"Sir, the team acquitted themselves with great success, in my opinion. Ivan Malo is, by all accounts, a very influential fellow, and I believe we have launched a lucrative joint venture that he will be very happy with, and which will surely benefit the entire community and will likely make a mark upon their world. In addition, both Zaeta and Freyjason were able to use their respective medical backgrounds to further benefit the locals - favors that I am certain reflected upon the Sword Worlds in a very favorable manner."
He offers detailed examples if Sundstrom presses for such, but otherwise keeps his opinion brief.
Common Consumables (32 tons purchased at 375 cr each
Common Industrial Goods (28 tons purchased at 4k cr each)
60 tons of personal cargo space used
15 tons remaining (4 tons used by Frey, currently)
Total Profits/Loss:
-300,000 credits spent for original cargo
+217,000 credits for cargo sold on Spume
+150,000 credits for cargo sold on Condaria
------------------
+67,000 credit profit
Assuming I'm not paying back my initial allowance until after the entire venture is finished, I have 367k to spend on the alcohol we purchased. So if Sundstrom wants us to cover the 15 tons, I can do so by spending 315k, if my math is correct? That's a hell of a commitment, but we did drag him into this, so if he tanks on the deal it's only fair we do too!
That's a hell of a commitment, but we did drag him into this, so if he tanks on the deal it's only fair we do too!
I've listed the available goods for sale and purchase on the "Speculative Cargo List". Here is the available freight:
MAIL
Mail for Kardin: None.
Mail for Bularia: None.
Mail for Ucella: None.
Mail for Gohature: 4 drums (20 tons). Fee: cr100,000. Must take all four.
Mail for Iderati: 3 drums (15 tons). Fee: cr75,000. Must take all three.
FREIGHT FOR KARDIN
5 tons of Survival Equipment - Fee: cr5,000
FREIGHT FOR BULARIA
50 tons of Biodeisel fuel. Fee: cr130,000
15 tons of ethanol fuel. Fee: 39,000
6 tons untrained riding animals. Fee: Cr15,600
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6 tons untrained riding animals. Fee: Cr15,600
Zaeta reviews their cargo placements and moves a few things around so they can load up alcohol and other things as needed.
Speculative Goods:
Common Consumables (32 tons purchased at Cr375) [Cor]
Common Electronics (6 tons purchased at Cr9,000) [Cor]
Common Industrial Goods (28 tons purchased at Cr4,000) [Cor]
Uncommon Ore (30 tons purchased at Cr3,750) [some moved] [Z]
Gems and Crystals (8 tons purchased at Cr15,000) [Z]
Medical Supplies (3 tons purchased at Cr127,500) [Frey]
Gems (11 tons purchased at Cr17,000) [Crastor]
Common Ore (9 tons purchased at Cr900) [Crastor]
She notes the mail and freight that they still have, and then dives into trading, trying to fill the group's 88 open slots.
HOWEVER
"Sir, the team acquitted themselves with great success, in my opinion. Ivan Malo is, by all accounts, a very influential fellow, and I believe we have launched a lucrative joint venture that he will be very happy with, and which will surely benefit the entire community and will likely make a mark upon their world. In addition, both Zaeta and Freyjason were able to use their respective medical backgrounds to further benefit the locals - favors that I am certain reflected upon the Sword Worlds in a very favorable manner."
"I'm glad to hear it. Trade isn't as exciting as war, but it is what truly makes the Sword Worlds great. There are a lot of people out here who want and need our goods. If they see us as fair and even-handed traders, they will buy more next time."
"Did you have any opportunities to look for useful intelligence while you were out there?"
Cor tilts his head in thought. "Ounarin isn't much more than a landing pad with some surrounding farms. The transit station wasn't even on-site, though they did tell us they have regular commerce with ships out of Mire."
"Very well," says Sundstrom. "Our next port is Kardin. I don't expect much there, either. But keep your eyes open. You never know."
