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You frown, looking down at the large machine Cynthia has been working on, allegedly a stealth drive of some sort. “So what have you learned about this thing?”

She crosses her arms. “Well, I hooked it up to a computer yesterday afternoon and ran some diagnostics on it. Looks like it was augmented with Federal software around 30 years ago.”

“What would’ve been in the middle of the big naval reforms…” You rub your chin thoughtfully.

“That’s how I think it got misplaced. Probably sat in a warehouse for a while, then got mixed up and sent to the same mothball yard as the Bad Habit.”

“I see,” you nod. “And it is a stealth drive, right?”

Cynthia grins. “You bet it is. I tested it while you were up at the temple.”

Your eyes go wide. “You didn’t think it might be too dangerous?”

She shrugs. “We’d have to test it eventually. Anyway, I hooked it up to the reactor and fired it up. It works, but it takes up a lot of juice. If we were to use it in space, we’d be forced to run on emergency power the entire time, meaning no maneuvering, communications, or sensors. We’d be drifting blind, but we’d be much more difficult to detect.”

“Right,” you nod. “And it works every time?”

Cynthia shrugs again. “I’m honestly not sure. This thing is an enigma to me, even with a computer plugged into it.”

You sigh. “Okay. Other than that, anything else happen while I was gone? Any mechanical problems?”

She frowns. “Nothing’s broken as of yet, but that coolant pump keeps pulling harder than it should. It’s the original one that the ship was built with, so I’m honestly surprised we haven’t had it break down yet.”

>”How much do you expect a new coolant pump to cost us?”
>”Think we’ll be able to pick up any cargo here on Thalos?”
>”Have you taken a look at that turret we picked up? I’d like to install it as soon as possible.”
>”I’ll go ahead and get out of your hair. It looks like you have a lot to do.” (leave)
>Write-in.

>>1223305
>”How much do you expect a new coolant pump to cost us?”

>>1223305

>”How much do you expect a new coolant pump to cost us?”
>”Think we’ll be able to pick up any cargo here on Thalos?”
>You okay?

>>1223305
>”How much do you expect a new coolant pump to cost us?”
>”Think we’ll be able to pick up any cargo here on Thalos?”

>>1223305
> have you taken a look at the turret
I'd the coolant pump breaks we can get Corrigan down here with a handcrank.

>>1223305
>”How much do you expect a new coolant pump to cost us?”
Were we going to install the turret at our friendly mechanic's place? Or is it possible to get access to a lift here? Suddenly with a stealth drive to assist getaways the chances of us getting bushwhacked on the way back to Sol seem slimmer.

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>>1223613
>chances of us getting bushwhacked on the way back to Sol seem slimmer.
That's under the assumption that it works correctly all the time.

>>1223305
>”How much do you expect a new coolant pump to cost us?”
Want the turret, but its just tie up the votes 3 way.

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>>1223630
Indeed, shouldn't take anything for granted, especially with such interesting insinuations. Mind you while not 'safe' its still nice to be 'safer'.

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You grumble, leaning against the wall. “How much do you expect a new pump to cost us?”

Cynthia puts her hands in her pockets, sighing absently as she likely does the math in her head. “Anywhere between a couple thousand for a used one, to probably ten thousand for a brand new one.” She leans forward. “The current one should last us until we can get to a human colony, but I wouldn’t put it off much longer after that.”

“Noted,” you reply. “Think we’ll be able to pick any cargo up here on Thalos?”

She shrugs. “It’s possible, though getting anything from an alien planet through customs on a human colony would be a pain in the ass.”

You frown. This is the first time you’ve heard of customs issues involving alien planets. “How so?”

“Well, this is just what I heard when I was working at the land hulk shop, so take it with a grain of salt, but apparently there are really strict regulations on anything coming from a non-human planet. I remember it being super expensive to get thulian-made parts for the land hulks, so we had our own fab shop to make what we couldn’t have shipped in.”

“I wasn’t aware that land hulks used parts from Thalos,” you raise your eyebrow.

“Thulian titanium is some of the purest in the galaxy. Plus they make really high-quality transmission gears.” She rubs the back of her neck. “So we used to import transmission parts from Thalos before the restrictions went into effect. It might just be a restriction with Earth though, I’m not sure. And people may have exaggerated it. I was just the mechanic, so I never actually dealt with customs, just heard other people complain about it.” She frowns a little bit. “Though, I remember people complaining that the Empire always had better components because they didn’t have the same import restrictions…”

>”Well I may as well leave you to your work then.” (ends conversation)
>”Do you think we could turn a profit on shipping some Thulian titanium?”
>”What was it like working on land hulks?”
>”Are there any planets you think we should prioritize stopping at next?”
>Write-in.

>>1223688
>>”Do you think we could turn a profit on shipping some Thulian titanium?”
>”What was it like working on land hulks?”
>”Are there any planets you think we should prioritize stopping at next?”

>>1223688
>”Do you think we could turn a profit on shipping some Thulian titanium?”

>>1223688

>”Do you think we could turn a profit on shipping some Thulian titanium?
Or anything that we can get made out of it?

“Do you think we could turn a profit shipping some Thulian titanium?”

Cynthia gives you a puzzled look before shrugging. “Beats me. You’re supposed to be the one who knows what’s profitable. I just fix the ship.”

You chuckle a little bit. “Fair enough. Would it be useful to have anything aboard made of Thulian titanium then?”

“Almost certainly.” Cynthia nods. “Any transmission drive parts, or really anything that moves a lot, would last a lot longer if they were made out of titanium.” She frowns. “But having parts custom-fabricated from any kind of titanium would get expensive quickly. Titanium’s a pain in the ass to work with because of how strong it is. You need diamond-coated tools, and you still have to go slow or risk breaking the tool and workpiece…” She grumbles. “I remember when they asked me to turn a piece of titanium on a lathe and I messed it up because I had never done it before.”

“I see,” you frown. “So it’d be expensive, but almost never break.” You raise an eyebrow at Cynthia. “Might save us maintenance costs in the long run.”

“Possibly,” she nods. “Though we could save up our cash for a total refurbishment and upgrade of the ship itself. I understand we’re close to having enough.”

