Regina:  The capital of the Regina subsector and seat of the Duchy of Regina, this is one of the most important worlds in the Spinward Marches. It is a bulwark against Zhodani aggression and the largest trade hub in the sector. Vessels travelling along the Spinward Main from the Core worlds often offload their cargoes at Regina, leaving smaller local traders to carry the goods on to the lesser systems. Regina Highport sees more traffic in a day than some lesser systems see in a decade.

Technically, Regina is a moon, not a planet; it orbits the gas giant Assiniboia, which itself orbits the locus of the primary star Lusor and its companion star Speck. There is a third star in the system, a red dwarf on a long eccentric orbit.

Regina Highport:  This Class A starport is one of the largest ports in the entire sector. Over 80% of the cargo that passes through Regina is destined for other worlds in the sector, so most of the port is given over to cargo handling and warehousing. The port itself is located in geostationary orbit over Regina Downport and Startown, which is located halfway between the cities of Credo and Atora.

General Shipyards, a subsidiary of General Products, maintains major shipyards at Efate, Pixie and Regina, and is an important employer in the region.  It is the planetside site at Regina that our adventurers find themselves with their ship, making necessary repairs.  For six weeks, the crew of the Katarina have been holed up in the shipyard.  The ship has repairs being made to the missile compartment and the sensor arrays.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:02, Mon 21 Aug 2023.

1123-318 Stigurd's Diner just outside the General Shipyard's main gates at O dark thirty before Luxor's rise. The diner is well lit in a yellow glow, but the purplish blue glow of the gas giant Assinaboia's sunny side cast a strange light to everything beyond the diner's glassteel windows. There are a few high clouds, enough to threaten another day of gloomy rain, thinks Fatboy, sipping on a hot mug of darselbark tea. The tea is sweeter than he preferred, but the stimulant is what he craves this morning. It will be a long work day and wants to get started before the protesters arrive. On his second cup, he idly wonders where the others are while glancing at a vid behind the server's counter.

>>>>> --unclear why a large portion of the 213th imperial fleet headquartered at the Efate Naval base has arrived to our system. [Vid shows a dozen imperial ships arriving to Highport docking transit lanes then switches to military personnel exiting several different airlocks]  Some speculate political motiva-- <<<<<

Fatboy's attention is drawn to the diner's doors.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:48, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

A thirty-ish man in coveralls and wearing a hard hat with a large "X" taped on it enters through the doors and stands near one of the diner's conveniency hot beverage machines. It is too early for the server to be here. He gives Fatboi a scathing, disappointed look filled with derision and contempt after pressing his selection and tapping his armband to pay.  The man takes his mug of steamy liquid and takes a seat at a hexagonal table as far away from Fatboi as he can get.  He puts his attention to the vid.

>>>>> --cancellation of more military shipyard contracts are expected.  This may be behind the appearance of a strong imperial presence yesterday morning.  Admiral Jorenstall Geyst, commander 213th fleet and several judge advocate general associates met with high ranking officials from the GenPro's board of directors in a closed session today.  No further gains were made for the--  <<<<<<

The doors to the diner open gain.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:32, Mon 21 Aug 2023.

After her shift Billianah informed her watch relief that she would head dockside for a short time; to stretch her legs and check out a few of the local outlets. Strolling towards the main gates Billianah stopped at the security station to exchange pleasantries with the watch and ask about the possible places of interest.

Dawn starts the morning with a ten kilometer run. After showering, she dons her work clothes consisting of a drab grey jumpsuit that fits her nicely for being so utilitarian. She regards her figure in the holo-mirror, slumping to one side and raising a shoulder on the other. She laughs a girlish giggle. "All work Dee. No play right now." She says to the holo image. She shuts it down, closes the computer and stuffs it into her pack. She then makes her way from the downport inn up the tree-lined lane toward the shipyards. Today, they are scheduled to finish repairs on the sensor array.

The smell of overheated liquids assails her senses as she enters the small diner. Luxor's light was beginning to light up the southern skies bringing with it a new work day. She spots Fatboi at one of the hex-topped tables dipping his two fatty fingers into a snack sac.

"Morn Fatboi." She says, choosing a strong herbal tea from the convenience beverage machine. These machines generally were in disrepair, but being so close to the shipyard, it was profitable to keep them in running order.

Dawn makes her way to the table. The vid is playing some ad about the newest model grav.

She looks on at Fatboi with distaste. "You know that shyte will put you in an early internment pod."

Lex looks up into the clear sky, the nearby Gas Giant looms large. “That sight never gets old” he says to himself.  The 35 foot sailboat gently bobs up and down as a lazy 15 knot wind is harnessed to propel him back to the marina.

Even though the sailboat is fully automated, Lex likes putting the automation on standby and doing everything the old fashion way.  Reading the wind, releasing one line so that another can be brought tight then feeling the jerk of the boat as the sail catches the wind.  Feeling the salty spray in his face and the instant cooling of the body as that spray hits and starts to evaporate.  It is days like this, which are too far apart, that he really enjoys.  Out on the water reminds him of his youth on Efate.

Lex is heading back to land because he has an appointment with an old army buddy.  He got word that Dawn Hunter is planetside, laid up in the shipyard while their ship undergoes repair.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:47, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

Harry walks into the restaurant a few minutes after Dawn came in. He had been doing his weight lifting and some stretching exercises before a shower and a light meal.

"Morning sweetie" he says to Dawn as he kisses her on the top of her head and squeezed her shoulder. "You off you diet Fatboy? Or just cheating a bit to keep you on it? You've lost what? 80, a hundred pounds now?" He knew he'd lost a considerable amount of weight.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 21:54, Tue 22 Aug 2023.

Levi had spent most of his time on board the Katerina while the repair crews worked. He observed, making sure the work was completed to his exacting standards. He trie not to interfere, but the crews just weren't doing it how it should be done.

He'd had a number of disagreements with the crews, suggesting the process they were following wasn't the most time efficient or effective. It had got the crew's back up and it wasn't until he'd got his hands dirty to show them what he.meant that, annoyingly for them, he'd been right. There was now an air of mutual understanding. The crew viewed Levi as a talented and respected, if somewhat interfering and micro-managing, engineer, while he accepted that the crew did know their job and that they just had processes they needed to follow to ensure it was done right. This left him with grudging respect for their ability, but an annoyance at the methodical protocols and administration required and how slow it made the repairs.

He'd tried to speak to the crew's controllers, to suggest beneficial changes to their processes, but so far they'd been able to ignore his calls and had given him the run-around. The crew themselves had persuaded Levi to give it a few more days before confronting them in person, but hadn't told him that the works would be finished before the suggested timescale had ended.

Levi was awake early,.as was his norm,and he'd completed his walk through the Katerina's decks before the repair crew had arrived. At the heart of the ship, the powerplant, he spent time talking with the Katerina, easing his own concerns by soothing hers, his hands resting on the casing..He checked over the sensors ensuring she was powered down and the safeties remained in place.
Finally he stepped through my the areas the crew were working, looking around, but not touching anything (as he had agreed with the crew themselves). What he saw pleased him. The Katerina was in good hands and was healing well, and he was relieved that the resealing work was thorough and wouldn't leave a weak point on the Katerina's hull.

He left the area as the first of the crew was arriving, nodding in greeting as for only the third time since landing he left the Katerina's side. Without Donna it had seemed almost pointless to leave the comfort of his baby. She had been his focal point, a reason to explore and experience the world. Now the heat and light she provided was gone and his only real solace was the Katerina.

But he'd made a promise that he'd make an effort today and.go for breakfast with the others. To be sociable. Well, those were the words he'd heard but the language has been a little more choice. Stop moping and move on. But Levi didn't want to move on, not if he was being honest with himself. He'd found a warmth in life he'd never experienced and to his focused mind he'd never find that intensity of feeling again.

So here he was, showered, shaved and even using some of the personal hygiene scents someone had left in the toilet on board. His clothes were clean and pressed and he felt different... Well, uncomfortable if he was honest. But he was out and honouring his promise.

At the promenade he began to walk more slowly, and saw first Dawn then Harry enter the diner he'd been told to visit. He could see the two move to a seating area where others were already seated.

He slowed his pace a little, becoming more interested in the sights and sounds of the port and people around him. The glow of the rising sun, the general hubbub of conversation and people moving around, the smell and sounds of life; the familiar scent of recycled and processed air, the chill of air conditioning, the thrum of industrial machines.

Distracted, he arrived at the diner earlier than he would have liked and paused at the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:22, Wed 23 Aug 2023.

Phillip rose early as well, he did his morning regimen as well. A spacer needed to do certain things to keep in shape because of the gravity and a few other reasons. He used the fresher and got fresh clothes and headed to the diner. When he got there, he saw his new friends sitting together, they seemed nice enough. He still couldn't figure out what happened on his old ship! He went in and ordered his breakfast quietly and sat next to Mr. Stroud.

"Finished tormenting the repair team??' Tanja says as she sneaks up behind Levi, hugging the poor man, knowing the act would make him uncomfortable. So that he doesn't try to escape she links her arm in his and pushes open the door.

Spotting the others already sitting at the table, she raises her free hand in greeting. "Hey everyone, look at this stranger I found lurking outside. Let's grab something to eat before he makes a run for it."

Levi squirms with discomfort in her arm, but Tanja is stronger than her slender frame suggests and his arm remains interlocked as she moves across the floor towards the table and her crewmates,

"Stouty, what would you recommend??" she asks as she nears the group.

Bill got a generic checkpoint clearance brush off response from the guards. Taking her papers and entry authorisation she headed towards the buildings.

Teddy came in a few minutes later and headed for the group, he ordered eggs, bacon, toast and coffee for breakfast. He sat across from Tanja, still pining for her a bit, at least they were friends. "Greetings all! Good morning! You counting your calories yet Mr. Stoudt? You lost a lot of weight, you don't want to gain it back!"

Fatboi doesnt react to the innocuous chiding from Dawn. He looks as the others enter, finally arriving for today's work schedule. He wonders what the captain has in store for them. He wonders too how long before they get back into space.

Fatboi crumples the snack bag and disposes of it in the collector beneath the table. "The darselbark tea has a kick to it." He replies, taking the last sip of his own.

"Someone wake Addriannah?" He asks in a half-serious jest.  Deflecting the conversation away from his girth. "It's not like her to be late."

He shakes his head with thought. Actually, he has no idea if being late was her thing.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:33, Wed 23 Aug 2023.

Entering the restaurant she catches the tail end of the conversation. "Late for what Boi; all I see is a gaggle of dudes lazing about." she teased.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:03, Thu 24 Aug 2023.

"And dudettes, if you don't mind," Tanja retorts, finally releasing Levi's arm, "but guilty as charged on the lazing around. It's not often we get planetside and have a decent amount of time to ourselves."
She thanks Fatboy and orders a herself a darselbark tea and insists on a thick coffee for Levi to cheer him up whether he wants one or not.

"So any update on the Katerina and how much longer we're here?? And any news on a job?? A paying job?? My last paycheck was a while ago and a lady has expenses to cover."

"You mean Network." Adriannah prompts then mouths 'Only Dudes laze around'
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:53, Thu 24 Aug 2023.

Once Lex leaves the marina, he pulls out his comms pad to get directions to his destination, Stigurd's Diner, which is just outside the main gates of the General Shipyard. Lex looks at the pad, then up to see his surroundings. He identifies the correct direction and heads off, as it's only a short 10-minute walk.

Lex is a little early for the appointment, but that is nothing new for him. He prefers to arrive early rather than be late. He slows his pace a little so he can take in more of the sights along his walk. People are busy coming to work while others, looking tired, must be leaving work. "It looks like I arrived during a shift change," Lex observes.

Upon arriving at the diner, Lex walks in and scans the room for Dawn. The morning sun is still shining through large open windows, making it hard to see clearly, at least for a typical person. However, Lex simply adjusts the light intensity and engages the binocular function of his Enhanced Vision Augmentation, making the task easy.

Lex walks over to Dawn, who is in a small group, likely consisting of the ship's crew. He waits until Dawn notices him and simply says, "Hello Dawn, nice to see you again."

"Aaaaiiiiigh LEXI, my man!" Dawn screams, jumping up from her chair to give her brother in arms a huge hug.  She pats him on the back and leans back.  "You've gotten fat."  She chides, her dark eyes gleaming with mirth. "C'mon, meet the others."

Dawn hooks an arm inside Lexi's and practically drags him over to the table.  Her usual down in the mouth, dry cynicism has vanished. "Hey guys, I want you to meet my brother, Lexon Reed."  She says.  "No other person alive I'd rather be with in the bush with."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:21, Thu 24 Aug 2023.

"Greetings Lexi, I'm Harry McStubbin! Pleased to meet you!" he says with genuine enthusiasm getting to meet Lexi finally, Dawn talked about him a lot when they were together.

As the vid behind the counter changes to an informative presentation on gravs, Karma enters the Diner.  A man bumps into her roughly on the way out of the diner. "Pardon."  She says, as the man continues on without even a glance or indication he heard her.  Shrugging, she continues into the diner, now filled only with her crew as patrons of the place.  She walks toward the hexagonal table, her stride one of confidence and purpose.  In the crook of her arm is her computer.

"Mornin crew."  She says cheerfully and with a smile. She raises an eyebrow, noticing Lexon.  "Plus one?"  She smiles at Dawn, noticing the arm still crooked in the man's arm.  Good for her, she thinks, misconstruing the meaning.

She continues, "First order of business.  Today, we begin the integration of the new sensor array into the Zhodani tech computer.  Fatboi and Billianah will be working on the algorithms involved.  There will be trunks to splice, so a couple of you will be in the tights, hooking up relays and terminating conduits.  Levi will be overseeing the integration, he will delegate tasks to its completion today, and I emphasize today. Tanja and Phillip will be updating our astrogation databases. I want up to date information before we leave.

We have a couple of new additions to the crew.  We are pleased to have you aboard and we hope that the Katarina will be as much a home to you as the Fumorious Bandersnatch.  We will be restructuring our shares plan and offering new shares.  I expect this conversation will occur later this evening aboard the Katarina."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:10, Sat 26 Aug 2023.

Spotting Karma, Adriannah hurried to catch up with her, just as she reached the diner. Taking a seat she glanced around the room taking in the other crew.

"Any word from our Patron, Admiral Amundsen, or news on the Allamu's whereabouts?" Dawn asks.  Dawn had assumed they would be sent to the same port as the Allamu for repairs, but was re-directed here to Regina.  This seemed odd to her.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:25, Fri 23 Feb.

"No", Karma answers quietly, her eyes darting to Lexon.  She did not like bringing up the Allamu openly, especially in public.  "I have had no contact with the admiral since arriving here.  I have received, indirectly through a contact, a job of sorts.  If that is what we are doing... jobs. I do not have any contacts as yet to set us up as a passenger service.  I do have contacts from my free trader experience, but at only 80 tons, we lack the cargo space for any serious cargo trading.  I assume, as well, that you all are using your contacts for networking, looking for job opportunities."

Karma takes a seat, sets her pack on the table and takes out the HVD3.  She places it on the table.  "HVD3 open." Karma says.  The voice analysis confirms her ID and opens the Hardpoint Vid Display screen with the last item still opened.  It is a three dimensional chart showing the local star system occupying the space of the table.  Lusor is shown as well companions, Speck and the distant Darida and all orbiting planets.  She points with a finger at the second gas giant in the orbital plane. "This is the other gas giant in this system known as Belnafaer.

"Where is Billianah?" Karma asks, looking around the group.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Sun 08 Oct 2023.

"She had a tech gig at some secured warehouse here in the starport region.  At least, that's what she says she was going to do." Fatboi replies with a conspiratorial look.   He flashes the captain a boyish grin.  "What do we stand to make off this job offer?"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:40, Sat 28 Oct 2023.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand credits." Karma replies, crossing her arms and looking at the gas giant. "Look at it this way.  There will be minimal fuel overhead costs.  It will add to the operating fund, which by the way, is low. It is a passenger ferry, but it's all I have at the moment."

"As you know, our berthing and repairs have been paid for by the admiral for services."  Karma replies.  "But the berthing costs are paid only for the next two days. We need to get the sensor array working and get that missile bay finished. By the end of the day if manageable." 

An image from the vid catches the captain's eye, and she pauses.  It is a repeat of scenes shown earlier of the 213th Naval fleet commander and his judge advocates entering the airlocks at Regina Highport.  Several patrons of the diner, whom she had not noticed come in murmur amongst themselves.  One throws a wad of paper at the vid when the commander shakes the hand of a board member of General Products.  She shakes her head and turns back to the holo-vid display, touching a small file icon at the outer edge.  The file opens, showing a dossier of a woman in her thirties with a hard, modest look.  Hair pulled back in a tight bun, with rimmed glasses and fair complexion.  "This is Marjori Downing of ByChem Corp.  This is the patron."

Billianah checks the Ports Register for available cargoes then comm's Karma with details on what's available.

Lex, noticing that the crew needed to get to work, looked at Dawn and said, "Looks like this may not be the best time to talk. I can come back later; I have time." Looking out the window, he continued, "I finished my last contract a few days ago. I need to spend some time making my rounds, looking for the next opportunity. I can come back later today or tomorrow if that would be better."

"Non-sense Lexi! Come with us."  Dawn offers impulsively, giving Karma and the others a pleading look. "At least for this trip.  Get to know my crew mates. We can catch up on things.  You can even by my field hand."

She laughs, a rich deep laugh.  Uncharacteristic of her, really.  She wants his company right now more than anything she admits to herself.  Her crew mates were fine enough, but none of them really understand the--  well, understand.

"We still have over a hundred thousand left from the sale of salvage," Levi says quietly, as he was previously acting quartermaster. "But a quarter mill would have us a lot of breathing room to decide what we're doing next.

Does the generosity of the Admiral extend to fresh supplies as well as fuel?? While our stocks were refreshed recently if we can benefit from adding more fresh stocks and consumables I suggest we do it."

Dawn invites the newcomer Lexi to join them. Karma had suggested they were taking on new crew, but this man had just seemed to walk in off the street. But he'd been told to behave himself and not create a scene. "Also we have twelve staterooms, plus captain's quarters. How many does that comfortably hold?? How many crew are we expecting and how many passengers?? Will those of us with our own staterooms need to consider sharing again??" he asked.

"The stocks will be full when we leave and we will be topped off with fuel." Karma replies to Levi.  "Refueling will take place today after the refitters leave.  As to the staterooms, I will take a look at crew berths today and get back with you."

Karma glances again at the man Dawn continues to hook arms with.  Now that she takes a closer look, this is not some romantic notion of Dawns.  And, catch up on things?  No, this was someone from her past in the army.  His familiarity to her suddenly makes more sense to her.  The demeanor.  The look of a soldier.  But, also something else.  She has the distinct feeling she knows him from somewhere.  This must be whom Dawn was thinking of bringing onboard as a part of the crew.

"What was your calling soldier?"  Karma asks politely.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:16, Sun 27 Aug 2023.

Harry grunts and nods, he understands no matter how much he loved her, he has not lived through her experiences, this man was her brother, in many ways. She needed to share that part of her life with someone that completely understood to make her whole. You have to be able to live with your past before you can live with the future!

Dawn smiles at Harry, seeing his understanding of the situation.  It is not a romantic idea at all between her and Lexon.  He has to see that, and she appreciates that he does.  She nods back.

Karma's wrist band vibrates and she looks down at it, seeing an attachment to a message from Billianah.  It immediately opens to a list of cargos that are currently available at the port authority.  She nods, directing the file with a flick of the wrist to the holo-vid where it opens up the manifest.  A listing appears with cargos available for pickup and delivery as a hauler.  Additionally, there is a listing of trade goods and risk speculation for far traders.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:26, Sun 27 Aug 2023.

Lex responds to the Captain’s inquiry, saying “Army, four terms.  I mustered out as a Lieutenant Colonel.  Specialized in reconnaissance.  That’s how Dawn and I know each other,  a bond forged through adversity.   It's a story for another day, perhaps.”
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 14:32, Sun 27 Aug 2023.

