Chapter Nine: Year 300, 6th Day

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor

"Captain. I've got a tug lined up if we need it. I'm going to pay the retainer out of my own funds, just as a precaution." Noor explains the situation and lets Indrani know that gossip is spreading.

"You could sell your story, if desired, to recoup some costs."

[The Bindoner]

Noor

"Captain. I've got a tug lined up if we need it. I'm going to pay the retainer out of my own funds, just as a precaution." Noor explains the situation and lets Indrani know that gossip is spreading.

"You could sell your story, if desired, to recoup some costs."

Nālani, still in the pilot's seat, observes: If we are going to sell our story I ought to edit our video recordings. Images would improve the price, and we can polish events to show only what we want.

[joertexas]

Noor

"Captain. I've got a tug lined up if we need it. I'm going to pay the retainer out of my own funds, just as a precaution." Noor explains the situation and lets Indrani know that gossip is spreading.

"You could sell your story, if desired, to recoup some costs."

Nālani, still in the pilot's seat, observes: If we are going to sell our story I ought to edit our video recordings. Images would improve the price, and we can polish events to show only what we want.

"Let's make sure we don't put a divot in the South Pole here," Indrani says dryly. "Do we have a good lock on our landing beacon?"

[BackworldTraveller]

The approach is routine, but the bad cameras make the final docking procedure a bit trickier than usual. Pilot roll - 3D6, take the worst 2D6 +Skill + Dex for 6+

Below you is the south-pole spaceport. Definitely smaller than the one at the North Pole but now busy as the closure of that port has diverted some traffic to here.

From your collective residences on the asteroid, you will recall a commercial rivalry between the two ports - and (unfounded) suggestions that the corporation that operates the South-Pole facility were in collusion with the Taktsang Pirates that attacked the North-Pole during the Battle of Sparks in 298.

The major feature of the view of the south pole from space is the yacht-port. This is a facility with over 200 berths for craft of under 300 dTons (many under 50dTons) overseen by a grand construction known as the "Asteroid Racing Association Building" which glitters spectacularly as it has a gold-leaf surface (for heat management purposes, obviously).

[The Bindoner]

The approach is routine, but the bad cameras make the final docking procedure a bit trickier than usual. Pilot roll - 3D6, take the worst 2D6 +Skill + Dex for 6+

Nālani fleetingly considers taking her time over the approach, for safety, but the realisation that the destination is the yacht dock and there are many eyes on the Queen piques her pride, so she determines to take the ship in as though it were an undamaged vessel on a normal day.

She puts her earbuds in, using music to isolate herself and aid her concentration as she takes the Queen in to the ARAB Port on one camera and the beacons.

Roll: [_3d6]=(5+5+2)=12

Lowest: 5+2 =7

[joertexas]

The approach is routine, but the bad cameras make the final docking procedure a bit trickier than usual. Pilot roll - 3D6, take the worst 2D6 +Skill + Dex for 6+

Nālani fleetingly considers taking her time over the approach, for safety, but the realisation that the destination is the yacht dock and there are many eyes on the Queen piques her pride, so she determines to take the ship in as though it were an undamaged vessel on a normal day.

She puts her earbuds in, using music to isolate herself and aid her concentration as she takes the Queen in to the ARAB Port on one camera and the beacons.

Roll: [_3d6]=(5+5+2)=12

Lowest: 5+2 =7

"Gently, now, we don't know how much damage we have," Indrani cautions quietly. She keys the radio again. "Traffic Control, Queen of the Belt is at five kilometers, established on final. Please verify that we are cleared to land."

[BackworldTraveller]

Queen of the belt, we have eyes on and you are cleared for landing. Pad Y8-14. Landing beacon active. There is a cargo hauler docking on pad C27 6km distant - otherwise the space is clear.

On the crew-deck, Zid receives a message and informs you all: I have been told that the investigation of the attack on this vessel is to be investigated by the Starflight Inc. team, but that it is to be directed by one of my colleagues as I am "Personally involved". I'm astounded by the genius of my colleagues ability to state the obvious. Anyway, they will be wanting to take statements - it seems that they have found 8 bodies so far, and they are still searching.

[joertexas]

Queen of the belt, we have eyes on and you are cleared for landing. Pad Y8-14. Landing beacon active. There is a cargo hauler docking on pad C27 6km distant - otherwise the space is clear.

On the crew-deck, Zid receives a message and informs you all: I have been told that the investigation of the attack on this vessel is to be investigated by the Starflight Inc. team, but that it is to be directed by one of my colleagues as I am "Personally involved". I'm astounded by the genius of my colleagues ability to state the obvious. Anyway, they will be wanting to take statements - it seems that they have found 8 bodies so far, and they are still searching.

