Chapter Two: Queen of the Belt

[joertexas]

Noor

Noor holds off on trying to reconnect the ship to the station.

As Nālani comes out, Noor nods and stops her for an update. "I got a message from Assana. The police are looking for us. Something about needing a statement. Do you know her, or what she does? I didn't give this number to anyone, but she left me a message." She also asks how things are going inside.

As the others come racing out, she gets her answer.

"What? What happened?"

Indrani explains once everyone has gathered outside of the bay door. "There's a pressure and temperature imbalance aboard the ship. We need to have vacc suits, tools, plus the items to collect evidence, before we enter the bay, or especially the ship. Is there anyone who doesn't have a vacc suit, or the funds to purchase one?"

[The Bindoner]

As Nālani comes out, Noor nods and stops her for an update. "I got a message from Assana. The police are looking for us. Something about needing a statement. Do you know her, or what she does? I didn't give this number to anyone, but she left me a message." She also asks how things are going inside.

Nālani appears about to bolt at first:The police are coming already? For us? before settling down to her usual poised calm demeanor Ah! A statement. I would prefer not to give that. I would have to either lie or inform on someone, and I abhor that. I imagine you have no relish for such an interview either. Shall we go and buy plastic clothes together?

I have not seen Assana since she was a child. A younger child. I am grateful to her though, for this warning. A resourceful girl, I think we shall get along very well.

Indrani explains once everyone has gathered outside of the bay door. "There's a pressure and temperature imbalance aboard the ship. We need to have vacc suits, tools, plus the items to collect evidence, before we enter the bay, or especially the ship. Is there anyone who doesn't have a vacc suit, or the funds to purchase one?"

I have a suit. I will go and get it while I purchase the evidence bags and cleaning materials.

[BackworldTraveller]

Noor and Nālani
As you walk away from the dock you do get the idea that the bay is remote - definitely a quiet corner of the port. It takes a good 15 minutes to reach the station. You see a police buggy by the admin building and two Police Officers and another uniformed person heading towards it down the steps from the front door.

[joertexas]

Indrani closes the bay door and stops to consult her tablet to see if she can have a vacc suit and a toolkit delivered to her at the bay.

[ateno]

Pranit waits until Indrani has a seperate moment.

Indrani, I'm not sure if you remember me...."

Pranit tells a few No s--t stories regarding our previous ships working together.

"I'm not sure if you know, but I am not actually part of the Queen. I was helping my friend Noor with the meeting.

Anyway, I have a Vacc Suit and a lot of experience with crime scenes and can add some credibility to the situation. I am willing to help you for some consideration in a position on the ship. I can support you at XO, OPS or whatever you desire."

[joertexas]

Pranit waits until Indrani has a seperate moment.

Indrani, I'm not sure if you remember me...."

Pranit tells a few No s--t stories regarding our previous ships working together.

"I'm not sure if you know, but I am not actually part of the Queen. I was helping my friend Noor with the meeting.

Anyway, I have a Vacc Suit and a lot of experience with crime scenes and can add some credibility to the situation. I am willing to help you for some consideration in a position on the ship. I can support you at XO, OPS or whatever you desire."

Indrani looks up from her tablet. "Great, you're the Ex-Oh. Please handle the investigation with the drugs and our guest's evidence, and figure out who can do what aboard ship. Everyone at the meeting can have a job, and we will need to meet once we have this mess under control to address the crew's concerns. In the meantime, I will focus on getting the ship ready to fly. Any engineering or mechanical talents you find, please send them to me for assignments. Vacc suits are mandatory, and tools of the trade are nice to have. Questions?"

[ateno]

Pranit smiles a bit.

Aye Captain, your wish is to document the drugs and setup we found inside, inspect the ship, make her vacuum worthy and make sure she can take power. In that order, correct?"

Then after any clafification.

I will go get my suit."

[joertexas]

Pranit smiles a bit.

Aye Captain, your wish is to document the drugs and setup we found inside, inspect the ship, make her vacuum worthy and make sure she can take power. In that order, correct?"

Then after any clafification.

I will go get my suit."

"Airtight and powered up on external power is first, but yes." She lifts her tablet. "I'm ordering a suit and a toolkit for delivery here."

[The Bindoner]

Noor and Nālani
As you walk away from the dock you do get the idea that the bay is remote - definitely a quiet corner of the port. It takes a good 15 minutes to reach the station. You see a police buggy by the admin building and two Police Officers and another uniformed person heading towards it down the steps from the front door.

Nālani keeps walking, chatting brightly to Noor about the new designs from the Zulu fashion label, and how the other designers compare.

At the same time she sends a text to Tiberius: "Two police officers and another uniform are on their way to you."

[Stirling]

Tiberius

Sits on the steps to the bay airlock. After the first order to evacuate he has sat outside, rolling up a fistful of waccy-baccy grains swept up from tossed aside nub ends and loose leaf.

"Ah! Student days." he reminisces taken a huge draw and puffing out a white cloud if doughnut sized smog. He nods at Reven "Quiet man. Cool man." he says as he gets the message of Sparks flatfoots heading his way.

