T20: High Law and Low Justice (IC Thread 2)
- Thread starter Maerdwyn
- Start date
Maerdwyn
First Post
Day 5 - Captain's Dining Room
Quinn steps up and grabs the datalink, and switches on the video playback. (There is no projection, so only those who move in around him will see the video, otherwise they will only hear the audio portions.)
The video record is unencrypted, and marked “Astrogation and Bridge- for Felin” – it is more than an hour long, but can be searched (video only) in fast forward.
The first parts were recorded in private: Vyrkris explaining to the Felin (via the recorder, that is) how she intended to figure out why the ship had misjumped – she’s deliberate and restrained, in stark contrast to the bubbly, slightly ditsy persona that some of those present have experienced in public.
There is a quick break in the record, and it begins again with Vyrkris seated at astrogation with the chief astrogator. In her regular, quick paced and higher pitched voice: “So, I hope it’s okay with you: the Captain said I could record this? Thanks.” The image moves about, until it’s clear the camera has been clipped to her front breast pocket.
For the next stretch, the video is mostly of calculations appearing on the vid screens in front of the two, with the astrogator explaining the calculations he had gone through before the jump, and the adjustments he made throughout the time in jumpspace- very dull to those who haven’t studied astrogation. At first, Vyrkris seems quite good about repeating things clearly into the recorder (for Felin's benefit), but as the lesson goes on, she seems to forget it’s there.
In the midst of fast forwarding through a long stretch of calculation narration, you see the camera spin around suddenly. Quinn drops back into real-time playback, allowing everyone to hear the sound, too. Hearing the bits of conversation that follow, he backs it up a few moments in order to hear the audio before Vyrkris turned around.
The ship receives a hail, then the Comm. Officer says: “We’ve got a contact, captain, broadcasting a distress beacon. Putting them up now, Captain.
Human voice, gasping for air: “ Thank the Star…. Hiranu vessel … this is Malikot merchant ship… Dvonn. We… request immediate assistance under Title 1… section 1. Can you provide?
Captain: “We’ll see what we can do, Dvonn. What’s your situation?”
Voice: “Everything's FUBAR, Captain…. they said…. Maneuver drives...Life Support, everything's... gone to hell... Air’s thin…getting worse…we’re taking turns… on the comm… everyone else…sleeping now…to save air….can’t find a breech…but we’re bleeding O2…the hull is going to buckle...if we can’t keep it... pressurized better.
[There is real terror in the voice, and the everyone on the bridge looks truly concerned]
Captain: “Okay, Dvonn. This is Captain Julia Darius, and we’re coming to get you. How many aboard?
Voice: “Isak ….Hertrichs, ma’am...Ship's security...we got eight crew, …12 passengers…, plus the deep freezers.... maybe fifteen of them...
Captain: “Okay, our M-drives aren’t great, but our boats should be able to get to you in about three hours. Can you guys hold out until then?”
Hertrichs: “Think so. Should… have enough ….to last a good bit longer than that,… ma’am. But you better hurry,…just the same.”
Captain: “Hertrichs, what about the JohnHenry outpost – must be some vessels in the system you could have called in?”
Hertrichs: “They stopped…answering…our hails, Captain…Don’t know why…
Captain: “Okay, well, like I said, we’re coming to get you. Keruuchan out.
Hertrichs: “Dvonn out.”
The captain calls down to engineering and relays the situation, and tells him to get crews together for the two lifeboats. There is some more activity on the bridge, which the camera doesn’t do a good job of capturing. At one point the captain speaks into her personal communicator, and says, “Scrautigue? Sure. Why not. Just keep her safe – Don’t want to have to explain that we lost a former Makhidkarun VP on a rescue operation when she should have been enjoying Hiranus’ famous hospitality.” Then another hail comes over the comm.
Voice: “Greetings, Keruuchan, this is JohnHenry Base Tamandere Alpha. Didn’t think we’d see you for a few more days yet.”
Captain: “JohnHenry, this is Captain Julia Darius of the Keruuchan – we are responding to Title 1 Distress call, who says you have refused aid. Why have you not responded?”
Voice: “Keruuchan, we have been advised that subject is in reality a corsair masquerading as a Malikot trader. Obligation to intervene is therefore nullified.
Captain: “Bull
– that’s no corsair – that’s a soon-to-be coffin if we don’t get those people off now!”
Voice: “Captain, you are advised against any interference, but it’s your call. See you in a few. Alpha Base out.”
An old Luriani man in a wheelchair, who Quinn recognizes as Walid Nells-Corzin, comes out of the lift and onto the bridge. He is well dressed, and attended by two armed men who are unmistakably bodyguards.
