Game Date

308-1105

Location

Elixabeth → Grote → Smoug

The Hope is orbiting Elixabeth, can we go to the surface to refuel from the sea​?

The Anya Vaska is heading to last known location of freighters along with the Zairlur. They have been warned by Masuyo not to trust them. Meanwhile Earl orders Chase to head for the surface, and the rest of the crew to carry out any and all repairs: I look into what needs to be done.

Why are the Imperial ships here? Reason is Viscount wanted more information and was doing a Tour of the area around edge of Third Imperium, which has been getting raided recently, but no raiders here now. He was given two ships as an escort, but everything seems too convenient about the whole situation as we don't have much information on the Viscount. We decide to put down on the surface of the water as it is tidally locked, we land closer to the desert edge of the water. We take on enough to refuel for a Jump 2: We are discussing our next move and where we are going. We think the best option is to head back into the Imperium, the only thing left to decide where we want to finish up?

The Anya Vaska is launching small ships towards the freighters and Zairlur is launching fighters to act as cover for them. The Anya Vaska has arrived in position and the freighters launch missiles, which is not unexpected by us. Most of the small craft are out of action, the Anya Vaska is badly damaged but fires one final shot and takes out one of the freighters. Jump points are forming, a number of ships are emerging from the Jump points, but the radio chatter suggests they are not friendly.

The Zairlur under attack

We have enough fuel on board for refining and we lift off and head off for the pole to put the planet between us and the ships coming into system. A 100,000 ton ship (which was at Iderati), two 20,000 ton ships and a host of smaller ships ranging in size, the ships are Zhodani. We launch on our planned course to leave system towards Grote. Active scans are being carried out over last half an hour before we Jump. No other Jump capable ships around Elixabeth. The Anya Vaska is a complete wreck. The 3,000 ton freighters no longer exist, One of the 20,000 ton ships is very badly damaged as is the Zairlur, the other 20,000 ton ships looks to carrying out a boarding action overlooked by the 100,000 ton ship¹.

Captain Earl receives a message from Vexar. We make a successful Jump. The Captain decides our final destination will depend on what happens when we arrive at Grote, then adjourns the meeting. We have an impromptu celebration for our escape.

A small amount of activity in the system as we arrive, a couple of 200 ton ships in system, one is about to leave and the other is in orbit around Grote. The decision is made to go to the Star Port to get refined fuel. Masuyo contacts SP control to request permission to land, which is given, There are several incoming messages offering us fuel, we choose the closest one to our landing pad. 20,000 credits for the fuel. A very gentle landing ensues. There seems to be no real organisation at the SP and it takes a while to get the fuel line connected. Masuyo and Tharbin arrange a meeting with SP manager to pass on the news of the conflict Masuyo stays behind but Junebug goes along for added security, Earl loans Junebug his slug pistol.

The air raft arrives to take them to their meeting, Tharbin asks Junebug to secure the area and keep an eye on things. Tharbin tells the SP manager about what happened at Elixabeth and we felt it was necessary to pass the information to at least alert them of the potential danger. He asks about the Viscount, a flicker of recognition at the name but denies any knowledge of him passing through. Is anyone heading to Marastan any time soon, so we can forward a message to them, but they only get things in regularly from Mithras, essential supplies. Can we send a data package? We can email a message using the automated messaging service installed at every SP. SP manager unaware of a war going on. Asking SP manager not to broadcast any messages until after we leave. He wishes us a pleasant onward journey. Tharbin leaves with Junebug. Tharbin comms the Hope that the people here have no idea what is going on.

Refuelling is complete team were reasonably efficient. Our next Jump destination is Smoug and we successfully make the Jump.

DJV's Traveller Message Tracker Plugin Version 3.380.0. For details on the assumptions made by the tracker see the description at Traveller News/Email tracker Plugin Details.

Game Date

299-1105

Location

Datrillian → Elixabeth

We have completed 8 weeks of education. I managed to level up my Engineer (Power) to 2. Two study periods completed. will need 3 training sessions for next level. My next study period will be in Gun Combat (slug) for level 1.

