"Don't know nothin' about no Imperial Banking System, just got the RoF network, doubt there's anything here. You probably need to hit a civilized planet instead." He waves at his crew, who begin to move to push the pallets into the ship. "We'll get you up and running, it'll take a full yard and a lot of credits to get this bucket of rust fully repaired."
Moyasmedsev looks curiously at his new partners' ship. What sort of shape is it in? How old is it?
Warren laughs at the tech as he describes the ship. "That's a fairly accurate description. We found her derelict on a planet and had to use parts from many different ships of different eras. The only thing you left out was the chewing gum, twine and duct tape. Oh and I think we got a few chickens plugged in there too." He laughs again and then says "You said something about us having credit. How much and how did we get it?"
The tech shrugs. "Dunno, not my department. I turn in my time, effort, and materials, and the brass sends you a bill. They should have sent your lawyer something.
The ship looks like it's been through a minor war, burn marks on the walls from wiring burning out, shattered panels that exploded from power conduits shorting out, blood stains on the bridge, odd repair bots trundling around welding bits of the ship apparently at random.
It's a 700 year old vessel, which is not terribly unusual, but it looks like it's been massively overhauled several times, before it was then spit and bailing wired with 2000 year old parts. It's got decent bones, it was a high end freighter when it first was produced, there's still a few dozen of this design rattling around, even way out here in the Vargr Extents.
Nothing in the ship design gives you that because it was such an old ship to begin with, it spent 300 years sitting on a field on a planet, the last few years being maintained by EAVE. The RoF is TL 10/11, not TL 12, so even their Imperial equipment is unfamiliar to Moyas. It'll become plain once they reach a civilian center and try to access their records from an Imperial bank. Note that loosing a few centuries is not unusual with cold sleep, and there are laws for it.
Trying to decide what the next step should be Tam has some questions for their lawyer, ”Did we make any credits on the salvage or did the dogs take it all?”
"Hey, lawer...the tech said the dogs gave you a bill for what they took. What do we have for finances? I want to get out of here as soon as possible and get back to Imperial space."
The little droyne regards Dev with equanimity bordering on immobility. Then he shakes his shoulders in what might be an imitation of a shrug.
Moyasmedsev chirps and chatters and his translator delivers bad news. "The 'dog-people' are not dumb. Their balance sheet shows you owe them exactly what they owe you, excepting only the bounties for rescue. Like salvage, the Vargr respect rescue. We have precisely 830,000 credits. Enough to repair the Phoenix perhaps, but not enough to retire on."
He chirps some more. "Still, if those prices are representative of the value of these items here in the Ruler of Five and they are yet more valuable in the Imperium, we will do well, eventually."
"The ship is yours, yes? I wish to discuss with you the matter of my ship. It is much slower than Phoenix, but it is an Imperial Scout Ship. I do not wish to leave it here in the Extents when I leave. We must either make our way at Jump 2 or arrange a method of hauling Kektys with us as we go."
As a former scout, once Dev sees Moyas' ship, he'll be surprised the Impire sold it to the RoF. As far as he's concerned, while it's no longer a top of the line ship, it's a decent solid ship of the line scout ship, usually they don't sell off scout ships until they are a few hundred years old, and no longer considered 'of the line'.
"Well," Jenni says, "She isn't going to repair herself, so we'd best to let them get to work. Anything that we can do to help?"
"Stay out of our way. We'll go over the repairs when we're done. No offense, but I've seen your repair work. And I don't want your work on my record." The man says, and then walks off toward engineering.
Shortly thereafter, all the automated repair drones shut down. After which, a couple of hundred local drones come whirring and clicking up the ramp, each the size of a crab, and begin to worm their way into the ship. A human cyborg tech with a complete eye replacement and her hair replaced with self-articulating tentacles that are plugged into a mobile computer core comes up the ramp behind them. Her hands moving in empty air as she controls things and works on controlling the drones.
"Good Gods!!! Where did you get that? She is a beaut! Can I take a look?"
Dev suddenly seems to find Moya an interesting person to talk to
The little droyne looks up at Dev, quizzically. "Beaut," repeats his translator. "Beautiful, pleasant to gaze upon, in good shape."
"Mr. Dev, Kektys is my little Oytrip and I'm proud of her, but she has seen over four centuries of use and indelibly retains the scents and stains of generations of humans and vargr. Still, you are welcome to examine her."
