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-AMN- --Date--- --Sender--------- --Subject-----------------------------------
2027  27-Dec-90 Richard Johnson   PBEM Turn 10.5 (1027 lines, 43kB) << "Sherman
2028  29-Dec-90 George William He Re: Character Generators << In my campaigns, 

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

Archive-Message-Number: 2027
Subject: PBEM Turn 10.5 (1027 lines, 43kB)
Date: Thu, 27 Dec 90 21:26:34 PST
From: Richard Johnson <richard@agora.UUCP>


"Sherman, set the way-back machine for last November, when the PBEM
was actually progessing.  We'll pick up our story line shortly after
Alcyon arrives at her pre-assigned initial contact/refuelling point."
Thanks to Peter for the fewmets comment - I loved it.  :-)




                            PBEM Turn 10.5

Robot arms umbilically connect the Alcyon and Anslinger to the fuel
ship while shuttles carry passengers and cargo between them.  Two
people float aver the Alcyon's surface, inspecting, while a third
jets back and forth on a grav bike, looking for slightly more obvious
"things".  Two other figures, with a small sphere, holograph the 
proceedings from a few hundred meters away.

Inside the Alcyon, the new personnel are getting checked in, and engineers
are busy vivisecting the locator beacon and running through old computer
tapes.  

As the eight new arrivals step out of the airlock and onto the main cargo 
deck of the Alcyon's crew pod, they are greeted by a single figure: a 
black and white Vargr in a stark grey and black uniform of a type not 
seen anywhere in the Imperium. He is wearing a pair of heavy metallic 
gauntlets that reach up to his elbows and seem to effortlessly follow 
each motion of his fingers. His ice-blue eyes rest on each of the new 
crew members for a long moment, surveying, weighing and criticizing. 
After a long, uncomfortable silence, he nods slowly. 

"Welcome aboard the Alcyon, gentlebeings. My name is Bhyarrvouf, and I am the 
Executive Officer and SubCommander of this mission...."

'Vouf greets the newcomers, and resumes his "normal" duties while the
fledglings get acquited with their new crew and team mates, and settle
in a little.  As soon as he has them accounted for, 'Vouf calls for a
complete internal bug sweep.

Meanwhile outside, Kimball Redd and Lazer Farouk scan the 
hull for any evidence of tampering or signalling, beyond that already 
discovered in the passageway.

<Redd> 
Okay, 'Vouf said "power sources and radio emitters that shouldn't be there",
which covers anything from a battery/fusion powered lasercom to a mini radio
tapping into ships power.  That means we'll have to eliminate all the 
existing ones and go over the rest in lots of detail. How long have we got ?

I'm just glad I don't have to worry about organising all this, I just have
 to spend a few hours floating in nice, quiet, empty space while some poor
 executive officer gets some more work to do :-]

'We could be at this for *DAYS*' 


<Abuko>  ...  Has anyone seen Bit, by the way?  He'll go nuts if everyone is 
running around and taking the ship apart.  I don't think that we could put it 
back together if he was loose during the sweep:)"

"We'll be using airlock 4 to run some tests that we might need to
eject from the Alcyon pretty fast. The airlock will be occupied and off-limits
for an unknown period of time, probably several hours. If anyone got any suits
or something in the lock that you want to use, get them now.
  
<Aaron> "Great, that's all we need.  I guess that means that we should all be
    on the look out for Bit.  Just keep him away from where I'm working on
    the Beacon.  I prefer to have a COMPLETE toolkit."  =B^}

<Abuko>  "Yes, especially since you'll be working in an airlock. Tree-rats 
are known to have landed in trouble by being in the wrong place at the 
wrong moment."

Blaine arrives at airlock 4.
<Zben>  "Hey Aaron. I just stopped by Engineering Stores and picked up
this." He opens the small padded box to reveal a Bugs and Detector
kit. "I should have thought of this earlier, but with this we can take
a lesiurely sweep of everything before we Jump again." With that he
and Aaron carefully start the beacon check out.
      

<Redd> (on intercom) Why don't you [Abuko] get him [bit] a comdot?

<Abuko>  Have tried, but he usually manages to pick them apart within 
a few minutes..

<Redd>  It could save time when you want him safely out of the way, with 
all the resources on this ship, it could even be an implanted locator,etc.

<Abuko> Implanted?  Yes, that might do it.  I'll ask Doc about it when 
everything has calmed down... 


- - --------- Sciences  --------------
Wearing camouflage pants and a god-awful bright flourescent shirt, 
Andon stops by wherever the Physics team hangs out, "Hey, you guys ever
figure out whether our grav vehicles are going to work when we get to
R-Alpha?  If they aren't going to work the same then I need to get some
parameters for the simulators so I can get a feel for it."

Then he heads back to the cargo bay to await the unloading of the new
equipment so he can get back to doing Preventive Maintenance on all the
small craft.  

"So Ralf, I'm a little concerned about all this sabotage and poisonings
or whatever that has been going on.  Would you mind giving me a hand going
over our other grav vehicles to look for signs of tampering, I don't want
to be going like a bat outa hell at ground level and all of a sudden lose
any controls.  And if you can fine tune them to just get that wee bit a
extra power..."



