far-trader
SOC-14 10K
or...
What are you gonna do, tie me up?
Generating a character for T20 tonight I decided to muster out after a couple terms as a Mercenary. Problem was I rolled a 20. I've rolled mandatory reenlistment before but this time it hit me. What the fork did they think would keep me around! Did they have some dirt on me? (2 levels of Rogue) Had I signed some contractual agreement effectively making me their property? (knew I shoulda read the fine print) Were they still deducting pay for the shuttle I accidentally augured in while trying to land after the pilot blacked out? (skill but no proficiency, made my survival roll exactly)
In short (too late
) what rational do you use for your PC's when they face mandatory reenlistment? Have you ever considered granting some bonus for the term? "We really need you for this mission, how about a commission and promotion if you come back alive?" Or would you consider allowing the muster out to proceed but mark the PC as a wanted felon. "What do you mean the sergeant is awol? He took what!?"
Oh well now I feel a little creative so here's how I've decided to play it, in character, for your amusement. I wonder what the GM will think? (out of character notes in brackets)
The scene is any backwater, low law, startown bar...
I strolled up to the bar, dropped my duffle on the floor and kissed the stool with my butt. My legs were dead and I planned on sittin right there till the feeling came back or the rest of me was just as numb. The bartender walked over and looked at me. "Ice cold and no H2O." I said slapping a cred stick on the bar. "Run it up."
He came back shortly with a frosty mug of a dark ale, I drained it at a gulp and set it back down for a refill. I didn't taste that first one but it washed the field outta my mouth so I could taste the next one.
"Not hard to see you have a story, I'm all ears if you can spare a breath between drinks and want to get it off your chest." the bartender drawled while drawing the third mug.
It was early, there weren't many customers, so I guess he was bored. "Sure why not, they jumped a few hours ago and I'll be long gone before they can get back. I was in this two bit mercenary unit for two tours and my career was going nowhere. After a stint of technical training (university) on the cadre's dime (first level mercenary) learning high tech gunsmithing they put me through some basic (duty-training) and my natural talents emerged. I figured I was good, very good, and for sure I'd get some action and maybe a commission, but no. You got something to eat back there?"
After a little more ale to wash down the smoked groat I continued, "Where was I, oh yeah, dumbass that I was I signed up for another tour thinking they'd have to give me an assignment. What happens? They split up the unit and stick me teaching (duty-cadre) a bunch of raw recruits how to walk and chew gum at the same time. I toughed it out and was all ready to cash out and they pull my file and say 'No, you'll be required to serve another tour.' I lost it and started screaming at the clerk. He got the Lieutenant and that little snot explained it all to me. All I could say was 'yes sir', 'of course sir', 'I understand sir', while I stared at the reticle glowing on his forehead. I didn't see any other way out so to keep from going reaper on the officers and gettin myself spaced for murder I left. Just grabbed a chute, hacked a drop tube, and haloed when they dumped the trash as they lifted off this little world of yours. I landed about six klicks outta town and hiked back here."
I was starting to feel a little better so I finished the one in front of me and said "One more for the road and I think I'll go look for some transport offworld. Draw yourself a hunnert for a tip, and if you know anyone outbound looking for some security crew you can double it."
The bartender slid another mug in front of me and thought for a minute, then shook his head, "Nope, not off hand." He pulled the cred stick and returned it, the balance was over 40K, just one of several of the unit's payroll credsticks. They'd miss it next planetfall I guessed.
I started to get up off the stool but there was a loud buzzing sound in my ears and I landed on the floor. Somebody was yelling at me and as my eyes focused I could see the ceiling of my barracks cot on the mercenary cruiser, and the Lieutenant standing over me yelling that I was gonna be late for breakfast and how he was willing to forgive my drunkenness, this one time only, because my muster didn't go through. So, it was only a dream. Ah well it mighta worked, and it was a nice dream while it lasted, but the Lieutenant was going to have to do something about that birthmark on his forehead, it was starting to give me ideas...
What are you gonna do, tie me up?
Generating a character for T20 tonight I decided to muster out after a couple terms as a Mercenary. Problem was I rolled a 20. I've rolled mandatory reenlistment before but this time it hit me. What the fork did they think would keep me around! Did they have some dirt on me? (2 levels of Rogue) Had I signed some contractual agreement effectively making me their property? (knew I shoulda read the fine print) Were they still deducting pay for the shuttle I accidentally augured in while trying to land after the pilot blacked out? (skill but no proficiency, made my survival roll exactly)
In short (too late
Oh well now I feel a little creative so here's how I've decided to play it, in character, for your amusement. I wonder what the GM will think? (out of character notes in brackets)
The scene is any backwater, low law, startown bar...
I strolled up to the bar, dropped my duffle on the floor and kissed the stool with my butt. My legs were dead and I planned on sittin right there till the feeling came back or the rest of me was just as numb. The bartender walked over and looked at me. "Ice cold and no H2O." I said slapping a cred stick on the bar. "Run it up."
He came back shortly with a frosty mug of a dark ale, I drained it at a gulp and set it back down for a refill. I didn't taste that first one but it washed the field outta my mouth so I could taste the next one.
"Not hard to see you have a story, I'm all ears if you can spare a breath between drinks and want to get it off your chest." the bartender drawled while drawing the third mug.
It was early, there weren't many customers, so I guess he was bored. "Sure why not, they jumped a few hours ago and I'll be long gone before they can get back. I was in this two bit mercenary unit for two tours and my career was going nowhere. After a stint of technical training (university) on the cadre's dime (first level mercenary) learning high tech gunsmithing they put me through some basic (duty-training) and my natural talents emerged. I figured I was good, very good, and for sure I'd get some action and maybe a commission, but no. You got something to eat back there?"
After a little more ale to wash down the smoked groat I continued, "Where was I, oh yeah, dumbass that I was I signed up for another tour thinking they'd have to give me an assignment. What happens? They split up the unit and stick me teaching (duty-cadre) a bunch of raw recruits how to walk and chew gum at the same time. I toughed it out and was all ready to cash out and they pull my file and say 'No, you'll be required to serve another tour.' I lost it and started screaming at the clerk. He got the Lieutenant and that little snot explained it all to me. All I could say was 'yes sir', 'of course sir', 'I understand sir', while I stared at the reticle glowing on his forehead. I didn't see any other way out so to keep from going reaper on the officers and gettin myself spaced for murder I left. Just grabbed a chute, hacked a drop tube, and haloed when they dumped the trash as they lifted off this little world of yours. I landed about six klicks outta town and hiked back here."
I was starting to feel a little better so I finished the one in front of me and said "One more for the road and I think I'll go look for some transport offworld. Draw yourself a hunnert for a tip, and if you know anyone outbound looking for some security crew you can double it."
The bartender slid another mug in front of me and thought for a minute, then shook his head, "Nope, not off hand." He pulled the cred stick and returned it, the balance was over 40K, just one of several of the unit's payroll credsticks. They'd miss it next planetfall I guessed.
I started to get up off the stool but there was a loud buzzing sound in my ears and I landed on the floor. Somebody was yelling at me and as my eyes focused I could see the ceiling of my barracks cot on the mercenary cruiser, and the Lieutenant standing over me yelling that I was gonna be late for breakfast and how he was willing to forgive my drunkenness, this one time only, because my muster didn't go through. So, it was only a dream. Ah well it mighta worked, and it was a nice dream while it lasted, but the Lieutenant was going to have to do something about that birthmark on his forehead, it was starting to give me ideas...
