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Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shadowdancer" data-source="post: 1921248" data-attributes="member: 515"> Chapter IXXDate: 172-993Location: Aboard the Bray Keaven, in the Fonnein System, located in the Linkworld's Cluster of Ley SectorCompared to the departure from Sentry, the transit from jump emergence to Fonnein Orbital is almost unbelievably smooth and rather unremarkable. Well, there are a few tense moments when a pair of sleek shuttles made a 5G intercept of the incoming far trader, but once contact is established through the jury rigged communications system, Kevon smoothly fields all of the defense crews’ questions — an easy task for him having been on the other side of suspicious intercepts many times. Aid is offered as soon as Kevon mentions the reason for the damaged communications system — the attack by the Oser — but Kevon declines the offer other than stating that if the Bray Keaven suddenly goes quiet, it’s probably because the comm system died. Both shuttles escort the Bray Keaven to the orbital station just to make sure that communications are maintained as well as to keep an eye on the far trader — just in case. -----Swann spends the entire transit in the starboard turret monitoring all craft using the targeting system and sensors. He notes the approach of the shuttles with some alarm, but Kevon manages to assuage his concern — mostly. Traffic continues to be fairly light. Both Swann and Vargas do notice a pair of ships entering the system from jump space about an hour after the Bray Keaven arrives. Both emerge on the limits of the Bray Keaven’s sensors. One appears to be another far trader while the other is some sort of 300-dTon ship. Both head inbound at 2G. -----Martha runs her diagnostics on her systems. The systems seem to still be within specs, but she really thinks that the jump drive is borderline for another jump without maintenance. The odds are still fairly low for a misjump — and still within ideal spec — but the young engineer just doesn’t have a good feeling about pushing the odds another time. Martha’s notes (and the library information) on Fonnein Orbital indicate that the station has two main concerns which handle starship maintenance. The larger of the two, Kaufshiliu has a reputation for having slightly higher prices than the smaller shop, Stork and Sons, but being a bit faster. Stork and Sons has a reputation for being slightly better at custom retrofits of equipment and being a bit cheaper, but also a bit slower. Both have very good reputations for their maintenance work, and quite a few captains who work the cluster come here for work on far traders and scout/couriers. -----Saro determines he has used about Cr2,500 worth of supplies treating Ian and Vasilii. He decides there are a couple of sound and visual relaxation devices that he can try to find for Martha that should cost around Cr250 for a good set. -----Vasilii tries to use the communications systems to pick up news feeds from Fonnein. A couple of hours from Fonnein, he tries for a fourth time. The Vilani merchant barely gets a signal during part of an interesting sounding news story. In order to get the rest of the story (something about lanthanum futures), Vasilii tries to boost the gain a bit and the entire comm system goes dead again. About 10 minutes after the comm system dies, one of the escorting shuttles drops back to directly astern of the Bray Keaven and the other closes to within a few kilometers. About the same time, Swann and Martha, and anyone else in a vacc suit, pick up a query on their suit comms from the closing shuttle. For the rest of the transit to the highport, communications are relayed through the escorting shuttle to the Bray Keaven via suit comms. -----A little after 0900, the Bray Keaven settles into Arrival Berth No. 208. The berth is an enclosed and pressurized berth, just a little larger than the far trader itself, and not suitable for much other than cargo unloading via the port and forward cargo locks, passenger unloading, and light maintenance. Once the crew selects a maintenance yard, the ship will need to move. After the ship powers down the drives and the berth pressurizes, a polite and annoyingly awake SPA (StarPort Authority) Customs officer arrives to look over the cargo and passenger manifests, check identities, and spot check the cargo. The inspection is over fairly quickly, and the officer doesn’t appear to notice anything beyond what is declared. -----After the inspection, the rather bleary crew of the Bray Keaven gathers in the lounge for what is now a brunch. Vargas decides to remain on the bridge keeping an eye on things and cat napping when possible. Thanking Vargas profusely for staying on the bridge, Kevon head down to the lounge for a light snack. "I suggest we take the day to rest and recover, and worry about cargoes, repairs, and upgrades tomorrow morning," the lieutenant commander says to the rest of the crew. "Pushing ourselves today nets us nothing. If you need me for any ‘captain-type’ things, I’ll be in my temporary quarters." Swann looks around the lounge, and rubs a hand across his face. "That sounds good to me. I’ll be in my bunk." "Sounds like a plan to me," Ian says. "Let’s make sure we have all security systems set before we bed down." Martha yawns. "I’ll get some of the preliminary work set up for repairs and maintenance . . . ," she says, then notices Dr. Saro’s penetrating gaze. "Umm, this evening, after I’ve slept some." With a forced smile, she stands. "I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me. Swann, you got security covered?" Swann says, "Sure, I’ll check to make sure the new upgrades are in place and running." -----Swann checks to make sure the ship’s security system is engaged and running as it should. He grabs something to eat and returns to his cabin. He sets up his vacc suit to recharge, eats, showers, and then goes to sleep. -----After ensuring that Vasilii and Martha are aware of his concern for their welfare (by means of a few penetrating glares and stern expressions) Saro watches them to make sure they make good on their words of resting and relaxing. His patients taken care of, Saro sits in his cabin looking over his list of consumed medical supplies to ensure he hasn’t missed anything. Putting that aside, he begins to make a list of what he’d like to see in an actual working sickbay. In the morning he plans on approaching the rest of the crew with his wish to upgrade the Keaven’s medical facilities. He knows that it will be expensive and take awhile, but if they at least consider it, the crew can start planning and preparing for a possible installation/retrofit. Almost subconsciously he begins to hum ancient Terran lullabies to himself as he works.</blockquote>

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