GM Tarondor's Secrets of the Ancients - Traveller

Game Master Tarondor

Plus they are also possibly way tuned in to people looking in to a completely out of place alien ... the code phrase is a lot more zeroed in

Marid regards you all one at a time before nodding. She presses a hidden control in her desk and one section of the marble floor slides open, revealing a ramp. "Just proceed down the tunnel. Exceedingly Discreet is waiting at the far side."

Zirelle nods in thanks, and proceeds down the tunnel.

Dev follows down the tunnel.

The ramp leads to a tunnel that runs under the starport fence. It was originally a utility duct and there are still old pipes embedded in the concrete walls. The team moves fifty or sixty meters into the tunnel when the ramp at the end of the tunnel slams shut – and so does the ramp at the far end. You are trapped. Marid's voice echoes down the tunnel from a hidden speaker.

"Okay, talk fast or I’ll flood the tunnel with poison gas. Who are you and what do you want?"

"We know Galus Libre!" Chuck says.

He glances around at all the pipes to see if there's a way to clog them. As he eyes scan around, he jams a finger into his nose, activating his breather nostril instert.

"We shouldn't have trusted that slime ball" He mutters to Erryll under his breath.

"Come on, Marid. You know we aren't cops. If you haven't run a facial recognition on me, do it. You'll see clearly that I have a reputation, and that I stay very far away from law enforcement. We're just looking for a friendly conversation... and hey, if we're lucky, maybe for a bit of work. No need for the theatrics."

Somebody give me a SOC+Diplomat check (8+)

Well that won't be Dev...lol...he already has a bad SOC and no diplomacy!!

I have a -1 SOC and no diplomacy skill. Is anyone else willing to do the roll? I'll attempt it if not, but those are low odds.

SOC+DIPLO: 2d6 + 2 + 0 ⇒ (1, 5) + 2 + 0 = 8 Skilled Lvl-0 Diplo Check

Actually, Dev, you have a ranking of 1 in Diplomat (in Traveller it's "Diplomat" and not "Diplomacy".) But yeah, your SOC cancels it out. Still, its better than someone untrained. Also, Erryll has a SOC of +2 and a Diplomat of 0.

Ninja'd by 56 seconds!

Erryll, I'll need you to -say- something to go with that roll!

Ahhh...how did I miss that!!?? Can I assist Erryll in his attempt??

SOC+DIPLO: 2d6 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (5, 3) - 1 + 1 = 8

[dice=SOC+DIPLO]2d6 +2 +0 Skilled Lvl-0 Diplo Check

"With all the love I have in my heart, I need to be super clear: alive, we can be amazing friends to have; dead, well, that could turn out a lot less amazing ... for everyone. No one loses if everyone calms down and has a chat."

Ahhh...how did I miss that!!?? Can I assist Erryll in his attempt??

Sure. But ya gotta say or do something to go with it!

Was just checking before I tried to say anything:-)

Dev looks around their new prison and mutters under his breath before he hears Erryll comment.

"We just want to talk with Exceedingly Discreet. We are, of course, willing to pay for the privilege as well, but if you gas us...well there will be more people coming around asking questions and I know that cannot be good for business..."

There is a long and dangerous pause. Finally, the door at the far end of the tunnel slides open. There is an elevator car waiting for you.

Dev, while moving swiftly, but trying not to look like he is running, enters the elevator and waits for the others to join him.

Zirelle moves more confidently, joining Dev in the lift. If she can see the camera they are being watched by, she flashes Marid a smile.

The elevator takes you up to a simple office and there sits the alien known as Exceedingly Discreet.

The Llellewyoly unfolds like a blossoming plant, unfurling long sensory-tubules in your direction. Through its translucent environment suit, strange colours play over its central mass and it activates a small communications device attached to its central stem. In a musical voice it says "I am Exceedingly Discreet. What is your title at this time, strangers?"

"Greetings Exceedingly Discreet I am Dev Vorn, Captain of a courier ship. We are looking for a man that goes by the name of Harlan and your name came up as someone who might know how to get ahold of this fellow."

Exceedingly Discreet writhes its limbs a bit in a gesture that could mean anything. "I do no deny that information, Captain of a Courier Ship. But neither do I confirm it. If I were able to refer you to this individual you have named, what then? What benefit would such a referral bring to Winter Shipping and its shareholders?"

"Ahem, hi Mr. Discreet." Chuck begins.
"We can provide all kinds of benefit, but I s'pose it depends where Winter Shipping could benefit. Anywhere y'all need a hand?"

The alien shivers. "We could repeat this cycle of me asking what you offer and you asking what I want, Unhelpful Male, but I would prefer you simply answer my question. Why do you wish to speak to Harlen and what do you have to offer?"

"Ok, this is it. Harlan has information about who might have killed my uncle. I am willing to offer my services and that of my ship to you for one task that cannot last more than 6 months and must wait until I can discover who it was who killed my uncle. Do you have a counteroffer?"

The dandelion trills. "Not yet, Captain of a Courier Ship. I wish to know many things first. Why do you believe that Harlan possesses this knowledge? Who was your uncle? What are the specifications of your ship? How fast is it and is it legally registered? Do you possess knowledge of shipping regulations?"

Zirelle likes the dandelion. "Unhelpful Male" was an awesome title. She keeps her mouth shut, however, knowing that she wasn't that good with diplomacy. She wondered what her title would be if she were as plainspoken as the plant. Hmm. It wasn't likely to be flattering.

Chuck rolls his eyes and keeps quiet for a bit.

