NationStates Jolt Archive

Many years ago, when Crimmond was not just a powerful nation, but controller of five star systems, there were six great fleets to protect the empire. When Crimmond retired from the politics of the galaxy, back to Europe, back to the days before the fleets were created and the time when FTL drives were standard, two fleets defected and stayed in the galaxy.

Later, one more, which was kept FTL capable as a last ditch fleet, defected as well. With three fleets with Crimmond crews, Crimmond Captains and Admirals roaming the galaxy, piracy in their sectors died out. Seeing that the fleets worked well together and seperate, Task Force Renegade, as they were known, became a unified militia of the space lanes.

With some governments, they were welcomed as they freed up that nation's ships for other duties. With others, they were seen as little more than pirates of pirates, boarding the raiding ships and taking what they needed, before abandoning the ship and destroying it.

CSS Evansworth
Escort Carrier
Captain John Ors commanding

A flat monolith sweepng through space, with a conning tower on one side, extending above and below the main decks. At the rear, four engines burned brightly, propelling the ship foreward.

Captain Ors stared out the viewport. Out it was the Evansworth's consort, the Heavy Battlecruiser CSS Frigate Eater, which dwarved the small escort carrier. It was a one of a kind variant. There was only minmal metal armor on it's hull. 93% of the hulking ship's surface was covered in the nubs of missile warheads. It's name was given after testing, where it destroyed three retired frigates in less than a minute, taking minimal damage.

-------------------

CSS Terran Incognita
Monitor Class Stealth Cruiser
'Cloaked' off the Evansworth's port side

The other two ships had no idea that they were in formation with another ship, let alone one equipped as the Incognita. The stealth cruiser was not like most ships built for stealth in space. It was designed to be completely invisable to sensors and scanners and it was. Unfortunatly, that meant that all you had to do was shoot at the hole on your sensors. So, before any of the ships went to active duty, they were fitted with an elaborate and advanced 'noisemaker' thatwould scan what was on the opposite side of the ship and tune the emmisions to make it seem like just a small anomoly on sensors.

OOC: If you read through all that, then you can post in this thread. Otherwise, shoo! This is a completely freeform RP, I have no storyline and no goals to this. I just want to use the Renegades, as they've been sadly neglected in my RPing.

(ooc TAG i may join later if you dont object?)

OOC: Join at any time you want, so long as you don't start pulling ISDs into teh RP.

OOC: Bump. Come on people. Someone must like the idea.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Nephtali/NationStates/Andromeda.jpg

A lone Bajoni Warcruiser, the EBS Nerevar's Glory, glided through the new system.
'Exploration is so mundane.' thought the Elf to himself as he stood on the observation deck looking out into space. A hologram of an Elven female popped up next to him.
"Sir, the survey is finished."
"Good. Did we find anything of interest?"
"The system is lightly populated, probably a colony world. We detected a few smaller merchant ships apparently sub-light technology."
"Is that all?"
"No sir. We also detected a group of ships outside of the system. They are emiting high signals indic..."
"I know, advanced tech."
"Yes sir."
"Let's investigate. There shouldn't be any fleets in this area of space. Plus I heard the next system is all ice-worlds."

The ship slowly turned and followed the trail of emmisions left by the mystery fleet.

CSS Frigate Eater
Heavy Battlecruiser
Fleet Captain Xerxes commanding

"So where is the next convoy?" The large, muscular African man asked, stepping across the large, but dim bridge. The ship had been boarded before, so when Xerxes took command, he had the lighting diminshed and all the crititcal areas of the ship repainted to hide steps and make entire sections blend into the darkness. It had also been a good laugh at more than a few new transfer's expense.

The junior officer at the acience station looked up. "We'll be overtaken by the next one in about 14 hours, sir, leaving six more before we are supposed to be back at Outpost Aurora."

Xerxes smiled at the young officer's reminder. "I know of our orders, Ensign. We'll be there on time." He walked back to the command chair and sat. Another two hours before his shift ended.

OOC: Come one guys, I don't want to be the only other one in this.

OOC2: Crimmond, are you saying there is a NPC fleet here as well. If so, I'm following them. If not, I'm on your tail.

IC:

The Nerevar's Glory continued to glide through space, following the trail of particles.

