A Day in the Life of a Traveller Gamestory

[Grav_Moped]

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Commentary
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That world is much better. Gives us a lot of playing room.

I'll set Jump at
6:00 am Shipboard time
091-1106 Imperial

That's a nice ship, too.

Thanks for the changes.

I'll work up some high paying cargos this weekend.

Commentary:
Thanks!

I figured out that the S3 Far Scout design was possible during a project of determining what drives could fit into each of the LBB2 standard hulls. But, I hadn't formally written it up until today. Thanks for the inspiration to finally get around to it!

My upcoming writing tasks:
1. Finish the pilot's scene.
2. Work up a "not a deck plan" internal layout chart showing the relative placement of shipboard locations.
3. Write up a brief description of each location in its present condition and how it's used. This will have changed from how it was found in DA1.
4. Work up a consolidated "owner's manual" (flight checklist, specifications, basic tactical considerations)

Reference:
The ANNIC NOVA deck plans in MgT2 High Guard are not the same as those in DA1. If you have the MgT deck plans available, note that while they do a fair job of showing the ship's general layout, they have shifted some internal details around.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Reference:

Operational checklist (partial)
2 hours prior to Jump:
Call back the drones deployed as distant early warning line and comms relay

90 minutes prior to Jump*:
Start Canopy Retraction Sequence (this takes one hour)

1 hour prior to Jump
Drones return. Dock them and begin refueling.

30 minutes prior to Jump
Canopy completes retraction sequence.
Start final life support system pressure leakdown check

Immediately prior to Jump:
All personnel report to their duty stations (Vacc suits required, but visors may be open.)
All passengers must be accounted for and kept away from important controls
Any pets, livestock, or other animals must be accounted for and secured
Verify cargo is securely tied down/blocked-and-braced
Secure the Bridge and Drive Deck hatches if any passengers, pets, or other animals are on board.
Ensure all external hatches are secured (physically inspect)
Ensure carried small craft are securely attached and in the correct orientation (visually inspect both at docking couplers and from observation deck)
Evaluate results of life support system leakdown check
Ensure RPV drones are safed and secured (electronically plus visual inspection from observation deck)
Verify that jump field will be matched to ship's current configuration (engineer)
Ensure Canopy is fully retracted and secured (visual check from astrogation dome and from observation deck)
Verify Jump Drive status (engineer)
Verify Collector charge status (engineer)
Verify shipboard power-supply battery charge state (engineer)
Validate ship's current estimated position for jump route computations (pilot or navigator)
- If maneuver is needed, unlock pinnace docking connections to allow them to pivot to maneuver the ship
- If pinnaces used for maneuver, return them to correct orientation, re-lock the docking connections, and visually confirm they are correctly oriented.
Computer calculates Jump route (pilot)
Validate the calculated Jump route (navigator)
Last check that the space around the ship is clear of debris or other vessels (pilot, navigator, sensor-ops)
Enable Jump Drive
Discharge Collector into Jump Drive and Execute Jump


* Standard (T5/MgT2) collectors begin to self-discharge once the canopy is retracted, so must be kept deployed until prior to Jump. This one does not self-discharge, and can be retracted as soon as the accumulators are fully charged. To conceal that the collector does not self-discharge, hold off retracting it until shortly before Jump.

Commentary: Feel free to add anything you think I've overlooked. I'll come back to this to add estimated time requirements for each step; some can be done concurrently.

Also, this is for a scheduled departure. The hasty departure version of events begins at canopy retraction sequence start instead of at a fixed time before Jump.
Jump plotting and drive checks are performed while the canopy is retracting. Jump is initiated upon canopy lockdown confirmation. It may be necessary to leave the drones behind if time does not permit recovery.

 

[Spinward Scout]

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Commentary
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Wow! Thanks again for all the Reference material. Looks great!

I used to have a pre-flight checklist someone made, but I can't find it.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Commentary:
Thanks!

Where was I? Oh, right...

Story
Hour 3

090-1106 Imperial
0930 Shipboard time
ISS ANNIC NOVA over Feri/Regina (Spinward Marches 2005)
B584879-B


The bridge is strange and lonely. It's just me and too many vacant control consoles under the low ceiling this morning. I look down at the panel in front of me -- three months already, and I still can't do everything by feel. It's not just that the controls are a little bit alien, they're also patched together with decades of improvised repairs. It all works well enough, but feels wrong.

