Your relaxation on Kraatar is brief but helpful. You have successfully been fully healed and are ready for the next step of this journey.

It does not take long to find his trail. They have tracked LeGrange to a planet called Mahg Mar, just newly discovered. It is a planetary system in the vicinity of a Waller Nexus (a black hole with atypical gravitational patterns and other unaccountable phenomena). It is a recently discovered Eden, a beautiful planet with an abundance of water and oxygen and a favorable climate for life. Indeed, the rich greens of the continental masses are visible from orbit, and there was much enthusiasm and anticipation for a first-hand look at the planet. The bioscience reports suggested substantial probability of higher life forms.

Going to Mahg Mar was the backup plan of LeGrange, as discovered in his computer records and following the space contrail of his passage. It is also not too distant for travel.

Lucky for you, there is an exploration ship on Kraatar that was going to explore that planet and is tailor made for this mission. Granted, it is equipped for exploration, not tracking down a potential genocidal maniac, but who's to quibble?

The ship called the Eleanor Moreas has a crew of six, as follows:

Winston Marlboro (Captain): Always addressed as "Captain Marlboro,' the Captain is a rather distant and formal character. He is experienced and well trained, though unimaginative and conventional. He has an unblemished record of successfully completed missions. However, he seems to be near the end of his career. He is a human about 60 years old, and a Star law Ranger.

Bill Terry (First Officer): A native to Kraatar and Star Law Ranger, he is an excellent pilot chosen for this mission. He is a young human officer of about 30 and has been with Captain Marlboro for just over a year. He increasingly assumes responsibilities of command as the Captain ages. The other crew members think of him like a captain and admire his energy, passion and hard work. He had even been helping to track down LeGrange after the initial break away of LeGrange and the rise of the KLC prior to joining Captain Marlboro.

Pradi Innesti (Engineer): An undistinguished but reliable ship's engineer, Innesti is a seasoned veteran, a middle aged Yazirian. He knows everything about the Eleanor Moraes that is worth knowing. He has memorized every detail of her blueprints and specifications, and can quote from them as though they were sitting in front of him. He is shy and quiet, and seldom speaks unless spoken to. He can be relied upon to improvise repairs or jury rig equipment in emergencies.

Sporss Krekek (crewman): A typical starship crewman in character, Sporss is a well-trained, reliable technician. His Vrusk background makes him a willing and dedicated worker, although he complains that Bill Terry gets on his case unreasonably.

Mormord Massod (Crewman) and Brogod Om borg (Crewman): These two crewmen are old friends who have been together since they joined the service 30 years ago. They are inseparable companions on and off ship, probably because no one else can appreciate the stale jokes and philosophical arguments they love to share. They are not particularly hard workers, but they always seem to get enough done to get by. Their wealth of experience and persistent good spirits make them excellent crewmen on long expeditions.


The Eleanor Moreas is a 40 meter long ship with atomic engines that need frequent overhauls. But its size and construction give it a rare ability to easily land and leave a planet, helpful for exploratory missions. As an exploration ship, it does not have all the bells and whistles, but it has a survey airship. The survey airship is a small ship used for scouting around a planet with only a 100 kph speed but a large 20 person capacity interior and 1000 kg in 100 cubic meters of storage capacity, great for samples and taking in scientists, and they can go a whopping 20,000 km without refueling. It is also nearly silent and camouflaged to avoid disrupting native inhabitants.

Your job will be to land in the Eleanor Moreas and take the airship to find LeGrange. We need him alive to help with the Qantariate problem. Travel to and from Mahg Mar is 4 days each. You estimate 27 days until the Qantariate invasion. This gives you 19 days to track down LeGrange, get his cooperation, and find a solution.

Your gear is being loaded in the dock when you meet Captain Marlboro and XO Terry near the entrance of the Eleanor Moreas.

Marlboro nods. "Good to meet you all. I was looking to explore this planet, not track down a fugitive, but orders are orders. We have four days ahead of us, so make yourselves comfortable."

Terry salutes. "Bill Terry here. Did you actually meet LeGrange? What was he like? They say he is a genius. I met him a couple years ago, but we were unable to capture him."

They seem to be waiting for you to introduce yourselves.

NOTE: I thought this might be a good time to reintroduce your characters and their general race, skill sets, etc. because so much time has passed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:45, Thu 10 Sept 2020.

