Marduk

[The Bindoner]

The end of Jump week approaches, and the watches are doubled as Precipitation nears. It is never possible to precisely predict the moment, and for safety a Pilot and Sensor Op ought to be on the Bridge for the 24 hours leading up to the estimated time.

Down in Engineering Remington, who has been living with the Drive for most of the Week, hears the change in tone before the instruments show subtly declining power or the gradually increased vibration becomes obvious. The Rumblings indicating the final hour of Jump has begun.

This time the estimate was pretty near spot on and Ridley and Regina are at their posts when Remington reports. The hour's warning is plenty of time for the rest of the crew to reach their stations before the ship leaves Jump Space.

The Cunning Serpent drops out of the pocket universe it had inhabited 1 hour early and appears in the Known Universe again with a flare of dissipating energy.

With Njörðr's protection Rán's realm has again been traversed in safety. For this ship, at least.

Regina performs a Sensor scan of the system. No other ships appear to be present.

The Serpent is 500,000km ( the 100D Jump Limit) from the Gas Giant nearest Marduk Prime and using the bulk of the planet as a shield. The inner system should be unaware of your arrival. It will take approximately 4 hours to reach the upper layers of the Giant.

Sensor check: [2d6] = 7: -2 Civilian Sensors +3 Sensor Skill +1 Int = 9

[The Bindoner]

Soon other ships start precipitating out of Jump. They are the lead ships of two other clans and are at some distance from the Serpent but equidistant from the Giant. The Gas Giant is, by definition, enormous, with room for all, but there is a tradition of "First fleet to reach it fuels first". The Serpent is only minutes ahead, nothing in terms of interplanetary distances.

Race?

Rolls that will help are Pilot. Engineer/PP, Engineer/M=Drive, Tactics/Naval. I'll consider bids for other assists.

[Legion Lee]

Leon was quietly impressed with Ridley resolve during the tattoo he congratulates him by slapping him on the back. well done, you back up your bravado real well He pays up the bet to Kar.

Back to the action and the race to fuel up. Leon uses ship tactics roll and passes over suggestions to Kar and Ridley. a old attack strike pattern used in a prvious combat.



OOC rolled dice roller got 11, not sure how to copy link....still getting there bit more practice on the format required.
[2d6] = 11 +2 = 13

[Gorethirster]

While Remington personally thinks that racing to be the first one to fuel on a gas giant which can comfortably accommodate the entire fleet is moronic, he also assumes that it's the course of action that will taken. Given that assumption, he has Gris and Handson stand ready at the power plant and maneuver drives respectively. While Remington won't tell engineering to key up the drives for a race without a direct order, he will have the prep work done so that they can react as soon as the order comes. Even if it doesn't it's not like a ship has ever suffered from an over-attentive engineering crew.

[hardrocks]

"Our Serpent is thirsty, let's not keep her waiting number 2"

[Tiglath]

Raven smiles. She stands quietly on the bridge, interested in the workings of the crew but not interfering with space operations. Her hair is braided at the sides and brushed back and secured so as to accommodate her helmet. Wearing only her form fitting under armour and having to still to put on her "war glory" she wears no weapons and simply carries "Battle Hag" in her scabbard.

[coastguarder]

First wincing with a little pain form the slap of the back ... Ridley grins Lets see if we have put the wind up our drive shaman enough to have engineering team pissing straight ......

[2d6] = 3

OOC must have been the slap on the back .....

[Gorethirster]

Remington isn't entirely sure if Ridley's comment should be taken as an order or not, but in the spirit of avoiding a pointless pissing match he decides to assume it is. As Gris and Handson boost the drives Remington hovers over their shoulders. Given the low stakes circumstances, he doesn't feel like too much of a bother asking stupid questions as he tries to get a feel for drives that aren't jump related.

Gris' roll to boost the power plant: [2d6+3] = 11+3 = 14
Handson's roll for the M drive: [2d6+2] = 10+2 = 12

[The Bindoner]

The other two ships are the Eir and the Galti.

Eir ( or Mercy ), more commonly called the Clumsy Chirugeon, or Waddling Nurse. Originally named for a Valkyrie this ship has been fitted with a medical bay and better represents Eir's healing aspect than that of swooping down to take warriors from the battlefield to Valhalla. All the more so because her aerofins are buckled, giving her poor handling in atmospheric flight.

Galti ( The Boar ), known as the Pigpen ( or Hog in Shite ). It is a Raider specialised as a stockyard ship, it's cargo hold fitted to carry livestock. The smell of animals and their waste lingers about it.