Old Man: “Captain, I hope you don’t mind, but I have been monitoring communications from my room, and I must warn you – the information the base has is correct. The Malikot merchant is quite certainly a corsair in disguise. To approach would endanger the Keruuchan, and as you know –“
Captain: “- ‘A ship need not intervene in response to a Title 1 Distress call if doing so would result in grave danger to the rescuing ship and its crew.’ But that’s not the case here and you know it! Dammit, we’re going after them.” She speaks savagely into her communicator. “Tagir – how are my boats doing!”
Old Man: “No. You will not endanger the Keruuchan, it’s crew, it’s boats, or any other HiranuCorp property by falling into this trap.
Captain: “Mr. Nells-Corzin, I am captain of the Keruuchan. Planetside, you are a vice president of the company I work for, but here, I command. Please return to your quarters.” She speaks into her communicator. “You can send the boats out when ready, Tagir.”
Nells-Corzin: “Captain, I urge you to reconsider your decision. [She shoots him a scornful look then motions to the Bridge Security officers to remove the man hand his bodyguards from the bridge.] No? Then I am afraid I shall have to assert my rights as Owner-Aboard.
Captain: “What?!?! First off, you’re a part owner of Hiranucorp, Walid, not an Owner-Aboard. And even an Owner-Aboard can’t overrule a ship’s captain in the field. Now get off my bridge!”
Nells-Corzin: “I believe you will find that the Ducal Court has recently ruled than an Owner-Aboard has just such a right, if he believes that the captain is guilty of dereliction of duty. I believe you will also find that the same court has ruled that he power to order the dismissal, and indeed the imprisonment, of any crew members who mutiny against an owner-Aboard once a finding of Dereliction has been made. Captain Darius is, of course, free to test such rulings in court when we arrive at Dukh, as are you all, should you wish to bet your careers, and your freedoms, against this interpretation.... Captain Darius, you will proceed directly towards the base on Tamandere Alpha, where we will deliver supplies and refuel our ship. We will not give these pirates a crack at the Keruuchan.
The captain looks around at her crew, and it seems clear that they’ll do whatever she tells them. Mr. Nells-Corzin seems to note this, too.
[There is a more back and forth here between the Captin and the Owner-Aboard – mostly threats by the latter against the former. Eventually, Nells This last one seems to break her![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
Nells-Corzin: “Your crew is not military, Julia – They are company employees, as are you. Claims that they were following your orders will not protect them. They will all end up jailed or professionally ruined. To say nothing of your own career –
Captain: What I do, Owner, I do not do for the sake of my career, I assure you. This is on your head Mr. Vice President.
Vyrkris: “Captain! No!”
Captain: “Quiet, girl! There’s nothing for it. [To her communicator] Tagir – shut the hangar. That’s right – call them back. NOW! [She is glaring at the VP the entire time]
Vyrkris: “You’re just going to leave them out there?
Captain: “I said quiet! Johnson, escort our guest back to her stateroom.””
Vyrkris: "I'm not going anywhere, and you'd --
Nells-Corzin: “A moment – Now that the Captain has agreed to listen to reason, I feel it is important to protect her standing on the ship. Will you permit me to give the order, Captain? [she nods, defeated.] Good. You are hereby ordered not to discuss the events of the last thirty minutes with anyone. You shall not speak of it, even amongst yourselves. You are ordered not to act on the supposed distress signal, nor to reveal its existence to anyone unless authorized to do so by a HiranuCorp official with a rank of Vice President or higher. Anyone involved in exposing the Keruuchan or other HiranuCorp property to harm as a result of contact with the corsair Dvonn will be subject to the harshest penalties allowed by law. Do I make myself clear?
Captain: Yes…Mister.
Crew: Mister! Yes! Mister! (dark looks)[Those who have been in the military here are pretty sure that this pervesion of Sir! Yes, Sir! was deliberate and derisive.]
Vyrkris: Why are you doing this! [Muffled, as the Astrogator clamps his hand over her muzzle and then the screen goes dark. "Confine her to quarters!" are the last words heard.]
--End of Record--
Quinn steps up and grabs the datalink, and switches on the video playback. (There is no projection, so only those who move in around him will see the video, otherwise they will only hear the audio portions.)
The video record is unencrypted, and marked “Astrogation and Bridge- for Felin” – it is more than an hour long, but can be searched (video only) in fast forward.
The first parts were recorded in private: Vyrkris explaining to the Felin (via the recorder, that is) how she intended to figure out why the ship had misjumped – she’s deliberate and restrained, in stark contrast to the bubbly, slightly ditsy persona that some of those present have experienced in public.