- - --------- Outside ------------
With the transfer complete, ond only that boring old refuelling going
on, Bishop and Horne scramble back inside.  Bishop takes off at a relatively
good clip in the direction of his cabin, and Horne starts unsuiting on
his way to the armory.



- - ----------------- Medical ---------------
The vastly understaffed medical team, now doing incoming physicals as well
as autotopsies and epidemical investigations, asks Dr. Limner to help out.

<Limner>  Certainly, what do you need?  

If you have biochemistry questions, you've come to the right place, I must
say.  Especially if they relate to xenobiology.  I've been kind of busy
repairing my equipment after the party (don't ask, please), but I'll be
there ASAP.

<Van Der Merwe> Well, Ian suggested that we bring you in on the biochem 
end of the investigation into the recent sicknesses and deaths -- we've 
got a lot of samples to work through, and we're trying to correlate 
biochemistry with something. We're checking party supplies and loaded 
cargo/supplies and the autopsy results. Any suggestion would be well 
received.

<Limner>  Let's hope this isn't some disease which one of the crew
brought with them.  I'd guess that this is unlikely, however, since our
examinations were rather...(Dr. Limner winces slightly)...complete.

<VDM> Indeed -- it would have to be something unusual to get past *my* 
medical exams. (grin)

<Ian> If you guys don't mind, I'll go check the supplies while you go
over these bodies.  I'm not really comfortable dealing with autopsies.

<L> I think checking the supplies is an excellent idea.  I have here an
environmental bioscanner which I have modified slightly.  It should find
any radiation or microorganisms which are present.  It also searches not
only for known dangerous chemicals, but previously unknown combinations
of safe ones.

<VDM> Good -- between you and Ian, I think you can check the cargo and see 
if any of it could be related.  But your biochem talents are also needed to 
help me run through these tests and samples -- we still aren't sure what 
caused the time "lapses", sicknesses, and deaths, but Ian noted that the 
dehydration levels were consistent with metabolism control drugs.

<L> (Dr. Limner lowers his tone somewhat.)
It could be a form of psychic feedback caused by jump.  Let's hope this isn't
the case, or we could all be in danger, unless one of those who died was the
responsible psychic.

There could also be something causing artificial psychic "vibes".  If so, who
knows what effect jumpspace would have on it?  It could even be some of the
"bugs" we discovered.

<Ian>  Waitaminit!  Talk about psi prejudice!  There has NEVER been a case
of death, or even a real sickness that could truly be attributed to psychic
or psionic causes.  Now maybe, just maybe, somebody slipped some psi drug
into out coming aboard shots and some of us reacted badly, but that's still
chemical, not psychic.

<VDM> If it is psychic, I can't do much there, either, so we'll trust in the 
material and hope we find the answers.

<L> There is also the possibility of foul play.  Of course, this needn't be
psychic, but it would explain why the cause is so difficult to pin down.

<VDM> That possibility is being investigated, I assure you. It would have 
to be a very ingenious murderer...

<Ian> I don't think it was murder.  If it was murder, sombody went to a LOT
of trouble to get the weapon aboard and into or onto us.  Why pick on us
nobodies when they could have disabled the Alcyon completely, or militarily
decapitated us.  I don't believe it was a bio-weapon either, too selective.
Either some of us got a bad reaction to something we ate or drank, or we've
got a wierd miscibility problem.  What intrigues me is the missing five days.

<L> If you want, I'll start on a complete scan of the ship for medical hazards.

<VDM> Yes, you and Ian can doublecheck my scans. Then you have to get back 
here and start sifting through the data we've accumulated from "party" and 
"initial boarding" sources.

<Ian> 'Tell you guys what.  I'll go below and quarantine all of our cargo
(oh won't Count Ger love that :-) and you two can get started tearing
apart bodies.  I *really* don't want to be here for that, if you don't mind.

<VDM>  Ok. (Waves scanner over Ian) Go ahead and do that -- you don't
have to stay here if it makes you uncomfortable.

Doc Limner tosses Ian a spool of bright yellow tape, and Ian takes off
down the passageway, obviously thankful to be gone. 

Christian looks at the scanner, and frowns. 'Now where did that come from?'
he mutters to himself. He moves over to the medical computer, sits down, and
plugs the scanner into a data port. "Computer, Tie-in scanner, input Beta.
Verify and analyze trace mineral combinations. Full report: identification,
source, possible physiological effects, you know the drill." (It's a synaptic
computer, after all...)



- - ---------- Engineering -------------
Down in engineering, 'Vouf waves a gloved hand over the drives - talking
to Slide and the other new engineers. "Perfect hiding places for clandestine 
listening and broadcast devices, sabotage machinery, or relays. We're going to
pull every kakh panel off 'em, scan 'em from top to bottom, and put 'em back 
together. Then we're going to yank up the conduit panelling under the floor 
and check THAT. Then the walls. Get the picture?  We're looking for anything 
that shouldn't be there, finger-sized or larger. This crate's very cleanly 
designed; if something IS out of place, we'll spot it. The refueling sequence
is on schedule: we have to have this room certified clean before we begin Jump
charging. We'll start with the main power plant, since it's idling right now 
and we'll need it la..." His voice trails off. "....ter....."

