Official in-character thread for the PbP Classic Traveller adventure, Kukelu Blues.
If you have questions, comments, or any other out of character business, please use the other thread.
http://www.therpgsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8131
Kukelu (Ley/1222) C272688-7
Type C Starport, Size 2, Standard Tainted Atmosphere, Hydrographics 2%, Population 5,783,492 (as of 995), Government Code 8 (Civil Service Bureaucracy), Law Level 8 (all weapons except long blades prohibited), Tech Level 7, Non-Industrial.
Kukelu is an Imperial mining world located in Subsector A of the Ley Sector. It is characterized by a harsh climate and unusual geography. Kukelu is an important source of raw and refined minerals for several nearby worlds including Shanape (1023) and Sentry (0921).
***Traveller's Advisory***
Kukelu is being considered for designation as an Amber Zone due to growing civil unrest between organized criminal elements, political agitators, and the planet's ruling body, the Council of Kukelu. Travellers are warned that kidnappings, robberies, acts of terrorism, and attempted hijackings have been increasing in recent months and visitors are advised to take appropriate precautions. Be advised that while the ownership of personal weapons is not technically prohibited, the ban on carrying firearms in public is strictly enforced planet-wide, including at the starport facilities located in the North Sector. Please contact the local branch of the Travellers' Aid Society upon arrival for updates and further advisories.
Planetary Summary:
Kukelu is a small, dry, hot planet located at the inner edge of Kinbasees' (the system's G9 Primary) habitable zone. Kukelu has a minimal axial tilt of .46 degrees, a condition that creates extreme bands of temperature and climate ranging from the scorched, uninhabitable equatorial Badlands to small, perpetually frozen polar caps. There are narrow (~250 km) habitable regions in both northern and southern hemispheres where the majority of Kukelu's population makes their home. Kukelu's day is 29.8 standard hours long, and the planetary year is 165 standard days (132.9 local days).
Almost all of Kukelu's water is locked in deposits of frozen ice located at both planetary poles. These reserves have been tapped to provide subsistence-level quantities of water for the planetary population and for hydroponics farming efforts. Water recycling is strictly enforced, and starships are not allowed to refuel using planetary hydrogen without special permission from the Council, and even then the cost of fuel is ten times standard. These refueling restrictions have been a major factor in preventing Kukelu from developing anything more than basic starport facilities. Despite this, interstellar commerce is maintained at relatively high levels. The Kinbasees system has four gas giants available for refueling. One of these giants, Tumbara, is serviced by a modest commercial refueling station that offers hydrogen at market prices, enabling bulk freighters and free traders to include Kukelu on their regular trade routes.
Beyond the frozen poles of Kukelu are the narrow habitable regions of the planet. These areas are characterized by sweeping vistas punctuated by wind-sculpted stone formations and deep crevasses. The near-vertical geography and low gravity (.25 g) shapes the settlements of the planet's population of 5.75 million sentients. The citizens of the habitable zones share their habitat with a surprising number of native life forms including the ubiquitous Drywall Moss (actually microscopic insects), Turtlerats, and the exotic Jaded Goshawk. These native life forms have managed to survive despite the harsh environment of Kukelu and the encroachment of technological civilization on their natural habitats, especially the watering holes that surround the permafrost tundra of the polar caps. Laws have been passed in recent years to protect the native life of the habitable zone, but many conservationists fear that the damage to the native ecosystem may be irreversible.
Large subsurface mining facilities in the habitable zone extract strategic and commercially valuable ores for resale to off-world markets. These ores, ranging from iron and copper to the more exotic lanthanides, exist in quantities sufficient to keep mining operations on Kukelu active for another fifty years or more by most estimates. As the mines in the habitable regions become tapped out, operations will be expanded deeper into the Badlands, necessitating a larger investment in protective gear and other expendables that could make the costs of exploitation prohibitive. Survey crews and freelance miners occasionally strike out into the harsher regions, most hoping to stake their claim to valuable deposits, hoping to make their fortune by selling the rights to develop these deposits to speculators or mining corporations rather than trying to mine their finds themselves.
The Badlands of Kukelu are a broad region of rocky desert almost 1,200 kilometers across that straddles the equator of the planet. This region of intense daytime heat and frigid nighttime cold is a product of the planet's slight axial tilt and its proximity to Kinbasees. Kukelu's thirty-hour day intensifies the extremes in temperature, raising daytime highs into the mid-60' C (140' F), while nighttime lows plunge to -15' C (5' F). The extreme temperatures of the Badlands fuel massive windstorms that periodically sweep the equator with sustained winds of 160 kph (100 mph), creating blinding sandstorms of abrading dust that tower miles into the thin atmosphere of Kukelu. Due to the violent and unpredictable nature of Kukelu's weather, travel between the Northern and Southern Sectors is accomplished via four monorail lines known as the Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue Lines. These monorails ferry people and goods between the Sectors in relative comfort in just over six hours. Despite the inhospitable conditions of the Badlands, there are occasional reports of native lifeforms including insects and large reptilian omnivores. These reports are largely apocryphal, however, as no living specimens have ever been recovered from the deepest part of the Badlands.
