GM Tarondor's The Pirates of Drinax - Traveller (Inactive)

Game Master Tarondor

"All right, here we go!" Daneel pulls up diagnostics of the M-drive and checks them regularly while continuing to monitor the sensors for any signs of additional ships in the freighter's vicinity.

Vacc suit? Jerry intends to go down with the ship!

"Steph, make an intercept course at Thrust 4. Ray, let's see how good you are with that gun once we're within range. Byron, stand by with the marines in case we need to back up our threats. Everyone, at your stations."

Nemesis turns and gives chase to its first prey in centuries, a fat merchant freighter in the space far overhead of hellish Pourne.

So once again I'll ask you - what is your holographic hull displaying?

HOLOGRAPHIC HULL -Multiple holographic projectors are mbedded within the hull allowing the ship to change hull colors, add graphics and adopt a different appearance (though its shape remains the same). Changing the hull color or adding a stored graphic can be done by anyone with access to the ship’s computer. Creating a complex color scheme from scratch requires the talents of a skilled artist. Some young nobles try to outdo one another by changing the schemes daily or hiring artists to create the most complex scenes imaginable. Some pirates have made use of this system to simulate visual hull damage and lure other ships in with a GK distress call. However, most ship owner’s use it for the purposes of advertising.

Your fast acceleration quickly signals your intentions and the freighter turns directly towards the nearest orbiting station.

"Unidentified ship, this is Hugo control. Request you cut acceleration and state your intentions. Over."

"Make us look like a small freighter ... fast for carrying high value perishable cargo. If we have to, show registry from ... I don't know ... Tech-World, I guess." commands the captain of the Nemesis.

Will this work? Or does this count as altering our shape?

----

Ray laughs aloud at their request.

If the ship goes down I may have a good view floating between the vessels.

"The space station is hailing us? Did we plan to do this close to the space stations?" She gives the Captain a quick glance, and then goes back to concentrating on her flying.

I'd say the Nemesis is showing as a freighter. I like the name the "Merchant's Purse" seems fitting."

If we can't appear to change configuration, then how about matte black with a large Sindalian Empire crest displayed on both sides of the upper surface and on the under hull surface.

"Don't bother responding - our intentions will be evident soon enough. BY the way, any idea of the range of the weapons on that orbital station?"

You can't change the ship's shape - no one is going to believe Nemesis is a freighter, particularly not at 4 thrust. You can just change visual cues about the ship.

Displaying the crest of the Sindalian Empire (thinking big, Jerry!), the ship plunges towards Pourne. It's obvious that it will intercept the merchant before it can come under the protection of the planet's guns.

After ten more minutes, the freighter itself hails Nemesis. The transmission is in the Aslan language Trokh.

"Anyone speak that language?," asks Jerry. "Because I don't. And the ship has no translation software, which might be a good thing to add."

"I can put whoever can speak that jibberish on the comm. Tell them to stand to and prepare to be boarded by the New Sindalian Empire Customs Service. Which I just made up, but it sounds good. To me, at least, and I am the Captain so it's how we're going to be known in this system."

Steph and Ray both speak Trokh.

As does your Aslan Marine, Afaar'iy

"He wants to know our demands. Captain Tefaas'al seems to be a sensible fellow."

She nods to the Captain and turns on the Comms and announces in Trokh.

Persuade, INT: 2d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4, 5) + 1 + 1 = 11
Not sure if a roll is appropriate, but I thought I'd save time just in case.

"It's not jibberish when you speak, Afaar'iy. Pleasantly mellifluous, in fact," replies the erstwhile Captain.

"How long for them to see sense?," Captain Jerry continues. "If they don't heave to, put a shot into their hull."

Three minutes later, Captain Tefaas'al returns. She is an Aslan female; males do not handle merchant ships.

A second transmission starts up, this one from Hugo Station. "Spice Harvest, this is Hugo Station. Do not negotiate with pirates. We are launching an intercept. 'New Sindalian Empire Customs Service' or whoever you are, this is Pourne. You are making a very big mistake. Heave to or be destroyed."

Electronics(Sensors) + EDU: 2d6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (5, 2) + 1 - 1 = 7
Electronics(Sensors) + EDU: 2d6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (2, 6) + 1 - 1 = 8

Daneel keeps his eyes on the sensor readouts. "Pourne just launched a Dragon class defense boat. It's got us outclassed offensively, and it's at least as fast as us, but it has no jump capability. I give it 90 minutes till it's in range."

He looks at Jerry, "Captain, let's just tell the freighter to jettison a tribute that we can scoop up. We don't want to get bogged down negotiating while that Dragon closes in."

"Steph, tell the Aslan's exactly that," orders Captain Jerry.

"Engineering - how much fuel do we have for a jump?"

Steph follows along with the conversation, then rolls her eyes that she doesn't get to shoot anything. Still, she stays at her post, ready to fire if the need arises!

