4:30 PM Bed & Breakfast [26] - D.J., Herbie, Val & Mick
The group reassembled, goodies in hand as the plan coalesced from an idea to reality.
You had inquired about 1. Communication with the Village and 2. Whether the ATV from the original repair crew was still on site with its supplies.
1. The official designation is “Arctic Hamlet X-2”, although the locals call it “Achimasahitunanuch”. This community of about 500 persons is remote, but not isolated, and has satellite COMM service to the rest of the planet. It is located about 400 km from the Arctic Relay Station and has the nearest Government Airport/Grav Port. A search of public records yields COMM listings for Two Utility Companies (Gas and Electric), A Construction Company, a “Factory” (if a manufacturing facility with 5 employees can be called a factory), Five stores (Grocery, General Merchandise, Clothing, Vehicles, Building Supplies), one restaurant, and a handful of miscellaneous Services (mostly Government). This is where VET had contacts and where the “rescue” party came from. It is the “logical” starting point for any expedition to the Tower.
2. A study of the data reveals a brief glimpse of the ATV in one of the frames, so it was there when the rescue team left the Arctic Relay Station. The locals have no recollection of it, they were looking for people and terrified.
3. D.J. invests a few minutes talking with George about “Arctic Hamlet X-2”. George remembered it as one of his regular stops on the way to the Relay Station. George offered that it was rough driving from X-2 to the Relay Station because you never knew if the road would be there that trip or not … snow drifts sometimes obliterated stretches of it of miles. “Tracks over wheels for that route.” was his advice.
4. George also informed you of a place he stopped at on that route called “Saint Oyand”, population 160. They were a small community that preferred to keep to themselves with only minimal outside contact with the Government. Sort of a “Tribal” thing, but nice folk. “Oyland” was only 100 km from the Relay Station. George once called in a Bush Plane to medivac a wounded Oylander out of there by landing on the road.
TRANSPORTATION:
The group met with mixed results. Val’s contacts were able to provide a craft that was everything you could have hoped for. Their “Bush Plane” was actually Grav Powered STOL and Mach 1 capable (1200 kph top speed, 900 kph cruise, 140 kph NOE). Given your preference, they can fly you there at 900-1200 kph on radar or 140 kph below radar … or anyone with PILOT Certification (Grav Vehicle-1+ or Pilot-1+) can rent the craft and fly it yourself.
The Tracked and Wheeled vehicles available in the Tropics are not hardened for Arctic Conditions and would immediately fail (mechanically), so you will need to acquire ground transportation in the Arctic. [rent “Bush Plane” = Cr 2800 per day; rent “pilot” = Cr 400 per day]
BART TOBIT:
Bart reserved a tracked ATV at “Arctic Village x-2” for 24 hours [just in case], acquired 3 satellite COMM units with video [TL 10, C400, 0.7 kg, 14 hr battery, 300 km range] and located a TL 11 Electronics Shop [Cr 20,000; 500 kg; good for Electronics-3 rolls on TL 9-11]
[NOTE the “stuff” added to the Maps & Reference Topic that includes some info on Tools. DJ has what he needs for ELEC-2 with him … you just asked about locating a “Portable Workshop” and this is as close as you got due to “Vehicle” issues like Tropical Vehicles don’t like Arctic Cold.]
COLD WEATHER CLOTHING:
Locating specific “Cold Weather Clothing” in a Tropical City proved difficult. However, that is not the same as unsuccessful. While ice and snow are not an issue here, they do have PILOTS that operate at high altitudes and even SPACE, so you were able to locate two items that might prove useful:
- General Purpose Vacc Suit (TL 9): [8 kg; Cr 7000; -3 DEX] A bulky suit, gloves, boot, and helmet that protects against temperatures from +1000 C to -1000 C with the equivalent of CLOTH armor.
- Body Pressure Suit (TL 9): [2 kg; Cr 14,000] A skin tight suit, gloves, boot, and soft helmet that protects against temperatures from +50 C to -50 C with the equivalent of JACK armor. May be worn beneath clothing.
- 4-hour Portable Life Support System (TL 9): [7 kg; Cr 3000] A backpack-like device that provides oxygen and battery power to the Vacc Suit for the listed duration.
- 24-hour Portable Life Support System (TL 9): [14.5 kg; Cr 5000] A backpack-like device that provides (recycled) oxygen and battery power to the Vacc Suit for the listed duration.
WEAPONS:
The initial quest to purchase firearms turned up the typical selection with nothing “Military” or “Exotic” readily available under the current Law Level and in a hurry.
- Automatic Pistol (1 kg; Cr 210)
- Revolver (1 kg; Cr 155)
- Carbine (3.1 kg; Cr 210)
- Rifle (4.5 kg; Cr 222)
- Shotgun (4.5 kg; Cr 160)
WILDERNESS/CLIMBING SUPPLIES:
Mick has terrific success putting together your “Backpacks” and there are THREE versions to select from. The higher the TL, the lighter and more expensive the equipment becomes.
- Adventure Backpack (TL 5): (Cr 1000; 24 kg) includes optical Binoculars, folding Grapnel hook (thrown), Magnetic Compass, Iron Pitons, and Water Purification tablets.
- Adventure Backpack (TL 8): (Cr 2000; 18 kg) includes IR Binoculars, Grapnel Gun, Inertial Locator, Adhesive Pitons, and Water Filtration System.
- Adventure Backpack (TL 11): (Cr 3000; 12 kg) includes Multi-Spectrum Binoculars, Grapnel Gun, Inertial Locator, Piton Gun, and Atmospheric Water Distillation System.
