woooo its back! Trawler Quest is back!

>>1205444
LOOK WHATS BACK

>>1205444
We should give our crew one day shore leave in sbvysek for going through that naval engagement.

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>>1205444
Archived Threads:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/1179499/

1st Thread: Introduces naval combat and economic mechanics.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/1193605/

2nd Thread: Introduces looting in the ruins, the large-scale Battle of Sbvysek.

The battle is over. The Extirpate has been towed over to the Inviolable Rights - both ships seem a rifle bullet away from sinking, but you suppose the fierce pride of Southern sailors is driving them to do that. And, all the shipmates they just lost.

Well. They won't find the admiral's flag. That'll be a fun discussion with the Commandant and whoever's in charge of the Extirpate.

>Escort the two cruisers back to Sbvysek.
>Head to [write-in coordinate]
>Something else?

>>1205555
>>Escort the two cruisers back to Sbvysek.

Lead the victory parade into the yard.

Wave the Admirals flag.

>>1205555
>>Escort the two cruisers back to Sbvysek.

MAKE WAY FOR THE VICTORS

>>1205555
>>Escort the two cruisers back to Sbvysek.

>>1205555
>Escort the two cruisers back to Sbvysek.

>>1205555
You enter Sbvysek harbor, proudly flying the Admiral's Flag - Master Evans warns you that the surviving crew of the Extirpate won't take kindly to you 'stealing the credit', but he calms down a bit when he sees the Extirpate flying the huge, ornate, and shot-up battle flag of the Inviolable Rights off its rangefinder tower.

Things are calm now. The scrapper and the battered IR are offloading crowds of prisoners into the care of the overworked garrison. Cheering throngs line the Cube- merchants whose wares were saved, people who couldn't get into the mining tunnels in time. And they knew that you were the one to warn them, too.

>Dock at the Garrison entrance, to talk with the Commandant and Extirpate's Commander
>Dock at the shipyard
>Dock at the merchant's wharf underneath the Cube.

>>1205664
>>Dock at the Garrison entrance, to talk with the Commandant and Extirpate's Commander

Military matters first. Though ask master evans to put together a shore party to find our dropped off prisoners first. We don't want them to be put together with the other prisoners immediately. They may find out about sophia talking.

>>1205664
>>Dock at the Garrison entrance, to talk with the Commandant and Extirpate's Commander

debriefing first, we need to untangle everything that's happened, maybe congratulate our crew plus the crew of the coastal gun

>>1205664
>>Dock at the Garrison entrance, to talk with the Commandant and Extirpate's Commander

>>1205700
>>1205719
supporting

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>>1205664
You dock at the Garrison entrance, ordering Master Evans to get some of the crew to search for Sofia and Pritchard - especially Sofia, as it strikes you that the sailors of Rear Admiral Drekasl won't take kindly to her if they learn that she talked.

With that business taken care of, you head over to an unused dock where the Commandant and a tired-looking officer stand, the latter presumably being from the Extirpate. You exchange greetings, and compliments - the Commandant shakes your hand, showering you with praise, while the other Officer is far colder.

Finally, you get down to business.

"Gentlemen. As you know, there are two really prime shares of glory from this victory, and three of us. The destruction of the Cruiser, and the Admiral's Flag."

>Claim the Admiral's Flag [representing the defeat of the Rear Admiral Drekasl
>Claim credit for the capture of the Inviolable Rights
>Let the Extirpate's Officer speak first, get a feel for what he wants and what the Commandant thinks of it.

>>1205832
>>Let the Extirpate's Officer speak first, get a feel for what he wants and what the Commandant thinks of it.

Lowest rank here. Let our superiors speak first.

>>1205832
>Let the Extirpate's Officer speak first, get a feel for what he wants and what the Commandant thinks of it.

Extirpate's crew is probably a bit pissed off at us already, this is a good way to at least keep things from worsening.

>>1205832
>>Let the Extirpate's Officer speak first, get a feel for what he wants and what the Commandant thinks of it.

they did most of the heavy lifting in that fight, lets see what they have to say

>>1205832
>Let the Extirpate's Officer speak first, get a feel for what he wants and what the Commandant thinks of it.

>>1205832
>>Let the Extirpate's Officer speak first, get a feel for what he wants and what the Commandant thinks of it.
What rank is the officer? If he's higher rank then it would make sense for us to let him speak first anyway.

>>1205914
well considering he captains a cruiser, probably a CDR or a CAPT....we're just a LCDR

>>1205914

Commodore, if the original commanding officer survived the battle.

I'm actually thinking we don't claim credit for either of the options, instead we claim credit for facilitating the republic soldiers mutinying and killing their own admiral in an attempt to surrender.

That would make a great propaganda victory and we can hand over the flag to the Flagship commander asking just for faster consideration for promotion and cruiser command.

>>1205925
Well, I think the Extirpate was captained by a Commodore, and he may or may be wounded or dead, so it might be someone of another rank

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(Smart choice, everyone.)
>>1205832
"You are both vultures," the other Officer says immediately. "That little trawler shot up their engines after we had bloodily fought them to impotence, and your coastal gun shot a defenseless ship. You know how many of us were lost to bring that brute to its knees? The Commodore, for starters. Two of my messmates."

The Commandant is a lazy, affable man, but you see his face tighten up.

>There were other ships in the battle besides the Inviolable Rights. I destroyed a gunboat - the Commandant here destroyed a raider with his coastal gun!
>Your Commodore was the one who led us into the broadside of a damned Cruiser. What do you say to the crew of that gunboat that followed you?
>I agree. You should take the credit for it. It's the least we can do to honor the sacrifice of your crew.
>Let the Commandant answer him.

>>1205942
It'd be wise to be careful with boasting about that - to kill an enemy officer in battle is honorable, to give a gun to a traitor to do the deed, no matter the circumstance, sits poorly with most ranking officers.

>>1205925
You can't exactly make out his rank through the grime and blood, but he's certainly higher than you - and by the way he carries himself, he certainly thinks of himself as an equal or better of the Commandant.

>>1205942
>>1205953
i thought the commodore was the task force commander and not the ships CO.... but re-reading the last thread it does seem like the ship CO was a commodore

>>1205969
Acting commander of the task force - in practice, he fairly ignored the other ships to duel the enemy flagship.

>>1205966
>>Let the Commandant answer him.

yeah lets just keep our mouth shut... he doesnt seem happy

>>1205966
>Let the Commandant answer him.

>>1205966
>It'd be wise to be careful with boasting about that - to kill an enemy officer in battle is honorable, to give a gun to a traitor to do the deed, no matter the circumstance, sits poorly with most ranking officers.

Ah... Thanks for that. Didn't know about the general feeling around the officers of the navy.

>"Respectfully sir, there were other ships in that fleet and we engaged them first so that they would not join in the fight against your cruiser."

effectively
>There were other ships in the battle besides the Inviolable Rights. I destroyed a gunboat - the Commandant here destroyed a raider with his coastal gun!
but in a more respectful, measured tone.

We should speak out but carefully. That will allow the Commandant to act as the good cop to quell the differences since hes the higher ranked officer.

>>1205966
Yeah I'd like to echo that about the encouraging a mutiny thing. We're Imperials after all, don't want to go around encouraging small folk to rebel. The peasants could get ideas.

>>1205966
>Let the Commandant answer him

>>1205982
hmm no wonder we never got many orders from the force commander during that fight...i thought he just gave us a wide latitude for our initiative

>>1205966
You let the Commandant speak his mind.

"Now, listen here, you little whelp," he snarls, "your damned Commodore got himself into the broadside of the Cruiser. I know - I watched. He lead my gunboat into death, because I told Lieutenant Commander Wilrick Kebner, father of two, that he should follow the Extirpate because I assumed he wouldn't-"

"Sir, you cease that - comparing the lives on a harbor customs craft to a hundred-twenty of the Millock Fleet's finest." the Officer interrupted, matching the indignant expression on the Commandant's face. "I'm merely here on a formality from Acting Captain Meyers, that we properly secure this victory-"

"Formality! A formality, you say?"

"Gentlemen-" you cut in. "Gentlemen. Respectfully, there were other ships n that fleet. My own ship and the coastal gun engaged them so they would not join the fight against your cruiser..."

>And we disabled the Inviolable Rights so they would not escape and mock your mighty effort, Officer.
>And you'd ALL be dead without that effort.
>So I'd suggest you watch your tongue, Southerner.
>Something else?

>>1206105
>And we disabled the Inviolable Rights so they would not escape and mock your mighty effort, Officer.
>And you'd ALL be dead without that effort.

>>1206105
>And we disabled the Inviolable Rights so they would not escape and mock your mighty effort, Officer.

