NationStates Jolt Archive

Kchsssss

The Airlock released itself. Station Manager Jinrox Kiltan liked that sound half the time, always half the time. One half of the time, his investors where coming along to see how his project. They came, poked around the station, questioning him over this, querying him over that. Usually it was the same questions, just phrased differently. “What are those Gas Containers for?” and “Remind us why we need more then Oxygen Breathing Rooms?” It was these questions that had decided his love for the other half of those sounds, because when it went off it meant that they would be gone for another quarter.

This time thought he wasn’t irritated, nor was he relieved. He was terrified. The man who was coming through that door could break him. The next time he heard the sound of the Airlock cracking open, he could be leaving the station himself. Not that the station would be dismantled, he wouldn’t be able to reap the benefits. He was Station Master, but only as long as Merchant Marshal Riensteck wanted him to be. The Second the Merchant Marshal wanted him gone.

He was.

The second door opened far too quickly, and before him stood the man who owned Inisar Fleet Systems. Very short man, but he held a presence of him. His face was very strong, and his hair, while greying, was black held back in a braid. This station would become the glory of his compony, the home of his fleet away from home. It would also become, he was told, a Syndicate Station. He considered that, this man didn’t just come by his own authority, the League was studying this station through his eyes. If he failed here, he could kiss being a Station Manager goodbye.

“Merchant Marshal,” Jinrox said bowing slightly before holding out his hand. The man before him took it in a grip like Iron, and Jinrox had to stifle a whimper. “I hope your trip was enjoyable.”

“Indeed Station Master,” said Riensteck considering the station like a hawk. Despite this, his voice was not cruel, in fact it was quite kind. “I am sure you managed to organize what I requested then?”

“Some of it Marshal,” he said, switching to the shorter version of rank, permission granted when he had been referred to by title, rather then name. “I am afraid we where unable to achieve the blood of the first born of the Cycle, sadly the first born is quite attached to it, and the parents where most insistent that he keep it.”

The Marshal looked at him for a moment, and then laughed, it was a hardy laugh, good-natured. “Oh very good Kiltan, very good indeed.” He paused, “Who told you of my love of the most strange taste? Not my faithful secretary surely?”

“No Marshal,” Jinrox said smiling now, his stomach butterflies where gone now, this man was not like the investors, he was quite sane, and quite friendly. “I assure you, your secretary was not to blame, but rather, I spoke with the Manager of Your home estate before you arrived.”

“Then he shall be punished when I return.” He said, winking. “Please Kiltan, call me Riensteck.”

Suddenly there were the butterflies again, although of different sort now. “Truly Sir?”

“Of Corse,” Riensteck said, looking around. “I could hardly have the Station Manager of our greatest Project be referring to me as Marshal. It is hardly seemly. Quick glace and I say your other investors are far too skittish around what there’re willing to do. This station would be perfect for the Syndicate’s forward base into this local volume.”

“That Riensteck,” Jinrox said smugly. “It’s why I designed it like I did. The Accommodation areas are self-contained units, each one can be flooded with any atmosphere and increased to any pressure. We can recreate the situation of the core of a Gas Giant in one of those things.”

“I was told,” came the reply as he stepped onto the transport. “Although I was not aware it was working.”

“Oh it’s working,” the Station Manager said joyfully. “Scenic Route to Management Level.” He said to the computer, which chirped in reply before the small shuttle like object sped onwards towards the Management department. The pod shot past the windows showing the view from the station, the brilliant storm scape of the gas giant below, with several moons now in view, their surfaces illuminated by the Systems Star.

“Breathtaking,” said Riensteck, looking over it. “Very nice position.”

“Thank you,” Jinrox said, pride swelling up. “The Orbit is such that we get a full revolution ever 3 days. You think this looks good, you should see just before sun down, that is a sight to see.”

“So how long till you can make it open?” Riensteck said, considering him.

“We can do it now,” he said, nodding. “But we won’t, the station isn’t a show of the riches of the Syndicate, it’s just a station, grey, windows, apartments and stores, parks and movies, but no decoration. I have a shipment arriving by tonight, and the decoration should be complete within a day.” He smiled.

“I will wait a while before officially opening though,” Riensteck said. “The station will be open, but I want the ceremony to be about a week afterwards, gives people time to get here before the ceremony. When can you be ready?”

“Totally and utterly within 3 days.” Jinrox said. “If I send out a message now, and let people know its will be ready, they can start arriving in time for a weeks R&R, before the ceremony, then their ships can toddle on off and leave behind who they will.”

