Introductions (Day 1)

[BackworldTraveller]

It’s all going to the dogs!

Why is everywhere on this planet built like it’s festering in a damp swamp?
It is, of course, hyperbole. Agnalkzue is warm, damp and rainy – it’s the rainy season so that is to be expected, but the accomodation is dry and warm and comfortable. Service is good and you are being treated as minor celebrities despite the diplomatic problems caused by your rescue of two of your group.
And so four unlikely friends are found in the lounge: The outside view (such as it is in the steel-grey rain) overlooks a busy intersection in a busy city full of busy people.

That the accommodation is being paid for by the Surmaku gives the place some advantage, and that Denghez and Rradzoka have some family connection to the proprietor another. Sazqelimqariepr, in particular, would be sleeping on the streets without that generosity.

Anyone know what Tsek’s After?

Nope.

This lack of information is addressed by a young employee coming over to the party and providing them with drinks – and the fact that “the room is now ready”.

---

You arrive at “The room” and are greeted by Tsek. Hello, Hello, come on in. He takes you through a lobby (in which are sitting two “Guards”) and into the main room. There are 3 other Vargr in the room.
You all know of Agnuez Oukfoder. Now is the time to meet him. He looks older than his news appearances suggest.
This is Iekzellour, our legal council, and she has some papers for you to sign.
He doesn’t introduce the third individual until you have each signed a simple agreement not to disclose anything disclosed in the room for a period of 3 Talon years.
And this is Captain Daehaggzoegr Raekrroz of the Kfaerggzeghzratawuerz.
Rradzoka instantly perks up at the name of the notorious Corsair.

Tsek stands. You may be aware that the Corridor is, by agreement, split into distinct areas of influence – with the Dzarrgh Federate being our nearest neighbour. Beyond them is the Irrgh Manifest and beyond that is the Glory of Taaks…GOT. Rumours that the Manifest have been fighting a major war to Coreward are true and they are definitely losing. It seems that the Irrgh Manifest and the GOT have now attacked each other near Drayne and that the Irrgh Manifest got their corridor fleet trashed as a result. As a consequence, the defences of this state are fleeing. This is going to severely curtail any operation that could be launched. I want to get going before the UFA shuts the door tight.

You may know that I have been working in the Federate for a while and have been touting for a backer for my scheme. With the backing of Agnuez Oukfoder this plan can now go forward.

I bring you all, the “Rrilzaerrolggziegkueng”. Trade Escort for the Dzarrgh Federate, lost at the start of last year. Originally built as the "Aurelian", she was damaged by the Zhodani and, after the Fifth Frontier war, transferred to the Corridor Sector in the fleet reshuffle. Here the vessel was part of the Corridor Fleet who, somewhat carelessly, allowed it to be captured by the Dzarrgh Federate.
While working, this vessel fell out of jump space just a few hundred km from my location. (Frightened me and my colleagues a lot, I can say) but it was not manoeuvring and was cold. Very cold. So, we let it go on its way and moved along with our cargo.
Our plan is to get to its location, board the vessel, bring it back to life and return it to aid the defence of the UFA and our homes. Incidentally, it will make us all rich.
Simple.
He is greeted by a stunned silence
All I need is for you (he waves at the room) to put together a plan to achieve that simple objective. How hard can that be?

Transport to the location will be undertaken by the good Captain (indicates Captain Daehaggzoegr) and navigation to the wreck site itself will be my role.
We will need teams to board the vessel, repair the vessel and fuel the vessel. And then we sneak the vessel back to Fel on a course that we all agree – avoiding the Federate (obviously).

You are the people that I trust to plan, recruit, equip and finally lead these teams.

No doubt, you are asking what the benefit will be to you and your teams. We will not be able to get the UFA to pay as if this were a new ship. It may be worth as little as 100,000,000 credits. We are offering the 4 of you, and your teams 10% of the gross monies paid by the UFA.

And with this, he grins. How you divide that is up to you.

[AndyS_66]

Denghez will listen closely to Tsek’s proposition and story.

“Which system did you encounter the Rrilzaerrolggziegkueng?” He will ask. “I’m not afraid, mind, but I like to know the risks involved such as where the mission is. Another thing; if you know the ship was cold then you must have a scan. Can we see that? It might help determine what happened to it and what we need to bring along to fix her.”

[BackworldTraveller]

Denghez will listen closely to Tsek’s proposition and story.

“Which system did you encounter the Rrilzaerrolggziegkueng?” He will ask. “I’m not afraid, mind, but I like to know the risks involved such as where the mission is. Another thing; if you know the ship was cold then you must have a scan. Can we see that? It might help determine what happened to it and what we need to bring along to fix her.”

Tsek looks at Denghez and addresses his concern directly. He speaks slowly, letting Denghez hang on for every bit of information. He looks uncomfortable doing this though - and the effect is somewhat lost.

