Porter agrees with Hammer.  He changes his garb, removing his service uniform and putting on some general purpose utilities.  "Quazzt's Depression is outside my jurisdiction.  But if the Sathar and these quatterie...shadow whatevers are plotting something, I would wager the unauthorized landings are connected."

"We could use a little trip and some rest after  what we've been through the past few days."

You all check out of your hotel room, pack up your things, and head to the monorail, where you buy your tickets for 20 credits each (please subtract from character sheets).

THE MONORAIL
From Gozzorf, monorail lines stretch around the planet, linking most major settlements on Kraatar. Monorail trains leave Gozzorf station every 4 hours and travel at about 290kph (8 hours per hex). (The map is posted in a separate thread.)

You realize it will take just over 4 days to reach Quazzt.

As Kraatar is very mountainous, most citizens rely on the monorail for long distance travel, only using ground cars and explorers for short journeys. Travel on the transglobal monorail costs 20 Cr per day, irrespective of distance. The trains stop at all towns along their route for 10 minutes while cargo and mail is collected. Unless they break down, the trains never stop between stations.

Signs at mountain and desert stations remind travellers that breathing apparatus  is required. Apparatus to fit all character races can be purchased at all monorail stations, and emergency sets are stored in lockers between each carriage.

You each have to purchase a breathing apparatus.  This costs 200 credits (100 for mask, 100 for 2 tanks.  If you are a dralasite, you instead pay 400 credits for the bag. (Please subtract from your character sheet.)

BREATHING APPARATUS
Mass: mask/bag - negligible; tanks - 5kg each
Cost: mask - 100Cr; bag - 400Cr;
tank - 50Cr; tank re-fill - 10Cr.

Breathing apparatus is used to supplement the oxygen supply in thin atmospheres. Air is carried in two tanks, each holding sufficient oxygen for 10 hours. In Human and Yazirian models the air supply is via a flexible plastic tube to a face mask. A Vrusk or Dralasite model consists of a strong yet flexible, clear plastic bag. Dralasites enter the bags and zip themselves in, allowing all their breathing pores to be supplied with oxygen. Vrusk bags cover the abdomen only and have special seals for the legs and upper body. Defensive suits and screens function normally with breathing apparatus. Being unpressurised, breathing apparatus cannot be used in vacuum.

THE TRAIN
Monorail trains are suspended by a flexible steel pylon from an overhead steel rail. The rail is supported by steel girders embedded in rock, obviating the need for tunnels or cuttings.

The plan of a typical monorail train can be found along the bottom of the inner module folder. The trains are made up from five distinct types of carriage: an engine car, two cargo cars, two sleeper cars, one restaurant car and two recreation cars. The passenger cars are comfortably appointed with large glass windows providing panoramic views of the passing countryside. All carriages are pressurised and fully air-conditioned and waiter service is available at all times. The recreation cars provide facilities such as holo-movie screens, holo-music-videos, and so on, all at no extra cost.

Carriages are connected by flexible tubes and sealed by automatic doors. By the entrance to each carriage is an emergency locker containing sets of breathing apparatus (six Vrusk, six Human, two Dralasite and two Yazirian). Each carriage has a plate in the ceiling which allows emer¬gency access to the carriage's roof.
The train has a crew of nine: two RIK guards (1 Beam weapons specialist and 1 Projectile weapons specialist); two ST technicians (manning the engine car); and five ST stewards who see to the comfort of the passengers.

NOTE: The emergency breathing apparatus is in addition to what you need to purchase.  They are for emergencies only, and planet regulations require personal equipment to also be on hand for any passengers.


THE HIGH LINE

Once the preliminaries are taken care of, you board the train.

It is about three-quarters full, and you are shown to your sleeping compartments.  You are handed keys to safely lock up any equipment and told you are free to visit the lounges and restaurant whenever you wish.

You get settled, realizing it will be about 4 days' journey to get to Quazzt, and you curse the laws restricting normal air travel on this planet.

