Happy Tyr’s Day

Story:

Jeremiah was in the brothel of The Naked Gypsy in the Silver Moon Room which was home to the lovely madam Anabelle who was sleeping next to him.  He had paid the extra money to be her last client for the night and for the room.  The cost also came with Anabelle offering some more entertainment in the morning and a proper hand bath.  Jeremiah smiled at the prospect. The celebrations last night of him passing his 1st officer exam would have a proper and relaxing end.

He had found a rather boring Route Assignment where he was serving as the Far Trader Kilroy Jinx’s Pilot.  It was an assignment that was simply a two-parsec jump to Dinomn and back again to Regina which he would make six times.  However, he applied for his 1st officer Exam right away and discovered this exam was unlike all the others in that he had taken before this was a battery of tests testing his complete knowledge of starship operations.  Engineering, Navigation, and Piloting were tested again and in addition to all that was the mandatory Pilot training.

He found himself in the Jinx’s Bridge even in his off-hours.  He would set the autopilot and then run through the Pilot simulations the Free Trader Service provided as testing.  It would normally be basic stuff that guaranteed every 1st Officer received Pilot training.  Given that Jeremiah was already a pilot, he was being tested at the Journeyman level.

There are five ranks of expertise recognized in many skills for the Free Trader Service – Novice (no skill), Apprentice (operating license), Journeyman (allowed to do basic instruction), Expert and Master which are both honorifics to denote advanced ability. Jeremiah was basically being asked to upgrade his basic operator’s license to a level where he could, if he wished to, instruct other people in being pilots.

Jeremiah had to admit this was one phase of training the Free Traders took very seriously but thankfully he has served so long and had the right skills it was not really a problem for him.  The added Pilot training was welcome.

His social life had taken a nosedive but he was content.  After his last assignment, he was trying to move on from Kate and he felt staying busy learning and working was the best policy.  Even though the assignment was a simple boring route, he kept himself challenged with training and work.

The 1st Officer training was unlike the rest of the testing in that it had an actual graduation ceremony. He walked across the platform and received his fourth pip on his shoulder from a Senior Captain.  He looked down the line fo the five or so others doing the same and realize he was the youngest of them.  He had literally accomplished this feat of becoming 1st Officer as quickly as one possibly could. He was a far different man than the young Space Tramp that signed up on a Free Trader those nine years ago.

As he headed to The Naked Gypsy, he looked own on his ID Card the Journeyman label next to Starship Pilot had been truly earned.  He felt a sense of pride and accomplishment.  Now all that remained was to finish the term and reenlist.  Next term would have the goal of becoming Captian.  But that was three years away,

When he entered the Naked Gypsy, he was greeted with a party by some of his former shipmates and some of the dockworkers.  He didn’t have to pay for a single drink that evening and probably could have had a female companion for the evening for free.  But the brothel madam Anabelle had offered her services for the evening for free and he decided to splurge a little an pay to be her sleeping companion for the night.  She smiled when he announced this like it was something she wanted as well.

It was now early morning, Anabelle and he had had a late night but he was eager to get the morning entertainment and that hand bath.  He now knew why Anabelle was both the madam and had the highest reputation for her services.  She was definitely at least Expert level.

He had to find a new assignment, but he was pretty confident now that his services would be more in demand.  Mostly though he had discovered that he loved the life of a Free Trader Officer the most. Time to go learn some more and be better prepared for the day he earned that fifth pip and was a Captain.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

Free Trader 2nd Officer Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O3 – 2nd Officer   Terms Served: 2

UPP: A67A74   Age: 26  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 1, Navigation – 1, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 4, Bonus Money: 25000 Cr.

Year Nine:

Roll for position availability: 10 + 1 for Intelligence = 11 – position available, serves as 2nd Officer

Roll for assignment: 4 + 1 for Social 5- = 5 –  Route Assignment

Survival Roll: 7  – Survives.

Skill Roll: 4  – No Skill acquired.

Bonus: 9  – No Bonus

Roll for Promotion: 8 – Promoted to 1st Officer.  Skill Acquired – Pilot -2

Roll for Skills: None

1 Brownie Point earned for promotion.

Year-End

Free Trader 1st Officer Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O4 – 1st Officer   Terms Served: 2

UPP: A67A74   Age: 27  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 1, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 5, Bonus Money: 25000 Cr.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!