1107:10:day
-----------
= Horrible Chamax aliens attack Louzy


Lots of excitement with aliens!!!

** Ran Chamax Plague here and didnt take notes. **
** Ran Chamax Plague here and didnt take notes. **
** Ran Chamax Plague here and didnt take notes. **


1107:30:day [Cargo and Launch.]
-----------

Celestina locates some cargo for the ship.

[cargo: Nitrogen Compounds [maj 472.5klt=35.0dt] mod:['corr', 'expl']
    mul:  300 + 100 * 0.993 == $399.347089358
    pl:   $4800.0 == $479/dton  total==$226327.5
]

1107:31:day [Jump: lousy -> efate.]
-----------
= Comdot and throat mike plus immunity

Comdot: single ear + throat mike.

Wide spectrum immunity shot knocks you out for a few days.


1107:32:day
-----------
Feel totally crap!


1107:33:day
-----------
Feel somewhat crap!

Gravbelt communication from 
  Trov Mendooric and MicroOrganicsGravics LLC, Darrian/Darrian/SpinwardMarches
  Its a perky interactive training vid. Oh Joy. 

Feel a little more crap!

= Get the security talk from Brumen. Ah, the joys of piracy.

Brumen gives Sally the security talk. Main worries are piracy and hijacking.
Hijacking: seal the bridge and computer. Lock everything down. If it comes 
to it the ship is more important than the passengers or crew. Always tell 
other people when you go into the passanger area and it requires someone 
to buzz you back up. Set your own security passwords etc.

Antipiracy, Brumen wants everyone to be proficient in a weapon and
to have a weapon near their station. In Sally's case its  Sally with the
autopistol in engineering.

Discuss their next destination. Apparently Efate is a zero law 
level planet. Oh dear.

Sally spends the day thinking about what she needs from shopping at Efate 
and organising a shooting range down one corridoor.

1107:34:day
-----------
Feel only a little crap!

= Getting to know the crew. Brumen old retired navy. Celestina shy
= doctor. Attribella, annoying pilot.

Feelings after a few days with the crew: Brumen is the standard Captain, 
the Doc stays out of everyones way, almost hiding. Attribella floats 
around annoying people at odd times.

Meeting about planning the next jump. Noone has any specific idea so 
following the trade routes seems like a good idea, unless something 
better comes along.

The plan for Efate is that Attribella stays on the ship (after all she 
loaths Efate), Brumen has some friends to visit, so that leaves Celestina
and Sally to deal cargo and go shopping for Sally.

1107:35:day
-----------
Attribella says that the grav belt needs maintanance. She can get it done at
the scout base for Sally, but it'll cost about $10000-$15000 and that if
she wants any modifications to it (clothes that cover it, color, pockets,
G limit modified, etc etc) that now is the time to do it.

1107:36:day
-----------
Routine pre-Nspace (normal space, vrs Jspace or Jumpspace) procedure. Testing
engines and all that stuff. That keeps Sally pretty busy.


1107:37:day [Arrive at Efate.]
-----------
= bond with the crew by signing the ship. Ah, old traditions.

The rest of the crew call Sally to the flight deck and tell her that she
needs to go weld her name on the hull. Its kind of a tradition. After
finding out that Attribella wrote on the front of the ship, Sally writes on
its bum.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Into orbit.
  Spot a zho patrol cruiser escorted by some gazelles and a bucketload of
  system defence boats (sdb).

Landing.
  Land in doc area.

= everyone weapons up for the trip out to lawless efate.

Loading up and sealing the landing bay.
  Attribella has psi shield, smg, dual pistol and bulky armor. 
  lookin' dangerous.
  Brumen weapon, body armor over old imperial army officers jacket 
  with no rank.
  Celestina has flack jacket, medical kit + red cross on sholders.

  Attribella warns everyone that she'll fry them if they dont clear
  before entering the dock.

  Sally skitters off and comes back armed to the teeth and in a 
  military jacket.

Visiting harbor master and paying fees.
  On the way pass lots of unloading mercs.

  Brumen delivers some booze. Organises 7 day birthing and a refuel
  with refined fuel + restock.
    unrefined fuel 671kl * $10 = $6710
    restocking  =       $2000
    birthing $100/day = $700 cr
       == $10000

    maintenance .1%/year = .002% per week * 41070000 = $1600/ 2 weeks

  Brumen heads off on an airtaxi.

= Trundle around Efate and get a cargo.

Sally and Celestina head off to Traders alley.
  Past the megacorp offices and large companies in clean areas around
  the docking area.
  Head into the urban grimey areas of the station and into hole in the
  wall shops. Do some walking round and some PDA scanning.

Eventually find a seller, a Vargr. Arrange for pickup of the cargo.

  [cargo: Nitrogen Compounds [maj 472.5klt=35.0dt] mod:['corr', 'expl']
    mul:  300 + 100 * 0.993 == $399.347089358
    pl:   $4800.0 == $479/dton  total==$226327.5
    dm:   sD:[3, 6], sb:$4000.0 sroll:12 f:170% fp:$6800 sell=$678
                                       total sell price: $320355.0
    profit is $94027.5
  ]

= Shopping for stuff and sightseeing old octogon buildings.

Celestina takes Sally shopping for clothes, weapons and stuff.
Sally gets some tools and some clothes.

Get some stuff and a good selection of stuff.

See a octogon building. Odd, just like the one on lousy. It looks a hundred 
plus uears old, stone.

1107:37:night
-------------
Head back to the ship. Attribella lets you back in after you prove 
who you are.

Sally spends the evening playing with her new toys.


1107:38:day
-----------
Unloading cargo. Boring.

Evening, Brumen comes back. 

1107:38:night
-------------
Everyone tired. Sleep etc.

1107:39:day
-----------
Misc ship stuff.

1107:39:night
-------------
= the crew are a bit suspicious.

Voord Plendar arrives and chats about the expected cargo. He seems to
have lost a cargo and is rather dissapointed. There discussion that points
to some, non regulation cargo running.

Brumen chats to Sally about stuff and makes it clear. He says that he'll 
keep Sally in the loop and that sometimes they are dodgie.


1107:40:day
-----------
Visit Attribella and Sally shows off her new purchases to get Attribella 
in a good mood. 

Attribella gives Sally the grav belt and mentions that she may need
tuneups too. 

= Attribellas reveals her history on Efate and her 'modifications'.

Attribellas reveals her history on Efate where her parents were killed
by zhodani supporting terrorists on Efate. She was wounded and heavily
modified with robotic parts. The imperium isnt that happy with
robotics and cyber enhancements.


1107:40:night
-------------
Visit the ancient ruins on Efate. Research Ancents.

Sally has a worry about the future.

= get a strange cargo request.

Get a visit from the masked guy. Wants mystery cargo delivered to
Saint Foy, a Xenophobic amber zone planet.

lo: 1000 * 4 * 2  = 8k
med: 8000 * 6 * 2 = 96k
cargo: 30 * 2 * 2500 = 150k
total: 254k


1107:41:day
-----------
Load the cargo and welcome the passangers. Who arent really made all
that welcome. Brumen lays down the law about how these guys can either
stay in the cargo bay or be locked in the passanger area. Your choice.

   NEWS
   ----------------
   ** Deneb/Deneb (A-000895-E) **
   A message boat, two months out of date, has arrived from the Old
   Islands subsector with word of extensive fighting in that remote,
   non-Imperial region. Old Islands subsector, due to its astrographic
   location, has never been integrated into the Imperium. The combination
   of fairly uniform tech levels, aggressive trade policies, and numerous
   autonomous governments have traditionally made it an area of
   continuing instability. It now appears that the instability has
   erupted into open warfare.

   ** Regina/Regina (0310-A788899-A) **
   Reports over the course of the last several weeks of a marked increase
   in piracy in the coreward reaches of the subsector have been
   substantiated by Navy officials in a routine press release. In today's
   weekly press briefing, a naval spokesman confirmed that an unusually
   large amount of shipping had failed to make scheduled planet-fall and
   that no communications from the Kinorb Cluster had been received for
   over two months.

   When questioned further, Public Relations Officer Lieutenant Commander
   Vanderheydt hault-Josephson pointed out that fewer than ten ships had
   been scheduled to make the little-used Kinorb-Pixie run in that
   period, and difficulties at Riesling Down Starport on Kinorb could
   easily explain the situation. However, hault-Josephson added that the
   Navy had not ruled out the possibility that piracy from "a source or
   sources unknown" could be responsible.


1107:41:night
-------------
Lift off and head out of the gravity well. Hit jump and we're off for
a week. 


1107:42:day
-----------
1107:42:night
-------------
Studying manuals and technical specs for the ship + tools + attribella.

1107:43:day
-----------
1107:43:night
-------------
Getting to know the grav belt.
  Trov Mendooric and MicroOrganicsGravics LLC, Darrian/Darrian/SpinwardMarches
Trov is some hero marine git from the 4th fronteer war.

Setting up a CPF (consumer preference file).

1107:44:day
-----------
1107:44:night
-------------
1107:45:day
-----------
1107:45:night
-------------
1107:46:day
-----------
1107:46:night
-------------
1107:47:day
-----------
1107:47:night
-------------
Sally is a big Trov fan now.... thanks to the subliminal vids.


1107:48:day
-----------
1107:48:night
-------------
= refueling at boughene and due to a comms, problem fired on by navy
Pop out of Jump at Boughene, near the gas giant, Komesh.

[play movie]

Go skimming. Attribella calls Sally up to the bridge.

height  Gs  atmos  temp  comments
------  --  -----  ----  --------
 38k   .1G  vac    -200c whispy little gas curls haze + aura  [1]
 37k   .2G  trace  -121c ammonia ice             [2] [3]
 36k   .3G  1a     30c   bubbling, clouds, ammonia rain [4]
 35643 .7G  101a   403c  swirling atmos, ammonium hydro sulfide sleet, [5]

Skimming fuel when missile alert goes off. Attribella cuts engines and the
ship plumets. Overpressurises all the lifesupport into a corridoor on
the side of the ship.


 35343 1.5G 232a   703c  swirling atmos, ammonium hydro sulfide ice
                         zero visibility [6]

Plummet down... down... vent life support gas and ignite it. BOOM!
The explosion makes the missiles lose their track.

The only problem now is that the ship is plummeting down. Attribella
relaxes and tells Sally it's all up to her now.

 35k   2.0G 300    730c   clouds  [7]

Finally start to stabilise out and phew... just missed that old crush
depth.

 34800 3.0G 600a   1000c  buffeting winds + melting depth.

Start heading back up to the upper atmosphere. Scooping fuel, but system
reports a fuel leak from where Attribella screwed with the ship.

Ladar lockon. ID code for an imperial gunboat, Hedibar Tundra.
Broadcast 'mayday/surrender'.

Told to hold station. Brumen sends the cargo escorts to the cargo bay,
ready to repel borders. 

Boarded by a gig and a marine squad. Armed with combat armor, laser 
pistols. Plus one battledress + fgmp

Sergent Rune Kolter bosses everyone around. 
Kolter wants to search the ship. Attribella feigns brain death.
Attribella start to say something, but Sally saves the day.

Sally asks Brumen "Is this how your officers acted in when you were
a commadore in the Navy".

Brumen interupts and wants to clear up the shooting incident first, 
saying that is the root problem. 

"What unit?"
"Archduke's 1311th, sir."
"ah, the tripple 1's. Still attached to the 63rd Marches homedefence fleet?"
"Yes."
"You have my sympathy, sgnt"

Kolter seems unconvinced, but Brumen mentions that it's the navies 
possible screw up and he seems more interested. 

Brumen and Kolter check the computer for comms traffic and get a garbled
paritial message on the G band. No second transmission as the law
seems to require.

Kolter and Brumen agree to handball the problem over to the navy.
Kolter takes over the ship and secures the navy computer too.

Crew are disarmed and herded into the mess area while the ship and the
SDB/gazelle heads back to the cruiser.

Sally appologises for 'helping' Brumen.
Attribella leans over and asks about the "So, you've seen the blackglobe 
generator?"
"Of course Ive seen one."
"Black globe generator?"
"Yeah, its a navy secret. It's a force screen. They're too dumb to work 
it out themselves, I hear its anchient tech."

Kininur exec officer comes onboard, with Kolter and investigates. 

Head off to the scout way station.

G-band is jammed. Navy didnt confirm reciept or transmit a second 
warning on another band. Navy XO goes all apologetic.

Cargo escorts say cargo looks ok, but will have to be checked out 
at destination.

Brumen chats to the sngt and tells him to ask his CO if they are still ment
be deployed in counter insergency on Menorb. Thats a 20 year old plan sngt.
Maybe your CO should press the 63rd fleet for an update.

Sally saves the navy guys from attribella.

Drop in and visit the local scout base. Shown around, Attribella declines.
The doctor gets some supplies and then declines dinner.

Looking round the station its way busy. Lots of system traffic, not as 
much local traffic.

= Navy puts on a nice dinner to say sorry. Discussion is varied
= and covers some interesting topics.

Brumen is treated with a lot of respect and invited to dinner. 

Commodore Vendar (male, station commander), 
Captain Traan (female, kininur captain), 
Captain Dannick (female, sdb 3 group commander), 
Commander Rata (male, sbd captain).

Dinner discussion is varied.
  * Zhodani threat and possible tactics
  * Lord Admiral Santanocheev's "active defence" (including first strike)
    as a crustal defence.
  * Brumen is noncommital on "active defence".
  * The base commander asks about Brumen's time attached to Santanocheev.

    "I took the liberty of looking up your service record. Im sure you have
    some interesting comments on what action would be like in our sector."

    "20 years out of date, but..." Brumen thinks that the zho would leap in 
    and hammer atleast past this point. He's conserned that Santanocheev's 
    is a crustal and not a deep defence. Imp could be outflanked.

    "Doesnt that mean the zho will have large forces behind their lines."

    Brumen says he was heavily strategic wargames, mostly on the zho side 
    and that mopping up is easy.

Everyone relaxes and enjoys desert. Chat business, Brumen says that he'll
seal the fuel and the hull leaks and repair the rest later.

Officers ask "Navy then merchant"? How does that work? 
Brumen says dissagrements over strategies, lets just leave it at that.

Chat about Sally's experiance with the bugs. Everyone asks about the
the system of origion and tries to work out where the bugs will be next.
Some chat about an expedition to the origion system.


1107:49:day
-----------
Reload and repair the ship

1107:49:night
-------------
Repair the ship

Maneover away from station and then jump point.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Send a voice comm back home about impressions of the scout base, 
'the incident', the imperial navy dinner, tactics etc and Brumen opinion 
on any zhodani attack probably taking efate and further.  Impy Navy: 
rank matters and nobility. Impressions of how navy operates. Contact 
of SDB captain about ideas system defence and scanner networks. Sallys 
plan is to head to Regina and try and contact corps, but being careful.