Another question, related to the third choice. Are we now a "Northerner" by dint of serving up here, or were we a "Northerner" before that? And what's our background/upbringing? My sense is we're like British Middle Class-- common, but somewhat well-off and well educated.

Anyway we've given him an out with the first choice, if he doesn't take it we'll see about doing something ungentlemanly.

>>1206105
>>And we disabled the Inviolable Rights so they would not escape and mock your mighty effort, Officer.

I want to kick his damn arse into the water. Should have let the cruiser sink.

>>1206105
>>And we disabled the Inviolable Rights so they would not escape and mock your mighty effort, Officer.

>>1206158
Often depends on the attitudes of the individual officer. When he refers to the Expirtate's crew as of the "Millock Fleet", that's one of the regional fleets of the South. As to our own LCDR Reynolr, he's generally a "Northerner" as in he's only ever commanded a little trawler in the Kraegsk. Depending on the attitude of the man, Southern officers that are re-assigned up to northern posts are either unlucky or incompetent - the commanders of the little Northern ships are hardly worth considering, captains of the larger cruisers are generally mafia dons with little idea of what Navy honor really is. Not sure if I got the point across, but yes, we are generally a "Northerner" by our command. Our own origins are yet to be examined!

>>1206200
What kind of person was the dead commodore. Similar to this officer?

>>1206232
Well, he was stuck on an AA boat, as opposed to big heavy cruiser so I'd wager him to be venal, petty and self-important as opposed to a true mafia don like Scribe mentioned. Like the shitty underboss the protagonist always kills/takes revenge on towards the beginning of a gangster movie. It's very bizarre they sent an anti-aircraft boat to a place where there's very few planes, though.

>>1206105
You swallow your fierce pride in the Brora and its crew, and try to be conciliatory.

"And, we disabled the engines of the Inviolable Rights so that wouldn't escape, and mock your mighty effort, Officer."

The Officer's face drops from anger to a lazy arrogance, but the Commandant speaks first. "To add to that, sir, this man - Lieutenant Commander Reynolr - was the one to fight an enemy ship a day beforehand and learn of their impending attack. Your mighty Extirpate would have been shot to pieces in the harbor without that warning."

"My crew is still getting the commendation from Command for this. A Rear Admiral and a Cruiser is a fine catch in this miserable archipelago."

"And we need the recognition for our own little culture in the Kraegsk," the Commandant responds. "Your ship didn't even dock at Scrap Bay! I know why you're here, and it wasn't to chase glory against the rusty offerings of the Kraegsk. Should I tell Command you endangered the screening force because you got half your AA guns shot off?"

The Officer glowers, but waits for the Commandant to continue.

"Now here this. I propose a compromise. I don't think you care about what the system of the Kraegsk thinks about you, do you? You'll get the full credit you lust for in the record-books of the High Bulwark, and I'll sign off on it. Meanwhile, Reynolr here will take the Admiral's Flag to Scrap Bay and represent me and himself to Command there, and they'll know how we saved Sbvysek. I know you don't care about Sbvysek. What do you say?"

The Officer looks to you, raising an eyebrow.

>I agree. A sound compromise.
>Actually, sir, I don't think this Southerner deserves even that.
>Sir, I think I deserve a bit more than that. All you did was order other people to fire a fixed gun.
>Something else?

>>1206265
Nice, you noticed the oddness of an AA boat... we'll learn more about it.

>>1206232
>>1206265
Mafia dons are for Northern cruiser commanders, and Garrison commanders (the latter don't really deny it. The former generally attempt to make an act of Navy incorruptibility) You're right about the AA captain being angry about such a lacking assignment.

>>1206299
>>I agree. A sound compromise.

>>1206299
>I agree. A sound compromise.

At this point in our career, friends in high(er) places are more important than personal fame. Taking more credit means making more enemies.

>>1206299
Forgot to mention, as Reynolr knows this, the High Bulwark is the grandest, largest, supreme naval base of the Citadel Empire and the headquarters of not only the Home Fleet but also the Citadel Navy bureaucracy in general.

>>1206299
>>I agree. A sound compromise.
Definitely take this offer.

As for my questions, that makes much more sense about it applying to the Northern cruiser captains.

If the officer departs after we agree to this, let's see if we can convince the Commandant to tell us why the Extirpate is up here. I think he owes us that much.

>>1206299
>>I agree. A sound compromise.

"This battle was a sign that we need to look to the defenses of the port. If we had been caught unawares we would have lost all ships as they rested at berth.

If we can't agree on anything else we need to agree on putting in more coastal emplacements to protect us at rest. The eight incher was invaluable in battle but she should be bolstered with a few six inchers who can turn away the smaller ships the Republic might send at us"

>>1206317
Aye and we've established ourselves as a friend in this FOB. We've secured a place for ourselves here for the foreseeable future.

>>1206299
>I agree. A sound compromise.
We're bitching the Southerner out behind his back, though.

>>1206299
>I agree. A sound compromise.
We are a fresh(ish) officer with a small vessel and only the admiral's flag, we don't have any practical leverage to use to get anything more regardless of our contributions. And if we back the Commandant now it will likely keep the officer from making this messy and not accepting any form of compromise. That and like anon said>>1206317

>>1206299
>I agree. A sound compromise.

"That sounds good, Commandant," you nod, staring back at the Officer.

"Alright," he says, relaxing. "That's all my crew wants."

"Of course," the Commandant says, gesturing towards the repair yard where the Extirpate lies. "We honor your crew's bravery and dedication."

The Officer recognizes the slight, but he restrains himself to walking about stiffly. When he's out of earshot, you groan loudly. "You know, sir, when I was taking the trip here, I was unhappy that I'd been sidelined to the corrupt North. Now I'm quite glad I never got a taste of Southern drama. How do they live with each other?"

"I couldn't tell you," the Commandant shrugs, looking thoughtful. "But you might get a chance to experience a crude shadow of Southern drama..."

"Sir?"

"You're going to be taking the Admiral's flag up to Scrap Bay, unless you want to share the harbor with the Extirpate and two hundred Republic prisoners."

"Correct, sir."

"Well. I'd like to ask a little favor of you, from a man on his way up to another. I've got a... business dealing with a certain Mr. Huyk in Scrap Bay. It's time to renew the contract, and I need verbal confirmation, but I can't go there myself and I can't send on of my gunboats because one of them just got sunk. Mr. Huyk's a decently prominent warehouse lord- I'm sure you can find him one way or another. Just make sure Sbvysek's dealings are fine."

"Sir, with respect, I signed up for the Navy, not a smuggler's ring. I don't mind you, sir, but my own reputation..."

"Oh, you won't be handing off bloody money or getting a suitcase of drugs, or anything like that. Just a friendly confirmation from one partner to another. I just want to know if I should keep Warehouse Fourteen empty for him, or start leasing it out."

"Trust me, son, everyone in the Kraegsk does it. Count yourself lucky that I'm not one of those Fort bastards that holds a ring of captains in the pocket of blackmail for running drugs. I know you don't want money, and I'm not offering any - it's just a favor."

>Well, alright. But no more than a few words with him.
>No. Sorry sir, find someone else to do speak with 'Mr. Huyk'.
>Ask him to clarify [write-in].
>Something else?

>>1206484
>>Something else?
If my crew gets hurt over this there will be hell to pay. I want something from you in return before I agree though. Why was the Extirpate here? What was all that you were saying to the Officer?

>>1206484
>Well, alright. But no more than a few words with him.
I realize we've been playing our dutiful captain as a paragon and that's probably going to be the most emotionally satisfying thing to do, but god DAMN if I'm not tempted to sully the name a little.

>>1206484
>>Well, alright. But no more than a few words with him.
>>Something else?
Give the location of the run aground bombardment ship. Sbvysek could send a scrapper to repair it and press it into our service.

Also ask him what a AA cruiser was doing here.

>>1206484
>Well, alright. But no more than a few words with him.
>Ask him to clarify [write-in].
What words do you want me to say, and what words do you want to hear? And what should I do if they're not what you need.

>>1206538
supporting this

>>1206484
>Well, alright. But no more than a few words with him.
>>1206530
I like asking about the AA cruiser, but I was left with the impression that the bombardment ship was only scrap now, the only thing of value on it possibly being the cannon. They are just rickety little ships with a gun and sighting system (not good for naval battles), and I think we Swiss cheesed the sighting system and ship structure, and that was before it ran aground. Not sure how the cannon would hold up until someone got to it. Anyway I'd rather upgrade our ship and get a full crew compliment before we tried expanding our patrol ship into a patrol group, especially with a quarter of a bombardment ship.

>>1206573

When we left, scribe mentioned the hull was beyond the skill of mckenna to repair. So it stands to reason that a full sized scrapper should be able to repair the hull and refloat it.

