Hearing Ray's question, Jerry gets on the comms.
"I'm with Hteleitoirl. Where did Byron and Daneel go?"
Steph coughs as she makes it outside. She breaths deep and then hears Ray start to yell looking for Byron and Daneel. "What? They are missing?" She'll start to head back into the building against the tide. "We just got out of this blasted building."
"Move!! Get out of my way!! She ducks and weaves as she heads through the crowd. "Has anyone seen a couple of humans?"
At first no one responds, as the dazed aslan stagger or run towards the exits. Finally, one little male, maybe six years old, points toward the cratered end of the stadium. "They ran in there. With the Champion. Just before it blew up."
Ray groans and heads where the kid pointed, then looks around.
Ray can see Steph beside her and glimpses Jerry and Hteleitoirl fifty meters away at the entrance to the stadium. At the other end of the stadium lies a crater fifteen meters across.
Ray starts to sift through the rubble, slowly making her way to the crater her 'pals' had better not be dumb enough to be in.
Finding no sign of them she eyes the crater. "Really?" She clambers down and starts sifting through the rubble, complaining all the time about the intelligence of her crewmates. Soon she's tired and dirty. Shifting some more rubble she grunts with effort. "Ugh! Stupid Byron! Stupid Daneel! You'd better be... Ugh! Alive when I find you... UGH! So I can punch you in your stupid faces!"
"Hteleitoirl, I must see to my companions!," shouts Jerry. "Would any assassins still be here?"
Jerry looks back and forth between the Aslan and Ray rushing towards the crater.
The aslan prince rushes alongside Jerry, roaring to his people for help.
"How could I know?" he asks.
Soon, Jerry and a dozen aslan warriors are helping Ray move rubble.
It takes an hour, but eventually you find Daneel and Byron, alive but so badly injured you almost wonder if they'd have been better off dead.
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FIVE WEEKS LATER
Daneel and Byron got the finest medical care on Tyokh, cared for by human doctors with imported Imperial medical facilities usually reserved for high-ranking members of important clans. Hteleitoirl's clan is not that important, but his father called in many favors to make this happen.
Hteleitoirl explains what has happened in the outside world.
"Thanks to you, we have exposed the betrayal of my mission and war is avoided. You have my eternal gratitude. There is no real embarrassment for clan Htyowao. Derailing another clan’s ihatei expansion is a normal part of interclan politics, and if the Iuwoi were too weak to keep our agents loyal, that reflects more on us than our enemies – at least according to the Htyowao ambassador."
"But the assassins weren't simply trying to kill us, they were trying to kill the ambassador. It seems that someone else is at work here, and both clans must now be wary."
"In the eyes of my people, I have still failed as a leader of ihatei. However, there is a difference between failing an important mission due to inadequacy or incompetence, and being betrayed by an enemy. The difference, in this case, is life and death."
"My father made a great show of anger and disappointment about the Arunisiir mission, and announced that his son must be punished for failing his clan. I am to be exiled for a year. However, in recognition of my honorable conduct in returning for execution and your enterprise in uncovering the traitor at Sink, I will be permitted to rest and prepare before I begins my punishment. I think that if I marry, raise
my children and finally die of extreme old age before beginning my exile, no word will be said against me. However, I will not have it so. I will return to Arunisiir, where I have unfinished business. Perhaps you know of a ship headed that way?"
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WRAPPING UP
The Iuwoi clan pays out the final half-million credits you were promised for delivering the "pacakage" and whilst clan Iuwoi does not add any
financial reward to this, they are impressed with your conduct. You are still non-Aslan and therefore inferior, but will henceforth be considered friends of the Iuwoi. The clan still has ambitions in the
Borderland region, and could be a useful ally or powerful patron in the future.
Steph spends her days during the five weeks making sure the ship stayed safe, and that everything would be ready when they left Toykh.
In the evenings she heads to the med center to make check on her friends. Steph grins as she tries to keep Daneel from getting out of his med bed for just one more day. "Please Daneel stay put one more day. They had to practically reattach your leg. You can get back to training when we get on the ship. I'll even join you in hand to hand training. I need to get better at fighting."
She nods to the aslan as he explains what happened and what he needs to get of the planet. "Hteleitoirl I'm not one to stand in the way of destiny. Wait I am. I was not going to let a friend die without trying to help where I could. We can get you back to Arunisiir before we fly off on our next mission. Perhaps, we can grab some cargo when we get there." She makes a note in her ever present computer.