"Sir, we will be upon the ships any minute now...
There, we have them. It's a convoy, sir. They've spotted us."

"Hail them..."

"This is the Everlasting Bajoni Cruiser, Nerevar's Glory. We have no hostile intentions. We are on an exploration mission and would like to know more about this sector."

After transmitting proper identification codes, a face appeared on the screen.

"You will forgive us. There are pirates in this area of space. Hopefully, you will not hold it against us if we keep our defenses online."

"Certainly not." The Bajoni commander responded. "We can talk via comlink if you wish. Perhaps we can arrange a swap of knowledge. Do we have permission to fly with your convoy for now?"

"That can be arranged." The stranger on the viewscreen responded with a moment of hesitation. "Follow these courses and we will talk. The void can be quite lonely."

The Bajoni warcruiser pulled alongside the convoy, keeping a safe distance for both parties.

OOC: There is one. Just a convoy, which you appear to have found. My 'fleet' as it is, is basicly just coasting through space along the trade route.

IC: "Fleet Captain?"

Xerxes looked up from his computer padd. He switched off the game of Solitare he had been playing. "Yes, Ensign?" He answered in his deep, accented baritone.

"The convoy appears to have grown sir. We picked them up a few minutes agao, but the number of ships has increased. Can't get much more at this distance."

Standing, Xerxes moved to the station and looked at the data. He had served in sciences for a third of his career, the readings could look different to him. "Are you sure it's the same convoy? The time isn't off any?" Getting a yes and a no, he frowned. "Could be a couple yachts or it could be raiders. Inform me if the situation changes at all as they approach." At that, he went back to his chair and resumed the game. "Damn three of spades..." he muttered, getting a strange look from the helmsman.

http://gallery.quadratic.net/Homeworld_Art/frigate

OOC: The above is an example of the Profiteer class combat frigate. I wish I could draw so I didn't have to rip off the good folks at Sierra. :(

Commodore Gerhard Köhler stared fixedly at the tactical plot, trying to ignore the hustle and bustle of his bridge. He rubbed his temples and sighed. Of course the bridge was crowded. It had to be. The ships of Conquest Inc were technologicaly inferior to many large space nations and industrial concerns. To ensure Market Domination, designers were forced to cram as many crude but powerful weapons, and as much armor as possible into every ship they built. The result was a ship that could hold its own against more advanced ships of the same weight, could haul cargo or deploy troops in Asset Seizure operations, but was fairly slow and very cramped.

Köhler hit an open palm with a gloved hand. The fact that ships designed in such a way are CHEAPER probably had nothing to do with it at all - knowing those damn bean counters. He turned his back to the plot, abandoning his effort to will something interesting to appear. "Well, whatever."

"The Commodore said something?" A rating stood at rigid attention.

"Nothing. Find something to do. Go away." The man was dissmissed with a wave.

Köhler's orders were to forge ahead of the bulk of Conquest Incorporated's resource-gathering 'fleet', eliminating "Market Adversaries" (ie, pirates and corporate vessels that couldn't defend themselves, which were one and the same to Fleet Command) and investigating ore concentrations. Köhler had had no opportunity to engage in either of those activities, and had become tired to losing to the shipboard AI in both chess and Old Maid.

"Commodore, a communication from the Unscrupulous." Captain Hoynes, Köhler's immediate subordinate, approached and saluted. "Captain Tsai has has completed a scan of the inner system."

The Commodore whirled around. "I swear to Gott, John, I will kill you with my bare hands if you tell me that we've found another dustcloud and a worthless asteroid!"

While the comment was surely meant in jest, the Captain decided to omit that portion of the report. "Among, um, other things, sir, there apears to be a convoy of ships in-system."

The German raised his eyebrows. "Can we take them?" The last section of his orders was to capture "Targets of Opportunity." Fleet Command loved to steal everything that wasn't bolted down.

"Captain Tsai thinks not, sir. Both the Unscrupulous and the Unprincipled are superior in tonnage to one of the vessels - some sort of carrier we believe - but significantly smaller than the others." He paused. "Orders, Commodore?"

