Chapter Nine: Year 300, 6th Day

[The Bindoner]

Indeed it's working fine - provided it's close. Further off it has to be pre-programmed. The controls seem to be suffering from interference.

She looks at the protestors on the top deck. The Police Driver seems to be helping the Sergeant manoeuvre the injured guard along the balcony. Streetwise roll from Nālani?

We had a tip that "Something was going down in the Yacht Bays" today. We thought it meant the Protest - Seems it's something bigger. Care to make a comment? On the record?

Zid declines, emphatically!

Nālani walks quickly to the airlock, keeping an eye on events at the upper level. She introduces Zid to the Queen for admission and steers Ulrika to one side. Nothing said in this bay is on the record, unless you get a signed consent. Which you might, if you help. Who was this tip from? I do not expect a name, but you must have trusted the source to spend your day watching people protest. It seems they sent you to a, ah, "spectacular?" That is what terrorists call their big crimes, yes? Do you think this might be an attack on the delegates in the next bay? You are here to film it, perhaps you ought to.

Streetwise: [_2d6]=(6+1)=7 +2 skill, +2 Int = 11

[BackworldTraveller]

"Queen? How much time do you estimate it would take to depart?" Noor looks at Indrani and shrugs. "Last resort."

Indrani sits back in her chair. "We're not moving without fuel, and the bay doors are closed. So, we're stuck. What I want you to do is, as you've suggested, control all access to the ship." She gestures to the sensors station. "Sit there, and send me your access requests. I will approve whatever you need."

She activates her personal comm. "All crewmembers, Noor is coordinating access, and the bridge is about to be locked out for now. Contact her for access."

She switches to Pranit's channel. "Pranit, we need to disconnect the external comms umbilical. Can you get to it?"

Indrani continues to work with the external cameras, building a picture of what is happening outside the ship's hull, and noting any blind spots.

The external cameras show nothing untoward...They even show the bay to be empty when, peering out of the window, you can see people moving about!

[BackworldTraveller]

Indeed it's working fine - provided it's close. Further off it has to be pre-programmed. The controls seem to be suffering from interference.

She looks at the protestors on the top deck. The Police Driver seems to be helping the Sergeant manoeuvre the injured guard along the balcony. Streetwise roll from Nālani?

We had a tip that "Something was going down in the Yacht Bays" today. We thought it meant the Protest - Seems it's something bigger. Care to make a comment? On the record?

Zid declines, emphatically!

Nālani walks quickly to the airlock, keeping an eye on events at the upper level. She introduces Zid to the Queen for admission and steers Ulrika to one side. Nothing said in this bay is on the record, unless you get a signed consent. Which you might, if you help. Who was this tip from? I do not expect a name, but you must have trusted the source to spend your day watching people protest. It seems they sent you to a, ah, "spectacular?" That is what terrorists call their big crimes, yes? Do you think this might be an attack on the delegates in the next bay? You are here to film it, perhaps you ought to.

Streetwise: [_2d6]=(6+1)=7 +2 skill, +2 Int = 11

The tip came from a source in the protestors - which is why I thought it was to do with the protest. I'm definitely going to ask what made them think something was going to happen - when I get out. By the way - who's the tough-girl? She's not someone I've seen before - and she looks...Well looks

As you close the door to the bay's air-lock the two police are laying the guard down - He looks terribly young to have been on the protest alone. You don't normally send a rookie to a trouble-spot and definitely don't do so alone. Nalani wonders whether someone was arranging a sacrifice?

[joertexas]

The external cameras show nothing untoward...They even show the bay to be empty when, peering out of the window, you can see people moving about!

Indrani accesses the computer system, and isolates the #1 Aux computer from the other two, using her command overrides. Then, she tries the bay cameras again, using that isolated computer to process the imagery.

[Stirling]

Tiberius O'Hare

Stands confused in the crew quarters as people run around seemingly like headless chickens totting rifles and asking if it is okay to shoot people.

"Excellent idea Mr Lugersen. Clear the hull of any limpet mines and take no prisoners. Remember every hole in the hull is another one in the bank account. Good to see security want to protect the investments at all cost."

