Kane's GURPS Traveller PbP

[Colonel Kane]

MAYDAY, MAYDAY

This is Free Trader Beowulf,

calling anyone...

MAYDAY, MAYDAY...we are under attack...

main drive is gone...

turret number one not responding...

MAYDAY, … losing cabin pressure fast...

calling anyone...please help...

This is Free Trader Beowulf...

MAYDAY,

 

 

Glisten/ Glisten Yr 1120

 

Each of your characters have for one reason or another have traveled here, either of your own free will or because you were left. As you wander around the port area, your stomach rumbles reminding you have not eaten in a while. You see a sign just up ahead, for a place called the Black Hole.

 

As you enter the Black Hole, you gaze around the establishment. There are patrons scattered about, there are several member of most of the races around. The Black Hole seems to be a pretty typical diner, not really a 'seedy' place, but definitely not high class. Booths and tables with chairs take up most of the space, near the back is a stage right next to the counter. There are a few vid players around the room all playing either local newscasts or highlights from the latest sporting events. The smells from the kitchen are fairly pleasant.

 

You seat yourself and the waitress scurries over to take your drink order and hand you a menu. She asked you to swipe your credit chip, tells you they have had a lot of people of late that have not paid for the food they eat, so management decided to have everyone swipe their chip first.

 

You make your order and the waitress hurries back behind the counter and places your order with the cook. The chatter on the vid breaks into your thoughts, “Where will you be when a member of the Imperial family visits? This is the question that is on everyone's minds. The question of where WILL the royal family member visit. Every world is making plans for a visit and also plans if they are not on the royals itinerary...... Just a minute Ladies and Gentlemen...”(The news anchor seems to be listening to an ear wig.) “We have just received a report that one of the mines in the Pluvis Belt has had a cave in, trapping several miners. We will keep you informed as we receive more information.”

You noticed that not many of the patrons takes much notice of the news.

 

 

[Arkady]

Well, getting dropped off on the least crummy asteroid in an entire belt of crummy asteroids had most definitely not been what Crystal had had in mind when she had agreed to serve out the tail end of her third term in the Imperial Navy in the Spinward Marches and be discharged there. New Rome, just a J-2 away, that would've been good! On the bright side, this probably was as good place as any to meet non-human sophonts. Okay, based on what little she knew about Vargr, they were probably likely to be as pleasant as the next pack of dingoes, but she wouldn't mind chatting up some Aslan. Practice makes perfect, after all!

 

Keeping her luggage close - she really needed a place to stay, at least until she could get passage off this crummy rock! -, Crystal enters the Black Hole. Not the worst of dives by the looks of it, and one that might at least offer a much-needed opportunity to freelance with the rather non-military subsection of her skill set she is actually really good at. Before placing her order, with a grin she asks, "Say, is that stage just for show, or might management be interested in someone making good use of it?" Remembering her current casual off-duty attire, she hastily adds, "I do have stage costume with me, to be sure, just wan't expecting opportunity to come knocking around lunch."

 

As the waitress scurries away, Crystal ponders what songs might make for good audition material in this place, before the news piques her interest. Seriously, a member of the Imperial royal family? Surely they don't actually think any of them would visit a crummy rock this deep into the Spinward Marches?

 

A cave-in at an asteroid mine. Huh. So that's what, aside from royalty, passes for big news around here. Or perhaps not so big, judging by the mostly non-reaction of the diners' patrons, Damn, the locals in this system are probably mostly jaded belter types. How would they even respond to her usual repertoire so suited to keeping spirits among Navy deckhands up?

 

Crystal sighs. While waiting for her food, and maybe a reaction from management, she lets her gaze drift across the room. Surely there's got to be someone that looks like they'd be happy to share a table and chat. Might help finding out what locals are more interested in than cave-ins on even crummier little rocks, where one might find a reasonably-priced room to rent and whether there is a theater on this rock. Or where locals go for less intellectual after-hours fun. Surely this place isn't the end-all, be-all of local party life.

