
-------- TML Message #1707 --------

Archive-Message-Number: 1707
From: wrgate.wr.tek.com!oresoft.com!richard@reed.UUCP (Richard Johnson)
Subject: PBEM Turn 10.4 (HUGE! 38Kbytes)
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 90 8:42:42 PST



                   ****Warning!****

This message probably contains some spoilers for some characters.
I think however that they are necessary for the *players* to keep
a feel for what is happening, and to see the great role-playing
that is happening.  I tried really hard to not divulge anything
that was obviously private/confidential.  For those cases I let
slip, let your characters believe that your conversation got
overheard, or someone just figured it out.  Great deduction is
not beyond the ken of anyone here.  :-)

In order to get things re-coordinated, re-establish a consistent
time line, and generally improve what's happening, I took several
liberties.  Some of them might involve your character, and for this
I apologize.  I tried to be as "in character" as I could, but some
things I felt I just had to be a little heavy-handed about.


Sorry this is so long.  However there are lots of things happening.
Even though your character is not affected by all that is happening 
he/she very soon will be.  I suggest you read all the messages, and 
if necessary, tell your character to go to sleep.

Keep playing!
Richard
	and Joe and Gary if you see this -- thanks for the ideas :-)


============== end of PBEM Admisitrivia ======================
***************** BEGIN TURN 10.4 ****************************
(at least I think it's .4)


Prologue:  In Another System

- - --------------------------------------------------------------
"Refuelling commencing sir."

"Thank you.  Very goo..."

"Sir, I've got a wierd reading here.  I think you should check it out."

"What is it Aiwi?"

"A *VERY* large ship, actually several of them just jumped a couple of
hours ago sir.  Looks like they refuelled here and jumped into empty
space.  The sensors show a 3 parsec jump, only there's nothing at all
where they are going."

"Very well.  Keep scanning and let me know if you find anything else
unusual."

- - --------
A couple of uneventful hours pass.
- - --------

"Sir, I've got another strange reading.  One of our marker stars shows
an extremely faint, and very precise intensity fluctuation.  Only--
the star is not a pulsar, doesn't even have the right makeup for a
variable star.  It could only mean something is periodically occluding
it."

"What about locally?"

"Absolutely nothing could sir.  We're on the outermost planet of this
system, and, well, nothing moves like that.  Sensors show absolutely
nothing there either - even the neutrino flux and densitomiters that
give away those Solomani cruisers with (and she sneers slightly) 
`cloaking'."

"Sir," another voice pipes up. "We've now laid in a course to follow
that fleet.  Do you wish to change our orders?"

"Absolutely.  Remember why we're out here -- to discover and explore
new worlds for the glory of the Empire.  Lay in a course for that
marker star."

- - ------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 1:  Aboard the ISR Anslinger

In empty space (there sure is a lot of that) three ships wait, 
drifting, cloaked, using only reserve power.  Only a new scout ship, 
with a sensor savant, gliding right next to these ships would note 
their presence.  Periodically, the smallest ship uncloaks for a few
moments and checks for  incoming traffic.

The largest ship carries frozen deuterium in huge, icy balls.  It 
has five,  strung out one after the other like pearls in a reinforced 
steel cage.  Aft of the "snowballs" are two bulbous aneurisms where 
mighty hydrogen snow once stood.

The third ship is medium sized.  The ISR (Imperial Ship's Registry)
Anslinger is a troop transport.  Couple of hundred medium berths.
The Anslinger carries the most precious cargo for this mission to
R-alpha, people.  This morning they are gathering in a local rec
area, getitng acquainted and trying to work off the jitters of
their new assignment.  Most of them don't even know for sure why 
they are here--yet.

- - -------
    <sorry if I missed a couple of you, I was seriously
     overloaded :-(>

Howdy, Slide. My name is (Judge) Richard Jett, nice to meet you. I expect
that we will be busy enough once aboard the Alcyon, so let's take this
opportunity to get acquainted.


Dan turns away from the window, as he overhears Slide and Richard
introduce each other.  His long black hair has been tied back into
a pony tail, and he is wearing his old ISS ship coveralls.

	"A Judge? What do we need a judge for for? I assumed this
    was a scientific expedition.  Are you planning to hold court on
    ship?"


"I do hold a commission from his grace the Archduke of Deneb as an Imperial
 Circuit judge, but I am here as the official representative of Turnskaad,
 the backers of this expedition. They want their rights fully protected, as
 well as have someone keep an eye on all this expensive equipment that they
 have entrusted to Commander Ger and his teams. Just the Alcyon alone is
 worth a substantial sum."


Slide:  "It's a pleasure, Judge."

Turning to the Scout....

"Hi. I'm Wrinkley, Slide Wrinkely." [extends his hand]
"[Eyeing off his service patches] Where did you serve? I spent quite a
few years in Deneb and the Marches. Not IISS mind you, the Navy."

To the scout and the judge...

"How about we go find a drink, Judge's shout [winking]"

Dan shakes hands with Slide.  "Daniel Silvmane. I pulled duty down 
in the Trojan Reach. Survey work, and some maintenance work on 
Xboat stations. Not a bad life until they promoted me to a desk.
Navy huh?  Planning to join the transport team?"

