Jaq’s piloting combined with Torq’s astrogation has brought the Witch back into N-space near perfectly 106 planetary diameters … and right nearly into a space battle. Jaq barely avoids debris from an unidentified ship, the g-compensators barely compensating, and the collision avoidance klaxon begins to roar. Ahead a damaged subsidized freighter is broadcasting a mayday after taking a random missile hit: “Mayday, Mayday; We’re bleeding atmosphere!” Multiple combats are taking place, around the highport, fighters and system defense boats duel, farther away, two Imperial Ghalalk Cruisers pound surface targets with ruthless missile barrages, and in turn are met by rafts of missiles rising from the planet, sand caster dust creates a brilliant sparkle as it burns in the atmosphere of Stane. A free trader, garishly painted, ad hoc, makes a dead end suicide run at one of the Ghalalks, taking multiple hits, and burning madly, impacts the cruiser with terrific results; it’s hold filled with explosives most likely.
From what Kallen had been reading earlier, it is now apparent that the political situation on Stane has deteriorated badly. The PPF and RA must have risen against the Stane government forces, already badly depleted, they are little more than an untrained and untried militia. Obviously the Imperium has moved forces into Stane to try to support the government, however legitimate or illegitimate it might be. Switching the comm from station to station, it ranges from sudden spurts of intense babble that dissolves into static, that of dying ships, to cold hard military orders. Sensors report a lock, a SDB with Stane Military markings splits off from making a flanking sweep in its squadron, circling back towards the Witch.
“ITH Dust Witch, this is Stane System Defense, Stane Control’s computer was taken out by an explosive at a little after midnight”. A fatigued military voice states, exasperated at the duty of dealing with incoming freighter traffic. “You sure picked a fine time to transit from jump here, heave to for inspection, if you are hauling weapons for the rebels, we’ll burn you down where you stand”.
Comments
Who wants to comm with the Stane Officer sould roll 2d6, also begin thinking about some fast talking.
d6+d6
2 + 6 = 8 (Not sure if there is a skill in here to use, so 8 it is)
Jaq flips the comm switch on her HOTAS rig while trying to pilot through the various debris and dodging missiles and other incoming weaponry, “Stane System Defense, this is ITH Dust Witch, Wilco, but please designate neutral location away from combat. We don’t want to become collateral damage. Over.”
Still listening in on the External Comms which she has piped to the bridge speakers, she switches the link to the 1MC, “Action Stations, Actions Sations. Condition Yellow, Weapons Hold. Captain to the Bridge.” She speaks calmly but very clearly.
“Alright Dust Witch, I’ve tagged you friend with our IFF, you can proceed to Exo Laant downport, there are insurgents on the highport, we’ll forgo the routine inspection until you land, you are the downport’s problem now. Out”.
Jaq keys the External Comms again, “Stane Defense, Copy Proceed direct to Exo Laant downport. Thank you, sir. ITH Dust Witch.” Jaq breathes a sigh of relief, now not having to worry about one problem. She waits for Garet or Torq’s arrival on the bridge while continuing to dodge debris and other fun and exciting stuff.
As soon as the ’Witch transitions into normal space and the klaxons go off, Garet is racing towards the bridge, calling out over his shoulder to Walt: “Grab your armor and your guns, watch the airlocks until we get the stand down from action stations.”
Once through the iris valve onto the bridge, Garet looks out at the carnage around them: “So the local government finally pushed Stane over the cliff.”
“What’s our status?”
Torq walks on to the bridge as cool as a cucumber and flops into a fire control chair, he quickly logs on to his station, assessing the tactical position and the comm logs he sighs, "You know, I might feel better with my suit on. I’ve got this feeling we all might do well to gear up. Do you want me here or shall I go and get dressed for company?”
HAving just completed the last transmission from Stane System Defense when Garet walks onto the bridge, Jaq speaks over her shoulder, “We’ve been ID’d by a Sig Delt and marked as friendly, but I wouldn’t push that too far. We have orders to head for Exo Laant. No Highport. Looks like just about everything is as fragged as it could get.”
Torq walking in about then, Jaq says, “We are in a defensive posture only, we should only worry about stray missiles. Looks like the screens are clean for now, Torq. We’ll be in the downport shortly, but if it makes you feel any better, by all means, go get your party dress on.”
Sialann jerks awake from troubled dreams of the viral ships’ attacks on her home orbital, of torn bodies spilling out into hard vaccuum, to find that the klaxons in her dream are real.
She turns white and nearly retches with the adrenaline overload even while she begins to realise where she is, then starts hurrying into her vacc suit anyway, but finds she is already clutching the alien blaster so tight it’s grip pattern is imprinted into her hand. Slowing down and unencumbering herself from the various weapons she’s gathered to herself in her sleep, she pauses, half-in, half-out of her suit and comms the bridge.