History and Government:
Kukelu is inhabited by approximately 5.75 million individuals, mostly Human or Vilani, who make their living by mining the planet for saleable minerals. The majority of the population (95%) lives and works in one of the two habitable regions of the planet, Sectors that have evolved into distinct cultural, economic, and political entities.
Kukelu was uninhabited at the time of its discovery by the Ziru Sirka and remained largely unexplored until well into the Third Imperium. In 245, a mineralogical survey by the now-defunct mining corporation Solgo-Mat Partnerships discovered a sizeable concentration of strategic minerals below the surface of the harsh planet. Various concerns attempted to exploit the find over the following centuries - attempts that bankrupted many individuals as well as corporations - but it was not until 550 that a consortium of independent miners and small corporations managed to make the planet profitable.
As time passed the corporations and their employees merged into a collective society working for a planetary corporation/government wholly owned and operated by the people of Kukelu. This sociopolitical relationship was maintained until 845 when a series of bad investments, mismanagement, and corruption by the Kukelu Board of Directors led to an unprecedented economic depression. Widespread unrest lead to the resignation of the Board and the subsequent collapse of the corporate government. A new form of government was instituted as a compromise between the still-powerful corporate managers and the unhappy citizen-miners of the Kukelu. The new government was structured so that government employees, no matter their position or authority, were officially removed from the decision-making process of the corporations based on Kukelu. Stripped of their positions with their former employers and forced to sell all shares of stock upon selection for a post in the planetary bureaucracy, these officially unbiased (though privately corruptible) civil servants were focused solely on the day-to-day operation of the planet. Led by the newly formed Council of Kukelu, a body that continues to govern the world to this day, the citizens of the planet vowed to maintain a vigilant eye on their public leaders. The Council is composed of six members - the popularly elected Governors of the Northern and Southern Sectors, the heads of the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice, and two representatives selected on a rotating basis from the various corporations based on Kukelu.
Since 845, the bureaucratic government of Kukelu has evolved into a true organ of the people, despite the best efforts of many mining concerns to seed the Council with members favorable to their point of view. Civilian distrust of the companies that employ 90% of the planet's population is still the driving force behind planetary politics, and civilian watchdogs tirelessly pursue any hint of corruption at all levels of government. Many idealistic youths would rather join one of the dozens of government agencies than sweat through a lifetime of hard labor in the ore mines. This trend has caused the demographics of Kukelu to evolving over time, with a rapidly expanding government class of almost 150,000 bureaucrats living off the productivity of a shrinking working class. Sociologists have recently predicted dire consequences should this trend continue.
Kukelu is divided into two administrative regions, the Northern Sector and the Southern Sector, centered around the two habitable poles of the planet. Each Sector is administered by a governor who also serves as one of the six members of the Council of Kukelu. Currently, the Northern Sector Governor is Terisha Wayne, a charismatic 40 year-old former miner whose rise to prominence in the bureaucracy is a testament to her political acumen. The Southern Sector Governor is Hayman Derst, a career bureaucrat and, at age 68, the oldest member of the Council. His 50+ years of public service ensures that he is one of the most savvy and knowledgeable members of the Council.
The day-to-day operations of government on Kukelu are overseen by numerous governmental Departments. Among these are the Department of Mines, responsible for overseeing and regulating all mining operations, the anachronistically named Corporate Security Service, in charge of planetary security, and the Department of the Environment, responsible for enforcing recycling and environmental protection mandates. Other departments include Commerce, Education, Technology, Internal and External Development, Housing, and Sanitation. The majority of these departments operate under the aegis of a "parent" department. For example, the Department of Sanitation and the Department of Housing are sub-departments of the Department of the Environment.
For a more detailed discussion of the governmental structure of Kukelu, please see Hydra: The Regulations, Restrictions, and Rationalizations of the Kukelu Bureaucracy by Karman Trisilla, University of Shikirmi press, 989 (LeyGov 1222-2-A0013).
Part I - High and Dry
The day dawns bright and hot, and you find yourself faced with the prospect of an expensive loan (or worse) to replace a damaged component of your ship's Jump Drive system. The Jump Field Interchange Coil has fractured - a mis-jump waiting to happen - and the chances of finding a replacement for less than the cost of a new ship at Kukelu's just-this-side-of-frontier-quality starport is slim. Your cargo of clothing and other manufactured goods that was just offloaded netted you a nice profit, but it still leaves you short of the cost of the replacement part by Cr. 10,000. Fortunately, the local news-sheet lists a number of jobs that might help make ends meet in addition to some interesting (and troublesome) Public Notices...
One thing seems to be in abundance here at least - dust. You can feel, rather than hear, the air scrubbers working overtime to remove the worst of the clingy red haze from every surface, with mixed success. Some citizens wear filter masks, even in the sealed areas, more from habit you suspect than anything else. Far above, the sunlight slants down through the frosted glass that covers what passes for Main Street. Shops, stores, restaurants, and bars line the main drag, staffed by listless locals who perk up at the sight of off-worlders.
And everywhere, you see the unmistakable figures of police, their blue padded suits and billy clubs clearly marking them as the Law on any of a thousand worlds.
(Feel free to intro your characters or whatnot at this point. The assumption is that you've all travelled together for at least one jump as crew on your ship, so there's a small amount of history at least. If you want more descriptions, let me know.)