Jett smiles. "Buy all the drinks you want, they're on Turnskaad. But if I
were you, I'd wait until you were aboard the Alcyon and in jump again. If
you report for duty intoxicated, Admiral Nanadh Nggemen Ger will *not* be
pleased. Keep in mind that you don't get paid until AFTER you get back, so
you're encouraged to behave..."

"Yeh, Navy. Spent about 13 years with 'em. Had a minor problem with a
superior [derisively] officer, and was forced to muster out. Seems its
against regs to beat the crap out of the brass, regardless of how big
an arsehole they are. 

You're an engineer too? So am I. It sounds like we might be seeing a
bit of each other on the Alcyon. You got any idea what the mission is
all about? I just saw an ad for wrench monkeys and being a bit down on
my luck decided to apply for anything.

Now, how about that drink?"

"Yeah, I s`pose your right, Judge. You don't mind me calling you Judge
do you? If nobody has a better suggestion I might go rustle up a litre
or two of flem and practise saying the Admiral's name. Nanaaa...
Naadan... Danahd... Maybe if I try swallowing my tongue!"

"If you like, or you can just call me Richard. Not that I mind being called
 Judge. (grin) Now, now, be nice to the Admiral. Apparently he's just
 retired from the Darrian Navy; a rather impressive record from what I have
 heard. (pause) It *is* an interesting name, isn't it?"


Dan looks down the passenger area for the other passengers.  Seeing them
he walks over and introduces himself.  "Hi Daniel Silvmane." he says.

My name is Jordan Kalhoun Azani. 

Jordan is a rather tall and lithe person. He is a mix of different
races known on Terra. His father is Irish German, while his mother is of
Saudi descent. He has naturally tanned skin, appearing somewhat like
leather. He has cool grey eyes and black hair. He stands at about 6'2"
and weighs about 185 lbs.

Much T. B. Dezired here.  Prefer to be called MT.  Born in a small rural 
town, suprised everyone by going to college.  After "fumbling" my way 
through 12 years, I joined the research team at the Univ. of Oreheer.  
After serving for 6 terms, I was "convinced" to go into early retirement.  
Sort of took the oppurtunity to "further the advancement of science" in 
my own labship.  You'll notice she's not here...

I would like to become a member of the Physical Science team.  My main 
interests lie in the discovering of new life/civilizations/artifacts/etc.


This unlikely crew spends the next few hours pretty much in the dark,
intellectually, about the Alcyon and her mission, their individual
parts in her mission and just when she'll arrive.

Dan passes the time reading technical manuals and generally being
gregarious.  Others simply sit and stare, work on their notes and
equipment and prepare to move home.

Presently, the lights dim twice, and some faceless voice indicates
that they are to prepare for departure.  Stars once again peep 
through the view screen and the Alcyon, highly magnified, comes
into view.

The Alcyon is a tetrahedron several hundred meters along each edge.
She flies with one pointed end forward, and a large engine exhaust
sticking out the opposite face.  Two scout ships and a merchant
ship ride at the other three vertices, and a central core of
somewhat inhabitable ship connects the bridge at the nose with
the engine/cargo compartment.  Most of the volume of Alcyon is
collapsible fuel balloons, now about half full.

As she nears, two figures crawl along the surface of the hull, 
apparantly inspecting it.  Shortly, two more figures and a small
sphere appear, tether themselves to the Alcyon, and move off
several hundred meters.


==================================================================

Chapter 2:  Alcyon in Hyperspace 

As the muster breaks up, Bhyarrvouf makes the rounds of the various Team
Leaders: first he speaks to Dr. Abuko and the Engineering team, then to
Lazer Farouk of Security, then Etienne de Mer of Transport, then to Dave
Sokoku and Mac Witfield of Physical Science and Generalisms. Lastly, he
walks over to Dr. van der Merwe, and salutes crisply.

"I'm in your hands, Doctor. When do we begin?"

Doc drifts away toward a viewport, from which his Swiftsure-class scout is
visible. A perceptive observer sees Christian stare out into space and at his
ship. A fist clenches, his face tightens into a mask of mixed emotion. As
quickly as the memory arrives it recedes, leaving Christian to stare out into
space once again, his body relaxing. A regretful shake of the head, and he
heads off for his stateroom.



Turning, Bhyarrvouf accepts Blaine's congratulations with a nod. 
"Appreciate it, Zben.  But I can't say I was exactly LOOKING for this job; 
I got drafted, truth to tell.  Seems Fearless Leader was getting a little 
wired standing all the Command shifts himself!"  He laughs, and takes off 
his earclip and hands it to Blaine.  "Here you go.  I'd like that retuned 
and given back before we dock with the transport; you'll find me on the 
Bridge."  

He then goes to an intercom, punches up the Engineering line, and says, 
"Bhyarrvouf here. I'm going to canvass the crew for other people who're 
qualified to stand watch in the Drive Room.  As of now, we're hearing from 
Dr. Abuko, Kimball Redd, myself, Zben Blaine, and, hrr, oh, kakh, what's 
the name of that kid who thinks he can fly a gravbike-- oh, yeah, Severin!  
Anyway, Frieder should be semi-awake any day now, but I haven't seen chop 
nor haunch of Ralf. Is he around?"

