Edge of Night Sessions # 10 - New Blood, New World, New Patron

DRAMATIS PERSONNAE
PC's
Army Lieutenant Bill Fisker - 1 term - UPP D753C9
Rifle-1, SMG-2, Admin-0

Scout  Dante Flynn - 4 terms - B7AA56

Pilot-1, Vacc Suit-1, Air/Raft-1, Navigation-1, Mechanical-1, Jack-o-Trades-1

Marine Captain Noac Sumter - 5 Terms - 82C9A7

Cultass-1, Revolver-2, ATV-1, Gambling-1, Admin-1. Vacc Suit-1, Tactics-1, Computer-1

NPCs
Merchant Second Officer  Yasmin Cheung - 2 terms- UPP 864A93
Medic-2, Engineering-2, Mechanical-1

Sylvanous Queen - 7 terms - UPP 5437B7

Computer-4, Forgery-3

Back on the Superfly, Mr. Fisker is worried. Several days have passed since the rest of the crew left to meet Fletcher Bristow. The lieutenant sat down in front of a monitor to binge watch SNN (Symera News Network) and soon comes across a news report describing the gruesome gun battle which killed his companions. Realizing he is now in charge, Mr. Fisker goes looking for new companions. He recuits a retired Hegemony Marine Assault Corps Captain (Noac Sumter) and former scout (Dante Flynn) to round out the Superfly's crew, and fill vacant positions at 'Tacyon Advantage Security Solutions'. And there is unanimous agreement within the new board of dircectors that leaving Symera would be the best course of action. The whole deal with Fletcher Bristow now seems a bit fishy given the rest of the crew were ambushed on the way to take the job Bristow had on offer.

The group sells four of their gravbelts (at a 10% loss) to fund the purchase of a Navigation program for the ship computer, allowing travel wherever their jump drive could get them without needing to buy jump tapes all the time. They also, having done a little research on their destination, lay in a small speculative cargo of  fine lab chemicals (10 x 100kg @8000Cr per lot [80% of list]) and two cases each of fine scotch and cigars (5000Cr per case). Discussion on installation of smuggling compartments onboard the Superfly ends quickly when initial estimates come back at 400000Cr for a 4.5m3 space.

Business at Symera complete, Mr. Flynn settles into the familiar surrounding of the Type S pilot chair, plots a course for Vordenhaven, and hits the jump drive. A week in jump space passes without incident and they emerge 100 diameters from Vordenhaven. The sensors come alive, and shows a ship on a crossing course, headed their way. It is making no hostile moves, and a friendly hail identifies her as the far trader Limited Liability out of Vordenhaven, heading out to the jump point and on to Symera. The two ships trade recent news of their last ports of call. The party, looking for information on where to sell their cargo, learn there is a "Research Materials Exchange Corporation" which acts as a clearing house for such materials. They also learn to stay away from the GERIA Corporation; they are in bad financial state and just stiffed the Limited Liability out of their profit on this trip. 

The Superfly continues on to land on the planet, clearing starport control and inspection with no trouble. Though there are a few tense moments as the officials question their dodgy transponder settings. A trip to the "Research Materials Exchange Corporation" identifies two potential buyers for their cargo; Lysanni Laboratories and Aegis Biopharma Corporation. Both are in the business of developing/manufacturing physical performance and mind enhancing pharmaceuticals. Perusing the business news reveals that Lysanni Laboratories is in some sort of difficulty due to problems with their R&D. But making contact with both entities, the party receives a better price from Lysanni Labs  (12000Cr per lot) and decide to take their chances. It turns out that the  Lysanni procurement representative (Rasim Mayers) is, thanks to budget cuts and layoffs,  doing double duty as the off-world security and research director. Learning a little more about the party over a few drinks (of the party's scotch), he  offers them a job. It seems one of the company's lab ships, currently in geosynchronous orbit over the largest moon Kalstat, has been out of communication for a few days. Likely just a radio failure or similar problem, but due to all the cuts, Rasim can't find anyone with the company to go check it out. And due to the intense commercial rivalry that dominates the planet, he can't just hire someone local and risk putting a corporate spy on board his research station. Would the party, as unconnected offworlders, be interested in an easy job? He offers 10000Cr each [45000Cr total] to simply go check it out. If it's no big deal as expected, the party makes some easy credits and can move on in a matter of days. In the event it is more complicated and hazardous, Rasim has a contingency find he can draw on to sweeten the pot. 

