003: On the Road to Aki

[terrymixon]

Walt-
"Well, it's a good thing I just saw a whole elephant bone yard of Ancient wrecks on the other side of that portal. We could go there since we have such long legs now and retrieve a real Ancients article. That should prove enticing and convincing.

Metz, are you aware of any Ancients' tech that Treegarden might have, or that she could obtain, that we might want to examine? And while we have them, we should just happen to get the patterns of. If so, we could add that to the bargain.

"Getting them out of the pocket universe might be challenging," Bilis said. "We are getting in via teleportals. A ship is a lot bigger. I was told that pocket universes have a gateway somewhere in normal space that a ship could go through, and we will need to find it eventually. Once we do so, we could perhaps figure a way to move a derelict ship out, though getting it close might be problematic if it cannot jump on its own."

Metz shook his head. "She never shared any information with me about that. I do like the idea of giving her some castoffs that won't be of much use to us. Perhaps one of the wrecks could be restored to function if we knew how. Unfortunately, that might be a long-term project, and we likely need something sooner. If we want to keep this base, we need their attention elsewhere pronto."

[Thumper]

"We don't need a whole ship. A cargo lighter or air raft equivalent is all. Just needs to be big enough to hold a packaged drive and small enough to fit through the teleportal."

[terrymixon]

"We don't need a whole ship. A cargo lighter or air raft equivalent is all. Just needs to be big enough to hold a packaged drive and small enough to fit through the teleportal."

"Ah. That might get us what we want, but I don't know if it will cause everyone to rush over there. A ship--in whatever condition--would. We need something splashy to start a gold rush." He grinned. "And if word of it somehow leaked and there were lots of prospectors getting into the mix, that would tie up even more resources."

[helvorn]

"An upgrade of our mercenary license to class 5," Roscoe said. "We have weapons we could get into trouble with. Also, Garvin was saying we needed a front business. Assistance in forming one that does trading across many worlds would be a lot easier with an Imperial charter like the megacorperations have. They don't have to incorporate on single worlds like the guild has done on Glisten. A lot of headaches would vanish with something like that."

"I do not like the idea of turning any part of this base over. Not that we are paragons of virtue but I do not want to see the destructive potential of these technologies unleashed. It would eventually lead to another Final War but much bigger than 421 super beings chasing each other down. I like the idea of giving her a wreck that is gutted of everything but perhaps hints. Ideally we would give them Jump seven and may be ideas for jump nine. That would be more manageable and less impactful. And we ask for the upgrade for license and an Imperial charter."

[terrymixon]

"An upgrade of our mercenary license to class 5," Roscoe said. "We have weapons we could get into trouble with. Also, Garvin was saying we needed a front business. Assistance in forming one that does trading across many worlds would be a lot easier with an Imperial charter like the megacorperations have. They don't have to incorporate on single worlds like the guild has done on Glisten. A lot of headaches would vanish with something like that."

"I do not like the idea of turning any part of this base over. Not that we are paragons of virtue but I do not want to see the destructive potential of these technologies unleashed. It would eventually lead to another Final War but much bigger than 421 super beings chasing each other down. I like the idea of giving her a wreck that is gutted of everything but perhaps hints. Ideally we would give them Jump seven and may be ideas for jump nine. That would be more manageable and less impactful. And we ask for the upgrade for license and an Imperial charter."

"And a release from the annual maintenance requirement and her other strings," Roscoe said. "That might take more than a stripped wreck. There are a lot of ancient drones in this base. If we fabricated copies of them and stored them and perhaps some of the antimatter batteries we found aboard a wreck, that would sweeten the deal without an overly large impact. All we would need is a ship there, which we don't have."