There is a quick break in the record, and it begins again with Vyrkris seated at astrogation with the chief astrogator. In her regular, quick paced and higher pitched voice: “So, I hope it’s okay with you: the Captain said I could record this? Thanks.” The image moves about, until it’s clear the camera has been clipped to her front breast pocket.
For the next stretch, the video is mostly of calculations appearing on the vid screens in front of the two, with the astrogator explaining the calculations he had gone through before the jump, and the adjustments he made throughout the time in jumpspace- very dull to those who haven’t studied astrogation. At first, Vyrkris seems quite good about repeating things clearly into the recorder (for Felin's benefit), but as the lesson goes on, she seems to forget it’s there.
In the midst of fast forwarding through a long stretch of calculation narration, you see the camera spin around suddenly. Quinn drops back into real-time playback, allowing everyone to hear the sound, too. Hearing the bits of conversation that follow, he backs it up a few moments in order to hear the audio before Vyrkris turned around.
The ship receives a hail, then the Comm. Officer says: “We’ve got a contact, captain, broadcasting a distress beacon. Putting them up now, Captain.
Human voice, gasping for air: “ Thank the Star…. Hiranu vessel … this is Malikot merchant ship… Dvonn. We… request immediate assistance under Title 1… section 1. Can you provide?
Captain: “We’ll see what we can do, Dvonn. What’s your situation?”
Voice: “Everything's FUBAR, Captain…. they said…. Maneuver drives...Life Support, everything's... gone to hell... Air’s thin…getting worse…we’re taking turns… on the comm… everyone else…sleeping now…to save air….can’t find a breech…but we’re bleeding O2…the hull is going to buckle...if we can’t keep it... pressurized better.
[There is real terror in the voice, and the everyone on the bridge looks truly concerned]
Captain: “Okay, Dvonn. This is Captain Julia Darius, and we’re coming to get you. How many aboard?
Voice: “Isak ….Hertrichs, ma’am...Ship's security...we got eight crew, …12 passengers…, plus the deep freezers.... maybe fifteen of them...
Captain: “Okay, our M-drives aren’t great, but our boats should be able to get to you in about three hours. Can you guys hold out until then?”
Hertrichs: “Think so. Should… have enough ….to last a good bit longer than that,… ma’am. But you better hurry,…just the same.”
Captain: “Hertrichs, what about the JohnHenry outpost – must be some vessels in the system you could have called in?”
Hertrichs: “They stopped…answering…our hails, Captain…Don’t know why…
Captain: “Okay, well, like I said, we’re coming to get you. Keruuchan out.
Hertrichs: “Dvonn out.”
The captain calls down to engineering and relays the situation, and tells him to get crews together for the two lifeboats. There is some more activity on the bridge, which the camera doesn’t do a good job of capturing. At one point the captain speaks into her personal communicator, and says, “Scrautigue? Sure. Why not. Just keep her safe – Don’t want to have to explain that we lost a former Makhidkarun VP on a rescue operation when she should have been enjoying Hiranus’ famous hospitality.” Then another hail comes over the comm.
Voice: “Greetings, Keruuchan, this is JohnHenry Base Tamandere Alpha. Didn’t think we’d see you for a few more days yet.”
Captain: “JohnHenry, this is Captain Julia Darius of the Keruuchan – we are responding to Title 1 Distress call, who says you have refused aid. Why have you not responded?”
Voice: “Keruuchan, we have been advised that subject is in reality a corsair masquerading as a Malikot trader. Obligation to intervene is therefore nullified.
Captain: “Bull
– that’s no corsair – that’s a soon-to-be coffin if we don’t get those people off now!”Voice: “Captain, you are advised against any interference, but it’s your call. See you in a few. Alpha Base out.”
An old Luriani man in a wheelchair, who Quinn recognizes as Walid Nells-Corzin, comes out of the lift and onto the bridge. He is well dressed, and attended by two armed men who are unmistakably bodyguards.
Old Man: “Captain, I hope you don’t mind, but I have been monitoring communications from my room, and I must warn you – the information the base has is correct. The Malikot merchant is quite certainly a corsair in disguise. To approach would endanger the Keruuchan, and as you know –“
Captain: “- ‘A ship need not intervene in response to a Title 1 Distress call if doing so would result in grave danger to the rescuing ship and its crew.’ But that’s not the case here and you know it! Dammit, we’re going after them.” She speaks savagely into her communicator. “Tagir – how are my boats doing!”
Old Man: “No. You will not endanger the Keruuchan, it’s crew, it’s boats, or any other HiranuCorp property by falling into this trap.