“That’s true,” you reply.

Cynthia points a finger at you, grinning dangerously. “But if you do get the ship upgraded, I expect it to be done by a reputable shipyard. If we skimp on the costs of something like that, it could mean the death of all of us eventually.”

“Don’t worry,” you sigh. “I’d probably get it done on Mars. Allie has the facilities and know-how to do it.” You shrug. “Plus I’m sure she could think up some cool stuff to add to the ship.”

“That’s true,” Cynthia nods. “Does that mean Mars is our next destination?”

>”I want to get a few more jobs under our belts first. That way we have enough money for a total upgrade when we get there.”
>”Yeah. We may as well stop in at Mars next.”
>Write-in.

>>1223887
>>”I want to get a few more jobs under our belts first. That way we have enough money for a total upgrade when we get there.”

>>1223887
>>”I want to get a few more jobs under our belts first. That way we have enough money for a total upgrade when we get there.”

>>1223887
>>”I want to get a few more jobs under our belts first. That way we have enough money for a total upgrade when we get there.”

>>1223887
>”I want to get a few more jobs under our belts first. That way we have enough money for a total upgrade when we get there.”

>>1223887
>”I want to get a few more jobs under our belts first. That way we have enough money for a total upgrade when we get there.”
If we are in the future with starships that still have 1980s era part reliability then I don't think throwing space titanium at them is going to help.

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“I want to get a few more jobs under our belts first,” you reply simply. “That way we have enough cash for the upgrade when we get there.”

“Makes sense,” Cynthia agrees.

You’re about to say something when there is a knock on the door of the engineering room. Looking back, you see Samantha standing there. “Captain?” Her eyes go wide when she sees how you look. “W-what happened to you?”

You shrug. “Got pulled into a fight between alien space wizards. You know, normal stuff.”

She steps into the engineering room, eyes still wide. “A-anyway, I finished running diagnostics on the nav-computer like you asked,” she then says to Cynthia. “Looks like there was some old code left in it that was slowing calculations down. Me and Solfrid fixed it.”

Cynthia nods professionally. “Good to hear it. Tom had been complaining about computer lag. He’ll be happy that it’s fixed.”

“Well it’s not all fixed,” she adds. “It’s an old computer, so it’s naturally going to run slow. We just managed to make it not run as slow.”

“I didn’t know there was a problem with the navigation computer.” You cross your arms.

“It’s not something that could affect the ship’s safety or anything,” Samantha explains. “Just a maintenance issue, mostly.” She then raises her eyebrows, as if remembering something important. “By the way, Virgo mentioned that he wanted to see you about something. He’s up in the wardroom I think.” She then frowns slightly. “Is he somebody important here on Thalos?”

>”He is now.” (vague)
>”There’s this group called the Magus Council. Virgo is basically part of upper-management for them.”
>”He’s just a regular guy.” (lie)
>”I should probably go see what he needs.” (leave)
>Write-in.

>>1224182
>”There’s this group called the Magus Council. Virgo is basically part of upper-management for them.”

>>1224182
>>”He is now.” (vague)

>>1224182
>>”He is now.” (vague)

>>1224182
>>”There’s this group called the Magus Council. Virgo is basically part of upper-management for them now.”

>>1224182
>”There’s this group called the Magus Council. Virgo is basically part of upper-management for them.”

>>1224182
>”There’s this group called the Magus Council. Virgo is basically part of upper-management for them.”
Because he is a good fighter and due to a bit of cronyism. Not because he is a good administrator or anything sensible like that.

>>1224228
>>”He is now.” (vague)

>>1224370
>>1224182

Going to have to cut tonight's session short. Tune in around the same time tomorrow for the next session.

Mood music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M691cY1WwoQ

>>1224415
;(

>>1224182
>>”There’s this group called the Magus Council. Virgo is basically part of upper-management for them.”

>>1224415
Thanks for the run

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Further schedule change: Session will be starting after 7:00 PM EST. We'll run late into the night as a result.

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>>1226517
Hey Zap, it's time for questing!

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>>1226681
I know, I just got home. Writing now.
It seems like the universe is conspiring against me today.

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“There’s this group called the Magus Council,” you begin with a sigh. “Virgo’s basically part of upper management with them. It’s more complicated than that, but I think you get the idea.”

“I see,” Samantha nods understandingly. “Wait,” she seems to almost jump. “Was he the one who did this to you?” She gestures to you, likely meaning all of the bandages.

“What? No.” You cross your arms. “Virgo is actually the one who saved me from worse… Which means I owe him double now, I think…” You scratch the back of your neck tiredly. “Virgo was fighting another Magus named Orion. Orion targeted me in an attempt to distract Virgo.” You grin. “It almost worked. Almost.”

“So what happened to Orion?” Cynthia raises an eyebrow at you.

You make an explosion sound, as well as a tearing motion with your hands. “Pulped,” you add with a small grimace.

Both of the girls’ eyes go wide at your explanation. “I didn’t realize Virgo was so dangerous,” Cynthia shakes her head.

“Only when you make him mad,” you reply. “Still, that was probably the angriest I’ve ever seen him get. He’s normally an ice cube when he does anything involving his powers.”

Samantha raises an eyebrow. “What exactly are his powers? I mean, I know some Thulians are capable of stuff like ESP, but I’ve never learned the specifics.”

“I’m not sure,” you answer honestly. “He can move things with his mind, so I’d imagine it’s some kind of telekinesis.” You shrug. “But I’ve never learned about it in-depth. Or about how Magus powers work at all actually.”

“How did you even meet Virgo?” Cynthia raises an eyebrow. “I know it was during the War, but I thought the Thulians were neutral…”

>”They were. It’s a long story.” (dodge the question)
>”He saved my life after what happened on the Abraxis. Much to the Council’s displeasure.” (tell her the full story)
>”He helped me out of a rough situation.” (vague)
>Write-in.

>>1226890
>”He saved my life after what happened on the Abraxis. Much to the Council’s displeasure.” (tell her the full story)

>>1226890
> it's a long story
Nothing against telling it but this is hardly the time. Ask us when we are under way.