The intercom comes alive.

 A groggy, gravely sounding Aaron haut Frieder's voice is nearly reconizable.
"Ohhhhhh, my heaaadddd!!!.....  Now I know why I HATE the morning after
 a party....  Heading down to see the Doc for hangover pills, I'll attempt
 to pull myself through the results of the party.  After the pill takes
 effect, I report to engineering for assignment."


The engineering contingent heads off down the passageway toward (of course)
engineering.  They are deeply involved in a discussion.

"How about determining what it is for, finding all the other probable
beacons and see if there is any way we can take control of them. I bet that
those who placed them here will be surprised if they suddenly stop transmitting
at a, for us, suitable moment?"
   <Johann Abuko>

I agree that we should find all of the other beacons.  I strongly disagree 
about waiting for a 'suitable moment' to shut it down.  Unless we can discover
who planted the things (and there could easily be more than one party 
responsible), we CAN'T know when a 'suitable moment' has arrived.  The buggers
[probably varelse for those of you who have read 'Speaker for the Dead'] may
have long since learned what they wanted to know and ceased to listen in on us
by the time we decide a 'suitable moment' has arrived.

Sorry to harp on this subject, but I feel strongly about it.
     <sorry - I lost the source>


"Mr. Farouk, Mr. Jonson: This is Bhyarrvouf. I want one of you to supervise
Mr. Blaine from Engineering as he takes our little stowaway apart and gets
some pertinent facts on who left it here and what it does. He's the best 
commo man we've got-- and that means we can't afford to lose him. That's why
I'd appreciate a Security man with Demolitions training supervising him, to
keep an eye open for boobytraps. I'd also like Hammer to contact me, and show
me where the thing was found.... and I may ask one of you two gentlemen to pull
on a vacc suit and join me out on the hull for a little walk, later. Out."
     <vouf>

A few moments later, 'Vouf makes a long general announcement caling for
check ins, engineers, pilots, and all manner of plans.  He signs off:

"That is all. Have a spiffy day, and remember, 
 nobody ever died of a hangover."



As they make their way down the hall, they pass the Doctor and a pair of
medical robots carrying bodies to or from their cabins.  With the help of the
medical robots, he puts the comatose characters into metabolic stasis (i.e.
like a low berth, but not using a low berth cryogenic system) and hooks each
up with a monitor which sounds an alarm in the Aurora if their condition
begins to deteriorate.

As part of that process, he takes a complete scan as well as tissue and
fluid samples from each, for intensive analysis. After all the people are
taken care of, he and any assistants will scour the Alcyon and other ships,
taking air samples at various points and samples from the various fluid
dispensers, galley stores, and any private stashes used in the party.

When that is complete, Christian and his helpers will set down to the
task of analyzing the samples (thank God for computers!) and correlating
the results, looking for known pathogens and other common factors.


- - ----------
Meanwhile, up forward on the bridge:

Etienne, to the best of my knowledge the transport will send over a shuttle
with the new crew. We present a kakh awful spectacle as it is, and until we
have a better idea of who survived last night's shindig I'd rather not have
anyone leaving the ship. Stupid reasoning, perhaps, but the less splitting
of effort we can maintain before things start moving again, the better.

We cannot count on the Paladin for standard operations until Mr. Nayduz graces
us with his presence. Similarly, since DeAith is about to be unloaded with
severe absence sickness, we have a gaping hole there as well. In the meantime,
please reassign Mr. Schmud to where he might be more useful: I have decided to
follow Dr. van der Merwe's belief that the Aurora will run with him alone at
the controls under normal circumstances. I will see to emergency work on the
Aurora in the event it becomes necessary, as the regular Engineering crew is
busy enough with the Alcyon and the small craft.


The intercom comes to life again:

   "This is Bishop.  One of you clowns now owes the INN one thousand,
   one hundred and sixty three credits for fried 'bot components.  I've
   finally got AGNIS functioning again.  I'm not sure what got poured in
   thru the dorsal breather, but it smells like beer."  There's a pause,
   and then he continues, "I still haven't figured out how the culprit
   managed to get past the 360 degree holo-pickups, but I'm beginning to
   suspect your tree-rat, Abuko.  Anyway, whoever did it, this had better
   not happen again."


Johann sounds somewhat amused when he calls Adrian on the commonet:

   "Sorry, Bit dosn't drink beer. If your bot had been disassembled and 
   spread over the ship tucked away in corners everywhere, it would have 
   been his style, but not pouring beer in the fan."

   "By the way, we didn't finish that interview, did we?"


Etienne continues:
  
Nishu and I will be on the bridge while we are rendezvousing.  I plan on having
all passive sensors operating at full.  Should I do the same with the active
ones?  It could easily be construed as a hostile move and I have no idea how
jumpy these people are going to be. 

Merde alors, but I hope these new people can be trusted.  We definitely need
them.