[Kangaroorex]

Joe enters the Black Hole thinking 'well that's appropriate for the story of my life.'  Out of a job again.  Not that its that unusual but he needed to get away from the Clydesdale after smacking the 2nd mate in the jaw... again.  this time he went down and it doesnt look like he'd be getting up without help, but the guy had it coming, the stone was his and his alone.  He found it and kept it against all odds and he was keeping it.  

 

So, time to find somewhere else to be.  At least he had a healthy credit balance and a few possessions this time.  Maybe he can feign larengytis again and get a new gig before someone hears him speak.  When the waitress comes by (drat, though he chose an automated facility) he feigns problems with his voice and points to the beer and meal he wants and offers a credstick with a small temporary balance on it to pay.  That they want payment before serving his ugly mug is also nothing new or unusual, although disappointing.  

 

While he's eating, he hears the noise box prattling on about royals (bloody celebrities, like they do anyone any good at all except tie up traffic for lightyears)  he hears about the cave-in.  Maybe they might be looking for recover staff, or maybe replacement staff.  if nobody knows him there and his acquisition, that is about all he can ask for. And he sets about finishing his dinner

[Colonel Kane]

The waitress returns to Crystal with her food.

 

"When the manager comes back from his vacation I will ask him about letting someone else get up on stage and do something that might actually entertain folks. Right now he only lets his brother in law's band 'play' on Saturday nights. They stand up there and screech and call it music." The waitress breaks off as she hears the vid....

 

".... we will be announcing one of our winner's in just a few minutes," You hear the waitress whisper, god I could use a vacation, even if it is on the same boat as Marcus." ...... "but first we have to remind everyone that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Luxor Luxury Liners, so we are celebrating by giving away 10 free trips on board the The Star of Luxor, our flag cruise ship. If you all remember our prior winners, Marcus Von Lichtenstein (at the mention of his name a small cheer goes up around the diner), Phoebe Jean-Jacques, Page Crew, Emmit Octavia, Carla Carter, Felicity John, Ian Baldwin. They will enjoy a cruise on the Star of Luxor, where they will be wined and dined till they reach Mertactor. There they will enjoy a full 7 days in the azure skies and blue ocean waters of that world's natural preserves. Today’s first winner is Martin Ibanez. Stay tuned for today’s second winner.”

The vid goes to a commercial.  The crowd at the diner gets a little bit louder as they talk about Marcus winning the trip. You can hear a bit of the stories but most of which do not make much sense, because there are multiple conversations going on at once and some are trying to talk over each other. 

 

The waitress goes over to Joe’s table and gives him his food and two beers. She winks at him and says, “I only charged you for one beer. Now do not be getting any ideas, just thought you could use a little bit of help.”

 

The waitress wanders over to one of the groups of diners and joins them in their conversation.

[Arkady]

As Crystal waits for her food, scanning the room, she takes note of the ostensibly vocally challenged fellow who didn't seem to greet or approach anyone. Might be another out-of-system traveller lacking local connections. If no other opportunity presents itself, might be worth trying to have a chat with, even if just to see if maybe he's with some civilian ship that might take on an entertainer. Or deckhand. Anything to get off this crummy rock and to a world with actual surf.

 

When the waitress swings by with her food and a description of the regular 'entertainment', Crystal can't help but chuckle. She starts to offer a witty reply, but decides against it when he realizes the vid caught the woman's attention. Wow, a vacation on Mertactor? Blue oceans!? "Yeah, totally", Crystal mumbles in vague agreement with the waitress's whispers, "I wonder how you enter that draw."

 

Crystal also wonders if the lucky Marcus who got cheered by some patrons, the Marcus the waitress would prefer not to be on a vacation ship with, and the vacationing manager might happen to one and the same person. If so, chances are he only just left on what would be a three week trip in total. Right, she probably does need a different idea for finding work, and the waitress filling somebody else's order just gave her an idea. She hastily downs her food, grabs her  luggage and vacates her table.