"Well, let us greet them. Surely it can't be more boring than this. Who knows? Maybe we will be able to test the passive scanning equipment and tell Fleet Command that it works, so they can take it away from us. Technological espionage is more challenging when it is conducted through a porthole and involves a good pair of binoculars." He turned back to the plot, and Hoynes moved to a bank of communication equipment.

"This is the Scrupulous. Conquest Inc. greets you in the name of Profit...."

OOC: If you would forgive a stupid question, how do you get the picture to actually show in the post? Thanks a bunch.

OOC:

Also, you have two HTTP:// in that URL.

Note: The Incognita would be seen as an anomoly, not as a ship, on most scanners.

IC:

Xexes opened his eyes at the beeping of the comm. "Speakers." He said, before the crewman had even turned all the way to inform him.

The message filled the large, dim bridge and made him sit up. "Conquest? Either they have some fairly ambitious goals or their stupid pirates. Open a visual channel, if you can."

A moment later, The large man's face was sent to the signalling ship. "This is Fleet Captain Xerxes on the CSS Frigate Eater, we greet you in the name of Task Force Renegade."

sudenly, out of hyperspace erupted hundreds of of the fast agile fighters called W3. they then stopped, waiting for orders. Survo had joined.

OOC: No.

Hell No. I knew I should have put a 100 post minimum on this thread..

EDIT: No offense, Conquest. You're okay.

Tag for joining later.

The Nerevar's Glory continued to cruise off to the side of the convoy. The captain had convinced the convoy leader that they were indeed peaceful explorers, and a conference was being held between the captain and science officers of both sides.

The Bajoni commander kept his transmitter ready. He didn't necessarily trust the convoy either. Another Bajoni warcruiser was on call in another system only a minute or so away through Slipstream. For now, neither side had shown agression, and so they continued to talk.

---

Bajoni warcruisers are roughly 1 Km in length, and are armed with Grasers, Grav Bombs, and drone fighters.

OOC:
Yes, I know, I steal from Andromeda, but I like the tech.

Note: The Incognita would be seen as an anomoly, not as a ship, on most scanners.

OOC: If that was directed to me, I meant that, in addition two your two visible ships, my ships had detected the Evansworth's and the Frigate Eater, in addition to the Nerevar's Glory, which, at 1 km, I'm pretty sure even my technologically stunted frigates could see.

IC:

The foreign naval officer blinked into existance, filling the "Principled's" communication screen. Commodore Köhler stood in front of the audiovisual pickup smiling beatifically, like the marketing reps had taught him too. The smile was practised, and not obviously forced.

"I am Commodore Gerhard Köhler of Rheinmetall, a Conquest Inc client corporation, currently serving in the Conquest Incorporated Amalglamated Security Forces. My command is currently performing area recon and seizing the assets of undesirables." He paused. "I greet you as a fellow officer."

He let the pleasantry hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "We were wondering whether you had detected any major resource pockets in this vicinity, either unclaimed or defended by individuals no one would miss." Köhler cocked his head slightly. "We would also be interested in any trade ooportunities you have in mind."

The Commodore knew enough not to look at the sensor rating who was gently putting the passive sensor rig through its paces. Size, energy output, etc, etc was being recorded on all the vessels in range. Soon they could make educated guesses about armament. All perfectly normal and friendly, of course.

OOC: Not sure I get your meaning. I only have three ships in this RP. The Heavy Battlecruiser(Frigate Eater), Stealth Cruiser(Terran Incognita) and Escort Carrier(Evansworth). Only the Battlecruiser gets close to the 1km mark. If you mean detecting both mine and Bajon's, then it makes since, I guess...

IC: Xerxes's half smile dropped and he looked off screen for a few second, then back. "You should be careful how you phrase your sentences, Commodore... You're words could make you sound like... a privateer." The half smile was back, but seemed more menacing.

Soon it was seen why. Four long and narrow fighters launched from the Evansworth, beggining to twist and circle about the two ships, in a complex holding pattern.

The anomaly that was the Incognita, however, dropped back from the two and began to shift around as the fighters buzzed about. Tricky little bastards on that ship.

Out of hyperspace, the RGSV Strange Brew, a Slowhand class explorer cruiser, appears relatively close to the convoy.

Loaded with the newest space charts and a good deal of trade goods, especially ore, the Strange Brew is eager to offload and go back for more.

