0006 Rumbles on Rangent

[Tiglath]

Sigrún gives Karcsi the swiftest nod and then using the excuse of "vomit management" moves out of Doug's line of sight and focusses her attention on him while Zaki and Karcsi deal with bilious Bob.

[helvorn]

OOC: See previous thread's last post from me...

Transponder is silent and waiting to be switched on. The sensor and comm systems are on line and data comes in from both, but the transmitters are now "hard wired" and are dead until, or unless, they are manually switched on at Donovan's station.

Donovan's switches on the radio transmitters, and on the active sensors, too has three settings: Off, Test, and On. Off means off, no power, no workie. Test means on, but data only going to his station so he can monitor what they are trying to do. On means they are allowed to work normally.

The passive sensors begin building up a picture of the system.

There are 18 bogies flying in the area around The New Chance. Twelve of them have Transponders on, but six do not. None are currently attempting to actively scan you, and the quiet ones are very quiet...the ones with Transponders are conducting normal radio traffic that mining, transport, and small boats would be having with each other and with what appear to be two "Bases" here in the "Belt."

The two bases are providing constant transmissions with location and navigation data. The one near the Second Gas Giant identifies as Jackson Hole the one at a large asteroid trailing the giant by about 8 million km identifies itself and Louisa's Loonies. The 18 boats moving in the area are all heading toward one, or the other, of these bases.

Donovan leaves the transmitters, transponder and active sensors clearly in the off mode. He even does a sweep with their own passive sensors to see if their own ship is radiating in any fashion. After sorting the traffic he looks to see if the quiet contacts are going more to the gas giant that the asteroid. He also tries to sort out ship type from their transponder squawks. Once he builds up the electronic picture in the holo-tank Donovan calls Flighty over. "18 contacts of which six are running quiet. Both of the bases are transmitting. We are still quiet to the best of my knowledge. Since there are ships here without transponders I recommend we stay dark as well. We will stand out but not to badly."

[terrymixon]

OOC: See previous thread's last post from me...

Transponder is silent and waiting to be switched on. The sensor and comm systems are on line and data comes in from both, but the transmitters are now "hard wired" and are dead until, or unless, they are manually switched on at Donovan's station.

Donovan's switches on the radio transmitters, and on the active sensors, too has three settings: Off, Test, and On. Off means off, no power, no workie. Test means on, but data only going to his station so he can monitor what they are trying to do. On means they are allowed to work normally.

The passive sensors begin building up a picture of the system.

There are 18 bogies flying in the area around The New Chance. Twelve of them have Transponders on, but six do not. None are currently attempting to actively scan you, and the quiet ones are very quiet...the ones with Transponders are conducting normal radio traffic that mining, transport, and small boats would be having with each other and with what appear to be two "Bases" here in the "Belt."

The two bases are providing constant transmissions with location and navigation data. The one near the Second Gas Giant identifies as Jackson Hole the one at a large asteroid trailing the giant by about 8 million km identifies itself and Louisa's Loonies. The 18 boats moving in the area are all heading toward one, or the other, of these bases.

Donovan leaves the transmitters, transponder and active sensors clearly in the off mode. He even does a sweep with their own passive sensors to see if their own ship is radiating in any fashion. After sorting the traffic he looks to see if the quiet contacts are going more to the gas giant that the asteroid. He also tries to sort out ship type from their transponder squawks. Once he builds up the electronic picture in the holo-tank Donovan calls Flighty over. "18 contacts of which six are running quiet. Both of the bases are transmitting. We are still quiet to the best of my knowledge. Since there are ships here without transponders I recommend we stay dark as well. We will stand out but not to badly."

"Sounds good," Flighty said. "Hopefully I'm worried about something that isn't really a problem and Sigrun will get back to help us figure the best course of action."

[Tiglath]

"Sounds good," Flighty said. "Hopefully I'm worried about something that isn't really a problem and Sigrun will get back to help us figure the best course of action."

Sigrún states with evident rancour "Belta ships don't need and won't operate Imperial transponders - they are just beacons for unjust taxation". She shrugs "Equally transient raiders or pirates might operate their ships "dark" but they'd soon enough come to notice. There will be if not "system traffic control" then informal "approach control" for available berths with the Beltalowda. If we can access the local comm net we may be able to pick up a berth and a vector. Sometimes local trade factors will advertise their services. If we can tap into that comm chatter and hint that we have salvage for sale then that might lead us at least partway into the marketplace we need".

She turns to Donovan "Can you seek out the traffic we need? It will be radio and likely in clear". She smiles "The chatter has "organic encryption". If you can't talk the talk or simply don't sound right then they'll have nothing to do with you".

(OOC: Apologies if I missed my cue... ).