"Names Bartja", says the Yazirian, extending a hand to each man in turn after setting down the kits he carries (Medkit and Techkit).

"I study Mechanical Engineering and Pre-Med at the University of Hyyay, Hakosoar in Scree Fron." An older Maintenance Robot stops behind Bartja, carrying the remainder of his personal affects for loading onto the ship.

"This is Shemp.  He does all the dirty work."

Turning to Captain Marlboro, Bartja adds, "I too had hoped we'd have time to properly explore this new planet!  You never know who you'll meet; what they can teach you; what technology they can share; or what herbs we'll find for our medkits next!  It's a shame we're going in such a rush."

After the introductions are through, Bartja moves on into the ship to find his quarters and do a little exploration of the available medical bay and tools on-board.

S'Krllk wanders, somewhat, giving the impression he's thinking of something else. But he does respond to Bill Terry's inquiry.
"I'm S'Krllk, not really a fan of LeGrange, but I suppose he could be a genius. Isn't it common for them to go mad?"

Desiraye walks up with the other members of the team and makes introductions, respectfully to the mission commanders.  She drops her small carry-on and extends her hand to each one, "Sirs!  It's very good to meet you both.  I'm Desiraye Lipost, some of my team might say that I'm the Team Leader for us?

LeGrange is brilliant and the amount of tine we have to find him is critical!  I guess we can all get up to speed on our four day hop to the system?  I, We, look forward to working with your team Captain Marlboro."

Orvo slowly makes his way up to the impromptu meet and greet and announces himself, "Good day to you newer beings.  I am Orvo and I am the units medic and dabbling mentalist."

S'Krllk nods, "we had a doctor, but he died due to the machinations of certain madmen. You'll have to watch out for those madmen, Orvo. It would be nice to keep a medic around."
The vrusk ambles around to Bartja, deliberately walking by the assembled crew while watching for hidden disgust. "I tend to the equipment, if you need any maintenance en route to our destination, I'll be happy to lend an appendage."
When he reaches Shemp, S'Krllk mumbles "scan robot".

"I hope my tenure is longer than your last medic S'Krllk and my skills can be of use.  All in all, I still have much to learn!"

Terry nods appreciatively and eyes Orvo curiously. He scowls at S'Krllk but doesn't say anything, and you can assume he has the same prejudices against Vrusk that many on this planet still carry with them.

He says, "Well, it'll be a few minutes while the astrogation is all set up and the equipment is being secured. You each have bunks but it will be tight quarters until we get there. So it sounds like we have a military specialist, a medic, a mechanic, an equipment bug, and what about the rest?" He looks at Hammer and Porter.

Captain Marlboro nods and excuses himself to help on the bridge.

Hammer steps forward. "They call me Hammer. I am a biosocial environmentalist, with skills in environmental and psychosocial skills. I also have a little bit of medical background. Due to recent events, I am also getting handy with a gun. I am a Mechanon, which is a race on Volturnus. Although a created species of intelligent robot created by the Eorna, we have evolved into freethinking, self-aware and sentient beings. We run by logic, not emotion, and luckily, 95 percent of us have overcome our original built in need to destroy all living things." He pauses at this last, realizing that, although logical and true, it may not have been the best statement in a social setting. He quickly adds with a tilt of the head, "I am part of the 95 percent and pleased to meet you."

Porter walks in wearing a crisp, clean military skiensuit and snaps a salute at the captain.

"Sergeant Porter Min, UPF Marine Recon, on assignment to Star Law. It's my pleasure to serve under your command, Captain."

OOC: I'm still on vacation, so not able to post often, but I am checking the updates most days.

Last call to finalize equipment lists.

After your greetings, the ship is fully loaded and you head off. The ship itself is definitely tight quarters, as Terry warned. The Captain and Terry stay on the bridge most of the time, with Terry running around taking care of things while the Captain typically stares out the window and gives a few orders here and there. The crew primarily keeps to itself, but everyone is cordial, with Terry being the most vocal of anyone. He is also friendly, though he doesn't speak to S'krllk, his prejudices again being subtly on display.

Four days later, you find yourself orbiting Mahg Mar.