Gris handles the output and flow of power from the Fusion plant masterfully, dimming unnecessary systems and re-routing the energy to the Gravitics. Handson tunes the M-Drive to it's full capacity, and adds some thrust from the attitudinal thrusters. Leon's assessment of the micro-moons and other satellites allows Ridley to plot a course that avoids hazards and gains some small assists.

Despite the help, and Ridley's own skill, he finds the ship doesn't respond as readily as he would wish.

While The Serpent soon pulls ahead of the Eir, Galti keeps pace all the way.

The Serpent and Galti will reach the atmosphere at the same time, unless one or the other does something to leap ahead.



Ridley: [2d6] = 3 +2 Pilot skill, +1 Dex, +1 assist from Handson, +2 assist from Gris, +2 assist from Leon = 11

Eir: [2d6] = 7

Galti: [2d6] = 11

[hardrocks]

Kar weighs up the options available. Not wanting to have to wait for another clans fleet to refuel first, that could easily take a day, we'd rather be in there first.

"Ok, let's not hang about. Ridley use the R-Drive thrust. Give it a 10 minute burn, see where that gets us"

[Gorethirster]

Given that the bridge hadn't yet told him to scale back drive power, Remington was forced to assume that the race to the planet was still ongoing. And given that engineering didn't seem to have much more to give without going to full emergency power and breaking things, a different idea crept into Remington's head. He didn't like it, not because it necessarily endangered the ship, but because it was just such an.. Oghman solution. But it never hurt to be a team player, so he sauntered over to the voice pipes to make unwanted tactical solutions to the professionals on the bridge.

"I take it our efforts to outpace whoever we're currently racing haven't succeeded yet, since the drives are still running hot. Since simply going faster doesn't seem to be working, have we considered making our rival... flinch? Nothing serious, but perhaps a friendly little warning shot across the bow? Certainly not aimed to connect, but enough to put a little more caution in our rival's advance."

Remington studiously attempted to keep his tone light, a mere airing of ideas, since not only was he suggesting tactics to the bridge, but advocating for opening fire on (and deliberately missing) an allied vessel. Still, it might win them their race, if it didn't win Remington yet more trouble.

[Legion Lee]

I take it our efforts to outpace whoever we're currently racing haven't succeeded yet, since the drives are still running hot. Since simply going faster doesn't seem to be working, have we considered making our rival... flinch? Nothing serious, but perhaps a friendly little warning shot across the bow? Certainly not aimed to connect, but enough to put a little more caution in our rival's advance."

Leon smiles, I was just thinking the same thing my little reptile friend To Ingrid Ingrid target just to the left of the lead ship and fire on the captains mark Leon will target a few 100 meters in front. This is what he is good at ready when you are captain, just say the word and we will light them up

This is going to be fun

[Tiglath]

Raven says “Wait! I will reason with them”.

When someone has opened a ship to ship comm channel she speaks “Galti, tell your steersman to lean on his oar! You saw the portents before we entered Rán's realm. The gods were pleased and the entire fleet gave way - but now you will not? If you hold your course you will offend the gods and slight the raiding Jarls who did not look to their own pride when they gave us passage. This is Raven Sorrow who speaks and I will not let such insults stand!”

“Now, turn aside or it will be hólmganga. You can line up to die one by one for I will challenge the entire ship for this insult and make a crow’s feast of you all – bridge crew first. I have never feared death and would welcome it now for I have seen the glint in the All Father’s eye and know I will have my seat in his feast hall. I don’t think the same would be true for those who spit on his portents. So, will you become níðingr in this life and the next?”

Raven’s features sharpen, her black gaze hardens and her lips draw back from her teeth in a grin of raw feral anticipation as she snarls "Niflheim and my blade wait on your answer!"

(OOC: Oghman negotiation!)

[The Bindoner]

The Galti silently keeps pace for a minute or two before their comm transmits. It is the Raid Leader who speaks rather than the Captain.

Raven Sorrow, I would be honoured to match blades with you, but not over this. Njörðr brought you here before us, and I will not abide a challenge to the blessings of the gods.

He grins and adds:

Our Boar is as fast as your Serpent though, isn't he?

Galti doesn't slow, but it changes course slightly, enough to allow the Serpent to pull ahead.

The swirling clouds of the Gas Giant fill the view ahead. Three layers beneath the surface, beyond the water ice and the ammonia ice, there is the pure hydrogen the Serpent thirsts for.

