The Time and The Place

[Tiglath]

Yes, agreed. And I believe the Aslan must be semi-conscious as well.

I hate leaving anything to chance. Assuming our main force is invited into the main hangar, I was thinking of having the security disk (shall we call her “Rover”) and the weapons laden janitors in proximity to us. It will look as though the station anticipates some cleanup.

What do you think of having reserve raiders enter the perimeter of the hangar complex by having the ship repair bot opening the main reception room door. He’ll need bother set of cloned access codes. That secondary action begins once main hangar fighting begins.

Once the perimeter is secured, the repair bot can become the operator of the airlocks leading to the main hangar…independent of the biometric system.

I’ve asked Ummiimir for another set of clone access codes. This will be expensive, but I hate leaving any plan to chance!

Thoughts??

Raven replies soberly with none of her usual bluster "Chance is our enemy and certainty our ally. We must weigh the dice as heavily as we can and only then do we make our throw. Your reasoning for the positioning of the robots is sound. Aslan are big and heavy - we will need a secure scoop stretcher to move one about readily. I understand they rate themselves as elite warriors although the Glorious Empire seem to be slavers much like ourselves. However, they have none of our expertise in spreading terror. A tactical reserve can bring in more supplies and heavier weapons that we could otherwise not conceal - my plasma gun and explosives in case we have to make a breach. We are stealing a multi million credit starship so almost any expense is justifiable if it brings success. We need a headcount of all the prize vessel's crew that we must account for and picts or holos for training so we can be familiar with them".

[Thumper]

Tiv nods at Raven…

I like the way you think! I’ll set to work cataloguing the Aslans and providing holo-training images.

I do think we should get an early start on our purchases from Medusa. That is a precursor to inviting Her Words to a slave inspection…and all the rest.

We have much accomplish this day.

Let me send a message to Medusa to see when she might open her ship to us.


He does right away.


Tiv stands in wonder at Sigbjorn turned Doctor Octopus.

Does he perceive this umbilical man-machine connection as a threat to the ship? If not, though he’s fascinated by the bio-mechanical connections, he’ll try to stay disciplined with the task at hand and return to doing what he told Raven he would do.

[Thumper]

Creation of Aslan combat training Holos

[The Bindoner]

Sigbjorn connects his waferjack interface to the Serpent’s computer and accesses the Astrogration data. Each command is executed with unexpected speed, but only after a short pause, during which the computer exchanges data between its own processors. He has the feeling part of the computer is watching him.

The Bridge lights up as a holographic display of the space around Oghma is projected in the space between the command chair and flight control consoles.

Overlayed on the Oghma, Marduk, Borite worlds is the stylised image of a stag, its head in empty space coreward of Oghma. Its antlers end at Thebus and Noricum, Oghma is at its heart while Marduk and Borite are at its fore and rear feet.

The style is:

[The Bindoner]

……………………….


A courier drone arrives, essentially a box flying on turbofans.

It delivers a package from Ummiimir containing a data-wafer (compatible with Tiv's computer, but Oghma machines do not have the correct port) and a handwritten note:

One of the housekeeping robots in the cat’s box will go unserviceable soon, and a unit from your berth will be assigned to replace it.


The wafer contains a clone ID for one of the janitor robots in the accommodation section of the hangar.


…………………

The Serpent receives a comm message from Aristotelis Kapsalis, on behalf of Blacksand Asclepieion Trading Company.

Your prescription has been filled, and the medicines are ready for collection.

An address is given – a cheap retail space off the main concourse.

The message has a logo:

[Ecthelion]

Sigbjorn connects his waferjack interface to the Serpent’s computer and accesses the Astrogration data. Each command is executed with unexpected speed, but only after a short pause, during which the computer exchanges data between its own processors. He has the feeling part of the computer is watching him.

The Bridge lights up as a holographic display of the space around Oghma is projected in the space between the command chair and flight control consoles.

Overlayed on the Oghma, Marduk, Borite worlds is the stylised image of a stag, its head in empty space coreward of Oghma. Its antlers end at Thebus and Noricum, Oghma is at its heart while Marduk and Borite are at its fore and rear feet.

The style is:

After all this, Sigbjørn watches deeply the people in front of him.

I think your ship needs a real pilot. And I need a ship that can jump like a stag under my commands at the helm. Can we arrange a meeting with the Jarl?

Or whoever is in charge in this clan.

[Tiglath]

Overlayed on the Oghma, Marduk, Borite worlds is the stylised image of a stag, its head in empty space coreward of Oghma. Its antlers end at Thebus and Noricum, Oghma is at its heart while Marduk and Borite are at its fore and rear feet.