Daneel grumbles, but stays put as long as Steph and the others are willing to make a fuss over him.
HMS Nemesis and her crew break orbit around Tyokh, coordinating with Hierate authorities on their multi-hour journey to a safe jump distance. Daneel and Drive Chief Kagni Vandir go over the engines thoroughly. Once satisfied that the J-Drive is in good working order, they give the okay and Captain Jaramillo-Smith gives the order to jump. Byron has had five weeks to plot this jump and it comes off flawlessly.
All alone in the silver bubble of nothingness that is J-Space, you remember just how boring space travel can be. There's a new collection of aslan holodramas (surprisingly intense and complicated) that has most of the ship's crew's attention in the evenings. During the day, ship's maintenance and vid training are the orders of the day. Bull Aldor turns out to be an excellent cook and treats the crew to his father's recipe for a hearty fassolatha soup. Most of the time, however, the crew eats prepared meals heated up and served by the Stewaid robot you purchased on Inurin.
The ship is half luxury on a scale normally reserved for Megacorporation CEO's and half jury-rigged conduits and threadbare carpets.
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Library Data Paal is an F3V yellow-white star with three gas giants, no planetoid belt and a Mars-sized mainworld. The mainworld has a standard atmosphere, 0.57G gravity, 40% hydrosphere and a Class-B starport known as one of the best places in the Drinax chain to repair a starship. The population is about 5 million, almost entirely engaged in TL6 agriculture (roughly 1950's technology). Paal’s association with Drinax is an old one – this rich world once supplied Drinax with its produce. Many of the dukes and kings of Paal still covet the technology of Drinax.
The first stop on the "Hierate Trade Route" between Tyokh in the Aslan Hierate and Fist in the Third Imperium, Paal hopes to negotiate entry into one of the great powers of the Reach as equal trading partners.
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The J-Bubble collapses with an odd lurching sensation and a the strange feeling of being in two places at once. Nemesis glides into the Paal system like a sleek shark rising from the deep. Her holographic hull makes her appear to be a racing yacht like those enjoyed by certain nobles with bottomless pockets and a love of speed. Her transponder relays false codes, indicating that she is the Least Resistance out of Acrid.
Sensor data confirms that you are four hundred thousand kilometers from the mainworld. Dozens of ships are active in the system, at least two-thirds of them starships, the rest in-system spacecraft and tenders.
"Least Resistance, this is Traffic Control. Request you file a flight plan if you intend to approach Paal Prime. Good day."
"Howdy! Visit Red's Real Riding Ranch in Ylotte today! Learn to ride or show us your skills! 15% off all gear, clothing and lodging for offworld crews!"
"Least Resistance, I am pleased to offer you an exclusive evening at the finest dance club in Morgales. Your first bottle of champagne is complementary and ladies drink free of charge."
... injectors recharged or waveguides calibrated. Whatever your ship needs, we at Hi-Tec will handle it for you with our white glove..."
...brothel on the whole planet...
...warned to avoid areas where...
...shot and killed by authorities in West Breadle today when...
...That's some fine pasta!...
The advertisement and blandishments are endless. Some of them may actually be enticing. The Paalites are nothing if not enthusiastic about commerce.
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After an hour, you have an excellent idea of the traffic:
*One 400-ton survey ship from the Imperium is outbound from the mainworld toward the outer system.
*Two 400-ton aslan Eakhau-class traders are outbound from the highport, likely headed to a jump point.
*One 600-ton aslan Khtukhao-class clan transport sits in a wide orbit around the mainworld's moon.
* Three variations of 200-ton A2 Far Traders are docked at the high port. Two more are transiting to the station. Two are in orbit around the largest gas giant, about 600 million kilometers away.
* Four variations of a 200-ton A1 Free Traders are also docked at the high port.
* A 500-ton Watchdog-class Interceptor is in orbit around the highport.
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"I think we should refuel before we do anything to attract to much attention. And then picking off a straggler might be good." Byron suggests.
Steph quiets the advertisements as she waits for a decision on visiting the highport.
"I agree with Byron lets get refueled, and then see what's interesting in the traffic. I suggest we leave the Aslan ships alone. The currently like us, and I don't want to upset that until we deliver our passenger."
HMS Nemesis, disguised as the pleasure yacht SS Least Resistance glides towards Paal's busy highport. Although the traffic control is efficient, it takes a few hours to actually dock at the fueling berth.
