The Gephken InterludeTake somewhat round-about route and much additional "exchanging of callsigns" stuff to ensure we're allowed to reach the Gephken system. During the trip, Utan installs internal bits of the weapons systems (can't go outside in hyperspace), Latte installs sentry guns covering the hanger, and Nikchub & Tsaijix poke at the stealth suit. Stealth suit is nifty, and technically challenging to build, but not outlandish tech. Design can be improved to be more secret, but it's really the manufacturing issues that are the problem. Reach Gephke. Huge, argely inconclusive argument about what Tsaijix can and can't reveal about the Ambassador. Ultimate settlement is Ambassador will send along a Kuna clone which will help make the call if needed. Plan is to hide the Embassy some distance from Gephke station, and take the Albatross to the station. Reach the station. We are met by Tsaijix's father (Arex Qal, a large breaded, somewhat greying man) and by Survin. Father dismisses Survin "do you have any objections?" Survin leaves, but is implication that Tsaijix should meet with his employers. Arex leads us through the station to the Qal section. Station quite densely populated, and we attract some attention. Some definite "Have / Have not" divisions visible in the crowds, although no obvious poverty as such. Some groups with body-guards, who Tsaijix tells us are gnerally associated with the more powerful families. Qal family is reasonably prominent - controls large ship-yards, and a reasonably sized piece of the station, and has several employees. Arex leads us to a secure conference room. Tsaijix asks about news. Arex says the ruling family (Cicaves) attaches a certain amount of blame to Tsaijix about some of the recent Imperial rants and that Tsaijix should avoid them, although this might be difficult. Tsaijix shows ring to Arex, Arex says we should speak to Tsaijix's grandmother (Velix Qal). Tsaijix also has a bit of a private conversation with Arex about Rufo and Shiri. We are led off to meet Velix. Much security, and she's in a enclosed environmental space. Major decontaimination and such before we are allowed in (in hazmat-type suits). Velix is rather hidden by huge life-support system and speaks with a Darth Vader'ish voice. Tsaijix asks "Are we Stroga". Velix "Yes. I was assigned to the previous revolution". Some discussion establishes that Tsaijix's grandfather wasn't Stroga. Velix knows Voncathel, and is pleased to hear that efforts on At-yaj have resumed. Discussion between Kuna-clone and Velix. Velix identifies clone as "Divergent", and clone idenitifies Velix as Divergent. Velix says she thinks it's time for another attempt at revolution. Head back to the conference room. Some clarification with clone about Divergent. Rough impression is it's "could be Convergence, but choose not to be". Establish that, altough Velix is probably telepathic, it's not something clone can tap into (we assume the clone is not lying). Ku-na clone takes a ship back to the Embassy to report this more fully. Discussion between us and Tsaijix's parents (Arex and Nefelli). Arex seems unsurprised by Velix's revelations, but does warn us we will need to keep this quiet when dealing with the major families. Arex joins party while having breakfast. Tells us that the arms shipment to Akaijat was orginally a Civaves contract, so they currently owe us a favour for rescuing that situation, which makes them uncomfortable. Nikchub incapitated due to headache. Arex: "I'd say you should stay clear of them, but your grandmother has other ideas. She suggests you make some sort of business proposal to the council. Details don't really matter as she has friends who will ensure the council honours the agreement." Plan is to send out feelers to leading families offering transport services. Aim is to negotiate payment as a jump harness for the Albatross. Get several private responses (only notable family not to respond is the Huvak family, who are mainly factories and local manufacture) and then an official request to attend a council meeting tomorrow evening. Party splits up to go hear actual rumours so we're somewhat informed before the council meeting. Shar goes to hang out at an "off-duty security force" bar. Uses repuation to ensure drinks aren't an issue. Lots of bored pilots around. Shar gets invited to stupidly dangerous flying race the next morning. Shar asks about the Imperial embargo. Gets a good idea of current imperial security practise and how smugglers are looking to break it. Several planets are currently off limits due to very high security. Ziva (still on Embassy), spending time arranging lab. Ambassador warns her about acceleration, and they go to meet returning Ku-na clone. Ambassador then asks Ziva for 5 life support kits and 4 large drums on wheels. Ziva gets to work. Latte & Tsaijix go to a "revolutionary bar" (The Swan). Tsaijix is