I can almost see Bry hunched over the computer console in the corner. Tears start to come, but I choke them back -- a Mission Leader can't cry until the report's turned in. He'd so desperately wanted to chalk up a First Contact, and by his star, he did. Right here, on this ship. It's just that that void-damned plague slaughtered them before we came aboard. Almost got the rest of us too, but Bry's the one it killed.

I find the intercom and page Tenya. "Could you come to the bridge? The Collector status screen is acting up again."

The display shows a bleary-eyed face in a darkened room, sideways.

Commentary:
Reaction roll.
Legitimate authority, DM+1.
She's asleep, for Pete's sake! DM-2.
Roll: [3, 3], net DM-1: 5, Hostile. May attack.

Story:
"Captain, you know I just got off shift, and, well, I was asleep here. With all due respect, can it wait?" Her tone is just short of insubordination, but I had it coming.

"Sorry, I've been distracted lately," I reply. "And yes, it can wait; I can work around it for now. Let me know when you're up again -- I'll get you coffee."

Commentary:
Attempt at apology/conciliation: Average task, 8+.
No skill DMs.
Roll: [3, 5]: 8, success.

Story:
"Ok. Talk to you then," she mumbles, the screen blurring and blanking out.

Shift schedules. There's only eight of us to keep track of, but the ghosts this ship leaves behind make it feel like too many to handle some days.

I sigh and draw myself up. "Somebody has to do it, and I volunteered. I've got this," I assert to the empty room. I almost convince myself I mean it.

----------------------
*EDIT TO ADD*
Commentary:
Tenya Cardosa is now asleep until Hour 10. If you need someone for an Engineering task before then, use Doen.
The NPC engineer that's dirtside with Spinward Scout's character doesn't know Collector tech, but might be convenient to have in case the pinnace develops issues on the way back.
Engineer Cardosa isn't actually all that good with computers -- but she's been compensating for that with high J-o-T and it's usually enough.

 

[Spinward Scout]

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Story
_____

A Day in the Life of some Travellers

Hour 2

090-1106 Imperial
7:45am Shipboard time

"I've been here for over an hour! Why is this taking so long?" he said loudly to the woman across the counter. The Office was filled with people because not only did they handle Jump pre-programming for standard routs, they also handled ship permits, cargo manifests, and a whole lot of other paperwork.

"What was your ship's name again?" she uninterestedly said to him.

"ANNIC NOVA," he said.

"That's A-N-I-K," she started to say.

"No, no, no! it's A-N-N-I-C!" he snapped at her.

"Fine. Then N-O-W-" she rolled her eyes.

"No, it's N-O-V-A, I got a call from this Office telling me the Jump Tapes were ready." he shook his head and looked over to where the Junior Engineer and his Robot were waiting. The Engineer looked half asleep.

Suddenly, the sound of gunfire erupted off in the distance. Everyone ducked.

"Is that it? he said after she recovered a bit and picked up a package.

She read the label quickly and said "Annic Nova - press your chip." And he pressed his credit chip to the scanner and almost ran to his companions.

"Let's get out of here." he said.

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Commentary
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Getting the ship off-planet should be fun!

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Story
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Hour 3

090-1106 Imperial
8:30am Shipboard time

"Support the Alliance!" the signs said. At least this was only a protest and not the guerrilla fighting across town.

"So far," he thought. The area near the Oberlindes Headquarters Broker Office was wall-to-wall people. So being in the grav-taxi was comfortable. But they still had to wait for landing clearance at the roof entrance.

He tapped his Ear-Comm and called back to the ship, "We're stuck waiting to land. There's a protest here. We're going to be a while. Send Buddy a message with any lunch requests. And anything extra for the Provisions List"

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Commentary
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Rolls on the High Profit, Low Weight Cargos on my blog:
http://sswstation.blogspot.com/2021/08/high-credits-low-weight-cargo.html

Roll of 1 - Odds are Perishable Goods.
Roll of 3 - Rare Spices- Mainly flavoring enhancements for food or aphrodisiacs.

Roll of 6 - Evens are Non-Perishable Goods.
Roll of 4 - Ultra-expensive Foods - A wine aged for 327 years, an Aslan caviar, Terran catnip.

These two will be waiting at the Broker - I'll look for something appropriate.

Now I see I'll have to rework the table later. But we'll have to decide "what world to Jump to". Even though we aren't really going because of the 24 hour limit.

_____

Do we help the Alliance and lose our shipping contract with Oberlindes? Or fly off into the Black and forget it's happening?