"Well, a friend of Dawn's is a friend to us." Karma says sagely to Lexon Reed.  "You are welcome to travel with us, as Dawn suggests.  There may be opportunity since you are looking for work.  We are looking to round out our crew assignments and requirements that develops with our business model.  You would be a welcome addition as a traveling friend or as a colleague.  We can discuss this more later if you decide to travel with us.  For now, it is time to get to work."

She checks the time on the wrist band.  "To answer your question Levi, it will be only one passenger.  A bio-tech engineer, well known, as I understand it.  This job has a window, and if we are successful today, we can make it.  Okay, Levi, you have the Con. I will find you later today for a Sit-Rep.  Oh, and please bring Billianah up to date when she makes it back to the ship." 

Karma shuts down the Holo-Vid display and tucks the puck back into her pack where the main computer resides.  With a curt nod to everyone, she slings the pack on her back and exits the diner not having eaten or drank anything.  She walks the couple hundred yards to the main gates of the shipyard, passing several heckling workers wearing grey overalls with a white hardhat marked with a black "X".  Once cleared through security, she walks the long distance to the third ship bay where the Katarina resides.  She would get caught up on the overnight's work from the millwright foreman.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:11, Sun 27 Aug 2023.

After breakfast, Teddy gets to work making sure the med bay is fully stocked with everything they might need, bandages, ointments, drugs of all sorts, especially the ones the crew would need for their miscellaneous ailments and conditions. You'd think they would have cured everything in the universe by now, but they hadn't! Hypertension was one they hadn't cured, they had a few cases of that in the crew.

"Sounds like a great opportunity," Lex said in response to the invitation.  Turning to Dawn, "I have a storage locker in the area. I'll need to gather my gear. Send me the location of the ship, and I'll meet you there." Pausing and looking down in thought, then back to Dawn he added, "Oh... and thank you, Dawn."  Then he headed for the door.  “Be back in a flash.” he threw over his shoulder on his way out.

"This is turning out to be a good day," he thought to himself as he walked up the street to his locker.

Fatboy checked his wrist band, confirming he has transferred the files that were on the captain's holo-vid display.  He smirks, knowing she would be irked to know he has access to her holo-vid display, but what she doesn't know, can't really irk her.

He stands and grimaces.  He hates the feeling of the weight this gravity makes him feel.  He was more at home on an asteroid than anywhere else. He is doing well with this diet and exorcise thing.  He's lost over forty five kilos and still dropping.  He's feeling better, but the acceleration and deceleration aspects of spaceships still make him uncomfortable.  Worse so when on-world.

"I'll start preparing the algorithms for the integration."  He says to Levi. "Once the conduits are in place and relays are terminated, it should be a quick integration."   
This message was last edited by the player at 05:50, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

Since most of his contract takes Lex offworld, he has a storage locker near this location, making it quick for him to retrieve his gear. In less than an hour, he arrived at the repair bay that Dawn had communicated. Dawn was on the outside of the ship, inspecting the work that had been done. Lex continued towards her with his gear in tow. "See, I said it would only be a flash," he said with a grin. "Where should I stow my gear? And how can I help out here?"

Getting reception interference Billianah powers down her portable and heads back to the ship hoping to get a better feed over the main.

Back at the ship Levi began to organise the integration of the sensor system. Software was not his concern, the physical connections were. What made it harder was the damned Zhodani didn't use the same connectors as the Imperials, both power and network couplings - how inconsiderate of them. That meant creative thinking and developing a set of sturdy, robust jury-rigged adaptors that had longevity. Splicing the cables had been the plan, but again the Zhodani didn't use the same power levels which meant placing signal boosters and additional network routers to cater for the differences and ensure.cross-ship consistency.

Levi had calculated the various electronic and signal loads but he didn't envy Fatboi's job of ensuring the software running the different devices was compatible. Zhodani and Imperial systems working together had seemed such a simple concept, and he'd enjoyed the challenge it had given him.

But now the hours of theory and planning was ready to be actualised and brought into to life, and he took to the.job with his usual passion... And annoyingly wanted to observe what everyone was doing so that it met his exacting standards. But so much needed to be done and he couldn't be everywhere at once, so eventually moved on to complete the more demanding tasks that he had assigned to himself leaving the others free to breathe and do their assigned tasks. But his eye for detail included the abilities and experience of the crew. He asked Phillip and Tanja to rotate in and out as tasks required, especially since they themselves were downloading and integrating updated software and running tests on the bridge. He tried not to include Billianah or Fatboi where he could, but their expertise was needed to ensure the physical connections matched the specifications of the signal load the system required.

Levi was in his element.

Harry saw to the weapons bay, making sure everything was installed properly and worked as it was supposed to. He also saw to the integration with his weapons station would work well. He wanted to set it so he could fire everything from one station with separate consoles. So far, everything was working as prescribed! Each weapon had it's own manual firing station in place at the weapon, but he wanted to be able to use them all from one integrated point in case they were short handed.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:14, Tue 29 Aug 2023.

Adriannah's daily routine ensured her duties were quickly completed, affording her considerable downtime.

Switching off her portable Billianah enjoys some downtime, enjoying a delicious meal, then watching several vidclips.

Tanja was used to hard work, but she was also used to getting things done. She couldn't just sit around and she found that once her and Phillip had organised the acquisition of recent star chart and trade data, and the download from the station was underway, she needed to be busy. At first it had been in conversation with her (relatively) new crewmate Phillip. He finds that she's always laughing and joking around, making light of any and everything - but that even with the constant level of banter and joking around, she is fully focused and professional with her work; testing, checking then double checking everything that she has done to make sure that it is complete. Part of this, Phillip quickly realises, is her own level of professionalism and dedication, that she wants to get it done right the first time, but he also realises that it is aimed at appeasing Levi's high and OCD fueled expectations.

Connecting to the starport's server, she requests the updates to their stellar cartographic database, and as the authorisation is pending she double checks the security programs that Fatboi had installed to protect their system. His firewalls were still in place and so were the other programs that she'd been warned not to play with. She suspected that they weren't just protective programs, but were in fact monitoring systems, for both uploading and downloading to the ship's systems. She'd been tempted a number of times to have a look at the code itself, but she knew her own understanding of computers was nothing compared to Fatboi's - and there were sure to be additional levels of security, even ship-side, to ensure that the code remained secure and untampered with.

Besides, she was curious, she just wasn't that curious, and nor was she stupid. Especially if it put the ship's security at risk. Computers were Fatboi's area of expertise, and she had learned to trust the portly fellow.

She checked the security of the download, that the authorisation had been processed and accepted, then monitored the progress ofg the download. It always impressed her just how large the updates were, just how much data was included. Happy the system was secure, the download in progress, she checked the estimated time to completion then turned her attention to the list Levi had given them.

"I'll do the tight conduits if you'd like," she offered to Phillip. The tight positions and difficult angles of work had never concerned her due to her tall yet athletic frame. That and tight spaces didn't really worry her.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 15:59, Tue 29 Aug 2023.

"That is something I can happily agree with, I'm not the most athletic person there is. I'm not big, but I'm not real supple either. I need to ask the captain if the ship needs money invested into it. They seem to be tight on funds. Just as long as we make money, I'll get my money back." He confides in her. He didn't think anyone really knew he was independently wealthy, he had a big strike when he was a prospector.

Lexon finds Dawn behind a landing strut, tightening a fixture with a large wrench. She sets the wrench aside, grabs a rag and wipes her hands as Lexon approaches.  "You found it." She says, taking one of his bags. "Let's get you bunked, or berthed, as they like to say in the navy."

Dawn leads Lexon up the cargo ramp to the lift where they take the door to its right into the media center. Doors to all the crew staterooms are located there. Dawn leads Lexon to the end and opens the stateroom door on the right.

"Are you up for some work?" She asks, placing his bag on the bed.  "I have some work in the tights. Levi has some conduit things that have to mated. He showed me what to do. There's just lots of them. Help will make it go faster."

She smiles sweetly, as if that would work on him.

"As I recall, you definitely are not claustrophobic." she says, laughing.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Tue 29 Aug 2023.

Phillip's admission of discomfort went without reply. Tanja had known many a good engineer refuse to enter the tight compartments. "I think for the foreseeable money will be tight for all of us. Karma was right, we don't have the capacity to transport bulk cargo so can't make quick credits that way. We're no luxury yacht for tourists and have only a few low berths, so passenger ferrying will also be no quick road to riches," she said conversationally as she loosened some of the holding bolts keeping the access panel in place. "That leaves more legally grey or even black jobs for us to consider and they come with financial reward, and great risk.

But at the same time I'm not sure how the shares in the ship are going to work either. We all currently have equal stakes at present, but how many shares are there in total?? And what is the price of each one?? Will increasing the number of shares decrease the value of each?? I don't know how it works, to be honest.

Think that's what we were going to discuss at dinner tonight. Suppose if buying further shares in the Katerina isn't on the cards, offering short term loans instead might be an option. Depends on what you want and what works for everyone else.

Me, the Katerina is my home now so I'm fully committed to keeping her flying, but trying to keep.her ownership away from government or corporate influence if we can.

Help me with this,"

The last was said as she pulled the panel off the wall and lifted it aside, offering it to Phillip to secure somewhere.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:20, Tue 29 Aug 2023.

Phillip took the panel and set it aside. "I'll help if I can, I'm not claustrophobic, if things have enough room to maneuver in, I'm fine, I'm just not bendable like some folks." he says with a smile, letting her know he was not the most limber.

"My money wouldn't last forever running the ship long term, but I do have a few million credits that could help if needed." he says without boast. "I had a nice strike when I was a prospector."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:20, Tue 29 Aug 2023.

Lex went into the room and dropped his gear near the bed. He will properly stow the gear a little later. Turning to Dawn, he said "Ready to help out.  Lead the way." Lex did not address the claustrophobic comment because he assumed it was referencing to their time on Charlie 4, but he could not recall anytime he was in what could be considered a claustrophobic spot. Thinking to himself, perhaps she is correct. Maybe I am not claustrophobic.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:20, Tue 29 Aug 2023.

Fatboy disappears into the computer room and for the next eight hours works on the Zhodani/Imperial interface algorithms concerning the sensor array.  Occasionally, there is a shout of frustration comes from that enclosed room, or the sound of something hitting the bulkhead.  Still, when Levi gives the go ahead for systems integration and power up, Fatboy delivers.  The integration is a success with no known issues. Some features of the Zhodani processes were compartmentalized, having to do with neural mapping and other tech that was a little over Fatboy's knowledge base.  He makes a point to get familiar with Zhodani tech, if he can find the material on it.  Anything having to do with psi-tech is banned in the Imperium, so this bit of an upgrade would cause some problems if ever inspected closely. Part of his frustration was in trying to mask Zhodani from the features, making them seem to be Imperium.  It was almost as if it were rejecting the notion, nonsense of course, but it was nagging.

With the sensor array online and running in bursts to test the conduit couplings and mating relays, Fatboi retreats from the computer room to the media center for a healthy snack.

---

18:25, Today: Fatboy Stout rolled 11 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 4,4.  Electronics (computers) on a 10+ difficulty roll
Total time taken: 8 hrs

This message was last edited by the player at 05:50, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

Dawn leads Lexon into the tights, helping Tanja and Phillip with coupling the phase conduits and mating the relays between Zhodani and Imperium tech.  The crawlways are tight-fitting, hence the name, between the decks and bulkheads mostly.  It takes them several hours and both are happy to leave the job behind and relax in the media center for a bit.

"A few million??" Tanja says, her usual calm demeanor slipping for a brief moment.

"With that amount of credits, why did you leave belting?? I mean, the obvious path would have been to buy a decent share in a mining ship to continue your lucky streak... Success breeds success after all, and if you could use your experience without actually having to set foot on the 'roid, surely that would have been a great business opportunity??

Sorry if I'm a little blunt, I'm just curious."

She begins to slide inside the conduit, "OK, the main network cable needs to run through there to here, but we need a secondary hub and router there, and that leads to Fatboi's attachments," she said quietly to herself. She looked back as the door opened; Dawn and Lexon entered shortly after.

Between the four of them they were able to coordinate the feeding and setting of the additional cables they needed. It took them the best part of the day, a long eight hour shift, but throughout it all Tanja was constantly talking, joking and making the task more interest.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:09, Wed 30 Aug 2023.

The challenge had been set and accepted. The task before them - two days to get two different systems linked and fully integrated into an already technologically complex starship.

He'd thoroughly planned and prepared, the tasks assigned to the crew. He'd supervised long enough to know they were working how he needed them to, and didn't require his constant supervision - just infrequent check-ins. He'd really struggled with not being there every minute, to see what they were doing and confirm it was done.to his exacting standards.

But.it had given him the time and focus he needed to complete his own work. Two days, it just wasn't enough time. So he had really focused, ensuring no mistakes were made and nothing was rushed. What niggled him more was none of this was by the book, it was all improvised. The feeling was exhilarating yet terrified him.

And yet the hard work had paid off. Several hours into his refit and integration he was ready for a system wide test, something he'd expected to be doing a day and a half into the task. Yet here he was on day one, ahead of schedule, watching as the individual system test results came in, then running synchronised tests, pushing multiple systems  work together and against each other.

Eight hours into an exhausting day he finally stepped back to admire what he - no what they - had achieved.

He grinned at Fatboi as the test results came through.."The Katerina has her eyes and ears, and we have a day to make any tweaks needed.

Well done."

---

16:00, Tue 29 Aug: Levi Stensgaard rolled 13 using 2d6+5.  Engineering: Electronics

Difficult 10+. Success, 8 hours to complete.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:50, Fri 01 Sept 2023.

"Success HAS followed success, and I got out of belting mainly because it's dangerous as hell. Belting is dangerous in itself, then there are claim jumpers that will kill you in a second to rob you. Not a good life. I got a good berth here, so that is my latest success!"

After a long day, Lex was ready to relax.  “Well, that was different.” Lex said out loud to the group. In his line of work he would not normally be squirming through tight passages to hook up electrical conduits and communication lines.  Though not typical, Lex still enjoyed it.  It was something new and he liked learning new stuff.

“I know a little about Far Trader boats, not much, but a little.  This one is different.  This is not a typical Far Trader, is it?”

---

OOP: I thought about just stating the group recounted the information found on the “Empress Katarina Class - Far Trader (Advanced)” thread.  But chose not to do so in case someone wants to respond with a little flair.  But nonetheless, Lex will learn the history of the boat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:46, Fri 01 Sept 2023.

"Definitely quite the workout!" Phillip agrees.

---

OOC - Ship! ;-) I think we have a boat onboard.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:49, Thu 31 Aug 2023.

"Don't let Levi hear you call the Katerina a boat," Tanja advises, wiping the sweat from her forehead with a small towel. They had really pushed on today and she needed food and something alcoholic. "He's ex-navy, and they're all a bit odd anyway, but Levi has a real bond with our ship. He's a little overly sensitive and, er, strange about it."

She grins, her tone teasing with no malicious intent, using the usual inter-service rivalry to make her point. "In fact, he's odd enough to make a decent desk-based officer in the scouts. And those guys are just nuts. Almost as nuts as the ground pounders..."

She flashed a look at the newcomer, Lexon. Karma had referred to him as a soldier, and as a friend of Dawn's as well that role was quite apparent. It was obvious he was no techie, either. But he'd worked hard, had done what was asked of him and had put in a real shift. That meant he was ok in her book - and therefore fair game for her usual teasing.

"Still, respect the Katerina and she'll not let you down." The last was said in a mock imitation of Levi's voice and stiff mannerism.

Dawn flashes Levi a smile, accepting the praise of hard work done that day. Lexon's questioning statement draws her attention. "It is a modified version so yes, it is different. Some cargo and fuel space was sacrificed for a greater jump drive and crew berthing. It's a great design. She's got some advanced electronics too. Spooky stuff really. "

Dawn laughs at her cleverish remark surrounding the intelligence personnel who live such secret lives.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:17, Fri 01 Sept 2023.

Harry finished up with the weapons bay after about 6 and a half hours, then went looking for the others.

Fatboy was satisfied with his work, and by Stensgaard's praises, so he indulged with a choc ice on a stick. Satisfaction of a job well done leading to another, the ice stick led to a bucket of thick, fat, sugary, industrial ice cream.

When Stensgaard came buzzing around and started to list all tweaks and tests that he felt needed to be done the next day - including things they had completed thrice - the computer guru gave the engineer a blank stare and went over his next priority, with his mouth full :

"'Tis very important, Stensgaard, what you told the captain. We need fresh supplies, and above all, in enough quantities. Look, we're almost left without WHAROLLA ^TM ice-cream!" - he shook his spoon to weigh in his point.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:51, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

Teddy was walking by, "Hey! You're supposed to be on a diet Fatboi! You've lost at least 80 pounds, why would you ruin it now?" The doctor kept going, shaking his head as he went.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:37, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

"Advanced electronics? That sounds interesting," Lex said, shifting his gaze to Levi. "In what way are they advanced?" Despite not being the most competent in ship-based technologies, Lex had a general interest in technology. With his engineering and electronic skills, he thought he could possibly help in the future. Now that he was a member of the crew, he wanted to know more about the ship, especially its unique capabilities.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:49, Fri 01 Sept 2023.

"Easy Recon, it's only your first day." Karma deflects as she approaches the crew lounge from the direction of portside.  She laughs shaking her head while looking around the lounge at the assembled crew and one guest. "You have out done yourself Levi.  You and your team exceeded expectations, and guaranteed our team the upcoming job. That is extremely good work from you all."  The praise is justified and she has never been disingenuous about such things. Praise is given where praise is due and this team certainly brought their game today.  Thunder reverberates against the hull of the ship and the lull of rain, a continuous drone, echoes soundly and has been for the last hour.  The weather would not let up until morning.

"We may as well make our assigned ship berths home for the night, unless you really have pressing business in Startown or Downport. If so, best be back early.  Our guest will be arriving at 0530 LST.  We dust off an hour later.  We have a full tank of fuel, supplies in the way of medical necessities, food, and beverage."  She says, standing amongst the crew.  She eyes Fatboi, and the bucket nestled neatly in the crux of his arm. She ignores the bucket for the moment. "What you did is just shy of a miracle young man.  You have a talent, that is sure."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:47, Fri 01 Sept 2023.

Fatboy was not used to be addressed directly by women. He used to gaze at them on the sly. The female crew members were used to it and did not care anymore - they knew Fatboy only looked, never touched (them).

So when the stunning red-haired captain praised him in front of everyone present, the fantasy machine in his head started rolling full speed. Fatboy gulped the chunk of ice cream in his mouth, nearly suffocated, brought tears of joy and hurt in his eyes, and he rasped "Thank you Ma'am. All merit is due to Mr Stensgaard's meticulousness."

Oh, why, why had he hacked into her holo-vid display? And would she interpret as rebellion the little side search he was going to start?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:52, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

"Don't be daft," Levi in turn deflects. He appreciated the praise but knew the integration was down to software and programming not hardware. "Any semi-skilled electrician could have done what we did. True it would have taken them weeks, and we had mere hours, but the difficult part would have been integrating the software so that two very alien systems communicated as if they were twins.

Twins without the sibling rivalry or constant bickering, that is."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:53, Sat 02 Sept 2023.

Fatboy explains with ease: "In fact, my algorithms are kind of acting like a translator program - I tweaked a recompiling software that I found to interface between protocols. So, in broad terms, the Zhodani system thinks it is communicating with Zhodani hardware on a Zhodani ship, situation normal. And reversely, from the Imperial systems to the Zhos."

"Now, why did the captain call me "young man", as I am 32?
Do I look younger?
May be it is a side effect of the food?", he thought, not realizing he sported a rotund, round, hairless, cratered face from his teenage years of severe acne.

"How old is the captain?", he wondered.
"This data should be... somewhere"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:52, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

"Captain," Lex said as he got up from his seat, "can I have a word with you?" He walked closer to make their conversation less public. "You spoke earlier today about discussing my arrangement. What did you have in mind?" Lex did not want to keep such a detail ambiguous. Since it had not yet surfaced, he thought it would be best to get that detail squared away. Knowing the terms would dictate how he conducted himself and would also dictate how he would spend his time developing skills. He liked learning and always had a self-development plan in place.

