June 3-4, 3200 - AMIR

[Mister-Kent]

June 1, 3200

A cool, seductive voice crosses the comms in response to Guy. "You are cleared for departure, Cat's Cradle. The Fallen Angel Casino hopes you enjoyed your visit, and eagerly awaits your return…"

June 3, 3200
You arrive at Amir two days later after an uncomplicated in-system journey. What did everyone do in that time?

You approach the planet, a large dark purple sphere dotted with black oceans. However, from the northern hemisphere there seems to be a growing expanse of mottled green engulfing the world.

You receive a broadcast on the comms, a deep-voiced man repeating a message in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. "The Caliphate of Amir welcomes you to our planet. For the safety of all visitors, the Caliph asks that you remain within the designated Green Zone…"

The ship receives a map of Amir with three designations: gray, green, and orange. The bulk of the planet's surface is in gray, with the spreading northern region in green. Tiny spots of orange dot the Green Zone, blinking at you invitingly.

The largest port in the Green Zone is the city of Oasis, in the Ha'at Valley.

[kmbll]

Guy would spend the two days either: 1) monitoring the ship's flight and pacing the length of the ship to ensure that things are going correctly – he's spent most of his life as spacer on a larger ship which would entail either monitoring a flight, piloting or maintaining the ship (and generally as part of a larger crew) so the general ease and simplicity involved in flying the Cradle makes him a bit uneasy.

2) Spending time chatting with the crew (or playing music for them for entertainment should they desire). If the crew doesn't have a vested interest in conversing with Guy then he'd limit it to banal small talk to the effect of: What are your thoughts about this mission on Amir? Do you know anything about the planet?

If the individuals are willing to divulge a bit more then these are the particular things he's interested in from the varying crewmembers:

Bryan: What do you recall about the pirate vessel that you commandeered on Popotas? (Guy would be interested in whether it was from a port he recognized from Raboud). More presently, Guy would be interested in what drives you, what are your objectives?

Killdozer: Guy would be interested in what drives you, what are your objectives? He'd also have an interest in watching you cook – he has an interest in specialized skills.

Malachi: It would depend on how open you'd be: If limited, Guy would ask a lot about your university studies and what sort of ruins you were most interested in. If open, Guy would ask a lot of questions about the military history that you can recall and would dig deeper about pre-tech and mal-tech and which specific artifacts you were aware of.

Modashi: Guy would want to know about your past (which you've said you're silent about) so failing that what you're seeking travelling with the crew. Failing that, he'd inquire as to what you're working on these days.

Nikodemos: From our brief interaction in the prelude, I feel like we don't really talk much beyond small talk. If we do then I would want to know more about both this inquisition and the crusade. Guy would have a lot of questions about your psi-tech armor as well.

Raquel: Guy would ask a lot of questions about your family's history and your homeworld.

I know it's only two days so I don't know how much of this would occur or people are interested in answering these questions about their characters but this will probably be in general what Guy does between planets.

Guy, "the Savage," Bounty Hunter
Guy glances at the mottled green, "Well that wasn't hard to find." He begins to play a more rapid tune on his electric violin as he contemplates. "They're broadcasting it for the universe to see, no?"

How far is the designated Green Zone from Oasis?

He opens up a comm throughout the ship, "We're heading towards Oasis. I think we should overtly pursue the secondary targets - the Xiao Brothers - while assessing the practicality of acquiring the crop seeder. Let's come up with a plan of action when we land." Guy steers the ship toward the designated dot.

[Mister-Kent]

On your map, Oasis is a glittering bulb of orange smack in the middle of the populated Green Zone. If one compares Amir's layout to Earth's, Oasis would be approximately in southern Greenland. From Oasis, it would take a few hours to leave the Green and begin crossing into the Gray.

[Pulpatoon]

Killdozer in conversation with Guy: "Whut drives me? Huh. I ain't got drives. I jus' wanna stay here with you guys an' get a lil' cookin' done. Thas'sall. Speaking a'which, pass me that bag a salt down there, by yer knees. I'm setting up kim chee. Y'like bibimbap, right? Sure. Ev'rybody likes bibimbap."

Unfortunately, this means the pungent smell of fermenting cabbage soon overwhelms the ship's air scrubbers, and everyone has a very good reason to look forward to landfall.

[Marullus]

Malachi Lykos

Malachi is pleased to have a problem to bend his mind to, having found the pleasure ship painfully banal. He also is uncomfortable with the seat-of-the-pants nature of the crew... he lacks the confidence in raw-insight that Raquel possesses, or the focus on-the-moment of some of the others. He occupies himself at a terminal, scrolling through databases and letting them process into his internal memory circuits as he thinks of tactics and plans for accomplishing the operations ahead. He is researching the culture and customs of Amir and the Caliph, the layout of potential threats and opportunities in the zones of the surface, information on the wanted brothers as targets, and more about these seeders. He efficiently structures courses of action in his mental notepad and sets up contingency plans based on indicators and warnings that he programs in the software of his sensors. He takes breaks from the terminal to process his downloads by running laps and doing calisthenics, joining the crew for meals, and sacking out in his rack for naps before getting back to work.

