Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Solo Session 0.95 - Getting the group together

Several assumptions here: the ship crew, other than Malik, are already together and have agreed to whatever terms for payment. As per the SOLO rules idea, we'll work backwards to that if and when that becomes an issue. We'll also start with the Cr100,000 for the initial trading. How/when the No Refunds got that is GM fiat so to speak, but it will be the starting point for trade goods. I'll try & do Malik in-character via italics.

It was a long walk to pad 45-F via the underground walkways available at Uryon Station, my home planet's primary starport. The port was massive, with vast underground transport tubes and walkways, refueling stations towering above the ferrocrete landing pads. And the sheer number of warehouses was mind boggling. Last time I was through here, on my trip about the quadrant, I took a shuttle to the freighter already in orbit. This time I was early, so decided to walk the few kilometers knowing it would be the last time for at least a week I could walk more than a few paces without hitting a bulkhead. Somehow treadmills and VR booths just were not the same. 

Reading the ports that lead to the surface, some guarded by alert guards, others locked but not guarded, I finally came to the port for 45-F. This was one of the landing pads and warehousing for Antares Ship Builders and Trade Speculators. Having done a term with them as an embedded reporter, I pulled some strings to find someone going off planet. As my last story for the World News on July Monson, the Imperial Attache, did not go as expected, I was leaving before more ill-will found its way to me. Cashiered out, it was time perhaps to see what stories as an independent freelancer I could dig up. But I needed a job that could get me off-planet and away from my new contacts who wished me no good will. Enemy seemed too harsh a word at times, but my quick exit from the news group would align with that description well enough. 

The pocket door had the ABS&TS logo next to the intercom system. The trade group has a perpetual lease on maybe a dozen landing pads and warehouses here. A trader who belonged in the group got cheaper berthing fees and often guaranteed cargo if necessary. Part of the agreement was to transship cargoes as well as expanding out the contacts and brokers for the group. It seemed to work well, and while a lot smaller than the League, it seemed a very similar process to me. 

I buzzed the intercom and waited for a response, looking down the  well-lit corridor and seeing little foot traffic. The pod tub shook a bit as a cargo pallet went through on its way to wherever it was going, then I heard a woman's voice from the speaker. 

"Yo. No Refunds here. Who's calling?" The voice had a deeper rumble to it, and I was pretty sure it would be Ewo, the ship's broker, steward and general administrative crew. She was the one who had initially hired me two days ago. 

I responded, "Malik Castillion, reporting as directed." The green unlock button lit up, and the door swooshed into the wall, opening up to a personal elevator. Stepping in, I pushed the up button, and with an almost silent hiss, the doors closed and I felt the elevator rise up. It was a short trip, then the doors opened to a small warehouse. The warehouse doors were open to the bright sunshine, and I could see the No Refund sitting on the pad, facing me, the lower cargo bay doors open. Striding towards me was Ewo, the first officer, a lanky Aslan who had been the merchant service for years. Being overworked, she somehow managed to convince the captain I would be an asset to both her and the ship. While the No Refunds was not a passenger ship, she did take on the occasional passenger. Additionally, the captain thought a ship historian could also be a useful thing in addition to all the grunt work I would end up doing. 

We shook hands, her hand easily enveloping mine with a very firm grip. It felt odd due to her fingers being different, but it was welcoming nonetheless. We walked across the pad to the open cargo bay. There were some small crates and two standard cargo containers already loaded towards the back. Stepping up the ramp I could see the scratches and grooves from years of maneuvering cargo containers in and out of the large bay. 

"That all you got?" Ewo asked my, gesturing at the bag over my shoulder. It was a pretty small duffel bag, mostly full of clothing and a few other things I've found useful while traveling. 

"Yes Ma'am, " I replied. "I've learned to go pretty light over the years."  We continued into the bay, and found a stairwell to our left. It curved up to the main deck. Following Ewo up the stairs, we stepped on to the main deck, in a tiled area. There were storage lockers to my right, and across from me what looked like shower stalls and sinks. Ewo waved gracefully, indicating this was the common area for personal hygiene, and pointed out the washing system for clothes, and that while there was no schedule, people tended to have their own time for cleaning. 

Stepping into what turned out to be the main corridor, we turned right and stepped through a short corridor with heavy duty airlock style doors on either side. 

"Port and starboard airlocks. Suits are stored inside, we've got one that should fit you should we need it. Part of your duties include maintenance of ship locker equipment. I'll expect reports from you." 

Stepping into the next large room, I saw that we had entered the ship's commons. It was a much larger space than most ship's I've been on. A small kitchen area was on my left, facing back, and I saw several storage areas on the right. A step down into what looked like a large living room, complete with sofas, chairs, gaming consoles and what looked to be an old holo system. There were three life pod doors on either side, and what looked to be cramped entrances to the maneuver drives, and as I found out later, the currently empty port and starboard turrets. 

Sitting at the dining room table was the captain, Lynwood Laux. He was looking out over the expansive rear ports before turning to face me. He was a smaller man than I expected.

Seeing as this went on pretty long, I'll continue later. And do a bit more of the ship tour. Then crack open the SOLO book and start the session 1.

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