Besides, ships are a precious commodity. Even an additional trawler would be a precious addition to the fighting force after being fitted out.

>>1206484
>>Well, alright. But no more than a few words with him.

>>1206513
>>1206521
>>1206530
>>1206538
"Alright sir, but if you may, I've got a question of my own." you say.

"Fire away."

"Well - actually, first, if any of my crew get hurt over this..."

"They won't."

"Why is the Extirpate even here? There's no need for an AA cruiser in the Kraegsk."

The Commandant sighs, and shrugs. "I don't suppose it'll harm you to know your orders a week in advance, but you cannot blather about this to any ladies you meet in Scrap Bay. That place is crawling with Republic spies. In a week, we've received intelligence that the Republic is trying a new tactic with their bomber assaults on the southern Port National. They've been constructing a very large airstrip near Port Liberty - in a week, a bomber raid will swoop around to the north of our AA chain and come near the Kraegsk on its way to Port National. The Extirpate is going to wait south of the Kraegsk and interdict any bombers that try to escape from our interceptors or with damage to Port Liberty's airstrip. You'll get to escort the Extirpate then."

"Ah," you say. "One more thing - what am I even supposed to say to Mr. Huyk? What words should he hear?"

"Oh, whatever you like," the Commandant waves his hand dismissively. "Probably should be vague, though. Asking him about his friend in Sbvysek, or mentioning Warehouse Fourteen's renewal should be enough. An affirmation or refusal to renew the contract should be affable enough, but I advise you meet him in a public place. He's a bastard with his mind games to everyone - I imagine the mailman is terrified of Mr. Huyk's office."

"I see. Alright. Good luck, sir."

"Yes, and thank you. Damn fine work so far."

>Head back to your ship.
>Try to find the party that you had Master Evans send out. They shouldn't be hard to find.
>Something else?

>>1206593
Good point, even if not a naval vessel the hull could be a good scrapper. I don't see how we could feasibly make it ours though (crew,cost,and our duties generally being ship to ship fightan) or why we wouldn't just want cash or favours, unless press it into our service meant the citadel in general and not us specifically).

>>1206612
>Something else?
Drop off the rangefinder- no, scratch that, best to save it for Scrap Bay.
Go talk to Sofia and her crewmate, I guess. See how they're holding up.

>>1206612
>>Try to find the party that you had Master Evans send out. They shouldn't be hard to find.
>>Something else?
While we're walking, just see what the merchant quarter has to offer.

No mention of the run aground ship?

>>1206612
>Try to find the party that you had Master Evans send out. They shouldn't be hard to find.

>>1206612
>>Head back to your ship

>>1206612
I'll vote for this >>1206642

>>1206635

Well not exactly being ours. We don't even have the crew to full man our own boat.

I was thinking more selling the hull to the the Commandant again like what he mentioned about ships prices and values. Give us more cold hard cash that we can use to better outfit our ship while strengthening our side.

>>1206612
>Head back to your ship.
I trust our party not to mess up too bad, and in the end they're heading for the same place we are so we won't lose time looking. I wanna give a seaman some cash to buy two or three bottles of good whiskey or wine and some good grub for the crew, its not everyday you go through a metaphorical blender and come out unscathed.

>>1206692
Actually could we pick up the stuff on our way back from the merchant quarter? Like anon suggests:>>1206642

>>1206692
Yea some drinks and decent food would be great for our crew for a celebration. Since with our orders, we can't give them time off.

>>1206732
They'll have time off in Scrap Bay, hopefully.

It appears we're heading for the Merchant Quarter!

You head to the Merchant Quarter, greeted by cheers and congratulations as word spreads that you're the captain of the Brora.

You lay out what you have: (parenthesis denotes their sell value)
x1 Astaeran Range Finder (somebody offers 10 paper credits as a mantlepiece. They don't know how to work it any more than your crew does.)
x810 paper credits
x55 silver credits
x1 Republic Machine Gun (20 silver credits, 120 paper credits)
x1 Republic Barometer (600 paper credits)
x15 8in. Shells (7 silver credits, 40 paper credits apiece)
x10 Type 3 Engine Parts (100 paper credits apiece)
x1 Medium Gun Mount (10 silver credits, 120 paper credits)

>>1206826
I say we hold on to the range finder and the barometer, and sell everything else. Unless the Republic MG fires the same ammo as our .303s, then we can keep that.

As far as what to buy, we need a damn radio. Didn't the Commandant say something about that before the battle? We could also use some more small arms, iirc other than the MGs we've just got three bolt action rifles. We need an actual arsenal, both for naval combat and to kit out exploration parties.

>>1206826
May as well hold on to the range finder, either we get it working or it makes a nice paperweight. I think we could easily sell:
x15 8in. Shells (7 silver credits, 40 paper credits apiece)
x10 Type 3 Engine Parts (100 paper credits apiece)
x1 Republic Machine Gun (20 silver credits, 120 paper credits)

Would we want to keep the barometer and mount? I'm not sure our vessel can even use a medium mount, can it? We could always go and pick up the 8inch gun off the wrecked bombardment ship if we swing by there on our patrol at some point.

You browse through the various wares. Asterisks denote merchants that will give you a 50% discount for your actions.

WARES:
x16 Bolt Action Rifles (Citadel Manufacture) - 7 silver credits, 50 paper credits apiece.
x1 Outboard Type 1 Motor (for rowboats and lifeboats) - 500 paper credits*
x1 Civilian Clothing Case (contains men's and women's dresses. Fine society might exist in Scrap Bay, but it certainly does not in Sbvysek. The Merchant says it's taking up space in his storeroom) - 40 paper credits*
x1 Astaeran Pistol (modified to fit standard Citadel pistol rounds, it's eerily accurate and smooth to fire - so says the Merchant) - 50 silver credits
x1 Set of Republic Signal Flags+Signal Book - 200 paper credits*
x50 Cases of Whiskey - 100 paper credits apiece*
x25 Cases of Purified Water - 200 paper credits apiece
x15 Tray of Cooked Meat - 200 paper credits apiece*
x3 Portable Republic Rangefinder (compatible with stern deck gun, increases accuracy) - 20 silver credits, 250 paper credits apiece
(NOTE: A lot of Republic equipment for sale because Citadel equipment is generally acquired more or less legally at Scrap Bay)

>>1206854
Yes, and I forgot to put that into his dialogue. The Commandant has issued you a standard Citadel small-ship radio set, and Radiowoman Liset is thrilled.

+1 Radio Set

>>1206826

Scribe can our ship use the medium gun mount?

I'm assuming that our ship can only keep two mounts, one bow and one stern?

Can we mount a small weapon on a med mount, so basically we replace one of our small mounts and sell that off instead.

>>1206860
>x1 Civilian Clothing Case (contains men's and women's dresses. Fine society might exist in Scrap Bay, but it certainly does not in Sbvysek. The Merchant says it's taking up space in his storeroom) - 40 paper credits*
>x1 Astaeran Pistol (modified to fit standard Citadel pistol rounds, it's eerily accurate and smooth to fire - so says the Merchant) - 50 silver credits

And most importantly to trick Republic ships
>x1 Set of Republic Signal Flags+Signal Book - 200 paper credits*

>>1206860
>x50 Cases of Whiskey - 100 paper credits apiece*
>x15 Tray of Cooked Meat - 200 paper credits apiece*

How much would we need to purchase to give our crew a good treat?

>>1206860
Necessities
x1 Portable Republic Rangefinder (compatible with stern deck gun, increases accuracy) - 20 silver credits, 250 paper credits apiece
x25 Cases of Purified Water - 200 paper credits apiece
x16 Bolt Action Rifles (Citadel Manufacture) - 7 silver credits, 50 paper credits apiece.
x1 Set of Republic Signal Flags+Signal Book - 200 paper credits*
x1 Outboard Type 1 Motor (for rowboats and lifeboats) - 500 paper credits*

Wants
x50 Cases of Whiskey - 100 paper credits apiece*
x15 Tray of Cooked Meat - 200 paper credits apiece*
x1 Astaeran Pistol (modified to fit standard Citadel pistol rounds, it's eerily accurate and smooth to fire - so says the Merchant) - 50 silver credits
x1 Civilian Clothing Case (contains men's and women's dresses. Fine society might exist in Scrap Bay, but it certainly does not in Sbvysek. The Merchant says it's taking up space in his storeroom) - 40 paper credits*

>>1206882
Now it depends what can we afford of each.
And the signal flags are for more understanding the enemy, rather than to decieve

>>1206860
I think we'll need a few to do maths

>>1206860
x1 Outboard Type 1 Motor (for rowboats and lifeboats) - 500 paper credits*
Could be handy
x6 Cases of Whiskey - 100 paper credits apiece*
x2 Cases of Purified Water - 200 paper credits apiece
x2 Tray of Cooked Meat - 200 paper credits apiece*
Its nice that we get a discount on most of the perishables, and whiskey makes for great antiseptic and fire bomb/starters so its worth stocking up, as well as getting some water to balance out the dehydration/hangover of whiskey. Would plan on keeping most of the whiskey under lock and key and packed away for later use or trade.

x1 Set of Republic Signal Flags+Signal Book - 200 paper credits*
Very handy

Would we want to splurge on rangefinders? Also do our current 3 foreign rifles hold up well or should we update them and get a few more for the crew for shore missions?