After all this, Sigbjørn watches deeply the people in front of him.

I think your ship needs a real pilot. And I need a ship that can jump like a stag under my commands at the helm. Can we arrange a meeting with the Jarl?

Raven watches with enthusiastic fervor "We have found our pilot and The Serpent is Cunning - she can travel where others dare not. There is a piece of art in her corridors. A serpent is about the Stag's neck - she throws her coils between antlers and heart... and my Serpent remembers. Your faith illuminates our path Prestr Sigbjørn - I have faith that a course will soon be revealed to you".

She gives what might appear to be a satisfied smile "As for Jarl Hallstein Ásgeirr on his behalf I invite you to join the crew of his Cunning Serpent and we are indeed arranging a meeting with him - for I am quite sure he will greet in person the crew that brings him an Aslan prize vessel!"

[Ecthelion]

She gives what might appear to be a satisfied smile "As for Jarl Hallstein Ásgeirr on his behalf I invite you to join the crew of his Cunning Serpent and we are indeed arranging a meeting with him - for I am quite sure he will greet in person the crew that brings him an Aslan prize vessel!"

The stag's god, the buck's path and the bear of victory, finally united again under my hands. This is the sign I waited so long, I will join your crew, I will lead the crew to worlds never reached before. And you will eat them, world's eater!

who is aslan?

[Thumper]

Tiv gets pulled away from evaluating his holo-sim work to focus on the package. He holds the wafer disk and looks at both sides, admiringly, and lets out a short chuckle. He retrieves his personal computer and inserts the disk after calling for the correct janitor drone. He connects his computer to the drone and copies the file over.

He runs a couple diagnostics and determines the Comm links are transmitting and receiving correctly. Then gives verbal instructions to the drone to go clean the Aslan hangar while I watch him on the video feed.

**Edited**

Damn, Ummimir is GOOD! Or more like Soraia is…

[The Bindoner]

The logo on the Blacksand message is another version of one identifying Medusa's comm contact.

Somehow that got cropped out of the post above.

Medusa's Comm Icon:

[Legion Lee]

Leon would have been on the bridge at the weapons station when Gigbjorn and the rest joined at the bridge running checks. As Tiv states it is going to be a bloody day.

He will listen in but not add much to the plan.

[Tiglath]

who is aslan?

Very broadly speaking they are an intelligent alien species with the appearance of "lion men" and a culture that resembles that of medieval Samurai. In the bit of space where we are situated they are the neighbouring (scary expanding) Empire. The specific bunch we are dealing with are called The Glorious Empire are a rather nasty slaver variant on that main theme.

You'd need your head reading if you were planning on picking a fight with them! Oh, wait...

Traveller Wiki: https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Aslan

Images: https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1VD ... =961&dpr=1

NB Very broadest scale and general terms above - this campaign may have its own specifics.

[The Bindoner]

Reviewing the overnight surveillance recordings reveals more details of the occupants of the hangar.

The watch at reception lasts four hours before the young Aslan male (Ktauhwir) is relieved by a female, who emerges from one of the cabins in the hangar corridor. She is dressed in a ship jumpsuit, with some faint staining on knees, thighs and cuffs, apparently from oil and grease, and has a sheathed blade at her hip. She and the male are on friendly terms, and chat a little during the handover. Her name is Teoiw (called “Opens The Gate”)

Ktauhwir returns to his corridor cabin.

The female is more focused on the security screens than the male was, but also opens a second screen to scroll through Blackrock ship’s chandlery catalogues, without translation.

Toward the end of her watch, two males in “kilts” leave the ship, run circuits of the hangar and return.

The smaller of the two re-emerges shortly after. This time he is wearing light armour, with a strange blade weapon on his belt, and an alien sidearm. He relieves the female on door watch. Treating him with respect, she checks his comm headset and leaves, boarding the ship. She calls him Wawahyurlekh (“Walks The True Path”)

Small Birds Singing emerges from her stateroom and boards the ship.

A human female, in smart but plain robes, leaves the ship and hurries to the reception area. A Blackrock delivery drone arrives, and the big male, inspecting the screens, picks up the gun. The woman reassures him that Small Birds Singing has authorised the delivery, and he opens the door. The woman collects a tray of fresh herbs and a cage of plump rodents from the drone and hurries back to the ship. The male on watch activates sub-screens to watch the woman transit the hangar, and the drone leave the area of the hangar corridor covered by the camera. She is met at the ship’s airlock by another big male, who perfunctorily checks her produce. He is wearing armour, with a visored helmet, carries a slung longarm and holds a polearm. He seems pleased, and takes her inside.