"Queen is cleared to land, Pad Y-eight-one-four," Indrani reads back their instructions. She verifies that the beacon code matches the pad's ID. (Presuming that it does...)

She looks to Nalani. "Okay, we're cleared to land, and you have the correct beacon."

She keys the comm to Engineering. "Reven, we're on final now. Stand by for docking. Hopefully, we didn't break anything vital."

Indrani then opens the all-hands channel. "Everyone please go to your landing stations. We will arrive in three minutes."

[cybersavant]

She keys the comm to Engineering. "Reven, we're on final now. Stand by for docking. Hopefully, we didn't break anything vital."

Reven Stiilpahth "Acknowledged. Engineering ready." Reven straps in and gets ready to assist.

[BackworldTraveller]

The nerve strain is relieved by an adequate approach and landing by Nālani. The nearby cargo lifter is well out of the way. Indeed, the whole process is a complete anti-climax. You end in the docking cradle, stood vertically with the rear end about 3m above the pad floor. An air-lock connector clamps onto the crew-airlock.

You are met at the bay by a dock official who has a 5dTon secure container on a cargo trolley (outside in teh vacuum) and who will release it (after a few moments checking the captain's registry) to the captain of the "Queen of the Belt" only. He notes that the container, and storage space in the port container store has been rented for 10 years with 4 years still to run on the contract.

As is common on yacht ports, there is little to see. The berms prevent observation from ground level, and even coming in, only one berth seems to have any external activity. Most of the vessels are waiting for the weekend rush.

[joertexas]

The nerve strain is relieved by an adequate approach and landing by Nālani. The nearby cargo lifter is well out of the way. Indeed, the whole process is a complete anti-climax. You end in the docking cradle, stood vertically with the rear end about 3m above the pad floor. An air-lock connector clamps onto the crew-airlock.

You are met at the bay by a dock official who has a 5dTon secure container on a cargo trolley (outside in teh vacuum) and who will release it (after a few moments checking the captain's registry) to the captain of the "Queen of the Belt" only. He notes that the container, and storage space in the port container store has been rented for 10 years with 4 years still to run on the contract.

As is common on yacht ports, there is little to see. The berms prevent observation from ground level, and even coming in, only one berth seems to have any external activity. Most of the vessels are waiting for the weekend rush.

Indrani meets the port official and signs for the cargo container.

"Pranit, we have a container to bring into the cargo bay, but we will need to depressurize it first."

[BackworldTraveller]

The container doesn't look anything special - but it does have a keypad on the outside with a display above it. It also has a note about the weight: It must be made of something complex or be almost solid!

[joertexas]

The container doesn't look anything special - but it does have a keypad on the outside with a display above it. It also has a note about the weight: It must be made of something complex or be almost solid!

With Pranit's (and whomever else wants to assist) help, Indrani depressurizes the cargo bay, carefully brings the container aboard, and re-pressurizes the bay.

[cybersavant]

Reven Stiilpahth contacts Nālani once the Queen is docked. "When we have some downtime i'd like you to help me run some sims - blind piloting from engineering."

[The Bindoner]

Reven Stiilpahth contacts Nālani once the Queen is docked. "When we have some downtime i'd like you to help me run some sims - blind piloting from engineering."

Nālani, on her way to see the mysterious secure cargo module, replies: I will be happy to do that. I think you will be teaching me though, nah?

I will model a variety of docks. It will be a very dull holo for the trainee. Amusing for the viewer, perhaps.

[ateno]

"Pranit, we have a container to bring into the cargo bay, but we will need to depressurize it first."

"Aye sir, be right there.

[BackworldTraveller]

The depressurisation process is routine, and the cargo container loads into the hold pretty effortlessly. The only issue is that it's locked and the only clue is the keypad. Whatever the code is is a number!

[The Bindoner]

Nālani regards the keypad with a jaundiced eye: I think we ought to get Assana to look at this.

She gives a conspiratorial grin: I should probably catch up with Zid while she does.

[SpinwardMarch]

Maggie

Since she is not involved in flying the Queen, she goes to talk with Pranit about repairs and replacements.

[cybersavant]

Nālani, on her way to see the mysterious secure cargo module, replies: I will be happy to do that. I think you will be teaching me though, nah?
I will model a variety of docks. It will be a very dull holo for the trainee. Amusing for the viewer, perhaps.

Reven Stiilpahth "A session with you will be anything BUT boring, and I think i just got lucky."