>>1206901

Lets figure something out first.

What do you guys think. Exchange rate for Silver vs Paper seems to vary between 5.7 to as high as 12.

Shall we assume a good exchange rate to be 1 to 8 or so? So we can decide which currency makes it cheaper.

>>1206880
Two cases of whiskey and two trays of meats ought to tide them over till you reach Scrap Bay. Then they can spend their own money.

(furiously using a calculator)

>>1206915
The rifles are okay - you can find a greater selection of weapons at Scrap Bay.

>>1206921
I don't think that's really an option available to us

>>1206921
Actually, the price is for BOTH silver and paper credits. Silver is 'real' currency, used on equipment and weapons and artifacts - paper credits are scrip that's based around menial wages. Gold credits exist, but you'll never see them in the Kraegsk outside of Scrap Bay.

>>1206923
Scrap bay for small arms it is then. I imagine grenades are also very useful for boarding, as long as you don't set of the enemy ship's magazine.

>>1206928

It is, there is currency in both. I'm trying to figure out whether paying in either silver or paper is cheaper overall.

Like in selling the 8 inch shells, that is 5.7, the lowest. We're better off taking silver for the shells.

ALSO NOTE: It's late and I'm tiredly coming up with the merchant wares on the spot, big mistake in assumptions - the potable water cases was sort of a joke for how they're way more expensive than whiskey. Basic food needs only crop up when they're running low, and basic drinking water is fine right now - cases of water can be useful for long expeditions into ruins, though.

>>1206937
I mean that when you sell a shell, you get both silver AND paper credits. They go together, you generally don't choose whether to use or receive one or the other.

>>1206929
Oh so for mundane/consumable items paper is usually okay but sometimes only silver is accepted, especially for the vital things necessary to running a war with stretched supply lines.

>>1206915
I'd be good with buying this stuff.

>>1206858
I think if we sell all this stuff and the medium mount (which we can't really fit) we'll have 2650 paper credits and 190 silver.

>>1206937
The comma is an "and" not an "or." So a bolt action rifle is 7 silver credits and 50 paper credits, it's not one or the other.

>>1206943
... oh. Well that throws everything out of the window. Cheers scribe.

>>1206943
Oh then knock the water off of the list then, that's money we could save.

>>1206943

Scribe, could our ship fit a med mount? And would one of our guns fit on the med mount or is it a case of small for small only.

How much would our current old rifles sell for?

>>1206915

To buy this while also buying a Republic rangefinder and the civilian clothing and the Astaeran Pistol WHILE selling the Republic MG, 8 inch shells, and Type 3 Engine Parts, would end us with...

1060 paper credits
90 silver credits

For the record:
That gets us the Republic Rangefinder, Astaeran Pistol
Outboard Type 1 Motor
Whiskey
Meat
Republic Signal Flags+Book
Civilian Clothing Case

>>1206969
Our current rifles would sell for 4 silver/40 paper credits apiece.

>>1206943
Tentative list unless objections?

Buy:
x1 Outboard Type 1 Motor (for rowboats and lifeboats) - 500 paper credits*
x6 Cases of Whiskey - 100 paper credits apiece*
x2 Tray of Cooked Meat - 200 paper credits apiece*
x1 Set of Republic Signal Flags+Signal Book - 200 paper credits*
x2 Portable Republic Rangefinder (compatible with stern deck gun, increases accuracy) - 20 silver credits, 250 paper credits apiece

1350 paper 40 silver

Sell
x15 8in. Shells (7 silver credits, 40 paper credits apiece)
x10 Type 3 Engine Parts (100 paper credits apiece)
x1 Republic Machine Gun (20 silver credits, 120 paper credits)

125 silver 1720paper

>>1206975
>>1206981
I'm good with getting that, but let's also swap out our 3 old rifles for 3 of these decent ones. I think that would leave us with 81 silver and 1030 paper?

We'll see about some more small arms in Scrap Bay.

>>1206992
Sounds good!
Please, please let it be good. High impact, sustained math at 1:30 in the morning ain't fun

>>1206999
Yes, that sounds right.

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I'll put forward this plan.

Specifically I think we should keep the republic MG as its rather useful if we do have to try for false flag operations and its a spare MG to tot about on ground ops.

A couple cases of extra whiskey for special occasions in the future on the boat and we keep the med mount for use in the future.

>>1206975
Oh sorry didn't see before I posted mine. Do we need a rangefinder for each of our 12pounders to get the effect or do we only need one? Did we actually want the clothing case? And upon reflection while scrap bay likely has good guns we do have dosh and that pistol is badass... not to mention we could give our current one to one of the crew... you've sold me on the pistol.

>>1206999

I think the rifles we should wait till scrap bay. Since there we can find alot of citadel equipment, it stands to reason that the rifles there will be cheaper, rather then here which is mostly republic captured equipment.

>>1206992
Sounds good buy I'd like to buy the civilian clothes too, so we could get to know some locals too

>>1207028
I'm fine waiting for the rifles, but I still vote for this >>1206975

>>1207023

I believe its 1 rangefinder for our rear only.

Because that rear gun is a captured republic gun.

>>1207010
I'll accept this plan, if there are no other objections.

>>1207042
Alright - the last question is the Republic MG. Sell or don't sell? I think the current trend is sell.

>>1207023
Republic Rangefinder only works on the stern gun, because we pulled that off a Republic ship. The ammunition is compatible, but finely detailed mountings for the rangefinder is not.

>>1207008
okay so that plus pistol and clothes would leave us with 330 more paper and 35 more silver

>>1207055
Does it take the same ammunition as our MGs?

>>1207057
oops only one rangefinder not two, and someone else is actually doing this properly on powerpoint, I'll just throw in the towel and go to sleeep.

>>1207055
Sell it, we've got plenty of our own

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>>1207055

Scratch that image, I noticed an error in my calculations.

I'll put in the pistol as well and bump up the cases of whiskey for the plans to mostly match.

>>1207080
Alright! Seeing general agreement here: This is our plan to be submitted to the merchants. I'll save that picture for future reference, and swear to properly prepare when I give the opportunity for merchant stuff.

>>1207080
I can agree with this, I'm fine keeping the Republic MG for now.

>>1207093
It's decided then, because holy fuck I need to sleep.

SESSION END

As always, thanks for playing! There'll be another session starting at 9:00 PM EST tomorrow - I had some content lined up for tonight that ultimately got sidelined by the merchant business, pardon the pun. Thus, I'll be able to jump right into the quest,

>>1207126
Thanks for running!

>>1207126
Thanks for running!

>>1207126
Thanks for the session.

>>1207126
Cheers mate!

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>>1207126
Fanart of our bow gun

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>>1207199

pfffft. Thats fantastic.

Then again, our deck gun is really more like these.

We should have each gun have a running tally of rowboat shame markers.

>>1207126
thanks for running scribe

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>>1207215
I based it off a PAK gun shield, so open top and back with angled sides

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>>1207241

Ah, that works too.

Was thinking more british type since on searching, pre-upgrade Brora is basically an admiralty trawler of the Isles class.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isles-class_trawler

>>1207265
I think we're closer to the Castle-class, an Isles is 10m longer, 2 knots faster and takes like 5 more crew.

(Session start!)

With the merchants' assistants hefting your purcheses for transport, you climb down the ladders from the Cube. Making your way across the catwalks, you breath in the stench of trash and industry.

It's getting dark out - the food and alcohol you purchased from the merchants should be arriving at the Brora quite soon. It'd be nice to join your crew for dinner.

To your left, a commotion - in the Garrison hospital, where the wounded Republic prisoners (that is to say, nearly all of the Republic prisoners) are being treated, the glint of metal in the fading light can be seen. Guards are putting down an escape attempt, it seems - scrambling figures, then gunshots. You worry for a moment that the part Master Evans sent out might be among that, but you spot Master Evans himself a moment later, standing fifty meters in front of you on the merchant wharves and talking with several crewmembers. You don't see Sofia or Pritchard among them.

>Head to the Garrison Hospital yourself.
>Head to Master Evans, and then go back to the Brora.
>Something else?