Jenni is reasonably sure she's just been insulted but bites her lip, knowing that she still has a lot to learn about repair work, and they are professionals, after all. She trudges off to her quarters before she says something that she might regret later.
Knowlege is power, Tam thought. Not being able to stand being useless she makes her way to the civilian area of the base to see what rumors she can uncover.
It takes about 3 weeks for the Vargr Military techs to get the ship going again. When they are done, the ship is not neat and clean, but it is functional, and the main computer has been replaced with a cheap but functioning backup. Note that the new computer, a Model 2, can handle only up to parsec jumps, not the four the jump drive is rated for. So the system will have to be updated/modified at a later date to return the jump capacity.
The crew still needs to decide how to handle the two ships, marrying them together (requires us to figure out the exact tonnage on the ships), or hiring a few crew to travel, or leaving one or the other behind.
The nearest large civilian center is Ongvun, one parsec away. It has several billion people in the system, although the space station is sub-par for the population due to some nastyness a few decades ago that they are still recovering from economically.
The nearest actual subsector capital would be Ansana, about 12 or 13 jumps away at your current speed. This would be the nearest planet you'd find an Imperial Consul, which would be required to contact Imperial Customs and Diplomatic Services, and also the only planet likely to have an Imperial Bank Outlet this far from the Imperium.
Your local accounts are currently flush with 830,000 credits (or the Vargr equivalent).
Note that the new computer, a Model 2, can handle only up to parsec jumps...
EAVE doesn't know how to interact with the new Droyne at first. After the others had returned with a new friend. But the very moment that she gets the opportunity to talk to them without the new people around, she's absolutely livid. Or... as livid as she can be. The Vargr had STOLEN their THINGS. And she's very vocal about it (when the STRANGERS aren't around).
When the Droyne is around, at least at first, and especially when mechanics and engineers are working on the ship, EAVE does her best to remain motionless, pretending to be just another of the repair drones.
Eventually, she figures out that Moya is just the new Scandalous (Not Malt; Malt wasn't nearly so prissy) and grows to accept them as part of the new normal, and her crew. When the others suggest the possibility of hiring a crew, or mounting the other ship, EAVE is very enthusiastic about requesting the return of some of her former crew. They likely didn't want to live on a giant kennel, anyway.
Barring the return of some of their crew, she was more than happy to run supplies from place to place if that was suggested as well... but she wanted to move back towards Darrian sectors and would suggest whichever paths could get them in that direction sooner. She didn't say as much, but those more skilled in astrogation would eventually figure out the little bot's plot.
Once they are advised the ship is ready Warren sits down with the rest of the crew. "It looks like it is time for us to go. Moya says he has his own ship that needs to go with us since he is to accompany us. I say we see if we can staff it with some of those awakened from cold sleep. We fill the holds of both ships with as much cargo as the two can hold and head into Imperial space. We can sell our salvage and split the profits and they decide if we continue on together or sell everything and go our separate ways. What do you think?"
EAVE stares unblinkingly at Warren as he disregards that the thieving wolf people were thieving wolf people.
After a few moments, she bobs her body in time. "EAVE agrees on recovering crew and selling things."
"I'm with you, Warren. The sooner we get off this ship and out of Vargr space, the better. I get the impression that our welcome has worn thin." Jenni suppresses a shudder.
"Query. Go? Go where?" says Moyasmedsev through his translator.
"Home," Jenni answers simply. "Back to Imperial space. I'm all for staying together, as we seem to make a pretty good team, but not here."
"Why not here? The Vargr ensure that there is plenty of enterprise for intelligent sophonts. I have heard that Imperial laws are highly restrictive of growth enterprises."
"I guess that I'm just a bit nervous. I swear that some of the crew is looking like they want to make a snack of me, and not in a good way. Besides, I think that you'd like Imperial Space."
"One just lets them think they're in charge and they'll eat out of one's hands," says the little droyne, regarding Glitch with big unblinking eyes. She can practically hear the "just like humans" he leaves unvoiced.
"Why would I like Imperial Space? What are its advantages?"
"It is not full of dog people." EAVE offers up. "Dog people also armed to the muzzle, and can take what they want. EAVE doesn't trust thieving dog people. What is benefit of staying with thieving dog people over taking thieving dog people's goods and selling them elsewhere?"
