[Traveller] Kukelu Blues

Dr Rotwang! · November 21, 2007, 09:39:28 AM

Ken nods. "Yeah, OK."

Perusing a newsstand, he selects a travel magazine with lots of pictures and sits at a bench near the rendezvouz point.

"Here's a place with lots of water and beaches," he mutters to himself, looking at the mag. "Let's go there next...!"

Werekoala · November 21, 2007, 07:54:42 PM

Time is spent in various persuits (if you have anything specific you want to buy or look in to, let me know) and soon, the loudspeakers are announcing the arrival and boarding of the Blue Line Monorail, heading for Southern Sector. You check your tickets; you have a private compartment in car 8, just behind the dining car - a stroke of luck. As you make your way to the monorail, you notice that there are more people disembarking that embarking for the return trip. Everyone hands their tickets and personal ID cards to gate agents located up and down the platform, and several individuals and small groups have been singled out by the police for extra screening. Cargo and luggage (if any) is unloaded from the rearward cars in an area cordoned off from the rest of the station.

beeber · November 23, 2007, 09:50:03 PM

torin looks for the private compartment cars. he presumes them to be near the front of the train if no signs indicate otherwise.

"c'mon guys, let's get on board. police searches make me nervous."

James J Skach · November 23, 2007, 10:06:18 PM

"Once we get on and settled," Ronnoc nods toward the train, " a couple of us should take a walk through, just to get a feel for things. Ken, you want to join me on a stroll? Ken?"

Dr Rotwang! · November 24, 2007, 06:00:07 AM

Quote from: James J Skach"Once we get on and settled," Ronnoc nods toward the train, " a couple of us should take a walk through, just to get a feel for things. Ken, you want to join me on a stroll? Ken?"

Ken looks knowingly at Ronnoc, as if he knows this to be a vital part of the job. "Yeah, sure, yobbo," he says.

Werekoala · November 24, 2007, 10:55:02 AM

You hand your tickets over tothe agent - he barely seems to notice you, clearly just a bored drone - who scans and stamps them before handing them back. Walking down the concourse, you easily find car 8.

On-board, you find the monorail to be surprisingly dust-free and well lit. It might just be your car, in comparison, but it looks like it'll be a pleasant enough trip. You catch a whiff of baked goods from the dining car that makes your tummy rumble a bit.

Ah, your compartment. Large enough for six people total, with relatively comfy seats, three abreast and facing each other. They recline, too - a bonus.

As you get settled in to your compartment, a squad of four police move through your car, checking under seats and in overhead compartments randomly as they do so.

Ian Absentia · November 24, 2007, 05:31:26 PM

Erem watches the patrol move through the car apprasingly, though discreetly enough to not draw undue attention. [These are official patrolmen and not just rent-a-cops, yes?] As they move onward through the car, Erem rises from his seat to lean against the compartment doorway, visibly to stretch his legs and get a breath of air, but also to see how others on the train react to the patrol.

!i!

Werekoala · November 24, 2007, 06:41:25 PM

(Yes, these are official CorpSec officers. For the most part, people give way to them and do not make eye contact.)

beeber · November 25, 2007, 03:24:55 PM

torin takes a quick glance. how are they armed? pistols? blades? nada?
he then goes back to looking around the compartment. specifically, looking for any of those "train layout/in case of emergency" cards, to get familiar with the place.

James J Skach · November 26, 2007, 10:23:41 AM

"OK, gentlemen - I'm off to explore," Ronnoc grins sideways. "If we're not back in 30 minutes, call my mother and tell her I died valiantly. Ken, you coming?"

Ronnoc slips past the others out of the compartment and turns back, "We'll head towards the dining car first, it'll be a good excuse if our investigating friends ask. Anyone hungry?"

Dr Rotwang! · November 26, 2007, 12:29:55 PM

Quote from: James J Skach"OK, gentlemen - I'm off to explore," Ronnoc grins sideways. "If we're not back in 30 minutes, call my mother and tell her I died valiantly. Ken, you coming?"

"Right behind ya." Now that he has a job, his spirits are back up.

QuoteRonnoc slips past the others out of the compartment and turns back, "We'll head towards the dining car first, it'll be a good excuse if our investigating friends ask. Anyone hungry?"

"Yeah, real hungry. But not for that soy schtuck!"

Dr Rotwang! · November 28, 2007, 12:57:41 PM

Ken keeps an eye open for anything...eye-catching.

Ian Absentia · November 28, 2007, 01:44:28 PM

Over the course of the 6-hour ride, Erem takes occasional opportunities to casually travel the length of the monorail cars -- at least as far as he is able. In particular, he looks for anyone who might be serving in the capacity in which he and his mates are hoping to be hired.

!i!

Werekoala · November 28, 2007, 02:28:35 PM

It is easy enough to determine that the guards are armed with batons and autopistols, as well as wand-like devices that you think are chem-sniffers of some type, that they pass under seats and into overhead compartments. Passengers quietly move out of their way as they work, and avoid eye contact.

You find schematics of the train and its cars in magazine pouches on the walls of your compartment. Of the eight cars, one is dining, one is "business class" (where your compartment is), three are coach-class, and the last three are cargo. Your car is directly behind the engine, with the dining car next, then the coach, then the cargo.

The dining car is, amazingly enough, a white-tablecloth affair (and yes, they are white, even in this atmosphere) that looks like it can seat around 30 people at a time. Almost immediately, you smell cooking meat of some type. No question about it - not soy. Somewhere in this car, an animal is being prepared to serve it true calling in life.

There is a bar as well, with a fair selection of boozes (most local, but a few pricey imports). For those with less to spend, there is a drink and snack cart service that makes its way through the cars during the journey.

Erem casually strolls up and down the cars before and just after departure, but does not notice anyone that seems overtly security-related, until reaching the end of the last passenger car. Seated on either side of the door to the cargo cars are two CorpSec officers, studiously not looking at you.

Ian Absentia · November 28, 2007, 03:21:32 PM

Erem casually casts his eyes about the back of the compartment as if he's surprised by walking in the wrong direction and looking for the right direction. Briefly sizing up the two CorpSec guards, he emits a quiet little "Oh'p" and turns back the way he came.

!i!