“Wh-” it comes out as a croak, and she clears her throat. “What’s happening up there?”
Jaq thumbs the comm to reply directly to Sialann’s comm. In a calm, but slightly tense voice, she replies, “We’ve dropped out of Jump and into somebody’s frag party. We’re headed dirtside and will be there shortly. For now, we are staying ready for anything. Remain calm and in your stateroom for now. Bridge out.”
Jaq continues to fly to get clear of the debris field and the general combat zone occurring above the gravity well.
Piloting Skill Check for quick and problem-free transit to the planet’s surface:
d6+d6+skill
6 + 6 + 2 = 14 (Holy Cow, Stolen Base)
Garet turns to Torq: “Let’s ready a welcoming committee, just in case.” To both Jaq and Torq:
“Jaq, see that wrecked freighter bearing 175? Let’s put that scout piloting training to work, shall we? Bring the ‘Witch in close to her, and use her to shadow us from that SDB. Torq, grab Walt, and get our “friend” ready to evac via the airlock on Jaq’s signal."
“He’ll look like another casualty from that freighter. Make sure he’s clean. No identifiers leading back to us.”
“With everything going down on Stane, a body’s the last thing we need to deal with.”
Upon hearing Sialann’s call, Garet leans over to a comm station and calls back: “Our destination planet is in the middle of political upheaval, so it sounds like the rebels are duking it out with the planetary government, with the Imperium jumping in.”
He responds calmly, almost matter of fact in order to ease her fears: “Just another day in the life of a Free Trader. We’ll be making dirtside in a bit.”
Torq should roll for deception at ditching McCready’s corpse.
Walt was just about to express the same idea, the body would fit right in with the rest of the floating debris! Walt makes his way to the low couch and retrieves the body then moving to the airlock awaiting the signal.
once that is done he will tool up and get ready to defend the ship – calling out he makes sure he has an open comms to the bridge.
Torq stands, simply saying, “Aye aye.” He makes his way to the low passage finding Walt on the way to ask for a helping hand, “Time to put out the trash. Let’s clean up the stiff before we put him to rest.”
Torq will first make sure there is nothing on McCready’s body other than clothes and nothing in the pockets. Then he’ll go through his other personal items making sure they’re clean of any connection to the Dust Witch or crew and put back on his corpse, like his empty wallet, but nothing of value or use to the crew. Of course using surgical gloves and wiping all surfaces that may have held a fingerprint. Aware that micro fibers will have passed between the clothing Torq takes a gamble that nobody will check the corpse’s clothing that far,
Finally, with Walt’s help he’ll load the corpse into the airlock (with the dead mice) and drop the pressure significantly. When he does remotely hit ‘purge’ from the bridge he wants the signature to be as small as possible on the scanners of anybody looking. The last thing he wants is a corpse fired like a torpedo to smash against the hull of a wrecked freighter in a blast of vented air.
With everything set Torq makes his way to the bridge and readies the airlock from his workstation. In another window he’ll use the sensors to indicate when the Witch is passing the freighter hulk. Just before he fires he starts to quietly sing to himself, “Do you remember a guy that’s been…such an early song….”
Clearing his throat he calls out to the bridge, “Anybody got any last words for McCready you better say them now.” When his shot opportunity lines up he softly delivers McCready to eternity…
It doesn’t look like a very good shot. 6
Jaq nods to Garet as she tries to work it into the flight plan to look casual. “I’ve got the Sig Delt on the starboard rear quadrant, better use the port airlock. You’ll only have about a 30 second window.” Jaq works the controls as deftly as possible. “Fly casual,” she says under her breath to herself as she works the flight path.
Piloting roll to ensure the Witch lines up in the shadow of the wreaked freighter:
d6+d6+skill
4 + 4 + 2 = 10
“In 5…4…3…2…ready…Now…”
“Really, Dust Witch?” The voice of the officer over the comm from the Stane SDB, “I didn’t just see you space a body from your airlock, dammit!” Her voice dripping with sarcasm.
[ooc: It was unlikely to succeed, modifier difficult.]
“Hold where you are,if you move, we’ll shoot”. Definitely sounding hostile.
“Awww Frell! Somebody else better answer them. G, take the flight controls. I’m gonna be in the passageway by the airlock.” She heads back toward the airlock and finds Torq. “Alright, here is your chance. Torq. I know you’ve been dying to knock me out for the last week. So knock me in the back of the head and make it look good. I need to be out for at least several minutes!”
“Well we can say he promised to pay us at the next imperial planet, but turned his toes up before we arrived – with no id or money we tossed him heck no one rides for free” Walt offers as he is readying his weapons and armour.
Garet, reaching into his pockets, grabs his flying gloves, slipping them on as he easily slides into the pilots chair, adjusting it for himself.