Classified Ads
Wanted - Adventurous Self-Starters to Share in the Opportunity of a Lifetime! Contact Gem Haritson at NS-04-4432 anytime before 2200-4.
Need Cash Fast? We need armed couriers for the Blue Line Run between Southern Sector and Northern Sector. We pay cash at the end of every run, up to Cr. 1,500 per person, and we cover the cost of the trip! Contact Horran Illulish, Director of Personnel, at SS-99-0045 between 0800-1830-6.
Tired of Backbreaking Work for Uncertain Pay? Join the Professionals! Now hiring career-oriented individuals for temporary and permanent full-time positions in the Corporate Security Service. CSS offers generous salaries, a comprehensive benefits package, and a history of stability and reliability for over 150 years! If you want a challenging job working with great people, call CSS today! NS-01-0006.
Madame Garuza Sees All. Madame Garuza Knows All. Has your spouse been faithful? Is your recent strike a Dry Hole? Madame Garuza knows! Call now! SS-99-2300.
Laborers Needed - Day Labor loading and unloading Blue, Red, Yellow, and Green Line trains in both Sectors. Cash paid daily. Call Marq at SS-99-0801.
Stand on the Edge of the Badlands! Seeking adventurous, hard-working, greedy individuals for an incredibly dangerous expedition to the very edge of the Twilight Zone. No contracts, no guarantees, no promises - except that I've never failed yet! Leave a message detailing your experience and tell me why I should take you with me! NS-99-1492.
Missing - Jaded Goshawk, "Tiffany", last seen near Farringdon Park, Northern Sector, last Twoday at 1650. Responds by name. Likes dried garum-fish treats. Owner Desperate! Call NS-23-7528 if found. Reward.
Seeking Sealed Air Raft for long-term job. Will pay top credit for discrete service. Call NS-99-4422.
Nothing Lasts Forever. SS-99-1655.
Buy-Sell-Trade! We deal in new and used equipment, personal gear, vehicles - you name it, we've got it! Badlands Surplus, with convenience compounds in both Sectors! Give us a try, you won't be disappointed! Contact us at NS-36-0439 or SS-21-1286.
Public Notices
Reward - For information leading to the capture and prosecution of the Party or parties responsible for the vandalism of several Remote Seismic Monitoring Stations. Anonymity Guaranteed. Contact NS-12-1825, Dr. Fren Paut, Kukelu Institute of Geological Sciences, for more information.
Wanted - Information regarding recent robberies in Barrington Street, Southern Sector, involving the use of restricted explosives. Contact CSS Barrington Station, SS-01-0053. Reward.
Wanted - Information regarding recent unsolved murders in Deep Street, Southern Sector. Contact CSS Wilhawk Station, SS-01-0057. Reward.
Wanted - Information regarding suspects in recent mass unrest leading to the death of two unidentified individuals in Palace Street, Southern Sector. Contact CSS Palace Station, SS-01-0068. Reward.
Wanted - Information regarding theft of two sealed air rafts from Northern Sector Port, Lot A. Vehicles matte red, four-seat models bearing corporate logos. Contact CSS Northern Port Station, NS-01-0050. Reward.
Wanted - Information regarding suspected arson fire that consumed the Corporate Tavern located at 1200 High Street, Northern Sector in the early morning hours of 148. Contact CSS Owits Station, NS-01-0051. Reward.
Auction - Monthly auction of goods recovered as a result of default on Corporate loans and assorted property seized in the course of CSS investigations. Auction begins at 0700 local time, Firstday, at the Corporate Impound Yards located in both Sectors. Contact NS-01-0100 or SS-01-0100 for more information.
Not being much help in the way of starship repairs, Erem sits in a local cafe within eyeshot of the starport, mulling over the classifieds as the last quarter of his coffee-like beverage cools in the cup. Spotting a likely advert, he pulls out his comm phone, syncs with the local network, and starts to dial. Before he finishes the sequence, he thinks the better of dialing Madame Garuza.
Looking a little farther down the page, he spies another ad. A moment of nihilism siezes him. "Nothing Lasts Forever." Yeah, no kidding. He dials: S-S-9-9-1-6-5-5. And he waits, gazing almost thoughtlessly out the window.
!i!
"if only it was the jump circuit rather than the coil that blew. that, we could fix! but no, the one piece that we have to repair. . . ."
torin takes a sip of his lukewarm beverage and puts his chin in his hands. "i like the 'need cash fast' ad. does this (taps dagger hilt) count as 'armed', you think? who ya callin', erem?"
Ken, a big lug of a man with a lantern jaw and an easy grin, sits across the table from Erem and watches girls walk by through the window. There's not much to see, though, so he sighs and shakes his head and bites into his burger. "Soy?! This planet sucks."
"Hey, Erem. You gonna eat that...?" He notices Erem dialing. "What are you doing?"
Ronnoc lounges on the object that passes for a chair in this place. Leaning back staring at the ceiling, he sighs loudly. Taking his hands from behind his head he nods his chin at Torrin.
"It is what it it, Torrin. We can't change what part failed, so how do suggest we get off this shi - make a decision, Erem? Calling the Seer, I bet."
The comm line rings twice, then a series of clicks. A chipper female voice:
"... and full service arrangements start from as low as 350 credits! Please continue to hold, and one of our associates will be with you shortly. Here at Sidney and Sons Funeral Home, we take care of the needs not only the dearly departed, but of their family and friends as well! Each member of our dedicated staff is a certified Grief Counsellor...."
