Character: Darrurz and Verroel
NPC: Vuedueloghz
Location: Swift Little Biter
System: Jumpspace between Gamgilebo and Ugarun
Darrurz arrives in the makeshift galley in the mining drone bay.
"Good morning, Captain!" Verroel says with cheer as he adds the finishing
touches of seasonings to breakfast.
"Verroel doubles as our cook," Vuedueloghz offers. He's finishing up his meal.
"Among other things," Verroel adds. He hands a plate to Darrurz who joins
Vuedueloghz at their table.
"My complements to the chef," Darrurz says between mouthfuls of ghakh.
"Thank you," Verroel says. "More?"
"Yes, please!"
Vuedueloghz says, "Good food is about the only thing that gets me through jumps.
It is unfortunate that Swift Little Biter isn't swifter in jumpspace.
"But we can't eat the whole time so what do you have planned for us, Captain?"
Darrurz explains that he wants to do an inventory of the equipment on the entire
ship, as well as its small craft. And if there's anything lacking he wants to
know that as well. "I'll add it to our shopping list for when we reach Ugarun."
After several hours of inventory (more for thoroughness than anything else), here's what the crew found on board:
Character: Darrurz and Verroel
NPC: Vuedueloghz
Location: Swift Little Biter
System: Jumpspace between Gamgilebo and Ugarun
Darrurz arrives in the makeshift galley and is greeted by the fresh scent of
seasoned steak.
Verroel cautions him, "Don't get too used to it. I've been cooking up the good
stuff today as the start of a new pack is worth celebrating."
Vuedueloghz says, "You still do a good job with the canned goods, Verroel."
Verroel replies, "Thank you, hungry wolf." To Darrurz he adds, "Engineers don't
have much to do while in jump so to pass the time I learned how to cook."
Vuedueloghz teases him, "Everyone in his old pack died from his mistakes so he
was forced to join the Touzagh."
Verroel laughs.
Vuedueloghz hands Darrurz the ex-captain's PDA. It seems a little worse for
wear. "Here you go, sir. It may not work as well as before. I had to crack it
open to break the security protocols. Don't put anything of value on there. I
trust that you have your own equipment for that. But you'll be able to read
what our former captain put on there."
"Thank you, Vued." He takes a complete snapshot of the captain's PDA and
transfers it to the main computer and then puts it down. "We'll look at that
one later."
As he starts to eat his steak, blood runs down the side of his snout. He licks
it up, then says, "Fantastic!"
Verroel bows in acknowledgement of the complement.
Darrurz takes another bite and asks Verroel, "So how does a decent engineer
become a corsair then?"
Verroel takes a bite of his own and gazes upward, pondering his answer. "People
assume that one can only learn how to steal and kill in the corsairs. This isn't
true. One can pick up valuable skills just as one would if one were to be in
the military or become a mercenary. The difference lies in their focus. The
military is all about servicing the whims of politicians. Mercenaries serve
their clients. Corsairs serve themselves.
"On my world, I had a choice. I could either join the Ngath Navy and go to the
training academy and follow lots of rules and read textbooks or I could join the
Vurrghadoukfoun, the local corsair group, and learn how to be an engineer out
in the field while adventuring across the galaxy!" He pauses before saying in a
more sober tone, "Such is the folly of youth.
"After sixteen years, I have little to show for it save a bunch of stories to
tell my grandpups, that is provided I ever get around to having pups of my own."
Darrurz replies, "Well you aren't going to find a stay-at-home-raise-the-pups
kind of mate on corsairs now are you?"
Verroel smiles.
Darrurz continues, "Maybe the odd emissary, maybe a contingency expert, and
loads of all action up for the job bitches, but no one who you really want to
settle down with.
"Now the ship that blew much of the base to bits had one of the best engineers
that I have ever come across. Paranoid as well ... a paranoid human can be, but
he'd forgotten more about engineering than most sophonts will ever know, and you
... from what I can see you come up to the mark and pass it. But without any
type recognized qualifications you're not going to be able to get a job that
will earn enough to be able to raise a litter or two. Think on that for a time,
because you never know, you might be as bored as hell after a few weeks as a
trader, and pine for the adventure of the corsair."
Darrurz eats more of the steak. "This really is good."
Verroel says, "Maybe, I should become a chef and open a restaurant."
Vuedueloghz cracks his knuckles. "And I'll make sure everyone pays."
