#1
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Act 5 Scene 6 Jiinasha System
Even with the technological advances of this era, much of the information outside the active system ports is still marked as ‘ish’—noted in galactic shorthand as "incomplete, speculative, or hearsay." The maps are peppered with cautionary tags like “probable asteroid fields” or “unverified settlement,” indicating that while the data might be correct, it’s just as likely to be outdated, or worse—dangerously wrong. It’s a sobering reminder that even in the heart of Imperial space, the frontier can still feel wild and unpredictable. The crew exchanges wary glances as the details flicker across the display. With only a few confirmed waypoints, much of the space between the stations and minor planets remains uncharted. The best sources of information often come not from starport data repositories but from the rugged individuals who call the edges of civilization home—the belters, miners, and extreme settlers. These hardy souls live beyond the reach of standard comms buoys and station patrols, forging an existence on desolate moons and in the voids of distant asteroid belts. Their knowledge, gathered through grit and hard-earned experience, is rarely written down and never recorded officially. “Out here, the maps aren’t just inaccurate,” the someone mutters, scanning the display with a critical eye. “They’re almost a work of fiction.” As the ship continues on its trajectory, the crew knows they’ll have to rely on more than just system data. Out here, in the dimly lit reaches of lesser-known space, they’ll need to listen for the faint, encrypted signals of outposts and keep their sensors finely tuned for the telltale signs of small settlements: a plume of engine exhaust, a faint ping from an ore refinery, or the barely noticeable EM signature of a hidden mining rig. This region may not be fully charted in any official sense, but it’s far from empty—and navigating it safely will require more than just coordinates.
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GM of: Dark*Matter: The Hoffmann Institute (2007 HOF),
Traveller: The Third Imperium, Bounty Hunter - The Guild New here? Try a New Player Solo Game for 13th age, CoC, DnD, FATE, Pathfinder, Traveller. |
#2
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__________________
Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear but forgetting where you heard it. - Laurence J. Peter
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#3
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#4
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Last edited by NoizePollution; Oct 27th, 2024 at 01:24 PM. |
#5
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The sensors are clear all the way to extreme range other than a small caravan of traders headed toward Jiinasha's High Port.
At present, the next belt of planetoids in orbit band 13 are out of sensor range. It would be at least 20 hours before sensors would be in range of that band.
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GM of: Dark*Matter: The Hoffmann Institute (2007 HOF),
Traveller: The Third Imperium, Bounty Hunter - The Guild New here? Try a New Player Solo Game for 13th age, CoC, DnD, FATE, Pathfinder, Traveller. |
#6
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![]() The steady hum of the jump drive filled the air around her as she leaned casually next to a console. The display was patching into the generally accessible portion of the star map and she was trying to make sense of what was happening without hearing any of what was being discussed. "Probable asteroid fields," she says under her breath and mostly to herself. "The forecast is open space with a chance of big, stupid rocks" She switches the display over to diagnostics of the drives and power monitors and just generally tries to get an assurance of conditions while she awaits specific direction. |
#7
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The galley of the New Hope had the relaxed hum of a place where routines had long since been established. Kelvin sat at a table, a cup in his hand, exchanging the occasional quiet comment with Wader seated across from him. Dudd lounged nearby, tapping a spoon rhythmically against a metal tray, his narrowed eyes flicking toward the new crew just enough to let them know he saw everything.