Paalite food is said to be some of the best in the subsector. Want to go get a bite to eat in the port while the ship is being fueled? The crew certainly wants a chance to stretch their legs and sleep in a different bed for a night if they can get it.
Jerry has a quick conference with his companions. "Are there any crew currently on punishment detail? If not, we should probably determine the watch schedule randomly. I don't mind taking the first command rotation."
"The crew have been amazingly good this trip. Well except Ray, but that's normal." Steph snickers. "Random watch schedule sounds like a plan."
The Paal highport is a busy hive of activity. Humans, aslan, vargr and a dozen other species wander its promenades and partake of its entertainments. Restaurants, theaters, shops, brokers, hotels and arcades line the promenade. Bars ranging from the exclusive and upscale to as-seedy-as-the-authorities-will-permit dot the landscape. There is even a swimming pool under the stars. Shuttles leave for the surface every six hours.
What pleasures, business opportunities or mischief do you seek out on the station?
Jerry stays on board, checking the comms and staus of the maintenance orders.
Wondering whether to eat something reheated by Stew-Aid, since Bull is taking ground leave.
Going back over his notes on ship tactics from his last session with Hteleitoirl. Wondering what his newfound friend is doing.
Trying not to think about the danger and the fear he felt when the diplomatic mission on Paal was overrun during the last ... or was it the second last? ... civil war.
Byron, still stiff from the explosion, decides to go and explore some to stretch out.
Daneel checks in with the others before heading out. "I'm going shopping, then I'm off to see how Paalites prefer to gamble.
He heads out - first to find himself a new portable computer, then to look for somewhere he can spend the day sipping drinks and placing bets.
"Can I join you Daneel? I need to do some shopping myself. I'll skip the gambling though. A nice not ration dinner would be nice." Steph heads out.
"Want me to check on any cargo opportunities while I'm out? It doesn't hurt to see what's available."
Ray goes with Daneel and Steph, but gets bored with the shopping and says she'll meet him at the casino. She's half in the bag by the time they arrives, betting on a Paalite rodeo where the riders try to stay on a beast that looks like a cross between a zebra and a cockroach.
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Byron goes for a walk and notices that the port is a busy and cosmopolitan place, unlike the planet it orbits. Crews from up the Drinax chain and the Borderlands cluster mingle shoulder to shoulder with Aslan merchants (all female) and off-duty GeDeCo crews. He peruses the job board and mercenary billets and notices that a small convoy of Aslan ships merchants is headed for Fist (meaning they'll pass through the Borderlands cluster) and is looking for mercenaries to protect them from piracy. They're scheduled to leave in two days.
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Daneel and Steph purchase things no one else remembers the ship needs - fresh holovids, bread, that mayonnaise that Jerry likes, toilet paper. They also find a really good tailor and consider having some nice clothes made, but decide to wait until next time.
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Reading notices to shipping, Jerry notices a reference to "The Ghost of the Reach." Curious, he learns that there is a supposedly a ship sighted by a few tramp merchants and long-range explorers. A legend among pirates and starfarers of the Reach, the Ghost is more thief than pirate. Whenever a ship vanishes without a shot being fired, the Ghost is held to be responsible. In this report, the Ghost was supposedly seen near Tktk, where a belter reported having seen a ship that "just vanished, like it was never there!"
Byron will wander by those docks to see if he can catch sight of anything that would be particularly tempting in passing.
Byron, the cargo convoy seems to consist mostly of ships in the 200-600 ton range, as well as two larger 1500-ton carriers. You know that these are all small-time operators. The megacorporations send ships that displace tens of thousands of tons. You can't tell what's being shipped, but you're fairly certain it's not foodstuffs or anything that requires refrigeration, as so much cargo coming off=world from Paal does. You'd guess its mostly raw materials from Hierate worlds heading to the higher tech markets in the Imperium.
Daneel and Steph, you can purchase personal comms and computers up to TL 12 in the boutique stores at the highport. The mark-ups are shocking (+50% cost on anything in the books over TL6), but they are available. Alternatively, you'll be jumping for Tech-World shortly. If you have the time to dock there, you can purchase your electronics at a more reasonable price.
"I'm going to wait until Tech-World on the computer. Better prices. I'm thinking about putting a wafer jack installed, but healing would be tough if that happens. And Ray might punch me just to see if she could reset the computer in my brain."