Harry was drinking a beer, sitting next to Dawn. He found Lexon quite interesting and befuddling at the same time. He took in the compliment from Karma in stride, she was quite good at her job. "Dawn and I would invite you to dinner with us Lex, but we all dine together in the evening anyway" Harry says with a grin. "Usually anyway. We're all a typical extended family on board."

"How are we doing business captain? We buying into shares for a corporation, or just splitting the profits evenly or by contribution? I have a few credits I can invest in us if needed, though I don't want to go broke, I can invest a few million credits into the endeavor. When I was a prospector, I made a strike!"

Billianah suppresses the impulse to chuckle at Phills question. Her experience as a Fiscal Advocate provided a number of answers to his enquiries but it was the Captain's decision how she would address his question.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:40, Sat 02 Sept 2023.

"And on the back of Phillip's question, I've a point or two." Tanja says. "The first was that we all had equal share and say in the running of the Katerina after we salvaged the Allamu, so how many shares are there currently, and how many will we be wanting available?? And will we be offering some outside of the people here?? After all, corporate sponsorship or selling some shares to interested external parties might be beneficial, even necessary, at some point. I'm not suggesting we do it now, or even offer more than an equivalent share to anyone else, but the option is there for some credits.

Also, will Regina High Port be considered our home berth?? I ask only because it's a good idea to get to know the docking crews, maintenance teams and even the space traffic controllers. Having been a deck hand for a while, it's good to keep them happy, and always helps with security too."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Thu 07 Sept 2023.

1107.320, 1630hrs LST

Karma steps aside a moment, following Lexon's request. She listens to what he says, nodding at his inquiry. "Let's  get to that now." She says, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.  She turns back to the others gathered in the common area, dismissing Lexon's attention for now. "We have an opportunity for growth in our crew, or family, if you choose to see it that way." Karma announces, clearly letting them know she thought of them as a crew. "I call a majority vote. Each of you will speak with Lt. Lexon Reed this evening and ask your questions of him what you will to give you a determination of vote. It is not mandatory, as you may already have a sense one way or the other.  Votes are counted at twenty hundred hours. Majority rules."

She nods her head and smiles assuringly at Lexon.

"To other business. We have an opportunity to pick up cargo containers at highport station before we leave the system. Mining equipment for an operation in an outer orbit asteroid belt of Baelnefar's gas giant. It's 50 tons of heavy mining equipment and thirty tons of commodities for the same location. That's a full haul."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:09, Sat 28 Oct 2023.

Harry grinned at that, a full load meant a payday most likely!

"If we take him on, I'll need to schedule a physical exam and update med records." Teddy announces.

Phillip planned to buy as much as he could into the corporation, he planned to retire a very wealthy man.

Levi looked worried for a second, "What kind of commodities are they??" he asked cautiously, but then his usual curious expression crossed his face. "And where is Baelnefar in relation to us?? What I mean is, how long will it take to travel to the high port both with jumpdrive and thrusters??"

---

OOC: Had to quickly check the new specifications as I was sure the Katerina could only hold 60 tons in total... Seems the GM has done some magic wand waving and been able to find us some extra cargo space. Nice work!!
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:25, Thu 07 Sept 2023.

"Commodities are in the form of non-perishable foods, fruits, and nuts.  An assortment of beverages, and other odds and ends as listed by the port authority." Karma replies to Levi's inquiry.  "Regardless, it will be carefully scrutinized and inspected while loading. And since you have brought it up, that can be your first order of business at highport. You and Harry manage the loading of the cargo in the bay please.

It will take a couple of hours to load, so if you leave ship, please be prompt about returning."

She pauses, screwing up her face in thought a moment before getting to his other question. "I'm no astrogator, but looking at the data, it is about a hundred hours give or take at a 2G thrust with a five minute transition at Zero-G between accel and decel."

"Your opinion is noted Fatboi." She says before he could protest the 2G maneuvering to get there.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:18, Thu 07 Sept 2023.

Levi nodded. He had half expected the perishable commodities to contain narcotics or something else illegal. It could still be illegal, but at least it was only a few days of thrust. On that note he was surprised. He hadn't realised the destination would be in-system. He really should check the star maps more often, he supposed.

"I won't be going anywhere, so if you want to have a few hours shore leave Harry I'd be happy to stay and manage the logistics of the loading," he offered. It wasn't like he had anywhere to go anyway, and having been brought up on Regina he figured the less time spent away from the Katerina would reduce the time that he bumped into someone he knew, or worse yet his family.

"But what if the gravity system fails we'll be squash-", Stout started to say, before realizing the answer had already be given. He stretched out conspicuously, as if to save face, and turned away, stating "I'm going to take a well-deserved nap. See you at dinner." and disappeared in his room. The firm locking could be heard.

Fatboy Stout rolled 11 using 2d6+1 ((4,6))  also looking for Karma Starwind's age! ;)]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:53, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

Tanja watched in silence with some bemusement as Fatboi left. She'd seen his strops and huffs a good few times before, and came to realise that genius always came with quirks of character. She also noted that she never really wanted to get on his bad side as he had his fingers in too many pies - pun definitely intended. Since he'd been able to calculate and enact a series of short micro-jumps in-system to reach the Allamu, she'd come to respect Fatboi's abilities and believed that he had access to ship systems and data far beyond what she'd ever want.

She half expected the artificial gravity plates to suddenly develop faults that put pressure on the ship's systems but made the 2G thrust easier to manage. Or that the thrusters just wouldn't go above 1G for the next week or so.

"Karma, I'll go and prepare a detailed mission flight-plan for in-system travel, then run it past Traffic Control to arrange the next available window for departure. I'll keep you updated when it's ready to submit.

I'll also run the last of the system checks and will liaise with you too, Levi." Tanja knew technically she didn't need to as all the data would be passed to Levi and Karma automatically, but she knew it was easier to keep both of them, especially their chief engineer, onside and sweet. She also noted that Karma had requested Levi and Harry deal with the loading operations. Normally she'd have turned to Harry to work through and plot astrogation courses with her. "Phillip, are you free to run the numbers and simulate course trajectories with me?? No problem if you have something else to attend to, though."

Phillip smiled and replied, "Sure, I'd be happy to work it out with you, might help sharpen my skills."

Tanja smiles, "Come on then, we'll head, crunch some numbers and sort a suggested flight plan out." She looks towards Karma as she stands from her seat ready to leave for the bridge.

Karma nods at Tanja, "Remember to cast your vote. Send it to my terminal."

"To be honest ma'am, I trust Dawn, and if Dawn says he's ok, then I'll take it on faith and say yes." Tanja responds quickly.

"Besides, there's few people I don't get along with and getting to know him will add entertainment to the next few days.

If you'll excuse me, I have a date on the bridge with Phillip." And with they she left.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:59, Sun 10 Sept 2023.

Listing to the various comments Billianah smiled at the some of the claims. After they disburse she headed to the galley for a mug of hot chocolate and a snack.

In reply to Harry McStubbin (msg # 70):

Lex turns from Karma towards Harry and said "Food sounds good. Just tell me when."  After a long work day he was ready to eat.  He wondered how well they ate on this ship.

Levi had said his thoughts. He's speak to the newcomer Lexon later and see if he deserved to be aboard the Katerina. He's suppressed a laugh when Tanja had put blind faith into Dawn's support of the newcomer. It was all good and well surviving combat together, and creating a bond that way, but living together on a starship without the constant threat of an external threat... Well, it was a pressure cooker of a different kind, and you didn't have the satisfaction of shooting at the target of your anger...

...well, OK you could but if you did it created numerous even worse consequences.

 Focus on the task in hand, Levi, he thought to himself.

Without a word he stood and left the lounge, heading first for his quarters to ensure that his computer system was ready to receive all of the test data that he would receive. He also wanted to check on the progress of the various tests and checks that he himself had asked the computer to perform on the powerpoint and critical systems. He'd done this a hundred times since they docked, but the Katerina had been messed with by other people and he wanted to make sure they hadn't done anything to her that he didn't approve of.

As the numbers yet again revealed that all was as it seemed, that the repair crews had done a fine job and that the sensors systems were now at optimal functionality. He looked at the other systems and their subsystems. Powerplant, idling away and green; life support systems, temperature,air processors, gravity, pressure; again all green, within normal working parameters. He glanced over the weapon and defensive systems. All offline, but the system showed green.

Nothing had changed in the last hour that he could see.

His mind returned to the job at hand as he locked his workstation, left and locked his quarters and started the short walk to his next assignment - the cargo bay, and loading and unloading of cargo. Eighty tons of equipment and commodities. At least this would provide a temporary challenge for him - ensuring that the weight distribution was effective and equal, even though the gravity contra-gravity system made such necessities almost obsolete.

His mind wandered again and a sudden thought flashed across his mind. Perhaps he shouldn't be as quick to ignore Lexon. He'd asked the crew to consider accepting Donna into the Katerina and they'd agreed because he'd asked. They knew he wouldn't put the Katerina or her crew at risk, so had been willing to accept her because of him. Now another person was trying to join the crew and he realised that the likes of Tanja had already put her faith in Lexon because Dawn had vouched for him. And nothing else. She had put her faith in Levi, not in Donna, and now she was putting her faith in Dawn.

He could see the logic, but what if they were wrong?? What if the only bond they had was forged in and because of combat?? What if they didn't get along without their being an immediate and direct threat to focus on??

These were points he needed to consider while he checked and double checked the cargo and the loading crews. The Katerina was just how he wanted her to be, he didn't want anyone to start disrupting what had taken so long to balance.

---

OOC: In short, he goes to his quarters to check on the status of the ship, then heads to the cargo hold to load the cargo while he considers what to do about Lexon.

Harry let Karma know he trusted Dawn's judgement too, then he went to the cargo bay to help Levi. When he got there, Levi was in his zone, so Harry let him be. Levi could get very focused, and when he was, it was best to let him alone within himself. It is about time to look for Donna he thought, to give Levi what he needs.

Finishing a snack Billianah tidied up the mess then headed to the Computer Room to continue maintenance, updating and upgrading the operating systems.

1107.320 1700 hrs

With nothing more to discuss, Karma turns to head back to her quarters, but pauses. She has another thought. Instead, she enters the lift, pulls the metal gate-lock door closed and ascends to the passenger level.  Her eyes roam the area, looking for anything out of place, but finds none. The ship is ready for lift-off and all loose items are stored. She checks the stateroom as well and finds it in order. Satisfied Adriannah has things well in hand, Karma descends to the lower level and returns to her quarters where she sees in the security vid-link a grav transport arrive at the gates. There are only a handful of diehard activists out front now, the bad weather having driven off most of them. The rain continues to fall and a thin man exits the transport carrying an overnight bag. He looks at the gates, the mounted camera, then over to the guard station. He sloshes his way to the gatehouse and produces an ID.

[VoX/Katarina] Empress Katarina.  Gatehouse.

Karma touches the screen, changing her comms to the local shipyard vox channel.

[VoX/Shipyard] Empress here. They are expected. Empress departing on arrival of passenger, 1800 hrs.

Karma touches the screen, switching to the in-ship channel as the gatehouse begins responding.

[VoX/Katarina] Safe travels and--

[SHIP COMMS]  Crew, our passenger has arrived.  Prepare systems for lift-off.  Adriannah, see to our fare.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

Running the last few system checks, Levi hears the command over the Comms. He leans over and touches the closest part of the powerplant directly behind him, giving the Katerina's heart a sensitive caress. "It's time, Empress," he says quietly, respectfully.

Returning his focus to his console, he responds over the comms.

[SHIP COMMS]  Aye formative

He enters the command and authorization codes to begin the power up sequence and pauses, waiting for the starship's response. Listening to the growing humming from behind him and feeling the throbbing vibrations through the deck plates, Levi didn't need to look at the console's readings to know the Katerina's heart was igniting as he had expected and gently yet powerfully coming to life from its temporary dormancy.

His trained eyes scanned over the sensor readings out of habit, and confirmed what he already knew. The Katerina was waking up and coming to life.

[SHIP COMMS]  Powerplant online, safeties active and holding. Pressure stable, power levels climbing steady. We're off battery power and charging. We'll have power for lift off in twenty two minutes, full power in thirty one. Running systems checks.

Levi read the readings into the Comms as per his training, though he did wonder why as anyone who was interested could pull the data to their own feed.

But there was protocol to ensure health of safety for the ground crew, he supposed, to keep them informed.

[SHIP COMMS]  We are running on our own power, free from port support and can release the umbilical tether at your leisure.

---

20:55, Today: Levi Stensgaard rolled 11 using 2d6+6.  Engineering: PowerPlant

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:21, Tue 12 Sept 2023.

Harry sat at the Astrogation station, double checking the numbers Tanja and Phillip provided, but knowing they'd be perfect! She was an absolute champion at astrogation and piloting!

Phillip was at a secondary station in engineering backing up Levi, there was a lot to look after, but Levi could do it all from his station. He helped keep an eye on the gauges and monitors just for backup while things were firing.

Teddy spent his time going over the new man's med records and awaited the records of the passenger.

Adriannah spent her shift frequenting the Crew Lounge and Passenger Deck with preparations and time off; her duties and presence is quite unobtrusive boading on being overlooked.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:05, Mon 11 Sept 2023.

She was already in the reception area that doubles as the crew lounge when no passengers are loading. Others have left, going about their business on lift-off preparations.  Dawn makes the short walk to the cargo ramp and searches the monitor video feed from the outside camera. Nothing there. Good. She presses the green control button. A warning klaxon sounds beneath the ramp door outside. The noise reverberates through the hull. The video feed is washed out every second from the nearby red strobe light that comes on outside. The hydraulics comes on and the ramp slowly descends until it touches the ground. Dawn knows a limiting pressure switch signals the process to stop when the door hits the ground and hydraulic pressure builds. A lone figure, thin looking in a tan trencher and wide brimmed hat stands just beyond, waiting patiently in the steady downpour of rain.

"You must be the scientist." Dawn says  walking halfway down the ramp.  She greets the man and offers to take his bag.  An average height for a human, she notes, but thin looking. Taking his bag, she turns and leads him into the reception area. Idly, she wonders where the hell Adriannah is at. Did she not hear the captain?

Once the areas were tidied up Adriannah sent and acknowledging com to the Captain; as she headed to the hatchway  to assist with the Passengers Onboarding.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:22, Mon 11 Sept 2023.

Adrianah descends from the passenger level in the lift and movement to her left draws her attention. Dawn and the passenger are approaching the reception area.

Adriannah thanked  Dawn; then greeted the passenger and introduced herself. Checking her hand held, she accessed the passenger manifest, noting the passenger's assigned cabin and escorted the guest to it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:39, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

Having spent some time at the console running through some simulations, Tanja saves her calculations and leaves it on the screen, allowing Phillip and Harry the chair to do theirs, so that they could compare the calculations they had created. She had no doubt that while the most skilled astrogator on the ship, she was not infallible.

It was then that she realised Harry had followed her to the bridge, and Phillip was nowhere to be seen. She shrugged. "Check the numbers for me Harry, and see if you can improve on them. The route I've made works, but I'm sure that it's not the most optimal."

---

19:40, Today: Tanja Skorskald rolled 10 using 2d6+6.  Astrogation.

Harry spends several minutes double checking Adriannah calculations, when he finishes, he gives her a thumbs up. "Perfect! Thanks!"

1107.320  1800 hrs LST-Regina Shipyard

The passenger is shown to his stateroom, where he retires for the evening.  With all preparations made, the captain orders the lift-off of the Katarina.  It will take three hours at orbital speed to transit to Regina Highport station and dock. Another two hours to load cargo, then they will depart for the Darida solar system.

All systems are nominal according her console screen. Karma activates the peer to peer communicator for the bridge by tapping the touchscreen console on the appropriate icon. It will be so nice to one day have a system with intellect that recognizes voice commands. A common daydream of hers.

Karma looks out the glasteel pane of the front of the ship. Through the rain the rotating beacon high atop the ship yard tower is green and white. Airspace is good.

[COMM-LINK/Bridge]  "At your discretion Tanja, lift-off is a go."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:40, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

The thrum of the anti-gravity plates reverberates through the hull of the ship as it powers up. Dawn smiles, taking a ration from the storage pantry.  She enjoys spaceflight. She closes the dispensory drawer, making sure it is latched, then retires to her stateroom until they dock at Regina Highport.

Hearing the announcement, Lex headed towards his stateroom. He needed to properly stow his gear since he had simply dropped it off earlier in the day.  On his way out of the lounge, Lex picked up a snack and headed to his room.    No news is good news, Lex thought to himself.  He assumed the vote went well (or is going well), or else he would have likely heard something that would make him think differently. I need to talk to the captain to better understand where there are skills gaps in the team, so I can spend my time preparing to be more useful while on the ship.

At her seat on the flight deck, Tanja watches the data readings of the ship, especially the activity of other ships in the area. She focused on their numbers; heading, velocity, mass.

The order came in to lift off.

[SHIPS COMMS] "Received, Captain."

She thumbs the Comms,
[VoX/Space Traffic Control] "Regina Control, Empress Katerina. Condition Green, we're good to leave. Request clearance to take off."

She waits for authorisation from the Regina Space Traffic Controllers before responding to them then confirming she had heard and understood.

[SHIPS COMMS] "Regina Control have granted permission. Initiating lift off sequence. Contra-gravity systems engaged.

And we're off."

As the thrusters roared into life and the Katerina began its vertical ascendance, her humming contra-grav suppressors reducing her mass significantly, Tanja regularly spoke to verbally inform the crew, passengers and Regina Control of their status; velocity, vector and height. As the ship broke beyond the port's outer perimeter she lifted it's nose, informed of the change of direction and engaged the main drive thrusters. She angled the contra-grav to give the ship an anti-gravity boost.

Gently increasing the power, the Katerina began to cut through the moon's atmosphere and the sky began to darken. The Empress Katerina broke free from the moon and entered space.

[SHIPS COMMS] "Atmosphere breached, we're now at orbital speed. ETA to Regina High Port two hours and fifty seven point seven minutes.

Artificial gravity is engaged, we have a steady one gee internal and with open space between us and the High Port we have no planned maneuvers, so there's no need to remain strapped in.

Enjoy the next few hours of your fly-me-friendly autopilot."

She grinned to her co-pilot as she lazily drifted the Katerina to follow the course they'd plotted earlier. Happy all was as it should be, she flicked the autopilot controls to active and stretched in her seat, her focus directed between the data pouring across her screen, and the view of the darkness, the only black beyond.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:55, Wed 13 Sept 2023.

1107.321  2200 hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport

[BRIDGE]
Tanja watches the screens, watches the skies, wary of any blinking lights near or around them that might indicate a nearby ship.  She sometimes gazes down onto the planetary night surface with the many lighted cities that dot the continents.  Just over two hours into the flight her screen flickers.

"CORRECTION IN PATH TO TARGET REQUIRED..."

The red calculated path is now superimposed with a yellow deviated path that is widening as she watches.  The attitude of the ship is changing.

[ENGINEERING]
Levi and Phillip are discussing the nature of transient signals in processing plant cores when a red light blips on the screen.  This is followed with a beeping noise.  Levi immediately brings up the processing plant screen overview.

An unexpected surge with distortion in the power plant is occurring.  It is a sinusoidal wave function in the power grid indicating something is amiss and the plant is trying to correct for it...
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:21, Wed 13 Sept 2023.

"Levi, what's going on, can I help?

[SHIP COMMS} Bridge, we're experiencing problems, surge in the Power Plant, Levi will expand if he can't correct it! [COMMS OFF]"

Phillip goes to the next station, going over the readings as well, hoping four eyes might help!
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:41, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

"Come home soon momma."

These are the words replaying in her mind as the hot water falls from the shower head above her.  She had to admit, small ship as it is, a hot water shower sure beats the hell out of sonic cleanser the military uses.  Well, it's what the ground pounder use anyway.  She pulls her fingers through her wet hair, savoring the water caressing down her face and streaming down her body, eventually ending up in a recycler.  Suddenly, she goes rigid as a current courses through her for the briefest fraction of a second.  Not enough to kill her, but certainly enough for her to feel it.  She curses, turning the spigot off.

