ALYSON WORTH: Alyson is on this liner just to get away from her humdrum life. When she got out of medical school she thought great I can get a job. Well those type of jobs were not to be had in the well to do planets. Nope the only jobs for her had to be out on the rim worlds. That is where she is going.
S'LCH VATAL: Looks like I will be playing a vrusk roboticist (unless someone else really wants the roboticist role) and I was wondering if any one wanted to make some pre-game connections?
S'LCH VATAL: Right now I have S'lch being being the junior roboticist as part of the maintenance crew on the Serena Dawn, anyone else thinking about being part of the crew?
CARTER: Carter is the descendant of the renowned explorer John Carter and wants to follow in his footsteps. He recently graduated from the most prestigious university on his homeworld with a double major in Technology and Computer Science and he dabbles in Engineering and other hobbies as well. He has a rather high opinion of himself since he hasn't met anyone smarter than he is (Hello Alzarix!!) but is still a gifted leader of races, at least at the college level. He is on the Serena Dawn as a graduate assistant to his Computer Science professor and this is his first time off Cassidine.
MYKEL: Mykel is a quiet, reserved, rather young man with a bit of military air about him. He’s traveling from his home world of Kdikit to Volturnis to look for work, and has been asking about opportunities to work as guard or escort for groups that are planning on exploring the area around the UPF outpost.
ALZARIX: One day when he was out looking for a job he saw an opportunity to get away to a pristine untouched planet, Volturnus. He immediately logged on and applied. To his surprise he got the job. He was now going to be driving a group of Academy researchers around. The pay is not great, but good enough and the opportunity to leave tracks on new soil the best!
JIM JITSU: It was a day after departure from Pale's orbit and Jim was ogling one of the scientist members of the expedition and wondering if she needed any help with her pelvic tilt. He was on duty in a few but sauntered over to her table in the galley and turned up his smile to stunning, "Hi, I'm Jim Jitsu, martial arts trainer, do you..."
CIARA: A bit surprised, Ciara glanced up from her tablet. "Workout?" finishing his question without missing a beat. "Why, yes. It is that obvious?" she added with a smile. "I do run anchor on our university's relay team so perhaps it is."
JIM JITSU: The skipper entered the galley and almost shouted at Jim, "Jitsu! Or whatever you call yourself, I want that primary circulator value in water recycling pulled, stripped and rebuilt. No more futzing around with your red neck engineering type repairs and get it done today or your the first person on water rationing!"
JIM JITSU: To Cirara he said, "Duty calls, lets chat latter, I'd love to hear about your expedition, it sounds fascinating," but at the skipper he just winked and turned the spotlight of his pearly whites on him as he went out the hatch down to life support.
CIARA: "Happy to." She replied watching him depart. She wondered if this trip would be the quiet, remote field trip she had been looking forward to. She shook her head and turned her attention back to her tablet.
ALYSON: She has military skein suit gyrojet rifle cost 300. Ammo cost 30 for 30 rounds. Not sure what is left over.
GM: Looks like she has 9 credits left over.
GM: When Alyson boarded the Serena Dawn, she was required to turn over the rifle and ammunition to be locked in the Weapons Locker off the Bridge.
As Ciara wanders into the passenger lounge on the first night out from Truane's Star, she sees two human ensigns sitting together in lounge chairs in a corner of the room. Both are young and fresh-faced, with immaculate uniforms freshly pressed. She immediately pegs them as newly minted officers. Both have iced drinks in hand and partially consumed.
Since both look up at her with interest as she enters, she decides to meet them and walks over. One of the officers, a husky young man with red hair and neatly trimmed facial hair stands as she arrives and says, "You must have boarded at Pale as I am sure I would have noticed had you been on board since Gran Quivera. My name is Ensign Markish Landry but please call me Mark." He gestures towards the other ensign who stands belatedly and says, "And this here is my dubious counterpart, George Fury, better known as Furious George."