[terrymixon]

"Sounds good," Flighty said. "Hopefully I'm worried about something that isn't really a problem and Sigrun will get back to help us figure the best course of action."

Sigrún states with evident rancour "Belta ships don't need and won't operate Imperial transponders - they are just beacons for unjust taxation". She shrugs "Equally transient raiders or pirates might operate their ships "dark" but they'd soon enough come to notice. There will be if not "system traffic control" then informal "approach control" for available berths with the Beltalowda. If we can access the local comm net we may be able to pick up a berth and a vector. Sometimes local trade factors will advertise their services. If we can tap into that comm chatter and hint that we have salvage for sale then that might lead us at least partway into the marketplace we need".

She turns to Donovan "Can you seek out the traffic we need? It will be radio and likely in clear". She smiles "The chatter has "organic encryption". If you can't talk the talk or simply don't sound right then they'll have nothing to do with you".

(OOC: Apologies if I missed my cue... ).

OOC: I was assuming you'd left already, but I'm fine either way.

[Tiglath]

"Sounds good," Flighty said. "Hopefully I'm worried about something that isn't really a problem and Sigrun will get back to help us figure the best course of action."

Sigrún states with evident rancour "Belta ships don't need and won't operate Imperial transponders - they are just beacons for unjust taxation". She shrugs "Equally transient raiders or pirates might operate their ships "dark" but they'd soon enough come to notice. There will be if not "system traffic control" then informal "approach control" for available berths with the Beltalowda. If we can access the local comm net we may be able to pick up a berth and a vector. Sometimes local trade factors will advertise their services. If we can tap into that comm chatter and hint that we have salvage for sale then that might lead us at least partway into the marketplace we need".

She turns to Donovan "Can you seek out the traffic we need? It will be radio and likely in clear". She smiles "The chatter has "organic encryption". If you can't talk the talk or simply don't sound right then they'll have nothing to do with you".

(OOC: Apologies if I missed my cue... ).

OOC: I was assuming you'd left already, but I'm fine either way.

(OOC: Ah, yes, with you. Then let's treat the above as, if not strictly a continuance of the current conversation, then Sigrun's opinion on the tactical situation offered at some stage. Then any and all can pitch in with responses if so desired...).

[helvorn]

"Sounds good," Flighty said. "Hopefully I'm worried about something that isn't really a problem and Sigrun will get back to help us figure the best course of action."

Sigrún states with evident rancour "Belta ships don't need and won't operate Imperial transponders - they are just beacons for unjust taxation". She shrugs "Equally transient raiders or pirates might operate their ships "dark" but they'd soon enough come to notice. There will be if not "system traffic control" then informal "approach control" for available berths with the Beltalowda. If we can access the local comm net we may be able to pick up a berth and a vector. Sometimes local trade factors will advertise their services. If we can tap into that comm chatter and hint that we have salvage for sale then that might lead us at least partway into the marketplace we need".

She turns to Donovan "Can you seek out the traffic we need? It will be radio and likely in clear". She smiles "The chatter has "organic encryption". If you can't talk the talk or simply don't sound right then they'll have nothing to do with you".

(OOC: Apologies if I missed my cue... ).

Donovan looks up from the communications display. "There are definitely multiple local channels. I will try the standard ones first; old habits die hard so they are probably using the Imperial standard channels for the most part. I should be able to pitch the local patter and add in an accent to establish our cover story." He frowns; "I'll get us a berth and vector arranged. I wanted to make sure all three of us were on the same page before I go active on the radio." Donovan will follow Sigrun's advice and start looking for chatter on the comm channels for likely prospects.

[terrymixon]

"Sounds good," Flighty said. "Hopefully I'm worried about something that isn't really a problem and Sigrun will get back to help us figure the best course of action."

Sigrún states with evident rancour "Belta ships don't need and won't operate Imperial transponders - they are just beacons for unjust taxation". She shrugs "Equally transient raiders or pirates might operate their ships "dark" but they'd soon enough come to notice. There will be if not "system traffic control" then informal "approach control" for available berths with the Beltalowda. If we can access the local comm net we may be able to pick up a berth and a vector. Sometimes local trade factors will advertise their services. If we can tap into that comm chatter and hint that we have salvage for sale then that might lead us at least partway into the marketplace we need".

She turns to Donovan "Can you seek out the traffic we need? It will be radio and likely in clear". She smiles "The chatter has "organic encryption". If you can't talk the talk or simply don't sound right then they'll have nothing to do with you".

(OOC: Apologies if I missed my cue... ).

