Chapter Eight: Breakfast on the Queen

[BackworldTraveller]

The surveyors continue their external survey, working their way across the hull, looking at everything and scanning various critical points...For those inside, the resonance of the ultrasound scanner is occasionally jarring, but at least they don't find any more weaponry.

While Pranit is deciding where to start, Arnwulf has headed to the cargo hold. As a big empty space there isn't much to search and he soon gets diverted into the interesting job of the jigsaw laid out before him.

Reven's home is engineering, and searching that is a good excuse to tidy up. Other than some Hexagonal-Crystals in the bottom of the 3-D printer stock bin that Pranit was looking at earlier, he doesn't find anything unexpected - and the space is starting to look tidier by the time Pranit comes to see what's going on.

Indrani starts a check of the bridge while Pranit is reviewing the plans. Given the number of miscellaneous occupants, there is a good chance that anything odd has long gone, been removed by passers in and out or the police when tidying up the grow or the crew while they disposed of the remaining trash. The sensor space is definitely not being used for anything illicit and the main desk is tidier by the time she has to head for Lunch.

Pranit's planning does reveal a number of odd spaces. The Galley, Library, Low Berths, Workshop and all those cupboards on the vehicle deck are all of interest. As are the crew quarters, air-ducting on every deck, cable spaces and lift drive motor space.

Nalani arrives from her meeting bearing hot beverages and joins in. Neither Her nor Reven's old cabins seem to her to be likely smuggling spots. And anyway, if Capt Celisse was smuggling he would have been moving container loads. Hebden might have been up to anything but he'd have been more canny than to have hidden anything in his old room - and as Steward/Purser he rarely went into Engineering or onto the Bridge - so if it was him then the Galley was his fiefdom. The new gunner could be a possibility - after all he's one of the dead ex-crew. and Ares is a corporate maze inhabited by secret squirrels so how that happened could be anyone's guess. But Nalani nor Reven ever met him.

Maggie...Well doesn't really know where to start so potters with Indrani until she looks to be leaving.

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

Tries to catalogue the assorted missiles and checks out the unfamiliar laser system. He gets a bit frustrated with the assembly and ends the day chalking various lewd doodles and gung-ho graffiti on the missile shafts.

Arnwulf sorts the armaments, +1 wisdom & gunnery skill [2d6+2]=4+2=6

He lets Pranit know that the cargo hold is barer than Mother Hubbard's cupboard.

[The Bindoner]

Nālani brings more than hot drinks, she has food too. Spicy Belter dishes in take-away containers.

Her contribution to the "secret compartment" hunt is to point out the few void spaces, and conduits that exist on the ship. She seems eager to see if there is anything in them.

Finding a moment to talk to Indrani she tells her: There is a price on the head of one of our shareholders, I think we know who. It is a dangerous contract . Decent, honest people will not consider it. The word is "no witnesses".

[joertexas]

Nālani brings more than hot drinks, she has food too. Spicy Belter dishes in take-away containers.

Her contribution to the "secret compartment" hunt is to point out the few void spaces, and conduits that exist on the ship. She seems eager to see if there is anything in them.

Finding a moment to talk to Indrani she tells her: There is a price on the head of one of our shareholders, I think we know who. It is a dangerous contract . Decent, honest people will not consider it. The word is "no witnesses".

"Okay, thanks. I'm off to lunch, I'll be back to talk more about it later." Indrani says as she prepares to leave.

[SpinwardMarch]

Maggie

Before Indrani leaves for her meeting, Maggie offers to assist whoever is working on the life support systems.

I have some experience in maintaining life support systems, if you have need of help with that. Otherwise, point me to what needs work.

[joertexas]

Maggie

Before Indrani leaves for her meeting, Maggie offers to assist whoever is working on the life support systems.

I have some experience in maintaining life support systems, if you have need of help with that. Otherwise, point me to what needs work.

"Pranit will assign something to you, since he's not supposed to be working due to an injury."

[BackworldTraveller]

Arnwulf

Tries to catalogue the assorted missiles and checks out the unfamiliar laser system. He gets a bit frustrated with the assembly and ends the day chalking various lewd doodles and gung-ho graffiti on the missile shafts.

Arnwulf sorts the armaments, +1 wisdom & gunnery skill [2d6+2]=4+2=6

He lets Pranit know that the cargo hold is barer than Mother Hubbard's cupboard.

Missiles: Becker ASM-3 's: 8 Becker SBM-8 's: 1 Achilles ASM-A 's: 1
Sand: Sand: 2 Chaff: 4 Pebble: 2 Decoy: 2
All require maintenance.

n.b. The launcher can take 8 Missiles and 6 Sand Cannisters so some choices need to be made as to what should be loaded. Also, it is much, much easier to load in free-fall than in gravity.