The message continues in that vein. You may be in bad shape, but probably aren't ready for this particular service just yet.
"What's with the face, Erem? She tell you the end is nigh, or something?"
Quote from: James J Skach"What's with the face, Erem? She tell you the end is nigh, or something?"
"Naah," says Ken with a wave of his hand, "He just figured out his sammich was soy, too!"
Ken burps, then leans back in his seat. "Yobs, I tell ya -- I'm lookin' ahead to the hour we get off this rock. Hey, Erem, why'n'cha dial..." He grabs at the paper, then stabs a long, hefty finger at it. " 'Seeking Sealed Air Raft'. We got one'a those right? Air Raft?"
He's left a greasy fingerprint over the word "Seeking". Who knew a soyburger could be greasy?
Ronnoc slowly leans forward, scanning the ads.
"Sounds good - as long as they only want to pay to use it. If not that, courier sounds good. Good for 6,000 Cr for one trip put's us more than half way there with nothing but travel - how hard can that be?"
Erem winces visibly as he kills the signal on his comm. "Guys, promise me. If I die on this rock, don't bury me here. You can shoot me out of an airlock at the sun, but don't bury me here."
Spotting Ken's grubby fingerprint, he shifts gears. "Anything better in the 'seeking' section? Air Raft?" Shrugging in half-hearted surrender, Erem takes a closer look at the advert and poises his thumb to dial the comm code. Looking up from the listing, he asks, "Shall I?"
!i!
One slight problem - while you do have an air-raft, it is an open-top model, not a sealed version. Interesting that two were stolen recently, however...
Erem pauses after punching in the first two letters. "Uh...isn't our air raft un-sealed?" Pointing to one of the 'wanted' adverts, he adds, "Hunh. Maybe they're looking to replace the two that were stolen. Mm...different comm codes, though."
Pursing his lips in contemplation, he nods at the other ad Ronnoc mentioned. "Courier service? We're not much in the way of 'armed' aside from a couple of knives, but maybe we can make do."
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaErem pauses after punching in the first two letters. "Uh...isn't our air raft un-sealed?"
"So?" blurts Ken. "What's the --" He starts to say 'difference', but then he gets it. "Hmm."
QuotePointing to one of the 'wanted' adverts, he adds, "Hunh. Maybe they're looking to replace the two that were stolen. Mm...different comm codes, though."
Pursing his lips in contemplation, he nods at the other ad Ronnoc mentioned. "Courier service? We're not much in the way of 'armed' aside from a couple of knives, but maybe we can make do."
Ken shrugs and tries once more looking for something interesting outside the window. Failing titanically, he heaves a big, bored sigh.
"hey, nobody carries guns on this rock. knives are probably all they need, anyway." torin pushes away his half-eaten (and unsatisfying) soyburger. "still, it's something. erem, you were in the diplomatic corps, right? wanna call that escort number?"
Quote from: beeber"wanna call that escort number?"
"Can we afford that right now? Not to say I ain't interested, but one for each of us'd get kinda steep, huh?"
Ken, as you've learned, often talks before he understands.
Erem shrugs wistfully and dials the code for the Blue Line run security. As he waits for the line to connect, his finger drifts down to the next entry, and he mutters, "If this one doesn't work out, there's always the Corporate Security Service..."
!i!
You dial the number for Mr. Illulish, and the comm is answered almost immediately by a pleasant sounding lady.
"Personnel, this is Ms. Haren, may I help you?"
She listens as you inquire about the job; you hear typing in the background.
"We appreciate your interst! Mr. Illulish can see you at any time during normal hours, however you will need to apply in person in the Southern Sector. Any of the monorail lines will do, however the Blue Line is the most direct route. We will reimburse you for half the cost of a ticket, even if you are not accepted for the position. Our offices are located at 150 Marian Way, Southern Sector, Oldtown. Do you have any questions, Mr. Mantes?"
Erem replies into the comm, "No. No further questions, really. I presume we'll get an idea of the work conditions while en route via the Blue Line. My companions and I will make arrangements and contact you again with our schedule. Thank you for your time, Ms. Harren."
Erem closes the comm channel and smiles a tight smile to the others. "So. Anyone care to take a tour of the Southern Sector of this garden world? We're welcome for open applications on any business day. Let's have an idea of what it costs to get there..."
Re-opening his comm, Erem tries to find local information on the Blue Line -- a comm code for direct assistance, or file data regarding schedules and fares. Muttering as he keys in his queries, he asks, "Any other likely leads in the adverts?"
!i!
Round-trip tickets on any of the lines are Cr150 for coach, Cr250 for a private compartment (one-way tickets are available as well), and each train has club and dining cars. The monorails take 6 hours to make the trip, one-way, with two round trips per line, per day.
"Nothing is easy, is it?" Ronnoc blows out a breath and leans back again, hands on the top of his head, "So, what's the cost Erem? How far?"
Erem makes a sour face and sighs. "Cr150 per person to travel with the great unwashed. Two-fifty for a private compartment. Round-trip. That puts a little dent in our profit margin. Sounds to me like they're desperate enough for workers, though, so maybe we can skimp and buy only one-way fares. After all, it's the Blue Line we'd be working on anyway. All we'd have to do is hop off in the North Sector again."