His ears swivel and track on a particular section of wall. He strides over to 
it, seizes an access handle, and yanks upward hard. The panel rattles up out 
of the way, and Slide sees a tiny golden animal sitting on one of the wiring
conduits, holding what looks like a powerspanner battery in its prehensile 
tail. It blinks at 'Vouf, obviously terrified.

"GOTCHA!" With a swoop of a hand, 'Vouf grabs the beast by the scruff of the 
neck and hauls it out of the machinery, chittering and scolding as it 
struggles in his grip. He holds it up and shows it to Wrinkely.

"Slide," he says pleasantly, "Meet Bit.  Bit, this is Slide." He sighs, and 
calls Abuko on the commdot. "Hey, Johann, I found your vermin inside the 
Number Three power coil feed with that battery Aaron said he was missing.
You wanna collect him, or should I stuff him in the Jump capacitors?"

Slide looks bemused as Vouf pulls Bit from the conduit. "I take it Bit
can be a bit bothersome [chuckles]." As the mirth recedes, he says "Well if
you'll excuse me I'll get changed and get to work."


After quickly donning his coveralls he sits at the engineering console
and begins to inspect the design plans for the plant and drive.
"Computer, get me the power plant and maneuver drive design plans,
include the circuit diagrams. I want manual browsing." In less than 10
minutes, Slide is systematically removing access panels from the power
plant checking that everything clean.

<Abuko on intercom>  "On my way!  Be careful, he got sharp teeth and he'll 
use them if he's picked up roughly..."
  
Johann arrives in the engineroom about thirty seconds after 'Vouf finished his
transmission.  Bit is quite occupied with trying to chew on 'Voufs metallic 
fingers by that time but with no success.
  
Johann shakes hand with Slide "Johann Abuko, pleased to meet you!" who might
notice that the former second engineer isn't the only one who carries spare
parts on (or rather in) his person, because the skin on Johanns right arm seems
to be made from skin colored plastic.

"INSIDE the what?!? How did he get in there? Aaron lost that battery just a 
few hours ago, and I saw Bit a little over an hour ago, and I didn't think that
anyone had openend that hatch for days?  A thought strikes Johann.   "Uhoh, 
We'd better take an extra close look behind that panel when we sweep the 
engineroom..."

"We'll take care of it," 'Vouf says. As Abuko leaves with Bit, 'Vouf scans the 
 inside of the panel carefully, then suddenly stops. He stands up straight,
 ears perked up at some tiny noise somewhere. If Slide tries to ask him what's 
 going on, he gets an angry wave for silence. A moment later, 'Vouf frantically 
 begins replacing the panels, screaming, "SLIDE! BUTTON HER UP, FAST!"




Everyone's comdots come to life, almost painfully:
<sccRrEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!!>

Tout le Monde!  Preparez Vouz pour le Jump, Immediatement!...

[a second later]...Prepare for jump, NOW!  
Anyone still outside the ship, get inside the grid and start praying, the 
airlocks are sealed.

<ominous silence...>

- - --------------- Bridge ------------

Nishu drops into his navigator's chair, tapping at the holodynamic 
console.  His first task is to bring up the second navigation file 
and unlock it, loading it into the jump computer.  While the system 
is chewing on that, he glances over at Etienne and his sensor display.

"Range, mass, number of targets.  Transponders if any."

He then makes a few calls on the intercom:

"General Quarters, General Quarters.  Admiral and Exec to the Bridge."

"Engineering, this is Navigation.  Start charging the jump crystals.  How
is your fuel transfer status?"

Nishu turns back to Etienne.  "We need time.  Get us moving, escape vector,
best acceleration."

"Shall I raise the Anslinger?"


- - -------------------- Engineering (etc.) ------------

Since general quarters for focaline tree-rats are to be safely locked up 
in a cabin, Johann rushes the rest of the way, put bit in his carrying 
box, check the air status on the box and rush back to engineering, being 
careful to avoid any Jump-6 Vargr in the corridor, all the while talking 
in his commodot on the engineering channel:

Johann here! 
Fitz, Redd, Ralf, Slide! To engineering immediate! 

Aaron and Zben! you too, leave everything but lock the inner valve of 
the airlock.

Anyone know the fuel status? 

Mechbot! Tune the powerplant up to a hundred percent now! 

Full power to the armaments and manuever drive! 

Aaron! Zben! take a look at the number three power coil feed. I think 
that someone have maybe opened it! Look for bugs, bombs, beacons, damage, 
anything out of the ordinary!

Are the access tunnels to that frigate and whatever else we met here
disconnected yet? 

Do we have a solution to jump on? 

Was any ship disconnected from the Alcyon during the stop? 

Has the computerlinks checked out ok?

<short pause to stop for breath> 

Does general quarters include vaccsuits?"

"Engineering to bridge! We are turning up the plant to 100% to feed the 
manuever drive and weapons now. We are investigating the fuel status and
preparing for jump.  One access pannel on the jump drive that wasn't 
supposed to have been opened has apparently been opened recently. We are 
investigating and sweeping the immediate area and we'll let you know. 
Over and out."