recognised, and starts buying drinks. Latte listens to discussions. Lots of news on Imperial crack-down and reports on anti-Imperial activities. No news from Jerunat, which is still under martial law. No news from Lumu, so appears to still be barricaded. Tsaijix offers cargo space to disenfranchised families. Embargoed planets a major issue for several families. Latte talks to the Atch family, you have shipped to Jerunat. Bnarch & Utan go to a small time smuggler bar (very much the bottom of the barrel). Bnarch gets sold a bottle of "grask" (very old according to the bartender). Listen in on several conversations. Middleman bar - people who generally ferry stuff from pilot's "personal cargo space" to the wider station. Mainly avoiding taxes and other such fees. "Smuggling to smugglers" vibe. Ziva asks the Mugorakkans to snoop on the Ambassador, as the Ambassador's being evasive about why it requires the life support tricks. One Mugorakan reports that the Ambassador has grown 5 clones of an unkown lady "red orange-pink hair and pale skin" (could be related to Tsaijix). Nikchub wakes up, feeling like he has been "probed". Tsaijix hooks Nikchub up with his grandmother's doctor, who has been shut out of grandmother's presence without a word, so is at a bit of a loose end. Doctor scans Nikchub. Alien tissue has been grafted in place in his brain. Doctor is unclear what the tissue is and how it survives. Nikchub rejects the idea of a tissue sample, but does allow a blood sample. Doctor says it will require some time to study. In post rumour hearing discussion, Latte suggests trying to hook up bored pilots with the smugglers, but this requires ships. Nikchub tries to hack a Gephken family network to learn details. Doesn't work as target has really good security, so goes to the public library instead. Interesing history point is arrival of a significant influence of refugees 50 years ago who raised standard of station tech, but introduced a failry significant political divide. Grandmother arrived with the refugees, but was a known associate of Ugu Qal, a councilman, from before refugee influx. Council membership has changed recently to require members to show a required level of funds, and council has shrunk as a result, losing several of the newer families. Velix Qal is referenced as Velix A. S., but original surname is never given. Ku-na clone arrives at the station with Ziva on DMH-3 and then takes the Albatross back to the Embassy. Shar goes for the race in DMH-3. Rest of the party goes to watch from a known good vantage point (resturant with good view of part of the "track"). Number of people there to watch. Notable figure is a pilot in a full body cast (presumably injured in a similar race). Race doesn't go exactly as planned. She hits something on the first lap, destorying the comms array and losing a lot of time, but she manages to make it up over the next 5 laps, and manages to muscle out the leader right at the end for the win (with the other pilot scraping against the station). Pilot in cast suggest that we move to celebrate somewhere else as station authorities will come to investigate the crash. Leads everyone off to a Wen family location. Guy in cast is Alan Wen, family pilot and reasonably closely related to the family head. Pilot who came second (and hit station) is Seran Wen, who arrives a bit late as needed to hide his ship. Party is in a hanger in the Wen section. Party gets a bit raucous. Senior Wen comes to check up. "Anyone know anything about the hull breach in sector X" "No, not us" "I thought so" exchange. happens. Latte, in discussion with other pilots, suggests that Shar won because of her superior combat experience. Shar is presented with a prize for winning - a fancy, fully adjustable laser rifle. Utan sneaks off to check on DMH-3. Damage is not as bad as he feared. Wing will need to be repaired before ship is taken into atmosphere again and comms array will need to be replaced, but otherwise it's cosmetic damage. Ziva talks to Bnarch, Latte and Tsaijix about the Ambassador's new clones. Tsaijix says it could be clones of Velix. Morning after the party, everyone starts preparing for the council meeting. Bnarch out cold due to the after-effects of too much Grask. Latte, Tsaijix and Shar go off to get dolled up for the meeting. Latte invests in an E-Ink suit which can be used to play back videos (in B & W). Intends to use it to show the DMH video should the opportunity present itself. Clear that the clothing establishment is a sweat shop. Nikchub acquires improved hacking software from the local market (good stuff is not on the black market, which is unusual). Utan sets up a small trade network. The Sul family trade with Mugorak, and thus are often close to At-yaj. The Ola family are a small scale, low budget operation who are willing to annoy the Cicaves (since the Cicaves don't care what they do) and will