SIXTEEN DAYS TO QANTARIATE INVASION

Mahg Mar is a beautiful planet with an
abundance of water and oxygen and a favorable climate for life. Indeed, the rich greens of the continental masses were visible from orbit, and as Captain Marlborough explains as you enter the bridge and look at the beautiful planet from orbit, "There was much enthusiasm and anticipation for a first-hand look at the planet. We are some of the first. It is a Goldilocks planet that was hidden from view due to interference from its binary system, or we would have found it long ago."

Terry interrupts as everyone still stares at the beautiful planet. "It was actually LeGrange who found the planet. It was his genius that detected something in the data that everyone else missed. Not only that, but the data we retrieved from LeGrange's dataports indicate that he found signs that there may be a high probability of higher life forms."

Captain Marlborough says, "Thorough mapping and remote study of the planet has been made during the last couple hours we have been in orbit.  We are the first to do any sort of mapping, and the first from the known galaxy to get this close to the planet."

"Other than LeGrange," Terry says with a laugh.

"Yes," the Captain concedes, "other than LeGrange. We also placed an automatic survey satellite in orbit. It will transmit various information back to the Planetary Survey Administration in addition to helping us find anomalies to find LeGrange."

Terry is eyeing the equipment and readouts carefully. "We have tracked the contrail of LeGrange's ship to a roughly 100 square kilometer area. The Moreas has a detachable hull, and we can take the ship in its smaller form to land, leaving the freighter hull in orbit with the other long distance and heavier materials like the star drives. What we plan to do is land at the southeast corner of this quadrant. Then we will have you and some crew members fly the survey airship to scout out and try to find him."

The survey airship is a small ship used for scouting around a planet with only a 100 kph speed but a large 20 person capacity interior and 1000 kg in 100 cubic meters of storage capacity, great for samples and taking in scientists, and they can go a whopping 20,000 km without refueling. It is also nearly silent and camouflaged to avoid disrupting native inhabitants.

These semi-rigid lighter-than-air vehicles are normally used for survey and colonization. Their economical operation, high cargo capacity, extensive range, and low tech design make them useful and versatile. Two gondolas and collapsible flotation chambers are carried in hangars in each lander module. Gondolas are custom designed for specific applications. Survey robots act as tugboats for the assembly, inflation, mooring, and remote landing of these airships. To safely operate an airship, the pilot needs a level 4 technician
skill.

The Captain interrupts Terry at this point to explain, "Initial testing revealed mildly toxic compounds in the atmosphere, but I have given permission for the airship to make this run, given the importance of finding LeGrange."

You suit up, strap in, and prepare for detachment of the Moraes and landing. As you descend through the atmosphere, the planet seems even more lush and Eden-like. When the landing goes off without a hitch, Terry hoots in delight. "Everything's going according to plan," he says. "Just perfect." As the Captain prepares diagnostics, Terry punches some buttons on the communicators. Then he says to you, "Time to go find LeGrange. Are you ready for this?" He smiles at you.

The Captain explains, "I am setting up the airship mooring tower now just outside the ship. The airship is also being inflated so we can go."  The Captain pauses to make sure he has your attention. "Our mission is LeGrange. We must avoid contact with possibly intelligent inhabitants of the planet. I discussed logistics with Terry, and I will pilot the airship and be in charge of the away mission. Engineer Innesti will accompany us, and you will help with the operational logistics on the ground. Terry will stay here with the other three crew members. Local time is approximately 8:00 a.m." He pushes some more buttons. "The survey robot is now preparing to act as escort for us." He unstraps and says, "If there are not any further questions, let's head out."

The Engineer Innesti appears at the bridge door, and the Captain says, "Is the airship ready?"

Innesti says, "Yes, fully equipped. It has medical equipment, including freeze fields, staydose and the necessities, paragliders for all. Its radiophone is fully functioning and communicating with our orbital satellites. The survey robot is also in place, and we have the hand controller in the gondola. We have full fuel cartridges, plenty of fuel, food and water, extra engine fuel and lubricants, an alarm control system with video, audio and motion sensors."

"Good," says Marlboro, "just in case we need to find LeGrange or prevent a surprise attack."

Innesti continues his inventory, "We have fifteen 20 SEU power clips, extra flotation chamber fabric, emergency oxygen and helium tanks, toolkits with plenty of wire and extra parts, and control power packs. And due to the slight toxicity in the atmosphere, we have loaded up enough breathers for everyone."