Donovan looks up from the communications display. "There are definitely multiple local channels. I will try the standard ones first; old habits die hard so they are probably using the Imperial standard channels for the most part. I should be able to pitch the local patter and add in an accent to establish our cover story." He frowns; "I'll get us a berth and vector arranged. I wanted to make sure all three of us were on the same page before I go active on the radio." Donovan will follow Sigrun's advice and start looking for chatter on the comm channels for likely prospects.

Flighty gives him the thumbs up.

[Tiglath]

Donovan looks up from the communications display. "There are definitely multiple local channels. I will try the standard ones first; old habits die hard so they are probably using the Imperial standard channels for the most part. I should be able to pitch the local patter and add in an accent to establish our cover story." He frowns; "I'll get us a berth and vector arranged. I wanted to make sure all three of us were on the same page before I go active on the radio." Donovan will follow Sigrun's advice and start looking for chatter on the comm channels for likely prospects.

Sigrún says "I'm sure you'll do well at it but I'll be available if you need any help with lang Belta". Then she quickly adds "If you hear anyone speaking Sagamaal or pick up an accent like mine let me know right away".

[helvorn]

Donovan looks up from the communications display. "There are definitely multiple local channels. I will try the standard ones first; old habits die hard so they are probably using the Imperial standard channels for the most part. I should be able to pitch the local patter and add in an accent to establish our cover story." He frowns; "I'll get us a berth and vector arranged. I wanted to make sure all three of us were on the same page before I go active on the radio." Donovan will follow Sigrun's advice and start looking for chatter on the comm channels for likely prospects.

Sigrún says "I'm sure you'll do well at it but I'll be available if you need any help with lang Belta". Then she quickly adds "If you hear anyone speaking Sagamaal or pick up an accent like mine let me know right away".

Donovan glanced up from the holographic control station. "Definitely on the Sagamaal. The likelihood of Sword World Belters is probably vanishingly small. I'll listen to the local lingo incognito for a while to make sure I have the jive beat down to the nines."

[Tiglath]

Donovan glanced up from the holographic control station. "Definitely on the Sagamaal. The likelihood of Sword World Belters is probably vanishingly small. I'll listen to the local lingo incognito for a while to make sure I have the jive beat down to the nines."

Sigrún adds coldly "They wouldn't be of the Beltalowda. They would likely be Tostig Thorvaldsson's crew or part of his flotilla staging out of Dinom... and if they are... I have business with them".

[Eris]

Sigrún gives Karcsi the swiftest nod and then using the excuse of "vomit management" moves out of Doug's line of sight and focusses her attention on him while Zaki and Karcsi deal with bilious Bob.

Zaki checks out Bob, he's fine, just a bit of Jump Sickness. Give him an hour or two and he'll be back to normal.

Karcsi and Sigrun deal with the vomit on the deck and soon have it contained and the deck clean. During the entire operation Doug has been working on the console with occasional comments about what he's doing and what he's doing appears to be a perfectly normal post jump analysis of the systems and a bit of tweaking to get them to perform a bit better next time.

"Okay, that's done for now!" Doug says turning then he clicks on the ship's intercom and contacts the Bridge, "Skipper, we're ready to go back to jump whenever we need to, but we're also running dead empty. We need fuel and to get life support recharges. You're working on that, right?"

[helvorn]

Donovan glanced up from the holographic control station. "Definitely on the Sagamaal. The likelihood of Sword World Belters is probably vanishingly small. I'll listen to the local lingo incognito for a while to make sure I have the jive beat down to the nines."

Sigrún adds coldly "They wouldn't be of the Beltalowda. They would likely be Tostig Thorvaldsson's crew or part of his flotilla staging out of Dinom... and if they are... I have business with them".

"Likely we will all have business with them. We'll want to stalk that prey very carefully." Donovan adjusted a few parameters on the console as he spoke in a carefully neutral tone. "I'll let you know, I'll let everyone know if anything suspicious pops up."

[joertexas]

Zaki checks out Bob, he's fine, just a bit of Jump Sickness. Give him an hour or two and he'll be back to normal.

Zaki keys her comm. "Bob just has mild jump sickness. He should be okay in a couple of hours, and I will check on him later." She gathers up her gear and goes back to the common area to stow it.

[Eris]

Donovan looks up from the communications display. "There are definitely multiple local channels. I will try the standard ones first; old habits die hard so they are probably using the Imperial standard channels for the most part. I should be able to pitch the local patter and add in an accent to establish our cover story." He frowns; "I'll get us a berth and vector arranged. I wanted to make sure all three of us were on the same page before I go active on the radio." Donovan will follow Sigrun's advice and start looking for chatter on the comm channels for likely prospects.

Donovan quickly picks up several things. The moon around the gas giant ahead of you where the belters are based and they call Jackson Hole seems to be the main base.

