Game Thread: Onreon

[Thumper]

Yes, head along the main road but keep to a reasonably slow pace for the first few hours to give the locals a chance to make contact.
[\quote]

Even better, Alphonse

[Hvalreki]

Onreon

Feb 12 2745 OER

Rando pushes his shades up and pulls out onto the main road leading west out of the city. The ride is surprisingly "bouncy" in the low gravity and the 5 point harnesses for seat belts are a necessity.

The environs around the city are mostly cultivated farmland with a startling variety of crops. You see fields of grains, fruit and nut orchards, vineyards and grazing farmstock. Everywhere you look things are growing lush and verdant. You get the feeling if you threw a stone outside the window into the countryside it would sprout in no time.

The farmsteads soon give way to rolling plains scattered with thick brush. Occasionally large trucks hauling produce of various sorts pass by you on the way to the starport. The truck makes good time for the first hour but soon the well paved road is more of a patchy mess. Speeds drop rapidly and unless you want to spend a lot of time "airborne" top speed is about 40 KM per hour.

Civilization is a lot sparser the further you travel. The hours drag on with km after km of rolling greenery. Occasionally private roads (tracks really), lead to fortified farming compounds complete with walls and towers. After about 7 hours signs appear for a weigh station and the team pulls into the truckstop ready for a break and dinner.

Besides the fueling station and sundries shop there is a small lodge and a restaurant/bar combination. A few truck drivers sit at the bar or scattered tables eating dinner. Heads swivel to the Travellers as they walk in but no one gives them much notice.

A waitress takes your orders and soon you're all tucking in to hearty dinners with some of the freshest ingredients any of you have seen in years. Bellies full and toothpicks passed around the group settles back in their chairs enjoying their repast.

Character Actions?

[Thumper]

Well, I’m curious about the need for the farmers to fortify their homesteads. I’d be curious to find out just how bad the tensions are between farmers and the natives. And just how close we are to native settlements.

I guess farmers could be defending themselves against each other…but I doubt that. The authorities seem to run a tight operation in the city. Can’t imagine they wouldn’t police their own out here where their export wealth is produced. Maybe Tuskers...

Alfonse, maybe you can work your magic hustle with the locals?

[dongriffiths]

Alphonse will attempt some small talk with the waitress if she's not too busy serving.
Complimenting her on the quality of the meal and the overall service in this fine establishment. "It truly compares well with better star liners I have served on."

I notice the farmsteads seem to be almost fortified, is there a predator problem out here?

We may be camping overnight so I'd like to make sure we take appropriate precautions.

[Tamerlaine]

After her meal, Sam will go 'round the truckers for an idea on the state of the road to Last Chance and do the natives interfere with transports running along the road.

[dongriffiths]

If needed streetwise roll to gather intel

[Hvalreki]

Onreon

Feb 12 2745 OER

Flying K Truckstop

The waitress tops off whatever the group is drinking. "Farmsteads huh? Y'all must not be from around here. Besides feral tuskers, those tribesmen have burned out honest farmers, sneaky devils. They're fortified because they have to be. These farmsteads are in the open zone anyway - far from the city. They'll buy our produce sure enough but Law don't come round here much. We make our own justice.

Alphonse and Samlearn from the truckers that tribespeople sometimes blockade the road and ransack the truckers. Travel at night is considered dangerous with the poor roads and the threat (real or perceived) of ambush. The roadways are improved somewhat once you get near a truck stop and closer to Last Chance in between it's touch and go. Road crews do repairs but the locals keep damaging the roadway and sabotaging the equipment.

Character Actions?

[dongriffiths]

Sounds like it can be risky out here at night. Let's move on a bit and find a secure campsite.

Let's make a sign with that symbol on it so it might make the tribals see we're not hostile.

[Thumper]

Hmm. We’ve been crewing ships far too long and wanted a little outdoor R&R…Tusker hunting. What can you tell us about the Tusker hunting around here? Maybe we can cut down their population a smidgeon.

What’s the deal with the tribes? How unified are they? My experience with the indigenous is they are usually at war with civilization…and themselves. Worlds over, indigenous try to get the civilized to fight their battles for them and eliminate their native competition. Seen it time and again… Is this true around here? What are the tribal divisions and conflicts? More importantly, how do we not end up rekindling a war and end up in the middle?

His friends by this time would know he's putting on a little bit of an act. (He knows conflict is the natural clash between cultures)

To Alphonse- Sounds like a plan.

[Tamerlaine]

”Tusker hunting,” Sam snorts as she drinks the last of her coffee.

”I think I’ve put away enough greasy carbs to choke a tusker to death. Hey, hon’ would you please pour me another coffee to go… and throw in one of those pastries?” she asks the waitress with a friendly wink and a smile.