Taking a deep breath and sounding as calm as he can, Garet comms back: “Roger that. ITH Dust Witch reducing speed to match yours, but with all this debris, I’ll keep my ability to dodge active, thanks.”
Switching the comm to local, and putting just Walt, Torq and Jaq on, Garet replies: “Hmmm..had an eagle eye on the scope. We got spotted dumping McCready. I’m dropping thrust to match the SDB, so let’s come up with a nice plausible story for the authorities, shall we?”
“Oh, and grab McCready’s box. Take it to the airlock, and check it out. If it’s a threat, we can leverage that info. If it’s goodies, take some and hide it, leave enough for the fine authorities to find.”
Torq sighs, “Let’s stick to the truth, the man’s dead but there’s no proof of foul play and no laws against burial in space. He died from his jump, most likely. We didn’t kill him and even if we did we didn’t kill him in this system. So let’s just ‘fess up and take it on the chin. There’s no real crime to answer here. Garet’s right, we better check that damn box quickly.”
Garet comments: “I agree, and since I’m captain, I’ll run point on this issue. You all just check that box, and I’ll deal with the authorities when they arrive.”
The pinging of a multiple weapons lock on the Witch from a 400ton, M6 Gunboat, says they are there, with all the authority they need: two triple beam lasers and two triple missile racks. ;)
“Too bad you didn’t run, it would have made my day that much easier, then just push the activation key”, The officer on the Gunboat replies, “and thank your lucky stars you have ITH on your tailfin, somebody down there must like you. HQ wants us back in the rilly big show and the rescue cutter for the subbie will bag and tag whoever it is you spaced, we’ll beam you coordinates at Down to land and ride your tail halfways there, High is in a geostationary orbit above, deviate from the established course and it’ll be fire, fire, fire. Out”.
The course beamed in leads to a landing spot 7G on the down port here:
Stane, world
Physical link is at the bottom of the Stane, Subsector wiki entry.
Who is checking the box and where?
Sialann gets all itchy just sitting tight. Although she’s been told to stay in her stateroom, she hasn’t survived this long by following orders and making life convenient for others. She rolls the vacc suit down out of the way around her waist and heads forward to the crew common area to see what the others are up to.
Walt replies “I have all of stiffs belongings logged in the manifest even down to his small change – apart from the box which is still under lock and key” he pauses and continues “we picked him up at last port, he had no coin but promised above rate payment when we got to the next Imp planet but died in jump – he has no ID well none I found on inspection its simple and clear cut” Walt is on his way to airlock to join Garet on inspection of box.
[ooc: Who is Walt replying to?]
Garet as per the conversation feb 7th
Garet comms back to the gunboat: “You need to ease up on the coffee, and back off on the threats. like you’ve pinged, we’re expected down there, so less flapping of your gums about what you would’ve done, and more professionalism, squib.”
Garet deliberately uses the term signifying a wet behind the ears cadet to let the gunner know that he is familiar with the procedures and game the navy plays with freighters, and he’s having none of it.
Garet comms back to Walt: “Neagtive. take Torq and Jaq, go get the box and check it as soon as you can. I’m going to be busy keeping this gunboat from doing something stupid while they follow us down to the downport.”
They are so green, they might not have even noticed the insult, or too tired. It is four and half hours to get down to the spaceport, the landing zone is marked with the maltese cross and arrow on the map, just a small section for the Witch, not the whole LZ. Though don’t get ahead of yourselves, there could still be an encounter, as well as what is in the box, it’s a fairly hairball ride down through the battle zone.
Walt contacts Torq and Jaq, “Guys we need to check this box before we land meet me in the airlock – pronto” Walt then continues his way to the airlock and gets his suit on waiting for the others to arrive.
{ooc: it’s just a box, I can’t imagine Torq being so absurd about it. As a player I know the correct thing to do is play safe, but it makes no logic for Torq, and I have to play him in character. It’s a box, so he’ll just open it and not in the airlock, in the galley with Walt and Jaq. Why do I feel nervous? =p]
Staring blankly at Walt in disbelief for a moment, “Just open it. It’s only a gorram box. If it is going to blow up you think McCready would’ve been carrying it?”
Torq sighs, grabs the box and opens it, albeit a little carefully.
Opening the box, Torq sees another box, lacquered and very ornate. Opening that box it is seen to be thickly felt lined and there is something in a purple velvet bag, inside that there is a crystal globe about 45cm (18in.) in diameter. Holding it up, it appears that there are tiny irredescent flakes in the clear crystal; what everyone can tell, what ever it is, it is most likely very old and very valuable. It would not be a surprise if McCready was a Tomb Robber, however there is something else about the globe, it almost dances in the mind.
Everyone there opening the box in the galley roll 2d6.