>>1210459
>>Head to Master Evans, and then go back to the Brora.

Yay!

>>1210459
>>Head to Master Evans, and then go back to the Brora.

>>1207265
>>1208968
Also, you're completely correct. The Brora gets her name from an Isles-class trawler that grounded and was subsequently lost on the Hebrides, a few months after she was commisioned. A sad fate for any ship - hopefully the Brora can live a far better life in this story.

>>1210459
>>Head to Master Evans, and then go back to the Brora.

Lets get out of here.

>>1210459
>Something else?
Head to Master Evans, then ask him on the results of his search

>>1210477
>>1210485
>>1210498
>>1210512
You turn away from the hospital and the screams - you've seen and heard enough of blood today. You walk over to your crew.

"Ah, Lieutenant!" Evans greets you, "we were discussing where you might be."

"I saw the merchants. They should be delivering their wares to the ship fairly soon, and I've included a treat-" As if on cue, a trio of assistants rush by with covered trays. The aroma of cooked meat is apparent, and Master Evans looks at you approvingly.

"Taking care of the crew, yes? I've seen men with more power do far worse. I trust that you now hate Southern officers."

You laugh, and scowl. "I don't want to remember that man," you say, shaking your head. To refer to a fellow Navy officer as a mere 'man' is a telling insult, but you're not sure that Master Evans knows that - and if he did, he certainly won't care. "Now, did you find Sofia and... who was the other prisoner? From Rinyak?"

"Pritchard, and no, we couldn't find them. Pritchard could've been any of the dozens of wounded stretched out on cots in the hospital, and we left when the first riot started. No sign of Sofia, either."

>I was growing rather fond of them. [Head back to the ship]
>I hope they're alright. I'm sure the Republic sailors from a Cruiser are no less prideful than ours. [Head back to the ship]
>Probably for the best. I don't like Republic boots staining my ship. [Head back to the ship]

>>1210459
>>Head to Master Evans, and then go back to the Brora.

>>1210561
>I was growing rather fond of them. [Head back to the ship]
>I hope they're alright. I'm sure the Republic sailors from a Cruiser are no less prideful than ours. [Head back to the ship]

>>1210561
>>I hope they're alright. I'm sure the Republic sailors from a Cruiser are no less prideful than ours. [Head back to the ship]

We are all sailor in the end

>>1210561
>>I hope they're alright. I'm sure the Republic sailors from a Cruiser are no less prideful than ours. [Head back to the ship]

I was a little suspicious of Sofia before and now more so. It seemed odd she'd be responsible for loading heavy cargo like munitions, unless the Republic is egalitarian to the point of foolishness.

>>1210561

Can we head back inside? The hospital might give us aid in finding them since we did save the settlement.

I'd not leave them in the middle of that.

>>1210561
Can we go back to search?

>>1210589
Yes, this if we can

>>1210575
here

>>1210589
>>1210597

I'm not opposed to a last look, and I can change my vote but what exactly do we want to do if we find them?

>>1210608

I'd suggest we take them with us.

Leaving them with these republic sailors would be a death sentence. If we off load them at Scrap Bay, it'll be safer for them and we'll still be remanding them into military care as POWs.

We don't have the extra provisions for them in case something happens and really we don't know anything about them other than that they cooperated with us when we had them at our mercy. I say we leave them to their fate.

>>1210615

Ok, and since their ship didn't do anything on our crew I guess we wouldn't have much opposition

"Master Evans, go on ahead and set everything up, but wait for me, I have one last bit of business to handle"

>>1210615
Pritchard's probably fine, Master Evans told you earlier - he hasn't spoken a word to us. Hell, he hasn't even been awake. Sofia, on the other hand... well, Republic POW camps are known for their constant attempts at conversion. Citadel POW camps are known for their concentration on the outer wall, adequate rations, and very little else inside the walls. And for every lukewarm province of the Republic, there are utter fanatics.

>>1210561
>I hope they're alright. I'm sure the Republic sailors from a Cruiser are no less prideful than ours. [Head back to the ship]

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>>1210637
"Evans, go ahead and set everything up - here's the ledgers to confirm the sale of some items in our storage. I have one last bit of business to handle."

Master Evans nods, and you turn to walk in opposite directions. "Sir," he calls a moment later. "That doesn't seem necessary."

"What do you mean?" you face Evans, and he merely tilts his head in the direction of the Brora. Sofia is standing on the dock, looking rather the worse for wear.

Master Evans looks to you, and you shrug: there's many possible reasons, and no use speculating for them here. You head over to your ship.

>Why - and how - are you here?
>What do you want?
>Are you alright?

(Will be away for roughly 10 minutes)

>>1210676
Forgot to add, as always:
>Something else?

>>1210676
>>Are you alright?

"Master Evans, would you be so kind as fetch our medic."

>>1210676
>Are you alright?

>>1210692
Evans is what passes for a medic on our boat, we have no true medic or medical bay.

>>1210676
>>Are you alright?
folowed by
>Why - and how - are you here?
>>1210692
I think That's him

>>1210699
>>1210704

Oh thats right, forgot.

Ask him to grab the gauze and medical kit.

>>1210676
>Are you alright?

>>1210676
>>Are you alright?

>>1210676
>>1210692
This

>>1210676
"Are you alright?"

"Um, yes," she blinks, apparently not expecting that question. "Do you have any cloth on your ship?"

"What?" Master Evans says flatly.

"Yes, cloth."

"You hobbled all the way out here on a crutch, with a mangled leg, to ask for cloth?" you ask, folding your arms. Your mild suspicions of Sofia just jumped a little. "Don't they have that at the hospital?"

"They don't. Not after all the survivors from the big battle showed up. A hundred of them in that tiny place - you know, your guards had a closet full of rum there. Black market and all that. Big mistake once us defenders of the Republic broke in there in the chaos." That last line sounded a little bitter.

"Master Evans, fetch the gauze and the medical kit." you say, and he nods, pulling himself up the boarding ladder. The shore party follows him - you can roars of laughter and delight from inside the Brora as the food is presented. You climb part way up the ladder, you stomach groaning from a day of combat without food, when you stop, remembering Sofia.

>Wait here, Master Evans will treat you. I'm sorry to hear that about our hospitals.[Join celebration dinner.]
>Say nothing. [Join celebration dinner.]
>Would you like to come onto the ship?
>Something else.

>>1210827
>>Would you like to come onto the ship?

>>1210827
>Would you like to come onto the ship?

>>1210827
>>Something else.
Tell her to wait, bring her some food back out and we can ask about her well-being while Evans works on her. Then we'll go back onto the ship and leave her if she's not in mortal peril. If she is, I suppose we can invite her, although I don't like this.

>>1210827
>Let's talk.
>What do you think of Sbvysek?

>I take it you don't want Blood Money, but you and I both need to eat. [Get some food for both of you]

>>1210827
wasn't she detained by the guards once we passed her off to the port's forces? I say we ask her how she got out here in the first place. Unless of course I'm missing something.

>>1210827
>Would you like to come onto the ship?

>>1210827
>>1210855
I like this, its considerate without abandoning the crew to commiserate with a POW.

>>1210874
Looking at her condition, she might very well be the cause of the riot, some republic sailors trying to kill her or something.

>>1210827
>>Would you like to come onto the ship?

>>1210882
It's a slap in the face to the crew to bring her into the party, imo. She may have helped us, but she's a traitor. Nobody likes a rat. And I actually think she has been concealing something from us or may be a spy. She's not a damn gunner's mate or stevedore or whatever.

>>1210874
Probably with the riot they weren't too concerned with the one prisoner who wasn't going full lord of the flies over a few bottles of whiskey. That and what are the prisoners going to do, swim home. She seemed calm and nonthreatening, its amazing what people (like a passing dockworker) will blow off and dismiss if it appears inoffensive. That and does anyone in Sbvysek strike you as overly professional? Competent and skilled sure, but not super professional. Also where does captcha get its images from, because it asked my to identify a bag, and I'm pretty sure said bag contained "medicinal contents".

>>1210884
Most of that is from Rinyak - she was shot through the leg at point-blank range by an MG.

>>1210906
I thought he said only bring her on if in mortal danger, which she doesn't appear to be in, so likely a non-issue. Actually she'll probably want to get back with the other POWs while there's still chaos, so she isn't noticed hanging around a citadel ship by her compatriots.

>>1210906

I doubt she'd want to join the party but sitting somewhere on the deck should be preferable for a person with an injured leg.

Also the chances of her actually being a spy is really really low to be non-existent. For one she did give us the fleet composition of the attacking force, aiding us abit in planning the defence, thought realistically, it wouldn't have mattered too much when battle was joined.