Donovan picks up traces of tight beamed maser beams being sent out and in from Jacksons Hole to both ships moving in the area and to the big asteroid called Louisa's Loonies. It is hard to snoop on these comms as you have to be in just the right place to get them (think laser beams carrying data, so not broadcast, but narrowcast comms from and to moving targets) and they move as the ships and bases move meaning you might pick up the hint of a signal and then it's gone as the line between transmitter and receiver changes and The New Chance is no longer in position to catch the beam.

There are also broadcasts on radio, but they all are from ships with transponders or the two bases themselves both in the clear and coded. This is all pretty innocuous stuff: entertainment, some local news items (none really interesting to you), in other words...normal chatter. The coded messages, you can't understand, and this is the majority of the broadcast messages. There are also broadcast messages, clear and encrypted, between Jackson Hole and Rangent Main (the main world around gas giant 1), but again normal chatter you'd expect to pick up or coded messages you don't understand.

Jackson Hole and Louria's Loonies are both broadcasting a frequency and location for what is called "Comm Init" with instructions for "Newbies" to make contact by narrowbeam in bog standard Anglic (the Imperium Standard) and three others. Donovan recognizes Te-Zlodh (the Darrian language), Sagamaal (Swordy language) and Gvegh (Vargr common). The locations are at Lagrange points in relation to the two bases so they are always in the same spot.

The local patois is a mix of Anglic and pretty common Belter slang. The cadence and rhythm seems to vary a lot from speaker to speaker, as you'd expect if there were many people from many places coming and going here. Everything from Rangent Main and about a third of what is broadcast between Jackson and Louisa is in straight Anglic. The rest is in the local patois.

[terrymixon]

Sigrún gives Karcsi the swiftest nod and then using the excuse of "vomit management" moves out of Doug's line of sight and focusses her attention on him while Zaki and Karcsi deal with bilious Bob.

Zaki checks out Bob, he's fine, just a bit of Jump Sickness. Give him an hour or two and he'll be back to normal.

Karcsi and Sigrun deal with the vomit on the deck and soon have it contained and the deck clean. During the entire operation Doug has been working on the console with occasional comments about what he's doing and what he's doing appears to be a perfectly normal post jump analysis of the systems and a bit of tweaking to get them to perform a bit better next time.

"Okay, that's done for now!" Doug says turning then he clicks on the ship's intercom and contacts the Bridge, "Skipper, we're ready to go back to jump whenever we need to, but we're also running dead empty. We need fuel and to get life support recharges. You're working on that, right?"

"It's next up on our list of things to do. Good work. How's Bob?"

Flighty

[terrymixon]

Zaki checks out Bob, he's fine, just a bit of Jump Sickness. Give him an hour or two and he'll be back to normal.

Zaki keys her comm. "Bob just has mild jump sickness. He should be okay in a couple of hours, and I will check on him later." She gathers up her gear and goes back to the common area to stow it.

"Thanks!"

Flighty

[terrymixon]

Donovan glanced up from the holographic control station. "Definitely on the Sagamaal. The likelihood of Sword World Belters is probably vanishingly small. I'll listen to the local lingo incognito for a while to make sure I have the jive beat down to the nines."

Sigrún adds coldly "They wouldn't be of the Beltalowda. They would likely be Tostig Thorvaldsson's crew or part of his flotilla staging out of Dinom... and if they are... I have business with them".

"Likely we will all have business with them. We'll want to stalk that prey very carefully." Donovan adjusted a few parameters on the console as he spoke in a carefully neutral tone. "I'll let you know, I'll let everyone know if anything suspicious pops up."

"Appreciate it."

Flighty

[ateno]

Karcsi looks at Sigrún and raises his shoulders and frowns and points his nose at the working engineer.

"Do you need a hand Doug?"

Karcsi looks closely at the engineers face for a reaction.

Interrogation [2d6+1]=12+1=13

I know this not a true interrogation, but hoping to pick up on and suspicious manners, and BOXCARS!!

Karcsi

[Tiglath]

"Likely we will all have business with them. We'll want to stalk that prey very carefully." Donovan adjusted a few parameters on the console as he spoke in a carefully neutral tone. "I'll let you know, I'll let everyone know if anything suspicious pops up."

Sigrún states "If you need a ship name to tie in to our being Sword World pirates something in sagamaal should serve like Stjörnu Öx - Star Axe, or Sleipnir, Geri or Freki for the All Father's horse and his wolves. Don't use Gungnir - his spear. That's a real pirate ship and might get attention if broadcast - though we might later claim to be a prize crew from it in conversation".

She shrugs "But I suppose the Spinward Main is a big enough place to have more than one ship with the same name".