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Reference
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https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Feri_(world)

Feri has been embroiled in a world-wide war since 1105.

It's a mystery why the Travellers' Aid Society has not awarded Feri Amber Zone status long ago.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Commentary
Wait... shipping contract?

I can work with that.

We're working an indirect route toward Victoria/Lanth in pursuit of a clue found during the recovery operation.

This ship has a capability that could revolutionize interstellar travel in the 3rd Imperium, and we're pacing the journey to hide that capability.

Reference:

Trait                 T5/MgT Collectors         Annic Nova Collectors
-----                 -----------------         ---------------------
Charge Time            10 Days (1 week)         1-6 Weeks depending on star type

Charge Location     Can recharge in deep space  Must be near a star

Charge Expenditure  Any Jump uses full charge   Any jump uses full charge. Ship
                                                holds 2 charges: 1 for up to 
                                                Jump-3, one for up to Jump-2.

Charge Retention    1 Day from canopy closing   Indefinite, but at least 2 weeks

Consecutive Jumps       Not Possible            J-3, plus J-2, per recharge

The Imperial Navy techs at Efate/Regina mistakenly believe the ANNIC NOVA has a single Prototype-quality Collector-3 (TL 14 attempting TL 16 tech), that is inferior to known Collector technology both in charge rate and inability to charge in deep space.

Its actual capability is Early Collector-3 plus Standard Collector-2 (both of TL 15) in a single unit. While it cannot recharge in deep space, its Collectors do not self-discharge if not used. That means that the ship can jump again immediately after a jump! This is something no other known Collector-powered starship can do without a separate ordinary fusion-powered Jump Drive, and the necessary fuel for it.

The techs failed to discover the long-life accumulator capability due to a temporary software mis-configuration.

Commentary:
The computer's original operating system was too difficult to get working, though the (late) computer guy tried. He took copious notes as well as saving a bootable backup before he died. It was replaced by a copy of ImperialOS to get the ship flyable (Jump-1, Jump-2, Navigate, and Maneuver came from the donor-ship's computer* -- I would have also said Generate as well but apparently not, since Spinward Scout is buying jump tapes).

Now, IOS is flexible and comprehensive (and huge). It has drivers for everything. It even has drivers to interface with starship drives that literally nobody uses!

Including Collector drives. But those drivers didn't recognize "Collector-3 and Collector-2" as a valid configuration, so it read them as a single Collector-3. Thus, every time the ship Jumped, it dumped the charge from both the Collector-3 and the Collector-2 into the Jump Drive, whose firmware controllers just waste-gated the excess [technobabble-plasma-stuff] out the exhaust to keep from blowing the thing up.

The Navy techs were already expecting the Collectors to be inferior to Imperial technology based on the longer charge times. They really weren't interested in looking too closely because they were terrified of the killer disease on board. (This despite the Scouts decontaminating it the first time we came through Feri, and thoroughly enough that the Imperial Marine decon team at Efate chose not to decontaminate it again with plasma rifles) The techs didn't notice that the wasted [technobabble-plasma-stuff] was unusual, which meant they didn't find out the Collectors didn't self-discharge.

After we got the ship back, Tenya insisted on reinstalling AlienOS out of respect for the dead computer tech's work, and used his notes to eventually get it working properly and displaying in Galangic. (There are still sometimes minor issues, but no show-stoppers.)

The AlienOS drivers for the Collector drive controllers work properly, so the ship now only uses one "side" of the Collector for each Jump Drive. This allows consecutive Jumps on a single recharge session as noted above.
-------------



*Nobody's sure how he managed to get the AlienOS version of Jump-3 to work in ImperialOS.

Story:
The computer technician removed a data cartridge from the terminal. He turned, dead-eyed, and spoke to Tenya in a grim monotone:
"This software is an abomination that cannot -- must not -- exist. All of my years of training mean nothing now. I must destroy it. The stars are not yet right, but there is no time to waste."

He walked stiffly but resolutely directly to the airlock, pulling out a thermite grenade from a pocket as the door opened.

"Ia! Ia! Cthulu Fthagn!" he wailed in existential terror, the door closing behind him. An infinite, evil light seared the airlock for an instant, then the cameras blanked out.

The lead inspector barked in a voice carrying authority he shouldn't have possesed: "You did not see this. It never happened. You will not speak of it, ever. Am I clear?"

At this point a military officer barges in and demands that this scene stop because it's silly. (Youtube. Monty Python, of course.)