Daneel, Nemesis has enough fuel for a 1-parsec jump, which means forward to Hilfer or back to Drinax. But by the time you pick up that tribute the SDB will be fifteen-twenty minutes from firing range. At Thrust 4 you risk not making the 100-diameter limit in time. This leaves you with four choices - 1) reveal your capacity for early jump and go at 90 diameters; 2) power down the holographic hull and proceed at Thrust-6; 3) risk the SDB getting some shots in at you; or 4) turn and fight.

She nods at Daneel and Jerry in turn and turns back to her station.

Daneel double checks his displays before answering. "We have enough fuel for a 1 parsec jump. It's gonna be a close race to jump distance, though. We'll probably have to try out Nemesis' early jump capability to escape."

"I don't like the early jump idea, but I like letting the system know exactly who we are even less. If this is up for a vote. Jump early." Steph watches the sensors looking for the tribute to show up on them, and the other ship closing in on them.

Jerry listens to the exchange among his companions.

"Any sign that the freighter is putting tribute out the port? Keep an eye on that defense boat and let us know when we need to turn tail and run."

Sensor show a 10-ton cargo container floating in the wake of the Aslan ship. Plenty of time to go pick it up.

"Excellent! Helm - let's maneuver close and scoop up that container. Once it the container is onboard, turn and make for the 100 diameter limit. We will decide whether we drop camouflage and make more speed or have to jump early," declares Captain Jerry.

"Byron - check the container once it on board and ensure that the Aslan have not left a surprise for us."

Byron moves to help with securing the package and checking it.

Steph pilots the ship to the container, and once it's secured heads toward the 100 diameter limit as requested.

She concentrates on shaving every bit of distance off the route that she can.

Pilot: 2d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3) + 1 + 1 = 8
She's trying to find the most direct/efficient route to get from point a to b to c.

Daneel runs some calculations on his terminal,then turns to Jerry. "Captain, if I route power away from weapons and non-essential systems, I think I get us enough juice for thrust-6 while maintaining the holographic camouflage. That should give us enough speed to get to 100 diameters and jump before the SDB can catch up."

"Do that, then, Daneel. No point giving away any of our secrets," declares Captain Jerry.

Okay! Steph pilots the ship to the storage container. Byron and the troops pull it into the cargo hangar and begin to check out while Daneel re-routes power to the maneuver engines and holographic hull.

With the cargo onboard, Byron soon verifies that it isn't booby-trapped and contains six tons of rather heady spirits. "We should keep some of that, sir," suggests Bull. "For medicinal purposes!"

Having slowed the ship to a near stand-still relative to Pourne, Steph now begins to maneuver the ship away from the planet as the SDB closes towards firing range. "Pirate vessel, this is PPS Pendragon. Heave to and prepare to be boarded!"

Then Nemesis fires her main engines, leaping forward and clawing her way up the gravity well with the purring power of a racing thoroughbred. Even as fast as she is, the minutes crawl by as, at first, the deadly SDB closes distance. But in space, mathematics is king, and Nemesis has the greater thrust. Within ten minutes, the gap between the two ships begins to widen again, and Nemesis leaves Pendragon far in her wake as she passes first the 90-diameter mark (where she would be safe jumping) and then the 100-diamater mark thirteen minutes later (where everyone is safe jumping.)

The lanthanum grid charges and Nemesis is...gone.

Byron, give me an average (8+) Astrogation + INT/EDU check.
Daneel, give me an easy (6+) Engineer (J-Drive)+INT/EDU check.

Having no need to be at the guns, Ray hops out of her seat and wanders over to check out their precious cargo. She grins at Bull. "Agreed!" She begins to inspect the liquor closely, deciding which she'd rather crack open first.

Are they all the same, or a variety?

It's mostly some strange Aslan liquor called "Nif'alaq". But there is also a small case of something claiming to be "Dingir Bourbon."

Ray takes one bottle of each and cracks them open. She takes a swig of one... Then a swig of the other... Trying to decide which she likes better. Then she offers Bull and Byron a sip from the bottles.

Knowing Ray, and where she headed Steph says, "Don't drink it all." through the ships comms.

She turns to the other officers on the bridge. "We did it. Our first act of Piracy. Should I be feeling guilty?" Then she laughs in relief.

Byron returns to his station and plots the next course.

Astrogation+EDU 8: 2d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4) + 1 + 1 = 9

As Nemesis approaches the 100-diameter mark, Daneel routes some of the power away from the m-drive in order to spin up the j-drive. When Steph and Byron give him the signal, he activates the jump.

Engineering(Jump Drive) + INT: 2d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2, 5) + 1 + 1 = 9

Jerry leans back in the command chair, relieved that their first piracy went so well. He takes a moment to collect himself before speaking to the others on the bridge.

"Well done! Break out some of that finer food and have a meal for the crew, everyone, now that we have safely jumped!," orders the erstwhile captain. "With some of that liquor, if Ray hasn't drunk all of our loot!"

Captain, which way did we jump? To Drinax or Hilfer?

I would plot to Hilfer as that was going to be our next stop unless Jerry made some other announcement.

Hilfer was what had been proposed.

Hilfer sounds like a good plan. I don't think we are ready to head back to Drinax yet. Not enough loot.