Dawn reaches out of the shower and taps her wrist band on the nearby metal counter.

[Com-Link] "Engineering." She says, directing the the path for the comms program.
[Com-Link] "Levy!  Your ship just tried to electracute me."  She says, drying off with a waffled towel.

Karma carefully sets down a mug of hot chocolate, eyeing the planet below through her glasteel panel.  She activates comms through the touchscreen on her console.

[Com-Link to Bridge]
"Tanja, why is the planet moving out my field of view?  It should be moving more INTO my field of view."

She begins bringing up the astrogation screens, then immediately rises and heads for the bridge.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Wed 13 Sept 2023.

Phillip begins looking through the screens, bringing up images from different parts of the ship.  Comparing graphs and power sources.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:41, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

[SHIP COMMS] "Unknown technical issue. The autopilot has initiated a course correction. I'm disabling it now."

As she spoke she accessed the pilots console and attempted to deactivate the Katerina's autopilot, ready to fly her on manual.

[SHIP COMMS] "Billianah, can you come to the bridge. I might need a second pair of eyes and hands up here."

She glances at Harry, "No offence, Harry, but I'd prefer a pilot in that seat for now." She really wanted someone to take the helm so she could spend some time checking the sensors their logs to see what had happened. But that was only after the ship's course had been stabilised.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:36, Thu 14 Sept 2023.

Lex noticed the ship wide comm chatter. Instead of adding to the traffic he decided to find Levi and offer assistance. Perhaps my mechanic and engineering background could be of help, he thought to himself.

Lex arrives in engineering. "Need any help?" Lex asked.

"Levi, one of the gravitic plates is fluctuating in power, failing, then over compensating. Not sure what the source of the failure is from the screen." Phillip says loudly to Levi as Lexon arrived!

Levi had been relaxing. Talking tech-babble to someone else that understood what he was talking about was a relief. When the alarm sounds, he is reflexive in his action and activates the display to show the condition of the powerplant. Quickly he begins to scan the logs, to see where this new surge and power fluctuations had developed, and whether they were going to suffer a critical cascade effect if left unchecked. More importantly, he wanted to know the root cause so he could decide if reducing power to the reactor would reduce the erroneous wave, or even if he had to shut it down completely and run off the ship's batteries.

Quickly he activated the comms link so he could talk to the bridge and Karma at the same time.

[SHIP COMMS] "Erroneous surge in the powerplant. The Katerina is trying to compensate, but I don't know why she's trying to alter course. Could be it's affecting the electronics and computer system."

He keyed a third communication icon, activating Fatboi's comms.
[SHIP COMMS] "Mister Stout, run a diagnostic and see if it's the computer core that is making the corrections while I see if it's the thrusters and drive system itself."

He muted his comms while he focused on diagnosing the cause of the surge, the effects it would have, and determine a solution. He leaned towards the ship's powerplant, touching the outer casing quickly and gave a quick, reassuring "It's all right, we'll find out what's wrong and correct it" before returning his full attention to the data on the console.

Hearing Phillip, he replies, "Which plate?? And can we deactivate the one section without it affecting the others??" His eyes still strained over the data as surely a single failure like that wouldn't create a surge effect that altered the ship's course. There had to be something else...

"Toolkit, there." He says to Lexon, acknowledging his presence and pointing in the direction of the storage unit where the portable toolkits were kept.

---

Edited as Phillip and Lexon posted while I typed.

I'm going to make a few rolls, as not sure quite which one is needed for this situation.
19:01, Today: Levi Stensgaard rolled 10 using 2d6+6.  Scke. (Was meant to say Science: Electronics, and modifier is +7 not +6 for total of 11)
19:01, Today: Levi Stensgaard rolled 12 using 2d6+6.  Engineering: Powerplant.
19:00, Today: Levi Stensgaard rolled 13 using 2d6+5.  Engineering: Electronics.
19:00, Today: Levi Stensgaard rolled 10 using 2d6+3.  Computer roll.

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:25, Fri 15 Sept 2023.

"Third plate! Left bank!" he shouts back at Levi!

"Reducing power to the artificial gravity, I'll see if we can lower it on just that area or if we'll need to do it across the entire deck." Levi replies, and begins to modify the power to the artificial gravity systems. "Guys, we may need to go zero-gee to fix this one."

Thumbing the comms, he speaks quickly;
[SHIP COMMS/Bridge] "Gravity plate in port aft grid's power usage is fluctuating, so be careful. We're going to reduce power to the system to see if it stabilises, but we may need to deactivate the entire system if it doesn't work."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:24, Fri 15 Sept 2023.

Lex looks towards the cabinet and sees the toolkit.  He quickly retrieves the tool kit and takes it to Levi.  "Here's the toolkit"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Fri 15 Sept 2023.

[SHIP COMMS/BRIDGE] "Phillip's rated as  Pilot. I'm quite busy monitoring Electronics Systems." she replies scrolling through screens to pinpoint what's happening.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:24, Fri 15 Sept 2023.

"Why are you giving it to me??" Levi asks, heeding the advice he'd been given. Apparently he couldn't do everything himself and needed to delegate to others more. The thought that he was going to leave someone else to fix this problem nearly crippled him. He had to compromise though.

"Get over to the port aft section and get access to the malfunctioning plate.

One of us will be along shortly if needed.

Oh and trooper, be careful of the gravity there."

Best case, the plate needed software recalibrating that could be done from here, with Fatboi's aid and Lexon would only need to open then replace the panels. Worst case, the plate would need to be removed, fixed, replaced or deactivated. That meant entrusting Phillip to be his eyes and ears while he himself went or the faulty plate, or sending Phillip and remaining here.

Both meant trusting Phillip to do something he'd normally do himself. But so far the former belter had been quicker to identify the issue, so perhaps he knew his stuff and he could be left here monitoring??

Now he had the responsibility of Chief he'd wanted barely a year ago, now he wasn't sure quite whether he was ready to delegate as readily as his Chief had... Bloody decisions!!

"Phillip, let's work the data and see if it's just that plate or are we goin to suffer a cascade effect?? And let's look at the historical data to see why a perfectly working plate fails. You continue to see if it will get worse or spread to neighbouring systems and I'll identify the trigger."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:45, Fri 15 Sept 2023.

1107.321  2210 hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport

[BRIDGE]
Tanja switches from auto-pilot to manual control of the vessel and immediately senses a problem with the vectoring at orbital speed. She finds that she must keep constant vigil and make constant corrections or the ship begins to list to the left, or up, or down. It was like flying with an elephant on your back.

"Okay, I'm here." The captain says entering the bridge. She motions for harry to keep his station. "Pull up the astrogation and pilot's HUD on your station Harry."

"You worry with the pitch Tanja. Harry, you  worry with the yaw." the captain says.

[ENGINEERING]
Levi powers back on the supply to the gravitic plates, and they power down to a fraction of output for vectoring to the station. All but one of the eight. The lower port aft gravitic plate continues to draw power from the plant. It seems control is inhibited in some way.

[STATEROOM-FATBOI]
Fatboi swipes his screen to load the next page in the database and the screen suddenly collapses to black with an error message.

"COMMS SIGNAL LOST. DATA TRANSMISSION ENDED."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:05, Fri 15 Sept 2023.

Phillip keeps at the monitors and gauges to see if he can help out!

---

14:07, Today: Phillip Le'Pierre rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  engineering.

"Shyte." Dawn exclaims as the feed dies on her monitor station in her stateroom.

"Transmission terminated... please stand by."

"Comms Fatboi". She utters, calling up her wrist band com-link.

[Com-Link/Fatboi]  "Fatboi. My planetary news feed just crapped out. Something you can help me with?"

Dawn laces the plea with a honey filled lilt to the voice.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Fri 15 Sept 2023.

"Whoa!!" Tanja says, not expecting the sudden shift in direction. "She's really pulling.

Aye, focus on pitch."

Only having to deal with one focus was easier. "Ship nose coming up. How you doing Harry??"

---

20:46, Today: Tanja Skorskald rolled 10 using 2d6+7.  Piloting

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:00, Fri 15 Sept 2023.

[SHIPS COMMS/BRIDGE] "Power reduced to grav plates, so you'll have more bounce when you move.

Faulty plate, third on the left bank of the port aft section, is still drawing power. We cannot shut it off from here yet.

Lexon, that's the third plate on the left bank of the port aft section."

He didn't know if Lexon was still in engineering, but he needed to keep Karma up to speed.

[SHIPS COMMS/BRIDGE] "Still uncertain why a grav plate would affect propulsion. Checking the contra-grav system to see if we're pushing against the stellar bodies out there."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:22, Fri 15 Sept 2023.

After all of the bruhaha, losing his terminal power, Teddy moved to the bridge noting the gravity to see if he could help.

Lex arrives at the location of the malfunctioning plate and quickly gains access.

[Com-Link/Levi & Fatboi] "I have access to the plate. Fatboi, can you access it from your location."

07:34, Today: Phillip Le'Pierre rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  engineering

Phillip continues to try to ascertain the issue with the plate!

Fatboy did not like space travel, and what he disliked the most was taking off, and loosing the familiar ground from sight. It was like diving: quitting a sunny world with air, and going deep into cold, dark, hostile world.

So he tried to evade the situation by focusing on his search, with the best set of headphones isolating him with loud music, avoiding all Ship-comms that reminded him they left a sanctuary.


Oh no! This meant they did quit Regina for good!


What? The issue must be the alignment of the antenna, then.

The tech guru turned down the music and listened to the exchanges over the comms.


Now what? Gravity plate malfunction? They were going to crash on Regina? Just as he predicted!

[Com-Link/Levi] "Why? I'm not supposed to monitor plates. Engineers do. Stensgaard, do you have any issue with the plates feed? Any trouble remote diagnosing it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:55, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

1107.320 2220hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport Station

Lexon takes the tool kit and trundles out of engineering, wondering where in the world he would access the gravitic plate.  He heard them say it was port and aft, so he triangulates in his mind a general location with easy access.  The port corridor aft would be the most likely spot to look.  He finds a marked grate in the floor, just in front of the port maintenance airlock in the corridor.  Opening it, he sees it leads into a crawl space for maintenance.  Shrugging, he lowers himself into the tight area, and heads into a crawl space back toward the centerline of the ship.  About halfway in, he finds another grate in the flooring marked as an access to the port aft gravitic plates.  Opening that hatch, he is greeted with heat and the smell of heated hardware.  A controls box just inside the space is glowing an intense orange.  Also within the space is a large red handled lever marked as "Manual Decouple".
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:15, Mon 18 Sept 2023.

Lex noticed the disconnect lever and pulled on it. There was a clear click, and the plate's hum began to fade. The orange glow gradually turned red, indicating a decrease in temperature. This indicated that the power had been successfully disconnected.

[Com-Link/Levi] "I’ve manually disconnected the plate.  It was definitely compromised. Once it cools down, should I pull it out or is there something that should be attempted remotely first?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:28, Tue 19 Sept 2023.

1107.320 2230hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport Station

[Bridge]
Whatever the engineers were doing (Com-links are peer to peer and so the bridge is unaware of Lexon's efforts) seems to be working. Suddenly vector control returns to a controllable state. All vectoring is normal except for a pitch down and yaw to the left. A vector in that direction can be accomplished by the pilot pitching, then yawing, or vice versa.

Now, the task ahead is to figure out what and how the event happened, determine if it can be repaired, notify port traffic of the situation, and get back on task.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:42, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

Karma reaches over and touches the port traffic comms icon on a touchscreen on the bridge.

[Comms/PTC] "Port traffic, this is Empress Katarina."

Several seconds pass. Karma glances at the others quizzically before rechecking her comms setting on the screen.

[Comms/PTC] "Port traffic control this is far trader Empress Katarina, do you copy?"

Nothing. No response. She switches to ship-wide comms. Everyone can hear the comms traffic except the passenger area.

[Ship Comms] "What's our networking status Fatboi? Why is intra-comms the only thing working?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:05, Tue 19 Sept 2023.

Harry works on the comms from his station.

[SHIP COMMS] "What can you find on your end Eldorado? I'm working on it up here. Help if you can!"

---

12:11, Today: Harry McStubbin rolled 13 using 2d6+3.  try to fix comms.
Electronics: Comms 10+ (Difficult)
(JoAT+1, Skill +1, Int+2)    Roll=10 +4=14

This message was last edited by the GM at 21:39, Wed 20 Sept 2023.

Eldorado Stout would never admit it, but he was blind regarding comms. He knew computers, AI, remote ops, sensors, drones, you name it; but he had never found the time to study communications, outside of his general Electronics Engineer bases.

Of course, he would never admit that.

[SHIP COMMS] "Yeah, yeah, I'm on it, whatever.", he yawned, mimicking an expert who found that problem too easy to be rushed.

Then he put his considerable intelligence at work. Oh, and he suspected someone was jamming their comms, so he started searching in that direction.

Also, just to be sure, he started an automatic full security scan of all computers, looking for (new) viruses, trojan horses, worms, backdoors, vulnerabilities, and the like.

---

Fatboy Stout rolled 11 using 2d6+2 (skill 0 + INT DM +2) // is someone jamming our comms?

(I won't count the INT DM since Fatboy is not helping nor monitoring, just letting the program run by itself)
Fatboy Stout rolled 11 using 2d6+6. //  is someone hacking our computer?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:56, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

[Com-Link/Fatboy] "Mr. Stout, I need you at the computer station."

"Tanja, correct the course to get us to the station.  I realise it might be more difficult, but I have confidence in your skills."

[SHIP COMMS] "Levi, sit-rep."  Karma says, asking for a situation report on the happenings with the gravitic plate.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:43, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

[COMMS] "Power readings have stabilised. I'm heading your way Lexon, to help assess," Levi says.

He looks over to Phillip, "You got things here.' It was a statement more than a question.

He stood up and looked over the data one last time, satisfying his concern before heading to Lexon's position in the aft.

"Aye formative," Tanja responds, taking full control of the ship and using the remaining gravitic plates to spin her nose to the correct heading.

---

05:52, Today: Tanja rolled 14 using 2d6+7.  Piloting. 
Pilot 12+ (very hard)
(Skill +4, Int +2)   roll=7 +6=13
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:43, Wed 20 Sept 2023.

[SHIP COMMS] "Fatboy here".

He liked to use his code name, for once.

[SHIP COMMS] "I regret to inform you all that our comms system has been locked out and encrypted."

---

Go to the workshop workstation and log Cx-9973P off from the system.
Fatboy rolled 13 using 2d6+5. (INT+2, remote ops+3) overruling CX-9973P.
Electronics: Computers 12+ (very hard)
(Skill +4, Int +2)   roll=8 +6 = 14
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:43, Wed 20 Sept 2023.

Billianah finished checking the goods database and logged off just as she heard the coms about the system being locked out.

[SHIP COMMS] "WHAT!?" Karma replies. "Enroute to C.O.C. (computer operations center)."

Who could have locked out our comms, she wonders as she transitions from the bridge to the computer operations center. It means the gravitic plate is no malfunctioning piece of hardware. The events are by design. But by whom?

[SHIP COMMS] "Levi, be aware. Ship systems are compromised. Unknown how much."

She nods a greeting at Billianah as she enters the room, then stands beside Fatboy's station.

"Who locked us out Mr. Stout?" She asks, glancing at the screens from beside the chair. She sees one screen showing a list of users currently on the network.

"What the hell is a CX-9973P?"

Billianah grimaces, No you don't you tin can. She starts overriding the CX-9973P or whatever lockout and triggers the Ship's self-defence procedures. "Captain, we've got a possible fighter threat closing in on us."

---

Electronics:Computers 12+ (very hard) roll 18
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:44, Wed 20 Sept 2023.

Hearing the warning, Levi returned to engineering. He'd wanted to inspect the grav plate but a hacking threat?

[COMMS] "Understood captian, I'm back in engineering. Lexon leave the plate in place but leave it deactivated.

I want a full diagnostic run on all critical systems, see if there's anything else happening that might need physically disconnecting from the system.

Fatboi, team, I need a full run down of which systems have been compromised at your earliest convenience. We'll be ready to disconnect if they cannot be remotely resolved."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:45, Wed 20 Sept 2023.

"Shyte! What else will this day throw at us?" Karma asks aloud rhetorically.

[SHIP COMMS] "Harry, get to the starboard turret. Dawn, need you in the portside turret. Man the lasers and sandcasters. Verify a systems check. If you find any anomoly, shut it down.""

The fighter is probably a precaution from the highport station. That's what she would do, especially with an erratic flying ship that's not communicating. But, she could not discount the possibility that it is a planned attack after the events so far.

"Mr. Stout, Billianah, I need communications as soon as possible."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Wed 20 Sept 2023.

"Aye, aye Captain, saboteur you think ma'am?" Harry asks as he is heading for the turret, he knew he didn't need computer aid to fire them, as long as they were working any way!

Adriannah checked on the passenger.

If he's not upto mischief Adriannah joins Dawn & Lexon and gear's up, just to be safe.

---

Where is he & what's he upto?
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:26, Wed 20 Sept 2023.

Fighter threat?? Were the sensors compromised as well, in which case was she really taking the ship in the right direction??

She looked at the sensors trying to see through any static or sensor ghosts, but more she wanted to see if she was sensor blind. She still had her own visuals, however. She'd lined up the approach with the planet and had already gauged her new heading using the planet as well as the sensors.

[COMMS] "Incoming fighters?? How many?? What bearing and velocity?? ETA till combat range" she asked in case her own readings were incorrect. She is already looking at her own instruments trying to calculate manually.

---

21:14, Today: Tanja rolled 11 using 2d6+6.  Sensors. 
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:24, Wed 20 Sept 2023.

1107.320 2240hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport Station

[Bridge]
Once the gravitic plate is manually decoupled from the power plant, Tanja is able to recover the flight path with only a few minor adjustments to her usual methods.  The holographic HUD shows a yellow arc flight path to the highport station.  A red blip with an imperial IDENT signature, a fighter, is on an intercept course.  The station and the fighter are much too far away to see visually.  It is still an hour's flight time at a 2G burn.  The transition point is coming up fast though where they will have to turn and begin a deceleration burn at 2G.  All sensors seem to be functioning normally.

[Engineering]
Phiillip continues to work at the problem of the gravitic plate and makes some headway.  First, he finds that the contra-grav program was manipulated by a network user, CX-9973P.  That user is listed as a maintenance drone, which is also interesting, considering the Katarina does not own any maintenance drones.  Was one left on the ship by the shipyard crews?

Levi returns to his station and begins checking other ship functions for anomalies or erratic behavior.  He finds none.  Conferring with Phillip, they both determine that CX-9973P must be on the ship, as it is still in the network.  Should they look for it?

[C.O.C.]
Fatboy learns that CX-9973P has accessed only two of the ship's systems.  Engineering and Communications.  He begins work in gaining access to the communications, while Billianah begins work at trying to get CX-9973P off the system.  It should be a simple task, press a button and the system boots the user.  This is not working however.  CX-9973P, she finds, has rooted itself and created a firewall around itself.  This is no ordinary maintenance drone, nor is it a prank by educational kids.  There are sixteen internal maintenance drone ports on the ship. There are none externally, without accessing a hatch first.  Sensors do not indicate an opened external hatch.

Fatboy finds the communications encryption algorithm a bit archaic.  Good, but archaic none the less.  Nothing that has not been tried before.  He just needs the right sequencer.  He begins work on coding a sequencer to break the encryption algorithm.  It will just take time.

[Maintenance Crawlspace]
Lexon reaches in and opens the small hatch on the top of the one meter square controller box that had been glowing orange.  It has cooled down now, but still warm to the touch.  Inside, he finds a control card that still smolders.  Several components of the card are burnt. He yanks the card from it's socket for either repair or replacement.