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

Reven Stiilpahth looks quizzically at the man. "Excuse me? What are you talking about?"

sorry my mistake. It should have been addressed to Pranit.

Tinkering with the armaments is several hours work. It brought back to him his experiences with manning ship turrets in the marines though his main vocation was more front line, autocannons on the back of Grav tanks and the blood and thunder of close quaters assault teams. Though the last escapade was more 'thud and blunder', earning him a medal for distinguished service and a retirement on medical grounds.

He traces the scar and bone graft on his leg. Shattered tibia and a femur with more holes than a woodpeckers trunk. He might have made it back into service after a year or two. Bone grafts grown from shavings off his pelvis and titanium plates screwed to hold the interior exoskeleton secure. But the surgeon negligently left shrapnel flotsam in the wound which caused a sepsis and near gangrene to accumulate. Medically discharged with honours, the wound eventually sorted through insurance medicare but the route back to the marines closed. For some reason he remembers suddenly awakening whilst under anesthetic to look at the surgeons from the slab. The face of Maggie seems disturbingly familiar though he cannot recall ever seeing her before.

When folk gather together for food he brings up the bomb alert.

"I can only summise the bomb was planted due to that dead scientist fellow. But it seems to me that whoever wanted to cripple the ship half a galaxy away in order to board it would also have to know where and when the Queen was flying. Pirates lie in wait knowing we will fall into their ambush.

Maybe there is not a tracking device on the ship signalling our manoeuvres. I have a thought the ship is programmed to send out signals to a receiver.

A lone ship is like a speck of sand on the shore. There might be a few space trade routes around gas giants and asteroids that are widely used but most of space is a vacant ocean. When the navy seized the ship, it did so in outer space knowing when and where she would be. Maybe the bomb squad are using the same knowledge."

[ateno]

Arnwulf
He lets Pranit know that the cargo hold is barer than Mother Hubbard's cupboard.

"Thank you, once I finish my survey we will coordinate on hard checks, and searching access panels and air ducts.


Maggie comes up:
"I have some experience in maintaining life support systems, if you have need of help with that. Otherwise, point me to what needs work."

"Are you joining the crew, share holder? If so I will have to register you with the Queen."

Pranit does so.

"Life Support, ok spend the rest of the day going over that system and do a deep dive on any adjustments or anything that looks out if place, if you need new filters or whatever, order them through chandlery and charge it to the Queen. OK? .... Oh."

Pranit stands up, trying to maneuver his slinged arm.

"I am Pranit the XO, nice to meet you."

[BackworldTraveller]

Maggie
Pick a stateroom!
and I'll update here...Two (one male, one female) still to arrive.

I suspect you are sharing with Nalani in middle-top or in middle bottom (Someone will be sharing with Noor later unless some of the posh rooms downstairs are to be opened for crew.)

And pick a slot from the crew list here

[SpinwardMarch]

Maggie

I am pleased to meet you, Pranit.
Yes, indeed, I am interested in joining the crew. I will take a look at the life support systems, and find what is needed. I will need to return to my apartment to pack my belongings, later today.

She will start going over the systems, deck by deck, and then focus on individual areas, once she understands how the ship works.

Sharing the "middle bottom" room with Nalani will be fine, as long as Arnwolf is not the sort who practices base guitar or bagpipes at 3am. She will take the gunner/cargo position, until (if) she is needed as a steward. Cargo Master does seem somewhat like steward.

[BackworldTraveller]

Maggie
The Passenger Deck has had little done to it since the ship was taken over. The Forensics team swept for DNA; and various people have opened the floor and ceiling panels to get at bits of the systems that broke because the ship froze without draining the pipes. It should be noted that P6 is completely empty of everything, but the rest are in disarray and the whole deck needs tidying, redecorating and restocking. You get a bit of a surprise when you are in L2 as the surveyor clatters past the window.

A quick check through allows you to estimate that there must be Cr30,000 of stuff needed to bring the deck back to the state it should be in. More if you want it to be "Artistic". The most critical items are chemicals for the life support systems - with the ship attached to the dock, that won't be an immediate problem, but add passengers and you'll all be gasping quite quickly. Water is running low - which probably means the sewerage needs pumping out too.

Before a proper clean up you are going to need a disposable overall, gloves and a filter mask from Pranit's supplies.