Shadow leaned against the bulkhead, one boot braced against the wall, her expression as neutral as the gray panels around her. She exchanged a glance with Flay, who sat with her back to the newcomers, scrolling through a datapad as if they weren’t worth her time. “You think they’ll last?” Dudd asked under his breath, the spoon clicking lightly against the tray. Wader snorted softly, setting down his drink. “Long enough to regret signing on, I’d bet.” Kelvin smirked without looking up from his cup. “Let’s give them a chance to impress. We’ve all been the ‘new hand’ before.” His tone was light, but there was an edge of subtle authority—enough to remind them to wait and watch. Shadow’s lips twitched, almost a smile. “We’ll see.” Flay smirked without lifting her eyes from the datapad. “They’ll figure out soon enough.” She tapped the screen a few more times and muttered, “Or not.” Miri gave an amused hum, brushing lightly past Wader to pour herself a drink. “Play nice, ladies. The belt’s challenging enough without extra complications.” She shot Kelvin a knowing glance. “Everything smooth with you?” Kelvin returned the look with a subtle nod. “So far.” Dudd chuckled under his breath. “Give it time.” Miri leaned back against the counter, sipping her drink as her gaze flicked to the newcomers. “Fresh faces. I like that.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “We’ll see if they like the belt.” Kelvin leaned slightly toward Wader. “Odds?” he murmured, low enough for only those at the table to hear. Wader gave a small shrug. “Fifty-fifty.” Miri smiled, a little too knowingly. “Better odds than some.” With that, she gave them a playful wink and drifted toward the door, her presence leaving behind a subtle shift in the atmosphere. Kelvin and his team settled back into their quiet camaraderie, but the undercurrent of anticipation remained. They knew the real tests wouldn’t happen in the galley—they’d come soon enough, out in the belt, where every hand would have to pull their weight or sink. The galley of the New Hope buzzed with quiet conversation, Kelvin’s crew falling into their usual rhythm. In the background, Warka moved silently, his massive form blending into the flow of ship life. The Weren’s fur—thick and dark—brushed the top of the narrow cargo door frame as he carried a crate of supplies with ease, setting it down in the corner with a low, thoughtful rumble. Occasionally, Kelvin’s crew cast glances in his direction, as if reassured by the Weren’s quiet presence. Wader, seated at the far end of the room, gave Warka a subtle nod of acknowledgment, knowing that even a spacefaring giant like him found comfort in mundane work. Dudd smirked, watching the Weren lift a crate that would take two humans to manage, carrying it as if it weighed nothing. Warka rarely spoke unless spoken to, and most of the crew had learned to let him be. When he wasn’t cleaning or organizing the cargo bay, he was usually napping in a corner among the crates. His immense frame made him an imposing presence, but his slow, deliberate movements hinted at someone comfortable in the silence between tasks. As Warka finished cleaning the vent, he straightened with a soft grunt and slung the mop across his shoulder again. He cast a brief glance toward the galley’s occupants—assessing them, not with suspicion but with a kind of deep-seated understanding that came from long experience. He gave a low rumble, almost a greeting, before turning and padding back toward the cargo bay, his steps silent despite his size. Flay glanced up from her datapad, her lips twitching with amusement. “Big guy’s always working.” Wader chuckled softly, tipping his mug. “That’s Warka. Ship runs smoother with him around.” Kelvin, observing silently, gave a faint smile as Warka disappeared down the hall, his shadow trailing like a ghost in the dim lighting.
__________________
GM of: Dark*Matter: The Hoffmann Institute (2007 HOF),
Traveller: The Third Imperium, Bounty Hunter - The Guild New here? Try a New Player Solo Game for 13th age, CoC, DnD, FATE, Pathfinder, Traveller. Last edited by savoylen; Oct 28th, 2024 at 02:27 AM. |
#8
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#9
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#10
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#11
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__________________
Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear but forgetting where you heard it. - Laurence J. Peter
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#12
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Last edited by Salvation; Oct 29th, 2024 at 01:30 AM. |
#13
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__________________
Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear but forgetting where you heard it. - Laurence J. Peter
Last edited by Starflier; Oct 29th, 2024 at 10:54 PM. |
#14
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Last edited by NoizePollution; Oct 30th, 2024 at 12:44 AM. |
#15
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Time drifted by as the New Hope and its crew edged closer to the sprawling, treacherous expanse of the inner asteroid belt. The asteroid complex loomed, a vast labyrinth of tumbling rock and hidden hazards, where each fragment floated with silent menace, daring the ship to pass unscathed. The crew moved with quiet efficiency, knowing this wasn’t territory that forgave carelessness.
But just as they settled into the rhythm of preparation, something unexpected was uncovered. In the port cargo bay, tucked inside a bundle of strapping, a small, crude mechanism was found—a tracker, simple yet effective. Designed to ping a signal just as the ship approached the moment of "Starfall," the device would broadcast the New Hope's current position and anticipated destination. Whoever had planted it had done so with enough subtlety to evade initial scans, a fact that gave the crew pause. The discovery set everyone on edge. Hands moved quickly to secure the area, with crew members sweeping the surrounding space for any additional surprises. The device was dismantled, each component carefully logged and analyzed. The message was clear: someone wanted to track their movements, and the device had been set to transmit just as the ship made its jump. The tension deepened when a quiet alarm pulsed on the bridge, signaling a new arrival on the sensors. Several ships emerged at extreme range, each arrival marked by the unmistakable burst of residual hydrogen as they left jump space. The display showed their incoming trajectories as streaks of light against a dark backdrop, each ship appearing with a slight delay, indicating staggered arrivals.
__________________
GM of: Dark*Matter: The Hoffmann Institute (2007 HOF),
Traveller: The Third Imperium, Bounty Hunter - The Guild New here? Try a New Player Solo Game for 13th age, CoC, DnD, FATE, Pathfinder, Traveller. |
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