[Passenger Area]
Adriannah finds the guest is well.  He answers the door and is genuinely polite when asked if he is okay.  He indicates he has no concerns and asks if they are still on time to reach Belnafaer.  The ship's comms cannot be heard in the passenger's area unless directed there by the captain or other authorized personnel. Adriannah keeps ear buds in or uses her wrist com-link with volume turned low to keep in touch with the ship. After pleasantries, the guest returns to his stateroom business, and Adriannah takes the lift down to the commons area.  She does not find Lexon or Dawn in the immediate area.

[Turret Stations]
Harry and Dawn reach the laser arrays and man their stations.  They do not find any anomalies with the targeting software, nor in the defensive software.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:41, Wed 20 Sept 2023.

Dawn jumps up from reading and slips into a work jumpsuit.  She has her rubber soled comfort shoes on, but grabs her mag boots as she exits the stateroom, just in case.  Hers is the fifth stateroom from forward, so she hustles along the cargo tied down on her right, then turns left to access the corridor and portside laser turret.  She slides the door home and takes a seat at the station, locking her body in and bringing up the power.

A couple of minutes later, she is satisfied the systems are nominal with no anomalies of any sort.

[COMMS] "Portside turret locked and loaded captain. No anomalies to report. EWO ready and awaiting your command."  EWO.  An old wartime acronym but she loves the sound of it.  In the old days, it stood for Emergency War Order and troops had to be EWO ready.

She sighs.  Now, they wait.

The targeting and acquisition software, colloquially known as DRAEDUS, shows nearby targets/friendlies in a grid of greens, yellows, and thankfully no reds.  Most all of the them have registered imperial IDENT signatures. Some have Zhodani IDENT signatures. And interestingly, a couple of them in grey did not have any signature, but they were far, far off and vectoring away.

"I think we need to do a complete and thorough search of the ship and find it, and destroy it. You want to call the captain Levi and we can start the search. We should have all available people involved in the search, it could take awhile, it could be anywhere, even in a crawlspace or behind a panel! Once you tell her, we'll start in here I guess!"

[Comms] "Starboard turret manned and ready, all is normal and ready." he informs the bridge and Dawn.

[COMMS]"Harry. We have next to no time before our planned 2G deceleration burn. I want updated numbers for both 3G and 4G burns in case we cross that threshold and have to brake, hard.

[COMMS] "I also want options in case we have evade. Can we use planetary gravity to help us and hinder them?? They'll probably be expecting a 2G burn but we can do twice that."

She begins checking data and calculations but a sudden thought kicks in and she leaves Harry to start the process.

"Karma," Tanja calls towards the CoC area just behind the bridge. "Do we still have a functioning IFF transponder?? It's on a different system and frequency to our normal comms. Can we tweak it to flash an SOS or craft in distress signal in case the fighter is from the High Port?? Turn it off and on perhaps??"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:28, Thu 21 Sept 2023.

Harry pulls up his personal computer and plugs in the numbers Tanja asked for.

---

15:55, Today: Harry rolled 11 using 2d6+4.  Astrogation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:26, Thu 21 Sept 2023.

[COMMS] "Er, diagnostics done: Only Engineering and Comms seem to have been compromised by the hacking intrusion."



"Mmh.. Billianah..." - Fatboy sweated and looked away while talking to the woman - "Hypothesis: the hacker accessed the maintenance drone ports and left some micromachine there. Do you think we should request someone to inspect all ports visually and unplug everything they find? Before we ask an engineer to disable all maintenance ports cables? Also, how good are you at Comms work? Could we switch tasks?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:29, Thu 21 Sept 2023.

"I do not think so." Karma replies to Tanja a room away.  "I do not recall one in inventory.  But you can do the same with the landing lights once in range."

[COMMS] "Levi, have Phillip rig the landing lights to flash a distress signal.  Once the fighter is in range, they may take notice.  If otherwise, we will know well enough by their actions."

Not understanding what she was seeing on the multiple HUD displays, karma places a hand on Billi's shoulder.  "What is it Billianah?  Can we not boot that thing from the system?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:36, Thu 21 Sept 2023.

Teddy enters the bridge a bit late, he had been reading and wasn't paying much attention to what was going on around him, the gravitic problem got his attention, but it took him a few minutes to get himself together. "The doctor is in the house, is there anything I can do to help out with whatever is wrong, by the way, what the heck is going on?" He offers up.

---

OOC - he does have Gravitics 1
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:02, Thu 21 Sept 2023.

[COMMS]"There is that."agreed Billianah. At his suggestion of working on Comms she gave him an emphatic head shake.

Glancing up at the Captain. "The bot has rooted itself and created a firewall around itself." she informed, running a mental check list of mitigation options.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:53, Fri 22 Sept 2023.

[COMMS] Roger.  Lex looks around to see if there is anything obvious that should be addressed or investigated.  He will hang around near this grav plate, at least for a few minutes,  to see if their diagnostic turns up anything that need to be disconnected.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:02, Thu 21 Sept 2023.

Karma looks from Billianah to Fatboy and back.  "Is this a trojan AI then?  Where is it rooted?  You can't build a firewall around a physical port coupled to an external device or bot... can you?" 

She has other questions, but thought it best to limit her input for the moment and let them do their work.

"I will be on the bridge in the co-pilot seat.  Keep me informed. I will monitor your screen activities and try to keep up with what you are doing." the captain says.  She then exits the C.O.C. and makes her way to the bridge and takes the co-pilot's seat.  She brings up a plethora of screens on the wide holographic HUD display.

"Nearest contact is the fighter." Karma mutters needlessly.  Tanja was keeping track of it, afterall. "Hi Teddy. Would you go find Lexon and give him a hand with the gravitic plate.  I think he is still down there.  See if it can be repaired."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:44, Thu 21 Sept 2023.

"Aye, aye captain, on my way!" he heads down through the ship and hits his comms as he went

[Comms]"Hey Lex, Teddy here, on my way, Which side you on? Port, or starboard?" he asks as he goes so he knows where Lex is exactly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:52, Thu 21 Sept 2023.

[Comms] Teddy, I'm port and aft.

Lex pulls out the diagnostic tool and started working on the grav plate.

---

19:07, Today: Lexon rolled 6 using 2d6+1 ((2,3)) grav plate diagnostic.
OOC: hopefully this is a Routine task.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:17, Fri 22 Sept 2023.

[Crawlspace]
Teddy is enroute to Lexon's location when the marine connects his equipment to the portside aft gravitic plate diagnostics port within the controls box.

• ACTIVE ALARMS AND WARNINGS
• Missing inertia dampening controller card
• Power conduit thermal overload
• Loss of power in conduits
• Current limit exceeding maximum reference
• WARNING - firmware mismatch detected.

[COMMS] "It doesn't matter at this stage what it is, if we can't stop it we need it isolated and quarantined so that it doesn't spread and cause more damage." Levi responds, unaware or not caring that it was Karma who had asked the question. But the urgency in his voice spoke volumes. But he did correct himself.

[COMMS] "Bridge, can you determine where the fighter is coming from?? I'm assuming that it's still accelerating to meet us, it will have taken the shortest intercept route it can.
And Fatboi, for reference, how long would it take to reboot the computer core if we were to shut it down?? The reactor can spool for a while without computer control, and we could always shut it down manually if needed. But if worst was to happen and we needed to, how long would it take??"

Leaning forward so that he can read the data on his display more clearly, he rubs his mouth and chin as he focuses. He didn't want to admit that he had, albeit temporarily, considered denying the computer systems access to power. He knew he could manage the reactor manually, but was also aware that they had corrected their flight path and he wasn't certain that ploughing into a High Port at a high speed was going to be good for the Katerina's health... Or her crew.

He'd shelve that idea for now, leave it as a last resort.

"OK, spitball with me here Phillip." He said to his fellow engineer, wanting to get away from a subject he did not have absolute authority on and back onto one he was much more comfortable with. "We don't have long and we have a lot to do so let's work with what we know. Where would you hide a device that hacks into then alters a computer system, then throws up a protective firewall around itself?? It needs to be somewhere physical, difficult to find accidentally and harder to remove.

For that reason I wouldn't put it on a standard network port, yes?? Too easy to be accidentally spotted. Inside one?? Again, what if the port was damaged or marked and we investigated?? So where??
It would have to be difficult to access, not somewhere we'd regularly look. Somewhere close to the core where it can access freely and quickly, and difficult to remove. Can't be remote as we'd just shut down the wireless network signals and it would fail. Even with high tech, it couldn't force us to keep a network channel open. So it has to be physically connected."

He rubs at his face in thought. "Let's look at the maintenance logs for the Katerina's time in refit. Which systems did they pull apart and when?? They would need to reconnect the damaged cables and run it to the core, but when did they do it?? And which team was it?? I was on board for most of it, and only left on the last day to visit everyone at the diner."

Which was a mistake, in hindsight.

"I never forget a face, and the same teams were working on the Katerina. I know because I spoke with them all." Annoyed by micromanaging them would be a better term.

He wracked his brain for a face that didn't fit. It was a start, at least, and was something that wouldn't take them very long to look through.

"It's either that or we can head off and inspect every physical network port on the ship??" he asks.

[ENGINEERING]
Putting all else aside for the moment, Levi and Phillip put their minds into the problem.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:44, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

To Captain Karma : "Trojan AI - possible. Worse case scenario. Rooted where ? Inside the system now. The physical port was the idea that it had connected physically from somewhere to hack us."

Fatboy and Billianah switched places. The computer tech explained what he'd done about decryption in the most concise way, with the highest information/signal ratio possible.
He then listened to the woman, noting in the back of his head that she seemed more skilled than him, both in computers and communications - a formidable competitor!


Eldorado F. Stout had thought about it. Reboot the server - close all the sessions opened by the users, including the pseudo drone. Better off, shut down the server we're using and turn on the backup server [OOC or the backup image - the same restoration point we have in our computers now - depending on what the GM allows. I think it is reasonable to assume this ship has a whole redundant backup server, ready to replace the first and who could bring the status one hour back?]

Then manually control the user's connections. For example allow the turrets to reconnect first, then the pilot, then the Engineers...

[COMMS]  "Thirty minutes from a cold start by the book Mr. Stensgaard." Karma replies over the comms.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Fri 22 Sept 2023.

[ENGINEERING W/LEVI]

"My diagnostics earlier indicated all sixteen ports are intact and empty with no response to communications traffic. No handshake between hardware occurred. I'm not sure where it could be, but your record of where work was done should help us find it. I hope! First, while you are reviewing the records, I'll physically confirm the diagnostics by checking each port back here in Engineering."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Fri 22 Sept 2023.

[GRAV PLATE ACCESS W/LEX]

Theodore crawled into the access area with Lex, "What do you have Lex? I'm sure you've plugged in already, right?" Teddy asks him.

Levi scanned the incoming data and noticed something unusual. A warning sign from a diagnostic unit. He pulled it up.

[COMMS] "Lexon, wait one. Check that diagnostic about mismatched firmware and a missing chipset. Have you pulled any chips out?? Identify source of both errors."

Mismatched firmware?? That wasn't there earlier. A missing chipset was damaged or pulled, but a firmware mismatch?? That suggested something anomalous pairing with the system.

[GRAV PLATE ACCESS W/Theodore]

Lex looked towards Teddy and nodded his head in recognition.  "I just received the diagnostic results.  Most of the results are as expected, except one.  There is a WARNING about a firmware mismatch."  Lex paused in thought for a moment.  He had been listening to the comms traffic and the discussion on where the hijacking software could be injected. "What are the possibilities that this firmware error is connected to the hijacking software?  Could the grav plate interface be used to insert the malware?"

[COMMS] Roger.  Working on it as we speak.  Lex replied to Levi's inquiry about the firmware and card information.  I suspect he is thinking something similar to my comment to Teddy.

[GRAV PLATE ACCESS]

[COMM] Levi, I pulled the card when the access panel was opened.  It was smoking and pulled it in hopes of limiting the damage.  Continuing to run diagnostics on the firmware mismatch.

Lex continues to manipulate the diagnostic tool.  He initiated a Level 2 probe to gather additional details of the firmware mismatch.

---

16:52, Today: Lexon rolled 7 using 2d6+2 ((4,1)) : cause of firmware mismatch.

"Let me help." Teddy offers Lex.

06:37, Today: Theodore rolled 7 using 2d6+1.  gravitics check.

"It looks like we aren't very good at this Lex. It has me befuddled too, time to hit the books and learn some more!"

Fatboy turned off his headset, then signed to Billianah to do the same an follow him to the bridge. There, he dared to tap the captain's shoulder with a bulging finger, and signed her also to mute the mic.

"Sorry captain.", he whispered. "If IT's an IA, it may listen to our conversations... anyway, I found a way to get the intruder out of the system:
1-switch to the backup server KATRINA-2,
2-allow the legit users, one by one, to connect to it. Meanwhile I reboot KATRINA-1.
3-A few minutes later, both servers are up and running without "the drone"
Worst case scenario: KATRINA-2 does not go online. Then the whole system must be shut down and rebooted without a connection to the main server. Then the back up will be online in its place."

The tech looked at both women, waiting for their comments.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:20, Tue 28 Nov 2023.

Have you factored options which circumvent intrusive mainframe application?

Tanja overheard some of the whispered conversation beside her. Server. Reboot. She felt her heart start to race and took a deep breath, holding it, to slow it down. The entire ship was fly by wire and without the computer the only way to fly the ship would be directly from engineering using a manual process to fire thrusters, if at all. That would make this difficult situation a lot more complicated.

She had some time while the others worked out what they could do, so continued her own calculations to slow the ship down with both 3 and 4G bursts to compare with what Harry had worked out. If they missed their window for a 2G they could use a higher G deceleration to get the ship back under control then dock under more suitable conditions. But she needed to know what the window for each would be - and whether they might need a full 4G evasive burn to avoid crashing with the High Port.

She hoped that she'd lined the ship up well enough so they were travelling in the right direction, but not so well that they were at risk of actually crashing into it on their current heading. The computing team were working on plan A, the engineers on plan B. But they needed a plan C and an emergency plan D, and that was the bridge crew's responsibility.

[COMMS]  "How you doing Harry?? I'll run the numbers myself and we'll compare," She said quietly, realising that with Karma in the co-pilot seat and both Fatboi and Billianah standing at the back of the bridge it was now tight and busy. "If only communications and engineering have been affected, that means our sensors, flight control and data should be reliable. But be ready to eyeball shortly."

---

14:14, Today: Tanja rolled 12 using 2d6+6.  Astrogation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:38, Sat 23 Sept 2023.

[COMMS]  "These are the numbers I came up with, there may be a better course of action." Harry sends the calculations on his computer to Tanja.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:20, Sat 23 Sept 2023.

[COM-Link/Harry]  "Quietly," she says back to Harry, "But possibly. We need our predictions in place for 2G, 3G and 4G deceleration, as well as a 4G evasive turn and burn."

---

With rolls of 11 and 12 from Harry and Tanja, our predictions should be very similar and accurate.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:43, Sat 23 Sept 2023.

"No. Please elaborate.".

1107.320 2250hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport Station

Flight path data indicates transition to decel should occur in 30... 29... 28... 27...
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:44, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

Dawn switches to the topographical display of surrounding space on DRAEDUS. It shows their position in relation to the planet, the station, other ships, and satellites.

"There you are." She mutters, locating the fighter IDENT marker.

Suddenly the lighting dims, the indication according to Vargr spacefaring tradition of transitioning soon to deceleration.

With nothing else to do, she checks the targetting software systems, checks the ammunition storage, checks the missile munitions rack, and finally checks the sandcaster rack.

"Has anyone determined the fighter's origin yet?? Karma I need to know if we're designating it as non-hostile, so we can begin decel thruster burn in t-minus twenty.." Tanja says.

She readies the controls to begin the ship's 2G deceleration at the correct time, conscious of the need for a quick decision.

"Phillip, here," Levi says pointing at his display.

"I'll head down to take a look, possibly grab Theo or Lexon as I pass. Don't use Comms to announce my movement, not yet." he grabs his tool belt hanging in his locker, strapping it to him, and picks up a larger bag of tools as well.

Ready, he rushed out of engineering.

The forward crawlspace hatch is located center of the ship before the cargo bay doors. Levi enters and finds the space containing the grav plate controller cabinet. It is not glowing orange. Pulling the cabinet open, Levi sees nothing out of the ordinary, except for a fault LED blinking red on the controller.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:45, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

Billianah grimaces 'If the Mainframe has been exposed to the intrusive system, we may be in need of a complete overhaul of its applications.' she summarized for Fatboi then quickly sending a Fighter origin launch point co-ordinates to Tanja.

Data sent and recieved. Point of origin is the highport station.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:59, Mon 25 Sept 2023.

Phillip nods acknowledgement to Levi without saying a word. He continues with his inspection of the ports in engineering just in case.

Philip quickly moves through the engineering deck, checking every maintenance port. He finds no drones, nor any devices attached to the ports.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:46, Mon 25 Sept 2023.

"The point of origin is highport station." Karma informs Tanja after recieving the data transmission from Billianah. "Assume the fighter is friendly, unless provoked. Five seconds to transition. You got this."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:53, Mon 25 Sept 2023.

"Aye firmative," Tanja responds.

[COMMS] "Decel burn in three, two, one," she announces over her comms as she activates the controls for deceleration, monitoring the levels of gravity internally as well as the course and velocity of the ship herself. Communications and engineering were compromised, she hoped that meant the ship's controls were still functioning and hadn't been affected indirectly.

The ship begins turning at a rate that does not tax the inertial dampeners. The starfield begins moving as seen through the glasteel panes. But then suddenly, the stars begin moving downward as well, indicating a change in pitch uncalled for. A flasing indicator on the HUD warns of inertial dampener over current.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:50, Mon 25 Sept 2023.

Fatboy felt the urge to shout "and that's why I'm swinging to the backup server!", but he just shrugged when "Billi" went to the comms desk to pinpoint the origin of the fighter.

He felt the time to disconnect/reconnect all users was inappropriate given it was the moment to transition to decel. He ran to his seat and fasten his harness.

He planned to come back when the transition was complete, and once he'd stopped sweating. But the situation went from bad to worse, so he kept seated, waiting for the moment to come when he'll shoulder his responsibilities, and decide - following his own estimation - to disconnect all users a few seconds.

Oh, how he'd like the comfort of a BUPPA TCHUPS lollipop, or KAWGUMMY BEARS candy, now!
This message was last edited by the player at 05:49, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

"Switching to a component running off a compromised system doesn't quite mitigate the situation." Billianah responds. 

---

OOC  Unless the backup server/s are the secondary/tertiary etc computer/s. Is there any IT redundancy for the ship; as the design specs don't show any.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:36, Tue 26 Sept 2023.

1107.320 2250hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport Station

Levi is looking into the controller's cabinet when suddenly he sees the LEDs for output increase to full.  A hum surrounding him gets louder and he can sense the current draw from the power plant, causing some electromagnet static to the air.  The hairs on his arms tingle as they react to the field of energy.
This message was last updated by the GM at 02:34, Tue 26 Sept 2023.

1107.320 2300hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport Station
Lexon and Theodore perform an easy task of a level 2 diagnostic on the controller card itself to glean any information on the mismatch of the firmware. They discover the original OEM firmware was replaced with an unidentified firmware package that when attempted to identify, comes across on the diagnostic screen as a jumble of alphanumeric characters.  Furthermore, damage to several signal amplifiers were damaged.  Basically, it comes down to someone or something hacked the firmware and put the grav plate array into a current limiting state, throwing the power cycle into a sine wave pattern of ups and downs as the autopilot tried to compensate.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:35, Tue 26 Sept 2023.

[GRAV PLATE ACCESS]

[COMMS] “We have results on the Level 2 diagnostic. The OEM firmware indeed was replaced with an unidentified firmware package.  There is also physical damage to several signal amplifiers.  This is clearly a hacking event.  The firmware was replaced and put the grav plate array into a current limiting state, throwing the power cycle into a sine wave pattern.”  Lex, feeling he had gained all the information he could with this set of tools, started packing them up preparing for what would be next.

[BRIDGE]

Seeing the starfield change unexpectedly, Karma reacts.

