Background Info

[BackworldTraveller]

Between the Cracks started in 2019 while I was "Resting between contracts" and has continued fitfully ever since.

It migrated onto this forum in Jan 2021 as it is a much more convenient means of communication than the e-mail threads that have been sustaining it.

It may jump a bit because we occasionally have an opportunity to meet in person but...well that is just the way things used to happen!

[BackworldTraveller]

See also: Background Info

The main protagonist is Hagan Dransfield who has retired to his family's home and slowly renovated a museum piece to become one of the few ships operating in the Million Subsector of the Deneb Sector after it's abandonment in the mid-1130s. His family are scrap merchants and waste reclaimers.

The planet's government is under attack by Vargr from the Dzarrgh Federate, and is desperate for Engineers to help sustain its infrastructure in the face of the oncoming Virus. Nearby Khouth is staring down the barrel of destruction and Hagan has been flying there and bringing back volunteers - while gathering intelligence about the oncoming computer plague. A very, very close shave with an infected ship saw Hagan and his crew return with a small group of evacuees, but he is being prepped for another trip...

[BackworldTraveller]

A second thread running in this milieu is that of John Drake - a member of the Regency Scout Service who has transported a small unit to Gabrael and become "Detached" there - immediately being engaged, with his ship - to act as reconnaissance for the government in its war against the local Vargr gang, the Aegzagangnthoegngvang.

The action will pick up after a series of uneventful stints watching their base in nearby Wyn and jumping back to give warning of departures from that place to Gabrael in case they turn into raids. Very much avoiding actual encounters with their much larger ships.

The key events on this period being that the Droyne's potion has been utterly uninspiring in its effects. 24 hours of raging head-ache; then generally aching body; then nothing. The observe and report and supply drop parts of the mission all went without real comment.

[BackworldTraveller]

General Background
The general feel of the Million Subsector is that the Imperium has finally done what it has been threatening to do for years and abandoned the place - leaving the place to Vargr Pirates.

The United Followers of Augurgh seems to be content to sit on the side lines, taking over the trade routes to Gabriel and beyond while keeping the Dzarrgh Federate at bay. The Federate appears to be splintering with individual captains staking claims to the abandoned real-estate. The major issue for those Captains being if the Federate tries to re-integrate them - although the Irrgh Manifest appear to be breaking the treaty that divided the neighbouring subsector and may become an issue in their own right.

Despite the Imperial Panic, the so-called wave of virus-filled machines appears to have petered out and all the Vargr are seeing are single examples that can be easily destroyed. (Although rumours brought back to Gabriel suggest that the definition of "easily" may not include "quickly" or "without casualties".) Its one good thing about having lots of captured human populations - They can be drafted to protect their brethren and win back planets for the Federate.