While boarding the train, you notice two Humans and a Vrusk loading some recording gear onto the train.  They look to be some sort of news crew.  They do not appear to have any weapons or defenses.

Beyond that, you will have to do some exploring to see who is aboard, though you realize that this is one of the last trains that will make it to Quazzt in time for LeGrange's funeral.  You also find it odd that the news reported that LeGrange's real name was Cuitriss Manbela, upon the request of Mr. and Mrs. Manbela to turn over the body for the funeral.

But stranger things have happened to you lately...

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:30, Mon 05 May 2014.

OOC: Porter spent ALL of his starting credits on what little gear he has.  And with this mission going outside his JD, I doubt he can requisition Star Law to foot the bill.  Anyone willing and able to loan him the money for the train/breathing apparatus?

Let's just say it was payday, and he gets an extra 1000 credits.  Since you joined the game late, it's only fair that Porter get a little spending money.

OOC: Thanks!

While on the train, Porter goes over his sparse information, which appears may be partially in error.  He was ordered to investigate Orvo's abduction, when apparently he was working in the lab all along.  Also, the name discrepancy of Dr. LaGrange.  Something doesn't sit right, and Porter wonders how to best go about finding the truth.

In reply to Sgt. Porter Min (msg # 8):

Orvo had disappeared because he had been captured, and then the party saved him and he helped them for awhile before going back to his duties.  Orvo's rescue is documented beginning on Day 3, at message 77.  I am sure the party would have brought Porter up to speed on everything that happened during day 3.  On Day 4, Orvo went back to the lab to do some necessary work.

In message 81, Orvo describes his kidnapping by two Sathar, who stashed his body in a cube enclosure in the lab until it conformed to the container like a gelatinous cube.

You are currently in Day 1 of the monorail ride.  From here, you will need to tell me what you want to explore or look at during the ride.  Occasionally, things will happen.

Porter will try to find the news crew in one of the lounges or the restaurant - if he can get a chance to talk to just one of them it would be best, but if they stick together so be it.  He will strike up some small talk.

You catch up with the news crew during lunch in the restaurant car.  They are friendly and happy to talk to you about their work.  They seem very loyal to the SAK News Service trade house where they work and nothing seems amiss as you sit at the table across from them.

Also nearby in the restaurant car, you see two Vrusk engaging in a debate about the cause of the recent riots, a dralasite sitting across from a Yazirian playing some sort of card game, and two humans talking about how much they hate Kraatar and can't wait to get back home.

S'Krllk figures he's been running around shooting things long enough that his other skills may be getting rusty. After looking at all the files on his bodycomp and attempting to cull the unnecessary, he begins to scan the train, end to end, intending to produce schematics for the vehicle with as much detail as he has time and space for.
No, it wouldn't pay, but it was better than boredom.

After overhearing the humans talking, Desiraye will approach them and ask, "So, where is home?"

As I talk to the news crew, I'll let them know I'm in the UPFMC, but won't mention my recent affiliation with Star Law.  I'll try to find out, subtly, if they know anything of the LeGrange/Manbela connection.  Who are the Manbelas?  How was LeGrange connected to them?  Why did he change his name?  That sort of stuff.

The humans turn to Desi and one jokingly retorts, "Anyplace but Kraatar."  They laugh.  "Seriously, we both come from Morgaine's World.  Since it's a UPF and Star Law base, somehow we got assigned to this mess of a planet.  Nothing against Vrusk and all, but we need a change in scenery."

The news crew opens up with Porter.  They say they are being sent to cover LeGrange's funeral, and would certainly love it if he has any leads for them.  "Funerals are boring gigs," one says.  "Anything you have to give us a scoop on a story?  We can go off the record, or I can interview you as part of a special interest piece surrounding the funeral."

The Vrusk and one female human are technicians.  The other human is the director and reporter.  The Vrusk will plan to stay back at the station for broadcast of the reports, while the two humans plan to go report on the funeral itself.  It quickly becomes obvious that you probably know more than they do.