>>1226890

”He helped me out of a rough situation.” (vague)
Pretty much the normal day for me

>>1226890
>>”They were. It’s a long story.” (dodge the question)

>>1226890
>”They were. It’s a long story.” (dodge the question)

Maybe tell them we will regale them and the crew a little later.

>>1226890
>”They were. It’s a long story.” (dodge the question)

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You look away. “They were… It’s a long story… I’ll tell you later.” You rub your shoulder, grimacing at the ache from your old injury. “I should probably go see what Virgo wants.” You turn around and walk toward the door. “See you later.”

When you get to the wardroom, you see that Virgo is indeed there. He looks up at you as soon as you enter, smiling slightly. “Captain. Feeling better?”

“The pain meds are working,” you nod. “I can tell this is all going to hurt like hell in the morning though.”

“Sorry I got you dragged into that,” he says guiltily.

“Don’t worry about it,” you reply with a sigh, sitting down across from him. “Samantha said you wanted to see me?”

“Right,” Virgo frowns. “I wanted to talk to you about what’s going to happen now that I’m on the Elder Council…”

You rub the bridge of your nose. “Let me guess, you’re going to be leaving the ship…”

“Not necessarily,” he replies. “I think I might have a way to stay aboard while also being a member of the Elder Council.”

You raise an eyebrow at him. “Really? Let’s hear it.”

Virgo leans forward, rubbing his chin. “Well, it’s unprecedented, but if we set up a direct Q-band line from the Temple to my quarters, it’d allow me to sit in on meetings without actually being there. And Libra could have the communicator itself, so she’d act as a proxy between me and the rest of the Council. And I could instruct her what I want done when I'm not in direct communication with the Council.”

“She’d be acting in your stead,” you nod. It’s an ingenious plan, but a part of you wonders if it would actually fly with the Elder Council. After all, Virgo said it was unprecedented, and they’re very traditional as far as you know.

Virgo nods as well. “Of course, I’d have to run it by the Elder Council after my swearing-in.” He crosses his arms. “Which is scheduled to happen in three hours.”

>”Do you want me to go with you? I could try to convince the Elder Council to accept the suggestion.”
>”Good luck with that then.”
>”What kind of responsibilities would you have as a member of the Elder Council?”
>”I’ve been meaning to ask. What exactly is your power?”
>Write-in.

>>1227102
>>”Do you want me to go with you? I could try to convince the Elder Council to accept the suggestion.”
>”What kind of responsibilities would you have as a member of the Elder Council?”
>”I’ve been meaning to ask. What exactly is your power?”
Telekinesis, Gravinetics? what?

>>1227102
>”Do you want me to go with you? I could try to convince the Elder Council to accept the suggestion.”
>”What kind of responsibilities would you have as a member of the Elder Council?”
>”I’ve been meaning to ask. What exactly is your power?”
I feel bad for Virgo so much politics in his future.

>>1227102
>>”Do you want me to go with you? I could try to convince the Elder Council to accept the suggestion.”
>>”What kind of responsibilities would you have as a member of the Elder Council?”
>>”I’ve been meaning to ask. What exactly is your power?"

>>1227102
>”What kind of responsibilities would you have as a member of the Elder Council?”
I guess on the one hand they would be glad to have him as far away as possible but on the other hand it would limit his effectivness if he actually wants to get anything done in the council. Does he want to try make a stand against corruption or whatever? Because they will just arrange short notice meetings that he misses or do everything in backroom deals and be all like "oh I'm sorry you must have missed that memo, you know how unreliable the interstellar post service is".

“What kind of responsibilities would you have as a member of the Elder Council?” You cross your arms.

Virgo stretches tiredly. “Being present for votes that decide Council matters,” he begins. “As well as enforcing Council doctrine and deliberating about future policy.” He shrugs. “Though, the first and last bits are more vestigial nowadays, seeing as the Council isn’t politically influential anymore.”

You nod. “And those things could be done from long-distance without the other council members interfering?”

“That’s always a possible problem,” Virgo agrees. “But having Libra to act as my proxy would curb a lot of that. She’d be acting directly on my orders, so she’d have the same authority as a member of the Elder Council.”

“I see.” You rub your eyes as you lean forward. “So do you need me to go along with you? I might be able to help convince the Council to see things your way.”

Virgo shrugs. “You can if you want. It shouldn’t be necessary though. I think the result of my fight with Orion spooked them a little.”

You nod. “I can see why. Though I’ve been meaning to ask, what exactly is your power?”

Virgo takes on an expression that reminds you of a university professor or librarian. “Well I’m a Magus Aphorius,” he begins. “Meaning I follow the sect of Aphor. Essentially, that’s the deity my sect worships, the one who gives every Magus Aphorius their power.” He leans back. “According to legend, Aphor was a being who rode a moving star through the cosmos, striking down evil wherever he was. But one day, he was struck down and scattered across the sky. Supposedly a piece of him landed here on Thalos, which is why Magus Aphorius are so powerful.” He shakes his head a little, seemingly refocusing. “But to answer your question, I can manipulate gravity and gravitational fields.”

“That certainly explains things,” you reply.

“Indeed,” Virgo chuckles. “Anyway, my ride to the Temple should be arriving around two hours from now. “I’m going to head to my quarters and get ready.” He gets up from his seat and stretches tiredly. “If you want to tag along, feel free to meet me when it arrives.” With that, he exits the wardroom, heading to his quarters.

You yawn lightly, rubbing the sore area on your shoulder again. Well, assuming you head out with Virgo, you’ve got two hours to kill.

>Head up to your quarters for some rest.
>Visit a crew member. (specify)
>Explore the town you’re currently stopped in.
>Use your communicator to do something. (specify)
>Write-in.

>>1227318
>Explore the town you’re currently stopped in.
Find some contracts!

>>1227318
Ask Virgo about the cosmic entity we met in our dreams during our capture AND his friend's funeral.

>>1227318
>Explore the town you’re currently stopped in.

>>1227318
>Visit a crew member.
Shoot the shit with tom while we go to town.
>Explore the town you’re currently stopped in.

>>1227318
>>Explore the town you’re currently stopped in.
what could go wrong

>>1227318
>Explore the town you’re currently stopped in.

