Characters: Verroel, Fi Khong
NPC: Vuedueloghz
Location: Happy Trails
System: Gadushan
As expected, the week in jumpspace was uneventful. Upon returning to normal
space, the brightness of Gadushan's two suns through the main viewer makes
everyone squint. The settings had been left on for Envar's miserably dim star.
Now with two giants to contend with the light is blinding. Fi turns it down
after the initial shock wears off.
Fi flips the ship around to begin the deceleration phase for their approach. A
few minutes later the ship's passive sensors register an active scan.
With nothing to hide, Verroel utilizes the ship's sensors to scan back. The
sensor sweep comes back with what the computer says is a Type T Patrol Cruiser.
The ship is hailed. "Attention foreign vessel, this is the Gadushian Defense
Force. Please identify yourself and your reason for being in this system." The
voice, as expected, is human.
Verroel is expecting this to be the new normal for now on. He takes up the comm
and answers the hailer. "This is the starship Happy Trails. We are jumping into
the system from Envar, bound for Ninnigam. We're looking to refuel, deliver
our cargo, carry any available cargo and depart."
"Acknowledged. Continue your deceleration but change course to the following
coordinates." The location appears on the nav computer. "One of our patrols
will rendezvous with you and inspect your vessel. Failure to comply will be
interpreted as hostile intent and we will act accordingly. Gadushian Defense
Force out."
Fi says to Verroel, "That will put us in LPO."
Verroel instructs Fi Khong to comply with their request.
A Type T patrol cruiser has pulled up alongside Happy Trails and extended
a boarding cable. After being hailed by the vessel, Verroel informed its
captain that they would be waiting for the boarding party in the cargo bay on
deck one.
Verroel and company are unarmed and polite. They are rewarded for their
compliance. The boarding party, wearing combat armor and equipped with
auto-shotguns, are quick with their examination of the ship. Their demeanor
remains professional, but their weapons are pointed at the deck rather than the
crew.
"Thank you for your cooperation," the team leader says to Verroel. "We
appreciate your patience with our security check. We don't get many friendly
visits from vargr vessels these days."
Verroel nods and replies, "The conflict is unfortunate and bad for business.
Your professionalism is appreciated as well.
"I have a delivery for Gadushan Imports. Are they located at the downport?"
"Yes," the team leader says. "They won't be hard to find. There isn't a whole
lot of commerce at Gadushan. Once you dock, just connect with the infonet and
they'll pop up."
"Are there any port factors or trading companies on the planet you can
recommend?"
"There's not a lot to choose from," he says with a smile. "Gadushan Exports is
the Sharusharid subsidiary that handles 90% of the offworld trade. Gishlushemiim
has a branch here too. They're eager to gain market share, but haven't made
many inroads yet. That's about it."
"Thank you."
"Enjoy your visit to Gadushan." With that the boarding party returns to their
ship.
As soon as the boarding cable has retracted, the patrol cruiser breaks off from
Happy Trails which resumes its descent to Gadushan.
Characters: Verroel, Fi Khong
NPC: Vuedueloghz
Location: Happy Trails
System: Gadushan
Once the patrol cruiser broke off, Happy Trails was down on the surface
in no time. Gadushan's extreme temperature fluctuations force all commercial
activity, including starships visits, indoors. Gadushan's downport consists of
eight well-insulated hangars in a rectangular arrangement, four on either side.
The downport is connected to a buried city of 10,000 of the world's 50,000+
inhabitants.
The ship sits isolated in the hangar bay. There are no docking collars. Ship's
sensors indicate the hangar bay is still cold (temperatures drop fast at night)
so everyone decides to wait for the residual heat from the engines to warm
things up.
In the meantime, the ship has detected InfoNet and connects with it. A menu pops
up listing options. Verroel selects "order fuel" and "life support supplies".
Before the order can be placed, he's required to pay the berthing fee: 100
credits. He complies and puts in his order.
He access communications and tracks down Gadushan Imports. He sends them a text
letting them know their methane shipment has arrived. A minute later he gets a
text in return stating that a truck will be by within the hour to pick it up.
With time to kill, Verroel looks up Gishlushemiim. He discovers that they're a
large trading company, though not as big or powerful as one of the Vilani
megacorps of yore. They deal in freight and cargo, just like Gadushan Exports.
Their netsite claims that they're a better option to work with than "the
competition" though they don't specify exactly how they accomplish that.
As for freight and cargo, both netsites mention something about BrokerNet for
speculative trade and CargoNet for freight (How he wishes they had a trader on
board). The prices on BrokerNet are far too high for Verroel's budget so he
opts for hauling freight.
Gadushan has 7 lots available for Ninnigam:
The ship's comm alerts you that a representative of Gadushan Imports is at the
door. After checking the sensors to make sure that the temperature in the bay is
normal, Verroel heads out to greet him.
The human is dressed in a jumpsuit with a Gadushan Imports logo on it. He's
pretty hairy for a human with hair covering most of his face.
"Evening," he says. "I hear you've got a delivery for pick up."
"Yes," Verroel replies and hands over the paperwork.
The man smiles wryly. "Paper. Must be from Envar."
While he looks it over, Verroel asks, "Soooooo, what's going on between
Gadushan and Gishlushemiim?"
The man pauses and casts a querulous look at Verroel. He ponders his response,
then says, "Just two trading companies doing business. Gishlushemiim is trying
to bite off a piece of Gadushan's pie. That's all."
Sensing his failure to strike a connection with the man, Verroel lets it go.
"Ok, everything's in order." He signs Verroel's copy. "Open her up and I'll pick
up the load with the truck.
Verroel complies and the man drives his electric truck into the bay. He hops out
of the cab and into a forklift and picks up the stacks of methane cylinders.
Before he leaves, he says to Verroel, "Once I get back to the warehouse, the
accounting department will send you your money."
"Will that take long?" Verroel asks.
"Nope. An hour or two."
"Thanks!"
"Good day."
An email arrives indicating that the sum of 20,000 credits has been added to Verroel's account. "Good, now we can afford fuel and life support," he says. He hits "submit" on his fuel order and watches 5,500 credits go out.
Characters: Verroel, Fi Khong
NPC: Vuedueloghz
Location: Happy Trails
System: Gadushan
Freight arrives.
Freight loaded.
Refueling and life support refurbishment begin.
Refuelling and life support refurbishment finish. Crew begins preparations for departure.
Ship leaves hangar bay and heads out to safe jump distance.
Safe jump distance reached. Ship jumps.