“You’re a shrewd man Kiltan.” Riensteck said. “I agree, send out the message, by the time they get here, it will be ready.”

=-=-=

There is only one problem with sending out invitations. You need to know where you’re sending them. Space is big, and you need a lot of energy to send out messaged to everyone on a long-range broad beam. It is thus lucky that the League knew the right channels. With one quick message, knowledge of the Trade Station Open Home was going to be all over the place.

#GALACTIC WIDE CHANNEL TRANSMISSION#
#TYPE = BROADCAST CHANNELS#
#ORIGIN = Commerce Syndicate Station OPEN HOME#
#DESTINATION = You#
#SUBJECT = Our Opening for Business#
#BODY = Hello Dear men, women, Hermaphrodites and Asexual’s.

The Trade Station OPEN HOME is open for visitors and business. By the time you get this transmission, we will be ready to accommodate you. For one week, we will be holding opening celebrations, finished, finally, with the official opening ceremony of the station, headed by Merchant Marshal Intergar Riensteck, head of Inisar Fleet Systems.

If you are non-oxy-breathers, then we have still got areas to accommodate you. While we cannot flood the main sections with gas of your choice, rooms can be given a desirable atmosphere, pressure and gravity level. A list [Data-burst] of our abilities to supply has been compiled. If your desired conditions are not on that list, or if there is a gas in your atmosphere we cannot obtain, do not hesitate to bring some with you.

Signed,
Station Master Jinrox Kiltan
“Lost in Space and want some fun? Come to Trade Station OPEN HOME, we got what you need!”
#TRANSMISSION ENDS#
#BROADCAST STREAM CUT#
#MESSAGE SAVED#


[ooc: That’s right, Naggeroth is back. If you couldn’t tell, just come to the station, hang around, it will have effective flow time, essentially, this will be a Character RP more then negotiations. I decided Intros are too…national, and so this will be mine, come along and show your characters outside the national scheme of things. Of corse, for those who only like National level, there is that. My intention is to have the station become a rather important location, being able to hold 39 Battle Cruisers, there will be plenty of political games to play. No invasion though, part of the entry clause to the system, if the station falls under attack all ships are obligated to assist.

Love Anisarian, the Singing Lady]

To: Trading Station Open Home
From: Intergalactic Trade Hub
Re: Branch Office


Dear Sirs,

We have just reviewed your extensive data on Open Home and the Board has decided to inquire about establishing a branch office aboard the station in addition to the GateStation located just outside your system.

We feel it would help both our presence in your station as well as your importance in the ITH network of destinations.

If you approve of this suggestion, the ITH will fund the costs of any remodeling needed and we will supply our own personal for the initial startup.

If it would be permissible, we would also like to inquire as to the status of investing in the prosperity of Open Home. We feel an investment in your endeavor would be prosperous to both our organizations. You deal with the merchant trade and we will provide the transportation to and away from you.

If you foresee any problems, please contact me immediately.

Du’Blum
ITH Investments

Cruising along at the moderate speed of hetch five, an enormous biomechanical vessel punched past the outer limits of the star system and slowed to sublight speeds as it reached the large gas giant. With a curvaceous design culminating in three swept-back prongs at the rear, it belied its dull brown colour as it gleamed in the bright sunlight that shone from the nearby star. Although it was unarmed and largely unprotected, it was capable of high speeds, able to 'starburst' from one point in the galaxy to another almost instantly, and most importantly of all could carry absolutely vast amounts of cargo - or, if need be, troops and equipment - within its cavernous hull. Even with these advantages, with no weapons to speak of it was no threat to anyone unless it felt like a kamikaze run. As the Leviathan approached the large space station, it slowed to a near halt (relatively speaking).

A generic docking request was sent out by the Leviathan to the station by the ship's Pilot. The ship identified itself as Rena, and claimed to be carrying 'highly important delegates'. It didn't specify where these delegates were from, however, nor why they were 'highly important', nor for that matter what they wanted. Presumably they had responded to the powerful transmission that had been sent out across the cosmos recently. The ship remained still in relation to the station once it had sent its message, awaiting a confirmation and docking permission.

((How about two characters?))

Of all the many creatures to exist in the ever convoluted universe, Dragon would probably say it was perhaps one of the oddest. It did not remember its origins, and what mission it possessed may or may not have been lost to the endless eternity of the void. It wafted mysteriously through abyssal vacuum, a colossal sphere of scaled flesh, a kilometre in diameter, its final destination a vast puzzle.