The meeting with Sundstrom wraps up and in a few hours you all feel slightly queasy as Skander slips into Jump Space.
____________________________________________________________________
I'd like each of you to tell me one thing that's unexpectedly great about being aboard Skander and one thing that really bugs you about the voyage!
For Frey, those 2 things are very much the same thing, not unlike the ancient Solomani legends from Terra about a time when a resperatory virus ravaged the population.
Having time on your hands: from the earliest years of medical school to later in life as a private practitioner, all doctors wish they had more time on their hands; sometimes to rest, sometimes to study, even to be more social like a normal person. The Skander though, is the ultimate work/life balance. At every planet, Frey downloads all the medical journals possible, hoping they will last through the jump. He is well rested. He is trying to be social ...
... and all that said, the journals do NOT usually last through the jump. He is so well rested, and yet sometimes, he even takes NAPS. Other times, he studies in the mess hall simply because there are people around and he knows he will have to re-read whatever he brought with him. Although he never thought he would think it, he wishes there were lab work or a population study from time to time also.
Zaeta really likes the voyage so far. There is paperwork yes, but it seems much easier than the animal training that she used to do, and lots of the principles involved seem to apply to humans too. She has enjoyed the bartering for trades and actually getting to interact with humans. It's fun, and she still has her personal time at the end of the day to destress and read or play the latest vidgame. Life on the ship is pretty ideal.
Traveling is also fun... something that she has always liked, but she really hates the lack of environmental and weather controls on some of these blasted backwards planets. That is a clear sign of civilization for her... if you can walk around without sweating or freezing. You shouldn't have to wear an enviro suit everywhere just to be comfortable!
Cor settles into the routine of being Second Officer again, once they lift off and resume their voyage. The job definitely is a double-edged sword in the mind of the ex-scout, however. During his own forays into both charted and uncharted space, Corellon was used to being on his own. Now he finds himself in the company of others, which has a certain appeal to him after those many years of solitude. Being able to interact while taking a meal, talking about the speculative cargo that has become something of a competition now, and finding friends both old and new has its rewards.
But Cor also misses the solitude of those years in the scouting corps. Answering only to himself as he explored new worlds, running scientific tests on the planets that he himself decided were important to know had an unlimited freedom that he finds stifled while aboard the Skander. In fact, it reminds him much of his days in the Army - only a lot less killing, which he is thankful for.
Crastor has a pet peeve about one of the coolant lines running along the aft side of the ship. The line has an annoying hum leading up to jumps and he spends at least sometime before each jump trying to figure out why its humming and how to prevent it.
Crastor has found that the chef is exceptionally good at creating broths. He eats a soup with every meal he can to enjoy the subtle flavor that it adds to the otherwise dull food you find on a merchant ship.
The week goes by and you're all very busy in your own shipboard spaces, seeing each other only from time to time at the galley or passing in the halls. But towards the end of the week, as you know the ship is approaching its return to normal space, you make time to gather in Zaeta's office, go over the books and have some coffee and tea.
The next day the Jump Alarm sounds and the ship emerges from J-Space a half-million kilometers from Kardin.
Kardin/Darrian (Spinward Marches 0429) - E553123-6
Kardin's star is a big, bright F4V orange main sequence star about two-and-a-half times as bright as Sol. It has ten planets and an asteroid belt, but not a single gas giant.
Kardin is a small, dry world with a thin atmosphere, populated by a handful of people. The world is habitable enough but has never been settled, at least not according to any official census. There may be moderate numbers of ‘unofficial’ settlers living on various parts of the planet but the only recognized population is a settlement of around 40 people living on an island in the Urganii Sea, a small but very salty body of water in the northern hemisphere.
The entire official population live around the rudimentary starport and mainly subsist by farming or providing cottage-industry support to the farmers. The occasional ship comes through en route to Roget via Bularia; this brings in a little offworld cash. For the most part however the population live fairly contented lives in their mid-tech community. New blood in the form of the occasional drifter does come in but the simple way of life on Kardin rarely changes.