He drums fingers on his briefcase, whistling impatiently feeling like the unwanted 'three's a crowd' on a twosome date. Familiar territory is spied in the form of a coffee machine. "Do you mind?" he asks but helps himself. "Ms Holtz, do you take sugar?"

[ateno]

""XO, Bridge, I'm in the workshop. Don't think i'll make it up there anytime soon."

Aye Reven, hold Engineering and turn up the engines for thrust. No emergency injection please."

""Pranit, we need to disconnect the external comms umbilical. Can you get to it?"

"Aye Captain, disconnect or extreme prejudice?"


Turns to Arnwuf.

"I really don't know whats happening, I know yesterday that I was told that some of the crew is under a paid death contract, the internal and external comms are down and a crew member was having trouble going down the hall to come back to the ship.

So I prepared for the worst. Orders now are disconnect the comms umbilical. Thanks outside I suspect, Queens not a emergency ship with explosive bolts for emergencies. Lets see if we can bring up a external view. Whos with me?"

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

"You know I suggested this a couple of hours ago but got no answer. So I prepped the hull for welding."

Arnwulf

"Didn't Nalani say that Reven and her were both on some gangster group's hit list. So that seems why she needs help getting back in case the armed thugs are waiting to potshot at her.

So do we man up and arm up and patrol these bays if the Belt's bay team are so lax in security that they can't do it themselves?

Or maybe tell Nalani to arrive with the police dude who is supposed to view the ship."

He asks the question to the officers of the ship. He is not really in a position to pick and choose where he goes gallivanting about.

"Are we all in this together? One team, one crew, leave no man behind? Or do we leave Nalani to her own devices? There are guns and rifles for each of us, boarding axes for any up close and personals.

What we do here now sets a precedent for a month down the line when it's you stranded out there."

"Now Nalani has arrived safely so that concern is taken care of.

I didn't see any issue when outside earlier. I can walk the skin again but I think most fuss going in is in the bay. Let's unhook the ship power lines then and shore the hull plates securely for welding later.

And if we meet the unexpected, we shoot first and ask questions later."

He follows Pranit's directions to secure the ship from 'hostiles', physical and electronic.

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor

She nods and moves over to the sensor station. "Queen. I need you to lock access to the bridge by lift. Keep it locked until Indrani or I say otherwise."

Noor looks at the internal monitors to try to determine who is on board. She speaks over the intercom. "Welcome aboard everyone. All guests are required to please stay put for now. There are chairs and coffee if needed."

She stands and moves over to the hatch that allows zero-G access to the bridge and locks it.

"Captain. Something very close nearby is blocking your personal comms. Possibly one of the protestors, or possibly that reporter. I suggest we either let nobody on board or search those who we let on."

She will tell Queen to designate Tiberius as crew. "Any weapons up here?"

[BackworldTraveller]

Sorry - A clarification needed...The cameras on the ship that look out are working - when you can access them - It's slow work cycling them one at a time but they work. Those in the bay are those that can't see the protestors in the bay. Those in the corridor still show the protestors outside 13-12. Those showing the surface and bay hatch show it empty.

Assana had moved into Nalani's cabin, and now emerges in a very plush looking (obviously brand new) Vacc-Suit - and sporting a laser pistol she may grow into later. Err...you do know someone's done something really weird to your ships computer?

Miya and the Driver take a seat at the table with coffee. The driver seems nervous at the armoury on display. Miya seems to be watchful.

Malani finally gets the Inspector, Journalist and Delivery Driver (plus palette of plate) through the airlocks to be faced by most of the crew looking decidedly warlike. There is a definite double-take at Assana's get-up.

And then gravity drops to 0.05G and the lights go out on the bay, the ship and the hanger.

Please note private messages for specific info

[The Bindoner]

Nālani, relieved at having finally herded her cats into one place, dashes to her room to put on her Suit. On the way she asks, to her crewmates in general, My luggage is where? I have a gun in it.