[COMMS]  "Levi, the forward lower pitch array is compromised. Can you mitigate?" The captain asks, her hand hovering on the Zero-G icon in readiness to shut down all the outer hull inertial dampener arrays.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

[PORTSIDE TURRET]

"Shyte" Dawn mutters, listening to the ship's communications traffic. She quickly dons her mag boots and secures herself in the turret station chair, just in case.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:53, Tue 26 Sept 2023.

Dawn responds to the sudden pitching of the ship without even thinking, her hands a sudden blur of motion based on muscle memory.

"Countering negative pitch," she confirms.

---

18:57, Today: Tanja rolled 15 using 2d6+7. Piloting.

Tanja manipulates the controls of the ship with practiced, expert hands and brings the nose of the ship back into the planned path.  She realises that without the aid of the grav plates, docking with the station will become less routine and a more difficult a task.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:13, Tue 26 Sept 2023.

[COMMS] "I'm at the grav plate now. Give me a moment." He says as he worked. He removed the screws and pulled at the access panel to reveal the circuitry underneath.

Plugging the diagnostic tool in, he was already searching for physical evidence of the damaged circuit and, like Lexon had said earlier, started pulling at the control card to remove it to deactivate the grav plate.

[COMMS] "If it was the firmware corrupting and changing the protocols of the grav plates, deactivating them might not be enough. We may have to pull all the control cards physically to stop the spread.

You may need to dock without contra-grav systems, bridge.

Phillip, keep an eye on the other grav plate controllers and let us know the moment any changes happen.

Lexon, Theo, don't worry about repairing the damaged controller right now. I need you in positions to be able to react wherever this firmware malware jumps next.

One of you stay port aft, the other go starboard aft. I'll stay at the bow.

Be ready to move quickly."

---

20:13, Today: Levi rolled 11 using 2d6+5.  Engineering: Electronics

[Com-Link/Levi]
"Stensgaard, I'm detecting network activity occurring at the node address for the forward pitch grav plate array controller.
So I would say your "new-firmware-card" is either the brain of the cancer, or remotely controlled."

[Com-Link/Fatboi] "Understood."

Hoping the pulled card would be enough to deactivate the plate, allowing him to work with ease, he knew he needed to look further. His hand dropped to his toolbelt and he grabbed at his gloves, putting one of the insulated coverings onto his left hand. If he had to grab or pull a foreign device out, he wanted some protection. Against electricity and small sharp edges he'd be fine... He hoped.


Levi pulls the card from the cartridge and the controllers LED lights go out.  The HUM of the grav plate continues, locked into the last commanded level it was given. There is no evidence of damage, yet the compartmental space is heating up with the output of the grav plate array.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:24, Tue 26 Sept 2023.

In reply to Levi (msg # 198):

[COOMS] "Roger.  We'll reposition."  Lex said over the comms.

Shifting to Theo, "Theo, would you take point on the starboard side?  I'll stay in this area and keep watch for potential problems.  Let's keep in contact and notify if anything happens on your side.  I'll do the same."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:17, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

"Sure thing, this is a bit scary, someone or something is trying to kill us!" and he goes to the starboard equivalent.

Lexon remains in the portside aft maintenance crawlspace corridor just outside the grav plate controller access room. Theodore traverses the crawlspace corridor under the cargo bay to the starboard side. On his way, he passes the maintenance access to the aft pitch grav plate controller access space and finally places himself before the aft starboard grav plate controller access space.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:18, Wed 27 Sept 2023.

[C.O.C.]]


Fatboy realized he hadn't expressed some info aloud.
"Oh - sorry I did not mention that. "CX" is not connected to the backup server. Maybe it's dormant and waiting for the backup server to come online to activate, maybe not. Only one way to tell."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:34, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

Besieged with directives from Levi, Phillip tries to keep up. He has already confirmed all maintenance docking ports for computers or drones were not being used in engineering, or on the ship. Now he is splitting his time between the maintenance logs from the shipyard repairs and monitoring the grav plate controllers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:30, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

Billianah headed to her cabin for a brief respite.

[SHIPS COMMS] "I see the ship is in its expected trajectory and maintaining attitude.
Please, could anyone tell me what the status regarding the fighter is? There is some IT operation I'd like to implement..."

[BRIDGE]

[COMMS]  "Do whatever needs done Mr. Stout.  Fighter is still over thirty minutes out with no change in trajectory.  Ship is on course at the moment."  Karma replies to the computer specialist.

[ENGINEERING]

Phillip uses his personal comms to contact Levi, not ship comms, and he speaks quietly.

[COM-LINK/LEVI] "Levi, this is Phillip, according to the logs, the maintenance bay bulkheads were repaired followed by the installation of all electronics and cabling that was damaged in the attack. Maintenance port MB-001 was replaced, as well as the cabling throughout the missile bay for doors,  comms, a monitor station, lighting, inertial dampeners in the floor, life support systems, and climate control.

Maintenance drone CX-9973P is listed as accessing MB-001 and performing a diagnostics electrical integrity test with the missile bay electrical components. There is no log of it logging off the system.  Strange though, that port comes back as decoupled from any hardware."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:52, Fri 29 Sept 2023.

[COMMS/Phillip] "Received, and thanks." Levi responds automatically.

He calls up the schematics on his tablet, searching for the exact location of the maintenance port MB-001. With a designation like that he assumed it would be the primary node at the bow of the ship, but he didn't have time to decide if it was going to be port or starboard and get it wrong. But the grav plate was still causing the ship some issues.

[COMMS] "Theo, come and swap with me to get this grav plate back up and running. Bridge, it's locked in the same cycle so you should be able to anticipate and correct the Katerina's trajectory. I'll stay and try to resolve it until Theo relieves me."

He continues working on trying to get the grav plate to comply, and reduce the power that it is drawing from the system.

[Comms] "Roger Levi, on my way." [End Comms] Teddy, as fast as he can traverse the ship safely, heads for Levi's position.

[COMPUTER OPERATIONS CENTER]

Fatboy wondered where Billianah has gone, while they were in the middle of a crisis and the comms needed to be decrypted by her vast Communications Engineer skills ...

Was it because of something he said?

Well, he guessed it was one of the women mysteries he was destined never to understand...

He shrugged away his introspection and pressed the button to the ship's comms system.

[COMMS]
"People, I have to disconnect everybody a few seconds from the main server. No data will be lost. It will be nearly unnoticeable. I'll call you individually to reconnect."

...and straight after that, he switched the system to the backup server KATARINA-2
...then cut all connections to and from the main server KATARINA-1, hopefully "jailing" "CX" inside.

When the backup server was online, Fatboy SHUT DOWN THE MAIN SERVER KATARINA-1 THE HARD WAY! :) - by plugging off the power cables, with a gesture full of all the annoyance he had felt until then, from being beaten by a hacking software.

[I suppose the com-links network works independently from the computer network]

Then Fatboy called the other members of the crew, one-by-one, by order of priority, telling them to reconnect to the network (thus reducing the chances that CX impersonated someone).

[I don't know what Multi-Factor Authentication they'll use in Traveller. Certainly a password is not enough. They must use biometrics recognition and other.]
This message was last edited by the player at 08:24, Tue 28 Nov 2023.

"I'm here Levi, what do you need?" he asks when gets to Levi's position.

He wasn't logged onto the main computer at the moment.

Hearing that Fatboi had taken a risk and shut down the server, now was the time to find the device.

"Grav plate is drawing power still and changing our trajectory. With the system rebooting I need you to repair or disable it depending on whether we can find and disable the hacking device.

Start by re-initialising it, but we need to ensure the firmware is reset too."

Levi hands Theo the controller unit and leaves to find and access the MB-001 node.

MB-001 is in the missile bay (hence the MB in the descriptor), and is one of two within that space.  Levi easily locates the hardware dock, noting there is no maintenance drone attached, nor any hardware device.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:00, Sun 01 Oct 2023.

Theodore goes to work on the plate, working what little magic he could to repair it.

---

07:36, Today: Theodore Balakov rolled 11 using 2d6+1.  gravitics check.

Theodore finds the card's board level components intact and undamaged. As a routine task, he uses the diagnostics tool to change the firmware bsck to the original. It passes a simulation check when done.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:19, Sat 30 Sept 2023.

As he returns to the corridor, Levi puts the second glove onto his hand. If fine manipulation is required he could always remove it, but he had a feeling that he'd need the insulating properties first. The thought of additional protection ran through his mind, but he had not time to put a vacc suit on or even find any protection beyond that provided by the gloves. So he clung to their protective quality as an insurance blanket as he ran.

As he rushed along the corridor to the rear of the ship, Levi realised that he should have delegated this task to someone closer to save precious seconds. He'd waited for Theo to arrive before moving, when Theo was passing the missile bay and could have stepped in here much sooner. Still, it wasn't even a minute that had been lost, and Fatboi had only just performed his server switch. He cursed his need to be in control again, but had tried his best to delegate as effectively as he could.

Stepping into the missile bay and with time pressing, Levi searched for and moved towards the network node that was not immediately obvious, the one that would not be used first if someone were to enter this compartment. He was ready to rip the node out of the wall if needs be, but pulled the necessary tools out of his belt and set to work. A sudden paranoid thought occurred to him, and he nudged the comms link to active so that while he could receive, he didn't need to keep activating it if he needed to speak.

[COMMS] "Stensgaard transmitting on vox. I'm in the missile bay. Going for the first node now."

MB-001 is in the missile bay (hence the MB in the descriptor), and is one of two within that space.  Levi easily locates the hardware dock, noting there is no maintenance drone attached, nor any hardware device.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:20, Tue 03 Oct 2023.

Teddy pulled on his insulated gloves and reinstalled the fixed card into it's place to fix the plate. He needed to up his skill here, he felt barely adequate, and lucky.

The card slips back into the slot.  The blinking red light on the controller's board turns to a flashing amber, then another series of lights turn green, corresponding with the number of grids in this grav array.  Soon all are green and the high level hum dies down to a normal droning hum.

[BRIDGE]
Tanja immediately has to correct the ship's attitude as the grav plate array comes back online at the proper levels.  Normal pitch up and down is now available.  The port aft grav array is still inactive, and so Tanja adjusts the attitude of the ship to compensate.  A very easy task with her skills.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:25, Tue 03 Oct 2023.

Adriannah spent time in the Galley checking recipes and selecting a couple that she thought were suitable. She set to work whipping up the first of them for the crew and guest. When done she dishes up a serving for each, which were provided in order of seniority.

The ship's galley, apart from the one above for the passengers, is the passenger reception area when the ship is moving. The circular pattern on the floor is actually a round table with benches that come up hydraulically with a touch of a button on the wall console.  A pantry of packaged edibles, cooling center, and matter reactor for heating beverages and foodstuff is in crew's storage bay just inside the airlock door to the right.  A high power incendiary device is located beneath the floor. Trash accesses it through slots under the rim of the table.

Adriannah sets out meals, ready to eat, arranged on the round table, should anyone know of it and come to eat it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:38, Tue 03 Oct 2023.

[Comms] "Fixed here Levi, on my way to assist if you need it!" Theo heads back to help Levi with the node!

Teddy finds Levi in the missile bay.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:39, Tue 03 Oct 2023.

Lex continues to monitor the area around the aft port grav plate as requested.  Looks for anything unusual.

Lex does not find anything unusual, besides the fact that the power grid is decoupled and the controller is now missing a card.  He finds it odd that one of those cards would not be in inventory as a spare.  Well, he is not certain of that, just that no one has mentioned it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:42, Tue 03 Oct 2023.

Fatboy thinks about installing a second firewall on the backup server, monitoring the ports CX might use to "re-enter" again.  When he hears about the missile bay, Stout fears the hacker would fire a missile on the incoming fighter. So he thinks about starting four different inspection programs (+himself) on everything related to the missile bay.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:10, Tue 03 Oct 2023.

Watching the ongoing IT activity Billianah grimaces, OK then FB you can have it all , she states inwardly. Bringing up her com she sends a message to the Captain stating that her duties as a Broker are preventing other endeavors and therefore she is obliged to cease other responsibilities and duties from this time onward.

[BRIDGE]

Karma looks down at her com-link bracelet, noticing the message that just come across its face and frowns.  Now what, she wonders. Not wanting to jam the comms traffic with this, she types back a message.

[Com-Link Text/Billianah]
// Billianah, I do not know what is going on with you right now, but you are currently my best and only crew member right now to man the sensors while we are in this crisis.  This ship is your priority. Please remain at your station. //
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:53, Tue 03 Oct 2023.

After providing the passenger and crew with a meal Adriannah tidies up, eats a snack, then heads to her cabin. After showering she dresses in sleep wear then hopes to spend a few hours reading before hitting the bunk.

Adriannah retires to her stateroom for a bit of reading.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:56, Tue 03 Oct 2023.

[Port Traffic Authority / Comms]

"...ship's attitude.  You have no IDENT.  We will fire upon you.  Do you copy?  Again, this is..."

Karma immediately activates the outbound ship comms icon on her holo-display.  It seems the switch between servers has recovered the outbound communications array. But for how long?

[Bridge Comms / P.T.A.]

"Highport station. This is the Empress Katarina.  Ship's control temporarily compromised. Transponder IDENT compromised.   Correcting the problem now. Do not fire on us. Over?"

"We see your IDENT now Empress.  Do you have control of your ship?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:12, Tue 03 Oct 2023.

Billianah glances at her wrist com, scowling at the Captain's comment. She obviously swallowed the gump FB alluded to. Sending an acknowledged reply to the Captain, Billianah logged into the sensor array and stared at the display as it presented data, screen displays, and such. She is the Computer Operator/Coder, she scowls, not a Security or Sensor Tech.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:14, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

FatBoy is setting the existing Firewall to "always ask". Every program that wants to access the mainframe must be approved by him

Of course he approves navigation, fire control, ships systems like gravitics, engineering, power plant, fuel systems, and life support (all integral to the ship's computer). He just checks that they have not been altered in the last hours. The installed packages such as Intellect, Maneuver, and Jump software packages have an integrated permissive that bypasses the firewall.

He approves com-links.

Data ports, stations, and any device using data links (which is just about every device aboard) will be affected

If he has a doubt, he'll call an engineer or the person who uses the device

[COMMMS] "hey Adriannah Orilliah, have you taken something out of the fridge? Because it's sending a message to the server, probably that something needs to be ordered at our next stop, but you never know..."

Once the flow of requests has diminished, "The Stout" accesses the logs of the works on the missile bay. What firmware were updated, and when? Were firmwares updated after the engineers were supposed to have stopped working on them? He filters the logs by date, asking the Engineers here and there questions if necessary.

---

OOC: no-brainer there, if he knows the programs, their date of installation, the certificate of the editor, etc. he allows it.

Elderado Stout rolled 9 using 2d6+6 ((1,2)) - Electronics, Computers.
Elderado Stout rolled 11 using 2d6+6 ((3,2)) - Electronics, Computers.


With the secondary server running and CX-9973P not rearing it's ugly head yet, Fatboy takes the time to get a couple of things done.  First, he screens access to the server, manually allowing external, non-fundamental systems in by priority.  He is inundated with ship-wide systems requesting access to the server and begins addressing them until satisfied.  He then begins a forensic-like analysis of the maintenance logs for the missile bay, wherein he finds no updates to any of the firmware in that area after installation of new equipment.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:23, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

It was unnerving. In space the distances were so large that everything was done in light seconds. Tanja would burn the thrusters, and watch as she was informed her velocity was decreasing but it would take some time to see it through the cockpit's canopy. And that was the case now. With no instruments to inform her and no close frame of reference for her to use, it seemed as if they weren't travelling at all. Then, as the external comms flicked back into life, the HUD before her lit up advising of the reboot. She held her breath as the next few moments stretched out into infinity. And then the lights on the controls lit up informing her that power was coursing back into the ship's systems, and soon she would be able to act.

Karma reported into Regina Highport, meaning she didn't have to do so. That was good. External communications were active, and they were transmitted a transponder signal. At least they weren't going to be fired upon... Yet. As more systems reactivated, Tanja leaned forward in her seat.
[COMMS] "Bridge to Fatboi. We have power and systems here, thank you. Systems are rebooting and performing self check. We'll be operational again in no time."

Cancelling the comms, her eyes darted over the progress of the systems. "C'mon, c'mon..." she whispered impatiently, mentally willing the system reboot to be quicker and, more importantly, complete.

And like that her HUD came alive. Navigation controls became active, first. Without waiting for the sensors to kick in, Tanja reactivates her comms;

[COMMS] "Warning, we're going to start decel in three..."


Giving everyone a few seconds to prepare in case the gravity in their areas wasn't functioning fully, she initiates a 2G negative burn to begin their deceleration. Not sufficient to cause too much disruption to the crew while they worked, but enough to slow down, to prove to the incoming fighter they had regained control and were not a threat, and to begin to reduce velocity to an acceptable, tolerable level for approach to the High Port. When the sensors were fully operational she'd know their exact velocity and time to the high port secure zone, and could calculate how long they'd need a 4G burn for.

Hell, if they needed to burn at 4G for longer than needed to get the ship under control and stop speeding like a missile, they could always glide into the High Port unpowered and rely on the emergency craft and tugs to help redirect them. But for now their speed was her main concern.

---

I'm going to make a couple of rolls for piloting and mental calculation of speed and deceleration prior to the system coming back online.  I'll roll both Astrogation and Astrophysics to calculate deceleration, and Piloting to get the ship back under control and on-course.

10:52, Today: Tanja Skorskald rolled 16 using 2d6+6.  Astrogation.
10:52, Today: Tanja Skorskald rolled 11 using 2d6+3.  Science: Astrophysics.
10:51, Today: Tanja Skorskald rolled 15 using 2d6+7.  Piloting.

After the systems have rebooted, Tanja is quick to use the gravitic plates to turn the ship around one hundred and eighty degrees in space.  As far as she can tell, the gravitic plates in the floors are working normally.  She feels no zero gravity when the M-drive shut down for the turn.  She has to manually correct in her mind's thinking on how to adjust the attitude of the ship and stay in trajectory with the port aft gravitic array down.  Satisfied the trajectory is correct, and apparently having the computer agree with her, Tanja initiated the negative 2G burn, but there is no response from the M-drive.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:04, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

"Theo, find the damned bot even if we have to tear this place apart!!"

Even as he said the words, he glanced around him and was reminded where he was. The gravity plate repair could wait. He needed to ensure that no missiles would leave this area. He rushed to the manual systems to lock the missile room down, preventing the activation, movement and launch of any of the ship's payload.

With his gloves still on he fumbled at the controls, deactivating the power to the loading sequence and physically locking the external launch tube doors.

---

And again I've rolled the two skills that make most sense here. If it's an electronics roll, Levi hasn't quite managed to engage the manual systems. If it's mechanical, he should have.

10:59, Today: Levi Stensgaard rolled 6,12 using 2d6+3,2d6+3.  Technical: Electronics, Technical: Mechanics.


Levi Stensgaard manually locks the missile bay down, shutting down the intellect on the missile bay workstation.  He also manually locks out the missile bay doors and turret lifting pistons.  He finds no "bot" within the missile bay's visible areas.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:22, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

Adriannah gave a groan of disgust as she glanced at the speaker. Just great, I've bboy keeping track of what I'm doing. Doesn't he have anything better to do with his time.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:12, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

Theodore searches for the bot, wherever it is hiding! (missile bay)

---

06:35, Today: Theodore Balakov rolled 15 using 2d6+3.  Search for bot, using Streetwise and JoaT.

Teddy does not find a "bot" within any visible space he searches.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:03, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

Lex hears the comms traffic about a bot.  He is still in the area of the aft port grav plate, as requested.  Not wanting to leave his post but wanting to do what he could to help he also started looking for the bot.

[COMMS]  "I'll look in my area for the bot also."