And back in engineering:

I'm on my way, Zben. Be there in two shakes." 
   <shake shake>
"OK, what's the story?" says Bhyarrvouf, striding into the storeroom where
Blaine and Jonson are gingerly poking at the beacon. 

Blaine turns to him and says, "OK, here's the scoop, as I see it. This little
jewel was made way over in the Solomani sphere, and is quite sophisiticated.
It could easily cover an entire system, but thats about it. To get that power,
it had to lose something, and that was longevity. It had about two
transmissions worth of power, and is dead now. So, my assumpstion, and its
just that, is that someone used it to squib some data off just before we
jumped. I would suggest a thorough search, `cause if there's one of these,
there might be more. As far as the robot dissasembling it, hey, sure. As long
it has the dexterity, and I can observe (from a safe distance)."

Bhyarrvouf does something Blaine's never seen him do before: he grinds his 
teeth together. "Samshkakh knaervarrgh grrrrrrRRRRRRROURRRGH!" There's a loud 
*clang* as he punches a nearby bulkhead with an armored fist. "Too little, too 
late! Why the kakh tsakha wasn't this rustbucket searched BEFORE we jumped?!"

About this time, Dr. Abuko comes in, with Leadfoot following along obediently 
behind him. 

Vouf says, "Hello, Dr. Abuko. Told you I'd be easy to find. What'd you want to 
talk about?"
 
Abuko replies, "Not talk about, listen to. General curiosity about the
beacon/bug(?) that Zben is investigating. Didn't someone at the party
speculate that there would be something like this on our ship?"

"Yeah," 'Vouf mutters to himself. "I did."

"Besides, disassembly of electronic things is within the aegis of the
Enginering department," Abuko grins, peering at the beacon from a safe
distance.

"If you want to sit in, you're welcome to," 'Vouf sighs. "I just wanted to 
stop by to tell Thul that if that kakh Bishop comes by to film that thing, he 
can-- Oh, Thul will know what to do...." At that, Jonson looks up and grins
evilly around the mushy stub of cigar in his mouth.

"Blaine says it's a Solomani one-shot, and that it probably did a squirt right 
before we jumped," 'Vouf continues. "Solomani! Just what we need right now."


<subdued click>

Etienne here Thule.
  For right now we are going to have to leave your ship pilotless.  We just
don't have enough qualified people!  I will patch all data from your computer
into the Alcyon's main display so that at least Nishu and I can keep an eye on
things.  I don't expect any problems, and the Talisman certainly shouldn't be
separating from the Alcyon but I didn't want you to worry when no pilot shows
up at reentry into normal space.

'voir


"I'll agree with you on that one, Etienne," 'Vouf sighs. "What with that damn
beacon...KAE!" His voice goes up a half octave. "Etienne! Has anyone gotten
any sort of trustworthy ID on those ships we're meeting? How do we know we're
not bringing a prize crew aboard?" He calms down a bit. "I'm jumping at
shadows. More of this and we'll all be at each others' throats! Think think 
think... data squirt before we jump, but rendezvous already in place for our
arrival. Possible? Unlikely. I think we're OK, but just to be on the safe
side I think we should take security precautions.... lemme talk to the Count
about that. I won't waste your time any longer. Tell Jonson we're shy a pilot
for the Talisman as of now, but that may change soon. Gotta go. Bye." >click<


*SOLOMANI*   SHEEEIT!  I haven't had any of my favorite targets in
my sights in a LOONG time!   

They probably think that this ringworld we are headed for is some
ancient shrine of theirs or some other nonsense...


UH-OH!  Just had an AWFUL thought... you don't suppose they are at
the ringworld already do you?  Like maybe this is some secret base
of theirs?  I know this is a foolish sounding thought, BUT!  I have
run into crazier things in my career and playing my hunches has
kept me alive this long...

'Vouf shrugs. "If they aren't, they aren't. If they are, they are. We can't go 
in any better prepared than we are now. No sense panicking until there's 
something REAL to panic about."

  "Uhuh" Johann does something of a grimace, "Guess we should have expected 
something like that with everything that goes on in the sectors around here.
Margaret and the Solomani are at eachothers throats all over the Hinterworlds,
They don't even bother to try to be discreete about it, media all over the place
have done long stories about the "Hinterwars".

  Wonder if there is any way to find out what the little sucker transmitted?"

Thul: "Why am I all of a sudden real suspicious of our pet newsie???"

'Vouf laughs. "Bishop's a nosy bastard, but he's no spy. He doesn't smell 
right for it."

  Johann turns to Zben, "Is it connected to something or is it autonomus?
It would be very unplesant to discover that it has recorded conversations or
something aboard and retransmitted them..."

  "Something that also strikes me is that we have to be *very* sure that all
ships that claim to be from Turnskaad Enterprises that show up really *is*
from Turnskaad Enterprises."


Thul: "That's for damn sure!"

     "Well, I have some good news and some bad news: 
      The good news is that we aren't being followed by 
      a Turnskaadian battleship."

     "Good! Eh, what was the bad news?"
     "It's a Solomani battleship..."