Skander makes planetfall on Kardin largely as a refueling stop. The shuttles are detached in orbit and sent to carry out a mapping survey of the planet. Sundstrom has no reason to believe anyone has built anything on Kardin since the last data was obtained but he wants any information he can get. The shuttles will land and rotate crews every few hours.
Personnel aboard them are authorized to land and collect samples of vegetation, rocks, water and anything else that might be of interest.
Water is taken on at the rudimentary landing area to be cracked into hydrogen and oxygen. Personnel are given a few hours to wander around the island and chat to the locals if they want. There is no business to be done here. However, Sundstrom expects his shore parties
to find out from talkative locals about what ships have come through recently and similar routine data.
_____________________________________________________________
SHORE LEAVE
After several weeks cooped up in the confines of the ship, Skander's crew is ready for some rest and relaxation, and Kardin is perfect for this. Once the ship has landed at the rustic bare-dirt field Kardin is pleased to call its spaceport, Sundstrom gives orders that the crew be taken to the mainland in shifts for several days of R&R. Hunting, fishing, gathering fresh food and recreation are the orders of the day. You have the command responsibility for the safety of the shore parties.
Resources: Crastor's shuttle and one extra shuttle. Four all-terrain ground cars, eight laser carbines (just in case), camp and recreation equipment, food, communications gear. Personal gear (including weapons and armor if desired).
_____________________________________________________________
Do you want to make any special plans or preparations for this new duty?
Cor is eager to take part in a duty that reminds him of his scouting days, but realizes that he will be responsible for the safety of the entire shore party. Drawing upon his days in the Army, he draws up patrol shifts and watch schedules to maintain this proposed safety structure. Natural predators are one concern, as are bandits and the like - not unheard of on planets such as this, where landing parties with resources can be seen as ideal targets.
Zaeta makes sure that the two loads of freight they have for Kardin get delivered and records the fees.
Then she takes her turn on the shuttles, collecting samples. If she runs into any locals she asks about their lives and if there is any interesting news.
When they are put in charge of the shore leave, Zaeta makes sure that the shore parties know they need to behave themselves around the locals, and she participates in setting up the cross-country racing checkpoints, making sure to keep them well away from the populated areas, including any crops or protected habitats.
If the vehicles are being used for recreation, they could use the shuttle to patrol instead.
A few days go by in pleasant labor and recreation. The few scientists on the crew are eager to explore and examine the flora and fauna. Others hunt and fish while others gather real, palatable food (which the scientists rigorously test). Many play ball games or create their own games with items found in the shuttles. Often no one really knows what's going on or what the rules are.
There are ground vehicle races, shooting competitions and even just folks sitting around drinking beer.
On the second day of R&R, Cor is on duty in the shuttle when he hears the comms come alive. The message is from a group of crew out on an air/raft scouting for forage. "Skander Base, this is Alpha Raft. We are under attack! Say again, we are under attack! Some kind of bird/bat things!"
Having plenty of experience in such encounters on the alien worlds he's scouted, Cor hits the controls, bringing the shuttle engines to life and responds. "Alpha Raft, send us your coordinates. Find a place to hole up. We are on the way."
Then he sends a call out to the others to give them the details. "Trouble. Bring weapons if you've got them. We are headed out to assist Alpha Raft in 30 seconds at the most. If you can't make it, alert the other rafts and get folks into some kind of shelter in case this becomes widespread."
Zaeta contacts the captain, suggesting that he cancel shore leave until they get to the bottom of this, then gets in the shuttle to go assist. If she was with another group at the time, she orders them back to the ship.
Crastor is in his shuttle tinkering. He will check his weapons and then get ready to fly out and offer aid.
Is there already a medkit in the shuttle?
If there isn't, Frey goes to get a medkit first, and can follow.| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Is there already a medkit in the shuttle?
There's definitely a medkit in the shuttle.