She stops and smiles, "Now that is a thing of beauty. I'll be right back." She heads into a weapons store and a few minutes later comes out with a huge smile on her face. "My new Machinegun is getting delivered to the ship. Too bad I can't carry it on civilized planets. I'm going to get a rocket launcher next." Then she laughs.
Byron grabs a drink somewhere and then returns to the ship and files a quick report for Jerry on the ships, their proposed route and what he thinks they might be carrying.
Daneel gripes about the price, but he buys a TL 12 portable computer . He brings it with him to whatever gambling location they have found.
As he places bets on races and sips refreshing beverages, Daneel donwnloads software to his new device, then uses it to try and find manifest information for the ships currently trading at the highport.
Daneel, the manifests themselves are encrypted but the bills of lading (that is, what they're loading or unloading here) are not. The aslan ships seem to be peddling ores, textiles and radioactives. The Imperial ships seem to be trading in consumer goods, electronics and machine parts.
Steph leans over Daneels' shoulder as she reads the manifests. "Imperial looks good."
Important Piracy Facts
One more thing that Daneel was able to discover was a that some of the bills of lading were marked for delivery at Cordan. That gives you some very important data. As Byron will later tell you, nearly all the ships in the convoy are rated J-2, which means that there are only a few paths they're likely to follow to Fist. Knowing that most or all are headed to Cordan en route tells you with near certainty that the main body of the convoy will follow the path Paal - Tech-World- Exe - Cordan - Wildeman - Fist.
It does seem likely that at least some of the convoy will split up at Cordan and head to market worlds in the Wildeman Cluster such as Arunisiir, Tanith, Acrid and Pandora. So you you can choose to hit the convoy in the Borderlands cluster (at Tech-World or Exe) when they are all together and rich pickings or you can choose to hit them after they disperse (at Cordan or Wildeman).
From what you know of patrols, the convoy would normally be escorted from Tyokh to Tech-World by the aslan authorities and from Cordan to Fist by the Imperial authorities, making Exe the ideal place for piracy, but in this case there is no aslan escort, so Tech-World or right here in the Paal are also decent choices. The third choice is to head for one of those worlds off the convoy path and see if you can't pick off loners who leave the convoy.
The next day, HMS Nemesis, still disguised as the pleasure yacht SS Least Resistance glides outbound from Paal's highport. Behind them, a convoy of merchant vessels is forming up for transit to a safe jump distance, but just now they are under the potent if relaxed guns of both the highport and the orbiting intercepter.
Jerry hosts a meeting of the partners once they are back on the ship. As he waits, Jerry determines that more distance and time is needed before telling Ray what her new tattoo actually means.
Once everyone arrives, Jerry presents his idea. "Let's follow the convoy, picking up any stragglers that don't have escort. We can try to keep pace with the convoy until Cordan.
Ray bangs her head on a nearby console, not really caring what that one does, and groans loudly.
"Ugh... Whatever -- just stop talking."
She grumbles some more, clearly hung over. "Just go..." She burps, groans some more, and settles in to take a nap.
Or vomit.
Hopefully nap.
Byron goes and checks on the marines and their equipment to make sure that everyone is ready should the opportunity arrive.
"That sounds like an excellent idea. To Cordan behind the convoy."
3..2..1...Jump!
The lanthanum grid lights up all across Nemesis's hull and summons into being the hydrogen envelope that for the next week will be your own private universe. Paal fades to a ghostly image then disappears into the silvery nothingness of J-Space.
Like the military, the life of a pirate is long periods of boredom punctuated by short periods of terror. This is the former.
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TRAINING
You've all been working on your training for eight weeks and it's time to see if it has paid off!
Each of you must succeed on an Average (8+) EDU check (That's 2d6+EDU bonus).
House Rule: If the skill you're working on is Melee, you can roll your choice of EDU or STR.
This is what you've been working on:
Steph: Electronics 0
Byron: Vacc Suit 1
Jerry: Tactics (Naval) 1
Ray: Melee (Unarmed) 1
Daneel: Melee 0
Steph curses as she just doesn't "get" electronics. "I'm going to get this figured out." She dives back in for another round of study on electronics.
Actually, it gives him Melee 0. You don't specialize until you get to 1.
I've updated your sheets. Waiting on a roll from Ray. I know Meloriel is busy, so we won't wait for her.
A week later, you drop out of J-space four hundred thousand kilometers from Tech-World. Dozens of spaceships and starships ply the spacelanes here. The convoy has yet to arrive.
What's your plan?