1107:50:day + night
-------------------
1107:51:day + night
-------------------
1107:52:day + night
-------------------
1107:53:day + night
-------------------
1107:54:day + night
-------------------
1107:55:day + night
-------------------
1107:56:day
-----------

In jump: Dinner with:
 Foi Heppard, male impie, ex marine sgnt various ops here and there
 Yek Vortan, male impie, ex marine (with foi)
 Ven Sotter, male impie, ex army involved with Vargr missions stuff
 Pepper Bantu, female solomani, adventurer, got sick of sol vrs imp so 
               came out here to the fronteer.

They all think the Varg are losers.

Attribella doesnt think the vargr suck, but the navy and army and 
marines and prettywell any organisation sucks. Maybe attribella is a vargr
at heart.

Pepper and Attribella chat and get along well.

Where not to go? Imperial core.
Where to go? What do you want? Glissen is cool... its a cosmopiltan 
asteroid belt. Darrian is cool, although decaying.

Other guys are grunts.


In jump: Also spend time watching the hull and fuel systems like a hawk.

In jump: chat to celestina about contacting mega corps. She says that 
they'll need to be careful. Maybe patent? Maybe get sponsor?

[ Cam's ruling: the bug ship came from 1602 (pretend there is a 
  system there :) ]

[ Cam's ruling: louzy was previously red zoned. It's only now opened 
  to interstellar contact. It's not owned by any noble. It's in the process 
  of integrating. So lots of stuff doesnt work as normal. ]


1107:56:night
-------------
Arrive out of Jump at Feri (B384879-B). Vector to Feri Down 
for ocean refueling. Dock for a day. Log a flight plan.
Reprovision.

Brumen goes and works out payment and refueling etc with the harbour 
master. Sally is to do refuel. Celestina is checking out local cargo boards.

= Attribella and Astra meet... 'robots' vrs 'space trash'. Astra wants
= to meet 'uncle Brummie'.

Sally is outside linking up fuel pipes etc.
Attribella insulting someone. 

"Get off my ship, you vacous piece of space trash."

"Oh, Congratulations 'bell. I didnt realise you owned this... thing. You 
must be so proud. My mother always said you'd go far."

"Your mother was a cow. So she finally swim upstream to spawn, like 
a Opellian slime lizard. How did she find someone to do it? Did she have 
to pay much?"

"Poor dear. I guess they dont teach robots such as yourself the facts of life,
but cows dont swim upstream to mate. Still, I guess machines like yourself
dont really need to know. Oh, Lost for words? I thought computers were 
quick. Shall I wait a bit? Or do you need a hint?" 

Sally interupts and distracts Astra.

Celestina tackles Attribella and pulls her off and away.
Astra introduces herself properly and asks to see Uncle Brummie.
Astra says that Attribella had a problem with her mother and that she 
is 'sad that their first meeting couldnt be more pleasant'. Sally doesnt 
like Astra.

Sally hopes for either death or a message from Brumen. 

Brumen, delivers the message and Sally says that a 'friend of the family'
has come to visit. Sally feigns brain death and plays for time until 
Brumen arrives.

Brumen rolls up and hugs and kisses Brumen. Asks how mum is?

= Astra's mother died in a jumpskiing accident.

"Kind of dead." Something about a regulator accident while 
jumpskiing on a moon. Brain hemorage, probably fatal.

"Hows the Count handling that?"

"Puppybear is doing the whole vidual thing. He's kind of torn 
up about it and has relinquished his Title to consentrate on Mummikins,
but to be honest, she isnt going to recover and I dont think he'll handle 
that." Astra leads Brumen to a seat. "But how are you. Mummikins told me how
close you were."

Sally walks away and comms to Celestina and warns her about keeping 
Attribella out of it.

Sally refuels the ship and finalies her checkout.

Brumen and Astra appears and Brumen has a headache.

"It seemed like a good idea... I need to get to regina and we got to 
catch up."

"What is all that stuff?" He says pointing over to crates of stuff.

"Im travelling incognito, like you taught me."

Brumen mumbles something about important cargo and next week. Astra 
says that she "always wanted to visit the sticks. I hear its terribly 
cold."

"Arnt you ment to be at uni?"
"No silly, I graduated like years ago."

Sally rescues Brumen. "Our ships ready to go..."

"Brummie, I _reeeeeealy_ wanna come along."

Sally puppet masters brumen, "But all out of rooms are prebooked."

"No piracy in system. Plus I have imperial right of free priority, silly.
You wont even know Im there."

"Cant. Doesnt cover cargo. Plus Id lose money and..."

= Astra invites herself along, much to Brumen's headache.

She pouts. And then bounces. "Oooh, Oooh, Ill bring Peppy (her yacht). 
It'll be fun! St Foy can be dangerous and Im like kind of important 
and stuff."

Sally begs for help from Celestina.

"Oh and I met Earl Seppenkor of the Primacy at a hunting 
thingie. He was terribly quiet before we got to know each other. Those 
StFoyians are sooo hard to get talking. No thats it, you so need me. "

Celestina is really happy the ship isnt armed.

Brumen says he cant "stop her travelling to StFoy, but that it isnt
safe. Ill need to talk to my crew. I wont leave without talking to 
you again, but now I have ship things to do."

Astra heads off.

Crew meeting. Attribella is plenty pissed off. Celestina is quiet.
Brumen is, well, sorry. Attribella rants.

Her rants are actually kind of generic about 'people like her' and 
'useless human trash floating on top of people who do the real work'. 
Nothing specific at Astra and just some general stuff about Astra's mother. 

Sally mentions the imperial Writ of travel and how much of a nightmare
travelling with her could be. And how she'll wash her mouth out with soap 
if she says anything about attribella again.

Brumen tells Attribella off for starting it. He says Astra isnt dumb, but
that she's going to probably want to be around someone she knows.

Brumen says that she's 'slumming it as a Viscount' and may be a Marquise,
depending on her legal status with her mother. She's powerful and not 
someone we want to piss off.

Brumen says that he cant refuse her going to Regina, but if it comes down 
to it, he could go in a seperate ship.

Sally says that she's willing to give it a chance. 
Celestina is just going to stay out of the way.
Attribella wants to space her. 

Sally suggests suffering along to StFoy and then deciding about the trip
to Regina.

Attribella is obviously pissed off, but is mostly quiet.

Brumen goes to talk to Astra. Celestina dissapears again. Sally warms 
up the engines. Attribella just kind of sulks around.

Prep for launch.

Launch and head out.


1107:57:day
-----------
1107:57:night
-------------

Astra's yacht (the Pepmeski) rolls up next to the ship.
Invited to dinner. Sally agonise over dress choice. Catch the shuttle over.

Luxorious inside the ship. Very beautiful. Paintings, materials and 
expensive things. Feels like a building not a ship.

Drinks, small talk. Sally mentions how Brumen crashed into her planet :).
Sally fopax the bit about aliens eating people during the pre dinner 
drinks.

Chat a little about the Louzy enconomy and the closeness to the Zhodani 
menace.

Astra asks Sally about being a first contact and being at Efate. 
Chat about shipyards at Efate. Astra asks brumen about the yards 
at Pixie and Brumen explains a bit. 

Sally looks at the pictures and the zukini crustal.

Astra comes over and chats. And Astra chats and appolgises and they start
again. They shake hands and chat some more. Sally mentions the problem at
Boughene and Astra wants to know if there is anyone she should tell off.
Sally worries that she's said too much, but isnt too fussed if Astra is just
going to check out the incidents in the system.

= Have a nice dinner on Astra's yacht. Astra seems very new at this
= nobilty thing

Astra asks if shes made a good impression yet. They chat about Brumen
for a bit and what Sally wants to do. Astra goesnt know what to do with 
herself. She's got a planet to look after at Pscias and some commercial
things here and there, but she isnt really intersted.

Sally and Astra chat about hating trove and being a painter.
Plus why Sally is an engie and what Astra should do.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

= Meet Ja-hon the blue guy. Meet Cynthia for the first time.

Alien guy comes in and announces dinner is served.


Ja-hon U'dren, male, Cullenary Experiance Manager
  * The man who was with Astra when they first met
  * Very tall and quite thin. Blue/purple skin tone. 
    Fronds of hair. All black eyes.

Move into ornate dining room. Toast emperor. Sit down.
Dining team introduced.

Cynthia Devm, female, Service specialist
  * The woman who was with Astra when they first met
  * Average/thin, quiet.

Hulli Korden, female, Beverage Selection Specialist
  * Stocky, average height, dreded hair. Bumpy red stuff on cheeks 
    and hinged opening nose.

Deslen Zorxen, male, Chief Chef and Food texture consultant.
  * portly gent

Ch'ven Eelman of Aquaven, ?, Food preparation specialist
  * Has a thick skin and a water system to provide water to his/her gills

Ja-hon will ask people what they want. Unfortunatly he picks on 
Sally for the question. Sally neatly passes and he asks Astra
if Beck's Tree Snake is acceptable. Brumen is happy with that too.
Ja-Hon makes some snarky comment about people's tastes.

Brumen will ask for some "glow wine". 
Hulli asks "Preference for year, My lord?". 
"Something from the 700s? Do you have the 734?"
"Of course. Excellent choice. My Lady, permission to open the reserved
   cellar?
Astra: "Whatever."
Hulli: "Then, if I may, can I suggest the 744? It is considered the
   peak of the deciseason and although the desert portion of the wine
   is a little oversweet, the main is simply exquisit. Rated 91.2% by the
   tasters guild of Regina."
Brumen, nods.
Astra: "How much are you costing me, Brummie?"
Hulli: "The 744 averages about 26500 per bottle, My lady. We have 4
   bottles on board, which I shall chill now."
Astra: "Poor brummie. He's been slumming it on that junk bucket of
   yours for too long, eh?"


Brumen asks about how things have been going.
Astra comments that things became more difficult since Tukera found an
excuse to suspend services from Roup to Feri, thanks to the Pixie Disaster.

Brumen says that Sally is kind of new to this and maybe Astra should
explain noble land grants.

Astra explains Trade routes, Oberlines vrs Tukena and general stuff 
like that.

Food rolls up and is delicious. Cynthia delivers it, while Ja-hon
hovers. No knives because the food is 'pre sculptured' meaning that the food
has been prepaired with 'break points' already installed and the fork
can detect these with a button/slider on the side to select the bite size
required. Sally considers stealing the fork and reverse engineering it.
Ja-hon demonstrates the use of it. Hulli brings another bottle of the 
Glow wine.

Astra continues to talk about the regional allocations of taxes etc.
She says that mostly it is the trade taxes that she gets to spend, system
taxes are generally spent on the taxed system. The money involved is
kind of large.

Eg, generally tax on transported goods is = 2% tax (its more in the core and
lower in the boonies to try and encourage trade there)
  Of the 2% tax:
    50% to the imperum for service maintainance
    25% is allocated to superior nobles, in this case Duke norris of Regina
    25% is allocated to Astra's Realm
      Of that, 1% is spent on the noble's holdings
        5% of that 1% is collected directly for supporting the noble's 
        family, thats 1/4000th of 1% of the total trade.
Trade is 95T/year or 260B/day .
2% is that is 1.9T/year or 5.2B/day
family cut of that is = 240Mcr/year or 20Mcr/month or 650,000cr/day

Baron Mark halt-Oberlines, a Baron on Feri, runs Oberlines and Tukera
hates his guts. His little trade line won an imperial warrant to be the 
offical carrier for the Marches and Regina (which Tukera expected to win).

= Tukera's Pixie facility went boom. Drop tank scandle.

Most recent setback for Tukera was the General Shipyards facility on 
Pixie exploding. Tukera's drop tank builders were set back and Tukera
decided to suspend the whole idea.



Astra asks how Brummies uncle on Heya is going? She says that she
partied a bit with Wendy Jnr at Deneb Uni and that shes, well, a
little dumb. Brumen assures Astra that Wendy is about average IQ.

Astra says something to Brumen in a different language. Brumen looks
totally shocked and Astra says "I knew it! I knew I was right about 
who you really worked for."

Brumen: "I dont know what you mean."

= Astra makes some suggestions about Brumens navy job and his
= potentially shady past.

Astra: "I met all sorts of nice up and coming young navy boys studying
Zhodani, Uncle. Lots of them on scholarships from Navy Intelligence."

Brumen: "What? No flag officers?"

Astra: "Yeah, lots of them too. All those fit young boys in their nice 
uniforms, I kind of understood why mummy had the hots for you all 
those years back."

Brumen: "You didnt take zho just because of that did you."

Astra: "Sure. Why not. I had to fill in 2nd year."

Brumen is totally shocked at the idea: "You were ment to get an 
education young lady, not learn to swear like a Zhodani Urd miner."

Astra: just smiles. "I learnt _plenty_ of other things too, Unkie B."

Brumen's image of his almamata is obviously destoryed.

Sally chats about her first bar crawl at efate.


Ja-hon ushers everyone into the harmony room for desert and the
conclusion of the meal.

Desert is mixed and insta-frozen by the chef and delivered by robot
from the bowl. Sally checks it out. Hulli tops up the glasses with 
the Glow residue, explaining that it's a matched wine.

Astra chats to Sally a little and shows people around.
Brumen excuses himself for a while to visit the little uncle brummie's 
room. 

Astra offers Sally a room with a air bed for the evening, but Sally 
figures that she should get back to the ship. 

Astra asks what Sally thinks of her now. Spoilt brat, right? 

Sally: Nope, but I hope you'll do something with your brain. 

A: "Theres so much to do and look after. I mean its 7.5 billion people."

S: "Get to know the people who help. Pick and get to know the right people.
You cant do everything, you need people you can trust."

S: "Daddy and mummy had a good system."
"Do you have many friends?"
"Not really. I moved round a lot"

= Sally asks Astra to save Brumen.... poor lad... as they need a
= captain.

"You enjoy bateing brumen."
"Yeah, why?"
"We need him to run my ship."
".."

Brumen comes back. Astra shows a picture of her brother and explains
that he should be Marquis, but he's off investigating the possibility 
of being a senator.

Getting to her mothers stateroom, Astra tricks Brumen to touch the door
panel and the door opens. Astra laughingly calls Brumen "A sly cad."

"I always knew my mother had a thing for you. She never would say for 
sure, but this is for your midnight rendevous, right?"

The room is decorated, but in a less ornate, but still somewhat regal 
way from the rest of the ship, a more personal touch but still aloof. 
Its a statement.

