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Author Topic: (IC) Classic Traveller  (Read 11875 times)

pbj44

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« on: May 15, 2014, 10:16:22 AM »
Okay Radek:

Very seldom has your head pounded and throbbed the way it does now.

Rolling over to your side merely serves to make your DNA ache.

After some thought you raise the lid of a single bloodshot eye and survey your surroundings. Your lodging room is so small that fortunately you don’t have to do much work to take it all in. The room itself  is 9x13 feet. You know that as you have paced it carefully and measured it often – just to ensure that nothing has changed during your long fits of drinking and boredom. A locker, bunk, and a small, battered dining table with a single rickety chair make this a perfect picture of home -  allowing for the exceptions of the rusty pipes around the ceiling and the peeling wallpaper.

Right on time, outside your single dirty, yellowed porthole, the passing automated airship blares it’s familiar message:

“A new life awaits you in the off-world colonies, the chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure. New climate, recreation facilities...”

(Distortion and squeals)

“Let’s go to the Colonies!”

Your first task this morning as a honorary colonist is to get both feet on the floor. You accomplish this task with some effort, and finally come to a happy resting point with your head somewhat about your knees. Outside, to torture you, the airship makes yet another pass.

“A new life awaits you in the off-world colonies, the chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure. New climate, recreation facilities...”

(Distortion and squeals)

“Let’s go to the Colonies!”

You snort.

So this is Hell...

Locally Hell is known as Marcos.

Staggering over to the Comm terminal, you hit a few keystrokes and stare again at the TAS readout:

Marcos (Beta Hydri 2221) C310322-9

Marcos is a rockball world with the merest trace of atmospheric gas. This and its moderate temperature range, made it the most habitable world in an otherwise fairly unpromising system. Astrography is the only asset Marcos really has; it is a link on the Jump 2 communications link to Coreward-Trailing and thus was a logical place to build a Science Commission base.

The base is the only major settlement on Marcos and is home to about 80% of the world’s 6,000 people. The remainder dwell in small outposts, many of which undertake tasks that support the base. These include research stations, observatories and specialist installations such as water prospecting rigs. Marcos is thought to have a modest amount of water locked under its crust and several ‘wildcat’ wells have been drilled to investigate promising sites.

Only small amounts of water have thus far been extracted but even this minor success goes a long way to making the base self-sufficient. The techniques for locating and extracting water may one day become part of standard terraforming practice. The station itself has a small spaceport capable of handling several ships at once but tends only to have a couple on the ground at any one time. These include Science Commission couriers, research ship, supply vessels and naval patrol craft as well as traders bound for the Outer Veil.

Marcos does have a decent market, with goods from the core systems available at typically inflated prices. It is one of several places along the fringe of civilized space where personnel can be hired for expeditions into the Outer Veil and attracts small numbers of capable individuals seeking work or companions for a venture. It is also a good place to get fleeced by people pretending to be that sort of individual or a merchant with contacts in the core systems.


Your reverie is interrupted by the persistent chirp of the Comm link.
« Last Edit: May 15, 2014, 04:34:23 PM by pbj44 »

Drohem

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« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2014, 02:53:31 PM »
Radek pushes the Comm Link button and says in a parched tone, "yeah?"

rarmy

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« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2014, 03:17:51 PM »
Travis walks into his favorite bar, growls at some kid, who moves very fast to vacate his spot (Don't need that cantankerous Old Man getting mad again...) sits down to a full water glass of, well, it's not water...pulls out a cigar, shoves it in his mouth, and lights it. He looks around, daring somebody to tell him that there is No Smoking here...
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pbj44

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« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2014, 04:49:45 PM »
@Radek - You are on voice only since the imager has crapped out, "Hi Mr. Borgni, it's Violet here at the front desk. You have a package here, hmmm...lemme look...nope, It don't say who it's from. Also, two fellers came by and left a card for you. Said you should call and make an appointment. Say! That address is over in the Municipal quadrant! Maybe things are starting to look up for you!"