Cyn chats with his patient to try and get some more information, he is willing to share some information as recompense for the care she provided him.

We emerge into the Datrillian system and run a passive scan, there is the Gas Giant + 3 ships in system. We plot course for Gas Giant for refuelling and our sensors pick up nothing initially. We get into range for collecting our fuel and this time sensors pick up something else in the outer edge of the atmosphere, it is less than 100 tons but it is maneuvring. We have gone as deep into the atmosphere as we are prepared to go, Masuyo asks me to speed up the process, I am not successful this time. But I will continue to work on it. If I fail it will lengthen the refining time by number of dice roll x 1 hour. Scooping is going well with only 20 minutes left. Fuel collected.

Departing the gas giant

I finally manage to reduce our refining time to 18 hours. so we determine that we need 12 hours more in Gas Giant before leaving atmosphere to head for jump point. Some of us decide to rest while fuel is refining. The strange vessel is apparently shadowing us and is transmitting data, it managed to somewhat catch up to us but our pilot has managed to out maneuver it among the moons around Gas Giant. A faint dot remains behind us and I have a vague memory from my naval career that gas giants can be mined by mineboats, 50 ton ships which are armed with sensor suites, weapons and are unmanned, working in concert around Gas Giants. We can jam it's comms, but it will give away our position. What can we jettison to cause a sensor confusion to aid our escape if necessary? The Vodka & air raft scrap are prepared by the airlocks for potential jettisoning. All non required crew work on this.

Chase does appear to be keeping ahead of the object enough that it cannot get a targeting solution. How close does it have to be to get a lock on us? As we are most of the way to the jump point hopefully this precautionary measure will not be necessary. We are managing to keep ahead of it. We make it to the jump point and successfully Jump to Elixabeth. (Jump 2).

The Jump to Elixabeth and our exit for Jump are both smooth. Two Imperial ships are near High Port. We comm them re Invasion, but they inform us we are not able to land, but they do appear to be concerned about our report. The Anya Vaaska (3,000 ton) asks us to bear on a 260 heading. We are to be boarded. We need our passenger on bridge ASAP. We rendezvous with the shuttle which docks with us and we welcome crew aboard, we all take them to the common room while others search ship. They wish to verify our ID's which all marry up. Nothing flagging up wrongly. Navy guy is searching for contraband but they find none aboard.

We are ordered to pull up alongside the destroyer while inquiry carried out. Viscount Lim needs the information we have for him ASAP this matter needs dealt with now. Navy Lt comms the Cruiser Zairlur and lets us know that we will get him transferred. The inquiry will be carried out here also. We scrape some paint from the cruiser as we pull up alongside it, the Zairlur is 54,000 tons.

Game Date

283-1105

Location

567-908 → Bowman

Most of us continue with our studies while in jump space

Our paranoia is high throughout our jumps due to the nature of our departure from the invasion zone. We all take up appropriate stations as we approach our exit point. Masuyo hears comms from another scout ship the Ready Reckoner which is about to take off, she contacts them and asks for a meeting asking them to stay for a while and wait for us, but another ship enters system. A system wide announcement from the Zhodani ship, This is Fleet Courier Sovereign Sentinel, this system is now under the protection of the Zhodani protectorate, all vessels are to please land on the planet for inspection. or some such.

Long range view of the battle

We are too far away for them to wait so we tight beam a package to them as they take off and threaten the Zhodani ship, Tharbin surreptitiously asks if we should tell them where we are going? No. There are two ships on planet and the 400 ton ship that just entered behind us. The new arrival runs an active scan and we also run a scan back. The Ready Reckoner and the Zhodani ship begin to trade fire in an all out space battle.

Can we go under water, if so how far and for how long? We can but only but to about 6 feet or so, we debate our options. Hide in the ocean, pose as Merchants or hide in asteroids. We opt to skim the ocean then head for the asteroids to refine fuel then jump 1 for Bowman. We cut our skim time to 45 mins.