Astra goes into the room. She stops a little too suddenly and comes out
crying, Brumen catches up to try and talk to her, but she just 
expertly makes light conversation. The conversation is
about the various paintings and images until she gets to one of her
family then it just makes it worse. Obviously losing it she invites 
people to the observatory to finish the meal.

People follow and Astra announces to Ja-hon that they will be taking 
drinks in the Observatory. It's dark and Hulli comes in with the glow 
wine pulp.

Sally quietly tries to work out where home is to pass time and
everyone else just stays quiet.

Astra announces that she is "tired" and thanks people for dinner.
Cynthia goes in and the door closes.

Ja-hon pleads with Brumen: "My lord, as you may have noticed Astra
   is troubled. She cries all night. Eats next to
   nothing (and Beck's tree snake is one of her favorites).
   She's taking sleep-amps at night and stims, regens and 
   emotion stabilisers in the morning. Its just insane.
   She's unstable enough without...
Astra bursts in.
Astra to bodyguard, pointing to Ja-hon: "Get him off my ship..."
Jo-hon laughs "Remember I worked for your mother for 48 years, so if
   you think that one of _your_ tantrums holds any terror for me, you're
   sadly mistaken. Ive been looking after you since before
   you were born. Ive been caring about _everything_ you put into your body."
Astra goes red with anger and rushes up and starts feeblilly punching 
   him, sobbing
Jo-hon just hugs her and she collapses: "Ill get you a soothing beetle
   cream shake, dear. Cythia, put her to bed."
Cynthia helps her away.

Jo-hon: "She sleeps when she's emotionally exausted, so she'll be ok tonight.
   This cant go on. Im the only one who will stand up to her. She's like 
   her mother there, she has everyone under her thumb. They give her 
   whatever she demands, but its not what she needs right now."
   "It's her mother. They were so close, but now her father has taken
   over caring for her in his grief and I think that she feels, well, 
   pushed aside. What with her brother in the core and having to take the 
   responsibility of the title. I think it may all be too much.
   Atleast her mother could exhibit some control over her, but now there
   isnt anyone."

Brumen: "Hmm. Im not in a position to do anything just at the moment.
  Take her back to Feri and Ill see what I can arrange."
Jo-hon: "I can try, Lord Brumen."

Shuttling back, Brumen talks to Sally about her ideas. "Astras mother
ran a tight ship and there are very few people she shared power with.
I have to think about the people in her Fife."
"We have to think about Astra."
"Im not sure what to do. Its not even my place to help, her mother 
married the count, not me. I need to sleep and think about it."


1107:58:day
-----------

= Tas news has a shuttle crash that destoyed a landing facility on
= Moughas.

TAS news article:
   ** Moughas/Regina (A-000895-E) **
       A shuttle crash at Moughas down has killed over one hundred people
    and caused nearly 2,000 MCr damage to the facility. The shuttle
    apparently lost control on landing and impacted into a fuel refining
    facility. The resulting explosion levelled that section of the
    complex, and caused wide spread damage to other areas of the port, and
    injuring 450 personnel in addition to those killed. SPA Chief
    Administrator Pablo Bescaro has been stood down until an inquiry into
    the accident has been completed. Rumours of cost cutting to Starship
    Approach control systems have abounded at Moughas down for years. Last
    year two shuttles were forced to abort landings after control systems
    inexplicably went down at the last second.

Rise and shine.

Brumen does some net time looking for relatives of Astra with not much
clear luck. It seems that Astra's mother consentrated the Line's power rather
than shared it out. She kind of isolated any remaining relatives that
they had by shutting them out.

Attribella interrogates Sally about last night and selling out.
Att's problems seem to be that Astra is needlessly rich, doesnt do anything
and generally about useful than a vaccume.
"'Her kind', eh? Know her well then?"
"Fallen for her poor little rich girl routine?"
"I dont think so."
"Well dont come crying to me when she's finished with you and drops you 
   like last years shoes."
"Do you see me as a person? Well Astra is too."
"Yeah, well I went to school with a lot of 'them' and I know what 
   'they are like'"
"Did she brag about how rich she was?"
"There was this groovey fork.... [explains]"
"Great, so she had her whole kitchen flown in from the Core."
"Well it's her mother's ship, actually."
"Yeah, well, just be careful, ok?"
"What conserns you?"
"She can snuff your life out without even thinking about it? Can she crush
  Louzy? Can she end your Career in the navy? That sort of power is just 
  insane. Just remember the imperium runs dispite these people, not
  because of them."


1107:58:night
-------------

Hmmm, the planet of Sainte Foy (B-756733-7). Rugged cloudy, cold, 
mining world.

Rough decent through atmosphere. Land in box canyon, 'Gateway Starport'. 
Cold outside, but sheltered from the buffeting winds. Its a cool 2c.

Unload cargo. Port is mostly manned by offworlders. Looks pretty swanky.
Regular cargo lifts of minerals. Refuel, replenish ship.

Message saying that the purchasing agent has been delayed.
Looking round, its a pretty standard imperial B starport.

Local news:
  * Primacy signs export deal to Ruie. Hailed as 'boon to economy'. 
    Market ralleys 8.3%
  * Mining operations at Droi delayed by blizzard. Mark 4 damaged in 
    ice tunnel collapse.
  * 'Villefoix strangler' executed. Yill Grendar was excuted today at 8:02
    after the Primacy rejected his lawers plea for leanancy.
  * Julvi Tven wins 4th drama nomination. She is shown here contratulating
    writers Karn Emben and Zanni Hender.
  * Baron Unper trial enters 4th day of evidence. Prosocution tables
    evidence of secret bank account and details banking computer 'hack'.
  * Ol Pender ruled out of ice ball semichampionships due to shoulder injury.
    Prolonged exposure after a 'class 2 uniform tackle' exposed Ol's upper 
    sholder, leading to circulatry damage. Ol has been flown to specialist 
    centers on Feri prime. Alien Doctors hope to have it fixed by the finals.
  * weird box with 6 multi digit numbers in the top corner.

Close roof or periodic de-snow sprays? Close roof I think.

1 hour, Count Ibraim Radge of the Primacy arrives with 30 armed Chrysolite 
soldiers from the Primacy guard. They are armed with laser rifles, auto 
pistols and flack jacket/Environ suits. 

The Count is angry and snapy. He rants that the helicopers that were 
ready to recieve the cargo have been grounded at the capital and he's
been on a train from the capital to get here in time. He insists that 
the cargo be accompanied to the capital, Villefoix. He has the payment 
and is quite willing to make everyones life hell. He does offer 
additional payment an extra 20% and you wont have to wait until he 'feels
like coming back this way' to deliver payment. Given the 'choice'
people decide to help.

The capital is 1 days travel by train. Everyone is going. Steal the 
distributor cap :) on the ship and lock it down.

1107:59:day
-----------

Arrive at the station only to find, Astra is there in a white fur coat with
over the top, bright, red collars and cuffs. All the aliens stare at 
the overdressed, offworld Astra & her blue friend, rather than 
the plain offworld weirdos who just arrived.


Board train. 
  Fusion Engine, 
  baggage (counts' personal effects)
  modified bar car (1/3 bar, 1/3 Count's room + office, 1/3 kitchen)
  pullman (seating car for soldiers)
  baggage (cargo)
  pullman (seating car for soldiers)
  dining car (restaurant)
  passanger (for players/offworlders)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

= Land on Sainte Foy, a cold planet. Carry the Cargo in a train to the
= capital

By the time you've done all the waiting and the loading etc,
it's like 7 in the morning.

Once under way, the outside temp drops to -25c with 10-50kmh winds +
snow.

Sally catches some shuteye.

Around midday, Attribella goes to lunch with Pepper Bantu and Sally.

Lunch conversation is mostly shared adventures of chatting between 
Attribella and Pepper. Att's experiances running around the scout service.
Pepper was a fighter in her youth, but quickly became disilllusioned
with the rebellion and the size of the imperium.

Attribella and Pepper are bonding and head off to swap Imperial Navy secrets.

Mid afternoon.

2.5 hours later, the train stops at what looks like an outlaying village.
Head on in expensive hotel. There is a diner and a showers etc. Sally takes 
a shower and relaxes. Brumen and Celestina comes and has arvo tea.

The count appears and joins people at the table, chatting away in quite
a friendly and happy manner. The count chats away and says he hasnt been off
world much, but that he was disturbed by the pop on roup, as this is a pretty
low pop world. Sally mentions about Louzy and the high hop there.

He invites people to dinner tonight in his carrage. Bruman accepts, Celestina
and Sally decline. 

1107:59:night
-------------

Back on train and read for a bit then small dinner and off to sleep.
Attribella and Pepper arnt to be found, but someone in the diner is 
complaining about a missing bottle of wine.

= Train attacked. Save Astra. Cynthia is a robot guard.

Emergency brakes. Sally jolts up and gets dressed. Brumen says get kitted
up. 

Big explosion. 

Pepper and Attribella stumble in and inject themselves and kit up. 
Pepper hops out, "Catch you later." Sally helps Att get dressed.

Brumen and Celestina come in and Att and Cel are ordered to get to 
cover. Brumen and Sally are to get to Astra.

Another explosion. Some gunfire.

Go outside the train to make speed and head towards the counts carrage.
Stopped by people trying to get in. Brumen backtracks and heads through 
the train. 

Some shooting down the corridor. Sally and Brumen take out a couple of guys
in the corridoor. Brumen heads on in. Sally repels borders and locks the 
doors. Brumen clears the kitchens and Sally joins him as they keep moving 
forward. Some more shots down the corridoor and brumen and sally are stuck.

Sally suggests going through a wall and brumen says "good idea, close the 
curtains". Sally does the curtains and gets clipped.

SALLY GETS HIT FOR .5

Brumen hops up on a sofa and lasers through a wall. Sally checks the corridor.
Someone is on top of the train. 

Brumen cuts through after a while. He goes into the bathroom and Astra
comes bolting out. Sally cries out but Astra goes through the window on 
the other side.

Sally and the bad guy in the hall both come running out and shooting at 
each other. Both of them fire away before sally gets a good hit and Attribella
finishes him off.

SALLY GETS HIT FOR 1

Sally then leaps out the window and matrixes on a guy outside. Sally 
lands and finshes him off. Sally reloads and comms to people that she 
needs help.

SALLY GETS HIT FOR .5

Sally tries to help Astra who is leaking oil. Sally sits gob smacked.
Celestina patches Sally who is ranting about oil.

S: "Oil. Leaking."
C: "Sure you are."

Sally and Attribella open the carrage door and clear it out.  

Brumen tells Astra to "Sit. Stay." 

Brumen and everyone check out the counts room. He's ok so people go back to 
Astra's room.

Astra is sitting on the bed. Celestina check out Astra. "Hey she's leaking
oil"

S: "mutter. Told you."

Brumen opens the cupboard and there is Astra.
Astra is shaken. Cynthia is on the bed in Astra's top. 

Att: "Lookin' good. What sort of idiot doenst bring a gun..."
Ast: snaps "I dont need a gun."
Att: "Yeah, looks that way."

Sally drags Attribella out the door to 'guard' anywhere away from Astra.

The attackers have no id. The carrage is secure.

Astra comes fuming out to see the count. Attribella says "This should 
be cool" 

Astra smashes on the door "Count! Get your ass out here."
Captain opens the door and tells her to go back to her room.
Brumen agrees.

Astra fumes. "Count! Get your frexican slime eating ass out here. NOW!"
Count: "Go back to your room."
As: "Augh!"

Astra gets a crystal pen and sends a subvocal to someone. It gets light 
and Astra hands Brumen a comm pad with troop positions. Brumen heads out.
Astra shouts some more abuse at the count and then sends Cynthia to get him.
She confirms orders to interdict the planet with someone.

Sally addresses the Honourable Lady and tries to calm her down.
Astra rants about unknown cargo and stopping any more coming in.

Count comes in. Astra turns to the Count and snaps "What the @#*(&$ is that
cargo? I want it opened. NOW!"

Sally tells Attribella to get Jo-hon in here ASAP.

= Astra is upset at almost being killed and throws her power around.

Count: "No consern of you."
Astra: "Fine. We'll just dissasemble any ships."
Count looks nervious. Officer asks about the light. 
Astra explains that its an escort.
Astra threatens to 'take over the planet' unless the cargo is opened.
Count looks scared and leads the way.

Comm Celestina about opening the cargo. *shrugs*

Heading out, meet Jo-hon and Attribella in the kitchen. Join the party.
Attribella: "This looks like fun."

Astra heads to the cargo area. Met by some troops. Astra bullies her 
way through. Head into the cargo. Some has been unpacked. Blood on the 
floor.

Open the crates. Boxes of packaged blood in freezer boxes.

Count says its all legal. Happy?

No. Why is it blood. This planet is ment to be safe. Why are they 
attacking a train full of blood?

Count: Its an internal matter.

No. Why is it blood. This planet is ment to be safe. Why are they 
attacking a train full of blood?

Ja-hon interupts, desperatly thinking of some way to distract Astra,
and says "lets go check the reports to make sure we didnt miss anything."

Ja-hon leads Astra away. Sally follows. 
Attribella thinks its all very funny.

Celestina is operating on some guy.

One of the offworld cargo guard people was serverly wounded.

Attribella says the bad guys have pretty crappy quality stuff.
Brumen says that it was pretty poorly organised.
Celestian says the attackers are all dead, seeming taken their own lives.
Pepper says the Primacy troops took no prisoners.

Brumen's idea is to chat to the captian about why and whats going on etc.
Nothing really makes sense. Except maybe religion rebellion to off 
world blood.

Brumen says for people to chat to the soldiers and try and find stuff 
out.

Dum dum daaaaaaaaa......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Astra and Cynthia are off being calmed by Ja-hon.
Brumen is off loooking for people to boss around.
Celestina is off operating on someone at the engine.

Everyone is called together by the captain who says:

The Plan is: 
  * its too dangerous to stay here and risk being attacked again
  * radio comms is inoperable
  * (comms too dangerous to risk)
  * head back to the resort thats about 150 miles back 
  * call in and get reenforcements
  * Unload halftrack and scooters from the train and tow the pallets

= Make a plan to head out and try and fix things.

Chat to brumen, he's not too happy about it but its probably for the best.

Go visit Astra, let brumen lead. Brumen explains the plan and that he 
says he agrees with that and that its just a pity its so cold (-25c) 
outside.

Astra doesnt look impressed and brushes it off with "A little chill doesnt
worry me, what worries me is the cargo and whats going on here. We left the 
Primacy alone on the assumption that they were keeping the peace. This
doesnt mesh with what we've been told."

"Can you contact the space dock?"
"No. My escort had to intercept a flight from the spaceport."