@Travis - You barely sit down when Sanke slides in next to you. (There was a spelling error made when he home-tattooed a nickname on his arm - He tried for several years to get everyone to call him "Snake" but eventually gave up and just goes by "Sanke" now. He simply stared at you blankly when you first suggested he simply get the tattoo lasered off and start over.)

(OOC - Think of the character "Angel" from the Rockford Files.)

He rubs his hands then holds one out, "That will be 50 credits Travi-boy! Ha, ha! I found you some goooood info!!"
« Last Edit: May 15, 2014, 04:53:01 PM by pbj44 »

rarmy

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« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2014, 06:18:11 PM »
Quote from: pbj44;749669
@Travis - You barely sit down when Sanke slides in next to you. (There was a spelling error made when he home-tattooed a nickname on his arm - He tried for several years to get everyone to call him "Snake" but eventually gave up and just goes by "Sanke" now. He simply stared at you blankly when you first suggested he simply get the tattoo lasered off and start over.)

(OOC - Think of the character "Angel" from the Rockford Files.)


(OOC - Crap, was afraid of that...)

Quote from: pbj44;749669
He rubs his hands then holds one out, "That will be 50 credits Travi-boy! Ha, ha! I found you some goooood info!!"


Travis looks over at Sanke, waves at the Barkeep, pointing to Sanke..."I'll give you a drink, then we'll see about the information..." Sanke knows that look, so we'll see if he's smart enough to leave it at that...
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pbj44

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« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2014, 09:30:51 PM »
Sanke glares at you for a moment then shakes his head looking troubled, "Hey, I had to mix with the wrong types to get this info, plus I had to spread some "love" around, if ya know what I mean." He rubs his fingertips together in the interstellar sign for money.

When the bartender comes by he hisses, "Hey brother, make it a double." He then nods at you. The bartender nods in return and comes back with a larger drink.

"And bring me a sandwich! With some meat in it this time!"

"I'm tellin' ya Trav this was hard work."

"See, there were these dudes, pretty salty I heard, that landed here some 10 years ago. No, I don't know why. Anyway, they get into a jam with one of our leading underworld citizens who happens to object to them breathin' his air up, so they somehow end up outside the base buried 6 feet under. Well, somehow the port fees for the ship keep gettin' paid, ya know? The citizen that iced them dudes maybe has some plans fer usin' the ship, you dig?"

He digs into his sandwich hungrily.

"Well, he has the ship hauled over to the graveyard and puts it under wraps. Nows the cool part: That citizen gets in a fight with another citizen who plants him in the desert same as them others. Everybody forgets about that ship in the graveyard! Everybody except for a buddy of mine who just happens to work at the yard and has been sellin' parts off of it on the sly as he just so happens to know that hanger's security passcode. Trav, a ship! Shoot, a real ship! Okay, okay, it's missing a few minor parts and prolly needs some gas so' it will go, but did I not just hook you up?"

"I told him you might be interested in fencing some parts, so he's gonna let us take a look at 'er."
« Last Edit: May 15, 2014, 09:33:28 PM by pbj44 »

rarmy

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« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2014, 12:24:12 AM »
Travis looks over to him, finishes his drink, throws his payment on the table, throws Sanke 50 credits, and as he gets up...[am tired of sitting on this barstool right now], he reaches over and grabs the scruff of his collar and drags him out. "Come on, let's see this empty hull of a Ship."
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pbj44

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« Reply #7 on: May 16, 2014, 10:15:17 AM »
Following Sanke you leave the watering hole and head across the town complex. Eventually you get to the public changing station at the South airlock and rent a pair of Vacc Suits for 10CR, that you pay for the two of you. After carefully donning them and performing safety checks you head out the airlock and walk the short distance to the Derelict/salvage graveyard.

The local graveyard features acre upon acre of junked equipment, starship components, and in some cases the whole ships themselves. Eventually Sanke leads you to one of a half dozen sealed storage hangers. He gives a cheerful wave to a Vacc Suited driver of a small bulldozer working in front of the facility.