Torq looks at the stone for a moment (6). He isn’t sure what to make of it, but he hopes it will fetch some good money on a market somewhere to to a collector. He sighs again, realizing it’s going to be too hot to sell openly.
“NOooo” Walt cries out as Torq grabs the box and opens it
Walt rolls … dice roller not working will post roll when I get home!
Walt’s roll is
Roll: 2d6
11 = 5[d6]+6[d6]
“Lets hope this doesn’t end badly” Walt says to Torq as he inspects the crystal.
Sounds like a
goodbad time for Sialann tomoseynosey into the galley…Roll = 9
I am assuming that only Sialann, Torq and Walt are in the galley. Walt’s roll ran best, he notices, and can point it out to both Torq and Sialann (who sees the same thing pretty quick) that light shinning through the globe has a holo-effect.
“Well you don’t see stuff like that everyday, quick get it over here near some light” Walt says as he takes the globe of of Torq and holds it up to the light.
It is difuse held up to the light, and seems to be upside down, but as near as they can tell, it seems to be a starmap projector, maybe missing a lit base, but if old, very much a valuable objet d’art.
And there I was, expecting something doom-laden, she thinks.
“Can we figure out what sector of space that represents?” she asks no one in particular.
“Yes we will look at that in good time, for now i think it best if we put it away and concern ourselves with the more pressing matters” Walt replies, he bundles the globe back into the box and places in his locker on the way back to the bridge.
As planetfall approaches Torq returns to the bridge and informs Garet & Jaq of his findings, “There was some sort of globe in the box. Maybe an artifact or relic, could be worth something to the right buyer. Anyway, it might have sat on a luminous base to project a holo’star map, but New Boy didn’t want to check it out, he’s a real scaredy cat and he just put it away. At least it might cover the fee you didn’t charge him, Garet.”
OOC: Sorry for being so late to the party – I was unavoidably detained by work and hospital visits. Please consider Jaq to be there, too.
BIC:
Jaq’s roll: 1+7=8
“Nice globe” she says out loud, fascinated by the piece. She breaks her stare to look over at Sialann. When Walt speaks up about taking it over to the light, Jaq finds herself drawn even farther to it. Then, breaking the spell, she seems to have on it says, “It’s just some trinket, I’m sure.” When the starmap is revealed, she’ll walk off quietly, pondering the effect it had on her for such a mundane purpose revealed. She heads back up toward the bridge to see if Garet wants her to take back over the pilot’s couch.
To Sialann, without the light shinning directly through it, the astrography of the map in undefined.
Whomever is piloting the Witch, roll 2d6. The gunboat follows the Witch to the halfway point near the highport, it’s target lock is then replaced by the target lock from ground based missile batteries. Stane’s air defence artillery is keeping the airspace over the starport clear of enemy ships and missiles, even if main control is offline. What the rest see is that the Starport is under siege apparently, someone has fired a quite large Mick Lick (Mine Clearing Line Charge) across a section trying to keep the starport isolated from the rest of the city, if Walt or any others with military tactics can see, it is also the weak point in defenses where one wouldn’t have to breach or crest the blast protectant berms around the landing fields. It is past daybreak now, the fight most likely happened during the night so most large sapper infiltrator formations have been cleaned up, smaller groups may remain…
In the map data beamed over from the gunboat, there is a maltese cross and arrow showing directions to landing pad seven G where the Witch is supposed to land. The landing pad is quite large, so that either one very big ship can land or multiple smaller ones, there are a few other ships on the pad, as well as cargoes out in the open; out bound or in bound, it is hard to tell, the situation is chaotic.
If Garet puts Jaq back in the pilot’s seat, shen she will pilot down as instructed by the SBD.
Her pilot skill roll is 6[d6]5[d6]2[skill]=13
“Exo Laant Down, this is ITH Dust Witch with instructions for 7 Golf. The automated system appears to be down, Requesting weather and hazard instruction. Over.”
Here is some theme music for the landing or looking over Stane HERE:
Holst – Mars
Jaq barely misses two quick movers, Ramparts with government markings on a run releasing ordinance into Exo Laant city metro proper and the resultant death blossoms of super high explosives, sending shockwaves through the structures. The starport has fared some better, but not by much, teams of graves registration troops are seen counting heads and feet to get a casualty toll.
“Dust Witch, this is Battery Baker, you are cleared for landing at seven golf, no other information forth coming. Over”.
“Battery Baker, Dust Witch copies clearance own caution. Dust in 7 mikes. Witch out.” Jaq pulls up the Witch’s scanners and slaves them to the pilot’s station and scans for localized weather for landing.
1[d6]3[d6]1[skill]=4
Unable to get the sensor suite to act right, she is left wondering why an apparent Planetary Arty battery doesn’t have at least a weather observer on duty. Nevertheless, she continues inbound.