'Vouf: "I've got Etienne doublechecking the rendezvous ships. We can't let 
paranoia cripple us before we even get started. Let's not all start shooting
at shadows."

     Zben turns to Bhyarrvouf "`Vouf, would you know if anybody on
board has an Forensic skills? It's a long shot but finger prints, etc.
might be a help......."

'Vouf sighs. "I'll look into it, but I'll bet that little dingus is clean
as a stiff shot of ghtranga. They're not that stupid."

He says to Thul, "Deal with Bishop when he gets here to film things, Thul,"
and Abuko and Blaine would SWEAR they see him wink. He leaves the room 
saying, "Dr. Abuko, if there's nothing else pressing on you, you and Leadfoot
might want to help or observe the operation. I've got some other stuff to
check on; keep me or Count Ger posted. Preferably Count Ger."


     In the corridor, by the beacon, Zben turns to `Vouf to answer his
question.  "I don't see any obvious hard-links into the unit or jacks for
inputting. I'll check further, but my guess is it was self contained."



=================================================================
Chapter 4:  The Rendezvous


During the last few hours most of the rest of the crew has awakened.  
A few, however, have died mysteriously, and a couple are niether 
recovering nor worsening.   

The Alcyon returns to normal space on target.  (as described in the 
previous turn).  The docs prepare the patients for transport and 
put the dead ones on ice.  


<Please forgive this GM capriciousness.  I tried not to give away 
 anything that wouldn't have leaked anyway.>

Doc:  That's the story, sir.  Hammer is dead.  Nayduz is dead.  Horne
and Farouk have completely recovered.  Ian Thomas is almost ambulatory.
We don't know yet what caused this, but we are looking into it.

Ger:  "Just a moment."  Then, to the private channel - "Vouf, Thule, I
have Hammer's locker keys with me.  See me in my quarters now."

Shortly the others arrive.  "The good doctor was just expaining that
we have lost Hammer and Nayduz.  We will discuss in a few moments what
we want to do with the Paladin.  For now, here are Hammer's keys.  You
probably need to change the Armory locks.

"Doctor, thank you for the report.  You now need to get back to finding
out what killed them, and not all of us, and also whether the new
crewmwmbers are going to get it, too.  Dismissed."

As soon as he leaves, "Gentlemen, I haven't told anyone else, but I
also have areport from Dr. Morser.  Apparantly he IS the only sane one.
We were all asleep for five days.  The ship's logs all show us out of
it for that whole period, except Morser, who's out of it all the 
time anyway and never noticed.  So now you know, we really are 
coming out of hyperspace on time, no one jimmied the controls.

"'Vouf, after we're back in hyperspace, and we've de-loused (at least
electronically) everywhere, take a team and find out what's in the 
Paladin.

"That is all."
<end of GM-crap>


Zben and Thule prep for a complete hull search, and Adrian and JJ
prep for a photo-shoot of the rendezvous.

- - -----

Lazer, are you combat-zero-gee qualified? Beautiful! You're just the
man for the hull search. As a partner, I'll talk to Kimball Redd. He's
the guy who partnered with me on the shakedown check of the jump grid
before we left home: no one else knows the ship as well as he does, at
least on the outside. But do me a favor, OK? Keep an eye open for another
EVA team: JJ Horne is acting as lineman for Adrian Bishop, who's gotten
a flea in his fur about getting outdoors shots of the rendezvous....

Kimball Redd, please report to the main airlock and Mr. Farouk. I hate
to tell you this, Redd-man, but you're gonna have to search the hull
again, this time for stuff that shouldn't be there. OK?

'vouf



"Dave, JJ? This is 'Vouf. Listen, your man Bishop wants to do an EVA to film 
the rendezvous. Should be a short, low-risk mission, but I won't let him go out
without a buddy to secure his tether and haul him back in if he gets into
trouble. You're his fellow Team members: would either or both of you have an
interest in going out with him? I'd prefer Vacc Suit-0 at least, Vacc suit-1
or Zero-G Ops 0 even better. I'd assign someone like Redd or Severin, but we're
bogged down in Engineering right now."


I have some experience with a VACC Suit, had to live in one on my last job.
Can't say I like them but do know which end is up. Tell me when this little
space walk is starting and I will be there.

JJ out.


[ON THE INTERCOM]

"Ah yes, this is Manfred Werner.  I am thinking that I could
 be of some small help in engineering.  I will be there shortly."



Bishop steps out of the fresher a few minutes later, dressed in the tailored
vacc suit, carrying the bubble helmet under one arm.  He reaches for a mesh
gear bag, from which he retieves a small handheld remote control unit.
Swinging the unit in the general direction of the deactivated AGNIS unit,
laying on the table, he presses a contact.  Several lights on AGNIS begin
to glow and the sphere slowly rights itself and floats off the table, coming
to a stop about 2 meters in the air.
    "AGNIS, slave mode one-alpha." commands Bishop.  The sphere obediently
falls in behind his left shoulder, trailing about a meter back.  Bishop
clips the hand control to his belt and then grabs the mesh bag and a gear
harness setting next to it.
    "Let's go find us some PLSS units, a grav-car, and an airlock, in
that order!" he grins.  Then he heads out the door and down the corridor
at a brisk gait, obviously expecting JJ to follow him.