The Captain says, "What happens if we don't use the breathers?"

Innesti says, "The atmosphere is breathable, but over an extended period of time, we would experience headaches, dizziness, and rapid exhaustion. We also have 3 pressurized bivouac units that can be used without the breathers."

He hands you all the full list of equipment:


14 PERSONAL SURVIVAL KITS

Each contains:
machete
everflame
allweather blanket
first aid pack
chronocom
8 survival ration packages
1 tangler grenade
1 compass
1 life jacket
10 vitasalt pills
1 pocket tool
1 flashlight
1 doze grenade
1 0-meter rope
toxyrad gauge
4 liters of water in water packs
1 pair sungoggles
1 environmental suit with breather
1 poly-vox
1 laser pistol with a 20 SEU clip

3 EMERGENCY BIVOUAC UNITS
(pressurized insulated tents) 3 x 3 meters in floor area. Air lock attached. Contains a mechanical air pump for pressure to support walls and roof. Filtration system provides safe air. Provides some temperature protection. 30 structural points (deflates after 10
points of damage. Fabric is water proof and air-tight. Sleeps 4

3 INFLATABLE RAFTS
1.5 x 3 meters in area. Carries 4 passengers or 3 passengers with gear. 20 structural points
Inflated and deflated with cannisters of compressed C02.

4 INFRA-RED GOGGLES
10 FREEZE FIELD GENERATORS
2 LASER RIFLES
5 POWER BACKPACKS
8 COLD LIGHT LANTERNS (with internal
chemical power source)
1 TECHKIT
1 ROBCOMKIT
1 MEOKIT
1 ENVIRONKIT
1 TOPOGRAPHIC MAP (Map 1)
1 PLANETARY SURVEY DATA PACKET


To this, you can also add your personal gear that you carry with you.

The Captain looks over the list and says, "This sounds about right. Any questions before we head out?"

S'Krllk says, "excuse me, Captain. Did any of the scans indicate the level of technology the local inhabitants possessed? They should, at least, have guns. If no one's shooting at us it feels like the Universe doesn't care, anymore."

The captain looks at Terry for an answer, and Terry responds, "We are not aware of any specific intelligent species or major signs of technology. You are likely just to encounter numerous types of animal-like creatures. No reason to suspect higher thought processes. But our scans do not pick up too much as far as technology or intelligence, or else we would have had a better sense of where LeGrange landed."

Hammer gets geared up and ready. He has added some non-lethal weapons to his weaponry repertoire in the hopes of catching LeGrange alive. "No time like the present," he says, waiting to see if everyone is ready to head out.

Bartja snorts as he tries to suppress laughter at the Vrusk sense of humor.  With his University studies interfering in his adventuring career, he'd forgotten the sense of camaraderie that comes with the nervous energy of stepping into the unknown.

Surveying the airship, he can't help but wonder if this dirigible is sturdy enough to survive a rough landing should it become necessary.  Glad to have the paragliders as backup, he still feels a bit safer using his own skin to bail from any problems at altitude.

"Is the air full of sulfur dioxide or is this a carbon monoxide environment?" he asks, turning to Hammer for the answers.  "Either way seems to indicate a planet with some kind volcanic activity or an overabundance of organics in decomposition.  With all this greenery, I vote for the latter.  Let's hope that it's not es oh two or our circuited friends will begin to suffer from it before too long."

Bartja takes one of the personal survival kits and then adjusts his sungoggles before loading Shemp with the extra tool kits, bivouacs, and life rafts.  Glad to have a porter along, a twinge of guilt dampens his mood as he thinks of Hammer and Shemp possibly short-circuiting during this mission.  He habitually checks his toxyrad gauge to see how bad the air is, then double-checks the seal on his breather and then the zipper on his environmental suit.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:18, Fri 14 Feb 2020.

Terry has turned to his equipment to run computations, but he turns back around and says, scratching the back of his head as though it has an itch, "The air is breathable and carbon monoxide based. It simply has some toxins which are harmful over long periods of exposure. Keep on your breathers and your environmental suits and you should be just fine. LeGrange probably did not have them. Probably."