Turning to the others, Sam rests her elbows on the table. “Maybe pick up an air freshener? It’s cramped in the ATV and someone’s deodorant ain’t cutting it.”

[Hvalreki]

Onreon

Feb 12 2745 OER

Back on the road/b]

Apologies about the wait, traveling week for me and not much downtime

Fortified by carbs and caffeine the travellers return to the open road. Once out of the truckstop the road conditions rapidly deteriorate and it's back to about 40Km per hr. max. A light rain falls, really more of a mist, but the outside temp never gets very cold. Rando pipes up during a break in the 100 bottles of beer on the wall song.

"Folks I'm about tapped out behind the wheel. We'll need to pull over and setup camp soon or I'm going to need more than caffeine to stay awake."

He no sooner finishes his sentence when he rounds a curve in the road and suddenly slams on the brakes.

About 25 meters ahead there is a truck stopped in the roadway. Lights are on and both passenger and driver doors open.



Character actions ?

[dongriffiths]

Alphonse gets out and steps off the road to avoid silhouetting himself in the lights. Drawing his taser he'll cautiously advance looking for signs of life.

About 10 metres from the truck he'll call

Is there anyone there? Do you need assistance?

[Thumper]

Whoa… What’s this? Car trouble or some other trouble? He reaches over and turns off the music…it’s AC/DC…from his old Earth Rock playlist. That genre is still popular after a few millennia.

Dimitri steps to the back of the ATV where his duffle bag lay, and he sifts through it. He promptly retrieves his IR goggle and the low-light goggles. He places the IR goggles on himself as he hands the Low-Light googles toward Sam. Assuming she takes it, he dons his mesh jacket, drops the “star box” in its pocket, and grabs his rifle with bayonet and peers out both sides of the vehicle for IR images of living creatures while stuffing his revolver in it’s shoulder harness.

Rando, might be a good idea to keep her ready for us to bug out of here. He’ll step out of the ATV behind Alfonse and step to the rear corner of the vehicle to take a look behind them…then follow Alphonse with his rifle resting easy in a 2-handed low carry.

[Hvalreki]

Onreon

Feb 12 2745 OER

The Highway

The night is quiet and a warm wind blows softly full of lush plant smells. Now that you're out of the vehicle you can hear the other engine idling, the vehicle is still powered up.

Properly kitted, Dimitri's IR goggles emit a low whine as they power up and he see's the rainbow outline of Alphonse ahead of him. Other than Alphonse and the truck there are no other strong heat sources visible.

Alphonse calls out

Is there anyone there? Do you need assistance?

There is no response. He turns to see Dimitri covering him from behind with the rifle and he shrugs his shoulders. Dimitri waves him on to continue and Alphonse carefully approaches the driver's door. The truck cab is empty. The truck bed is a loose open cage with straw scattered around the floor and smelling strongly of animal scent. The back gate is down and cage door is open.



Character Actions?

[Tamerlaine]

"Frak, Dmitri! You're going out there?" Sam says, her voice rising as she shrugs on her jacket. The man in question did indeed step out into the darkness as Sam retrieved her shotgun. She gave a worried glance at Rando before following, sliding on the LI goggles as her boots touch the ground. She was welcomed with the surrealness of a dark greenish world where ambient light is magnified.

She could see Dmitri's back as he walked back to the rear of the ATV, the ex-scout suddenly mindful of how dry her mouth was as she swept her vision to and fro. The shotgun was cradled at a downward angle, the buttstock firm against her shoulder. Her senses were alert, nervous as she was. When Dmitri made his way forward, following Alphonse, Sam stayed at the entrance to the ATV.

"I hate this kind of shit. Frak, I really, really hate this..."

[Thumper]

Don’t get your panties twisted, Sam. Just keep an eye out.

Dimitri walks behind Alfonse toward the truck. With his left hand, he reaches into his jacket and pulls out the Star Box. He holds it above his shoulder and walks out in front of the truck lights…but doesn’t stop. Just walks to the other side of the truck and inspects that side front to back.

[dongriffiths]

Alphonse lowers the taser and looks around for any sign of tracks or a scuffle.

You see anything?

Based on what that waitress said I wouldn't expect folk to park up and get out to wander around.

[Thumper]

There’s nothing to be seen!

Out of shear boredom, Dmitri steps back in front with the Star Box on display.

Why not? … Never know.

[Tamerlaine]

Sam

"Dmitri, you dumb-shit. I wear boxers. Alphonse, did you see any footprints? Like boot treads vs smooth moccasin style shoes? Maybe there are footprints or drag marks leading away from the rig?"

[Thumper]

It’s not like I’d ever check you out that close. Hey, Sam…you ever been mistaken for a man?

Dmitri walks over to the driver door, hauls himself up to the driver’s seat and turns the lights off and the ignition off. He then looks around the cab and checks the console and glove box.