      AGNIS is a basketball-sized sphere of dull black (plastic?
      metal? ceramic?) which floats silently, about 2 meters off 
      the deck, behind Bishop's left shoulder (unless he tells it
      to do otherwise).  It's surface bristles with holo-image and 
      audio pickups, plus 2 short, thick antennas which protrude ]
      like a pair of mismatched fingers, from the top, off to one 
      side.  Extending from the center of the underside is a snap-
      clip, which looks as though it's meant to carry something 
      additional.  AGNIS stands for 'Anti-Grav Network Imaging System'.



JJ is dressed in a tailored VACC SUIT, that was issued when he signed on.
If fits his small wirery physique well, but he seems ill at ease in
the suit.
He is carrying his helmet and is chewing on a half-smoked, foul smelling
(even unlit) cheroot. When Bishop comes out of the Fresher he asks.

"Now let me get this straight, all I have to do is make sure that you
don't float away, right. I mean we ain't expectin' any trouble are we
cuz if we are I will check out my SMG and we will do this thing right!
Ya see the last time I spent some time in one of these things I almost
got myself killed. I don't plan for that to happen again! BTW, you be
amazed at what a mining laser can do to a persons chest, anyway that is
another story. So when do we get this show on the road?"

With that he falls silent.



About 20 minutes after he broadcast his message, Doc Werner sees 
Adrian Bishop in a corridor.

"Oh ah yes.  Herr....  Um excuse me, could you kindly tell me where I 
 could find Herr Fritz in engineering?" 


Judging by Bishop's pace and Horne's hustle to keep up, they are obviously
men in a hurry.  Bishop is very fidgety, almost hyperactive in manner.

    "You mean Severin?" asks Bishop, "I think he's down in engineering."
He starts off down the corridor again, and then stops cold.

    "Oh, you mean, 'how do you get to engineering?'", he says.  "OK, go
down this corridor until you get to grav-lift 12.  Take it down to deck
3 and head aft.  Turn right at corridor K and left at corridor 6.  Then
grab the first person you see and ask directions.  Gotta go!"  He spins
back around and trots off, with a somewhat irritated (by now, he's gotta
be :-)) Horne in hot pursuit.


Zben, near his cabin (on the Talisman) stops dead in his tracks, with a 
glazed expression that rapidly degenerates to a grimmace. Turning, he 
takes off at top speed toward the Alcyon's bridge, while hastily keying 
into the engineering channel...

     "JoHann?? I mean, Mr. Abuko? Zben Blaine, the village idiot here!
Something just dawned on me! Could you meet me on the bridge ASAP??
Yes, It may be Very Important! And if you see `Vouf, drag him along!"
     He keeps moving towrd the bridge, muttering to himself. If anyone
listens they hear him saying "...sheeeet, it wasn't tight....."


Adrian and JJ are almost run down by the mad rush of engineers.

"'Vouf!  Waitamminit!" Bishop shouts.

'Vouf catches himself up short at Bishop's yell, turns around in a whirl,
and straight-arms Bishop at arm's length before he can take ten steps.

"Adrian," he says in a dangerously quiet voice, "There isn't any emergency.
I'm just in a hurry to get to the various other things I have to do before
I can get some sleep. If you want a newsworthy tidbit, here it is: we may
have a recording of what the beacon broadcast, picked up on our sensor
logs with the other space chatter. If that's the case and we can decode it,
we may know a bit more about our enemies before we arrive than we do now.

"All we DO know is that the beacon was a Solomani device. If you want a picture
of it before it's taken completely apart, get down to the examination room
as soon as you can; I've told Thul Jonson to expect you. And if you ever
bring me up short like that for a news story when I'm doing something 
really important....." He leans into Bishop's face, and Horne can just hear
his snarl. "I'll piddle on your leg."

And with that, he's off again, yelling over his shoulder to Horne, "Good luck
keeping up with him! I hope you're wearing armor-- he gets shot at a lot!"


Bishop watches 'Vouf hurry down the corridor, and then very pointedly looks
down at his foot.  He grits his teeth and says, "I just don't know HOW
he does it.  He KNOWS I'd rather be shot."  Then he shudders.

Horne waits until Vouf gets out of ear shot.
 
"Testy little guy ain't he, Solomani huh... hmm can't trust em, any of em
not too fond of Vargr either course you can always depend on em to be
unpredictable" With that he chuckles to himself.

"Ah..., yah." Bishop agrees.  He pauses for a moment and frowns in thought.
"Hmmm.  You know, I think I smell a tree-rat in this mess."

"Well what is it to be outerspace or that beacon thing. You get shot at
alot, well maybe I should go get my SMG from security. I had to be a good
little boy and turn it in like they asked."

Bishop suddenly comes to a decision and heads towards the examination room.
"Co'mon," he shouts, "Let's check out the bug before Thul sends it to bit
hell.  Space can wait.  It'll still be there when we get done."  As he
hustles down the corridor, he adds, "Don't worry about your SMG.  No one
has ever hit me yet!"  He makes absolutely no comment whatsoever about
previous companions during such incidents.