The man turns off the bulldozer, dismounts and approaches. Over your comm system you hear, “This your pard? Good! Lets get out o’ this dust, c’mon.”

He turns and leads you over to the hanger and types in a code, deliberately keeping his entry code hidden.

“You’ll have to stay in your suit mister, costs too much to keep this place in oxygen.”

“Lemme turn the lights on.”

Floodlights pop on about the hanger lighting up several ships.

“Those two are stripped down to the hull metal, though I can give you a good deal on the scrap metal. That one there is the one your partner is interested in. Well, what do you think? Plenty o’ parts on this old gal.”

Off by itself your gaze turns to  an interesting Empress Marava class starship. The "Meteor" paint scheme suggests something to you…your suspicions are deepened when you spot both the telltale "A3" on the hull shipyard plate, and a supercharger nacelle.



« Last Edit: May 16, 2014, 10:22:35 AM by pbj44 »

Drohem

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« Reply #8 on: May 16, 2014, 11:41:25 AM »
Quote from: pbj44;749669
@Radek - You are on voice only since the imager has crapped out, "Hi Mr. Borgni, it's Violet here at the front desk. You have a package here, hmmm...lemme look...nope, It don't say who it's from. Also, two fellers came by and left a card for you. Said you should call and make an appointment. Say! That address is over in the Municipal quadrant! Maybe things are starting to look up for you!"


Radek was prepared to be surly to however had the audacity to call him this early and when he had such a terrible hangover, but when heard Violet's voice he mentally sighed heavily and calmed himself a bit.

He clears his throat and says in a more pleasant tone, "one can only hope, Darling.  I be down in a minute to pick it up.  Thank you."

He gets up and throws his clothes on quickly.  He gargles some mouthwash and roughly runs a comb through his hair.  After a quick splash of water on his face, he guzzles a glass of water to sate his parched throat and body.

Satisfied that he looks good enough to go out in public, he goes down to the front desk to see Violet and pick up the package and card.

rarmy

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« Reply #9 on: May 16, 2014, 11:57:49 AM »
Travis heads to what looks like a complete ship..."How much of this ship has been striped??" as he tries to enter...
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pbj44

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« Reply #10 on: May 16, 2014, 12:34:15 PM »
@Travis - The man shines a torch around inside the cargo hatch, "Hmm...Port avionics, low berths, crew and passenger fittings, the nav gear, bits off the supercharger, and part of one engine."

"Hmm..."

"Lots, o' wirin' missing. One of my buddies pulled a load of sensors off it."

"See anythin' you like? I'm ready to cut deals on parts!"



@Radek - Young Violet greets you with a wink, "You ain't gettin' older, just bolder!"

She hands you both the package and card and whispers, "I changed the date on your check-in so you'll owe less in the end."

Her sunny smile warms your day a bit. You knew her father back in the service and have kept the promise made to him to check in on her. Violet has been working here at the hostel since she stormed off her ship in a fury when it arrived here in port last month.

She's a expert purser and cargo scrounger.

Expert enough that it infuriates her that most men can't get past her stunning looks and striking eyes.

The card says:              
                                     Eldon Tyrell

                             PORT AUTHORITY COUNCIL
                           DECK 14/ROOM 8/MUN QUAD

You open the package which simply contains an electronic key in a green striped holder.
« Last Edit: May 16, 2014, 01:38:50 PM by pbj44 »

rarmy

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« Reply #11 on: May 16, 2014, 03:07:48 PM »
Quote from: pbj44;749817
@Travis - The man shines a torch around inside the cargo hatch, "Hmm...Port avionics, low berths, crew and passenger fittings, the nav gear, bits off the supercharger, and part of one engine."

"Hmm..."

"Lots, o' wirin' missing. One of my buddies pulled a load of sensors off it."

"See anythin' you like? I'm ready to cut deals on parts!"


"Hmmm..." Looking around and seeing some potential, "what's it going to take to replace all the missing stuff???"

