Episode 0α: Alpha Ursae Majoris

[Grognardsw]

Isaac C. Heinlein (Ike)
Dubhe V Main Port

I watched Evangeline talk to the new guy. He must be the next recruit. The big bug chimed in.

You’d think SORAG would have their own official agents, instead of recruiting strangers. That usually meant something bad, but I didn’t dwell on it.

[Thumper]

Skip looks on as the private whispered dialog occurs. As good looking as Ms Tsaridian is, she’s old. As Skip is patiently waiting for her to get back to him, his mind (and eyes) drift over to the spacer girl at the bar…but he intentionally forces himself to pay attention back here at this table and from tapping his foot or showing other outward displays of impatience at being made to wait. ”Keep focus right here. This is important!”

But this sidebar seems to taking so long. His patience begins to turn to nervousness as time seems to drag on and on…

[Dicey]

Thanksgiving obligations kept me away!


Very well, said Evangeline to Asxerthsis. The Pe Choi were pragmatic.

They returned to Skip. The priestess smiled. She could feel the reticence in the young man - shy, or just all-business, or gay? She wasn’t sure which yet and held off on telepathic confirmation, preferring to feel her way intuitively. Skip, thank you, we were discussing your skill set which we believe would be an asset to the mission. We are delighted to offer a position as pilot on a reconnaissance mission. For pay, the standard spacer rate of 120 cr/day in addition to a large mission-completion bonus and future opportunities with SORAG. The ship is a modified Tsokalon'Ne class Light Scout.

[Thumper]

Oh geez! An inters-system pilot job. 120cr/day isn’t bad. This gets me back in the saddle again! Hell ya!

”Well Ms Tsaridian. That is an intriguing offer. May I ask when employment or contract begins, where the “mission” begins, and the duration of the mission? Also what’s the nature of this “mission”.

The way you use that word makes it sound like there’s real purpose in it.

Yes, I can pilot a light scout. While I’m not familiar with the type, I’ve flown that class in training. I’d just need a few hours of familiarization and study to pilot it safely. Do you want to see my training and certification credentials?

Just out of curiosity, why me?

[Dicey]

Please call me Evangeline, said the priestess, brushing his arm with a smile. The contract begins when you sign it, departure is tomorrow, the duration between one and three weeks, and the nature is reconnaissance in mining outposts. That is all the detail I have at the moment. More will be provided to us on the ship.

Our being together has purpose, our mission has purpose, as life has purpose. Sometimes we need help to find the true purpose. But I digress. She spread her arms for effect, the cloak parting to reveal a body that locked attention.

Why you? There is what is known on paper, and what is known by others, and it conveys that you, like each of us, is special. For skills seen and unseen. We are the parts of the whole. Her green eyes seem like they could pierce a soul.

Here, meet our Pe Choi, Asxerthsis, wise in the way of worlds, and Isaac C. Heinlein, scout and martial talent. Motioning introductions.

[Thumper]

Skip pays close attention to Evangeline’s words until she partially opens her robe to him and subsequently captures his lust. He only half-hears the rest of her speach. He returns to his senses when he’s introduced to the Pe Choi and the fighter. Only then does he become aware of an involuntary stiffness in his pants.

His whits return quickly though. He cracks a mischievous grin:

”Yes, of course, Mrs Tsaridian. So, an immediate position? You might know that if we’re drilling out of the system, it’ll be at least two weeks. But, no matter… we’ll don’t mind me. I’m in. So, what next? Do you need my signature or biometric authorization on a document?

Isaac, Asx…(as his tongue struggles with his first pronunciation of the name), I look forward to flying you around. Shall we seal this with a drink?”

While his mind lingers on the seductive powers of Evangeline, his eye drifts back over to the spacer chick at the bar.

[Grognardsw]

Isaac C. Heinlein (Ike)
Dubhe V Main Port

I could watch her all day long, even if I don’t understand half of what she just said. Under that cloak I see well molded secure clothing.

“Nice to meet you Skip,” I said to the new guy, shifting my attention. “Yes drink and food, on SORAG’s expense account!”

[Thumper]

“I like the sound of that, Ike. Where do I sign on, Ms Tsaridian?”

After ratifying the agreement, he’ll take drink orders from the others and proceed to the empty seat at the bar (that just happens to be next to the pretty ship crew girl) to put his order in and wait to receive the drinks. He intends to carry them back.”On the lady’s tab at that table.” he says pointing.

He loves oks ver to her and says, ”Hi. I’m Skip. Skip Wilson. And you are?…waiting for someone?”

[Dicey]

Evangeline handed Skip the commpad for his signature.

Is the crew set now?

[subaltari]

He looks over to her and says, ”Hi. I’m Skip. Skip Wilson. And you are? …waiting for someone?”

The girl smiles slightly at Skip, but there's a hint of distraction and sadness behind it. "Kintha. Waiting, yes I suppose... but for anyone, no."