And, back on the bridge:

      Zben waits in the bridge for Johann and `Vouf to appear. When
 they do [assuming they do 8-|], he leads them to a (hopefully) quiet
 corner by the sensor suite.

  Johann arrives some half a minute after Vouf. "Sorry" he says, "I had to
put the bot back to work down in engineering. Now, what was it that you
wanted to talk about?"

     "Sorry for the rush call, but I just realized something that has
been stareing me in the face. That beacon BROADCAST a signal! It
wasn't a tight beam! Therefore our automated sensor recording system
Should have picked up something, even if it was timed to coincide with
one of our standard transmissions. Therefore, if we do a computer
check of those records, we MAY have a recording of the transmission,
and the exact time it took place. Now, I can't believe anyone is dim
enough to broadcast an unencoded message, but it could give us some
very interesting information. With your permission, I'll start a
search, although someone with better computer skills than mine might
be a help."
    With that he settles back with a small grin....(and a small gin)

(beer in the oven and gin on the bridge, what is this ship coming to???:-)

  Johann pauses to let this sink in.
  "Now that's what I call a lead! Good Work, Zben!" he grins, but then something
strikes him "I hope the computer saves the records this long, since we isn't at
R-alpha yet it might have been set to only remember a week of sensor data. Well,
its the best we have and it can't hurt to try it out."

"Blaine," 'Vouf says calmly, "You have just earned your pay for the week."
He turns to leave, saying over his shoulder, "You and Dr. Abuko can probably
find someone with the cyberskill to look at what you find; try Ralf, for a
start. Don't bother Redd; he's on EVA with Farouk looking for another bug.
I'll inform the Count." Without waiting for an answer, he's gone at a dead
run.

"I know my way around computers." Johann tells the rapidly dissappearing Vouf
over the comlink. (Why shout when you have equippment that can do it for you?)
"I'll help Zben. Besides, there's precious little else on engineering that I
*can* do..."

On the way out Vouf almost tramples Aaron haut Frieder who is on his way to 
the bridge.


Aaron Frieder: I arrive on the Bridge just in time to hear the 
conversation.  As 'Vouf runs out the door, with me dodging aside, I 
yell, "I'll take care of the computers.  You keep me informed of your 
progress.  Also, I plan to eventually take a look at the Beacon.  I 
have a few things to test out on the probe."  With that I head over to 
Zben to work with him on the computer.  "Don't worry, Zben.  I KNOW 
what I'm doing."

Abuko: "I think there is enough people here to take care of the computers.
We'd use our resources better if you'd take a look at the beacon to find 
out what frequency it used so we don't have to go through one week of raw 
data not knowing what to look for. That is assuming that it didn't transmit 
in jumpspace, but I think that we can rule that out unless we got the spy-
version of keystone kops on our hands." he smiles.



Not distracted by the sudden re-emergence of high-intensity debugging,
Lazer and Kimball head on out the main airlock, with extra air, and start
their hull search.

Bishop and Horne arrive in engineering and find it virtually deserted.
Leadfoot, the robot informs them that the engineers took the "device"
with them to the bridge, and will probably dismantle it shortly after
the crew transfer is complete and refuelling is being done.  So the
two hustle on outside to record the rendezvous for posterity.

As they reach position, ISR Leviathan uncloaks.  Leviathan is what her
name implies.  She dwarfs Alcyon and blocks out a full eigth of the
sky.  A robot probe detaches from Leviathan with a leader.  Presently,
it docks with Alcyon and drags over a fuel hose.  Similarly, hoses
are dispatched to Anslinger and Frost, the Turnskaad scout.

Anslinger comes alongside and opens a large iris door for a hanger.
A shuttle moves out and docks with Alcyon.  After several minutes,
it returns to Anslinger, and the doors close.

Refuelling takes several hours.

============ end of turn ==============================
The new crew is aboard, add them to your character/mail lists.

Now do what you wanted to do while in normal space...

Richard
- - -- 

-------- TML Message #1708 --------

Archive-Message-Number: 1708
From: "Mark F. Cook" <markc@hpcvss.cv.hp.COM>
Subject: Re: Gnu Traveller
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 90 14:58:45 PST

YAY-YAASSS!!

> Rob and Dow Reider have made some much-needed corrections and simplifi-
> cations to the vehicle rules.

Really?  Did I miss these?  I don't remember them.

>                               Dow and I are looking into replacing the
> utterly worthless and nonsensical trade and commerce rules with better
> ones,

(best Madeline Kahn accent): "Well, it's about time!!" (those of you
who have seen the movie 'City Heat' will no doubt recognize the quote.)
I've been beating my head against a wall trying to differentiate freight
from speculative cargo, and I'm about really to head for the liquor cabinet.

>       and I'm rolling up my sleeves (with the possible assistance of Dow
> and Paul Reilly, a General Relativist in my Trav group who will probably
> join the TML soon) and fixing the glaring physics errors that make so
> much of Traveller starship design difficult to swallow, without harming
> the game balance too badly. (no Jump-7's folx)

Good!

