Chapter Five - Tuesday: After the meeting

[BackworldTraveller]

Reven
It is sad to see such a classic design in such a state. The ancient but well maintained engines were loved once, and will be again. The vessel's feng-shui is disturbed and a bit of meditation on the subject is interrupted by a message. Ingabire Jonsdottir: Asking if you are wanting to be involved in Akaliza's choice of High School? It seems she has a choice of the two local schools or a residential scholarship to a place in Shelter (of all places). She supposes that you'd prefer the scholarship as that will reduce your contributions.

[BackworldTraveller]

Pranit & Forensics Officer
The Forensics Officer contacts his colleague. They will have to open the dock gate while the recovery gig manoeuvres - the artificial gravity will have to shut off outside. They will be here in 10 minutes.

He then contacts the port and confirms that they will need the dock opened.

The port contacts the ship to confirm arrangements.

I bet you'll be glad to see the back of us all. All these bodies and strangers traipsing through your vessel. Mind you it is a bit of a tip - but I think you got off lightly.

[cybersavant]

Reven
It is sad to see such a classic design in such a state. The ancient but well maintained engines were loved once, and will be again. The vessel's feng-shui is disturbed and a bit of meditation on the subject is interrupted by a message. Ingabire Jonsdottir: Asking if you are wanting to be involved in Akaliza's choice of High School? It seems she has a choice of the two local schools or a residential scholarship to a place in Shelter (of all places). She supposes that you'd prefer the scholarship as that will reduce your contributions.

Reven Stiilpahth stops working for a moment. He types out a reply. What is Akaliza's preference? If she has none, then yes, i think the scholarship makes the most sense. Reven thinks back to his university days as he gets back to work.

[The Bindoner]

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.

Yes, better to do it all in one. We will finish the hull check first, then I suggest we inspect the fuel tanks. After that the turret. Your area of expertise I believe?

As they walk through the ship she talks to Pranit over the comm: Once we have completed the inspection I think our first priority is to put a patch on the hull so we can use the workshop. That will make the rest of the work much easier.

[BackworldTraveller]

Forensics Officer
Docking 5 minutes out. Gravity dropping to negligible shortly...all ready?

[The Bindoner]

We will be fine. Thirty seconds warning will do.

Nālani engages her suit's magnetic grapples and checks Arnwulf is secure.

[BackworldTraveller]

Outside
Gravity drops to some smaller value as the artificial field is switched off - and the lighting gets dimmer as the main gate to the bay opens. The looming shape of a 50 dTon cutter appears and sidles up to The Queen. The hanger isn't intended as an air-lock so a horde of workers start erecting a temporary one. This is a non-trivial exercise, but clearly one they have undertaken before.

(Arnwulf notes that they are wearing the badges of the "Sparks Emergency Atmosphere & Rescue Corps".)

[ateno]

Outside
Gravity drops to some smaller value as the artificial field is switched off - and the lighting gets dimmer as the main gate to the bay opens. The looming shape of a 50 dTon cutter appears and sidles up to The Queen. The hanger isn't intended as an air-lock so a horde of workers start erecting a temporary one. This is a non-trivial exercise, but clearly one they have undertaken before.

Pranit gets the whole thing recforded and has the person in charge sign a piece of paper 'received as is'.

"Thank you everyone. Bye for now. Pranit puts everything back to right and then orders equipment and supplies to hard patch the exterior damage.

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

Quite happy to spend the day on outside inspection then prioritising sealing the holes in the ship. He can grind and weld various plates in place.

Once the days physical activity is done he will grab food and a cabin.

Are there still more police and forensics exploring the ship or has their investigations been completed?

[BackworldTraveller]

Queen of the Belt

The Forensics Officers leave the ship and then it's all quiet. Pranit's plugs arrive, along with the various equipment to reset the self-sealing feature, etc. One thing is obvious - whoever built the Queen did so on the cheap - It's external skin is what is euphemistically described as "Light".

Would whoever is providing the "Labourer" role please make a Mechanic roll; and whoever is the lead welder please make a Mechanic roll; and both please make a routine Athletics (Dexterity) roll for your low-G skills in not falling off.