The fight between the Zhodani & Ready Reckoner continues and we make our way toward the asteroid belt. After a while the Ready Reckoner is disabled and lies dead in space.

Captain has been sent an email¹, x2 from Scout Service & Anders Casari, and an email to Junebug re Thaddeus Kessler:

The bowman system has five asteroid belts. This image shows one of them in the distance while the asteroid used as cover is visible nearby

Bowman is our destination We use the asteroid field to help disguise our departure, we wait 8 hours for star port to get around the terminator of the planets rotation then we make our escape. The passenger demands to know what is happening and is promptly told to sit down and shut up and not ask questions. He is not happy about it.

Junebug is composing emails, I would like to resume training.

Marines aware of a connection between Kessler & Vexar. Data Drive has a personal appeal recording from the Viscount. The other half of the data is about the state of Imperium of Spinward Marches & Darrian Confederation, Sword Worlds, 5 sisters & District 268.

Engines are in good condition. We approach our exit point, we emerge successfully, around 30 mins from gas giant Bowman Prime, passive scans, we tight beam the Scout base with our information on Zhodani Invasion and send them the info. No refined fuel available for us as the belters bought it all up. Masuyo warns them about possible Zhodani ships entering the systems due to what happened at 567-908. We plan to refuel at the Gas Giant and to Jump to Datrillian, then on to Elixabeth. Refuelling complete, we plot our course and enter Jump Space. We let our passenger know that we are now heading directly to Elixabeth as his info is now considered vital at this point.

Game Date

267-1105

Location

Iderati

Excerpt from Automated Security System - Docking Area 4 log

Game Date

267-1105

Location

Iderati

We are in a maintenance tunnel, heading for the transit tunnel. The floor trembles slightly, something hit the station? A door opens ahead of us. We hear 4 soft pops and the person in front of us slumps to the ground we then hear a door in action, Tharbin peeks to the right and sees a locked door. Tharbin can see some type of cycling lights green then back to red for locked. Tharbin opens the door in front of him with maintenance equipment inside. Earl talks to the injured man but he is struggling to speak. The door is still cycling . The door to the left is the maintenance area. Tharbin vaguely recognises the injured man, so he searches his pockets and finds data chip and a device for the door. He shouts "Viscount Lim of New Rome" when Tharbin picks up the data chip. Cyn patches up the injured man, he has some bullet wounds but it looks like something else may be at fault than just the bullet wounds. The gaps in the door lights is getting longer. Earl asks which direction to the docking area but no-one sees.

Someone is trying to get through the door. I can't reach the door to stop whomever may be trying to get through it. Tharbin and Cyn support the injured man to the West away from potential danger. The door to the East is now open. The injured man is searching for something so Tharbin gives him the device back and he opens a door. I move to cover their retreat into the open door. Inside the room there are racks of tools and power tools along with a powered trolley and Vacc suits, door to the North currently locked. Chase hears a bullet whizz passed him from the East, Tharbin asks the quickest way to our ship, he vaguely points to the North, Tharbin comms the location of the room with the Vacc suits and advises us to group up to put on the Vacc suits, we do so and close the door behind us.

(Body pistol) PM aiming down the corridor. Earl takes a shot at the Portside Manager and misses. Door closing (Masuyo only). Tharbin prepares to close the door and I plan to hit it to essentially lock it. Chase looks at the truck and sees that it can be driven and will automatically open doors in front of it as it moves, Cyn re-examines the unconscious man and determines that the bullets were laced with some kind of sedative. Masuyo pokes head around corner, the door closed and locked. There is atmo beyond North door. The team start putting on Vacc suits. I take out my biggest wrench and smash the control panel. We search the room for straps to secure the injured man on the flatbed. We also found an oxyacetylene torch, but only a small one.