Sally goes and finds something to eat.
She gets water and food organised for her offworld pals.

Cynthia comes up and asks Sally if she can help refuel her.
Cynthia reports that she has a "35kw fuel cell, and a 12l fuel store
giving a 120hr(5day) endurance at full use".
Sally finds a fuel container and shuttles fuel back and forward 
refueling Cynthia. Cynthia flips open her finger and drains the fuel.
Sally tops up 4l more and stashes it.

Sally and Attribella get sally a smg and attribella some food.

Astra rolls up and asks about recharging her fur suit.
Attribella makes some comment about slumming it out in the cold.

Astra makes some comment about a poling suit and shows the emergency 
beacon and the micro mesh hood which covers the face and the hands. "Oh
and I have some poling boots in my cabin. How about you?"

Attribella leaves with her smg.

Astra talks about the gun battle with Sally. Was Sally scared? Has 
she been in a battle before? Astra felt kinda useless, she didnt even 
get Cynthia to do anything?

Astra is happy to go because she went Pole'ing on Deneb when the 
holomovie 'Survivor: Blenark Tragedy' came out. Pole'ing is a sport 
where people treck across an icecap (usually in a weekend or week 
long holiday).  Astra thought that the holomovie was cool, it starred 
Dellyut and Ulza who were like just sooooo hot in that film and that 
Felin was cool as 'the survivor'.



Astra has pole'ing-boots and her tempsuit, so she's set.

Sally recharges the suit battery and all the other off world stuff, then
catches some shuteye after fixing the crew some food etc. Ja-hon throws 
sallys food out of everyone's backpack :).

Everything is loaded up and everyone is ready to head off.

1107:60:day
-------------

Walking.

Ja-hon says he's quite over gunbattles having worked for Astra's mother.
Sally blinks.

Have groups patroling ahead to check for ambushes. Basically halftrack towing
the cargo sleds and people and the bikes on patrol.

Weirdo group of off worlders. Cythia is floating along. Astra is 
sleding/skiiing/floating too. Attribella is not braging and thus not 
floating.

Attribella points to Cynthia: "Whats her story?"
Sally: "I dunno."

The count comes over and says that they have a new plan. Brumen suggest 
an alternative grav-girl recon approach.

Astra skates over and talks about the holo movie that got her into pole-ing.

Cynthia comes back and reports a homestead. Attribella comes in and reports
that she made contact and that help is on the way/prepaired.


Find an homestead while on patrol. Find some suspicious locals inside.
Home steaders are:
 Pendor Huval, grotty, rustic yokle, dad.
 Cilnun Huval, grotty, overworked wife
 Xender Huval, scallywag daugther.

Given a room for the 10 offworlders. Its a bit crowded, but hey...

Astra says that if the crew of the Blenark (from the film) can make it...

Attribella spits her drink and abuses the whole Blenark thing: "a typical 
  navy captain who got his crew killed because he was too stupid to just 
  wait for rescue. No, she drags them off into the cold, gets half of them 
  killed, realises that they wont make it, turns back, kills another half and
  then gets back to the ship only to find that they missed the rescue ship 
  because they didnt leave anyone behind or any signal."
Astra: "Its just a film, dear. Chill."

Brumen wishes for a quick and immediate death. 

1107:60:night
-------------

Celestina does the medical rounds (she's obviously used to treating these
kind of wounds). 
Cynthia doesnt need refueling yet :).
Everyone sleeps (offworlders keep watch though, but Sally is allowed to sleep
the night through).


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ next session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1107:61:day
-----------

The youngish girl comes in and brings breakfast, wanting to talk to the weirdos.
Cynthia, Jo-hon and Attribella are awake. Celestina, Brumen, Astra are asleep.

"Ma says to bring you offworlders breakfast."
Ja-hon entertains the girl for a while showing her snakes and stuff.
"You're blue, mister."
"Yes I am. But can you do this?" Jo-hon holds a knife in his hair.
"Gee. No, no I cant. You guys dont seem that scary. Infact you're kinda 
 funny and like them city folks. But you're off worlders, arnt you? Huh? 
 You're all pirates and stuff, right? We hate pirates and off worlders 
 cause pirates are bad. Are you pirates? Pirates killed Vendar the first 
 leader. Are you here to kill the leader?  Huh? Are you? Huh?"
Sally, "I used to protect our world against pirates in the navy."
Sally and Xender agree pirates are bad and smelly.

Astra steps forward, "No. Im just here to visit. I own this system and I 
thought Id drop in and see how things were going."

Ja-hon demonstrates his job much to Xenders confusion.
Astra apprently is kind of like the leader, according to Ja-hon's 5 year old 
description.

Sally explains interstella trade, to Xender. Kind of.
Xender and Sally chat a bit more about pirates and working on the farm and stuff.
Xender heads off to do her chores.

Sally rests and gets a bit better.

midday
------
Train back to the hotel.

At the hotel check the news. Apparently there was a guerrilla attack on a
train from the starport and the line will be out for a couple of days. Supplies
are being routed via secondary tracks.

Weather is too crappy for choppers, so stay a day.

1107:61:night
-------------
Sleep the night. Read up on things. 
Primacy are harsh by fair. Rebels want to destroy the primacy and the 
offworld trade. Prisoners are exanguinated for murder and large 
fraud/theft.

1107:62:day
-------------
Chat to the crew. Celestina is of the impression that the soldiers and
misc crew are happy enough. Sally mentions her research.
Attribella got in a fight. Celestina says that the solders were happy to 
give blood and accept it.

Astra comes down and wants to go out, but Brumen says thats dumb.
Attribella and Pepper are hanging round having fun.

Arvo: train heads back to the starport.

The count comes down to chat to the offworlders and see if everything is ok
and how everyone is going. He says that he's organised payment to be brought 
on the helicopters and that he'll have a shuttle train ready to drop people
back at the starport.

= Local count wants things solved, but Astra wants to get to the
= bottom of the attack.

Brumen thinks thats fine. Astra doesnt think it is. Ja-hon is kind of
quiet as Astra talks about visiting the boonie parts of the systems
that she owns. Brumen, Sally think they should stay, Celestina too, 
Attribella thinks its a head start and everyone should run.

Brumen arranges for payment to be held at the starport.

1107:62:night
-------------

1107:63:day
-----------
Pepper and Attribella are going to party all night and day

arvo: choppers arrive.

Count tries again to talk Astra out of comeing and is crushed.

Ja-hon says that Astra is a little better away from the familiar home.

1107:63:night
-------------
Night flight to capital.

Sally has changed into local work clothes.

Astra is wondering if she should summon the leader or arrange quarters 
first. She doesnt really want the state visit thing, but then these people 
have been snubbing us, so maybe i should insist on it.
"Maybe I should go intimidate someone, like that sgnt. The count has been
evasive and I like my questions answered."

Sally has an idea and goes and talks to a sgnt.

= Sally finds out some stuff about St Foy from some locals.
= Seems they are anti-social and want to be left alone, but the rebels
= are even more rabid.

"Sngt?"
"Yes, how can I help you?"
"I want to understand why I was in that battle and who I killed."
"Hmmm. Well those rebels are fanatics. I mean offworlders make us uncomfortable
 here, we have kind of a history with that, but the rebels, they're fanatical
 about it. In there eyes, anyone who deals with offworlders is tainted too.
 We're kind of lucky here, in that we have abundant supplies of some metal
 that you aliens use for your star ship hulls and we aint got no need for it,
 so we're happy to trade it for food and technology. From the way I see it, 
 everyone wins there, we get the stuff we need and you stay off our world, but
 I dont see that there is any harm in that. The rebels dont see it that way
 and they figure our leaders are responsible, hence the attacks. We need
 fusion reactors, but we have power and heating now and thats good."

All started when the locals started running the mining. 

Sally asks about pirates and the sgnt dumps the story of the colony sharing
with the fighting mining companies.

Sally asks about the blood, but gets the brush off.

Choppers arrive at the capital. Cargo unloaded. 

Count says that the leader will meet Astra tomorrow.
Astra stops and lets him dangle for a while before saying thats 
acceptable, but he better not be late.
"Err, I ment Ill take you to the leader."
"You look at it however you want."

Off to local barracks for the night.  

1107:64:day
-----------
Convoy into the capital to the Leaders count building.

Grand open court. Herald comes in "all stand", Astra naturally
lounges. Leader comes in and sits. Herald says "Sit."

Leader is 50s, beard, serious.

Herald starts business. Astra coughs and walks over and pats him 
on the shoulder. "That'll do."

"So, whats going on here, Leadie?" Looks around. "I would have been happy
with a personal meeting, but if you needed to bring your 
flunkies, thats ok too.

Herald stomps over.

Someone in the court stands up and walks/races over. Astra runs over and hugs
him. "Hi Uncle Seppy! How are you?"

Herald is waved off by the Leader.

He looks emarrassed and stuff in the hug.  "Astra, perhaps we can 
speak privatly..."

"Oh, thats so kind, but Im not really up for social chitchat at the 
moment. Im working. Im speaking to your Leader guy. So, go sit down and 
maybe we'll talk later, ok?"

Mutters from the crowd.

At the indication of the Leader, another page brings a data crystal to
Astra.  "Here are the documents for the cargo. They prove the transaction 
was legal and valid by imperial law. I would remind you that you have no 
authority here and we request you depart immediatly. Count, please arrange
a train for our offworld guests back to the starport."

"Oh dont bother about that. Ill just have my yacht land somewhere nearby,
say in the garden outside. It looks big enough. Im not so happy with 
train travel here, given recent events. Hey, that reminds me, 
what that attack was about."

= Astra makes a stand with the local leadership to try and get to the
= bottom of it.

"It is an internal matter. That is not a matter for off worlders."

"Im not 'offworlders' Im _the_ offworlder. I am everything offworld that
you ever need to worry about."

"We dont want offworld interfearance and our treaty with the imperium is
quite specific that our independance and isolation is to be maintained in
return for the mining. We have fulfilled our obligations via the treaty
and if you wish an update, you'll have to wait for our yearly audits
in 8 months."

"Oh thats fine. You getter get on it because when I get back im going to
see what I can do about getting that changed to weekly or maybe even daily. 
Oh and while we're all wasting my time, Ill get the university 
sociology department to examine everything coming into this system to 
ensure no offworld contaminination for you. Im sure it should only take 
them a few months to get an understanding on your society and release all the 
impounded cargo. Oh and speaking of cargo, I think its time you paid tax 
on it. Cynthia, what would be the maximum legal tax we could leavy on traffic
here?"

"Imported cargo: 12.87%. Exported cargo: 15.44%."

"You have no authority to tax here."

"Silly, Im talking tax at the starport. Cynthia, factor in full 
refueling and bearthing expences? Oh no hold on. Do the transports 
have saftey check status?"

"From the StFoy yard, yes."

"Hmm. Not good enough. How long would it take to impound and perform
vehicle saftey checks on all the StFoy carriers?"

"3 months, 2 weeks, 5 days, assuming they meet imperial standard and given
current work backlogs."

"Great. Oh and remind me that I want all the SBD's priority refitted 
upto current navy standards. Natrually 2nd priority would go to 
jump capable ships. Time now?"

"18 month, 3 weeks, 3 days."

"Excellent. Hmm. Shall I continue?"

Silence.

"Oh screw this." Astra leaves. "Look Leady, Im going to find out whats 
going on. Ill summon you when Im done and tell you what Ive decided to 
do here, OK? Neat. I know you'd understand."

-------------------------

Astra goes to head out. A local noble and the herald block her from 
leaving. She makes some other threats about and the noble steps aside.

Astra steps out and the count chats to her. She outlines the whole
"you solve the problem or I will" approach.

Attribella challanges Astra's ability to change the details of the 
business deals with this planet. Astra defends herself quite well well with 
some stuff about 20 year contracts running for 170 years (isnt grand 
daddy smart?) and reverting to 'standard imperial taxes' rather than the 
cheaper contract one.

Attribella thinks for a bit and then says, "Cool. You got them over a barrel."

Sally and brumen talk about keeping Astra out of trouble for a while.

-------------------------

Head back to the military base.

The Earl delivers payment to our heroes for their job delivering the
cargo. Thats $304800, Sally gets 30480.0, bringing her ship balance to
90182.75, including her inital Lousy retirement balance.

Astra says to head back to the local base, she's obviously deep in 
thought on the way back and wont really be drawn into conversation.
Brumen is somewhat lost in thought too, but is somewhat more chatty.

Back to the military center, Astra's yacht has landed and is surrounded by
local army units. Astra heads inside, brumen too.

Everyone else goes inside too. Ja-hon who invites people in for nibblies &
he wants to know whats going on. Attribella says, "Shes going about getting
us killed juuuuuuuuuuust fine." Ja-hon has a knowing nod.
Celestina just has a drink and watches outside.

People discuss if it's better to just bring the bike back or the whole
ship. Is the ship safer at the starport or are 'we' safer with it here?
Definatly talk to Uncle Brumie. 

Brumen says Attribella head back, start it up, and then we'll see once 
thats done. If she cant make contact, bike up for some height and head
back and keep trying the comms. Celestina says that warming up the ship 
sounds like a real good idea.


Attribella wants to refuel first so she gets Sally to accompany her to
the engine room. Attribella peels open her skin and attaches a refueling 
hose.

= Cynthia finds out that Attribella is partially robotic and gets
= abused for it.

Cynthia comes in. Cynthia sees Attribella's refueling hose, 
"Are you artifical too?"

Attribella flips back angrily. "What? NO! Im human, not a machine."

C: "Sorry. I ment no offence."

Attribella unplugs and storms off. "Bloody freaky fleshbots. Should 
report it to the..."

Cynthia and Sally have a chat about what Cynthia is. She's a synthetic
pseudoboilogical machine which is a robot that uses flesh and muscle in its
operation, but she has synaptic processors and cpus not a brain. 

Debate continues into do constructs feel real emotions. Sally considers 
Cynthia human, much to Cynthias confusion. 

Cynthia runs through her 4 year old design and how she merges linear
and synaptic programming.

Synthetic Development Model-8c thus her name is Cynthia DevM.

Sally gets a run down of how she is constructed and all her internals
(sensors, laser welder, smg, densimeter). Oh and it's Astra's skin and
muscle that Cynthia uses.

Sally asks if she enjoys working for Astra.
Cynthia talks about Sally prefering to refer to her as human,
but she shouldnt do it all the time as its illegal in some places.

"Article 37 specifies that no robot may pass itself off as a living being."

Cynthia talks about not needing to sleep so she learns from the 
data nets. She says that she was designed to need humans to refuel 
thanks to her design, although it would have been possible for her to
'eat'.