4[d6]4[d6]2[skill]=10
She tries to find a spot to land which gives her enough room to correct for any unexpected weather. Momentarily, she is on final approach. Her reflexes taking over and she moves with muscle memory. Gear down, she drops the inertial dampers to half so she can better feel the landing. Better for a seat of the pants landing. “Downport traffic,” she calls on the traffic freq, “Dust Witch on final for 7 Golf.” She then switches to the intercom, “Dust in 1 mike, Inertial Dampers are on minimum. You might feel a few bumps.”
Jaq touches down safely, no real inclement weather as well, other than smoke from fires; she can probably guess that the battery did not feel like having a chat about the weather, considering all that is going on. Through the view screen on her console, she and everyone else can see a reception team is approaching, looks like a local Staner and a merc.
Sialann’s a bit put out at Walt just annexing the globe; she’d wanted a closer look at it. Maybe she can filch it from his locker later …
For now, she’s trying not to crowd those on the bridge, but hanging back just inside the galley doorway to eavesdrop on developments.
The landing going without any real hitch, Jaq secures the ship’s drives, bringing the power plant down to dirt-side level and securing the M-Drive. “Ship’s on the dirt and secure, G. Looks like we have Port Reps inbound.” She checks the sensors for basic weather info:
5[d6]5[d6]1[skill]=11
Seems that now that she is no longer multi-tasking, she realizes she didn’t complete the slaving over to her station and is now able to fully operate the sensor suite.
“Welcome to Stane. Outside air temp is 38 degrees Celsius. Barametric pressure is 122kPa. Humidity is 79%. Winds are light and variable and ther eis blowing smoke. Raising the ship’s pressure to match local pressures, so please cycle the airlock until that is complete.”
Garet replies from engineering “Roger that, Jaq, keeping the M-drive on standby in case we have to make a hot lift.”
“Armor up, crew. looks like we’re in a war zone for the moment. Have his known possessions ready in the event the Port Reps ask.”
“Torq, meet me at the airlock, and bring that fruit basket for our guests.”
Walt will get his kit on and make his way to the airlock, “So what are we expecting” he asks
Sialann isn’t assigned to repelling-boarders duty, so she’ll just sit back in the galley, get a coffee and wait for events to unfold … after grabbing her gauss pistol from her cabin and strapping the bayonet to her calf and stuffing the alien blaster down inside the rolled-down suit in the small of her back. Just in case.
Replying to Garet, “Copy that.”
Torq makes his way to his stateroom and put on his combat armou, backpack and RAM grenade bandolier. He folds the butt of his rifle and slings it over his right shoulder under his arm for quick action. He straps his pistol to his right leg over his armour and hangs his blade off his left hip, monofilament-bayonet is strapped to his right calf. After a quick system check he’ll make his way to the airlock, visor up.
Jaq completes her duties on the bridge, then heads for her stateroom, slips into her official IISS Duty Uniform and straps only one of her Gauss Pistols. She tucks her cred stick away in a hidden pocket, just in case it is needed and quickly reviews the local info on Stane and checks in on the SecureNet automated system for any messages that may have been carried in system by the IN ships she noted in orbit.
Nice work with the sensors, Jaq. Other data she can pull up is:
Basic World Type: Hot Planet
Planet Diameter: 7,800 miles (12,480 km)
Planet Density: Molten Core, 0.96 terra
World Mass: 0.96 terra
World Gravity: 0.96 terra
Planet Orbit Period:
Stellar Mass: 0.51 sol
Orbital Distance: 0.2 AU
Orbital Period: 45.746 standard days
Rotation Period: 19.55 standard hours
Axial Tilt: 33 degrees
Orbital Eccentricity: 0.15
Seismic Stress Factor: 3.55
The temperature range is from -2 to 58C (weather control is practiced in summer).
Exo Laant is the largest city on Stane with a Pop of 5 million and an industrial hub of the entire subsector; refugees from other worlds as well as the countryside are estimated to have swelled the pop to triple it’s original size. The Imperium as well has invested substantial TL 16 spacecraft and weapons manufacturing resources to Stane, they would not want to see these facilities fall into the wrong hands.
Through the viewscreen, the party can see the MP and Merc confer for a moment before the MP comms the ship: “Drop your cargo ramp, Dust Witch”.
Seeing that the SecureNet and ImpNet are locked down due to the combat situation, Jaq decides that whatever info she might get there can wait. Tucking in her Duty Tunic and ensuring her pistol belt is secure and the holster isn’t flapping around like a wild breezehorn’s ears, she heads back toward the airlock. When she gets there, she finds that the delegation is not there, but is, instead, at the cargo ramp.She comms Garet, “G, we gonna let these guys in?”