You stand up with a grunt, rubbing the bandage over your eye. This town you’ve landed in seems pretty bustling, so you figure you may as well see what it has to offer. You first head up to your cabin and put on a fresh change of clothes, then clean, load, and holster your service pistol. After a quick glance in the mirror to make sure you don’t look too ghoulish, you head down to the cargo hold.

The place is absolutely swarming with activity by now, and you assume it to be midday. There are thulians, humans, the occasional psirinean, and even aliens you’ve never seen before. That’s always one of the more interesting parts of going to a non-human world, or rather a non-Federation world, there are all sorts of folks around.

You walk up the main avenue of the city, which appears to have very few motorized vehicles. Thulians and humans appear to be the most numerous people here, and you wave to more than a few of your fellow humans who call out to you as they pass. Eventually, you spot what you assume is the town square. There are a few different places that you can obviously identify. An open-air café sits just off to the left of the square itself, and on the opposite side of the street is a place that you don’t need to speak the language to recognize, a bar, and over on the far side of the square is what you assume to be some sort of starship-related store. Finally, you look over and see something that makes you grimace. There is an unassuming building off in an alleyway with a sign made for those who either can’t read or don’t have time to read. It shows a stylized skull and crossbones with a rifle above it and a grenade below it. It is a hitman’s office. While such things are illegal in the Empire and Federation, they aren’t uncommon in the frontiers, as well as on non-human planets.

You grimace again, walking out into the town square and looking around at the other places of business. You see a place with a sign that looks to be written in English, though it is obscured.

As you walk toward it to get a better look, you see a group of people ahead of you stepping back from a distressed looking man. “C’mon,” he shouts at them. “You’re spacers, right? I can pay, I can pay!” He grabs at one of their sleeves, only to be shoved back.

“Push off, man. We aren’t taking passengers,” a burly guy, likely a bodyguard, says. The distressed man takes a step back, running a hand through his hair and grinning dumbly before walking after them.

“If it’s because you don’t want to go all the way to Earth, that’s fine! I can go wherever you’re going and hitch a ride from there…” The group of people fast-walk away from the guy. You take another look at him from afar. While you could probably stand to make some money from a passenger, would you really want that passenger to be some stranger who wasn’t vetted through customs?

>”I’m a spacer. If you’ve got the cash, I’ve got a stateroom.” (offer passage to the man)
>Go to the open-air café.
>Go to the bar.
>Go to the starship-related store.
>Keep walking and explore a different part of the town.
>Write-in.

>>1227774
>Go point the man at customs, tell him there are ships coming every day and he might get lucky.

>>1227789
Allen doesn't know where the customs office is in this town, assuming there is one.

>>1227793
I was kinda trying to chat the guy up and see what's going on before taking him.

>>1227774
>>”I’m a spacer. If you’ve got the cash, I’ve got a stateroom.” (offer passage to the man)

>>1227814
Fair enough. I'll consider that a vote for talking to the guy to kind of get a feel for him.

>>1227774
>>”I’m a spacer. If you’ve got the cash, I’ve got a stateroom.” (offer passage to the man)

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You walk up to the man carefully. “I’m a spacer,” you call out. He turns around and you get a better look at him. “If you’ve got the cash, I’ve got a stateroom.”

The man is a bit older, probably in his forties, and his hair is such a light blond that it almost looks white under the midday sun. He grins slightly at you. “Really?” His eyebrows shoot up. “Well how about that. This is truly a serendipitous day.” He sticks out a hand, which you shake. A shiver runs up your spine from how cold his hand is. “The name’s Tillman, Roy Tillman.”

“Allen Starwind,” you reply. “My ship is the Bad Habit. We’re over at dock eight. Go ahead and pay my first officer when you get there.” You frown. “You said you’re headed to Earth, right?”

“Indeed I am,” he nods. “Not that I’m in any hurry. I’m a land prospector, but I got a call from the main office. They want me back on good old mother Earth so that I can be reassigned to a colony on the other edge of this spiral arm.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Okay then. Like I said, go ahead and give your fare to my first officer. His name’s Tom, blond guy, looks a little older than me.”

“Right,” he says with a chuckle. “And I promise I’ll keep out of your hair for the duration of the trip. I understand that starship crews don’t like passengers loitering around the ship.”

“Uh… Right.” You nod dumbly. The man excitedly turns on his heels, jogging toward the dockyards. “And remember, Dock eight,” you call out to remind him. What a weirdo. Pulling out your communicator, you call Tom to clear it with him.

“Hello?” His voice crackles over the speaker.

“Hey Tom,” you begin. “It’s Allen. We’ve got a passenger. Land prospector or something, really weird, but he seems harmless enough.”

You hear a sigh on the other end, followed by the sound of a cap being put back on a glass bottle. “Right, I’ll go wait for him.”

“Thanks,” you reply.

“No problem, sir.” With that, he cuts the transmission. You look up at your surroundings.

>Go to the open-air café.
>Go to the bar.
>Go to the starship-related store.
>Keep walking and explore a different part of the town.
>Write-in.

>>1228072
>Go to the starship-related store.
Maybe they got something interesting in stock.

>>1228072
>>Go to the starship-related store.

>>1228072
>Go to the starship-related store.
Lets check out that hit-man office.

>>1228072
>Go to the starship-related store.
Upgrades a go!

Before we go back to the ship though we'll need to see what passes for a good thulian alcoholic beverage. And get some. Both for us and the crew, and because the markup could be significant when were back in the solar system, instant profit (not likely but a little bit, even if not cargo quantity, could make a good gift/bribe)

>>1228072
>Go to the starship-related store.
I really have a bad feeling about this...

>>1228072
>>Go to the bar.

You decide to head over to what you assume is a starship-related store. It is an old brick building with various parts laying around in the front lot. When you walk through the front door, you find yourself in a crowded, yet very well-appointed store. The shelves are lined with old parts in their respective boxes, as well as memorabilia and military surplus items.

You walk around, looking at the various wares before a voice catches your attention. “Can I help you, son?” Looking over, you see a counter piled high with items, and an elderly human sitting behind it all. He adjusts his glasses and smirks at you.