Captain: “Mr. Nells-Corzin, I am captain of the Keruuchan. Planetside, you are a vice president of the company I work for, but here, I command. Please return to your quarters.” She speaks into her communicator. “You can send the boats out when ready, Tagir.”
Nells-Corzin: “Captain, I urge you to reconsider your decision. [She shoots him a scornful look then motions to the Bridge Security officers to remove the man hand his bodyguards from the bridge.] No? Then I am afraid I shall have to assert my rights as Owner-Aboard.
Captain: “What?!?! First off, you’re a part owner of Hiranucorp, Walid, not an Owner-Aboard. And even an Owner-Aboard can’t overrule a ship’s captain in the field. Now get off my bridge!”
Nells-Corzin: “I believe you will find that the Ducal Court has recently ruled than an Owner-Aboard has just such a right, if he believes that the captain is guilty of dereliction of duty. I believe you will also find that the same court has ruled that he power to order the dismissal, and indeed the imprisonment, of any crew members who mutiny against an owner-Aboard once a finding of Dereliction has been made. Captain Darius is, of course, free to test such rulings in court when we arrive at Dukh, as are you all, should you wish to bet your careers, and your freedoms, against this interpretation.... Captain Darius, you will proceed directly towards the base on Tamandere Alpha, where we will deliver supplies and refuel our ship. We will not give these pirates a crack at the Keruuchan.
The captain looks around at her crew, and it seems clear that they’ll do whatever she tells them. Mr. Nells-Corzin seems to note this, too.
[There is a more back and forth here between the Captin and the Owner-Aboard – mostly threats by the latter against the former. Eventually, Nells This last one seems to break her
Nells-Corzin: “Your crew is not military, Julia – They are company employees, as are you. Claims that they were following your orders will not protect them. They will all end up jailed or professionally ruined. To say nothing of your own career –
Captain: What I do, Owner, I do not do for the sake of my career, I assure you. This is on your head Mr. Vice President.
Vyrkris: “Captain! No!”
Captain: “Quiet, girl! There’s nothing for it. [To her communicator] Tagir – shut the hangar. That’s right – call them back. NOW! [She is glaring at the VP the entire time]
Vyrkris: “You’re just going to leave them out there?
Captain: “I said quiet! Johnson, escort our guest back to her stateroom.””
Vyrkris: "I'm not going anywhere, and you'd --
Nells-Corzin: “A moment – Now that the Captain has agreed to listen to reason, I feel it is important to protect her standing on the ship. Will you permit me to give the order, Captain? [she nods, defeated.] Good. You are hereby ordered not to discuss the events of the last thirty minutes with anyone. You shall not speak of it, even amongst yourselves. You are ordered not to act on the supposed distress signal, nor to reveal its existence to anyone unless authorized to do so by a HiranuCorp official with a rank of Vice President or higher. Anyone involved in exposing the Keruuchan or other HiranuCorp property to harm as a result of contact with the corsair Dvonn will be subject to the harshest penalties allowed by law. Do I make myself clear?
Captain: Yes…Mister.
Crew: Mister! Yes! Mister! (dark looks)[Those who have been in the military here are pretty sure that this pervesion of Sir! Yes, Sir! was deliberate and derisive.]
Vyrkris: Why are you doing this! [Muffled, as the Astrogator clamps his hand over her muzzle and then the screen goes dark. "Confine her to quarters!" are the last words heard.]
--End of Record--
Last edited:
Seonaid
Explorer
Ktarle opens her mouth to respond to Sanaath, but her response is cut off when Quinn grabs the datalink. She watches as he thumbs on the playback and then listens (and watches, if he doesn't go anywhere) to the recording. When it finishes she narrows her eyes briefly and then brightens as if a switch was thrown. "Sanaath," she says in Luriani (Imperial if she's ever heard him speak it), "we never got caught up on our conversation from the other night . . . I'm sure this will straighten itself out, and that the captain did the right thing." She waves a paw airily toward Quinn and the datalink. "This party seems to have prematurely ended, so perhaps we can take ourselves elsewhere and you can finish telling me about your career before HiranuCorp." [Uh, bluff check I guess. +1 if it's Cha, +0 if it's Wis; I don't have my stuff with me so I have no clue. The bluff check would be for whoever might be watching, in the room or out, not necessarily Sanaath.]
Maerdwyn
First Post
Day 5 - MidDeck
The captain looks up and notices her two dinner guests in the hallway before her.
"Return to your staterooms! " she barks in a commanding voice, "Leave the girl alone, unless you want her to get in more trouble. Now if you will excuse me..." She keeps walking, quickly as she speaks, and has passed Zaedhrarrg and is moving toward the bulkhead (which is right near the passengers' lift) that leads from the passengers' area to the crews' quarters and the sub-bridge.