About a kilometer in diameter, it follows the regular saucer design of LRR large ships. It is painted in a standard space grey, with the LRR flag (http://www.hank-dust.com/img/galerie/cover-artwork/stoned/hendrix-axis.jpg) painted on what appears to be the bow, being opposite the primary ion drive nozzles. The ship is well-armed, but fighting is obviously not its primary purpose.

"Attention, convoy. This is the RGSV Strange Brew. We are wondering if you would be willing to take on some of our cargo, over."

OOC: Not sure I get your meaning. I only have three ships in this RP. The Heavy Battlecruiser(Frigate Eater), Stealth Cruiser(Terran Incognita) and Escort Carrier(Evansworth). Only the Battlecruiser gets close to the 1km mark. If you mean detecting both mine and Bajon's, then it makes since, I guess...

OOC: Yes, I mean Bajon's Nerevar's Glory, which is cruis[ing] off to the side of the convoy. Sorry if I was ambiguous.

IC: Köhler's smile disappeared instantly. "Conquest Incorporated regrets your backward views on Market Expansion. A privateer is an enemy to Conquest Inc. The seizure of a privateer's vessel or equipment is for the greater good of the market."

"Likewise is the purging of corporate interests that cannot defend themselves." The Commodore shrugged. "It keeps the market fresh and lithe."

"During our conversation we have recieved communication from a vessel that wishes to trade. We hope to do business with you in the future, and hasten to inform you" his expression hardened further "that it is exceptionally difficult for fighters to dodge rail guns."

The feed went black, then was replaced by a represenation of the Conquest logo.

"Captain, inform the Unscrupulous of the new ship, the saucer. And call the rest of the squadron up. The newcomer is rather large, and we may be able to trade for enough ore to complete our objectives. We'll need everyone to carry it. They've pretty much finished with the system they're in, anyway, right?"

Hoynes nodded. "They've sucked it dry. Should I hail the saucer?"

"Do."

Xerxes hmmphed. "Well then.I was half hoping the guy would goad me. Oh well." He leaned back. "Lunatic Retard Robots... bah. last time we dealt with them they lived up to their name. Burn the engines, helm. Get us a little speed towards that other group of ships."

In space, the fighters suddenly had to chase the two ships they were flying about, as they accelerated. They fell into line with them and began the swooping patterns again, anomoly still trailing them. They shot away from the Conquest and the LRR ships, heading faster towards the Bajoni and the NPC convoy.

A science crewman on the Evansworth looked at the readings from the Incognita and sighed. Space is so damn annoying. For every foot of nothing, there seems to be thirty somethings floating out there and one has attached itself to us. At least it's better than chasing comets. This at least follows us.

Xerxes hmmphed. "Well then.I was half hoping the guy would goad me. Oh well." He leaned back. "Lunatic Retard Robots... bah. last time we dealt with them they lived up to their name. Burn the engines, helm. Get us a little speed towards that other group of ships."
[/i]


Ahem...when was that, pray tell? Was it when I refused to nuke Auman back, because I didn't want to be an idiot like him, or another one of my failed attempts at bringing peace to the twisted system of interstellar politics these days?

I mean honestly! Is trading and exploring a bad thing? Should I be subjugating a bazillion star systems instead?

It really hurts when you say those kind of things, Crimmond.

And by the way, the ship was originally near the convoy, not near the Conquest Inc. ship, considering that their main concern is trade, not...er...whatever that guy is up to.

I mean, I'll be the first to admit I have made a few mistakes. If curiosity kills the cat, I think I've gone through a few pets already, but its never been bad-intentioned. We've RP'd together before, and I think I've pulled off some good ones. Some bad ones yes, but some good ones too.

IC:

"Hmmm...no response. There does appear to be a hail from a ship about <insert distance here> kilometers a' port, no ship class we're familiar with."
"Yeah, must be one of those new ones from out on the Norma arm. I've been hearing hat there's some new frigates being built out there. What's this thing?"
"Dunno...sensors are reading it a tad fuzzy...let's adjust a little bit..."

The Strange Brew continues to float in space, waiting for the convoy, or anyone for that matter, to respond, while checking out the unfamiliar ship. Data would doubtless be sent via the sub-etha network to any one of the archives sites, mostly hidden on remote, icy worlds orbiting far from their sun, either that or aboard a glorious habitat-station shining like a star itself...eh...back to the point.