>                                                I'm probably going to see
> if I can talk Iain Fogg and Mark Cook into helping me redo the weapons
> skills system in a convincing manner, and I'd like to tackle the combat
> system at some point and add a bunch more weapons to the canonical list....

Well, I (for one) feel flattered at the offer, not to mention keenly
interested.  I accept.

Actually, as you may have guessed (based on earlier TML postings), my
weapon designs and overall combat system bear little resemblance to
standard MT.  I find that the RTG Cyberpunk "Friday Night Firefight"
comes closer to real life than any other combat system I've seen  (Just
ask anybody who's been shot at and had to shoot back, then argue with
me about 'realism'.)

> It may even turn out that the existing Traveller Universe will be no good
> for the resulting rules, in which case (sigh) I'll just have to create a
> new one. But hopefully the end result will be a rules set that one can use
> and not feel vaguely cheated by in one respect or another. 

Assuming that we constrain ourselves to the Jump-6 limit,  I can see no
reason why the existing Shattered Imperium wouldn't be amenable to almost
ANY rules re-write we'd care to make.

> Please post to the TML if you'd like to see a Gnu Traveller,

Definitely.

> and if so what rules you'd like to see fixed,

Well, IN ADDITION to all the ones mentioned above, I'd like to see a
re-write of the aircraft design rules in COACC.  Scott Kellogg has
already pointed out how ludicrous the aircraft displacement values are.

Also, the robot rules need to be re-written, or at least greatly enhanced.
In the sections under locomotion (for example), no mention is made of
top speed.  I also can't find any rules which detail how long a given
power supply will last, only how much power it puts out.

> whether you'd be willing to write or help write new rules,

Absolutely.

> and whether or not you'd be interested in a new Universe to run them in.

Well, only if it's as  rich and detailed as the current Shatterd Imperium.
I don't worry about rules too much (what I don't have, I can fudge), but
a detailed, internally-consistant history is a LOT of work!

> (Also, the Gnu people will probably get mad if we keep using that term,
> so we could use a catchy title for this... GigaTraveller? Nah.)

How about TRAVELLER++.  :-)
                (If you're not a C programmer and don't get it, never mind.)

        Mark F. Cook

USMail: User Interface Technical Support
        Hewlett-Packard - Interface Technology Operation
        1000 NE Circle Blvd.  Corvallis, OR 97330

INTERNET: markc@hpcvss.cv.hp.com
UUCP:     {cmcl2, harpo, hplabs, rice, tektronix}!hp-pcd!markc

-------- TML Message #1709 --------

Archive-Message-Number: 1709
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 90 12:10:42 EST
From: grue@batserver.cs.uq.oz.au
Subject: Re: gnu trav

hiya,

With reguards to:

>Date: Tue, 6 Nov 90 11:11 EDT
>From: METLAY@vms.cis.pitt.edu
>Subject: (1694) Gnu Traveller: a modest (hah) proposal


>needed corrections and simplifications to the vehicle rules. Dow and I are
>looking into replacing the utterly worthless and nonsensical trade and commerce
>rules with better ones, and I'm rolling up my sleeves (with the possible 
>assistance of Dow and Paul Reilly, a General Relativist in my Trav group who
>will probably join the TML soon) and fixing the glaring physics errors that
>make so much of Traveller starship design difficult to swallow, without harming
>the game balance too badly. (no Jump-7's folx) I'm probably going to see if I
>can talk Iain Fogg and Mark Cook into helping me redo the weapons skills system
>in a convincing manner, and I'd like to tackle the combat system at some point
>and add a bunch more weapons to the canonical list....

>
>Looking to see if anyone's interested,

I am interested, I have been thinking about doing the same thing for a while
now and didn't because it would be an awful lot of work.  If a group of us
got together and did it it might be possible.  Keeping things consistent
could prove interesting...

I'd able willing to help with the starship design (which has become a little
bit of a speciality with me, mostly due to the design aid program which is
looking good and stable at the moment).  I'm not very good at the physics
(and never have been) but I am quite good at analysing the effects of designs.
I am a statistics honours graduate among other things so analysing stuff is
one of the things that I'm good at.  I would like a chance to fix the large
starship weapons systems (e.g. Disintegrator, Particle accelerator).  And, I
would happily make the starship design program conform to any new system
devised, though typing the data might take a longish while.  I was already
thinking seriously about filling in the holes in the existing tables so
everything becomes more like the communicator tables.

I'd probably not be much good for handling the trade system except as an after
design analysis phase --- I never got much past basic traveller's trade system.

As for modifying the weapon skills and such, I'd be more of a hinderance than
a help.

As for anything else, I'd be happy to try.



							Pauli
seeya

Paul Dale               | Internet/CSnet:            grue@batserver.cs.uq.oz.au
Dept of Computer Science| Bitnet:       grue%batserver.cs.uq.oz.au@uunet.uu.net
Uni of Qld              | JANET:           grue%batserver.cs.uq.oz.au@uk.ac.ukc
Australia, 4072         | EAN:                          grue@batserver.cs.uq.oz
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-------- End of TML Messages --------