The second ensign looks a bit chagrined at the unwelcome moniker and says, "If I must be known as something other than my given name, I'd prefer it be Curious George for my unrelenting curiosity regarding alien life forms and their mental capabilities and thought processes."
It looks like he might have added more but Mark breaks in and says, "And therein lies the problem. The UPF says that he is an ensign because he completed academy but all he really did there was study science while I studied the true military arts collectively known as "Kicking Ass skills". In other words, I am a true military hero type and deserving of the rank of ensign whereas my friend here is really just a glorified scientist wannabe who couldn't lead a starving man to food." The other officer takes no offense at the insult and Ciara gathers that it is nothing more than good natured ribbing.
Ensign Markish Landry does come off as arrogant in any way. His tone is as much mocking himself as it is mocking his fellow ensign. Ciara presumes that Mark simply has a well-developed sense of humor and a good natured personality.
Both of the ensigns look at Ciara clearly waiting for her to introduce herself.
CIARA: Ciara follows along nodding several times. At Mark's mention of kicking ass skills, she raises an eyebrow, her hazel eyes twinkling in amusement. Once the two have finished their banter, she replies, "Yes, as you surmised, I did come on board on Pale." The tall human woman offers to shake both of their hands as she introduces herself, "Ciara Preston. I'm a graduate student with the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of Pale. We've got a small group looking to do some advanced field studies on Volturnus."
CIARA: "It does put me at ease that we have such fine officers ready to defend us civilians. Though, I'm a big fan of the sciences," she adds smiling at George. "Are you both stationed at the outpost here?"
Ensign Landry replies, "Yep that is to be our new posting. I'll be charge of a squad of 10 soldiers while George will command an entire platoon of microscopes."
George looks like he is about to say something but then decides against it. Instead he engages Ciara in small talk regarding science. Ciara learns that George's goal is to eventually become a Xenopsychologist and, in pursuit of that field, has taken some science classes that overlap those that Ciara has studied, such as biology and zoology. But George went on to study exobiology and xenology as well rather than focus on the earth sciences as Ciara did. However, he listens with interest as Ciara shares some of her own passion for science and her excitement at being able to study a newly discovered world with an alien ecosystem and geologic history.
CIARA: Ciara can't help but laugh at Mark's humor. She does feel bad for how much ribbing George gets as part of it. "My father worked as an Exobiologist for about 15 years before he retired. It's incredibly fascinating. I do feel a bit more drawn to the environment itself. It's almost like I feel kindred spirits with the land." She blushes slightly and adds, "though I guess that's a silly notion."
ALYSON: Watches who comes in and who goes out in passenger lounge. She makes sure when she looks out the port hole. She is using glass to watch anyone getting close to her table.
The only medical job that Alyson was as a civilian medical tech at the UPF outpost on Voltunus. She sees the two ensigns talking to a young woman and concludes that their destination is probably the same as hers. After all, the UPF Outpost on Voltunus is mostly a military outpost.
ALYSON: She looks around again. She sees the trio and decides to walk over. When she gets close to them.
ALYSON: She says,"I guess we are all in the same boat? Hi my name is Alyson Worth and you are?"
As Alyson arrives, the husky, red-headed ensign looks up and smiles. "Welcome! You must also be a recent passenger. My name is Ensign Markish Landry, but call me Mark, and my friend and peer is Ensign George Fury. Who might you be?"
Alyson notes that Mark seems to be a very good-natured person full of humor. His smile seems genuine.
ALYSON: Says,"Nice to meet you Mark. Yep a passenger." with hand stretched out to shake hands. She nods to George or will shake hands with him if offer.
"Nice to meet you, Alyson," George replies as he shakes her hand. "What's taking you to Volturnus, if you don't mind me asking?"
ALYSON: Says, "Alyson Worth, nice to meet you Ciara." As she shakes her hand. She then asks,"Think the four of us are going to be working together?"
CIARA: Ciara shook her head and added, "No, these two gentlemen are headed to the outpost for their duty assignments. I'm part of a research team doing an advanced field study on the planet's surface. Are you headed for the outpost as well?"