Masuyo drives the buggy, there have been one or two more trembles indicating impacts. The door leads to a transit tunnel. 500 meters to docking pod. 100 meters ahead one of the doors does not open automatically, I check the door area is open to vacuum and there is debris inside. We close the bulkhead behind us and I override the bulkhead in front, thankfully we don't get an explosive decompression but not as controlled as I would have liked. We can take the buggy with us, but decide to leave it behind and carry the injured man by hand. This area has taken a hit. hence the debris, 360 meters to go. We move up to the next bulkhead which is also closed, again a vacuum beyond this one too. We get the doors open but there are more tremors as we proceed. We make good progress, next bulkhead has atmo so a little more troublesome to open. Everyone prepares just in case, I finesse the door open and we all move through move on, next one is pressurised but we decide to continue depressurising as we go, this continues until we reach Docking area 4, but we will enter another area we can use as an airlock, we depressurise, enter then repressurise so we can enter the Docking Bay. We keep on the Vacc suits just in case.

Docking Bay 4. Our heroes can (just) be seen at the top right of the image

The Hope is on pad 14, there is a lot of activity, ships preparing for launch and shots being fired in the area. We formulate a plan Cyn and myself will carry the injured man up between pads 9, 10, 11, 12 then head towards 19 before making our way to The Hope. The others will head for 8 and offer some assistance and provide us some cover. We also discuss taking some of the milling people aboard The Hope with us. We take off our Vacc suits while talking over the plan.

Game Date

267-1105

Location

Iderati

The layout of the area in front of the transit tube entrance. This image doesn't show the explosion which has just occured in front of the red tape that is in front of transit tube entrance itself (middle left of this image) nor the profusion of prone and staggering people scattered around the scene of the explosion. Our heroes have just arrived on the moving walkway at the top of this image.

Junebug spots what she believes is a terrorist & throws her dagger at him & he slumps to the ground as Junebug shouts for all the civilians to stay away Earl shot at terrorist & missed, I move but decide not to take a shot as there a couple of civilians in the way. Security shout for everyone to get down. Chase moves into range and also just holds position as too many civilians - Junebug is shot by someone in a security uniform but it disintegrates on her Vacc suit: Cyn moves into cover and ducks down. A shout of You Bastard & a shot at Junebug which misses, but hits the civilian next to her. Another shot misses Junebug & hits civilian who drops to the ground. Cyn moves to assess the situation ready to jump in and offer medical aid. More shots come Junebug's way from the security team. Chase tells the civilian near him to get down behind him. I move into a position where I can shoot & take my shot & terrorist 1 & kill him - Masuyo shouts telling security here to help then moves & points weapon at Terrorist 2 & says drop the weapon or next shot is through your brain. Earl also tells security we are engaging the enemy as detached scouts.

Security reiterates Everybody get down. Earl tries to get security to stand down but they reply You stand down. I move closer to cover my crew mates. Security shoots the 2nd Terrorist & he falls unconscious - Junebug asks for her blades ack, but security refuse. Medical teams arrive, Earl presents ID to Security to prove our authenticity, Cyn checks on passenger & helps stabilises them, then revives to Terrorist to ask a few questions The Tactical team arrive & take the body & now conscious Terrorist into custody while giving sly glances at Junebug. Cyn makes note that the quality of the weapon is somewhat shabby & has potentially been smuggled aboard. Masuyo is people watching to see if anyone is acting suspiciously or trying to assess the damage, there are a couple but not sure if there are co-conspirators or not. They could just be curious. No one in or out through the docking area. The ship crews are arguing with Security about getting back to their ships, there are other ways to get through to docking via maintenance shafts.