With a load of ore and with the newest stellar maps, they would hopefully be able to negotiate for the convoy to take their stores on, and perhaps hear news from remote parts.

http://img93.exs.cx/img93/2063/shota8.jpg

OOC: Task Force Pillage. The ships are Sledge-class frigates. They are slightly larger, with commsumately more armor and firepower, than the ships I've been using. Still smaller than everything except Crimmond's escort carrier, though.

Köhler's eyes gleamed as the remainder of his command dropped out of hyper. The arrical of Task Force Pillage increased the number of his hulls in the theatre by 150%, and his firepower by significantly more. Not like he was going to blow anything apart, but it meant that he had enough cargo space to fulfill his orders early. Early completion of his mission meant that Fleet Command's Project could be finished early, which mean huge cash bonuses for Köhler and his crew. Which meant they redoubled their efforts to close with the saucer. Yes, Conquest new how to motivate its employees.

"We still haven't recieved a reply, sir." The Conquest officer looked down into the command pit at the rating who had spoken up and now looked like he wanted his officer to say something.

"Well, hail them again. Be nice, be formal, be respectful and tell them we want to buy as much ore as we can carry. How much is that, anyway?"

The rating looked daunted by the possibility of a prodigious amount of math in his future. "Uh..."

"Yeah, well, find out and include it in the hail." Köhler turned back to the tactical plot and relished the neat little formation his ships maintained.

It really hurts when you say those kind of things, Crimmond.
OOC: Note that it is one of my character's IC opinions of your nation. My fleet, esspecially the Renegades, are SOBs and don't like anyone. Just that pirates are scum compared to everyone else. Please do not confuse IC and OOC in the future.

IC: The two visiable ships, teh anomoly and the fighters continue on after the burn, coasting towards the NPC convoy.

Ors busies himself with a challenge to Xerxes. "One month's pay, if you beat me at Cribbage."

Xerxes chuckled on the screen. "You're on Ors. I'll enjoy it next time I'm in port..."

The next transmissions between the ships was the game itself, both men playing from computer padds. Both crews dismissed it as a perk of command. They do the work, they play cards and get credit for the crew's work.

OOC: Tag for possible entrance.

OOC: Bump, out of enjoyment of this thread. All of these Homeworld ships are making me wish I had a future-tech nation.

"Ah, we have it. All adjusted. Looks definately like a Kuudark-pattern frigate."
"So...I believe that they're hailing us."
"Hello? This is the RGSV Strange Brew, over?"

"Sir, we have two additional ships on scope, and a large energy reading back there as well. It looks like a large group of ships."

"Keep backup on call. Let them know how to navigate to this system. I don't like the looks of this."

"Sir, a familiar signal is coming in as well... It's and LRR saucer; ahead of the potential fleet."

"Hail them."

<LRR Saucer, This is Bajoni Cruiser Nerevar's Glory. Do you read?>

"We are detecting a large, fleet-like energy reading closing on you. Do you require any assistance?"

"Hail from a Bajoni vessel."
"Yep. Nerevar's Glory, this is the RGSV Strange Brew. We read you...how's those frigates doing?"
"Not much. I don't trust them, though," says the AI.
"Ok. As of now, we're ok. I we're bigger than them, so if they do try anything it shouldn't be trouble. Hopefully. But we would like to move in closer to your ship. Would that be alright?"

Lt. Commander Kin Hardee looked out the viewport of her Stinger-II fighter. Above was the massive bulk of the Frigate Eater, to port was Commander Cingra, her CO and the only alien pilot with the Evansworth and to starboard was the carrier that was home.

Looping around to come up beside Cingra, she looked over. "Alpha-Three to Alpha Leader." A second for the translator to kick in. "Yes, Hardee?" "Why the hell are we out here anyway?" "CAP, of course. I would think you'd know that." "I mean why is the Evansworth out here? Only the big carriers and supply ships like The Blimp come out this far." "You're a soldier, Hardee. Remember that. Follow your orders and continue CAP." With that, the alien twisted it's fighter away and looped over to the top of the Heavy Battlecruiser.