He goes into what left of the Bridge, rumages around...and finds...


Hmmm....liking what he see's

(OOC - Full sized and docs to be posted soon, will advise when ready.)

(OOC - OK, go to www.rarmy.com/rpg for full Size map and PDF...]
« Last Edit: May 16, 2014, 03:24:41 PM by rarmy »
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pbj44

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« Reply #12 on: May 16, 2014, 03:15:33 PM »
OOC - Very cool!

Drohem

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« Reply #13 on: May 16, 2014, 03:57:11 PM »
Quote from: pbj44;749817
Young Violet greets you with a wink, "You ain't gettin' older, just bolder!"

She hands you both the package and card and whispers, "I changed the date on your check-in so you'll owe less in the end."

Her sunny smile warms your day a bit. You knew her father back in the service and have kept the promise made to him to check in on her. Violet has been working here at the hostel since she stormed off her ship in a fury when it arrived here in port last month.

She's a expert purser and cargo scrounger.

Expert enough that it infuriates her that most men can't get past her stunning looks and striking eyes.

The card says:              
                                     Eldon Tyrell

                             PORT AUTHORITY COUNCIL
                           DECK 14/ROOM 8/MUN QUAD

You open the package which simply contains an electronic key in a green striped holder.


He smiles genuinely at her because she did make him feel better about his day and he replies, "thank you, Darling.  You're one of a kind."

Looking down at the note and contents of the package he says, "it looks like my day perked up a bit."

He looks her in the eyes, leans in, and says in a whispered voice, "this is just between you and me just in case.  I am heading down to the Port Authority for a meeting."

He leans back and says in a normal tone of voice, "see you later, Sweetie.  Have a good day!"

He then leaves and makes his way to the place on the card.

pbj44

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« Reply #14 on: May 16, 2014, 04:58:57 PM »
@Radek - You stroll for a while through the marketplace and eventually end up on the other side of the base at the great set of Municipal buildings.

Taking the elevator up to Deck 14 you arrive at a finely appointed office level. A dapper looking young man at the entrance desk smiles at your arrival and stands.

"Good afternoon Mr. Borgni! We've been expecting you - Mr. Tyrell will see you right away. Please follow me."

He leads you down several passageways, and finally to a red-leather padded door. Opening the door, he bows, and waves you inside.

You enter the luxuriously appointed suite, noting that such lavish surroundings are certainly not in keeping with any part of this base that you've thus far seen.

A fit, bearded executive interrupts his virtual golf game and smiling, turns to greet you and extends his hand:



"Good to meet you! I'm Eldon Tyrell, but just call me Ed! Please, have a seat."

He turns to the young assistant, "Robbie, please give us about 30 minutes, okay?"

Robbie nods and departs, shutting the door.

He pours you a drink, "To the Federated Nations of Humanity!", and throws his back with a single swallow.

He sits down behind his desk and waits until you sit as well before he resumes.

Putting on a pair of glasses, he examines some data on a Tablet device, "Well sir, you've got yourself quite a record here - and looks like you're in between jobs!"

"This is excellent! I really think we can do each other a couple of favors! I would certainly like to throw some credits your way!"

He stands and pours himself another drink and begins to pace.

"You see, the Port Authority here has its fingers in a lot of different pies. Of course we manage this facility, but we also handle mail, as well as courier services. Our biggest problem is that very few merchant ships come out to this backwater - and most that do have very specific business in mind. The government doesn't seem to have the funds available to station a few vessals out here - despite my frequent requests! So, now I'm forced to improvise a bit when it comes to getting their transit requests taken care of. Seems like my budget's larger than theirs."

"Do you like it here??"

He grimaces, "Myself, I hate it. There's nothing green."

Collecting himself, he turns his smile back on, "But a jobs a job as they say."

He drops the smile and stares into your eyes.

"Hey."

"You wouldn't be interested in Captaining a ship for me, would ya?"
« Last Edit: May 18, 2014, 05:15:04 AM by pbj44 »