- - ---------------- Medical -----------------

When (presumably) the alarm klaxons sound, Christian immediately stops
whatever he's doing and races for the Aurora bridge, where he jumps into
the pilot seat and reconfigures the panels for sensor ops -- he brings the
Passive EMS array on-line and starts looking for these bogies. Much quicker
than heading for the Alcyon bridge, and this way he's not in anyone's way.
And considering he's got a better computer than does the Alcyon, Christian
will tie it into his sensors to classify the signals and identify...



- - --------------- Outside ---------------------
Zben and Aaron happen to be right on top of an airlock when
the fewmets hit the windmill.   Lazer is not
so lucky.

"Holy Onsorik!! What the %^&*^(???"
Zben drops whatever tools he has at the moment, grabs the bug
detector and stuff it in a vac-suit pocket, bolts through the airlock
[hopefully with Aaron!], and slaps the Lock Seal button. Without a
word he starts to run flat out toward Engineering, literally dancing
around anyone in the way (a feat that would amaze anyone used to how
fast he usually moves!).



<Lazer>
"What the hell?!  Great Ghu hobbled and bound, they're not kidding!

"Redd, let's move.  I'm strapped in.  Nearest airlock should be ... 
#2, far side of that grid pylon."

The seconds tick by, agonizingly slowly as the scooter accelerates 
turtle-like.  The chaos inside spills out through the communicators.  
The command to seal the airlocks drops like lead.

Redd pulls a deft flip at midpoint, and the scooter begins to slow.  
Lazer ties one of the tether-lines into a loop, just in case. 

The heartbeats pound on.  The airlock slides into view.  Lazer lassos 
a hitch by the lock door, but it isn't necessary--Redd judged it nicely.

Lazer leaps out of the scooter and punches the airlock open button.  
Nothing happens.  

"Ask for excitement, will you, Lester?  Well, you got it..." he mutters 
to  himself.



The umbilical fuel lines auto-detach from the Alcyon and from Frost, 
accelerating slowly away from the ships as the precious vapor spews into
the void.  The Anslinger rolls over and dives away at right angles to
Alcyon, and the scout ship that first greeted the arrival quickly 
maneuvers onto an intercept course for the incoming fleet.  Frost 
begins dumping, and firing, fuel, picking up speed and angling between 
Alcyon and the newcomers.


- - ----------------- Armory ----------------

<O'Shi, already being in the armory checks in...>
Ok, where the suits?  and what the HELL is going on?

	

Horne is standing in security when the claxons start blaring.

"Gimme my goddamned weapon NOW, which airlock do you want me at and who is
my fire team-mate." We are gonna kick some enemy ass"

He holsters the six-shooter and his extra cylinder, and grabs a small box
cartridge box. He then grabs his Sub-Machine Gun and rams home one clip and
pockets two more, then casually chambers a round.

He then grabs another cheroot pulls out his trench lighter and lights
the foul smelling cigar, and puffs patiently as he waits for his assignment.




Charyn heads off from the armory at a sprint for the bridge, in search
of Etienne.  "Transport team" she mumbles under labored breath.
"Bridge, now was that a...  <pant, pant>... left or a right?" she asks
of no-one in particular.


- - ---------------- Bridge ------------

Commander Ger, talking into his comdot walks onto the bridge.

<Ger>
"Have the necessary personnel report to the command shuttle and fighter".
"I will need a tactial plot up on the holodisplay.  Where are the shuttle 
and the refueling ship?"

<'Vouf's voice>
"Andon Shrike should be on his way to the Shuttle.  Fritz is almost certainly
needed in Engineering, Morgan Grey is in no shape to pilot the fighter so it
will have to be one of the new people or no one." 

Ger turns to whomever is on duty and looks expectantly.



<'Vouf's voice (holo image?)>
<General announcement>
"All hands, this is 'Vouf. ACTION STATIONS! 

Engineering, BELAY Dr. Abuko's orders on the Maneuver Drive-- 
this bucket couldn't outrun a scuttled Xboat.  We stand and fight, 
Jump, or die right here.

Route all necessary power to weapons, and the rest to the Jump crystals.

Bridge, I'm needed here for a moment, but I'll be up on the double. Etienne,
unlock the airlocks for a period of two minutes, then lock them again, you've
trapped two of our men and there may be more outside! 

<Etienne>
"Opening now...


<'Vouf again>
Blaine, Frieder, get the hell out of there! 
Leave the kakh beacon and your tools if you have to! 
Anyone outside the ship has ninety seconds to hit the airlocks-- 
Severin, if you're still out there, run pickup on Farouk, Redd, Bishop, 
and Horne!" 




- - ------------- Outside -------------
Lazer pounds the lock open button again, and twice, and the lock opens.  He
flips inside, and begins pulling on the tether rope to the scooter.  He and Redd
haul it in, and shut the lock.  It begins cycling.


Overhead, Fitz jets by silently on the Tau Zero, counting to himself.
"Good.  That's two who made it in for sure.  Now let's see who's left...
Sure wish I could see whatever it is that made the ruckus."


When the hatch opens, Anton is running up from the inside.

<Lazer>
"Anton, good.  Help Redd tie down the scooter, then get to your action station.
I've got to figure out what the hell is going on..."

Lazer dodges past, and moves out down the corridor at a fast trot.  He taps
his comm.