------------

The two visable ships, the fighters and the cloaked shadow continued on their way toward the Bajoni and the NPCs, until they were quite visable on regular sensors.

Xerxes sighed. "I hate dealing with militaries. Open a channel. This is Fleet Commander Xerxes of the CSS Frigate Eater. State your business, if you would be so kind."

Köhler nodded in satisfaction as the overhead speakers clicked on. A communications rating nodded, and he spoke.

"Conquest Incorporated greets you in the name of Profit, Strange Brew. I am Commodore Gerhard Köhler of Rheinmetall, a Conquest Inc client corporation, currently serving in the Conquest Incorporated Amalglamated Security Forces. It is our wish to negotiate the purchase of as much ore as we can afford."

"Please do not feel threatened by my battlegroup. These ships are simply here to haul more of your goods."

All of these Homeworld ships are making me wish I had a future-tech nation.

Don't they JUST? Now, there was a game.

Köhler nodded in satisfaction as the overhead speakers clicked on. A communications rating nodded, and he spoke.

"Conquest Incorporated greets you in the name of Profit, Strange Brew. I am Commodore Gerhard Köhler of Rheinmetall, a Conquest Inc client corporation, currently serving in the Conquest Incorporated Amalglamated Security Forces. It is our wish to negotiate the purchase of as much ore as we can afford."

"Please do not feel threatened by my battlegroup. These ships are simply here to haul more of your goods."

"We are happy for your offer, but currently we have what might become a deal set up. Considering we have never met you before, we will need to run some checks on your record with regards to respectable business practices and worker conditions before we trade with you. After all, we originally came to sell to this convoy."

OCC: Crimmond, was that statement from Xerxes directed towards the Strange Brew?

OOC: It was an open message to all the ships in and around the NPC convoy.

Tyrannical
Alien
Guard

The two visable ships, the fighters and the cloaked shadow continued on their way toward the Bajoni and the NPCs, until they were quite visable on regular sensors.

Xerxes sighed. "I hate dealing with militaries. Open a channel. This is Fleet Commander Xerxes of the CSS Frigate Eater. State your business, if you would be so kind."

"Sir, we are being contacted by the 2 other vessels. they appear to have a Crimmond signature."

"They are likely of the same nature as the fleet at Mars a while back. Open a channel."

<Channel Open>
"Commander, we are surveying this system as part of our current exploration mission. If I could inquire, what are your ships doing so far from Sol? We've found out this can be a harsh region of space."

A response was also sent to the LRR Saucer:
"We will inform the convoy of your arrival. They are a bit on edge already, so I suggest you keep your distance and talk to their commander first. They may not like the fact of two large, unknown vessels cruising with them."

Xerxes blinked, the crew looking among each other, confused as well. "Bajoni commander... I have never been to the Sol system in my life. I was raised in the Mizar system and serve Task Force Renegade."

"Geesh. A lot of activity in this area. We come to trade with a convoy and there's a bazillion things out there too."
"Roger that, Nerevar's Glory. We will contact their commander...we were under the impression that you were actually at their head."
"We're recieving another transmission from a Crimmond vessel. Attention CSS Frigate Eater, this is the RGSV Strange Brew. We are on a trading mission from the Perseus Arm, over."

And it was all that activity that attracted even more attention.

Far out at the extreme reach of sensors, a tiny blip faded in...and back out. Whatever it was it was small, fast, and moving tangent to the other ships, keeping far away.

Xerxes wasn't happy with the impromtu trade festivel starting and sighs, "Allright, helm. Prepare for another burn. We're still about what, four hours away at present speed?" A nod. "Good."

-----------

A console beeped, a hand moving to check the new reading. "Colonel... come see this." A man in a Marine uniform stepped over as the operator replayed the readings. The sensors on the 'cloaked' ship were the best that Crimmond had to offer, but they showed little more than the object was indeed there and wasn't a sensor ghost. "Good catch. Watch for it again, tell me immediatly if it reappears."

Captain Hoynes found something absorbing to do as the LRR trade refusal came over the audio system. 'No' meant no resources ahead of time, no early project completion, and no bonus for the Commodore. The officer in question ground his teeth together and replied despite the noticeable handicap of having his jaw clenched shut.