NOTE: The character effects will start after 3 hours of unprotected exposure: -30% intuition and logic, -20 stamina and unable to travel more than 8 hours without rest.  It will slowly get worse (5% per hour), but unconsciousness (and eventual death) would occur after 13 hours without protection. You return to normal after 10 hours of being removed from the toxins.

You all get into the airship. Terry and three crew members remain on board the Moraes while you travel with Captain Marlboro and Engineer Innesti. The survey robot helps guide you. It is just after 8:00 a.m. when you leave, and the overflight scanning begins. You spend over two hours searching and scanning...and finding nothing. You get further and further away from the Moraes, and then it happens...

While cruising over the rugged ridge and valley terrain northwest of the Moraes, the survey robot suddenly turns and attacks your airship! In seconds, the fragile airship is seriously damaged and rapidly losing altitude. With an emergency override from the airship's control panel, Engineer Innesti swiftly deactivates the robot. However, the damage has already been done.

The captain and engineer valiantly struggle to maintain control of the plummeting craft, but it is in vain. "Ship down. Ship Down!" the Captain yells out to you all. Everyone runs to their parawings, which act like parachutes from the airship. You jump to safety from the falling craft, gliding with the parawings.



But the engineer is too late to get full use of the parawing, and the captain rides the crippled ship to the ground in a futile attempt to soft land it.

Both are now seriously injured. Fortunately, your landings were not widely scattered, and everyone gathers at the scene of the crashed airship in a matter of minutes to assess the situation.

The radiophone transmitter in the airship gondola was destroyed in the crash, and the transmission range of your chronocoms is too limited to reach the Moraes. However, Bill Terry establishes contact from the ship. His message is brief.

"I directed the survey robot's attack on the airship. I am very sorry if there were casualties, but LeGrange's work is too important to be stopped now. I told you I met him a couple years ago. I actually joined him. I am his rescue team. And no, he is not anywhere near the area you're searching. Sorry for the red herring. He will be joining me by nightfall, and then we will be off as soon as these star drives are repaired. I hope you enjoy your new home planet."

With that, he signs off. Three other crew members remain on the Moraes, but there is no way to discover their fate. Approximately 48 more hours of work are necessary to complete the overhaul of the star drives before Terry can take off.

48 hours remaining

SITUATION ANALYSIS

Captain Marlboro and Engineer Innesti are seriously injured. The flotation chambers of the airship are damaged beyond repair. The airship's gondola is quite damaged, but still in one piece, thanks to Captain Marlboro's heroic efforts. It may still be airtight.

You must regain control of the Moraes and find out what has happened to Terry and the other crew members. If Terry lifts off, you'll be stranded here, and LeGrange will have escaped. The Qantariate invasion will happen, and the known galaxy is likely to be forever altered and taken over by the Qantariate and Sathar.

To recover the ship, you must cross 80 kilometers of an alien planet, facing unknown flora, fauna, and other natural obstacles.

Once you arrive at the Moraes, Terry may use the offensive resources of the ship against you. He has at his disposal at least two other survey robots, the remaining weapons, the security programs of the ship, and anything else he can improvise in the meantime. You don't know if the crew members are working with him or are potential hostages.

With the survey robots, Terry can monitor and attack you as you approach. You have only your personal weapons, skills, and wits.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:17, Fri 14 Feb 2020.

Desiraye stands with her hands on her hips, taking in the scenery, and trying to assess their situation.  Letting out a sigh,she turns and addresses the survivors.  "OK people!  We need to get a quick but, accurate assessment of our casualties and equipment.  Who and what can travel.

Eighty klicks and forty-eight hours to make it back to the Moraes before we become indigenous peoples of this planet.

We need to break out the maps and surveys to see what route is going to be the quickest by land or if there's a way by water, we need to look at it.

Orvo, see after our wounded.  If there's anyone else that's got some medical background, I'm sure he can use a hand!

Sarge, Hammer. Weapons & ammo check.  I'll be with you on and off.  Let me know if you come up with anything critical and what we may need to break into a ship or, shoot it down!

Bartja,S'Krllk, see what works and what doesn't.  Any thing that can get us back to the ship quickly, we'll take it.

I'll be bouncing around from group to group and trying to pull security."

OOC: Did I miss anything/anyone?

After a quick nod to Batja, S'Krllk reacts by interfacing with the Master-Comp in his new setup.