They both laugh.
Darrurz steers the conversation towards the bulkier vargr. "So Vuedueloghz what
about you? Did the adventuring life of the corsair call to you straight out of
school, or did you get recruited in some fashion?" Darrurz takes another bite
with some stewed fruit and licks his lips.
"The hunter's life called to me at a young age. I tested well on a gunnery
simulator sponsored by the Ungsoukhskaeg. They offered me a position and some
formal training and I leapt at the chance. But like my packmate here, my skills
kept me locked in my position. Gunners were in short supply so they didn't want
to promote the wolf and lose his teeth. They had enough of those. They bribed
me training in other areas but I knew it was over. I'd hoped that the Touzagh
would've been different but they were worse." He scowls. "I hope that makes my
challenge easier to understand. I can't follow another toothless old dog or a
feeble runt. I've done that for long enough. Keep that fire you showed me in the
hangar bay and we'll get along just fine."
Darrurz looks at Vuedueloghz and then says, "When I lost the Gaell Gzagvikhoe,
and my friend Hazel Zaanirin, I thought my life was over. I saw all my work, all
my efforts taken from me by those who didn't deserve the air from my Vacc suit.
And why? Because they were twice the size of my ship. Because they had twice
the crew. And because they had twice the firepower. It made them think they were
powerful and full of charisma. Look at what they had achieved! Look at their
victory!" He pauses. "Their charisma was an illusion, like you see with the
actors on stage. The ones who play the high charisma princes or the governors.
Fake. They had beaten someone half their size. Vuedueloghz if you wanted this
ship now you could take it. You are twice my size, and you could easily beat me,
or kill me if that is what you wanted, and I couldn't stop you. You would have
a victory! you would have the ship! But what would you really have?
"My last ship, the one that trashed the base? Now before I was a crew member
they were raided by one of the Touzagh. An Enkongsuerrgvo class packet if I
remember the story correctly. It stripped them of everything. But that wasn't
the end of them. They got back up, they made a lot of money, mainly because of
me, they got re-armed and determined. That ship, an imperial merchant, Garu
class, is responsible for the elimination of four Touzagh vessels so far, three
destroyed and one," Darrurz indicates the Swift, "defected, along with the
destruction of a Touzagh base. That's real determination. That's real worth.
That's real Charisma.
"When they took a beating they didn't pine in the corner licking their wounds
complaining to the Universe in general about how unfair it all was. They picked
themselves up and they got on with the job, and they made it happen.
"That mixed Vargr Human crew of misfits and runaways taught me, a Vargr
Merchant Captain, what REAL Charisma is, and I'm NEVER going to
forget it!
"I'm a trader and that's what I plan to do. It's the same, hard work, week
after week. Shifting freight, maintaining the ship, and playing the markets.
Sometimes you take a loss, but sometimes you make a fortune.
"So Vuedueloghz think hard about what you want, who you are, and who you are
prepared to follow. Because I'm not big enough to stand up in a fight. The Swift
isn't big enough either. If you want quick victories, easy money and fake
bravado then you're better off back in the corsairs. All I offer is hard work,
long jumps, and the satisfaction of knowing your own worth."
He eats the last piece of steak on his plate and wipes the blood off his scar.
"Thank you, Verroel. That really was very good. I'll leave you both with your
thoughts for tonight. Good Night."
"Good night, Captain," they both say.
Darruz picks up the PDA and heads for his cabin. He'll save the bottle of
Uekhfarsal for tomorrow, and go to bed.
Character: Darrurz and Verroel
NPC:Vuedueloghz
Location: Swift Little Biter
System: Jumpspace between Gamgilebo and Ugarun
After yesterday's inventory tally, Darrurz instructs Verroel and Vuedueloghz
where he'd like stuff to be kept. While that is underway he composes a shopping
list of the things he feels the ship needs and shows it to Verroel and
Vuedueloghz.