<...>
"Bridge, Farouk here.  I'm in; Redd's clear.  Fill me in.  I'm 1 minute from the
comshuttle."
<...>


- - ---------------- Engineering --------------
<'Vouf>
"Security, suit up, pull all longarms and prepare to repel boarders! Turret
gunners to their stations. 

Silvmane, MT, to Engineering, on the double! 

Leadfoot, seal the fuel ports and calculate available tankage. 

Bridge, inform the fuel shuttle to sever umbilicals and get clear. 

Try to get the Leviathan and the other ships to stay between us and 
the incomings until we can Jump!

We're buttoned up here-- I'm on my way up." 

During this little speech, 'Vouf makes sure that Engineering stations 
are properly manned, then takes off in a Vargr-in-panic sprint for the 
Bridge....

"Roger Vouf, I'm on my way." Dan [Silvmane] says to his commdot and 
runs out of the Talisman towards engingeering.

<'Vouf>
"Blaine! As soon as Silvmane or MT reaches Engineering to relieve you,
report to the Bridge. We need to cook up a quick and dirty way to jam
outgoing transmissions, just in case there's another beacon ready to
transmit...."

As Zben runs, he punches in an extra frequency on his commdot.
"Computer! Code Zben, Alpha Niner! Start Priorty Two monitoring of all
non-ship frequencies. Record and Identify transmission origin, if
possibile. Zben out."

Sliding into Engineering, he whips out the bug detector, and
starts running it over the #3 coil, followed by as many areas as he
can before Dan or MT arrives.


- - --------------- Bridge -------------
Ger sits at the command station. "Captain has the con"

<Etienne>
"Aye, Sir."

"Sir, There are twelve ships...Looks like...voyons, voyons...Oui, Imperial
designed cruisers, pickets and tenders, Sir!  [a faint smile touches his face.]
But they have a large vector AWAY from us!"

<Ger>
"Nishu, See if you can raise either the imperial task force on the radio,
or the Anslinger on a laser. I think the *immediate* danger is over."

<Zben> looking up from communications console
I think I can handle the bridge Communications, if you'd approve.

"Etienne, after you have maneuvered us away from that fuel cloud see if you
can patch into the scout's sensors, so we can get a better idea of what
the Imp..Imperials have."

<Etienne>
60 standard seconds remaining, sir.

Ger turns to Bishop, and without speaking into the communicator says:
"Bishop, I presume you are getting this on your machine"

"All team leaders except medical report status. Dr. Let us know whenever
you can about the emergency"



- - ------------- Engineering ----------------
<Abuko>
"Engineering to Bridge. We are bringing the plant on line. We are prepared to
begin charging for jump. If we begin charging for jump we'll be committed to
either jump or discharge the sinks through the hull radiators, and it seems 
that our fuel truck just left...

No word yet about the possible bug.  We are sweeping the area.

Shall we begin to charge the sinks?  

<Ger> on commlink
"Negative, Do not charge the crystals yet. How long will it take to charge
and jump from when I give the signal?"

<Abuko>
It'll take about twenty minutes to charge 'em up."

Johann seems to ask someone in the background something.

"Maximum save time in when holding charge is about thirty minutes, one hour if
the crystals are in top condition.  Any more than that and risk of getting a
explosive decomposition of the crystals will increase.  No word yet about the
possible bug. We are sweeping the area."


Just then MT walks into Engineering looking very much less confused than
normal.  The sudden tension has 'jolted' him into full awareness.

"MT reporting as ordered.  Blaine, I've come to replace you.  I believe 
you were needed on the bridge."

MT turns towards Abuko (if he's there...) "What shall you have me do?"

Redd arrives back in engineering, takes off the helmet & gloves of his 
vacsuit, and looks hot, tired, and annoyed...  "Ok, so who's running 
engineering, and what do they want me to do. - I'd appreciate just ONE 
answer, thanks."


<Zben> to MT
"Great! Here's a bug Detector. Use it on everything in here!"
With that Zben starts out at a strong lope toward the bridge. 



<Abuko>   "I'm running engineering. 'Vouf helps run the Alcyon. 
Keep an eye on the powerplant and manuever drive, make them go to 
full power as soon as possible without endangering the ship or the 
drives themselves.   

If we get goahead to begin charging the drives, divert to the jumpdrive and
keep the fast fusion burner working smooth."


<Redd>
Check.
- - -Redd finds himself a seat, and starts monitoring the readouts, still wearing
 most of his vac-suit.

"Anybody know what's going on ?
 - I was outside and seem to have missed the point.
 Oh, hi Slide, I'm Kimball Redd by the way. Nice to have you aboard."


With years of practice and battle experience under his belt, Slide knew
what to do. Luckily there was a mechbot around to lend a hand. He flew
to the engineering computer and started to crank up the power plant.
Someone just called for 100%; they'll just have to wait.  Full power
takes time, don't the bridge jockey's know that?


Dan runs into Engineering at full tilt nearly slamming into MT doing a
bug scan. "What the hell is going on?  We're jumping now?" 
He rushes over to the jump crystals and helps starts the charging sequence.



Werner abruptly finds himself in engineering.  Confused by the flurry of
activity on the comdot he looks even more lost than usual.  