---

Searching for the bot is a observation skill using Intelligence.  Making two possible rolls:
05:49, Today: Lexon Reed rolled 8 using 1d6+5. (Recon/ observation)
05:49, Today: Lexon Reed rolled 6 using 1d6+3. (Mechanic/ observation)


Lexon does not find a "bot" within any visible space he searches.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:04, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

1107.320 2320hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport Station

[BRIDGE]
Karma immediately reaches for the controls at her station, trying to activate the M-drive.  There is no response.  She looks over at Tanja, "Better let port traffic authority know." she says, jumping out of the co-pilot seat.  "Be ready for an immediate course correction or procedures for slowing with 4G maneuvering when the drive comes back online.  If it doesn't--"  She shrugs, then leaves the bridge, headed for engineering.

[ENGINEERING]
Phillip watches as the screens light back up.  Normal, normal, nor--  What the?    The M-drive screen is dark.

[PASSENGER'S BAY]
The guest aboard the Empress, presses the button again, and again.  Then huffs in irritation.  Not too long afterward, he makes his way over to the wall console.  He presses the com-link button for Adriannah Orilliah  "Erm, erm... Missus.  Erm, hello?  There is a problem with the, erm, facilities in my stateroom.  Can anyone help?"

[C.O.C.]
Billiannah is still scowling, when a sensor alarm flashes on her screen.  It is a smoke alarm from the lower M-drive crawlspace access.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:44, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

Phillip immediately goes to work on the Maneuver Drive! Everything he can think of to bring it back online!

[COMMS]  "M Drive malfunction Levi, I'm on it and trying!"

---

13:45, Today: Phillip La'Pierre rolled 9 using 2d6+3.  engineering check.

The maneuvering drive is unresponsive from any screen.  It is as if it has lost communications.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:27, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

Not finding a "Bot" Lex continues to carefully search the area for anything that looks out of place.  Lex, thinks to himself There was a physical tampering of the Grav Plate in this area, did they do anything else.

---

Searching is a observation skill using Intelligence:
11:08, Today: Lexon Reed rolled 12 using 2d6+5 ((5,2)) (Recon/ observation)


Lex finds nothing in the area he is searching to indicate any further tampering.   He has scoured the port aft gravitics array bay thoroughly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:40, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

Phillip goes to run the M-drive manually!

[Comms] "I can use a hand if someone is free! Trying to run the drive manually!"

---

14:17, Today: Phillip La'Pierre rolled 9 using 2d6+3.  engineering check.

Phillip moves from the engineering deck to the raised platform where things can be operated manually.  He throws the lever to switch from automatic systems control over to manual operation, then begins pressing buttons, twisting dials, checking sensors, reading a chart or two, and getting things started.  It will take ten minutes by himself to get the drive fully operational at 2G thrust.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:32, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

Karma enters the engineering room and looks around, not finding anyone.  She hears the clomping of mag boots on the steel plate flooring of the platform above and sees Phillip bent over a console through the mesh grating and trays of wiring.

"What's the situation Mr. Pierre?"  she says loud enough for him to hear.

"By myself, it will take ten minutes to get fired up to 2G thrust, with help, we can do it in 5 to 7 minutes! Depending on how good you are!"

[C.O.C] Billianah forwards the alert to Engineering.

[Comms] "Lexi! Smoke alarm in M-Drive crawlspace! Possible fire! Can you assist? Levi, Theo, can one of you respond as well?" Phillip asks over comms.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:53, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

Adriannah heads to the passengers cabin to assess the situation & apologise for the inconvenience. She contacts Engineering reporting the fault and let's the Captain know.

Fires in starships were dangerous, so suddenly his priority became the engineering bay. Whatever was causing this definitely seemed to be moving around. A small robotic saboteur??

[COMMS] "I'm on my way." Was that an order by Phillip, or a request?? Levi would review it later. He was the chief engineer, not Phillip. He felt the challenge to his authority, meant or otherwise. The engineering team needed to resolve this issue, and quick.

[COMMS] "Lexon, Theo, we need to get ahead of these problems. Run the logs, chart the movement of the malfunctions. Is there a pattern forming?? Are the systems affected connected, directly or indirectly?? If so, what system is next??"

And with that, he rushed out the missile bay and across the corridor back into the engineering bay. They needed to confirm the existence of a fire, deal with it, and get the M-drives up and running.

Once in the engineering bay he assesses the situation, pulling at the emergency locker and taking out one of the fire extinguishers, either the non-conducting foam or CO2 in case the fire was electrical in nature. "Report, what do we know... Oh, hello Karma."

In reply to Phillip La'Pierre (msg # 238):

[COMMS] On it! I'll hit the port m-drive.  It's closest to me.  One of you other guy hit the starboard m-drive.

Lex garbed a CO2 fire extinguisher and supplemental O2 on his dash to the port m-drive bay.  My IR implant will make short work in finding the fire.  Lex thought to himself.

Lex arrives in the m-drive bay and scans the area using his implant in the attempt to located the fire.  He also readies the extinguisher and dons the O2 so that once the fire is found he can attack it.

---

OOP: Fire detection with IR feature of implant is an observational skill + INT:
15:15, Today: Lexon Reed rolled 13 using 2d6+5 ((3,5)).

Sensors are up, so Tanja is at least able to monitor the situation outside of the ship, but she felt useless and unable to do anything despite being at the controls. She resists the urge to leap out of the chair and start pulling at ship systems. She now wishes for some reactive drive thrusters. She could use them to begin deceleration of the ship. It would help, at least a little, in giving her time to calculate a change in trajectory if necessary. But no, this ship uses gravitic plates for ship attitude.

[VOX/PTA] "Regina Port Authority, Empress Katerina. We do not have full control of our ship. Repeat. We do not have full control of our ship. Main drive is compromised and repair teams are working on it. We have gravitic plate movement only and are on a collision course.

Repeat. Main drives compromised. Gravitic plates are functioning, but we are on a collision course. Ready your teams and rescue craft, we may be declaring an emergency soon and requesting assistance."

[COMMS] "Engineering, bridge. Do you need an extra pair of hands down there?? I'm sitting pretty doing sod all up here!!" she asks.


Tanja relays the information to port traffic authority.  There response is chilling.

[PTA/VOX]
"Empress.  We read you.  M-drive inoperable. Collision imminent.  Be advised station missile defenses will be activated at a 50 kilometer threshold if course is not altered.  Quick response rescue teams briefed. Good luck.  Highport station out."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:00, Sun 08 Oct 2023.

While acting on Phillip's request, Lex hears Levi's request.
[COMMS] "Levi, I'm already in the port m-drive crawlspace access bay with an CO2 extinguisher.  Looking for the fire."

Lexon exits the gravitic crawlspace access and traverses the small corridor under the floors of the lower deck until he reaches the portside M-drive access hatch.  With his IR vision, he easily determines the access hatch is hotter than it should be.  He opens it and sees smoke lingering along the ceiling of the access bay beneath the M-drive. At a console between the Portside and Starboard drives a communications module sparks and crackles with electricity.  Some of the molding is on fire, melting away and dripping to the floor in a hot, sizzling goo.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:23, Sun 08 Oct 2023.

"Keep comms chatter to a minimum," Levi advises from inside the engineering bay, "Let's not fill the channels with chatter if we don't need to." His manner was calm, but he was still irked by Phillip's earlier demand, even if he was right to request the aid.

"What is on fire on my ship, Phillip?? Have you found the source yet??"

Karma crosses her arms and stands to the side, letting Levi into the engineering bay.  She watches, saying nothing as he takes command of the engineering fiasco that is unfolding.  At Tanja's request to Levi, she reaches up and activates her the com-link earbud.

[COMMS/Bridge]
"Tanja remain at station.  Captain out."   She says, loud enough for Levi to hear.

She then checks her wrist band.  A message from Adriannah.  The captain frowns.  A guest inconvenienced is the last thing she needs, and it will have to wait.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:38, Sun 08 Oct 2023.

[COMMS] "Received." Tanja confirms.

To keep herself busy, she maximises the sensor display and begins probing around the area, searching for anything out of the ordinary. The only signal had been the approaching fighter, but what if there was something hidden from view?? What if there was something else potentially camouflaged, moving with such a small energy signature that it wasn't visible to sensors. Or at least, wasn't visible to them running sensors passively like they were doing.

She began to search for a signal sink in the area or any anomalous that distorted the signals they were sending out. Could a ship completely mask its emissions?? It was easy enough to disable a transponder, but surely the powerplant and emissions from their thrusters and main drive would be visible?? Powerplants could be masked, she supposed, but thrusters??

She needed to know.

---

10:57, Today: Tanja Skorskald rolled 13 using 2d6+6.  Electronics: Sensors.

Tanja busies herself with sensor readings, searching for a needle in the haystack.  She finds nothing anomolous in the surrounding space of the ship. All visible emissions are accounted for by ships leaving or arriving in the sector.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:11, Sun 08 Oct 2023.

Phillip continues to work on finding the fire and getting the M-Drive fired up before they all die!

---

06:32, Today: Phillip La'Pierre rolled 13 using 2d6+3.  engineering check.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:17, Sun 08 Oct 2023.

Lex, using the IR feature in his eye, was able to quickly locate the fire.

[COMMS] "Looks like the communications module is fried and the molding around the module is on fire." Lex reports back to the team.  He simultaneous gives the fire a couple of short bursts of the CO2 extinguisher and watches the fire die out. "The fire is now out. Once it cools down I'll get a little closer and see what else I can learn."

While the area cools Lex used the telescopic feature of his eye to examine the remains of the communications module from a distance to see if he could learn anything.  He also scans the area to see if anything else looks out of place.  Has there been a physical tampering of the hardware in this area also he thought to himself remembering what happened in the grav plate area.

---

OOP: Using observational skill + INT:
05:22, Today: Lexon Reed rolled 10 using 2d6+5 ((4,1)).

The smoke clears, sucked away by the air filtration scrubbers.  After the application of the CO₂, the module is cool enough to investigate.  With an augmented focal length in his eyepiece, Lexon makes no new discoveries, other than a fact that this is a low voltage assembly, the heat would take time to get to the stage it was at.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:27, Sun 08 Oct 2023.

"The computer core is shut down, the server mirrored and locked down. Then this communications module fries, but we still have internal and external comms..." Levi summarises, "But the M-drive is still down?? How is all this connected??" Lexon's words calmed him, and Phillip's continued diligence meant they had a moment for thought and to plan.

He looks over at Karma, "For what purpose?? They could have planted a bomb that exploded as we powered up the powerplant, that would have killed us all and disabled the ship. Why the secrecy?? Why this level of sabotage?? Why start with the grav plates?? Surely they'd have known we could deal with that quickly. A distraction?? But then, why the missiles then the M-drive here??"

He was talking quickly, to no-one in particular, but everyone in the engineering bay could hear him.

"Do they want the crew dead or disabled, but the ship intact?? That would explain lack of comms, but not the M-drive. Are they trying to strand us?? Board us?? Use us as a weapon?? But surely they'd know the High Port would send fighters to fire on us, thus destroying the ship, or we'd still be in the planet's gravity and eventually be pulled in. It makes no sense." He pauses for a moment, then his eyes light up, a concerned look in them. He touches his earpiece, reactivating his comms.

[COMMS] "Tanja, which direction was the Katerina trying to alter course to the first time?? And was it trying to go in the same direction the second time we lost control??" he asked, still looking at Karma, disconnecting the comms.

"Are we being redirected somewhere?? Or... Shit, the hyperdrive!! Who is monitoring the jump drive?? We need to disconnect that so it doesn't engage!!"

He begins to move to the ladder leading down to the lower deck of engineering, calling out as he ran, "Lexon, Phillip, keep checking in here. Make sure the fire is out and no others will happen, and see if there is something physical causing the damage if you can. Monitor the powerplant, make sure that it doesn't start to overload.

I'm going to sort the jump drive out."

And with that he slide down the ladder, onto the lower deck and began the physical process of disengaging the hyperdrive from computer control, much like he did in the missile bay. He knew he couldn't turn it off, but he had to disable the controls to the j-drive before something untoward happened. After all, if he wanted to make any ship into a weapon he would use the powerplant or the jump drive. Both could draw in huge amounts of power and both could unleash it outwards if necessary. Was that what was happening here?? But if that was the case, activating the jump drive without co-ordinates, the correct amount of power, the correct trajectory and speed, and within range of significant planetary gravity could cause the ship damage, but it would definitely have severe consequences for the occupants of the craft. Especially if the jump envelope collapsed mid-jump.

For now, he had to ensure the jump drive would not engage until he wanted it to.

---

15:04, Today: Levi Stensgaard rolled 15 using 2d6+6.  Engineering: Jump Drive

Levi descends the ladder and upon reaching the floor notices the screen on the console for the J-drive. The radial for the power up is moving. Levi races across the deck to the console, realising his fears are justified. They were moments from a Jump. Levi kicks the cover off the computer communications module, breaking it and sending it flying across the floor. He yanks the thick comms cable from the dock port, decoupling the computer from the J-drive. The drive is disabled with a comms fault. Only then, does Levi breathe easier.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:36, Sun 08 Oct 2023.

Karma descends the ladder, more slowly than Levi, but with no less anxiety as she realises the implication of Levi"s words. She is surprised, then worried as Levi races to the J-drive human-machine interface. The HMI was registering a power build-up.

She approaches him after the system powers down. "That was too close, Levi." She says with obvious relief in her voice.

[COMMS/FATBOY]
"Mr. Stout. Our systems are still compromised it would appear."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:57, Sat 14 Oct 2023.

Theo doesn't find anything in the missile bay after tearing it apart looking everywhere! He heads back to Engineering to help again. Hoping they find the culprit before they all die! Something was trying to kill them!
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:41, Sun 08 Oct 2023.

Tanja looks over the data from earlier, but she already knew the answer.

[COMNS] "Afraid not, Levi, the ship was moving in two different directions, and at different rates. If we'd left it alone possibly, but we countered it very quickly.' she confirms. "No way to tell for sure."

Breathing quickly from his exertions, Levi physically checks both M-drives on his level looking for physical evidence of sabotage.

[COMMS] "Engineering teams. We need manual control of the maneuver drives to begin our deceleration. Check systems are stable with no power surges, but above all else monitor and see where the little sod has bee, and what systems it's left attached to."

Levi finds no discrnible damage to the M-Drives on his level. There is nothing pointing to sabotage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:00, Sat 14 Oct 2023.

[COMMS/LEVI] "Suggesting de-connecting the missiles, Stensgaard. I noticed a disparity in the communications to and from the missile bay. Delay in transmissions. Data is bottlenecked there. And that's not a damaged cable."

"Already half way through the procedure Levi, I'm on it. Help would get us there faster!" Phillip tells him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:01, Sat 14 Oct 2023.

"Perhaps I SHOULD go back to the missile bay and tear it completely apart until I find the little bastard! What do you think Levi? Captain?" Theo asks his superiors!

Karma responds on the ship's comms, "Good idea Theo. Do not break anything but open all access hatches in the bay and inspect them for anything unusual, especially our cables. Have someone inspect the missile bay crawlspace accesses too. Captain out."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:06, Sat 14 Oct 2023.

Billianah continued to stare at the sensor display as screens quickly refreshed or changed doing whatever they were doing.

Billiannah discerns nothing unusual concerning the screens she watches.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:07, Sat 14 Oct 2023.

[COMMS] "I'm at the fried M-drive communication panel, let me see what I can do."  Lex stated while cocking his head and thinking Now how am I going to do this.

---

OOP: Not sure how to execute this but will guess -- Mechanic + INT
14:19, Today: Lexon Reed rolled 7 using 2d6+3 ((2,2)) ... are there bennies in this system :)

Lex finds the unit is possibly beyond repairing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:09, Sat 14 Oct 2023.

Breathing quickly, sucking in lungfuls of air to get his mind working again, Levi looks at Karma and focuses his attention to the problem at hand. Two things needed resolving - they needed the M-drive back up and running, and they needed to find the source of the targeted malfunctions. One thing appeared certain to Levi, the Katerina was being used as a weapon against the High Port. They didn't need to decelerate, they needed M-drives back to change their trajectory to avoid the collision, so they had time left. The calculations were based on a 2G deceleration burn, but as Tanja had pointed out they could 4G burn in half the time.

Or, if needed, 4G burn to avoid the collision, which would be easier and less time critical, and then worry about creating an appropriate approach vector for landing at the High Port. They still had time.

Which meant that whatever was causing these issues needed the Katerina, so they weren't going to detonate the missiles internally. At least, not yet. So they didn't need to disable the warheads, not yet. What would he do in this situation, now?? They'd attacked the contra-grav system and gravity plates, disabled the M-drives and communications. What would he do?? What was happening?? Was this a consequence of the Zhodani/Imperial meshing of systems?? Was it something that had existed inside the Zhodani system that was now released?? Hell, could it be a security AI or even a psychic thing?? But why the missile bay. Surely, it would have appeared in the sensors??

An odd thought occurred to him. Had it made the Katerina into a missile to damage the High Port, and then decided to use a missile as an escape pod for itself?? No surely not... But the irony if that were true!! But there was a task at hand.

He locks eyes with Karma in apology, turns and rushes out of the engineering bay heading along the port side of the ship as fast as his legs would carry him. As he ran he speaks quickly into his comms set. [COMMS] "All hands. We need to lock down all systems that are networked that could affect us or the Katerina's functions. Disable them, set them to manual and lock them down.

Lexon, Phillip; the M-drive is your priority. Disable computer control and set to manual, that should remove the risk of further fire but be vigilant. Liaise with the bridge once it's done, and worry about avoiding the collision rather than slowing us down." They could worry about decelerating and regaining full control of the ship's flight after, he added mentally to himself.

[COMMS] "Tanja; we need to know how long before impact, and what our window is for an effective evasive burn. Avoid putting us into more danger if at all possible.

Harry, Dawn; manually disable your turrets. Then it's all hands on deck to find whatever the source is and disable it.

Theo; continue your search of the missile bay. Fatboi, can you help co-ordinate?? You say there is a data log. Where?? Which system, which area, hell which cable if you can narrow it down?? Help Theo localise it and I'll be joining him presently."

He was running quickly, his words exploding from his mouth quickly as he sucked in air while running. He'd made it to the port side cargo bay airlock when he paused for a second, and his gut warned him to be cautious. Ignoring the digital display that he expected to tell him all was well and looking at the manual confirmation to say the interior was pressurised and had oxygen. As the system ran its cycle he continued his conversation;

[COMMS] "Karma; I need to take critical systems away from computer control and set to manual. I'll start with life support and gravity, but need to be in the control room. That just leaves the port and starboard airlocks, and the cargo doors at the bow. We have Dawn and Harry once they're out of the turrets, but I don't know who else is free. We cannot have those doors opening and stopping or slowing the crew down. Passive systems like sensors can be left for now, but any other active system needs locking down."

He really wished that he'd had time to put on the vacc-suit earlier as the cycle completed itself and he decided whether to risk opening the door.

The cycle completes. Decision time.

There are no responses, as yet to your directions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:13, Sat 14 Oct 2023.

Karma quickly takes command of Levis workstation and activates a command override function. She sets all functions of the ship to manual control only, wishing she had done that earlier.

[COMMS/BRIDGE]
"Tanja, you have manual control of the ship until this is resolved. Hope to have maneuvering recovered soon. Captain out."

[Com-Link/LEXON]
"Lex, any luck with that module? What is your assessment?"

[Comms] "Roger Levi! Done! On manual, computer disconnected!" Harry says as he throws a few switches to move to manual.

[Comms]"Roger Levi, already did that when I switched the M-drive to manual!" Phillip replies to Levi.

[Comms] Roger Levi, I'm working on it!" Theo continues to open everything he can to find the problem. Every door, every access panel, and even covers that aren't meant to be opened. He tried to look everywhere!

Theo opens an access hatch to life support for the missile bay and sees a bank of regulators, filtration scrubbers, and sensors that monitor the air.  Hearing a small humming noise, he peeks around the edge of the access and looks down a cable tray that holds the communications among other assorted cables.  He sees an odd looking device attached somehow to the communications cable, a small display on its side blinks with strange characters along with some sort of metering indicator.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:50, Sun 15 Oct 2023.