The captain looks up and notices her two dinner guests in the hallway before her.
"Return to your staterooms! " she barks in a commanding voice, "Leave the girl alone, unless you want her to get in more trouble. Now if you will excuse me..." She keeps walking, quickly as she speaks, and has passed Zaedhrarrg and is moving toward the bulkhead (which is right near the passengers' lift) that leads from the passengers' area to the crews' quarters and the sub-bridge.
Watus
First Post
OOC: K/Interstellar Law: +6 & P/Administrator: +8. Exactly how out of line is this? Is this new ducal order valid? Does it exist? Was it appropriately applied? Legally, what responsibility did the Keruuchan have to check the situation out before potentially abandoning the Malikot merchant ship?
Quinn pockets the datalink, spins on his heel and, taking the few steps to the bar, pours himself a large glass of whiskey. He downs it in one gulp.
He scratches his stubbly chin and stares off into space for a moment, lost in thought.
Quinn pockets the datalink, spins on his heel and, taking the few steps to the bar, pours himself a large glass of whiskey. He downs it in one gulp.
He scratches his stubbly chin and stares off into space for a moment, lost in thought.
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G
Guest 11456
Guest
Maerdwyn said:
Trelene looks at the security guard, then glances at Tagir and then returns her attention to the security guard. She gets up, nods, and turns to Tagir.
"I guess I will see you in a few."
Then she turns back to the other.
"Lead on."
Maerdwyn
First Post
OOC: (your first check failed a DC 10 - maybe it's the drink?)Without a check, you know the following, just for having the skill: The first rule of Interstellar Law is that you must provide aid to a ship in distress, unless doing so would demonstrably place the rescuing ship in grave danger. If one believes the distress call was genuine, the Keruuchan captain and crew had a resposibility to intervene. If one believes the call was bogus and it was a trap for the unarmed liner, then the is in the clear.Watus said:
Based on your experience, the Keruuchan would have been scanning the ship, trying to determine if it were armed, playing possum, etc. during the conversation- it just wasn't picked up by the recorder.
As for the ruling issued by the Ducal Court, (Second Check, for all the details of the case DC 20: Fail), you heard that this insane case was being taken under advisement by the court, but never heard what the result was. The court has made some pretty strange decisions in the past ten years, however, so this wouldn't shock you, even though it might make you sick, as it would essentially allow some idiot to buy, or even inherit, his way to the top of the chain of command.
In your experience, outside of Gateway, an Owner-Aboard would never get away with ordering the captain of a ship about, as far as you know. Still, if the ruling exists, it would be binding until specifically appealed to, and struck down by, the Imperial Supreme Court at Core. This is because of the way the jurisdictions of the various Domain courts are structured. The process takes lots of both money and time.
Maerdwyn
First Post
The Security officer leads Trelene to the lift, and as they wait for it to arrive, she sees Tagir speaking on his communicator. "Oy! Tarshk!" he calls out. He jogs over. "Just confirmed your orders with the Captain, Tarshk. She says she's on her way down, and you should just wait here with Ms. Scrautigue--"Tailspinner said:
"My orders didn't come from the captain, Tagir."
"I know that, Tarshk - but that corporate stiff (no offense, Trelene) is going to be off this ship just as soon as we hit Dukh. At that point you're still going to be here with the Captain. You can take Ms. Scrautigue up to him - just wait a few minutes until the Captain gets here, yeah?"
"Ma'am, it really would be best if you just came with me now."
"Tarsk, Ms. Scruatigue is a Vice President of Makhidkarun. How do you think confining a Vice President of Makhidkarun to quarters before granting your captain's request to talk with her is going to look on your resume?
"Tagir, let's not let this get ugly, k? Ma'am? Let's go."
Watus
First Post
Quinn turns to regard the table with an icy glare. "Not a word. Not one word about what you just heard, understand? Not to anyone. Not yet. Especially you," he says, pointing at the excessively talkative Anaarsi, his eyes hardening even further [Intimidate +11]. "Clearly the captain meant for us to see this. She wants the secret out, and she damn well should. But she was right to protect the girl, Vyrkris. And so will we. So we move slowly. Carefully. Nells-Corzin is not a man to be trifled with. No one mentions this to the girl, and no one mentions it to the captain. Their positions are already too complicated. Understand?"
He pauses for a moment, thinking. "Still... if only we could take a look at the sensor logs."
He pauses for a moment, thinking. "Still... if only we could take a look at the sensor logs."