[001.6] The Briefing

[shaidar]

Anne Dubois
(Cpt, SCN, retired, tactical & engineering specialist)

Anne looks thoughtful for a few moments and looks at Vee and Foix "Vee, Sir,...when we put together the potential ship layouts we'll go back over the data we have to see if there is any hull damage at the stern that might make boarding easier"

[joertexas]

Anne Dubois
(Cpt, SCN, retired, tactical & engineering specialist)

Anne looks thoughtful for a few moments and looks at Vee and Foix "Vee, Sir,...when we put together the potential ship layouts we'll go back over the data we have to see if there is any hull damage at the stern that might make boarding easier"

Vee nods. "So, we have the outline of a plan to board the ship, and we have the second pinnacle to take us there. Who are we taking on the boarding party?"

The Lady has a compliment of 27, including two ex-Confed Marines as security specialists. She also has room for 46 passengers, where I can allow some discretion in choosing who they might be, since House Foix has chartered the ship for the duration

Also, she has a 200-dton cargo bay, and another 120 dtons of containerized cargo (in 20-dton pods that have to be offloaded to access). Y'all can also specify what the ship is carrying, but the cargo containers are destined for the research station - which is why you're here instead of at the highport.

[Tiglath]

Foix replies "I suggest we keep things small - just my retinue. We need a pilot and a security marine to safeguard our ship and someone expert enough to place the demolitions. Maybe a spare pilot and a medic. Otherwise we leave more space for those we plan to rescue. We could..."

He stops and stares at the entrance hatch about to say something ... a name?

Then he rallies and stands "Baroness Joséphine, please, join us and give us the benefit of your intellect. I believe we have a problem worthy of it!"

[lenusmars]

Joséphine's eyes widen slightly upon being addressed, and she glances around finding much more attention being directed her way than she is comfortable with. As usual she curses her lack of a ready tongue in these situations. Of course there is the reminder too, in Foix's slight pause, of how much she resembles her more charming and articulate sibling. She sighs internally at her title. Of course among this company it isn't surprising, but oh how she misses the comfort of the university and collogues who simply addressed her as Doctor.

After what seems to her a painfully long pause, she straightens herself and grasps for her response. "I.. It is of course my pleasure to offer what assistance I may, m-my lord. I...I regret that I am not in any way experienced in military matters." Her eyes flick to Vee, then Anne before returning to not quite look at Foix. "But what faculties and skills I possess are at your disposal. I... I am quite good at data analysis generally, and...and programming, of course... if that is helpful."

[SpinwardMarch]

Cmdr. Taheri

Ignoring Foix and his social issues, she addresses Vee and Anne:

Let's see what data we can get on possible deck layouts of this thing. Seems there were a number of them built, so there should be records on them, or even, hey, a repair manual. Maybe there is an old advertising brochure that would list standard options available. Something like, "...and weaponry options and placements available are..." Sometimes there is more information in those ads than in the standard listings, since the builders are trying to sell their ideas or product.

[joertexas]

Cmdr. Taheri

Ignoring Foix and his social issues, she addresses Vee and Anne:

Let's see what data we can get on possible deck layouts of this thing. Seems there were a number of them built, so there should be records on them, or even, hey, a repair manual. Maybe there is an old advertising brochure that would list standard options available. Something like, "...and weaponry options and placements available are..." Sometimes there is more information in those ads than in the standard listings, since the builders are trying to sell their ideas or product.

"I don't know, the builders have been gone for over a hundred years now," Vee muses.

It's worth noting that modern warships seldom exceed 5000dt, even in the Confederation. They're just too expensive for anything less that a multi-sector polity to build and maintain in numbers.

[SpinwardMarch]

Cmdr. Taheri

Well, it's worth a try, who knows what could be in the archives. Anything we learn, will help us stop that thing. If there is just a skeleton crew, or it is being run by an AI, any exterior damage it may have will likely not have been repaired. That is a weak point, and an opportunity.

[joertexas]

Cmdr. Taheri

Well, it's worth a try, who knows what could be in the archives. Anything we learn, will help us stop that thing. If there is just a skeleton crew, or it is being run by an AI, any exterior damage it may have will likely not have been repaired. That is a weak point, and an opportunity.