What really happened is that the crew went from Keng to the Scout Base on Feri (using only Jump-2) to find out how to get the ship registered legally. They were ordered to go to Efate, 3 parsecs away across a void, to have the Navy inspect it. The crew quite reasonably asked for a copy of the Jump-3 program so they could comply. The Scout Base was kind enough to give them one (one of the Scouts on board must have high Admin skill to have made that roll...).

 

[Spinward Scout]

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Commentary
_____

So Feri to Efate is a Jump-3. I'll look up some charts for cargo.

I just got some Jump Tapes to add to the story. The ship would probably need Generate for any frontier Jumps.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Commentary:
I really want to "yes, and..." on your suggestion of taking sides in the uprising here.

If they haven't yet shuttled any of the ordinary (Cr1000Td/Jump) cargo up to the ship, I'm guessing we can back out of accepting it without too much difficulty.

Our route is generally rimward. Range is up to Jump-3.

As for crew reactions to helping with the uprising:
Captain -- no. Puts the crew at risk, might affect the ability of the ship to continue operation, interferes with the objective of finding the ship's original owners. These are his motivations, and they all indicate not getting involved.

Tenya -- yes, if she was awake (or when she wakes up in Hour 10, unless there's an emergency that drags her out of bed before then). Resisting oppression is something that resonates for her, since that's why she left her homeworld.

Chief Doen -- Likely no, since it might involve violence against humans.

Newly Hired NPC Engineer that hasn't been defined yet so far, and is conveniently planetside with your (spin's) character -- here's an opening for ya!

------------------------

Story, or at least I plan to write this up as a scene later tonight:

Answering the inquiry about cargo suggestions, Captain requests you pick up at least 2kg of this planet's best coffee (beans) for the crew, preferably 5kg (we're good on the coffee stockpile, but more is always better). If you can taste a cup of it to verify the quality, that'd be even better.

If it's really good, see if we can get a bunch of it as spec cargo.

 

[Grav_Moped]

QUICK COMMENTARY BECAUSE YOU GOT INSIDE MY OODA* LOOP
What did we leave behind at Efate that we need to go back to pick up? I thought our next destination was going to be Rimward ("down" on the map) from Feri.
(Or were you just trying to figure out what spec cargo we're currently carrying?)

Route has been Keng (where we found the ship)-Enope-Feri (to get info from the Scout Base**) -- Efate (to get the ship inspected and registered), and back to Feri.

This strongly suggests we're already familiar with the situation here, and made some contacts when we came through two months ago.
The inspection took a month, and it took another two weeks to recharge for the jump back to Feri.
We've been here a week while the Collector recharged. [To compress the timeframe, I'm assuming we rolled REALLY well on the recharge times so far.]

-------
*Observe-orient-decide-act
** The scout base also provided us with the Jump-3 app, sequenced the virus and provided vaccines (and code to make more), and decontaminated the ship. It's nice to have connections.

 

[Spinward Scout]

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Commentary
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Sorry, I missed that we'd already been to Efate.

Roup is 2 parsecs Rimward. I was trying to find what cargo we should take there. Doesn't really matter if we're just stopping at the 24 hour mark. I'll just make something up.

Several cases of Zilan eiswein. In a specially made climate controlled container.

Seeds for the Utswatle bush. The berries are extremely well liked on Roup and are made into different types of alcohol.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Commentary:
Good point! The literal scope of this scenario is a 24-hour period, but what happens in that 24 hours depends a lot on what's happened in the past week (while we were here at Feri) and what'll happen a week from now (when we sell the speculative cargo at Roup).

It might even be affected by what happened when we were here two months ago.

Reference:
NPC engineer was a contact from our previous visit -- he's a shipyard worker, and when he found out our previous chief engineer just walked off the ship when we got here, volunteered to take his place. This is convenient for us, but is there some reason he wants off the planet now?

The former chief engineer is also a future contact. He caught an outbound Liner back to Efate almost immediately, since he figures their Class A starport is a better place to find a ship that'll hire him for what he's worth. We may see him again (but not in the next 24 hours, of course).

We have at least one fairly highly placed friend at the Scout Base here.

Your character left his Type S (a Detached Duty loan) at Scout Base Feri partly in exchange for the Jump-3 program, and partly because the scoutship didn't have the range to make the jump to Efate. The deal was that if we didn't get ANNIC NOVA back from the inspection at Efate, they'd find you another Type S. The Detatched Duty Cooridinator here at Efate is quite pleased that they now have an extra DD Type S to manage -- Efate is this area's Way Station, so they tend to accumulate all the spare scout ships in the subsector.