1 Carpentry Tool Set
16 Rescue Balls (5 for the locker and 1 for each cabin, and 1 for the bridge, 1
for the Ship's Boat bridge, 5 for the Ships Boat)
2 Hand Thrusters (1 for the Ship's Boat, 1 for the locker)
2 Communicators 50,000km (1 for the Ship's Boat, 1 for the locker)
7 Communicators 5,000km (2 for the Ship's Boat, 5 for the locker)
7 Comm Dots and Multiplexors (2 for the Ship's Boat, 5 for the locker)
7 Filter Masks with goggles and various cartridges (2 for the Ship's Boat, 5 for
the locker)
7 Combination Masks with various cartridges (2 for the Ship's Boat, 5 for the
locker)
1 Med Kit (for the Ship's Boat)
2 Med Scanners (1 for the Ship's Boat, 1 for the locker)
1 Med Computer (for the locker)
3 First Aid Kits (1 for the Ship's Boat, 2 for the locker)
1 Atmosphere Tester (for the Ship's Boat)
1 Radiation Counter (for the Ship's Boat)
2 Packs of Vacc Suit Patches (1 for the Ship's Boat, +1 for the locker)
3 Flash Lights (1 for the Ship's Boat, 2 for the locker)
2 Cold Light Lanterns (+2 for the locker)
2 Electronic Binoculars (1 for the Ship's Boat, 1 for the locker)
2 Magnetic Compass (1 for the Ship's Boat, 1 for the locker)
2 Hi Tech Compass (1 for the Ship's Boat, 1 for the locker)
100m of Hi-tech rope (for the Ship's Boat)
7 Sets of Cold Weather Clothing (2 for the Ship's Boat, 5 for the locker)
7 Desert Survival kits (2 for the Ship's Boat, 5 for the locker)
4 Survival kits (2 for the Ship's Boat, 2 for the locker)
2 Emergency Beacons (1 for the Ship's Boat, 1 for the locker)
4 Flare Guns with various colour flares (2 for the Ship's Boat, 2 for the
locker)
7 Sleeping Bags (2 for the Ship's Boat, 5 for the locker)
7 Tarpaulins (2 for the Ship's Boat, 5 for the locker)
7 Boxes of Water Purification Tables (2 for the Ship's Boat, 5 for the
locker)
2 Hydro Collectors (1 for the Ship's Boat, 1 for the locker)
4 Ice Axes (2 for the Ship's Boat, 2 for the locker)
7 Water Filtration Units (2 for the Ship's Boat, 5 for the locker)
5 Personal Re-entry Kits with auto pilot (for the locker)
2 Advanced Combat Rifles with clips and various ammunition as expressed by
Verroel and Vuedueloghz
5 TL8 9mm autopistols with 16 clips (15 rounds each ) of DS ammo (2 for the
Ship's Boat, +3 for the locker)
7 Hatchets (2 for the Ship's Boat, 5 for the locker)
On the "couch" in the "galley," Darrurz nips his lower arm with his teeth to
relieve an itch as he pulls a copy of the information on the old Captain's PDA
onto his hand computer to look at. Before he does however he says, "Verroel.
I've been chewing over what you said last night," with which he pulls up a copy
of the Imperial Merchant's 4th Officer Certification Requirements and textbook
from his handcomputer onto a ship's monitor. Darrurz sniffs Verroel's scent to
gauge his reaction as he tilts his head slightly to the left. His left ear goes
up when he continues, "I've no doubts about you passing it, especially on the
Engineering track, but what are your thoughts?"
Verroel flips his ears back a bit as he considers the hassle of Imperial
certification records. "These pieces of paper that the humans are so fond of
have no charisma to them. But they nip at our feet and block our trail if we
lack their silly certifications. I'll gnaw the requirements and pass their test;
have no doubt. We'll also need to work to meet their shipboard maintenance and
safety requirements. That will wear my claws down to nubs."
Darrurz replies, "That piece of paper will get you a job pretty much anywhere
in chartered space. Maybe not with the Corsairs, but the major Vargr merchant
lines know what they mean, and any Captain worth his fur will too."
Verroel snaps his jaw in reluctant agreement. "I'll paper the walls of my den
with these certificates if I must."
With a slightly toothy smile Darrurz's tail wags against the couch as he says,
"And those safety requirements will give you an opportunity to teach Vuedueloghz
his way around the drives and power plants so he pass them as well."
Verroel wags his tail a bit as he anticipates bossing around the third Vargr on
the ship. "Oh, I'll put Vuedueloghz to work..."
His ears flick forward as he opens up his own PDA. "The list is a good start. I
would add a few RAM grenades for the ACR's if we can manage and a good
electronic and mechanical repair kit. The tools onboard are a bit of a shambles
unfortunately."
"OK, I'll put them on the list."
Verroel walks off to begin studying the Imperial Merchant's 4th Officer
Certification Requirements while Darrurz opens a copy of the corsair captain's
PDA data to have a look through.