When Guy wanders by and engages him, he is receptive. They've been travelling together some time and have a measure of trust. He doesn't talk much about his University studies, trying to redirect the Captain's focus to the tasks ahead of them.. they only have two days to arrive at a solid plan of action. He grows quiet when talking about military service... the Republic is focused on outcomes, and ends justify the means. It is a dark place to come back from. As they share the difficulty and experience of cyberware, he tells Guy it is difficult to access specifics about specific Maltech - the inhibitor blocks on Top Secret material are something he hasn't cracked yet. He can still remember some things, but his chips try to force him not to... better to focus on this task for now, since it won't come up on Amir.


(Rolls added below - info to inform plans and options for the group requested)

Culture(Traveller): Helpful stuff on Amir [2d6+1] = 5+1 = 6
Tactics: Job on Amir [2d6+1] = 12+1 = 13

[Mister-Kent]

The local Net has lots of info about the Amir that's not hard to find, and it all sounds like a very nice story. Hundreds of years ago, when Amir was still a harsh iceworld, the current Caliph's ancestor built the first seeder. Over time the tech was recreated, and now almost the entire northern hemisphere has been transformed into a lush paradise. Native species have been driven south as a matter of course, but fortunately new flora and fauna have been introduced to the Green Zone from other worlds. Caliph Zemed rules Amir with a fair hand and a great vision of the future.

There are few reports that differ from the official "Everything is Green" party line.

As for the Xiaos, the TPU warehouse the brothers allegedly robbed is just outside Oasis, at the southern tip of the Ha'at Valley.

[kmbll]

So my thoughts are that we should split up - with Raquel and maybe Bryan going to do reconnaissance on the seeder while Killdozer, Malachai and Guy go to get the Xiao Brothers. I was waiting for the others to chime in before bringing it up IC though.

[Marullus]

That is the open info; do I reveal more with my tests/rolls? Anything that I could interpret with Tactics to form a way-ahead?

[Mister-Kent]

Malachi
Your tactical expertise illuminates a few possible paths.

For the acquisition of the seeders, you could seek audience with Caliph Zemed himself, or at least one of his viziers. You could find where the seeders are stored or manufactured. You could go to the edge of the Green Zone to see a seeder in action.

For the pursuit of the Xiao Brothers, you could consult the Terra Prime Union and inquire about their missing ship. You could look for clues in the TPU warehouse. You could ask around Oasis for anyone who might know what the Xiaos have planned, or where they might take the stolen ship.

[Marullus]

Okay, cool. Also copying this in from the other thread... I want to collate what we know here. Is there anything else we are supposed to already know?

Xiao Brothers - Deng, 18, and Omen, 21. Born on Bergthora in the Solar Republic, moved to Amir as teens. Charged with burglary of a Terra Prime Union warehouse and theft of TPU cargo ship, the Green Dream.

No weapons ownership restrictions on Amir, though public exhibition/use of arms is highly regulated.

Let's discuss IC.

Malachi sits at the galley table as they approach Amir, sniffing appreciatively at the aromas and waiting for Kildozer to reveal dinner. As the others arrive and sit, he reveals all he could find from the search. "Acquiring the seeder will be much more of a job for finesse and charm; I agree with Guy, it sounds like Raquel's work. What do you suggest, Raquel? If we are looking for the TPU bounty, we can be honest with them and see how forthcoming they are. We could request an encrypted vid or go down in person... They have different risks in revealing our hand to any allies The Xiaos have sniffing around."

[DexterWard]

Bryan Alexander Milford (Survivor/Engine Crew/Explorer)

Bryan will send the majority of his time on maintenance tasks and exercising. He doesn’t avoid physical interaction with the other crew members but doesn’t actively seek it either. He enjoys his private time as much as anything else, but is certainly sociable when around others.

When Guy comes round with inquiries into his past, as people tend to do, Bryan listens patiently and responds with simple answers, “I don’t remember much from that first adventure back on Popotas. I knew next to nothing about flying crafts at the time. I just knew I wanted off that rock. That little stunt nearly killed me, but it was my ticket to a different life, this life. I wouldn’t trade it for a million credits. The past is the past my friend. I live for the future.” Bryan doesn't give much thought to the past, especially his past. He lives in the now, always looking forward to the next adventure.

During the entry descent to Oasis Bryan joins the others to discuss the game plan once they land. “I’m all for reconnaissance,” Bryan says as he wrinkles his nose up. “Killdozer, what are you cooking now? Whew! that’s a powerful smell there.” Bryan shakes his head and smiles, “Someone should take away his spoons before he gets the bright idea to pickling one of us.”

