Space Merchant [IC]

[ericthered]

On June 5th, 2157, Human explorers made contact with intelligent life. Humanity had hoped this would be their next great step forward. It wasn't. The aliens, known as the Concheans, were extremely xenophobic, and the contacting ships where attacked by vastly superior weapons and ships. By a number of small miracles and no small amount of heroism, one of the ships made it back to earth with the tale and a small captured vessel.

Humanity, Already on war footing from a recent civil conflict, rushed to arm its self. One matter of note was made: the alien ships used massive "roads" that let them travel much faster, but only along the existing lanes. Taking advantage of this, human ships were optimized for traveling through the more difficult parts of space, known as "hard space". The human leadership, the IAH, took an aggressive stance towards the Concheans, and when protests where ignored, worried forecasters began leaving the system, sure of disaster. Later, the refuges from the final battle confirmed their wisdom: The Concheans were driven back for two years before the hammer blow fell: A massive fleet invaded sol, and though they took heavy causalities, they bombed earth into the stone age or worse. The major outposts and colonies in sol fled or were destroyed.

Hundreds of tiny human colonies are presumed to be spread in the space around earth. Some of them were well planned, while others were not. In the exodus, two other alien species were discovered: the Licheanans, who were fighting the Concheans in the first place, and the Rotaliths, who seemed to live at a slower pace than the rest of life. The Licheanans eventually learned to mostly leave Terran ships alone, and they appear to have driven the Concheans out.

52 years later, a man set out with the goal of uniting the human worlds. He left from a wet stormy planet named aqua in a ship wistfully named Coconut, with a small crew and a big dream.

[ericthered]

Crew Roster:

Robert Jackson:
NPC
Owner and Surveyor
White Hair, Large Nose and Brow.
Robert Jackson has a rich and varied history as a star ship captain, and is famous for his involvement in scouting prospective colony worlds with his father John Jackson during the initial immigration. His wife died recently, and he appears to be trying to leave his memories of her behind on the planet. He is fond of antique computers and software, and a fairly savvy investor. While born before earth's destruction, he has never put foot on it and grew up aboard artificial habitats.

James Soltis
Samd6
Mechanic
James Soltis grew up around ships, and grew up in ships. He spent the last few years working on in-system tramp freighters, but wants to go out exploring. He's happiest when he has a warm engine beneath his feet, a warm cup of coffee in his hand, and a good friend by his side.

Alex "The Wretch" Mason
Crretin
Physician and Cook
Thin, twisted and scarred
Backstory being approved

Gabriel Bell
the_matrix_walker
merchant and cargo manager
limbs are replaced with cybernetics
Gabriel Bell was born on Ceres Beta, a dying colony. He sold his arms and legs for a medical cure, only to find out it was quite cheap else where. He knows with better communication and trade among the colonies, he would still be whole… and that there must be thousands of stories like his own. With that knowledge comes more than a simple desire to make a buck: Gabriel Bell has set out to change the universe for the better.

Ezra Hackman
Talosian
Pilot
appearance waiting submission (not pretty)
A hot-headed but very competent pilot that used to lead a fighter squadron. After being shot down in one dogfight, he crashed on wild planet. He and the rest of the gunships crew were captured by the Lichanean, and experimented on. While he eventually escaped, the experience still chases him, and he feels the after effects frequently.

Comtox Delware
Justin_Bedard
Cargo Specialist (Computers)
Large pale man man with long black hair (at least the on what's not bald)
Backstory not approved

Hezakiah Horsepool
NPC
Cargo Specialist (Biology and Diamoniod growing)
Shorter, long sandy hair, and lots of freckles.
Hezakiah Horsepool is a bio and materials engineer, specializing in the creation (growing) of diamonoid materials suspended in water. He is just off of an apprenticeship, and while willing to leave the planet, perhaps forever, seems a little reckless. He is quite competent in his field, particuarly in xeno-biology.

Mamta Bullock
NPC
The 'Ambasador' to represent Hell politically on this expidition. she's a stern woman, with a inborn sense of dignity. She's around 50 years old.

Hector Shanet
Darklim
Security specialist from Hell. Hector is still living in the shadow of his sister's fall from grace. That's not what makes him morose though: his pleasure center was gone a long time before that, and he's been running on autopilot for a while. He's quite good at what he does though.

Rachel Doherty
momothefiddler
Rachel is a reactor technician from hell.

[ericthered]

World Log

Aqua

[ericthered]

They visited two empty worlds, before they found their first settlement. It was always exciting approaching a world, not knowing if they would find aliens, friends, ruins, or barren rock. As they entered the system, they found a clear warp signature: the top of the Space elevator on the first planet of the system. Smaller ships appeared later, and a hailing beacon sounded

"We don't recognize you, but your signature looks human. Welcome to Hell."

[the_matrix_walker]

Gabriel Bell walks on to the bridge. He's in his mid twenties, attractive, he has light brown hair and green eyes, and is well dressed in a contemporary navy suit.

"Hello all." he says in a deep pleasantly penetrating baritone as his smile spreads across his face.

"Could it be... we've finally found a live one?" He says jokingly as he slides into the seat at the comms panel.

"This is the exploration vessel Cocoanut" Bell says with a grin and casting a glance at the Captain, "We've come to establish peaceful relations and trade. We request permission to pay you a visit!

[ericthered]

"You are quite welcome. We weren't sure if there were other humans still around. This is the space station Styx, I believe we have room for you in a parking orbit next to us. We call this world Hell, as I said. Where are you from?"

[the_matrix_walker]

"I'm very pleased to tell you the children of earth are still out there among the stars, my new friend!" Bell beams, "We hail from the water world Aqua. I'll send the telemetry to our helmsman... Please instruct us if you have procedures you would like us to follow."

Gabriel switches his microphone to the ship wide PA and turns his head "Captain, we have received authorization for parking orbit adjacent to their monitoring station, designated "Styx". We've been welcomed to the planet Hell!"

[samd6]

James tapped the intercom in the engine room.
"We got a live one? Excellent! Can somebody check to see if the RCS is all working on your end? I just finished some maintenance, and it would be bad if the RCS conks out while we're trying to dock."

[ericthered]

Ezra responds that the short range flight systems seem to be in order.

Cpn Jackson: Bring us on in. Offer them the information trading deals: the best info we have on Aqua for the best they have on Hell: maps for maps, biologicals for biologicals, if they have 'em. and so on. And see if you can get a copy of the local laws. And why in the .... Why do they call the world Hell? It certainly can't be worse than C.B.*!



*Ceres Beta

[the_matrix_walker]

Bell re-opens the com link to Styx.

"We've got green lights across the board station Styx, and we are moving into position.... How did this planet come by it's appellation?"