The team piles into the shuttle and heads in the direction of Alpha Raft's beacon, about a twenty-minute ride away.
Halfway there, the comms crackle to life. Amid the sound of carbine fire and shouting you hear a male voice yelling into the comms. "Skander Base! We are...f%$@!" The sound of a shot quite close to the microphone and then only static. A minute later, the beacon dies and you have no signal.
"Dammit!" Cor shouts as the comms go dead. He thinks on how many of the crew were stationed at Alpha Raft. If there are any survivors, they'll have to know how many are there to begin with. He calls back to the base to get any information available, as well as the coordinates of the last transmission. He also barks orders to get all crew members into shelter until they are able to ascertain the extent of this threat. This might only be a local threat, but it could also be more widespread. He orders that warnings go out first to those closest to Alpha Raft's coordinates, and then outward from there until everyone is alerted and in shelter. He further requests continual updates until all crew members on leave are accounted for and in a position of safety.
Corellon clicks off the comms and handles the controls, his gaze focused on the landscape and the surrounding skies as they approach the coordinates, then he turns to the others. "When we land, have your weapons ready. We go as a team and I'll shut the hatch on the way out so whatever ambushed our crew can't get into the shuttle. We get in, grab whoever might have survived, and get out. We need to make sure nobody gets left behind that might still be alive. We'll take bodies if we get the chance, but the living are more important. Any questions?"
"Do we know how many people are down there?" Crastor asks as he looks for a place to set his ship down.
"Do we know how many people are down there?" Crastor asks as he looks for a place to set his ship down.
Zaeta gets out her rifle and waits by the shuttle door hooked to the restraints but standing up, just in case she needs to provide weapon support from the air.
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You know who was on the expedition. There were four crewmembers. Each was armed with a snub pistol and they also took two laser carbines for protection.
No, the shuttle is unarmed.
Yes, you can have brought your gear (short of something like battle armor).
Zaeta gets out her rifle and waits by the shuttle door hooked to the restraints but standing up, just in case she needs to provide weapon support from the air.
Cool image. Zaeta: Door Gunner. Do I hear "Fortunate Son" playing in the background?
_____________________________________________________
You proceed to Alpha Raft's last known location. There is a dense forest canopy rising into distant hills. The air/raft's location is not obvious.
Zaeta searches for alpha raft by looking out the shuttle door.
Cor watches the sensors, trying to pick up some kind of a reading...
But the jungle is thick, and the scout finds his attention is being dragged in too many different directions...
"Blast...I am seeing nothing. We will need to land and try and go on foot unless someone is picking something up." Crastor says as he begins looking for a landing spot.
Crastor lands the shuttle. It's not exactly a clearing, but the canopy is at least thin enough that he can see the ground. With a cracking of branches, the pilot drops his ten-ton shuttle roughly to the ground.
Ready for action, you unseal the airlock and move to the jungle floor. It is hot and humid and quiet save for the hissing of the engine cowlings.
Then, in the distance, you hear the sound of laser fire! It's not far off but its' not close, either.
Nope. No ground cars. You gots a shuttle and you gots feet.
Zaeta untethers herself and, still toting her very large gun, starts out towards the sound of laser fire.
Cor follows after the others, making sure they're all clear of the shuttle before closing it up. "Stick together, stay sharp. We don't know much of anything about what we're facing except a rough description. When we've located the survivors, we'll lead them straight back here."
Crastor draws his weapon and moves out. "We are going in blind. This could get pretty messy." He says.
Cor, Crastor, Freyjason and Zaeta head into the dense rain forest, occasionally hearing the sound of sporadic gunfire in the distance. Directions can be hard to tell in the steamy underworld beneath the canopy, but they do the best they can.
Having plenty of experience in making his way through heavy rain forests such as this during his days in the Scout Corps, Corellon leads the way as best he can determine toward the sounds of gunfire. He keeps a watchful eye on the environment - including the sky, as the interrupted report he received indicated the creatures could fly.