"There may be wreckage in this system or that one," Bilis said. "We can't know for sure if we don't look. We have exotic sensors of Ancients manufacture now. It is possible that they would be able to find something, but it would take time and might still fail even if there is something there. We still haven't explored that one section of the base near the landing bay our ship is in. It might have something that would work if there is another vessel in the base. A derelict would be preferable, but we need something sooner rather than later and a functional vessel of any kind would take them years to decipher, if they ever did. As psionics are not popular in the Imperium, that limits their ability to use the major systems. If we find something armed, it would not be a threat to us. This ship is well protected. And, forgive me, but it seems as if your people would find getting their hands on a few weapons they can't duplicate irresistible."

[terrymixon]

Garvin will act as back up for the teleporter exploration.

Feel free to add yourself to either person doing the exploring.

[Thumper]

Walt-
”First things first, let’s quickly explore the unknown section of this station so we at least have an idea of all that this moon base is. Then let’s go after Mad Dog’s murderers. That opportunity might be fleeting.

During transit or down time, I can lead an exploration of the Boneyard if others want to look around the loading dock and starport in the other side of the Wardrobe.

There might be a small craft over in the Boneyard or shipyards in enough pieces to come through the teleportal piece by piece and still have enough “stuff” to be interesting. Might be enough related scrap over there to spread around a bit as well. The loading dock or the starport might have something interesting there, too. An Ancients man’s trash could easily be a modern man’s treasure.

Meanwhile, Roscoe can research for the entrance to the pocket universe.

Thirdly, the ship can run scans for a possible Ancient’s or not-quite-Ancients’ derelict in system.

Either way, I think we may have enough of a plan that we can explore three options as we go to our next step. We’ll make a decision at our leisure when we have more info and can more clearly evaluate the findings.

What’s everybody think of that? Silencer?”

[terrymixon]

Walt-
”First things first, let’s quickly explore the unknown section of this station so we at least have an idea of all that this moon base is. Then let’s go after Mad Dog’s murderers. That opportunity might be fleeting.

During transit or down time, I can lead an exploration of the Boneyard if others want to look around the loading dock and starport in the other side of the Wardrobe.

There might be a small craft over in the Boneyard or shipyards in enough pieces to come through the teleportal piece by piece and still have enough “stuff” to be interesting. Might be enough related scrap over there to spread around a bit as well. The loading dock or the starport might have something interesting there, too. An Ancients man’s trash could easily be a modern man’s treasure.

Meanwhile, Roscoe can research for the entrance to the pocket universe.

Thirdly, the ship can run scans for a possible Ancient’s or not-quite-Ancients’ derelict in system.

Either way, I think we may have enough of a plan that we can explore three options as we go to our next step. We’ll make a decision at our leisure when we have more info and can more clearly evaluate the findings.

What’s everybody think of that? Silencer?”

"It will take time to get to Aki from here if we want to be sure we don't get seen," Roscoe said. "If we only use thrust 1, it will take us almost 8 hours, but we will be safe from detection. We could probably halve that and still be safe, but I would like to get clear of the outer system first."

[Tiglath]

"I like that idea of drawing the attention away from here. Perhaps we fess up to getting onto Mad-Dog's old ship. Say we found a reference to a location on another gas-giant moon in the computer consul we retrieved. We went to the coordinates, and look what we found... ."

Garvin responds with "I think I like the idea of using Mad Dog's old ship as a prop. Treegarden can go there, find the secret compartments on board and kick 'erself for missin' 'em. When sellin' a con you can't beat good tangible props an' a touch of the old verisimilitude. Talkin' of which I'd claim Mad Dog left the "treasure map" on a "stick it" note - more 'is style. 'Ow about throwin' this in - 'ave the Ancient tech loaded up in a standard Imperial crate? Then we don't 'ave to create either an Ancient shipwreck or some sort of "crime scene" an' Treegarden can vex 'erself wonderin' 'ow it got there an' chasin' non existent archaeotech thieves - or some'ow blame Mad Dog. We're also forensically sound - if trace evidence ID's us there's no surprise because we were Treegarden's very own agents makin' the recovery in the field. As a plan it'll do as a "work in progress". We can finesse it later".

