-Midley Plains-Several hours and many miles afield of Windlee Pass, the three ships set down amongst a small Scrapper fleet. ((Scrappers are basically gypsies and roving traders. Friendly enough if you've got money to spend, but try to avoid making them mad, or there's a good chance you'll wind up the enemy of all Scrappers, everywhere.)) The Scrappers welcome the new arrivals (and their cash) and eagerly buy up every bit of the salvaged cargo. Their head trader, a man whose jolity is exceeded only by his rotundness, it thrilled to learn the fate of Lucky Pierre and the hasty retreat of Lobster Magnet, two ships who'd caused their fleet trouble in the past. As a reward he has his crews repair and refit all three of the mercenary ships for free.
((Not that repairs would have been that much in the first place. Ship upkeep, however, is the price to be paid for fielding a ship and covers refueling, rearming and general maintenance. In this case it's being waived, but usually it is [ship's total rating/1000] x [ Ship's average rating /100] (or about $6,075 for a Vagabond) ships that are not fielded still require 10% of fielding cost for upkeep in storage.
-
Some ships are cheaper to run than others, in general the bigger and more 'high tech' it is, the more it'll cost to maintain. A Mephisto-class costs $14,198 to run and $1,419 to store. Note that this ONLY applies to Steam Armada. In regular SP!, maintenence is free (provided you've got someone who can do the work and takes the morale hit for doing it) but you have to pay for things like ammo and fuel individually. Still, it'll likely be cheaper than SA costs.))
As with all Scrappers, their mood is much elevated by the influx of cash, and a small impromptu carnival and talent contest is held that evening. Several scrappers make themselves known as ready and willing to give up the vagrant life for a time to ship out on one of the new arrivals, for the right price. ((Any class or skill level of Crew is hireable here.))
Much later, after the celebration has died down and most everyone is asleep, the captains come together for a meeting.
-Aboard Ariel-"So." Dallas tosses the package onto the bridge chart table. "What are we going to to about this?"
Daryl Whitney pokes at the small leather parcel-case with a finger. It is tied closed securely with a thick ribbon and sealed within a blob of hard wax, stamped with an Amvere seal. Any attempt as tampering with it would not go unnoticed.
"Well.." He leans back, stroking his chin. "The Amvere Royal couriers do have a deal similar to what the man described. If you complete a courier's delivery where he himself could not, it's counted as a boon and a handsome reward is usually offered as recompense. Nobody seems to know how much that is, exactly, but I hear anywhere between one and two hundred grand."
Kale lets out a low whistle. "Thats a lot of beans for a little work. My ship and crew've been on the run and uncomfortably close to starving for this last month... I'll take a few thousand for a simple delivery."
"Yeah, I could deal with that myself." West scoops up the package and scrutinizes it. "Though the curiosity is damn near killing me." He glances to Whitney. "I assume if we open the package it queers the deal, yeah?"
Whitney nods. "Yes. And knowing the Amveres, they'll consider it a point of honor to chase us around for a week or two. Best leave it alone." He looks critically at Dallas for a moment, and when the other captain shows no sign of leaving the package alone he reaches out and pulls it from his hands.
"Bleh." Dallas sighs in exasperation and flops back into his Captain's chair.
"There is one other thing to consider." Whitney lays the package carefully back on the table. "Your man Kirkland says the ships that crashed were brought down by gunfire, correct?"
"Yeah. All three were Amvere vessels, and they were definitely swatted."
"Couriers traditionally travel with a single escort... Which means makes that third ship something of a mystery, doesn't it? Maybe an extra ship for an important message?"
Kale chews his lower lip a moment, pondering. "Orrrr. Maybe there -were- just two ships... And the third ship was an attacker."
Whitney blinks, leaning back. "You mean it fired on its friends?"
Kale nods. "I mean it was sent to keep that message from arriving."
Dallas taps his boots together, looking bored.
Whitney lapses into thought for a moment. "That makes a certain amount of sense.. Savelle and Amvere certainly have been having a ..strained relationship these past few decades. It's possible someone in Amvere might be trying to covertly arrange something with Savelle? Something that someone else disapproved of? That makes about as much sense as anything, I guess."
"Hm." Captain McCullough looks up, thinking. "Well the old king of Savelle went tits-up about two years ago. His daughter's in charge now.. Though she's too young to rule so her steward is in charge for the moment... Name's something Peldane. Maybe it's a message for him. Maybe they're looking to patch things up? This message could be instrumental to peace. That could explain why some other Amvere'd want it stopped."
Whitney looks around. "So. In light of all this, what do we do?"
Kale shrugs. "I say we take the thing where it wants to go. It's easy money, and we may do some good besides."
Whitney nods. "I agree. There's some risk, but it's not much. I think it'll be worth it. West?"
Dallas West shrugs. "Sure, whatever you like."
"All right, then, it's settled. We're headed for the palace. Next stop Savelle's capital, Alban!"
((Choo-choo! Don't worry, you will get actual choices later.. Just not now or the story doesn't happen. >.>))
===============================
=================
OVERALL MOVEMENT
=================
======MISSION EARNINGS:========-Objectives-Salvage at least $10,000 from Crash Sites before other ships arrive: +$20,000
Destroy or chase off Lucky Pierre +$5,000
Destroy or chase off Lobster Magnet +5,000
-Salvage-$22,000
-Special Items-
None found!