You gesture to the shelves. “I was just sort of browsing,” you reply. “I’m not actually sure what kind of store this is, I couldn’t read the sign out front.”

“Ah, can’t read Thulian. That’s understandable.” He crosses his arms. “I mostly sell vintage starship and motorcycle parts, as well as Thulian military surplus. And whatever else interests me.”

You nod. “Sounds like good work.”

“Oh you bet,” he grins. “Nothing beats getting paid to do what you enjoy, right?” He points to the emblem on the shoulder of your jacket. “You a veteran?”

“Yeah,” you reply somewhat sheepishly. “Federal Navy.”

“Well how about that,” he says in a hushed tone. Rolling up his sleeve, he shows you a tattoo of the Naval Corpsman Division. “Four tours, First Border War.” He sticks his hand out. “Put ‘er there.”

You shake his hand, grinning a little bit. “Small world, huh?”

“Small indeed,” he says with a distant look in his eyes.

>”Have anything particularly unique in your inventory?”
>”So you were a corpsman? What unit did you serve with?”
>”Why did you set up shop way out here on Thalos?”
>Write-in.

>>1228294
>”So you were a corpsman? What unit did you serve with?”
>”Why did you set up shop way out here on Thalos?”
>Anything for an Oberon?

>>1228294
>”Have anything particularly unique in your inventory?”
>”So how did you end up running shop way out here on Thalos? I can see the appeal, but it still seems an usual route.”

>>1228313
Oh good point, asking about our Oberon.

>>1228294
>>”So you were a corpsman? What unit did you serve with?”
>>”Why did you set up shop way out here on Thalos?”
>>Anything for an Oberon?

>>1228313
I like this

File: He's like a much more bad(...).jpg (150 KB, 1280x1707)

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“So you were a corpsman?” You point to his tattoo. “What unit did you serve with?”

He grins fondly, leaning on the counter. “Eighteenth Marine Division,” he says.

“No shit,” you chuckle. “The Raiders, huh?”

“Oh yeah. Those were some badass guys, I tell you.” He crosses his arms. “A lot of ‘em got put into MSOF when they founded it.”

“That’s what I’ve heard.” You nod at him. Stretching, you lean on the counter as well. “Why’d you set up shop way out here on Thalos? Seems kind of out-of-the-way.”

“That’s precisely the reason,” he replies, adjusting his glasses. “Got tired of living in the Federation. Tried living in the Empire for a minute or two, but it was the same old shit, you know?” You merely nod in response. The older man continues. “It’s nice and quiet out here, no looming threat of war, shady folks pulling strings from the shadows… People seem a lot mellower here.”

You smile. “Amen to that.”

“I take it you’re a spacer?” He raises an eyebrow at you.

“Yeah, I actually came in here to see if you’ve got any parts for an Oberon.”

He frowns thoughtfully, then produces a notebook with inventory written down on it. “Let’s see…” He points to a section. “Yep. Looks like we’ve got a used targeting computer, some hull paneling, a refrigerator for the mess hall, and a new set of emergency shutters for the bridge windows.” He looks up at you. “Any of that pique your interest?”

>”I actually do need a new fridge.”
>”Could you tell me more about the targeting computer?”
>”Anything special about the hull panels?”
>”My ship didn’t come with emergency shutters…”
>Write-in.

>>1228498
>>”I actually do need a new fridge.”
>>”Could you tell me more about the targeting computer?”
>>”Anything special about the hull panels?”
>>”My ship didn’t come with emergency shutters…”
How much for the set? I might have to discuss with my engineer, but those are all strangely helpful.

>>1228503
This.

>>1228498
>All of it

File: Spending 300% of the budget.jpg (223 KB, 650x667)

223 KB JPG

>>1228498
>”I actually do need a new fridge.”
>”My ship didn’t come with emergency shutters…”

I thought there were extra panels we discovered in the storage with the stealth drive. Even if these were special don't want to break the bank. Targeting computers are nice but until we upgun or get better torpedo's I don't see that as an attractive investment compared to others. Maybe I'm wrong and zap can set me straight. That said don't blow our cash on EVERYTHING, especially when we will be heading back to our mechanic friend's.

File: Kagasleep.png (66 KB, 340x394)

66 KB PNG

I'm gonna call it here for tonight on account of being dead tired. I'll try to start the session earlier tomorrow so that we can run for a more acceptable amount of time.

Mood music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPise0ViIWQ

Also, for those concerned, this prompt was just asking about the prices and attributes of the items. I'll make it clear if you're about to buy something, so don't worry about accidentally spending 300% of the budget.

“My ship does need a new fridge,” you say with a nod. “How much is it?”

The man crosses his arms. “Well it’s used, so I’m only charging 800 Standards for it.” He gestures to a large box behind the counter. “You’re free to plug it in and test it first.”

“Duly noted.” You decide to move on to the next thing that has caught your attention. “And what about the emergency shutters? My ship didn’t come with them.”

He nods. “They’re not stock. And they aren’t exactly cheap either, but they’ll protect your bridge if something breaches a window. They’re 6,000 Standards.”

You grimace at the price, crossing your arms. “Okay. And what about the targeting computer?”

The man reaches under the counter, proudly producing a box. “This here is a Telemark Systems DT-211B Enhanced Targeting Device.” He opens the box and sits a small device in front of you. “Aftermarket. Mostly used by mercenaries and the like, it’ll increase your ship’s targeting range beyond most military frigates.” He raises an eyebrow at you. “Might give you a much-needed edge against pirates if you can’t out run them.”

You grin slightly at the prospect of a better targeting system. “How does it interface?”

He points to a socket on the machine. “That plugs right into a line from your sensor radome. It just piggybacks off of that.” He frowns. “It’s 10,000 Standards though. You’re not likely to find another one like it, since they were discontinued ten years ago.”

“Right,” you nod. “And what about the hull panels? Anything special about them?”

He grins. “They’re drop-in windowed panels. It’ll allow you to have windows in your crew staterooms and wardroom.” He points to a poster explaining the installation process. “They cost 10,000 Standards, and I can install them for another 2,000.”