Also, the core crew that were aboard the Spinward Poni when we found ANNIC NOVA were:
[Spinward Scout's character -- no name yet?]
Buddy the Robot
Zazuezdez Doen
Tenya Cardosa
(Unnamed) former chief engineer -- quit on our return to Feri
Captain Character
Bry (Bryan Norton) -- now deceased.

... in order of narrative appearance.

We have a medic on loan from Scout Base Feri from our first visit. He will eventually return to Feri, because he's only tagging along to make sure the disease is really eradicated.

We have since hired, at Efate:
Port Laser Gunner (also our break-things-and-hurt-people expert)
Starboard Laser Gunner (also medic-qualified)

And now we have:
Replacement (NPC) Engineer, see above

 

[The Pakkrat]

Story

Zazuezdez Doen checked both ways as he gathered up the folds of his robes. While the others were planetside or otherwise occupied with duties or a repose, the friar checked both ways down the corridors. Then he darted into the Galley to ransack his stash of "aged meats". He had found a means in which to enjoy carnivorous heaven and not get called out by Humaniti. It was called a dehydrator. And the spices Zazuezdez had marinated the fresh meat in vacuum seals had become saturated with the mouth watering flavors. Ooh, Ancients he was salivating just thinking about those dried strips of what Humaniti called 'jerky'. Meticulously aged and dehydrated, the raw strips had become hardened, locking in those savory, spicy, oh-so-good, Ancients-be-damned goodness. Just one bite, Doen promised himself. He'd snatch the biggest piece from the bottom, take it back to Engineering and suck on the dried shard for the rest of the watch.

Maybe an atrake, the fruity and alcoholic cooler to go with it...

Commentary
Vargr can consume meats that Humaniti would call nigh-rancid. Check Endurance/Vigor to try some of that super-spicy, aged meat and not tear up in the eyes, burn your sinuses, or develop a stomach ulcer. Oh, it helps that Vargr don't have pain receptors in their mouths. Have fun with that, Humans.

 

[Spinward Scout]

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Story
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A Day in the Life of some Travellers

EXPRESS MAIL
IS FORM 6
HANDCOMP PORTAL

090-1106
0937 TIMESTAMP

CR10 DEDUCTION
TRACING ATTACHED

Momma, it's bad here on Feri. The war is getting worse.

There was an explosion in the next building. My ears are still ringing. I smell burnt insulation. And something else...

Our grav taxi is on its side and part of the left side is missing. The Driver is either unconscious or dead. And my companion from our ship is gone. I didn't even know his name, Momma.

I don't know if I'm going to get out of here. And even if I do, I...
...
...
END TRANSMISSION
HANDCOMP PORTAL CLOSED

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Commentary
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People at the Starport should be able to hear explosions

 

[Grav_Moped]

Commentary:
Is this something new, or was there this level of unrest two months ago?

Also, Travellemap is down. Awkward! [EDIT: It's back! Hooray!]

I'm assuming this is your character sending the "apocalyptic log" (tvtropes) XMail, but I'd think that if he thought he had any hope of surviving he'd have contacted the Scout Base with status reports first (he is a Scout, right?)

Continuity error reconciled. Strikethrough removed.
------------------------------
Story:
0935 Ship's time
(continuation of previous vignette)
Coffee sounds good, I think. That's the next deck up, so I walk to the elevator. I'm stopped by the comms chime sounding its pleasant little ping -- high-low-high-high: it's relayed through the passenger shuttlecraft.

"ANNIC NOVA, this is Jones." He's in pain, and panicking. "Someone shot down our taxi. I'm out, [spin's character -- does he have a name yet?] is still in there and it's on fire!"

I sprint back to my controls, and hit reply. "Jones, ANNIC, we copy. Get him out, and get to cover! We're two hours out but we'll do everything we can."

"I've gotta get him out --" An explosion cut him short. "The bastard just shot down an ambulance too! ANNIC, I just told you I was going... Nevermind, it's the damn comm lag! I'm on it. Jones out."

I key the ship's intercom, all, max volume, alert, and sirens begin to wail. Drawing a deep breath, and with all the authority I can bring to bear, shout, "All personnel report to the main lounge immediately! This is not a drill. Report to the main lounge immediately!" I switch the comms to my perscomp and sprint back to the elevator.

