13-Apr-2173 (14:05:10)
Ships Status: All systems normal
Navigational Status: DINGIR SUBSECTOR (1222), DINGIR
12 May 2173 (1222-A Dingir)
We arrived on Dingir without any issue. Our instructions were to deliver the kids to their Uncle, a Mr. Enshii. The kids were very happy to see him and he was not expecting them. After the introductions, he invited us to a party.
While we waited for the party to start, I bought a slab of tri-metal alloy to replace the docking ring that was damaged on the 5th. Since I bought a square slab , yet only needed a doughnut, I was able to save a lot of metal for later projects.
We had a lot of fun at the party and our host actually had wine from Paris, Terra. Unfortunately, since I had to work later that night, I had to skip on the wine.
We found a side benefit to knowing Mr Enshii. He is very well connected and will be able to be a conduit for some ship weapons. The plan is to outfit us with 6 lasers, 4 sand-casters, and 2 missile launchers. The Captain also approved my plan to isolate the passenger compartment and buy 4 low births for emergency medical service and passengers.
Well, it is the 13th and the ring is about half complete and we are waiting to hear about the weapons.
12-May-2173 (11:44:10)
Ships Status: All systems normal.
Navigational Status: DINGIR SUBSECTOR (1222), DINGIR
15 Apr 2173 (1622-D Apishat)
My first task once we arrive in Apishal was to determine what to do with all the life-support equipment used on the return trip for the survivors. The Captain had me analyze it for useable parts. I was able to salvage 70% of it for our own use. The rest we scraped.
Almost forgot, payday (the 10th) was during the transit. Don’t mean much when you have nothing to spend the money on.
One of the things I realized on the Altair station was how much I need to learn Vilani. Once we had leave in system I went shopping for a Vilani teaching program/device for Terrans. Boy, did I pick the wrong system to try that in. The spaceport was barren of anything helpful, and that was putting it nicely. I was able to pickup a Terran to Vilani dictionary. I am currently driving my staff nuts putting Post-It notes all over my Engine Room in order to teach myself Vilani.
While on the planet, the Captain took Daniel to meet with one of the survivors from Altair. He was the lead scientist from the station. Funny thing these Vilani, they did not look like they were too upset when we turned over the bodies from the station. Frigid lot they are. They also apparently did not want the cargo we were sent to deliver to Altair back either. It was mostly basic supplies and foodstuffs. Turns out the survivor will be with us a little longer. He wants a ride to Zaggisi (1523-B).
18 Apr 2173 — 25 Apr 2173: Transit from 1622-D Apishat to 1523-B Zaggisi
Spent most of the transit covering Engineering in Post-It notes… damn it’s fun bugging my staff. Besides, it is good for them to learn the tongue of where we will be spending the next year or so.
Zaggisi was everything Apishal was not. It was a huge industrialized planet and friendly (for Vilani) to boot. While in port we met the crew of a 200 ton Hero-class Free Trader called the Reaver. She was a Terran vessel and was headed back home to Nusku. They agreed to carry letters and small packages back to Nusku, and into the Terran mail system, when they head back. It took a couple of days, but the crew put together their stuff and the Reaver left for Nusku two days later.
On the Vilani learning front, I was able to get a program while here. It will work a lot better than the Post-Its, but not as fun. I will still use the Post-Its for a while.
Remi and I got to spend some “dude” time while on Zaggisi. We actually went fishing one afternoon. I caught 7 decent size fish, but Remi caught a near-record size fish. Remi actually took a class later that day on how to prepare it according to local cuisine. I gave a couple of my larger fish to the crew of the Reaver as a “thank you” for taking our mail.
I worked on Jenny II for a few hours while here. I even took her for a spin around the spaceport. She rides real well. However, she does have a weird little “tick” at 1200 rpm that I have to find. I do not think it’s serious, but it bugs me that it’s there.
Time to go back to work. It looks like we have a new client. He wants to transport his children, ahead of himself, and cargo (a full hold!) to 1222-A Dingir. Apperently he is in bad with some local hoods because the crew is all cloak-and-dagger getting the kids aboard. The client did not want to handle the transfer to the starport for fear of a leak and attack on the kids. We did see some shady characters during the transfer, but they could not follow us into the starport. Just to be sure, I checked the cargo for any potential problem prior to takeoff.