Garet comms back: “Not without some Ident.” Turning with Torq, Garet walks back to the cargo hold,and before reaching for the ramp release opens the speaker and says: “You’ll excuse me if landing in a firefight has me a bit paranoid, but I’m not letting either one of you birds on my ship until I’ve properly vetted you both.”
“Your names, and Identification. First one to try something stupid, gets dead quick.”
Reaction:
Roll: 2d6
4 = 1 [d6] + 3 [d6]
Hostile. Attacks on 8+
Roll: 2d6
10 = 4 [d6] + 6 [d6]
Ouch.
The guys clear off, running for cover, now you can hear warning sirens going off on the landing area. Other people on the tarmac are running for cover as well.
Sialann, belatedly realising this was a situation she could actually end up dead in, hastily rolls up the rest of her combat environment suit and dashes to her stateroom for its helmet.
“Are we at war with a whole planet now?” she shouts to no one in particular.
“G! What the Frell!” Jaq is astonished. “Asking for ID is fine, threatening them when they clearly did not have weapons that could blast through our bulkheads… These guys have our number from the SBD upstairs and it’s just going to get ugly if we don’t comply!” Jaq thinks quickly, then steps into the airlock. She comms the guys outside as she cycles the airlock. “My name is Jaq Nylora Yancy of the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service and I am coming out. Don’t shoot.” Then she comms Garet, “Listen, I am going to try to talk these guys down. Try not to do anything rash.”
When the outer door of the airlock cycles, she releases her pistol belt and holds the weapon and belt in her left hand (Meaningless to her, but the guys outside don’t know that) and takes steps slowly out of the ship. Unless she is stopped, she will continue down the ramp and to the nearest official.
Torq looks at Garet, “Smooth, real smooth. Why didn’t you let them on? I could have waxed both of them in one burst if they were trouble. Come to think of it I could have just imagined they were both you and I would have enjoyed it. Now we’re going to get our asses handed to us by the whole gorram PDF.”
Garet looks back to Torq and shrugs: “You always said you wanted to go out in a blaze of glory, right? Besides once they re-check our ID and find out we’re supposed to be here, this will be cleared up.”
When he hears Jaq’s message, Garet comms to Kallen and Sialann: “Kallen, Sialann. Head to the bridge or your best sight line and keep an eye on Jaq. Just watch for now.”
Once Jaq opens the outer airlock iris, she sees a couple of troopers in BD with grav belts (FGMP’s as well), lev up from behind the berm and swoop out and grab her, from where she can see the unit insignia of the Imperial 119th Marines (battalion), with Ground Force Assault lightning bolts. The Marines spirit her quickly away to behind the berm.
The comm on the Dust Witch suddenly blares: “This is the Imperial Marines. You in the Dust Witch: drop the cargo ramp, exit the ship, unarmed and with your hands on your head. When you reach the tarmac, lay face down with you hands on your head and your chin touching the ground face down. You have thirty seconds to comply.”
Garet sighs and unbuckles his holster, but keeps his combat armor with his Imperial Naval unit designation visible. Then he comms all ship: “Kallen, Sialann, Walt. you all heard the nice man. Come down to the cargo hold. No need to give the Marines any other reasons to shoot us.”
Opening the external comm, Garet says: “Roger that, Marines. Dust Witch complying. Opening cargo ramp, exiting as soon as all crew reports to ramp.”
Smart enough not to argue with the Marines moving her out behind the berm, once there and on her feet, she says, “Who is in charge, I need to speak with them about this situation immediately.” If they start to give her any grief, she’ll play her trump, “I carry an Imperial Warrant.” Jaq looks at the Marines to gauge their response. If asked to verify, she will produce her cred stick with the Warrant on it. Then she’ll add, “This mission is classified. and once I speak to your CO, you understand that I was never here and this never happened.”
The Marines don’t touch her cred stick, but one with 2LT rank, steps up: “That’s for HQ to decide all that, Scout. Who is that holding you hostage on that ship? What is going on? All we got was a call from a MP doing customs, a local”.
Torq reluctantly follows suit with Garet, mumbling obscenities at him as he does so. He removes his weapons, but leaves on his Combat Armour with its Imperial Army insignia and captain’s rank. He knew he’d catch hell from the marines, but at least they probably wouldn’t shoot him on the spot.
“I hate you so much right now Garet.” He says as he disembarks the Witch via the cargo ramp unarmed and with his hands on his head as instructed and lays face down on the tarmac.
“No one was holding anyone hostage. It is a matter of two sides understandably jumpy not communicating effectively. The crew of the Dust Witch have not committed any crimes against me, instead, have rescued me from a bad situation which I can’t talk about right here.” She pauses for a moment then continues, “As far as what is going on, System Defense ID’d the Witch for a customs inspection because one of the Witch’s passengers died in transit to Jumpspace and rather than have to deal with the body down here, someone made the brilliant decision to dump the poor guy up there in the battle. When the MP came up to the ship, they weren’t sure which side he was on, so they asked for ID in an unfortunate manner. That’s when you were called in.”