"ANNIC, Jones. His droid just punched a hole in the roof and dragged him out of the taxi!" Then, muffled and distant, "Hey Buddy, over here! And get down!"

"Copy," I reply. "Get to cover and keep me posted." The elevator's up at Level A -- I don't have time for this! Up the ladder, undog the ceiling hatch, through and out onto Level V, kick the hatch closed, rush into the lounge.

Doc's already there, with a data pad and his half-eaten breakfast. Roland comes in from the right at a dead run, stops, turns to face me. Tenya stumbles blearily in from the left. Behind me, the elevator opens; Doen and Annie step into the room, winded. No surprise -- it's a long run from the upper decks to the lift shaft.
----------------------------------
Reference:
The crew is all here, except for the two in trouble down on Feri.

Captain: Tomos Puch
Medic: "Doc" (just the nickname so far)
Port turret gunner/(and guy with guns): Roland Thompson
Second Engineer: Tenya Cardosa
Chief Engineer: Zazuezdez Doen
Starboard turret gunner/medic: Annie (who was up in the cargo pinnace doing a walking patrol of the ship)

And the ones in peril:
Engineer: Kurt C. Jones
Navigator: Spinward Scout's character. (He needs a name -- this is getting awkward.)
Assitant Droid: Buddy

Commentary:
I'll probably "strikethrough" or spoiler this next section once I've turned it into narrative.
It's just here as a marker for where I'm going with it.
----------------------------------------------------
Next moves (shipboard) are to assemble a retrieval party and prep the ship for self-defense without the shuttlecraft, if necessary.
Note that without the shuttlecraft, it cannot maneuver (or even change orientation) at all.
Canopy is still deployed but retraction can start at any time -- the collectors are fully charged by now.
If threatened, the best tactic is to jump to a pre-arranged point in system, and have the pinnaces meet up with it a week later.
Doc has Pilot skill. Doen can walk him through how the ship works if it comes to that.

Captain Puch will suggest that our guys contact the authorities to get safe passage back to the starport.
Engineer Jones will refuse. As a native, he knows that the police are just as likely to treat our guys as perpetrators as they are to help them, because Law Level 9.


... and, scene.

[The subsequent "'Arsenal' scene" with everyone suiting up and getting their gear, then boarding the cargo boat and leaving for Feri, ends at 0945.]
Retrieval team is Captain Puch and Roland the gunner/gun-bunny.
------------------------


Reference:
Jones has local contacts who may be able to shelter them.
The Scout Base may be able to help with tracking and by providing an air/raft.
The Starport Authority only cares about defending the starport and extrality zone, and probably won't help recover our guys.
If they can get back to the extrality zone, though, they'll be protected.
Local police will see Jones as a suspect, not a victim. Expect them to shoot first, ask questions later (if at all).

This may not have been a random terrorist attack against a target of opportunity. K.C. Jones is a defector from one of the Alliance militaries. As a conscript, he just wanted to be done with war. The starport doesn't entirely trust him, but he does (did) decent work, and he had a law-abiding life in the refugee ghetto here (they're persecuted, of course, but at least it was out of harm's way until recently).


Note that Feri is Balkanized. The area around the starport is nominally friendly (pro-Imperial) territory, though highly repressive.

(Commentary: the opposition countries don't seem any less repressive, just anti-Imperial. Does anyone see this differently?)

I see this event as a terrorist attack rather than an uprising. Doesn't mean the cops aren't treating it as the latter...
The terrorist is one guy with a MANPAD launcher, an ACR, and a handgun of some sort. There might be others out there today.
Edit: Just had a nasty inspiration: he's also got a mortar...

 

[Grav_Moped]

Commentary:
I just caught a continuity error:
EDIT: Continuity error resolved.

Spoiler

Spinward Scout, you've pre-empted my pre-previous scene!

The "on-bridge memories/accidental wake-up" scene covered 0930-0935 or so.
If the taxi crash actually happened as indicated at 0900 or so, the subsequent sequence (comm call/general alert) would replace the "wake-up" scene instead of following it.

Everything works if your input happened at 0935 instead of 0900.

Alternatively, I can re-work the comms exchange, as follows:
With the droid's help, Jones evacuates your character to a safe place, then reports what happened (as narrated above) and calls for pickup. Your character's phone broke while Buddy was getting him out of the taxi. Jones switched his phone off to avoid tracking. The radio he calls up to the ship with is a high-tech walkie-talkie from the ship's locker, not linked to the local phone network.