Pilot roll please



Reaction Roll: [2d6] = 7 +1 Ship Reputation, +1 Raven's Reputation, +1 Divine Mandate invoked, +1 Weapons aimed = 11. Neutral shifted to Allied.

[coastguarder]

[2d6] = 11

Dont fret captain ... ive got this .... the sooner we get this lot onto some kind of meaningful battle the better ..... its a good sign .... they are ready .... let make a quick job of this refuelling

[Tiglath]

Raven smiles back, pleased with the compliment and replies “That would be an honour indeed, Raid Leader - but it seems we are in agreement. This is not an affair of men or clans but the will of the gods - none can or will claim glory from it”.

She inclines her head respectfully then, as she raises it again, her smile broadens “Lord, this Serpent is cunning - maybe your Boar should be careful with his assumptions? Or perhaps our pilot is still sore from my attentions in jump and is holding himself back?”

[coastguarder]

“Now, turn aside or it will be hólmganga. You can line up to die one by one for I will challenge the entire ship for this insult and make a crow’s feast of you all – bridge crew first. I have never feared death and would welcome it now for I have seen the glint in the All Father’s eye and know I will have my seat in his feast hall. I don’t think the same would be true for those who spit on his portents. So, will you become níðingr in this life and the next?”

Quietly through a private channel with the captain and raising a eyebrow This one is full of beans ay skipper

“Lord, this Serpent is cunning - maybe your Boar should be careful with his assumptions? Or perhaps our pilot is still sore from my attentions in jump and is holding himself back?”

As a red blooded viking male it was difficult for Ridley not to be impressed but also terrified of this Shield-maiden... she was certainly just the right mix of fearsome competent and ...... well insane...

indeed ..... I and this craft booth have plenty up our sleeves .... keeping the powder dry ay

[The Bindoner]

The Cunning Serpent approaches the outer layers of the Gas Giant's atmosphere at a shallow angle, slipping into the clouds rather than plunging. Ridley enters one of the pale bands, a zone of warmer rising gases. It will bring hydrogen from the deeper layers closer to the surface, and bouy the ship up so there is less danger of going too deep for the M-Drive to escape ( or the hull to resist the pressure )

As the gases become denser the ship starts to fly, the aerofins making it extremely responsive and a pleasure to pilot. The feedback from the controls tells Ridley the pressures and wind currents of the gasses outside, but visibility is nil and Regina's sensor readings are the best course guide.

Emerging into the ice layers Ridley steepens the angle, generating heat and forming a thin envelope of steam to protect the hull.

40km down the ice gives way to Hydrogen droplets mixed with ammonia above a layer of ammonium hydrosulfide ice. There is pure hydrogen lower, but the pressure is too great for a ship like the Serpent.

Spotting the moment by the handling characteristics of the ship Ridley manipulates a control and the scoops open. The gases rush in, filling the tanks within an hour, and Ridley rides the convection currents up through the cloud deck and emerges into the orange light of the K7 V star at the centre of the system. It is in the same sequence as the sun of Oghma, but more massive.

More ships have arrived.

The Ásgeirr ships are moving to scoop fuel as they arrive while the other clans are forming into their fleets in orbit.

It will take 12 hours for the fuel to be processed, refining out the ammonia contaminates.

This can be done on the way to your destination, or you could wait in cover of the fleet(s) until you are able to Jump out of trouble.

EDIT

refining time added.



Regina on Sensors: [2d6] = 8 +3 Sensor Skill, +1 Int = 12
Ridley Piloting: [2d6] = 11 +2 Pilot Skill, +1 Dex, +1 Regina's Assist = 15

[Tiglath]

Raven ponders the raiding options and calls a council of war with Kar and Ridley. She says “We should use our speed to our advantage and strike a settlement before we are expected. Perhaps a trawler would provide easier pickings? I’ve not attacked one before but I assume if we put enough holes in it and the crew in the ocean then they’ll be quite keen to come aboard the Serpent! Whatever target we pick it doesn’t matter because it’s a means to an end”.

“Then we go to this Blackrock. I like the sound of it - a place where criminals with ships, starfaring crews and technology think themselves safe. That will be the true target of our raid - I want to steal a smuggling ship! There are no prizes worth taking from ravaged Marduk that would compare to an Imperial built ship!”

[coastguarder]

Ridley was totally in love.......... in that moment he had realised it ..... he wasn't sure what to do at all ...... or what to say .....

Bellowing loudly and nervously

Indeed a fine idea what say you captain ?