So far, you have identified:

Two male ship’s crew, one female ship’s crew (presumed Engineer). The males are currently in hangar cabins, the female has boarded the ship.

One male ship’s officer (currently on door watch).

Two male warriors, aboard the ship. You have seen one hunting a robot food dispenser, and one exercising.

A human servant.


Her Words Calm Prey has not appeared on the cameras overnight.

.............

The review was on fast-forward, with highlights slowed.

Recon rolls?

Edited

Twice Thrice

[Tiglath]

Raven Recon Roll:

[2d6+2]=10+2=12

[Gorethirster]

Remington is spared making a reply to Raven, at least for the moment, by her impromptu tour. As Raven shouts about glory and dragon heirs and whatever else she goes on about, Remington quietly addresses Tiv:

"The work that needed doing wasn't high enough on the task list to bother with during a proper maintenance cycle. I wanted it done though, so I figured the dead of night would be the safest time. Typical of my luck that we'd get a guest then. I'll keep a commdot on me next time I'm doing night watch maintenance. Or shanghai Eno to play secretary, she's better at being nice than I am."

Remington briefly pauses, and then chuckles:

"You'd better be careful with those going native comments. The later someone adopts a culture the further down the rabbit hole they'd go. I think we'd both hate it if I turned into a hard-line conservative with no time for all this witchery!"

Remington finishes his semi-apology right around the time Sigbjørn begins his theatrics. Both his time around Raven and his own "promotion" to shaman have given Remington a healthy suspicion of the mystical, but he has to admit that Sigbjørn is committed to the bit if he's just putting on a show. That thought triggers a twinge of what might be jealousy: Remington doesn't want to share his spot as the ships mystic phony, even though he doesn't want to have to keep up the dog and pony show. He drifts to the bridge with the rest of the senior crew, and watches the night's surveillance footage that he missed while down in engineering.

Investigate roll with +1 for int
[2d6+2]=8+2=10

[Thumper]

Remington briefly pauses, and then chuckles:

"You'd better be careful with those going native comments. The later someone adopts a culture the further down the rabbit hole they'd go. I think we'd both hate it if I turned into a hard-line conservative with no time for all this witchery!"

Hate it? Nah, just the opposite. You’d make a great Oghman! Like me, a most unusual one…but also like me…great! Don’t discount the possibility!

I’m just trying to keep your body temperature at 98.6deg F for now!! 37deg C

[The Bindoner]

Recon results:

Remington notices that, while the human servant pauses before each door, the Aslan on watch in the reception area activates the door. It appears that he is verifying access permission manually – the human is not included in the automated facial recognition system.

………………..

Raven notes that the “utility blades” the Aslan crew wear are equivalent to a human short-sword. The odd blade carried by the Aslan on desk duty is curved and has no hilt. From its profile, she deduces that it is a throwing weapon. His sidearm has the appearance of an energy weapon, but it has no cable or power-pack.

The Aslan guarding the ship is wearing high-tech sealed armour*, and his slung weapon is a big-calibre military automatic rifle. The pole-arm has a spearhead at one end and crescent hooks at the other. It looks, to her, impractical, but these aliens probably have a technique for using it.

……………………

Tiv sees that when the current Aslan is passing the human through the airlock, one of the sub-screens on the reception display looks like a link to the ship, on which he checks something.




* (Combat Armour)

[Thumper]

Tiv sees that when the current Aslan is passing the human through the airlock, one of the sub-screens on the reception display looks like a link to the ship, on which he checks something

Tiv mutters:
Hmm. A manual airlock control right there…operable by the reception guard. Cool!

And that link on the console’s screen…here…it appears to be a link to the ship. Let’s keep a close eye on that and see what we can learn of it’s functionality. We need to monitor the ship views when the reception guard uses this. See if it’s Comm or ship control. It’s a long-shot, but with luck the cargo ramp or airlock may be controlled from here. Either way, there’s a threat and possible opportunity with this link. Monitor this closely.

[The Bindoner]

A detailed review of the recordings shows that the link to the ship is a comm/data channel. The Aslan is checking that the human is allowed to leave the ship, and probably for what purpose, before authorising the door to open.



Tiv has ordered the hangar janitor robot onto the Serpent to clean up and isolated it in a stateroom, out of contact with the station (due to the ship’s Emission Grid). Activating the clone ID on one of the purchased janitor units, he sends it out into the hangar, to wait for the summons to the Aslan dock.

[Thumper]

Tiv provides verbal instructions to “his” cloned janitor robot to ensure it gets into the “darker” areas of the Aslan docking wards…the areas without camera and Comm coverage.