??/??/2013 - Temple Valley (5)
Travelling to Temple Valley
They load up the ATV. Nikto suggests they leave now to avoid the curfew. They start off and Nikto says he won’t know the way in the dark, but it’s good to get out of the hell hole that is Tel Bollin. So they head to the ship, sleep there and head off in the morning. On the ship, Nikto tells them how awful the plague is.
So ends their third day in the Ghatsokie system, second day on Endregaad.
In the morning, they take their medical spice and head off after realising they need more oxygen enrichers. It is a long journey and the day is hot. They travel all day but don’t get to the Valley. They hide from the exposed land and sleep.
So ends their fourth day in the Ghatsokie system, third day on Endregaad.
In the morning they all take more medical spice. Nikto is feeling much better now he has had two doses of good medical spice and enough food. They work out he is a whiney office nerd who is not suited for this situation. He complains about everything and sucks up to Grant once he knows he is in charge.
Temple Valley Mining
Around lunch time they arrive at Temple Valley. The valley is long and full of groups of miners looking after their individual or group claims. The valley is thought to be caused by a mineral rich asteroid / comet landing here a long time ago. It will take ages to find Mika in the mile long valley.
They travel down the shanty town / valley, passing various miners and survivors. They travel to a market area, where they park up and have to pay “parking fees” to a nearby stall owner. Grant, Ben and Cyrus talk to a food stall owner, who has them buy ration no 3 (fish) in return for information that Mika Hunt went to a crashed ship north of the valley. Sloane and Nikto have gone off elsewhere, Nikto thinks he’s seen someone he recognises.
Drugged Up Miners
Four crazed, drugged miners attack, demanding their belongings. Recognising their drugged state, Ben says no talking - attack. There is a fight. Ben is surrounded by three of them and badly injured before Grant and Cyrus shoot them down. Sloane returns with Nikto, who had gone off trying to talk to someone he thought he recognised but did not.
Cyrus does a good job healing the badly injured Ben. Sloane takes the driving seat and they head off north. At the end of the valley there is a forest. Cyrus sends up his probe, which finds the site of the crashed ship and they head there.
Mika Hunt
Mika Hunt and some locals are there, packing up a cargo skiff with crates. He is glad to see them and Nikto tells him they are there to rescue him. He is very pleased when he learns they came here on his father’s bidding and effectively takes charge of the party. He wants himself and all his men transported off the planet. He makes much of being loyal to his workers.
The crew explain there is no enough space on the ship for all of them. Mika apologises to his men. The crew point out a large ship could not have run the blockade. Mika is charming and entertaining. He gets them to head back to the Red Queen, pulling the cargo skiff along with his crew sat on it. He refuses to say what is in the crates.
They park up for the night and Mika sets up watches, then asks for full details of what has happened since they reached the Ghatsokie system. When they suggest his brother tried to stop them rescuing him, he does not seem that bothered, suggesting that there are 100s of reasons why his brother hates him, mostly because he used to sleep with his girlfriends.
So ends their 5th day in the Ghatsokie system, 4th day on Endregaad.
Ben discusses with Mika in the morning how to run the blockade. He points out the commander of the Resolute is a by-the-book career military type, who is running a pattern. They decide to get a ships boat that Mika has hidden in Skydove Freight’s shipyard to launch as a diversion. Mika insists all his people get the medical spice today so everyone is feeling better. They head off, travelling all day. Do not reach Tel Bollin.
So ends their 6th day in the Ghatsokie system, 5th day on Endregaad.
Escape Plans
Mika again insists all his people get medical spice that day. They travel most of the day until they get to the Red Queen. Mika has his cargo loaded on board. Mika has Sloane stay at the ship, co-ordinate the satellite up-link once they get it working at Skydove Freight. After they set off, Mika has them stop. One of his employees has vanished since they left the ship. He radios Sloane and tells him if there is a stow-away on board, deal with him.
Mika tells them the missing guy was one of his poorer employees then talks politics, criticising a guy he hates - President Starmann of Dyvers and his United Party. Starmann is using his power to hound out the opposition Democratic Party from their elected positions.
They get to Tel Bollin and reach Skydove Offices. Mika is upset at the state of the place. Has the security shutters raised to seal in the lower level from intruders. Sloane radios in to say “The stow-away has been dealt with.” Mika sets one of his people to work restoring the computer system while Ben services the emergency power generator.
So ends their 7th day in the Ghatsokie system, 6th day on Endregaad.
Skydove Shipyard
Everyone is given medical spice in the morning. Cyrus notes supplies are beginning to run low. Eventually, the computers are brought up and using the satellite dish on the building, they contact the Skydove Satellite and use it to scan the orbiting fighters. Mika sets off for the Skydove shipyard, with most of the workers except the computer guy and Nikto. Ben and Grant stay behind, but he asks for Cyrus to accompany him to the shipyard.
Mika, Cyrus and 6 works head for the shipyard. When they get there he activates his personal ships boat and has his six workers stay behind to pilot it, with Tom in charge. He gives them plenty of spice and some credits.
He then heads back with Cyrus to Skydove offices, where they plan their escape, with or without the ship’s boat launch. Mika says even if some of the workers leave, Tom is a good man and will do as he is asked. He points out that he, Nikto and Greg the computer guy will be coming with them. When they seem sceptical, he points out they brought three passengers in with them.
Leaving Endregaad
They head off for the Red Queen. When they arrive, Mika says they need to get round to the other side of the planet. They run as many maintenance checks as they can before launch. Then Sloane takes off. Mika checks with Tom and he is ready to launch. Once they are in position on the other side of the planet, Tom does an erratic launch.
They watch on the satellite up-link as the fighters change course from their pattern, then Sloane pushes maximum thrust to get them off the planet using the blind spot. He does a good job and they are well away before the military realise the ship’s boat is a distraction. Their first attempt at a jump is so poor Sloane abandons it and starts again. The fighters from the Resolute, which have radioed that they must stop or be destroyed, are closing slowly. Sloane’s second attempt is better, so they jump and make good their escape.
Rewards
When they return to Dyvers with Mika Hunt, Popara Hunt keeps his word and pays Grant Kennedy’s company KIT 1,000,000 Cr. One of his employees also completes the buying out of the bank from its 20% stake in the Red Queen, transferring that 20% ownership to one of Popara Hunt’s subsidiary companies. Grant declares the mission costs as 250,000 Cr (an over estimate that leave KIT with money in the bank), leaving a profit of 750,000 Cr. That money is the profit which is split amongst the crew:
Sloane (10%) - 75,000 CR
Ben (20%) - 150,000 CR
Cyrus (10%) - 75,000 CR
Grant (60%) - 450,000 CR
They are still owed the bounty and salvage on the pirates of the Vengeance ship, but due to the slow bureaucracy of the Sector Authority, it’s likely to be months to years before they see any money from that.