The mission is in the Duchy of Khouth, at a location in the outer system of a world well known to some of you. Rrilzaerrolggziegkueng should not have been out there at all, so there is little chance of discovery.

He then look very pleased with himself.
I do have a scan. And, better, I have a holographic record of the interior. But you can only see that when we are agreed that we go ahead. I don't want copies escaping to other people.

Tsek then gives a taster of the problem...
Whatever else is needed, we will need air as there is none. And fuel as there is none of that either. And Crew (obviously). I'll leave the engineers amongst you to see whatever else is needed. As far I could see from our quick look-over, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the vessel apart from the missing crew, air and fuel. Admittedly, we were aboard for less than an hour - and much of that time was spent making sure that the vessel was really empty and thus salvageable. But we have reviewed the record and cannot see any cause for abandonment. Even our radiation monitors showed nothing unusual, and there is nothing like a radiation leak for getting a ship emptied! It is clear that they left in the pinnace, why they did so is a mystery.

[Demilich]

Yeelau sat and listened to the details before asking " Do we have, potential crew members sign an NDA also? Thats going to, um, dissuade some potentially, good, crewmembers from accepting the job."

[AndyS_66]

Denghez nods at Yeelau’s point.

“Given that Khouth is, what, two or three jumps depending on the capacity of the Kfaerggzeghzratawuerz. Almost certainly three jumps. We can’t refuel or get air at Khouth either, given that the Feds are crawling all over it. That means either stocking up at here or at Fel. We could try Aerfor but that might lead to a fight. Normally I’d been up for giving the Feds a bloody snout but I guess that you want to keep this one quiet.” He bares his fangs in a grin. “Can the Kfaerggzeghzratawuerz carry enough life support and fuel? We’d need enough to get back to Aerfor at least.”

[Demilich]

Yeelau adds "Whats our budget for the necessary supplies? We may need to carry extra fuel as well, thats going to cut into space for the crew, as well as space for other supplies."

[BackworldTraveller]

Agnuez Oukfoder leans into the discussion when it moves to expenses.
There is a budget of Cr1,000,000 for set up. And Yes, an NDA is needed. Tsek has been trying to find funding in many places and some of those may want to get in first. We are just trying to get a head start. And with the shipping losses, Crew are short of berths these days. You'll lose some - many just want anything.

Captain Daehaggzoegr responds to the capability question...
Jump 1 I'm afraid. But collapsible tankage for up to two extra jumps when required. And my engineer tells me that we can carry a complete air-reload for our target in 6 dTons of HP canisters. Life support we can carry for ourselves if we stock up. And no - no bloody nose. Sneaking, quietly. If it comes to shooting we have probably blown it.

Vargr that follow us and try to jump our salvage excepted.

And we can load some passenger pods in cargo. That fits a lot of extra people.

[The Bindoner]

You say she dropped out of Jumpspace cold? This sounds like a mis-Jump. Did you inspect the drives?

We will need a good Drive-tech.

Musing out loud: Ah, the crew left in the Pinnace, the ship Jumps... or, the ship Jumps, and the crew leave in the Pinnace. While in J-Space.

If the first, then the ship has an Intellect that can fly it. We need a good Computer tech to kill that, or tame it.

The second, there is something that makes a crew desperate to escape, desperate enough to risk certain death. Jumps psychosis? Another pointer to mis-Jump.

Re-engaging with the room, looking eager and alert: This has the makings of a famous story.

[BackworldTraveller]

You say she dropped out of Jumpspace cold? This sounds like a mis-Jump. Did you inspect the drives?

I did not. states Tsek. Other than the Holo, which we can all view tomorrow. The Hotel is providing a viewing suite for our exclusive use in the morning. It may have been better if we had managed that, but we had a delivery deadline. Note the emphasis on dead!

This has the makings of a famous story.

Tsek yips slightly. The ship that lost it's crew and sailed on alone. Maybe the Vampires got it? The Imperials tell us they are about to swallow everything.

He yips again. But if that were it, how did we not suffer the same fate? No, there is something afoot. Betrayal maybe?

[cybersavant]

Re-engaging with the room, looking eager and alert: This has the makings of a famous story.

Sazqelmiqariepr sits and listens until the mention of a famous story, to which he adds, "Or death. He looks to the benefactor. "Ten percent? Not much of hazard pay. Twenty sounds more palatable."


diplomat/persuade

[BackworldTraveller]

Re-engaging with the room, looking eager and alert: This has the makings of a famous story.

Sazqelmiqariepr sits and listens until the mention of a famous story, to which he adds, "Or death. He looks to the benefactor. "Ten percent? Not much of hazard pay. Twenty sounds more palatable."


diplomat/persuade

Tsek looks agahst. If you want more of a share, then you'd have to accept more of the risk. As it is you are free of expenses. 10% of the gross is an excellent offer!


