219 replies to this topic

[kropotkin41]

The Esperanza is something of a hive of activity, but in the bay which holds the ship's boat all is relatively calm.

Morgan excuses himself, there are a few things he wants to bring from the ship to the boat for the voyage tomorrow. Lady Margaret too excuses herself: 'I just want to have one last look in the study Rupert; I'd rather not realise that I have forgotten something once we are on Quare.'

Orthan begins a series of meticulous checks of the ship's boat; the pilot looks worried and is very quiet; there is no doubt he is anxious about what Shraneal is doing and not for the first time it becomes clear to the Marquis that his pilot is more than a little emotionally dependent on his astrogator!

There is at least one thing which needs organising which the Marquis could do: the ship's boat will need to be taxied out of the yacht and to a launch bay; he is going to have to talk to the shipyard's Harbour Master.

[grenitos]

Leaving the others to their tasks The Marquis heads off to find the Harbour Master,asking directions if he needs to.

[kropotkin41]

The Harbour Master's office is easy to find, there are signs all around the working areas of the shipyard. A receptionist announces you and the Harbour Master sees you without delay.

'Hello Sir, I am Harbour Master Wu, how can I help you today?'

Wu is a slim man, probably near retirement age; his olive skinned face wrinkles with a generous smile as you enter and he shakes your hand warmly.

[grenitos]

"I pleasure to meet you i am sure.My name is The Marquis Rupert de Sade.My ship The Esperanza is currently under repair in this fine establishment and i need to arrange for the ships boat to be taxied out to a launch bay.I take it i am talking to the correct person to arrange this?"

[kropotkin41]

'Well, yes indeed. Now, The Esperanza, that is the Imperial registered yacht isn't it? I have seen the file. She looks like she must be a fine ship when she is, well, how shall I put it? A little less damaged.'

Wu, turns his screen halfway towards you and brings up the details of where your ship is on the yard; you can see that he has all of the dossier on the work to hand here.

'I should be able to have a closer look from here and we shall book you a quay for your ship's boat and arrange for the taxiing....'

At that moment Wu's personal communicator buzzes with some ancient Solomani opera and the Harbour Master says 'Excuse me Marquis, I shall just take this call.'

'Yes' he says, 'Yes!. Oh, now I am very busy. Yes I know, but I have someone here with me. Yes. Yes!'

The Harbour Master thinks to take the comm from his ear and says 'Marquis, I am just going to step outside for a moment. Please do forgive me.'

And so the Marquis finds himself alone in the Harbour Master's office..........

[grenitos]

Quickly The Marquis looks at the files on the Esperanza,keeping an ear out for the harbour master!

[grenitos]

It also occurs to The Marquis that he might have time to look up the vessel of a certain Judas Kreeg...

[kropotkin41]

The Marquis jumps at the chance to have a quick look at some of the shipyard's files:

Admin check: 2d6 + skill level (admin) + Int mod

Computer check: 2d6 + skill level (comps) + Int mod

[grenitos]

[ January 18, 2011, 11:46 pm ] - grenitos rolled 2d6 ± 1 and obtained 9 ( 4,4, ). Reason : comps.
[ January 18, 2011, 11:46 pm ] - grenitos rolled 2d6 ± 2 and obtained 10 ( 5,3, ). Reason : admin.

(Yeah baby!!!!!!)

[kropotkin41]

The Marquis recognises the outlines of this form immediately; it is based it seems on an Imperial template. All seems in order: essentially a list of repairs and parts orders with confirmation that the work is all being paid for under the Government compensation scheme, until just at the end of the several screens of text there is a section which doesn't mean anything to the Marquis. Mention is made of Executive Order 771 (Confidential) and then the phrase "Code Magenta - Execute with Due Care - Confidential."

Harbour Master Wu has evidently finished his conversation on his comm unit, but is now further delayed by talking to someone just outside his office door; the Marquis can't hear the details of the conversation, but it gives him a moment just to rearrange the screen and sit back down at ease in his own chair.

'I am so sorry Marquis' Wu says in his friendly tone as he comes in, 'Now where were we?'

[grenitos]

Smiling The Marquis replies "I beleive we were arranging for my ship's boat to be taxied?"

[kropotkin41]

'Ah yes. Now that shouldn't prove a problem. I shall find you a quay and arrange for the boat to be taxied there immediately, or at an hour that suits you. When would suit you?'

[grenitos]

"Early tomorrow would be fine thankyou."

With that The Marquis smiles and shakes his hand"It has been a pleasure"

As he leaves The Marquis ponders who would be the best person to ask about the confidential section he had read.

As he wanders off he decides that he may as well use the computer on The Esperanza to try and find out.Besides he could then see how Margaret was getting on.

[Dehoffren]

“Why had he let her go?” Orthan taunted himself with the question again and again as he punched data into the recorded, normally he would have relished such a repetitive task but without Shranael at his side he could not settle. “What was she doing, where was she, was she ok?” the questions were endless in his head. The list of items rolled before his eyes but his pep and vigour for the job were lost. He felt bereft, everyone was going about their daily business as normal except him, how had he become so needy after years on his own. He looked down at his shoes and noticed that their normal shine was ever so slightly tarnished, a good rub with a shammy cloth was what they needed and exactly the sort of distraction he needed too. Having completed his tasks he wandered back towards the living quarters, he briefly wondered if he should call in on Settler, perhaps the Doctor shed some light on how he had become so entwined with someone so different to himself in such a short space of time, no doubt there were enzymes or chemicals involved in the brain stem. The idea passed as he walked, admitting to relying on someone emotionally was nearly worse than the actual problem.

[kropotkin41]

Orthan's "living quarters" at the moment are not on board the ship - which is having extensive repair work done - but in a hotel room he is sharing with Shran. So once he is done with pre-flight checks he can choose to head back to the hotel....... or indeed anywhere else he wants to go........ or he can wait for the Marquis to return or go to find Lady Margaret to see if she has anything else in mind to do before tomorrow's departure.


meanwhile........ the Marquis can find nothing at all of help on the ship's library data........

Margaret has packed up her office and everything that could be of use on the trip to Quare; as the Marquis enters she turns towards him and smiles. 'This system may have a high law level My Dear, but I get the impression that there is a great deal going on below the surface; frankly, having watched the news for the last couple of hours I would not be at all surprised to find out that the whole place was thoroughly under the control of crime syndicates. I can see that the Federation of Arden could benefit from having such a system in its jurisdiction, but I tell you they are taking a risk tolerating some of the people who are allowed to operate here. How did you get on?'