It occurs to Skip that he's seen that combination of colours (yellow and sky blue) before: on the logo of a ship that docked near his UPS freighter. It's a commercial liner, Nation class. But this isn't a port for pleasure cruises, so the ship was probably chartered to carry prole workers, supplies, and/or industrial parts.

[subaltari]

Is the crew set now?

I might be recruiting one other player, but for now let's assume all the PCs are here. I'll post the new turn shortly!

[Thumper]

Skip-
”Well then Kintha, I’ll take that as you were waiting for me. And here I am. What will it take for me to see that pretty smile of yours again?”

He looks her up and down then says, “You came in on that pax liner. The big Nations class. Just off duty?”

How much further do we want to take this thread? We’re a formed PC crew. Are you trying to pick up an NPC for the crew?

[cybersavant]

Asxerthsis faces Evangeline. "Well, that's done. I'll go check on the ship."

[subaltari]

”Well then Kintha, I’ll take that as you were waiting for me. And here I am. What will it take for me to see that pretty smile of yours again?”

He looks her up and down then says, “You came in on that pax liner. The big Nations class. Just off duty?”

How much further do we want to take this thread? We’re a formed PC crew. Are you trying to pick up an NPC for the crew?

Hey man... I'm really sorry I left this thread hanging for so long. It amounted to a random encounter while I was trying to get the main intro's going. Multitasking plot lines is a GM skill I am still developing. But I'm a believer in player agency. So before we close Episode 0α, here's what you learn about the spacey girl in blue and yellow...

4-Ukraine-Kintha.jpg (16 KiB) Viewed 315 times

For the cost of a drink (covered by his new employers!) Skip gets Kintha to open up a bit. It turns out her line of work on the Ukraine, the pax liner, is as a paid "companion." The twist is that while it's a regulated job with decent pay and safety, she's growing tired of it and longs to do something more meaningful. She's done a bit of cross-training on the upper decks and wants to certify for a real crew position, but the shipping line won't hear of it. So she's in a bit of a bind.

The scant money Skip has left wouldn't cover her "companion" services for the night (unless maybe he offered her the hot credstick!) On the other hand, maybe there's potential for a longer term friendship? But he's shipping out tomorrow! It seems the only way he'll be able to keep seeing that pretty smile would be to try and recruit her for this crazy SORAG job...

[Thumper]

Skip-
"What do you mean by, ‘They’re not having it'? Is it simply they won’t train you?

Everybody should do something in life that they find meaningful. Would they let you leave, so you could pursue something new?

What specific certification would you like to earn? I'm thinking we might be short skilled on either a programmer or an engineer. If the Pe Choi, Axe, will be performing engineering, we'll need a programmer to run comms/sensors in the cockpit. I suppose if he wants to do cockpit comms/sensors, we'll need someone with some engineering talent. Either way, Axe wouldn't be able to do both engineering and comm/sensors in the heat of battle. Someone has to work opposite his skillsets, and we currently don't have anyone who can.

I could speak with the Priestess or my new SORAG employers and see if we could use another “people person”, besides the priestess. I suspect an additional ship crew might be a strong selling point to get you hired. I bet we can get you some real training.

Any ideas on what other angles we can take to attempt to get you on…if you want to?”

[subaltari]

Her situation is somewhat complex, and Skip is a stranger. Kintha looks a bit concerned at the talk of battle. Overall though, it's a good pitch.

Give me a Talk/Cha skill check, [2d6-1] in the die roller (the net -1 is for lacking the skill).

[Thumper]

Talk: [2d6-1]=8-1=7

Here ya go!

[subaltari]

Talk: [2d6-1]=8-1=7

Sorry bro... you needed a straight 8 or better!

Kintha is intrigued, but sadly not ready to jump ship right away, once she finds out Skip's ship is departing at short notice. She thinks it would be better to finish her current cruise for the sake of a good CV and references. But to get a new recruiting pass so easily, seems to cheer her up.

She asks you what of a "Priestess" is in charge (and of course, you don't know much about it yet). She thanks you for the drink with a big smile, and gives you a chip with her contact info on it (this is only useful while both of you are in the same system, or both have access to an ansible FTL communicator).

[Thumper]

Skip looks her in the eyes and says:
“Well, Kintha, it’s your choice to make, and I respect it. I think my new employer will keep me coming back to this system every few weeks for the near future at least. It would be great to see you again, should all the stars align. And the offer to help you find a more meaningful position will always be on the table.

You can count on me dropping you a message soon. See ya, Kintha. I wish you happiness, and that we meet again…”

He reluctantly returns to his new shipmates. During his continued conversation with them, he drops Kintha a message:
”Hope we cross paths again…soon! Here’s my contact info.”

[Thumper]

(this is only useful while both of you are in the same system, or both have access to an ansible FTL communicator).

SWN rules specifically exclude FTL Comms…making ship-borne absolutely essential to inter-system society. Does your game actually include FTL comm?