"Thank you. Do call if you finish up and have stores left over." Köhler motioned violently to cut the communication and used a word his mother would have never approved of.

Ripping his sidearm from its holster, he waived it around threateningly. "Damn it! Damndamndamn it! Find something to blow up, catch or kill! Do it now!" Without a further word, he retreated to his cabin to sulk.

The Captain stepped out from behind the holotank he had been studying/hiding behind, and looked at the tactical plot. While his boss's order had surely been motivated by frustration, it was worth a look. Profit for Conquest Incorporated was Profit for it's employees, after all. All he found were discouragingly large ships floating aimlessly about. He scowled and flopped into the recently vacated command chair. "You heard the man. Find something to do."

BUMP IT!

Bump it good!

OCC: Eh...who's in charge of that trade convoy?

OOC: I'm sorry? Which one? Mine? What do you mean 'In charge of?'

I was under the impression that there was a convoy of freighters around which Bajon's ship was hanging.

OOC: 'Fraid not. I'm all ya got. :D

Actually, there is a convoy of freighters around which my ship is hanging.

LRR,
It's a non-player. Just something for me to do until something interesting happens.

OOC: It's an NPC fleet I mentioned and Bajon actually chose to interact with. And please, no more strings of OOC. I'm sure you can all find something to post.

OOC: I had this terrific post. It took me a while. I really liked it. And then the forums crushed like a paper tower supporting the Space Shuttle.

Basically, I made up a Tiburonese ally, Tetradia, that I'll be playing as. They're coming from a two-year tour of duty including a training exercise from the equally made-up Aditsec Republic. They're tired, and anxious to get back home. The last thing they need is what they get... essentially a traffic jam of military ships, including some countries Tetradia's friendly with... and some that they don't want hanging around their ships. They're sending a message to all ships in the vicinity that they do not intend to start a hostile situation.

After securing the transfer of most of the Strange Brew's stores onto the freighters, headed no doubt for somewhere profitable, and after recieving a good deal of cash in return, which would probably go towards building more freighters, the Strange Brew warms up its hyperspace drives.

"Attention all vessels, we have very new galactic charts and information on various ports of call that you might be interested in, gathered from our recent travels and interactions with other trading vessels. We also have some of the newest discoveries plotted, in the field of astroarchaeology and geology especially."

Strange Brew:
"Before you leave, we would be interested in any archeaological interests you may have found, or have located. We are also very interested to for charts locating Gas giants with large quantities of hydrogen. We're willing to trade while we are out here, as a transmission back home would be a bit inconvenient."
-Nerevar's Glory

"Ok, Nerevar's Glory. Should a person-to-person metting do, or would an electronic data transfer be more convenient?"

The bridge of the Strange Brew is generally subdued. Its actually not so much a bridge in the traditional sense as it is the communications room captain's station, with sensors posts distributed elsewhere and controlled by the AI.

"Your hyperdrives are warming. If you are ready to leave, an electronic transfer is acceptable. A face-to-face meeting is equally acceptable, though we are thinking about continuing to another system soon. There has been quite a buildup of ships sense we arrived."

"Electronic it is, then. You will notice on the charts we are transferring that there are several areas marked with red triangles. These are areas which have not been explored in depth and put out large amounts of interference with traditional sensors. While we don't think anything worth seeing is there, except perhaps dead solar systems with unusually high amounts of radiation, it might be worth a look, and we would come with you if you chose to go there."

The Strange Brew shoots over the maps via its very large communications antenna in short order.

"We are at 85% power on the hyperdrives."
"Hold off shunting power for a moment."
"Aye."

Aboard the TSBS Square Root of Negative One, the crew deliberated on whether to accept the Strange Brew's offer. It was an interesting proposal, and would certainly go a long way to improving Tetradian space force power, but money was tight...

Captain James Haretsi: "Attention, Strange Brew. We accept your offer, and would like to buy a copy of your map, preferrably not read-only, so that we could be able to update our space forces and civilian space ships."

"Attention, Square Root Of Negative One...er...all navigational aids are public property. They don't cost anything. We can send you our most updated charts now."

Apparently, the RGSF's reputation as good at cartography and exploration is holding up.

bump

Capt. Haretsi: "Really? All right! Um... yes... please do so..."