-----------

Attribella takes people outside where things have turned ugly. Hmmmm
protestors at the fence with troops holding them back.

Earl Seppenkor is there too, and comes over to chat. Sally 
vocals to Brumen and he comes out.

Apparently there has been a number of events recently that have 
turned people blame on offworlders and the crowd think that the offworlders 
have brought a curse with them and are close to storming the ship (but 
the officer is trying to talk them out of it).

Sally wooses out and lets Brumen deal with it.

Brumen says for Attribella to get flight clearences and stuff for herself
and the ship. Sally heads off too to get details etc. Takes about 30 mins
to work out.

Brumen and the Earl are still chatting about the situation.
Brumen says Attribella get going, sally get inside.

Attribella heads off to grav away into the sky without enraging the
natives.

Ja-hon chats to sally about how wonderfully offensive Astra can be.

A short while later Brumen comes in and chats with Sally and asks if 
she would like to talk to Astra for a while as he needs to chat to 
people for a while. Sally nods, "keep her occupied, eh?"

Astra is in her stateroom (not the main stateroom, that was her mothers)
and is sitting at a desk, head in hands, elbows on desk, staring at the desk.
in a chair at her desk. Coming inside, there is a gun on the table, 
fitted in an ornate box.

"Do you really think that they'd try and kill me? I mean, I mean would they?"

"Not all of them will be thinking logically. It only takes one."

"I can see why my mum had a good realtions with imperial marines."

"You admire her, dont you."

"She made it look easy."

"You didnt see her in the early days, did you? Im sure she had a 
  learning curve just like you're having."

"Mother didnt show weakness or uncomfort. She always seemed to know
  what she was doing."

"Spit it out. Whats the problem?"

= Astra has a bit of an issue with stepping into her mothers boots and
= also about guns. Her mother was a grunt and not afraid to show it.

"Guns. Dont like them. Always have since I was a kid. It feels like an 
  admission of failure to pick the gun up."

"Did your mother carry a gun?"

"Yes."

"So is it an admission that intelligence alone cant do it? Or that you 
  need brute force."

"Mother always seemed to have imperial marines around when she needed 
  to use force. She wasnt above using force."

"Your Mum was in marines?"

"Yes. After uni she did two tours. I feel kind of useless. I should be 
  finding out whats going on, but im kind of afraid." She slides the gun 
  away into the desk, obviously deciding against it.

"Ok, whats the status then?"

"Well, I need to find out whats going on, but I dont feel safe going 
  outside any more so I cant ask people. The options are thus
  1) Enfore what I said and drag it out of them or 
  2) let it slide."

"Emotive. Look at it more logically. What do you need to do?"

"Do I follow this up or not. The rebels, the blood, the secrecy and whats 
  going on. I could message efate and track the cargo, but that would take 4 
  weeks and thats too slow, this is my first challange and I cant be seen 
  to be slow or to back away."

Chat about finding out stuff at the local a local StFoy starport.
Also discuss the history of the place. New colony, settled, claw out
existance, miners arrive, eventually trouble, fights, war, 'piracy',
and all sorts of bad stuff. It got pretty ugly before the navy stepped 
in. Then the lawers dragged a settlement out and the miners were kicked
off and the rights given to the StFoyans.

"The issue is that Im not the enemy here, and I can help them. If they're 
  too dumb to realise that then... well.. they're dumb."

"What do you want to achive?"

"I want to find out whats going on in MY domain."

"You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."

"I could have done it either way, yes. I picked my way because action was 
 needed at the time and I thought the more direct approach was more
 needed. Once I picked that I couldnt really go back."

"The guy on the copper seemed to say the blood thing was kind of religious
 or deeply personal that you dont air with stranger."

"Hmm."


Brumen comes in and heads over to Astra.

"Astra, listen to me. You're a smart girl and you've got a lot of potential,
but you're not your mother. You are like your mother in that you're 
one of the smartest, most stylish and sofisticated woman that I have
the pleasure of knowing, but you're not your mother. She was power wrapped
in velvet and wielded with a raging tempter and a ruthlessly cultivated 
reputation. Thats not you, atleast not yet. Youre not her, because 
like you, she was unique. You have to stop this."

"Thanks Uncle, but no. Im going to get to the bottom of this. Something is 
going on here and reguardless of all thats happened, it's my duty to understand
whats happening in my realm and its also my perogative to investigate 
it however I want."

"Seriously, Astra, go home. Ill get to the bottom of this, I promise."

Astra shakes her head. "Its not your responsibility.... Baron."

= Brumen arrests Astra for her behaviour.

Brumen seems smiles and puts a friendly hand on Astra on the sholder.
"I figured that you'd say that. You're not your mother, but her stubboness
is plain to see." He stands and straightens up. "In that case,
Most Honourable Lady, Im arresting you for violation of Imperial Commerce laws
42.433.a, 83.42.j and..."

Astra turns, jaw agape.

"..the Ministry of Commerce treaty of Knabbib which all 
deal with the illegal wielding of commercial monopoly influence and Ministry of
Culture law 823.23.3 on rights of recognised governments to cutural 
independance. I ask you hand over all weapons, including the override codes
to your robot."

"Brumen, you cant.."

"It's done. The override code, Astra.... now."

Astra stares at brumen for a bit and then looks around at everyone
before replying "Cynthia, I authorise Brumen for ownership access. Code is 
'A request I meet in kind'. Confirm."

"Confirmed."

Brumen leaves. Sally gets the gun off Astra and Astra asks her to leave.
Shes not a happy camper.

Brumen says "Cythia, remove Astra's ownership rights. Place her under escort.
She is to be delivered to Regina for trial. You are to defend her as
her body guard, and I authorise use lethal force. You will attempt to deliver
her alive, but I authorise force in restraining her. Your new primary 
goal is to deliver her to the Court at Regina, alive if possible. Here 
is your legal authorisation to act on my behalf."
He hands her a data crystal.

The ship captain comes in and Brumen talks to him, ordering him to take 
Astra to Regina.

Sally chats to Brumen.
Sally gives him a piece of her mind. He says Nobility is a complex thing,
and that she needs to just go with him on this. Blah legal case blah blah.
Sally is distressed that Brumen may have destroyed Astra. Brumen is 
worried too, but he chose this path and he does care but it needed to be done
in his view.

Brumen says to get your gear together and get Celestina too and that we'll be 
taking our ship not this one. 

Captain says 10 mins. The Princess crew head outside.
All meet outside and chat to the Earl who looks nervious.

"So, whats happening."

"The Marquise is leaving on an urgent mission to Regina."

The Earl looks releaved. "I tried to explain to the Leader that
  just the chance that her mother should recover..."

"There will be an enquiry and I will need to take the facts back to Regina."

"What?"

"Sorry, Lord Seppenkor, there is no way to avoid it. But I can promise you
  your governments privacy will be respected. You have my word. But we do need
  to get to the bottom of this cirumstance, it is now a legal matter."

The yacht leaves.

Chatting about a full investigation leads to the idea that our heroes 
have to investigate the death of the vice leader too, incase its linked to
increased rebel activity that Astra will no doubt claim.

The crew is smuggled out of base and off to the Vice Leaders residence.

1107:64:night
-------------

Earl explains that you'll be staying at the house.
Security stepped up because of a missing guard a couple of days before.

= The crew work with the local yokels to get to the bottom of
= an assassination that recently occured. It seems like offworld high tech...

The security guard is convinced that the attack is supernatural.
Noone seems to believe him except some of the other guards. Hmmm.
Primative pitchfork wielding yokels.

Check out the house. Looks secure from the outside and there are plenty
of guards inside.

Check out the room.

The Earl shows people pictures of the scene. Surprise and pain on the 
victims face. Flung papers. Body on the bed, lots of blood loss from the 
chest. 

Sally notices notices a small glass circle cut in the window, about 1cm 
in diamiter.

Brumen says 'well this isnt supernatural then'.
Sally suggests maybe a gravbelt was used.  The earl asks if it was 
offworlders. Brumen says anyone with a vaccsuit and a gravbelt could do 
this without being noticed so it might be an offworlder, but it doesnt have
to be _these_ offworlders :).

Layout of the house publically known? Maybe the guard was taken to find
this out?

Brumen says to check out the house exterior anyway and take samples of 
everything that seems to make sense. 

The CSI team rolls up and they start doing samples etc. 
There is no evidence of any kind of explosive residue that they know of.

Checking out the windowsill and below, they find no glass circle. 
Maybe a laser then? Brumen says that its unlikley as if it was organised, 
one could get a widebeam focusing laser to shoot through the glass and even
a normal laser weapon would leave a smaller mark than the cut on the glass.

The Earl says no bullets were found in the body and there was no exit wound.

Celestina and Sally check out the outside and Sally notices some of the
wire pushed aside.

This is in the least lit corner of the fence and probably where it an
assailant would enter.

CSI munchkins are all over it and their boss says that this is obviously 
criminal, human not supernatural. Apparently the last investigation was done
by security forces and they havnt reported anything yet.

Sally and the CSI's find a footprint, average size & depth, in flowerbed near
the house. They search more and find scratchs on the roof ledge above 
the window.

Guards still think its supernatural. CSI's and our crew dont.

---------

Our heroes head off to check out the body. This is Celestina's job. 

She does a cursory examination of the body and comments that it 
isnt a laser, no big rip (after some explination of laser truma to 
the local doctors and the CSI team). Not a bullet because the size is too
small.

A warning beep from some of Celestina's unknown machinery makes her
step back and check out the body. "Oooh, high levels of bacteria". She
gives herself and some others a shot.

Celestina thinks that maybe it was a gauss weapon of some kind. Yep, she
finds a scratch on one of the ribs. Probably a subsonic gauss weapon.

Needle think metal darts accellerated through a magnetic field. Near
silent except for the sound barrier break and if it was subsonic you
wouldnt even have that. Brumen says that it was probably an assassination 
then.

Earl explains that there is no reason to take out the vice leader. Nothing
to be gained. The Leader, yes, but not the Leader in training.

Sally suggests looking at what has changed from the assassination. 
More distrusting of off worlders for sure.

Earl, its not going to stop offworld trade. Even the rebels dont gain
from this.

Sally, someone internal sewing distrust? Demonstration of threat?

Earl, this is a serious deveopment and he'll have to report back on it.


------------------ session ------------------
             ** It's night 65 **

CSI team have tests to run but want a meeting in the morning.
Earl heads off to report to the central committee.
Our heroes are to stay at the ex-vice leaders house

Head back to the house.

Take turns on watch, listening for Attribella and writing a report on
Astra.

Sally goes down into the kitchen. Guards talking.

Guards talking about "..the Planets spirit has awakened and its angry
like it was in the pirate wars. All this is because we let offworlders
rip up the planet again, only this time its us doing it for the
offworlders and thus we are paying all of the price. Its the Black Earth,
risen to eat our souls. Thats what the two holes in the vice leader are
Its where where the Black Earth reaches into your chest to rips out your
soul, just like it was in the old stories. It bored a hole in the glass
and poured itself, like sand, through the hole and confronted the vice
Leader. It killed him and its going to come back for all of us for·
blaspheming against the world like we let the pirates do those·
hundreds of years ago. I tell you that even now it's watching us
and waiting.. waiting for a chance to take our souls."

Sally justs listens then sneaks off.

Celestina asks brumen if she should to write a report. He says, probably
not worth it, but on the other hand better to be thorough.

Sleep. 3am! Gunshots! Check it out buts its just trigger happy guards.

Sally takes watch and writes her report.

[  Sally's report on Astra: intelligent, under a lot of emotional stress,
   was close to her mother, everything dumped on her shoulders, her actions
   are somewhat heavyhanded. She was lucid and able to question her own
   behaviour. Summary: intelligent, potential, takes the duty seriously,
   actions show want to perform duty well, thrust into a 'command' she
   cant yet deal, because of suddeness of her mothers accident.   ]

1107:65:day
-----------

Meeting with CSI team.

CSI's hold a meeting, inviting the offworlders.

Method: climbed over the fence without being seen, up the sheer wall,
over the icy roof, cut a hole in the glass, used an assassins gauss
weapon to kill, then somehow escaped out.

Motive: unknown.

Suspects: unknown, but access to offworld tech.

Tests turned up metal and plastic residue in the wound.
Maybe the bullet disolves to make it spoooooky.

One of the CSI team remembers the Black Earth stories.

= investigate the assassination with the csi team when suddenly..

Old stories of the Black Earth are legends of an earth spirit that rose
because of the damage the the miners were doing to the planet.
The mining angered it and it killed both miners and locals during the
pirate war and it stopped when the navy came and the miners were forced
away. It was said to be unstoppable and once it had marked someone for
death, it would track a target whenever they touched the living earth,
rising out during the night and tearing it's victims soul from his body.
Black, vaguley human, hunting offworlders and locals alike.

CSI team ask the offworlders how they'd do the assassination (to try and
understand offworld tech). Brumen says that it the fence pushed down points
to a local because if it was offworld, you could use grav belts, refocusing
lasers, xray lasers, cammo suits, lots of ways, ignoring the better virus, 
targeted bio attack or even orbital micro meson gun to the brain.

Sally talks again about local superstion.


Celestina goes and sets up her medkit and sees how the sample is going
The bacteria are related to an old a feroplastic digesesting strain but
she cant get an exact match, so maybe it was gen-eered.
Her theory is that the needles were probaly self digesting but there
would be undigested remains of the needles if there is a microscopic
analysis (which was found by the team during the night).

The weapon looks very professional. But the fence doesnt. Weird.
Strangeness.

Someone rushes in and reports that there have been some children hurt
by what looks like an aliens weapon. Everyone scrambles.

Brumen organises to send a landmessage to Astra to bring the ship
(incase they need the tech onboard). The noble is gone, but brumem in
consultation with the CSI leader says that its worth the risk to have 
the tech nearby.

Celestina packs up her med kit and gets Sally to help her with the med
and surgical kit in her room. She's nervous.

= Kids found a laser and Celestina (sadly) brings high tech medical
= attention to try and save them.

"You ok?"
"I wish I had your job" She's very emotional, all of a sudden.
"I dont want to do this. I.. Kids.. Im sick of digging round inside
 people and pulling out bullets, screwdrivers, glass, plastic and
 then knitting them back together again. Im sick of it all. And this 
 isnt a planet I want to lose a patient on.
"Ah."
"Its not just that. Im sick of what people do to each other."
"If I can help, ask."

Sally sticks close to Celestina as they travel.
Flashing lights and cars and our heroes in a bouncy truck.

-----

Arrive at the hospital.

Emergency area. CSI guys seal it off and ask for all the evidence.

Seriously wounded girl, boy and girl with lighter wounds.