[BackworldTraveller]

Nālani, relieved at having finally herded her cats into one place, dashes to her room to put on her Suit. On the way she asks, to her crewmates in general, My luggage is where? I have a gun in it.

And a fully armed cat!

[SpinwardMarch]

Maggie

After his comment, Maggie would have informed Tiberius that she is a crew member, and recently out of the Touchdown Navy, at captain rank. She also gives him The Look (wilts plants at 20 m.). She has turned off the neural implant due to the static. She thanks him for the offer of coffee, But I will get some later, after I figure out what has happened. Being new has its disadvantages.

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor

"Now what?" Noor tries to reach for restraints to secure herself. "Queen! What happened?"

Slowly her eyes try to adjust to the darkness. Above and outside she notices a light. "There's a light outside Captain. Like someone is out there with a torch."

[joertexas]

Noor

"Now what?" Noor tries to reach for restraints to secure herself. "Queen! What happened?"

Slowly her eyes try to adjust to the darkness. Above and outside she notices a light. "There's a light outside Captain. Like someone is out there with a torch."

"Acknowledged. Are you in contact with Reven and Pranit? We need to get the powerplant online soonest." Indrani checks to see if they have emergency power, and that they still have life support.

[cybersavant]

Reven Stiilpahth grabs a laser torch and heads over to the power plant he just finished repairing to turn it on. The taps the panel comm and opens a channel to the bridge. "Bridge, I've finished repairing power bus one. Do we have external cameras on the outside? Specifically the passenger airlock, on the side away from the bay. I'll stay down here for now to monitor things."

[BackworldTraveller]

Reven Stiilpahth grabs a laser torch and heads over to the power plant he just finished repairing to turn it on. The taps the panel comm and opens a channel to the bridge. "Bridge, I've finished repairing power bus one. Do we have external cameras on the outside? Specifically the passenger airlock, on the side away from the bay. I'll stay down here for now to monitor things."

Reven is there

We should have enough emergency power to start the plant.

Reven takes a look at the powerplant and considers the Captain's orders...Cold start from shutdown for 2 years (or more)...There will have been seep from the fuel pipes over that time so they will need a flush and then the ignitor circuit needs to settle to get the lasers to operate effectively...and Reven stars moving deliberately about the room - pulling levers and twisting knobs

Engineering (Power) roll from Reven please. Reven gets +1 for skill and +3 for EDU. He has to Hurry for -2 but that is probably better than the ship getting destroyed by staying still. Roll please!

The rest of the Crew will need to make sure he's not interrupted for the many turns he's going to be doing this...

[BackworldTraveller]

Who is where!

Queen of the Belt - Bridge - Initial Positions.jpg (63.64 KiB) Viewed 433 times

Queen of the Belt - Crew Deck - Initial Positions - with Tiberius.jpg (218.91 KiB) Viewed 414 times

Queen of the Belt - Power Deck - Initial Positions.jpg (93.04 KiB) Viewed 433 times

Nalani is getting into a Vacc Suit
Assana, Maggie, Pranit and Arnwulf have Vacc Suits on already

Reven's vacc suit is in his cabin.
There are 18 rescue balls in the Hold

Ulrika is narrating the goings on to date to the camera

The Inspector is wondering what she should do. It's not her ship and she has no Suit! Are you going to be boarded?

The drivers and Miya are sat at the table watching the milling about.

Reven is wishing for an extra pair of hands/tentacles

The lift is on the crew deck

And the hiss in the crew earpieces is slightly less.

[Bluetongue]

Where's Wally ....

Sorry I mean Tiberius?

[ateno]

Looks like I forgot to finalize my post.

Captain, if you have Tiberius and Noor up there, all accounted for.

Turning.

"If you don't have access to a vacc suit, please chose a stateroom and sit, on the first sign of trouble, close and seal the door.

Looking at the cop.

"If you could assist Arnwulf and I in disconnecting the external connections?

Pranit heads towards Arnwulf.

[BackworldTraveller]

Where's Wally ....

Sorry I mean Tiberius?

Sorry - Where he always should have been! (Image updated above)