The party takes the job, first squeezing 4 doses of combat drug out of Lysnnni's stock. Just in case of course. Mr. Fisker also goes looking for explosives. Thankfully, he avoids getting picked up by the police for trying to purchase illegal weaponry, and manages to get his hands on 20kg of plastic explosive. Everything then gets loaded aboard the Superfly and they take off for the lab ship. 

Approaching Kalstat, they note that the lab ship is in orbit over the south pole, while the main Vordenhaven naval base is at the north pole of the moon. They get no flack from the Navy though, and arrive at the lab ship without incident. The torus shaped vessel appears to be in good shape, still rotating normally and with all navigation beacons operational. But attempts to raise the vessel by radio elicits no response. So Mr. Fisker, Mr. Flynn and Ms. Sumter don vacc suits and grab weapons, then transfer over to the lab ship pinnace docking collar. Opening the manual hatch releases a spray of ice crystals as the airlock vents, suggesting life support systems are still operational. Getting inside, they close the hatch and re-pressure the airlock. Ms. Sumter checks the computer controls for the life support system and confirms all is well.  But just in case, the trio maintains vacc-suit discipline and prepares to descend into the ship ...

Edge of Night Session #9 - That Was Easy ... Urrgghh

DRAMATIS PERSONNAE
PC's
Navy Lieutenant Raj Kundra - 4 terms - UPP 758C8C
Mechanical-1, Pilot-2, Medical-1, Jack-o-T-2, Computer-0

Other Durjan Hammill - 3 terms - UPP A69467
Gambling-3, Forgery-1, Brawling-1, Shotgun-1, Streetwise-0

Army Lieutenant Bill Fisker - 1 term - UPP D753C9
Rifle-1, SMG-2, Admin-0

Navy Lieutenant Alexi Kurigane- 2 terms - UPP AB8579
Vacc Suit-3, Ships Boat-1, Sword-1, Tactics-0

NPCs
Merchant Second Officer  Yasmin Cheung - 2 terms- UPP 864A93
Medic-2, Engineering-2, Mechanical-1

Sylvanous Queen - 7 terms - UPP 5437B7

Computer-4, Forgery-3

The party questions John Smith 7 to uncover more information on what or where Mentad might be, and why he is so focused on returning there. Not much to be learned from their new friend, and computer searches by Baron Kundra doesn't uncover any known star systems or planets under that name. Further questioning reveals a flight plan from Vodenhaven [1724] via Onur [1522] but uncertainty of where he started before that; others took care of those details for him on the outbound journey. Best they can tell Mentad is a location, building, or complex of some sort and John Smith 7 wants to return because it is 'home' and where he is supposed to be. They do get the name of his contact on Symera, the one who was to have met him upon arrival on the planet surface. Baron Kendra searches the name (Inga Malone) in the news databases and comes up with four hits on that name; a stripper, little old lady, a police constable and a research scientist. Thinking the scientist is their best bet, the party sends a message to Dr. Malone at the University of West Randa to tell her they are looking after John Smith 7 and can she come meet them at the up-port? They then head for a local hotel to take rooms and hide the existence of their ship, leaving Mr Fisker in charge back on the "Superfly".

After two days there is a reply from Dr. Malone. She is unable to come met them, but her associate Dr. Alphonso Trask is on the station and he can take care of the matter on her behalf. Not sure they like that idea, the party agrees none the less. Dr. Trask appears within an hour of being contacted; a well dressed gentleman accompanied by two muscular men in hospital orderly uniforms. Dr. Trask is a little disappointed that John Smith 7 is not present, but is quite willing to answer questions. While vague on details, he explains that John Smith 7 comes from a very, very wealthy and influential family and suffers from some unspecified mental illness. The family has him set up in a very comfortable and respectable mental health facility, from which John Smith 7 slipped away some weeks ago. Dr. Malone is an old family friend, and John seems to have gotten it in his head to come visit her, even though he has no recollection of that decision. The family simply wishes to have John back safe and sound; the party is welcome to keep the plasti-card with 1.1MCr (drawn on a Symera bank incidentally).  Dr. Trask assures them all will be clear once he sees John Smith 7. Could they please take him to him?

Still not certain, the party sends Dr. Trask away for now. Mr, Kurigane trails them and discovers they are staying at another hotel just a short distance away. They decide they have to talk directly to Dr. Malone, and call her up from the comm link in the hotel lobby. It takes some time to reach her, but the irritated and brusque faculty member largely confirms the story told by Dr. Trask. While still not convinced, the party sees no other option but to go ahead and bring John Smith 7 and Dr. Trask together to see what happens. But, afraid the funds on the plasti-card will disappear as soon as they turn over John Smith 7,  they first go shopping to blow the million credits on 11 grav belts. They figure some they can keep for personal use and the others can be unloaded on a lower tech world for a profit.