28 Apr 2173 — 05 May 2173: Transit from 1523-B Zaggisi to 1324-C Shulgi
The transit was uneventful but I cannot say the same for the arrival. As soon as we arrived in system, we detected a 100 ton scout class ship near the arrival point. While this is not abnormal, his rapid acceleration to our arrival point was. It became crystal clear what his intentions were as soon as his radio message arrived. His demands were simple, “Hand over the children”. Well, that was not going to happen.
The Captain decided to play along with their demands while we formulated a plan. This I can tell you, they picked on the wrong people that day. Being that I had a background in blockade running, I had extensive training and experience in counter-boarding operations. We set about formulating a plan based on lulling them into thinking we are an easy target, which isn’t hard considering we are unarmed and they have at least one turret.
They approached us from above and docked with our upper hatch to their lower hatch. This prevented them from threatening us with their turret while they were docked. It also let us see them form our portholes while they could not see us, amateurs. As soon as they docked, Mr. Remi (who was hiding in the Air Raft bay) went EVA and approached their ship from the rear. While we delayed the boarding party he approached their turret and placed a C4 charge (which I had built during the approach) under the central barrel hinge. He then made his way back to the rear of the ship.
While he was doing this, the crew setup an ambush near the airlock exits. We split the crew into two ambush points, one hear Sickbay and the other near the Engineering Workshop. We also sealed the door at the end of the stores area so they could not get to Engineering from the airlock area. Mr. Remi positioned himself near the Port engine and fired a grenade launcher into the main combustion chamber housing. The grenades wound not damage the ship, but they would cause enough damage to the injector pups and fuel sensors thereby guaranteeing that the engine would need to go to a shipyard in order to get fixed. Mr. Remi was knocked off his footing when he fired, but he had a lanyard and was ok. At the same time he fired on the engine, I set off the turret charge remotely. This made sure that they could not use the turret against us.
With the enemy ship disabled, the boarding party started the attack with smoke grenades. I called engineering and had them do a rapid decompression to have the air evacuated. We had already made sure the passengers were in rescue balls before the enemy came on board. When they cam up through he airlock, we opened fire. They did not stand a chance. They never got a chance to make an effective and coordinated attack. We took out 3 of them and captured one. On the way back to the Air Raft bay Mr. Remi fired a grenade into the enemy transfer tube and into the chest of an enemy boarder. Needless to say the tube was put out of action and the last thing Mr. Remi saw was the enemy ship leaking atmosphere as he came aboard our ship. We did not suffer any injuries and were able to dislodge the enemy ship using a high-g roll that tore off the docking clamps. I will have to fix that once we get to Dingir. We secured the prisoner in the sickbay till we could decide what to do with him.
We did a gas giant refuel and got the hell out of there ASAP.
06 May 2173 — 12 May 2173: Transit from 1324-C Shulgi to 1222-A Dingir
Payday on transit again… WOOT!!
I spent some time in transit working on ways to help defend the internals of the ship in case we ever get boarded again. I will make a proposal to the captain as soon as I have the cost estimates done. I want to make some Passenger Isolation Doors and add some Low Births for injured crew and prisoners.
15-Apr-2173 (16:32:40)
Ships Status: All systems normal
Navigational Status: DINGIR SUBSECTOR (1622), APISHAL
26 Mar 2173 (1622-D Apishat)
It has been a busy week since I last logged in. We have been scurrying over the ship getting ready for the jump to Altair and let’s just say I already see many improvements that I can make to the ship. I wish I had two months to work on her in a proper shipyard as I see many areas that can be improved.
I was able to shoot off a quick email to Megs. I hope it gets to her soon.
27 Mar 2173: Transit from 1622-D Apishat to 1522-E Altair
We have arrived in Altair without any incident. I did get to spend the week tuning the engines a bit. My Assistant Engineer’s name is Susan and from what I have seen so far she may work out ok.
Our mission in this systems is to drop off supplies at a research station that is orbiting a moon orbiting a gas giant.
04 Apr 2173: Arrived at Station
We arrived at the station today, but have been unable to make contact. We are getting ready to board her and assess the problem. Initial scans show micrometeorite damage to the hull and elevated radiation levels most likely related to a leak in the core. It’s orbit is also in decay, but it has a few weeks left before it is in any danger of reentry. There are 3 lifeboats missing and presumed to have been used before it was too late.
05 Apr 2173: Repairing the Station
We spent most of yesterday repairing the core of the station. As we thought, micrometeorites caused widespread damage to the station. The damage was swift and unexpected as many computers were still logged in. We discovered 5 dead on board including one in Engineering. All bodies were recovered for later return to whomever is in charge of the station.