Either way, they're in what seems to be a rough neighborhood*, with both the cops and maybe one of the terrorists looking for them.
How do you want to handle it?



-------------------------
*not all that rough, actually. Local crime stats look bad because the police over-enforce in that area. If they worked that hard at it anywhere else, the stats in that other place would be just as bad.

 

[Spinward Scout]

_____

Commentary
_____

Time changed for continuity.

The 'Apocalypse Log" sounds cool. That's what I was going for.

You've got a Jones. I'll go with Jon J. Smithe. Former Scout sounds good.

In one of my references I pulled from the Wiki, Feri has been at war since 1105 and is still at war at whatever timeframe it says on the Wiki. From the sound of it, it's continuing. So, the Police should be suspicious, but not to Off-worlders. The war is the Locals who hate the Imperium, against the Government who likes the Imperium. So, Jones might be a problem. But my Scout Smithe could be a target of the Locals.

Other than the chapter that has Channels in MegaTraveller, I've never really paid attention to Comms.

EDIT: Not something to buy, but it has good infomation on the page.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/322737/Feri-a-world-descending-into-chaos

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Story
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A Day in the Life of some Travellers

Hour 4

090-1106 Imperial
9:38am Shipboard time

"His name is Jones. Kirt Jones," Buddy said as he popped his head over the wrecked part of the grav taxi. "He is out here. Mostly unhurt. The Driver is dead. Do you need a hand?"

"Man, I'm glad I got the NameRemember packet with Buddy's software", he thought.

He grabbed Buddy's mechanical hand. Between the two of them, he managed to get out without being even more cut or burnt. "Thanks, Buddy."

"Hey Jones, how are you feeling? We're in a bit of a mess here. I've lost the signal on my Comm, but I don't think it's broken. How about yours? Because we need to get to the Starport or the Scout Base. And I'll bet the Captain is worried."

 

[Grav_Moped]

Story:
0940 Ship's time
Feri/Regina
Nation of Windsor
"Little Imim" district of Falstaff City, 5.2 km west of Feri Downport's extrality perimiter
Adjacent to a crashed and burning grav taxi.



Kurt heard a "thump" off in the distance, and a familiar whistle.
"INCOMING! GET DOWN!" he yelled, tackling Jon to the ground.
The mortar round struck about 20 meters off to the side of the burning taxi.
Silence.
Another "thump," another whistle, another thud but no bang -- this time closer to the fire.
"Duds!? What the...?" Then the realization struck. "Bastards! Jon, we gotta get away from here now, but no sudden moves. Those have to be time-delayed or mines. It's another trap for first responders -- they already shot down an ambulance."

Yet another round landed near the wrecked taxi. And another, and another. Six in all.

"If your phone's still working, slide it under you and turn. it. off. And if your robot has radios, he needs to turn them off too -- now. Any transmission could set them off."

"Good? Good. Ok, let's move. There's a clinic a few blocks that way, the nurse used to be my roommate. She'll patch you up. Once we get clear, take my handheld and call the ship, have them warn the starport authority about the explosives."

As they started toward the clinic, police sirens wailed. Another explosion, then the shriek of a VRF Gauss gun as a building a klick away exploded.

"GO!"

They went.

Commentary Break:
The next-to-last of the explosions was a MANPAD (tac missile) hitting a G-Carrier.
It (or another one, the PCs don't have line of sight to it) returned fire with its Gauss gun, destroying the remainder of the terrorist's ammunition cache. And the terrorist. And a good chunk of whatever building he was firing from.

Story:
Jon pulled out his phone. "Why go through the ship? I'll just call the emergency number and warn the police."

Kurt grabbed for it. "No. Look at me. Look at these people on the street. We're Iskiri, not Windsorian. I used to be in Iskandar's space force, but got sick of the killing and ran away to here. The cops won't care that I gave them good intel when I defected, that I have a steady job, that I'm home here. They'll think I had something to do with the attack, and they'll shoot first and interrogate my corpse. Maybe you too but maybe not, 'cause you're an offworlder."

He paused. "You know, I probably did have something to do with it -- that missile had my name on it."
His anger passed through confusion into despair, as he continued, "Why couldn't they have left it at that? Why all the rest? So much blood here, so much death..."
Another pause, a sigh. "I'm sorry I brought this on you. I'm a target. They'll keep trying, and they'll get me one day. I've got to get off this planet -- I can't keep putting my friends here at risk."