If you are intending to make a thorough search - not just a bin the lot of it clean up - a Recon Roll would be helpful please

[BackworldTraveller]

Pranit
Light Duties and Damaged Tendons don't go together too well. The Library and Galley have a multitude of places to search - most of which are high or low or under or behind. So you end up sat in the "Library" watching Maggie potter round and survey the damage caused by years of neglect and some concentrated destruction.

What the sitting does allow you to do is to think of the places that you, or someone who can reach, can investigate. Hint for Investigate roll please

It also works up a thirst - and it is now time for lunch - and maybe a lie down.

[BackworldTraveller]

Arnwulf
The only real puzzles on this floor is what did the occupants use it for when it wasn't a ship and how do the lasers fit together?

It would have been great as a growing space but didn't have any plants in. (Mind you it is a bit dim but lights could have been purchased). Anything that was here will have been removed by Forensics anyway as they really did clean the place through.

The lasers have, by lunch time been arranged into 4 groups.
Group 1: Probably bits for a complete laser - Most of the light-array is now assembled
Group 2: Most of the bits for a second laser
Group 3: Third (sometimes 4th) examples of items found in groups 1 and 2
Group 4: Bits that aren't laser parts (as far as you can see)
And that manual would be real helpful.

Still, the catalogue was also tempting, and the drum kit ordered gives a reasonable mix of sounds and style.

[BackworldTraveller]

Reven
Engineering definitely needs a new safe door. And the old one needs floating out when the place is in zero-g because it's too heavy to move easily under gravity.

Having checked in the workshop tidy, Reven runs out of places - Time for a lunch break.

[BackworldTraveller]

Nalani
By the time Nalani returns, the Captain has gone for her lunch and the surveyors are already back at work on the outside - suiting up she joins them.

Mark: Well hello again. We are almost done out here. Other than the hole and crack, she's a good ship. A reinforcing bar should be simple to install. Externally, the ship seems to have everything needed for a temporary flight certificate...28 days to patch and then confirm the work is done to standard and a full certificate will be issued.

Just the internal stuff to do.

Oh-and there is some odd cratering around the crew airlock - looks suspiciously like low-speed meteorite impacts from 9mm meteorites. I don't know what her former owners did but they didn't have totally friendly relations with anyone

[ateno]

Pranit
Light Duties and Damaged Tendons don't go together too well. The Library and Galley have a multitude of places to search - most of which are high or low or under or behind. So you end up sat in the "Library" watching Maggie potter round and survey the damage caused by years of neglect and some concentrated destruction.

What the sitting does allow you to do is to think of the places that you, or someone who can reach, can investigate. Hint for Investigate roll please

It also works up a thirst - and it is now time for lunch - and maybe a lie down.

Pranit drinks a litre of water and takes 2 pills.

"Maggie, I need a lie down, I'll be back up about 4 bells. Call me if anything comes up. You also Queen.

Investigate [2d6+2]=9+2=11 +1 skill, +1 iNT

[BackworldTraveller]

Pranit
Careful observation of the places visible in the Library and Galley suggest that there isn't much space for hiding stuff - unless its in the main cupboards and shelves. You have managed a quick rustle through those and come across a magnetic "Image" frame that can be attached to any wall and display pictures. No power, but it takes a standard plug. You take it upstairs to the crew area and plug it in on the way to your bed.

[The Bindoner]

Nalani
By the time Nalani returns, the Captain has gone for her lunch and the surveyors are already back at work on the outside - suiting up she joins them.

Mark: Well hello again. We are almost done out here. Other than the hole and crack, she's a good ship. A reinforcing bar should be simple to install. Externally, the ship seems to have everything needed for a temporary flight certificate...28 days to patch and then confirm the work is done to standard and a full certificate will be issued.

Just the internal stuff to do.

Oh-and there is some odd cratering around the crew airlock - looks suspiciously like low-speed meteorite impacts from 9mm meteorites. I don't know what her former owners did but they didn't have totally friendly relations with anyone

Thank you, this is good news. Well, at least it is not as bad as I feared. Can you recommend a supplier for the parts we will need? Quality is more important than economy, but price alone is no guide, and you are best placed to know who to trust.

Ah, yes those small meteorites do seem to be more attracted to some people than others. I hope we do not such a person our new crew, but that device you found is a poor omen. Still, it did not make any holes, perhaps that is a good sign?

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

for Maggie:

as long as Arnwulf is not the sort who practices base guitar or bagpipes at 3am. 

I quite like the idea of a crazy drummer exiled to the cargo hold or banging away to entertain the guests. Keep the Art+0

After hours working and planning a schedule for the next days, he relaxes around the crew room.