06 Apr 2173: Finishing Repairs to the Station
With Susan’s help I was able to finish repairs and stabilize the station’s orbit. The station has been put into a stable orbit and been placed in an automated station-keeping mode until such time as here owners want to return. After the station was repaired we used the station’s sensors to locate the life-pods. All three had landed in relatively the same area on the moon below. The moon has an atmosphere, but it is hostile in nature and requires supplemental air to survive for any length of time.
07 Apr 2173: Rescue Mission
We were able to find all the survivors on the moon except one who had perished during the landing of his pod. At the first pod site we ran into these huge beasts that were a cross between potato bugs and elephants! There were four of them and I almost killed myself trying to get back into the air raft. Four times I slipped and banged against the hull while trying to get back in. Finally one of the crew was able to give me a hand and pull me in. Thank God I had my biosuit because I was covered, head to toe, in muck from constantly falling down.
After getting in I quickly grabbed my rifle and helped to dispatch the charging creatures. The rifle’s low recoil is normally fine, till you’re covered in muck and sliding around the raft. Every time I fired, I moved back a bit.
After the creatures were stopped we were able to track, thanks to Mr Matthews’ bio-sniffer, the rest of the survivors who had gathered in a cave. On the way there we found the above mentioned crash victim. After getting everyone aboard the Emerald Monarch, we set up a quarantine area as several of the survivors were showing signs of infection. It will take us a few days but we are going to take the life support equipment from the station’s shuttle and create a self-contained environment in the cargo bay for all the survivors and members of our crew who were exposed to the infection, in order to isolate them and negate a strain on the ship’s life support systems. I had our crew transfer bunk-beds from the station for the survivors to sleep in for the trip. There were a total of 10 survivors and 6 bodies recovered. Before leaving the system we look them back into the station in order to retrieve any items they wanted to bring back.
08 Apr 2173: Transit from 1522-E Altair to 1622-D Apishat
The trip back was uneventful. The doctor released the quarantine as he deemed the virus as non-threatening. I had some time to look at Jenny II (still in the crate) while in the cargo hold talking to the survivors. Maybe next week I will have some time to work on her.
We arrived in Apishat on 15 Apr 2173.
4-Apr-2173 (13:23:00)
Ships Status: All systems normal
Navigational Status: DINGIR SUBSECTOR (1522), ALTAIR
28-March-2173
I’ve spent most of the first couple weeks of travel running diagnostics on the upgraded systems to evaluate their operating functionality. Everything checked out in the shipyard, but shipyard and space are two different operating conditions. So far, the results look very good. The captain has informed me that along with our primary goals, we are also tasked, albeit passively, to collect as much intelligence we can upon the Vilani. Considering the buildup going on at Nusku, it seems clear the Confederation thinks the next Interstellar War is imminent. I can’t say that I’m surprised but I do hope it holds off until we’re back home. A war could provide us with some very lucrative opportunities but it’s surely to put us in far more danger.
The crew seems to be settling in well, I’ve been most impressed with the security department. They have shown a very wide range of skills and a can do attitude. If we can continue this high level of operation and further develop the skills of the crew, this ship could very well be one of the best around. Only time will tell here. I look foward to doing my part.
…end log
27-March-2173
My first impressions of my new shipmates have largely been positive. The Captain seems to be an actual human being, instead of a military meathead, and I’m more motivated to serve well under him than any of my commanders during my military service. The Ship’s First Officer, is friendly and professional but he’s a been a corporate man his entire life, can we count on him if the shit hits the fan? Too soon to tell, so far I appreciate the way he handles himself and he hasn’t pulled rank on any of us little folk yet, so I remain optimistic.
The highlight has definitely been the Chief Medical Officer, Anya, a very friendly middle aged woman who is teaching me a great deal about medicine and surgery. I very much enjoy her company and have been spending as much time as I can with her, learning all that she can teach me.
I’m hesitant to approach and try and befriend any of the Terrans on the ship but so far no one has given me any shit. Hopefully my assumptions about them will prove to be incorrect, but my experience on my tour of duty leaves me hesitant to befriend many Terrans…
It’s a job though, one more year and I can perhaps attend a medical school somewhere. I hope that we have an uneventful, and profitable tour.
19-Mar-2173 (19:00:00)
Ships Status: All systems normal
Navigational Status: SOL SUBSECTOR (1822), NUSKU