Sighing audibly, Sialann stows her weapons in the ship’s locker, reports to the cargo ramp and comes out, helmetless, holding nothing but a scowl.
The Dust Witch, just off the cargo ramp
“I hate you so much right now Garet.” He says as he disembarks the Witch via the cargo ramp unarmed and with his hands on his head as instructed and lays face down on the tarmac.
Garet, casually smiling, simply replies back: “Not as much as our friends are gonna looove you in that Imp Army cbt armor!”
“Besides, knowing Jaq, about now she’s probably tossing her weight around, disparaging us as lunkheaded freighter jocks who got antsy about keeping a body on board and dealing with red tape, and considering what we went through before you picked us up, were understandably antsy.”
“A Case of your best booze against mine says we get off with a light fine at worse, a scolding at best. You in?”
Walt follows lead and makes his way down to the tarmac, he is showing no sign off military rank and is just wearing fatigues under the armour “Nice friends you have Garet” Walt mutters to Garet when he hears Torq’s grumblings
Once everyone is down on the tarmac, from their peripheral vision they can see the familar battle dressed boots of Imperial Marines lev down around them, covering them a 30 ton Assault Boat. One by one their hands are zip tied behind them with plastisteel ties, their helmets removed if they are wearing one, and smoothly, if effortlessly as well, they are lifted up and set back to their knees. A trooper walks the line, pausing momentarily before each person, his HUD capturing images to run back to the the HQ’s battle comp to run image recognition software.
“Crew secure, neuro-scan says the ship is empty”. The trooper’s stark professional tone.
“Check those in Imperial Armor for status, they could be deserters”. The Gunnery Sgt commands.
“Stat Green, no deserters”. Another answers.
“Call stane millie, they are a local problem now, let’s bounce”. The Gunny states and the Marines lev up, with Jaq in the Assault Boat for a ride to Imperial HQ.
From the distance, the party can see the same two troopers from earlier, an MP and Merc, warily approaching, their ACR’s unslung and lowered. Reaching the party the MP snarks:
“That’ll cost you, so are you hijackers?” Speaking with a mild Vlazhdumectan accent.
[ooc: do americans call the ‘bill’ the ‘check’?]
Ignoring the MP, Torq looks at Garet, “Ha, I tell you what, if you get me a case of the best booze I’ll let you off after you’ve paid the fine.”
Torq looks back at the MP, and says casually, “Are we going to do hard time or is this just your usual shakedown? Because if we’re doing time I’ll pay extra if you can get me a cell away from him.” He indicates he means Garet with a flick of his head. “Otherwise, just give us the bill please, it’s always a pleasure being served by Stane’s Finest.”
ooc: sometimes, though it can be different for what venue, ie: hotel bill, restaurant check, bar tab, etc. .
Garet looks at Torq after his comment, responding relaxed, "And you made noise about me being smooth? why don’t we just ask them outright what’s the payoff for them to cut us loose? looking at the two MP’s Garet asks:
“You know, I know a guy on Stane who can find you two fine gentlemen a case or two of Rhylandorian spirits, just for locking this one (Garet gestures back towards Torq) up for a few days, or heck, forever, I’m not picky!”But, on a serious note:
Garet clears his throat and speaks: “We are not hijackers. I’m Captain Garet Jax of the Dust Witch. This is my first mate (Garet gestures towards Torq) and my crew, My Mechanic, Gunner, and purser (gesturing towards Walt, Kallen and Sialann).”
“The Imperial Marines took away my pilot. We work under Irulan shipping, who has an office here, so you are free to verify that. We are delivering a shipment of foodstuffs for a Doctor on planet, which you can also confirm.”
Sialann growls, whines and hisses alternately, sotto_-but-not-too-_sotto-voce. She really doesn’t like being tied up … again.
Around now she’s probably halfway to rubbing her wrists raw trying to get out of the plastic ties.
Walt stands silent in bonds, though he will check out everything he can see, he want to see if these guys are lax, or edgy, or by the book – just looking for any sign of an exploitable weakness
I know tactics helps us but is it possible to use it to asses the enemy
Roll: 2d6
10 = 4[d6]+6[d6]
Walt’s roll if necessary.
Everybody is still kneeling, if they notice Sialann struggling, they will be 1) rather weirded out by her appearance, but 2) not unsympathetic.
Walt notices that the merc is probably the most experienced of the two soldiers.
The MP pulls a pair of las-snips from his tactical vest and cuts the tie on Garet’s wrists. Taking him inside, he wants to see the manifest to enter into a tablet and get McCready’s gear, plus a facilitation payment of a 1000Cr.