Smiling wanly, he adds, "Tickets are available for two trips daily. Are we in?"
!i!
"So let me get this straight," Ronnoc looks at Erem disbelievingly, "We have to pay to go down there and interview? We're not even sure we've got the work before we take the stinking trip?"
"Ahh, well," the exasperation returns to his voice, "I guess it's off to the Southern Sector. Ken? Torin? Any other ideas?"
Quote from: James J Skach"So let me get this straight," Ronnoc looks at Erem disbelievingly, "We have to pay to go down there and interview? We're not even sure we've got the work before we take the stinking trip?"
"Yeah," says Ken, "but we get re-imbursed, right?"
Quote"Ahh, well," the exasperation returns to his voice, "I guess it's off to the Southern Sector. Ken? Torin? Any other ideas?"
Ken shrugs. "Not like we can leave yet. 'Less we
steal the part we need."
Quote from: Dr Rotwang!"Yeah," says Ken, "but we get re-imbursed, right?"
Erem smiles diplomatically, but refrains from comment.
!i!
Ken's brow furrows for a moment; he looks over his shoulder at -- something, then looks back. He makes a face, part confusion and part surprise. Then, he says simply, "Huh."
A moment later, he turns to a passerby. "Hey," he says to the man, "there a lot of crime on this planet? I mean, no offense or nothin', just wonderin'. 'Cause even, uh, nice places, you know, got criminals in 'em."
The man pauses, taken aback for a moment while surveying your group.
"Well - not a lot, I guess. I'm not real sure how we stack up to other planets, truthfully. Never thought much about it. Seems lately there's been some troubles Down South, but that's to be expected. Why do you ask?"
Ken just shrugs. "New dirtside -- lookin' to keep my butt safe is all. What kinds crimes?"
Ken gives his compadres a knowing look.
He shrugs. "Robberies and the like. Had some trouble a few days back at a protest, riot, whatever you want to call it. They say the drug problem is getting bad too. You know, just stuff."
"oooo-kay, then" says torin, stepping away from the group slowly. "you can discuss 'alternate' means of employment, and i'll get our monorail tickets. can we share a private compartment? or is it the coach-cattle-car? and can i assume the next available train, then?"
Erem places a gentle hand on Ken's arm and smiles calmly. "Okay, okay. Point taken. We should be more careful." Turning his head to the passing fellow, he makes a little gesture of passing insignificance, perhaps as though waving away a small fly, and says, "We're from off-world, in case you didn't gather. A couple of jitters here and there. In fact, we're headed to the Southern Sector in the next day or two. It's good to hear what it's like from someone more familiar with the situation."
!i!
Ronnoc hides a brief smile, looking down and shaking his head, all the while turning to follow Torin. "I'll...uhh...help Torin..."
The gentleman nods slowly. "Yeah - offworlders. That would explain it. Well, you all take care down South."
He steps back a couple of paces, then turns and hustles down the street.
Erem forces a pained smile as he watches the man's hasty retreat. "Well. That could have gone more smoothely."
Looking back to his mates, he says to Torrin, "Hell, let's splurge for a private compartment. I get the feeling we might be well advised to catch the earliest available train."
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaErem places a gentle hand on Ken's arm and smiles calmly. "Okay, okay. Point taken. We should be more careful."
When the man leaves, Ken clarifies his point. "Ain't what I'm talkin' 'bout, chief." He looks around conspiratorily. "I heard somethin' floatin' around. 'Bout how the government may be putting a 'crime' label on what's really 'civil unrest'. Rebellion."
He shrugs, but not with dismissal. "Just talk, might be, but, uh...we really wanna get mixed up in politics and stuff? Don't they have armies for that?"
"yes they do, ken," torin tosses back over his shoulder. and that's why i was in the scouts. why i'm about to do a 'security' job with miniscule combat experience. . . ."
torin shrugs. "whatever. the new coil's not going to fall from the sky" (looks up, pleadingly) "let's go. i'll pay for the compartment, as long as someone else gets my bar tab."
"Don't go getting all generous on us, Torin." Ronnoc jovially puts his arm on Torin's shoulder, and smiles. "We'll split the cabin - and the bar tab. This courier business was my hair-brained idea, anyway."
torin grins. "you've seen my bar tabs, then. i was getting the cheaper deal."
"I have no idea what you mean," Ronnoc say with a smirk and a sideways glance.
Quote from: beeber"yes they do, ken," torin tosses back over his shoulder. and that's why i was in the scouts. why i'm about to do a 'security' job with miniscule combat experience. . . ."
Ken glares at Torin; he doesn't like being talked to that way. He perceives it as a kind of condescension. "Just sayin'," he mutters darkly, and shuts his yap.
Unless anyone has side-business on the way...(which is fine, just let me know):
Finding the monorail hub is pretty easy - it is the largest facility in the North, located directly astride the north pole of the planet. The huge, round station is filled with people and cargo, loading and unloading from trains sitting on the rails that head due south from the cardinal points of the compass. As you head for the ticket windows, a quick count shows that each train seems to have around 30 cars, giving each train almost three-quarters of a kilometer of length (each car is around 80' long, for those what don't get metric). The local subway lines seem to converge here as well, giving access to most of the Northern Sector in a matter of minutes.