Jerry leans back in the command chair, relieved that their first piracy went so well. He takes a moment to collect himself before speaking to the others on the bridge.

"Well done! Break out some of that finer food and have a meal for the crew, everyone, now that we have safely jumped!," orders the erstwhile captain. "With some of that liquor, if Ray hasn't drunk all of our loot!"

Ray let's out a cackling laugh. "HA! Drank it all! Pfft! That would take me at least three days."

With a wink at Byron and Bull she takes another swig of the different liquors, still deciding which is her favourite.

Nif'alaq has a sharp, spicy flavor that makes Ray think of a rare-done steak rubbed with herbs. Dingir bourbon is a complex and buttery flavor with hints of oak and smoke.

So... seclusion in Jumpspace again.

Tell me an incident from that week in space. Everyone tell the same story, but from your own character's perspective. Let me propose the start: The showers aren't working. They stop when someone is in full lather.

Jerry is showering, humming off-key to himself, while trying to clear his head after the celebratory dinner. The combination of the nif'alaq and the bourbon has left a taste in his mouth that reminds him of the aftereffects of some of the diplomatic dinners. The shower is definitely helping with the headache.

He has just lathered up his hair when the shower suddenly runs ice-cold, then scalding hot, before stopping entirely. He fiddles wiht the shower control for a moment before realizing that it has stopped working.

Jerry steps from the shower cubicle, wiping suds from his eyes while groping for the towel.

Still dripping suds, Jerry finds his communicator headset and fumbles with it.

"Engineering! The shower isn't working. Can someone come and fix it?"

Ray, thoroughly drunk of Nif'alaq, is passing by the showers when Jerry starts shouting for help. She laughs aloud, strolls into the showers and holds up her communicator. "Smile Jer-Bear!" she says as she takes a picture of Jerry half-covered with his towel and all sudsy.

Then she gives Jerry a wink and stumbles off, laughing to herself as she sends the image to everyone else on the ship.

Over the next few days Ray prints off copies of the image and posts them all over the ship with embarrassing captions.

You're welcome! Haha.

Steph is pulled out of a drunken sleep as Jerry with suds in his eyes pushes the button for ship wide communications instead of just to Engineering.

"Huh What? She's confused as why the ship is being attacked by showers. Then the words sink in she groans and buries her head in her pillow. "There goes my shower for tomorrow morning. There's no way Engineering is sober enough to fix the showers before midday tomorrow at the earliest.

I hope Jerry was rinsed before the shower broke.

The shower incident gets resolved, but those pictures don't go away. Oh, and the autochef is on the blink, leaving everyone to eat canned rations. So many centuries-old connectors and parts that still need repairs!

The jump claxon sounds on the seventh day, alerting the crew that they have roughly twenty minutes until Nemesis precipitates back into normal space.

__________________________________________________________________

Hilfer is a dim red sun with no gas giants and a few close-orbiting rocky worlds. The main world is small, its gravity about 60% standard, with a thin, hot atmosphere. Its population of sixty million people is spread across a dozen small nations with a maximum TL of 6 (Earth around 1960). Hilfer was once part of the Kingdom of Drinax. The rebellion cost Hilfer dearly, as the planet lost the technology to maintain the water reclamation technology that kept the desert at bay.

Fortunately, it has a Class B starport capable of repairing and fueling ships. This is good because you're going to need a full tank to jump to Tech-World. You're about 105 diameters out from the high port.

There are perhaps half a dozen interstellar ships in the system in addition to a dozen or so small mining craft. It doesn't take long for you to spot a small freighter that would be easy pickings.

Is the holographic hull on? If so, what image is it projecting?

"Astrogation - plot a course for the main world. As tempting as that freighter is, we need fuel first," decides the captain.

Jerry spins idly in the captain's chair while the others operate the ship.

"We'll sell what liquor we can and pay for a full tnak of fuel. Remember the king's other part - spread the largesse around. Maybe we can even determine the quality of the shipyard."

Ray, who has a few bottles of Nif'alaq stored in her quarters, nods along with the captain. "Whatever you say, Jer-Bear." She wanders over to an empty chair and sticks her feet up on the edge of a console. "You want me to put aside a few bottles for future celebrations or prep it all for off-loading?"

"Certainly keep the opened cartons, Ray. Besides, I have no idea whether we will actually be able to sell any here," continues Jerry.

"How long until we reach the port?," asks Jerry. "We need to discuss whether we can permit the marines and others to take shore leave. Which probably means paying an advance on pay, too."

Time to port depends on the speed you care to show. Your vessel is clearly no freighter, so there's no point in pretending to go a Thrust-1. But nobody has to know just how fast she can go, either. At Thrust-3, you can make the highport in under three hours. Landing at the low port is less common and will require another hour each way.

Hilfer is a high-law system. Probably not the easiest place to fence your stolen goods.

"Captain let's keep it slow. No reason to let them know we're anything but a normal ship."

Sheph looks up from her console. "It's high law. Let's just get refueled, if we have the credits, and get moving."

I'd say the holo is up and showing a plain looking merchant ship.