Eldorado cogitated. He had allowed the communications between the backup server and the Jump Drive. How was he not warned by the server that the jump was imminent ? And what about the fire in the M-Drive? How come he could see a delay in the communications with the missile bay, but not the data itself?

The only logical conclusion was there was another server connected to the network, maybe posing as a regular server. Maybe it was acting as "the man-in-the-middle", sending the ship's server messages as "no updates to any of the firmware in that area after installation of new equipment."

The computer guru began to review the communication logs between the J-Drive and the system (since the KATARINA-2 server was the backup of KATARINA-1, it inherited all comms logs before the switch to K2 as the main server)

OOC new rolls, but oriented towards the network now
Elderado Stout rolled 13 using 2d6+6.  J-Drive comms logs.
Elderado Stout rolled 12 using 2d6+6.  network scan.

Eldorado discovers more that lends credence to his theory.  The J-drive received the command to jump but not from the ship systems. There is no log of where the command originated.  Network scan reveals the same as before, but additionally the lag in comms from the ship system to the missile bay by two hundred and fifty picoseconds. An obvious discrepancy now that he knew what to look for.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:56, Sun 15 Oct 2023.

Whatever the digital response said, if the manual system, the one that the computer could not influence or affect, said there was atmosphere then he had believe it. He checked the airlock's seal then tried to open the door. If there was a vacuum the door wouldn't open.

Plus it was the quickest way to the life support control room.

Analog indicators do not indicate a vacuum beyond the door.  The door opens as expected.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:57, Sun 15 Oct 2023.

[COMMS] Lex gives his status. "The M-drive communication panel can not be repaired quickly, perhaps not at all.  I've disconnected all wire to it for the moment."  But thinking to himself he knew, given enough time he could repair it, but that is not of immediate use.  Looking around and not seeing anything else that needed attention he opened up the COMMS once again.

[COMMS] "I've done what I can here.  Sounds like Phillip has converted the M-drive to manual.  Where do you need me?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:08, Sun 15 Oct 2023.

Dawn yawns, then turns and switches the turret command and control to manual.  She then situates herself in the gunner's chair, grabbing the two pronged firing control stick in her hands.  The turrets then moved to the direction her chair is pointing; ninety degrees straight along the axis of the ship forward.  She moves the turret back and forth a few degrees each way with her feet, getting the feel of the manual control.

[COMMS/Captain]
"Captain. Portside turret under manual control. Dawn out.." she informs.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:07, Sun 15 Oct 2023.

Not quite sure why he had been holding his breath - if the door had opened to vacuum then he'd have been sucked into space, breath or no breath - Levi steps into the airlock, straight to the external door. He needed to get to the life support control, but there was no time to wait for somebody else to secure this hatch. He quickly converts the external hatch to manual ensuring it is secure before he moves on.

Billianah scrolled through the destinations market site checking the various commodities for sale then switching over to what was being requested or preferred.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:27, Sun 15 Oct 2023.

While the others tore the ship apart, fiddled with electronics or attempted whatever it was Fatboi was doing with his computer, Tanja had to trust that they'd get their jobs done. She had to be patient.

She monitored the display, hoping beyond hope that it had not been compromised and was accurate. She had no maneuvering control yet, relying instead on the engineering bay to manually cycle up the M-drive to 2G thrust.

"Engineering, this is the bridge. Once the M-drive is under manual control, I need you to set it to a 2G thrust burn of the engines. When the Katerina's nose has come a full hundred and sixty degrees around we'll initiate a controlled decel to target at 4Gs.

Confirm when you have the M-drive ready and can fire the thrusters."

---

(GM) Edited to reflect that the ship's maneuvering control (yaw, pitch, and roll) is done by gravitic plactes.  Maneuvering drive is for forward thrust only for maneuvering momentum. Only react drives have thrusters.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:11, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

"I found it Levi! Please get here now and help get it out of here! I'm working on it!"

---

05:57, Today: Theodore Balakov rolled 8 using 3d6+1, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 5,1,2.  mechanical.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:14, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

[Comms] "Roger Tanja! On-line now! We just finished!" Phillip replies!
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:12, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

A sense of relief flooded him, but Levi had to be sure.

[COMMS] "Received and on way.  To any engineers or techs in the bow sections, I need someone in life support control ready to switch that to manual if needed."

He hoped it was not necessary, but he wanted it in place just in case. After all, it might take a minute to reach Theo, and another few to disable the device. In that time who knows what damage it could do.

With that he turned, left the airlock, manually sealed it behind him and rushed to Theo's location in the missile bay.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:19, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

Lex knowing he was available and not knowing who all was qualified as engineers he opened the COMMS.

[COMMS] "I'm heading to life support, unless someone is closer.  I'm near the M-drive communication panel."

He did not wait for a reply, he started maneuvering the tight space under the floors near the communication panel. He figured by the time he was back on the main floor he would know if there was someone closer to life support.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:08, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

1107.320 2330hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport Station

[BRIDGE]
Tanja regains control of the ship's maneuvering capability as the engineers get both of the M-drives cycled to a 2G setting.  The output allows her to maneuver the ship into a trajectory with the gravitic plates that are working.  Once satisfied on the trajectory, she calls for engineering to set the drives to a 4G output.  This will bring the ship to a near-stop momentum at a position within 10,000m of the space station in 22 minutes.  She watches as the fighter's engine burn gets brighter and brighter, until finally, the fighter idles into the same speed next to the Katarina on the starboard side.  Amused, she watches as the the fighter suddenly lurches forward.  It probably did not expect the transition into a 4G decel burn, but it matches the maneuver and sidles back into position next to the Katarina.

[HSF-9/VOX]   "Hotel-Sierra-Foxtrot Niner to Katerina. That's some ship you have there."  comes a male voice across the VOX.

[1ST OFFICER QUARTERS]
Lex makes his way up and out of the crawlspace access hatch, then follows the portside corridor up to the life support access panel, conveniently located in the forward crews quarters behind a workstation.  It is a four by four panel and opens to a busy mess of wires, switches, relays, gadgets, and gizmos with blinking lights and small whirring noises.  Lex begins searching for anything related to a mechanical switch or disconnect from the computer to a manual processing.

[ENGINEERING]
Phillip and Karma act in unison, taking both of the M-drives to manual cycling at a 4G output.  The drives hum with power.

[C.O.C.]
Fatboy is relieved to hear that a suspicious device was found in the missile bay. With this information, he can direct his attention to where it is needed.

Billianah continues to monitor the sensors, but only in a background capacity.  She flips through pages and pages of information on marketing trends, vendor information, and destinations, finding nothing that piques her interests and wishes she could access the most up to date information. But, tight beam communications is priority access only at the moment.

[PASSENGER'S BAY]
Adriannah is beleaguered with calls from the scientist.  First his "facilities" did not work, meaning his toilet and sink. He is moved into another suite.  Then, his holo-vid would not work.  Then, his lighting would not work, nor the ambient sound system.  He complains about nearly everything. Exasperated with his room, he comes out into the gallery and tries to eat, only to find the food dispensary is not working.  His cold beverage is warm because the heat exchanger is down.  For the price they are paying for his "luxury" trip, he is sorely unimpressed.

[MISSILE BAY]
The twin banks of missile launchers are loaded, but the safety pins are all installed, preventing any firing of a missile and the hydraulics that drop the launchers into firing position are locked out.  On the far side of the mechanism's auto-loader is the access hatch concealing the life-support and climate controls for the room.  Teddy has his head stuck inside the hatch, looking to the right, inside the wall bulkhead.  There, he sees a device that is seemingly attached to a blue communications trunk cable.  He grabs a couple of tools and removes the bulkhead wall panel in front of it. Now, he can get at it.  The readings, or indicators, on the small display is foreign and illegible to him.  He selects a panel and begins extracting the fastening devices to release it, then he pulls the panel aside.  He blinks once before the flash...

1107.320 2335hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport Station

The ship lurches sharply and Tanja grabs the stick instinctively, correcting the ship's attitude as it moves upward.  She monitors the screens, looking for the source of the shutter and change in attitude.

[HSF-9/VOX]
"Empress Katarina.  Ummm... a fireball just erupted beneath your ship!" the male fighter's voice says over short range voice comms.

Throughout the ship, a shutter is felt in the flooring and bulkheads.  A dull explosive sound echoes.  Billianah's background screens come to front with flashing red alerts for fire, smoke, hull breach, life-support alarms, among others.  Beeps and ringers resound throughout the C.O.C. and Bridge.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:59, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

"Shyte!" Dawn curses.  She grabs the controller and scans the holo-screen in front of her.  There is nothing to target but the fighter and it is starboard side.  Did it just fire on them?
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:30, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

[COMMS/Bridge]
"Tanja sitrep!" Karma says, releasing the railing she had grabbed onto for support when the lurch of the ship happened. She looks over at the ship forward wall of engineering where a gaping hole now exists, smoke issuing from it and sparks sputtering from cabling.

"GODS!" she exclaims, using an old terran phrase.

[COMMS]
"Teddy! Teddy, are you okay?" the captain asks, aware of a sinking feeling in her gut.


The explosion blew a hole through the bulkhead between engineering and the missile bay.  Luckily, the empress does not currently have a full compliment of missiles on hand or it might have been fully destroyed.  Through the hole, Karma can see some damage to the missile auto-loader and she can see a hole blown downward into the crawlspace access.  A very loud hissing is coming from below the missile bay and a flashing warning on the engineering wall console indicates loss of life support air pressure. Gruesomely, she can also see part of Theodore laying across the missile auto-loader.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:26, Sun 22 Oct 2023.

[Comms] "What in the name of God was that? Damage Control Eldorado?! Are we breached?" He then looks to Karma, "Life support is down! Vacc suits! Now! Teddy might be hurt bad, we need to get in there quick! Help when you can!" He screams seeing what the captain sees! He heads for life support, leaving the captain in charge of engineering for the moment.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:19, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

The shudder knocks Harry out of his seat as he had unstrapped for the moment! He picks himself up off of the floor, climbs back in his seat, straps up, and looks for an enemy!

Harry settles into the gunner's chair and grabs the controller.  His holo-vid shows no hostile targets.  He can see the highport station fighter maybe a thousand yards off of their starboard side.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:15, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

1107.320 2336hrs UST - Transit to Regina Highport Station
[MISSILE BAY]
Levi scrambles to his feet, having been knocked down with the lurching ship.  He enters the missile bay, finding exactly what he feared.  Across the bay on the other side, extensive damage to the wall is evident with a portion blown away.  The back of the bulkhead is blown into engineering, where he sees Karma descending the ladder to the M-drive platform.  Part of Theodore is lying across the auto-loader and other parts are strewn to the left and right of the room.  There is no saving him.  A loud hissing whine of air escaping to space comes from the hole in the wall and below while flashing alarms are on the vid screen by the door.  Levi notes the wall panel off to the side of the area.  If that panel had been installed, the missiles in the bay would likely have been destroyed and thereby the ship as well.

[PASSENGER BAY]
The scientist lies in a heap on the floor, having been knocked from his feet.  His head hit the galley table and he is now unconscious.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:00, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

Karma points to Phillip and yells, "Man this station Mr. La'Pierre.  Do not leave engineering."   She descends the ladder to the floor of engineering and heads over to the hole in the wall.  Her mouth falls agape at seeing the debris beyond which included parts of Theodore.  The hissing whine of air escaping to space comes from the hole in the wall and below.  Harry is the closest to the ship's locker, she thinks.

[COMMS/Harry]
"Harry, get to the ship's locker and grab a couple of hull patches.  Meet Levi in the missile bay where he can direct you on their application." the captain says to the gunner.

She looks through the wall at Levi, "Can you get to the leak from there?" she calls out.

Harry, already in his Vacc suit, seals up and unstraps and heads for the Ship's Locker! Once there he grabs the patches and tools to seal a breach and heads for the missile bay, praying the breach is small!

[Comms] "Harry here! Heading for the missile bay with patches!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:49, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

Phillip freezes in place, then heads back to his station with a sheepish look on his face, as well as of anxiety for Teddy and the ship. "Aye, aye Captain, sorry." he apologizes to her for getting ahead of himself.

Jolted by the explosion Billianah flicks on the ship's communications passing on the six minutes of air alert. She asks the Captain if they should try for re-entry or abandon the incapacitated ship.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:28, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

Harry enters the Missile bay with the patches. The level of destruction and the body parts stuns him for a second, but then he is on his way to Levi by the hole to attempt a seal to save the ship!

Tanja grins at the message from the fighter pilot. It was always nice to receive a compliment.

[COMMS High Port Fighter Frequency] "Empress Katerina, Hotel-Sierra-Foxtrot Niner, yeah she's definitely got a---" Whatever it was that the Katerina had was lost to the explosion and Tanja felt the vibrations through the ship. Her hands automatically responded as the ship's nose began to slip. She corrected the nose, settling the ship. Had the fighter fired on them?? There had been no missile streak, no visible sign of anything incoming and the sensors hadn't flashed a warning. Glancing at the fighter out the cockpit canopy it was facing the wrong way for its main beam weapons to have cut them open. But then again, the beams wouldn't have caused an explosion... So it was... Internal?? Hadn't Levi locked the missile bay down?? But then... The device?? Had it exploded??

Her eyes darted over the displays and readouts, the red and orange warning signs, and a sickening feeling tightened in her stomach. She couldn't believe what she was about to say,

[COMMS High Port Fighter Frequency] "Katerina, Hotel-Sierra-Foxtrot Niner, received. We've taken explosive damage and hull has been breached, repeat hull has been breached. We are declaring an emergency. Our second emergency.
Hotel-Sierra-Foxtrot Niner can you get eyes on the external damage for us?? Advisory, keep your distance."

She didn't say it, but her tone of voice would have told the pilot of the fighter - there may be other explosions to come. Don't get too close.

She flicked her comms internally to answer Karma;

[COMMS, Internal] "Karma, sitrep, aye. The display is lit up, we have warning lights across the board. Internal pressure in the missile bay is dropping, we have a breach in our underbelly. Sensors suggest... Missile bay or engineering, definitely the mid-aft section." She paused while she monitored the data that was coming in, listening to the comms chatter. Theo?? Injured?? What the hell?? She felt the urge to switch her comms to his private channel, but knew that others were in a better place to judge the situation and help. She needed to stay focused, professional, and not block the communications frequencies with her voice asking for information.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:44, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

Levi wasn't sure whether it was the blast itself, or the compression shockwave, but his entire body was vibrating, his head was painful and felt just wrong... He tried to push himself to his feet, his hands and legs unsteady and the best he could do was to rise to his knees and push his body off the ground.

Was the ship spinning?? Or was it just him, or just his mind playing tricks on him?? He felt nauseous and fought the urge to throw up. He'd have time later, if they were still alive. He rose to his feet and unsteadily staggered into the missile bay... Or what remained of it.

Bile rose in the back of his throat, and Levi had to gulp air into his lungs to fight the vomit rising from his stomach. Theo lay there, motionless. There too. And there. And over there. In fact, pieces of him were all over. Did that mean?? Had he been close to the device when it exploded?? That meant... If Levi had found it that would have been him.

It took a few moments to settle himself, his ears still ringing. He was aware of the buzzing in his ear, his comms unit was active, but the sound emitted from it was indistinct; Levi couldn't hear what was being said. He didn't care. This bay had suffered an explosion and he needed to find out the severity of the damage. He looked around the room, trying to focus fully as his surroundings swam, and shifted. But the wall.. Was that a part of the bulkhead inside in the engineering bay?? His head screamed at him to lie down, to curl up, to rest. But he needed to know. The bomb must have been close to the floor, as the blast had been forced downwards. The ceiling above was damaged to, but most the blast seemed to be downwards and outwards. His priority though was the hull breach. He may not be able to hear well, but he could feel the atmosphere draining out of the room. Ships had air conditioning, but there was a distinctive wind as the air in the room was pulled out and into space. They were venting atmosphere, and here he was, alone and without a vacc suit. He needed to find the source of the breach. Pulling a cannister of sealing foam from his belt he staggered over to the damaged wall and, leaning against it to avoid falling over, he sprayed some into the air and flicked, throwing it gently into the air. He watched as it moved towards the hole in the floor and disappeared into the darkness. The damage was too thick, Levi couldn't see too well. He dropped to one knee and sprayed again, watching as the thickening foam was pulled towards the source of the breach. The air was noticeable thinner now, and he was sure he could feel rather than hear the air recycling system whining as it strained to replace the air and pressure.

"Well, Theo. I may yet be joining you, but my end will be slow and cold," he said to no-one in particular. The damage was too severe for him to repair, not with the tools he had available. As he assessed what he could do he noticed movement, off by the door. A walking vacc suit had entered.

Levi pointed towards the hole at whoever had entered and sprayed the foam from the cannister again, gesturing as it was sucked into the darkness.

[COMMS/C.O.C.]
"Negative, Billi.  Stay on station. Six minutes understood. Captain out." the captain replies. She then presses a finger against her ear bud.

[COM-Link/Adriannah]
"Adriannah, make sure the guest is safe and unharmed, then power up the air raft, just in case we need it.  Captain out."  It would be better to be prepared to bail on the ship if necessary, but only as a last resort.

[COMMS]
"Lexon, make your way to the missile bay with a fire suppression canister."  She says finally.  Karma reaches the fire suppression canister in engineering and tugs it away from its tether.  She pulls the pin and begins dousing the small fires in the bulkhead area on her side with dry chemical.  The cloud of CO₂ is immediately pulled downward into the crawlspace and out a hole beneath the flooring.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:53, Sat 21 Oct 2023.

Keagan automatically nods his head at the request, though the pilot would not be able to see him do so.  "Roger that Empress.  Moving over to take a look." 

The pilot then nudges his stick down and over to the left while increasing on the decel burn, thus slowing his ship relative to the Empress.  His ship slips underneath the Empress and the pilot gets a look at the underbelly of the ship. He is surprised to see doors for missile launchers.  Aft of those doors he can see a hole issuing some white smoke or dust.  The pilot brings his fighter out from under the ship and back along the portside now.

"Empress.  You have a small hull breach aft of your-- uhmm, missile launch doors. No other damage evident." the fighter pilot relays. Missile doors on a far trader?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:25, Sun 22 Oct 2023.

Heading to the guests cabin Adriannah found the passenger on the deck unconscious. Sending a hurried call for medical assistance she looked about attempting to remain calm.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:06, Sun 22 Oct 2023.

Harry rushes to where Levi is pointing to the hole! As he moves, he pulls a patch from the kit. When he gets there, with a bit of an effort, he watches the atmosphere escape.  He readies the patch and holds it by the handle over the hole in the belly of the ship and lets the vacuum draw it in to seal the hole!

Then he looks around. Parts of Teddy were everywhere, blood, brain matter and bits of flesh and bone. He reaches for his comms and announces a ship-wide message.

[Comms] "Hey everyone, Dr. Theodore Balakov is dead, repeat, the doctor is dead. Breach sealed! For now."

He then helps Levi rise and get out of the missile bay. The engineer was obviously concussed by the blast. Lucky he wasn't in the room too.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:21, Sun 22 Oct 2023.

As Lex works inside the Life Support panel a violent jolt shakes the ship along with a dull explosive sound.  What was that? he thought to himself as he caught himself from falling.   He knew his task at the life support station took on an increased importance, so he focused on finding how to take manual control … in case it was needed.  Habits of years of discipline kicks in.  He almost subconsciously gathers information as he works.  Always keeping the more natural desires at bay.

As he works he hears the information coming over the comms.  “Teddy might be hurt bad” came from Phillip. “Heading for the missile bay with patches!" from Harry.  “Internal pressure in the missile bay is dropping, we have a breach in our underbelly.” from Tanja.

Then he heard "Lexon, make your way to the missile bay with a fire suppression canister." from Karma.

Lex still had a CO2 extinguisher and supplemental O2 with him from the task in the M-drive area.  So he left the Life support Panel and headed to missile bay.

[COMMS] “On my way.”

As he passes a bulkhead he hears “Dr. Theodore Balakov is dead, repeat, the doctor is dead.” from Harry over the COMMS.

Lex increases his pace and arrives in the Missile Control Room and starts helping with getting the fires under control.