In its travels, it had encountered many strange and wondrous beings, that had wanted detailed answers, and even some who had wished it a rather brief incandescent end. It had dealt with all in its own manner. It answered questions with truth - but the truth was so very subjective, and it never revealed its ulterior motives. It survived by being as subtle and enigmatic as it was gigantic. Neither benefactor or antagonist, yet both, Dragon sailed the void, watching nations rise and fall.

And it now felt an explicable urge to visit this "Open Home". Inwardly it tittered to itself, planning delphic plans, as it began the six day journey.

~~~

Bryce was a journeyman, having lived as a traveller amongst the stars, earning his passage aboard all manner of craft, having left his home system to its hellish self-destruction. Sparkind. It had been almost two decades. He wondered if it still existed?

A slight man, standing under six feet, wiry, and pale, Bryce projected a weakling status most attractive to bullies of any size and shape. He was far from defenseless, however, and that revelation he left for others to (unfortunately for them) discover. Blue eyes striated with cyan luminescence (A cosmetic addition, which could be deactivated at will) and mouse brown hair, he was in no way outlandishly handsome, just... Striking, under the right light. A spidersilk shirt as white as a fission flare, covered haphazardly by a thick tankgrown stressed leather coat, with dark photocells draped on his shoulders and upper back powered the myriad electronics within, such as the chronometer, biofeedback display, environment sensors, and heating coils. The coat's deep pockets and warmth were all he really required, but the coat had been a gift, and he was loathe to refuse.

Bryce had always attracted to new and wondrous sights, like a terrestrial moth to an open flame (although, hopefully, without the rather terminal side effects), and the station of "Open Home" seemed like a wonderful point to begin yet another adventure and journey.

Envoy Sh-khat was excited by his assignment, establishing contact with the other sentient species in the region had always been a subject of great debate for the Poiterrans. Two week ago the elders had finally been announced small scale contacts too be made through out the galaxy, So as to slowly introduce themselves to the rest of the galaxy, and to gauge the reactions of the other cultures.

The small Dart wisped through space toward this friendly signal he was assigned to. It was about the same size as a medium shuttlecraft but gave of no real signatures of mass or propulsion probably because it didn’t have any not in the normal sense, but it moved at very high super luminal velocities. The dart slowed near the station where Sh-khat gathered his thoughts to send the docking request.

“Greetings I am Sh-Khat of the Poiterran Collective, I wish for clearance to dock and for long term accommodations for myself.”

“There” he thought to himself I’ll keep it simple to start with.

Dragon disengaged its ftl drive system, and peered through thousands of sapphire eyes, noting the position of planets and vessels through a mixture of senses, feeling the strange rise and fall of alien communications over many wavelengths, indecipherable, the slowly shifting tide of an infinite ocean of bandwidth. Much of that current was generated from its ultimate destination; the trade outpost Open Home.

From this distance, it had difficulty making out detail though standard visual senses. But it was a shining beacon over the invisible ends of the spectrum. The Gas Giant the huge station orbited was a pleaseant sea blue, with darker stripes as large as the moons glittering in the starlight.
Dragon luxuriated in the furious radiation from the star, having dwelt in the blackness between stars for too long. Yet always someone or something prompted his departure.

Dragon sailed effortlessly down the star's gravity well, and through coincidence, the gravity well of the Gas Giant. Soon, it would be within visual range. It would not announce itself until then. The eons of existence had taught it the value of a good entrance.

Gentle breezes twisted and played with his thick brown hair. A small smile graced his face while looking from the little girl sitting next to him back to the worm wiggling around in the palm of his hand covered in four runes. With practiced efficiency, Sebastian slid the hook in and down through the worm's "spine". The young girl wrinkled up her nose in disgust and managing to coax out a small chuckle from the Elder. Released from his grasp, the worm swung outward as the hook was attached to a string which was attached to a rod. The reed rod was made from wambo which was a distant cousin of the plant bamboo from Earth. A little makeshift bobber bobbed up and down on the ripples of the water. Sebastian handed the rod over to the little brown hair, brown eyed girl. "Now you have to pay close attention, Katlyn. When the cork goes all the way under the water, that means the fish has taken the bait and you have to pull up."

She bobbed her head in understanding and watched the small cork with steele eyes and iron determination.

Time slowly inched by.

Leaves rustled with every breeze and a few fell from their dominant perch in the limbs above. Birds sing gaily while flying overhead.

More time passed with nothing new.

Katlyn looked up to Sebastian somewhat disappointed. "Elder, nothing is happening. When will the fish bite?"

His smile was now wider and his laugh was gentle. "That is the other key to fishing. You must be patient dear child. The fish will come in their own good time. All we must do is wait and watch while life takes care of the rest." He draped and arm around her shoulder, enjoying the time spent with the child during this beautiful day under the shade of a massive oak tree. Sebastian and his wife had yet to conceive a child of their own so he took joy in spending time with many of the children that either belonged to parents of servants or guards. This one, human, had become a favorite of sorts. Her shy behavior was adorable to him but she was quick, showing intelligence. He had quickly surmised that her future looked bright and if he were to have a daughter, he hoped she would be like Katlyn. Nothing could ruin this moment for him.