 

Joe might notice a blonde with wavy, long hair in a white blouse, navy blue slacks and low-heeled shoes scurrying across the room in his general direction, but might not really pay her much heed until she stops right next to his table. With a a broad smile, she points at his second glass of beer, and asks in a clear, pleasant voice, "Waiting for someone, I take it? Maybe we could chat a bit while you do, lonely traveler to lonely traveler."

[Kangaroorex]

Joe looks up, "N-n-not es-s-spec-c-cally, m-more l-looking to s-see whats n-next.  I have an extra b-b-beer, Join me?"  He looks up hopefully and pushes the second beer over across the table.

[Arkady]

Ah, that kind of vocally impaired. Has this guy really ordered an extra beer just as a non-verbal communication starter?

 

Crystal momentarily quirks a brow a the thought, then sits down across from Joe, replying in her clear, melodious voice. "Well, don't mind if I do. I am looking for my own what's next, after all, so we do seem to have that much in common." She grins, tapping the beer glass. "So, do you always order a spare beer just in case?"

[Kangaroorex]

w-w-aitress sorta l-likes m-me, I think.  Brought me a s-second b-because i l-looked l-lonely,  S-seems to have helped!" and he grins at that lopsidedly, the scars on his face twisting part of his mouth oddly.

 

in almost a singsong style voice: "Names Joe, How are you" that part is clear and unstuttered.

[Arkady]

Crystal slightly tilts her head at the explanation. Apparently she isn't the only one looking for a chat that might be more interesting than Marcus winning a cruise. She glances over toward the waitress, flashing her a brief apologetic smile.

 

Simply Joe? Well, there probably is a case to be made for avoiding formal introductions. Some belter ruffian looking for an excuse to start a brawl overhearing 'Crystal Cooke, retired Navy Lieutenant' might be... inconvenient.

 

With a slight shake of her head at the thought, she replies, the clear intonation and timbre in her voice quite definitely sounding like she could be a singer, "Nice to meet you, Joe, I'm Crystal, and to be honest, I'm kind of lost between jobs. Basically looking for work that might get jump passage to, hmm, well, New Rome wouldn't be bad, for starters. I thought you looked like a guy who might just be passing through and may be able to point me in the right direction."

[Colonel Kane]

As you sit there talking, three gentlemen enter the diner, while this is not the seedist of dives, it is not high class and these gentlemen are dressed in suits. One of them spots the waitress and heads over toward her, the other two follow, each still scanning the room. The waitress turns her head and sees the gentlemen headed towards her, she smiles slightly and heads over to meet them halfway. The one that spotted her says some, but you can not make it out and the waitress shakes her head, then turns toward the kitchen and hollers, “Billy, mind the front a minute would you?” ‘Billy’ steps out from the kitchen. Billy is big and young looking. “Yes em” he says in a slow drawl. He plops down on a stool and watches the front door and all of the parterons. The waitress heads towards the stage and opens a door concealed at the back and leads the three gentlemen through. Billy reaches around the counter and grabs the pot of coffee and stands up, just as a customer raises his coffee cup and asks for a refill. Billy, coffee pot in hand, goes over to the table and gently takes the cup from the customer, the cup is tiny compared to Billy's hand.  Billy pours the coffee into the cup and sets it on the table. The customer thanks Billy and moves back to the counter and replaces the pot of coffee, grabs a couple of beers and heads towards your table. Billy approaches your table slowly as if unsure of himself, when he arrives he says in his slow drawl, “Pardon, did you both want another beer?’ The look on his face, which looks like he has seen his share of brawls, seems to be questioning his presence at the table.  

[Kangaroorex]

Joe is long used to non-verbal communication, he nods in the direction the girl wens and raises one eyebrow questioning.  At the same time due looks around for other patrons acting suspiciously and checks the knife at his belt

[Arkady]

This is the system's main starport, so Crystal isn't really surprised to see lost travelers in suits find their way into the Black Hole. What is curious, however, is that they're the waitress leads them backstage. So not lost travelers, after all. Maybe so-called 'honest businessmen'? But if the diner's manager isn't even here, what is that all about?