Filing away your new name within the Llellewyoly species. Sally announces in his ear.

Dev gives the information about his ship to the Plant-Sapien as required.

My uncle was Vlen Backett, a well-known scholar and collector. We believe this Harlan can get us in touch with his employer...he was also there when my uncle was killed. We need to question him!"[/b]

"Vlen Backett was likely a courier for the same organization that employs Harlen. I have correlated orders for Harlen with visits by Vlen Backett. I presume that your relative was killed because of this association. Likely he bore bad news and Harlen killed him for it."

"You realize that their employer is likely to be a very dangerous individual and that the chances of your surviving such an encounter are very low?"

"Sometimes a person needs to make a stand. They killed my uncle and for that alone, they need to be punished, but such people also need to be shown that they cannot do anything they want without repercussions."
He looks the alien over and asks, "So can you help us or not?"

The creature's fur bristles. "Yes. Harlen is short-sighted and a poor tactician. When he is gone I will be far more effective as Winter Shipping's new director. I will aid you, Captain of a Courier Ship."

"Harlen is aboard Ven Yasha's secret base."

The Llellewyoly pauses ominously.

"You know the name, perhaps? A ghost. A phantom. A demon in the void. I believe Ven Yasha to be a powerful precognitive or else he has contacts in the very highest levels of the Imperium; how else could he have such influence and reach?"

"Either way, he has a base hidden in the orbital containment yard. Harlen is there."

The corporate megafreighters that make the lonely trek across the Corridor sector carry their cargoes in gigantic shipping containers, some of which are hundreds of d-tons. The smaller freighters and tramp ships that convey this cargo from Regina to the frontier worlds cannot handle these huge containers; much of the work done at the Regina Highport involves breaking cargo down into smaller loads. Empty containers are either filled with goods for export back to the core worlds... but there is not always sufficient cargo to justify sending a fully loaded megafreighter back again, so a percentage of cargo containers are left behind at Regina. These unused bulk containers are towed to a holding depot in a higher orbit, waiting for the day they are needed again. Some have been waiting for centuries.

The container yard is a maze of floating containers and navigation buoys. Few ships ever visit here, except for the tugs and shepherds that keep the containers in position, and scavengers hoping to find abandoned cargo or scrap metal. The whole zone is considered hazardous, due to the sheer number of containers and other debris floating in space.

"Hidden amid this maze is Ven Yasha’s station," says Exceedingly Discreet. "A bribe paid to a long-dead shipping clerk meant that three large containers were removed from the starport’s database. Over the years, these containers have been transformed into a hidden space station, a smuggler’s base within short reach of one of the busiest starports in the sector. From the outside, the station looks like three shipping containers lashed together – the docking ports, station-keeping thrusters and defense turrets are all concealed."

"Winter Shipping is due to send a supply shuttle to the station tomorrow. If you were aboard that shuttle you could gain access to the station and complete your purposes."

Zirelle pipes up

Can you get us aboard, or do we need to find our own way?

"It might be so, Quiet Female. It might be so. If it were in Winter Shipping's interest. Or mine."

Surely you have something in mind that could make it worthwhile to you... or the company... or you wouldn't have humored us this far. What is it that we can do for you, in return for your assistance?

The Llellewyoly quivers. "You are perceptive. I wish you to kill Harlen if you can. Nothing must be traced back to Winter Shipping or myself."

Zirelle nods.

He's an evil person who is making the world worse instead of better. I don't have a problem with that. I can't guarantee that us being here right now won't be noticed, but we won't mention any connection going forward, and it sounds like getting us onto the ship has to look like we either hijacked the shuttle or stowed away. I prefer the latter, but not sure what is possible since I haven't seen the shuttle. Is it crewed or autonomous?

"There is a crew. They will unload the cargo without inspecting any of it. If you wait until they depart, you can leave a cargo container with ease."

Sounds like a good way forward to me, guys, provided that the dandelion isn't setting us up. Other people's thoughts on taking the deal and hiding in the cargo?

Okay, I think we have a deal. Get us into the container, and we'll take it from there.

Extremely Discreet wobbles. This -might- be a form of agreement or something else entirely.

The communicator chirps. "The shuttle launches at 1500 tomorrow. The cargo container will be loaded at 1000 hours. There will be a brief pause in the guard routine to repair a malfunctioning camera at 0742. During the next seven minutes the west fence will be unguarded and unrecorded. Entering the container and concealing evidence of your presence will be your responsibility. The container is airtight, but the breathable air is very limited, as is the heating. Be prepared."

The Llellewyoly dismisses you with an airy wave of one of its limb stalks.

Ben leans against the wall and continues to keep an eye out for danger outside the building.

Zirelle nods, and barring anyone else's objections or questions, they leave and inform Ben of their findings and plan.

"Wow...I was starting to worry about you guys in there. I am pretty sure no one was following us. I also got in some samba steps practice while I was waiting." Ben informs the others.

You samba? That's so weird. I once robbed a whole samba class. Small universe.

"I have many talents!" Ben says with a wink.

Well, let's get back and check in somewhere. We have to be ready for tomorrow, and I am thinking we should recruit some help for a job this big. I'll see if any of my former associates are close enough to do a job. You guys know anyone? If not, I guess we could just stroll over to the unemployment office and see if there are some likely types.

"While the University isn't technically an unemployment office, there are a lot of similarities. We could certainly find some people there too."

Kudos for the opportunity to bring in the new guys. Thanks, players!

Seems like a decent place to pause until we have our new PC's ready.