[IC] Strange Neighbors

[ericthered]

It wasn't just the General waiting for Captain Crewey. It was also Daren Grindle, military coordinator for the entire IAH. he wasn't ranked as high as the Director of the IAH, but as the entire purpose of the IAH was military coordination... everybody knew who this guy was.

"ahh, Captain Crewey. Its been a while since we met. " Indeed, last time Crewey saw Grindle, it had been at the metal ceremony, and Grindle hadn't said much, at least not directly to him. "You have been selected for one of the most important mission since earth broke back into space, or even since the moon landing." The Man swelled pompously. "We have broken the FTL barrier, going 100 times faster than any drive before us. This has obvious military advantages, of course, but we already won the war. This is not a millitary mission, this is a political mission."

Grindle goes on about how inhuman followers of wood reached every planet before humanity, and achieved every achievement that currently defines space. "And now the Nations believe that the role of the IAH is over with the war. They do not see the potential of the organization in pioneering space! we lost so much because one power got into space and kept the others out. our mission is to break new ground and hand our discoveries to every nation. Let them advance together." He smiles "Your mission is to escort an outpost to Alpha Centari, showing humanity what the purpose of the IAH is"

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"Guess what?" Arthur Snow had a huge smile on his face as he approached Dewey, "We're finally going to use the drive. And its not just seeing how many times they can go around Venus, we're going to Alpha Centari". Dewey Howe had never seen the kid happier. They had kept the project under wraps for almost 16 months after they had made it, presumably to avoid showing the mesubrains (those kicked out of humanity) what the warp signature looked like. Well, something had changed, and changed in a big way. The size of the mission was audacious: Humanity had never left the kuiper belt.

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Von Galbiso received the strangest requirements he had seen for a mission: they actually wanted him to be prepared for a one year voyage. That would take them out so far in the belt it was likely beyond the territory of the others. The ship he was told to prepare for was one of the biggest made, particularly for a war vessel. Most of the ships this size were freighters or flagships.

[OCC: This is mostly just a formality, and introduction. You can respond to the assignments, or not, and in a little bit you'll get your first "kink" in the mission]

[samd6]

Adrian Von Galbiso double checked the figures. Ships of that size were not terribly uncommon, but for the expected compliment to be so high... Well. He could do it, especially if he could use the secondary water tanks for fish. Enough room for some rabbits and chickens even. And spices and herbs, because the variety of food was important to keep crew morale up.

He would need people though. Luckily, getting them wasn't his job.

[Poonbahbah]

You know I'm your boss right? I mean I already know. Found out at last nights poker game with some of the other muckety-mucks. Well the details anyway. Don't build a ship like this just to collect moth balls.

Also not so frecking loud man. I know your excited but keep it chill.

I was planning on telling you, but I guess that cats out the bag. Gonna be sweet to see her in action though, ain't it?

[ericthered]

The first part of the mission was over surprisingly quick, As the Honor of the Earth swept towards celestial south. It took all of 2 hours to travel the length of the solar system (though they were going in the wrong direction to do that). In another 2 hours, they firmly left what could be called humanity's territory. Previously, the trip would have taken 2 weeks.

Of course, they were traveling through a relatively empty region of space. almost all of the matter in the observed solar system was found in the solar plane, which they were traveling nearly perpendicular to. There was, of course, the occasional lump of ice, but even those where small. As the days went on, the speed of the ship became less of a marvel, and the crew began to fully realize what a 2 year trip meant. after about 2 months, the chunks of ice grew thicker.

On day 63, the navigator informed the captain that another ship was tailing them. He couldn't identify the ship the the captain just from warp signature, but he thought it was about a quarter of the size of their ship. He didn't know who sent the ship, but he suspected it was not the IAH.

[Dorin Thorha]

Captain Crewey looks at the data the navigator has provided him.


"We're being trailed by an unidentified craft, eh? That won't do. I want you to keep a close watch on that thing and tell me the moment you get anything more concrete."

[ooc] Intelligence Analysis-17 3d6=6 (who would have the means and the motive to pursue the Honor through space?)

Strategy (Space)-15 3d6=9 (Given the resources the Honor possesses and the likely capabilities of the unidentified craft, how possible would it be to lure it into a situation where it could be positively identified without letting it get in range to harm the Honor?)

[ericthered]

Intelligence Analysis: It could be an IAH ship sent to recall you, but then it would approach directly and deliver its message, so its probably not that. The ship seems to be using your type of warp drive, but as far as you know the Mesubrains stole the drive technology shortly before you left, and the warp signature indicates the ship has about the same speed as you do. You highly doubt its an alien, because no one has met one before (at least no one credible) and because the drive looks way too much like what you have. Of all of the rules that would have to be broken, that the Mesubrains stole the drive plans earlier makes the most sense. They would tail you so they can keep track of where all of the IAH's bases are.

Identifying the ship: apart from the warp signature, which gives size, speed, and occasionally warp drive type, ships with the warp field on are very difficult to identify. Your sensors can sense the field from 100 light hours away though, so you can definitely bring it into hailing range without endangering anyone. You also have a size advantage, which means if it comes to battle, you have the edge, but its not a foregone conclusion.

[Dorin Thorha]

If possible, Captain Crewey would like to drop the Honor back just enough to send a support vessel to hail the intruder (I'm still not 100% sure I understand the kind of maneuverability we have while in warp). He wants to get a positive identification on the craft first, then attempt to make contact and learn what they want.

[ericthered]

Dropping back enough to hail is very possible.

Your manueverability with the warp drive is superb. You won't be able to get a positive ID on the ship without talking to them though. Your communication distance is very similar to your sensor distance.

[Dorin Thorha]

Ok, he'll drop back to just out of range and then send a support vessel to do a sensor scan and act as a relay for comm as needed (some of the other PCs ought to have the skillset for that).

[samd6]

The familiar control panel of scoutship #2 glowed infront Kendal Ojeda as he eased the ship into position.

Relay to Control, I'm on station, but am having some difficulty setting up communications

[OOC: Skills include the +1 for Vehicle Bond; Piloting:Hyperspace-16, rolled 7 Electronics Operation:Comms-14, rolled 15]

Kendal cycled the power in the backup comms, and checked to see if the relay was working.
[OOC:Electronics Operation:Comms-14, rolled 7]

Relay to control, we are good to go.