[IC] Enter the Imperium

[DangerousThing]

Your characters, Xi'an and Scott, are together on the planet Alell. You had taken a working passage to here, gone to a nearby city, and were forbidden to enter the starport until they had the proper permissions. It took many days to fill the various similar forms. The law level of Alell is so high that almost anything could be illegal and everything has to be done precisely. You found this out when a misplaced stroke of the pen (yes, pen on paper) caused you to have to redo the entire set of forms again.

Finally, you filled them all out and they were accepted. You could go to the starport, but it's more expensive to live there, and you don't have many credits left. Your personal equipment is in a secure locker in the port, so it will be trivial to get them later. Most of them are illegal planetside. You don't want to go to the port until you need to, because you'd have to redo the forms, again.

Each day you look for jobs and check if any ship leaving has a spots for working passage. Then it happens. You hear that the King Richard, a massive (5,000 tons) passenger liner is arriving in a few days. The advance party is hiring for Under Steward jobs. Not the best paying, but it's good work. You'll be getting CR2,000 per month and a promise potential advancement.

I'm assuming that both of you will take the jobs, but I want your say-so on this.

[ericthered]

Scott is happy to get off of this prickely planet. He'll take the job. They need an engineer, yes?

He's not commited to staying, but next time he gets stuck planet side, he should do it on a better planet.

[DangerousThing]

The two of you join the people in job training. There is one day of training in the starport. You do the basics, cleaning, carrying, bringing people food. You are given a small form to fill out.

You are told that PEL Lines has the best trained crew in space; the PEL academies train students who earn much higher than imperial average.

You are given a uniform. You must wear the uniform at all tines. You're also given a name tag on a lanyard and an earbud (very comfortable) that you must wear at all times. You're given a map of the ship. You note the location of the vault, where your weapons and armor (other than the battleweave bodysuit) are stored.

You work for a week on board the King Richard. There are parties, both on planet and the ship. Your jobs are low level, but if you work diligently, you'll double your base pay.

Then one week from the time the ship appeared on planet, it finally leaves, taking a small flotilla with it. The King Richard has no weapons, so it takes other ships with it during jump. There are a few Scout ships, an ore carrier, some small merchant ships, and one police ship (a Gazelle class).

Right before the ship is prepared to jump, you are working when an alarm rings out and the vispanel turns on. The ore carrier is yelling "Mayday" at the top of its electronic voice. It looks like it is heading directly for the King Richard. Then you feel the shudder of a collision. The alarms stop. And then a different alarm sounds.

[the_matrix_walker]

Xi'an follows his training and switches his comms to emergency channel and heads to the fire station on his deck for orders, assisting any who need it along his way.

[DangerousThing]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

Xi'an follows his training and switches his comms to emergency channel and heads to the fire station on his deck for orders, assisting any who need it along his way.

All one day of training? I'm assuming that you mean a weapon station? This ship has absolutely no weapons and has never been boarded by pirates. Your training says to go to your bunks and hide until PEL sends the all-clear. The reason given is that you'd most likely be in the way of emergency personnel. I assume that you will ignore this.

One thing to remember is that if you are seen by emergency personnel, depending on the emergency, you might be considered hostile. Though even bare-handed you can defend yourself against most people. And you have your trusty "stick" with you, and a staff is no mean weapon. It was invented long ago, and it's hard to beat it (of course, hyperdense or vibroblades will cut through it and a force sword of any type). Oh well.

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

All one day of training?

If that was what it was... I thought "in an emergency, go to the emergency channel and report to an emergency team" seemed reasonable, and on a ship, that's usually a fire control station.

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

I'm assuming that you mean a weapon station?

Nope. Just trying to do Xi'an's job!

So his weapons are in the vault, but there are weapons stations about the ship?

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

This ship has absolutely no weapons and has never been boarded by pirates.

So, you're saying they were due and pretty much asking for it? Way to victim blame ;)

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

Your training says to go to your bunks and hide until PEL sends the all-clear. The reason given is that you'd most likely be in the way of emergency personnel. I assume that you will ignore this.

Ignore training and defy rules and procedures!?! Of course not! He will go to his bunk if those are his orders. He certainly wouldn't want to be in the way.

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

One thing to remember is that if you are seen by emergency personnel, depending on the emergency, you might be considered hostile.

That seems strange as they are wearing the same uniform and they've never been boarded by hostiles. But okay.

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

Though even bare-handed you can defend yourself against most people. And you have your trusty "stick" with you, and a staff is no mean weapon. It was invented long ago, and it's hard to beat it (of course, hyperdense or vibroblades will cut through it and a force sword of any type). Oh well.

Hopefully he doesn't run into any of those!




Is the different alarm known to be for a particular purpose? Is there some indication this is a cover for a boarding party, or that this is something other than an accident?

_________________________________

[DangerousThing]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

If that was what it was... I thought "in an emergency, go to the emergency channel and report to an emergency team" seemed reasonable, and on a ship, that's usually a fire control station.

It's quite reasonable. I misunderstood.

Nope. Just trying to do Xi'an's job!

So his weapons are in the vault, but there are weapons stations about the ship?

No. There are no weapons. that you know of, on the ship. There are security personnel, so there may be weapons hidden some place. Perhaps in the same vault as yours, maybe not

Ignore training and defy rules and procedures!?! Of course not! He will go to his bunk if those are his orders. He certainly wouldn't want to be in the way.

They had to train a bunch of people real quick. Would you try to train people in all possible emergency procedures? Think of the possibilities of harm to the passengers of an untrained person attempting rescue from a fire.

That seems strange as they are wearing the same uniform and they've never been boarded by hostiles. But okay.

The emergency people probably wear distinctive badges. However, they mainly can tell by the fact that most untrained people stand still or panic.

Hopefully he doesn't run into any of those!

You shouldn't, especially if you obey orders and hide in your room.

Is the different alarm known to be for a particular purpose? Is there some indication this is a cover for a boarding party, or that this is something other than an accident?

If you look at the video again, there look to be small specks coming off the ore carrier. It could be people escaping from the ore carrier. Though these specs might be people, because they are jumping towards the King Richard. They could be boarders.

[ericthered]

Oh, these are steward jobs... scud, should have noticed that are angled to become an engineer instead. He has much better skills that way.

How many passengers are on this ship? How many crew?

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

Right before the ship is prepared to jump, you are working when an alarm rings out and the vispanel turns on. The ore carrier is yelling "Mayday" at the top of its electronic voice. It looks like it is heading directly for the King Richard. Then you feel the shudder of a collision. The alarms stop. And then a different alarm sounds.

I'll run towards the engine room. See how I can help.

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

If you look at the video again, there look to be small specks coming off the ore carrier. It could be people escaping from the ore carrier. Though these specs might be people, because they are jumping towards the King Richard. They could be boarders.

Xi'an calls security.

"I am Sir Xi'an Kahzin, Knight of the Imperial Order of Starshine and Shadow. I have been assigned to my quarters as I am travelling by steerage, but I suspect I can be of better use to you and recommend that I, and my personal effects in the vault, be summoned to Security."

[DangerousThing]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

Xi'an calls security.

"I am Sir Xi'an Kahzin, Knight of the Imperial Order of Starshine and Shadow. I have been assigned to my quarters as I am travelling by steerage, but I suspect I can be of better use to you and recommend that I, and my personal effects in the vault, be summoned to Security."

"All security personnel are busy and cannot take this call. Please leave a message."

BTW: You're travelling by working passage, not steerage. There is no steerage on this ship. You are an employee while you're on the ship.