ALYSON: She says,"Yes. What I will be doing has to be seen."
CIARA: "Okay," she answers a bit perplexed. "Are you part of the UPF or a civilian contractor reporting for duty? What is it that you've been doing before coming here?"
ALYSON: Answers Ciara,"Hoping to find excitement. After graduating with some medical skills and pick up a fondness for shooting. School wasn't always easy. Had a boyfriend who was into shooting. He took me to the range. I learned from that experience to use it to relax me. Got me through school now am here."
MYKEL: The tiny stateroom (such a word for what’s basically a glorified closet) that Mykel was assigned was just too claustrophobic for him to spend much time there. He definitely preferred the common lounge and could often be found there. His quiet nature too often kept him out of the main stream of conversation, but he had made some contacts and had at least one potential employer lined up.
MYKEL: Mykel enjoys a cup of coffee while watching the interplay between the lady guests and the Ensigns. He’s mentally tagged the women as either a potential employers, or a path to a potential employers once they’ve landed on Volturnis. The officers were more remote possibilities, unlikely to look outside the corps for help. The invitation to poker, on the other hand had Mykel mark the one named Carter as a potential player, and someone to be cautious of. He’d known a few like him at the Academy and they were definitely trouble.
After a bit, one of the officers excuses himself and wanders over to the bar. He orders another drink and then turns to the man sitting nearby. "Hi, I'm Ensign Fury enroute to the UPF Outpost on Voltunus. What pressing business do you have on this newly discovered world?
MYKEL: I’m Mykel. I’ve been hired as an escort or guard or really just an extra pair of hands for one of the touring groups headed for Volturnus. I didn’t realize there was a UPF outpost there. It must not have been there long, no one seems to have heard of it.
GEORGE: "Yes the outpost is relatively new. I'm on my way there for a one year posting and looking forward to it."
MYKEL: Ah – I was hoping you’d been to Volturnus before and could shed some light on the local flora and fauna. You wouldn’t happen to have some educational material on what to expect on the surface would you?
GEORGE: "I am not at liberty to share much beyond the fact that the planet is habitable with a favorable atmosphere, gravity, temperature range and rotation period." I'm looking forward to learning more about the planet myself."
MYKEL: “Not at liberty to say?” Mykel chuckles and gestures at the fellow passengers. “And, who would I run off and tell? Everyone here will be landing on the surface in short order.”
GEORGE: The young ensign simply nods but doesn't reply. He takes a sip of his drink, bids farewell and returns to the table where two other young ensigns, one male and one female, are sitting.
CARTER: As he is going through the lounge on his way to tutor some of the students he notices a group of young people talking. he will stop by and introduce himself and ask if anyone wants to get together later on to play cards and get to know each other better. no stakes, just to get to know each other during the trip... He will then excuse himself and explain that he is on his way to work but looking forward to meeting everyone later on.
CARTER (GM): Having made walking around money during college by "teaching" other students poker and about statistics, he feels comfortable that he will be able to see if anyone is trying to cheat and just wants to get to know the people he will be working with for the next few months better.
ALYSON: Sticks out her hand and says,"Hi Carter. ALYSON. Glad to met you."
CIARA: Ciara offers to shake his hand as well, "It's nice to meet you. I haven't played that many card games but I'm happy to learn." She gives Carter a smile and says goodbye.
JIM: Jim's chronocom beeped, "Jitsu, Skipper here, you fix that circulator valve?"
JIM: "Not exactly, Sir."
JIM: "Dammit, Jitsu, I'm getting tired of your goofing around! What are you doing?"
JIM: "Well, I replaced the primary circulator valve with the back up and I'm stripping and rebuilding the primary but I have to manufacture the parts we dont have on hand."
JIM: "Dammit Jim, who authorized you to take a critical system off line?"
JIM: "Technically, you did, this was the only way to rebuild the primary and strictly speaking the backup water recycler is not a critical system, oh its important but not mission critical and everyone is still getting their shower and morning coffee."