He alters the current commands in the Master-Comp to be
• scan all nearby equipment, electrical and mechanical, indicate necessary repairs and possible salvage, and possible uses any salvage
• scan anything resembling a map or survey of the area and determine the fastest route to Moraes
• attempt to locate a method of communicating with the downed survey robot in view of subverting it to our use

Once the list is set and the Master-Comp running, S'Krllk begins to pace around the area to insure he has scanned everything available.

10:00 a.m.

Orvo begins checking the wounded:

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CAPTAIN MARLBORO AND ENGINEER INNESTI

Captain Marlboro is seriously injured (-35 stamina points), but not beyond treatment. You realize that a successfully applied freeze field will preserve him until he can receive major surgery in the proper facilities on the ship. (But you have to get him there.)

Innesti is injured but less so (-15 stamina points). A successful med assessment shows you two options: (1) you can give him a shot of staydose followed by two shots of biocort in
the next 24 hours, or (2) you can also use a freeze field on him.

You can carry Captain Marlboro and lnnesti with you, but doing so will slow you down and make you more vulnerable to animals.

The airship gondola is still airtight and offers strong bulkheads and effective locks and security systems. Marlboro and Innesti offer to stay in the airship gondola so that you can quickly and freely go take control of the Moraes.

"Just don't forget to come back for us," Captain Marlboro says weakly.

Innesti says he can come with the party if you want, but he is injured and he might slow you down, especially his injured leg.

You will need to decide how to handle them.

S'krllk begins doing the equipment scans for communication, robot, mapping and the like.

DISTRESS SIGNALS

The only subspace radios in the expedition are aboard the Moraes and the satellites orbiting above the planet. The airship's radiophone is damaged beyond repair, so it can't be used to relay a message to the satellites' subspace radios. Terry controls the only other radiophones powerful enough to reach the satellites (the radios in the other airship, the lander module, the aircar, the explorer, and the Moraes itself).

THE SURVEY ROBOT

After the attack, Innesti deactivated the survey robot remotely, but his equipment to do so was destroyed in the crash. No undestroyed or improvised equipment that can deactivate a robot by remote control is available to you.

HOWEVER, you can control the survey robot with the hand controller stored in the gondola.

Hand Controller:


S'krllk successfully detects that the robot will respond to the hand controller so long as you do not sever its link with the Moraes.

The robot's radio transmitter (computer link) is too weak to reach the satellites to relay a mayday. S'krllk checks to see if any connection can be made to affect the Moraes because the computer-robot link is still active, but the robot is not a remote terminal. It can only transmit sensor data or radio signals, and cannot access the computer without the password.

S'krllk also determines that the robot has limited power and range. It has enough power left to fly 950 km or hover for 950 minutes, or any combination of both adding up to 950. An alarm on the hand controller warns when there are only 2 km (or minutes) worth of power left in the battery.

S'krllk also uses his mechanical skills to determine that the robot's battery may be partially recharged from the power backpacks, providing an additional kilometer or minute of
night per SEU transferred to the robot's battery. (Power backpacks store 100 SEU.)

The robot is not designed as a shuttlecraft, and Bartja and S'krllk agree that such use is risky for both robot and cargo that will become more and more risky up to 50 kg. Improvising a sling or frame to transport more than 50 kg will causes a forced landing and damage within seconds of takeoff and require time for repairs (at least an hour). Weight less than that will be gradually more dangerous of a crash landing (rolls will be made).

S'krllk also sets you all about scavenging to see what can be salvaged:


SALVAGING EQUIPMENT FROM THE AIRSHIP

Salvaging equipment will take a skill from the type of item being salvaged and the appropriate tech kit, as well as a roll for success.

You scavenge around and find the items in green in the inventory above. From these, you could theoretically make the following jerry rigged items:



Adapting the items takes the time listed and requires the role listed.


It takes about an hour of activity to get your bearings, talk to the injured, look around for salvage items, and get your gear together.

11:00 a.m.

You are generally northwest of the Moraes, so you need to travel somewhat southeast.

The map is divided by hexes, so overland travel will be N, NE, SE, S, SW, and NW. Each travel point will equal 2 kilometers.

You will have various challenging terrain to cross, so sometimes going SE will not be the best (or even possible) choice.