"Doctor Manfred Werner reporting..."  Realising that no one is paying
attention, Werner wanders over to the man whom he thinks is Chief 
Engineer Abuko and says:

"Um, can I help here?  I am have some experience with electronics and
mechanics."  



The plant's starting to really hum now, as several others dash into
engineering. Slide quickly introduces himself to those he hasn't seen
before and says he's got the plant to about 86%. The mechbot been
warming the drive, someone'll have to check it. What the f**k's going
on?


- - ----------- Outside -------------

Fritz starts lashing down the Tao Zero, nervously looking about for
an air lock, a hatch, or even an access panel to hide under.  Anton 
Devious arrives like an angel in the night, hollering at Fitz to get 
his butt inside.

"Air lock #3 right over that ridge there!"  He points just behind Fitz.
Grabbing a line he tightens the Tao Zero just as Fitz is head-down
in the air lock.


- - -------------- Bridge --------------
The captain continues looking at the holodisplay, with speical attention
to the size of the imperial vector.

Etienne checks the maneuver controls...still holding at max g, vectored away
from everything.  He will then attempt to patch into the scout's sensors, 
although that might be tough with Dr. Van Der Merwe absent.


After a false start or two, and bumping into and squeezing past three or
four faces she recognizes, Charyn bursts onto the by-now-packed bridge.

Charyn stands 1.7m tall, has long dark curly hair, a wide ready smile,
and is light of build (52 Kilos).  Her eyes are forest green, her skin
dark.  She is attractive by most standards, and has held up very well
for 46 years of age, but not overly so, with a few laugh lines.

She is wearing a dark green jumpsuit that has one or two stains on it,
and looks decidely sweaty (the Alcyon is, afterall a big ship, and has
little shortage of long passageways).  There are two holstered small
pistols on straps draped hastily over her shoulder, along with a package
of the right shape to contain a half-dozen clips of ammunition.  She is
breathing heavily, either from having run very fast, or not being in the
greatest form.


While the klaxons blare and voices shout excited orders, she looks for
Etienne (she's very familiar with the short writeups and images of crew
members she read before coming aboard the Alcyon).  Etienne has just
finished reopening the airlocks per Vouf's orders.  She shoulders her
way through the mass of busy people, taps Etienne on the shoulder and he
turns.  She pierces him with intense eye contact.  Dispensing with
formalities, she announces: "Commander De Mer, hi.  I'm Charyn Robins."
She stops a moment to look down and take a deep breath, and continues a
little more slowly: "I'm well-qualified in Commo, Nav, Sensor Ops, and
Ship's Boat piloting.  I'm ready for immediate assignment.  What's your
wish?"

[Etienne looks Charyn up and down then turns to Commander Ger.]

<Etienne>
Commander, Lazer still needs a pilot for the fighter.  It's got to be either 
Charyn or I, if we're going to need it. 

Otherwise, Charyn could take the sensors, and I could concentrate on herding 
this sky heap.

Orders, Sir?

<Ger>
"Etienne, You're in charge of assignments for your people."

<Nishu>
I confirm engineering estimates that the time to charge the crystals is
20 minutes.  We should, maybe, be clear of that hydrogen cloud by then.


<Etienne>
Aye, sir.  "15 standard seconds remaining, sir."


- - -------------- Outside -------------
<Anton>
"Coming in Now!"  He neatly dives headfirst into the hatch.
  

- - --------------- Bridge -------------


"Here!" comes a shout from behind Charyn; she turns, to see Nishu Neriika
 bent over his nav station on one side of the large holodisplay (currently
 showing a tactical).  He waves her to the twin station on the opposite
 side as he continues to examine the data coming out of the jump computer.

"I'm not really a Commo man, and I could use some help."  He looks up and
 glances at Etienne, in the pilot's seat.  "With your permission, sir."

<Ger>
"I need a good commo, sensor and navigator on the bridge. I doubt that
we will be launching our ships, so manning the fighter is of lower
priority. Also don't forget that the secondary ships are patched into the
Alcyon, so there is no reason why a person on those ships can't for
instance perform the commo."

"To confuse you more, I doubt we will be performing much maneuvering
either."

<Zben>
"Commander, I have a `bug squasher' programs set up. Do I have your
permission to implement?"


<Etienne>
Aye, sir.

"Zben, activate your program."

"Charyn, help at comms."

Etienne glances at the lights on the sensor display that just changed
from red to green.  "120 standard seconds...Closed and locked."


- - ---------------- Air Lock 4 ----------
Anton gets 95% in and catches his right foot on the hatch combing
as the iris closes - and cleanly removes his foot.

Blood quickly begins to fill the zero-g airlock in little globules
and Anton emits and involuntary scream and reaches out for the nearest
(and only) human form for help and comfort.



- - ------- Near the Armory, on the way to the Fighter Bay -----
<Lazer>
"Security, action stations.  
Horne, Azani, Mahlel.  I wish I knew you better. Can any of you 
pilot a fighter?

"Form up at the Alcyon armoury; Horne, you know the ship; you're in charge.
Vacc-suits, zero-G gear, shipboard weapons.  Be ready to move out.

"Thul, we need your ship's guns.  Ready them, and watch your sensors.  Anton,
when you finish with Redd, join Thul.

"Abdul, am I right you're assigned to the Aurora?"



