Happy Sif’s Day!

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

Story:

As Jeremiah Kilwood walked into hanger bay C-225 of the Regina Starport, he had an odd but wonderful feeling as the Starship that resided there came into view.  It was a Type A Free Trader – Beowulf Class. It was a little worn as it was used, but it was painted blue and white which were his two favorite colors. What made it more wonderful than the colors was the fact that unlike any other ship he had served on – it belonged to him.  His own starship was at last in his possession.

This last year had been frightfull dull.  He had been part of the Countess’ crew for another charter assignment.  He found himself taking small jumps but returning to Regina three times. This he used to his advantage as he had to finalize several things.  Firstly it allowed him to monitor his investments nad grow his cash flow which he needed to make some of the final purchase decisions involving the starship.

This was largely possible because he found an old vessel The Beowulf style of Type A Free Trader had been in service for well over a hundred years. This one was forty years old, but thanks to a connection with Captian Juros, she was able to assess that the maintenance and repairs would be minimal and not very expensive as well.  Just time-consuming.  For the repairs, the Countess herself put a crew on it as a returned favor for his years of service. She even topped off the fuel tanks.

During this time Jeremiah also continued his education and graduated university with a full bachelor’s degree in business.  He smiled as he had completed what the Countess had started those years ago. He gazed with pride at his wall in the Captian’s cabin at the degree.

Finally, his investment work had paid off as he had effectively more than doubled his bonus money. He had enough now to get started with cargo and crew.  He could even afford to buy his weapons and a few other niceties for his cabin.  He was prepared financially to get going.

Mostly was the feeling that he no longer was working for anyone but himself. The risk was his and his alone.  But so was any reward.  The only thing left was to name the ship. There were, of course, many women that had crossed his path that were worthy and he went through them in his mind.

Captain Juros would be mortified.  Kimberly Forrest was an old memory from his first year when he made 4th Officer.  She was married and he didn’t know her new name or if her husband had taken hers. He had heard she had two kids and had moved up the bureaucratic ladder in some other agency.  There were also the course of girls from The Naked Gypsy – Cherry Rose, Madam Anabelle, Mirana, Sarah, and many others whose names he had forgotten.

Kate Stuvak had been his roommate aboard a ship for an entire year, but after that, he lost track of her for a few years until he saw she had opened up a medical practice in Regina and had gotten married.  No, it wouldn’t due to have another man’s wife’s name on the front of your ship.  Although from the waist down she might make great nose art. Without her clothes on of course.

Of course, Countess Borgosman would not agree to have herself scantily clad on the front of his ship or even to use her name.  No, he was probably going to have to make something up but a good name for a ship was important.  She was an old ship but from all his observations still in great shape.  A sound and beautiful ship.  Also curvy, sexy and experienced.

He sighed and headed to his retirement party which he had been informed of well in advance.  The Naked Gypsy was decked out for it and he smiled as he was greeted by old friends, most notably Captain Juros and Countess Borgosman. The Countess coming to a place like the Naked Gypsy spoke truly of how much she honored him. He thanked her very much for coming.  The festivities were well attended by everyone in the area.  Jeremiah had made a reputation for himself as a Captain and many respected him.  Not bad for a Space Tramp from Strouden.

Once the party was over, Madam Anabelle took him to her room and among all the benefits he had received, she told him he was always welcome in her bed.  Half price too. He thanked himself that he had spent some time staying in shape this last term.  His health was good, his pension in place, a starship in the hanger and nearly a quarter-million credits in cash in his bank account. Good shape indeed.

Now if he could just come up with a name for his ship.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

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.

Year Twenty:

Roll for position availability:  9 +  for Intelligence = 10 – position available serves as Captain.

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

Survival Roll: 10 + 1 for Pilot-2: 11  – Survives easily.

Skill Roll: 12 – Skill acquired.

Bonus:  4 + 1 for Trader-2 – 5 – No Bonus.

Roll for Skills: (1 for skill roll) – Rolls Free Trader Life Table – rolls 4  – Mental Cascade:  Chooses Education +1

Reenlistment Roll: 5 – not required to reenlist so musters out

Adds One Brownie Point for Trem Competed:

Aging Crisis: Strength: 8 (no change), Dexterity: 8 (no change), Endurance: 12 (No change)

Mustering Out: 

Pension: 4000Cr/year

Benefits: 8 (5-terms served/ 3 for rank).  Rolls Benefits table: 5+1 for rank =1 BP spent: 7 Free Trader; Rolls Benefits table: 4+1 for rank +2 BP spent: 7 Free Trader – 10 years payment; Rolls Benefits table: 6+1 for rank: 7 – Free Trader – 10 years payment (20 years total; Rolls Benefits table: 5+1 for rank + 1 BP” Free trader -10 year payment (30 years total); Rolls Benefits table: 3+1 for rank: 4 = 3BP – Free Trader: owns completely paid off Free Trader starship: Rolls Cash Table: 6+1 : 50,000, Rolls Cash Table: 6+1 : 50,000; Rolls Cash Table: 2+1 + 3 BP: 6 – 20000Cr.

Total mustering out benefits: Free Trader Starship – completely paid off.  120000Cr Cash, Pension 4000Cr/year.

Year-End:

Retired Free Trader Senior Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O6 – Senior Captain   Terms Served: 5

UPP: A67AA4   Age: 38  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

Money: 241,500 Cr.

Owns Free trader starship – no payments. Pension 4000Cr/year.

I remain,

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

Skaal!!!

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!!!