Before taking off, you should decide:

1) What to do with Innesti (bring or leave).
2) Whether to make salvage adaptations for the trip.
3) Whether to experiment with and learn the hand controller if you want to take the survey robot.
4) What direction you want to travel, and any other party coordination.
5) Anything else you want to do.

This part of the adventure requires meticulous attention to time. We will also introduce rules to fatigue and so forth for pushing yourselves through the wilderness.

You scavenge the map for the area as well. The following shows your crash site in the northwest. The Moraes is somewhere in the southeast beyond the two crossing rivers.



(You also have floorplans for the Moraes, but we will--if you survive--get to them in the future.)

You are currently in a forested area.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:02, Mon 17 Feb 2020.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 19):
Let's try to take this in some kind of order.

I know it's kind of messed up about leaving people behind in some circles but,
I believe that if we minimally try to take Innesti with us, he's going to slow us down, no matter what our travel route is.

Innesti & the Captain have already agreed, I think the better course of action is to leave them secured in the airship gondola.  It would give the rest of us a better chance to get to the ship before it can leave us here.  Once, and IF, we can get to the ship, we should have whatever assets it has left to retrieve the two injured here.

Worst case scenario, it's going to be a three [3] day walk(ish) back to our new planet and the wounded.

"Captain, you have our word that we'll be back for you one way or the other.  You and Innesti will be good until we get back, yes?"

"I can offer to put one or both of you in a freeze field?"

Barja nods in agreement at the suggestion to place the Captain and Innesti in stasis.

"If we succeed in regaining the Moraes, we'll come back to get you.  If we don't get there before they take off, we'll come back and establish our base and new lives here.  If we fail in taking the Moraes, then your chances here for survival are better than ours - at least until the powerpacks run out."

Looking over the items that can be salvaged and repurposed, Bartja considers the possibility of setting up the alarms (video, motion, or infra-red).  "Best bet for the injured is securing them in the Gondola until we can return.  I could take time to rig up some security features, but I think it would be a waste of time.  We might make good use of the flotation chamber fabric and helium to rig up a cargo balloon to take with us.  Of course if it breaks loose, any gear on it is lost unless we over-weight it and one of us carries it.  Might anchor it to Shemp here and use the Helium to lift some of the weight carried.

Let's collect all the gear we want to take with us and see how much weight we need to distribute.  If it's too much, I'll rig up a couple helium balloons to take off some weight so we can carry the gear."

Barjta then looks over the Survey Robot. "This thing could sure be handy if we can take it and use it as a scout or weapon once we reach the ship.  However, I'm not convinced we can reactivate it without having it transmit our exact location and movements to Terry." He opens a tool kit and after removing a few tools, approaches the deactivated robot.

After tinkering with the Survey Robot for a bit, he throws up his hands and starts removing equipment from the Gondola wreckage that he wants to take with him.  He also checks over Shemp to see if the Maintenance Bot is functioning and able to carry any of the heavier equipment.

From the Gondola, he lays out;
Robcomkit (10 kg)
Techkit (10 kg)
Medkits (2 @ 10 kg each)

Worn or carried on his person is:
Albedo Screen
50 SEU Power Beltpack
Military Skeinsuit
Brass Knuckls
Heavy Gyrojet Rifle
20 Gyrojet clips
environmental suit with breather
Chronocom
Toxy-Rad Guage
Sungoggles
ID Card
Pocket Tool
Machete
Everflame
Allweather Blanket
8 survival ration packages
1 tangler grenade
compass
life jacket
10 vitasalt pills
flashlight
doze grenade
10-meter rope
4 liters of water in water packs
poly-vox
laser pistol with a 20 SEU clip

He tests the weight of his pack and frowns.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Mon 17 Feb 2020.

S'Krllk approaches Bartja, and speaking with his back to the survey robot, quietly explains. "Controlling the robot won't be difficult, and it can carry some things while it accompanies us as a beast of burden. We must assume Terry will monitor the survey robot, and as it will slowly lag behind us, it will be another piece of disinformation to allow us some sort of element of surprise."

In reply to Bartja Nemuco (msg # 22):
"I shall make sure they have evrything they should need while we're away and make them as comfortable as possible', Orvo I says as he makes preparations for their wounded going to be secured in the airship.