In addition to the trains and ticket windows, the station is lined with shops, restaurants, and other small businesses such as insurance and travel companies. One thing you notice a distinct absence of is trashcans, but the place is immaculate - plenty of janitorial staff around. And there are a lot of cops. You step up to the ticket window... (250 per person, please mark it off)
"Thank you, miss." Ronnoc flashes his go-to smile, "When is the next train scheduled to leave?"
The next Blue Line train leaves in 3 hours. There is a Red Line leaving earlier if you prefer (1.5 hours). You just missed the Green Line.
"let's wait for the blue line one. then we can 'preview' any possible security issues. until then, maybe go window-shopping? or hang at a bookstore for a while? that'll kill plenty of time." torin checks his watch/comm. "we could meet back here at 15 min. before the train."
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...!"
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.
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."
"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?"
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.
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.
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!
(Yes, these are official CorpSec officers. For the most part, people give way to them and do not make eye contact.)
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.
"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?"
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!"
Ken keeps an eye open for anything...eye-catching.
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!
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.
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!
Ken picks up on Erem's vibe. "Huh! That guy musta been pullin' our legs about the swimming pool. Ha! And you bought it..." He laughs and turns around, leaving the car.
Once they're in the next car, he says to Erem, "I'm not interesyed in whatever those guys are watching. I smelled food back at the diner car." He jerks a thumb in that direction and heads back.
"I told you not to bother, Ken," Ronnoc says with a smile. He moves the seats out opposite of him with his feet, "Here, I saved you a spot - and some food."
(I'll take a mid-range meal for Ken and I, just let me know the costs).
The train slides smoothly out of the station with nary a bump. Engineer types note that the train itself is advanced for the local tech level - probably imported from off-world, or at least built with off-world technology.
Mid-range meals in the dining car will run 30 cr. per person, and are three-course affairs including one drink of your choice, salad, entree (two choices, Berrian's Goshawk or Keliak Boar (what you smelled when you walked in, served medium rare) and desert (choice of berry cream cake, chocolate truffles, or flamed custard).
torin thinks about ordering a high-end meal--then thinks about the coil cost, and opts for the mid-range. "after smelling that boar roasting on the way in, i can't pass that up."
he spends most of the trip either napping, looking out the window at the 'amazing' scenery, or reading the on-board mag & other literature. if there's an opportunity to buy an issue of the local paper, he picks one up to get a gist of local/world happenings.
On arrival at the Southern Blue Line station, the difference between the Sectors is immediately apparent. CSS Officers wearing body armor and carrying submachine guns are intentionally obvious, casually monitoring the station and occasionally stopping and questioning individuals as they pass by. The difference in the civilians is noticeable as well. Their hurried pace, slightly bowed heads, and furtive glances at the CSS officers indicate that all is far from well in the Southern Sector.
Southern Sector occupies a system of deep, narrow ravines spread over several hundred square kilometers. The majority of offices and homes are built directly into the walls of the narrow canyons, these "cliff dwellings" taking the place of vertical buildings in a traditional surface city. The floors of the ravines have been leveled and paved, turning them into streets for foot and taxi traffic. The public transport rail system is either suspended from elevated rail lines built into the walls of the ravines or plunges beneath the streets to become a subway system allowing for travel between the widely separated parts of the Sector. In most areas, especially the older, highly developed parts of Southern Sector, the ravines are roofed with glass supported by heavy girders, enabling most of the Sector to be air-conditioned to filter the ubiquitous powdery dust from the air and allow citizens to go about their daily business without masks.
"are we too early to call the 'contact person' for the job?" torin checks his pockets for his ID. "all these cops--man, i hope i don't have anything they'd consider 'contraband'."
"Well, they can't bust me," Ken mutters, "I bought this magazine here."
"ah, but did you keep the receipt?" torin winks at ken. "i kid!"
torin looks around at the SMG-bearing officers and tries not to look nervous (thank goodness for sunglasses!). "i just get antsy on high law worlds. part of being in the scouts--a fairly loose organization, as things go."
Finding the address with the help of curt directions from CSS Officers and local citizens, the Party arrives at a nondescript (and unmarked) office cut deeply into the red stone of Marian Way. Inside, an attractive but weary secretary offers them a seat and refreshments. She tells the Party that Mr. Illulish will be with them shortly.
Almost half an hour filled with the drone of the building's air recyclers and the clatter of the secretary's typing passes before the door to Mr. Illulish's office opens. A short, rugged looking individual eyes the Party briefly, nods curtly to the secretary, and quickly pushes out onto the narrow, crowded street. The secretary tells the Party that Mr. Illulish is waiting for them in his office.
Horran Illulish's office is spartan - a square, low-ceilinged affair cut out of the dry red rock. The only concession to luxury is a holographic wall display behind his utilitarian metal desk that depicts slowly changing ocean scenes. A small side table holds paper cups, a water cooler, and a half-full bottle of local whiskey. Illulish, a scarred fifty-something man with dark hair and darker eyes, looks up from his paperwork and asks the Party to have a seat in the uncomfortable plastic chairs that are arranged facing his desk.
Quote from: Werekoala Inside, an attractive but weary secretary offers them a seat and refreshments. She tells the Party that Mr. Illulish will be with them shortly.
