Chapter Five - Tuesday: After the meeting

[BackworldTraveller]

Spacewalk and after

[The Bindoner]

Nālani appears from the stateroom in her Vac Suit, ready to go. The suit has hard polycarbon plates that have been scuffed and repainted several times. At present it is mostly matte orangey-red with white trim. On each shoulder and the helmet back is a holo-decal of a white Kitsune mask. Fluorescent orange panels and strips and reflective tape aid identification and orientation, and there are packs of fluorescent pink slap-patches ( for sealing suit breaches ) mounted on chest, back and thigh. Her EVA thrust pistol is holstered at her side.

After doing a mutual suit-check with Arnwulf she grins through her visor: I've been looking forward to this.

Cycling the airlock and opening the hatch she steps out and takes a moment to enjoy being in float before activating her magnetic grapples and beginning the slow, careful inspection.



Electronics:[2d6] = 9

Engineer:[2d6] = 7

Vac Suit:[2d6] = 8

If applicable Nālani has a +2 Int and +2 Dex DM

[joertexas]

Indrani makes a list of things she wants to buy for her room aboard ship.

Before she leaves, she goes to Pranit. "Anything else before I go shopping? Oh, and as a reminder, please make sure someone is standing Dutchman watch whenever someone goes EVA."

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

Suited up. "Ladies first." he waves her ahead, following with his bundle of equipment.

Arnwulf goes on spacewalk. Vacc Suit [3d6] = 8 Mechanics [2d6+1] = 4+1 = 5 Electronics on sensors [2d6] = 5

It seems he struggles to really focus on much above keeping himself from floating away.

[BackworldTraveller]

Arnwulf and Nalani

Walking outside is always a bit of a rush - particularly with the whole bay at 1/3rd G - clinging to an 8 story block, badly lit with inadequate holds in a vacuum. What could possibly go wrong?

Climbing up to the bow is an effort. But you are cautious professionals and it's all OK. Missile housings are all locked and (per computer) empty when checked. Ditto sandcaster - at least you haven't got 4 years old explosives to worry about.

External aerials are about as the computer described them. Paint's not bad. The nose is a bit scuffed from micro-meteorite strikes, but nothing unexpected in a ship of her age. Pop-up turret just looks like a shroud for a radar - what the ship was doing with that is a question; but the guns were removed by the Navy (per the log) as the whole installation was unregistered. That would have put the Captain in jail for...well a while. Passenger deck - nothing to see. Ditto, freezer deck. The passenger airlock looks good and there is no sign of seal issues.

The hanger deck is interesting. Someone has opened the lock and attached a black-box - looks distinctly like a bypass for the locks. Probably costly (Nalani has, of course, never seen one of these before; but the parts might be specialist enough to be traceable if the electrician wasn't careful). Whether you try it or remove it or what can be decided later.

Cargo deck doors are awkward to check out - but it's only a 3 story drop if you slip...careful, careful.

Moving from Cargo to Power deck on the good side - nothing to see. Manoeuvre deck is also good on that side. Inspection if directly aft is going to be hard as that is a ceiling with no support...Its the grav generators main thrust plate and that will need a look - but not by you without a safety net. It will take at least an hour to rig and another hour to clear - or you could inspect from an air-raft more easily.

Coming up the workshop side the ship is less pristine...a hole the size of a football, part sealed, but too large for the sealant to have been effective, and several smaller craters full of sealant. Worse, there seems to be a line of sealant along a crack in the hull between the top of the workshop and the cargo deck. If that's visible from inside then there's a major yard job to fix it properly - and having had it hang in gravity for 4 years is not going to have helped. First piece of work would be to patch the two unsealed holes though. Looking inside, the space actually looks (apart from the exit hole) relatively untouched. Whatever went through left plasma burns but didn't ignite anything. They were probably running on a low-pressure basis when hit. Grind off the sealant, plate the holes and repaint. Fortunately, white is the colour used with nothing fancy so a respray will be simple. But the bad news is that the hull-integrity is about 10% compromised. The good news is that the workshop may be untouched since the boarding action.

From the outside, you get a good look at the bay 13-13. You figure it's good for up to 2000 dTons (give or take) and the doors are nothing but a mesh-grid holding the upper gravity field generators. Not good enough to stop a moving starship. It you want out you can go - although your welcome may be a bit threadbare if that's the way you take-off.

Overall, the outer-skin of the hull is only mildly radioactive due to interactions with flare activity and radiation belts : barely above "Normal". The runs in-system for the PLDES don't seem to have caused any permanent mark. From what you can see she's not going to pass the space-worthiness certificate while full of holes and cracked, but patch those and you are good to go!

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

Takes in the visual, assessing the damage from the seizure and negligent storage above the normal expectations for 'wear and tear'.

Probably from among crew and shareholders we have enough skill to repair parts to a workable standard ourselves with conscripting specialists for the more technical or severe jobs seems the best recommended action. He is not making the decision of course but the limited funds means we need to have more crew hands on deck, spanners and welding gear grasped.

Are there any other craft nearby or flying around? Any bay cameras that observe our inspection?

He will stay out on the space walk until the oxygen supply hits the recommended return time.

The ship is not armed? Hmm. That is not good with pirate raids on recent shipping between asteroids and who knows who gunning for Noor or Jusu Saffa's millions?