Security eventually approach us, Chase is asked for his ID which he provides, Earl provides his ID, a less friendly security guy approaches me: Oh one sec I've got them here somewhere, I frantically pat my pockets & then search my backpack then give them over. Can you explain your actions, please. I explain, but get arrested anyway. Junebug is arrested too. asking for someone to look after Kimbley. Earl requests to know where the holding area is, but is ignored Masuyo cites Imperial law & they reluctantly provide the info & then she asks to accompany us as the ships Lawyer. Earl tries to somewhat diffuse the situation asking what there to do for fun around here and asks about nearest drinking establishment is but it is closed. The holo screens change to a news report: Many Jump emergences near Gas Giant & a fleet is amassing. Earl is not sure which ships they are, Cyn thinks they may be Imperial, but not sure. Masuyo tells them to keep studying the ships. Chase asks security about the news report & should he be worried. Yes you should is the response. The rest of the crew decides to head back to the ship. Masuyo speaks to senior officer with us. He threatens to throw us in the big until the new threat is dealt with Masuyo drops Mamon Wakisha name & tells them to contact him directly again citing Imp law about illegal arrest & imprisonment.

Still from a video news report claiming that it has been taken from on board a Imperial Starship moving to defend Iderati

Ships are not Imperial they are in fact Zhodani. Earl asks if they should return to ship or join us in Security centre, Masuyo tells them to join us over open comms - warning security not to take it as a threat & to expedite our trip to security centre D2. He goes into back office to make the call. then he comes back after a few minutes, How was the call? He was a little surprised to hear us involved in Terrorist activity, but not totally surprised. Security let us go - Masuyo asks me to call Mamon to see if he has any suggestions on how we may be able to help: We can see flashes in the window hear the Naval Base outside. Masuyo needs to send an urgent message to Glisten via X-boat and visits the X-boat office and is told No X-boat is here just now Anything leaving for next system with X-boat availability that you trust. None of them is the vehement reply. Masuyo calls Earl & asks him to come to the office that he would trust to take a comms packet. He prepares it for us to take to next X-boat point (Flammarion) ASAP, he provides orders to such.

Leave Message with Mamon's secretary that we are acting as an X- boat to Flammarion & will be back ASAP.

Can't get through, gate is jammed but explain to the security team that we need to get to ship ASAP as under orders he asks us to follow him & takes us to a maintenance area & gives us directions back to our ship.

Game Date

249-1105

Location

Bularia → Ucella → Iderati

Earl is keeping watch, Tharbin makes another attempt to submerge the ship but alas it fails, but we are far enough away to be out of any immediate visual range. We may be spotted if they send any more cutters out. Chase breaks radio silence with a request for help. A ship, the Darrian Conveyor responds asking the nature of the request and Chase explains our predicament and gives them his position. We run a search on them but have limited information. Chase explains that we have not been offered any assistance from the Star port staff. The Darrian Conveyor all seems to be above board. It is a bulk freighter of 3,000 tons so they can't offer any real assistance. Earl has more knowledge about our suspected pirate and he tells us he is exceedingly ruthless. Taking out the freighter would not turn a hair on his head. We decide to send a tight-beam comm to the freighter. We give them as much information as we have for the time being to warn them about the potential pirates at the Star port. The Darrian freighter needs to refuel and can only do so at the Star port as they can't refine their own fuel. We offer to hook them up and feed them the fuel they need. They want some kind of verification and we offer Chase as a form of security, which they accept.