Ken takes a moment to talk to the secretary. "Boring work, huh?" he says, smiling. "Long hours, I bet..." Ken is by no means a very attractive guy*, but he can be sincere and pleasant and the way he figures, that balances his chances. It's never stopped him from trying...
QuoteIllulish, a scarred fifty-something man with dark hair and darker eyes, looks up from his paperwork and asks the Party to have a seat in the uncomfortable plastic chairs that are arranged facing his desk.
Ken takes a seat -- or tries to, anyway. They didn't make these chairs with solidly-built fellas in mind. He shifts uncomfortably.
Quote
Ken waits his turn, then starts talking. "Well," he says, "I made it to 1st Officer in the Merchants, tho' mostly I was a electronics engineer. Did a stint on the guns, too. I'm talkin' the big Akaada lasers, old ones, but -- " he waves his hand in a 'wrap it up' motion to himself. He does that a lot when he's nervous.
"Anyway, escort duties...I did that, couple times, tho' mostly I just flew the air/raft. It was other guys had the hammers," he says, making a gun with his fingers, "'less the air/raft was closed up and had a bigger gun on it. One time the
Morning -that was my ship, the
Monday Morning- one time we had this old military ATV with a big fifty-cal up top, in a bubble-like, you know? And I went up there on account of we hadda deliver all this salt to this guy's house, big villa in some hills, and there were bandits, see? Mostly the turret was for show, but I did hafta let loose with it when the bandits popped up, took out this guy was riding some kinda big lizard. Oh, and I'm from Daramm."
He stops talking just....like...that.
* I just rolled a 4 on 2D, if the Ref wants to use that for some kind of attractiveness score or something. Yay, Traveller!
"Ahem..." Ronnoc rises from his chair, lays his hand on Ken's shoulder, "Thanks for that, Ken." He then begins to wander slowly around the room a bit, then stops and turns to Mr. Illulish.
"Look, Mister...Illulish? Mister Illulish, do we look like a bunch of debutants looking to get our cherries popped? We've all done things, probably a few things of which we are not so proud. But we're all capable men who know what's what. All this talk is just wasting your time, and ours. How 'bout you just tell us what you need done and leave the details to us?"
He leans back in his chair, occasionally tapping on a personal datapad as the Party members relate their backgrounds. He is particularly interested in any military background or other combat experience that Party members have. He seems very interested in the fact that the Party is from offworld.
<You're not from Kukelu? Well, that is a bit different. No, no, its not bad - its just that I'm thinking we could use you guys for something more than just an escort mission. Tell you what - I like your background, and I want to look into a few things before I make a decision. Why don't you check in to the Southern Arms - it's a hotel down the street a few blocks - and come back around 0900 tomorrow. I'll pick up your tab while you're down here, but don't abuse the privilege. Just save your receipts for food and such and bring 'em with you. My secretary can give you directions to the hotel. Dismi . . I mean, have a nice evening.>
Quote from: WerekoalaWhy don't you check in to the Southern Arms - it's a hotel down the street a few blocks - and come back around 0900 tomorrow. I'll pick up your tab while you're down here, but don't abuse the privilege. Just save your receipts for food and such and bring 'em with you.
Ken grins and looks around at his mates. "Hey...I like this guy."
"good evening, mr. ilulish." torin shakes his hand if offered, otherwise gives a slight bow.
"let's check in to the hotel. i need to take a nap before dinner. those long train rides wear me out, oddly enough."
"Yeah," says Ken, rubbing his stomach, "I'm kinda tired too."
Erem says his pleasantries in parting with Mr. Illilush, then floows his mates from the office.
"Well, this has been a...pleasant surprise. Something other than the usual courier detail, huh? Hopefully at a better wage? I should imagine so, given the fact that they're reimbursing us for at least some of our expenses."
Taking in the grandeur of the Southern Sector, Erem stretches his arms in his coat and says, "Yes, I believe a decent dinner is in order tonight."
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaTaking in the grandeur of the Southern Sector, Erem stretches his arms in his coat and says, "Yes, I believe a decent dinner is in order tonight."
"Yeah, but he said not to abuse it, so...we better be careful. Don't wanna sour him right out of the port."
Erem calmly waves Ken's concerns into submission with a gesture. "Just some place where the dust has been sufficiently filtered out so my food doesn't make grinding noises when I chew. And a nice drink."
!i!
"And a steak."
Quote from: Dr Rotwang!"Yeah, but he said not to abuse it, so...we better be careful. Don't wanna sour him right out of the port."
"Tell you what, Ken - why don't we put you in charge of the receipts. That way you can tell us if we're getting to the 'abuse' stage - OK?"
Turning to Erem and Torin "So what's say we check in first - then dinner?"
Quote from: James J Skach"Tell you what, Ken - why don't we put you in charge of the receipts. That way you can tell us if we're getting to the 'abuse' stage - OK?"
Ken replies with a simple thumbs-up.
The directions you were given were spot-on, and you find yourself at the Southern Arms in less than 15 minutes. Cut into the red-rock walls like most other buildings, it is evidently a three-story building with hermetically sealed doors and windows. You pass through the airlock-like front doors and into the lobby, pleased to note no clinging dust. A quick look around indicates that this is a better-than-average establishment, with its own bar and restaurant as well. Two bored-looking clerks behind the desk perk up a bit when they see you walk in.