>”I think I’ll wait and bring my engineer here to see what we need.”
>”I’ll buy the fridge.” (800)
>”I’ll buy the shutters.” (6,000)
>”I’ll buy the targeting computer.” (10,000)
>”I’ll buy the hull panels.” (10,000)

>>1230638
>”I think I’ll wait and bring my engineer here to see what we need.”
But save the fridge, that is almost a sure thing.

>>1230638
>>”I think I’ll wait and bring my engineer here to see what we need.”
>But I definitely want the fridge.

>>1230638
>”I think I’ll wait and bring my engineer here to see what we need.”

>>1230638
>”I think I’ll wait and bring my engineer here to see what we need.”
"Don't want to be smothered in my sleep, engineers get touchy about acquisitions ahaha."

>>1230638
>”I’ll buy the fridge.” (800)

“I’ll have to consult with my engineer before I buy anything,” you say. “But I’m probably going to get the fridge when I bring my engineer along.”

“Right,” the man nods. “Need anything else?”

“Not as far as I know.” You shrug. “Are there any points of interest in this town?”

“Well, there are the café and bar across the town square…” He shrugs. “The main market district is to the north, and to the east is the financial district, not much there though. South is the residential areas, and the western side of town is where the industrial buildings are. Might be able to find some open cargo contracts there.”

“Noted,” you nod. You turn on your heels, walking toward the exit to the shop. “I’ll be back with my engineer later.”

“Right. See you then.” He waves to you as you exit the store. Walking out into the town square, you look around at the various shops and places of interest.

>Head to the bar.
>Head to the open-air café.
>Investigate the market district.
>Investigate the industrial district.
>Investigate the residential district.
>Investigate the financial district.
>Head back to the ship and get Cynthia.
>Write-in.

>>1231053
>Head to the bar.
Always can find good leads in a bar.

>>1231053
>Go to the hitman’s office and take out a hit on the council
>Head to the bar.

>>1231053
>>Investigate the market district.

>>1231053
>>Head to the bar.

>>1231053
>Head to the bar.
It's always the bar. Unless it's an imperial, in which case it's the coffee house, I believe.

You decide to head across the square, weaving between s couple crowds of people in the process, and end up in front of the bar. It is a simple-looking building with a red door and a couple small windows near the top of the front wall.

You open the door, squinting through the smoky air as you enter the bar. It is dimly lit, with loud music playing from a jukebox near the bar itself. There are people all around, both human and alien, and you see several heads turn your way as you enter.

Closing the door behind you, you walk up to the bar and sit down, leaning on the counter and looking around. The sort of people in here don’t seem like spacers, in fact, it’s a rather homey establishment. Many of the patrons are happily carrying on conversations.

You do, however, notice a man sitting at a table near the corner, a troubled expression on his face. He wears a wide-brimmed hat and a dusty coat, and you see a rifle laid across the table in front of him. He looks down at the mug in his hands, occasionally taking a sip from it.

At the bar, a few seats down from yourself, are a couple of psirineans wearing what look like uniforms. One of them has a beard and another has a neatly-trimmed mustache that reminds you of a cop. They both look older, with lines and wrinkles across their faces, as well as some gray in their hair. One of them absently puffs on a cigar.

It appears that this place has some kind of bulletin board near the entrance, with many different pieces of paper pinned up on it. You crane your neck to see it better as a pair of humans, obviously spacers, walk up and pull a piece of paper from the board, then walk out.

“You want a drink?” The bartender, a thulian, raises an eyebrow at you.

>”No thanks.”
>”Sure.”
>”What’s good here?”
>Go talk to the psirineans.
>Go talk to the man in the wide-brimmed hat.
>Leave.
>Write-in.

>>1231332
>”Sure.”
>”What’s good here?”

>>1231332
>>”Sure.”
>>”What’s good here?”

>>1231332
>”Sure.”
>Go talk to the psirineans.

>>1231332
>”Sure.”
>”What’s good here?”

>>1231332

>”Sure.”

>>1231332
We should have brought tripe along for a wanderings. He has been cooped up in the ship for too long.

>>1231575
That is true mybe we can find him a robo gun leg

“Sure,” you say. “What’s good here?”

The bartender shrugs. “Well, there’s Uklav, but it’s an acquired taste for most humans.” He gestures to a bottle on the shelf behind him. “Why don’t I start you out on some bourbon?”

“Sure,” you reply. The bartender pulls the bottle out and pours it into a large glass, handing it to you. “So what are you here for?”

“I’m just a spacer,” you reply. “Same as most humans around here, I figure.”

“Ten years ago, you’d be correct.” The bartender chuckles. “After your big war, a whole bunch of displaced people would up emigrating here. Nowadays, there are as many humans as thulians, at least in major cities.”

“Really,” you raise an eyebrow as you sip the bourbon. It’s surprisingly good stuff compared to what you’ve had elsewhere.

“Yeah.” The bartender makes a gesture across the bar. “Guess it was more destructive than our people first thought. Droves of humans came here.”

“Makes sense,” you nod. “Some entire colonies were made uninhabitable.” You think back to the siege of New Vladivostok where the Federal Navy dropped so much ordinance that it made the topsoil toxic. Shuddering, you sip your drink some more. “Anyway, what can you tell me about this place? Anything worth a spacer’s time?”

The bartender points to the bulletin board. “People post jobs and such on that board, though most of the lucrative and easy ones get snatched up immediately. The mercenary office occasionally has open work for people of a more militaristic persuasion. And I’m sure you could ask around in here if there are any odd jobs that need done.” He seems to want to say something else, his eyes drifting to the heavy bandages over your eye. “Anyway… Let me know if you want anything else.” With that, he walks over and gets drinks for another patron. You quietly finish your glass.

>Check the bulletin.
>Go talk to the psirineans.
>Go talk to the man in the wide-brimmed hat.
>Ask for another drink.
>Leave.
>Write-in.

>>1231764
>>Ask for another drink.

>>1231764
>Go talk to the psirineans.

>>1231764
>Ask for another drink.
>Check the bulletin.

>>1231764

Time to quest

>Check the bulletin

>>1231764
>Check the bulletin.
And then check out the man with the hat and rifle.

I think we should avoid combat work until we get our ship fixed up to an acceptable level.