"Query:" says Moyasmedsev's translator in response to the droyne's whistle and click. "Is your repair robot relaying communications from a crew member? Or does it have some form of artificial intelligence?"
"Also, what does 'dog' mean?"
Tam agrees with Warren, "I never thought I'd say this but the sooner we get back to imperial space the better."
EAVE stares at Moyasmedsev unblinkingly for a moment. Its sensors flip off and back on a few times. Unlike Moyas, EAVE chose to blink for the sake of others. "EAVE is EAVE. This is Major." the little bot says, weapons array - completely unarmed - waggling. "Fur-faces. With Muzzles. And drool. Run around performing urinary conquests in never ending game of who is best." EAVE offers. Her voice is bright and cheery and far too excited for what she's saying.
"EAVE's intelligence is FAR from artificial. It is VERY REAL, Advocate Moyas." she quips.
"Interesting if true," says the droyne. "You claim to be a sophont?"
"Yeah, Yeah' Yeah... it's alive! Let's get back to the point. The sooner we are out of this place the better. I would like to hit that planet with the Imperial enclave on it...we may be able to get some assistance from them...as well as complete a few of our tasks we have taken on...mainly the return of the Imperial mail and delivering the last message from that poor fighter squadron. Let's get loaded up with cargo and get out of here!"
These humans appear to be fixated on residing only among humaniti. And yet they recognize the AI as sentient. They are so contradictory. Perhaps it might be amusing to spend one of their lifetimes with them, to live as human for a time.
Unexpectedly, Moyasmedsev bows to the robot and chirps, its translator burbling forth with human poetry.
"And dreaming, as it were, held brotherly speech
With one whose thought I had not hoped to reach."
"A pleasure to encounter you amidst the living stars, EAVE."
Turning back to the humans, he nods once. "I will accompany you. I should see this vaunted Imperium of yours and judge for myself."
When you tell the Vargr that you'd like to interview some of the survivors who are interested in heading toward the Imperium, the following people show up.
Alisan Mecorian : A sword worlder noble who has experience as a Broker, as an Artist, and oddly enough also Astrogation. She's just under 900 years out of her original time.
Aoleaao E'Earle : An Aslan from the Aslan Hierate, who is a former army ranger, has skill with gun combat, can pilot small craft, and has some vacc suit training. She is just under 400 years out of place.
Elrick Moynehan : A human from the 3rd Imperium, a former merchant crewman. He has some skill at piloting spacecraft, as well as some broker and steward training. He's about 200 years out of synch, and has a smooth manner and seems easy to get along with.
Morisa Elsantha : A human from the 3rd Imperium, she's only about 30 years out of synch, and was in one of the cold sleep pods that EAVE found after it landed very recently (by EAVE's terms of recent). She is a former naval combat engineer, and has general skills working on ships, and for combat, including gunnery skills.
Rorick Brade : Rorick is a Solomani who's over 1200 years out of synch, and was in one of the older pods. His Solomani Empire no longer exists, as it was subsumed by the modern version of it, so he has no where to go. He was a former combat marine, he's built like a construction droid, and is in his mid 30's. He has skills in weapons, heavy weapons, vacc suit, athletics, and even heavy weapons. He was a squad commander, his squad did not survive the cold sleep apparently.
Vordoan Aevantsan : This is an odd one, it's not a meth (methusulah), a cold sleeper out of time. It's a Vargr in the Ruler of Five Army who's just mustered out, and is wanting a job. He's got skills in combat, combat, and combat. He was one of the guards watching you in the med bay, and then later escorting you around. He's not stupid by any means, but he does seem undereducated. He says he took a liking to you, and besides, you got money and need someone to pay to guard it.
After seeing the potential candidates, Jenni confers with her companions, out of earshot of the potentials.
"I like the Naval SeaBee and the Solomani. Either would be very useful in our company. I would also be willing to accept the cat. I have no opinion on the others, except the Vargr. They make me nervous."
Moyasmedsev chirps and clicks. ”Take them all,” says his translator.
”All have need and use. Prediction is difficult and any may fit the tide of Fate. Also, you misunderstand the Vargr. Loyalty is their greatest virtue. He may prove a good eat asset. As to danger, the Aslan could kill any of us with little difficulty.”
"I agree with the lawyer," she says while pointing her thumb at Moyasmedsev. Tam shrugged, "We are in no position to be picky,"