“It says here that you spaced a body like a limpet mine near a subbie? Yah, that is so perfectly normal. You lift and dey shoot you down, I do’n care, you take it up with them. I take this stuff and gone”.
Basically he takes the bag of McCready’s personal gear, the money and a record of the manifest and leaves. They cut everyone loose afterwards and leaves. Central comm is down. Hard to say what Irulan’s factor will say to all this.
The blood rushes to Sialann’s head as she’s cut free and she hunches over, gets the dry heaves and actually starts crying if anybody looks to notice. But if anyone offers her a hand she nearly bites it off, chokes her breath back and surges to her feet, eyes dry and fiery again.
Garet responds to the MP:
“Here’s the payment. The guy we spaced died of JTS. no next of kin, no other info, so we gave him a spacer’s funeral, it’s just that simple.”
“Now, what’s the situation with fueling here? I can see it’s a shooting gallery, but after I get my cargo, am I going to be able to lift?”
Once he gets his answer from the MP, Garet returns back to the crew.
Turning to Torq, "Okay, “facilitation” fee of 1000Cr. we’re done. Lets lock the ’Witch up tight. Also, everyone have their comms? if not, go get it."
“Torq, take Walt and Kallen over to Irulan’s factor. see about the location of Dr. Roxoboro. Sialann, you come with me. We’ll see about about our pilot if we can. If we can’t, we’ll meet at the good doctor’s.”
When Garet speaks of McCready, the MP holds up his tablet to record it.
“You have to talk to starport admin, they have the hold and they give permission to lift, not my job”. He says succinctly, giving the impression that he isn’t too interested, except for the money, which he pockets. Garet, Kallen and Torq, having been here before, can feel the bottom has dropped out on Stane, it was never the most honest and efficient of places, but never this corrupt either. There will also have a working knowledge of the port, ITH’s factor is in building B.
“Got my comms.” Touching his ear tapping the cursed device that has never left his head, except for sleep liking the heat that comes to his skin as it tightly fits his head.
“Also looks like I won that bet.” Jerking Garet. Kallen then checks his boot for his small blade. “Shan’t bother with getting my pistols. Should be relatively safe.” Kallen then looks at Torq and Walt, “Ready when you two are.”
So when everyone is ready to move out, I will post another log.
Torq nods at Garet, “Roger that. We’ll get the rest of our gear first and just hope we don’t get shot for being armed. Walt, Kallen on me, weapons secure, we don’t want any more attention from their boys in blue.”
Torq makes his way back to the ship and collects his gear, weapons and helmet and wearing everything as before. As soon as Walt and Kallen are ready he will secure the Witch and move out to building B.
Sialann, you come with me. We’ll see about about our pilot if we can.
“OK, Cap,” in a steadier voice, then rushes up the ramp to grab gauss pistol and ray gun.
Garet walks back up the ramp, arms himself with his SMG (and mentally notes to buy a pistol and holster, slings the SMG over his shoulder, tucks his knife into his boot, grabs his helmet, does a quick check of his armor and systems (if any), then waits for Sialann.
Once she comes out, Garet simply says: “You’ve been through gods know what, I get that. And I’m quite familiar with both night sweats and nightmares.”
“What I need from you right now, is what I saw back on Dirkimum, ‘Velvet Steel’. The Imperium is on edge, and the Stane military’s even worse, so people are going to say stupid things, trying to get us to do stupid things.”
“Calm and cool. We check in, see about Jaq, then go about getting this cargo to it’s buyer. No muss, no fuss.”
“You’re going to be a great crewman, Sialann. Now let’s go get Jaq.”
Walt fetches his gear and joins the group on the walk to find the doc, he is walking with Torq and asks quietly “So we going to go in guns blazing” he pauses and continues “Or do we do it nice this time?”
“You’ve been through gods know what, I get that. And I’m quite familiar with both night sweats and nightmares.”
“What I need from you right now, is what I saw back on Dirkimum, ‘Velvet Steel’. The Imperium is on edge, and the Stane military’s even worse, so people are going to say stupid things, trying to get us to do stupid things.”
“Calm and cool. We check in, see about Jaq, then go about getting this cargo to it’s buyer. No muss, no fuss.”
“You’re going to be a great crewman, Sialann. Now let’s go get Jaq.”
Sialann smiles; it’s a good pep talk and it has its effect. She feels more like a fighter again, eyes scanning the landing zone and riding shotgun for Garet as they set out.
Torq looks at Walt in puzzlement, “Who are we going to shoot? This is the Irulan factor we’re looking for, these guys are the part of the same organisation as us. I just prefer to be armed in a war zone, don’t you? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in the mood for anybody to give me a hard time, but these guys should at least tolerate us. If shooting somebody was going to make some profit I’d consider it, unless it was Galen, in which case I’d do it for a cold beer.”
Torq makes his way over to ‘Building B’.