Smythe looks up as his comms officer hands him a small datapad. "This is interesting," he says after a moment. The flashing lights from the cruiser are a distress signal from a very old signaling scheme. Whomever it is is calling for help. There's more to the message, but my son is having trouble deciphering the rest at this distance. He says the lights are flickering too much to make out more than the repeating distress code."

[Tiglath]

Foix comments "If we are dealing with a rogue computer then the Baroness my be the very person we need!"

He adds "Captain, we must prioritise deciphering the rest of that message. If people desperate for help are transmitting it as an addition to their distress call it may well be significant".

[joertexas]

Foix comments "If we are dealing with a rogue computer then the Baroness my be the very person we need!"

He adds "Captain, we must prioritise deciphering the rest of that message. If people desperate for help are transmitting it as an addition to their distress call it may well be significant".

"We will continue our efforts, My Lord," Smythe replies. "The pinnacle is ready to fly when you are, and it can pick up your other boarding party members on the way out."

[Tiglath]

Foix replies to Smythe "Thank you for your ongoing efforts with the code. If the pinnace stands ready and we can collect our comrades on route then let us be aboard!"

Foix will pause to don armour and arm up before boarding.

(OOC: Has the pinnace (small craft) become a pinnacle per favour of spell check? )

[joertexas]

Foix replies to Smythe "Thank you for your ongoing efforts with the code. If the pinnace stands ready and we can collect our comrades on route then let us be aboard!"

Foix will pause to don armour and arm up before boarding.

(OOC: Has the pinnace (small craft) become a pinnacle per favour of spell check? )

Okay, so the correct spelling is pinnace. My dyslexia and I never noticed Either way, it's an armed 40dt small craft with a passenger and crew capacity of 44 in its current configuration, plus 4 dt of cargo.

[shaidar]

Anne doesn't have much to pick up, just an extra 3 mags for her snub pistol, she already has her vacc-suit, hand computer and data display. The joys of travelling light - and not being able to afford combat armour. Can cloth armour be worn under a vacc-suit?

[joertexas]

Anne doesn't have much to pick up, just an extra 3 mags for her snub pistol, she already has her vacc-suit, hand computer and data display. The joys of travelling light - and not being able to afford combat armour. Can cloth armour be worn under a vacc-suit?

The modern vacc suit is pretty decent protection against small edged weapons and even body pistols or shotguns. Think Level 11A body armor. It's rugged stuff. Of course, if you get whacked with a pistol shot, the bruises will be legendary...

[joertexas]

Anne doesn't have much to pick up, just an extra 3 mags for her snub pistol, she already has her vacc-suit, hand computer and data display. The joys of travelling light - and not being able to afford combat armour. Can cloth armour be worn under a vacc-suit?

The modern vacc suit is pretty decent protection against small edged weapons and even body pistols or shotguns. Think Level 11A body armor. It's rugged stuff. Of course, if you get whacked with a pistol shot, the bruises will be legendary...

Oh, and the plumbing connections - the vacc suits allow the wearer to operate for eight hours until they (the suits) have to be recharged, and, uh, serviced

[lenusmars]

Foix comments "If we are dealing with a rogue computer then the Baroness my be the very person we need!"

He adds "Captain, we must prioritise deciphering the rest of that message. If people desperate for help are transmitting it as an addition to their distress call it may well be significant".

“Josephine, my lord, surely. We are more than acquaintances after all, and saying my title and my given name all in the same breath seems unnecessarily complicated.” Josephine says, not insensible that the military folk, excepting Foix, have all but ignored her.

“I may be of use regarding the archives as well. If there is something one learns from my vocation, it’s how to look for obscure data.” She looks at Captain Smythe, offering a small smile. “Captain, if you will forgive the suggestion of a non-specialist, your tech might consider recording the pulses and then cutting the speed of the recording. Either record the visual or the electromagnetic pulses themselves, in the proper frequency range.”

[joertexas]

She looks at Captain Smythe, offering a small smile. “Captain, if you will forgive the suggestion of a non-specialist, your tech might consider recording the pulses and then cutting the speed of the recording. Either record the visual or the electromagnetic pulses themselves, in the proper frequency range.”

"I will pass that along, Ma'am," Smythe says with a thoughtful smile. He looks at his comms officer, and she nods and speaks quietly into her hush mike.