More importantly was the haphazard and roundabout way in which she ended up on our boat. Running into us in a storm, getting into a gunfight where her ship was gutted and most of the crew killed, bumbling into our shore party and firing a round when we asked her to surrender. So many ways in which things could have gone wrong in trying to get onto our boat.

>>1210827
This >>1210855

>>1210827
I'll go with this >>1210855 until we've determined what's really up.

Additionally, the hospital is still the best bet for her leg to get treated.

>>1210923
Good points. I'm just concerned that there may be much more to her than what we're seeing, at the very least she seems to be handling this oddly well, for a young woman who just became a POW, anyways.

>>1210943

It's possible. Request for cloth though seems really strange and I'd wager she actually has something else she wants to ask for.

>>1210949
The likelihood may be low, but I get a very Red Army vibe from the Republic-- I feel like they have political officers and NKVD troops and that sort of thing. A lot of their rank and file are probably just regular folks, and Sofia certainly might be, but you never know if these people are going to be fanatics or not.

>>1210976
We saw a fanatic alright.

The guy who machineguned sofia and pritchard.

If she was a fanatic, she wouldn't have surrendered or tried to get her crewmates to surrender or give up the fleet composition when we spoke of saving Imperial collaborator lives.

>>1210960
Definitely better to be suspicious than naive. Although the impression I get is she is simply beyond caring (with her disgust at the riot over booze and wounded leg), our initial encounter and conversation sort of screamed shell shocked idealist to me, and with the conversation we had getting her to tell us the fleet details it seems she was very disillusioned with the war and her countrymen (the comment about there being far worse men in the republic than the enemy captain in front of her). Like anon said circumstance don't give an impression of a spy, but still we should not fully trust this POW. Sometimes its the people who are at the end of their rope that do the most damage, rather than those who were malicious at the outset. Anyway I'm likely wrong about alot and am making assumptions, so grain of salt and all that.

>>1210989
So she may not be some sort of operative or fanatic, but I think she's an unnecessary risk not to mention an enemy POW that we are treating awfully well. It just doesn't sit right with me. I don't want to take her with us unless we're reasonably certain we'd be leaving her to her death otherwise.

Excellent discussion, gentlemen! A lot of great points being raised here, but one thing that's relevant to why she's here but in retrospect wasn't clear at all:

Sofia wants clean cloth because the bandage around her badly broken femur is totally soaked with blood, and the Hospital is overcrowded and ripping itself apart to the point where not even some clean gauze to wrap around the crude cast.

>>1211024
Gah, I can't write - *not even some clean gauze can be found to be wrapped around the crude cast.

>>1211000
I can agree with all of this, especially her no-fucks-given attitude, regarding her just walking out during a riot and heading to our boat.

inb4 she's involved in a "captured princess" plot hook

>>1211024

It's safe to say the conditions for her around here are very dangerous then?

We got her to help us telling her that she would help save lives, no matter the side, I guess we can spare her a place on the hold to treat her better and deliver her to a better equipped port like Scrappers Bay.

Ask her if she wants to get in, and if she does we hold her separated during the party and bring her some food afterwards

>>1211024
So, I'm all for taking her to scrap bay and a POW or hospital there, if she survived the doctors here she'll be transferred there anyway. Maybe we can here her full story along the way.

>>1210976
I don't think that nearly lone survivor of the pissy bombardment ship is a super undercover secret policewoman (this setting seems fairly grounded). Although I do get that revolutionary state vibe. Honestly I almost get a more French revolutionary republic vibe than a Russian one. Looking forward to that bit of world building. You hear that Scribe? Your setting is interesting so far! Keep it up!
>>1211024
Yikes, I'm assuming in this setting/tech level improperly cleansed and bandaged wounds and general disease and hygiene issues often kill more than direct combat, like many things up to mid 20th century?

>>1211073

we can hear her about what's the republic is like from the inside ( sweet, sweet exposition)

>>1211073
>>1210976

Actually I should probably clarify that I feel she's not a radical, that super spy thing was just ridiculous hyperbole. I felt the comment came off as a little harsh and smartass-ish once I read it, apologies.

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"Would you like to come onto the ship?" you ask.

She stares up at you with something approaching incredulity, and nods. It's painful for one party and long-winded for both, but eventually Sofia is resting against the Brora's bulwark. Master Evans has not returned - you imagine he might be yelling at some merchants' assistants for screwing up his cargo arrangements.

There's silence on deck, though the commotion from the hospital and the roar of machinery from the dockyards echo across the harbor. The sun as setting, the clouds stained with hues of orange.

>Stay silent and wait for Master Evans to return.
>Get some food.
>What was happening in the hospital? How were the new prisoners?
>Something else?

>>1211153
>What was happening in the hospital? How were the new prisoners?

>>1211073
Great analysis, and thanks! I'll let you guys pry off the details of the world, although you all are impressively perceptive in realizing Republic /= murica and Citadel Empire /= nazis lol.
>>1211092
A good idea...

>>1211153
>Get some food.
"Pardon me for a minute."
Can we get some food for us, chat a little for a minute with the crew, and then bring her up a serving? Master Evans will likely be there in a moment anyway.

>>1211153
>Bring her some food and then go join in on the party.

Sofia is a singer right? I hope she doesn't wander in when when the crew starts singing shanties.

>>1211153
>>Get some food for both of us

>>1211153
>Stay silent and wait for Master Evans to return.

Btw Scribe, are fire directors like the Dreyer and Admiralty Fire Control Tables a thing yet in this universe, or is gunfire still left to local control? Obviously it wouldn't really be possible/worthwhile on a ship as small and lightly armed as the Brora but it's something to keep in mind going into the future.

>>1211183

this

We will probably party all night long with the crew and that wiskey we bought for them

>>1211201

When we get to the mess we should at least stay for a toast with our crew.

>>1211153
>Get her some food and join the party.

But only for a little while. A skipper can share food and drink with his men but he has to be in control and have more discipline than the common sailor

>>1211153
>Get some food.
"If they are lacking cloth, they must be in short supply of food as well. I'll only be a moment."
Get enough food for her, as well.

>>1211113
It did, but alright. I'm just trying to be cautious, everyone seems like they want us to befriend this POW and I don't like it. These people are our enemies. That doesn't mean we can't behave honorably, but we're being so nice on top of that. I don't think we'd be sharing in the Republic crew's celebratory feast if our positions were reversed.

>>1211153
>What was happening in the hospital? How were the new prisoners?

Going to try to combine these disparate answers, like usual, with the next post.

>>1211173
I mean, the Citadel Empire gives off more of a British Empire/Commonwealth vibe than Nazi Germany, what with all the .303s, Pound-weight gun classifications and being an actual Empire.

>>1211246
Yeah, there's being an honourable and gracious victor and then there's getting chummy with the enemy, especially as the commanding officer of a vessel. I mean, we shouldn't even be getting too friendly with our own ratings, let alone the enemy's.

>>1211233
I think for control and image all we have to do is cut off our personal liquor flow sooner than our crew do theirs. No need to walk out of the celebration itself early.

>>1211261

Should make sure that they don't open like 3-4 of the cases of whiskey. We bought extra after all and they should be reserved for future occasions and when someones sick.

>>1211259
>>1211246
Yeah that was a worry too. Its nice to set her up with food and medical care, maybe even have a short convo, but being chummy and ignoring our crew celebrations is a definite no-no. Looking forward to even a bit of exposition though.

>>1211267
I think Scribe said 2 of the cases was a decent party, and the other four I assume were for use later, either for drinking or ye old antiseptic.

>>1211259
Yeah that's the other thing that bothers me, she is an an enlisted sailor and we are an officer. It would be quite another matter altogether if we were trying to get chummy with a captured flag officer or something-- if everyone else is right and she is what she appears to be, she's got nothing to offer us beyond exposition for the Republic to sate our OOC hunger for knowledge.

>>1211290
"Knowledge"

>>1211305
No, stop that. Sofia is not for lewds. Although headpats may be acceptable.

>>1211259
I kind of get British empire too. I kind a feel a few other flavours too though. The divide between north and south, and the seeming difference of subject people without them being "colonials" or a separate entity almost has an American economic divide (north/south) while giving off a Austro-Hungarian diversity of subject people with a functional central authority that isn't very efficient. That last one is almost British but it feels less like there's a mainland dominating everything (Britain) than several lands being administered somewhat comparably (although with a preference for certain areas) by a central authority.

>>1211290

And, you know, basic human decency, we are not getting chummy here, we are offering a wounded sailor treatment and a hot food, maybe some convo while we do it, yes it is an enemy but I like to be the nice nazy.