They bring John Smith 7 to the hotel, then call up Dr. Trask. He arrives in minutes with his two companions. The doctor walks up to John Smith 7 and simply says: "Do you know who I am John? Are you ready to come home with me?" To which John Smith 7 simply replies "Yes", and the party is left standing there with mouths agape as the doctor thanks them for their help and the four go on  their way.

A little off balance from how well that all went, the party decides to look for more work before leaving Symera. Scanning the posted want ads, they see one from their old friend Fletcher Bristow. Calling him up, they find he is delighted to hear from them again. This time he has a job that is, how do you say, a bit "below board". Are they interested? When the party answers yes, he gives them directions to a discrete location in a decrepit storage area on the station. He wants to keep prying eyes away from this one, ja?

The party follows Fletcher's directions, weaving down narrow and junk filled corridors into an obviously ill-used and largely unused section of the station. Proceeding down one passage, Mr, Kurigane senses trouble. The lieutenant catches a glimpse of figures hiding behind piles of junk in the corridor ahead.  He signals to Mr. Hammill to power up his grav belt and have a look from above. From that vantage point, he spots real trouble. At least two armed men lying in ambush. At this point the men notice Mr. Hamill, and suddenly raise their SMG's and open fire. The party returns fire and takes down one of the attackers, but another steps into the corridor behind and they are caught in crossfire. Mr. Hammill and Baron Kundra each take a gunshot and collapse into unconsciousness. Mr. Kurigane, made of sterner stuff, takes a couple of rounds before he too drops. As he starts to fade into blackness, one of the attackers comes over. Holding a blade to Mr. Kurigane's neck, the man says simply "Greetings from the Mentad Foundation" before cutting his throat and ending his adventures ...

Edge of Night Session #8 - An Honest Job

DRAMATIS PERSONNAE
PC's
Navy Lieutenant Raj Kundra - 4 terms - UPP 758C8C
Mechanical-1, Pilot-2, Medical-1, Jack-o-T-2, Computer-0

Other Durjan Hammill - 3 terms - UPP A69467
Gambling-3, Forgery-1, Brawling-1, Shotgun-1, Streetwise-0

Army Lieutenant Bill Fisker - 1 term - UPP D753C9
Rifle-1, SMG-2, Admin-0

Navy Lieutenant Alexi Kurigane- 2 terms - UPP AB8579
Vacc Suit-3, Ships Boat-1, Sword-1, Tactics-0

NPCs
Merchant Second Officer  Yasmin Cheung - 2 terms- UPP 864A93
Medic-2, Engineering-2, Mechanical-1

Sylvanous Queen - 7 terms - UPP 5437B7

Computer-4, Forgery-3

The hailing vessel is the SDB 'Vengeance'. The captain questions their origin, destination, and business in the Symera system, orders the 'Superfly' to maintain current course and speed and to prepare for boarding by a quarantine inspection team. Which upon boarding proves to be a very heavily armed and armored half squad of Symera marines. They examine the ships papers in detail, and access the ship's computer to confirm Mr. Fisker's story regarding their itinerary.  After a brusque but professional interrogation, the marines leave with a warning that there have been a rash of pirate attacks around the 100 diameter jump radius recently and the characters should watch out.

Relieved that their forged documents and re-programmed computer pass muster, the party docks the 'Superfly' at the massive orbital up-port and immediately get a ground crew busy refueling and purging the environmental syste. Just in case they have to make a quick exit. Mr. Fisker, Mr. Kurigane and Mr. Hammill head for a local dive, the "Rusty Bollard" to look for work. Preferably something reasonably honest and above board, and that might pay enough to at least cover their fueling costs. They learn about problems with refugees and travellers trapped on up-port, unable to go planet-side because they failed nanite screening, but unable to leave as they have no money. They also hear of the presence of a small delegation of Thr'a, a slug-like alien race early encountered outside their own worlds. There is nothing hopeful in terms of a job though, but the bartender arranged a meet with one Fletcher Bristow, a Symera businessman who acts as a go between to get cargoes from the up-port down to planet-side. Seems he may be in need of some 'alternative' assistance with a problem. They meet with the corpulent and mildly incoherent gentleman at a much more upscale establishment. He explains an unscrupulous business rival (Xiang Lemaire of the Xiang Trading Corporation) is making his latest job a bit difficult. He usually has a warehouse and berth for his shuttles in the same location to make transfer of cargo quick and easy. Xiang, however, booked his usual berth to keep him for using it, forcing Fletcher to use one miles away in another hub of the up-port. Fletcher suspects some sort of shenanigans, and wants to hire competent guards to  make sure his cargo (spices, alloys, and computer parts) get on his shuttles with no interference. He'll pay 15000Cr for successful completion of the job, which should take just a few days. But everything must be above board, ja?