---------
It's 0953 ship's time.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Commentary:
The comms thing is setting chrome as far as I'm concerned.
I figure there are two kinds of comms: a basic cellphone that works with planetside cell networks (TL and infrastructure permitting), and the "handheld" that's a medium-range communicator from LBB1 plus a computer. The latter doesn't use cell networks, but instead relays through the radio on the smallcraft to reach the starship.

Feri is TL 12 and Law Level 9. If they want your location and your phone is on, they have it. (K.C., understandably, doesn't want them to have his location right now.)

Also, ANNIC NOVA is using a few of its drones (from the rear cluster launch racks near the small-craft-docking struts) for a radar picket line and one, a light-second or so off to the side, as a radio relay. The latter is so that anyone trying to get a position fix on the ship based on its radio transmissions will find the relay drone instead, and the ship will still be outside of the range of most scanners if they go to the drone to check.

Editorial Note:
I think I'm just going to summarize the crew briefing instead of writing it out:
- Captain Puch's priority is to keep the ANNIC NOVA safe, and that means ensuring it can still Jump out if approached by hostiles. The plan is to microjump to a pre-arranged rendezvous point within the Feri system, with the smallcraft joining them a week later when it gets back into normal space.
-- Doc, as a Scout, has Pilot skill. He can cover the Jump.
-- Tenya can make a good effort at checking the microjump flight plan (she's using J-o-T for this... and what she knows of the Navigate program from translating the AlienOS into Galanglic [+1DM]. Should be enough.)
-- Chief Doen can brief Doc on how Collector drives work so he will be able to use them.
-- Annie can work one of the turrets, or the drones, or missiles (we have a few). If we need a medic for Jon or Kurt, we'll go to the Scout Base.
-- We're short an engineer (Kurt) which makes the microjump slightly risky (CT misjump rules).

The "rescue team" is Captain Puch and Roland the gunner. They're bringing a reasonable assortment of weaponry, both lethal and non-lethal.
Due to the world's law level, they should only carry the non-lethal stuff. Roland... might not go along with that.


They will arrive at Feri Downport at 1200 Ship's Time.

 

[The Pakkrat]

Clean Drives, Clean Heart

Story
My son, the Power Plant is the heart of a Starship. A clean Power Plant is a clean heart. Clean yourself as well as the core of the vessel.
Doen’s old master in the Penitents always found analogy to everything that ailed a sophont internally. Sucking on his pilfered, spiced meat jerky, Friar Doen had rolled up the sleeves of his robe to scrub, brush, scrape and otherwise meticulously clean the Drives of this vessel. When had it last undergone overhaul? One look at them was enough to seek some remembered quote from the old priest back home. But, the geezer was right. A sense of accomplishment after hard work, no matter the aches, pains, fatigue or hurts that came, it cleansed the heart as it brightened the working environment.

Friar Doen stood up and breathed a sigh. It felt good to work in a cleaner environment. Solomani of Chinese decent called it feng shui.

Commentary
One Engineer per 35 tons of Drives is the minimum needed for a starship to run smoothly, vigilant for any wear and tear of use. Though he might see social application on the Bridge and Comms as an Emissary, an Engineer on duty is far more frequently useful.

 

[Spinward Scout]

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Story
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A Day in the Life of some Travellers

Hour 4

090-1106 Imperial
9:45am Shipboard time
Feri/Regina
Windsor/Falstaff City

"Buddy, shut off your Comms," Jon said as he flipped his own Comm to OFF.

"You know, I doubt they'd go to this much trouble just for you, right? And so close to the Oberlindes Headquarters. And with the Protest here," he looked around and shook his head.

"So which way do we head, then?" Smithe asked Jones. Jones pointed over his shoulder, and started walking, almost running.

"Not the best time to have to turn my Comms off. I definitely don't know where I'm going," he thought.

Buddy followed just behind. All three of them tried to blend with the crowd and the chaos of the area. More gunfire could be heard off in the distance.

"I wish I had Chief Doen's patience. This is scaring the torku out of me!" he whispered, keenly aware of other people close to them.

He looked up as black and white Police grav-cruisers zoomed by - sirens blaring.

Suddenly, Smithe was grabbed from behind. "Hey, this guy's an Imp! Look at his Scout jacket!"
_____

Commentary
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I figure someone's going to start pointing the finger at anyone they can.

I don't mind a Summary. Looks cool.

I don't know if Friar Doen is patient, but it sounded legit.