We are not ignoring the celebration m8,half of them are probably not there yet since we still have cargo to account and unload, we are going there and killing it with a rousing speech

You sit in a heavy silence for a minute, before easing up off of the ladder. "Stay here, if you want food."

You make your way belowdecks, trying not to attract the attention of your partying crew before you can properly join them. Engineer McKenna seems to be the only one without whiskey in his system - he's sitting by a half-empty case, doling it out. You motion him over, instruct him to make sure nobody gets excessive, and to fetch you one of the empty trays with some meat added. At least quite a few crew seem to be missing - probably still tied up in the storage bay, mired in the balance books and ledgers that drove you distraction an hour ago.

Back up top, Sofia hasn't moved. You sit on the lowest step of the ladder, and start eating, your mood rapidly improving - it's hard not to be happy with your mouth full of spiced meat after a very long day. Eventually, Sofia scoops up a piece and picks away at it, still distracted. You're not sure what to say - it's not quite proper to get friendly with the enemy. Sure, you were understanding enough before the battle, but whether that was a strategy for getting information or simple decency, you can't decide. Probably somewhere in between. Either way, she has little to offer you now.

>Why'd you come back to the Brora, of all places? You could have gotten cloth from a merchant or something. We're not THAT poor out here.
>What was it like in the hospital? How were the new prisoners?
>Something else?

>>1211365
England also has a pretty clear divide between the North and South, due to historically the South being the richer, more urbanised region while the North was primarily doing the 'dirty work' like mining and manufacturing.

>>1211399
>Something else?

"Penny for your thoughts?"

>>1211399
>Why'd you come back to the Brora, of all places? You could have gotten cloth from a merchant or something. We're not THAT poor out here.

>>1211399
Haven't been able to participate yet but I want to say this is an awesome quest so far, the art really adds something great in terms of atmosphere.

I accept adding this >>1211437 before asking this>>1211440

>>1211399
>What was it like in the hospital? How were the new prisoners?
It's probably a sore subject but a riot in a hospital seems like a big deal, especially to our vigilant captain. (Although I have a feeling as the captain plys these seas more that such things seem the norm and not too worrisome.)

>>1211370
She's a prisoner of war who is outside of the holding area for some reason, and we, an officer of the Empire, instead of returning her to the prison saw fit to invite her onto our ship and feed her. Practically speaking we are just being nice and it's hard to call her an "escaped prisoner" or something like that because she's really not going anywhere, and yeah things seem a little lax around here, but we are a military officer and this is a breach of protocol.

>>1211399
>What was it like in the hospital? How were the new prisoners?

>>1211399
>Why'd you come back to the Brora, of all places? You could have gotten cloth from a merchant or something. We're not THAT poor out here.

>>1211433
Good point.

>>1211399
>Something else?
"Not all wounds are physical. The ones in your head aren't improved by staying quiet."
Money says she's feeling depressive for three reasons, one of which having been partially addressed:

1. We did kill her old captain and most of her old crew, while Grays killed another one. She's the sole survivor, at this point, seeing as Miller bled out later on. That's a lot to handle so quickly, and while mentioned it earlier she'll need more time to work it out.

2. We did just kill an awful lot of Republic sailors based off of information she gave us. She seems to dislike killing on principle, and nobody takes well to being a turncoat. That's undoubtedly causing her no small amount of distress.

3. Seeing her fellow Republican sailors go crazy over a little black market whiskey likely destroyed whatever idealistic love for the Republic she had left. It doesn't look like any of them was overly concerned with her, which contributed to her feelings of isolation and neglect.

Surprisingly, despite the fact that this is debatably our fault, she came back. The only real possible explanation for this is that she identifies us as being an individual that might care about her as an individual, or at least about her existence in general. The cloth thing is a good rationalization, but there were other sources she could've gotten some from. She's looking for a measure of care, and consolation. As an enlisted sailor (technically of a country we're at war with,) relations are going to be difficult, but it is still morally just to provide at least some measure of condolence to her.

"Demicre for your thoughts?" you ask, breaking the silence.

"Excuse me?" she looks at you oddly. "What is that?"

"Demi-credit," you explain, "a half a paper-credit. You don't have those in the Republic?"

"Goodness, no. Not where I came from. You round down and respect your neighbor. I found out that was called 'reactionary brotherly care' or something a bit later."

"That sounds insane," you say.

"Gods-" she pauses and covers her mouth, but she seems to be mocking something, "goodness, does it feel weird to say that - someone finally had to say it. Miller ate that stuff up. Though he was from a liberated corporate factory isle. I guess I can understand him, a little."

"Interesting," is all you can think to say.

"Alright, then," she says, sitting up, "I'll play this weird game. 'Demicre' for your thoughts."

"Why'd you came back to the Brora, of all places?" you say instantly. "You could've gotten cloth from a merchant or something. We're not that poor out here.

Sounds like we really don't know a whole lot about the republic. Having a somewhat-amiable informant might be really useful in the future.

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>>1211547
"I couldn't stand it in the hospital. Couldn't stand in anywhere on that damned island. It was completely mad in there. Bodies and nurses and blood and noise everywhere. First my ship, then I betray the Republic-" she pauses, ending on a fearful note.

"Then all those people die because I told you about all those ships, and a bunch of sailors missing arms and legs and faces go get themselves drunk..." she continue. "There's nothing. Nobody cares. This utter madness. I guess I came back to your ship... I mean it. There are far worse men in the Republic. I meant that. There are far worse ships. I mean that, too. Those crewman, from the Cruiser? They were madder about your cruiser getting away then everything that happened! Where do these people even come from? You know what it's like, being a conscript of the Glorious Republic? A number on that paper, another for that paper, a random assignment here and a random assignment there. It all started with a goddamned lottery with a local councilman I knew who goes home every night sick at heart for what he does, but his kids are safe from the lottery that way..." she stops again.

"You probably didn't hear any of that. I- I saw your crew talking with each other, and you really seem to care about your crew, and I can't see any of that around here. I just left that hospital, a nurse let me out. I just want to go home, and I don't think I ever will now. Rot away on this island, rot away in a jail. Can't even do forced labor with my leg."

As abruptly as her rant started, she stops and falls silent again, staring down at the metal.

>I'll leave you to your sorrows, sailor.
>Tell me more about the Republic.
>My condolences for your evil system. I must get back to my crew, though.
>You will, of course, have to return to Citadel custody after this.
>Something else?

>>1211604
>Tell me more about the Republic.

Your lore's pretty fantastic OP.

>>1211604
>>You will, of course, have to return to Citadel custody after this.

>>1211604
>>Tell me more about the Republic.

Damn that hospital looks like a fucking hellhole.

>>1211604
>You will, of course, have to return to Citadel custody after this.
Maybe when this war ends you'll finally get to go home.

>>1211604
>Tell me more about the Republic.
"I'll be honest, you hear precious little about the other side here. I would like to know, did you believe in the system?"

>>1211604
>>Tell me more about the Republic.
we really should get back to our crew before it gets too late though

>>1211604
So she was just a regular crew on her ship?

I wonder about that gunner's mate that shot his admiral.

He probably got torn apart by those fanatics after he did the deed.

>>1211604
>>Tell me more about the Republic.

>>1211604
>Tell me more about the Republic.
Half tempted to simply tell our crew that some of the republicans caught on to her informing on them (which we can remind them saved our asses) and that we're transporting her to a different prison in a different port. Nobody at Sbvysek would notice anyway, and Evans would likely be sympathetic to some degree (He wasn't down with gunning down prisoners, and seems to hold the view that a ship is an island unto itself, as long as things don't come back on the crew). Yet I have feeling this all ends badly without the crew explicitly on board with this, so we should subtly sound them out on the idea first.

>>1211691

this is good

>>1211691
This sounds like a good idea. Even simply moving her to a less crowded prison could have consequences down the line. "Random acts of kindness paying off in unexpected ways" and all that jazz.

>>1211675
Depends if all the witnesses were riddled with bullets (or sober enough to remember now), but possibly.

>>1211691

This is what I'd like to do.

I do think we could just say we're doing a prisoner transfer to our crew and leave out explaining too much.

>>1211691
Yeah, sounds good. backing this

>>1211723
Probably, and they will know the threat of the other prisoners to her isn't a falsehood. I just wanted to sound them out a little first to see if there was any strong opposition to this. Which there probably isn't, but with a small crew a decision like this could be potentially divisive and better to head off at the beginning. Really it's Evans who I think its important to have onboard, but I doubt he'll object.

"Well, can you tell me more about the Republic?" you ask, leaning forwards. For all the long hours in the Academy spent poring over Republic naval tactics, you never learned about how life was like in the Citadel's greatest enemy.

"Okay. What do you want to hear?"