A view of the 800 ton starship as it left Bularia

We bring the Hope to a stop & successfully submerge the ship to 60 feet beneath the surface. Chase lands the air-raft and tries to camouflage it somewhat. He can hear a smallish vessel coming using his bins he identifies a cutter & takes cover. The cutter fires its laser in his direction & some small fires erupt around him & he moves, but it comes around for another pass firing again getting very close to the air-raft, he continues to move away from it, the cutter breaks off and heads back to Star port. Chase gets back to air-raft to see if he can perform emergency repairs. It is flyable barely. He checks for any more cutters in the vicinity but thankfully sees none. It seems to have been a setup, proving that whoever is at the Star port is definitely trying to kill us. After looking around whilst moving, a large ship enters the atmosphere. Chase contacts the ship with a warning, but it turns out that this is the 3,000 ton Darrian Bulk Freighter Chase was supposed to meet, he gives them new co-ordinates for landing. He informs them about the attack on him & states air-raft is damaged and he needs to make emergency landing. He is told to land 1 mile south of Freighter. Turrets are pointed in his direction and several heavily armed men head towards Chase. He gets everything from raft & holds his hands up. He hands over all transcripts & recordings and all relevant info to prove we are not pirates. Going over all our info very thoroughly, but they are unable to verify our Scout status as they're not from the Imperium, they inform us a ship is taking off from the Star port. What size ship is 800 ton heading out of system? Not attacking. Pirate ship was 800 tons. The decision is made to head back to the Star port. We contact the Darrian ship, to let them know we are heading back to Star port, if you pick up a ship it is us. We will investigate & let you know, did you happen to catch an IFF on ship leaving? No IFF & not Darrian. At Star port a couple of 200 ton ships no cutters, in space an 800 ton ship close to Jump point, 3,000 ton in ship low orbit. Message transmitting from Pirate captain to Earl, threatening him & telling us he knows it was Earls' ship and implying that he may have left some friends behind to deal with us.

We land as close as we can to the Control centre facing the building so we can disembark under cover. Several civilians head towards our ship, we leave armed and demand names etc. They are the Star port staff, no casualties but they do inform us that the pirates wanted star port comms and were looking for the freighter we stopped from landing. They recognise the picture Earl shows them & he was in charge, they believe all 20 left. No security force, but may now get some. Darrian Confederacy would normally provide such. Junebug & Kimbley move through the buildings to check for any stragglers. Thankfully they don't seem to have left anyone behind. Darrian freighter informed and notified that they were the pirates target. They seemed surprised. Junebug checks for any booby traps Kimbley is distracted by an interesting smell, but no traps. 15 mins later the Darrian freighter lands safely. Trade goods incoming & taking back grain to Darrian, advise checking the cargo before loading. Potential hijacking is believed as reason for targeting the freighter. Chase is returned to us minus the air-raft which he tells us is damaged. Chase tells Earl of a strange sensation whilst out with the raft, so we go out armed to collect it. I have my tools for repairs complaining under my breath about the carelessness of my fellow crew mates. We find the air-raft, absent of its canopy & two seats damaged. We remove the seats, engine is fine. keep the canopy for now as I need the framework and will try to jury rig a new canopy back on the Hope. Thankfully there are no more funny feelings whilst recovering the air-raft. Tharbin negotiates some compensation & we offer to carry something that they may not be able to easily get off world. They can provide 20,000 litres of Vodka at 20 creds per unit giving us a good profit.

Which direction of Pirates ship. > Dorrania.

A selection of the new cargo

Happy to sell us grain on any future trips. Will pass on at Merchant's Hall on Iderati. Depart Bularia with no problems - Jump smooth. Air-raft is airtight but would not want to put it under undue stress. Emerge at Ucella and run a scan, no 800 ton ships in system, but a few Scouts one of which is scanning us. No transponder signal it is the only one not giving off a signal. Contact star port we need to refuel request landing - Welcome us back, we request ocean refuel or we can land in field and use river again ask about ship with no signal they are curious as well. We land at same site as before - keep sensor lock on scout ship not in geo synchronous. Scanning every 43 mins. 24 hours to refine fuel. We gather our fuel & refine it all the while keeping an eye on the Scout ship to make sure the ship is on the other side the planet. Jumped in 5 days ago not answering hails & no-one has been willing to investigate. We will report this at Iderati & get them to send a patrol ship. Day passes uneventfully. Scan for suspicious ship, we calculate the timing and lift off & get to 100 diameters all within our 3 hour window.

We continue training during Jump & arrive at Iderati.- Contact star port control requesting direct line to Navy who tells us we can land at Star port and make an appointment, Masuyo not impressed & gets name to report him. We contact Mamons' office & make an appointment to see him. We try to get him on comms but too busy at the moment - 3 hours to land appointment set for 1 hour after landing.

In regards to the Letter Junebug receives: Ask for a list of names if possible as long as it doesn’t put them in any danger.