The director says, "There's been so much unrest on Kraatar since LeGrange's death.  I'm not sure if this funeral will bring closure to the violence or just reignite it.  I hope our story will help quell the violence.  But, no, I don't know about the Manbela connection."

The Vrusk technician turns down a drink, saying it is not good for the body, and says, "The racial tension is concerning.  I mean, why can't we all just get along?"  He says, "My  name is Ki'Tk'Hatt.  I've been under a lot of stress lately, and I'm hoping this assignment will be like a vacation."

The human director pats him affectionately on the arm and says, "Yes, we hope this is all a good rest for you.  Like a vacation."


This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 21:21, Thu 08 May 2014.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 16):

Desiraye takes some interest in what the humans are talking about and tries to strike up some small talk with them to kill some time.  "So, what do you guys do here?                                 You guys aren't Star Law Rangers?  Are you?" asks Desi with a hint of curiosity and playing coy with the men.

One of the humans says, "We're just computer specialists.  We're on our way to Quazzt because it's a good destination for humans.  75% or so of the residents are humans, and about 25% Vrusk.  It's very different from Gozzorf, and I think it's time we got away from the riots and all the problems there."

"Interview me?  I'm just a grunt on leave.  I doubt I've got anything to say that would interest anyone much.  I just figured, with all the hoopla surrounding the funeral, it would be a good chance to visit the Quazzt region while I wait around for my orders to ship out."

Porter finds the treatment of Ki'Tk'Hatt by the reporter somewhat patronizing.  He shifts the conversation towards the racial tensions.  "So, as reporters, I figure you or your colleagues must be up to date on just how bad things are getting with the tension between humans and vrusk.  Is there anything you can tell me that's not being reported?  Off the record, of course!" Porter grins.  "Just want to keep my head down during all this."

The director shrugs.  "It should be much safer for everyone in Quazzt than back at Gozzorf.  In fact, if anything, the Vrusk get the short end of the stick in Quazzt and get called all sorts of names, since they are the minority there.  My name is Minh, by the way."

The Vrusk comments, "There may be more bias against Vrusk in Quazzt, but at least there's not all this violence and riots and that kind of thing.  I'll be able to relax."

Minh says, "In any case, if we find information, we report it.  I wish we had some secrets to tell, but we're just doing our job trying to find the secrets.  Being sent on a 6 day trip to Quazzt isn't exactly showing that we have all the scoops because this is going to be 6 days of boredom before we actually have a story to report."

The Vrusk says, "Maybe I should just sleep through the whole trip.  Much less stressful that way."

Minh says, "As long as you're good to go when we get to Quazzt, relax as best you can."

"I've been in the service so long.  Our 'news' service reports only what the top brass want reported.  No offense intended.  If I hear of anything of interest on the train, I'll let you know.  Can I offer any of you a drink?  I'm partial to that Yazirian lager."

Hammer says to the humans, "Maybe I'll be the first Mechanon to ever step foot in Quazzt.  What do you think?  Will they be accepting of a motley group like us?"

As he passes by, S'Krllk says to Hammer, "If by accepting you mean no one will try to shoot us, then I doubt it."
Standing where he stopped to talk, he scans the car they're in.

The car is a normal restaurant car.  There is a buffet style area, and the occasional waiter.  Other than your group, the car is occupied by the two humans, the news crew, the two Vrusk debating the riots, and the dralasite and yazirian playing cards.  The rest of the tables are empty.

It is a tight fit, of course, because the tables are against the window allowing only up to 4 to sit at a table, and then a walkway along the side of the tables that can get crowded if multiple people try to move through at once.

In total, the restaurant car has 10 booths and can hold up to 40 guests at a time.

"Hopefully all of this bullcrap stops, soon.  Nothing good is coming out of it and it may turn into a civil war if people aren't careful.

Are you guys hungry?  Any problems with computers down here since the problems here started?"

Desiraye smiles at her metal comrades comments.  "At the rate we're going, we my be running this place pretty soon Hammer!"

As Desiraye comments to Hammer, S'Krllk adds, "Assuming the universe doesn't kill us first."