the locker area confirms SIS's report. In response to Bronz's question, Tassadar hunts through the data file in the ship's computer. "My mistake, Bronz: a RIGUNMOR refueling station, just as you said. I think a stop-over on Leen might boost morale; I for one would like to breathe some fresh air." Kev: sounds good to me i theink we could use a little breathing room my self. As to the docter i would have to agree with brox if we cant revive him i think we should let him go peacefuly but i would send his share of the cash to his living reltives after this is all over. as to the hired help i think we should do it in fact we just might run in to some one we know hee hee hee i a good way i hope. Rubiks MK - Very noble suggestion from the both of you. However, without GRID access, transmission directly from this ship may be our only choice. This in of itself may prove illogical. If the Externals or their agents are monitoring deep space signals, especially ours, our location and intent to this area may be comprised. Even with that in mind, our attempted communications during the pirate fight might have done that as well. Immersed in data on the Leen colony, Tassadar pipes up, "Paranoia serves as a wonderful survival trait, but we needn't take it this far. Surreptitious data transfer is the backbone of any respectable black market; I did a fair bit of it myself back in the Cluster. Surely we can find a suitable courier or Grid Shadow willing to run an anonymous message or fund transferrance to Suchon's family. We needn't mention the Kurtosis; we could say he died aboard the Wayfar. Of course, that assumes he *had* family. He never mentioned any to me..." Brox Teneshe looks over the weapons locker list with a dry expression. Brox Teneshe: If no one has a problem with it, I'd like to store one of the Sirocco 100 Stutter Rifles and a CF Softsuit in Main Engineering. I don't want anything stronger than that down there, a stray shot with a laser rifle might cause more damage than I want to or can repair. Brox Teneshe looks up at the others on the bridge. Brox Teneshe: Any suggestions on how we are going to get around on Leen, or Lison for that matter, with ID's that come back as "deceased" ? Tass, it may be a good time to work your sly tail and scrounge up someone to get us "new" ID's. Unfortunately, Erich is the only one that I know of that could have pulled that sort of thing off, so I'm open for suggestions. Of course, I'm sure most of the pirates in the area have cloudy criminal records, so maybe the people there are willing to forgo most or all of the legal process you normally have to go through when coming on going. My guess is that smooth talking and Concord Credits will get you through most things in these parts. Brox Teneshe: Assuming it is safe to do so, putting down outside of the spaceport would save us in fees and inspections, but security will only be what we can make for ourselves or we could take our chances with a possibily corrupt spaceport enforcement personnel. Either way has risks, if we play by the rules we may be seen as naive targets, inviting trouble, or if we prepare for the worse we may look suspicious.Brox Teneshe stands up, having said his piece, and heads to the Mess Deck to look for something to eat, preferably something that doesn't crawl around on his plate... |