"Welcome to the Southern Arms! Can we help you?"
Ken seeks out some food, and eats it. Then, it's 40 winks in a cheap room until morning, and off to the rest of the job.
The next morning, the Party arrives at Mr. Illulish's office and is ushered in to see him almost immediately. He is drinking a cup of coffee and offers some to the group as they take their seats. He seems much more animated than he did the previous evening, and notes any signs of jet lag among the group with amusement.
<I can imagine getting used to the longer day is the hardest part for you offworlders. I can't imagine living on a world with a "Standard" day cycle. Anyway, I've gone over your information, made some inquiries, and I think we might be able to offer you employment of the best kind - short term and high paying. You need Cr10,000 to get that part for your ship. I can offer you that much per person for one job. Let me ask you something first.>
He is interrupted by the high-pitched ringing of his communicator. He studies the caller I.D. display, then answers it in a hushed tone. As he speaks he grows more and more tense. He glances quickly at the clock on the wall, slaps the communicator down on the desk, then leans back and switches off the holographic window behind him to reveal a small arsenal of submachine guns, shotguns, and pistols. He grabs a large autopistol as he calls out over his shoulder:
<When can you start?>
As you begin to react, you hear the muffled sound of an explosion nearby.
"i guess the right answer is 'now?'" torin replies. "just give us the quick version and a contact number and we'll be off!"
Ronnoc rises quickly and looks amusedly at Torin, "I don't quite think that's what he means." With quick, but not too hurried, steps, Ronnoc crosses the room towards the hidden firearms cache - eying the goods as he moves.
"May I?" he inquires of Mr. Illulish as he nears the weapons.
Illulish calls back over his shoulder as he heads for the street: "Please do!"
At the explosion, Ken flinches. "What the -- ?!"
When the guns start coming out, Ken looks around for some sort of sense. "Uh..." He grabs the first gun handed to him. "I can start right now I guess. Ten-kay, right?"
"ronnoc, grab me a pistol and a couple of magazines!" torin pokes his head out of the office (which is windowless, right?) and looks for a nearby window or door from which to size up the immediate situation.
While gazing dumbfoundedly over the selection of guns, Erem ducks his head at the sudden explosion. Eyes wide, his eyes dart to Illulish, then back to the weapons, settling in on something small and fully automatic. Crossing to the weapons, he takes the most comfortable-looking SMG possible. And ammo clips. Lots of ammo clips, murmuring, "Mother always said, 'If you can't tie a knot, tie it a lot.'"
!i!
(For the record, most any small arms you prefer/are capable of using are available from the gun display rack. Illulish's office is indeed windowless, but the receptionist's area does have a plate glass window facing onto the street.)
Following Illulish, you find that your new employer has taken cover behind a parked car where he is searching the upper walkways of the ravine in the general direction of the Southern Arms - and the burning remains of a small vehicle bearing CSS markings. You see two uniformed CSS officers lying on the street near the car. Strangely, there are no screaming civilians, no panicked crowds - the streets seem to have emptied quickly. The people of the Southern Sector, it seems, are growing used to the unexpected.
Illulish calls out quietly.
<Terrorists. They've been hitting government targets, particularly police, more and more frequently lately. This time they got too damn close. They're getting bolder, too - they called me and told me first this time. They'll pay for this one, though.>
(Please let me know how you are deploying. There are a handful of parked vehicles within sprinting distance. The burning car is about 50 yards down the street, which is 30' wide in this ravine. We can OOC the details in the other thread if you prefer.)
Ken weighs the autopistol in his hand with a strange mix of unfamiliarty and sudden duty. He then puts his back against a wall and next to Illulish's office door, on the inside, and stands there like that's where he's supposed to be.
EDITED to submit to Werekoala's insufferable dem- I mean, for clarity.
(In Illulish's office, in the recptionist's area, or outside on the street?)
torin grabs an autopistol and 2 magazines. then he heads out to the street, chooses the next closest car, sprints to and gets down behind it.
he then inspects the pistol, makes sure it's loaded, and takes it off 'safe.' he'll follow ilulish's lead as far as any possible targets are concerned.
(We'll wait another day or so to account for the holiday and then proceed from there, maybe hearing from the others by then.)
Ronnoc will pick something nice for himself - semi-auto, small - then hand out the weapons all around. As the others sprint about, he will casually walk out, giving Ken the "Great Job" nod at his positioning, and duck down behind the car with Mr. Illulish.
"So, what are they after," he asks, almost nonchalantly.
Quote from: James J SkachRonnoc ... [gives] Ken the "Great Job" nod at his positioning...
Ken grits his teeth, looking set to do whatever it is his job to do.
Erem points at the barrel of the gun he's appropriated and says, "The bullets come out of here, right?"
Jerking his head toward the door and the departing Mr. Illulish, crossing over to the threshold himself.
!i!
Torin stands up behind his car/cover of choice. i'm thinking this is a singular attack, and a follow-up strike is unlikely. he then shouts over, "mister ilulish, we'll be given the appropriate permits to carry these (waves gun), right?"
(Sorry I've been remiss in my duties, I'll get the ball rolling again today or tomorrow, promise.)