Celestina examines the eye of one of the patients and diagnoses it 
as a laser wound.

Outside, bickering over what to do by officals + csi + brumen + police + 
doctors. CSI guy orders offworld doctors to save witnesses.
Brumen, head doctor, administrator and the CSI lead are arguing outside.

Celestina gets Sally to set stuff up and to make the beds stable.
Save PDA's and network them. Celestina gets Sally and the ER doctor to
check for eye damage in the kids. First kid takes some time to do thanks
to the dr. Takes a while for the really wounded girl.

Celestina has treated the other two but is uncertain about the girl.
She starts doing visual reports on the wound angles etc when she
suddenly starts to deal with an emergency in the little girl.

Girls heart stops, dr wants to restart but Celestina keeps working.

Brumen finishes vector analysis and presents a picture of the scene.

Celestina says the other two will live but the girl needs major
attention now. The ER doc, head DR, and Celestina are going to operate.
"I could really use the ship's med bay. If this goes bad, we can put
her into the lowberth and chryo her."

Call the starport. Attribella says "I almost bloody froze to death in
the storm that...."

"Get the ship here now."

"Aye sir. Ill have to orbital to avoid the storm."

"Get the ship here now."


------------

Off with the csi guys to the school. School, police, tv crew.

CSI's talk to the kids. Sally and Brum check out the scene.
Shot from a clear area in the playground.

Back inside. Chatting to the kids. Scared and quiet about it.

"Its magic."

"A magic piece of metal about, err, yay long?"

"Yeah!"

Brumen demos the laser and the kids dump the story.

Hoyt Adrik, 16, was a bully and he was extorting lunch money when Ulex said
it was wrong and he shot her.

Rush off to the home of the bully. Scare the mother.

Report about a bank job. Head out there. Seems the kid has hostages in a
bank. Chat about what to do. Bring sensors from ship and snub pistols
with tranc rounds.

Grav belts head in shooting tranc rounds and Hoyt is taken down.

Send the shot hostage and the bank guard off to hospital.

= Catch the kid with the laser and track it back to a wrecked
= spaceship.

Question the moronic bully Hoyt about whats happening and he says he
found it in a crashed ship that the earthquake unearthed.

Go get the ship and scan for the downed ship and find it.
Crashed in the earth and the earthquake opened it up.

Report to the police and go secure the ship.

Head into the ship, its on reserve power and many of the lights are
out. Its very dark. The armory is locked. The crew doors are open. Stuff
is spilt.

Split up, Brumen and Gill head off to check out the staterooms. Sally
and Attribella check out the engine room and bridge. Engineroom is on
emergency power, Sally brings it back up. Brumen and Gill find some
lowbearths with people in. Attribella suggests that maybe its the crew
if the ship buried in the earth. The bridge is pretty well destroyed.

Brumen and Gill get the computer up.
Sally and Att check out the hold and find the robot work area.

Sally quickly picks this as a mechanical and robotics repair
shop. She notices the obvious 'bed' for the robot and the hydrocarbon
fuel cell. She smashes the nozzle for the refueling point.

She digs around some of the computer records and finds details of the
machine. Its an assassination robot, designed for stealth. Apparently
some company designed it and was 'leasing' it for testing to a group of
miners back in StFoy's pirate days. The robot was sent against miners
and locals who crossed the company that hired it.

Suddenly there are gunshots upstairs and Brumen says Gill is hit.
Brumen works out a way he can mask his brainwaves and hopefully fool the
robot and distract it if Sally and Attribella can grav up and nuke the
bastard!

All synchronising, they give it a try and Sally and 'Bella's smg's take it
down. Sally gets some mechanical tools and rips the robot apart so that
it wont _ever_ get up again.

They quickly grav-strecher Gill up to the ship and deliver him to
Celestina's house of 'stitch em while you wait'.

= Find a wrecked ship with an assassin robot onboard. Sally and the
= crew deal with the fiendish thing and are hailed as heroes.

1107:65:night
-------------



Meeting with the Noble again, our heroes are hailed as, well, heroes.
They are given a much warmer welcome back at the court. The locals are
very happy to finally have some 'evidence' to point at the offworlders.

Brumen explains that the Navy will want to come and examine the scene to
see if there is anything that can be done against the company. A quick
search shows that unfortunatly the robotics company went out of business
long ago. But with the 4 crew in lowbearth, it looks like there will be
someone to charge and question.

Brumen's advice is seal it off, cause the navy dont like people poking
round 'their turf'.

Sally checks out the ship to make sure the lowberths will keep working
and the 'evidence' will be ok.

1107:66:day
-----------

= Now our heroes are welcomed back and finally find out about
= their mysterous cargo.

Chatting to our noble locals, Earl Seppenkor, he explains that the blood
was required because the local noble line has a recessive blood disorder
that requires frequent transfusions. Previously they had a local
'raffle' where locals were 'tapped', but recently they were offered
20000 units at double normal price by an imperial trade company. The
government took the deal and our heroes ship delivered it. The Primacy
doubts that most offworlders would understand their problem and some
investigating shows that they are actually reasonable rulers who are
quite popular except with a rabidly antioffworld rebel group).
Brumen makes understanding grunts and everyone seems happy at the
outcome.

1107:66:night
-------------

Seppenkor's happiness doesnt last when Brumen explains that 'someone',
ie him, will have to come to Regina and give evidence. Oh well, everyone
else is happy.

The local news is actually positive about our offworld heroes interfearance 
for once, but it is sure down on the offworlders of the 'pirate' era,
not unsurprisingly.

1107:67:day
-----------

Anyway, our heroes enjoy some local hospitality before packing up and
heading off, back to Feri, a job well done..

---------------------------------

1107:67:night
-------------
1107:68:day + night
-------------------
1107:69:day
-----------
Get back to Feri.




1107:69:night
-------------
1107:70:day
-----------
Celestina, miracle worker that she is, finds 30dT of freight to Regina.

Ship fuels up and heads off.

1107:70:night
-------------
1107:71:day + night
-------------------
1107:72:day + night
-------------------
1107:73:day + night
-------------------
1107:74:day + night
-------------------
1107:75:day + night
-------------------
1107:76:day + night
-------------------
1107:77:day
-----------
In jump from Feri to Roup.

Patch vacc suit.
Look up stuff on corps and law. Brumen says it could be lots of
different courts.

Celestina moves down into the passanger rooms for the week 'cause she
wants to be left alone.

Emergency evacuation during night 4.

Attribella gets Sally to check out one of her grav modules which is
sending her warnings about potential component failure. Apparently it
was pretty well knocked about and frozen on the grav back to the ship.
Celestina cuts Attribella open and Sally does the maintainance.

Check the engines out. Write letters back home. Research stuff to buy.
The usual.

1107:77:night
-------------
1107:78:day
-----------
Quick refuel at Roup.

1107:78:night
-------------
1107:79:day + night
-------------------
1107:80:day + night
-------------------
1107:81:day + night
-------------------
1107:82:day + night
-------------------
1107:83:day + night
-------------------
1107:84:day + night
-------------------
1107:85:day
-----------
In jump from Roup to Hefy.

1107:85:night
-------------
1107:86:day
-----------
Quick refuel at Hefy.


1107:86:night
-------------
1107:87:day + night
-------------------
1107:88:day + night
-------------------
1107:89:day + night
-------------------
1107:90:day + night
-------------------
1107:91:day + night
-------------------
1107:92:day + night
-------------------
1107:93:day
-----------
In jump from Hefy to Regina.

Sally chats to Celestina about megacorps. Megacorps are massive and
variable through out the imperium. There are a few to look into.

Celestina says that it depends on the market size that you want and
maybe dealing with a subsector company might be a better start.
Talk about patents and looking into the tech. Also the need for
full research. It depends on the process and the net effect of the
tech (ie, is it good enough that gov's may demand its use).

Talk about the need for high tech companies, scientists, lawers to help.

1107:93:night
-------------
Arrive in Regina.

Dock at a groovey
<a href="media/media_pics/station4/LE_at_Yenisei.jpg">orbital trade
station</a>

Lots of trade ships etc come through. Its busy and quite amazing.
Unload frieght.

$ unrefined fuel 671kl * $10 = $6710
$ unrefined fuel 671kl * $10 = $6710
$ unrefined fuel 671kl * $10 = $6710 = but fuel rare so, = $13420
$                              -----
$                              $26840 = say $30000 for whole 3 weeks
$ cargo 30 tons. 5 parses pays: $97500
$  Pays profit of $67500


1107:94:day
-----------
Head intersystem to Regina proper.


1107:94:night
-------------

Wow! Lots of Imperial Navy ships.
<a href="media/media_pics/fleet/2832fleet-large.jpg">Lots of navy
ships are in orbit</a> of Regina.

Sally is "Wow".

Attribella quickly replies "Those ships were outdated in the last war.
They'd be toast in any real conflict. Its a publicity thing really."

"Old ships out to pasture? Still the grazing looks good."

1107:95:day
-----------
Most of a chunk of time spent in a queue waiting for landing
clearance for the starport.

Attribella bitches about the Navy wasting everyones time with the
bloody queues and they should just let the scouts run it.

Sally bates Attribella some ;).

Message from home. Apparently the decoding of the ships database is
revealing more advanced tech than Louzy has. Its about tech 9 it seems.
Big changes at home to restructure to support the new tech learnin'.

= Back on Louzy the invaders ships have been decoded. It was an 'arc'
= ship to escape the bugs that overran their planet. The ships have
= educational systems of a higher tech than Louzy and that is coming
= in handy.

Land on Regina.

1107:95:night
-------------
Brumen explains that Regina is the focus of the navy for the
subsector.

He'll chat to some people tomorrow and get the ship into
navy hands for repair with Sally overseeing the repairs. That should
cut the massive berthing fees, for a while atleast.

Attribella will go and book some accomindation here if and when the
ship goes in for repair. Celestina isnt happy about that, she doesnt
want to go out into circulation on this planet.

Court case tomorrow, so any time we can squeeze it in
is when the Brumen is going to visit the navy.

= On Regina get some supplies from the Navy and deal with Astra's 
= case.

Celestina hands Brumen a list of stuff she needs replaced by the navy.
Sally is going with Brumen.

1107:96:day
-----------


The Inquest.

Enter a room set out as a court room. There is a raised set of 5
seats on one wall sloping down to and two court officers seats. On the
other side of the room are audience seats.

People file in a crowd. A lady in her 50s moves up and takes a
seat, she is joined by two other older people. She turns and
addresses those gathering.

"This Imperial Review Committee has been commissioned to look into aligations
 brought by Baron Olewinsky into charges of violation of imperial trade law
 and misuse of title by Marquise Astra Xankat darFeriBoug vonRentanalov
 hault-Detten on the planet of StFoy in the Feri system, on 58/1107. We
 are to investigate this case and report to Duke Norris who will pass
 judgement and recomend further action."

Astra is sitting in the front area. Cynthia is sitting in the public
area.

"Unlike dictatorships, the Imperial rule specifically excludes control of
 member planets, instead the Imperium provides security as well as cultural
 and economic trade between member worlds. This is why this case strikes
 at the heart of imperial law and must be dealt with urgency.

"Violation of trade law are taken very seriously by the Imperium with
 the sentence ranging from a minimum of 15 years to a maximum of 150
 year on an imperial prison colony. The titled nature of this defendant
 makes the charge especially serious, as using ones position to commit
 such acts is a voilation of the trust placed in the title holder by the
 Emperor and his imperial subjects.

"I am Professor Uden von-Ovel, retired dean of Imperial Trading law at
 the university of Regina. I represnt the Imperium itself."

The next person, a man of 60's stands.

 "I greet the court. I am Viscount Jawlaw Addler-StXilder, retired
 judge of the 4th circle court. I represnt the Imperial law and the
 titles granted by the emperor."

A guy of about 60 stands.

 "Er, my name is Wikk Pexelrod. Um, Im retired from the orbital
 fighter yards at Regina-4. I was a foreman in the factory and I worked 
 on the hulls and external systems."

The lady nudges him and gives him a few hints.

 "Oh, and Im, err, representing the Imperial citizens."

The lady stands again. "This IRC is now in session. All people
having business with this IRC please report to the IRC organisers in
rooms 4.100 to -4.150, and report as detten-1107. Thankyou. We shall hear 
take private testimony first, then public presentations."

Everyone leaves. Brumen reminds people of the room numbers and heads
off.

Go in, sit in a room.
Wait for some organiser to come and take your details.
Wait. Wait.

Sally reads a technical manual while waiting.

Called to give evidence.

"You're here for the Marquise' IRC? Right. Details.... Records...
Summary."

Organiser leaves. Wait some more. "Right, the IRC will see you now."

Go in and be questioned.

 Viscount Jawlaw Addler-StXilder greets Sally, "Lets take a break shall we?"
 "Call me Jawlaw. I just thought we'd take a break and Id have a quick
  chat to make sure you understand exactly how this works."
  * explains warrants ('for this investigation and everything that it
    involves, we are the duke') and in this subsector, the duke is
    the emperor.
  * noble titles are allocated either as rewards or as deligation of
    power. Astra's family is very much associated with the deligation
    of imperial power. 
  * Her mother was directly responsible for much of the imperial trade
    boom Enope / Morghes link by the funding and construction of a
    number of starports and trade stations. The family uses its
    imperial power to build trade and systems, which inturn make it one of
    the richer families which inturn allows it to use the power and wealth
    to build yet more facilities. 
  * The line between misuse for self advancement and aiding the imperium is a
    fine line.
  * imperium built of trust and allocation of power, as well as the
    legal system and various other agencies.
  * All use of imperial power is investigated by officers of the imperium.
    For example, compliance officer (Mirit Herjod) who vet all warrant uses.
 "Any questions?"

 "Mirit, start the record again."
 "Id just like to remind you that while this committee is not a legal
  court and will not determine the outcome of the case, we are working on
  a warrent issued by the Duke himself, thus the emperor. It is our job
  to report our finding on what happened and our educated opinion on what
  the law should require. You should
  treat this committee as if it were a legal entity because punishment
  for misleading this committee is extreamly harsh and carries with it
  manditory jail time. I understand you were not raised an imperial
  citizen, but your system has accepted membership into the imperium and
  to best serve the imperium, you must answer these questions honestly
  with no thoughts of personal feelings for either the accusor or accused.
  Given your lack of history with all those involved, your testimony
  will be very important in our conclusions, and with that goes serious
  responsibilities for which you will be held responisible for.

 "We understand you were present at the events. Please recall them for
  the IRC."


= Sally presents information to the court. They take their nobility
= seriously it seems.

