Chapter Two: Queen of the Belt

[ateno]

"Gentlepeople, if you don't mind, I would like to go along and record whats going on.

Pranit puts on his suit, unplugs it and sets his suit to record and send a copy to Tiberius.

Taps in the code and mimes a after you to the police.

With his big smiel

[BackworldTraveller]

Jinja and Pranit

Do you want the privilege of dismantling this lock? Whatever broke this did a good job. Melted it good and proper. What do you reckon? Cut it out? You're going to need to replace the door anyway.

[joertexas]

Jinja and Pranit

Do you want the privilege of dismantling this lock? Whatever broke this did a good job. Melted it good and proper. What do you reckon? Cut it out? You're going to need to replace the door anyway.

Indrani, who has been monitoring the goings-on from the Engineering panel, keys her comm. "No one who is not a current crewmember is to do any maintenance or disassembly on this ship."

[joertexas]

"Reven, if you're available, I could use some help down here in Engineering." Indrani says over the comm and the internal PA.

[ateno]

Do you want the privilege of dismantling this lock? Whatever broke this did a good job. Melted it good and proper. What do you reckon? Cut it out? You're going to need to replace the door anyway.

Ms. Jinja, I really apologize, I don't know who anyone is here. I'm just the XO, but I am not going to start dismantling willy-nilly without a check out or a plan.

If you excuse me, I am staying with the forensics."

[Stirling]

Tiberius

"Well if you have any continued concerns you can raise them at the shareholder conference though it seems most are keen to draw a line under previous history and start the ship trading again with a clean slate.

As to conspiracy theory and unproven allegations, your lawyer might advise some private eye to snoop for you but consider if you discover what your dad knew and as you know that what he knew was enough to get him conviniently killed, well then you endanger yourself and Mr Kole. .

You could ask the new captain to look into stuff. As for me. Hebden is dead. I bought his shares. I'm looking to make profit not trouble."


He makes a pragmatic response to Ngora's discourse.

[BackworldTraveller]

Tiberius

The police detectives are approaching, chatting to the crew packing up the contents of the bay - any second they'll be wanting access too. Ngora makes her way to the balcony and ascends to sit on the edge, watching.

[cybersavant]

"Reven, if you're available, I could use some help down here in Engineering." Indrani says over the comm and the internal PA.

Reven Stiilpahth taps the wall comm again. "Captain, Forensics is here in the hangar bay. I'll join you in engineering." Reven leaves the bay and heads down to engineering.

Once he is with the Captain he will elaborate.

"Captain. I fell behind - this suit has not temperature protection. I entered the hangar bay and found the yellow bulk of a Harbour Runabout partially blocking the view. Also in there is a brown, once-human but dried to a husk with a rictus grin; the mummified remains of a person, tied to a chair. What do you need me to work on here?"

[Stirling]

Tiberius

Cannabis trees, dead bodies. Tiberius isn't going to stop police from entry. He just points out the various protocols they should obey in line with good practice.

[BackworldTraveller]

Police Detective
To Tiberius

My colleague tells me that you have a Dead Body aboard. Tied. It is out duty to investigate - and this is a belt registered vessel so our jurisdiction is not in doubt.

Sergeant, secure the airlock and lets get this unravelled.

Officers, get down to the hanger deck and secure entry there so the evidence is not disturbed.

Now maybe we can get on with our job.

Now where is this Captain of yours?

[Stirling]

Tiberius

Shrugs at the officer, "yeah, whatever."
He points to the screen. "Captain is inside."

Figuring that the inspection of the ship and police check will take the rest of the day, he decides exit the starport facilities and head back to the hotel.

[joertexas]

Once he is with the Captain he will elaborate.
"Captain. I fell behind - this suit has not temperature protection. I entered the hangar bay and found the yellow bulk of a Harbour Runabout partially blocking the view. Also in there is a brown, once-human but dried to a husk with a rictus grin; the mummified remains of a person, tied to a chair. What do you need me to work on here?"

Indrani points to one of the side monitors on the engineering panel, where she has video feeds from every operational camera on the ship displayed in a rotating pattern. "I'm sorry about locking you out." She points to the workshop door, which is still sealed only with emergency spray sealant. "We're still in decompression danger here, so we need to restrict access to this compartment until that's fixed. We have two immediate issues that you can help address. First, the hull needs to be surveyed to be sure we remain airtight, especially with all of the assorted idiots who are clamoring to come aboard without a care for decompression events. Second, the Number One power bus won't energize; it keeps tripping the breaker. If you can work on those things, I'll see to life support, and then the fuel system."

[joertexas]

Tiberius

Shrugs at the officer, "yeah, whatever."
He points to the screen. "Captain is inside."

Figuring that the inspection of the ship and police check will take the rest of the day, he decides exit the starport facilities and head back to the hotel.

I forget, who was holding Indrani's gear for her? Was it Tiberius, or someone else?

[cybersavant]

Reven Stiilpahth heads over to check on the number one power bus and work to get that fixed first.

"I'll start with the power, then once i get that i can check the hull.

engineer power systems 1 [2d6] = 3[2d6] = 7

[joertexas]

Indrani leaves Reven to his work, and keys her comm. "Pranit, who else from our group is still outside in the bay?"

[joertexas]

I forget, who was holding Indrani's gear for her? Was it Tiberius, or someone else?

I reread the posts - it was Reven who had the rest of the tools and Indrani's personal gear!

"Reven, did you bring my gear and the rest of the tools aboard with you, or are they all still in the bay?"

[BackworldTraveller]

Summary of locations (per in my head):

• Pranit + Main Engineering Tools Supply + Three Forensics sorting through Growers Sleeping Quarters + Jinja: Crew Deck
• Leiberkind + Body: Hanger
• Reven + Indrani: Engineering
• Tiberius: Outside bay, about to go back to Hotel
• Ngora: On Balcony
• Investigator, Sergeant + 2 Officers: By Airlock
• 4 Forensics: Clearing up evidence in bay
• 2 police + Gawkers: Bay entrance to main corridor

[BackworldTraveller]

Lead Forensics Officer

You are Pranit, no? Was that cabin door shut by you guys or was it shut when you boarded? Given that you haven't been here for more than an hour, I guess the growers welded it shut...so we'd like to see what is on the other side.

And the Lieutenant would like to talk to the Captain 'cause a dead body means that this isn't just a case of finding a bunch of druggies, but a Homicide investigation. That will mean a substantial team and they will need unfettered access.

And it means we will be wanting to take statements from you all and we will need you out of the way while we work.

[BackworldTraveller]

Indrani

Looking at Reven, he looks distinctly blue and he is speaking a bit slowly.

The temperature on the lower decks has risen to about -75 and the air pressure is starting to rise (instead of the air getting warmer) as the frost really starts to vanish.

[BackworldTraveller]

Overhead by Arnwulf near the entrance to the bay

Delta to Control: Can you check with the Port where their runabout #1442 is listed as being located. Because we have found it in bay 13-13.