[The Bindoner]

Nālani is enjoying her rare opportunity to walk outside, something she used to do for a living and misses. She good-humouredly teases Arnwulf:

You need skin-walker boots like mine, Well-Wallah, so you can look at things that aren't your feet, yah?

The state of the Queen is sad, but perhaps not as bad as she feared – though that crack is worrying. First priority check when we're back inside. The breach needs at least a temporary plate so we can get access to the workshop, so second job is to source the parts and equipment for that.

Having conducted the survey Nālani switches off the live feed and record at the airlock.

Longer reply tomorrow.

[BackworldTraveller]

Arnwulf
The ship is not armed? Hmm. That is not good with pirate raids on recent shipping between asteroids and who knows who gunning for Noor or Jusu Saffa's millions?

How many of the world's merchant vessels are currently armed? - OK it's more like the 17th Century Merchant Fleet but even that was mostly unarmed. On the other hand...Maybe this is another administrative hurdle the evil games master has thrown in your path!

[BackworldTraveller]

Arnwulf

Are there any other craft nearby or flying around? Any bay cameras that observe our inspection?

The bay has cameras - indeed the preliminary inspection was carried out by using them - there is one in each of the 8 corners but only 7 actually work. Ships and craft do periodically pass the bay while you are working, but the general feeling is that they are just passing. None appear to be hanging about.

[ateno]

Having conducted the survey Nālani switches off the live feed and record at the airlock.

Pranit meets them at the airlock pressure doors.
"Good job people, when you get a chance lets get that order in for repair items. but take a half after our out and drink something.
Food will be in a bit."

Pranit heads off and seriously looks at ship supplier companies.

[BackworldTraveller]

Queen of the Belt

A message from "Sparks Freight", a freight Forwarding Company, has been received. It is asking if we have determined a destination and departure date. They say they can provide (perhaps) provide cargo - depending upon our answer.

How would you like to respond?

[ateno]

Queen of the Belt

A message from "Sparks Freight", a freight Forwarding Company, has been received. It is asking if we have determined a destination and departure date. They say they can provide (perhaps) provide cargo - depending upon our answer.

"Sparks Freight:

Thank you for your interest in transportation of your goods. Though the 'Queen of the Belt' is out of the major judicial entanglements there are still many matters both physical and ethereal that the crew has to solve before we feel comfortable entertaining business. Given that you have asked, you will be first in line when we decide to become operational.

Thank you for your interest:

XO"

[BackworldTraveller]

Queen of the Belt

A forensics officer has presented himself at the airlock and requests entry. He wants to get the Port's buggy to their lab for examination. They will need to dock to the hanger to remove it.

[ateno]

Queen of the Belt

A forensics officer has presented himself at the airlock and requests entry. He wants to get the Port's buggy to their lab for examination. They will need to dock to the hanger to remove it.

After checking ID and authorization for taking buggy, and letting him in.

"We are just finishing with a skin inspection, we will have to get them inside before letting you dock. Otherwise, grab a caff. Queen designate the forensic office as a guest. Prepare for docking maneuvers.

Pranit quickly studies procedures for docking with the Queen.

[The Bindoner]

Pranit meets them at the airlock pressure doors.
"Good job people, when you get a chance lets get that order in for repair items. but take a half after our out and drink something. Food will be in a bit."

Carrying her helmet Nālani responds: If there is clean water I will have some. I am not particularly fatigued though. The cooling rig in my suit was one of my better investments, it really makes it quite liveable.

That crack with the filler, I am most anxious to inspect that from the inside. I think I will stay in the suit until I have done so.

[BackworldTraveller]

Pranit

As a vessel tied to the dock, the manoeuvres are straight forward - just make sure everyone is out of the way! If you'd like to oversee the transfer, you are welcome to watch.

The Forensics Officer asks if you have got round to listing of your stolen gear yet? They'd like the list of the missing items when it's completed. The sooner the better as there is a lot of pressure from the politicians to "Find the rest of the gang". He leaves a contact address for the list.

[ateno]

Carrying her helmet Nālani responds: If there is clean water I will have some. I am not particularly fatigued though. The cooling rig in my suit was one of my better investments, it really makes it quite liveable.

That crack with the filler, I am most anxious to inspect that from the inside. I think I will stay in the suit until I have done so.

"Go right ahead, stay safe. We are goning to be running a docking manuver in a bit, just be aware, I'll have Queen broadcast a warning when its coming."

To the Forensics officer.

"Ya we are on it, we might need a couple days, making the ship safe for now. Crack in the hull."

Pranit will oversee the docking and transfer.

[The Bindoner]

Nālani finds a sealed bottle of water, drinks a little, and stows it in a "pocket" on the suit.

Arnwulf, would you like to continue our inspection?

Replacing her helmet she signals for a seal-check and, when it is OK'd, reactivates live feed and record and sets off to inspect the area with the damage.

[cybersavant]

Reven Stiilpahth continues working on the water lines until the next crew meeting, formal or informal. He keeps the comms in the area open to listen to any chatter.

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

"Well we talk the talk. Let us walk the walk." He carries on with the inspection.

I figure with the size of the ship and only the two of use, it will take all day anyway. Would rather tooth comb it all now, noting every indent and scratch to get a full inventory on the state of the craft.