But Agnuez is less strident: 10% of gross is a good offer. We're covering the ship charter, equipment, crew-hiring, stores, administrative and legal fees, sales costs, even the air you are going to breathe - all out of our share. Much of that is up-front cost so we have foregone interest on that.

Of course, you can always stay here - although that will reduce our chances of success.

He leans to Tsek and mumbles something into his ear.

What do your colleagues think?

[Demilich]

Yeelau sighs, shakes her head, "Perhaps z slight, increase? Maybe 12% share? Would be agreeable?"

Persuade
[_2d6]=(6+3)=9

[BackworldTraveller]

Agnuez turns to Tsek

These aliens are quite argumentative.

and Tsek responds

They don't realise how expensive this is going to be in tax and fees and gratuities. We need Denghez and Rradzoka...I'm not certain they will come without these two given how much effort it took to rescue them.

[Demilich]

Yeelau sighs more heavily " Pardon me, but, it seems there are two types of risk being batted about here. There is the financial risk, which I'm sure is rather notable. There is also the risk that, we four, are more concerned about ourselves. That is, the risk that we could be, shot and killed, or imprisoned, or, sold as slaves. we are less concerned with the financial risks and more concerned, with those risks. That is why, we would like a larger share. If this mission fails, you are out of a notable sum of money, we would be, either dead, imprisoned or enslaved."

[The Bindoner]

Rradzoka has sat quietly, and somewhat amused, listening to the haggling.

There are many risks, for everyone, of course. Without risk, there is no gain, in reputation or profit.

You risk money, we risk ourselves.

My new friends, they value their lives highly, it is no surprise. We all do. We will risk them, yes, if the reward is worth it.

You have balanced your costs, made your investments, budgeted, made your offer. But you know nobody takes the first offer. Your budget has negotiation room, I think. No surprise. Now we test your margin.

Perhaps you have something other than money to offer? Myself, I am less motivated by cash anyway.

Rradzoka glances meaningfully at Captain Daehaggzoegr.

[BackworldTraveller]

And there is a Vargr with Vision.

One of the advantages of bringing the ship to the negotiating table will be the discussion of terms there. It will need a Captain. It will need a Crew. The story of its cutting out will bring those that undertake that task Charisma of a daring job well executed!

Now you are correct, the terms are negotiable. If you were willing to accept liability for costs, perhaps 12% gross could be accepted? An acceptance of financial risk as well as physical risk?

[The Bindoner]

Oho, a temporary Captaincy!


Well, indeed, for a famous flight. But fame is an easily distracted pup, it needs an attentive guide to direct it's potential. I want the publishing rights, holo and text, and a journalist with us, my choice. Nothing released unless we succeed, of course.

Liability for costs...

What costs? We are not rich, and I think our credit is not good.

[AndyS_66]

Denghez smiles. I’m not interested in fame although a good reputation can be useful. I’m happy with 12%.

He glances at Rradzoka and smiles. I’m also willing to let you use by name and image in your book. For 12% of the profits, course.

[BackworldTraveller]

10%, 12%. We can argue numbers later.

What roles and skills do you need to find?

What kit do you need?

The Captain here is wanting to get moving and I'm sort of in agreement. But with no crew we can go nowhere. With the wrong kit we will get to the ship but not get it home. No ship and 12% of nothing is, let me see...

The Captain chimes in

...Nothing?

Tsek continues

Thank you Captain. Nothing.

Agnuez interrupts

Lets not get too far ahead. They want to know how much they are valued. We can afford 12%.

It won't affect your cut Tsek.

I'll go to 18% if you take your cut after costs. Paying the Captain, here, is expensive. Some of the kit we need will be costly and I'm fronting those costs. Plus the Crew may want a share of the Profits too.

Captain figured

Captain
Pilots x2
Astrogator
Chief Engineer
Asst Engineers x7
Mechanic/Scrounger x3
Master At Arms
Gunners x4

You four, I guess, are the Captain, Engineer, Master at Arms and Gunner #1. Tsek takes Astrogator. 16 more to find and pay! Extras come out of your cut.

[The Bindoner]

Denghez smiles. I’m not interested in fame although a good reputation can be useful. I’m happy with 12%.

He glances at Rradzoka and smiles. I’m also willing to let you use by name and image in your book. For 12% of the profits, course.

Rradzoka pretends to be shocked:

Not interested in fame? What sort of Vargr are you?


Returning the smile: Well, then, no need to pay you. I’ll only use shots of you from behind, or in your helmet, and we’ll call you Master at Arms, or Marine Officer, if you like.

A book you say? I think a feature film, and a documentary. An animated series for the pups, too, with action figures. Don’t worry, yours will be in full armour, no-one will recognise you.