You walk over to the bulletin board, leaving the money for the drink on the counter as you leave. On the bulletin is a list of various jobs to do. You notice, curiously, that there are no star ratings for the jobs posted. You see that each job has a title, as well as a short description below it.

>Shipment of Thulian titanium from THALOS to NEW BRAZIL.
Shipment of two (2) cargo units of high-purity titanium from Thalos to human colony New Brazil. Payment is negotiable upon delivery. Initial payout is 9,000 Standards.

>Security work for client on Thalos.
Wealthy client requires temporary bodyguards for social function. Further details will be given upon request. SERIOUS APPLICANTS ONLY.

>Intercept stolen starship.
Client has reported theft of starship and cargo while conducting business on Thalos. Starship is believed to be en route to nearby planet of Avalos. Payment will be processed upon return of vessel and cargo intact.

>Deliver medical aid to Avalos.
Client is a charity group conducting operations on Avalos. They require two (2) cargo units of medicine and medical supplies. Payment is negotiable.

>Disrupt pirate operations in asteroid belt.
Local gendarmerie force requests all able mercenaries to assist in operations against pirates in asteroid belt near Thalos. Payment dependent on performance.

>Shipment of irrigation parts from THALOS to MARS.
Client is a manufacturer of agricultural equipment. Previous transporter has proven unreliable, so shipping will now be done through freelancers. Cargo will consist of two (2) units of irrigation equipment. Payment is 5,000 Standards FIRM.

OOC: You have two units of cargo space free aboard the Bad Habit.

>>1232004
>>Shipment of irrigation parts from THALOS to MARS.

>>1232004
>Shipment of irrigation parts from THALOS to MARS.
Talk to the crew about the Security, Intercept, and Disruption jobs.

>>1232004

>Shipment of Thulian titanium from THALOS to NEW BRAZIL.
Shipment of two (2) cargo units of high-purity titanium from Thalos to human colony New Brazil. Payment is negotiable upon delivery. Initial payout is 9,000 Standards.

I mean we could ask for parks made insted of the full payment

>>1232004
>Shipment of Thulian titanium from THALOS to NEW BRAZIL.
I'm voting for this because it is a new place. The bodyguard job might get us some new connections but I think we are a little burnt out on Thalos bullshit at the moment. I don't think us or our crew signed up for crewing a gunship and we already said we were going to wait a bit before hitting mars.

>>1232004
>Intercept stolen starship.
I wanna test out our new stealth drive

>Shipment of irrigation parts from THALOS to MARS.
>Shipment of Thulian titanium from THALOS to NEW BRAZIL.
We should have the space if we sell the truck in our hold. If not the titanium shipment sound more lucrative, remember thalos titanium is rare.

>>1232004
>Security work for client on Thalos.

While we're here might as well. Gives us some insight into the politics of the place while we're at it. Also we have an asset with Sam for information warfare and Virgo could help out with it for sure.

>>1232004
>Security work for client on Thalos.

Then

>Deliver medical aid to Avalos.

And

>Shipment of irrigation parts from THALOS to MARS.

We could also stock up on missiles and get that targeter to do

>Disrupt pirate operations in asteroid belt.

Should probably pay for the targeter. Blackleaf might be able to help if they're a competing group. We should at least inquire about the pirates.

It might even be her group in which case maybe we could warn her.

>>1232135
>>1232136
>>1232026

> Payment is negotiable upon delivery.

This makes me leery about it.

>>1232136
>>1232205
We do not have good ship for combat, it's also borked really badly with that pump.

>>1232004

>Security work for client on Thalos.
Is it a thulian or a human?
>Intercept stolen starship.
>Shipment of irrigation parts from THALOS to MARS.
>Shipment of Thulian titanium from THALOS to NEW BRAZIL.

>>1232208
Means we charge extra!

Okay first of all we lack the storage room to do two hauling jobs. Second OUR SHIP IS FALLING APART BECASE OF A BAD PUMP. We are not ready to do combat at all.

>>1232214
Yeah, I agree with this. We can barely go a milk run without some issue. I wouldn't depend on the bad habit in a combat situation where one component failing can get us killed.

>>1232136
>>1232225
You only have space for one of the contracts, even with the truck gone (assuming you could find a person to buy it), you'd only have three cargo units of space in the hold.

Anyway, seeing how ambiguous this vote is at the moment, I'm going to call it quits for tonight and run tomorrow to hopefully finish the thread. In the meantime, keep those votes coming. They'll be tallied before we start tomorrow.

>>1232214
A) The pump ain't broken yet

B) We're actually a decent ship for combat. We have a missile specialist, and we're a missile ship. Get the scanner and we out range military vessels much less pirates. Also we won't be doing it alone, so we can hang back and just lob missiles.

>NEW BRAZIL
Where is this place on the starcharts?
Do we have to worry about HUE?

>>1228571
Why would we ever want to not ask prices?

>>1232415
I'd like to note that the intercepted starship should be returned intact. Which means no missiles, just boarding action. Is our ship decent for boarding actions? Do we even know how to do it?

>>1232763
See >>1223305

> . If we were to use it in space, we’d be forced to run on emergency power the entire time, meaning no maneuvering, communications, or sensors. We’d be drifting blind, but we’d be much more difficult to detect.”

So our stealth drive is no good for pretty much anything except a last ditch method or to hide the ship while we're doing stuff outside it. I don't think we have a shuttle or anything though.

I like the idea of hunting Pirates. We should at least look into it. Since we're a missile boat, if we're working with other ships we can sit back and just lob missiles while the other ship gets stuck in.

Or we could missile spam and then cloak.

Or like >>1232205 points out, there's a targeter we can buy >>1230638

> “This here is a Telemark Systems DT-211B Enhanced Targeting Device.” He opens the box and sits a small device in front of you. “Aftermarket. Mostly used by mercenaries and the like, it’ll increase your ship’s targeting range beyond most military frigates.” He raises an eyebrow at you. “Might give you a much-needed edge against pirates if you can’t out run them.”

And shutters

> “They’re not stock. And they aren’t exactly cheap either, but they’ll protect your bridge if something breaches a window. They’re 6,000 Standards.”