((There's a 10% chance per each bit of salvaged cargo that you'll find a special item. You just weren't lucky this time.))
TOTAL EARNINGS (Per player) $54,000
========CREW PROMOTIONS======-None-
=======FINAL SHIP STATUS======
• 40 Armor Damage ($4,000 to repair)
-
::Total repair costs: $4,000::: - Charge waived!-
-No Damage-
• 20 Armor damage ($2,000 to repair)
-
:::Total repair costs: $2,000::: - Charge waived!-
LUCKY PIERRE-DESTROYED-
• 266 Armor damage ($26,600 to repair)
• Aft Engine damaged: ($6,900 to repair)
• Pressure compartment damaged: ($4,000 to repair)
• Aft Turret Destroyed: ($8,400 to replace)
• Cargo hold Destroyed (x3): ($6,000 to replace)
-
:::Total repair costs: $51,900:::
• 163 Armor damage ($16,300 to repair)
• Aft engine damaged ($12,432 to repair)
• Bridge damaged ($1,200 to repair)
-
:::Total repair costs: $29,932:::
================
PLAYER UPDATES
================BRENDUR=======
::SHIPS::
Iron Shrike (Vagabond Class)
=======
::BANK::
$63,000
=========
::CREW::
-Captains-
[Kail McCullough]Elite Captain][10/10 Health][-/- xp][Skill - Leadership][Jet Pack][Parachute]
-Pilots-
[Six][Elite Pilot][10/10 Health][-/- xp][Skill-Firing Platform][Parachute][Item2]
-Musketeers-
[Jim Reynolds][Veteran Musketeer][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][S. Bomb (2/2)]
[Elizabeth "Lizard" Reynolds][Regular Musketeer][10/10 Health][1/3 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
-Swashbucklers-
[Bill Addison][Veteran Swashbuckler][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Jetpack][Item2]
-Medics-
[Stitch Finnigan][Regular Medic][10/10 Health][1/3 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
-Gunners-
[Shin Kizami][Veteran Cannoneer][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
[Sun Kizami]][Regular Cannoneer][10/10 Health][1/3 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
-Engineers-
[Griselda "Griz" von Sozer][Elite Engineer][10/10 Health][-/-xp][Skill Damage Control][Parachute][Item2]
-Roustabouts-
[Midge][Rookie Roustabout][10/10 Health][1/2 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
==============
:::INVENTORY::::
1x Parachute
============================
============================
============================
============================
JAZZS3QUENCE============
=======
::SHIPS::
Ariel (Vagabond Class)
Cordelia (Vagabond Class)
===========
::BANK::
$59,000
=========
::CREW:::
----
CREW ONE (Cordelia)
Daryl Whitney][Veteran Captain][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Item1-Parachute][Item2-None]
-
[Elias Graves][Elite Pilot][10/10 Health][-/- xp][Skill - Extra Evasive][Parachute][Item2]
-
[Terrence Hopper][Veteran Cannoneer][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
[Rosalie Pratt][Regular Cannoneer][10/10 Health][1/3 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
[Jake Glenn][Regular Cannoneer][10/10 Health][1/3 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
-
[Eugene Wells][Regular Musketeer][10/10 Health][1/3 xp][Skill-None][S.Bomb][Jetpack]
[Thaddeus Gillian][Regular Musketeer][10/10 Health][1/3 xp][Skill-None][Grenade][Jetpack]
-
[Lucio Glass][Regular Engineer][10/10 Health][1/3 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
[Lionel Potts][Elite Engineer][10/10 Health][-/- xp][Skill - Reinforce][Parachute][Item2]
-
[Adela Glass][Regular Medic][10/10 Health][1/3 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
-
[Beth Knox][Regular Swashbuckler][10/10 Health][1/3 xp][Skill-None][Cutting Torch][Jetpack]
-
[Adam Bowyer][Regular Roustabout][10/10 Health][1/3 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
----
CREW TWO (Ariel)
[Dallas West][Veteran Captain][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
-
[Eli Marsh][Veteran Pilot][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
-
[Andy Fuller][Veteran Musketeer][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
[Kay Hanson][Veteran Musketeer][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]]
[Tanya Morse][Veteran Swashbuckler][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
-
[Cheri Richmond][Veteran Engineer][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
-
[Rosalind Clements][Elite Medic][10/10 Health][-/- xp][Skill-IV Drip][Parachute][Item2]
-
[Oliver Kirkland][Elite Roustabout][10/10 Health][-/- xp][Skill - 2nd Strike][Parachute][Item2
-
[Gary Kline][Veteran Cannoneer][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
[Wayne Gray][Veteran Cannoneer][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
[Lillie Ellisson][Veteran Cannoneer][10/10 Health][1/5 xp][Skill-None][Parachute][Item2]
=====================================
:::INVENTORY::::
Grenade x4
Sapper Bombs x1
Parachute x3
==================
HIRING AND REPAIRS
==================Please indicate any repairs you'd like to make, or any purchases of crew or equipment you intend to make before the next Mission!
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