 

She doesn't really pay the presumed cook much heed until he hesitantly approaches the table with the beers, Crystal looks up at Billy, not sure what to make of that or his facial expression. He might just be a kid mildly overwhelmed at the thought serving a stranger lady who probably looks and definitely sounds better than what he's used to, but with those 'honest businessmen' or whatever in the back, there might be more to it.

 

Wait. They scanned cred sticks on order, the waitress brought Joe an extra beer, which would've kept him occupied, she didn't seem surprised at those suits, who can't be here for the manager, and now Billy is offering to keep them occupied with more beer. Aww, dawn. Those suits are here for Joe, aren't they?

 

Crystal's eyes widen for a moment as she looks from Billy to Joe, then back at Billy. So not down for a fight, so showtime. She leans forward and whispers, hoping everyone but Joe and Billy are too busy with their own chit-chat to overhear, "Few die well that die in battle. So if you boys don't mind cluing me in on what is going on, perhaps I might try to defuse the situation before it gets to any such nastiness?"

[Colonel Kane]

Billy pulls up short of your table, Looks at Crystal with a very confused look. In his slow drawl, “Sorry mamam, if I offended you. I get these ‘feelings’ when someone wants something. They are usually fairly good, but…. I am getting…. mixed feelings from you two. I thought you would want another beer. He slowly moves both beers to one hand and gently places his hand into his pocket and slowly pulls out a cred stick swiper. “Do you want….. “ his voice trails off as he looks up at the door and stares intently.  A full minute another gentleman enters. Trench coat and sunglasses, but the minute he enters, you can tell this man is a marine. Physically fit his black hair, cut in the style favored by marines, navy blue duffle slung over his shoulder. He scans the room and makes his way to a table in the corner.  

You hear the vid, 

“Hello ladies and gentlemen, This is Stan here with your next winner in the Luxor Liners Drawing….. We will do something slightly different this time, as we only have two winners left we are going to do them together…..” 

You are distracted from what he says and A man walks through the door, and a bunch of patrons jump to their feet yelling “Marcus!” Marcus enters the diner and is soon followed by 2 other men and 4 women who all sit at separate tables. 

“.. and now to name the final two winners….” He pauses for dramatic effect.. “Crystal Cooke and Joe Scavage. All winners will have to go to The Black Hole diner to recieve their ticket and boarding instructions. Thank you all who entered and remember To use Luxor Liners Cruise Lines for all of you vacationing travels.” 

[Arkady]

Oh, poor kid. A latent psion, possibly. Probably not a great thing to be this near Zhodani space. Crystal offers Billy an apologetic smile, and whispers, "Sorry, I'm a bit on edge about..." She shrugs. "Well, finding my place, basically, and I really would've preferred a larger rock with actual oceans to do that on. A bit grumpy and mildly paranoid I guess? And sure, another beer for each of us, plus let me buy you one if you'd like? It's the least I could..."

 

Crystal pauses as the crowd welcomes the locally-famous Marcus with a cheer, mostly because she isn't going to get into a shouting match while trying to whisper. Huh, he arrives with an entourage, and the vid is back to talking about that cruise drawing? Maybe the suits were from Luxor Liners, here for some kind of cross-promotion. 

 

As Stan's voice confirms the latter, asking the winners to come to the Black Hole, Crystal's face freezes in surprise. "Wait, who? That... no way... how?"

[Kangaroorex]

Joe brushes his front pocket in his shipsuit making sure what was there stays put.  wonderful, psionics with precog and unknowns twisting my fate.  he takes out the stub of a pencil and on a napkin writes "so what are they looking for strangers to do on board?  the unattached make beautiful fall guys"  out loud "s-spect-tacul-lar hope, th-they d-d-don't r-require much of a s-s-speech!"  he laughs deeply before really looking at Crystal.  M-my ex-b-boss may h-have h-had somt-thing to do with with t-this.  H-he decided t-that we should n-not b-be on the s-s-same st-t-truct-ture for long p-p-periods."