"Vacc Suit. Don't need no Vacc Suit.
I'm a spaceman." he takes his jacket ofg and twirls around. " Ain't carrying no weapon officer. Pad ne down and check. Niyhing in my waist band. Need me to drop an roll? Say Mr Policeman. Look what the navy been doing. Took old smuggler Celisse's ship an been doing some smuggling of their own. Pirates them navy dudes, go arrest them all."

He blows another ring of smoke before stubbing the end out.

[joertexas]

Tiberius

Sits on the steps to the bay airlock. After the first order to evacuate he has sat outside, rolling up a fistful of waccy-baccy grains swept up from tossed aside nub ends and loose leaf.

"Ah! Student days." he reminisces taken a huge draw and puffing out a white cloud if doughnut sized smog. He nods at Reven "Quiet man. Cool man." he says as he gets the message of Sparks flatfoots heading his way.

"Vacc Suit. Don't need no Vacc Suit.
I'm a spaceman." he takes his jacket ofg and twirls around. " Ain't carrying no weapon officer. Pad ne down and check. Niyhing in my waist band. Need me to drop an roll? Say Mr Policeman. Look what the navy been doing. Took old smuggler Celisse's ship an been doing some smuggling of their own. Pirates them navy dudes, go arrest them all."

He blows another ring of smoke before stubbing the end out.

Indrani looks up from her tablet. "Enjoy that while you can. There's no smoke of any kind aboard ship, it screws with the environmental and fire suppression systems. If the police are looking for you, meet them elsewhere. We don't need them here until we can get the ship away from this bay."

[Stirling]

Tiberius

"Why would police want me. Got nothing to say to them." He takes the hint to take a hike and walks out the bay.

[Bluetongue]

about three hours after you left the hotel

using contact details obtained from the shareholders meeting, a comms unit pings with a message:.

"Captain Carter, please excuse the intrusion. I have investigated the attack upon one of your fellow shareholders and conclude the evidence points to an assasination attempt.

Having obtained security footage I will do further enquiries to establish the identity of the culprits.

The hotel have beefed up ongoing security.

Sincerely.

A.G.Lugersen
Security services."

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor

Before she leaves with Nālani, she suggests that they tell the police she wasn't there. "Tell them I changed my mind about seeing the ship, and went to go find something to eat." She shrugs. "Or whatever. I didn't feel the need to let you know where I was going." She winks at the Captain.

She keeps her head down while walking with Nālani. "Let's avoid them a bit more. I don't feel like questions right now."

[cybersavant]

Reven Stiilpahth

"Right Captain. I'll head down to engineering - see how bad it is there. I'll call you on my comm."

[joertexas]

Reven Stiilpahth

"Right Captain. I'll head down to engineering - see how bad it is there. I'll call you on my comm."

If Reven is wearing a vacc suit... "Be careful in there. If something happens, no one else is suited up to assist you."

If Reven is not wearing a vacc suit. "Please wait until you're suited up to go inside."

[joertexas]

about three hours after you left the hotel

using contact details obtained from the shareholders meeting, a comms unit pings with a message:.

"Captain Carter, please excuse the intrusion. I have investigated the attack upon one of your fellow shareholders and conclude the evidence points to an assasination attempt.

Having obtained security footage I will do further enquiries to establish the identity of the culprits.

The hotel have beefed up ongoing security.

Sincerely.

A.G.Lugersen
Security services."

"Thank you, please keep Pranit informed as to the investigation's progress. He is the Executive Officer at his request."

[cybersavant]

Reven Stiilpahth checks inside the bay to see if the lockers still contain viable vacc suits.

[joertexas]

Reven Stiilpahth checks inside to see if the lockers still contain viable vacc suits.

Reven goes inside the ship without a suit when Indrani *just* asked him to not do that, or is he checking the docking bay lockers?

[BackworldTraveller]

Reven
The emergency locker in the docking-bay has a full emergency kit - Rescue Bubbles for 20, 2 are bubble-suits (like rescue bubbles but with short "Arms/Gloves" extensions), an emergency pressure-lock, fire-fighting equipment, hull patches, sealant foam, stretcher. It seems that whoever looted the ship left the station's emergency gear alone.

Tiberius
There's a public bench in an alcove about 50m up the corridor that looks a good place to practice your space-walking

Indrani, Ngora
While waiting for the Vacc Suit you sit in the "Farm"/"Plantation" and wait. It gives you a good opportunity to look about. Sadly, there isn't much to see. Just dead plants in pots. Once the water stopped they'd have died quite quickly. Whoever stopped the water, left while the plants were alive as any movement now causes more dust from broken fronds. But why didn't they come back?

Ngora interrupts the reverie by asking you about your previous ship, friends and acquaintances.

Pranit
You are walking back towards the station/admin block/storage lockers. If you hurry you might catch Noor and Nalani, but you haven't gone far when you see a police buggy proceeding down the tunnel towards you.

All
Just a note: This rock is spun to 1/3rd G at the equator - the axis of the planet is over your head and the surface under your feet. 1 day-cycle is very short. If you go outside at the equator you will fall off. You are at the poles - The spin-G-pull is lower. Here most corridors are now artificial-gravity plated but the side corridors/tunnels aren't so you get some odd effects of small local gravity, smaller centrifugal force and grav-plates

The docking cradle appears to be holding the ship at about 1/3G about in line with its long axis. (i.e. The floor is the floor)