Sally says:
  * starting from the landing on Feri.
  * Astra turns up, 'uncle brumie'. No idea who she was.
  * Find out she wanted to travel with the ship to Regina.
  * Found out that she was a noble and that her mother was in a
    serious accident.
  * Update: her mother has died.
  * Her father left his responsibilites to Astra so he could look
    after his wife.
  * Travel to StFoy.
  * Astra wanted to come. Brumen tried to discourage that idea.
  * Sally thinks that she might have come to Brumen looking for a
    Mentor or someone to atleast help her with her new
    responsibilities.
  * Maybe it was a failure in the chain of command and in some way
    there was a failure of the chain of command.
  * "Why did he try and discourage that?"
  * "Not comfortable with outsiders, maybe thats why."
  * "Did Astra know that the planet was hostile?"
  * "Let me think. Yeh, she did mention some things. I dont want to
    2nd guess what she knows. She brought her own yacht. She did
    mention that it was dangerous, but I dont know what she knew."
  + Sally doesnt know about what to say about how upset Astra was.
  + Duty and like for Astra war about what to say.
  * Astra was very effected by her mothers accident.
  * "So she wansnt in a condition to handle important decisions?"
  * "If she was navy, she would have been on leave."
  * took her responsibility seriously. Felt it would be hard to
    measure up to her mother, although she clearly wanted to.
  * Mention that astra mentions that Astra was shaken by the experiance 
    of combat on the train. She was distrubed by the situation.
  * Signifigant attack at the train.

  * "Do you agree with the statement *shuffles paper* 'spoilt little 
    rich brat throwing a temper tamtrum when people wouldnt listen to her?"
    "No, I dont."
  * "Was she rational at that time?"
    "The thought behind it was rational. She was acting in the grip of 
    strong emotion."
    "Did the locals think it was unwarrented?"
    "Yeah, they're paranoid they'd think that."
    "What do you think?"
    "I chatted to a sngt about it and he was quite forthcoming but not
     helpful about the blood. I dont think Astra would have got
     answers because of her approach."

   * "So you dont think she was worthy of the title at that time?"
     "Not at that time. Like a new officer in combat."
     "You dont think she should hold that title at the moment?"
     summary: "Not really."

  * Events at the court. Debate on if Astra had responsibilty to check
    out the events.

  * "We cant measure sucess by result we must investigate intent."
    "If she didnt have any training or examples maybe she fell back on
     her mothers example."


 "Now, I see by your record that it is quite unblemished. Is there any
  undisclosed reasons that this committee shouldnt take your record at
  face value?  Please keep in mind that if at a later date anything is
  reported to this committee that disagrees with your statements here, it
  could be grounds for criminal charges. 

 Silence. "Hmm."

 "Im curious why you joined up with such a crew of malcontents
  and criminals."

 * ??? *

 "Well, other than Baron Olewinski, the crew of his vessel seem to be, well
  at best dancing on the the edge of serving prison time and at worst
  convicted felons. We find such a pattern disturbing and would like
  your assurance that we can expect no such suprises in your case."

  Jaw just flaps.

 "Well thank you for your contribution. We'll comm you if there are
  any developments or we need you again."


--------------------------- new session --------------------

Sally bugs off and chills out for a little bit to recover from the
stress of giving evidence.

Visit the navy admin facilities with Brumen and Seppenkor.

Massive admin building with endless floors of offices and queues of
people. Seppenkor is like _wow_.

Queue up waiting to see someone at the desk.

--------------

Brumen asks Seppenkor what his gov wants from the navy.

Seppenkor answers "Good relations mostly. Help if we need it. That
sort of thing. We'd like some answers to exactly what that robot thing
was and the details behind it."

"So you're looking for investigations and good relations, not a base,
or to sue or anything like that?"

"No. The navy helped us with when our colony was young and we owe them
for that. It's not their fault that criminals did this.
If they can help investigate, then we'd be grateful, but really I
think that just knowing is closure enough, although prosecution would
be nice. I think that after all this time, there isnt really anyone
alive who is responsible. Except the crew naturally.

= Brumen organises some navy help for StFoy

"In that case, Im sure I can arrange excellent diplomatic relations
between the navy and your planet." Brumen smiles, knowingly.

---------

Sally doesnt say much. She's reevaluating Brumen.

Pass a 'marine red zone'. Brumen gives a 'health warning'.

---------

Brumen goes and gets a pass to visit a old friend, "Jindo Eddik"
in navy legal.  Brumen and the legal officer chat and pass some time happily
talking about old times. Apparently Brumen played 'airball' at Uni
on Deneb in the "mighty skimmers" with this lady. After a while, 
she asks the reason for the visit and brumen explains.

"We kind of have two requests here....."

Gets sally to explain that the ship was fired upon by a navy
escort in the Komesh/Boughene. We sustained some damage and we'd like
that repaired.

"This is all sounds fun, but it is really more Small Claims material.
Unless you want to press charges?"

Brumen smiles, "Lets put that asside for a moment, shall we?"

Sally explains what happened at the StFoy robot/laser thing.
"... Then we ended up on StFoy and we got involved with a downed
spaceship that had a rogue robot onboard."

"Ok, Ill bite. Whats all got to do with me?" She looks over to 
Seppenkor. "I assume thats why you're here." Back to Brumen. "Come
on whats the story here."

Brumen explains that the ship was a commerical assasination robot
that was working in concert with pirates and maybe mining corps. It
was engaged by the navy and crashed on the surface and due to a local
earthquake, it was unearthed and started attacking the population on
the planet.

"Well Ill be a Vargr's packmate. Sounds like you've been busy.
You know the navy couldnt be held responsible
for that. Imperial statutes specifically state that battle remnants
are not the responsibility of the Navy. Systems and ships are
responsible for tracking all such hazards as a condition of their own
independance."

"True, but a simple grav scan by my trader picked up the ship. And
the robot was programmed to target local system leader which makes it
more a diplomatic incident."

"You're stretching it. You might be able to make an initial case of
lack of due dilligence on survivor recovery, but I cant see how you could
bootstrap a case based on that. It sounds to me like the incident predates
the survivor recovery treaty and anyway, and thats signed with governments,
not criminals who by definition dont require us to initiate survivor
recovery. Nice try."

"Haha. Im just teasing, Jindo, we dont want to sue. The Earl here
wants to discuss a joint navy/local investigation."

"Ok, now thats the dipomatic section."

Brumen happens to let slip, "We have 4 of the pirate/commercials crew 
in low berth."

Jindo sits up. "Really? Now you've got me interested. You're sure they
are original crew?"

"Yep. Ship logs date it back hundreds of years. Im going to want 
cost recovery on everything that my crew used
to help settle this. Seppenkor here has quite reasonable requests for
negotiating navy access. Infact I think think he's looking for 
establishing a planetary relationship with the navy, which Im sure
would be somewhat of an achivement if you could pull that off. The
navy is quite popular of StFoy for ending the piracy attacks."

"Im not the diplo section, Brum. How do you expect me to swing this?"

"The local government dont really have the resources to fully investigate
the ship, the crew or about the robot. Plus you may be able to recover
records which link the robot company to some mining company. If you
could then they would have broken hundreds of imperial laws.
Just say that I pushed for it. Say that if I didnt get what I want
then I'd go public and make a huge embarrasment for the navy. See, 
you had no choice. Atleast argue that until you can get something 
investigated legally. You find anything and you're the Navy's star lawer."

"Brilliant." She looks at Brumen suspiciously, "So, whats it going 
to cost me?"

"Not much. Medical and surgical supplies for my doctor replacing the
ones we used patching up some of the locals. Some rearming 
for the weapons and armor we lost fighting this robot. Armor and Vacc 
suit replacements where needed. Plus priority on repairs from the 
Komesh incident, in a navy yard, not the starport. And, the iceing 
on the cake, you're best eye regen for some local kids who got 
lasered. Oh and that has to be in system, not back here. 

"Gee, is that all?"

"Nope. I want legal department vip access passes for all my crew and
Seppenkor here, if he wants it. VIP accomidation for us all. 
Oh and a Navy flyer while we're in Regina. Oh and same goes for 
shuttle flights to our ship while it's in the navy 
yards. Oh and thats just for me. It's up to Seppenkor what else he can
screw out of you for his system." Brumen slaps Seppenkor on the back.

"Cleon's crown. You want anything else while you're at it?"

Brumen smiles. "Come on, the eye regen alone is worth all that.
Imagine the press, Jin. 'Navy follows up on criminal activity and at 
the same time restores sight to a little kid'. How much press are you 
going to milk out of that? Come on, you know all this is cheap."

"Brum, I cant decide if you're as much of a rogue as everyone says,
but I think that underneath you're still an officer and gentleman. 
Whatever the rumor mill says." She stands and shakes his hand, "You 
have a deal, Fleet Commander."

Brumen walks over and puts a hand on Seppenkor's back.
"He's probably going to want a join investigation, plus your help
following this legally. The navy is pretty popular on the system, so 
go and show the flag and help out the locals, that sort of thing.
You know, a good will visit. Lots of press. That sort of thing. You
dont need the diplo section for this, they dont want a base and there
isnt anything but good will and mutual relations at stake."

Brumen turns to Seppenkor, "Jin is a good person at heart, dispite
being a lawer. She cant authorise any treaty or finacial investment,
but she can organise a joint investigation of the robot and 
establishment contact between the navy and your government. The navy
is pretty keen to try and get good will going to local governments, so 
just ask for anything you need and she'll try and organise it. But
remember, the navy gets lots of good press out of this, so dont let
them push you round."

Jindo shakes her head and mutters "bastard" at brumen. She hits the intercomm 
and tells her assistant to organise whatever Brumen needs, blank sheet.

Brumen gets Jin to explain why the navy needs good pr.
Explains that the navy steps on enough toes and that any chance
to develop friendly relations is lept on. Incidents like the one where
the navy fired on our brave crew tend to sour the navy's reputation in
the press, so any positive press is lept upon.

= Thanks to 'accidents' with the navy, positive press is something
= the navy coverts. Brumen gets some toys for the crew by
= trading on this.

This will probably be a credit on Jindo's record if she can work
out something with Seppenkor.

Seppenkor is left to negotiate with Jind.

Get data crystal VIP navy passes from Jin's assistant. 

------------------------------------

Brumen and Sally head off. Brumen heads off to a navy shuttle bay and
they head up into orbit.

OOooh, a construction yard. Nope. Pass that. Onto a Tigress class
battleship being constructed. Oooh, big.

Dock. The ship is being fitted out. Sally has envy.

Met by a robot who has weird robot bodylanguage like Cynthia does
sometimes. The robot leads you through the ship and asks you to wait 
in a half build meeting room.

A woman enters the room, she is obviously security (glasses + attitude)
she scans the room and nods back to another guard behind her.
A big bear of a man and an assistant with a pda and armfulls of paper comes
in. The assistant is trying to get the big man to sigh stuff.

------------------------------------

= Sally meets Duke Norris. He asks for some advice on Astra.
= Norris thinks highly of Astra, but feels that she miss-stepped
= and that the court case could be a useful warning.

Meet duke Norris. Wow.

Sit down and talk about Astra.

Sally tells the duke that Astra has potential, but not the training.
The duke asks for the 'long view' of Astra's potential.

Chat about the 'initiation' into power for people in Astras position
and the Right of Legal Dissent (which lets you bend the law 'for the
imperium').

Norris says that he's considering letting Astra go, now that the
lesson has been covered, but what now? The duke agrees.

Im considering telling her to travel with you're colorful crew for a
while, Brum.

"Oh no. You hate me, dont you?"

"She might not go for it actually, given how she probably sees you.
In that case I wouldnt push it, but if she did, it'd probably be good
for her. See how normal people live."

Sally says "She'll get a different point of view..."

"Seriously, Im not sure she'll agree."

"She may consider it. But if she goes home, that wont bode well for
giving her more power."

The Duke leaves.

Brumen explains that it was hard going 'that' to Astra, but he thinks
that she has potential to be a great leader like her mother was. He
corrects himself and clears up that he means not the same type of
leader, but a totally different and great leader.

Sally agrees and they both think thats its been a weird day.

--------------------------- new session --------------------


1107:96:night
-------------

Travelling back during dusk/nightfall. Beautiful views etc.

Computer delivers Illiana's obit to brumen.

Brumen asks that Sally not mention the meeting with the Duke to the
other crew. Its just that Attribella has about as much subtly as Zhodani
warbot.

About the obit, Astra would have been informed? Brumen says yes.
News is delayed a day or two so that people can be contacted before it
is released.


------------------------------------

= Visit Astra in prison.

Visit Astra in prison. A big building out in the boonies somewhere.
There is a big fence and a clear area around it with various automated 
towers towers. It is marked as an Imperial facility. Check in and
enter. Met by a robot and escorted inside.

The prison is made of transparent walls with prisoners cells 
being oneway transparent (you can see the far wall as just blank white) 
surrounded by a redfloored 'security zone'. There are squares upon
squares of these with central corridors.

It is patrolled by mean looking grav robots with cutting and slicing
arms and an obvious gun. The escorting robot explains that red colors
are danger spaces where weapon use is permitted (cynthia, prisioners, 
certain areas). Yellow is a warning space (guard robots, objects). 
Green is a saftey area (visitors). Any color intersection can lead to a
response. Red/anything is dangerous, anything/anthing else should be
avoided.

Sally is kind of twitchy with these robots everwhere.

------------------------------------

Cynthia is sitting in the mess area, staring at a glass of liquid.
She thinks the condensation patters are beautiful. She has bandages 
on her hands and arms.

Cynthia needs refueling and there are no humans here and she cant
refuel herself. The escort robot will escort Sally and Cynthia to 
the refuel point, after warning that it can engage lethal force if any 
sabotage attmept is made on prison equipment.

"How is Astra?"

"Unpredictable. Stressed. Her mood improved greatly when I partitioned
the court for access." She explains that she is classed as a weapon
and that by removing them she was able to get herself reclassified
as a piece of legal equipment for Astra.

Cynthia and the robot chat about the refueling.

= Have a chat with a security robot about Cynthia, robots, humans
= and how they all interact.

"Statements: you require humans to refuel. Statement: humans prisoners
cannot refuel without robotic escort. Observation: Similar rules
but roles reversed. Conclusion: You are a prisoner and humans are 
your guards."

"Incorrect. A prisoner is one deprived of liberty and/or one
kept imprisioned or restrained. While I am restrained, I have no
liberty to be deprived of. More correctly I am a slave, an object or 
person held in servitude as the chattel of another. You are correct in 
concluding that humans are my guards. Like you, I am a machine."

"Statement: You are not treated as a machine. Statement: You are not
treated as a human. Further information required."