"Anything, really-"

"Oh. I thought you wanted some propaganda confirmed, or something. Like we feed corporate executives to hungry dogs, or that every guillotine gets a jar of noble's blood to lubricate the blade with, things like that."

"What the hell?"

"That's what they said your stories about us are," she shrugs. "We joked about it a lot."

"...no. If that's... you know what, just tell me about your home. Where'd you come from in the Republic?"

"Oh," she breathes, her eyes distant. "A beautiful little island chain in the Mirlites. Sun-bleached houses and cobblestone roads and those nifty bridges that went from island to island. Most people were involved with exporting fish or citrus. Grandfather told me stories about how wretchedly poor we were till the Republic took over, and gave us access to foods and luxuries..."

She pauses, venting a heavy sigh. "I guess Miss Abelie wouldn't have had that imported piano without the Republic, and that was nice to sing by, but it seems nobody past my grandfather's age could look past the guillotine in front of the province hall. It was a wonderful, wonderful place, and I never saw a Navy ship there till I was in the sacrifice."

>You didn't really tell me about the Republic, miss.
>How do you feel about going back to the Sbvysek garrison after this?
>You're going back to the Sbvysek garrison after this.
>Talk about our home.
>I've got to get to my crew. Take care - Master Evans will be here soon.
>Something else?

>>1211786

This meal and the whiskey will help but probably what helps more is that we havnt lost a single soul from our complement. If we had, I don't think we could float this idea.

>>1211791
>>Talk about our home.

Take turns.

Where in the world is master evans anyways.

>>1211791
>>Talk about our home.
speaking of places that could come to be considered home...
>>How do you feel about going back to the Sbvysek garrison after this?

>>1211791
>Talk about our home.
Exposition ahoy!
Also:
>"They kept a guillotine in the center of your little peaceful town?"

>>1211791
>Talk about our home.
>How do you feel about going back to the Sbvysek garrison after this?

>>1211858
Seconding this fellow left, right, and center.

I'm still holding out for some sort of work-related penalty for the duration of the war. Conveniently, we happen to have several slots on our crew open.

>>1211858

Them frogs man.

>>1211791
>>Something else?
Sounds like a nice place. Puts your dilemma of wanting to go home into perspective. I reckon you'll be doing a bit more thinking on what to do from here on out, so I'll leave you to your thoughts.

>>I've got to get to my crew. Take care - Master Evans will be here soon.

>>1211875
Eh, that's a little iffy at this point, lets see how things develop first before considering going that far. Although if she wants to feel cared for a part of a decent crew I'm sure there's a few scrap crews eager for more personnel, and they probably don't ask too many questions (and we do have that suitcase of civilian clothes). That could always be an option if the prison in scrap bay is 300% hell-hole-ish or we just want to offload her with simply dumping her wherever.

>>1211906
*as a part of a decent
*without simply dumping

>>1211906

Letting her loose in these waters might feel like a favour but it can also be a bad thing.

The waters are still contested and if she works on a scrapper, she'll eventually run into other republic ships. If they find her, she'll be executed as a deserter.

The POW camps are at least, safe and should allow her to heal her wound. When the war ends, she should be able to go home as well.

"A sacrifice?" you ask.

"That's the proper term for conscription."

"The government-approved one?"

"Government encouraged."

"Gods," you shake your head."that's insane. Just call it 'service' or something. That's what we do, conscription or obligation."

"What were you?" Sofia asks, perking up slightly. "Conscription, or obligation?"

"Obligation," you say, then wince. "More like duty. It's simply family tradition to join the Navy as an officer. It supplies status and longevity, and I have no complaints with it. Not like you, it seems."

"Well, I never had an obligation. You know, my dad survived his sacrifice - you should have seen him when my name was drawn. He felt like he got betrayed by the Republic, getting his daughter sacrificed. Hmph. Didn't take me forty-five years to figure that out."

"Well..." you say, pursing your lips. "It's all a matter of location, really. You can see how different the Kraegsk is, by virtue of its misery. Virtue's the wrong word."

"I... I come from a home as equally lovely as yours. Jorodaine, the jagged coast - far more beautiful than it sounds. Tall cliffs and pine trees, inlets and green fjords... houses built into the rock. The family estate was particularly beautiful, of course, but our quality of officers is such that we can avoid having factories placed on our stretch of coast. It's truly beautiful - like the Kraegsk without the storms, the ruins, and with the mainland at your back. I grew up in the boat shed, tinkering with the Type 1 engines and exploring the places where the forest ends right at the sea."

"Sounds lovely," Sofia says wistfully. "I wish I could see a beautiful Kraegsk in my life. Staring out at the ruins in the twilight, I could almost fool myself into thinking the Kraegsk was beautiful. I wanted it to be. If the people and the buildings are ugly, then at least let the scenery be nice... but it seems they all come tied together."

"Say- you said something about a guillotine in your town? How does that detract from the aesthetics?"

"Oh," she giggles, "it was a quaint little thing. Nothing like those big grey automated ones they had in the cities. Just some wood and a blade, covered in Republic banners. More a symbol than a tool. We behaved ourselves."

>>1211926
Point, although I wonder, given this is sort of a grim setting, if the war ending is something foreseeable, especially if things are deadlocked all over and not just in the Kraegsk Archipelago. The fact that salvage from far off naval battles washing in is a well established industry, and one seemingly introduced by both belligerents to these poor Islands instead of existing at current levels, implies its been a long ass war of at least a few years. That and its a grim feeling setting.

>>1211926
It does feel like this war is quite a long runner, judging from the equipment both sides have to resort to.

>>1211951
>Nothing like those big grey automated ones they had in the cities.
What in the ever-loving flying-Jesus fuck? Automated guillotines?

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>>1211951
>"Oh," she giggles, "it was a quaint little thing. Nothing like those big grey automated ones they had in the cities.

I have many questions.

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>>1211951
>Nothing like those big grey automated ones they had in the cities

>>1211951
"So," you say, bringing your airy tone of voice back down to a serious level, "how do you feel about going back to the Sbvysek garrison?"

She shakes her head. "It's madness. At the very best, no one would notice me and ask which ship I came from, or who my shipmates are, or what I did in captivity... I don't have a choice, of course." she bows her head. "I would rather anything else than to go back to this wretched little isle."

"Well, I won't promise anything, but at least you can endure with the knowledge that one day the war will end and you can go home."

"What?" she almost laughs. "Go home? You;'re just saying things now. You know as damned well as I do that this war isn't going to end. You haven't seen the propaganda they're putting out. Whole generations of city kids taught to hate the Citadel. Even if they wanted to end it, in a few years they won't be able to. My dad nearly got killed fighting the Citadel, and his uncle did - I just don't think that's... a hope."

"Well... I can't imagine the scrap factory magnates would be happy to see their entire industry cease to exist-" you start to say. "Shoot. That's not helping."

"No, it's not. Even odds that they disappear me if I make if off Sbvysek - look at my leg! Nurse told me I'll never walk without a cane again, at best. I can't even do forced labor. I can cook for a family of eight, sing in a local choir, care for a citrus tree, but that doesn't matter to prison authorities. I think the Republic and the Citadel share that."

"Ah." You can hear someone coming up from belowdecks - it must be Master Evans, finally.

>Well... I can take you off Sbvysek and to Scrap Bay, and see what awaits you there.
>Have you ever been interested in working as a cook on a small ship?
>Well, I'm sorry. Sbvysek is your new home.
>Something else?

(I didn't expect this night to be a worldbuilding extravaganza, but here we are)

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>>1211951
>automated

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>>1211951
Damn, consider the kind of use a "quaint" guillotine can go through in a short span of time... and they have automated ones! Wow.

>>1212001
>>Well... I can take you off Sbvysek and to Scrap Bay, and see what awaits you there.

>>1212001
>Well... I can take you off Sbvysek and to Scrap Bay, and see what awaits you there.
>Have you ever been interested in working as a cook on a small ship?

>>1212008

Well, we might have quaint stockades and hangman's noose.

>>1212001
>Well... I can take you off Sbvysek and to Scrap Bay, and see what awaits you there.
A kindness without going too far, and we can see how things go on the trip over, and gauge if the crew takes well to her.

>>1212019
supporting this

>>1212001
>Well, I'm sorry. Sbvysek is your new home.
"Helped a Republic Prisoner of war avoid detainment." is a great way for someone to ruin our up and coming career, and sailors are notorious rumour mongers, so word of it would get out.

>>1212001
>Have you ever been interested in working as a cook on a small ship?
Come on, you lot. Kraegsk is full of people doing less-than-legal things that are morally shite, to boot. I think we can safely take on one traumatized person without irreparably damaging our reputation with the locals.

>>1212019

In the meantime, we can put her to work in our mess and see how the crew takes to it.