The sound of an ionized engine rumbling over grass and gravel quickly made him change his last assumption. It was the telltale sound of a custome hover-cycle that had been built by hand by the War Mistress. Her bike came to a hault now running silently as the front wheel touched the ground and the back one extracting and pushing prairie grass aside. A black high heel pushed the kick stand out, easing the bike to its side. Her long white hair danced in the breeze. She adjusted the short leather skirt and unfastened the clasp under her breasts that kept her twin scimitars secured. The dark elf was without a doubt attractive by all standards and she knew it to by her apparel. Black high heels, black leather skirt, and what Sebastian simply considered a black cloth that tied around the back of her neck and coming down to cover her breasts and securing in a small knot in the middle of her back. Beautiful. Just like a black widow. Sebastian couldn't prove it, but he was willing to bet she ate her mates after finishing with them. "Shizra, shouldn't you be at the Warriors Institute right now? Exams are today and you are the War Mistress afterall."

Shizra stopped a few feet short of Sebastian and the little girl, with her hands on her hips. "Alurial's pet is handling the examination. The male's uses are few but he is a good judge so I am sure the scores will come out fair with a good eye. Besides, I thought you might want to hear about the bit of news we've picked up on the communication network."

Katlyn looked over her shoulder to apprais the dark elf. Beautiful and terrifying was the impression she got from the dark elf. She simply went back to watching her bobber. Sebastian sighed and leaned back in the nice cool grass. Fall was fast approaching. He wondered how long it would be before the leaves started turning and planning for the fall solistce would begin. "I am out here enjoying the beautiful weather with a wonderful young girl. What would I care about?"

"We received a message advertising a space station that would be designated for trade on an interstellar scale."

"Oh, that."

Shizra nodded her head and crossed her arms under her chest. Sometimes she feared for the safety of Mythrandir when dealing with this man. "I was unsure whether or not perminant residence would be required to maintain a trading pressence but it is clear that whoever we send should prepare for a long duration. Since Lady Murasaki is still away on her latest assignment, I was wondering who you intend to send if you wish to bring our nation into this trading idea."

He lay there quietly for a moment while his foot bobbed along to some mental tune. "I don't want to send a dwarf less we find ourselves arrayed against the entire universe in war. The official diplomatic staff is fairly small and taxed with Murasaki gone. Perhaps we should look elsewhere. Alurial has a habit of cultivating good, shrewd diplomats. I've noticed they can handle themselves quite well in any situation. I believe we should expand our diplomatic staff. Inform Luthien that she has been promoted to the diplomatic staff."

"But Luthien is one of Alurial's personal attaches. Taking Luthien from Alurial would infuriate her."

Sebastian nodded his head in sync with his foot. "Yes I know but she will understand. Tell Luthien immediatly and inform her that she leaves in one day. That should provide enough time to pack and say goodbye to family and friends."

And this was a great example that reminded Shizra why she was so fond of this man. While she was walking away, Shizra turned her head back before mounting back on her cycle. "I'll get on it right away. Oh and Sebastian. Don't worry, I won't tell Sarah about your little escapades with younger women."

The bikes propulsion system kicked back on and sped Shizra away. Sebastian was left lying on his back grumbling almost outloud. She was a pain sometimes with her teasing. He felt a small tug on his pant leg. Looking over, he saw Katlyn's hand was still holding on to the cloth but she was looking out into the water. Her cork was jerking slightly. A fish had come nibbling. A smile came back to his face erasing pass agitations.
------

To:Trading Station Open Home; Station Master Jinrox Kiltan,
From: Mythrandir Diplomatic Corps.,

We have received word of your Trading Station and would like to inform you that a diplomat will be arriving in two days time to show Mythrandir's interest in becoming a trader on the interstellar scale. It is our hope that we will prove valuable in applying goods and services to other nations during our time.

Sincerely,
Mythrandir Diplomatic Corps.

((Consider this a bump of sorts))

Bryce had been in transit now for nearly two days, from some obscure portal that had struck into exosystemic position. He was aware that many ships from the Titan Cruise Lines could travel much faster, perhaps breaching the exosystemic jump line and arriving at the station within two hours, instead of days. But those ships didn't have the... Grandeur this ship and those of its line had. Although slow, it went beyond luxury. Opulence, perhaps. And the vistas, from the cruise ship's many cathedral like windows... Ahhh. He could get used to travelling like this.

And besides; he was here now...

Below like some vast silvery broach in the velvet firmament was his destination. Open Home. He was unaware of its dimensions, and had asked if they'd be within range by thirteen hundred hours. The officer had given him an incredulous look, then laughed, and said it'd be more like eighteen hundred hours, so far away were they.

That made him hesitate. It was a large station. Certainly not the biggest, but large. And looming larger every minute now. It dwarfed the cruise liner, and now, silhouetted against the azure gas giant's bulk, which, from this angle, appeared to be a flat horizontal plane stretching in every direction, he was very aware of how small he was in comparison.