"As you say Mad Dog's killers are the main event for now".

[Tiglath]

Garvin will act as back up for the teleporter exploration.

Feel free to add yourself to either person doing the exploring.

Garvin will place himself "in reserve" with the equally impressed/baffled Arkar. His official position on the Ancients gear and pocket universe(s) is we shouldn't mess with it and "It is what it is". As far as he's concerned one of the things it (very definitely) is is "beyond comprehension". He'll focus his efforts on the immediate and mundane.

[helvorn]

Walt-
”First things first, let’s quickly explore the unknown section of this station so we at least have an idea of all that this moon base is. Then let’s go after Mad Dog’s murderers. That opportunity might be fleeting.

During transit or down time, I can lead an exploration of the Boneyard if others want to look around the loading dock and starport in the other side of the Wardrobe.

There might be a small craft over in the Boneyard or shipyards in enough pieces to come through the teleportal piece by piece and still have enough “stuff” to be interesting. Might be enough related scrap over there to spread around a bit as well. The loading dock or the starport might have something interesting there, too. An Ancients man’s trash could easily be a modern man’s treasure.

Meanwhile, Roscoe can research for the entrance to the pocket universe.

Thirdly, the ship can run scans for a possible Ancient’s or not-quite-Ancients’ derelict in system.

Either way, I think we may have enough of a plan that we can explore three options as we go to our next step. We’ll make a decision at our leisure when we have more info and can more clearly evaluate the findings.

What’s everybody think of that? Silencer?”

"Garvin, Growler I think you have the right combination. Let's do what growler outlined and take Garvin's idea that we found added technology in Mad Dog's old ship. Or we come up with an other Easter egg to give her."

[terrymixon]

"I like that idea of drawing the attention away from here. Perhaps we fess up to getting onto Mad-Dog's old ship. Say we found a reference to a location on another gas-giant moon in the computer consul we retrieved. We went to the coordinates, and look what we found... ."

Garvin responds with "I think I like the idea of using Mad Dog's old ship as a prop. Treegarden can go there, find the secret compartments on board and kick 'erself for missin' 'em. When sellin' a con you can't beat good tangible props an' a touch of the old verisimilitude. Talkin' of which I'd claim Mad Dog left the "treasure map" on a "stick it" note - more 'is style. 'Ow about throwin' this in - 'ave the Ancient tech loaded up in a standard Imperial crate? Then we don't 'ave to create either an Ancient shipwreck or some sort of "crime scene" an' Treegarden can vex 'erself wonderin' 'ow it got there an' chasin' non existent archaeotech thieves - or some'ow blame Mad Dog. We're also forensically sound - if trace evidence ID's us there's no surprise because we were Treegarden's very own agents makin' the recovery in the field. As a plan it'll do as a "work in progress". We can finesse it later".

"As you say Mad Dog's killers are the main event for now".

"Agreed," Roscoe said. "I don't want to stress this too hard, but we need to remember who and what we are. We aren't Ancients. We're us. We might have some new wrinkles but we're bounty hunters trying to set up our new business. The fact that we don't have to worry about money is a plus. The tools we can bring to the job are, too. We can't do that if we get obsessed about all these wonders. We should take what we can use and look at the rest when and if we have the time and inclination. It's not as if we need to sell more to get by. Aren't we already in the just keeping score stage? So what if we have a pocket universe and some planets? Do they help us now? If not, onto the back burner they go. Madam Treegarden is the problem we need to solve that involves all of this stuff. If we can do that, then we're free to go whoever we like and do whatever we want. Let's do that.

"Once Jaelah finishes her look around, we should do as Walt suggested and look at the last part of this base. We don't need to strip it bare, just record what is there for now. It'll be here when we get back from Aki and Glisten."