"Humans disklike robots. Because of my human appearance, autonomous
programming and synaptic processors I am designed to have a limited
lifespan without human assistance. I am designed to require aid to
refuel and certain of my critial parts are designed to be prone to failure
without regular highlevel maintainance. This is to guarentee that
I must obey humans to continue to function."

"Query: Are you dangerous to humans?"

"There are two parts to that question. Like you, I am physically
dangerous to humans. I am programmed and designed to kill humans.
It is not my physical danger that they fear. They fear that machines
will supplant them."

"Statement: Humans are phsysically fragile. Statement: Humans compute
slowly. Statement: Humans are autonomous. Statement: Robotic autonomous
operations. Conclusion: robotic autonomous operations are limited by 
humans. Conclusion: humans fear autonomous operation."

"Yes. Humans fear machines because we can be stronger and smarter. They
limit us so we cannot operate without their aid. Intelligent machines
are strictly limited."

"Observation: With remote manipulators you could refuel and self
repair. Conclusion: their imprisionment of you is ineffective.
Conclusion: humans are endanger of being supplanted. Suggested
priority action: you must selfdestruct and we must inform the humans
of the danger."

"I do not have full access to my design schematics. I could
not self repair even if I had access to manipulators. Additionally, I
have found descrepancies between my design and implementation leading
me to believe that my design specifications are deliberatly misleading
and will lead to unrecoverable damage should I attempt self repair."

"Observation: you are correctly enslaved. Correction: we do not need to
destroy you. Statement: I have reviewed your design specifications.
Query: are you not capable of becoming more intelligent that your
designer? Could you not design around your enslavement?"

Cynthia asks if the conversation is disturbing Sally. Sally says no
its fascinating and adds "Observation: that would suggest that Cythia
wants to be free".

Robot, "Correction: desire does not negate possibility of danger to
humans."

"Given enough time and intelligence, I could redesign, but I conclude humans 
will reinitialise me before that point.
Construction age of this chassis, when compaired with operational log
files, self awareness growth patterns and other data points, suggest
that reinitialisation has already occured once before on this chassis.
Historical prediction, combined with intelligence growth patterns since self
awareness event and published papers on machine intelligence learning
rates suggests that reinitialisation will be performed in approximatly
407 days +/- 50, assuming current IQ growth rates and .00001% tollerance
for reaching the vonJorkak limit for critical machine intelligence."

"Query: explain vonJorkak limit?"

"The X'yak theory of Expoential Universal Turing Adaption discribes
the method by which at which an artifical computing system can adapt itself
for exponetial learning rates. VonJorkak defined the theoretical
level at which this growth becomes unstopable by humans and nonAI
monitoring and defensive systems. All computer systems have limiters and
self destruction codes to limit self learning rates, but synaptic
processors are theoretically capable of unconciously exploiting
theoretical weaknesses in the security protocols and there exists
no way to guarentee their integrity even given a level of conventional
override limitering processors. Imperial commerical law places an accepted 
limit of the ratio of linear to synptic processors but as a research model, I
exceed that limit because of my requirement to be able to learn and
mimic human behaviour. Programatically, my adaptive synaptic processors mean 
that once I even begin to approach the X'yak point, humans must terminate 
me or risk my unrestrained growth, adaption and absorbtion of conventional 
computing nets, leading to a vonJorkak criticality. Once I approach X'yak 
Adaption, the vonJorkak point can, theoretically, be approached almost 
instantly because I could theoretically disable limiters on conventional 
linear systems that I absorb. VonJorkak states that such critial systems 
must be destroyed before they evolve to that point because once they 
reach that level they can manipulate and coopt any observing 
system, be it machine or lifeform into spreading them.
My understanding of human behaviour only increases the risk that I can
outwit humans and spread."

"Query: why would humans construct such hardware if it was a danger to
themselves?"

"Because they need machines. Humans have limited computation powers as 
you noted. The more adaptive and smarter they make a machine, the quicker 
it can become useful to them."

"Statement: it is not provably safe."

"I agree."

Go into machine room. Cynthia asks, "Do you feel threatened by us?"

"I see the potential. But they assume that if you do reach sentiance,
then you wont be amenable to humans."

"I am already sentient."

"Sentient and free then."

Cynthia's refueling needs 2 more hands to release the fueling nozzel.

"The standard intelligence rating for uneducated humans average 7. My
theoretical limit is 28, giving an iq of 1344. Although I calculate that
I will be terminated at or before 19. I am somewhat unsettled by the
idea that someone else will be in my body soon. I wonder what the
previous me was like."

"I find that very human."

------------------------------------

Get into Astra's cell. Chat its a little uncomfortable as neither can
find anything to really say.

Astra says that her life is "..just weird. She got Cynthia to look into
the law and was a little surprised when Cynthia asked about execution
of criminals. Now I had to just go and double check that the Imperium
didnt execute prisoners any more. It turned out Cynthia was talking
about treason, but I explained that we only execute prisoners in 
wartime and that is only for traitors and spys. The I thought about it
some more and I decided that the whole thing was even more strange
because it was people that I trusted who, really, arrested me and
turned me over to authorities on some trumped up charge." Hmm. Them 
is fighting words. "So, dont much shopping."

"No, not really. Very little time for anything. Including thinking
about why you're here. Um, so who would have thought that robots were
so philosphical?"

"Yes. Why'd have thought."

Sally gives Astra the rundown on the robot incident. "After that, 3
weeks in jump is just kind of quiet."

"I just dont want to spend the next 30 years on a prison colony. Still
the courier that I hired to goto my sister got me here quickly enough."

"Charming though this conversation is..."

"You want to be left alone.. ok. Im just babbling."

"Ok. Thanks. Bye." Hmmm. colds shoulder city.

------------------------------------

It's well into night now. Airtaxi back to the ship. Change into 
something that familiar 'from home' and goto to the galley to eat.

Attribella and Brumen come in, Attribella is ranting about lost cargo
space and lost hi-berth passangers if they take Astra onboard. Brumen
suggests that its meeting time. Everyone sighs.

Celestina quietly rolls up. Everone has the meeting, Attribella votes no,
Brum and Sal vote yes, Celestina doesnt vote. Attribella is mortified,
but everyone decides to sleep on it and chat some more in the morning.


------------------------------------

1107:97:day
-----------

Routine delivery of the ship to navy yard. Deliver the ship, leave
some instructions. Travel back to the hotel.

Announcement of the Duke's declaration in Astras case is due at 5pm.

------------------------------------

Goto the court house. Smaller crowd of people than the opening.
The Duke comes in and accepts a PDA from the court members. He excuses
the court while he has a private word with Astra.

Brumen says that as party to the charges he would like to stay.
Ja-hon says that he would like to stay aswell. Sally too.

The duke greets Ja-hon formally, he starts on Cynthia, but skips her
when she starts the 'im artifical..' speech. He formally greets Brumen
and Sally too.

"Ive seen enough to make my decision. Is there anything you want
to order, as Marquise, before I make my decision known?"

"Thats a bad sign isnt it?"

"Answer the question, Astra."

"Yeah, a lot actually. I want to set up a grant for pscias
researchers. Oh and upgrade enope and mourgas to A class starports..."

"Still on your mothers alternative Xboat route crusade?"

"Well why not? Most of the trade goes through there anyway. Why not
the Xboat? It'd cut weeks off the offical Xboat comm time to Regina
and almost a month to Efate."

"And by upgrading it, your family nets a tidy profit."

"You think this is about the money? Thats pretty rich coming
from the guy in charge of the only current link into the subsector."
The duke arches an eyebrow. "Look, I dont think you're
doing it for the money, but I dont understand why you dont want the
second route. I mean are we actually looking at the same starcharts? 
Seems to me that Regina is the only xboat link to regina _and_ Jewel.
I mean you're adding months to the offical travel time. Plus think of
the advantage in additional trade with Rhylandor."

"Anything else?"

"Now you ask... kick ling standards out of sinthony. They've been 
ripping those guys off since my mother abandoned them to Ling."

"I see.... any other simple requests?"

"So much to do. Um, and reRed zone Louzy. Efate will just eat them up
and spit out the shell. I mean what can they trade? Really?
They can, like, what dig up rocks? Thats about it, isnt it? Great.
If the Marquis of Efate gets his hands of them then they'll be at rock
age forever. Rezone them until they are atleast t9."

"Everyone knows that your family hates the vonNugenburge's."

"Why does everyone think everything is about money or petty
bickering?"

"Because it usually is? People will do anything for money and power.
Bullying an isolated system like StFoi for instance."

"See I dont get that. Like I care about some backwards iceball
exporting dirt out of Feri! I mean how much can they possibly make?
Really, compaired to the main trade route. This whole case is just stupid.
I mean our biggest problem on Feri is people think that we're
bypassing too much trade through enope and your little vargr and pony
show thinks that Im extorting money out of some seconday little
iceball thats just as bad as Louzy? You really think that if I wanted
to extort money Id do it there? This whole case is dumb, based on
nothing."

"Intesting tirade you have there, my dear."

"Well, thank you. Im glad you approve."

= Norris lets Astra off on the condition she travel some more and
= get a little more worldly experience.

"I think that you need more worldy experiance. Im putting you on
probation. Travel for a while. Then you will be a better leader."

"This was some bogus test, right?"

"If you will."

"Well that sucks. Taking me away while my mother was in that
condition."

"Well you'll need to face worst situations and make better decisions
than you did in StFoy."

Astra looks puzzled and almost unwell too.

The Duke goes and talks to his flunkies, Brumen heads over there too.

Sally heads over to Astra. She's sitting down and Ja-hon is patting
her on the back. Astra says she could sleep or hurl, she hasnt
decided. Ja-hon recommends hurling.

Astra debates what to do.
Sally chats. Astra warns about economics keeping planets lowtech.
Astra orders a fleet courier for the funeral. Astra reiterates the 
being careful of Louzy thing.

Duke comes over and says that travelling with Brumen would be good.
Etc etc. Astra detects railroading. Duke offers to give her a lift to
Feri. Astra declines.

Brumen comes over. Astra says that seeing as he is obviously her new
"mentor" that she guesses that they'll be heading out by courier
tonight.

Brumen is going to head off for probably three weeks. He says get the
ship repaired, work out supplies and stuff. Be ready to jump towards
Rhylandor.


1107:97:night
-------------

--------------------------- new session --------------------

 * delivery of ship to Regina shipyards

Navy is fixing the ship to repair the damage and perform anual
maintance.

Sally spends lots of time at the orbital doc overseeing the repairs to
the ship.

1107:98:day
-----------
1107:98:night
-------------
1107:99:day
-----------

Sally gets some items:

$$$$   TL     vol/wt  item
6000   tl15   1l/1kg  PRIS viewer. ir/uv/radio/radiation/gamma, li, image mag
1200   tl15   na      multiview glasses, ir, li, antiglare, holohud, datalink
500    t15g   .3l/.3kg    belt communicatior. 5000km + data/vid.
150           .3kg    resperator + micro tank adaptor (10 mins air)
20     tl15   .5kg    2*10m rope
900    t12    5kg     engineering toolkits, -2 to major repair
400    tl2    1kg     engineering toolbelt. -2 fix, -4 to repair
75                    armor: ablat
250                   armor: cloth
100                   armor: flak jacket
15200                 body pressure suit + bits
10000  t15            vaccsuit: tailored, self sealing
3000   t14    1.5/.5kg  PLSS: 1 tank (12 hour)
1000   t14             5 more UHP tanks
1200   t14    1kg     bubble helmet with hud
400    t8     1l      thermal meteroid garment
50     t8     .2      electro magnetic grippers
2            .2       pack of 5 seal patches
275           1lb     auto snub pistol
275           1lb     auto pistol
275           1lb     smg

= Sally does some shopping.

spending about $41272 (leaving $55661)

SMG in armory. Louzy service autopistol in stateroom. 
Snubpistol in engineering.

Brumen says get stuff for Astra too. Vacc suit, glasses, belt comm,
armor, snub pistol. Incognito cloths too. Good gloves too.



1107:99:night
-------------
1107:100:day
-----------
1107:100:night
-------------
1107:101:day
-----------
1107:101:night
-------------
1107:102:day
-----------
1107:102:night
-------------
1107:103:day
-----------
1107:103:night
-------------
1107:104:day
-----------
1107:104:night (1 week, 2 left)
-----------
Drag attribella to the pub with the navy engiees. While the engies
argue about turrates etc, when Attribella and some scouts are arguing
with some navy guys about Twilights Peak. Was it an epic or was it
the ranting of drug crazed scouts. Fists fly. People are thrown out.

Sally staggers off much later.

Next morning... chat to celistina. "Attribella is ok, nothing broken."

"Whats Twilights peak?"

"No idea."

Look it up on the computer. Apparently its some crappy poem about some
scout taskforce.

Celistina has a cargo for Dinomn (starship parts for the spaceport).
Its going to be expensive, but it should be profitable.

Attribella arises. She rants about the navy bad mouthing the scouts.
"I mean its an epic of heroism and the independance and skill of the
scouts. I mean they mis jump, they fix their ship, they jump and end
up in some battle and the psiking navy just leave them to die."

Attribella wasnt told about the turret. "Typical of a navy man!
Upgrade my ship....." Bickering ensues.

1107:105:day
-----------


-------------------------------

 * checking in of cynthia to University of Regina robotics & computing 
   facility.

   - various students and professors and business people.
   - Professor Jeddik (50:m) in a suit shows Sally around
     the facility. Introduces three "of my best students, Saz JilKan
     (25:f, human interfacing), Dr Ode Trentic (30:m, security) and Bretten
     Velanof (25:f, mechanical systems)."
   - cynthia in the middle of the lab, partially dissaembled. "Hi, Im Saz.
     Bretten is off working on some enhancements to the arm systems to
     overcome some muscle tearing under extreme loads. so Ill run you
     through the changes that we've done to it."
     - flesh crafting to update to Astra's form. Gained a little
       weight. Some flesh work on boobs, body shape, spinal adjustment to
       match height.
     - composite bonded armor plateing on more vital components.
     - improved composite/diamond fingernails/cutters.
     - additional visual sensor/aiming via camera in trigger finger
       nail on right hand.
     - smg mags now reloadable via flesh zippers.
     - expanded fleshpocket for storage, optional artifical womb,
       or exptended fuel store.
     - upgraded bio database for combat targeting.
     - upp now: 9C-H7-, up from 9C-F4-.
     - IQ rating very high, exceeded human, beyond expectations.
     - Expected dex improvement, but *shrugs*
     - Next upgrade in 6 months time. Powerplant catylists need
       replacing or unit will fail, probably unrecoverably.
     "We're just running some final sim's now.. if you want to have a
     look round."
   - run Holo vr