JIM: The response from the skipper was garbled but sounded profanity laden and Jim knew he could milk the rebuild of the primary circulator valve for another day or two. Just as well that he was doing overtime in the machine shop, no doubt there were a dozen other "critical" systems in need of repair on this tramp freighter, there always would be something broke when the owners cut corners on the maintenance budget.
JIM: The real question was how was he going to get close to the female members of the expedition they were transporting, while he was doing his best to look busy?
S'LCH: The young vrusk was also working in the machine shop with Jim Jitsu . He appeared to be building a replacement actuator for one of the engine maintenance robots, while staying out of Jim's way.
S'LCH: After the captain's profane rant a pile of parts that the vrusk seemed to carry on his back started to move and chirp.
S'LCH: The vrusk seemed to understand the chirping and a bit replied in Pan Gal, "The words the captain used are considered in inappropriate and you should not use them."
S'LCH: The moving pile of parts shifted a bit and then began to repeat the captain's garbled rant in Pan Gal.
S'LCH: The vrusk quickly stopped it with "What did I just say?!" The pile stopped and collapsed in on itself with some pathetic chirping.
S'LCH: Realizing that the human was probably confused he looked at him and said, "Sorry about that... He is just so impressionable right now"
GM: Here is a list of the player characters and significant NPC's and why they are headed to Volturnus on the Serena Dawn
Alzarix - Yazirian male mechanic hired by the University of Pale as a mechanic and driver for a small team of scientists and research students. Met Ciara Ann Preston prior to the trip as she is one of the student researchers.
Carter d'Marshian - Human male crew member of the Serena Dawn assigned to Engineering Two (auxiliary systems). Knows both Jim Jitsu and S'lch Vatal as they are also crew on the Serena Dawn and assigned to Engineering Two.
Ciara Anne Preston - Human female research student from the University of Pale heading to Volturnus with a group of scientists and other research students. She knows Alzarix and he was hired as a driver and mechanic for the team.
Ensign George Fury - Human male graduate of the UPF military academy on Gran Quivera being posted to a UPF Outpost on Volturnus. He knows Ensign Markish Landry as both of them have been attending the academy for the past four years together and both recently received orders to Volturnus after graduating.
Jim Jitsu - Human male crew member of the Serena Dawn assigned to Engineering Two. Knows both Carter d"Marshian and S'lch Vatal as they are in the same division.
Ensign Markish Landry - Human male graduate of the UPF military academy on Gran Quivera being posted to a UPF Outpost on Volturnus. He knows Ensign George Fury as both of them have been attending the academy for the past four years together and both recently received orders to Volturnus after graduating.
S'lch Vatal - Vrusk male crew member of the Serena Dawn assigned to Engineering Two. Knows both Carter d'Marshian and Jim Jitsu as they are in the same division.
GM: I don't yet have a clear idea of why Alyson or Mykel are on the Serena Dawn heading to Volturnus.
GM: My suggestion for Alyson is that she might either be another recent UPF military academy graduate being posted to Volturnus or maybe she was hired as a medic either by the University of Pale or one of the tour operators that has clients heading to Volturnus to see an pristine planet.
GM: My suggestion for Mykel is that he was either hired as a guard by the University of Pale or by one of the tour operators, or that he works for the Master-at-Arms on the Serena Dawn as a security guard.
GM: Mike and Steve, let me know your thoughts for Alyson and Mykel, respectively.
GM: Some of you will be getting some private turns that provide you with additional information about Volturnus that is not common knowledge. Note that the fact that there is a UPF Outpost on Volturnus is NOT common knowledge but everyone will have heard about it within a day or two of departing Truane's Star.
ALZARIX: During the trip to Volturnus he will look over the vehicle or vehicles and make sure that they are ready to go on touch down. Any parts that are needed he will make his way down to the engineering and mechanics bay to see what if anything he can get his hands on. Upon entering he will introduce himself as Alzarix the universities mechanic and see what he can procure.