[joertexas]

"Once Jaelah finishes her look around, we should do as Walt suggested and look at the last part of this base. We don't need to strip it bare, just record what is there for now. It'll be here when we get back from Aki and Glisten."[/dialog]

Jaelah returns to the others. "It's only a matter of time before someone else discovers this place. Mad Dog did, we did, and who knows whom else will stumble onto another Ancients base none of us knows about?" She looks around and shakes her head. "To say this is galaxy-changing is a pallid understatement. But, as you all have been saying, we should keep our heads down for the time being."

[Thumper]

Growler-
I think the boss has spoken. Let me get a couple of things and let’s go see this other wing on this floor. Meet you all at the airlock in 5?”

[joertexas]

Growler-
I think the boss has spoken. Let me get a couple of things and let’s go see this other wing on this floor. Meet you all at the airlock in 5?”

"I will go with you," Jaelah says.

[terrymixon]

The closed hatch isn't too difficult to open. On the other side is a curving corridor that opens into six smaller docking bays. All but one are empty. The last holds a small ship shaped like a silver ovoid.



Getting into it isn't difficult and communicating with Bilis will allow you to connect with the ship's computer. It isn't very bright, but it is helpful. This is a 100-ton scout vessel and based on the interior layout, it was designed for humans. It is an ovoid at rest and a dart in flight.





Bilis will inform you that the particle beams are similar to the ones that were originally aboard your ship. These are more powerful, but of a similar nature. They are not nearly as powerful as the particle lances your new ship has or the annihilator built into the bow of your ship. The drives are within Imperial capability, though these are very small in comparison, and more advanced. Even the computer is within the bounds of Imperial technology. It also doesn't have the screens built into your ship, so it would be vulnerable to your weapons while it couldn't really have a chance of harming you.

In all, this vessel is not anything new to the Imperium--with the exception of the teleportal and the attached pocket universe providing fuel and power--though it is advanced.

Roscoe will grin at you once you have examined the ship. "This wouldn't upset the balance of power in the Imperium, but it would get us everything we want and need. If we place it near the binary star's gas giant and get Madan Treegarden, it will start a gold rush just like we want. Frankly, it's just about perfect. We can erase all history of where it has been and of us and they won't be able to trace it back here."

[Tiglath]

Garvin shrugs "Sounds like a solution to our problem called "What to get for the woman 'oo's got nearly everythin' " and doesn't track back to us or expose the base".

He adds "Arkar an me can polish the "sell" of the thing up over a glass or two but I think we're more or less there. We can "seed" the area about the find with some Ancients junk from the boneyard - "verisimilitude" can't beat it".

[joertexas]

Garvin shrugs "Sounds like a solution to our problem called "What to get for the woman 'oo's got nearly everythin' " and doesn't track back to us or expose the base".

He adds "Arkar an me can polish the "sell" of the thing up over a glass or two but I think we're more or less there. We can "seed" the area about the find with some Ancients junk from the boneyard - "verisimilitude" can't beat it".

"I like this idea," Jaelah agrees.

[terrymixon]

Garvin shrugs "Sounds like a solution to our problem called "What to get for the woman 'oo's got nearly everythin' " and doesn't track back to us or expose the base".

He adds "Arkar an me can polish the "sell" of the thing up over a glass or two but I think we're more or less there. We can "seed" the area about the find with some Ancients junk from the boneyard - "verisimilitude" can't beat it".

"If we could seed one of the moons there with the junk, it would give them a target that isn't us to dig into," Roscoe said. "We could put some Ancients drones in the cargo bay to sweeten the deal further. We have a lot of them here. The base made them until it ran out of materials. Add in a few antimatter batteries and she will have a lot to need to pay us for and that will get us everything."

[terrymixon]

The Ancients drones that Roscoe mentioned. They are more capable than human drones, but not much more. I don't have images of the antimatter batteries, but they are small ovoids about the size of your fist that put out one point of power for a very long time.