And Virgo can maybe hook us up with some gear since I ASSUME they would want to protect their council member while he's actively defending their system.

Just saying. It's a good way to pay for those systems while justifying buying them now.

And we do have Corrigan.

>>1232004
I'll support

> Security Work

For sure. We can probably also use it as an opportunity to stock up gear or maybe hire help for the Intercepting Stolen Ship if we decide to do it. We also have those assault gears we are saving yes?

Also

> Ask Corrigan about hunting Pirates with the blast shields and targeter

She should know if we're capable in that area.

> Irrigation from THALOS to MARS

Support for sure. Gotta go their anyways. Also we could probably use some rep building as doing "Good Guy" missions. Given our proclivity for sketchy shot.

> Medical supplies to Avalos

TELL me we have a spot left for a doctor, yes? Because we really could use one with how often we get messed up. Or at least we can get Solfid to do some field med training?

>>1232740
HUE is inescapable. Brazilians transmit it through the Qnet

>>1232415
We're still on borrowed time and it breaking leaves us dead. You really want to stress it more than a milk run?

>All these votes choosing multiple cargo jobs.
Come on... I thought I made it clear that you only have space for one cargo job right now.

Anyway, it looks like there are... four votes for the Mars job? And it looks like there are the same amount of votes for the security work.

I'll go ahead and lock those two in. Session will start in about an hour.

>>1233666
I was thinking about editing my post, but oh well.

You know we gotta catch em all!

But can't we get a container and a cable, and hook it to the ships hull, and drag cargo through space?

You yank two pieces of paper off the bulletin, the first being the cargo mission to Mars, and the other being the security job. You figure they should both be easy enough, assuming there’s no catch with either one.

Pocketing the papers, you exit the bar, looking at the clock on your communicator. It’s almost time for Virgo to head to the Temple again. You begin making your way back to the dockyards, weaving through the crowds of people walking along.

As you arrive back at the ship, a spike of pain tears through your abdomen, likely from your cracked rib. The pain meds must be starting to wear off or something. You head up to the medbay and get an over-the-counter pain pill before looking around for Virgo.

You find him in the wardroom, leaning against the wall. “Captain,” he greets you.

“Hey, Virgo.” You nod at him as you enter the room. “It’s almost time for you to go to the temple, right?”

He nods. “They just called. Libra will be here in about half an hour. Looks like we might be running just a tad bit late.” He shrugs. “Not that it matters really. I don’t care about keeping the Elder Council waiting.”

You chuckle at that. “I can see why.”

“Anyway,” Virgo continues. “Feel free to do whatever you need to before we head out. I’ll find you when the car gets here.”

“Duly noted.” You nod.

>Visit a crew member. (who?)
>Call the communicator number on the security job paper.
>Call the communicator number on the cargo job paper.
>Relax in your room for a bit.
>Watch some TV in the wardroom.
>Write-in.

>>1233877

>Call the communicator number on the cargo job paper.

>>1233877
>>Call the communicator number on the cargo job paper.

You pull out your communicator, dialing the number on the cargo contract. It rings for almost a minute before someone picks up on the other end. “Yeah?” A man with a Boston accent answers. You hear the sounds of work being done in the background.

“Is this the Mallard Agricultural Supply Company?” You frown as you speak into the receiver.

“Yeah. You callin’ about a job?”

“I am,” you reply. “The irrigation parts being delivered to Mars, more specifically. Order number 049928.”

“Right, right.” You hear him mutter something away from the phone. “So here are the details. You’ll be delivering two units of irrigation equipment to Mars, but I’m guessin’ you already knew that. The time frame isn’t super strict, so as long as you get it there within the next couple weeks, you’ll get paid. Any questions?”

>Attempt to negotiate a better price.
>”No questions.”
>”How soon will the cargo be delivered to my ship?”
>Write-in.

>>1234382
>”How soon will the cargo be delivered to my ship?”

>>1234382
>”How soon will the cargo be delivered to my ship?”

>>1234382
>>”How soon will the cargo be delivered to my ship?”

>>1234382
>>Attempt to negotiate a better price.
insted of paying me y dont you help me get parts made out of this stuff?

You clear your throat. “How soon will the cargo be delivered to my ship?”

The man on the other end pauses for a moment, saying something away from the phone. There is the sound of metal hitting a concrete floor. “It should ship out from our place tonight. Expect it in the morning, yeah?”

“Right,” you nod. “We’ll be waiting for it then.”

“And on to payment,” he continues. “The payout is 5,000 Standards, take it or leave it.”

“Understood. Anything else?” You stretch tiredly as you speak.

“That should be it,” he replies. “Where is your ship?”

“We’re at Dock eight. The name of our ship is Bad Habit.”

“Right.” There is a pause. “Okay, it’s written down. You have a nice day.”

“You too,” you reply. However, he hangs up in the middle of your reply. Grumbling, you look down at your communicator.

>Call the communicator number for the security job.
>Visit a crew member. (Who?)
>Relax in your stateroom for a bit.
>Write-in.

>>1223887
>“That’s true,” Cynthia nods. “Does that mean Mars is our next destination?”
>”I want to get a few more jobs under our belts first. That way we have enough money for a total upgrade when we get there.”

>>1234382
>“Yeah. You callin’ about a job?”
> “I am,” you reply. “The irrigation parts being delivered to Mars, more specifically. Order number 049928.”

gg anon

>>1234674
>Visit a crew member. (Who?)
Tripe.

>>1234674
>>Visit a crew member. (Who?)
Maybe our gunner can give her thoughts on that targeting computer at that shop.

So I'm going to wait another half hour for more votes, then I'm going to call this thread. The rate at which votes are coming in tonight is a little bit frustrating.

The next thread will go up on Thursday and will pick up where this one left off.

>>1235065
Awww, nobody like you, Zap.

>>1234674
>Call the communicator number for the security job.
Better know what we're getting into before we rest.

>>1235065
Sorry zap, living in another timezone doesn't help much.

>>1234674
>Visit a crew member. (Who?)
Tripe

>>1234674
>Call the communicator number for the security job.

Episode 20 is a go:
>>1251749
>>1251749
>>1251749