To make everything legal and 'above board', the trio head off the the local Office of Firearms Control and Mercenary Licensing to register 'Tacyon Advantage Security Solutions' on Symera and get the necessary permits to carry weapons. It unfortunately is a bit of an eye-gouging bureaucratic nightmare, but Mr. Kurigane's charm and the careful application of 150Cr to the little old lady behind the desk gets them their incorporation papers and gun permits [250Cr] without too much delay or frustration.   Their permits only allow tasers, pistols, shotguns and SMG; however, Mr. Kurigane feels justified in stuffing an auto rifle down his pants leg as higher firepower backup. They also choose to rent a pair of gravbelts (1500Cr) to allow them to fly high cover if needed.

Reporting back to Fletcher Bristow, and joined by the surly engineer Yasmin,  they start escorting the first load. A half dozen high-capacity gravlifters run by a half dozen low-enthusiasm teamsters  work their way down raised cargo lane in the main transport corridor to a hub miles away. Dull but honest work, and the first couple of trips go off without a hitch.  On the third one, things get exciting. Halfway to the shuttle they encounter an incipient riot. A line of security in riot gear is herding a rag tag group of station-bound travellers down the main passage. Then suddenly things get ugly, as the travellers become rioters and fighting begins. As things get heated, the party notes one blandly handsome fellow right in the middle of the crowd; as they watch, he picks up another man and hurls him about 50 meters down the passage and into the advancing guards. And then, after looking around somewhat dazed for a moment, he suddenly disappears! 

They have little time to ponder this new development. though. Trapped by the baton wielding security, some of the rioters start to climb up onto the cargo way to try getting around them. This gets the party involved in the fight, and several rioters are tasered before the grav-belted Mr. Fisker and Mr. Kurigane lift Yasmin out of danger and  the rioters begin to get contained. Mr. Hammill, standing guard at the front of the column, is suddenly attacked by three of their own teamsters! They try to knock him off the cargo way as the rest of their compatriots hit high speed on the grav-lifters and make to break away. A well aimed auto-rifle shot drops the lead driver and blocks their run, followed by a few taserings for their trouble. At which point all the fight and flight leave the remaining teamsters and they surrender.

While Yasmin tends to the one who was shot, the others are zip-tied and questioned.  They were hired by someone they didn't known to take off with a load of cargo, dump in in a side passage and then get paid for their trouble. Fletcher's decision to hire guards put a damper on the plan, but the riot made for a good chance. Mr. Kurigane radios Fletcher to tell him what is happening; the business man tells them to turn the teamsters over to security and guard the cargo; he is sending more (more reliable) men to finish shifting the cargo. The interaction with security is generally good, at least once the troopers have examined their TASS documents and permits. However, one trooper noted the use of a military weapon in the fight, which is clearly not allowed under their permits. Somewhat reluctantly,  but determined to stay within the law this time, Mr. Kurigane turns over his rifle in return for a summons to appear before a magistrate at a later date if he wants to try getting it back. At least the trooper waives the fine. 

The rest of the cargo transport goes without a hitch, and Fletcher Bristow offers his praise, payment and promise of additional work at some time in the future. Later everyone is back at the 'Superfly' to plan next moves. Suddenly, the mysterious stranger from the riot appears. He awkwardly introduces himself as John Smith 7, and asks for their help getting him back to Mentad. No one knows where that is, and neither does John Smith 7. He was sent here to go down planetside (he doesn't know why) on Symera, but for some reason failed the nanite scan and was trapped on the station. He doesn't know what to do now. The party asks questions about what is is; android, robot, human, something else? But John Smith 7 does not know. Asked if he bleeds, he rips open the flesh on his arms to show them he does. Mr. Hammill asks if he needs help to staunch the wound, but John Smith 7 simply closes his eyes and in less than a minute is fully healed. The party is somewhat reluctant to get involved with the mystery man(?), until he brandishes a plasti-card loaded with 1.1MCr and offers to pay for their help getting him back to Mentad. Well, now maybe they can help after-all ...