thus do runs to Akjaidat. Sets up that the Sul family will buy mushroom drink from Yu-ta on At-yaj, and deliver that to the Ola family who will sell it to Zack for Utan. Utan wants small cut of the profits banked on Gefka, so excuse to revisit as needed and also ensures that deal with Yu-ta does not go to waste (good will towards us is worth preserving, and all that). Party meets up and heads off to the meeting with the council. Tsaijix goes wearing smart suit and Qal family logo. Ziva accompanies Tsaijix in arm candy role. Latte & Shar go in their DMH roles. Nikchub & Utan dress in typical station "body guard / mercenary" suits. Council chamber is guarded by 2 people - neutral logos, by Cicave family resemblence. Weapons handed over. Latte hands over a grenade from his pocket (just because). Ushered in. In council chamber are Cleat Wen, Jogra Hubak, Jihak Sid, Juran Ras and Aneli Cicave. Aneli is dressed in a smart suit, but still looks like a thug. Large man, black beard. Very much top dog of the current council. Party is seated in a row of seats at foot of the council (Nikchub & Utan take the edges). The council members are quite spread out (out of easy stabbing range, it appears). Some discussion about our offer to transport goods. LAtte plays DMH executive role. Offers 2 albatross class ships crgo space in exchange for a jump harness. Aneli clearly wants to make a deal to eliminate 'debt' owed to us by the Cicave family, but want terms less favourable to us. Latte pauses to ask Wen his opinion of the situation. Wen is very cagey - suggestion that he and Hubrak are not in Aneli's faction. Wen launches a spiel about "what's best for the station" - appears to be that he's stalling for time for some reason. Sound of a manual override opening the doors. Tsaijix, Ziva and Shar dive under the table. Young, red-haired woman, accompanied by 4 space-suited companions. Probably Velix and 4 of her clones. Tsaijix emerges from cover to greet her. Velix identifies herself and offers the council a choice. Aneli goes for a gun. Nikchub throws a chair at him. Shar attacks Ras from under the table, while Tsaijix burrows back into cover. Utan moves across to discourage Sid (who is an old man) from doing anything stupid in support of Aneli Cicave. Latte heads out the door to secure our weapons - finds the 2 guards dead, but does get the weapons. A large KC unit (new large unit produced by the Ambassador for KC, we believe) appears and procedes to kill and eat Aneli Cicave before he can actually threaten anyone. This fairly effectively concludes Velix's coup. Meeting resumes briefly. Agreement is concluded that we will ship a bunch of cargo for the Gefkan families in exchange for a jump harness and other considerations for our help in the coup. Velix plans to make the council more representative again and generally sounds like it will be a good thing for tthe station. We ask Wen for resturant advice and take one of Velix's "guards" along to go for dinner and discuss stuff. Is indeed an extra Velix clone (or Velix unit, since we have another hive-mind vibe going here). News of coup spreads quite quickly, but general reaction to the coup is muted. Nobody seems particularly upset or concerned about the change of power. Velix wants us to take her home, where 'her' is one of the clones and 'home' is a lot less clear. Offers us an essentially blank cheque from Gefka for this. Velix also wants to help with proconsul Zenfiri's planned reworking of the Imperial power structure. Utan arranges to send a note to the proconsul via the Ola families smuggling. Velix clone is moved to the Embassy. In conversation, the strange mirror we found on the station in the Glennga system comes up. Turns out to be a comms device that Velix can use to contact someone. Brings up an image of someone she calls 'Karl'. Says she wants to return to herself. Get coordinates of a barren system with no planets near the Imperial heartland. Karl's face is somewhat familar, but no-one can quite place it. Spend some days getting DMH-3 fixed up, taking delivery of the cargo and such. Arrange a trip that takes us near Velix's destination but also allows us to deliver the cargo easily. Tsaijix and Latte spend time talking to smaller families on Gefka to encourage more illicit Imperial annoying trade. Qal family will build more ships to sell to these families. Latte gets a 'confetti dispenser' attached to DMH-3. This takes containers similar enough in size to the smart bombs that they can be launched from it in an emergency. Several cansisters - mainly just straight chaff, but also includes a couple of containers of 'smart, active chaff' for extra surprise value. Engine is overclocked, so it can go a bit faster. Utan inspects the Ola family ships. Barely space-worthy, but will serve. Cargo capacity is limited, so not a massive imposition on the Sul family and will help keep demand high. |