Character: Darrurz and Verroel
NPC:Vuedueloghz
Location: Swift Little Biter Bridge
System: Jumpspace between Gamgilebo and Ugarun
Darrurz summons Vuedueloghz to the Bridge. He arrives shortly thereafter.
"Yes, Captain."
"Vuedueloghz, I have a job for you." He tosses the porno holocrystals to
Vuedueloghz, who catches them with ease. "Erase the contents of these
holocrystals and download the Swift's logs onto them and the data from
Uksknaghakhughz's PDA. I want to clear the ship's logs but I still want access
to the data should we need it."
He nods. "Not a problem. Shall I do it here and now or do you want me to wait
until you are done with the Bridge?"
"Now, unless you're in the middle of something."
"I am not." Vuedueloghz sits down at one of the consoles.
Darrurz asks Vuedueloghz, "Have you read 'Sun Tzu'?"
"No, I haven't."
"He was a Solomani general from their Pre-Stellar days. He wrote a book called
'The Art of War' about 500 years before General Nigukfoel of Lair wrote his book
'WAR!' and while they both have a similar analysis on the effectiveness of
tactics on the field Sun Tzu gives far more in-depth analysis to everything that
you need to be able to prosecute a war, logistics, morale, espionage, which
Nigukfoel completely neglects. I have copies of both. Interested?"
Vuedueloghz's ears perk up and his tail wags. "Yes!"
Darrurz sends a copy of both through to the ship's library and points to the
completed download on the screen. "Download them when you have a minute. When
you read 'Sun Tzu' remember it's from the Human prospective and think about how
that might differ from ours. Also think about it as a philosophy than can be
applied to other aspects of life. Like Business and Trading, not just war."
Vuedueloghz nods, clearly filing that bit of advice for later.
"Oh and Vuedueloghz, I'm not Uksknaghakhughz. I'm a Trader not a Corsair. I
don't need to hold myself apart from the pack to lead it. I enjoy the company of
others just like every normal Vargr."
Vuedueloghz's tail wags. "That is good! Then we'll be a pack instead of just a
bunch of wolves drinking from the same lake."
After the conversation Darrurz pulls up his Navigational instruction course.
About fifteen minutes later, Vuedueloghz finishes backing up the logs on the
holocrystals and informs Darrurz. He takes his leave of Darrurz to go to his
quarters and read.
Character: Verroel
NPC: Vuedueloghz
Location: Swift Little Biter - Verroel's quarters
System: Jumpspace between Gamgilebo and Ugarun
1126.7.7 - 19:00 Imperial Time, 19:00 Vilani Time
Verroel is in his quarters studying the Imperial Merchant's 4th Officer
Certification Requirements with his door open when Vuedueloghz strolls by and
stops in. His ears are flat against his head.
Verroel looks up from his studies. "Vued, my packmate, is all well?"
"Yes, Darrurz asked me to back up the ship's logs onto some holocrystals and
clear them from the main computer. He actually let me stay on the Bridge with
him while I did it, unlike Uksknaghakhughz (...OOC: That was the name of your
former captain...). And when I was done he suggested I read a book by a human
named Sun Tzu. 'The Art of War' he called it." He chuckles. "I think the only
thing that Uksknaghakhughz suggested I read was repair manuals.
"Maybe I shouldn't get my hopes up but we might finally have a pack." His tail
wags a bit. "This Darrurz, despite his size, seems to know how to lead. He's
certainly better than Uksknaghakhughz."
Verroel wags his tail in agreement. "Darrurz does seem to think more grandly
than Ukskna. It bodes well that we might all gain more charisma if we can
build up a larger, more successful pack."
"Yes!" Vued's ears perk up. "What are you reading?"
Verroel growls and taps his claw on the hardened plastic case of his PDA.
"Prey! It's a flat-face officer's certification study guide. The humans put
their store in paper certifications in place of charisma and pack leadership.
But since we are headed to deal with them we'd best hunt as they hunt."
"Yes, I suppose me must," Vued replies.
Verroel grins with teeth showing and his tongue lolling out. "And we have to fix
up a few things on the ship to meet the flat-face safety regulations. You and I
have some work to do before we come out of Jump."
"We're not on the pinkies' worlds just yet. Ugarun is still Confederation
territory. But yes, a wolf can't bite with rotten teeth."