[BackworldTraveller]

Pranit

Message from Archana Busai

Hi, Have you got Jinga there...He was due to collect Assana earlier, and failed to show up.

[The Bindoner]

Nālani was never really rated as a mechanic, she just took a course in maintenance when she joined the Queen and helped fix things if extra hands were needed. She'll stick to carrying things and putting them in place.

Arnwulf, you have the training and experience for welding, you should operate the equipment. I will haul plates.



Mechanic 0: [2d6] = 12 (+2 Int?)

Athletics: [2d6] = 4 (+1 Skill, +2 Dex ? )

Overconfident or too busy making sure the plate stays put to pay attention to her own situation? Good thing Nālani has a thrust pistol

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

Rappelling down safety lines with confidence and a few war cries. He adapts a bit more to the hostile environment, checking the missile and gun turrets as he goes.

Arnwulf Mechanics check [2d6+1] = 7+1 = 8 athletic check [2d6] = 10

[BackworldTraveller]

Arnwulf and Nalani

Manoeuvring the plates into place and integrating them with the hull is a straight-forward exercise. The resetting of the self-sealant is trickier but works well. The hull is now (from what you have found) airtight - the only way to test it will be to open the workshop door and re-pressurise. (Not necessarily in that order).

The hull-crack and each of the sealed holes is going to take longer...Several days work. That could be undertaken once you are under way (at a pinch).

n.b. The missile tubes are there, as are the sand-caster tubes. The official report says they were decommissioned, but as far as you can see they were merely unloaded. The lasers are definitely not in the turret.

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

Enough work for several days.

I don't mind 'hand waving' Arnwulf to stay on the ship and address issues in turn as we are able. It seems the craft won't be 'shipshape' and ready to fly for a week. So as a suggestion he says why don't we take one level each day and tackle the major concerns on that level. So engineering and manoeuvre one day, hangar next, cargo, etc.

It also means basic work can carry on while others debate and strategise action plans in shareholder meetings.

[The Bindoner]

Arnwulf

Enough work for several days.

I don't mind 'hand waving' Arnwulf to stay on the ship and address issues in turn as we are able. It seems the craft won't be 'shipshape' and ready to fly for a week. So as a suggestion he says why don't we take one level each day and tackle the major concerns on that level. So engineering and manoeuvre one day, hangar next, cargo, etc.

It also means basic work can carry on while others debate and strategise action plans in shareholder meetings.

Nālani wants to do both - fix the Queen and attend shareholder meetings. Careful time management required...

[ateno]

Pranit

Message from Archana Busai

Hi, Have you got Jinga there...He was due to collect Assana earlier, and failed to show up.

"I'm sorry, no have not seen Assana all day."

[BackworldTraveller]

Archana
No - I've got Assana now...It' Jinja that's vanished...He said he was going over to see the ship...I'd assumed it was yours.

[BackworldTraveller]

Pranit
The life support refresh for the 6 crew cabins arrives...with the standard Cr 18,000 bill! You spend a good couple of hours unpacking and storing the goods. You are ready to cruise for a month (when you have fuel). All you need now is to sort out the passenger quarters to the same standard. Now the Fridge in the passenger galley seems to be a biohazard!

Reven
Your tinkering in the engine room proves that the previous engineer was tidy, efficient and maybe a bit engine-mad. Despite the idle period, there's nothing much to do. Some (minor) age-related bits, but it's basically top-notch. The safe door, though, is a problem. It's massive (you'd guess about 1-2 tons), large and needs removing. Even when they cut the gravity during the docking it weighed enough that moving it would be an issue. Even in zero-G the momentum could crush.

[ateno]

Pranit
The life support refresh for the 6 crew cabins arrives...with the standard Cr 18,000 bill! You spend a good couple of hours unpacking and storing the goods. You are ready to cruise for a month (when you have fuel). All you need now is to sort out the passenger quarters to the same standard. Now the Fridge in the passenger galley seems to be a biohazard!

Pranit will pay the bill off the Queens account, and help finish up the check and revamp of the water, silage and sewer lines, contact port for services and test them before knock off at 6pm.