ALZARIX: At other times he will be wandering around the ship or hanging out in the lounge getting to know the university group better. Upon hearing about a card game he would not mind playing a game or two to kill some time.
CIARA: On the evening of the second day since departing the Truane's Star system, three members of the research team enter the passenger lounge. The first is a youthful human male of average height and slight build with short cropped black hair and brown eyes. His attitude seems cheerful as he leads the trio toward an open table. A taller human female follows him carrying a tablet and an irritated expression. Ciara's long red hair is pulled back in her usual style of a single french braid. Finally towering over the two humans is a yazirian male with golden colored mane and light tan skin. Though he stands nearly 20 centimeters above the female scientist, he's much thinner compared to her athletic build. He scans the room with a friendly expression. His gaze suggests a sharp mind with a kind demeanor.
CIARA: Stopping at a table, the male graduate student gestures for the others to sit. "I'll get us some drinks." Ciara nods and slides gracefully into her chair. Tossing her tablet on the tablet, she glances out the windows into space.
CIARA: The yazirian sits quietly next to her and ponders if he should say anything. After nearly a minute of silence, Alzarix speaks, "It sounds like a beautiful and pristine planet."
CIARA: Audibly sighing, she turns to him and her features soften. "Yes, it sure does."
CIARA: By this time, the human male rejoins them placing three iced beverages on the table. He shakes his head as he looks towards Ciara. "I'm happy as a clam over here," Jackson adds trying to cheer her up. "This is going to be amazing. Who cares if we've got little data to go on? Isn't that what we're here for?"
ALZARIX: "Thank you, Jackson. Cheers," he hold up his drink to the others and then take a sip.
CIARA: Ciara takes a drink then considers her fellow researcher's point. In a whisper, she adds, "Yeah, but they're still withholding data they have." Her eyes blaze as she glances briefly towards the backs of two UPF officers across the room. She shifts them back towards her tablet and offers no further explanation. Silently, she nurses her beverage, preoccupied with her thoughts.
ALZARIX: "Now, now Ciara... lets not bore fiery holes in the backs of the officers of the UPF. You know the commands are coming from up much higher. The bigger question is why is there even a UPF base here to start with and how long has it been here? But we know those questions will not get answered either. As Jackson said we will get the answers to our questions, just not in the easy way."
GM: Both Alzarix and Ciara note that the young woman they met the previous evening - Alyson - is also sitting with the two ensigns and is also now wearing the uniform of an ensign in the UPF.
CIARA: Reluctantly she comes around. "Bah, why do you both have to be so logical?" she asks in jest. Taking a long drink, she sets down her drink and begins zestfully. "Okay, sure. I love being in the field and am not afraid of the unknown. Heck, collecting data and figuring it out as we go along will be plenty reward itself. It's just that on principle we should have more data. I mean what other re-," she stops abruptly and pauses for several seconds. In a whisper, she asks the other two slowly, "Do you think they're hiding something?"
JIM JITSU
Jim sat in the lounge with a zero G tumbler full of void jump tea, not that he was one of those individuals that became nauseous after a void jump but that he just enjoyed the taste after having tried a free sample at the "Apothecary" on Clarion station. It did have clamming and soothing properties which were a plus after the past few days of the First Officer riding him for having milked the water circulation pump issue. He was tired and had not even found time to do his daily martial arts kata nor socialize with the passengers, no doubt Lt. Full of Himself had had plenty of opportunity to horn in on the pretty science type he had been eying. "Oh well," he sighed to himself as he savored a sip of tea.
He looked around the lounge considering the passengers, who might the 'marks' be, it was old habit despite his commitment to go legit. The lounge was filling up with non bridge crew and passengers as was typical for a jump, maybe he'd have a fresh opportunity to hit on one of the female passengers.
OOC: This post can be post void jump just as easily as pre ; just getting back to game as a few days tied up with stuff.
JIM JITSU: Criminal General Knowledge roll (40%): [rolled (93) Failure]
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