Happy Frigg and Freya’s Day!

Just a reminder this will be a week of fiction instead of the normal posts. Enjoy your holiday presents readers.

Stories:

When Jeremiah rounded the corner and The Naked Gypsy came into view, his heart was never so glad.  This year’s last assignment had been one he would not want to repeat any time soon. He had absolutely every intention of working the whole thing out of his system with several strong drinks and Anabelle’s warm embrace for the evening.

The Countess chartered his services for the year again but this time there was little change, in retrospect, of earning anything as far as a bonus.  What it did earn him was a lot of clout with the countess which he had every intention of cashing when he mustered out.  This assignment had better have earned at least that for how close he came on a couple of occasions to dying and the trouble.

It sounded simple enough.  There were several derelict vessels scattered across several systems that belonged to a now-defunct company that used to be based on Regina.  The Countess said this company was connected to her parents but she wouldn;t say how. Rather she chartered Jeremiah and his crew to pilot her own Subsidized Merchant ship to find them and then retrieve all data and possible information on what happened to all the ships.

In total, they found three ships.  All of them had been abandoned in places one might say were difficult to find unless you were specifically looking for them.  After finding ways to bypass their security systems, it was vacc suits and zero-G until they could fire up some power and activate the grav plates so they could walk around.

What they discovered is anyone’s guess but the Countess seemed very excited every time they brought aboard some stuff.  Jeremiah had to admit he did learn something this year.  How to pick open locks and open safes.  He got good at it even though he never had to look over his shoulder when he was doing it. But it was worth it as he often recovered sealed documents and sealed memory storage devices.  There were a few valuables but nothing major and each ship had an empty cargo hold.

The close call came with the second ship which was parked in an asteroid field and he had to use all his piloting skills to get close enough to connect to it.  They were almost hit by asteroids twice despite his solid maneuvering. Once they connected he used the ship’s turrets to blow some of the closest asteroids to bits and then they entered the ship. That ship looked like some fighting had taken place and they airlock was broken open so vacc suits all the way.  In retrospect, they had survived barely and Jeremiah was happy the third ship was much more friendly.

The countess thanked all of them and then told them to standby as she might have a contract for next year.  Jeremiah sighed.  He only had one year to go until he planned to muster out, so he took a deep breath and hoped that she wouldn’t try to get them killed this next year. He felt there was something shady about this last year, but he had done his job and nearly was space splatter a couple times while doing it.

Right now though he switched gears – time to find some people to drink with and then he planned on having Anabelle earn her money, perhaps even work a little overtime.  He just knew he was happy to be alive and ground side. Although that itch of boarding a ship and taking off to the stars would probably never leave him. One more year and his guild service would be complete. Independence was his goal and he was almost there.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

.Free Trader Senior Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O6 – Senior Captain   Terms Served: 4

UPP: A67A94   Age: 36  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Broker-1, Turret Weapons-1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Vacc Suit- 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0

Brownie Points: 9, Bonus Money: 117,500 Cr.

Year Nineteen:

Roll for position availability: 10  + 1 for Intelligence = 11 – position available, serves as Captain.

Roll for assignment: 8 + 1 for Social – 9 – Charter Assignment

Survival Roll: 3 + 1 for Pilot-2: 4  – Survives barely.

Skill Roll: 6 – Skill acquired.

Bonus: 6  + 1 for Trader-2 – 7 – No Bonus.

Roll for Skills: (1 for skill roll) – Rolls Free Trader Life Table – rolls 5 – Vice Cascade: chooses Intrusion-1

Year-End:

Free Trader Senior Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O6 – Senior Captain   Terms Served: 4

UPP: A67A94   Age: 37  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Intrusion-1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Broker-1, Turret Weapons-1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Vacc Suit- 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0

Brownie Points: 9, Bonus Money: 117,500 Cr.

I remain,

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

Skaal!!!