~~~

Dragon now coasted forwards, using one of many moons as a brake. It could have actively braked using its gravity drive, but that would have announced its presence on sensors even more than now. It was not hiding, but why waste energy, and lose what precious impact its entrance would have?

And suddenly, the gas giant had a new moon, slower now, but nonetheless its orbital arc would match perfectly with the station's. Now traffic increased, radioband to the finer bandwidth of subspace, and the mammoth creature amused itself by approaching further, and not responding to hails. It imagined somewhere aboard there were many commanding offciers shouting orders and tracking its progress with more than simple traffic sensors.

OOC:

If anyone else needs a lift here, you can use the Titan Cruise Liners

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=445281

[ooc: I truely do apologize, but I am going to be failing this thread.

I cannot post anything of quality in this thread. If you wish to continue the RP, please do so, but presently I simply cannot post in this thread, I can't get the character, I can't make it fun. Don't let my leaving kill this RP, keep it going, if I can I shall bring in some characters later. Remember, the station will be richly furnished, and most staff will be cheery and friendly.

Sorry All.

Love Anisarian, the Singing Lady]

((Could you give us a description of the station and such? At least help us get an idea of the place?))

[ooc: Indeed, I had intended to last night but I was kicked off my computer.

The Station looks like a Needle hanging in space with 3 rings around it. The Needle is pointing towards the planet, and is 33,300 meters in length, and most of the station is 5,500 meters in diameter. The first ring starts 3,000 meters from the "Base" (Down is towards the planet, up is away from the planet) and is Reserved for Syndicate Personel. The ring starts 20,000 meters from the edge of the ring and ends 22,000 meters, the interior, where the ships are stored, is vacume.

This is the same for the Middle Ring, where the ring starts 25,000 meters instead. This is for general use, and will have several Superlifters at any one time. This Ring is the one you will dock in, and is three kilometers thick, once you come out the other end your going to be guided to where your ship will stay by the Ring Fields, and then you will be sent a modual to pick you up, the Modual is a shuttle craft which will take you to the main station needle.

The Top Ring is Habitation Ring, and the Habitation Spheres hang inbetween the space between the Needle and Ring Edge. These Spheres can be given individual Atmospheres, and range in size, the largest being 2,000 meters in diameter. The Spheres can have one room each or can make rooms just big enough to fit a person, depending on how space needs to be used. At present most people will get a very large amount of space to themselves.

The Station's Deck design doesn't matter, because all you need to do is go to the nearest Turbo-lift and it can take you anywhere, so long as you state where. The list of entertainment is pretty much what you can think off, just remember no room will be thicker then 5,000 meters, most much less then that.

The ship has its own shops and the Hub Deck which looks like a Busy Train Station, which is the hub of Turbo Lifts. Thats really the description I have for you, hope it helps.

Love Anisarian, the Singing Lady]

(I don't have a problem staying in this and going on as long as I'm not the only one.)

The ITH is still considering placing a branch office in the station as well as investing in the whole project. If that will keep it going then hopefully others will join in too.