<...>

Lazer slaps the comshuttle airlock control.  

"Good, you're here, Andon.  Release the missile turrets from their travel lock.

"Computer, recognize Lester Farouk, Security clearance alpha-two.  Display
external sensors, screen one.  Split screen two; open files action.stations
and ship.specifications.

"Now, let's see what we're looking at..."



- - ------------- Armory --------------------
Ian happens to be here, looking truly out of place, with a roll of 
unused, yellow, quarantine tape.

<Ian> 
Uh, mister Farouk, If no one else can, I can fly the fighter.  I'm not 
assigned anywhere riaght at this instant, and am willing to be useful
wherever I can.

<...>
Farouk here.
Mr. Thomas, you're on.

Power up the fighter and ready the weapons.  Do not repeat not separate from
the Alcyon unless ordered--we're wanting to Jump, not fight.  Also, do not 
repeat not fire without instruction.  The bogeys outnumber us severely.
Farouk out.
<...>

<Fitz>
Major Medical Emergency in Airlock 3!  Prepare surgery, life support and low
berth for Anton. Airlock Malfunction!

<Doc Van Der Merwe>
"Ian Thomas, grab a medkit and scanner, go to Airlock 3!  NOW, Medical 
Emergency! When you get there, stabilize Anton and hook up the scanner 
on an Emergency channel, I want his vitals on datalink, then tell me 
what happened!  I'm sending you a medbot to get him back to Sickbay (on 
the Aurora) ASAP!"

<Ian> 
To whoever is inside the armory passing out weapons...
"Toss me a medkit quick!  Sorry Lazer, gotta run.  If those ships get
any closer holler and I'll be right down to the hangar."  And Ian makes 
a great down-and-out pattern and catches the medkit 20 meters down the
passageway.


Abdul runs in (a little late as usual) carrying his treasured laser rifle and
power pack.  He looks like he pulled his vacc-suit on in a real hurry and he
keeps adjusting it after he arrives (muttering something about how awkard
these things and something about droyne owned vacc-suit companies)

"Well here I am, sorry about being a tad on the late side...

"Are we going to have a play with those pretty impressive
 looking fusion guns we carried along?  I really do want to
 see what a shot looks like.


Lazer starts slightly, disturbed from his concentration.  He's in his 
vacc-suit, gloves in the helmet, under his arm.

"Fight?  We're not going to fight, except possibly those two fast attack 
boats.  But our only real chance is to jump the hell out of here before 
they figure out what to do with us.

"It really depends on Engineering--what the hell are they doing down there?"

- - ---------- Sciences ---------------

Witfield heads for the bridge, "Captain, the Generalist team was just about
to check the inventory of the cargos. But this incident has the priority.
I feel I'd be more useful on the bridge, being a qualified pilot, sensor
operation, and navagator, not to mention a bit of gunnery." He smiles.


- - ----------- Command Shuttle --------
Lazer sits bolt upright in his chair.  "Anton's down?!  Ghu's beard!"

"Farouk to Mr. Schmud.  Report to the 'Talisman in Anton's place.  Farouk out."
          [G.M. comment -- That'll teach you to be late]

"Farouk to Medical, that's my man.  I want a report as soon as you're free.
My prayers.  Farouk out."



<...>
Farouk to Bridge.  Security reporting.

Mr. Shrike and I have the comshuttle; we're in good order.  

Mr. Jonson is manning the 'Talisman, and I have sent Mr. Schmud to assist him. 

We have a small squad arming up at the Alcyon armoury; Mr. Horne is leading, 
with Mr. Azani and Mr. Mahlel.  I have a man down in the airlock emergency; 

I do not know Anton's condition.

Farouk out.
<...>




- - ---------- Bridge --------------
<Ger>
Judge Jett, this is the captain, Report to the brige Immediately.

<...> Aye, Commander. On my way. <...>

Ger turns to Bishop, and without speaking into the communicator says:
"Bishop, I presume you are getting this on your machine"

"Ah, Yah,..er,..yes sir, I'm recording everything." Bishop replies.
He is clearly overwhelmed by the tactical scatter in the holo-tank.
He looks around and mutters, "Funny.  I could have SWORN I'd find 'Vouf
up here."  He turns back to the Cmdr. and, as he points at the fleet
displayed in the holo, asks, "Do we have ANY idea who that is?"


<'Vouf> on commlink
"Vouf here sir, my sensors are showing about the same picture that you're
getting. But the formation and movement patterns, that tells us something
else again-- my guess, and at this point it's ONLY a guess, is that those
are Dulinor's vessels, what he calls the Loyal Fleet. If that's the case,
m'lord," 'Vouf sighs over the intercom, "That's ANOTHER major power that
has found out about R-alpha before we could get there-- and we still haven't
heard from the two most LIKELY combatants, Lucan the Brat and Mommy Dearest,
yet! Maybe we should sell tickets or something?"

Bishop backs up against the bulkhead at that comment and moans, more to
himself than anyone else, "Lucan.  Dulinor.  Margaret.  Wonderful.  Just
BLOODY wonderful.  If I'm very, very, VERY lucky, they'd just kill me."
Without displaying the slightest concern about the fact that he has an
audience, Bishop pulls a small container from his pocket, shakes out a
small, white, hexagonal tablet, and pops it into his mouth.  After
swallowing, he shakes his head nervously and mutters, "I'd better get
one HELL of a bonus when I file this documentary."