Bryan contemplates Malachi’s suggestions, “Might not be a bad idea, the bounty would give us a valid reason for being here. Whoever takes that route should be careful, as you say, we are on the Xiaos brothers’ turf. There’s no telling how many allies or snoops they have. I’m all for checking out the seeder with Raquel. I could use a bit of fresh air anyway.”

[explosiveghast]

Madoshi Mute Scrounger Monk

During the trek to Amir, the old technician seems peacefully content pruning and tinkering on a small mass of wires and servos into a miniature tree. He meditates on his bonsai-junk sculpture for most of the voyage infrequently making tiny adjustments, content that the ship systems are up to the task of approaching Amir.

----

In the dining area adjacent to the galley, Madoshi looks impassively at the crew in conversation over his steaming bowl of bibimbap. The mute monk usually seems to abstain from meals but this was his second bowl of mixed rice and his appetite showed no signs of slowing. At the mention of the seeders, his puts the brakes on his chopstick locomotion, visibly interested.

[Mister-Kent]

As the potent aroma of Killdozer's cooking permeates the Cat's Cradle, the great green fjord at the tip of the Ha'at Valley comes into view. The glacially eroded landscape is now covered in lush green vegetation. There are small drones resembling box kites circling the valley at a leisurely pace.

At the northern edge of the Valley sits the port city of Oasis, its domed, Arabic-influenced architecture gleaming under the bright sunshine. Oasis's central spaceport is quite busy today, and when you land you receive another welcome message in the same mix of English, Arabic, and Hebrew, but in a female voice this time. The docking fee is 500 credits per day.

Your comms are suddenly spammed with ads for local touristy spots, as well as more pro-Caliphate propaganda.

[kmbll]

Guy, the "Savage," Bounty Hunter

Guy takes a long, discerning look at the city appearing ahead of him, and opens a comm to the spaceport "500 credits is awfully pricy. Any cheaper alternatives?"

He thought back to his last foray on Amir, an exceptionally wealthy young woman from the caliphate's court had hired Guy to track down her brother. Her bounty had failed to specify dead or alive but it turned out she'd had a preference. Should he risk it? Guy comms back to the spaceport, "If I were to say that I was a friend of Amiel Reissayar of the Caliph's court, would that get me a discount?"

Can we just park in the desert for free?

[Mister-Kent]

The same female voice--surprisingly not a recording--responds wearily, as if she's heard this complaint before. "Our prices are set by the Caliph's Trade Vizier," she answers coldly.

Please make a Persuade check to see if namedropping Amiel gets you anywhere. You could feasibly park in the wilderness, at the possible cost of security. And of course, to reach Oasis again you'd need to trek through the wild or find a road. The Trade Vizier does his best to funnel all visitors through Oasis.

[kmbll]

Rolled a 9, let me know if it's not good enough - if not then I'll re-roll using my skill. Though parking in the wilderness could be fun - could we park close enough to walk to the city?

[Mister-Kent]

Guy
"Amiel Reissayar, you say? And may I have your name please?" the woman asks.

Under what name does Amiel Reissayar know you?

"Err, one moment please." The channel goes silent for fifty seconds. "Let's call it 200 a day if you don't give me any more grief, okay? My very long day is just beginning, so I'd appreciate it if you don't insist on haggling any further," she sighs.

You could park just outside the city if you want, but a 9 is plenty good enough to get a discount. I'll leave it up to all of you.

[kmbll]

Guy, "the Savage," Bounty Hunter
Guy considers this for a moment and ponders the 14 credits to his name before replying, "No." He lands the city towards the direction of the Xiao Brothers but in short walking distance from the city.

She's know him as The Savage - which the spaceport would presumably be able to look up easily as he's listed as the owner of The Cradle. I'm imagining this is as one of the first jobs following his gained renown as a bounty hunter - some rich heiress hiring him on for a search and retrieve mission which goes awry when try returns a corpse.

[Pulpatoon]

Killdozer: "Hey, if you guys is gonna go inna th' city, could I give you a shopping list? I wanna load up on gravity-grown produce, while we can, and free-range proteins. An' spices, I bet they got good spices here. Oh, an' Guy—y'know how you won't lemme keep no chickens in th' hold? Well, I gotta plan where I convert one'a th' spare ballast tubes into a saltwater tank, an' we keep travel-flounder in there. Whadaya think? We could have fresh fish any time. You could pick up the stuff I need for that while we're here, huh?"

[kmbll]

Guy:Well Master Chef, let's make a deal shall we? There's a couple of gentlemen we need to take down and I could use your other specialty to assist. So after we eliminate the targets, I'll rescind my anti-farming rules on Cradle. How's that sound? As for the ingredients, we'll take a look while we're in the city but I don't think the benefit outweighs the cost on this planet.