Richard Jett walks onto the bridge, with a firm, paced step. He's
clearly not been running. He coolly surveys the controlled chaos, and his
gaze lingers for a second on the holotank, then he looks at Ger. "Reporting
as requested, Commander. What can I do for you?" He pauses. "...But could
you tell me what transponder signal we are running?"

 
<Ger>
"I just want you to be here to advise me on the laws of the Imperium."

"Commo officer - Have we got the laser connection to the other ships in
our task force or have you raised the Imperial fleet on the Radio??"

<Zben>
"Sir, I have directed our main Maser dish toward the Anslinger,
and have Laser comms locked on to both Leviathan and Frost. I have
also locked out the transmitters of the other ships contained in the
Alcyon. Also, Sir, may I reccommend that we shut down all internal
radio communication until we are in Jump? I have established hardwire
connections to Engineering, Gunnery control, and the other bridges."


> "Nishu, see if you can raise either the imperial task force on the radio, 
>  or the Anslinger on a laser.  I think the *immediate* danger is over." 

"Um, aye, sir."

Ushda.  I'm not a comm officer, just a sensor man.  Ah, well... it's all
putting out signals and listening for anything coming back, I suppose.

I'll try to get a laser pointed at Anslinger, and hail the task force.  I'm
continuing to listen for transponder signals; if I get any names from that,
I'll use them.





- - ------------ Armory -------------
<J. J. Horne>
Alright, Lazer put me in charge, looks like we got a three man fire team
Thul, how many men do you need to run the weapons here on the Alcyon.
Now we will need to coordinate anti-boarding parties. Can you keep me informed
as to where this enemy is, then maybe we can head 'em off at the pass.

Thul, if you need someone else to run this looks like you get Shmud.

Azani, Mahlel, pull your weapons and ammo. get suited up and follow me.

With that JJ spits out his cheroot and steps on it. He then buttons up the
Vacc Suit, hoping the Reflec underneath his cloths really works as advertised.
He remembers to that time on BrightFace, when the mining laser cut through the
ATV that he was in, shredding his suit like it was paper and putting a 6 inch
hole in his chest, it was amazing to him how lazer wounds don't bleed. He
lived thru that but didn't know or care much whether he would live or die
thru this. But at least this was better then sitting on his butt watching
security cameras.


Thru the security channel:
OK Thul, Lazer, I have a three man team here, we can hold down one airlock
pretty well, I assume that the one that Anton was hurt in is out of commission
You will have to direct us to the action, we're spread to thin as it is.
If you can give me more help we can cover more than one airlock. I realize
that may not be possible, but if you can, great.

Looks like we are ready to move out. Let me know which direction the bad guys
are coming from we'll give 'em a bloody nose.

Horne out



<Azani>
Since we are pulling all weapons, I'm pretty adequate with lazer weapons
and crifleman. I have some experience with tactics and reconnaisance. I
was army commando for two years and an infantryman for six. Served four
with the scouts though. Pretty tame stuff...

<Horne>
"Alright, that gives us four. Join us in the armoury, we will work out of
here. OK, fire-team relax, smoke if you got 'em."

With that he unbuttons the VACC Suit that he is wearing and produces and
lights another foul-smelling cheroot. He finds a place to sit, and waits.


<Lazer>
Mr. Horne, it appears that there is no immediate threat of boarders, though
the bogeys' intentions are still undetermined.

Remain in readiness, but don't waste your energy.  The armoury is fairly
central [OK, Richard?]--stay there.  

There are a dozen unidentified military vessels out there; they appear to be
Imperial.  Our captain is attempting to establish communications.

Mr. Horne, I assigned Azani with Mahlel and yourself as the original three
members of your squad.  Who is your fourth?  Niigurd?

Please detail one of your squad to check the accident at airlock #3.  Medical
hasn't requested help, but I'd like a report on the situation.  The internal
monitor seems damaged.

Also, be ready to reply to general emergencies, in addition to boarders.  
Check if any of your team has medical or first aid training, and report.

Farouk out.


- - -------------- Outside -------------------

The fuel tender has dropped most of her hydrogen in an ever-widening
swath between you and the newly arriving fleet.  The imperials are still
17 light-minutes away, and slowing.  The Anslinger is now about 600 km
away and moving about 6 km/s relative to the Alcyon.  The scout is now
several light-seconds closer to the imperial fleet than you.  The debris
is now almost a full hull-length behind and no longer a threat.


have fun

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

Archive-Message-Number: 2028
Date: Sat, 29 Dec 90 09:29:20 -0900
From: George William Herbert <gwh@ocf.Berkeley.EDU>
Subject: Re: Character Generators


In my campaigns, it's the player's responsibility to deal with all 'Serves As'
situations... they record only the skills they actually recieve, and then if
in play they remember that one of their skills serves as one they need, they
announce so and use it.  But we don't keep track of the 'serves as' on the
record sheets... it would clutter and confuse, and gives them more levels of
skills than they ought really have.

- - -george william herbert
gwh@ocf.berkeley.edu

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

End of TML Bundle
*****************

